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Increased Myo/Nog Cell Presence and Phagocytic Activity in Retinal Degeneration: Insights from a Mouse Model

  • Diana Crowley
  • , Samantha Murad
  • , Courtney Helm
  • , Rachel Souza
  • , Sarah Coughlan
  • , Scott Serpico
  • , Eric Sugarman
  • , Kyle Marguiles
  • , Brian Heist
  • , Kathryn D. Mitchell
  • , Christopher K. Sutera
  • , Mark Martin
  • , Carlos Font
  • , Mary Woodruff
  • , E-Jine Tsai
  • , Rushil Brahmbhatt
  • , Paul Lecker
  • , Grzegorz Gorski
  • , John Benalcazar
  • , Serena Young
  • Abey Martin, Lindsay Gugerty, Jacquelyn Gerhart, Mindy George-Weinstein, Arturo Bravo Nuevo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Myo/Nog cells play a pivotal role in ocular development and demonstrate a rapid response to stress and injury. This study investigates their behavior and distribution in a murine model of retinitis pigmentosa, specifically in C3H/HeJ mice, which exhibit photoreceptor degeneration due to a homozygous mutation in the Pde6brd1 gene. Retinal samples from C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J mice were analyzed at postnatal weeks 2.5 to 6 using hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunofluorescence for brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) expressed in Myo/Nog cells, and TUNEL labeling for apoptotic cell detection. The results demonstrated a progressive thinning of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) in C3H mice, accompanied by a significant increase in Myo/Nog cell numbers. In normal retinas, Myo/Nog cells were primarily located in the inner nuclear and outer plexiform layers. However, in C3H/HeJ mice, they accumulated in the ONL near apoptotic photoreceptors and within the choroid. Notably, in these degenerative regions, Myo/Nog cells exhibited features of phagocytosis, suggesting a role in apoptotic cell clearance. Additionally, parallels between Myo/Nog cell responses in retinitis pigmentosa and models of oxygen-induced retinopathy, ocular hypertension, and light damage suggest that these cells may be leveraged for therapeutic purposes.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalApplied Sciences (Switzerland)
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2025

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