AAV2-PDE6B restores retinal structure and function in the retinal degeneration 10 mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa by promoting phototransduction and inhibiting apoptosis

Lycium barbarum L.: a potential botanical drug for preventing and treating retinal cell apoptosis

Retinal cell apoptosis is the primary pathological process in many retinal diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, which can cause severe visual impairment and blindness. Lycium barbarum L., a traditional Chinese medicinal botanical drug, has a long history and extensive application in ophthalmic disease prevention and treatment. This study systematically reviewed the key active metabolites in L. barbarum L., including L. barbarum polysaccharides, carotenoids, and flavonoids, that exert retinal protective effects. A comprehensive analysis of the pharmacological effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of L. barbarum L. and its active metabolites in the prevention and treatment of retinal cell apoptosis, including essential aspects such as antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory properties, autophagy regulation, and mitochondrial function preservation, is essential to establish a comprehensive and solid theoretical basis for further investigation of the medicinal value of L. barbarum L. in ophthalmology and provide a reference for future research directions.

Proteomics identifies multiple retinitis pigmentosa associated proteins involved in retinal degeneration in a mouse model bearing a Pde6b mutation

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a progressive and degenerative retinal disease resulting in severe vision loss. RP have been extensively studied for pathogenetic mechanisms and treatments. Yet there is little information about alterations of RP associated proteins in phosphodiesterase 6 beta (Pde6b) mutated model. To explore the roles of RP causing proteins, we performed a label free quantitative mass spectrometry based proteomic analysis in rd10 mouse retinas. 3737 proteins were identified at the degenerative time points in rd10 mice. 222 and 289 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) (fold change, FC > 2, p < 0.05) were detected at 5 and 8 weeks. Based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, visual perception and phototransduction were severely affected. The downregulated DEPs were significantly enriched in cilium assembly and protein localization. 25 decreased DEPs causing autosomal recessive/dominant retinitis pigmentosa were visualized by heatmaps. Protein-protein interaction network represented 13 DEPs interacted directly with Pde6b protein. 25 DEPs causing RP were involved in phototransduction, visual perception, response to stimulus, protein localization and cilium assembly pathways. The significantly reduced expressions of DEPs were further validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Western blots (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). This study revealed the molecular mechanisms underlying early and late stage of RP, as well as changes of RP-causing proteins.