Whereas overexpression of neurotrophic factors delays or inhibits retinal degeneration [1-7], inhibition of neuroprotective signaling or absence of neuroprotective factors, such as leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) accelerates retinal degeneration in disease models, or in the aging retina [2,8,9]. The gene discussed is LIF; the disease is retinal degeneration.