Deficiency of complement component 5 ameliorates glaucoma in DBA/2J mice.

Authors

Gareth R. Howell, The Jackson LaboratoryFollow
Ileana Soto, The Jackson LaboratoryFollow
Margaret Ryan, The Jackson LaboratoryFollow
Leah C. Graham, The Jackson LaboratoryFollow
Richard Smith, The Jackson LaboratoryFollow
Simon W M John, The Jackson LaboratoryFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-27-2013

JAX Source

J Neuroinflammation 2013 Jun 27; 10(1):76.

Volume

10

Issue

1

First Page

76

Last Page

76

ISSN

1742-2094

PMID

23806181

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder involving the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which results in blindness. Studies in animal models have shown that activation of inflammatory processes occurs early in the disease. In particular, the complement cascade is activated very early in DBA/2J mice, a widely used mouse model of glaucoma. A comprehensive analysis of the role of the complement cascade in DBA/2J glaucoma has not been possible because DBA/2J mice are naturally deficient in complement component 5 (C5, also known as hemolytic complement, Hc), a key mediator of the downstream processes of the complement cascade, including the formation of the membrane attack complex.

METHODS: To assess the role of C5 in DBA/2J glaucoma, we backcrossed a functional C5 gene from strain C57BL/6J to strain DBA/2J for at least 10 generations. The prevalence and severity of glaucoma was evaluated using ocular examinations, IOP measurements, and assessments of optic nerve damage and RGC degeneration. To understand how C5 affects glaucoma, C5 expression was assessed in the retinas and optic nerves of C5-sufficient DBA/2J mice, using immunofluorescence.

RESULTS: C5-sufficient DBA/2J mice developed a more severe glaucoma at an earlier age than standard DBA/2J mice, which are therefore protected by C5 deficiency. Components of the membrane attack complex were found to be deposited at sites of axonal injury in the optic nerve head and associated with RGC soma in the retina.

CONCLUSION: C5 plays an important role in glaucoma, with its deficiency lessening disease severity. These results highlight the importance of fully understanding the role of the complement cascade in neurodegenerative diseases. Inhibiting C5 may be beneficial as a therapy for human glaucoma.

J Neuroinflammation 2013 Jun 27; 10(1):76.

Recommended Citation

Howell GR, Soto I, Ryan M, Graham LC, Smith R, John SW. Deficiency of complement component 5 ameliorates glaucoma in DBA/2J mice. J Neuroinflammation 2013 Jun 27; 10(1):76.