Articles

NOVEL CHARACTERIZATION OF PROX-1 EXPRESSION ON OPTIC NERVE ASTROCYTES

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Abstract

Prox-1 (prospero homeobox protein 1) is a master control gene for lymphatic vessel development and it has been widely used as a marker to detect lymphatic vessels inside and outside the eye. We herein report a novel finding of Prox-1 expression on the astrocytes of the optic nerve, a critical structure that conveys visual information from the retina to the brain. We identified that Prox-1 expressing cells were widely distributed inside the optic nerve. These cells co-expressed both GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and AQP4 (aquaporin-4) which are typical markers for astrocytes. Interestingly, some of the Prox-1+ cells ensheath CD31+ blood vessels inside the optic nerve and these cells are part of the glymphatic system utilized for ocular fluid circulation. This study not only reveals a novel expression pattern of Prox-1 in the optic nerve but also identifies a new marker for the glymphatic system in this critical structure. Further exploration on this novel phenomenon may reveal new mechanisms and therapeutic targets for optic nerve-related diseases that affect many patients worldwide.

Keywords: Prox-1, Glymphatic, Optic nerve, GFAP, AQP4, astrocyte

How to Cite:

Yang, Y., Zhang, L., Zhang, L., Li, G. & Chen, L., (2026) “NOVEL CHARACTERIZATION OF PROX-1 EXPRESSION ON OPTIC NERVE ASTROCYTES”, Lymphology 59(1), 13-19. doi: https://doi.org/10.2458/lymph.10729