P2X7 receptor antagonist protects retinal ganglion cells by inhibiting microglial activation in a rat chronic ocular hypertension model

Dong,Lingdan; Hu,Yanhong; Zhou,Long; Cheng,Xianglin

doi:10.3892/mmr.2017.8137

P2X7 receptor antagonist protects retinal ganglion cells by inhibiting microglial activation in a rat chronic ocular hypertension model

Authors:
- Lingdan Dong
- Yanhong Hu
- Long Zhou
- Xianglin Cheng
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Affiliations: Central Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China , Nursing Department, Medical School of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China, Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China, Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China
Published online on: November 22, 2017 https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.8137
Pages: 2289-2296
Copyright: © Dong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Microglial activation and the release of pro‑inflammatory cytokines occur during early glaucoma. However, the exact mechanism underlying the initiation of the microglial activation process remains unclear. Thus, the present study investigated the potential role of a purine receptor subtype, the P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2X7) receptor, during microglial activation in the retinal tissues of a rat chronic ocular hypertension (COH) model. This was achieved by cauterizing 3 of the 4 episcleral veins. Microglial activation and caspase‑1 upregulation were observed in COH rat retinas by immunohistochemical and western blotting techniques. Intravitreal injection of 2',3'‑O‑(4‑benzoylbenzoyl)‑ATP (BzATP), a P2X7 receptor agonist, induced microglial activation in normal rat retinal tissues, which was alleviated by pretreatment with the P2X7 receptor antagonist, Brilliant Blue G (BBG). BBG further attenuated caspase‑1 increment in COH rat retinal tissues. The data demonstrated that BBG reduced TUNEL‑positive retinal ganglion cells in whole‑mount retinal tissues with COH and normal retinal tissues following intravitreal injection with BzATP. One may conclude that the P2X7 receptor may be involved in microglial activation in the COH retina and could be considered a target for neuronal protection in glaucoma.

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