Mechanical insult elicits a strong astrocyte response at the optic nerve head.
In resting astrocytes PEA-15 is anti-apoptotic and inhibits ERK1/2.
Mechanical insult induces specific PEA15 phosphorylation, blocking its activities.
As a consequence activated ERK1/2 induces MMP2 and MMP9 secretion.
By this mechanism PEA-15 may control injury and remodeling at the optic nerve head.