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Stachon T, Fecher-Trost C, Latta L, Yapar D, Fries FN, Meyer MR, Käsmann-Kellner B, Seitz B, Szentmáry N. Protein profiling of conjunctival impression cytology samples of aniridia subjects. Acta Ophthalmol 2024; 102:e635-e645. [PMID: 38130099 DOI: 10.1111/aos.16614] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Congenital aniridia is a rare disease, which is in most cases related to PAX6 haploinsufficiency. Aniridia associated keratopathy (AAK) also belongs to ocular signs of congenital aniridia. In AAK, there is corneal epithelial thinning, corneal inflammation, vascularization and scarring. In advanced stage AAK, typically, conjunctival epithelial cells slowly replace the corneal epithelium. Based on previous results we hypothesize that alterations of the conjunctival cells in congenital aniridia may also support the corneal conjunctivalization process. The aim of this study was to identify deregulated proteins in conjunctival impression cytology samples of congenital aniridia subjects. METHODS Conjunctival impression cytology samples of eight patients with congenital aniridia [age 34.5 ± 9.9 (17-51) years, 50% female] and eight healthy subjects [age 34.1 ± 11.9 (15-54) years, 50% female] were collected and analysed using mass spectrometry. Proteomic profiles were analysed in terms of molecular functions, biological processes, cellular components and pathway enrichment using the protein annotation of the evolutionary relationship (PANTHER) classification system. RESULTS In total, 3323 proteins could be verified and there were 127 deregulated proteins (p < 0.01) in congenital aniridia. From the 127 deregulated proteins (DEPs), 82 altered biological processes, 63 deregulated cellular components, 27 significantly altered molecular functions and 31 enriched signalling pathways were identified. Pathological alteration of the biological processes and molecular functions of retinol binding and retinoic acid biosynthesis, as well as lipid metabolism and apoptosis related pathways could be demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS Protein profile of conjunctival impression cytology samples of aniridia subjects identifies alterations of retinol binding, retinoic acid biosynthesis, lipid metabolism and apoptosis related pathways. Whether these changes are directly related to PAX6 haploinsufficiency, must be investigated in further studies. These new findings offer the possibility to identify potential new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Stachon
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Claudia Fecher-Trost
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Lorenz Latta
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Dalya Yapar
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Fabian N Fries
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Markus R Meyer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Berthold Seitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Nóra Szentmáry
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Homburg/Saar, Germany
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Stachon T, Latta L, Fries FN, Seitz B, Szentmáry N. Secondary Data Analysis of Inflammation-Related mRNAs in Conjunctival Impression Cytology Samples of Aniridia Patients. Cornea 2024; 43:627-634. [PMID: 38147570 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Aniridia is a rare corneal disease that is often associated with aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK). In AAK, the conjunctival tissue crosses the limbal border, forming a corneal pannus that extends into the corneal center. With increasing AAK severity, corneal pannus formation, vascularization, and ocular surface inflammation increase. The purpose of this study was to investigate inflammation-related mRNA expression in conjunctival epithelial cells in AAK and its relationship with AAK severity. METHODS Using impression cytology, bulbar conjunctival cells were sampled from 20 subjects with congenital aniridia and 20 age-matched and sex-matched healthy control subjects. RNA was extracted, and mRNA analyses were performed using microarray, which was evaluated for inflammatory markers. RESULTS In the analyzed aniridia subjects, 70 deregulated mRNAs encoding proinflammatory or antiinflammatory cytokines or factors associated with chronic inflammation, including increased IL-1, IL-8, and MIP3A/CCL20 mRNA. The most downregulated mRNA was TIMP3, and the most upregulated mRNA was Protein c-Fos.Of the 70 mRNAs, 14 inflammation-related genes were altered only in the mild AAK forms, whereas only 2 mRNAs were altered only in the severe AAK forms (TLR4 and PPARG). CONCLUSIONS The expression of numerous proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines is deregulated at the ocular surface of aniridia subjects with mild AAK. Thus, early antiinflammatory treatment may prevent or slow down corneal scarring and pannus formation in aniridia subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Stachon
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Homburg, Saarland, Germany; and
| | - Lorenz Latta
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Homburg, Saarland, Germany; and
| | - Fabian N Fries
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saarland, Germany
| | - Berthold Seitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saarland, Germany
| | - Nóra Szentmáry
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Homburg, Saarland, Germany; and
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Fries FN, Náray A, Munteanu C, Stachon T, Lagali N, Seitz B, Szentmáry N, Käsmann-Kellner B. A Cross-sectional Analysis of 556 Eyes Entering the Homburg Aniridia Centre. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2024; 241:275-282. [PMID: 37647922 PMCID: PMC10954372 DOI: 10.1055/a-2065-8405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Congenital aniridia is a severe malformation of almost all eye segments. In addition, endocrinological, metabolic, and central nervous systems diseases may be present. In order to develop better treatment options for this rare disease, an aniridia center must be established. The purpose of this work is to summarize ophthalmic findings of aniridia subjects examined at the Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center in Homburg. METHODS Our retrospective single-center study included patients who underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination through the head of the KiOLoN ("Kinderophthalmologie", Orthoptics, Low Vision and Neuroophthalmology) Unit of the department between June 2003 and January 2022. Data at the first examination time point have been included. RESULTS Of 286 subjects, 556 eyes of (20.1 ± 20.1 years; 45.5% males) were included. There was nystagmus in 518 (93.7%) eyes, and strabismus in 327 (58.8%) eyes. There were 436 (78.4%) eyes with age-appropriate axial length, 104 (18.7%) eyes with microphthalmos, and 13 (2.3%) eyes with buphthalmos. There was iris malformation with atypical coloboma in 34 eyes (6.1%), more than 6 clock hours of iris remnants in 61 eyes (10.9%), less than 6 clock hours of iris remnants in 96 eyes (17.2%), and complete aniridia in 320 (57.5%) eyes. The patients were graded according to the following aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK) stages: Stage 0 (96 eyes [17.2%], no keratopathy), Stage 1 (178 eyes [32.0%]), Stage 2 (107 eyes [19.2%]), Stage 3 (67 eyes [12.0%]), Stage 4 (62 eyes [11.1%]), Stage 5 (45 eyes [8.0%]). There was secondary glaucoma in 307 (55.5%), macular hypoplasia in 395 (71.4%), and congenital optic nerve head pathology in 223 (40.3%) eyes. The iris malformation type was significantly positively correlated with AAK stage, lens properties, presence of glaucoma, congenital macular, and optic nerve head properties (p < 0.001 for all), while complete aniridia showed the most complications. CONCLUSIONS At the Homburg Aniridia Center, the most common ophthalmic signs in congenital aniridia were AAK, iris malformation, cataract, and macular hypoplasia. The iris malformation type may indicate future expression of AAK, cataract, and glaucoma development and it is correlated with a congenital optic nerve head and macular pathology. Our registry will support further detailed longitudinal analysis of ophthalmic and systemic diseases of aniridia subjects during long-term follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Norbert Fries
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Annamária Náray
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Cristian Munteanu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Tanja Stachon
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Neil Lagali
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Berthold Seitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Nóra Szentmáry
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
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Sheng M, Qi Y, Gao Z, Lin X. Analyzing omics data based on sample network. J Bioinform Comput Biol 2024; 22:2450002. [PMID: 38567387 DOI: 10.1142/s0219720024500021] [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: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Identifying valuable features from complex omics data is of great significance for disease diagnosis study. This paper proposes a new feature selection algorithm based on sample network (FS-SN) to mine important information from omics data. The sample network is constructed according to the sample neighbor relationship at the molecular (feature) expression level, and the distinguishing ability of the feature is evaluated based on the topology of the sample network. The sample network established on a feature with a strong discriminating ability tends to have many edges between the same group samples and few edges between the different group samples. At the same time, FS-SN removes redundant features according to the gravitational interaction between features. To show the validation of FS-SN, it was compared on ten public datasets with ERGS, mRMR, ReliefF, ATSD-DN, and INDEED which are efficient in omics data analysis. Experimental results show that FS-SN performed better than the compared methods in accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in most cases. Hence, FS-SN making use of the topology of the sample network is effective for analyzing omics data, it can identify key features that reflect the occurrence and development of diseases, and reveal the underlying biological mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meizhen Sheng
- School of Computer Science & Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116024, P. R. China
| | - Yanpeng Qi
- School of Computer Science & Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116024, P. R. China
| | - Zhenbo Gao
- School of Computer Science & Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116024, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohui Lin
- School of Computer Science & Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116024, P. R. China
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Hong J, Xie Z, Wang X, Yu T, Ma S, Ben H, Gu SF. Classifications of anterior segment structure of congenital corneal opacity in infants and toddlers by ultrasound biomicroscopy and slit-lamp microscopic photographs: an observational study. BMC Ophthalmol 2024; 24:34. [PMID: 38263030 PMCID: PMC10804776 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-024-03286-z] [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: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The structural features have an impact on the surgical prognosis for congenital corneal opacity (CCO). The structural classification system of CCO, however, is lacking. Based on data from ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) findings in infants and toddlers with CCO, this research proposed a classification system for the anterior segment structure severity. METHODS Medical records, preoperative UBM images and slit-lamp photographs of infants and toddlers diagnosed with CCO at University Third Hospital between December 2018 and June 2022 were reviewed. According to the anterior segment structural features observed in UBM images, eyes were classified as follows: U1, opaque cornea only; U2, central anterior synechia; U3, peripheral anterior synechia combined with angle closure; and U4, aniridia or lens anomaly. The opacity appearance and corneal vascularization density observed in slit-lamp photographs were assigned grades according to previous studies. The extent of vascularization was also recorded. The corresponding intraocular anomaly classifications and ocular surface lesion severity were analysed. RESULTS Among 81 eyes (65 patients), 41 (50.6%) were right eyes, and 40 (49.4%) were left eyes. The median age at examination was 6.91 months (n = 81, 1.00, 34.00). Two (2.5%) of the 81 eyes were classified as U1, 20 (24.7%) as U2, 22 (27.2%) as U3a, 11 (13.6%) as U3b and 26 (32.1%) as U4. Bilateral CCO eyes had more severe UBM classifications (P = 0.019), more severe dysgenesis (P = 0.012) and a larger angle closure (P = 0.009). Eyes with more severe UBM classifications had higher opacity grades (P = 0.003) and vascularization grades (P = 0.014) and a larger vascularization extent (P = 0.001). Eyes with dysgenesis had higher haze grades (P = 0.012) and more severe vascularization (P = 0.003 for density; P = 0.008 for extent), while the angle closure range was related to haze grade (P = 0.013) and vascularization extent (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS This classification method based on UBM and slit-lamp photography findings in the eyes of CCO infants and toddlers can truly reflect the degree of abnormality of the ocular surface and anterior segment and is correlated with the severity of ocular surface anomalies. This method might provide meaningful guidance for surgical procedure design and prognostic determinations for keratoplasty in CCO eyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Hong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Zijun Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Siyi Ma
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hanzhi Ben
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shao-Feng Gu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
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Fries FN, Náray A, Munteanu C, Stachon T, Lagali N, Seitz B, Käsmann-Kellner B, Szentmáry N. The Effect of Glaucoma Treatment on Aniridia-Associated Keratopathy (AAK) - A Report from the Homburg Register for Congenital Aniridia. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2023. [PMID: 37852284 DOI: 10.1055/a-2194-1580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital aniridia is a severe malformation of almost all eye segments. Aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK) and secondary glaucoma, which occur in more than 50% of affected individuals, are typically progressive and pose a high risk of blindness for patients with congenital aniridia. Our aim was to investigate the effect of glaucoma treatment on AAK in patients of the Homburg Aniridia Center. METHODS Our retrospective monocentric study included patients who underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination at the Homburg Aniridia Center between June 2003 and January 2022. RESULTS There were 556 eyes of 286 subjects (20.1 ± 20.1 years; 45.5% males) included. In 307 (55.2%) eyes of 163 subjects (27.5 ± 16.3 years; 43.1% males), glaucoma was present at the time of examination. The mean intraocular pressure in the glaucoma group was 19.0 mmHg (± 8.0), while in the non-glaucoma group, it was 14.1 mmHg (± 3.6) (p < 0.001). In the glaucoma group, 68 patients used antiglaucomatous topical monotherapy, 51 patients used 2 agents, 41 patients used 3 agents, 7 patients used quadruple therapy, and 140 did not use topical therapy (e.g., after pressure-lowering surgery, pain-free end-stage glaucoma, or incompliance). Patients were classified according to the following stages of AAK: Stage 0 (96 eyes [17.2%], no keratopathy), Stage 1 (178 eyes [32.0%]), Stage 2 (107 eyes [19.2%]), Stage 3 (67 eyes [12.0%]), Stage 4 (62 eyes [11.1%]), Stage 5 (45 eyes [8.0%]). The mean stage of AAK was 1.4 (1.2 - 1.5) in the group without eye drops, 1.9 (1.5 - 2.2) in the group with monotherapy, 1.8 (1.5 - 2.1) in the group with 2 drugs, 1.9 (1.5 - 2.2) in the group with 3 drugs, 3.4 (2.3 - 4.6) in the group with 4 drugs, and 3.3 (3.1 - 3.6) after antiglaucomatous surgery. The stage of AAK was significantly positively correlated with the number of pressure-lowering eye drops (p < 0.05) and prior pressure-lowering surgery (p < 0.05). Prostaglandin analogues were not correlated with a higher AAK stage compared to the other drug groups. CONCLUSIONS At the Homburg Aniridia Center, patients using topical antiglaucomatous quadruple therapy or who had previously undergone antiglaucomatous surgery had by far the highest AAK stage. The different drug groups had no influence on the AAK stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Norbert Fries
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Annamária Náray
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Cristian Munteanu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Tanja Stachon
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Neil Lagali
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Berthold Seitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | | | - Nóra Szentmáry
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Aniridia Research, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
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Gour A, Tibrewal S, Garg A, Vohra M, Ratna R, Sangwan VS. New horizons in aniridia management: Clinical insights and therapeutic advances. Taiwan J Ophthalmol 2023; 13:467-478. [PMID: 38249501 PMCID: PMC10798387 DOI: 10.4103/tjo.tjo-d-23-00140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Congenital aniridia is a rare genetic eye disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of the iris from birth. Various theories and animal models have been proposed to understand and explain the pathogenesis of aniridia. In the majority of cases, aniridia is caused by a mutation in the PAX6 gene, which affects multiple structures within the eye. Treating these ocular complications is challenging and carries a high risk of side effects. However, emerging approaches for the treatment of aniridia-associated keratopathy, iris abnormalities, cataract abnormalities, and foveal hypoplasia show promise for improved outcomes. Genetic counseling plays a very important role to make informed choices. We also provide an overview of the newer diagnostic and therapeutic approaches such as next generation sequencing, gene therapy, in vivo silencing, and miRNA modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abha Gour
- Department of Cornea and Anterior Segment, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
- Eicher-Shroff Centre for Stem Cell Research, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Shailaja Tibrewal
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
- Department of Ocular Genetics, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Aastha Garg
- Department of Cornea and Anterior Segment, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Mehak Vohra
- Eicher-Shroff Centre for Stem Cell Research, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Ria Ratna
- Department of Ocular Genetics, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Virender Singh Sangwan
- Department of Cornea and Anterior Segment, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
- Eicher-Shroff Centre for Stem Cell Research, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
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van Velthoven AJH, Utheim TP, Notara M, Bremond-Gignac D, Figueiredo FC, Skottman H, Aberdam D, Daniels JT, Ferrari G, Grupcheva C, Koppen C, Parekh M, Ritter T, Romano V, Ferrari S, Cursiefen C, Lagali N, LaPointe VLS, Dickman MM. Future directions in managing aniridia-associated keratopathy. Surv Ophthalmol 2023; 68:940-956. [PMID: 37146692 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Congenital aniridia is a panocular disorder that is typically characterized by iris hypoplasia and aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK). AAK results in the progressive loss of corneal transparency and thereby loss of vision. Currently, there is no approved therapy to delay or prevent its progression, and clinical management is challenging because of phenotypic variability and high risk of complications after interventions; however, new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of AAK may help improve its management. Here, we review the current understanding about the pathogenesis and management of AAK. We highlight the biological mechanisms involved in AAK development with the aim to develop future treatment options, including surgical, pharmacological, cell therapies, and gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianne J H van Velthoven
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Tor P Utheim
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maria Notara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dominique Bremond-Gignac
- Ophthalmology Department, University Hospital Necker-Enfants Malades, APHP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Francisco C Figueiredo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Heli Skottman
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Daniel Aberdam
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | | | - Giulio Ferrari
- Cornea and Ocular Surface Unit, Eye Repair Lab, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Christina Grupcheva
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Carina Koppen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Mohit Parekh
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas Ritter
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Vito Romano
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Claus Cursiefen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Neil Lagali
- Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Vanessa L S LaPointe
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Mor M Dickman
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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Hulley M, Ngcungcu T, Ramsay M, Williams S. Non-invasive harvesting of conjunctival cells for whole transcriptome sequencing. Exp Eye Res 2023; 234:109613. [PMID: 37574038 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a non-invasive technique, the EYEPRIM™ conjunctival cell impression device, to harvest sufficient RNA from conjunctival cells for the whole-transcriptome sequencing. Conjunctival cells from 40 participants were collected using an EYEPRIM™ conjunctival cell impression device. RNA was extracted from the samples, followed by library construction and transcriptome sequencing. Quality checks were performed for each technical step of the experiment, and the feasibility of this procedure was examined. RNA of sufficient yield and quality was successfully extracted following additional disruption and homogenization of the conjunctival cells and collection of two impression samples per eye. Successful library preparation and RNA sequencing were performed, with all 40 samples passing the various quality checks used for each step. In conclusion, harvesting cells from the ocular surface using an impression cytology device yields good quality and sufficient mRNA for whole transcriptome sequencing to study diseases of the eye. This technique provides a convenient alternative to using post-mortem tissues or surgical excisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaella Hulley
- Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service and School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Thandiswa Ngcungcu
- Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service and School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Michèle Ramsay
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Susan Williams
- Division of Ophthalmology, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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10
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Wang H, Xu W. A Promotion Role of MIR31 in the Process of Vocal Fold Wound Healing. PPAR Res 2023; 2023:4672827. [PMID: 37588448 PMCID: PMC10427237 DOI: 10.1155/2023/4672827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of MIR31 in the wound healing process, specifically in vocal fold wound healing (VFWH), remains uncertain despite its potential to facilitate the process. In this study, we first constructed a literature-based pathway to examine both the positive and negative effects of MIR31 on wound healing. We then conducted animal experiments on 20 rats to investigate MIR31 expression at different time points (1, 4, and 8 weeks) after vocal fold injury. Co-expression analysis and pathway analysis were performed to explore the potential function of MIR31 in VFWH. The literature-based pathway suggested that MIR31 could both impede and promote the wound healing process by regulating 14 and 47 wound healing upstream regulators, respectively. However, the rat experiment indicated that MIR31 expression significantly increased after vocal fold injury (p < 5.65 × 10-5) but decreased in the late stage of VFWH compared with the early and middle stages (p < 5.40 × 10-3. Strong co-expression was observed between MIR31 and 17 VFWH-significant genes (Pearson correlation coefficient ∈ (0.63, 0.83)), primarily involved in collagen production. Overall, our findings suggest that MIR31 plays a critical role in VFWH, particularly in collagen synthesis and other biological processes, which warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haizhou Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China
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11
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Daruich A, Duncan M, Robert MP, Lagali N, Semina EV, Aberdam D, Ferrari S, Romano V, des Roziers CB, Benkortebi R, De Vergnes N, Polak M, Chiambaretta F, Nischal KK, Behar-Cohen F, Valleix S, Bremond-Gignac D. Congenital aniridia beyond black eyes: From phenotype and novel genetic mechanisms to innovative therapeutic approaches. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 95:101133. [PMID: 36280537 PMCID: PMC11062406 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Congenital PAX6-aniridia, initially characterized by the absence of the iris, has progressively been shown to be associated with other developmental ocular abnormalities and systemic features making congenital aniridia a complex syndromic disorder rather than a simple isolated disease of the iris. Moreover, foveal hypoplasia is now recognized as a more frequent feature than complete iris hypoplasia and a major visual prognosis determinant, reversing the classical clinical picture of this disease. Conversely, iris malformation is also a feature of various anterior segment dysgenesis disorders caused by PAX6-related developmental genes, adding a level of genetic complexity for accurate molecular diagnosis of aniridia. Therefore, the clinical recognition and differential genetic diagnosis of PAX6-related aniridia has been revealed to be much more challenging than initially thought, and still remains under-investigated. Here, we update specific clinical features of aniridia, with emphasis on their genotype correlations, as well as provide new knowledge regarding the PAX6 gene and its mutational spectrum, and highlight the beneficial utility of clinically implementing targeted Next-Generation Sequencing combined with Whole-Genome Sequencing to increase the genetic diagnostic yield of aniridia. We also present new molecular mechanisms underlying aniridia and aniridia-like phenotypes. Finally, we discuss the appropriate medical and surgical management of aniridic eyes, as well as innovative therapeutic options. Altogether, these combined clinical-genetic approaches will help to accelerate time to diagnosis, provide better determination of the disease prognosis and management, and confirm eligibility for future clinical trials or genetic-specific therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Daruich
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France; INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Melinda Duncan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Matthieu P Robert
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France; Borelli Centre, UMR 9010, CNRS-SSA-ENS Paris Saclay-Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Neil Lagali
- Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Ophthalmology, Sørlandet Hospital Arendal, Arendal, Norway
| | - Elena V Semina
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Research Institute at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Daniel Aberdam
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Stefano Ferrari
- Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto, Via Paccagnella 11, Venice, Italy
| | - Vito Romano
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiolological Sciences, and Public Health, Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Cyril Burin des Roziers
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Service de Médecine Génomique des Maladies de Système et d'Organe, APHP. Centre Université de Paris, Fédération de Génétique et de Médecine Génomique Hôpital Cochin, 27 rue du Fbg St-Jacques, 75679, Paris Cedex 14, France
| | - Rabia Benkortebi
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie De Vergnes
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Michel Polak
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Gynecology and Diabetology, Hôpital Universitaire Necker Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, INSERM U1016, Institut IMAGINE, France
| | | | - Ken K Nischal
- Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus, and Adult Motility, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Eye Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Francine Behar-Cohen
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Valleix
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Service de Médecine Génomique des Maladies de Système et d'Organe, APHP. Centre Université de Paris, Fédération de Génétique et de Médecine Génomique Hôpital Cochin, 27 rue du Fbg St-Jacques, 75679, Paris Cedex 14, France
| | - Dominique Bremond-Gignac
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France; INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.
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12
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Wang C, Yang W, Li X, Zhou C, Liu J, Jin L, Jiang Q, Wang Y. A Novel PAX6 Frameshift Mutation Identified in a Large Chinese Family with Congenital Aniridia. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13030442. [PMID: 36983625 PMCID: PMC10052173 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13030442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital aniridia is a rare autosomal dominant congenital ocular disorder. Genetic studies suggest that heterozygous mutations in the developmental regulator PAX6 gene or the related regulatory regions leading to haploinsufficiency are the main cause of congenital aniridia. In this study, the clinical characteristics and pathogenic mutation of a four-generation Chinese family with congenital aniridia were investigated. All members recruited in this study underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examinations. Targeted gene capture sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed to screen and confirm the candidate pathogenicity gene and its mutation. A multiple alignment of homologous sequences covering the identified mutation from different species was investigated, and the mutant protein structure was predicted using Swiss-Model. Additionally, the prediction of pathogenicity was analyzed using the ACMG Guidelines. Thirteen patients in this pedigree were diagnosed with congenital aniridia. A novel heterozygous frameshift mutation (c.391_398dupATACCAAG, p.Ser133Argfs*8) in exon 7 of the PAX6 gene was identified in all affected individuals in the family. This study demonstrates that this frameshift mutation of the PAX6 gene might be the causative genetic defect of congenital aniridia in this family. This mutation is predicted to cause the premature truncation of the PAX6 protein, leading to the functional haploinsufficiency of PAX6, which may be the major molecular mechanism underlying the aniridia phenotype. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a novel pathogenic PAX6 gene variant c.391_398dupATACCAAG(p.Ser133Argfs*8) identified in a Chinese family with congenital aniridia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghu Wang
- Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Weihua Yang
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Eye Institute, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518040, China
| | - Xiumiao Li
- Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Chenchen Zhou
- Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Jinghua Liu
- Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Ling Jin
- Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Qin Jiang
- Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
- Correspondence: (Q.J.); (Y.W.)
| | - Yun Wang
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Eye Institute, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518040, China
- Correspondence: (Q.J.); (Y.W.)
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13
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MAPK Pathways in Ocular Pathophysiology: Potential Therapeutic Drugs and Challenges. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040617. [PMID: 36831285 PMCID: PMC9954064 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways represent ubiquitous cellular signal transduction pathways that regulate all aspects of life and are frequently altered in disease. Once activated through phosphorylation, these MAPKs in turn phosphorylate and activate transcription factors present either in the cytoplasm or in the nucleus, leading to the expression of target genes and, as a consequence, they elicit various biological responses. The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive review focusing on the roles of MAPK signaling pathways in ocular pathophysiology and the potential to influence these for the treatment of eye diseases. We summarize the current knowledge of identified MAPK-targeting compounds in the context of ocular diseases such as macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma and keratopathy, but also in rare ocular diseases where the cell differentiation, proliferation or migration are defective. Potential therapeutic interventions are also discussed. Additionally, we discuss challenges in overcoming the reported eye toxicity of some MAPK inhibitors.
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14
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Wu J, Zhang D, Wu J, Zhang S. Construction of ceRNA network and identification of hub genes in aniridia-associated keratopathy using bioinformatics analysis. Front Genet 2022; 13:997581. [PMID: 36212129 PMCID: PMC9537812 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.997581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK) is characteristic at ocular surface of aniridia caused by haploinsufficiency of PAX6. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) has been reported to play an important role in various diseases, whereas its function on AAK is unclear. The microarray data of 20 AAK patients and 20 healthy people were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were analyzed using “limma” packages and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A ceRNA network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.9.1, and miR-224-5p, miR-30a-5p, and miR-204-5p were at the center of the network. CIBERSORTx algorithm and ssGSEA analyses revealed that AAK was associated with immune cell infiltration, showing that activated Mast cells increased while resting Mast cells decreased and NK cells decreased in AAK. Type II INF Response, CCR, parainflammation, T cell co-stimulation, and APC co-stimulation of AAK patients differed from healthy individuals. Additionally, the ROC curve of five genes, MITF(AUC = 0.988), RHOB(AUC = 0.973), JUN(AUC = 0.953), PLAUR (AUC = 0.925), and ARG2 (AUC = 0.915) with high confidence in predicting AAK were identified. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis of hub genes enriched in the IL-17 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawen Wu
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Daowei Zhang
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jihong Wu
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Myopia, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jihong Wu, ; Shenghai Zhang,
| | - Shenghai Zhang
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Myopia, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jihong Wu, ; Shenghai Zhang,
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15
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Zhou T, He C, Lai P, Yang Z, Liu Y, Xu H, Lin X, Ni B, Ju R, Yi W, Liang L, Pei D, Egwuagu CE, Liu X. miR-204-containing exosomes ameliorate GVHD-associated dry eye disease. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj9617. [PMID: 35020440 PMCID: PMC8754411 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj9617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)–associated dry eye disease is characterized by extensive inflammatory destruction in the ocular surface and causes unbearable pain and visual impairment. Current treatments provide limited benefits. Here, we report that exosomes from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC-exo) administered as eye drops notably alleviate GVHD-associated dry eye disease by suppressing inflammation and improving epithelial recovery in mice and humans. In a prospective clinical trial, 28 eyes with refractory GVHD–dry eye disease exhibited substantial relief after MSC-exo treatment, showing reduced fluorescein scores, longer tear-film breakup time, increased tear secretion, and lower OSDI scores. Mechanistically, MSC-exo reprogramed proinflammatory M1 macrophages toward the immunosuppressive M2 via miR-204–mediated targeting of the IL-6/IL-6R/Stat3 pathway. Blockade of miR-204 abolished the effects of MSC-exo, while overloading L929-exo with miR-204 markedly attenuated dry eye. Thus, this study suggests that MSC-exo are efficacious in treating GVHD-associated dry eye disease and highlights miR-204 as a potential therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Chang He
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
- Corresponding author. (X.L.); (C.H.)
| | - Peilong Lai
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, P. R. China
- Department of Hematology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, P. R. China
| | - Ziqi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Yan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Huiyi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojing Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Biyan Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Rong Ju
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Wei Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Lingyi Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Duanqing Pei
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, P. R. China
| | - Charles E. Egwuagu
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xialin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
- Corresponding author. (X.L.); (C.H.)
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16
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Latta L, Knebel I, Bleil C, Stachon T, Katiyar P, Zussy C, Fries FN, Käsmann-Kellner B, Seitz B, Szentmáry N. Similarities in DSG1 and KRT3 Downregulation through Retinoic Acid Treatment and PAX6 Knockdown Related Expression Profiles: Does PAX6 Affect RA Signaling in Limbal Epithelial Cells? Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11111651. [PMID: 34827649 PMCID: PMC8615883 DOI: 10.3390/biom11111651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital PAX6-aniridia is a rare panocular disease resulting from limbal stem cell deficiency. In PAX6-aniridia, the downregulation of the retinol-metabolizing enzymes ADH7 (All-trans-retinol dehydrogenase 7) and ALDH1A1/A3 (Retinal dehydrogenase 1, Aldehyde dehydrogenase family 1 member A3) have been described in limbal epithelial cells (LECs) and conjunctival epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to identify the role of retinol derivates in the differentiation of human LEC and its potential impact on aniridia-associated keratopathy development. Human LEC were isolated from healthy donor corneas and were cultured with retinol, retinoic acid, or pan-retinoic acid receptor antagonist (AGN 193109) acting on RARα, β, γ (NR1B1, NR1B2 NR1B3) or were cultured with pan-retinoid X receptor antagonist (UVI 3003) acting on RXR α, β, γ (retinoid X receptor, NR2B1, NR2B2, BR2B3). Using qPCR, differentiation marker and retinoid-/fatty acid metabolism-related mRNA expression was analysed. DSG1 (Desmoglein 1), KRT3 (Keratin 3), and SPINK7 (Serine Peptidase Inhibitor Kazal Type 7) mRNA expression was downregulated when retinoid derivates were used. AGN 193109 treatment led to the upregulation of ADH7, KRT3, and DSG1 mRNA expression and to the downregulation of KRT12 (Keratin 12) and KRT19 (Keratin 19) mRNA expression. Retinol and all-trans retinoic acid affect some transcripts of corneal LEC in a similar way to what has been observed in the LEC of PAX6-aniridia patients with the altered expression of differentiation markers. An elevated concentration of retinol derivatives in LEC or an altered response to retinoids may contribute to this pattern. These initial findings help to explain ocular surface epithelia differentiation disorders in PAX6-aniridia and should be investigated in patient cells or in cell models in the future in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Latta
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Congenital Aniridia Research, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (L.L.); (I.K.); (C.B.); (T.S.); (P.K.); (C.Z.)
| | - Igor Knebel
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Congenital Aniridia Research, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (L.L.); (I.K.); (C.B.); (T.S.); (P.K.); (C.Z.)
| | - Constanze Bleil
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Congenital Aniridia Research, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (L.L.); (I.K.); (C.B.); (T.S.); (P.K.); (C.Z.)
| | - Tanja Stachon
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Congenital Aniridia Research, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (L.L.); (I.K.); (C.B.); (T.S.); (P.K.); (C.Z.)
| | - Priya Katiyar
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Congenital Aniridia Research, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (L.L.); (I.K.); (C.B.); (T.S.); (P.K.); (C.Z.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (F.N.F.); (B.K.-K.); (B.S.)
| | - Claire Zussy
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Congenital Aniridia Research, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (L.L.); (I.K.); (C.B.); (T.S.); (P.K.); (C.Z.)
| | - Fabian Norbert Fries
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (F.N.F.); (B.K.-K.); (B.S.)
| | - Barbara Käsmann-Kellner
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (F.N.F.); (B.K.-K.); (B.S.)
| | - Berthold Seitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (F.N.F.); (B.K.-K.); (B.S.)
| | - Nóra Szentmáry
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Center for Limbal Stem Cell and Congenital Aniridia Research, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (L.L.); (I.K.); (C.B.); (T.S.); (P.K.); (C.Z.)
- Correspondence:
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17
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Differential gene expression of the healthy conjunctiva during the day. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2021; 45:101494. [PMID: 34315655 DOI: 10.1016/j.clae.2021.101494] [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] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine if there is diurnal variation in gene expression in normal healthy conjunctival cells. METHODS Bulbar conjunctival swab samples were collected from four healthy subjects in the morning and evening of the same day. The two swab samples were taken from one eye of each participant, with a minimum of five hours gap between the two samples. RNA was extracted and analysed using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). RESULTS A total of 121 genes were differentially expressed between the morning and the evening conjunctival samples, of which 94 genes were upregulated in the morning, and 27 genes were upregulated in the evening. Many of the genes that were upregulated in the morning were involved in defence, cell turnover and regulation of gene expression, while the genes upregulated in the evening were involved in signalling and mucin production. CONCLUSIONS This study has identified several genes whose expression changes over the course of the day. Knowledge of diurnal variations of conjunctival gene expression provides an insight into the regulatory status of the healthy eye and provides a baseline for examining changes during ocular surface disease.
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18
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Kern F, Aparicio-Puerta E, Li Y, Fehlmann T, Kehl T, Wagner V, Ray K, Ludwig N, Lenhof HP, Meese E, Keller A. miRTargetLink 2.0-interactive miRNA target gene and target pathway networks. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:W409-W416. [PMID: 34009375 PMCID: PMC8262750 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Which genes, gene sets or pathways are regulated by certain miRNAs? Which miRNAs regulate a particular target gene or target pathway in a certain physiological context? Answering such common research questions can be time consuming and labor intensive. Especially for researchers without computational experience, the integration of different data sources, selection of the right parameters and concise visualization can be demanding. A comprehensive analysis should be central to present adequate answers to complex biological questions. With miRTargetLink 2.0, we develop an all-in-one solution for human, mouse and rat miRNA networks. Users input in the unidirectional search mode either a single gene, gene set or gene pathway, alternatively a single miRNA, a set of miRNAs or an miRNA pathway. Moreover, genes and miRNAs can jointly be provided to the tool in the bidirectional search mode. For the selected entities, interaction graphs are generated from different data sources and dynamically presented. Connected application programming interfaces (APIs) to the tailored enrichment tools miEAA and GeneTrail facilitate downstream analysis of pathways and context-annotated categories of network nodes. MiRTargetLink 2.0 is freely accessible at https://www.ccb.uni-saarland.de/mirtargetlink2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Kern
- Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | | | - Yongping Li
- Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Tobias Fehlmann
- Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Tim Kehl
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Viktoria Wagner
- Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Kamalika Ray
- Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Nicole Ludwig
- Center for Human and Molecular Biology, Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Lenhof
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Eckart Meese
- Center for Human and Molecular Biology, Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Keller
- Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford 94304, CA, USA
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19
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Bonnet C, Roberts JS, Deng SX. Limbal stem cell diseases. Exp Eye Res 2021; 205:108437. [PMID: 33571530 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The function of limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSCs) is critical to maintain corneal epithelial homeostasis. Many external insults and intrinsic defects can be deleterious to LSCs and their niche microenvironment, resulting in limbal stem cell dysfunction or deficiency (LSCD). Ocular comorbidities, frequent in eyes with LSCD, can exacerbate the dysfunction of residual LSCs, and limit the survival of transplanted LSCs. Clinical presentation and disease evolution vary among different etiologies of LSCD. New ocular imaging modalities and molecular markers are now available to standardize the diagnosis criteria and stage the severity of the disease. Medical therapies may be sufficient to reverse the disease if residual LSCs are present. A stepwise approach should be followed to optimize the ocular surface, eliminate the causative factors and treat comorbid conditions, before considering surgical interventions. Furthermore, surgical options are selected depending on the severity and laterality of the disease. The standardized diagnostic criteria to stage the disease is necessary to objectively evaluate and compare the efficacy of the emerging customized therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Bonnet
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Cornea Department, Paris University, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP, F-75014, Paris, France.
| | - JoAnn S Roberts
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Sophie X Deng
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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