VGF nerve growth factor inducible is involved in retinal ganglion cells death induced by optic nerve crush

Abstract

VGF nerve growth factor inducible (VGF) is a polypeptide that is induced by neurotrophic factors and is involved in neurite growth and neuroprotection. The mRNA of the Vgf gene has been detected in the adult rat retina, however the roles played by VGF in the retina are still undetermined. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of VGF on the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of mice in the optic nerve crush (ONC) model, rat-derived primary cultured RGCs and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived RGCs. The mRNA and protein of Vgf were upregulated after the ONC. Immunostaining showed that the VGF was located in glial cells including Müller glia and astrocytes but not in the retinal neurons and their axons. AQEE-30, a VGF peptide, suppressed the loss of RGCs induced by the ONC, and it increased survival rat-derived RGCs and promoted the outgrowth of neurites of rat and human iPSCs derived RGCs in vitro. These findings indicate that VGF plays important roles in neuronal degeneration and has protective effects against the ONC on RGCs. Thus, VGF should be considered as a treatment of RGCs degeneration.

Biological Characteristics of Subsilicone Oil Fluid and Differences With Other Ocular Humors

“…Our results suggest that cytokine-related factors in SOF affect Müller cell viability in SO-filled eyes. Recent studies revealed that Müller cells are important as they secrete neurotrophic factors 40–44. Although possibly not directly related to the pathogenesis of SORVL, the finding that SOF increased Müller cell viability could be important to understand the biological changes in SO-filled eyes.…”

Crosstalk Between Autophagy and Pyroptosis of Microglia contributes to Retinal Ganglion Cells Damage in Chronic Ocular Hypertension

“…For primary RGCs culture, the protocol was followed as described previously [44,45]. After retina was digested into cell suspension by 0.25% trypsin, the cell suspension was plated in poly-D-lysine-coated dishes and cultured in a Neurobasal-A medium (Gibco) containing 2 mM glutamine, 25 μM glutamic acid, 1% penicillin/streptomycin, 1% B-27 supplement, 5μg/mL insulin, 40 ng/mL Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF, Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany), 40 ng/mL Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF, Miltenyi Biotec) and 5 mM forskolin (Sango Biotech, Shanghai, China).…”

SOX9 promotes stress-responsive transcription of VGF nerve growth factor inducible gene in renal tubular epithelial cells

“…The Vgf gene encodes a highly conserved precursor polypeptide of 615 (human) and 617 (rat and mice) amino acids. The precursor polypeptide contains several cleavage sites and protease action at these locations results in the generation of a number of peptides, which exert pleotropic biological activities (19), including promotion of pro-survival signaling in an autocrine and paracrine fashion (29,30). While Vgf plays critical roles in neuronal and endocrine tissues, its role in the kidneys remains unknown.…”

“…Notably, several Vgf proteolytic peptides have been identified and are named by the first 4 N-terminal amino acids and their total length (e.g., TLQP-62, TLQP-21, HHPD-41, AQEE-11, and LQEQ-19) (19). These peptides can influence various cellular processes including activation of pro-survival signaling under stress conditions (29,30,33,34). Some of the biological effects of these Vgfassociated peptides are believed to be mediated through binding to extracellular receptors such as the complement-binding protein, gC1qR and complement C3a receptor-1 (C3AR1) (35,36).…”