Logo image
Interleukin-17 retinotoxicity is prevented by gene transfer of a soluble interleukin-17 receptor acting as a cytokine blocker: implications for age-related macular degeneration
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Interleukin-17 retinotoxicity is prevented by gene transfer of a soluble interleukin-17 receptor acting as a cytokine blocker: implications for age-related macular degeneration

Daniel Ardeljan, Yujuan Wang, Stanley Park, Defen Shen, Xi Kathy Chu, Cheng-Rong Yu, Mones Abu-Asab, Jingsheng Tuo, Charles G Eberhart, Timothy W Olsen, …
PloS one, Vol.9(4), pp.e95900-e95900
2014
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095900
PMCID: PMC4004582
PMID: 24780906
url
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0095900View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common yet complex retinal degeneration that causes irreversible central blindness in the elderly. Pathology is widely believed to follow loss of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor degeneration. Here we report aberrant expression of interleukin-17A (IL17A) and the receptor IL17RC in the macula of AMD patients. In vitro, IL17A induces RPE cell death characterized by the accumulation of cytoplasmic lipids and autophagosomes with subsequent activation of pro-apoptotic Caspase-3 and Caspase-9. This pathology is reduced by siRNA knockdown of IL17RC. IL17-dependent retinal degeneration in a mouse model of focal retinal degeneration can be prevented by gene therapy with adeno-associated virus vector encoding soluble IL17 receptor. This intervention rescues RPE and photoreceptors in a MAPK-dependent process. The IL17 pathway plays a key role in RPE and photoreceptor degeneration and could hold therapeutic potential in AMD.
Transfection Retina - drug effects Dependovirus - genetics Macular Degeneration - prevention & control Macular Degeneration - genetics Humans Interleukin-17 - toxicity Receptors, Interleukin-17 - genetics Cytokines - antagonists & inhibitors Genetic Vectors

Details

Metrics

Logo image