Interleukin-10 Receptor Signaling through STAT-3 Regulates the Apoptosis of Retinal Ganglion Cells in Response to Stress

Abstract

IL-10 caused a 59% and 42% reduction in the apoptotic population of serum-deprived cells with and without dexamethasone treatment, respectively. These observations establish that activation of IL-10R promotes survival of RGCs and this survival-promoting activity is due to IL-10 signaling through the Stat-3 pathway, which inhibits the cell death and not through the Akt cell survival pathway.