Neuroprotective effect of intraperitoneal Humanin-G in retinal degeneration of Royal College of Surgeons rats
- 1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California
- 2Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine
Abstract
This study aimed to examine whether Humanin-G (HNG), a mitochondrial derived peptide with cytoprotective properties, could improve the retinal function and gene expression in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction and retinal degeneration. Starting at postnatal day 21, RCS rats received twice a week intraperitoneal injection of either Low Dose HNG (0.4 mg/kg), High Dose HNG (4 mg/kg), or sham-saline for 1 or 4 weeks. Visual function was tested with electroretinography (ERG) and optokinetic testing (OKT). Then the rats were euthanized for RNA, cDNA and Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. The results showed that high dose HNG at 4 weeks after first injection (WAFI) was associated with the largest change in gene expression in the RPE and retina of treated animals, altering expression of genes involved in apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and retinal/RPE function. At 4 WAFI, ERG showed no difference between either low or high dose of HNG and sham injection, while the visual acuity tested by OKT in rats treated with high dose HNG showed significant improvement. Our findings suggested that HNG can modulate gene expression and improve vision. Further studies are warranted to show whether HNG may be a potential treatment for retinal degeneration diseases.
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BibTeX
@article{lin2026neuroprotective,
title = {{Neuroprotective effect of intraperitoneal Humanin-G in retinal degeneration of Royal College of Surgeons rats}},
author = {Bin Lin and Kevin Schneider and Mustafa Ozgul and Narcisa Ianopol and Magdalene J. Seiler},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-62834-3},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-62834-3},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Neuroprotective effect of intraperitoneal Humanin-G in retinal degeneration of Royal College of Surgeons rats
AU - Bin Lin
AU - Kevin Schneider
AU - Mustafa Ozgul
AU - Narcisa Ianopol
AU - Magdalene J. Seiler
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-62834-3
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-62834-3
AB - This study aimed to examine whether Humanin-G (HNG), a mitochondrial derived peptide with cytoprotective properties, could improve the retinal function and gene expression in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction and retinal degeneration. Starting at postnatal day 21, RCS rats received twice a week intraperitoneal injection of either Low Dose HNG (0.4 mg/kg), High Dose HNG (4 mg/kg), or sham-saline for 1 or 4 weeks. Visual function was tested with electroretinography (ERG) and optokinetic testing (OKT). Then the rats were euthanized for RNA, cDNA and Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. The results showed that high dose HNG at 4 weeks after first injection (WAFI) was associated with the largest change in gene expression in the RPE and retina of treated animals, altering expression of genes involved in apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and retinal/RPE function. At 4 WAFI, ERG showed no difference between either low or high dose of HNG and sham injection, while the visual acuity tested by OKT in rats treated with high dose HNG showed significant improvement. Our findings suggested that HNG can modulate gene expression and improve vision. Further studies are warranted to show whether HNG may be a potential treatment for retinal degeneration diseases.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -