Citicoline and Coenzyme Q10: Therapeutic Agents for Glial Activation Reduction in Ocular Hypertension

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: The loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is a hallmark of glaucoma, a major cause of blindness. Glial cell activation due to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) significantly contributes to RGC death. Therefore, substances with anti-inflammatory properties...

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Main Authors: José A. Matamoros, Sara Rubio-Casado, José A. Fernández-Albarral, Miguel A. Martínez-López, Ana I. Ramírez, Elena Salobrar-García, Eva M. Marco, Victor Paleo-García, Rosa de Hoz, Inés López-Cuenca, Lorena Elvira-Hurtado, Lidia Sánchez-Puebla, José M. Ramírez, Meritxell López-Gallardo, Juan J. Salazar
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/5/694
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author José A. Matamoros
Sara Rubio-Casado
José A. Fernández-Albarral
Miguel A. Martínez-López
Ana I. Ramírez
Elena Salobrar-García
Eva M. Marco
Victor Paleo-García
Rosa de Hoz
Inés López-Cuenca
Lorena Elvira-Hurtado
Lidia Sánchez-Puebla
José M. Ramírez
Meritxell López-Gallardo
Juan J. Salazar
author_facet José A. Matamoros
Sara Rubio-Casado
José A. Fernández-Albarral
Miguel A. Martínez-López
Ana I. Ramírez
Elena Salobrar-García
Eva M. Marco
Victor Paleo-García
Rosa de Hoz
Inés López-Cuenca
Lorena Elvira-Hurtado
Lidia Sánchez-Puebla
José M. Ramírez
Meritxell López-Gallardo
Juan J. Salazar
author_sort José A. Matamoros
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: The loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is a hallmark of glaucoma, a major cause of blindness. Glial cell activation due to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) significantly contributes to RGC death. Therefore, substances with anti-inflammatory properties could help prevent that process. This study investigated whether combining Citicoline and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can reduce glial activation in the retina and the rest of the visual pathway, potentially preventing neurodegeneration in a mouse model of unilateral laser-induced ocular hypertension (OHT). <b>Methods:</b> Four groups of mice were used: vehicle (n = 12), CitiQ10 (n = 12), OHT–vehicle (n = 18), and OHT–CitiQ10 (n = 18). The administration of Citicoline and CoQ10 was performed orally once a day, initiated 15 days prior to the laser treatment and maintained post-treatment until sacrifice (3 days for retina or 7 days for the rest of the visual pathway). The retina, dorsolateral geniculate nucleus, superior colliculus, and visual cortex (V1) were immunohistochemically stained and analyzed. <b>Results:</b> In the laser–CitiQ10 group, the Citicoline + CoQ10 compound revealed (1) an IOP decrease at 24 h and 3 days post-laser; and (2) reduced signs of macroglial (decreased GFAP area) and microglial (soma size, arbor area, microglia number, P2RY12 expression) activation in the retina and in the rest of the visual pathway (reduced activated microglial phenotypes and lower GFAP expression). <b>Conclusions:</b> This study shows that oral administration of Citicoline and CoQ10 can reduce glial activation caused by increased IOP in retina and visual pathway in a mouse model of OHT, potentially protecting RGCs from OHT-induced inflammation.
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spelling doaj-art-e4ebeb8cb1e54b65bc3c709cb760a8902025-08-20T01:56:35ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-05-0118569410.3390/ph18050694Citicoline and Coenzyme Q10: Therapeutic Agents for Glial Activation Reduction in Ocular HypertensionJosé A. Matamoros0Sara Rubio-Casado1José A. Fernández-Albarral2Miguel A. Martínez-López3Ana I. Ramírez4Elena Salobrar-García5Eva M. Marco6Victor Paleo-García7Rosa de Hoz8Inés López-Cuenca9Lorena Elvira-Hurtado10Lidia Sánchez-Puebla11José M. Ramírez12Meritxell López-Gallardo13Juan J. Salazar14Ramon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, SpainRamon Castroviejo Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Complutense University of Madrid (ROR 02p0gd045), 28040 Madrid, Spain<b>Background/Objectives</b>: The loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is a hallmark of glaucoma, a major cause of blindness. Glial cell activation due to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) significantly contributes to RGC death. Therefore, substances with anti-inflammatory properties could help prevent that process. This study investigated whether combining Citicoline and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can reduce glial activation in the retina and the rest of the visual pathway, potentially preventing neurodegeneration in a mouse model of unilateral laser-induced ocular hypertension (OHT). <b>Methods:</b> Four groups of mice were used: vehicle (n = 12), CitiQ10 (n = 12), OHT–vehicle (n = 18), and OHT–CitiQ10 (n = 18). The administration of Citicoline and CoQ10 was performed orally once a day, initiated 15 days prior to the laser treatment and maintained post-treatment until sacrifice (3 days for retina or 7 days for the rest of the visual pathway). The retina, dorsolateral geniculate nucleus, superior colliculus, and visual cortex (V1) were immunohistochemically stained and analyzed. <b>Results:</b> In the laser–CitiQ10 group, the Citicoline + CoQ10 compound revealed (1) an IOP decrease at 24 h and 3 days post-laser; and (2) reduced signs of macroglial (decreased GFAP area) and microglial (soma size, arbor area, microglia number, P2RY12 expression) activation in the retina and in the rest of the visual pathway (reduced activated microglial phenotypes and lower GFAP expression). <b>Conclusions:</b> This study shows that oral administration of Citicoline and CoQ10 can reduce glial activation caused by increased IOP in retina and visual pathway in a mouse model of OHT, potentially protecting RGCs from OHT-induced inflammation.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/5/694ocular hypertensionretinavisual pathwayglial cellsCiticolineCoenzyme Q10
spellingShingle José A. Matamoros
Sara Rubio-Casado
José A. Fernández-Albarral
Miguel A. Martínez-López
Ana I. Ramírez
Elena Salobrar-García
Eva M. Marco
Victor Paleo-García
Rosa de Hoz
Inés López-Cuenca
Lorena Elvira-Hurtado
Lidia Sánchez-Puebla
José M. Ramírez
Meritxell López-Gallardo
Juan J. Salazar
Citicoline and Coenzyme Q10: Therapeutic Agents for Glial Activation Reduction in Ocular Hypertension
Pharmaceuticals
ocular hypertension
retina
visual pathway
glial cells
Citicoline
Coenzyme Q10
title Citicoline and Coenzyme Q10: Therapeutic Agents for Glial Activation Reduction in Ocular Hypertension
title_full Citicoline and Coenzyme Q10: Therapeutic Agents for Glial Activation Reduction in Ocular Hypertension
title_fullStr Citicoline and Coenzyme Q10: Therapeutic Agents for Glial Activation Reduction in Ocular Hypertension
title_full_unstemmed Citicoline and Coenzyme Q10: Therapeutic Agents for Glial Activation Reduction in Ocular Hypertension
title_short Citicoline and Coenzyme Q10: Therapeutic Agents for Glial Activation Reduction in Ocular Hypertension
title_sort citicoline and coenzyme q10 therapeutic agents for glial activation reduction in ocular hypertension
topic ocular hypertension
retina
visual pathway
glial cells
Citicoline
Coenzyme Q10
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/5/694
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