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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Coculture of Axotomized Rat Retinal Ganglion Neurons with Olfactory Ensheathing Glia, as an In Vitro Model of Adult Axonal Regeneration
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Caspases in retinal ganglion cell death and axon regeneration

Chloe N Thomas1, Martin Berry1, Ann Logan1

  • 1Neuroscience and Ophthalmology, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

Cell Death Discovery
|April 21, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Retinal ganglion cells (RGC) undergo apoptosis and pyroptosis via caspases, leading to vision loss. Inhibiting these caspases offers a potential therapeutic strategy for protecting RGCs and preserving vision.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Ophthalmology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are crucial for vision but have limited regenerative capacity.
  • RGC death contributes to permanent visual impairment in various optic neuropathies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular mechanisms of caspase-dependent RGC death.
  • To explore the therapeutic potential of targeting caspases for RGC protection.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on RGC death pathways.
  • Analysis of apoptotic and pyroptotic signaling in RGCs.

Main Results:

  • Caspase-dependent apoptosis and pyroptosis are key mechanisms in RGC degeneration.
  • Inhibiting caspases can protect RGCs from cell death.

Conclusions:

  • Caspase signaling pathways are critical in RGC survival and death.
  • Targeting apoptotic and inflammatory caspases presents a promising therapeutic avenue for vision preservation.

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