Involvement of autophagy in MNU-induced retinal degeneration model and its molecular control

自噬（Autophagy，AP）是真核生物普遍存在的细胞内蛋白质降解途径，与神经元退行性疾病以及年龄相关性黄斑变性、青光眼等眼部疾病的发生发展密切相关。本研究中，MNU诱导的和遗传性视网膜变性小鼠模型与视网膜AP抑制有关。钙蛋白酶抑制剂成功地改善了MNU诱导的小鼠模型中的感光细胞死亡，从而恢复了视网膜中AP的基础水平。

Autophagy (AP) is intracellular protein degradation pathway that eukaryote universally possesses, and AP contributes to neuronal degenerative diseases and eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. In our research, MNU-induced and genetic retinal degeneration mouse models were related to the inhibition of AP in retina. Calpain inhibitor successfully ameliorated photoreceptor cell death in MNU-induced mouse model, which restored basal level of AP in retina.