Role of CAST-Drp1 Pathway in Retinal Neuron-Regulated Necrosis in Experimental Glaucoma

Objective Numerous studies have indicated that excitatory amino acid toxicity,such as glutamate toxicity,is involved in glaucoma.In addition,excessive glutamate can lead to an intracellular calcium overload,resulting in regulated necrosis.Our previous studies have found that the calpastatin(CAST)-calpain pathway plays an important role in retinal neuron-regulated necrosis after glutamate injury.Although inhibition of the calpain pathway can decrease regulated necrosis,necrotic cells remain.It has been suggested that there are other molecules that participate in retinal neuron-regulated necrosis.CAST is an important regulator of dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1)-mediated mitochondrial defects.Thus,the aim of this study was to determine whether the CAST-Drp1 pathway may be an underlying signaling axis in neuron-regulated necrosis.Methods Using cultured retinal neurons and in an in-vivo glaucoma model induced by glutamate overload,members of the CAST-Drp1 pathway were assessed by immunofluorescence,Western blotting,Phos-tagTM SDS-PAGE,and co-immunoprecipitation assays.Moreover,the black and white box test was performed on the rats.Results We found that more retinal neuron-regulated necrosis and Drp1 activation as well as lower CAST levels were present in the glutamate-induced glaucoma model.Rats with glutamate-induced glaucoma exhibited impaired visual function.We also observed retinal neuron-regulated necrosis and Drp1 activity decreased,and impaired vision recovered after CAST active peptide application,indicating that the CAST-Drp1 pathway plays a critical role in retinal neuron-regulated necrosis and visual function.Conclusion The results of this study indicate that the CAST-Drp1 pathway protects against retinal neuron-regulated necrosis,which may expand the therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders involving dysfunction of glutamate metabolism,such as glaucoma.

The regulatory role of Pin1 in neuronal death

Regulated cell death predominantly involves apoptosis,autophagy,and regulated necrosis.It is vital that we understand how key regulatory signals can control the process of cell death.Pin1 is a cis-trans isomerase that catalyzes the isomerization of phosphorylated serine or threonine-proline motifs of a protein,thereby acting as a crucial molecular switch and regulating the protein functionality and the signaling pathways involved.However,we know very little about how Pin1-associated pathways might play a role in regulated cell death.In this paper,we review the role of Pin1 in regulated cell death and related research progress and summarize Pin1-related pathways in regulated cell death.Aside from the involvement of Pin1 in the apoptosis that accompanies neurodegenerative diseases,accumulating evidence suggests that Pin1 also plays a role in regulated necrosis and autophagy,thereby exhibiting distinct effects,including both neurotoxic and neuroprotective effects.Gaining an enhanced understanding of Pin1 in neuronal death may provide us with new options for the development of therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders.

Regulatory role of calpain in neuronal death

Calpains are a group of calcium-dependent proteases that are over activated by increased intracellular calcium levels under pathological conditions. A wide range of substrates that regulate necrotic, apoptotic and autophagic pathways are affected by calpain. Calpain plays a very important role in neuronal death and various neurological disorders. This review introduces recent research progress related to the regulatory mechanisms of calpain in neuronal death. Various neuronal programmed death pathways including apoptosis, autophagy and regulated necrosis can be divided into receptor interacting protein-dependent necroptosis, mitochondrial permeability transition-dependent necrosis, pyroptosis and poly （ADP-ribose）polymerase 1-mediated parthanatos. Calpains cleave series of key substrates that may lead to cell death or participate in cell death. Regarding the investigation of calpain-mediated programed cell death, it is necessary to identify specific inhibitors that inhibit calpain mediated neuronal death and nervous system diseases.