Figure 5

Elk-1 interacts with REST in regulating RGC neuroprotection and axon regeneration. (a) Representative images show RBPMS staining of RGCs at day 14 after optic nerve crush, for either AAV2-DN-REST + AAV2-shRNA-Luciferase or AAV2-DN-REST + AAV2-shRNA-Elk-1 injected WT mice. (b) Quantitative analysis of RBPMS-positive cell number in the retinas in (a). n = 6 per group, two-tailed Student’s t-test. For reference, the data of the shRNA control group in Fig. 2e are shown in light gray. (c) Representative images of the optic nerve sections showing CTB-labelled regenerating axons at day 14 after optic nerve injury, for either AAV2-DN-REST + AAV2-shRNA-Luciferase or AAV2-DN-REST + AAV2-shRNA-Elk-1 injected WT mice. (d) Quantitative analyses of estimated regenerating axons from the injury site in the optic nerves in (c). n = 4 (REST DN) and n = 5 (REST DN + Elk-1 KD), multiple t-tests. For reference, the data of the shRNA control group in Fig. 2-g are shown in light gray. (e) Images show RBPMS staining of RGCs at day 14 after optic nerve crush, for either AAV2-Elk-1 + AAV2-GFP or AAV2-Elk-1 + AAV2-REST injected WT mice. (f) Quantitative analysis of RBPMS-positive cell number in the retinas in e. n = 6 per group, ***P < 0.001, two-tailed Student’s t-test. For reference, the data of the GFP control group in Fig. 2i are shown in light gray. (g) Images of the optic nerve sections showing CTB-labelled regenerating axons at day 14 after optic nerve injury, for either AAV2-Elk-1 + AAV2-GFP or AAV2-Elk-1 + AAV2-REST injected WT mice. (h) Quantitative analyses of estimated regenerating axons from the injury site in the optic nerves in (g). n = 5 (Elk-1 OE) and n = 4 (Elk-1 OE + REST OE), *P < 0.05, multiple t-tests. For reference, the data of the GFP control group in Fig. 2k are shown in light gray. n.s., not significant. Asterisks, lesion sites. Scale bars, 200 µm. The data are presented as means ± S.E.M.