Matrine protects retinal ganglion cells from apoptosis in experimental optic neuritis
Year: 2020
Type: preprint
Abstract: Background: Inflammatory demyelination and axonal injury of the optic nerve are hallmarks of optic neuritis (ON), which often occurs in multiple sclerosis and is a major cause of visual disturbance in young adults. Although a high dose of corticosteroids can promote visual recovery, it cannot prevent permanent neuronal damage. Novel and effective therapies are thus required. Given the recently defined capacity of matrine (MAT), a quinolizidine alkaloid derived from the herb Radix Sophorae flavescens, in immunomodulation and neuroprotection, we tested in this study the effect of matrine on rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Results: MAT administration, started at disease onset, significantly suppressed optic nerve infiltration and demyelination, with reduced numbers of Iba1 + macrophages/microglia and CD4 + T cells, compared to those from vehicle-treated rats. Increased expression of neurofilaments, an axon marker, reduced numbers of apoptosis in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), and reduced numbers of Iba1 + macrophages/microglia and CD4 + T cells were also observed in the retina after MAT treatment. Conclusions: Taken as a whole, our results demonstrate that MAT attenuated inflammation, demyelination and axonal loss in the optic nerve, and protected RGCs from inflammation-induced cell death. MAT may therefore have potential as a novel treatment for this disease that may result in blindness.
Source: Research Square
Authors: Jian Kang, Shu-Qing Liu, Yi-Fan Song, Meng-Ru Wang, Yao-Juan Chu, Ya-Min Shi, Feng-Yan Zhang, Lin Zhu
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3119050386