The protective role of sulforaphane and Homer1a in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury: Unraveling the neuroprotective interplay

Retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common pathological basis for various ophthalmic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the potential of sulforaphane (SFN) and Homer1a in regulating cell apoptosis induced by retinal I/R injury and to explore the underlying regulatory mechanism between them. In in vivo experiments, C57BL/6J mice and Homer1 /Homer1a /Nestin-Cre mice were used to construct retinal I/R injury models. In vitro experiments utilized the oxygen-glucose deprivation-reperfusion (OGD/R) injury model with primary retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The effects of Homer1a and SFN on cell apoptosis were observed through pathological analyses, flow cytometry, and visual electrophysiological assessments. We discovered that after OGD/R injury, apoptosis of RGCs and intracellular Ca activity significantly increased. However, these changes were reversed upon the addition of SFN, and similar observations were reproduced in in vivo studies. Furthermore, both in vivo and in vitro studies confirmed the upregulation of Homer1a after I/R, which could be further enhanced by the administration of SFN. Moreover, upregulation of Homer1a resulted in a reduction in cell apoptosis and pro-apoptotic proteins, while downregulation of Homer1a had the opposite effect. Flash visual evoked potential, oscillatory potentials, and escape latency measurements in mice supported these findings. Furthermore, the addition of SFN strengthened the neuroprotective effects in the OGD/R + H group but weakened them in Homer1 /Homer1a /Nestin-Cre mice. These results indicate that Homer1a plays a significant role in the therapeutic potential of sulforaphane for retinal I/R injury, thereby providing a theoretical basis for clinical treatment.