bcl-2 overexpression reduces apoptotic photoreceptor cell death in three different retinal degenerations.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 8692941.
- Also identified by PMC identifier 38932.
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Abstract
Apoptosis of photoreceptors occurs infrequently in adult retina but can be triggered in inherited and environmentally induced retinal degenerations. The protooncogene bcl-2 is known to be a potent regulator of cell survival in neurons. We created lines of transgenic mice overexpressing bcl-2 to test for its ability to increase photoreceptor survival. Bcl-2 increased photoreceptor survival in mice with retinal degeneration caused by a defective opsin or cGMP phosphodiesterase. Overexpression of Bcl-2 in normal photoreceptors also decreased the damaging effects of constant light exposure. Apoptosis was induced in normal photoreceptors by very high levels of bcl-2. We conclude that bcl-2 is an important regulator of photoreceptor cell death in retinal degenerations.
Medical subject headings
- Apoptosis
- Cell Survival
- Photoreceptor Cells
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins
- Proto-Oncogenes
- Retinal Degeneration
- Rod Opsins