Tamoxifen Provides Structural and Functional Rescue in Murine Models of Photoreceptor Degeneration.

ABSTRACT: Photoreceptor degeneration is a cause of irreversible vision loss in incurable blinding retinal diseases including retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and atrophic age-related macular degeneration. We found in two separate mouse models of photoreceptor degeneration that tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator and a drug previously linked with retinal toxicity, paradoxically provided potent neuroprotective effects. In a light-induced degeneration model, tamoxifen prevented onset of photoreceptor apoptosis and atrophy and maintained near-normal levels of electroretinographic responses. Rescue effects were correlated with decreased microglial activation and inflammatory cytokine production in the retina in vivo and a reduction of microglia-mediated toxicity to photoreceptors in vit

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5373119 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature