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Huang S, Zhang W, Xuan S, Si H, Huang D, Ba M, Qi D, Pei X, Lu D, Li Z. Chronic sleep deprivation impairs retinal circadian transcriptome and visual function. Exp Eye Res 2024; 243:109907. [PMID: 38649019 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109907] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Sleep loss is common in modern society and is increasingly associated with eye diseases. However, the precise effects of sleep loss on retinal structure and function, particularly on the retinal circadian system, remain largely unexplored. This study investigates these effects using a chronic sleep deprivation (CSD) model in mice. Our investigation reveals that CSD significantly alters the retinal circadian transcriptome, leading to remarkable changes in the temporal patterns of enriched pathways. This perturbation extends to metabolic and immune-related transcriptomes, coupled with an accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the retina. Notably, CSD rhythmically affects the thickness of the ganglion cell complex, along with diurnal shifts in microglial migration and morphology within the retina. Most critically, we observe a marked decrease in both scotopic and photopic retinal function under CSD conditions. These findings underscore the broad impact of sleep deprivation on retinal health, highlighting its role in altering circadian gene expression, metabolism, immune response, and structural integrity. Our study provides new insights into the broader impact of sleep loss on retinal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenzhen Huang
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Henan University, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenxiao Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shuting Xuan
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Henan University, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongli Si
- Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Duliurui Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mengru Ba
- Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Di Qi
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Henan University, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoting Pei
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Henan University, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Dingli Lu
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Henan University, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhijie Li
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Henan University, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
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Mahmoudian-Sani MR, Fattahi N, Hashemzadeh Chaleshtori M, Asgharzade S. MIR96 Has Good Potential to Differentiate Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Photoreceptor-Like Cells. EXP CLIN TRANSPLANT 2024; 22:148-155. [PMID: 38511985 DOI: 10.6002/ect.2023.0300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES MicroRNAs play an important role in the development and function of neuron cells. Among these, the miRNA known as MIR96 is abundantly expressed in mammalian retina and significantly affects differentiation, maturation, and survival of human photoreceptor cells. In this study, a mimic to miRNA-96 was transfected into human bone marrowderived mesenchymal stem cells to explore the biological functions of MIR96 at differentiation processing. MATERIALS AND METHODS A mimic to miRNA-96 and a competitive control were transfected into human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells using Lipofectamine. After 24 and 48 hours, we evaluated changes in expression levels of genes associated with neural progenitor and photoreceptor differentiation (OTX2, NRL, protein kinase C, SLC1A1, and recoverin) by real-time polymerase chain reaction. In addition, we measured expression of mRNA and protein of the CRX gene (neuroretinal progenitor cell marker) and the RHO gene (terminal differentiation marker) using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry, respectively. RESULTS Real-time polymerase chain reaction results showed increased levels of RHO and recoverin mRNA after 24 hours in transfected cells. In addition, mRNA levels of OTX2, CRX, NRL, RHO, recoverin, and protein kinase C increased after 48 hours in transfected cells. Immunocytochemistry results confirmed these findings by demonstrating RHO and CRX at both 24 and 48 hours in transfected cells. CONCLUSIONS Control of the expression of MIR96 can be a good strategy to promote cell differentiation and can be used in cell therapy for retinal degeneration. Our results showed that human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into photoreceptor cells after transfection with MIR96. These results support therapeutic use of MIR96 in retinal degeneration and suggest human bone marrowderived mesenchymal stem cells as a promising tool for interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad-Reza Mahmoudian-Sani
- From the Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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Kong L, Chu G, Ma W, Liang J, Liu D, Liu Q, Wei X, Jia S, Gu H, He Y, Luo W, Cao S, Zhou X, He R, Yuan Z. Mutations in VWA8 cause autosomal-dominant retinitis pigmentosa via aberrant mitophagy activation. J Med Genet 2023; 60:939-950. [PMID: 37012052 DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2022-108888] [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: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common type of hereditary retinal dystrophy, approximately 25%-45% of cases remain without a molecular diagnosis. von Willebrand factor A domain containing 8 (VWA8) encodes a mitochondrial matrix-targeted protein; its molecular function and pathogenic mechanism in RP remain unexplained. METHODS Family members of patients with RP underwent ophthalmic examinations, and peripheral blood samples were collected for exome sequencing, ophthalmic targeted sequencing panel and Sanger sequencing. The importance of VWA8 in retinal development was demonstrated by a zebrafish knockdown model and cellular and molecular analysis. RESULTS This study recruited a Chinese family of 24 individuals with autosomal-dominant RP and conducted detailed ophthalmic examinations. Exome sequencing analysis of six patients revealed heterozygous variants in VWA8, namely, the missense variant c.3070G>A (p.Gly1024Arg) and nonsense c.4558C>T (p.Arg1520Ter). Furthermore, VWA8 expression was significantly decreased both at the mRNA and protein levels. The phenotypes of zebrafish with VWA8 knockdown are similar to those of clinical individuals harbouring VWA8 variants. Moreover, VWA8 defects led to severe mitochondrial damage, resulting in excessive mitophagy and the activation of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS VWA8 plays a significant role in retinal development and visual function. This finding may provide new insights into RP pathogenesis and potential genes for molecular diagnosis and targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linghui Kong
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Guoming Chu
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Ma
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiajian Liang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Qiushi Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Fourth People's Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaowei Wei
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Shanshan Jia
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Hui Gu
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yiwen He
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wenting Luo
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Songying Cao
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | | | - Rong He
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Zhengwei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Chew LA, Iannaccone A. Gene-agnostic approaches to treating inherited retinal degenerations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1177838. [PMID: 37123404 PMCID: PMC10133473 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1177838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Most patients with inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) have been waiting for treatments that are "just around the corner" for decades, with only a handful of seminal breakthroughs happening in recent years. Highlighting the difficulties in the quest for curative therapeutics, Luxturna required 16 years of development before finally obtaining United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and its international equivalents. IRDs are both genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous. While this diversity offers many opportunities for gene-by-gene precision medicine-based approaches, it also poses a significant challenge. For this reason, alternative (or parallel) strategies to identify more comprehensive, across-the-board therapeutics for the genetically and phenotypically diverse IRD patient population are very appealing. Even when gene-specific approaches may be available and become approved for use, many patients may have reached a disease stage whereby these approaches may no longer be viable. Thus, alternate visual preservation or restoration therapeutic approaches are needed at these stages. In this review, we underscore several gene-agnostic approaches that are being developed as therapeutics for IRDs. From retinal supplementation to stem cell transplantation, optogenetic therapy and retinal prosthetics, these strategies would bypass at least in part the need for treating every individual gene or mutation or provide an invaluable complement to them. By considering the diverse patient population and treatment strategies suited for different stages and patterns of retinal degeneration, gene agnostic approaches are very well poised to impact favorably outcomes and prognosis for IRD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A. Chew
- Duke Center for Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetic Diseases, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Alessandro Iannaccone
- Duke Center for Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetic Diseases, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
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Han H, Li S, Xu M, Zhong Y, Fan W, Xu J, Zhou T, Ji J, Ye J, Yao K. Polymer- and lipid-based nanocarriers for ocular drug delivery: Current status and future perspectives. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 196:114770. [PMID: 36894134 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Ocular diseases seriously affect patients' vision and life quality, with a global morbidity of over 43 million blindness. However, efficient drug delivery to treat ocular diseases, particularly intraocular disorders, remains a huge challenge due to multiple ocular barriers that significantly affect the ultimate therapeutic efficacy of drugs. Recent advances in nanocarrier technology offer a promising opportunity to overcome these barriers by providing enhanced penetration, increased retention, improved solubility, reduced toxicity, prolonged release, and targeted delivery of the loaded drug to the eyes. This review primarily provides an overview of the progress and contemporary applications of nanocarriers, mainly polymer- and lipid-based nanocarriers, in treating various eye diseases, highlighting their value in achieving efficient ocular drug delivery. Additionally, the review covers the ocular barriers and administration routes, as well as the prospective future developments and challenges in the field of nanocarriers for treating ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijie Han
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Su Li
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingyu Xu
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yueyang Zhong
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjie Fan
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingwei Xu
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Tinglian Zhou
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Ji
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecule Synthesis and Functionalization of Ministry of Education, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Ye
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ke Yao
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China.
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Siles L, Gaudó P, Pomares E. High-Efficiency CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Correction of a Homozygous Mutation in Achromatopsia-Patient-Derived iPSCs. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043655. [PMID: 36835061 PMCID: PMC9964936 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Achromatopsia is an autosomal recessive disorder, in which cone photoreceptors undergo progressive degeneration, causing color blindness and poor visual acuity, among other significant eye affectations. It belongs to a group of inherited retinal dystrophies that currently have no treatment. Although functional improvements have been reported in several ongoing gene therapy studies, more efforts and research should be carried out to enhance their clinical application. In recent years, genome editing has arisen as one of the most promising tools for personalized medicine. In this study, we aimed to correct a homozygous PDE6C pathogenic variant in hiPSCs derived from a patient affected by achromatopsia through CRISPR/Cas9 and TALENs technologies. Here, we demonstrate high efficiency in gene editing by CRISPR/Cas9 but not with TALENs approximation. Despite a few of the edited clones displaying heterozygous on-target defects, the proportion of corrected clones with a potentially restored wild-type PDE6C protein was more than half of the total clones analyzed. In addition, none of them presented off-target aberrations. These results significantly contribute to advances in single-nucleotide gene editing and the development of future strategies for the treatment of achromatopsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Siles
- Fundació de Recerca de l’Institut de Microcirurgia Ocular, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica, IMO Grupo Miranza, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Gaudó
- Fundació de Recerca de l’Institut de Microcirurgia Ocular, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica, IMO Grupo Miranza, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Pomares
- Fundació de Recerca de l’Institut de Microcirurgia Ocular, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica, IMO Grupo Miranza, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Kalargyrou AA, Guilfoyle SE, Smith AJ, Ali RR, Pearson RA. Extracellular vesicles in the retina - putative roles in physiology and disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1042469. [PMID: 36710933 PMCID: PMC9877344 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1042469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The retina encompasses a network of neurons, glia and epithelial and vascular endothelia cells, all coordinating visual function. Traditionally, molecular information exchange in this tissue was thought to be orchestrated by synapses and gap junctions. Recent findings have revealed that many cell types are able to package and share molecular information via extracellular vesicles (EVs) and the technological advancements in visualisation and tracking of these delicate nanostructures has shown that the role of EVs in cell communication is pleiotropic. EVs are released under physiological conditions by many cells but they are also released during various disease stages, potentially reflecting the health status of the cells in their cargo. Little is known about the physiological role of EV release in the retina. However, administration of exogenous EVs in vivo after injury suggest a neurotrophic role, whilst photoreceptor transplantation in early stages of retina degeneration, EVs may facilitate interactions between photoreceptors and Müller glia cells. In this review, we consider some of the proposed roles for EVs in retinal physiology and discuss current evidence regarding their potential impact on ocular therapies via gene or cell replacement strategies and direct intraocular administration in the diseased eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini A. Kalargyrou
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Siobhan E. Guilfoyle
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander J. Smith
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R. Ali
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Rachael A. Pearson
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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John MC, Quinn J, Hu ML, Cehajic-Kapetanovic J, Xue K. Gene-agnostic therapeutic approaches for inherited retinal degenerations. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1068185. [PMID: 36710928 PMCID: PMC9881597 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1068185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are associated with mutations in over 250 genes and represent a major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. While gene augmentation or gene editing therapies could address the underlying genetic mutations in a small subset of patients, their utility remains limited by the great genetic heterogeneity of IRDs and the costs of developing individualised therapies. Gene-agnostic therapeutic approaches target common pathogenic pathways that drive retinal degeneration or provide functional rescue of vision independent of the genetic cause, thus offering potential clinical benefits to all IRD patients. Here, we review the key gene-agnostic approaches, including retinal cell reprogramming and replacement, neurotrophic support, immune modulation and optogenetics. The relative benefits and limitations of these strategies and the timing of clinical interventions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly C. John
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joel Quinn
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Monica L. Hu
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jasmina Cehajic-Kapetanovic
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kanmin Xue
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Esmaeili M, Mead B. Differentiation of Human Embryonic/Induced-Pluripotent Stem Cells to Retinal Ganglion Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2708:41-48. [PMID: 37558958 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3409-7_5] [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: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
The generation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) differentiated from human embryonic stem cell (hESC) or induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) could aid with understanding of human RGC development, neuronal biology, drug discovery, potential cell-based therapies, and gene regulation. Here, we present a protocol for differentiation of hESC to RGCs using a 40-day protocol, significantly shorter than typical retinal organoids while still yielding cells with RGC-enriched markers and show physiological and morphological properties typical of RGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Esmaeili
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| | - Ben Mead
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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Haq W, Basavaraju S, Speck A, Zrenner E. Nature-inspired saccadic-like electrical stimulation paradigm promotes sustained retinal ganglion cell responses by spatiotemporally alternating activation of contiguous multi-electrode patterns. J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 36066085 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac8ad0] [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: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective. Retinal electrical stimulation using multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) aims to restore visual object perception in blind patients. However, the rate and duration of the artificial visual sensations are limited due to the rapid response decay of the stimulated neurons. Hence, we investigated a novel nature-inspired saccadic-like stimulation paradigm (biomimetic) to evoke sustained retinal responses. For implementation, the macroelectrode was replaced by several contiguous microelectrodes and activated non-simultaneously but alternating topologically.Approach.MEAs with hexagonally arranged electrodes were utilized to simulate and record mouse retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Two shapes were presented electrically using MEAs: a 6e-hexagon (six hexagonally arranged 10µm electrodes; 6e-hexagon diameter: 80µm) and a double-bar (180µm spaced, 320µm in length). Electrodes of each shape were activated in three different modes (simultaneous, circular, and biomimetic ('zig-zag')), stimulating at different frequencies (1-20 Hz).Main results.The biomimetic stimulation generated enhanced RGC responses increasing the activity rate by 87.78%. In the spatiotemporal context, the electrical representation of the 6e-hexagon produced sustained and local RGC responses (∼130µm corresponding to ∼2.5° of the human visual angle) for up to 90 s at 10 Hz stimulation and resolved the electrically presented double-bar. In contrast, during conventional simultaneous stimulation, the responses were poor and declined within seconds. Similarly, the applicability of the biomimetic mode for retinal implants (7 × 8 pixels) was successfully demonstrated. An object shape impersonating a smile was presented electrically, and the recorded data were used to emulate the implant's performance. The spatiotemporal pixel mapping of the activity produced a complete retinal image of the smile.Significance.The application of electrical stimulation in the biomimetic mode produced locally enhanced RGC responses with significantly reduced fading effects and yielded advanced spatiotemporal performance reflecting the presented electrode shapes in the mapped activity imprint. Therefore, it is likely that the RGC responses persist long enough to evoke visual perception and generate a seamless image, taking advantage of the flicker fusion. Hence, replacing the implant's macroelectrodes with microelectrodes and their activation in a topologically alternating biomimetic fashion may overcome the patient's perceptual image fading, thereby enhancing the spatiotemporal characteristics of artificial vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wadood Haq
- Neuroretinal Electrophysiology and Imaging, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5-7, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sunetra Basavaraju
- Neuroretinal Electrophysiology and Imaging, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5-7, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Achim Speck
- Neuroretinal Electrophysiology and Imaging, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5-7, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Eberhart Zrenner
- Neuroretinal Electrophysiology and Imaging, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5-7, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Rempel SK, Welch MJ, Ludwig AL, Phillips MJ, Kancherla Y, Zack DJ, Gamm DM, Gómez TM. Human photoreceptors switch from autonomous axon extension to cell-mediated process pulling during synaptic marker redistribution. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110827. [PMID: 35584680 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110827] [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: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptors (PRs) are the primary visual sensory cells, and their loss leads to blindness that is currently incurable. Although cell replacement therapy holds promise, success is hindered by our limited understanding of PR axon growth during development and regeneration. Here, we generate retinal organoids from human pluripotent stem cells to study the mechanisms of PR process extension. We find that early-born PRs exhibit autonomous axon extension from dynamic terminals. However, as PRs age from 40 to 80 days of differentiation, they lose dynamic terminals on 2D substrata and in 3D retinal organoids. Interestingly, PRs without motile terminals are still capable of extending axons but only by process stretching via attachment to motile non-PR cells. Immobile PR terminals of late-born PRs have fewer and less organized actin filaments but more synaptic proteins compared with early-born PR terminals. These findings may help inform the development of PR transplantation therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Rempel
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Madalynn J Welch
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Allison L Ludwig
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - M Joseph Phillips
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Yochana Kancherla
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Donald J Zack
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - David M Gamm
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Timothy M Gómez
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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12
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Gene-independent therapeutic interventions to maintain and restore light sensitivity in degenerating photoreceptors. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 90:101065. [PMID: 35562270 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative retinal diseases are a prime cause of blindness in industrialized countries. In many cases, there are no therapeutic treatments, although they are essential to improve patients' quality of life. A set of disease-causing genes, which primarily affect photoreceptors, has already been identified and is of major interest for developing gene therapies. Nevertheless, depending on the nature and the state of the disease, gene-independent strategies are needed. Various strategies to halt disease progression or maintain function of the retina are under research. These therapeutic interventions include neuroprotection, direct reprogramming of affected photoreceptors, the application of non-coding RNAs, the generation of artificial photoreceptors by optogenetics and cell replacement strategies. During recent years, major breakthroughs have been made such as the first optogenetic application to a blind patient whose visual function partially recovered by targeting retinal ganglion cells. Also, RPE cell transplantation therapies are under clinical investigation and show great promise to improve visual function in blind patients. These cells are generated from human stem cells. Similar therapies for replacing photoreceptors are extensively tested in pre-clinical models. This marks just the start of promising new cures taking advantage of developments in the areas of genetic engineering, optogenetics, and stem-cell research. In this review, we present the recent therapeutic advances of gene-independent approaches that are currently under clinical evaluation. Our main focus is on photoreceptors as these sensory cells are highly vulnerable to degenerative diseases, and are crucial for light detection.
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13
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Liu W, Liu S, Li P, Yao K. Retinitis Pigmentosa: Progress in Molecular Pathology and Biotherapeutical Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094883. [PMID: 35563274 PMCID: PMC9101511 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is genetically heterogeneous retinopathy caused by photoreceptor cell death and retinal pigment epithelial atrophy that eventually results in blindness in bilateral eyes. Various photoreceptor cell death types and pathological phenotypic changes that have been disclosed in RP demand in-depth research of its pathogenic mechanism that may account for inter-patient heterogeneous responses to mainstream drug treatment. As the primary method for studying the genetic characteristics of RP, molecular biology has been widely used in disease diagnosis and clinical trials. Current technology iterations, such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and optogenetics, are advancing towards precise diagnosis and clinical applications. Specifically, technologies, such as effective delivery vectors, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and iPSC-based cell transplantation, hasten the pace of personalized precision medicine in RP. The combination of conventional therapy and state-of-the-art medication is promising in revolutionizing RP treatment strategies. This article provides an overview of the latest research on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of retinitis pigmentosa, aiming for a convenient reference of what has been achieved so far.
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14
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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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15
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German OL, Vallese-Maurizi H, Soto TB, Rotstein NP, Politi LE. Retina stem cells, hopes and obstacles. World J Stem Cells 2021; 13:1446-1479. [PMID: 34786153 PMCID: PMC8567457 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i10.1446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal degeneration is a major contributor to visual dysfunction worldwide. Although it comprises several eye diseases, loss of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) and photoreceptor cells are the major contributors to their pathogenesis. Early therapies included diverse treatments, such as provision of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and many survival and trophic factors that, in some cases, slow down the progression of the degeneration, but do not effectively prevent it. The finding of stem cells (SC) in the eye has led to the proposal of cell replacement strategies for retina degeneration. Therapies using different types of SC, such as retinal progenitor cells (RPCs), embryonic SC, pluripotent SCs (PSCs), induced PSCs (iPSCs), and mesenchymal stromal cells, capable of self-renewal and of differentiating into multiple cell types, have gained ample support. Numerous preclinical studies have assessed transplantation of SC in animal models, with encouraging results. The aim of this work is to revise the different preclinical and clinical approaches, analyzing the SC type used, their efficacy, safety, cell attachment and integration, absence of tumor formation and immunorejection, in order to establish which were the most relevant and successful. In addition, we examine the questions and concerns still open in the field. The data demonstrate the existence of two main approaches, aimed at replacing either RPE cells or photoreceptors. Emerging evidence suggests that RPCs and iPSC are the best candidates, presenting no ethical concerns and a low risk of immunorejection. Clinical trials have already supported the safety and efficacy of SC treatments. Serious concerns are pending, such as the risk of tumor formation, lack of attachment or integration of transplanted cells into host retinas, immunorejection, cell death, and also ethical. However, the amazing progress in the field in the last few years makes it possible to envisage safe and effective treatments to restore vision loss in a near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga L German
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Nacional del Sur, and Neurobiology Department, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) Conicet, Bahía Blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Harmonie Vallese-Maurizi
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Nacional del Sur, and Neurobiology Department, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) Conicet, Bahía Blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tamara B Soto
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Nacional del Sur, and Neurobiology Department, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) Conicet, Bahía Blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nora P Rotstein
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Nacional del Sur, and Neurobiology Department, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) Conicet, Bahía Blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luis Enrique Politi
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Nacional del Sur, and Neurobiology Department, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) Conicet, Bahía Blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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16
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Thomas BB, Lin B, Martinez-Camarillo JC, Zhu D, McLelland BT, Nistor G, Keirstead HS, Humayun MS, Seiler MJ. Co-grafts of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Retina Organoids and Retinal Pigment Epithelium for Retinal Reconstruction in Immunodeficient Retinal Degenerate Royal College of Surgeons Rats. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:752958. [PMID: 34764853 PMCID: PMC8576198 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.752958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
End-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are two major retinal degenerative (RD) conditions that result in irreversible vision loss. Permanent eye damage can also occur in battlefields or due to accidents. This suggests there is an unmet need for developing effective strategies for treating permanent retinal damages. In previous studies, co-grafted sheets of fetal retina with its retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) have demonstrated vision improvement in rat retinal disease models and in patients, but this has not yet been attempted with stem-cell derived tissue. Here we demonstrate a cellular therapy for irreversible retinal eye injuries using a "total retina patch" consisting of retinal photoreceptor progenitor sheets and healthy RPE cells on an artificial Bruch's membrane (BM). For this, retina organoids (ROs) (cultured in suspension) and polarized RPE sheets (cultured on an ultrathin parylene substrate) were made into a co-graft using bio-adhesives [gelatin, growth factor-reduced matrigel, and medium viscosity (MVG) alginate]. In vivo transplantation experiments were conducted in immunodeficient Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats at advanced stages of retinal degeneration. Structural reconstruction of the severely damaged retina was observed based on histological assessments and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. Visual functional assessments were conducted by optokinetic behavioral testing and superior colliculus electrophysiology. Long-term survival of the co-graft in the rat subretinal space and improvement in visual function were observed. Immunohistochemistry showed that co-grafts grew, generated new photoreceptors and developed neuronal processes that were integrated into the host retina. This novel approach can be considered as a new therapy for complete replacement of a degenerated retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biju B. Thomas
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bin Lin
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Juan Carlos Martinez-Camarillo
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Danhong Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bryce T. McLelland
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Mark S. Humayun
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Magdalene J. Seiler
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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17
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Fan J, Liu J, Liu J, Chen C, Koutalos Y, Crosson CE. Evidence for ceramide induced cytotoxicity in retinal ganglion cells. Exp Eye Res 2021; 211:108762. [PMID: 34499916 PMCID: PMC8511283 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108762] [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: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Ceramides are bioactive compounds that play important roles in regulating cellular responses to extracellular stimuli and stress. Previous studies have shown that ceramides contribute to retinal degeneration associated with ischemic and ocular hypertensive stress. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) is one of the major enzymes responsible for the stress-induced generation of ceramides. The goals of this study are to investigate the effects of ceramides on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and of ASMase inhibition in ocular hypertensive mice. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived RGCs and primary cultures of human optic nerve head astrocytes were used to characterize the response to C2-ceramide. Microbead-induced ocular hypertension in the ASMase heterozygote mouse model was used to confirm the physiological relevance of in vitro studies. In mice, RGC function and morphology were assessed with pattern ERG (pERG) and immunofluorescence. The addition of C2-ceramide to iPSC-derived RGCs produced a significant concentration- and time-dependent reduction in cell numbers when compared to control cultures. While the addition of C2-ceramide to astrocytes did not affect viability, it resulted in a 2.6-fold increase in TNF-α secretion. The addition of TNF-α or conditioned media from C2-ceramide-treated astrocytes to RGC cultures significantly reduced cell numbers by 56.1 ± 8.4% and 24.7 ± 4.8%, respectively. This cytotoxic response to astrocyte-conditioned media was blocked by TNF-α antibody. In ASMase heterozygote mice, functional and morphological analyses of ocular hypertensive eyes reveal significantly less RGC degeneration when compared with hypertensive eyes from wild-type mice. These results provide evidence that ceramides can induce RGC cell death by acting directly, as well as indirectly via the secretion of TNF-α from optic nerve head astrocytes. In vivo studies in mice provide evidence that ceramides derived through the activity of ASMase contribute to ocular hypertensive injury. Together these results support the importance of ceramides in the pathogenesis of ocular hypertensive injury to the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Fan
- Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Ophthalmology, 167 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Jiali Liu
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, 274 Middle Zhijiang Road, Jingan District, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Ophthalmology, 167 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Chunhe Chen
- Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Ophthalmology, 167 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Yiannis Koutalos
- Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Ophthalmology, 167 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Craig E Crosson
- Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Ophthalmology, 167 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
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18
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Ludwig AL, Gamm DM. Outer Retinal Cell Replacement: Putting the Pieces Together. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2021; 10:15. [PMID: 34724034 PMCID: PMC8572485 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.10.10.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases (RDDs) affecting photoreceptors (PRs) are one of the most prevalent sources of incurable blindness worldwide. Due to a lack of endogenous repair mechanisms, functional cell replacement of PRs and/or retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells are among the most anticipated approaches for restoring vision in advanced RDD. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technologies have accelerated development of outer retinal cell therapies as they provide a theoretically unlimited source of donor cells. Human PSC-RPE replacement therapies have progressed rapidly, with several completed and ongoing clinical trials. Although potentially more promising, hPSC-PR replacement therapies are still in their infancy. A first-in-human trial of hPSC-derived neuroretinal transplantation has recently begun, but a number of questions regarding survival, reproducibility, functional integration, and mechanism of action remain. The discovery of biomaterial transfer between donor and PR cells has highlighted the need for rigorous safety and efficacy studies of PR replacement. In this review, we briefly discuss the history of neuroretinal and PR cell transplantation to identify remaining challenges and outline a stepwise approach to address specific pieces of the outer retinal cell replacement puzzle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison L. Ludwig
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David M. Gamm
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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19
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Insights on the Regeneration Potential of Müller Glia in the Mammalian Retina. Cells 2021; 10:cells10081957. [PMID: 34440726 PMCID: PMC8394255 DOI: 10.3390/cells10081957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Müller glia, the major glial cell types in the retina, maintain retinal homeostasis and provide structural support to retinal photoreceptors. They also possess regenerative potential that might be used for retinal repair in response to injury or disease. In teleost fish (such as zebrafish), the Müller glia response to injury involves reprogramming events that result in a population of proliferative neural progenitors that can regenerate the injured retina. Recent studies have revealed several important mechanisms for the regenerative capacity of Müller glia in fish, which may shed more light on the mechanisms of Müller glia reprogramming and regeneration in mammals. Mammalian Müller glia can adopt stem cell characteristics, and in response to special conditions, be persuaded to proliferate and regenerate, although their native regeneration potential is limited. In this review, we consider the work to date revealing the regenerative potential of the mammalian Müller glia and discuss whether they are a potential source for cell regeneration therapy in humans.
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20
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Genetics, pathogenesis and therapeutic developments for Usher syndrome type 2. Hum Genet 2021; 141:737-758. [PMID: 34331125 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-021-02324-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is a rare, autosomal recessively inherited disorder resulting in a combination of sensorineural hearing loss and a progressive loss of vision resulting from retinitis pigmentosa (RP), occasionally accompanied by an altered vestibular function. More and more evidence is building up indicating that also sleep deprivation, olfactory dysfunction, deficits in tactile perception and reduced sperm motility are part of the disease etiology. USH can be clinically classified into three different types, of which Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2) is the most prevalent. In this review, we, therefore, assess the genetic and clinical aspects, available models and therapeutic developments for USH2. Mutations in USH2A, ADGRV1 and WHRN have been described to be responsible for USH2, with USH2A being the most frequently mutated USH-associated gene, explaining 50% of all cases. The proteins encoded by the USH2 genes together function in a dynamic protein complex that, among others, is found at the photoreceptor periciliary membrane and at the base of the hair bundles of inner ear hair cells. To unravel the pathogenic mechanisms underlying USH2, patient-derived cellular models and animal models including mouse, zebrafish and drosophila, have been generated that all in part mimic the USH phenotype. Multiple cellular and genetic therapeutic approaches are currently under development for USH2, mainly focused on preserving or partially restoring the visual function of which one is already in the clinical phase. These developments are opening a new gate towards a possible treatment for USH2 patients.
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21
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Mullin NK, Voigt AP, Cooke JA, Bohrer LR, Burnight ER, Stone EM, Mullins RF, Tucker BA. Patient derived stem cells for discovery and validation of novel pathogenic variants in inherited retinal disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 83:100918. [PMID: 33130253 PMCID: PMC8559964 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of inherited retinal disease has benefited immensely from molecular genetic analysis over the past several decades. New technologies that allow for increasingly detailed examination of a patient's DNA have expanded the catalog of genes and specific variants that cause retinal disease. In turn, the identification of pathogenic variants has allowed the development of gene therapies and low-cost, clinically focused genetic testing. Despite this progress, a relatively large fraction (at least 20%) of patients with clinical features suggestive of an inherited retinal disease still do not have a molecular diagnosis today. Variants that are not obviously disruptive to the codon sequence of exons can be difficult to distinguish from the background of benign human genetic variations. Some of these variants exert their pathogenic effect not by altering the primary amino acid sequence, but by modulating gene expression, isoform splicing, or other transcript-level mechanisms. While not discoverable by DNA sequencing methods alone, these variants are excellent targets for studies of the retinal transcriptome. In this review, we present an overview of the current state of pathogenic variant discovery in retinal disease and identify some of the remaining barriers. We also explore the utility of new technologies, specifically patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based modeling, in further expanding the catalog of disease-causing variants using transcriptome-focused methods. Finally, we outline bioinformatic analysis techniques that will allow this new method of variant discovery in retinal disease. As the knowledge gleaned from previous technologies is informing targets for therapies today, we believe that integrating new technologies, such as iPSC-based modeling, into the molecular diagnosis pipeline will enable a new wave of variant discovery and expanded treatment of inherited retinal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel K Mullin
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Andrew P Voigt
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jessica A Cooke
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Laura R Bohrer
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Erin R Burnight
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Edwin M Stone
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Robert F Mullins
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Budd A Tucker
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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22
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Nutraceutical Supplementation Ameliorates Visual Function, Retinal Degeneration, and Redox Status in rd10 Mice. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10071033. [PMID: 34206804 PMCID: PMC8300708 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10071033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal dystrophies characterized by progressive degeneration of photoreceptor cells. Ocular redox status is altered in RP suggesting oxidative stress could contribute to their progression. In this study, we investigated the effect of a mixture of nutraceuticals with antioxidant properties (NUT) on retinal degeneration in rd10 mice, a model of RP. NUT was orally administered to rd10 mice from postnatal day (PD) 9 to PD18. At PD18 retinal function and morphology were examined by electroretinography (ERG) and histology including TUNEL assay, immunolabeling of microglia, Müller cells, and poly ADP ribose polymers. Retinal redox status was determined by measuring the activity of antioxidant enzymes and some oxidative stress markers. Gene expression of the cytokines IL-6, TNFα, and IL-1β was assessed by real-time PCR. NUT treatment delayed the loss of photoreceptors in rd10 mice partially preserving their electrical responses to light stimuli. Moreover, it ameliorated redox status and reduced inflammation including microglia activation, upregulation of cytokines, reactive gliosis, and PARP overactivation. NUT ameliorated retinal functionality and morphology at early stages of RP in rd10 mice. This formulation could be useful as a neuroprotective approach for patients with RP in the future.
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Retinal Inflammation, Cell Death and Inherited Retinal Dystrophies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042096. [PMID: 33672611 PMCID: PMC7924201 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are a group of retinal disorders that cause progressive and severe loss of vision because of retinal cell death, mainly photoreceptor cells. IRDs include retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the most common IRD. IRDs present a genetic and clinical heterogeneity that makes it difficult to achieve proper treatment. The progression of IRDs is influenced, among other factors, by the activation of the immune cells (microglia, macrophages, etc.) and the release of inflammatory molecules such as chemokines and cytokines. Upregulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is found in IRDs. This cytokine may influence photoreceptor cell death. Different cell death mechanisms are proposed, including apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, excessive activation of calpains, or parthanatos for photoreceptor cell death. Some of these cell death mechanisms are linked to TNFα upregulation and inflammation. Therapeutic approaches that reduce retinal inflammation have emerged as useful therapies for slowing down the progression of IRDs. We focused this review on the relationship between retinal inflammation and the different cell death mechanisms involved in RP. We also reviewed the main anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of IRDs.
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Jemni-Damer N, Guedan-Duran A, Fuentes-Andion M, Serrano-Bengoechea N, Alfageme-Lopez N, Armada-Maresca F, Guinea GV, Perez-Rigueiro J, Rojo F, Gonzalez-Nieto D, Kaplan DL, Panetsos F. Biotechnology and Biomaterial-Based Therapeutic Strategies for Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Part II: Cell and Tissue Engineering Therapies. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:588014. [PMID: 33363125 PMCID: PMC7758210 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.588014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is an up-to-date untreatable chronic neurodegenerative eye disease of multifactorial origin, and the main causes of blindness in over 65 y.o. people. It is characterized by a slow progression and the presence of a multitude of factors, highlighting those related to diet, genetic heritage and environmental conditions, present throughout each of the stages of the illness. Current therapeutic approaches, mainly consisting on intraocular drug delivery, are only used for symptoms relief and/or to decelerate the progression of the disease. Furthermore, they are overly simplistic and ignore the complexity of the disease and the enormous differences in the symptomatology between patients. Due to the wide impact of the AMD and the up-to-date absence of clinical solutions, Due to the wide impact of the AMD and the up-to-date absence of clinical solutions, different treatment options have to be considered. Cell therapy is a very promising alternative to drug-based approaches for AMD treatment. Cells delivered to the affected tissue as a suspension have shown poor retention and low survival rate. A solution to these inconveniences has been the encapsulation of these cells on biomaterials, which contrive to their protection, gives them support, and favor their retention of the desired area. We offer a two-papers critical review of the available and under development AMD therapeutic approaches, from a biomaterials and biotechnological point of view. We highlight benefits and limitations and we forecast forthcoming alternatives based on novel biomaterials and biotechnology methods. In this second part we review the preclinical and clinical cell-replacement approaches aiming at the development of efficient AMD-therapies, the employed cell types, as well as the cell-encapsulation and cell-implant systems. We discuss their advantages and disadvantages and how they could improve the survival and integration of the implanted cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahla Jemni-Damer
- Neuro-computing and Neuro-robotics Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Innovation Group, Institute for Health Research San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Atocha Guedan-Duran
- Neuro-computing and Neuro-robotics Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Innovation Group, Institute for Health Research San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - María Fuentes-Andion
- Neuro-computing and Neuro-robotics Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Innovation Group, Institute for Health Research San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nora Serrano-Bengoechea
- Neuro-computing and Neuro-robotics Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Innovation Group, Institute for Health Research San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Silk Biomed SL, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Alfageme-Lopez
- Neuro-computing and Neuro-robotics Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Innovation Group, Institute for Health Research San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Silk Biomed SL, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Gustavo V. Guinea
- Silk Biomed SL, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Spain
- Department of Material Science, Civil Engineering Superior School, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Perez-Rigueiro
- Silk Biomed SL, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Spain
- Department of Material Science, Civil Engineering Superior School, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Rojo
- Silk Biomed SL, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Spain
- Department of Material Science, Civil Engineering Superior School, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Gonzalez-Nieto
- Silk Biomed SL, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Madrid, Spain
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Fivos Panetsos
- Neuro-computing and Neuro-robotics Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Innovation Group, Institute for Health Research San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Silk Biomed SL, Madrid, Spain
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25
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Microfluidic and Microscale Assays to Examine Regenerative Strategies in the Neuro Retina. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11121089. [PMID: 33316971 PMCID: PMC7763644 DOI: 10.3390/mi11121089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Bioengineering systems have transformed scientific knowledge of cellular behaviors in the nervous system (NS) and pioneered innovative, regenerative therapies to treat adult neural disorders. Microscale systems with characteristic lengths of single to hundreds of microns have examined the development and specialized behaviors of numerous neuromuscular and neurosensory components of the NS. The visual system is comprised of the eye sensory organ and its connecting pathways to the visual cortex. Significant vision loss arises from dysfunction in the retina, the photosensitive tissue at the eye posterior that achieves phototransduction of light to form images in the brain. Retinal regenerative medicine has embraced microfluidic technologies to manipulate stem-like cells for transplantation therapies, where de/differentiated cells are introduced within adult tissue to replace dysfunctional or damaged neurons. Microfluidic systems coupled with stem cell biology and biomaterials have produced exciting advances to restore vision. The current article reviews contemporary microfluidic technologies and microfluidics-enhanced bioassays, developed to interrogate cellular responses to adult retinal cues. The focus is on applications of microfluidics and microscale assays within mammalian sensory retina, or neuro retina, comprised of five types of retinal neurons (photoreceptors, horizontal, bipolar, amacrine, retinal ganglion) and one neuroglia (Müller), but excludes the non-sensory, retinal pigmented epithelium.
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26
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Ru L, Wu N, Wei K, Zeng Y, Li Q, Weng C, Ren C, Ren B, Huo D, Li Y, Hu X, Qin Z, Fang Y, Zhu C, Liu Y. Improving cell survival and engraftment in vivo via layer-by-layer nanocoating of hESC-derived RPE cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 11:495. [PMID: 33239074 PMCID: PMC7687756 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-01986-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial (hESC-RPE) cell transplants have served as a cell therapy for treating retinal degenerative diseases. However, how to optimize the survival and engraftment of hESC-RPE cells is a great challenge. METHODS Here, we report hESC-RPE cells that are embedded with polyelectrolytes gelatin and alginate by layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique, based on the opposite charge of alternate layers. Cells were assessed for cell survival, immunogenicity, and function in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS This strategy obviously decreased the immunogenicity of hESC-RPE cells without affecting its activity. LbL-RPE cell transplants into the subretinal space of Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats optimized cell engraftment and decreased immunogenicity compared to untreated RPE cell transplants (immunosuppression was not used during the 21-week study). Visual-functional assay with electroretinogram recordings (ERGs) also showed higher B wave amplitudes in RCS rats with LbL-RPE cell transplants. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that transplanted LbL-RPE cells have better viability and grafting efficiency, optimized immunogenicity, and visual function. Therefore, LbL engineering is a promising method to increase the efficacy of hESC-RPE cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Ru
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Keyu Wei
- Department of Anatomy, Key Lab for Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering of Chongqing, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined injury, Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yuxiao Zeng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Qiyou Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Chuanhuang Weng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Chunge Ren
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Bangqi Ren
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Da Huo
- Department of Anatomy, Key Lab for Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering of Chongqing, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined injury, Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yijian Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xisu Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Zuoxin Qin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yajie Fang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Chuhong Zhu
- Department of Anatomy, Key Lab for Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering of Chongqing, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined injury, Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Yong Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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27
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Bone Marrow-Derived Mononuclear Cell Transplants Decrease Retinal Gliosis in Two Animal Models of Inherited Photoreceptor Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197252. [PMID: 33008136 PMCID: PMC7583887 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited photoreceptor degenerations are not treatable diseases and a frequent cause of blindness in working ages. In this study we investigate the safety, integration and possible rescue effects of intravitreal and subretinal transplantation of adult human bone-marrow-derived mononuclear stem cells (hBM-MSCs) in two animal models of inherited photoreceptor degeneration, the P23H-1 and the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat. Immunosuppression was started one day before the injection and continued through the study. The hBM-MSCs were injected in the left eyes and the animals were processed 7, 15, 30 or 60 days later. The retinas were cross-sectioned, and L- and S- cones, microglia, astrocytes and Müller cells were immunodetected. Transplantations had no local adverse effects and the CD45+ cells remained for up to 15 days forming clusters in the vitreous and/or a 2–3-cells-thick layer in the subretinal space after intravitreal or subretinal injections, respectively. We did not observe increased photoreceptor survival nor decreased microglial cell numbers in the injected left eyes. However, the injected eyes showed decreased GFAP immunoreactivity. We conclude that intravitreal or subretinal injection of hBM-MSCs in dystrophic P23H-1 and RCS rats causes a decrease in retinal gliosis but does not have photoreceptor neuroprotective effects, at least in the short term. However, this treatment may have a potential therapeutic effect that merits further investigation.
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28
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Pan D, Xia XX, Zhou H, Jin SQ, Lu YY, Liu H, Gao ML, Jin ZB. COCO enhances the efficiency of photoreceptor precursor differentiation in early human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal organoids. Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 11:366. [PMID: 32831148 PMCID: PMC7444242 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-01883-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Significant progress has been made in cell replacement therapy for neural retinal diseases using retinal cells differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells. Low tumorigenicity and the ability to mature to form synaptic junctions make precursor cells a promising donor source. Here, we attempted to improve the yield of photoreceptor precursor cells in three-dimensional retinal organoids from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Methods A CRX-tdTomato-tagged hESC line was generated to track retinal precursors in 3D retinal organoids. COCO, a multifunctional antagonist of the Wnt, TGF-β, and BMP pathways, was employed to 3D organoid differentiation schemes for enhanced photoreceptor precursor cells. Organoid fluorescence intensity measurement was used to monitor retinalization tendency with the number of precursors further checked by flow cytometry. Signature gene expression during organoid differentiation were assessed by qPCR and immunocytochemistry after COCO supplementation. Results CRX-positive cells can be spatiotemporally tracked by tdTomato without affecting retinalization during retinal organoid differentiation. Fluorescence intensity of organoids, which turned out highly consistent with flow cytometry measurement, allowed us to determine the differentiation efficiency of precursors during organoid culturing directly. Using COCO as an auxiliary supplement, rather than alone, can yield an increased number of photoreceptor precursors in the early stage of organoid differentiation. Over a longer time-frame, photoreceptor precursors enhanced their fate of cones and decreased fate of rods after treatment with COCO. Conclusions Tracing with the CRX-reporter system showed that in retinal organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells, COCO increased the differentiation efficiency of photoreceptor precursors and cones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng Pan
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Xi-Xi Xia
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Heng Zhou
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Si-Qian Jin
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Yang-Yan Lu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Mei-Ling Gao
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, 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. .,School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, 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: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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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Toms D, Al-Ani A, Sunba S, Tong QYV, Workentine M, Ungrin M. Automated Hypothesis Generation to Identify Signals Relevant in the Development of Mammalian Cell and Tissue Bioprocesses, With Validation in a Retinal Culture System. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:534. [PMID: 32582664 PMCID: PMC7287043 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed an accessible software tool (receptoR) to predict potentially active signaling pathways in one or more cell type(s) of interest from publicly available transcriptome data. As proof-of-concept, we applied it to mouse photoreceptors, yielding the previously untested hypothesis that activin signaling pathways are active in these cells. Expression of the type 2 activin receptor (Acvr2a) was experimentally confirmed by both RT-qPCR and immunochemistry, and activation of this signaling pathway with recombinant activin A significantly enhanced the survival of magnetically sorted photoreceptors in culture. Taken together, we demonstrate that our approach can be easily used to mine publicly available transcriptome data and generate hypotheses around receptor expression that can be used to identify novel signaling pathways in specific cell types of interest. We anticipate that receptoR (available at https://www.ucalgary.ca/ungrinlab/receptoR) will enable more efficient use of limited research resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Toms
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Abdullah Al-Ani
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Leaders in Medicine Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Saud Sunba
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Qing Yun Victor Tong
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Matthew Workentine
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Mark Ungrin
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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31
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Tronov VA, Nekrasova EI. DNA Damage and p53 Restrict Proliferation of Müller Cells in the Mouse Retina in Response to the Influence of N-Methyl-N-Nitrosourea. Biophysics (Nagoya-shi) 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006350920030215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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32
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Bian B, Zhao C, He X, Gong Y, Ren C, Ge L, Zeng Y, Li Q, Chen M, Weng C, He J, Fang Y, Xu H, Yin ZQ. Exosomes derived from neural progenitor cells preserve photoreceptors during retinal degeneration by inactivating microglia. J Extracell Vesicles 2020; 9:1748931. [PMID: 32373289 PMCID: PMC7191912 DOI: 10.1080/20013078.2020.1748931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal degeneration (RD) is one of the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness and is characterized by progressive degeneration of photoreceptors. Transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs) is a promising treatment for RD, although the mechanisms underlying the efficacy remain unclear. Accumulated evidence supports the notion that paracrine effects of transplanted stem cells is likely the major approach to rescuing early degeneration, rather than cell replacement. NPC-derived exosomes (NPC-exos), a type of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from NPCs, are thought to carry functional molecules to recipient cells and play therapeutic roles. In present study, we found that grafted human NPCs (hNPCs) secreted EVs and exosomes in the subretinal space (SRS) of RCS rats, an RD model. And direct administration of mouse neural progenitor cell-derived exosomes (mNPC-exos) delayed photoreceptor degeneration, preserved visual function, prevented thinning of the outer nuclear layer (ONL), and decreased apoptosis of photoreceptors in RCS rats. Mechanistically, mNPC-exos were specifically internalized by retinal microglia and suppressed their activation in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing and miRNA profiling revealed a set of 17 miRNAs contained in mNPC-exos that markedly inhibited inflammatory signal pathways by targeting TNF-α, IL-1β, and COX-2 in activated microglia. The exosomes derived from hNPC (hNPC-exos) contained similar miRNAs to mNPC-exos that inhibited microglial activation. We demonstrated that NPC-exos markedly suppressed microglial activation to protect photoreceptors from apoptosis, suggesting that NPC-exos and their contents may be the mechanism of stem cell therapy for treating RD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baishijiao Bian
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Congjian Zhao
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Xiangyu He
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Yu Gong
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Chunge Ren
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Lingling Ge
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Yuxiao Zeng
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Qiyou Li
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Min Chen
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Chuanhuang Weng
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Juncai He
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Yajie Fang
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Zheng Qin Yin
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, P.R. China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, P.R. China
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33
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Singh MS, Park SS, Albini TA, Canto-Soler MV, Klassen H, MacLaren RE, Takahashi M, Nagiel A, Schwartz SD, Bharti K. Retinal stem cell transplantation: Balancing safety and potential. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 75:100779. [PMID: 31494256 PMCID: PMC7056514 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2019.100779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Stem cell transplantation holds great promise as a potential treatment for currently incurable retinal degenerative diseases that cause poor vision and blindness. Recently, safety data have emerged from several Phase I/II clinical trials of retinal stem cell transplantation. These clinical trials, usually run in partnership with academic institutions, are based on sound preclinical studies and are focused on patient safety. However, reports of serious adverse events arising from cell therapy in other poorly regulated centers have now emerged in the lay and scientific press. While progress in stem cell research for blindness has been greeted with great enthusiasm by patients, scientists, doctors and industry alike, these adverse events have raised concerns about the safety of retinal stem cell transplantation and whether patients are truly protected from undue harm. The aim of this review is to summarize and appraise the safety of human retinal stem cell transplantation in the context of its potential to be developed into an effective treatment for retinal degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandeep S Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
| | - Susanna S Park
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California-Davis Eye Center, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Thomas A Albini
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - M Valeria Canto-Soler
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Henry Klassen
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and Stem Cell Research Center, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Robert E MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford and Oxford University Eye Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Aaron Nagiel
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA; USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, USA
| | - Steven D Schwartz
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Edythe and Eli Broad Stem Cell Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Kapil Bharti
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 90892, USA
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34
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Kutluer M, Huang L, Marigo V. Targeting molecular pathways for the treatment of inherited retinal degeneration. Neural Regen Res 2020; 15:1784-1791. [PMID: 32246618 PMCID: PMC7513962 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.280303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal degeneration is a major cause of incurable blindness characterized by loss of retinal photoreceptor cells. Inherited retinal degeneration is characterized by high genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity with several genes mutated in patients affected by these genetic diseases. The high genetic heterogeneity of these diseases hampers the development of effective therapeutic interventions for the cure of a large cohort of patients. Common cell demise mechanisms can be envisioned as targets to treat patients regardless the specific mutation. One of these targets is the increase of intracellular calcium ions, that has been detected in several murine models of inherited retinal degeneration. Recently, neurotrophic factors that favor the efflux of calcium ions to concentrations below toxic levels have been identified as promising molecules that should be evaluated as new treatments for retinal degeneration. Here, we discuss therapeutic options for inherited retinal degeneration and we will focus on neuroprotective approaches, such as the neuroprotective activity of the Pigment epithelium-derived factor. The characterization of specific targets for neuroprotection opens new perspectives together with many questions that require deep analyses to take advantage of this knowledge and develop new therapeutic approaches. We believe that minimizing cell demise by neuroprotection may represent a promising treatment strategy for retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meltem Kutluer
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Li Huang
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Valeria Marigo
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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35
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Zerti D, Dorgau B, Felemban M, Ghareeb AE, Yu M, Ding Y, Krasnogor N, Lako M. Developing a simple method to enhance the generation of cone and rod photoreceptors in pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids. Stem Cells 2019; 38:45-51. [PMID: 31670434 PMCID: PMC7004057 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Cell replacement therapy is a promising treatment for irreversible retinal cell death in diverse diseases such as Stargardt's disease, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa. The final impact of all retinal dystrophies is the loss of photoreceptors; hence, there is a pressing need for research into replacement. Seminal work has shown that a simple three-dimensional culture system enables differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells to retinal organoids containing large numbers of photoreceptors developing alongside retinal neurons and Müller glia cells in a laminated structure that resembles the native retina. Despite these promising developments, current protocols show different efficiencies across pluripotent stem cells and result in retinal organoids with a mixture of photoreceptor cells at varying maturation states, along with nonphotoreceptor cell types. In this study, we investigated the impact of stage-specific addition of retinoic acid (RA), 9-cis-retinal, 11-cis-retinal, levodopa (l-DOPA), triiodothyronine (T3), and γ-secretase inhibitor ((2S)-N-[(3,5-Difluorophenyl)acetyl]-l-alanyl-2-phenyl]glycine1,1-dimethylethyl ester2L [DAPT]) in the generation of cone and rod photoreceptors. Our results indicate that addition of RA + T3 during days 90 to 120 of differentiation enhanced the generation of rod and S-cone photoreceptor formation, while the combined addition of DAPT from days 28 to 42 with RA during days 30 to 120 of differentiation led to enhanced generation of L/M-cones at the expense of rods. l-DOPA when added together with RA during days 90 to 120 of differentiation also promoted the emergence of S-cones at the expense of rod photoreceptors. Collectively, these data represent an advance in our ability to direct generation of rod and cone photoreceptors in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darin Zerti
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Birthe Dorgau
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Majed Felemban
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Princess Al-Jawhara Center of Excellence in Research of Hereditary Disorders and Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali E Ghareeb
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Min Yu
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Yuchun Ding
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex Biosystems (ICOS) Research Group, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Natalio Krasnogor
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex Biosystems (ICOS) Research Group, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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36
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Garita-Hernandez M, Lampič M, Chaffiol A, Guibbal L, Routet F, Santos-Ferreira T, Gasparini S, Borsch O, Gagliardi G, Reichman S, Picaud S, Sahel JA, Goureau O, Ader M, Dalkara D, Duebel J. Restoration of visual function by transplantation of optogenetically engineered photoreceptors. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4524. [PMID: 31586094 PMCID: PMC6778196 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12330-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A major challenge in the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases, with the transplantation of replacement photoreceptors, is the difficulty in inducing the grafted cells to grow and maintain light sensitive outer segments in the host retina, which depends on proper interaction with the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Here, for an RPE-independent treatment approach, we introduce a hyperpolarizing microbial opsin into photoreceptor precursors from newborn mice, and transplant them into blind mice lacking the photoreceptor layer. These optogenetically-transformed photoreceptors are light responsive and their transplantation leads to the recovery of visual function, as shown by ganglion cell recordings and behavioral tests. Subsequently, we generate cone photoreceptors from human induced pluripotent stem cells, expressing the chloride pump Jaws. After transplantation into blind mice, we observe light-driven responses at the photoreceptor and ganglion cell levels. These results demonstrate that structural and functional retinal repair is possible by combining stem cell therapy and optogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maruša Lampič
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Chaffiol
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Laure Guibbal
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Fiona Routet
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | | | - Sylvia Gasparini
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, CMCB, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, CMCB, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Giuliana Gagliardi
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Sacha Reichman
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Serge Picaud
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, DHU Sight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Olivier Goureau
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, CMCB, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France.
| | - Jens Duebel
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France. .,Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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37
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Abstract
Retinal degeneration is a leading cause of untreatable blindness in the industrialised world. It is typically irreversible and there are few curative treatments available. The use of stem cells to generate new retinal neurons for transplantation purposes has received significant interest in recent years and is beginning to move towards clinical trials. However, such approaches are likely to be most effective for relatively focal areas of repair. An intriguing complementary approach is endogenous self-repair. Retinal cells from the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ), retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Müller glial cells (MG) have all been shown to play a role in retinal repair, typically in lower vertebrates. Among them, MG have received renewed interest, due to their distribution throughout (centre to periphery) the neural retina and their potential to re-acquire a progenitor-like state following retinal injury with the ability to proliferate and generate new neurons. Triggering these innate self-repair mechanisms represents an exciting therapeutic option in treating retinal degeneration. However, these cells behave differently in mammalian and non-mammalian species, with a considerably restricted potential in mammals. In this short review, we look at some of the recent progress made in our understanding of the signalling pathways that underlie MG-mediated regeneration in lower vertebrates, and some of the challenges that have been revealed in our attempts to reactivate this process in the mammalian retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Langhe
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
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38
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García-Ayuso D, Di Pierdomenico J, Vidal-Sanz M, Villegas-Pérez MP. Retinal Ganglion Cell Death as a Late Remodeling Effect of Photoreceptor Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20184649. [PMID: 31546829 PMCID: PMC6770703 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20184649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited or acquired photoreceptor degenerations, one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the world, are a group of retinal disorders that initially affect rods and cones, situated in the outer retina. For many years it was assumed that these diseases did not spread to the inner retina. However, it is now known that photoreceptor loss leads to an unavoidable chain of events that cause neurovascular changes in the retina including migration of retinal pigment epithelium cells, formation of “subretinal vascular complexes”, vessel displacement, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axonal strangulation by retinal vessels, axonal transport alteration and, ultimately, RGC death. These events are common to all photoreceptor degenerations regardless of the initial trigger and thus threaten the outcome of photoreceptor substitution as a therapeutic approach, because with a degenerating inner retina, the photoreceptor signal will not reach the brain. In conclusion, therapies should be applied early in the course of photoreceptor degeneration, before the remodeling process reaches the inner retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego García-Ayuso
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Johnny Di Pierdomenico
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Manuel Vidal-Sanz
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - María P Villegas-Pérez
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
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39
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Chemla Y, Betzer O, Markus A, Farah N, Motiei M, Popovtzer R, Mandel Y. Gold nanoparticles for multimodal high-resolution imaging of transplanted cells for retinal replacement therapy. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2019; 14:1857-1871. [DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2018-0299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Longitudinal tracking of transplanted cells in clinical and experimental setups is crucial for evaluating the efficiency of retinal cell replacement therapies. Materials & methods: Gold nanoparticle-labeled photoreceptor precursors were transplanted in the vitreous and subretinal space of rats and were longitudinally tracked for over a month using optical coherence tomography, computed tomography and fluorescence fundus imaging. Results: This multimodal imaging approach enabled high-resolution long-term tracking and estimation of cell survival in the retina and vitreous, while displaying no toxic effects on the cells or the retina. Conclusion: These observations highlight the applicability of using gold nanoparticle for retinal cell tracking in existing experimental settings and its translational potential for providing more efficient retinal cell therapy in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoav Chemla
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Optometry & Vision Science, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
- Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Oshra Betzer
- Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
- Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Amos Markus
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Optometry & Vision Science, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Nairouz Farah
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Optometry & Vision Science, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Menachem Motiei
- Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
- Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Rachela Popovtzer
- Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
- Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Yossi Mandel
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Optometry & Vision Science, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
- Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
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40
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Zou T, Gao L, Zeng Y, Li Q, Li Y, Chen S, Hu X, Chen X, Fu C, Xu H, Yin ZQ. Organoid-derived C-Kit +/SSEA4 - human retinal progenitor cells promote a protective retinal microenvironment during transplantation in rodents. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1205. [PMID: 30872578 PMCID: PMC6418223 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08961-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy may replace lost photoreceptors and preserve residual photoreceptors during retinal degeneration (RD). Unfortunately, the degenerative microenvironment compromises the fate of grafted cells, demanding supplementary strategies for microenvironment regulation. Donor cells with both proper regeneration capability and intrinsic ability to improve microenvironment are highly desired. Here, we use cell surface markers (C-Kit+/SSEA4−) to effectively eliminate tumorigenic embryonic cells and enrich retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) from human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived retinal organoids, which, following subretinal transplantation into RD models of rats and mice, significantly improve vision and preserve the retinal structure. We characterize the pattern of integration and materials transfer following transplantation, which likely contribute to the rescued photoreceptors. Moreover, C-Kit+/SSEA4− cells suppress microglial activation, gliosis and the production of inflammatory mediators, thereby providing a healthier host microenvironment for the grafted cells and delaying RD. Therefore, C-Kit+/SSEA4− cells from hESC-derived retinal organoids are a promising therapeutic cell source. Stem cell transplantation to treat retinal degeneration could be limited by the degenerative microenvironment. Here, the authors show that C-Kit+/SSEA4– progenitor cells enriched from human embryonic stem cell derived retinal organoids protect retinal structure, suppress microglial activation, gliosis and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zou
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Lixiong Gao
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yuxiao Zeng
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Qiyou Li
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yijian Li
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xisu Hu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Caiyun Fu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China. .,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Zheng Qin Yin
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China. .,Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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41
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An optimized protocol for generating labeled and transplantable photoreceptor precursors from human embryonic stem cells. Exp Eye Res 2019; 180:29-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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42
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Perspectives of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem-Cell Transplantation in Macular Hole Surgery: A Review of Current Findings. J Ophthalmol 2019; 2019:3162478. [PMID: 30918717 PMCID: PMC6409040 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3162478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The main treatment available for idiopathic macular holes is represented by pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling. However, late-stage macular holes are affected by a higher risk of surgical failure. Although adjuvant techniques can be employed, a satisfactory functional recovery is difficult to achieve in refractory macular holes. Given their neuroprotective and antiapoptotic properties, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may represent an appealing approach to treat these extreme cases. The purpose of this review is to highlight the findings regarding healing mechanisms exerted by mesenchymal stem cells and preliminary application in cases of refractory macular holes. When compared with MSCs, MSC-derived exosomes may represent a feasible alternative, given their reduced risk of undesired proliferation and easiness of use.
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43
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McLelland BT, Lin B, Mathur A, Aramant RB, Thomas BB, Nistor G, Keirstead HS, Seiler MJ. Transplanted hESC-Derived Retina Organoid Sheets Differentiate, Integrate, and Improve Visual Function in Retinal Degenerate Rats. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 59:2586-2603. [PMID: 29847666 PMCID: PMC5968836 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-23646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate whether sheets of retina organoids derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can differentiate, integrate, and improve visual function in an immunodeficient rat model of severe retinal degeneration (RD). Methods 3D hESC-derived retina organoids were analyzed by quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence. Sheets dissected from retina organoids (30–65 days of differentiation) were transplanted into the subretinal space of immunodeficient rho S334ter-3 rats. Visual function was tested by optokinetic testing and electrophysiologic recording in the superior colliculus. Transplants were analyzed at 54 to 300 days postsurgery by immunohistochemistry for donor and retinal markers. Results Retina organoids contained multiple retinal cell types, including progenitor populations capable of developing new cones and rods. After transplantation into an immunodeficient rat model of severe RD, the transplanted sheets differentiated, integrated, and produced functional photoreceptors and other retinal cells, according to the longer human developmental timetable. Maturation of the transplanted retinal cells created visual improvements that were measured by optokinetic testing and electrophysiologic recording in the superior colliculus. Immunohistochemistry analysis indicated that the donor cells were synaptically active. Extensive transplant projections could be seen within the host RD retina. Optical coherence tomography imaging monitored long-term transplant growth and survival up to 10 months postsurgery. Conclusions These data demonstrate that the transplantation of sheets dissected from hESC-derived retina organoids is a potential therapeutic method for restoring vision in advanced stages of RD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryce T McLelland
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Bin Lin
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Anuradha Mathur
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Robert B Aramant
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Biju B Thomas
- University of Southern California Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Gabriel Nistor
- AIVITA Biomedical, Inc., Irvine, California, United States
| | | | - Magdalene J Seiler
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States
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44
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Differentiation of Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth into Retinal Photoreceptor-Like Cells and Their Sustainability In Vivo. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:2562981. [PMID: 30906327 PMCID: PMC6393909 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2562981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal degeneration is characterized by the progressive loss of photoreceptors, and stem cell therapy has become a promising strategy. Many studies have reported that mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can sustain retinal structure and prolong retinal functions based on two mechanisms. One is cell replacement, and the other is the paracrine action of stem cells. Cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) show characteristics typical of mesenchymal stem cells. They are derived from the neural crest and are a potential cellular source for neural regeneration in stem cell therapy. In this study, we explored the potential of SHEDs to be induced towards the retinal photoreceptor phenotype and to be sustainable in an animal model of retinal degeneration. A factor-cocktail protocol was used to induce SHEDs towards retinal photoreceptors for 24 days, and the characteristics of the induced cells were identified in terms of morphological changes, biomarker expression and subcellular distribution, and calcium influx. SHEDs were labeled with firefly luciferase for in vivo tracking by bioluminescent imaging and then transplanted into the subretinal space of mice. Our results showed that SHEDs successfully transdifferentiated into photoreceptor-like cells, which displayed neuron-like morphology, and expressed specific genes and proteins associated with retinal precursors, photoreceptor precursors, and mature photoreceptors. In addition, calcium influx was significantly greater in the retinal-induced than in noninduced SHEDs. In vivo tracking confirmed at least 2 weeks of good survival by bioluminescent imaging and 3 months of sustainability of SHEDs by histological analysis. We conclude that SHEDs have the potential to transdifferentiate into retinal photoreceptor-like cells in vitro and maintain good viability in vivo after transplantation into mice with a normal immune system. This demonstrates preliminary success in generating photoreceptor-like cells from SHEDs and applying SHEDs in treating retinal degeneration.
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Tsai ELS, Ortin-Martinez A, Gurdita A, Comanita L, Yan N, Smiley S, Delplace V, Shoichet MS, Nickerson PEB, Wallace VA. Modeling of Photoreceptor Donor-Host Interaction Following Transplantation Reveals a Role for Crx, Müller Glia, and Rho/ROCK Signaling in Neurite Outgrowth. Stem Cells 2019; 37:529-541. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.2985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- En L. S. Tsai
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Arturo Ortin-Martinez
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Akshay Gurdita
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Lacrimioara Comanita
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Nicole Yan
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Sheila Smiley
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Vianney Delplace
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Molly S. Shoichet
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Philip E. B. Nickerson
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Valerie A. Wallace
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
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Yanai A, McNab P, Gregory-Evans K. Retinal therapy with induced pluripotent stem cells; leading the way to human clinical trials. EXPERT REVIEW OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/17469899.2019.1568872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anat Yanai
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pia McNab
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kevin Gregory-Evans
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Haq W, Dietter J, Zrenner E. Electrical activation of degenerated photoreceptors in blind mouse retina elicited network-mediated responses in different types of ganglion cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16998. [PMID: 30451928 PMCID: PMC6243018 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35296-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrical (e-) stimulation is explored in schemes to rescue the vision of blind people, e.g. those affected by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). We e-activated subretinally the surviving degenerated photoreceptors (d-Phrs) of the rd1 mouse (RP model) and evoked visual responses in the blind retina. The e-stimulation was applied with a single platinum/iridium electrode. The d-Phrs (calcium-imaging) and ganglion cells (GC) activity (MEA-recording) were recorded in simultaneous multilayer recordings. The findings of this study confirm that the d-Phrs responded to e-stimulation and modulated the retinal network-activity. The application of blockers revealed that the synaptic interactions were dependent on voltage-gated calcium channels and mediated by the transmitters glutamate and GABA. Moreover, the gap junctions coupled networks promoted the lateral-spread of the e-evoked activity in the outer (~60 µm) and inner (~120 µm) retina. The activated GCs were identified as subtypes of the ON, OFF and ON-OFF classes. In conclusion, d-Phrs are the ideal interface partners for implants to elicit enhanced visual responses at higher temporal and spatial resolution. Furthermore, the retina's intact circuity at the onset of complete blindness makes it a tempting target when considering the implantation of implants into young patients to provide a seamless transition from blinding to chip-aided vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wadood Haq
- Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5-7, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Johannes Dietter
- Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5-7, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Eberhart Zrenner
- Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 5-7, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany
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48
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Gasparini SJ, Llonch S, Borsch O, Ader M. Transplantation of photoreceptors into the degenerative retina: Current state and future perspectives. Prog Retin Eye Res 2018; 69:1-37. [PMID: 30445193 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian retina displays no intrinsic regenerative capacities, therefore retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or retinitis pigmentosa (RP) result in a permanent loss of the light-sensing photoreceptor cells. The degeneration of photoreceptors leads to vision impairment and, in later stages, complete blindness. Several therapeutic strategies have been developed to slow down or prevent further retinal degeneration, however a definitive cure i.e. replacement of the lost photoreceptors, has not yet been established. Cell-based treatment approaches, by means of photoreceptor transplantation, have been studied in pre-clinical animal models over the last three decades. The introduction of pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids represents, in principle, an unlimited source for the generation of transplantable human photoreceptors. However, safety, immunological and reproducibility-related issues regarding the use of such cells still need to be solved. Moreover, the recent finding of cytoplasmic material transfer between donor and host photoreceptors demands reinterpretation of several former transplantation studies. At the same time, material transfer between healthy donor and dysfunctional patient photoreceptors also offers a potential alternative strategy for therapeutic intervention. In this review we discuss the history and current state of photoreceptor transplantation, the techniques used to assess rescue of visual function, the prerequisites for effective transplantation as well as the main roadblocks, including safety and immune response to the graft, that need to be overcome for successful clinical translation of photoreceptor transplantation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia J Gasparini
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sílvia Llonch
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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Abdolvand N, Tostoes R, Raimes W, Kumar V, Szita N, Veraitch F. Long-Term Retinal Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in a Continuously Perfused Microfluidic Culture Device. Biotechnol J 2018; 14:e1800323. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201800323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nima Abdolvand
- Department of Biochemical Engineering; University College London; Bernard Katz building London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Rui Tostoes
- Department of Biochemical Engineering; University College London; Bernard Katz building London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - William Raimes
- Department of Biochemical Engineering; University College London; Bernard Katz building London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Biochemical Engineering; University College London; Bernard Katz building London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Nicolas Szita
- Department of Biochemical Engineering; University College London; Bernard Katz building London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Farlan Veraitch
- Department of Biochemical Engineering; University College London; Bernard Katz building London WC1E 6BT UK
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50
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Rabesandratana O, Goureau O, Orieux G. Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Approaches to Explore and Treat Optic Neuropathies. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:651. [PMID: 30294255 PMCID: PMC6158340 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sight is a major sense for human and visual impairment profoundly affects quality of life, especially retinal degenerative diseases which are the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. As for other neurodegenerative disorders, almost all retinal dystrophies are characterized by the specific loss of one or two cell types, such as retinal ganglion cells, photoreceptor cells, or retinal pigmented epithelial cells. This feature is a critical point when dealing with cell replacement strategies considering that the preservation of other cell types and retinal circuitry is a prerequisite. Retinal ganglion cells are particularly vulnerable to degenerative process and glaucoma, the most common optic neuropathy, is a frequent retinal dystrophy. Cell replacement has been proposed as a potential approach to take on the challenge of visual restoration, but its application to optic neuropathies is particularly challenging. Many obstacles need to be overcome before any clinical application. Beyond their survival and differentiation, engrafted cells have to reconnect with both upstream synaptic retinal cell partners and specific targets in the brain. To date, reconnection of retinal ganglion cells with distal central targets appears unrealistic since central nervous system is refractory to regenerative processes. Significant progress on the understanding of molecular mechanisms that prevent central nervous system regeneration offer hope to overcome this obstacle in the future. At the same time, emergence of reprogramming of human somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells has facilitated both the generation of new source of cells with therapeutic potential and the development of innovative methods for the generation of transplantable cells. In this review, we discuss the feasibility of stem cell-based strategies applied to retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve impairment. We present the different strategies for the generation, characterization and the delivery of transplantable retinal ganglion cells derived from pluripotent stem cells. The relevance of pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoid and retinal ganglion cells for disease modeling or drug screening will be also introduced in the context of optic neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivier Goureau
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Gaël Orieux
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
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