Intracranial injection of PEG-PEI/ROCK II-siRNA improves cognitive impairment in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Novel insights into the ROCK-JAK-STAT signaling pathway in upper respiratory tract infections and neurodegenerative diseases

Acute upper respiratory tract infections are a major public health issue, with uncontrolled inflammation triggered by upper respiratory viruses being a significant cause of patient deterioration or death. This study focuses on the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (JAK-STAT-ROCK) signaling pathway, providing an in-depth analysis of the interplay between uncontrolled inflammation after upper respiratory tract infections and the development of neurodegenerative diseases. It offers a conceptual framework for understanding the lung-brain-related immune responses and potential interactions. The relationship between the ROCK-JAK-STAT signaling pathway and inflammatory immunity is a complex and multi-layered research area and exploring potential common targets could open new avenues for the prevention and treatment of related inflammation.

Emerging paradigms in Alzheimer's therapy

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects elderly, and its incidence is continuously increasing across the globe. Unfortunately, despite decades of research, a complete cure for Alzheimer's disease continues to elude us. The current medications are mainly symptomatic and slow the disease progression but do not result in reversal of all disease pathologies. The growing body of knowledge on the factors responsible for the onset and progression of the disease has resulted in the identification of new targets that could be targeted for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This has opened new vistas for treatment of Alzheimer's disease that have moved away from chemotherapeutic agents modulating a single target to biologics and combinations that acted on multiple targets thereby offering better therapeutic outcomes. This review discusses the emerging directions in therapeutic interventions against Alzheimer's disease highlighting their merits that promise to change the treatment paradigm and challenges that limit their clinical translation.

Mechanistic and therapeutic role of NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, has emerged as the most common form of dementia in the elderly. Several pathological hallmarks have been identified, including neuroinflammation. A comprehensive insight into the underlying mechanisms that can fuel the development of novel therapeutic approaches is necessary because of the alarmingly rapid increase in the frequency of incidence. Recently, NLRP3 inflammasome was identified as a critical mediator of neuroinflammation. Activation of nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome by amyloid, neurofibrillary tangles, impaired autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress, triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-18. Subsequently, these cytokines can promote neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. It is well established that genetic or pharmacological ablation of NLRP3 alleviates AD-related pathological features in in vitro and in vivo models. Therefore, several synthetic and natural compounds have been identified that exhibit the potential to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome and alleviate AD-associated pathology. The current review article will highlight the various mechanisms by which activation of NLRP3 inflammation occurs during Alzheimer's disease, and how it influences neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. Moreover, we will summarise the different small molecules that possess the potential to inhibit NLRP3 and can pave the path for developing novel therapeutic interventions for AD.

Functionalized nanoparticles to deliver nucleic acids to the brain for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Brain-targeted gene delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a significant challenge in the 21st century for the healthcare sector, particularly in developing an effective treatment strategy against Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Internal architecture of the brain capillary endothelium restricts bio-actives entry into the brain. Additionally, therapy with nucleic acids faces challenges like vulnerability to degradation by nucleases and potential immune responses. Functionalized nanocarrier-based gene delivery approaches have resulted in safe and effective platforms. These nanoparticles (NPs) have demonstrated efficacy in protecting nucleic acids from degradation, enhancing transport across the BBB, increasing bioavailability, prolonging circulation time, and regulating gene expression of key proteins involved in AD pathology. We provided a detailed review of several nanocarriers and targeting ligands such as cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), endogenous proteins, and antibodies. The utilization of functionalized NPs extends beyond a singular system, serving as a versatile platform for customization in related neurodegenerative diseases. Only a few numbers of bioactive regimens can go through the BBB. Thus, exploring functionalized NPs for brain-targeted gene delivery is of utmost necessity. Currently, genes are considered high therapeutic potential molecules for altering any disease-causing gene. Through surface modification, nanoparticulate systems can be tailored to address various diseases by replacing the target-specific molecule on their surface. This review article presents several nanoparticulate delivery systems, such as lipid NPs, polymeric micelles, exosomes, and polymeric NPs, for nucleic acids delivery to the brain and the functionalization strategies explored in AD research.

siRNA drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with a few FDA-approved drugs that provide modest symptomatic benefits and only two FDA-approved disease-modifying treatments for AD. The advancements in understanding the causative genes and non-coding sequences at the molecular level of the pathophysiology of AD have resulted in several exciting research papers that employed small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapy. Although siRNA is being sought by academia and biopharma industries, several challenges still need to be addressed. We comprehensively report the latest advances in AD pathophysiology, druggable targets, ongoing clinical trials, and the siRNA-based approaches across the blood-brain barrier for addressing AD. This review describes the latest delivery systems employed to address this barrier. Critical insights and future perspectives on siRNA therapy for AD are also provided.

ROCK2 Inhibition: A Futuristic Approach for the Management of Alzheimer's Disease

Neurons depend on mitochondrial functions for membrane excitability, neurotransmission, and plasticity.Mitochondrialdynamicsare important for neural cell maintenance. To maintain mitochondrial homeostasis, lysosomes remove dysfunctionalmitochondria through mitophagy. Mitophagy promotes mitochondrial turnover and prevents the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria. In many neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), including Alzheimer's disease (AD), mitophagy is disrupted in neurons.Mitophagy is regulated by several proteins; recently,Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) has been suggested to negatively regulate the Parkin-dependent mitophagy pathway.Thus, ROCK2inhibitionmay bea promising therapyfor NDDs. This review summarizesthe mitophagy pathway, the role of ROCK2in Parkin-dependentmitophagyregulation,and mitophagy impairment in the pathology of AD. We further discuss different ROCK inhibitors (synthetic drugs, natural compounds,and genetherapy-based approaches)and examine their effects on triggering neuronal growth and neuroprotection in AD and other NDDs. This comprehensive overview of the role of ROCK in mitophagy inhibition provides a possible explanation for the significance of ROCK inhibitors in the therapeutic management of AD and other NDDs.

Therapeutic nanotechnologies for Alzheimer's disease: a critical analysis of recent trends and findings

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease for which no disease modifying therapies are presently available. Besides the identification of pathological targets, AD presents numerous clinical and pharmacological challenges such as efficient active delivery to the central nervous system, cell targeting, and long-term dosing. Nanoparticles have been explored to overcome some of these challenges as drug delivery vehicles or drugs themselves. However, early promises have failed to materialize as no nanotechnology-based product has been able to reach the market and very few have moved past preclinical stages. In this review, we perform a critical analysis of the past decade's research on nanomedicine-based therapies for AD at the preclinical and clinical stages. The main obstacles to nanotechnology products and the most promising approaches were also identified, including renewed promise with gene editing, gene modulation, and vaccines.

PEG-PEI/siROCK2 inhibits Aβ42-induced microglial inflammation via NLRP3/caspase 1 pathway

OBJECTIVES

There is an urgent need to develop therapeutic strategies to improve the treatment outcome of Alzheimer's disease. The treatment strategy of gene therapy mediated by nanocarrier systems brings new hope for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. ROCK2 is involved in various pathological processes of Alzheimer's disease and may be a potential target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Our previous study indicated that PEG-PEI/siROCK2 [polyethyleneglycol-polyethyleneimine deliver ROCK2-siRNA, (PPSR)] prevented Aβ42-induced neurotoxicity and showed a promising prospect for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, whether PPSR has an effect on the microglial inflammation in Alzheimer's disease is still unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to detect the cytotoxicity of PEG-PEI and PPSR in primary microglial cells. Real-time PCR and western blotting were used to assess the expression of ROCK2 and nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)/caspase 1 pathway in primary microglial cells. ELISA assay was used to measure the effect of PPSR on attenuating the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) + Aβ-induced increase in IL-1β.

RESULTS

PEG-PEI concentration less than 20 μg/ml and the N/P (molar ratio of PEG-PEI amino/siRNA phosphate) ratio of PPSR less than 50 showed no significant cytotoxicity in primary microglia cells. PPSR could effectively inhibit the expression of ROCK2 in primary microglial cells. A further study revealed that PPSR attenuates the LPS+Aβ-induced increase in IL-1β without affecting cell viability. In addition, we found that PPSR suppressed the Aβ-induced NLRP3/caspase 1 pathway in primary microglial cells.

CONCLUSION

PPSR inhibits Aβ42-induced microglial inflammation via NLRP3/caspase 1 pathway.

A Review of Brain-Targeted Nonviral Gene-Based Therapies for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) are difficult to treat owing to the complexity of the brain and the presence of a natural blood-brain-barrier (BBB). Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the major progressive and currently incurable neurodegenerative disorders of the CNS, which accounts for 60-80% of cases of dementia. The pathophysiology of AD involves the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain. Additionally, synaptic loss and imbalance of neuronal signaling molecules are characterized as important markers of AD. Existing treatments of AD help in the management of its symptoms and aim toward the maintenance of cognitive functions, behavior, and attenuation of gradual memory loss. Over the past decade, nonviral gene therapy has attracted increasing interest due to its various advantages over its viral counterparts. Moreover, advancements in nonviral gene technology have led to their increasing contributions in clinical trials. However, brain-targeted nonviral gene delivery vectors come across various extracellular and intracellular barriers, limiting their ability to transfer the therapeutic gene into the target cells. Chief barriers to nonviral gene therapy have been discussed briefly in this review. We have also highlighted the rapid advancement of several nonviral gene therapies for AD, which are broadly categorized into physical and chemical methods. These methods aim to modulate Aβ, beta-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), apolipoprotein E, or neurotrophic factors' expression in the CNS. Overall, this review discusses challenges and recent advancements of nonviral gene therapy for AD.

Efficacy of Gene Therapy to Restore Cognition in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia and it is a progressive neurogenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques. There is currently no cure; however, some treatments are available to slow down the progression of the disease, including gene therapy, which has been investigated to have great potential for the treatment of AD.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review was to identify the efficacy of gene therapy to restore cognition in AD.

METHODS

A systematic review was carried out using papers published up to May 2020 and available in the Web of Science, Scopus, and Medline/PUBMED databases. Articles were considered for inclusion if they were original researches that investigated the effects of gene therapy on cognition in AD. The methodological quality of the selected studies was evaluated using the Risk of Bias Tool for Animal Intervention Studies (SYRCLE's Rob tool) and the Jadad Scale.

RESULTS

Most preclinical studies obtained positive results in improving memory and learning in mice that underwent treatment with gene therapy. On the other hand, clinical studies have obtained inconclusive results related to the delivery methods of the viral vector used in gene therapy.

CONCLUSION

Gene therapy has shown a great potential for the treatment of AD in preclinical trials, but results should be interpreted with caution since preclinical studies presented limitations to predict the efficacy of the treatment outcome in humans.

The Cellular Prion Protein-ROCK Connection: Contribution to Neuronal Homeostasis and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Amyloid-based neurodegenerative diseases such as prion, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases have distinct etiologies and clinical manifestations, but they share common pathological events. These diseases are caused by abnormally folded proteins (pathogenic prions PrP^Sc in prion diseases, β-amyloids/Aβ and Tau in Alzheimer's disease, α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease) that display β-sheet-enriched structures, propagate and accumulate in the nervous central system, and trigger neuronal death. In prion diseases, PrP^Sc-induced corruption of the physiological functions exerted by normal cellular prion proteins (PrP^C) present at the cell surface of neurons is at the root of neuronal death. For a decade, PrP^C emerges as a common cell surface receptor for other amyloids such as Aβ and α-synuclein, which relays, at least in part, their toxicity. In lipid-rafts of the plasma membrane, PrP^C exerts a signaling function and controls a set of effectors involved in neuronal homeostasis, among which are the RhoA-associated coiled-coil containing kinases (ROCKs). Here we review (i) how PrP^C controls ROCKs, (ii) how PrP^C-ROCK coupling contributes to neuronal homeostasis, and (iii) how the deregulation of the PrP^C-ROCK connection in amyloid-based neurodegenerative diseases triggers a loss of neuronal polarity, affects neurotransmitter-associated functions, contributes to the endoplasmic reticulum stress cascade, renders diseased neurons highly sensitive to neuroinflammation, and amplifies the production of neurotoxic amyloids.

Inhibition of microRNA-10b-5p up-regulates HOXD10 to attenuate Alzheimer's disease in rats via the Rho/ROCK signalling pathway

OBJECTIVE

It is believed that microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the specified function of miR-10b-5p in the disease has not been thoroughly understood. Thereafter, this research aimed to assess the function of miR-10b-5p in AD.

METHODS

Rat AD models were established by injected with amyloid-β_1-42 (Aβ_1-42), which were mainly treated with lentivirus-miR-10b-5p inhibitor, or lentivirus-overexpressed homeobox D10 (HOXD10). MiR-10b-5p, HOXD10, RhoA, ROCK1 and ROCK2 expression in rat hippocampal tissues were determined. Afterwards, the behaviour of rats was tested, and neuronal apoptosis, pathological injury, and inflammatory factors and oxidative stress-related factors were all assessed. Finally, the target relation between miR-10b-5p and HOXD10 was detected.

RESULTS

MiR-10b-5p was upregulated while HOXD10 was downregulated, and the Rho/ROCK signalling pathway was activated in hippocampal tissues of rats with AD. Inhibition of miR-10b-5p could attenuate the neuronal apoptosis, pathological injury, inflammation reaction, and oxidative stress by elevating HOXD10 and inhibiting the Rho/ROCK signalling pathway in AD rats. Moreover, HOXD10 was targeted by miR-10b-5p.

CONCLUSION

Inhibited miR-10b-5p decelerated the development of AD by promoting HOXD10 and inactivating the Rho/ROCK signalling pathway, and our findings may contribute to the exploration of AD treatment.

Novel therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease: Implications from cell-based therapy and nanotherapy

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease which leads to progressive dysfunction of cognition, memory and learning in elderly people. Common therapeutic agents are not only inadequate to suppress the progression of AD pathogenesis but also produce deleterious side effects; hence, development of alternative therapies is required to specifically suppress complications of AD. The current review provides a commentary on conventional as well as novel therapeutic approaches with an emphasis on stem cell and nano-based therapies for improvement and management of AD pathogenesis. According to our overview of the current literature, AD is a multi-factorial disorder with various pathogenic trajectories; hence, a multifunctional strategy to create effective neuroprotective agents is required to treat this disorder.

The Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil attenuates Aβ1-42-induced apoptosis via the ASK1/JNK signal pathway in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder, is the most common type of dementia. Beta amyloid (Aβ) peptide aggregation and phosphorylated tau protein accumulation are considered as one of the causes for AD. Our previous studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of the Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil, but the mechanism remains elucidated. In the present study, we examined the effects of fasudil on Aβ_1-42 aggregation and apoptosis and identified the intracellular signaling pathways involved in these actions in primary cultures of mouse hippocampal neurons. The results showed that fasudil increased neurite outgrowth (52.84%), decreased Aβ burden (46.65%), Tau phosphorylation (96.84%), and ROCK-II expression. In addition, fasudil reversed Aβ_1-42-induced decreased expression of Bcl-2 and increases in caspase-3, cleaved-PARP, phospho-JNK(Thr183/Tyr185), and phospho-ASK1(Ser966). Further, fasudil decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular calcium overload in the neurons treated with Aβ_1-42. These results suggest that inhibition of Rho kinase by fasudil reverses Aβ_1-42-induced neuronal apoptosis via the ASK1/JNK signal pathway, calcium ions, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Fasudil could be a drug of choice for treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Neuronanotechnology for brain regeneration

Identifying and harnessing regenerative pathways while suppressing the growth-inhibiting processes of the biological response to injury is the central goal of stimulating neurogenesis after central nervous system (CNS) injury. However, due to the complexity of the mature CNS involving a plethora of cellular pathways and extracellular cues, as well as difficulties in accessibility without highly invasive procedures, clinical successes of regenerative medicine for CNS injuries have been extremely limited. Current interventions primarily focus on stabilization and mitigation of further neuronal death rather than direct stimulation of neurogenesis. In the past few decades, nanotechnology has offered substantial innovations to the field of regenerative medicine. Their nanoscale features allow for the fine tuning of biological interactions for enhancing drug delivery and stimulating cellular processes. This review gives an overview of nanotechnology applications in CNS regeneration organized according to cellular and extracellular targets and discuss future directions for the field.

Mesenchymal stem cells and the neuronal microenvironment in the area of spinal cord injury

Cell-based technologies are used as a therapeutic strategy in spinal cord injury (SCI). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which secrete various neurotrophic factors and cytokines, have immunomodulatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects, modulate reactivity/phenotype of astrocytes and the microglia, thereby promoting neuroregeneration seem to be the most promising. The therapeutic effect of MSCs is due to a paracrine mechanism of their action, therefore the survival of MSCs and their secretory phenotype is of particular importance. Nevertheless, these data are not always reported in efficacy studies of MSC therapy in SCI. Here, we provide a review with summaries of preclinical trials data evaluating the efficacy of MSCs in animal models of SCI. Based on the data collected, we have tried (1) to establish the behavior of MSCs after transplantation in SCI with an evaluation of cell survival, migration potential, distribution in the area of injured and intact tissue and possible differentiation; (2) to determine the effects MSCs on neuronal microenvironment and correlate them with the efficacy of functional recovery in SCI; (3) to ascertain the conditions under which MSCs demonstrate their best survival and greatest efficacy.

Fasudil in Combination With Bone Marrow Stromal Cells (BMSCs) Attenuates Alzheimer's Disease-Related Changes Through the Regulation of the Peripheral Immune System

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease. Its mechanism is still not clear. Majority of research focused on the central nervous system (CNS) changes, while few studies emphasize on peripheral immune system modulation. Our study aimed to investigate the regulation of the peripheral immune system and its relationship to the severity of the disease after treatment in an AD model of APPswe/PSEN1dE9 transgenic (APP/PS1 Tg) mice. APP/PS1 Tg mice (8 months old) were treated with the ROCK-II inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-homo-piperazine (Fasudil) (intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections, 25 mg/kg/day), bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs; caudal vein injections, 1 × 10⁶ BMSCs /time/mouse), Fasudil combined with BMSCs, or saline (i.p., control) for 2 months. Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate learning and memory. The mononuclear cells (MNCs) of spleens of APP/PS1 Tg mice were analyzed using flow cytometry for CD4+ T-cells, macrophages, and the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules of the macrophages. Immunohistochemical staining was used to examine the expression of ROCK-II in the spleens of APP/PS1 Tg mice. The MWM test showed improved spatial learning ability in APP/PS1 Tg mice treated with Fasudil or BMSCs alone or in combination, compared to untreated APP/PS1 Tg mice. Fasudil combined with BMSCs intervention significantly promoted the proliferation of CD4+/CD25+ and CD4+/ IL-10 lymphocytes, induced the release of cytokine factors, and regulated the balance of the immune system to work functionally. It also shifted M1 (MHC-II, CD86) to M2 (IL-10, CD206) phenotype of macrophages of CD11b and significantly enhanced the anti-inflammatory and phagocytic abilities (CD16/32) of macrophages of CD11b. Immunohistochemical staining showed significantly decreased expression of ROCK-II in mice treated with combination of Fasudil with BMSCs as compared to saline control. Fasudil in combination of BMSCs improved cognition of APP/PS1 Tg mice through the regulation of the peripheral immune system, including reduction of ROCK-II expression and increased proportion of anti-inflammatory M2 mononuclear phenotype and phagocytic macrophages in the spleen of the peripheral immune system. The latter was achieved through the communication between brain and spleen to improve the immunoregulation of CNS and AD disease conditions.

Rho-associated protein kinases as therapeutic targets for both vascular and parenchymal pathologies in Alzheimer's disease

The causes of late-onset Alzheimer's disease are unclear and likely multifactorial. Rho-associated protein kinases (ROCKs) are ubiquitously expressed signaling messengers that mediate a wide array of cellular processes. Interestingly, they play an important role in several vascular and brain pathologies implicated in Alzheimer's etiology, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, blood-brain barrier disruption, oxidative stress, deposition of vascular and parenchymal amyloid-beta peptides, tau hyperphosphorylation, and cognitive decline. The current review summarizes the functions of ROCKs with respect to the various risk factors and pathologies on both sides of the blood-brain barrier and present support for targeting ROCK signaling as a multifactorial and multi-effect approach for the prevention and amelioration of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. This article is part of the Special Issue "Vascular Dementia".

PEG-PEI/siROCK2 Protects Against Aβ42-Induced Neurotoxicity in Primary Neuron Cells for Alzheimer Disease

Gene therapy that targets the ROCK2 gene has yielded promising results in the treatment of AD. Our previous study indicated that PEG-PEI/siROCK2 could effectively suppress ROCK2 mRNA expression and showed a promising prospect for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, the ability of PEG-PEI/siROCK2 to reduce Aβ-induced cytotoxicity is unknown. To investigate the effect of PEG-PEI/siROCK2 against Aβ42-induced neurotoxicity, primary cultured cortical neurons were pretreated with PEG-PEI/siROCK2 for 24 h and then treated with 5 μM Aβ42 for 24 h. We found that PEG-PEI/siROCK2 increased the cell viability and reduced the number of apoptotic cells induced by Aβ42, as measured using an MTT assay and Annexin V/PI staining. A further study revealed that PEG-PEI/siROCK2 can activate p-Akt, and treatment with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 attenuated the neuroprotective effects. These results suggest that PEG-PEI/siROCK2 prevents Aβ42-induced neurotoxicity and that the activation of PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in neuroprotection. Taken together, these findings shed light on the role of PEG-PEI/siROCK2 as a potential therapeutic agent for AD.

Upregulation of Gem relates to retinal ganglion cells apoptosis after optic nerve crush in adult rats

GTP-binding protein Gem, a member protein of the Ras superfamily, can regulate actin cytoskeleton reorganization mediated by Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK). One attractive activity of the ROCK is playing a potential role in physiological and pathological process in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) apoptosis. However, the function of Gem in retina is still with limited understanding. To investigate whether Gem is involved in optic nerve injury, we performed an optic nerve crush (ONC) model in adult rats. Western blot analysis indicated that Gem was significantly increased in the retina at the 3rd day after ONC. Meanwhile, double-immunofluorescent staining showed that Gem expression was mainly up-regulated in ganglion cell layer and co-localized with NeuN (a marker of RGCs). Additionally, the co-localizations of Gem/active-caspase-3 and Gem/TUNEL-positive cells were detected in RGCs. Furthermore, the expression of active-caspase-3 and TUNEL-positive cells was parallel with that of Gem. Finally, expression pattern of ROCK family (only ROCK2 but not ROCK1) was increased in the differentiated process, which was collected with the expression of GEM and active-caspase-3. Based on the present results, it is suggested that Gem might play a crucial role in RGCs apoptosis after ONC, which might be involved in ROCK pathway.