Presence of mitogen-activated protein kinase in retinal Muller cells and its neuroprotective effect ischemia-reperfusion injury

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in the retina plays a neuroprotective role against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Western blot analysis showed that the MAPK activity was markedly increased within an hour after ischemia-reperfusion and subsequently decreased. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that MAPK was expressed mainly in the retinal Muller cells (RMCs). Pre-ischemic intravitreal administration of a MAPK inhibitor, U0126, increased the number of ganglion cell deaths induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury. We conclude that the MAPK activated in the RMCs protects ganglion cells against the ischemia-reperfusion injury through glia-neuronal interaction.