Synergistically acting agonists and antagonists of G protein–coupled receptors prevent photoreceptor cell degeneration
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ABSTRACT: Photoreceptor degeneration is the central event leading to visual impairment or blindness in most retinal diseases. However, the discovery of safe and effective therapeutic strategies conferring photoreceptor protection remains challenging. A systems pharmacology approach, synergistically targeting distinct cellular pathways could provide an effective strategy for evaluating, preventing or treating retinal dystrophies. Here this concept was investigated using a mouse model of light-induced retinal degeneration. We show that a combination of FDA-approved drugs acting on different G protein-coupled receptors in a synergistic manner could protect retinas against light-induced degeneration when each drug in the combination treatment was administered at a sub-therapeutic dose. Furthermore, transcriptome analyses demonstrated that such combined treatments also preserved patterns of retinal gene expression more characteristic of the normal retina than did single therapies at higher doses. The current study thus supports a new systems pharmacology approach that may extend to other complex neurodegenerative disorders in addition to retinal diseases.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE79061 | GEO | 2016/11/15
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA314841
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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