Expression of cytokine signal transduction components in the postnatal mouse retina

Members of the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) family of cytokines have been shown to influence neuronal differentiation during retinal development and enhance cell survival in various retinal degeneration models. However, the cellular mechanism of CNTF signaling and the target cell types for CNTF in the developing retina remain unidentified. The purpose of this study is to characterize expression patterns of proteins involved in cytokine signal transduction in the mouse retina, thus to assess the potential responsiveness of different retinal cell types to CNTF-like cytokine signals.

The expression profiles of various cytokine signal transduction components, including receptor subunits CNTF receptor alpha (CNTFRa) and gp130, intracellular protein kinases, Jak2 and Tyk2, as well as latent transcription factors, STAT1 and STAT3, were determined by immunohistochemical staining of mouse retinal sections derived from different postnatal stages. In addition, the distribution of ERK was studied by immunofluorescent staining.

In the neonatal retina, intense staining signals for gp130, CNTFRalpha, Jak2, Tyk2, STAT1, and STAT3 were present in the differentiated ganglion cell layer and the developing inner plexiform layer of the mouse retina. Detectable staining signals were also observed in the ventricular zone of the early postnatal mouse retina. From P5 to P10, cytokine signaling molecules also accumulated in the developing outer plexiform layer. In the adult retina, cytokine signaling components examined were localized to the ganglion cell layer, the inner nuclear layer, and the two plexiform layers. In addition, regions corresponding to the inner and/or outer segments of the photoreceptor cells showed positive staining for cytokine signaling components. In contrast, the ERK2 protein kinase was found throughout the neonatal retina. In the mature retina, ERK2 was concentrated in the ganglion cells and the inner plexiform layer, while a lesser expression of ERK2 was detected in the inner nuclear layer, the outer plexiform layers, and the outer nuclear layer.

In the neonatal mouse retina, signaling components of the Jak-STAT pathway and ERK2 are differentially expressed. All cytokine signaling components included in this study are expressed in the differentiated inner retina as well as in cells occupying the ventricular zone, suggesting that both postmitotic neurons and proliferative progenitors may directly respond to CNTF-like cytokines during postnatal development. The distribution of cytokine signaling pathway components in the adult mouse retina is consistent with previous findings that ganglion cells and Müller glia are the primary target cell types for CNTF.