Role of CtBP2 in the Apoptosis of Retinal Ganglion Cells.

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. C-terminal-binding protein 2 (CtBP2) is a transcriptional repressor which plays an important role in central nervous system injury and repair. Using the glaucoma model of DBA/2J mouse whose retina ganglion cells (RGCs) were degenerating with the process of glaucoma, we demonstrated for the first time the special relationship between CtBP2 protein and RGCs. Our research indicated that the expression of CtBP2 was gradually decreased with aging by the means of Western blotting. The CtBP2 immunoreactivity-positive cells were present in the various retinal layers, and CtBP2-positive cells were dramatically decreased in ganglion cell layer. Our research also found ectopic expression of CtBP2 can protect the apoptosis of primary mouse RGC cells induced by L-glutamate. These results suggest that CtBP2 may have a potential therapeutic effect in protecting RGC.