1
|
Ding P, Wang R, He Y. Risk factors for pterygium: Latest research progress on major pathogenesis. Exp Eye Res 2024; 243:109900. [PMID: 38636803 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
A pterygium is a wedge-shaped fibrovascular growth of the conjunctiva membrane that extends onto the cornea, which is the outer layer of the eye. It is also known as surfer's eye. Growth of a pterygium can also occur on the either side of the eye, attaching firmly to the sclera. Pterygia are one of the world's most common ocular diseases. However, the pathogenesis remains unsolved to date. As the pathogenesis of pterygium is closely related to finding the ideal treatment, a clear understanding of the pathogenesis will lead to better treatment and lower the recurrence rate, which is notably high and more difficult to treat than a primary pterygium. Massive studies have recently been conducted to determine the exact causes and mechanism of pterygia. We evaluated the pathogenetic factors ultraviolet radiation, viral infection, tumor suppressor genes p53, growth factors, oxidative stress, apoptosis and neuropeptides in the progression of the disease. The heightened expression of TRPV1 suggests its potential contribution in the occurrence of pterygium, promoting its inflammation and modulating sensory responses in ocular tissues. Subsequently, the developmental mechanism of pterygium, along with its correlation with dry eye disease is proposed to facilitate the identification of pathogenetic factors for pterygia, contributing to the advancement of understanding in this area and may lead to improved surgical outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peiqi Ding
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ruiqing Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, China
| | - Yuxi He
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Suanno G, Genna VG, Maurizi E, Dieh AA, Griffith M, Ferrari G. Cell therapy in the cornea: The emerging role of microenvironment. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 102:101275. [PMID: 38797320 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101275] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The cornea is an ideal testing field for cell therapies. Its highly ordered structure, where specific cell populations are sequestered in different layers, together with its accessibility, has allowed the development of the first stem cell-based therapy approved by the European Medicine Agency. Today, different techniques have been proposed for autologous and allogeneic limbal and non-limbal cell transplantation. Cell replacement has also been attempted in cases of endothelial cell decompensation as it occurs in Fuchs dystrophy: injection of cultivated allogeneic endothelial cells is now in advanced phases of clinical development. Recently, stromal substitutes have been developed with excellent integration capability and transparency. Finally, cell-derived products, such as exosomes obtained from different sources, have been investigated for the treatment of severe corneal diseases with encouraging results. Optimization of the success rate of cell therapies obviously requires high-quality cultured cells/products, but the role of the surrounding microenvironment is equally important to allow engraftment of transplanted cells, to preserve their functions and, ultimately, lead to restoration of tissue integrity and transparency of the cornea.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Suanno
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Eye Repair Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Eleonora Maurizi
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine ''S. Ferrari'', University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Anas Abu Dieh
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - May Griffith
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Giulio Ferrari
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Eye Repair Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Ophthalmology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kistenmacher S, Schwämmle M, Martin G, Ulrich E, Tholen S, Schilling O, Gießl A, Schlötzer-Schrehardt U, Bucher F, Schlunck G, Nazarenko I, Reinhard T, Polisetti N. Enrichment, Characterization, and Proteomic Profiling of Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Human Limbal Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Melanocytes. Cells 2024; 13:623. [PMID: 38607062 PMCID: PMC11011788 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Limbal epithelial progenitor cells (LEPC) rely on their niche environment for proper functionality and self-renewal. While extracellular vesicles (EV), specifically small EVs (sEV), have been proposed to support LEPC homeostasis, data on sEV derived from limbal niche cells like limbal mesenchymal stromal cells (LMSC) remain limited, and there are no studies on sEVs from limbal melanocytes (LM). In this study, we isolated sEV from conditioned media of LMSC and LM using a combination of tangential flow filtration and size exclusion chromatography and characterized them by nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Western blot, multiplex bead arrays, and quantitative mass spectrometry. The internalization of sEV by LEPC was studied using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The isolated sEVs exhibited typical EV characteristics, including cell-specific markers such as CD90 for LMSC-sEV and Melan-A for LM-sEV. Bioinformatics analysis of the proteomic data suggested a significant role of sEVs in extracellular matrix deposition, with LMSC-derived sEV containing proteins involved in collagen remodeling and cell matrix adhesion, whereas LM-sEV proteins were implicated in other cellular bioprocesses such as cellular pigmentation and development. Moreover, fluorescently labeled LMSC-sEV and LM-sEV were taken up by LEPC and localized to their perinuclear compartment. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex role of sEV from niche cells in regulating the human limbal stem cell niche.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Kistenmacher
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Schwämmle
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, D–79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gottfried Martin
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eva Ulrich
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Tholen
- Institute of Surgical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Oliver Schilling
- Institute of Surgical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Andreas Gießl
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlan-gen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ursula Schlötzer-Schrehardt
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlan-gen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Felicitas Bucher
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Günther Schlunck
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Irina Nazarenko
- Institute for Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Reinhard
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Naresh Polisetti
- Eye Center, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Merra A, Maurizi E, Pellegrini G. Impact of culture media on primary human corneal endothelial cells derived from old donors. Exp Eye Res 2024; 240:109815. [PMID: 38316204 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Corneal endothelial dysfunction is a major indication for corneal transplantation. However, a global shortage of donor corneal tissues and risks associated with corneal surgeries have prompted exploration of alternative options, including tissue-engineered grafts or cell injection therapy. Nonetheless, these approaches require a controlled culture of primary human corneal endothelial cells (HCEnCs). Although HCEnCs established from young donors are generally more proliferative and maintain a better phenotype, corneas from old donors are more frequently accessible from eye banks due to a lower corneal endothelial cell count than the necessary threshold required for transplantation. In this study, we investigated various culture media to evaluate which one is the most appropriate for stimulating the proliferation while maintaining cell morphology and function of HCEnCs derived from old donors (age >65 years). All experiments were performed on paired research-grade donor corneas, divided for the conditions under investigation in order to minimize the inter-donor variability. Cell morphology as well as expression of specific markers were assessed at both mRNA (CD166, SLC4A11, ATP1A1, COL8A1, α-SMA, CD44, COL1A1, CDKN2A, LAP2A and LAP2B) and protein (ZO-1, α-SMA, Ki67 and LAP2) levels. Results obtained showed how the Dual Media formulation maintained the hexagonal phenotype more efficiently than Single Medium, but cell size gradually increased with passages. In contrast, the Single Medium provided a higher proliferation rate and a prolonged in vitro expansion but acquired an elongated morphology. To summarize, Single medium and Dual media preserve morphology and functional phenotype of HCEnCs from old donor corneas at low passages while maintenance of the same cell features at high passages remains an active area of research. The new insights revealed within this work become particularly relevant considering that the elderly population a) is the main target of corneal endothelial therapy, b) represents the majority of corneal donors. Therefore, the proper expansion of HCEnCs from old donors is essential to develop novel personalised therapeutic strategies and reduce requirement of human corneal tissues globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Merra
- Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l., Modena, Italy; Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Eleonora Maurizi
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Graziella Pellegrini
- Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l., Modena, Italy; Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Akoto T, Cai J, Nicholas S, McCord H, Estes AJ, Xu H, Karamichos D, Liu Y. Unravelling the Impact of Cyclic Mechanical Stretch in Keratoconus-A Transcriptomic Profiling Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:7437. [PMID: 37108600 PMCID: PMC10139219 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomechanical and molecular stresses may contribute to the pathogenesis of keratoconus (KC). We aimed to profile the transcriptomic changes in healthy primary human corneal (HCF) and KC-derived cells (HKC) combined with TGFβ1 treatment and cyclic mechanical stretch (CMS), mimicking the pathophysiological condition in KC. HCFs (n = 4) and HKCs (n = 4) were cultured in flexible-bottom collagen-coated 6-well plates treated with 0, 5, and 10 ng/mL of TGFβ1 with or without 15% CMS (1 cycle/s, 24 h) using a computer-controlled Flexcell FX-6000T Tension system. We used stranded total RNA-Seq to profile expression changes in 48 HCF/HKC samples (100 bp PE, 70-90 million reads per sample), followed by bioinformatics analysis using an established pipeline with Partek Flow software. A multi-factor ANOVA model, including KC, TGFβ1 treatment, and CMS, was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs, |fold change| ≥ 1.5, FDR ≤ 0.1, CPM ≥ 10 in ≥1 sample) in HKCs (n = 24) vs. HCFs (n = 24) and those responsive to TGFβ1 and/or CMS. PANTHER classification system and the DAVID bioinformatics resources were used to identify significantly enriched pathways (FDR ≤ 0.05). Using multi-factorial ANOVA analyses, 479 DEGs were identified in HKCs vs. HCFs including TGFβ1 treatment and CMS as cofactors. Among these DEGs, 199 KC-altered genes were responsive to TGFβ1, thirteen were responsive to CMS, and six were responsive to TGFβ1 and CMS. Pathway analyses using PANTHER and DAVID indicated the enrichment of genes involved in numerous KC-relevant functions, including but not limited to degradation of extracellular matrix, inflammatory response, apoptotic processes, WNT signaling, collagen fibril organization, and cytoskeletal structure organization. TGFβ1-responsive KC DEGs were also enriched in these. CMS-responsive KC-altered genes such as OBSCN, CLU, HDAC5, AK4, ITGA10, and F2RL1 were identified. Some KC-altered genes, such as CLU and F2RL1, were identified to be responsive to both TGFβ1 and CMS. For the first time, our multi-factorial RNA-Seq study has identified many KC-relevant genes and pathways in HKCs with TGFβ1 treatment under CMS, suggesting a potential role of TGFβ1 and biomechanical stretch in KC development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Akoto
- Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Jingwen Cai
- Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Sarah Nicholas
- North Texas Eye Research Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Hayden McCord
- Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Amy J. Estes
- Department of Ophthalmology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- James & Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Hongyan Xu
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Dimitrios Karamichos
- North Texas Eye Research Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Yutao Liu
- Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- James & Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Center for Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lai CC, Tseng SH, Hsu SM, Huang YT, Shieh CC. Conjunctival Expression of Toll-Like Receptor 3 Plays a Pathogenic Role in the Formation of Ultraviolet Light-Induced Pterygium. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:6. [PMID: 34369985 PMCID: PMC8354036 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.10.6] [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] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), as a damage-associated molecular pattern sensor, can detect self-RNA released from necrotic cells induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation exposure. Pterygium formation is believed to be a tumorigenesis-like process induced by UVB exposure. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern of TLR3 in pterygium specimens and cultured pterygial epithelial cells (PECs). Methods Human pterygium and ipsilateral pterygium-free conjunctiva from the same patients were used in this study. The expression of TLR3 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was investigated in these specimens. PECs were exposed to UVB radiation to determine the effect of UVB on the expression of TLR3 and the activation of NF-κB. Results The immunofluorescence study showed stronger TLR3 expression in superficial epithelial cells in the pterygial epithelium in comparison with the normal conjunctival epithelium. The expression of TLR3 decreased in intensity from the superficial epithelium toward the basal cell layer, implying a correlation between UVB exposure and TLR3 expression. Differential TLR3 expression patterns in pterygial and conjunctival tissues were also found in quantitative PCR analyses. PECs after UVB irradiation had higher protein levels of TLR3 and phospho-NF-κB than those of the PECs without irradiation. Immunofluorescence studies showed that UVB irradiation induced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in the PECs. In PECs with the targeted TLR3 gene silencing, the expression of phospho-NF-κB was not induced by UVB irradiation. Conclusions Our results indicate that UVB exposure, TLR3 expression, and NF-κB activation may be a critical sequence that leads to the formation of pterygium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Chieh Lai
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Ophthalmology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Huei Tseng
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Min Hsu
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yin-Ting Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chang Shieh
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Simon LS, Keshav V, Baharozian C, Masli S, Lee HJ. Thrombospondin 1 polymorphism associated with decreased expression and increased risk of pterygium. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2021; 259:2301-2307. [PMID: 33661363 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-021-05121-3] [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: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the potential association of a thrombospondin 1 gene (THBS1) single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs1478604) with thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) mRNA expression, as well as the risk of pterygium, in a pilot study. METHODS DNA and RNA were isolated from peripheral blood samples collected from normal volunteer subjects (n = 39). In addition, DNA was isolated from conjunctival tissue samples collected during pterygium excision surgeries (n = 42). Relative expression of TSP-1 mRNA was measured by quantitative RT-PCR, and rs1478604 genotype was determined using a TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Genotype frequencies were compared with mRNA expression and between pterygium samples and normal controls. RESULTS Expression of TSP-1 mRNA was significantly lower in the peripheral blood of normal subjects who were homozygous for the C allele of rs1478604 (CC) compared to TT and CT genotypes (p = 0.004). When we compared rs1478604 genotypes between normal and pterygium patients, we found that the CC genotype was also associated with an increased risk of pterygium compared to TT (odds ratio (OR) = 5.39, 95% CI [1.26-22.99], p = 0.028), CT (OR = 7.86, 95% CI [1.92-32.17], p = 0.003), and combined CT and TT genotypes (OR = 6.67; 95% CI = [1.75-25.37]; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS We found that the C allele of rs1478604 was associated with both lower TSP-1 expression and higher risk of pterygium, possibly implicating TSP-1 in the pathogenesis of pterygium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lilla S Simon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 E. Concord Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Vinny Keshav
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 E. Concord Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Connor Baharozian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 E. Concord Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Sharmila Masli
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 E. Concord Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Hyunjoo J Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 E. Concord Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Maurizi E, Schiroli D, Zini R, Limongelli A, Mistò R, Macaluso C, Pellegrini G. A fine-tuned β-catenin regulation during proliferation of corneal endothelial cells revealed using proteomics analysis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13841. [PMID: 32796906 PMCID: PMC7427785 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70800-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Corneal endothelial (CE) dysfunction is the main indication for corneal transplantation, an invasive procedure with several limitations. Developing novel strategies to re-activate CE regenerative capacity is, therefore, of fundamental importance. This goal has proved to be challenging as corneal endothelial cells (CEnC) are blocked in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle in vivo and, albeit retaining proliferative capacity in vitro, this is further hindered by endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Herein we investigated the mechanisms regulating CEnC proliferation in vitro. Comparing the proteome of non-proliferating (in vivo-G0/G1) and proliferating (in vitro-G2/M) rabbit CEnC (rCEnC), 77 proteins, out of 3,328 identified, were differentially expressed in the two groups (p < 0.005). Literature and Gene Ontology analysis revealed β-catenin and transforming growth factor (TGF-β) pathways to be correlated with the identified proteins. Treatment of rCEnC with a β-catenin activator and inhibitor showed that β-catenin activation was necessary during rCEnC proliferation, but not sufficient for its induction. Furthermore, both pro-proliferative activity of basic fibroblast growth factor and anti-proliferative effects of TGF-β were regulated through β-catenin. Overall, these results provide novel insights into the molecular basis underlying the proliferation process that CEnC re-activate in vitro, consolidating the role of β-catenin and TGF-β.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Maurizi
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine "S. Ferrari", Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry Center, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Davide Schiroli
- Transfusion Medicine Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Roberta Zini
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine "S. Ferrari", Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | | | - Claudio Macaluso
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry Center, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Graziella Pellegrini
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine "S. Ferrari", Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Choquet H, Melles RB, Yin J, Hoffmann TJ, Thai KK, Kvale MN, Banda Y, Hardcastle AJ, Tuft SJ, Glymour MM, Schaefer C, Risch N, Nair KS, Hysi PG, Jorgenson E. A multiethnic genome-wide analysis of 44,039 individuals identifies 41 new loci associated with central corneal thickness. Commun Biol 2020; 3:301. [PMID: 32528159 PMCID: PMC7289804 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1037-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Central corneal thickness (CCT) is one of the most heritable human traits, with broad-sense heritability estimates ranging between 0.68 to 0.95. Despite the high heritability and numerous previous association studies, only 8.5% of CCT variance is currently explained. Here, we report the results of a multiethnic meta-analysis of available genome-wide association studies in which we find association between CCT and 98 genomic loci, of which 41 are novel. Among these loci, 20 were significantly associated with keratoconus, and one (RAPSN rs3740685) was significantly associated with glaucoma after Bonferroni correction. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis suggests that thinner CCT does not causally increase the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma. This large CCT study explains up to 14.2% of CCT variance and increases substantially our understanding of the etiology of CCT variation. This may open new avenues of investigation into human ocular traits and their relationship to the risk of vision disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Choquet
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Division of Research, Oakland, CA, 94612, USA.
| | - Ronald B Melles
- KPNC, Department of Ophthalmology, Redwood City, CA, 94063, USA
| | - Jie Yin
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Division of Research, Oakland, CA, 94612, USA
| | - Thomas J Hoffmann
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Khanh K Thai
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Division of Research, Oakland, CA, 94612, USA
| | - Mark N Kvale
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Yambazi Banda
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Alison J Hardcastle
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | | | - M Maria Glymour
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Catherine Schaefer
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Division of Research, Oakland, CA, 94612, USA
| | - Neil Risch
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Division of Research, Oakland, CA, 94612, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - K Saidas Nair
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Pirro G Hysi
- King's College London, Section of Ophthalmology, School of Life Course Sciences, London, UK
- King's College London, Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, London, UK
- University College London, Great Ormond Street Hospital Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Eric Jorgenson
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Division of Research, Oakland, CA, 94612, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wu SQ, Xu QB, Sheng WY, Su LY, Zhu LW. A novel role for Livin in the response to ultraviolet B radiation and pterygium development. Int J Mol Med 2020; 45:1103-1111. [PMID: 32124942 PMCID: PMC7053875 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A pterygium is an inflammatory, invasive and proliferative lesion on the ocular surface, which can decrease visual acuity, damage the ocular surface and affect the appearance of the eye. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis remain unclear. In the present study, the role of apoptosis-associated protein Livin in the occurrence and development of pterygium was investigated. Primary samples from quiescent or advanced clinical stages of pterygium and normal human conjunctival tissues were used to assess mRNA and protein expression levels of Livin using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Livin was knocked down in pterygium epithelial cells (PECs) using small interfering RNA (siRNA), to investigate the role of Livin in PEC viability, migration, invasion ability and apoptosis. The cell viability, invasion ability and apoptosis of PECs following ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation alone or in combination with Livin silencing were also analyzed. Expression levels of Livin increased in the pterygium tissues compared with those in the normal conjunctiva at both the mRNA and protein levels. Livin expression levels in advanced pterygium were significantly higher compared with those in quiescent pterygium samples. Knockdown of Livin expression levels significantly reduced cell migration, invasion ability and cell viability, and induced apoptosis of PECs. Inhibition of Livin expression in PECs increased the expression levels of caspase-7, caspase-3 and E-cadherin, whereas expression levels of Snail were downregulated. Cell viability and invasion ability in PECs was enhanced following UVB radiation and Livin expression upregulated. UVB irradiation induced cell invasion ability of PECs and this was attenuated by Livin-silencing. Transfection with Livin siRNA also partially recovered the apoptosis rate of PECs, which was reduced by UVB irradiation. In conclusion, Livin was upregulated in pterygium, and UVB radiation functions in the development of pterygium by inducing Livin expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang-Qing Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Medicine and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital (Hangzhou Red‑Cross Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
| | - Qi-Bin Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Medicine and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital (Hangzhou Red‑Cross Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Yan Sheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Medicine and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital (Hangzhou Red‑Cross Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
| | - Lin-Ya Su
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Medicine and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital (Hangzhou Red‑Cross Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
| | - Li-Wei Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Medicine and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital (Hangzhou Red‑Cross Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Schiroli D, Gómara MJ, Maurizi E, Atkinson SD, Mairs L, Christie KA, Cobice DF, McCrudden CM, Nesbit MA, Haro I, Moore T. Effective In Vivo Topical Delivery of siRNA and Gene Silencing in Intact Corneal Epithelium Using a Modified Cell-Penetrating Peptide. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 17:891-906. [PMID: 31476668 PMCID: PMC6723413 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Autosomal dominantly inherited genetic disorders such as corneal dystrophies are amenable to allele-specific gene silencing with small interfering RNA (siRNA). siRNA delivered to the cornea by injection, although effective, is not suitable for a frequent long-term treatment regimen, whereas topical delivery of siRNA to the cornea is hampered by the eye surface's protective mechanisms. Herein we describe an attractive and innovative alternative for topical application using cell-penetrating peptide derivatives capable of complexing siRNA non-covalently and delivering them into the cornea. Through a rational design approach, we modified derivatives of a cell-penetrating peptide, peptide for ocular delivery (POD), already proved to diffuse into the corneal layers. These POD derivatives were able to form siRNA-peptide complexes (polyplexes) of size and ζ-potential similar to those reported able to undergo cellular internalization. Successful cytoplasmic release and gene silencing in vitro was obtained when an endosomal disruptor, chloroquine, was added. A palmitoylated-POD, displaying the best delivery properties, was covalently functionalized with trifluoromethylquinoline, an analog of chloroquine. This modified POD, named trifluoromethylquinoline-palmitoyl-POD (QN-Palm-POD), when complexed with siRNA and topically applied to the eye in vivo, resulted in up to 30% knockdown of luciferase reporter gene expression in the corneal epithelium. The methods developed within represent a valid standardized approach that is ideal for screening of a range of delivery formulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Schiroli
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | - María J Gómara
- Unit of Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Peptides, Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eleonora Maurizi
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | - Sarah D Atkinson
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland; Northern Ireland Centre for Stratified Medicine, University of Ulster, Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK
| | - Laura Mairs
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | - Kathleen A Christie
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | - Diego F Cobice
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | - Cian M McCrudden
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland
| | - M Andrew Nesbit
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland
| | - Isabel Haro
- Unit of Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Peptides, Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tara Moore
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|