Figure 7
Inhibition of caspases and PARP-1 attenuates S. aureus-induced retinal cell apoptosis. The eyes of B6 mice (n=5) were pretreated with intravitreal administration of pan-caspase (Q-VD-OPH) or PARP-1 (DPQ) inhibitors (100 ng per eye for each) 12 h before the induction of staphylococcal endophthalmitis. Eye injected with DMSO (vehicle used to dissolve inhibitors) served as controls. After 24 h of S. aureus (SA) infection retina/eyes were subjected to western blot analysis for caspase-3 (a) or TUNEL staining to visualize apoptotic cells (b). The effect of caspase and PARP-1 inhibition on Müller glia apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry of MIO-M1 cells pretreated with Q-VD-OPH (40 μM) and DPQ (20 μM), 1 h before S. aureus challenge for indicated time points (c). Results are representative of at least three independent experiments.**P<0.005; ***P<0.0005, t-test.
