Transcription factors involved in cell death and regeneration in AGEs exposed retinal neurons
Abstract
Purpose
To examine the role of transcription factors in neuronal cell death and regeneration in advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) exposed rat retinas.
Methods
The retinas of six SD rats were cultured in three dimensional collagen gels and incubated in serum-free control media, AGEs-BSA media, AGEs-BSA + several neurotrophic factors (neurotrophin-4, hepatocyte growth factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, tauroursodeoxycholic acid) supplemented media. After 7 days, the numbers of TUNEL positive cells and regenerating neurites were counted. The explants were immunostained for nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) and specific protein 1 (SP1) and counted the number of immunopositive cells in the explants.
Results
In retinas incubated with AGEs, the numbers of TUNLE positive cells were more and the numbers of neurites were fewer than in control. All of the neurotrophic factors decreased TUNEL positive cells and increased the number of neurites, and the survival and regenerative effect was more significant in the neurotrophin-4 group. The numbers of NF-kB and SP1 immunopositive cells were higher in AGEs exposed retinas than in control. All of the neurotrophic factors decreased the number of NF-kB immunopositive cells but did not significantly affect SP1 expression.
Conclusions
These results give the clue to understand the role of transcriptional factors involved in cell death and regeneration in AGEs exposed retinal neurons.
