Cullin5 reduces retinal cell death induced by glutamate toxicity
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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
Examination of Anatomical Features of Retinal Ganglion Cells Under N-methyl-D-aspartic Acid (NMDA)-induced Excitotoxicity
Published on: September 19, 2025
Takashi Kanamoto1, Hideaki Okumichi, Ulfah Rimayanti
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan. tkana@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Purpose:
To investigate the expression in the mouse retina and the function in a retinal cell of cullin5 that is known as a protein that is associated with ubiquitilation.
Methods:
The retinal sites of expressing cullin5 were determined by immunohistochemistry with a specific antibody for cullin5. Retinal cells were transfected with HA-tagged cullin5 using an adenovirus system, and retinal cells were exposed to L-glutamate with or without an over-expression of cullin5.
Results:
Cullin5 was expressed in the retina of C57BL/6N mice and the retinal ganglion cell layer (RGL) of retina was strongly immunostained. Further, cullin5 was localized in the retinal ganglion cell (RGC). An over-expression of cullin5 reduced the percentage of retinal cell deaths induced by L-glutamate.
Conclusions:
The expression of cullin5 on retinal cells and reduction in the percentage of dead retinal cells induced by L-glutamate suggest that cullin5 has neuroprotective properties in retinal cells.
