biostudies-literatureZhu YNEI NIH HHS60https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12721432biostudies-literatureUnknown66(15)<h4>Purpose</h4>As the sole retinal output neurons, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) transmit all visual information from the retina to the brain. RGCs do not regenerate, and effective therapies for promoting RGC survival and axon regeneration in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies comprise an unmet clinical need. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are epigenetic modifiers that repress gene transcription. Here, we identify a role for HDAC4 in RGC neurodegeneration and axon regeneration.<h4>Methods</h4>The role of HDAC4 in RGC neuroprotection and axon regeneration was studied in the mouse optic nerve crush (ONC) model for optic neuropathy by RGC transduction in vivo with adeno-associated virus vectors. RGC gene expression in vivo was studied by single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).<h4>Results</hInvestigative ophthalmology & visual scienceHDAC4 Promotes Neuroprotection of Retinal Ganglion Cells After Optic Nerve Injury.PMC12721432R01 EY032416R01 EY036028R01 EY031167P30 EY026877Nair RVXia XGoldberg JLLi JRussano KHuie ELChang HVKapiloff MSOchoa JRZhu YLuo ZYan WNahmou MLi XBian MThakur HSSun CBfalseHDAC4 Promotes Neuroprotection of Retinal Ganglion Cells After Optic Nerve Injury.<h4>Purpose</h4>As the sole retinal output neurons, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) transmit all visual information from the retina to the brain. RGCs do not regenerate, and effective therapies for promoting RGC survival and axon regeneration in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies comprise an unmet clinical need. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are epigenetic modifiers that repress gene transcription. Here, we identify a role for HDAC4 in RGC neurodegeneration and axon regeneration.<h4>Methods</h4>The role of HDAC4 in RGC neuroprotection and axon regeneration was studied in the mouse optic nerve crush (ONC) model for optic neuropathy by RGC transduction in vivo with adeno-associated virus vectors. RGC gene expression in vivo was studied by single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).<h4>Results</h2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-06-06T16:04:03.994Z2026-06-02T03:11:47.666ZS-EPMC127214324153393310.1167/iovs.66.15.60