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BCL2L1 (BCL-X) promotes survival of adult and developing retinal ganglion cells

Jeffrey M Harder1, Qian Ding, Kimberly A Fernandes

  • 1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.

Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences
|July 28, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The Bcl-2 family protein BCL-X (BCL2L1) is crucial for neuronal survival during development and after injury. However, it is not essential for maintaining adult neuron viability in the absence of stress.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The Bcl-2 family regulates neuronal cell death pathways.
  • BAX activation is a critical step in neuronal apoptosis.
  • BCL-X (BCL2L1) is a pro-survival member that inhibits BAX.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if BCL-X is required for neuronal survival throughout life.
  • To investigate the role of BCL-X in developing and adult central nervous system neurons.

Main Methods:

  • Conditional removal of Bcl-x in the developing optic cup and adult mouse.
  • Assessment of neuronal survival in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs).
  • Evaluation of RGC viability after axonal injury.

Main Results:

  • BCL-X is essential for the survival of differentiating RGCs during development.
  • BCL-X is not required for maintaining RGC viability in adult retinas.
  • Loss of BCL-X significantly increases RGC death after axonal injury.

Conclusions:

  • BCL-X plays a critical role in neuronal survival during specific developmental windows and in response to injury.
  • Adult RGCs possess alternative survival mechanisms independent of BCL-X under normal conditions.
  • Targeting BCL-X may be relevant for promoting neuronal survival after CNS injury.

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