Abstract
Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy in which the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) results in irreversible vison loss. Therefore, neuroprotection of RGCs from glaucomatous afflictions is crucial for glaucoma treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of statins in the protection of RGCs using a rat model. Glaucomatous injury was induced in rats by chronic ocular hypertension (OHT) achieved after performing a circumlimbal suture. The rats were given either statins such as simvastatin and atorvastatin or a solvent weekly for 6 weeks. Retina sections underwent hematoxylin and eosin, Brn3a, or cleaved casepase-3 staining to evaluate RGC survival. In addition, modulation of glial activation was assessed. While the retinas without statin treatment exhibited increased RGC death due to chronic OHT, statins promoted the survival of RGCs and reduced apoptosis. Statins also suppressed chronic OHT-mediated glial activation in the retina. Our results demonstrate that statins exert neuroprotective effects in rat retinas exposed to chronic OHT, which may support the prospect of statins being a glaucoma treatment.
Highlights
Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy characterized by axonal damage, remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) at the lamina cribrosa of optic nerve heads (ONHs), and the subsequent death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) [1,2]
In a retrospective longitudinal cohort study, a group that had taken statins showed a lower incidence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) development compared to the no statin group in a dose-dependent manner [5]
We concluded that the chronic ocular hypertension (OHT) was achieved and the subsequent RGC death was induced by the circumlimbal suture
Summary
Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy characterized by axonal damage, remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) at the lamina cribrosa of optic nerve heads (ONHs), and the subsequent death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) [1,2]. The interference of HMG-CoA metabolism results in the depletion of isoprenoids as well Due to these cholesterol-independent pleiotropic effects, statins have been beneficial in diseases such as inflammatory diseases [3] and Alzheimer’s disease [4]. In a retrospective longitudinal cohort study, a group that had taken statins showed a lower incidence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) development compared to the no statin group in a dose-dependent manner [5]. The neuroprotective effects of statins have been reported in various models with RGC and optic nerve injury, the effect in response to chronic IOP elevation, which more closely represents glaucomatous insults, has not been studied
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