Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress by 4-phenylbutyrate alleviates retinal inflammation and the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells after ocular alkali burn in mice

Objective Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) apoptosis is one of the most severe complications that causes permanent visual impairment following ocular alkali burn (OAB). Currently, very few treatment options exist for this condition. This study was conducted to determine the effect of 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress after OAB using a well-established OAB mouse model. Methods Ocular alkali burn was induced in C57BL/6 mouse corneas using 1 M NaOH. 4-PBA (10 mg/kg; 250 mu L per injection) or saline (250 mu L per injection) was injected intraperitoneally once per day for 3 days before the establishment of the OAB model. The apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and the histological damage was examined by hematoxylin and eosin and immunofluorescence assay on retinal flat mounts. The key inflammatory response and the expression of ER stress-related markers in the retinal tissues were assessed by real-time PCR, western blotting and histologic analyses. Results 4-PBA significantly alleviated the apoptosis of RGCs and prevented the structural damage of the retina, as determined by the evaluation of RGC density and retinal thickness. Inhibition of ER stress by 4-PBA decreased the expression of vital proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-1 beta; and suppressed the activation of retinal microglial cells and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B). 4-PBA reduced the expression of the ER stress molecules, glucose-regulated protein 78, activated transcription factor 6, inositol-requiring enzyme-1 (IRE1), X-box-binding protein 1 splicing, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein, in the retinal tissues and RGCs of OAB mice. Conclusions The present study demonstrated that the inhibition of ER stress by 4-PBA alleviates the inflammatory response via the IRE1/NF-kappa B signaling pathway and protects the retina and RGCs from injury in an OAB mouse model. Such findings further suggest that 4-PBA might have potential therapeutic implications for OAB treatment.