Inhibiting the activation of MAPK (ERK1/2) in stressed Muller cells prevents photoreceptor degeneration.

ABSTRACT: Rationale: Müller cells play an essential role in maintaining the health of retinal photoreceptors. Dysfunction of stressed Müller cells often results in photoreceptor degeneration. However, how these cells communicate under stress and the signalling pathways involved remain unclear. In this study, we inhibited the MAPK (ERK1/2) signalling, mainly activated in Müller cells, evaluated the protective effects on the photoreceptors and further explored the signalling communication between stressed Müller cells and degenerating photoreceptors. Methods: We evaluated the changes of MAPK (ERK1/2) signalling and its downstream targets in human retinal explants treated with PD98059, a specific phosphorylated ERK1/2 inhibitor, by western blot and immunostaining. We further assessed phot

SUBMITTER: Zeng S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9516241 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature