Back to Search Start Over

Matrine treatment reduces retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in experimental optic neuritis.

Authors :
Kang, Jian
Liu, Shuqing
Song, Yifan
Chu, Yaojuan
Wang, Mengru
Shi, Yamin
Zhang, Fengyan
Zhu, Lin
Source :
Scientific Reports; 5/4/2021, Vol. 11 Issue 1, p1-12, 12p
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Inflammatory demyelination and axonal injury of the optic nerve are hallmarks of optic neuritis (ON), which often occurs in multiple sclerosis and is a major cause of visual disturbance in young adults. Although a high dose of corticosteroids can promote visual recovery, it cannot prevent permanent neuronal damage. Novel and effective therapies are thus required. Given the recently defined capacity of matrine (MAT), a quinolizidine alkaloid derived from the herb Radix Sophorae flavescens, in immunomodulation and neuroprotection, we tested in this study the effect of matrine on rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis. MAT administration, started at disease onset, significantly suppressed optic nerve infiltration and demyelination, with reduced numbers of Iba1<superscript>+</superscript> macrophages/microglia and CD4<superscript>+</superscript> T cells, compared to those from vehicle-treated rats. Increased expression of neurofilaments, an axon marker, reduced numbers of apoptosis in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Moreover, MAT treatment promoted Akt phosphorylation and shifted the Bcl-2/Bax ratio back towards an antiapoptotic one, which could be a mechanism for its therapeutic effect in the ON model. Taken as a whole, our results demonstrate that MAT attenuated inflammation, demyelination and axonal loss in the optic nerve, and protected RGCs from inflammation-induced cell death. MAT may therefore have potential as a novel treatment for this disease that may result in blindness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20452322
Volume :
11
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Scientific Reports
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
150129209
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89086-7