Ryan Passino, Matthew C Finneran, Hannah Hafner, Qian Feng, Lucas D Huffman, Xiao-Feng Zhao, Craig N Johnson, Riki Kawaguchi, Juan A Oses-Prieto, Alma L Burlingame, Daniel H Geschwind, Larry I Benowitz, Roman J Giger
In adult mammals, injured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) fail to spontaneously regrow severed axons, resulting in permanent visual deficits. Robust axon growth, however, is observed after intra-ocular injection of particulate β-glucan isolated from yeast. Blood-borne myeloid cells rapidly respond to β-glucan, releasing numerous pro-regenerative factors. Unfortunately, the pro-regenerative effects are undermined by retinal damage inflicted by an overactive immune system. Here, we demonstrate that protection of the inflamed vasculature promotes immune-mediated RGC regeneration...
March 14, 2024: Cell Reports