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Zhang J, Sheng X, Ding Q, Wang Y, Zhao J, Zhang J. Subretinal fibrosis secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration: mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:378-393. [PMID: 38819041 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Subretinal fibrosis is the end-stage sequelae of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. It causes local damage to photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroidal vessels, which leads to permanent central vision loss of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis is complex, and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Therefore, there are no effective treatment options. A thorough understanding of the pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis and its related mechanisms is important to elucidate its complications and explore potential treatments. The current article reviews several aspects of subretinal fibrosis, including the current understanding on the relationship between neovascular age-related macular degeneration and subretinal fibrosis; multimodal imaging techniques for subretinal fibrosis; animal models for studying subretinal fibrosis; cellular and non-cellular constituents of subretinal fibrosis; pathophysiological mechanisms involved in subretinal fibrosis, such as aging, infiltration of macrophages, different sources of mesenchymal transition to myofibroblast, and activation of complement system and immune cells; and several key molecules and signaling pathways participating in the pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, connective tissue growth factor, fibroblast growth factor 2, platelet-derived growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β, transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and the axis of heat shock protein 70-Toll-like receptors 2/4-interleukin-10. This review will improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis, allow the discovery of molecular targets, and explore potential treatments for the management of subretinal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxiang Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xia Sheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Quanju Ding
- Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yujun Wang
- Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jiwei Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jingfa Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, China
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VanSlyke JK, Boswell BA, Musil LS. TGFβ overcomes FGF-induced transinhibition of EGFR in lens cells to enable fibrotic secondary cataract. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar75. [PMID: 38598298 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e24-01-0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
To cause vision-disrupting fibrotic secondary cataract (PCO), lens epithelial cells that survive cataract surgery must migrate to the posterior of the lens capsule and differentiate into myofibroblasts. During this process, the cells become exposed to the FGF that diffuses out of the vitreous body. In normal development, such relatively high levels of FGF induce lens epithelial cells to differentiate into lens fiber cells. It has been a mystery as to how lens cells could instead undergo a mutually exclusive cell fate, namely epithelial to myofibroblast transition, in the FGF-rich environment of the posterior capsule. We and others have reported that the ability of TGFβ to induce lens cell fibrosis requires the activity of endogenous ErbBs. We show here that lens fiber-promoting levels of FGF induce desensitization of ErbB1 (EGFR) that involves its phosphorylation on threonine 669 mediated by both ERK and p38 activity. Transinhibition of ErbB1 by FGF is overcome by a time-dependent increase in ErbB1 levels induced by TGFβ, the activation of which is increased after cataract surgery. Our studies provide a rationale for why TGFβ upregulates ErbB1 in lens cells and further support the receptor as a therapeutic target for PCO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judy K VanSlyke
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Bruce A Boswell
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Linda S Musil
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239
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Bazgir F, Nau J, Nakhaei-Rad S, Amin E, Wolf MJ, Saucerman JJ, Lorenz K, Ahmadian MR. The Microenvironment of the Pathogenesis of Cardiac Hypertrophy. Cells 2023; 12:1780. [PMID: 37443814 PMCID: PMC10341218 DOI: 10.3390/cells12131780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a key risk factor for the development of heart failure and predisposes individuals to cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death. While physiological cardiac hypertrophy is adaptive, hypertrophy resulting from conditions comprising hypertension, aortic stenosis, or genetic mutations, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is maladaptive. Here, we highlight the essential role and reciprocal interactions involving both cardiomyocytes and non-myocardial cells in response to pathological conditions. Prolonged cardiovascular stress causes cardiomyocytes and non-myocardial cells to enter an activated state releasing numerous pro-hypertrophic, pro-fibrotic, and pro-inflammatory mediators such as vasoactive hormones, growth factors, and cytokines, i.e., commencing signaling events that collectively cause cardiac hypertrophy. Fibrotic remodeling is mediated by cardiac fibroblasts as the central players, but also endothelial cells and resident and infiltrating immune cells enhance these processes. Many of these hypertrophic mediators are now being integrated into computational models that provide system-level insights and will help to translate our knowledge into new pharmacological targets. This perspective article summarizes the last decades' advances in cardiac hypertrophy research and discusses the herein-involved complex myocardial microenvironment and signaling components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Bazgir
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (F.B.); (J.N.)
| | - Julia Nau
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (F.B.); (J.N.)
| | - Saeideh Nakhaei-Rad
- Stem Cell Biology, and Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Institute of Biotechnology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 91779-48974, Iran;
| | - Ehsan Amin
- Institute of Neural and Sensory Physiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Matthew J. Wolf
- Department of Medicine and Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA;
| | - Jeffry J. Saucerman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA;
| | - Kristina Lorenz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Leibniz Institute for Analytical Sciences, 97078 Würzburg, Germany;
| | - Mohammad Reza Ahmadian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (F.B.); (J.N.)
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Becker L, Lu CE, Montes-Mojarro IA, Layland SL, Khalil S, Nsair A, Duffy GP, Fend F, Marzi J, Schenke-Layland K. Raman microspectroscopy identifies fibrotic tissues in collagen-related disorders via deconvoluted collagen type I spectra. Acta Biomater 2023; 162:278-291. [PMID: 36931422 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a consequence of the pathological remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM) structures in the connective tissue of an organ. It is often caused by chronic inflammation, which over time, progressively leads to an excess deposition of collagen type I (COL I) that replaces healthy tissue structures, in many cases leaving a stiff scar. Increasing fibrosis can lead to organ failure and death; therefore, developing methods that potentially allow real-time monitoring of early onset or progression of fibrosis are highly valuable. In this study, the ECM structures of diseased and healthy human tissue from multiple organs were investigated for the presence of fibrosis using routine histology and marker-independent Raman microspectroscopy and Raman imaging. Spectral deconvolution of COL I Raman spectra allowed the discrimination of fibrotic and non-fibrotic COL I fibers. Statistically significant differences were identified in the amide I region of the spectral subpeak at 1608 cm-1, which was deemed to be representative for structural changes in COL I fibers in all examined fibrotic tissues. Raman spectroscopy-based methods in combination with this newly discovered spectroscopic biomarker potentially offer a diagnostic approach to non-invasively track and monitor the progression of fibrosis. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Current diagnosis of fibrosis still relies on histopathological examination with invasive biopsy procedures. Although, several non-invasive imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography and second harmonic generation are gradually employed in preclinical or clinical studies, these techniques are limited in spatial resolution and the morphological interpretation highly relies on individual experience and knowledge. In this study, we propose a non-destructive technique, Raman microspectroscopy, to discriminate fibrotic changes of collagen type I based on a molecular biomarker. The changes of the secondary structure of collagen type I can be identified by spectral deconvolution, which potentially can provide an automatic diagnosis for fibrotic tissues in the clinical applicaion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Becker
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Silcherstr. 7/1, Eberhard Karls University, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Chuan-En Lu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Silcherstr. 7/1, Eberhard Karls University, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Shannon L Layland
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Silcherstr. 7/1, Eberhard Karls University, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Suzan Khalil
- Department of Medicine/Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 675 Charles E. Young Drive South, MRL 3645 Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ali Nsair
- Department of Medicine/Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 675 Charles E. Young Drive South, MRL 3645 Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Garry P Duffy
- Anatomy & Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33, Galway, Ireland
| | - Falko Fend
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia Marzi
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Silcherstr. 7/1, Eberhard Karls University, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany; NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstr. 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Katja Schenke-Layland
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Silcherstr. 7/1, Eberhard Karls University, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany; NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstr. 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany.
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Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF-2) Expression in Pterygia Using Cell Spot Arrays. Vision (Basel) 2022; 6:vision6040058. [PMID: 36278670 PMCID: PMC9589943 DOI: 10.3390/vision6040058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is a main regulator of cell differentiation, cell migration and angiogenesis in normal and abnormal conjunctiva epithelia, but specific mechanisms of its aberrant expression are yet to be investigated. In the present study, we investigated FGF-2 protein expression within several pterygia. Using a liquid-based cytology assay, we obtained cell specimens from pterygia and healthy tissues directly from patients. A combination of immunocytochemistry followed by digital image analysis showed significant overexpression of FGF-2 in all the examined pterygia. In 30/60 (50%) cases there were high levels of staining intensity, whereas in the remaining 30/60 (50%) cases there were moderate levels of expression. FGF-2 levels of the control group were significantly lower in comparison with the pterygia group. There was no significant correlation between FGF-2 levels and either sex or location of the pterygium. FGF-2 levels had a significant correlation with morphological characteristics of the pterygia. More specifically, FGF-2 levels were significantly higher in the pterygia with a fleshy morphology. Interestingly, recurrent lesions demonstrated high expression levels. An overexpression of FGF-2 has been observed frequently in pterygia, where it may play a crucial role in determining the lesion’s progression. FGF-2 upregulation correlates with the morphology of pterygia and its tendency to recur. Cell spot analysis based on liquid-based cytology is a simple, yet effective, method for detecting a broad spectrum of protein markers and could be useful in analyzing potential pterygia patient samples.
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