Academic Appointments


  • Course Associate, Human Biology

All Publications


  • BDNF and cAMP are neuroprotective in a porcine model of traumatic optic neuropathy. JCI insight Heng, K., Young, B. K., Li, B., Nies, A. D., Xia, X., Wen, R. R., Dalal, R., Bramblett, G. T., Holt, A. W., Cleland, J. M., Harris, J. N., Wu, A. Y., Goldberg, J. L. 2024

    Abstract

    Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is a devastating condition that can occur after blunt or penetrating trauma to the head, leading to visual impairment or blindness. Despite these debilitating effects, no clinically available therapeutic targets neuroprotection or promotes axon regeneration in this or any optic neuropathy. Limited data in large animal models is a major obstacle to advancing treatments toward clinical therapeutics. To address this issue, we refined a surgical model of TON in Yucatan minipigs. First, we validated the model by demonstrating visual impairment by flash visual-evoked potential and retinal ganglion cell degeneration and death. Next, we developed and optimized a delivery method and non-toxic dosing of intravitreal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Finally, we showed that intravitreal injection of BDNF and cAMP rescued visual function and protected against retinal ganglion cell death and optic nerve axon degeneration. Together these data in a pre-clinical large animal model advance our understanding of and ability to model TON and further identify and develop candidate clinical therapeutics.

    View details for DOI 10.1172/jci.insight.172935

    View details for PubMedID 38194296