Mechanisms of retinal neuronal injury

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Retinal neuronal death is a common pathological feature of many vision threatening diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusion, glaucoma, traumatic optic neuropathy, and others. These diseases can cause blindness, impair patients' quality of life, and stress our health care system. Retinal neuronal injury is a common pathological feature of these diseases. This study is to delineate the common mechanisms of neuronal injury during retinopathy and identify novel strategies to limit injury and preserve vision. We will use different models of retinal neuronal injury to test our novel hypothesis that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress- induced expression of CXCL10 has a key role in retinal neuronal damage due to CXCR3-mediated inflammatory reactions and induction of oxidative stress during retinopathy. We will use genetic and pharmacological approaches to address the following specific aims: 1) Determine the role of ER stress in increasing CXCL10 expression and retinal neuronal injury during retinopathy. 2) Investigate the role of CXCL10/CXCR3 in retinal neuronal injury during retinopathy. 3) Evaluate therapeutic benefits of neuroprotection by pharmacological blockade of ER stress or CXCR3. Outcomes from this study will provide novel common mechanisms of retinal neuronal injury and may be readily put into clinical practice for retinopathy.