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Xu Z, Kunala K, Murphy P, Patak L, Puthussery T, McGregor J. Foveal Retinal Ganglion Cells Develop Altered Calcium Dynamics Weeks After Photoreceptor Ablation. OPHTHALMOLOGY SCIENCE 2024; 4:100520. [PMID: 38881601 PMCID: PMC11179405 DOI: 10.1016/j.xops.2024.100520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Purpose Physiological changes in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have been reported in rodent models of photoreceptor (PR) loss, but this has not been investigated in primates. By expressing both a calcium indicator (GCaMP6s) and an optogenetic actuator (ChrimsonR) in foveal RGCs of the macaque, we reactivated RGCs in vivo and assessed their response in the weeks and years after PR loss. Design We used an in vivo calcium imaging approach to record optogenetically evoked activity in deafferented RGCs in primate fovea. Cellular scale recordings were made longitudinally over a 10-week period after PR ablation and compared with responses from RGCs that had lost PR input >2 years prior. Participants Three eyes received PR ablation, the right eye of a male Macaca mulatta (M1), the left eye of a female Macaca fascicularis (M2), and the right eye of a male Macaca fascicularis (M3). Two animals were used for in vivo recording, 1 for histological assessment. Methods Cones were ablated with an ultrafast laser delivered through an adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope (AOSLO). A 0.5 second pulse of 25 Hz 660 nm light optogenetically stimulated RGCs, and the resulting GCaMP fluorescence signal was recorded using an AOSLO. Measurements were repeated over 10 weeks immediately after PR ablation, at 2.3 years and in control RGCs. Main Outcome Measures The calcium rise time, decay constant, and sensitivity index of optogenetic-mediated RGC were derived from GCaMP fluorescence recordings from 221 RGCs (animal M1) and 218 RGCs (animal M2) in vivo. Results After PR ablation, the mean decay constant of the calcium response in RGCs decreased 1.5-fold (standard deviation 1.6 ± 0.5 seconds to 0.6 ± 0.3 seconds) over the 10-week observation period in subject 1 and 2.1-fold (standard deviation 2.5 ± 0.5 seconds to 1.2 ± 0.2 seconds) within 8 weeks in subject 2. Calcium rise time and sensitivity index were stable. Optogenetic reactivation remained possible 2.3 years after PR ablation. Conclusions Altered calcium dynamics developed in primate foveal RGCs in the weeks after PR ablation. The mean decay constant of optogenetic-mediated calcium responses decreased 1.5- to twofold. This is the first report of this phenomenon in primate retina and further work is required to understand the role these changes play in cell survival and activity. Financial Disclosures Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyang Xu
- Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - Karteek Kunala
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Peter Murphy
- Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - Laura Patak
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
- Vision Science Graduate Program, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Teresa Puthussery
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Juliette McGregor
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
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Xu Z, Kunala K, Murphy P, Patak L, Puthussery T, McGregor J. Foveal RGCs develop altered calcium dynamics weeks after photoreceptor ablation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.05.30.542908. [PMID: 37398439 PMCID: PMC10312553 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.30.542908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Objective or purpose Physiological changes in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have been reported in rodent models of photoreceptor (PR) loss but this has not been investigated in primates. By expressing both a calcium indicator (GCaMP6s) and an optogenetic actuator (ChrimsonR) in foveal RGCs of the macaque, we reactivated RGCs in vivo and assessed their response in the weeks and years following PR loss. Design We used an in vivo calcium imaging approach to record optogenetically evoked activity in deafferented RGCs in primate fovea. Cellular scale recordings were made longitudinally over a 10 week period following photoreceptor ablation and compared to responses from RGCs that had lost photoreceptor input more than two years prior. Participants Three eyes received photoreceptor ablation, OD of a male Macaca mulatta (M1), OS of a female Macaca fascicularis (M2) and OD of a male Macaca fascicularis (M3). Two animals were used for in vivo recording, one for histological assessment. Methods Cones were ablated with an ultrafast laser delivered through an adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope (AOSLO). A 0.5 s pulse of 25Hz 660nm light optogenetically stimulated RGCs, and the resulting GCaMP fluorescence signal was recorded using AOSLO. Measurements were repeated over 10 weeks immediately after PR ablation, at 2.3 years and in control RGCs. Main Outcome measures The calcium rise time, decay constant and sensitivity index of optogenetic mediated RGC were derived from GCaMP fluorescence recordings from 221 RGCs (Animal M1) and 218 RGCs (Animal M2) in vivo. Results Following photoreceptor ablation, the mean decay constant of the calcium response in RGCs decreased 1.5 fold (1.6±0.5 s to 0.6±0.3 s SD) over the 10 week observation period in subject 1 and 2.1 fold (2.5±0.5 s to 1.2±0.2 s SD) within 8 weeks in subject 2. Calcium rise time and sensitivity index were stable. Optogenetic reactivation remained possible 2.3 years after PR ablation. Conclusions Altered calcium dynamics developed in primate foveal RGCs in the weeks after photoreceptor ablation. The mean decay constant of optogenetic mediated calcium responses decreased 1.5 - 2-fold. This is the first report of this phenomenon in primate retina and further work is required to understand the role these changes play in cell survival and activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyang Xu
- Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, UNITED STATES
| | - Karteek Kunala
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, UNITED STATES
| | - Peter Murphy
- Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, UNITED STATES
| | - Laura Patak
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, UNITED STATES
- Vision Science Graduate Program, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, UNITED STATES
| | - Teresa Puthussery
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, UNITED STATES
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, UNITED STATES
| | - Juliette McGregor
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, UNITED STATES
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, UNITED STATES
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Harris RA, Raveendran M, Warren W, LaDeana HW, Tomlinson C, Graves-Lindsay T, Green RE, Schmidt JK, Colwell JC, Makulec AT, Cole SA, Cheeseman IH, Ross CN, Capuano S, Eichler EE, Levine JE, Rogers J. Whole Genome Analysis of SNV and Indel Polymorphism in Common Marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus). Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2185. [PMID: 38137007 PMCID: PMC10742769 DOI: 10.3390/genes14122185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is one of the most widely used nonhuman primate models of human disease. Owing to limitations in sequencing technology, early genome assemblies of this species using short-read sequencing suffered from gaps. In addition, the genetic diversity of the species has not yet been adequately explored. Using long-read genome sequencing and expert annotation, we generated a high-quality genome resource creating a 2.898 Gb marmoset genome in which most of the euchromatin portion is assembled contiguously (contig N50 = 25.23 Mbp, scaffold N50 = 98.2 Mbp). We then performed whole genome sequencing on 84 marmosets sampling the genetic diversity from several marmoset research centers. We identified a total of 19.1 million single nucleotide variants (SNVs), of which 11.9 million can be reliably mapped to orthologous locations in the human genome. We also observed 2.8 million small insertion/deletion variants. This dataset includes an average of 5.4 million SNVs per marmoset individual and a total of 74,088 missense variants in protein-coding genes. Of the 4956 variants orthologous to human ClinVar SNVs (present in the same annotated gene and with the same functional consequence in marmoset and human), 27 have a clinical significance of pathogenic and/or likely pathogenic. This important marmoset genomic resource will help guide genetic analyses of natural variation, the discovery of spontaneous functional variation relevant to human disease models, and the development of genetically engineered marmoset disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Alan Harris
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (R.A.H.); (M.R.)
| | - Muthuswamy Raveendran
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (R.A.H.); (M.R.)
| | - Wes Warren
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA;
| | - Hillier W. LaDeana
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98104, USA; (H.W.L.); (E.E.E.)
| | - Chad Tomlinson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA; (C.T.); (T.G.-L.)
| | - Tina Graves-Lindsay
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA; (C.T.); (T.G.-L.)
| | - Richard E. Green
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA;
| | - Jenna K. Schmidt
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, USA; (J.K.S.); (J.C.C.); (A.T.M.); (S.C.III); (J.E.L.)
| | - Julia C. Colwell
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, USA; (J.K.S.); (J.C.C.); (A.T.M.); (S.C.III); (J.E.L.)
| | - Allison T. Makulec
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, USA; (J.K.S.); (J.C.C.); (A.T.M.); (S.C.III); (J.E.L.)
| | - Shelley A. Cole
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA; (S.A.C.); (I.H.C.); (C.N.R.)
| | - Ian H. Cheeseman
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA; (S.A.C.); (I.H.C.); (C.N.R.)
| | - Corinna N. Ross
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA; (S.A.C.); (I.H.C.); (C.N.R.)
| | - Saverio Capuano
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, USA; (J.K.S.); (J.C.C.); (A.T.M.); (S.C.III); (J.E.L.)
| | - Evan E. Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98104, USA; (H.W.L.); (E.E.E.)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jon E. Levine
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, USA; (J.K.S.); (J.C.C.); (A.T.M.); (S.C.III); (J.E.L.)
| | - Jeffrey Rogers
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (R.A.H.); (M.R.)
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Peterson SM, Watowich MM, Renner LM, Martin S, Offenberg E, Lea A, Montague MJ, Higham JP, Snyder-Mackler N, Neuringer M, Ferguson B. Genetic variants in melanogenesis proteins TYRP1 and TYR are associated with the golden rhesus macaque phenotype. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad168. [PMID: 37522525 PMCID: PMC10542561 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are vital translational research models due to their high genetic, physiological, and anatomical homology with humans. The "golden" rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) phenotype is a naturally occurring, inherited trait with a visually distinct pigmentation pattern resulting in light blonde colored fur. Retinal imaging also reveals consistent hypopigmentation and occasional foveal hypoplasia. Here, we describe the use of genome-wide association in 2 distinct NHP populations to identify candidate variants in genes linked to the golden phenotype. Two missense variants were identified in the Tyrosinase-related protein 1 gene (Asp343Gly and Leu415Pro) that segregate with the phenotype. An additional and distinct association was also found with a Tyrosinase variant (His256Gln), indicating the light-colored fur phenotype can result from multiple genetic mechanisms. The implicated genes are related through their contribution to the melanogenesis pathway. Variants in these 2 genes are known to cause pigmentation phenotypes in other species and to be associated with oculocutaneous albinism in humans. The novel associations presented in this study will permit further investigations into the role these proteins and variants play in the melanogenesis pathway and model the effects of genetic hypopigmentation and altered melanogenesis in a naturally occurring nonhuman primate model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Peterson
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Marina M Watowich
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Lauren M Renner
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Samantha Martin
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Emma Offenberg
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Amanda Lea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Child and Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Michael J Montague
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - James P Higham
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Noah Snyder-Mackler
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- School for Human Evolution & Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Martha Neuringer
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Betsy Ferguson
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
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Cha S, Ahn J, Kim SW, Choi KE, Yoo Y, Eom H, Shin D, Goo YS. The Variation of Electrical Pulse Duration Elicits Reliable Network-Mediated Responses of Retinal Ganglion Cells in Normal, Not in Degenerate Primate Retinas. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1135. [PMID: 37892865 PMCID: PMC10604198 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10101135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the efficacy of electrical stimulation by comparing network-mediated RGC responses in normal and degenerate retinas using a N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced non-human primate (NHPs) retinitis pigmentosa (RP) model. Adult cynomolgus monkeys were used for normal and outer retinal degeneration (RD) induced by MNU. The network-mediated RGC responses were recorded from the peripheral retina mounted on an 8 × 8 multielectrode array (MEA). The amplitude and duration of biphasic current pulses were modulated from 1 to 50 μA and 500 to 4000 μs, respectively. The threshold charge density for eliciting a network-mediated RGC response was higher in the RD monkeys than in the normal monkeys (1.47 ± 0.13 mC/cm2 vs. 1.06 ± 0.09 mC/cm2, p < 0.05) at a 500 μs pulse duration. The monkeys required a higher charge density than rodents among the RD models (monkeys; 1.47 ± 0.13 mC/cm2, mouse; 1.04 ± 0.09 mC/cm2, and rat; 1.16 ± 0.16 mC/cm2, p < 0.01). Increasing the pulse amplitude and pulse duration elicited more RGC spikes in the normal primate retinas. However, only pulse amplitude variation elicited more RGC spikes in degenerate primate retinas. Therefore, the pulse strategy for primate RD retinas should be optimized, eventually contributing to retinal prosthetics. Given that RD NHP RGCs are not sensitive to pulse duration, using shorter pulses may potentially be a more charge-effective approach for retinal prosthetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seongkwang Cha
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea; (S.C.); (J.A.)
| | - Jungryul Ahn
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea; (S.C.); (J.A.)
| | - Seong-Woo Kim
- Horang-I Eye Center, Seoul 07999, Republic of Korea;
| | - Kwang-Eon Choi
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 08308, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yongseok Yoo
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea;
| | - Heejong Eom
- Laboratory Animal Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea; (H.E.); (D.S.)
| | - Donggwan Shin
- Laboratory Animal Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea; (H.E.); (D.S.)
| | - Yong Sook Goo
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea; (S.C.); (J.A.)
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Kramer RH. Suppressing Retinal Remodeling to Mitigate Vision Loss in Photoreceptor Degenerative Disorders. Annu Rev Vis Sci 2023; 9:131-153. [PMID: 37713276 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-vision-112122-020957] [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] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Rod and cone photoreceptors degenerate in retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, robbing the visual system of light-triggered signals necessary for sight. However, changes in the retina do not stop with the photoreceptors. A stereotypical set of morphological and physiological changes, known as remodeling, occur in downstream retinal neurons. Some aspects of remodeling are homeostatic, with structural or functional changes compensating for partial loss of visual inputs. However, other aspects are nonhomeostatic, corrupting retinal information processing to obscure vision mediated naturally by surviving photoreceptors or artificially by vision-restoration technologies. In this review, I consider the mechanism of remodeling and its consequences for residual and restored visual function; discuss the role of retinoic acid, a critical molecular trigger of detrimental remodeling; and discuss strategies for suppressing retinoic acid biosynthesis or signaling as therapeutic possibilities for mitigating vision loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard H Kramer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA;
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Saito M, Otsu W, Miyadera K, Nishimura Y. Recent advances in the understanding of cilia mechanisms and their applications as therapeutic targets. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1232188. [PMID: 37780208 PMCID: PMC10538646 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1232188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary cilium is a single immotile microtubule-based organelle that protrudes into the extracellular space. Malformations and dysfunctions of the cilia have been associated with various forms of syndromic and non-syndromic diseases, termed ciliopathies. The primary cilium is therefore gaining attention due to its potential as a therapeutic target. In this review, we examine ciliary receptors, ciliogenesis, and ciliary trafficking as possible therapeutic targets. We first discuss the mechanisms of selective distribution, signal transduction, and physiological roles of ciliary receptors. Next, pathways that regulate ciliogenesis, specifically the Aurora A kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways are examined as therapeutic targets to regulate ciliogenesis. Then, in the photoreceptors, the mechanism of ciliary trafficking which takes place at the transition zone involving the ciliary membrane proteins is reviewed. Finally, some of the current therapeutic advancements highlighting the role of large animal models of photoreceptor ciliopathy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Saito
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Pathology, School of Pharma-Sciences, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wataru Otsu
- Department of Biomedical Research Laboratory, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Keiko Miyadera
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Yuhei Nishimura
- Department of Integrative Pharmacology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan
- Mie University Research Center for Cilia and Diseases, Tsu, Mie, Japan
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Ail D, Nava D, Hwang IP, Brazhnikova E, Nouvel-Jaillard C, Dentel A, Joffrois C, Rousseau L, Dégardin J, Bertin S, Sahel JA, Goureau O, Picaud S, Dalkara D. Inducible nonhuman primate models of retinal degeneration for testing end-stage therapies. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg8163. [PMID: 37531424 PMCID: PMC10396314 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg8163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The anatomical differences between the retinas of humans and most animal models pose a challenge for testing novel therapies. Nonhuman primate (NHP) retina is anatomically closest to the human retina. However, there is a lack of relevant NHP models of retinal degeneration (RD) suitable for preclinical studies. To address this unmet need, we generated three distinct inducible cynomolgus macaque models of RD. We developed two genetically targeted strategies using optogenetics and CRISPR-Cas9 to ablate rods and mimic rod-cone dystrophy. In addition, we created an acute model by physical separation of the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium using a polymer patch. Among the three models, the CRISPR-Cas9-based approach was the most advantageous model in view of recapitulating disease-specific features and its ease of implementation. The acute model, however, resulted in the fastest degeneration, making it the most relevant model for testing end-stage vision restoration therapies such as stem cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Ail
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Diane Nava
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - In Pyo Hwang
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Elena Brazhnikova
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | | | - Alexandre Dentel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
- CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, F-75012 Paris, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Corentin Joffrois
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Lionel Rousseau
- ESYCOM, Université Eiffel, CNRS, CNAM, ESIEE Paris, F-77454 Marne-la-Vallée, France
| | - Julie Dégardin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Stephane Bertin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
- CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
- CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, F-75012 Paris, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Olivier Goureau
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Serge Picaud
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
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Chirco KR, Martinez C, Lamba DA. Advancements in pre-clinical development of gene editing-based therapies to treat inherited retinal diseases. Vision Res 2023; 209:108257. [PMID: 37210864 PMCID: PMC10524382 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2023.108257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
One of the major goals in the inherited retinal disease (IRD) field is to develop an effective therapy that can be applied to as many patients as possible. Significant progress has already been made toward this end, with gene editing at the forefront. The advancement of gene editing-based tools has been a recent focus of many research groups around the world. Here, we provide an update on the status of CRISPR/Cas-derived gene editors, promising options for delivery of these editing systems to the retina, and animal models that aid in pre-clinical testing of new IRD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen R Chirco
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States.
| | - Cassandra Martinez
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Deepak A Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States
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10
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Hsu Y, Bhattarai S, Thompson JM, Mahoney A, Thomas J, Mayer SK, Datta P, Garrison J, Searby CC, Vandenberghe LH, Seo S, Sheffield VC, Drack AV. Subretinal gene therapy delays vision loss in a Bardet-Biedl Syndrome type 10 mouse model. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 31:164-181. [PMID: 36700052 PMCID: PMC9841241 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Blindness in Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is caused by dysfunction and loss of photoreceptor cells in the retina. BBS10, mutations of which account for approximately 21% of all BBS cases, encodes a chaperonin protein indispensable for the assembly of the BBSome, a cargo adaptor important for ciliary trafficking. The loss of BBSome function in the eye causes a reduced light sensitivity of photoreceptor cells, photoreceptor ciliary malformation, dysfunctional ciliary trafficking, and photoreceptor cell death. Cone photoreceptors lacking BBS10 have congenitally low electrical function in electroretinography. In this study, we performed gene augmentation therapy by injecting a viral construct subretinally to deliver the coding sequence of the mouse Bbs10 gene to treat retinal degeneration in a BBS10 mouse model. Long-term efficacy was assessed by measuring the electrical functions of the retina over time, imaging of the treated regions to visualize cell survival, conducting visually guided swim assays to measure functional vision, and performing retinal histology. We show that subretinal gene therapy slowed photoreceptor cell death and preserved retinal function in treated eyes. Notably, cone photoreceptors regained their electrical function after gene augmentation. Measurement of functional vision showed that subretinal gene therapy provided a significant benefit in delaying vision loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hsu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Sajag Bhattarai
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jacob M. Thompson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Angela Mahoney
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jacintha Thomas
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Sara K. Mayer
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Poppy Datta
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Janelle Garrison
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - Luk H. Vandenberghe
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Seongjin Seo
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Val C. Sheffield
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Arlene V. Drack
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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11
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Vallender EJ, Hotchkiss CE, Lewis AD, Rogers J, Stern JA, Peterson SM, Ferguson B, Sayers K. Nonhuman primate genetic models for the study of rare diseases. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:20. [PMID: 36721163 PMCID: PMC9887761 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02619-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pre-clinical research and development relies heavily upon translationally valid models of disease. A major difficulty in understanding the biology of, and developing treatments for, rare disease is the lack of animal models. It is important that these models not only recapitulate the presentation of the disease in humans, but also that they share functionally equivalent underlying genetic causes. Nonhuman primates share physiological, anatomical, and behavioral similarities with humans resulting from close evolutionary relationships and high genetic homology. As the post-genomic era develops and next generation sequencing allows for the resequencing and screening of large populations of research animals, naturally occurring genetic variation in nonhuman primates with clinically relevant phenotypes is regularly emerging. Here we review nonhuman primate models of multiple rare genetic diseases with a focus on the similarities and differences in manifestation and etiologies across species. We discuss how these models are being developed and how they can offer new tools and opportunities for researchers interested in exploring novel therapeutics for these and other genetic diseases. Modeling human genetic diseases in translationally relevant nonhuman primates presents new prospects for development of therapeutics and a better understanding of rare diseases. The post-genomic era offers the opportunity for the discovery and further development of more models like those discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J. Vallender
- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS USA
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA USA
| | - Charlotte E. Hotchkiss
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Anne D. Lewis
- Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, OR USA
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR USA
| | - Jeffrey Rogers
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI USA
| | - Joshua A. Stern
- University of California-Davis, Davis, CA USA
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA USA
| | - Samuel M. Peterson
- Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, OR USA
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR USA
| | - Betsy Ferguson
- Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, OR USA
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR USA
| | - Ken Sayers
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX USA
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, San Antonio, TX USA
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12
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Choi KE, Cha S, Yun C, Ahn J, Hwang S, Kim YJ, Jung H, Eom H, Shin D, Oh J, Goo YS, Kim SW. Outer retinal degeneration in a non-human primate model using temporary intravitreal tamponade with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea in cynomolgus monkeys. J Neural Eng 2023; 20. [PMID: 36603218 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/acb085] [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: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective:The main objective of this study was to induce and evaluate drug-dose-dependent outer retinal degeneration in cynomolgus monkeys by application of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU).Approach:Intravitreal temporary tamponade induced outer retinal degeneration with MNU solutions (2-3 mg ml-1) after vitrectomy in five cynomolgus monkeys. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), full-field electroretinography (ffERG), and visual evoked potentials (VEP) were performed at baseline and weeks 2, 6, and 12 postoperatively. At week 12, OCT angiography, histology, and immunohistochemistry were performed.Main results:Outer retinal degeneration was observed in four monkeys, especially in the peripheral retina. Anatomical and functional changes occurred at week 2 and persisted until week 12. FAF images showed hypoautofluorescence dots, similar to AF patterns seen in human retinitis pigmentosa. Hyperautofluorescent lesions in the pericentral area were also observed, which corresponded to the loss of the ellipsoid zone on OCT images. OCT revealed thinning of the outer retinal layer adding to the loss of the ellipsoid zone outside the vascular arcade. Histological findings confirmed that the abovementioned changes resulted from a gradual loss of photoreceptors from the perifovea to the peripheral retina. In contrast, the inner retina, including ganglion cell layers, was preserved. Functionally, a decrease or extinction of scotopic ffERGs was observed, which indicated rod-dominant loss. Nevertheless, VEPs were relatively preserved.Significance:Therefore, we can conclude that temporary exposure to intravitreal MNU tamponade after vitrectomy induces rod-dominant outer retinal degeneration in cynomolgus monkeys, especially in the peripheral retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang-Eon Choi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08373, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongkwang Cha
- Department of Physiology, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheolmin Yun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08373, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungryul Ahn
- Department of Physiology, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Seil Hwang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08373, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Jin Kim
- Medical Device Development Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, Cheongju 28160, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Hachul Jung
- Medical Device Development Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, Cheongju 28160, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Heejong Eom
- Laboratory Animal Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, Cheongju 28160, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongkwan Shin
- Laboratory Animal Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, Cheongju 28160, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeryung Oh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08373, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Sook Goo
- Department of Physiology, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Woo Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 08373, Republic of Korea
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13
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Delvallée C, Dollfus H. Retinal Degeneration Animal Models in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome and Related Ciliopathies. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:13/1/a041303. [PMID: 36596648 PMCID: PMC9808547 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Retinal degeneration due to photoreceptor ciliary-related proteins dysfunction accounts for more than 25% of all inherited retinal dystrophies. The cilium, being an evolutionarily conserved and ubiquitous organelle implied in many cellular functions, can be investigated by way of many models from invertebrate models to nonhuman primates, all these models have massively contributed to the pathogenesis understanding of human ciliopathies. Taking the Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) as an emblematic example as well as other related syndromic ciliopathies, the contribution of a wide range of models has enabled to characterize the role of the BBS proteins in the archetypical cilium but also at the level of the connecting cilium of the photoreceptors. There are more than 24 BBS genes encoding for proteins that form different complexes such as the BBSome and the chaperone proteins complex. But how they lead to retinal degeneration remains a matter of debate with the possible accumulation of proteins in the inner segment and/or accumulation of unwanted proteins in the outer segment that cannot return in the inner segment machinery. Many BBS proteins (but not the chaperonins for instance) can be modeled in primitive organisms such as Paramecium, Chlamydomonas reinardtii, Trypanosoma brucei, and Caenorhabditis elegans These models have enabled clarifying the role of a subset of BBS proteins in the primary cilium as well as their relations with other modules such as the intraflagellar transport (IFT) module, the nephronophthisis (NPHP) module, or the Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS)/Joubert syndrome (JBTS) module mostly involved with the transition zone of the primary cilia. Assessing the role of the primary cilia structure of the connecting cilium of the photoreceptor cells has been very much studied by way of zebrafish modeling (Danio rerio) as well as by a plethora of mouse models. More recently, large animal models have been described for three BBS genes and one nonhuman primate model in rhesus macaque for BBS7 In completion to animal models, human cell models can now be used notably thanks to gene editing and the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). All these models are not only important for pathogenesis understanding but also very useful for studying therapeutic avenues, their pros and cons, especially for gene replacement therapy as well as pharmacological triggers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarisse Delvallée
- Laboratoire de Génétique Médicale UMRS1112, Centre de Recherche Biomédicale de Strasbourg, CRBS, Institut de Génétique Médicale d'Alsace, IGMA, Strasbourg 67000, France
| | - Hélène Dollfus
- Laboratoire de Génétique Médicale UMRS1112, Centre de Recherche Biomédicale de Strasbourg, CRBS, Institut de Génétique Médicale d'Alsace, IGMA, Strasbourg 67000, France
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14
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Nasser F, Kohl S, Kurtenbach A, Kempf M, Biskup S, Zuleger T, Haack TB, Weisschuh N, Stingl K, Zrenner E. Ophthalmic and Genetic Features of Bardet Biedl Syndrome in a German Cohort. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13071218. [PMID: 35886001 PMCID: PMC9322102 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to characterize the ophthalmic and genetic features of Bardet Biedl (BBS) syndrome in a cohort of patients from a German specialized ophthalmic care center. Sixty-one patients, aged 5−56 years, underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination including visual acuity and color vision testing, electroretinography (ERG), visually evoked potential recording (VEP), fundus examination, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Adaptive optics flood illumination ophthalmoscopy was performed in five patients. All patients had received diagnostic genetic testing and were selected upon the presence of apparent biallelic variants in known BBS-associated genes. All patients had retinal dystrophy with morphologic changes of the retina. Visual acuity decreased from ~0.2 (decimal) at age 5 to blindness 0 at 50 years. Visual field examination could be performed in only half of the patients and showed a concentric constriction with remaining islands of function in the periphery. ERG recordings were mostly extinguished whereas VEP recordings were reduced in about half of the patients. The cohort of patients showed 51 different likely biallelic mutations—of which 11 are novel—in 12 different BBS-associated genes. The most common associated genes were BBS10 (32.8%) and BBS1 (24.6%), and by far the most commonly observed variants were BBS10 c.271dup;p.C91Lfs*5 (21 alleles) and BBS1 c.1169T>G;p.M390R (18 alleles). The phenotype associated with the different BBS-associated genes and genotypes in our cohort is heterogeneous, with diverse features without genotype−phenotype correlation. The results confirm and expand our knowledge of this rare disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadi Nasser
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (S.K.); (A.K.); (M.K.); (N.W.); (K.S.); (E.Z.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Susanne Kohl
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (S.K.); (A.K.); (M.K.); (N.W.); (K.S.); (E.Z.)
| | - Anne Kurtenbach
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (S.K.); (A.K.); (M.K.); (N.W.); (K.S.); (E.Z.)
| | - Melanie Kempf
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (S.K.); (A.K.); (M.K.); (N.W.); (K.S.); (E.Z.)
- Center for Rare Eye Diseases, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | | | - Theresia Zuleger
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (T.Z.); (T.B.H.)
| | - Tobias B. Haack
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (T.Z.); (T.B.H.)
| | - Nicole Weisschuh
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (S.K.); (A.K.); (M.K.); (N.W.); (K.S.); (E.Z.)
| | - Katarina Stingl
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (S.K.); (A.K.); (M.K.); (N.W.); (K.S.); (E.Z.)
- Center for Rare Eye Diseases, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Eberhart Zrenner
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (S.K.); (A.K.); (M.K.); (N.W.); (K.S.); (E.Z.)
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
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15
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Retinal Organoids and Retinal Prostheses: An Overview. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23062922. [PMID: 35328339 PMCID: PMC8953078 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23062922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the progress of modern medicine in the last decades, millions of people diagnosed with retinal dystrophies (RDs), such as retinitis pigmentosa, or age-related diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, are suffering from severe visual impairment or even legal blindness. On the one hand, the reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and the progress of three-dimensional (3D) retinal organoids (ROs) technology provide a great opportunity to study, understand, and even treat retinal diseases. On the other hand, research advances in the field of electronic retinal prosthesis using inorganic photovoltaic polymers and the emergence of organic semiconductors represent an encouraging therapeutical strategy to restore vision to patients at the late onset of the disease. This review will provide an overview of the latest advancement in both fields. We first describe the retina and the photoreceptors, briefly mention the most used RD animal models, then focus on the latest RO differentiation protocols, carry out an overview of the current technology on inorganic and organic retinal prostheses to restore vision, and finally summarize the potential utility and applications of ROs.
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16
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McGregor JE, Kunala K, Xu Z, Murphy PJ, Godat T, Strazzeri JM, Bateman BA, Fischer WS, Parkins K, Chu CJ, Puthussery T, Williams DR, Merigan WH. Optogenetic therapy restores retinal activity in primate for at least a year following photoreceptor ablation. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1315-1328. [PMID: 34547460 PMCID: PMC8899524 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
All retina-based vision restoration approaches rely on the assumption that photoreceptor loss does not preclude reactivation of the remaining retinal architecture. Whether extended periods of vision loss limit the efficacy of restorative therapies at the retinal level is unknown. We examined long-term changes in optogenetic responsivity of foveal retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in non-human primates following localized photoreceptor ablation by high-intensity laser exposure. By performing fluorescence adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) of RGCs expressing both the calcium indicator GCaMP6s and the optogenetic actuator ChrimsonR, it was possible to track optogenetic-mediated calcium responses in deafferented RGCs over time. Fluorescence fundus photography revealed a 40% reduction in ChrimsonR fluorescence from RGCs lacking photoreceptor input over the 3 weeks following photoreceptor ablation. Despite this, in vivo imaging revealed good cellular preservation of RGCs 3 months after the loss of photoreceptor input, and histology confirmed good structural preservation at 2 years. Optogenetic responses of RGCs in primate persisted for at least 1 year after the loss of photoreceptor input, with a sensitivity index similar to optogenetic responses recorded in intact retina. These results are promising for all potential therapeutic approaches to vision restoration that rely on preservation and reactivation of RGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette E. McGregor
- Center for Visual Science, 601 Crittenden Blvd., University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Corresponding author: Juliette E. McGregor, Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
| | - Karteek Kunala
- Center for Visual Science, 601 Crittenden Blvd., University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Zhengyang Xu
- Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Peter J. Murphy
- Center for Visual Science, 601 Crittenden Blvd., University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Tyler Godat
- Center for Visual Science, 601 Crittenden Blvd., University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Jennifer M. Strazzeri
- Center for Visual Science, 601 Crittenden Blvd., University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | | | - William S. Fischer
- Center for Visual Science, 601 Crittenden Blvd., University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Keith Parkins
- Center for Visual Science, 601 Crittenden Blvd., University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Colin J. Chu
- Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS105NB, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa Puthussery
- School of Optometry & Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - David R. Williams
- Center for Visual Science, 601 Crittenden Blvd., University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - William H. Merigan
- Center for Visual Science, 601 Crittenden Blvd., University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Corresponding author: William H. Merigan, Center for Visual Science, 601 Crittenden Blvd., University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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17
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Schmidt JK, Jones KM, Van Vleck T, Emborg ME. Modeling genetic diseases in nonhuman primates through embryonic and germline modification: Considerations and challenges. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabf4879. [PMID: 35235338 PMCID: PMC9373237 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abf4879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Genetic modification of the embryo or germ line of nonhuman primates is envisioned as a method to develop improved models of human disease, yet the promise of such animal models remains unfulfilled. Here, we discuss current methods and their limitations for producing nonhuman primate genetic models that faithfully genocopy and phenocopy human disease. We reflect on how to ethically maximize the translational relevance of such models in the search for new therapeutic strategies to treat human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna K Schmidt
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kathryn M Jones
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Trevor Van Vleck
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Marina E Emborg
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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18
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Wozar F, Seitz I, Reichel F, Fischer MD. Importance of Nonhuman Primates as a Model System for Gene Therapy Development in Ophthalmology. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2022; 239:270-274. [PMID: 35189657 DOI: 10.1055/a-1777-5033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy is a treatment concept that uses, in most cases, viral vectors to deliver a therapeutic transgene to target cells. Although the idea of gene therapy dates back over 50 years ago, due to the complexity of the treatment concept, it took until the last decade for the responsible agencies like FDA and EMA to recommend the first gene therapy products for clinical use. The development of these therapies relies on molecular engineering of specifically designed vectors and models to test the effectiveness and safety of the treatment. Despite an increasing effort to find effective surrogates, animal models are still irreplaceable in gene therapy development. Rodents are important for exploring pathways and disease mechanisms and identifying potential treatment targets. However, only the primate eye resembles the human eye to a degree where most structures are nearly identical. Some research questions can therefore only be answered using a nonhuman primate (NHP) model. In this review, we want to summarize these key features and highlight the importance of the NHP model for gene therapy development in ophthalmology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Wozar
- University Eye Hospital, University Hospital Tübingen Centre of Ophthalmology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Immanuel Seitz
- University Eye Hospital, University Hospital Tübingen Centre of Ophthalmology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Felix Reichel
- University Eye Hospital, University Hospital Tübingen Centre of Ophthalmology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - M Dominik Fischer
- University Eye Hospital, University Hospital Tübingen Centre of Ophthalmology, Tübingen, Germany.,Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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19
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Jacobo Lopez A, Kim S, Qian X, Rogers J, Stout JT, Thomasy SM, La Torre A, Chen R, Moshiri A. Retinal organoids derived from rhesus macaque iPSCs undergo accelerated differentiation compared to human stem cells. Cell Prolif 2022; 55:e13198. [PMID: 35165951 PMCID: PMC9055909 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To compare the timing and efficiency of the development of Macaca mulatta, a nonhuman primate (NHP), induced pluripotent stem cell (rhiPSC) derived retinal organoids to those derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Results Generation of retinal organoids was achieved from both human and several NHP pluripotent stem cell lines. All rhiPSC lines resulted in retinal differentiation with the formation of optic vesicle‐like structures similar to what has been observed in hESC retinal organoids. NHP retinal organoids had laminated structure and were composed of mature retinal cell types including cone and rod photoreceptors. Single‐cell RNA sequencing was conducted at two time points; this allowed identification of cell types and developmental trajectory characterization of the developing organoids. Important differences between rhesus and human cells were measured regarding the timing and efficiency of retinal organoid differentiation. While the culture of NHP‐derived iPSCs is relatively difficult compared to that of human stem cells, the generation of retinal organoids from NHP iPSCs is feasible and may be less time‐consuming due to an intrinsically faster timing of retinal differentiation. Conclusions Retinal organoids produced from rhesus monkey iPSCs using established protocols differentiate through the stages of organoid development faster than those derived from human stem cells. The production of NHP retinal organoids may be advantageous to reduce experimental time for basic biology studies in retinogenesis as well as for preclinical trials in NHPs studying retinal allograft transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Jacobo Lopez
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, U.C. Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Sangbae Kim
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Xinye Qian
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jeffrey Rogers
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - J Timothy Stout
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sara M Thomasy
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, U.C. Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.,Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Anna La Torre
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, U.C. Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ala Moshiri
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, U.C. Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
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20
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Developing Non-Human Primate Models of Inherited Retinal Diseases. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13020344. [PMID: 35205388 PMCID: PMC8872446 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) represent a genetically and clinically heterogenous group of diseases that can eventually lead to blindness. Advances in sequencing technologies have resulted in better molecular characterization and genotype–phenotype correlation of IRDs. This has fueled research into therapeutic development over the recent years. Animal models are required for pre-clinical efficacy assessment. Non-human primates (NHP) are ideal due to the anatomical and genetic similarities shared with humans. However, developing NHP disease to recapitulate the disease phenotype for specific IRDs may be challenging from both technical and cost perspectives. This review discusses the currently available NHP IRD models and the methods used for development, with a particular focus on gene-editing technologies.
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21
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Genomic resources for rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Mamm Genome 2022; 33:91-99. [PMID: 34999909 PMCID: PMC8742695 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-021-09922-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are among the most extensively studied of nonhuman primates. This species has been the subject of many investigations concerning basic primate biology and behavior, including studies of social organization, developmental psychology, physiology, endocrinology, and neurodevelopment. Rhesus macaques are also critically important as a nonhuman primate model of human health and disease, including use in studies of infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, aging, and drug or alcohol abuse. Current research addressing fundamental biological and/or applied biomedical questions benefits from various genetic and genomic analyses. As a result, the genome of rhesus macaques has been the subject of more study than most nonhuman primates. This paper briefly discusses a number of information resources that can provide interested researchers with access to genetic and genomic data describing the content of the rhesus macaque genome, available information regarding genetic variation within the species, results from studies of gene expression, and other aspects of genomic analysis. Specific online databases are discussed, including the US National Center for Biotechnology Information, the University of California Santa Cruz genome browser, Ensembl genome browser, the Macaque Genotype and Phenotype database (mGAP), Rhesusbase, and others.
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22
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Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are an important cause of blindness worldwide. Over 270 genes have been associated with IRD. Genetic testing can determine the cause of the clinical disease in the majority of patients. However, at least 25-50% of patients with clinical diagnosis of IRD remain unsolved even after whole genome sequencing. Animal models of IRD can be useful for expanding the set of established IRD genes, to gain biological understanding of the function of these genes in the retina, and to test advanced therapeutics prior to human clinical trials. In this chapter some small and large animal models of IRD are discussed including some of the advantages and limitations of each for various forms of retinopathy.
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23
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Aleman TS, O'Neil EC, O'Connor K, Jiang YY, Aleman IA, Bennett J, Morgan JIW, Toussaint BW. Bardet-Biedl syndrome-7 ( BBS7) shows treatment potential and a cone-rod dystrophy phenotype that recapitulates the non-human primate model. Ophthalmic Genet 2021; 42:252-265. [PMID: 33729075 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2021.1888132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: To provide a detailed ophthalmic phenotype of two male patients with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) due to mutations in the BBS7 geneMethods: Two brothers ages 26 (Patient 1, P1) and 23 (P2) underwent comprehensive ophthalmic evaluations over three years. Visual function was assessed with full-field electroretinograms (ffERGs), kinetic and chromatic perimetry, multimodal imaging with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fundus autofluorescence (FAF) with short- (SW) and near-infrared (NIR) excitation lights and adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO).Results: Both siblings had a history of obesity and postaxial polydactyly; P2 had diagnoses of type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Addison's disease, high-functioning autism-spectrum disorder and -12D myopia. Visual acuities were better than 20/30. Kinetic fields were moderately constricted. Cone-mediated ffERGs were undetectable, rod ERGs were ~80% of normal mean. Static perimetry showed severe central cone and rod dysfunction. Foveal to parafoveal hypoautofluorescence, most obvious on NIR-FAF, co-localized with outer segment shortening/loss and outer nuclear layer thinning by SD-OCT, and with reduced photoreceptors densities by AOSLO. A structural-functional dissociation was confirmed for cone- and rod-mediated parameters. Worsening of the above abnormalities was documented by SD-OCT and FAF in P2 at 3 years. Gene screening identified compound heterozygous mutations in BBS7 (p.Val266Glu: c.797 T > A of maternal origin; c.1781_1783delCAT, paternal) in both patients.Conclusions: BBS7-associated retinal degeneration may present as a progressive cone-rod dystrophy pattern, reminiscent of both the murine and non-human primate models of the disease. Predominantly central retinal abnormalities in both cone and rod photoreceptors showed a structural-functional dissociation, an ideal scenario for gene augmentation treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas S Aleman
- Scheie Eye Institute at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Division of Ophthalmology of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Erin C O'Neil
- Scheie Eye Institute at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Division of Ophthalmology of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Keli O'Connor
- Scheie Eye Institute at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yu You Jiang
- Scheie Eye Institute at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Isabella A Aleman
- Scheie Eye Institute at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jean Bennett
- Scheie Eye Institute at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica I W Morgan
- Scheie Eye Institute at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brian W Toussaint
- Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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24
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Li S, Hu Y, Li Y, Hu M, Wang W, Ma Y, Cai Y, Wei M, Yao Y, Wang Y, Dong K, Gu Y, Zhao H, Bao J, Qiu Z, Zhang M, Hu X, Xue T. Generation of nonhuman primate retinitis pigmentosa model by in situ knockout of RHO in rhesus macaque retina. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2021; 66:374-385. [PMID: 36654417 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2020.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a form of inherited retinal degenerative diseases that ultimately involves the macula, which is present in primates but not in the rodents. Therefore, creating nonhuman primate (NHP) models of RP is of critical importance to study its mechanism of pathogenesis and to evaluate potential therapeutic options in the future. Here we applied adeno-associated virus (AAV)-delivered CRISPR/SaCas9 technology to knockout the RHO gene in the retinae of the adult rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) to investigate the hypothesis whether non-germline mutation of the RHO gene is sufficient to recapitulate RP. Through a series of studies, we were able to demonstrate successful somatic editing of the RHO gene and reduced RHO protein expression. More importantly, the mutant macaque retinae displayed clinical RP phenotypes, including photoreceptor degeneration, retinal thinning, abnormal rod subcellular structures, and reduced photoresponse. Therefore, we suggest somatic editing of the RHO gene is able to phenocopy RP, and the reduced time span in generating NHP mutant accelerates RP research and expands the utility of NHP model for human disease study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouzhen Li
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yingzhou Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650107, China
| | - Yunqin Li
- Second People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Eye Institute, Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province for the Prevention and Treatment of Ophthalmology, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Min Hu
- Second People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Eye Institute, Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province for the Prevention and Treatment of Ophthalmology, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Wenchao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Yuqian Ma
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yuan Cai
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Min Wei
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yichuan Yao
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Kunming Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Kai Dong
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yonghao Gu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Huan Zhao
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Jin Bao
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zilong Qiu
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Mei Zhang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Xintian Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Kunming Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650107, China.
| | - Tian Xue
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
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25
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Barnes CL, Malhotra H, Calvert PD. Compartmentalization of Photoreceptor Sensory Cilia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:636737. [PMID: 33614665 PMCID: PMC7889997 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.636737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional compartmentalization of cells is a universal strategy for segregating processes that require specific components, undergo regulation by modulating concentrations of those components, or that would be detrimental to other processes. Primary cilia are hair-like organelles that project from the apical plasma membranes of epithelial cells where they serve as exclusive compartments for sensing physical and chemical signals in the environment. As such, molecules involved in signal transduction are enriched within cilia and regulating their ciliary concentrations allows adaptation to the environmental stimuli. The highly efficient organization of primary cilia has been co-opted by major sensory neurons, olfactory cells and the photoreceptor neurons that underlie vision. The mechanisms underlying compartmentalization of cilia are an area of intense current research. Recent findings have revealed similarities and differences in molecular mechanisms of ciliary protein enrichment and its regulation among primary cilia and sensory cilia. Here we discuss the physiological demands on photoreceptors that have driven their evolution into neurons that rely on a highly specialized cilium for signaling changes in light intensity. We explore what is known and what is not known about how that specialization appears to have driven unique mechanisms for photoreceptor protein and membrane compartmentalization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Peter D. Calvert
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Center for Vision Research, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
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26
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Warren WC, Harris RA, Haukness M, Fiddes IT, Murali SC, Fernandes J, Dishuck PC, Storer JM, Raveendran M, Hillier LW, Porubsky D, Mao Y, Gordon D, Vollger MR, Lewis AP, Munson KM, DeVogelaere E, Armstrong J, Diekhans M, Walker JA, Tomlinson C, Graves-Lindsay TA, Kremitzki M, Salama SR, Audano PA, Escalona M, Maurer NW, Antonacci F, Mercuri L, Maggiolini FAM, Catacchio CR, Underwood JG, O'Connor DH, Sanders AD, Korbel JO, Ferguson B, Kubisch HM, Picker L, Kalin NH, Rosene D, Levine J, Abbott DH, Gray SB, Sanchez MM, Kovacs-Balint ZA, Kemnitz JW, Thomasy SM, Roberts JA, Kinnally EL, Capitanio JP, Skene JHP, Platt M, Cole SA, Green RE, Ventura M, Wiseman RW, Paten B, Batzer MA, Rogers J, Eichler EE. Sequence diversity analyses of an improved rhesus macaque genome enhance its biomedical utility. Science 2021; 370:370/6523/eabc6617. [PMID: 33335035 DOI: 10.1126/science.abc6617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) is the most widely studied nonhuman primate (NHP) in biomedical research. We present an updated reference genome assembly (Mmul_10, contig N50 = 46 Mbp) that increases the sequence contiguity 120-fold and annotate it using 6.5 million full-length transcripts, thus improving our understanding of gene content, isoform diversity, and repeat organization. With the improved assembly of segmental duplications, we discovered new lineage-specific genes and expanded gene families that are potentially informative in studies of evolution and disease susceptibility. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from 853 rhesus macaques identified 85.7 million single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and 10.5 million indel variants, including potentially damaging variants in genes associated with human autism and developmental delay, providing a framework for developing noninvasive NHP models of human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley C Warren
- Department of Animal Sciences, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. .,Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Institute of Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - R Alan Harris
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marina Haukness
- Computational Genomics Laboratory, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | | | - Shwetha C Murali
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jason Fernandes
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Philip C Dishuck
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jessica M Storer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.,Institue for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Muthuswamy Raveendran
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - LaDeana W Hillier
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - David Porubsky
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Yafei Mao
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - David Gordon
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Mitchell R Vollger
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alexandra P Lewis
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Katherine M Munson
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Elizabeth DeVogelaere
- Computational Genomics Laboratory, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Joel Armstrong
- Computational Genomics Laboratory, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Mark Diekhans
- Computational Genomics Laboratory, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Jerilyn A Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Chad Tomlinson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | | | - Milinn Kremitzki
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Sofie R Salama
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Peter A Audano
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Merly Escalona
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Nicholas W Maurer
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | | | - Ludovica Mercuri
- Department of Biology, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', 70125 Bari, Italy
| | | | | | | | - David H O'Connor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA
| | - Ashley D Sanders
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jan O Korbel
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Betsy Ferguson
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | | | - Louis Picker
- Oregon National Primate Research Center and Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Ned H Kalin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53719, USA
| | - Douglas Rosene
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jon Levine
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53175, USA.,Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53171, USA
| | - David H Abbott
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53171, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Stanton B Gray
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
| | - Mar M Sanchez
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | | | - Joseph W Kemnitz
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53171, USA.,Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Sara M Thomasy
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | | | - Erin L Kinnally
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - John P Capitanio
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - J H Pate Skene
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Michael Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shelley A Cole
- Population Health Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute and Southwest National Primate Research Center, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
| | - Richard E Green
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Mario Ventura
- Department of Biology, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Roger W Wiseman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA
| | - Benedict Paten
- Computational Genomics Laboratory, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Mark A Batzer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Jeffrey Rogers
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Evan E Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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27
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Tran TM, Kim S, Lin KH, Chung SH, Park S, Sazhnyev Y, Wang Y, Cunefare D, Farsiu S, Thomasy SM, Moshiri A, Yiu G. Quantitative Fundus Autofluorescence in Rhesus Macaques in Aging and Age-Related Drusen. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:16. [PMID: 32663290 PMCID: PMC7425688 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.8.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To employ quantitative fundus autofluorescence (qAF) imaging in rhesus macaques to noninvasively assess retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) lipofuscin in nonhuman primates (NHPs) as a model of aging and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods The qAF imaging was performed on eyes of 26 rhesus macaques (mean age 18.8 ± 8.2 years, range 4–27 years) with normal-appearing fundus or with age-related soft drusen using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope with 488 nm excitation and an internal fluorescence reference. Eyes with soft drusen also underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging to measure drusen volume and height of individual drusen lesions. The qAF levels were measured from the perifoveal annular ring (quantitative autofluorescence 8 [qAF8]) using the Delori grid, as well as focally over individual drusen lesions in this region. The association between qAF levels and age, sex, and drusen presence and volume were determined using multivariable regression analysis. Results Mean qAF levels increased with age (P < 0.001) and were higher in females (P = 0.047). Eyes with soft drusen exhibited reduced mean qAF compared with age-matched normal eyes (P = 0.003), with greater drusen volume showing a trend toward decreased qAF levels. However, qAF levels are focally increased over most individual drusen (P < 0.001), with larger drusen appearing more hyperautofluorescent (R2 = 0.391, P < 0.001). Conclusions In rhesus macaques, qAF levels are increased with age and female sex, but decreased in eyes with soft drusen, similar to human AMD. However, drusen lesions appear hyperautofluorescent unlike those in humans, suggesting similarities and differences in RPE lipofuscin between humans and NHPs that may provide insight into drusen biogenesis and AMD pathogenesis.
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28
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Lin Q, Lv JN, Wu KC, Zhang CJ, Liu Q, Jin ZB. Generation of Nonhuman Primate Model of Cone Dysfunction through In Situ AAV-Mediated CNGB3 Ablation. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2020; 18:869-879. [PMID: 32953936 PMCID: PMC7479327 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A major challenge to the development of therapies for human retinal degenerative diseases is the lack of an ideal preclinical model because of the physiological differences between humans and most model animals. Despite the successful generation of a primate model through germline knockout of a disease-causing gene, the major issues restricting modeling in nonhuman primates (NHPs) are their relatively long lifespan, lengthy gestation, and dominant pattern of singleton births. Herein, we generated three cynomolgus macaques with macular in situ knockout by subretinal delivery of an adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated CRISPR-Cas9 system targeting CNGB3, the gene responsible for achromatopsia. The in vivo targeting efficiency of CRISPR-Cas9 was 12%-14%, as shown by both immunohistochemistry and single-cell transcriptomic analysis. Through clinical ophthalmic examinations, we observed a reduced response of electroretinogram in the central retina, which corresponds to a somatic disruption of CNGB3. In addition, we did not detect CRISPR-Cas9 residue in the heart, liver, spleen, kidney, brain, testis, or blood a year after administration. In conclusion, we successfully generated a NHP model of cone photoreceptor dysfunction in the central retina using an in situ CNGB3-knockout strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Lin
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Ji-Neng Lv
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Kun-Chao Wu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Chang-Jun Zhang
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Qin Liu
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Laboratory, Beijing 100730, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University & Capital Medical University, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
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29
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Aboualizadeh E, Phillips MJ, McGregor JE, DiLoreto DA, Strazzeri JM, Dhakal KR, Bateman B, Jager LD, Nilles KL, Stuedemann SA, Ludwig AL, Hunter JJ, Merigan WH, Gamm DM, Williams DR. Imaging Transplanted Photoreceptors in Living Nonhuman Primates with Single-Cell Resolution. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 15:482-497. [PMID: 32707075 PMCID: PMC7419740 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell-based transplantation therapies offer hope for currently untreatable retinal degenerations; however, preclinical progress has been largely confined to rodent models. Here, we describe an experimental platform for accelerating photoreceptor replacement therapy in the nonhuman primate, which has a visual system much more similar to the human. We deployed fluorescence adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (FAOSLO) to noninvasively track transplanted photoreceptor precursors over time at cellular resolution in the living macaque. Fluorescently labeled photoreceptors generated from a CRX+/tdTomato human embryonic stem cell (hESC) reporter line were delivered subretinally to macaques with normal retinas and following selective ablation of host photoreceptors using an ultrafast laser. The fluorescent reporter together with FAOSLO allowed transplanted photoreceptor precursor survival, migration, and neurite formation to be monitored over time in vivo. Histological examination suggested migration of photoreceptor precursors to the outer plexiform layer and potential synapse formation in ablated areas in the macaque eye.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Joseph Phillips
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - David A DiLoreto
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA; Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer M Strazzeri
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA; Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Kamal R Dhakal
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Brittany Bateman
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Kelsy L Nilles
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | | | - Jennifer J Hunter
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA; Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA; The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - William H Merigan
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA; Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - David M Gamm
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David R Williams
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA; The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
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30
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Thompson DA, Iannaccone A, Ali RR, Arshavsky VY, Audo I, Bainbridge JWB, Besirli CG, Birch DG, Branham KE, Cideciyan AV, Daiger SP, Dalkara D, Duncan JL, Fahim AT, Flannery JG, Gattegna R, Heckenlively JR, Heon E, Jayasundera KT, Khan NW, Klassen H, Leroy BP, Molday RS, Musch DC, Pennesi ME, Petersen-Jones SM, Pierce EA, Rao RC, Reh TA, Sahel JA, Sharon D, Sieving PA, Strettoi E, Yang P, Zacks DN. Advancing Clinical Trials for Inherited Retinal Diseases: Recommendations from the Second Monaciano Symposium. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2020; 9:2. [PMID: 32832209 PMCID: PMC7414644 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.7.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Major advances in the study of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) have placed efforts to develop treatments for these blinding conditions at the forefront of the emerging field of precision medicine. As a result, the growth of clinical trials for IRDs has increased rapidly over the past decade and is expected to further accelerate as more therapeutic possibilities emerge and qualified participants are identified. Although guided by established principles, these specialized trials, requiring analysis of novel outcome measures and endpoints in small patient populations, present multiple challenges relative to study design and ethical considerations. This position paper reviews recent accomplishments and existing challenges in clinical trials for IRDs and presents a set of recommendations aimed at rapidly advancing future progress. The goal is to stimulate discussions among researchers, funding agencies, industry, and policy makers that will further the design, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials needed to accelerate the approval of effective treatments for IRDs, while promoting advocacy and ensuring patient safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra A Thompson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Alessandro Iannaccone
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Vadim Y Arshavsky
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Isabelle Audo
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France
| | | | - Cagri G Besirli
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Kari E Branham
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Artur V Cideciyan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Steven P Daiger
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Jacque L Duncan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Abigail T Fahim
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - John G Flannery
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - John R Heckenlively
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Elise Heon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - K Thiran Jayasundera
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Naheed W Khan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Henry Klassen
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Stem Cell Research Center, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Bart P Leroy
- Department of Ophthalmology and Center Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital and University, Ghent, Belgium.,Division of Ophthalmology and Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert S Molday
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David C Musch
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mark E Pennesi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Simon M Petersen-Jones
- Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Eric A Pierce
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rajesh C Rao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jose A Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France.,Fondation Ophtalmologique Rothschild, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dror Sharon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Paul A Sieving
- Department of Ophthalmology and Center for Ocular Regenerative Therapy, University of California-Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA.,National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Enrica Strettoi
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Paul Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - David N Zacks
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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31
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Winkler PA, Occelli LM, Petersen-Jones SM. Large Animal Models of Inherited Retinal Degenerations: A Review. Cells 2020; 9:cells9040882. [PMID: 32260251 PMCID: PMC7226744 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies utilizing large animal models of inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) have proven important in not only the development of translational therapeutic approaches, but also in improving our understanding of disease mechanisms. The dog is the predominant species utilized because spontaneous IRD is common in the canine pet population. Cats are also a source of spontaneous IRDs. Other large animal models with spontaneous IRDs include sheep, horses and non-human primates (NHP). The pig has also proven valuable due to the ease in which transgenic animals can be generated and work is ongoing to produce engineered models of other large animal species including NHP. These large animal models offer important advantages over the widely used laboratory rodent models. The globe size and dimensions more closely parallel those of humans and, most importantly, they have a retinal region of high cone density and denser photoreceptor packing for high acuity vision. Laboratory rodents lack such a retinal region and, as macular disease is a critical cause for vision loss in humans, having a comparable retinal region in model species is particularly important. This review will discuss several large animal models which have been used to study disease mechanisms relevant for the equivalent human IRD.
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