Functional significance of commonly regulated genes in mechanically and chemically induced retinal ganglion cell death in rat eyes

Abstract Despite much effort, the molecular mechanisms of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death remain unclear. To identify common cell death-promoting machinery in the mechanically and chemically injured retina, we profiled temporal gene expression patterns and studied their functional roles in the rod...

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Main Authors: Masaaki Kageyama, Koji Ohashi, Takashi Ota
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09503-z
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author Masaaki Kageyama
Koji Ohashi
Takashi Ota
author_facet Masaaki Kageyama
Koji Ohashi
Takashi Ota
author_sort Masaaki Kageyama
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Despite much effort, the molecular mechanisms of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death remain unclear. To identify common cell death-promoting machinery in the mechanically and chemically injured retina, we profiled temporal gene expression patterns and studied their functional roles in the rodent retina. In response to axotomy and intravitreal NMDA injection, 868 genes were commonly differentially expressed compared with those in normal retinas. K-means clustering assigned those common genes to 5 clusters on the basis of their temporal expression patterns, i.e., early, intermediate and late upregulated gene clusters, and early and late downregulated clusters. Most of the common genes and their assigned canonical pathways and molecular functions in each cluster were shared between axotomy and NMDA, indicating that their temporal expression profiles and functional roles are similar. Some of the common genes, including protein tyrosine phosphatases, formed specific molecular networks. Studies using chemical activators/inhibitors and knockout mice have demonstrated that protein tyrosine phosphatase 1/2 and interleukin-1 beta are detrimental to cell survival, whereas endothelin 2, the proteasome and galanin are neuroprotective. Thus, our integrated time-resolved expression profiling of common genes with bioinformatics and functional validation can help us to better understand the precise molecular mechanisms of RGC survival and death.
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spelling doaj-art-682b1fefaa794e7bae1aac2f69c4f9202025-08-20T04:01:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115112110.1038/s41598-025-09503-zFunctional significance of commonly regulated genes in mechanically and chemically induced retinal ganglion cell death in rat eyesMasaaki Kageyama0Koji Ohashi1Takashi Ota2Product Discovery, Ophthalmology Innovation Center, Santen Pharmaceutical Asia Pte. LtdProduct Development, Santen Pharmaceutical Co. LtdProduct Discovery, Ophthalmology Innovation Center, Santen Pharmaceutical Co. LtdAbstract Despite much effort, the molecular mechanisms of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death remain unclear. To identify common cell death-promoting machinery in the mechanically and chemically injured retina, we profiled temporal gene expression patterns and studied their functional roles in the rodent retina. In response to axotomy and intravitreal NMDA injection, 868 genes were commonly differentially expressed compared with those in normal retinas. K-means clustering assigned those common genes to 5 clusters on the basis of their temporal expression patterns, i.e., early, intermediate and late upregulated gene clusters, and early and late downregulated clusters. Most of the common genes and their assigned canonical pathways and molecular functions in each cluster were shared between axotomy and NMDA, indicating that their temporal expression profiles and functional roles are similar. Some of the common genes, including protein tyrosine phosphatases, formed specific molecular networks. Studies using chemical activators/inhibitors and knockout mice have demonstrated that protein tyrosine phosphatase 1/2 and interleukin-1 beta are detrimental to cell survival, whereas endothelin 2, the proteasome and galanin are neuroprotective. Thus, our integrated time-resolved expression profiling of common genes with bioinformatics and functional validation can help us to better understand the precise molecular mechanisms of RGC survival and death.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09503-zRetinal ganglion cell deathMicroarray-based time-resolved gene expression profilingMolecular annotation and functional validationCell death-promoting and intrinsic neuroprotective mechanismsProtein tyrosine phosphataseThe proteasome
spellingShingle Masaaki Kageyama
Koji Ohashi
Takashi Ota
Functional significance of commonly regulated genes in mechanically and chemically induced retinal ganglion cell death in rat eyes
Scientific Reports
Retinal ganglion cell death
Microarray-based time-resolved gene expression profiling
Molecular annotation and functional validation
Cell death-promoting and intrinsic neuroprotective mechanisms
Protein tyrosine phosphatase
The proteasome
title Functional significance of commonly regulated genes in mechanically and chemically induced retinal ganglion cell death in rat eyes
title_full Functional significance of commonly regulated genes in mechanically and chemically induced retinal ganglion cell death in rat eyes
title_fullStr Functional significance of commonly regulated genes in mechanically and chemically induced retinal ganglion cell death in rat eyes
title_full_unstemmed Functional significance of commonly regulated genes in mechanically and chemically induced retinal ganglion cell death in rat eyes
title_short Functional significance of commonly regulated genes in mechanically and chemically induced retinal ganglion cell death in rat eyes
title_sort functional significance of commonly regulated genes in mechanically and chemically induced retinal ganglion cell death in rat eyes
topic Retinal ganglion cell death
Microarray-based time-resolved gene expression profiling
Molecular annotation and functional validation
Cell death-promoting and intrinsic neuroprotective mechanisms
Protein tyrosine phosphatase
The proteasome
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09503-z
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