Nature Communications (Jun 2020)

Endothelial activation of caspase-9 promotes neurovascular injury in retinal vein occlusion

  • Maria I. Avrutsky,
  • Crystal Colón Ortiz,
  • Kendra V. Johnson,
  • Anna M. Potenski,
  • Claire W. Chen,
  • Jacqueline M. Lawson,
  • Alexandra J. White,
  • Stephanie K. Yuen,
  • Fatima N. Morales,
  • Elisa Canepa,
  • Scott Snipas,
  • Guy S. Salvesen,
  • Ying Y. Jean,
  • Carol M. Troy

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16902-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 16

Abstract

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Retinal vein occlusion can cause blindness, and features neuronal dysfunction, inflammation and breakdown of vascular integrity. Here the authors report a non-apoptotic role of endothelial caspase-9 in regulating blood-retina barrier integrity and neuronal survival, which can be therapeutically targeted in a mouse model of retinal vein occlusion.