Expression of the IBSR resulted in significant reduction of colony size and numbers

ted groups were quite similar but statistically different from saline and hNPIGF-TD injected groups. These data indicate that IGF completely restores IOP-induced RGC loss, as IGF-treated animals had ~99% of RGC density observed in the saline injected controls. RGC axon loss was also quantified by quantifying axonal cross-sections. Data are presented as the fitted means and the 95% confidence limits. Analysis was conducted using a mixed effects model with a random intercept for each subject followed by the Tukey test on the square of the data. In the saline-injected group, the axon density was 745 104 axons/mm2 with 95% CL of 684801, which was slighter higher than that of microbead/hNPIGF-TD group, but not statistically different. Both groups had similar anatomical distribution of axonal cross-sections. The axon densities of the two aforementioned groups were significantly higher than those of other groups receiving microbead/saline, microbead/hNP and microbead/hNPTD. The values were 627, 648 and 643 axons/mm2, respectively with 95% CL of: 563687, 579710 and 587695, respectively. LY-411575 web Crosses PubMed ID:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19786614 in Fig 6F denote differences that reached a P value of 0.0512, SA group and 0.0902, TD group, whereas the NP group showed a P value of 0.1826 when all groups were compared with the NO group. Moreover, on optic cross-sections, many axons showed signs of degeneration including fiber disorganization and axon enlargement. These observations confirm that IOP elevation without IGF-1 protection results in axon loss in optic nerve sections. Together, these results support the contention that IGF-1 supplied by a targeted cell delivery system can effectively preserve the PubMed ID:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19785045 RGC layer in the setting of experimental glaucoma. This effect seems to be specific to IGF-1 as neither hNP or hNPTD cells can induce similar neuroprotection. Evaluation of Inflammatory and Angiogenic Pathways in Retinas after Microbead Injection We studied the effects of hNP cell transplantation and secreted proteins, IGF-TD and TD, on gene expression in the host retina. We selected genes that were typically associated with apopototic, inflammatory and angiogenic pathways, listed in 15 / 24 Progenitor Cells Expressing IGF-1 on Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival Fig 6. Quantification of axons on semi-thin cross sections of optic nerve under different experimental conditions. Cross section of axons from the intraorbital section of the optic nerve after saline injection. Significant axon degeneration is observed in the saline, hNPs and hNPTD transplanted groups after microbead injection. There is better preservation of axons in the hNPIGF-TD transplanted group. Quantification of axon cross-sections indicates that transplantation of hNPIGF-TD cells show a trend to enhanced survival of axons in the glaucomatous environment compared to the NO and IGF groups). Scale bar: 5 m in A–E. Abbreviations: IGF-TD, transplanted hNPIGF-TD cells after microbead injection; TD, transplanted hNPTD cells after microbead injection. hNP, transplanted hNPs after microbead injection; SA, intravitreal saline injection after microbead injection; NO, intravitreal saline injection and saline injection into the anterior chamber. High IOP, elevated intraocular pressure by microbead injection. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125695.g006 . Interestingly, transplantation of hNP and hNPTD exhibited some anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects. Overall gene expression experiments confirm that IGF-1 can significantly protect against RGC