ProNGF induces TNFalpha-dependent death of retinal ganglion cells through a p75NTR non-cell-autonomous signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT: Neurotrophin binding to the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) activates neuronal apoptosis following adult central nervous system injury, but the underlying cellular mechanisms remain poorly defined. In this study, we show that the proform of nerve growth factor (proNGF) induces death of retinal ganglion cells in adult rodents via a p75(NTR)-dependent signaling mechanism. Expression of p75(NTR) in the adult retina is confined to Müller glial cells; therefore we tested the hypothesis that proNGF activates a non-cell-autonomous signaling pathway to induce retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. Consistent with this, we show that proNGF induced robust expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in Müller cells and that genetic or biochemical ablation of TNFalpha blocked proNGF-induced

SUBMITTER: Lebrun-Julien F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2840442 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature