Norrin Mediates Neuroprotective Effects on Retinal Ganglion Cells via Activation of the Wnt/beta-Catenin Signaling Pathway and the Induction of Neuroprotective Growth Factors in Muller Cells

Seitz, Roswitha and Hackl, Simon and Seibuchner, Thomas and Tamm, Ernst R. and Ohlmann, Andreas (2010) Norrin Mediates Neuroprotective Effects on Retinal Ganglion Cells via Activation of the Wnt/beta-Catenin Signaling Pathway and the Induction of Neuroprotective Growth Factors in Muller Cells. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 30 (17). pp. 5998-6010. ISSN 0270-6474,

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Abstract

Norrin is a secreted protein that binds to frizzled 4 and controls development of capillaries in retina and inner ear. We provide evidence that Norrin has distinct neuroprotective properties that are independent from its effects on vascular development. The function of Norrin was investigated in a mouse model of excitotoxic retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage after intravitreal injection of NMDA, and in cultured Muller glia or immortalized RGC-5 cells. Intravitreal injection of Norrin significantly increased the number of surviving RGC axons in the optic nerve and decreased apoptotic death of retinal neurons following NMDA-mediated damage. This effect could be blocked by adding dickkopf (DKK)-1, an inhibitor of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. Treatment of eyes with combined Norrin/NMDA activated Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and increased the retinal expression of leukemia inhibitory factor and endothelin-2, as well as that of neurotrophic growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor-2, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, lens epithelium-derived growth factor, and ciliary neurotrophic factor. A similar activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and an increased expression of neurotrophic factors was observed in cultured Muller cells after treatment with Norrin, effects that again could be blocked by adding DKK-1. In addition, conditioned cell culture medium of Norrin-treated Muller cells increased survival of differentiated RGC-5 cells. We conclude that Norrin has pronounced neuroprotective properties on retinal neurons with the distinct potential to decrease the damaging effects of NMDA-induced RGC loss. The effects of Norrin involve activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and subsequent induction of neurotrophic growth factors in Muller cells.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: METHYL-D-ASPARTATE; CILIARY NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR; RAT RETINA; PHOTORECEPTOR DEGENERATION; DISEASE GENE; BETA-CATENIN; IN-VIVO; DEATH; MICE; INJURY;
Subjects: 500 Science > 570 Life sciences
Divisions: Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Anatomie > Lehrstuhl für Humananatomie und Embryologie > Prof. Dr. Ernst Tamm
Depositing User: Dr. Gernot Deinzer
Date Deposited: 03 Aug 2020 05:37
Last Modified: 03 Aug 2020 05:37
URI: https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/24811

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