Citrus extraction provides neuroprotective effect in optic nerve crush injury mice through P53 signaling pathway

• Citrus treatment regulated gene expression profile after optic nerve crush injury. • Citrus treatment regulated inflammation and apoptosis related pathways. • Four genes were found to be associated with the neuroprotective effect of Citrus. • Citrus exerted neuroprotective effect by regulating P53/BCL-2/BAX pathway. Optic nerve injury induces the loss of retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve atrophy. Our previous study demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of Citrus in the optic nerve crush (ONC) injury model. To explore the underlying neuroprotective mechanism, we focus on the changes in gene expression profile pre- and post-Citrus treatment in the ONC injury model. The results suggested that the Citrus regulated the chemokine signaling pathway and P53 signaling pathway, etc. Four genes were identified as potential target genes ( Melk , Mki67 , Ccnb1 , and Cenpf ). Subsequent qRT-PCR and western blot confirmed that Citrus regulated cell apoptosis and inflammation-related gene expression, and inhibited P53 activation-induced cell death. The present study demonstrated that the neuroprotective effect of Citrus was achieved through the regulation of the P53/BCL-2/BAX pathway and the expression regulation of four critical genes, which provide novel therapeutic targets for the therapy of optic nerve injury.