Inhibitory peptide of mitochondrial μ-calpain protects against photoreceptor degeneration in rhodopsin transgenic S334ter and P23H rats.

ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial μ-calpain and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF)-dependent photoreceptor cell death has been seen in several rat and mouse models of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Previously, we demonstrated that the specific peptide inhibitor of mitochondrial μ-calpain, Tat-µCL, protected against retinal degeneration following intravitreal injection or topical eye-drop application in Mertk gene-mutated Royal College of Surgeons rats, one of the animal models of RP. Because of the high rate of rhodopsin mutations in RP patients, the present study was performed to confirm the protective effects of Tat-µCL against retinal degeneration in rhodopsin transgenic S334ter and P23H rats. We examined the effects of intravitreal injection or topical application of the peptide on retinal degeneration in S334te

SUBMITTER: Ozaki T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3739725 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature