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. 2017;12(1):69-81.
doi: 10.1080/17469899.2017.1259566. Epub 2016 Nov 23.

Role of BDNF/TrkB pathway in the visual system: Therapeutic implications for glaucoma

B A Mysona  1 , J Zhao  2 , K E Bollinger  3
Affiliations

Role of BDNF/TrkB pathway in the visual system: Therapeutic implications for glaucoma

B A Mysona et al. Expert Rev Ophthalmol. 2017.

Abstract

Introduction: Neuroprotective therapeutics are needed to treat glaucoma, an optic neuropathy that results in death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs).

Areas covered: The BDNF/TrkB pathway is important for RGC survival. Temporal and spatial alterations in the BDNF/TrkB pathway occur in development and in response to acute optic nerve injury and to glaucoma. In animal models, BDNF supplementation is successful at slowing RGC death after acute optic nerve injury and in glaucoma, however, the BDNF/TrkB signaling is not the only pathway supporting long term RGC survival.

Expert commentary: Much remains to be discovered about the interaction between retrograde, anterograde, and retinal BDNF/TrkB signaling pathways in both neurons and glia. An ideal therapeutic agent for glaucoma likely has several modes of action that target multiple mechanisms of neurodegeneration including the BDNF/TrkB pathway.

Keywords: BDNF; Glaucoma; Retinal ganglion cells; TrkB; neuroprotection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
BDNF signaling is a balance between proBDNF/p75NTR and BDNF in glial cells or inhibit phosphorylation of FL-TrkB thereby preventing stimulation of survival, growth, and neuroplasticity.
Figure 2
Figure 2
BDNF is an essential neurotrophin for survival of retinal ganglion cells (G). Retrograde, anterograde and endogenous sources of BDNF are all thought to play a role in the visual system response to optic nerve injury and glaucoma.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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