Kynurenic acid protects against ischemia/reperfusion-induced retinal ganglion cell death in mice

Rooban B. Nahomi, Mi Hyun Nam, Johanna Rankenberg, Stefan Rakete, Julie A. Houck, Ginger C. Johnson, Dorota L. Stankowska, Mina B. Pantcheva, Paul S. Maclean, Ram H. Nagaraj

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy and involves the progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which leads to blindness in patients. We investigated the role of the neuroprotective kynurenic acid (KYNA) in RGC death against retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods: We injected KYNA intravenously or intravitreally to mice. We generated a knockout mouse strain of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), an enzyme in the kynurenine pathway that produces neurotoxic 3-hydroxykynurenine. To test the effect of mild hyperglycemia on RGC protection, we used streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic mice. Retinal I/R injury was induced by increasing intraocular pressure for 60 min followed by reperfusion and RGC numbers were counted in the retinal flat mounts. Results: Intravenous or intravitreal administration of KYNA protected RGCs against I/R injury. The I/R injury caused a greater loss of RGCs in wild type than in KMO knockout mice. KMO knockout mice had mildly higher levels of fasting blood glucose than wild type mice. Diabetic mice showed significantly lower loss of RGCs when compared with non-diabetic mice subjected to I/R injury. Conclusion: Together, our study suggests that the absence of KMO protects RGCs against I/R injury, through mechanisms that likely involve higher levels of KYNA and glucose.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1795
JournalInternational journal of molecular sciences
Volume21
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2020

Keywords

  • Diabetes
  • Ischemia/reperfusion
  • Kynurenic acid
  • Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase
  • Neuroprotection
  • Retinal ganglion cells

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Kynurenic acid protects against ischemia/reperfusion-induced retinal ganglion cell death in mice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this