887. G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase Interacting Protein 1 Slows down the Apoptosis Process of Retinal Ganglion Cells in a Rat Model

Top of pageAbstract Central nervous system (CNS) trauma, stoke, or neuron degeneration diseases can lead to permanent paralysis or other loss of function. However, it is becoming clear that the CNS is not incapable of regeneration. The adult mammalian CNS has a low potential of neuron regeneration because it consists of low levels of growth-promoting matrix molecules and high levels of inhibitory factors. The integrin family of transmembrane receptors may have the ability to active the neuron regeneration. The function of one member of the integrin family, which is G protein-coupled receptor kinase interacting protein 1 (GIT1), has been tested in an eye model of the rat. Briefly, the recombinant GIT1 and eGFP, luciferase, or eGFP adenoviral vectors (ADGIT1, ADLUC, or ADGFP) and DiI solution were injected into the left superior colliculus (SC) separately. The expression of luciferase or eGFP was monitored in rat eyes by using a molecular imaging technique. The right optical nerves were isolated and injured in some rats 3|[ndash]|5 days after virus injection. The retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer and the right optical nerve will be tested at different time points. The luciferase gene expression in RGCs was detected in the eyes of live animals following local luciferin delivery using optical imaging techniques. No GFP expression was detected using fluorescent imaging techniques. The cell types that were expressed the foreign genes were mainly RGCs, which were confirmed by using luciferase immunohistochemistry and fluorescent microscopy. Because more than 95% RGCs will be dead in 2 weeks after rat optical nerve injury and the living RGCs are pre-required for axonal growth, the numbers of living RGCs were counted first. The living RGCs were labeled by DiI and shown in a red color under fluorescent microscopy. The samples of optical nerves have not been tested yet. The average numbers of RGCs in 140000 |[mu]|m2 on Days 10 and 15 post optical nerve injury were 179.6 |[plusmn]| 4.3 and 23.4 |[plusmn]| 1.7 in ADGIT1 group and 69.4 |[plusmn]| 4.6 and 11.9 |[plusmn]| 0.8 in ADGFP group. The numbers of living RGCs in ADGIT1 group were significantly higher than that in the ADGFP group at both time points (P