Crystallin distribution in Bruch's membrane-choroid complex from AMD and age-matched donor eyes

Exacerbation of retinal degeneration in the absence of alpha crystallins in an in vivo model of chemically induced hypoxia

This study evaluated the role of crystallins in retinal degeneration induced by chemical hypoxia. Wild-type, alphaA-crystallin (-/-), and alphaB-crystallin (-/-) mice received intravitreal injection of 12 nmol (low dose), 33 nmol (intermediate dose) or 60 nmol (high dose) cobalt chloride (CoCl(2)). Hematoxylin and eosin and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) stains were performed after 24 h, 96 h, and 1 week post-injection, while immunofluorescent stains for alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin were performed 1 week post-injection. The in vitro effects of CoCl(2) on alphaB-crystallin expression in ARPE-19 cells were determined by real time RT-PCR, Western blot, and confocal microscopy and studies evaluating subcellular distribution of alphaB-crystallin in the mitochondria and cytosol were also performed. Histologic studies revealed progressive retinal degeneration with CoCl(2) injection in wild-type mice. Retinas of CoCl(2) injected mice showed transient increased expression of HIF-1alpha which was maximal 24h after injection. Intermediate-dose CoCl(2) injection was associated with increased retinal immunofluorescence for both alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin; however, after high-dose injection, increased retinal degeneration was associated with decreased levels of crystallin expression. Injection of CoCl(2) at either intermediate or high dose in alphaA-crystallin (-/-) and alphaB-crystallin (-/-) mice resulted in much more severe retinal degeneration compared to wild-type eyes. A decrease in ARPE-19 total and cytosolic alphaB-crystallin expression with increasing CoCl(2) treatment and an increase in mitochondrial alphaB-crystallin were found. We conclude that lack of alpha-crystallins accentuates retinal degeneration in chemically induced hypoxia in vivo.

Semenogelins in the human retina: Differences in distribution and content between AMD and normal donor tissues

The two cellular targets of interest in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the photoreceptors and the RPE. However, the mechanisms involved in AMD pathology are not yet fully understood. In the present report, we extend our previous studies on semenogelin proteins (Sgs) in normal human retina and compare these with the distribution in retinas from AMD donor eyes. Semenogelins I (SgI) and II (SgII) are the major structural protein components of semen coagulum, but have been recently found in non-genital tissues as well. Cryo and paraffin sections of human retina were processed for both immunofluorescence and DAB reaction with a specific antibody. The presence of SgI was analyzed in retina and RPE total lysates and SgI was detected by western blot in human retina and RPE. The intensity of immunoreactivity was significantly reduced in the AMD eyes. SgI is expressed in the normal human retina and in the retina of AMD donor eyes, where localization was detected in the photoreceptors and in a few ganglion cells. We find the distribution of SgI in the AMD retinas substantially lower than observed in normal retina. SgI localization to photoreceptors and the RPE suggests a possible function related to the ability of these cells to sequester zinc.

Interactive sequences in the molecular chaperone, human alphaB crystallin modulate the fibrillation of amyloidogenic proteins

Multiple interactive domains are involved in the activity of the stress protein, alphaB crystallin that protects against the unfolding, aggregation, and toxicity of amyloidogenic proteins. Six peptides corresponding to the interactive sequences 41STSLSPFYLRPPSFLRAP58, 73DRFSVNLDVKHFS85, 101HGKHEERQDE110, 113FISREFHR120, 131LTITSSLSSDGV142, and 156ERTIPITRE164 in human alphaB crystallin were synthesized and evaluated in Thioflavin T fluorescence assays for their effects on the modulation of fibrillation of four disease-related amyloidogenic proteins: amyloid-beta, alpha-synuclein, transthyretin, and beta2-microglobulin. The 73DRFSVNLDVKHFS85 and 101HGKHEERQDE110 peptides in the conserved alpha crystallin core domain of alphaB crystallin were the most effective fibril inhibitors. 73DRFSVNLDVKHFS85 completely inhibited alpha-synuclein fibrillation and reduced the fibrillation of amyloid-beta, transthyretin, and beta2-microglobulin by >50%. 101HGKHEERQDE110 completely inhibited amyloid-beta fibrillation and reduced the fibrillation of alpha-synuclein, transthyretin, and beta2-microglobulin by >50%. The peptides FSVN, NLDV, HGKH, and HEER, which are synthetic fragments of 73DRFSVNLDVKHFS85 and 101HGKHEERQDE110, inhibited fibrillation of all four amyloidogenic proteins by >75%. In contrast, the peptides FISREFHR, ERTIPITRE, DRFS, KHFS, and EERQ were the strongest promoters of fibrillation. Molecular modeling of the interactions between transthyretin and beta2-microglobulin and the synthetic bioactive peptides determined that residues Phe-75, Ser-76, Val-77, Asn-78, Leu-79, and Asp-80 in 73DRFSVNLDVKHFS85 and residues His-101, Lys-103, His-104, Glu-105, and Arg-107 in 101HGKHEERQDE110 interact with exposed residues in the beta strands, F and D of transthyretin and beta2-microglobulin, respectively, to modulate fibrillation. This is the first characterization of specific bioactive peptides synthesized on the basis of interactive domains in the small heat shock protein, alphaB crystallin that protect against the fibrillation of amyloidogenic proteins.

Hypoxia/reoxygenation and TGF-β increase αB-crystallin expression in human optic nerve head astrocytes

Reactive astrocytes in glaucomatous optic nerve changes are characterized by an increased expression of alphaB-crystallin and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). In the pathogenesis of glaucomatous optic nerve damage, ischemia/reperfusion injury may play an important role. The goal of the present study was to determine the influence of hypoxia/reoxygenation and TGF-beta on the expression of alphaB-crystallin in cultured human astrocytes of the optic nerve head (ONH). Cultured human astrocytes were incubated under hypoxic conditions (1% O2 for 4-12 h) with subsequent reoxygenation (12-24 h). Additionally, cells were treated with 1.0 ng/ml TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 for 12-48 h. Expression of alphaB-crystallin was examined by Northern- and Western-blotting. Levels of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 were analyzed by RT-PCR analysis and ELISA. The effect of TGF-beta blocking on the hypoxia/reoxygenation modulated expression of alphaB-crystallin was investigated by simultaneous incubation with neutralizing antibodies against TGF-beta during the reoxygenation phase. Hypoxia/reoxygenation increased the expression of alphaB-crystallin at the mRNA (2.8- to 3.1-fold) and protein level (1.8- to 2.1-fold). Treatment with 1.0 ng/ml TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 for 12-48 h markedly enhanced alphaB-crystallin mRNA expression approximately three- to fourfold. Using Western blot analysis, this increase ranged from 2 to 3 times. Both cytokines showed a twofold increase after 12 and 24 h of reoxygenation at the mRNA and a two- to threefold increase at the protein level. Simultaneous treatment with neutralizing antibodies against both TGF-beta isoforms prevented the hypoxia/reoxygenation-mediated elevation of alphaB-crystallin. The process of hypoxia/reoxygenation is capable of inducing the expression of alphaB-crystallin and TGF-ss in cultured ONH astrocytes. Therefore, optimization of conditions leading to hypoxia/reoxygenation in the ONH of glaucomatous patients may help to lower the incidence of characteristic changes in the optic nerve.

Transplantation of the RPE in AMD

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) maintains retinal function as the metabolic gatekeeper between photoreceptors (PRs) and the choriocapillaries. The RPE and Bruch's membrane (BM) suffer cumulative damage over lifetime, which is thought to induce age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in susceptible individuals. Unlike palliative pharmacologic treatments, replacement of the RPE has a curative potential for AMD. This article reviews mechanisms leading to RPE dysfunction in aging and AMD, laboratory studies on RPE transplantation, and surgical techniques used in AMD patients. Future strategies using ex vivo steps prior to transplantation, BM prosthetics, and stem cell applications are discussed. The functional peculiarity of the macular region, epigenetic phenomena leading to an age-related shift in protein expression, along with the accumulation of lipofuscin may affect the metabolism in the central RPE. Thickening of BM with age decreases its hydraulic conductivity. Drusen are deposits of extracellular material and formed in part by activation of the alternative complement pathway in individuals carrying a mutant allele of complement factor H. AMD likely represents an umbrella term for a disease entity with multifactorial etiology and manifestations. Presently, a slow progressing (dry) non-neovascular atrophic form and a rapidly blinding neovascular (wet) form are discerned. No therapy is currently available for the former, while RPE transplantation and promising (albeit non-causal) anti-angiogenic therapies are available for the latter. The potential of RPE transplantation was demonstrated in animal models. Rejection of allogeneic homologous transplants in patients focused further studies on autologous sources. In vitro studies elucidated cell adhesion and wound healing mechanisms on aged human BM. Currently, autologous RPE, harvested from the midperiphery, is being transplanted as a cell suspension or a patch of RPE and choroid in AMD patients. These techniques have been evaluated from several groups. Autologous RPE transplants may have the disadvantage of carrying the same genetic information that may have led to AMD manifestation. An intermittent culturing step would allow for in vitro therapy of the RPE, its rejuvenation and prosthesis of BM to improve the success RPE transplants. Recent advances in stem cell biology when combined with lessons learned from studies of RPE transplantation are intriguing future therapeutic modalities for AMD patients.

Crystallins in the eye: Function and pathology

Crystallins are the predominant structural proteins in the lens that are evolutionarily related to stress proteins. They were first discovered outside the vertebrate eye lens by Bhat and colleagues in 1989 who found alphaB-crystallin expression in the retina, heart, skeletal muscles, skin, brain and other tissues. With the advent of microarray and proteome analysis, there is a clearer demonstration that crystallins are prominent proteins both in the normal retina and in retinal pathologies, emphasizing the importance of understanding crystallin functions outside of the lens. There are two main crystallin gene families: alpha-crystallins, and betagamma-crystallins. alpha-crystallins are molecular chaperones that prevent aberrant protein interactions. The chaperone properties of alpha-crystallin are thought to allow the lens to tolerate aging-induced deterioration of the lens proteins without showing signs of cataracts until older age. alpha-crystallins not only possess chaperone-like activity in vitro, but can also remodel and protect the cytoskeleton, inhibit apoptosis, and enhance the resistance of cells to stress. Recent advances in the field of structure-function relationships of alpha-crystallins have provided the first clues to their underlying roles in tissues outside the lens. Proteins of the betagamma-crystallin family have been suggested to affect lens development, and are also expressed in tissues outside the lens. The goal of this paper is to highlight recent work with lens epithelial cells from alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin knockout mice. The use of lens epithelial cells suggests that crystallins have important cellular functions in the lens epithelium and not just the lens fiber cells as previously thought. These studies may be directly relevant to understanding the general cellular functions of crystallins.

Clathrin and adaptin accumulation in drusen, Bruch's membrane and choroid in AMD and non-AMD donor eyes

Clathrin was identified in a recent proteomic analysis of Bruch's membrane from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) donor eyes. The present study was conducted to determine the localization of clathrin in AMD tissues and to compare this distribution and relative content with that in non-AMD control tissues. The distribution of adaptin, which is functionally linked to clathrin, was also evaluated. Human eyes were from donors between 66 and 94 years of age; 13 eyes were from donors with AMD and 13 from non-AMD donors. Bruch's membrane and choroid from the macula of each donor eye were prepared for immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Differences in immunoreactivity were quantitated. Drusen, Bruch's membrane and choroid from AMD tissues showed greater immunoreactivity for clathrin and adaptin than did non-AMD tissues. Western blots also showed more intense clathrin and adaptin immunoreactivity in AMD tissues than were present in non-AMD samples. This study suggests that accumulation of clathrin and adaptin in drusen, Bruch's membrane and choroid may reflect a higher rate of clathrin mediated endocytosis in AMD tissues. Alternatively, the accumulation of these proteins in these extracellular compartments may reflect a higher susceptibility to oxidative damage.

Characterization of semenogelin proteins in the human retina

Semenogelin I and II are the major proteins present in semen coagulum. In the present study, semenogelin I and II were detected in human RPE lysates by proteomic analysis. We further analyzed the expression of these proteins in the retinal cells in vivo and in vitro. Western blots detected semenogelin I and II in both RPE and neural retina while the vitreous contained only SgII. Cryo and paraffin sections of human retina were processed for both immunofluorescence and DAB reaction with an antibody that recognizes both forms of semenogelin proteins. Retina and RPE total lysates were evaluated for the presence of these proteins and in a human RPE cell line (D407). Both proteins were detected by western blot in human RPE and in D407 cell lysates. Immunoreactivity was detected in the ganglion cell and photoreceptor layer of the retina. Our data support the expression of semenogelin I and II in the human retina in several different compartments. Further studies towards addressing the function of these proteins in the retina are in progress.

Protection from oxidative stress by methionine sulfoxide reductases in RPE cells

We investigated the role of methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msrs) in oxidant-stress-induced cell death in retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells. In RPE cells exposed to varying doses of H(2)O(2), gene expression of MsrA and hCBS-1 (the human analog of MsrB2) increased in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner with maximal increase with 150 microM H(2)O(2) in 24h. H(2)O(2) treatment resulted in the generation of reactive oxygen species and activation of caspase 3. Confocal microscopic and protein analysis showed an increase in MsrA expression in cytosol and mitochondria. Silencing of MsrA resulted in caspase 3 induction and accentuated cell death from H(2)O(2). Focal, strong immunoreactivity for MsrA was observed in sub-RPE macular drusen from patients with age-related macular degeneration. In summary, our data show that MsrA and hCBS-1 are up-regulated in oxidative stress to counteract injury to RPE.