Reactive remodeling of optic nerve head astrocytes is consistently observed in glaucoma and other optic nerve injuries. However, it is unknown whether this reactivity is beneficial or harmful for visual function. In this study, we used the Cre recombinase (Cre)-loxP system under regulation of the mouse glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter to knock out the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) from astrocytes and test the effect this has on reactive remodeling, ganglion cell survival, and visual function after experimental glaucoma and nerve crush. After injury, STAT3 knockout mice displayed attenuated astrocyte hypertrophy and reactive remodeling; astrocytes largely maintained their honeycomb organization and glial tubes. These changes were associated with increased loss of ganglion cells and visual function over a 30-day period. Thus, reactive astrocytes play a protective role, preserving visual function. STAT3 signaling is an important mediator of various aspects of the reactive phenotype within optic nerve astrocytes.

The pathogenesis of retinal ganglion cell loss in glaucoma remains incompletely understood. Current evidence suggests that the optic nerve (ON) head and axons are the main site of injury in glaucoma. This study compares changes in prosurvival and proapoptotic gene expression in ONs with those in retinas in three models of ocular injury, specifically ON transection (ONTX), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) retinal toxicity, and experimental glaucoma.

A major risk factor for glaucomatous optic neuropathy is the level of intraocular pressure (IOP), which can lead to retinal ganglion cell axon injury and cell death. The optic nerve has a rostral unmyelinated portion at the optic nerve head followed by a caudal myelinated region. The unmyelinated region is differentially susceptible to IOP-induced damage in rodent models and human glaucoma. While several studies have analyzed gene expression changes in the mouse optic nerve following optic nerve injury, few were designed to consider the regional gene expression differences that exist between these distinct areas. We performed bulk RNA-sequencing on the retina and separately micro-dissected unmyelinated and myelinated optic nerve regions from naïve C57BL/6 mice, mice after optic nerve crush, and mice with microbead-induced experimental glaucoma (total = 36). Gene expression patterns in the naïve unmyelinated optic nerve showed significant enrichment of the Wnt, Hippo, PI3K-Akt, and transforming growth factor β pathways, as well as extracellular matrix-receptor and cell membrane signaling pathways, compared to the myelinated optic nerve and retina. Gene expression changes induced by both injuries were more extensive in the myelinated optic nerve than the unmyelinated region, and greater after nerve crush than glaucoma. Changes present three and fourteen days after injury largely subsided by six weeks. Gene markers of reactive astrocytes did not consistently differ between injury states. Overall, the transcriptomic phenotype of the mouse unmyelinated optic nerve was significantly different from immediately adjacent tissues, likely dominated by expression in astrocytes, whose junctional complexes are inherently important in responding to IOP elevation.

A major risk factor for glaucomatous optic neuropathy is the level of intraocular pressure (IOP), which can lead to retinal ganglion cell axon injury and cell death. The optic nerve has a rostral unmyelinated portion at the optic nerve head followed by a caudal myelinated region. The unmyelinated region is differentially susceptible to IOP-induced damage in rodent models and in human glaucoma. While several studies have analyzed gene expression changes in the mouse optic nerve following optic nerve injury, few were designed to consider the regional gene expression differences that exist between these distinct areas. We performed bulk RNA-sequencing on the retina and on separately micro-dissected unmyelinated and myelinated optic nerve regions from naïve C57BL/6 mice, mice after optic nerve crush, and mice with microbead-induced experimental glaucoma (total = 36). Gene expression patterns in the naïve unmyelinated optic nerve showed significant enrichment of the Wnt, Hippo, PI3K-Akt, and transforming growth factor β pathways, as well as extracellular matrix-receptor and cell membrane signaling pathways, compared to the myelinated optic nerve and retina. Gene expression changes induced by both injuries were more extensive in the myelinated optic nerve than the unmyelinated region, and greater after nerve crush than glaucoma. Changes three and fourteen days after injury largely subsided by six weeks. Gene markers of reactive astrocytes did not consistently differ between injury states. Overall, the transcriptomic phenotype of the mouse unmyelinated optic nerve was significantly different from immediately adjacent tissues, likely dominated by expression in astrocytes, whose junctional complexes are inherently important in responding to IOP elevation.

The optic nerve transfers visual information from the retina to the brain through the axons of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In adult mammals, optic nerve injuries and progressive degenerative diseases lead to the irreversible loss of RGCs, resulting in vision loss and blindness. Optogenetic models have proved useful in manipulating the growth of RGCs through expression and stimulation of channelrhodopsins (Chr2) in RGCs using the RGC-specific thy-1 promoter. Using transgenic Chr2 mouse (Thy1-ChR2-EYFP) as a model of regeneration, we profile the lipid changes which occur after traumatic optic nerve crush, light stimulation and forced RGC axonal growth. Thy1-ChR2-EYFP and control (C57BL/6) mice were divided in four groups each - 1) no crush and no stimulation, 2) no crush with stimulation, 3) crush and without stimulation, and 4) crush with stimulation. After euthanasia, the optic nerves were collected for lipidomic analysis. The Bligh and Dyer method was used for lipid extraction, followed by mass spectrometry lipid profiling with a Q-Exactive Orbitrap Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (LC MS-MS). The raw scans were analysed with LipidSearch 4.1.3 and the statistical analysis was conducted through Metaboanalyst 4.0. This data is available at Metabolomics Workbench, study ID ST001381: [https://www.metabolomicsworkbench.org/data/DRCCMetadata.php?Mode=Study&StudyID=ST001381&StudyType=MS&ResultType=5].

Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death causes irreversible blindness in adult mammals. Death of RGC occurs in diseases including glaucoma or injuries to the optic nerve (ON). To investigate mechanisms involved in RGC degeneration, we evaluated the phosphoproteomic changes in the retina induced by ON injury. Intraorbital optic nerve crush (ONC) was performed in adult C57BL/6J mice. Retinas were collected at 0, 6, and 12 h following ONC. Retinal proteins labeled with CyDye-C2 were subject to 2D-PAGE, followed by phosphoprotein staining and in-gel/cross-gel image analysis. Proteins with significant changes in phosphorylation (ratios ≥1.2) in retinas of the injured eyes compared to the control eyes were spot-picked, tryptic digested, and peptide fragments were analyzed by MALDI-TOF (MS) and TOF/TOF (tandem MS/MS). Intraorbital ONC increased phosphorylation of many retinal proteins. Among them, 29 significantly phosphorylated proteins were identified. PANTHER analysis showed that these proteins are associated with a variety of protein classes, cellular components, biological processes and signaling pathways. One of the identified proteins, phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes 15 (PEA15), was further validated by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Functions of PEA15 were determined in cultured astrocytes. PEA15 knockdown reduced astrocyte phagocytic activity but promoted cell migration. Long term PEA15 knockdown also decreased astrocyte ATP level. This study provides new insights into mechanisms of RGC degeneration after ON injury, as well as central nervous system (CNS) neurodegeneration, since the retina is an extension of the CNS. These new insights will lead to novel therapeutic targets for retinal and CNS neurodegeneration.

Many human optic neuropathies lead to crippling conditions resulting in partial or complete loss of vision. While the retina is made up of several different cell types, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the only cell type connecting the eye to the brain. Optic nerve crush injuries, wherein RGC axons are damaged without severing the optic nerve sheath, can serve as a model for traumatic optical neuropathies as well as some progressive neuropathies such as glaucoma. In this chapter, we describe two different surgical methods for establishing an optic nerve crush (ONC) injury in the postmetamorphic frog, Xenopus laevis. Why use the frog as an animal model? Mammals lose the ability to regenerate damaged CNS neurons, but amphibians and fish retain the ability to regenerate new RGC bodies and regrow RGC axons following an injury. In addition to presenting two different surgical ONC injury methods, we highlight their advantages and disadvantages and discuss the distinctive characteristics of Xenopus laevis as an animal model for studying CNS regeneration.

Axonal degeneration occurs in patients with various neurological diseases and traumatic nerve injuries, and Wallerian degeneration is a phenomenon in the prototypical axonal degradation that is observed after injury. Collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) is phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), and it is involved in Wallerian degeneration after optic nerve injury. We previously developed a CRMP2 knock-in (CRMP2 KI) mouse line, in which CRMP2 phosphorylation by GSK3β is inhibited; however, Wallerian degeneration in CRMP2 KI mice has not yet been examined. In this study, we examined whether Wallerian degeneration of the optic nerve is suppressed in CRMP2 KI mice. Using one eye removal model, we compared Wallerian degeneration of the optic nerve based on histological and biochemical analyses. Our experimental results indicated that the genetic inhibition of CRMP2 phosphorylation delays Wallerian degeneration after optic nerve injury.

Injuries to the immature optic radiation (OR) are associated with thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer and corresponding visual field (VF) defects. The aim of the current study was to seek evidence for causal retrograde trans-synaptic degeneration by exploring the correspondence between the localization and extension of the injury to the OR and the structure of the macular ganglion cell complex, and the relation to VF function. Seven adults (age range 18-35) with visual dysfunction secondary to white-matter damage of immaturity and six healthy adults (age range 22-33) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fiber tractography was used to generate the geniculate projections to the dorsal and ventral striate cortex, delineated by retinotopic functional MRI mapping. The structure of the macular ganglion cell complex was measured with optical coherence tomography. The tractography showed overlaps between the dorsal and ventral geniculo-striate projections. However, in four patients with inferior VF defects, the dorsal projections were to a large extent traversing the space normally solely occupied by ventral projections. This is consistent with structural changes to the OR and suggests of re-organization upon injury. Diffusion parameters were significantly different between patients and controls, and most pronounced in the dorsal geniculo-striate projections, with a pattern indicating primary injury. The macular ganglion cell complex was significantly thinner in the patients and most pronounced in the superior sectors; a pattern particularly evident in the four patients with inferior VF defects. The ratio of the mean thickness of the macular ganglion cell complex in the superior and inferior sectors significantly correlated with the axial and mean diffusivities in the contra- and ipsilateral dorsal striate projections. The results suggest a causal link between injuries to the superior portion of the immature OR and secondary thinning in the macular ganglion cell complex, resulting in inferior VF defects.

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the sole output neurons in the eyes, are vulnerable to diverse insults in many pathological conditions, which can lead to permanent vision dysfunction. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to protecting RGCs and their axons from injuries are not completely known. Here, we identify that Porf-2, a member of the Rho GTPase activating protein gene group, is upregulated in RGCs after optic nerve crush. Knockdown of Porf-2 protects RGCs from apoptosis and promotes long-distance optic nerve regeneration after crush injury in both young and aged mice in vivo. In vitro, we find that inhibition of Porf-2 induces axon growth and growth cone formation in retinal explants. Inhibition of Porf-2 provides long-term and post-injury protection to RGCs and eventually promotes the recovery of visual function after crush injury in mice. These findings reveal a neuroprotective impact of the inhibition of Porf-2 on RGC survival and axon regeneration after optic nerve injury, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for vision restoration in patients with traumatic optic neuropathy.

Reactive gliosis is a complex process that involves changes in gene expression and morphological remodeling. The mouse optic nerve, where astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes interact with retinal ganglion cell axons and each other, is a particularly suitable model for studying the molecular mechanisms of reactive gliosis. We triggered gliosis at the mouse optic nerve head by retro orbital nerve crush. We followed the expression profiles of 14,000 genes from 1 day to 3 months, as the optic nerve formed a glial scar. The transcriptome showed profound changes. These were greatest shortly after injury; the numbers of differentially regulated genes then dropped, returning nearly to resting levels by 3 months. Different genes were modulated with very different time courses, and functionally distinct groups of genes responded in partially overlapping waves. These correspond roughly to two quick waves of inflammation and cell proliferation, a slow wave of tissue remodeling and debris removal, and a final stationary phase that primarily reflects permanent structural changes in the axons. Responses from astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes were distinctively different, both molecularly and morphologically. Comparisons to other models of brain injury and to glaucoma indicated that the glial responses depended on both the tissue and the injury. Attempts to modulate glial function after axonal injuries should consider different mechanistic targets at different times following the insult.

Over 3 million people in the United States live with long-term disability because of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose of this study was to characterize and compare two different animal models of TBI (blunt head trauma and blast TBI) to determine common and divergent characteristics of these models. With recent literature reviews noting the prevalence of visual system injury in animal models of TBI, coupled with clinical estimates of 50-75% of all TBI cases, we decided to assess commonalities, if they existed, through visual system injury. A unilateral (left directed) blast and repeat blast model injury with coup-contra-coup injury patterns were compared to a midline blunt injury. Injuries were induced in adult male mice to observe and quantify visual deficits. Retinal ganglion cell loss and axonal degeneration in the optic tract, superior colliculus, and lateral geniculate nuclei were examined to trace injury outcomes throughout major vision-associated areas. Optokinetic response, immunohistochemistry, and western blots were analyzed. Where a single blunt injury produces significant visual deficits a single blast injury appears to have less severe visual consequences. Visual deficits after repeat blasts are similar to a single blast. Single blast injury induces contralateral damage to the right optic chiasm and tract whereas bilateral injury follows a single blunt TBI. Repeat blast injuries are required to see degeneration patterns in downstream regions similar to the damage seen in a single blunt injury. This finding is further supported by amyloid precursor protein (APP) staining in injured cohorts. Blunt injured groups present with staining 1.2 mm ahead of the optic nerve, indicating axonal breakage closer to the optic chiasm. In blast groups, APP was identifiable in a bilateral pattern only in the geniculate nucleus. Evidence for unilateral neuronal degeneration in brain tissue with bilateral axonal ruptures are pivotal discoveries in this model differentiation. Analysis of the two injury models suggests that there is a significant difference in the histological outcomes dependent on injury type, though visual system injury is likely present in more cases than are currently diagnosed clinically.

Severed CNS axons fail to regenerate in adult mammals and there are no effective regenerative strategies to treat patients with CNS injuries. Several genes, including phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and Krüppel-like factors, regulate intrinsic growth capacity of mature neurons. The Lin28 gene is essential for cell development and pluripotency in worms and mammals. In this study, we evaluated the role of Lin28a in regulating regenerative capacity of diverse populations of CNS neurons in adult mammals. Using a neuron-specific Thy1 promoter, we generated transgenic mice that overexpress Lin28a protein in multiple populations of projection neurons, including corticospinal tracts and retinal ganglion cells. We demonstrate that upregulation of Lin28a in transgenic mice induces significant long distance regeneration of both corticospinal axons and the optic nerve in adult mice. Importantly, overexpression of Lin28a by post-injury treatment with adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) vector stimulates dramatic regeneration of descending spinal tracts and optic nerve axons after lesions. Upregulation of Lin28a also enhances activity of the Akt signaling pathway in mature CNS neurons. Therefore, Lin28a is critical for regulating growth capacity of multiple CNS neurons and may become an important molecular target for treating CNS injuries.

The use of the visual system played a major role in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms controlling axonal regeneration in the injured CNS after trauma. In this model, CNTF was shown to be the most potent known neurotrophic factor for axonal regeneration in the injured optic nerve. To clarify the role of the downstream growth regulator Stat3, we analyzed axonal regeneration and neuronal survival after an optic nerve crush in adult mice. The infection of retinal ganglion cells with adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) containing wild-type (Stat3-wt) or constitutively active (Stat3-ca) Stat3 cDNA promoted axonal regeneration in the injured optic nerve. Axonal growth was analyzed in whole-mounted optic nerves in three dimensions (3D) after tissue clearing. Surprisingly, with AAV2.Stat3-ca stimulation, axons elongating beyond the lesion site displayed very irregular courses, including frequent U-turns, suggesting massive directionality and guidance problems. The pharmacological blockade of ROCK, a key signaling component for myelin-associated growth inhibitors, reduced axonal U-turns and potentiated AAV2.Stat3-ca-induced regeneration. Similar results were obtained after the sustained delivery of CNTF in the axotomized retina. These results show the important role of Stat3 in the activation of the neuronal growth program for regeneration, and they reveal that axonal misguidance is a key limiting factor that can affect long-distance regeneration and target interaction after trauma in the CNS. The correction of axonal misguidance was associated with improved long-distance axon regeneration in the injured adult CNS.

Traumatic nerve injury activates cell stress pathways, resulting in neuronal death and loss of vital neural functions. To date, there are no available neuroprotectants for the treatment of traumatic neural injuries. Here, we studied three important flavanones of citrus components, in vitro and in vivo, to reveal their roles in inhibiting the JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase)-JUN pathway and their neuroprotective effects in the optic nerve crush injury model, a kind of traumatic nerve injury in the central nervous system. Results showed that both neural injury in vivo and cell stress in vitro activated the JNK-JUN pathway and increased JUN phosphorylation. We also demonstrated that naringenin treatment completely inhibited stress-induced JUN phosphorylation in cultured cells, whereas nobiletin and hesperidin only partially inhibited JUN phosphorylation. Neuroprotection studies in optic nerve crush injury mouse models revealed that naringenin treatment increased the survival of retinal ganglion cells after traumatic optic nerve injury, while the other two components had no neuroprotective effect. The neuroprotection effect of naringenin was due to the inhibition of JUN phosphorylation in crush-injured retinal ganglion cells. Therefore, the citrus component naringenin provides neuroprotection through the inhibition of the JNK-JUN pathway by inhibiting JUN phosphorylation, indicating the potential application of citrus chemical components in the clinical therapy of traumatic optic nerve injuries.

There are no effective treatments currently available for optic nerve transection injuries. Stem cell therapy represents a feasible future treatment option. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) transplantation in rats with optic nerve injury.

Partial transection (PT) of the optic nerve is an established experimental model of secondary degeneration in the central nervous system. After a dorsal transection, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) with axons in ventral optic nerve are intact but vulnerable to secondary degeneration, whereas RGCs in dorsal retina with dorsal axons are affected by primary and secondary injuries. Using microarray, we quantified gene expression changes in dorsal and ventral retina at 1 and 7 days post PT, to characterize pathogenic pathways linked to primary and secondary degeneration.

Axonal degeneration resulting from optic nerve damage can lead to the progressive death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), culminating in irreversible vision loss. We contrasted two methods for inducing optic nerve damage: optic nerve compression (ONCo) and optic nerve crush (ONCr). These were assessed for their respective merits in simulating traumatic optic neuropathies and neurodegeneration. We also administered neural progenitor cells (NPCs) into the subtenon space to validate their potential in mitigating optic nerve damage. Our findings indicate that both ONCo and ONCr successfully induced optic nerve damage, as shown by increases in ischemia and expression of genes linked to neuronal regeneration. Post NPC injection, recovery in the expression of neuronal regeneration-related genes was more pronounced in the ONCo model than in the ONCr model, while inflammation-related gene expression saw a better recovery in ONCr. In addition, the proteomic analysis of R28 cells in hypoxic conditions identified Vps35 and Syntaxin12 genes. Vps35 preserved the mitochondrial function in ONCo, while Syntaxin12 appeared to restrain inflammation via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in ONCr. NPCs managed to restore damaged RGCs by elevating neuroprotection factors and controlling inflammation through mitochondrial homeostasis and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hypoxia-injured R28 cells and in both animal models. Our results suggest that ischemic injury and crush injury cause optic nerve damage via different mechanisms, which can be effectively simulated using ONCo and ONCr, respectively. Moreover, cell-based therapies such as NPCs may offer promising avenues for treating various optic neuropathies, including ischemic and crush injuries.

To assess the specific role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) death receptor signaling in the induction of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, optic nerves of mice deficient for TNF receptor-1 (TNF-R1-/-) and control mice (C57BL/6J) were unilaterally subjected to crush injury. Counts of RGCs and their axons 6 weeks after the injury demonstrated that their loss was significantly less in TNF-R1-/- mice compared to controls. The most prominent decrease in neuronal loss detected in TNF-R1-/- mice was beyond the initial 2-week period after the injury. This time period was correlated with the period of glial activation and increased glial immunolabeling for TNF-alpha in these eyes. No further protection against neuronal loss was detectable in TNF-R1-/- mice treated with D-JNKI1, a specific inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK). However, anti-JNK treatment of control animals provided a significant protection against neuronal loss during the same secondary degeneration period. Phospho-JNK immunolabeling of RGCs in control mice subjected to optic nerve crush significantly decreased following their treatment with D-JNKI1, and anti-JNK treatment protected RGCs from degeneration in these animals, similar to the lack of TNF-R1. These findings provide evidence that TNF death receptor signaling is involved in the secondary degeneration of RGCs following optic nerve injury, and is associated with JNK signaling. Since secondarily degenerating neurons are viable targets for neuroprotection, inhibition of TNF death receptor signaling may be an effective strategy to protect RGCs in several neurodegenerative injuries.

Ocular repeated air blast injuries occur from low overpressure blast wave exposure, which are often repeated and in quick succession. We have shown that caspase-2 caused the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) after blunt ocular trauma. Here, we investigated if caspase-2 also mediates RGC apoptosis in a mouse model of air blast induced indirect traumatic optic neuropathy (b-ITON). C57BL/6 mice were exposed to repeated blasts of overpressure air (3 × 2 × 15 psi) and intravitreal injections of siRNA against caspase-2 (siCASP2) or against a control enhanced green fluorescent protein (siEGFP) at either 5 h after the first 2 × 15 psi ("post-blast") or 48 h before the first blast exposure ("pre-blast") and repeated every 7 days. RGC counts were unaffected by the b-ITON or intravitreal injections, despite increased degenerating ON axons, even in siCASP2 "post-blast" injection groups. Degenerating ON axons remained at sham levels after b-ITON and intravitreal siCASP2 "pre-blast" injections, but with less degenerating axons in siCASP2 compared to siEGFP-treated eyes. Intravitreal injections "post-blast" caused greater vitreous inflammation, potentiated by siCASP2, with less in "pre-blast" injected eyes, which was abrogated by siCASP2. We conclude that intravitreal injection timing after ocular trauma induced variable retinal and ON pathology, undermining our candidate neuroprotective therapy, siCASP2.