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Zhang X, Zhu J, Chen X, Jie-Qiong Z, Li X, Luo L, Huang H, Liu W, Zhou X, Yan J, Lin S, Ye J. Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 Deficiency Induces Age-Related Alterations of the Retina in Young and Old Mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:272. [PMID: 31281243 PMCID: PMC6596281 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related changes in visual function and retina structure are very common in aged animals, but the underlying mechanisms of these changes remain unclear. Here we report that the expression of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), a critical immune regulatory factor, is dramatically down-regulated in mouse retinas during aging. To address the role of IRF3 in the retina, we examined the structure and function of retinas in young (3–4 months) and old (22–24 months) Irf3-/- mice in comparison to age-matched wildtype (WT) mice. We found that IRF3 deletion resulted in impaired electroretinogram (ERG) responses and decreased retinal thickness in both young and old mice. In addition, numerous synapses of the outer plexiform layer (OPL) were found obviously extending into outer nuclear layer (ONL) in Irf3-/- mice, along with a reduction of the average synapse density in the OPL. These changes suggest that IRF3 deletion may accelerate retinal senescence. In support of this hypothesis, a number of classic senescence-associated markers were found in remarkably elevated level in Irf3-/- retina, including p53, p16INK4a, inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IREα), p-H2A.X and promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML). Overall, our results indicate that maintenance normal IRF3 levels is necessary for retinal structure and function and suggest that IRF3 is an important regulator of retinal senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA (Daping Hospital), Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingyi Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA (Daping Hospital), Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xianjun Chen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhang Jie-Qiong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA (Daping Hospital), Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA (Daping Hospital), Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Linlin Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA (Daping Hospital), Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huang Huang
- Institute of Immunology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenyi Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA (Daping Hospital), Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhou
- Institute of Immunology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jun Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA (Daping Hospital), Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Sen Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA (Daping Hospital), Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jian Ye
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA (Daping Hospital), Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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