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  • Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor (PEDF) Receptors Are Involved in Survival of Retinal Neurons.

Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor (PEDF) Receptors Are Involved in Survival of Retinal Neurons.

International journal of molecular sciences (2021-01-06)
Susanne Bürger, Jie Meng, Annette Zwanzig, Mike Beck, Maik Pankonin, Peter Wiedemann, Wolfram Eichler, Jan Darius Unterlauft
ABSTRACT

The demise of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is characteristic of diseases of the retina such as glaucoma and diabetic or ischemic retinopathies. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a multifunctional secreted protein that mediates neuroprotection and inhibition of angiogenesis in the retina. We have studied expression and regulation of two of several receptors for PEDF, patatin-like phospholipase 2 gene product/PEDF-R and laminin receptor (LR), in serum-starved RGC under normoxia and hypoxia and investigated their involvement in the survival of retinal neuronal cells. We show that PEDF-R and LR are co-expressed in RGC and R28 retinal precursor cells. Expression of both receptors was enhanced in the presence of complex secretions from retinal glial (Müller) cells and upregulated by VEGF and under hypoxic conditions. PEDF-R- and LR-knocked-down cells demonstrated a markedly attenuated expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL) and neuroprotective mediators (PEDF, VEGF, BDNF) suggesting that both PEDF-R and LR mediate pro-survival effects of PEDF on RGC. While this study does not provide evidence for a differential survival-promoting influence of either PEDF-R or LR, it nevertheless highlights the importance of both PEDF receptors for the viability of retinal neurons.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
MISSION® esiRNA, targeting human PNPLA2
Sigma-Aldrich
Adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate tris salt, ≥97% (HPLC), powder
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Laminin Receptor Antibody, from rabbit, purified by affinity chromatography
Sigma-Aldrich
Triton X-100, laboratory grade