| Objective To investigate the role of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 in light-induced photoreceptor degeneration and the relationship between photoreceptor apoptosis and retinal microglial activation.
Methods Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to intense blue light for 24 hours. Antibodies were used to label CX3CL1/CX3CR1 and retinal microglia at different time points . The expression of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 ,several chemokines and noxious factors were detected by Real Time-PCR and Western immunoblot analysis. TUNEL method was used to detect cell apoptosis in retina. MAPKs were also examined to evaluate the possible signal pathway of microglia-photoreceptor crosstalk.
Results Our results showed the expression of CX3CL1 increased in the outer nuclear layer of the retina and OX42-positive microglia also occurred in the same place. CX3CR1 was expressed major in the microglial. Expression of CX3CL1/CX3CR1,TNF-a,IL-1b mRNA and protein were also significantly increased after explosion to light.
Conclusions These findings demonstrate that Fractalkine/CX3CR1 may play an important role in the microglia-photoreceptor crosstalk in Light-induced photoreceptor degeneration. | 
