Increased Myo/Nog Cell Presence and Phagocytic Activity in Retinal Degeneration: Insights from a Mouse Model

Increased Myo/Nog Cell Presence and Phagocytic Activity in Retinal Degeneration: Insights from a Mouse Model

Myo/Nog cells play a pivotal role in ocular development and demonstrate a rapid response to stress and injury. This study investigates their behavior and distribution in a murine model of retinitis pigmentosa, specifically in C3H/HeJ mice, which exhibit photoreceptor degeneration due to a homozygous...

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Main Authors: Diana Crowley, Samantha Murad, Courtney Helm, Rachel Souza, Sarah Coughlan, Scott Serpico, Eric Sugarman, Kyle Margulies, Brian Heist, Kathryn D. Mitchell, Christopher K. Sutera, Mark Martin, Carlos Font, Mary Woodruff, E-Jine Tsai, Rushil Brahmbhatt, Paul Lecker, Grzegorz Gorski, John Benalcazar, Serena Young, Abey Martin, Lindsay Gugerty, Jacquelyn Gerhart, Mindy George-Weinstein, Arturo Bravo-Nuevo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Myo/Nog cells
retinitis pigmentosa
rd1 mutation
C3H mice
retinal degeneration
phagocytosis
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5486
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Summary:Myo/Nog cells play a pivotal role in ocular development and demonstrate a rapid response to stress and injury. This study investigates their behavior and distribution in a murine model of retinitis pigmentosa, specifically in C3H/HeJ mice, which exhibit photoreceptor degeneration due to a homozygous mutation in the Pde6brd1 gene. Retinal samples from C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J mice were analyzed at postnatal weeks 2.5 to 6 using hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunofluorescence for brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) expressed in Myo/Nog cells, and TUNEL labeling for apoptotic cell detection. The results demonstrated a progressive thinning of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) in C3H mice, accompanied by a significant increase in Myo/Nog cell numbers. In normal retinas, Myo/Nog cells were primarily located in the inner nuclear and outer plexiform layers. However, in C3H/HeJ mice, they accumulated in the ONL near apoptotic photoreceptors and within the choroid. Notably, in these degenerative regions, Myo/Nog cells exhibited features of phagocytosis, suggesting a role in apoptotic cell clearance. Additionally, parallels between Myo/Nog cell responses in retinitis pigmentosa and models of oxygen-induced retinopathy, ocular hypertension, and light damage suggest that these cells may be leveraged for therapeutic purposes.
ISSN:2076-3417

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