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Liang X, Zhang C, Shen L, Ding L, Guo H. Role of non‑coding RNAs in UV‑induced radiation effects (Review). Exp Ther Med 2024; 27:262. [PMID: 38756908 PMCID: PMC11097301 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2024.12550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Ultraviolet (UV) is divided into UVA (long-wave, 320-400 nm), UVB (middle-wave, 280-320 nm) and UVC (short-wave, 100-280 nm) based on wavelength. UV radiation (UVR) from sunlight (UVA + UVB) is a major cause of skin photodamage including skin inflammation, aging and pigmentation. Accidental exposure to UVC burns the skin and induces skin cancer. In addition to the skin, UV radiation can also impair visual function. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of functional RNAs that do not have coding activity but can control cellular processes at the post-transcriptional level, including microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circulatory RNA (circRNA). Through a review of the literature, it was determined that UVR can affect the expression of various ncRNAs, and that this regulation may be wavelength specific. Functionally, ncRNAs participate in the regulation of photodamage through various pathways and play pathogenic or protective regulatory roles. In addition, ncRNAs that are upregulated or downregulated by UVR can serve as biomarkers for UV-induced diseases, aiding in diagnosis and prognosis assessment. Therapeutic strategies targeting ncRNAs, including the use of natural drugs and their extracts, have shown protective effects against UV-induced photodamage. In the present review, an extensive summarization of previous studies was performed and the role and mechanism of ncRNAs in UV-induced radiation effects was reviewed to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of UV-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Liang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Qiqihar, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161000, P.R. China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Qiqihar, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161000, P.R. China
| | - Lijuan Shen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Qiqihar MingZhu Hospital, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161000, P.R. China
| | - Ling Ding
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Qiqihar, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161000, P.R. China
| | - Haipeng Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Qiqihar, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang 161000, P.R. China
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Suanno G, Genna VG, Maurizi E, Dieh AA, Griffith M, Ferrari G. Cell therapy in the cornea: The emerging role of microenvironment. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 102:101275. [PMID: 38797320 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The cornea is an ideal testing field for cell therapies. Its highly ordered structure, where specific cell populations are sequestered in different layers, together with its accessibility, has allowed the development of the first stem cell-based therapy approved by the European Medicine Agency. Today, different techniques have been proposed for autologous and allogeneic limbal and non-limbal cell transplantation. Cell replacement has also been attempted in cases of endothelial cell decompensation as it occurs in Fuchs dystrophy: injection of cultivated allogeneic endothelial cells is now in advanced phases of clinical development. Recently, stromal substitutes have been developed with excellent integration capability and transparency. Finally, cell-derived products, such as exosomes obtained from different sources, have been investigated for the treatment of severe corneal diseases with encouraging results. Optimization of the success rate of cell therapies obviously requires high-quality cultured cells/products, but the role of the surrounding microenvironment is equally important to allow engraftment of transplanted cells, to preserve their functions and, ultimately, lead to restoration of tissue integrity and transparency of the cornea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Suanno
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Eye Repair Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Eleonora Maurizi
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine ''S. Ferrari'', University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Anas Abu Dieh
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - May Griffith
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Giulio Ferrari
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Eye Repair Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Ophthalmology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
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3
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Zwingelberg SB, Lautwein B, Baar T, Heinzel-Gutenbrunner M, von Brandenstein M, Nobacht S, Matthaei M, Bachmann BO. The influence of obesity, diabetes mellitus and smoking on fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). Sci Rep 2024; 14:11596. [PMID: 38773227 PMCID: PMC11109267 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61948-w] [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: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
To detect environmental factors, which may be possible risk factors in the disease course of Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). Evaluation of patients with FECD registered in the FECD genetics database of the Center for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Cologne. For the evaluation, disease onset, central corneal thickness, best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA, logMAR), and modified Krachmer grading (grades 1-6) were correlated with the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM), body mass index (BMI), and smoking behavior. To put the age-related increase in Krachmer grading into perspective, a correction of grading were formed. Depending on the variables studied, differences between groups were examined by Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test. The significance level was 5%. 403 patients with FECD were included in the analysis. The mean age of the patients was 70.0 ± 10.32 (range 28-96) years. The mean age at diagnosis of those patients was 63.1 ± 13.2 years. The female-to-male ratio was 1.46:1. Patients with a BMI > 30.0 kg/m2 developed FECD significantly earlier than patients with a BMI < 30 kg/m2, p = 0.001. Patients with DM showed significantly more often an Krachmer grade of 5, p = 0.015. Smoking had a negative effect on Krachmer grading (p = 0.024). Using the mediation analysis, the presence of DM correlated Krachmer Grade 5 (p = 0.015), and the presence of DM correlated with BMI > 30.0 kg/m2 (p = 0.012). In addition to smoking and DM our study shows for the first time that obesity may have a negative impact on the development of FECD. Whether dietary interventions and hormones can influence the development or progression of the disease needs to be investigated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S B Zwingelberg
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Street 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
| | - B Lautwein
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - T Baar
- Institute for Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics of the University of Cologne, Bachemer Straße 86, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - M von Brandenstein
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - S Nobacht
- Department of Ophthalmology, Radboud-Universität Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - M Matthaei
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Street 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - B O Bachmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Street 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
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4
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Fiolka R, Wylęgała E, Toborek M, Adamczyk-Zostawa J, Czuba ZP, Wylęgała A. Selective Upregulation of Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist and Interleukin-8 in Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy with Accompanying Cataract. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2815. [PMID: 38792359 PMCID: PMC11121793 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13102815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Patients with Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) may have coexisting cataracts and, therefore, may require a cataract surgery, which poses challenges due to potential endothelial cell damage. FECD is a degenerative eye disease of unclear etiology, with inflammatory cytokines maybe playing an important role in its development and progression. The present study aimed to investigate the cytokine profile in the aqueous humor of FECD eyes with cataract. (2) Methods: Fifty-two patients were included in the study, 26 with FECD + cataract and 26 with cataract as a control group. Samples of the aqueous humor were analyzed for pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines using a Bio-Plex 200 system. (3) Results: Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and interleukin IL-8 levels were significantly higher in the aqueous humor of FECD + cataract patients compared to the control/cataract group. Moreover, the levels of anti-inflammatory IL-10 showed a strong trend to be higher in the FECD + cataract group compared to the control group. In contrast, there were no statistically significant differences in IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, and tumor necrosis factor TNF-α between the groups. (4) Conclusions: Presented research contributes to a better understanding of FECD pathogenesis. Elevated levels of IL-1Ra and IL-8 may serve as a defense mechanism in people with FECD and coexisting cataract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Fiolka
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-055 Katowice, Poland; (E.W.); (J.A.-Z.)
- Doctoral School of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-055 Katowice, Poland
| | - Edward Wylęgała
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-055 Katowice, Poland; (E.W.); (J.A.-Z.)
| | - Michał Toborek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Jowita Adamczyk-Zostawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-055 Katowice, Poland; (E.W.); (J.A.-Z.)
- Doctoral School of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-055 Katowice, Poland
| | - Zenon P. Czuba
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Science, Zabrze Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-055 Katowice, Poland;
| | - Adam Wylęgała
- Health Promotion and Obesity Management, Pathophysiology Department, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland;
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Yan J, Mehta S, Patel K, Dhupar N, Little N, Ong Tone S. Transcription factor 4 promotes increased corneal endothelial cellular migration by altering microtubules in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10276. [PMID: 38704483 PMCID: PMC11069521 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61170-8] [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: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a complex corneal disease characterized by the progressive decline and morphological changes of corneal endothelial cells (CECs) that leads to corneal edema and vision loss. The most common mutation in FECD is an intronic CTG repeat expansion in transcription factor 4 (TCF4) that leads to its altered expression. Corneal endothelial wound healing occurs primarily through cell enlargement and migration, and FECD CECs have been shown to display increased migration speeds. In this study, we aim to determine whether TCF4 can promote cellular migration in FECD CECs. We generated stable CEC lines derived from FECD patients that overexpressed different TCF4 isoforms and investigated epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) expression, morphological analysis and cellular migration speeds. We found that full length TCF4-B isoform overexpression promotes cellular migration in FECD CECs in an EMT-independent manner. RNA-sequencing identified several pathways including the negative regulation of microtubules, with TUBB4A (tubulin beta 4A class IVa) as the top upregulated gene. TUBB4A expression was increased in FECD ex vivo specimens, and there was altered expression of cytoskeleton proteins, tubulin and actin, compared to normal healthy donor ex vivo specimens. Additionally, there was increased acetylation and detyrosination of microtubules in FECD supporting that microtubule stability is altered in FECD and could promote cellular migration. Future studies could be aimed at investigating if targeting the cytoskeleton and microtubules would have therapeutic potential for FECD by promoting cellular migration and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judy Yan
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, M-wing, 1st Floor, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Shanti Mehta
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, M-wing, 1st Floor, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Keya Patel
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, M-wing, 1st Floor, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Narisa Dhupar
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, M-wing, 1st Floor, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ness Little
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, M-wing, 1st Floor, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stephan Ong Tone
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, M-wing, 1st Floor, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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Giglio R, Vinciguerra AL, Grotto A, Milan S, Tognetto D. Hitting the refractive target in corneal endothelial transplantation triple procedures: A systematic review. Surv Ophthalmol 2024; 69:427-434. [PMID: 38309315 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2024.01.003] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
In phakic patients Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) or Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) are frequently combined with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation (triple procedure). This surgery might cause a refractive shift difficult to predict. Early DMEK and DSAEK results have shown a tendency toward a hyperopic shift. Myopic postoperative refraction is typically intended to correct this postoperative refractive defect and to bring all eyes as close to emmetropia as possible. We sought to understand the mechanism underlying the hyperopization and to identify predictive factors for poorer refractive outcomes, the most suitable target refraction and IOL calculation methods in patients undergoing combined cataract extraction and lamellar endothelial corneal transplantation (DSAEK or DMEK) for endothelial dysfunctions. Of the 407 articles analyzed, only 18 were included in the analysis. A myopic target between -0.50 D and -0.75 was the most common (up to -1.50 for DSAEK triple procedures), even though no optimum target was found. Hyperopic surprises appeared more frequently in corneas that were flatter in the center than in the periphery (oblate posterior profile). Among the numerous IOL calculation formulas, there was no apparent preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Giglio
- Eye Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alex Lucia Vinciguerra
- Eye Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Alberto Grotto
- Eye Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Serena Milan
- Eye Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Daniele Tognetto
- Eye Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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7
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Numa K, Patel SK, Zhang ZA, Burton JB, Matsumoto A, Hughes JWB, Sotozono C, Schilling B, Desprez PY, Campisi J, Kitazawa K. Senescent characteristics of human corneal endothelial cells upon ultraviolet-A exposure. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:6673-6693. [PMID: 38683123 PMCID: PMC11087119 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205761] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The objective of this study was to investigate the senescent phenotypes of human corneal endothelial cells (hCEnCs) upon treatment with ultraviolet (UV)-A. METHODS We assessed cell morphology, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity, cell proliferation and expression of senescence markers (p16 and p21) in hCEnCs exposed to UV-A radiation, and senescent hCEnCs induced by ionizing radiation (IR) were used as positive controls. We performed RNA sequencing and proteomics analyses to compare gene and protein expression profiles between UV-A- and IR-induced senescent hCEnCs, and we also compared the results to non-senescent hCEnCs. RESULTS Cells exposed to 5 J/cm2 of UV-A or to IR exhibited typical senescent phenotypes, including enlargement, increased SA-β-gal activity, decreased cell proliferation and elevated expression of p16 and p21. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that 83.9% of the genes significantly upregulated and 82.6% of the genes significantly downregulated in UV-A-induced senescent hCEnCs overlapped with the genes regulated in IR-induced senescent hCEnCs. Proteomics also revealed that 93.8% of the proteins significantly upregulated in UV-A-induced senescent hCEnCs overlapped with those induced by IR. In proteomics analyses, senescent hCEnCs induced by UV-A exhibited elevated expression levels of several factors part of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. CONCLUSIONS In this study, where senescence was induced by UV-A, a more physiological stress for hCEnCs compared to IR, we determined that UV-A modulated the expression of many genes and proteins typically altered upon IR treatment, a more conventional method of senescence induction, even though UV-A also modulated specific pathways unrelated to IR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohsaku Numa
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
- Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto 6020841, Japan
| | - Sandip Kumar Patel
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
- MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
| | | | | | - Akifumi Matsumoto
- Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto 6020841, Japan
| | | | - Chie Sotozono
- Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto 6020841, Japan
| | | | - Pierre-Yves Desprez
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
- California Pacific Medical Center, Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
| | - Judith Campisi
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Koji Kitazawa
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
- Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto 6020841, Japan
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8
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Gorman BR, Francis M, Nealon CL, Halladay CW, Duro N, Markianos K, Genovese G, Hysi PG, Choquet H, Afshari NA, Li YJ, Gaziano JM, Hung AM, Wu WC, Greenberg PB, Pyarajan S, Lass JH, Peachey NS, Iyengar SK. A multi-ancestry GWAS of Fuchs corneal dystrophy highlights the contributions of laminins, collagen, and endothelial cell regulation. Commun Biol 2024; 7:418. [PMID: 38582945 PMCID: PMC10998918 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06046-3] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a leading indication for corneal transplantation, but its molecular etiology remains poorly understood. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of FECD in the Million Veteran Program followed by multi-ancestry meta-analysis with the previous largest FECD GWAS, for a total of 3970 cases and 333,794 controls. We confirm the previous four loci, and identify eight novel loci: SSBP3, THSD7A, LAMB1, PIDD1, RORA, HS3ST3B1, LAMA5, and COL18A1. We further confirm the TCF4 locus in GWAS for admixed African and Hispanic/Latino ancestries and show an enrichment of European-ancestry haplotypes at TCF4 in FECD cases. Among the novel associations are low frequency missense variants in laminin genes LAMA5 and LAMB1 which, together with previously reported LAMC1, form laminin-511 (LM511). AlphaFold 2 protein modeling, validated through homology, suggests that mutations at LAMA5 and LAMB1 may destabilize LM511 by altering inter-domain interactions or extracellular matrix binding. Finally, phenome-wide association scans and colocalization analyses suggest that the TCF4 CTG18.1 trinucleotide repeat expansion leads to dysregulation of ion transport in the corneal endothelium and has pleiotropic effects on renal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan R Gorman
- Center for Data and Computational Sciences (C-DACS), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, VA, USA
| | - Michael Francis
- Center for Data and Computational Sciences (C-DACS), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, VA, USA
| | - Cari L Nealon
- Eye Clinic, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Christopher W Halladay
- Center of Innovation in Long Term Services and Supports, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Nalvi Duro
- Center for Data and Computational Sciences (C-DACS), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, VA, USA
| | - Kyriacos Markianos
- Center for Data and Computational Sciences (C-DACS), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Giulio Genovese
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanley Center, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pirro G Hysi
- Department of Ophthalmology, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Twins Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK
- UCL Great Ormond Street Hospital Institute of Child Health, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Hélène Choquet
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Natalie A Afshari
- Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yi-Ju Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - J Michael Gaziano
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center (MAVERIC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Aging, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adriana M Hung
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Kidney Disease, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Wen-Chih Wu
- Cardiology Section, Medical Service, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Paul B Greenberg
- Ophthalmology Section, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA
- Division of Ophthalmology, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Saiju Pyarajan
- Center for Data and Computational Sciences (C-DACS), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan H Lass
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Neal S Peachey
- Research Service, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Sudha K Iyengar
- Research Service, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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9
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Murugan S, de Campos VS, Ghag SA, Ng M, Shyam R. Characterization of a Novel Mouse Model for Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:18. [PMID: 38587441 PMCID: PMC11005065 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.4.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a progressive blinding disorder, characterized by increased corneal endothelial excrescences (guttae), corneal endothelial cell loss, and edema. These symptoms are hypothesized to be caused by changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and mitochondrial dysfunction in the corneal endothelium. Despite this clinical and biological relevance, a comprehensive animal model that recapitulates all the major disease characteristics is currently unavailable. In this study, we develop such a model to improve our understanding of the signaling pathways involved in the FECD progression and develop strategies for early intervention. Method To generate a comprehensive FECD model, we generated a double mutant mouse bearing tamoxifen-inducible knockdown of Slc4a11 and the Col8a2 (Q455K) mutation. We performed optical coherence tomography (OCT) and in vivo confocal microscopy using the Heidelberg Retinal Tomography 3 - Rostock Cornea module (HRT3-RCM) on the mice at 5 weeks of age before tamoxifen feeding to establish baseline values for corneal thickness, endothelial cell density, and test for the presence of guttae. We measured these parameters again post-tamoxifen treatment at 16 weeks of age. We collected corneas at 16 weeks to perform histopathology, immunofluorescence staining for tight junctions, adherens junctions, and oxidative stress. We evaluated endothelial pump function using a lactate assay. Results The double mutant tamoxifen-fed animals showed the presence of guttae, and displayed increased corneal thickness and decreased endothelial cell density. Endothelial cells showed altered morphology with disrupted adherens junctions and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, we found that stromal lactate concentrations were elevated in the double mutant mice, indicative of compromised endothelial pump function. Conclusions Overall, this mouse model recapitulates all the important phenotypic features associated with FECD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subashree Murugan
- Vision Science Program, School of Optometry, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana, United States
| | - Viviane Souza de Campos
- Vision Science Program, School of Optometry, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana, United States
| | - Sachin Anil Ghag
- Vision Science Program, School of Optometry, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana, United States
| | - Matthew Ng
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana, United States
| | - Rajalekshmy Shyam
- Vision Science Program, School of Optometry, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana, United States
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10
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Qiu J, Gu R, Shi Q, Zhang X, Gu J, Xiang J, Xu J, Yang Y, Shan K. Long noncoding RNA ZFAS1: A novel anti-apoptotic target in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Exp Eye Res 2024; 241:109832. [PMID: 38369232 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109832] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is the leading cause of endothelial keratoplasty without efficacious drug treatment. Recent studies have emphasized the involvement of epigenetic regulation in FECD development. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recognized as crucial epigenetic regulators in diverse cellular processes and ocular diseases. In this study, we revealed the expression patterns of lncRNAs using high-throughput sequencing technology in FECD mouse model, and identified 979 significantly dysregulated lncRNAs. By comparing the data from FECD human cell model, we obtained a series of homologous lncRNAs with similar expression patterns, and revealed that these homologous lncRNAs were enriched in FECD related biological functions, with apoptosis (mmu04210) showing the highest enrichment score. In addition, we investigated the role of lncRNA zinc finger antisense 1 (ZFAS1) in apoptotic process. This study would broaden our understanding of epigenetic regulation in FECD development, and provide potential anti-apoptotic targets for FECD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jini Qiu
- Eye Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China
| | - Ruiping Gu
- Eye Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China
| | - Qian Shi
- Yixing Eye Hospital, Yixing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xueling Zhang
- Eye Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China
| | - Jiayu Gu
- Eye Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China
| | - Jun Xiang
- Eye Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China
| | - Jianjiang Xu
- Eye Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China
| | - Yujing Yang
- Eye Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China.
| | - Kun Shan
- Eye Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China.
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11
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Bonato P, Bagno A. Replace or Regenerate? Diverse Approaches to Biomaterials for Treating Corneal Lesions. Biomimetics (Basel) 2024; 9:202. [PMID: 38667213 PMCID: PMC11047895 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9040202] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The inner structures of the eye are protected by the cornea, which is a transparent membrane exposed to the external environment and subjected to the risk of lesions and diseases, sometimes resulting in impaired vision and blindness. Several eye pathologies can be treated with a keratoplasty, a surgical procedure aimed at replacing the cornea with tissues from human donors. Even though the success rate is high (up to 90% for the first graft in low-risk patients at 5-year follow-up), this approach is limited by the insufficient number of donors and several clinically relevant drawbacks. Alternatively, keratoprosthesis can be applied in an attempt to restore minimal functions of the cornea: For this reason, it is used only for high-risk patients. Recently, many biomaterials of both natural and synthetic origin have been developed as corneal substitutes to restore and replace diseased or injured corneas in low-risk patients. After illustrating the traditional clinical approaches, the present paper aims to review the most innovative solutions that have been recently proposed to regenerate the cornea, avoiding the use of donor tissues. Finally, innovative approaches to biological tissue 3D printing and xenotransplantation will be mentioned.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Bagno
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
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12
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Dhupar N, AlShaker S, Chai J, Yan J, Little N, Humphreys C, Chan CC, Ong Tone S. Validation of preloaded DMEK donor tissues: a laboratory-based study on endothelial cell viability and comparison of two F-mark inks. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2024:S0008-4182(24)00062-0. [PMID: 38513716 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2024.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate endothelial cell loss (ECL) associated with Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) donor tissues preloaded in the DMEK RAPID transport system after 1 and 5 days and to compare prestamping with 2 different F-mark inks. METHODS DMEK donor tissues were stripped, marked with gentian violet dye applied as an F-mark, trephined, stained with trypan blue, and then preloaded into the DMEK RAPID transport system by an eye bank technician. Preloaded DMEK tissues were then unfolded and stained with calcein AM after 1 or 5 days of storage. Tissues were imaged, analyzed for total tissue ECL, and immunostained for corneal endothelium markers zonular occludens-1 and xCD166. Additionally, ECL and the intensity of an F-mark caused by 2 different inks were quantified. RESULTS Preloaded DMEK tissues displayed an average ECL of 11.9% ± 4.5% (n = 8) at 1 day and 9.9% ± 4.2% (n = 9) at 5 days. No difference was found between the 2 groups. Zonular occludens-1 and activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM; also know as CD166) staining showed that the corneal endothelial monolayer remained intact on preloaded tissues. On 5-day preloaded DMEK tissues, the average ECL and mean grayscale caused by the Keir Surgical ink F-mark and the Cardinal Health ink F-mark were 4.3% ± 0.8% and 158.5 ± 13.9% and 5.0% ± 1.1% and 142.9% ± 20.0%, respectively. No difference was found between the F-mark inks. CONCLUSION Preloaded DMEK donor tissues resulted in an acceptable ECL range after 1 and 5 days of storage and were deemed suitable for transplantation. Both F-mark inks are acceptable for prestamping preloaded DMEK tissues prior to surgical transplantation with comparable ECL and intensities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narisa Dhupar
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
| | - Sara AlShaker
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON; Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jenny Chai
- Eye Bank of Canada Ontario Division, Toronto, ON
| | - Judy Yan
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON
| | - Ness Little
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
| | | | - Clara C Chan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON; Eye Bank of Canada Ontario Division, Toronto, ON
| | - Stephan Ong Tone
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
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13
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Passaro ML, Airaldi M, Ancona C, Cucco R, Costagliola C, Semeraro F, Romano V. Comparative Analysis of Tomographic Indicators Forecasting Decompensation in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. Cornea 2024:00003226-990000000-00512. [PMID: 38471010 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the performance of 3 commercially available tomographers (the Pentacam Scheimpflug camera, the swept-source optical coherence tomography Casia, and the blue light slit-scanning tomographer Precisio) in the identification of patterns associated with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) decompensation. METHODS This was a clinic-based cross-sectional imaging study. Pachymetry maps and posterior surface elevation maps were acquired with the 3 devices from 61 eyes affected by FECD. The maps were graded according to the evidence of tomographic patterns predictive of FECD decompensation (loss of parallel isopachs, displacement of the thinnest point, and focal posterior depression) by 2 blind cornea specialists. RESULTS The loss of parallel isopachs was significantly less frequently evident in Pentacam pachymetry maps [8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) (3%, 18%)] compared with both the Casia [31%, 95% CI (20%, 44%), P = 0.01] and Precisio devices [24%, 95% CI (15%, 37%), P = 0.05]. The displacement of the thinnest point was graded as most evident in a significantly higher proportion of Precisio pachymetry maps [43%, 95% CI (31%, 55%)] compared with both the Pentacam [13%, 95% CI (6%, 24%), P = 0.001] and Casia devices [21%, 95% CI (12%, 33%), P = 0.03]. There were no significant differences in the identification of focal posterior depression on posterior elevation maps across the 3 devices. CONCLUSIONS Identification of patterns predictive of FECD prognosis on pachymetry and posterior elevation maps is possible with different devices. However, their evidence varies across tomographers, and the results from different devices are not interchangeable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Passaro
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Matteo Airaldi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- St. Paul's Eye Unit, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom; and
| | - Chiara Ancona
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rosangela Cucco
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Ciro Costagliola
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Semeraro
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Vito Romano
- St. Paul's Eye Unit, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom; and
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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14
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Gotzaridis SV, Christou EE, Patel J, Chatzilaou G, Ananikas K. 25G Pars Plana Vitrectomy-Lensectomy and Sulcus IOL Implantation for Patients with Cataract and Cornea Guttata. MAEDICA 2024; 19:42-47. [PMID: 38736935 PMCID: PMC11079732 DOI: 10.26574/maedica.2024.19.11.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Introduction:Corneal guttata is a non-inflammatory progressive decline of endothelial cell density (ECD) which represents an early clinical feature of Fuch's dystrophy. In patients with corneal guttata, the relative risk for corneal transplantation after phacoemulsification has been found to be 68.2 times higher than in those without it. In the present study, five patients with corneal guttata underwent 25G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with concurrent lensectomy and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in the sulcus. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether this technique has a less damaging effect on endothelial cells as compared to standard phacoemulsification. Methods:This retrospective case series study was conducted at "My Retina" Athens Eye Centre, Greece. Five patients with moderate to dense cataract and clinical signs of corneal guttata were included. All patients had ECD measurement prior to and after surgery. The operation included 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with subsequent lensectomy and a three-piece IOL implanted in the sulcus with intact anterior capsule. Results:The mean value of ECD was 1157.8±237.51 cells/mm² preoperatively and 1118.2±227.42 cells/mm² postoperatively, indicating a 3.4% reduction from initial values. Retinal detachment was not observed on any of the operated patients after surgery. The IOL was well centered to the sulcus in all patients. Iatrogenic retinal tears were identified in one patient and were treated with laser retinopexy and SF6 gas tamponade. Conclusion:Our results show that PPV along with lensectomy through fragmatome may cause less corneal decompensation than femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) or phacoemulsification, especially in patients with corneal guttata. Therefore, reducing the risk for possible future corneal transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stratos V Gotzaridis
- Ophthalmology Department, Colchester Eye Centre of Excellence, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Turner Road, Mile End, Colchester CO4 5JR, UK
| | | | - Jignesh Patel
- Ophthalmology Department, Colchester Eye Centre of Excellence, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Turner Road, Mile End, Colchester CO4 5JR, UK
| | | | - Konstantinos Ananikas
- Ophthalmology Department, Colchester Eye Centre of Excellence, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Turner Road, Mile End, Colchester CO4 5JR, UK
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15
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Thomasy SM, Leonard BC, Greiner MA, Skeie JM, Raghunathan VK. Squishy matters - Corneal mechanobiology in health and disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 99:101234. [PMID: 38176611 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2023.101234] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The cornea, as a dynamic and responsive tissue, constantly interacts with mechanical forces in order to maintain its structural integrity, barrier function, transparency and refractive power. Cells within the cornea sense and respond to various mechanical forces that fundamentally regulate their morphology and fate in development, homeostasis and pathophysiology. Corneal cells also dynamically regulate their extracellular matrix (ECM) with ensuing cell-ECM crosstalk as the matrix serves as a dynamic signaling reservoir providing biophysical and biochemical cues to corneal cells. Here we provide an overview of mechanotransduction signaling pathways then delve into the recent advances in corneal mechanobiology, focusing on the interplay between mechanical forces and responses of the corneal epithelial, stromal, and endothelial cells. We also identify species-specific differences in corneal biomechanics and mechanotransduction to facilitate identification of optimal animal models to study corneal wound healing, disease, and novel therapeutic interventions. Finally, we identify key knowledge gaps and therapeutic opportunities in corneal mechanobiology that are pressing for the research community to address especially pertinent within the domains of limbal stem cell deficiency, keratoconus and Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy. By furthering our understanding corneal mechanobiology, we can contextualize discoveries regarding corneal diseases as well as innovative treatments for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Thomasy
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, United States; California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States.
| | - Brian C Leonard
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Mark A Greiner
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States; Iowa Lions Eye Bank, Coralville, IA, United States
| | - Jessica M Skeie
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States; Iowa Lions Eye Bank, Coralville, IA, United States
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16
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Fiolka R, Wylęgała E, Toborek M, Szkodny D, Czuba Z, Wylęgała A. Fuch's Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy in Cataract Patients Is Associated with Elevated Levels of Inflammatory Chemokines, but Not Growth Factors, in the Aqueous Humor. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1894. [PMID: 38339172 PMCID: PMC10856247 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031894] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The study investigated a profile of chemokines and growth factors in the aqueous humor (AH) of eyes with Fuch's endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and cataracts in comparison with cataract patients as a control group. A total of 52 AH samples (26 FECD + cataract and 26 cataract/control) were collected before cataract surgery. None of the patients had any clinically apparent inflammation at the time of AH collection. The AH levels of MCP-1 (CCL2), MIP-1α (CCL3), MIP-1β(CCL4), RANTES (CCL5), eotaxin (CCL11), IP-10 (CXCL10), FGF basic, G-CSF, GM-CSF, PDGF-bb, and VEGF were compared between the groups. The analyses were performed using the Bio-Plex 200 System from Bio-Rad. Among the studied parameters, the AH levels of RANTES, eotaxin, and IP-10 significantly increased in the FECD + cataract eyes, compared with the cataract controls (p < 0.05). Elevated levels of the RANTES, Eotaxin, and IP-10 indicate more intense inflammation in the eyes of patients in the FECD + cataract group. Moreover, these factors exhibit potential as predictive biomarkers for early detection of FECD in cataract patients. The discovery of elevated concentrations of biochemical markers in a patient, who has not yet received a clinical diagnosis, may suggest the need for heightened observation of the other eye to monitor the potential development of FECD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Fiolka
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 40-760 Katowice, Poland; (E.W.); (D.S.)
- Doctoral School of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-055 Katowice, Poland
| | - Edward Wylęgała
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 40-760 Katowice, Poland; (E.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Michał Toborek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Dominika Szkodny
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 40-760 Katowice, Poland; (E.W.); (D.S.)
| | - Zenon Czuba
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Science in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland;
| | - Adam Wylęgała
- Health Promotion and Obesity Management, Pathophysiology Department, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland;
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17
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Vasanthananthan K, Bourgonje VJA, Lie JT, Mulders-Al-Saady R, Groeneveld-van Beek EA, de Leeuw J, Miron A, Wijdh RHJ, Stoutenbeek R, Melles GRJ, Oellerich S, Kocaba V. Corneal Guttae After Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty. Cornea 2024; 43:146-153. [PMID: 37088908 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to report on the occurrence of corneal guttae after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). METHODS In this retrospective case series, 13 eyes of 13 patients who underwent DMEK at 2 tertiary referral centers between 2007 and 2021 (average available follow-up 73 ± 52 months, range 18-174 months) and showed corneal guttae during postoperative examinations were included. Eye bank images were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS Occurrence of guttae was observed by specular microscopy in 13 eyes. In 11 cases, presence of guttae was confirmed by confocal microscopy and in 1 case by histology. Five eyes showed an increase in guttae density during the postoperative course. Surgery indications were Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (n = 11), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (n = 1), and DMEK graft failure after allograft rejection (n = 1); the latter eye had shown no signs of guttae after primary DMEK. Two eyes with guttae required a repeat DMEK due to graft failure. At the last available follow-up, all 11 remaining eyes had clear corneas and 10 eyes had a best-corrected visual acuity of ≥0.9 (decimal). During donor cornea processing in the eye bank, no guttae were observed on the donor tissue. CONCLUSIONS Corneal guttae can occur after DMEK including in eyes operated for indications other than Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy and most likely guttae were present on the donor graft but were not detectable by routine slit-lamp and light microscopy evaluation in the eye bank. Postoperative guttae density varies among patients and especially small isolated guttae do not seem to affect clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keamela Vasanthananthan
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Melles Cornea Clinic Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Vincent J A Bourgonje
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Melles Cornea Clinic Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jessica T Lie
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Amnitrans EyeBank Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rana Mulders-Al-Saady
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Melles Cornea Clinic Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Esther A Groeneveld-van Beek
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Amnitrans EyeBank Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jacky de Leeuw
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Alina Miron
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robert H J Wijdh
- Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; and
| | - Remco Stoutenbeek
- Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; and
| | - Gerrit R J Melles
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Melles Cornea Clinic Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Amnitrans EyeBank Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Silke Oellerich
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Viridiana Kocaba
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Melles Cornea Clinic Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Amnitrans EyeBank Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore
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18
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Chen HC, Lee CY, Chang YL, Huang JY, Yang SF, Chang CK. Risk Factors for Corneal Endothelial Decompensation after Penetrating Keratoplasty: A Population-Based Cohort Study. J Clin Med 2024; 13:718. [PMID: 38337412 PMCID: PMC10856645 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13030718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Endothelial decompensation is a common complication after penetrating keratopathy (PK), while the risk factors for endothelial decompensation after PK have not been fully elucidated. Consequently, we aim to investigate the possible risk factors for endothelial decompensation after PK. (2) Methods: This retrospective study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. The main outcome was the development of endothelial decompensation after PK surgery. The effects of potential risk factors were compared between the patients with endothelial decompensation and the patients without endothelial decompensation via Cox proportional hazard regression, which produced the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI). (3) Results: Overall, 54 patients developed endothelial decompensation after PK surgery, with a ratio of 16.12 percent. The pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (aHR: 1.924, 95% CI: 1.257-2.533, p = 0.0095) and history of cataract surgery (aHR: 1.687, 95% CI: 1.328-2.440, p = 0.0026) were correlated with the development of endothelial decompensation. In the subgroup analysis, the correlation between a history of cataract surgery and post-PK endothelial decompensation was more prominent in patients older than 60 years compared to their younger counterparts (p = 0.0038). (4) Conclusions: Pre-existing T2DM and a history of cataract surgery are associated with a higher incidence of post-PK endothelial decompensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Chi Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Department of Medicine, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Center for Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yi Lee
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Nobel Eye Institute, Taipei 115, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jen-Ai Hospital Dali Branch, Taichung 412, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ling Chang
- Department of Medical Education, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Yang Huang
- Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Shun-Fa Yang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Kai Chang
- Nobel Eye Institute, Taipei 115, Taiwan
- Department of Optometry, Da-Yeh University, Chunghua 515, Taiwan
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19
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Melles GRJ, Parker JS. How Would Nature See Our Corneal Triumphs? The LXXIX Edward Jackson Lecture. Am J Ophthalmol 2024; 263:11-22. [PMID: 38281570 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2024.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe discrepancies between clinical observation and current teachings in corneal endothelial disease, particularly in Fuchs endothelial dystrophy and its potential association with primary open angle glaucoma. DESIGN Perspective. METHODS A perspective is presented on Fuchs dystrophy, a disorder that commonly presents with a compromised endothelium but minimal stromal edema, indicating that the corneal imbibition pressure is relatively "too high." RESULTS The discrepancy between the relative lack of stromal edema in the absence of an endothelial cell layer cannot be explained by the current theories involving a circulatory pumping mechanism over the endothelial cell layer, but may point to the following: (1) secondary involvement of the corneal endothelium in Fuchs dystrophy; (2) separate hydration systems for maintaining the imbibition pressure (vertical static hydration) and corneal nutrition (horizontal dynamic hydration); (3) the cornea as net contributor of aqueous humor; (4) a close relationship between the corneal imbibition and intraocular pressure, with potentially a shared regulatory system; and (5) a potential steroid-type hormone dependency of this regulatory system. CONCLUSIONS Clinical observation shows that the stromal imbibition pressure is "too high" in Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, indicating that it may not primarily be an endothelial disease, but a type of "corneal glaucoma."
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerrit R J Melles
- From the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery (G.R.J.M.), Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Melles Cornea Clinic (G.R.J.M.), Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Amnitrans EyeBank Rotterdam (G.R.J.M.), the Netherlands; NIIOS-USA (G.R.J.M., J.S.P.) San Diego, California, USA.
| | - Jack S Parker
- NIIOS-USA (G.R.J.M., J.S.P.) San Diego, California, USA; Parker Cornea (J.S.P.), Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Chen H, Yang S, Lee C, Hsueh Y, Huang J, Chang C. Differences in change of post-operative antioxidant levels between laser-assisted lenticule extraction and femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18069. [PMID: 38051678 PMCID: PMC10826428 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18069] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
To evaluate the change of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and ascorbic acid (AA) between femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and laser-assisted lenticule extraction (LALEX). A prospective non-randomized study was conducted, and 33 and 75 eyes that had undergone FS-LASIK or LALEX surgeries were enrolled, respectively. The tear films near corneal incisions were collected, and the concentrations of TAC and AA were determined. The generalized linear mixed model was adopted to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of TAC and AA between the two groups. The AA reduction was significant 1 month after the LALEX and FS-LASIK procedures (both p < 0.05), and the decrement in AA level was significantly larger in the FS-LASIK group compared to the LALEX group (p = 0.0002). In the subgroup analysis, the LALEX group demonstrated a lower decrement in TAC level in the individuals with dry eye disease (DED) than the FS-LASIK group (p = 0.0424), and the LALEX group demonstrated a significantly lower AA decrement in the participants with high myopia (p = 0.0165) and DED (p = 0.0043). The LALEX surgery causes lesser AA decrement compared to FS-LASIK surgery especially for the patients with DED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung‐Chi Chen
- Department of OphthalmologyChang Gung Memorial HospitalLinkouTaiwan
- Department of MedicineChang Gung University College of MedicineTaoyuanTaiwan
- Center for Tissue EngineeringChang Gung Memorial HospitalLinkouTaiwan
| | - Shun‐Fa Yang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical UniversityTaichungTaiwan
- Department of Medical ResearchChung Shan Medical University HospitalTaichungTaiwan
| | - Chia‐Yi Lee
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical UniversityTaichungTaiwan
- Nobel Eye InstituteTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jen‐Ai Hospital Dali BranchTaichungTaiwan
| | - Yi‐Jen Hsueh
- Department of OphthalmologyChang Gung Memorial HospitalLinkouTaiwan
- Center for Tissue EngineeringChang Gung Memorial HospitalLinkouTaiwan
| | - Jing‐Yang Huang
- Department of Medical ResearchChung Shan Medical University HospitalTaichungTaiwan
| | - Chao‐Kai Chang
- Nobel Eye InstituteTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of OptometryDa‐Yeh UniversityChunghuaTaiwan
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21
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Liu JX, Chiang TL, Hung KF, Sun YC. Therapeutic future of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy: An ongoing way to explore. Taiwan J Ophthalmol 2024; 14:15-26. [PMID: 38654984 PMCID: PMC11034696 DOI: 10.4103/tjo.tjo-d-23-00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is one of the most common corneal diseases that causes loss of visual acuity in the world. FECD is a genetically and pathogenetically heterogeneous disease that results in the failure of corneal endothelial cells to maintain fluid balance and functional homeostasis of the cornea. Corneal edema, central guttae formation, and bullae development are common corneal pathologies. Currently, the mainstay of FECD treatment is surgery. However, limited sources of corneal graft and postsurgical complications remain problematic. In recent years, with advances in medical science and technology, there have been a few promising trials of new treatment modalities for FECD. In addition to new surgical methods, novel modalities can be classified into pharmacological-associated treatment, cell therapy-associated treatment, and gene therapy-associated treatment. In this article, our primary focus is on the most recent clinical trials related to FECD, and we present a stepwise approach to enhance FECD management and ultimately improve patient outcomes. We thoroughly searched for FECD clinical trials and reviewed the study designs, methodologies, and outcomes of each trial conducted within the past decade. It is imperative for physicians to stay up-to-date with these cutting-edge treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Xin Liu
- College of Medicine, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Lin Chiang
- College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kai-Feng Hung
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Sun
- College of Medicine, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan
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22
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Zhang X, Kumar A, Sathe AA, Mootha VV, Xing C. Transcriptomic meta-analysis reveals ERRα-mediated oxidative phosphorylation is downregulated in Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0295542. [PMID: 38096202 PMCID: PMC10721014 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Late-onset Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a degenerative disease of cornea and the leading indication for corneal transplantation. Genetically, FECD patients can be categorized as with (RE+) or without (RE-) the CTG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the transcription factor 4 gene. The molecular mechanisms underlying FECD remain unclear, though there are plausible pathogenic models proposed for RE+ FECD. METHOD In this study, we performed a meta-analysis on RNA sequencing datasets of FECD corneal endothelium including 3 RE+ datasets and 2 RE- datasets, aiming to compare the transcriptomic profiles of RE+ and RE- FECD. Gene differential expression analysis, co-expression networks analysis, and pathway analysis were conducted. RESULTS There was a striking similarity between RE+ and RE- transcriptomes. There were 1,184 genes significantly upregulated and 1,018 genes significantly downregulated in both RE+ and RE- cases. Pathway analysis identified multiple biological processes significantly enriched in both-mitochondrial functions, energy-related processes, ER-nucleus signaling pathway, demethylation, and RNA splicing were negatively enriched, whereas small GTPase mediated signaling, actin-filament processes, extracellular matrix organization, stem cell differentiation, and neutrophil mediated immunity were positively enriched. The translational initiation process was downregulated in the RE+ transcriptomes. Gene co-expression analysis identified modules with relatively distinct biological processes enriched including downregulation of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex assembly. The majority of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) subunit genes, as well as their upstream regulator gene estrogen-related receptor alpha (ESRRA), encoding ERRα, were downregulated in both RE+ and RE- cases, and the expression level of ESRRA was correlated with that of OXPHOS subunit genes. CONCLUSION Meta-analysis increased the power of detecting differentially expressed genes. Integrating differential expression analysis with co-expression analysis helped understand the underlying molecular mechanisms. FECD RE+ and RE- transcriptomic profiles are much alike with the hallmark of downregulation of genes in pathways related to ERRα-mediated OXPHOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunzhi Zhang
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Adwait A. Sathe
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - V. Vinod Mootha
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Chao Xing
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- O’Donnell School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
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23
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Lin Y, Su H, Zou B, Huang M. EZH2 Promotes Corneal Endothelial Cell Apoptosis by Mediating H3K27me3 and Inhibiting HO-1 Transcription. Curr Eye Res 2023; 48:1122-1132. [PMID: 37800319 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2023.2257401] [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: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This paper aims to explore the molecular mechanism of Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2)-mediated H3K27me3 in human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) apoptosis by inhibiting Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) transcription to provide a potential target for the treatment of corneal apoptosis. METHODS HCECs were cultured in vitro and transfected with si-EZH2, pcDNA3.1-EZH2, pcDNA3.1-HO-1, GSK-J4 (an effective H3K27me3 demethylase inhibitor), and corresponding controls. Western Blot assay was used to detect the levels of EZH2, HO-1, H3K27me3, and apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bax, and Cleaved-caspase-3) in HCECs; CCK-8 assay was conducted to detect cell viability and flow cytometry to analyze the apoptosis. HO-1 mRNA levels were detected by RT-qPCR and changes in H3K27me3 levels on the HO-1 promoter were detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation. RESULTS HCECs transfected with si-EZH2 showed significantly lower EZH2 mRNA and protein levels, higher HCEC viability, lower apoptosis rates, higher antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression, lower proapoptotic protein (Bax and Cleaved-caspase-3) levels, and significantly higher HO-1 expression. HCECs transfected with pcDNA3.1-EZH2 showed the opposite results. EZH2 repressed HO-1 transcription by mediating H3K27me3. H3K27me27 was enriched in the HO-1 promoter and overexpression of EZH2 increased H3K27me27 levels. Promotion of H3K27me3 partially reversed the mitigating effect of si-EZH2 on HCEC apoptosis. Overexpression of HO-1 partially reversed the apoptosis-promoting effects of EZH2 and H3K27me3 on HCECs. CONCLUSIONS EZH2 promotes HCE cell apoptosis by mediating H3K27me3 to inhibit HO-1 transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Liuzhou Workers' Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Huanjun Su
- Department of Ophthalmology, Liuzhou Workers' Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Baoyi Zou
- Department of Optometry, Liuzhou Workers' Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Minli Huang
- Department of Optometry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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Sakakura S, Inagaki E, Sayano T, Yamazaki R, Fusaki N, Hatou S, Hirayama M, Tsubota K, Negishi K, Okano H, Shimmura S. Non-apoptotic regulated cell death in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Regen Ther 2023; 24:592-601. [PMID: 38034859 PMCID: PMC10681880 DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is the leading cause of corneal blindness in developed countries. Corneal endothelial cells in FECD are susceptive to oxidative stress, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. Oxidative stress causes many forms of cell death including parthanatos, which is characterized by translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) to the nucleus with upregulation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR). Although cell death is an important aspect of FECD, previous reports have often analyzed immortalized cell lines, making the evaluation of cell death difficult. Therefore, we established a new in vitro FECD model to evaluate the pathophysiology of FECD. Methods Corneal endothelial cells were derived from disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was used as a source for oxidative stress to mimic the pathophysiology of FECD. We investigated the responses to oxidative stress and the involvement of parthanatos in FECD-corneal endothelial cells. Results Cell death ratio and oxidative stress level were upregulated in FECD with H2O2 treatment compared with non-FECD control, indicating the vulnerability of oxidative stress in FECD. We also found that intracellular PAR, as well as PARP-1 and AIF in the nucleus were upregulated in FECD. Furthermore, PARP inhibition, but not pan-caspase inhibition, rescued cell death, DNA double-strand breaks, mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and energy depletion, suggesting that cell death was mainly due to parthanatos. Conclusions We report that parthanatos may be involved in the pathophysiology of FECD and targeting this cell death pathway may be a potential therapeutic approach for FECD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saki Sakakura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Emi Inagaki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - Tomoko Sayano
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Cellusion Inc. 8-6 Nihonbashi-Kobunacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0024, Japan
| | - Risa Yamazaki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Noemi Fusaki
- University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Shin Hatou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Cellusion Inc. 8-6 Nihonbashi-Kobunacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0024, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Hirayama
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kazuo Tsubota
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kazuno Negishi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shigeto Shimmura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Clinical Regenerative Medicine, Fujita Medical Innovation Center, Fujita Health University, Haneda Innovation City Zone A, 1-1-4, Hanedakuko, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-0041, Japan
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25
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Zhang J, Dai Y, Li Y, Xu J. Integrative analysis of gene expression datasets in corneal endothelium samples of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Exp Eye Res 2023; 237:109712. [PMID: 37918501 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109712] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
FECD is an age-related progressive ocular disorder characterized by the gradual loss of corneal endothelial cells. Although the exact pathogenesis of FECD remains incompletely understood, differentially expressed genes in the corneal endothelium of FECD patients compared to controls have been reported in several studies. However, a consensus regarding consistently affected genes in FECD has not been established. To address this issue, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis incorporating five studies with data that met our predefined inclusion criteria. The combined dataset included 41 FECD patients and 26 controls. We conducted study-level analyses, followed by a meta-analysis, and subsequent functional enrichment analysis targeting the topmost DEGs. Our findings revealed a total of 1537 consistently dysregulated genes in the corneal endothelium of FECD patients. Notably, only 14.6% (224/1537) of these DEGs had been previously identified as statistically significant in individual datasets. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the upregulated DEGs were significantly enriched in immune-related signaling pathways, with a particularly high enrichment in "The NLRP3 inflammasome" and "Inflammasomes" pathways. In conclusion, we successfully identify a set of consistently dysregulated genes in FECD, which are associated with both established and novel biological pathways. This study highlights the importance of further investigating the role of inflammasomes in FECD pathogenesis and exploring strategies to modulate inflammasome activation for the management of this debilitating condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, 200031, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yiqin Dai
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, 200031, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yue Li
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, 200031, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Jianjiang Xu
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, 200031, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Shanghai, 200031, China.
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26
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Böhm EW, Buonfiglio F, Voigt AM, Bachmann P, Safi T, Pfeiffer N, Gericke A. Oxidative stress in the eye and its role in the pathophysiology of ocular diseases. Redox Biol 2023; 68:102967. [PMID: 38006824 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress occurs through an imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant defense mechanisms of cells. The eye is particularly exposed to oxidative stress because of its permanent exposure to light and due to several structures having high metabolic activities. The anterior part of the eye is highly exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and possesses a complex antioxidant defense system to protect the retina from UV radiation. The posterior part of the eye exhibits high metabolic rates and oxygen consumption leading subsequently to a high production rate of ROS. Furthermore, inflammation, aging, genetic factors, and environmental pollution, are all elements promoting ROS generation and impairing antioxidant defense mechanisms and thereby representing risk factors leading to oxidative stress. An abnormal redox status was shown to be involved in the pathophysiology of various ocular diseases in the anterior and posterior segment of the eye. In this review, we aim to summarize the mechanisms of oxidative stress in ocular diseases to provide an updated understanding on the pathogenesis of common diseases affecting the ocular surface, the lens, the retina, and the optic nerve. Moreover, we discuss potential therapeutic approaches aimed at reducing oxidative stress in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Wilma Böhm
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Francesco Buonfiglio
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Anna Maria Voigt
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Philipp Bachmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tarek Safi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Norbert Pfeiffer
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Adrian Gericke
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
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Rodríguez-Calvo-de-Mora M, Rocha-de-Lossada C, Romano V, Rodríguez-Vallejo M, Fernández J. Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty combined with presbyopia-correcting and toric intraocular lenses - a narrative review. BMC Ophthalmol 2023; 23:483. [PMID: 38007433 PMCID: PMC10675930 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-023-03240-5] [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] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is the leading indication for EK and may coexist with cataract and presbyopia. Notably, the outcomes of phacoemulsification in FECD patients are not as favorable as those in eyes without this condition. Historically, only monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) were recommended for these patients. However, recent reports have described the implantation of Premium-IOLs (such as Multifocal IOLs, Enhanced Depth of Focus IOLs, and Toric IOLs) in FECD eyes undergoing cataract surgery and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). While the results are encouraging, they are not as optimal as those from unoperated eyes, especially when comparing simultaneous procedures to sequential ones. It's advised to perform the DMEK first to improve the accuracy of IOL calculations. Still, even successfully operated eyes may experience secondary graft failure or graft rejection after DMEK. The success rate of a secondary DMEK is typically lower than that of the initial procedure. Furthermore, if the postoperative thickness after DMEK is less than anticipated, laser enhancements might not be an option. There's a pressing need for more controlled and randomized clinical trials to ascertain the safety and effectiveness of Premium-IOLs for FECD eyes. This narrative review aims to collate evidence on the use of Premium IOL technologies in eyes receiving EK and to underscore key points for surgeons performing EK combined with cataract surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Rodríguez-Calvo-de-Mora
- Qvision, Department of Ophthalmology of VITHAS Almería Hospital, Almería, 04120, Spain
- Ophthalmology Department, VITHAS Málaga, Málaga, 29016, Spain
- Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Plaza del Hospital Civil, S/N, Málaga, 29009, Spain
| | - Carlos Rocha-de-Lossada
- Qvision, Department of Ophthalmology of VITHAS Almería Hospital, Almería, 04120, Spain
- Ophthalmology Department, VITHAS Málaga, Málaga, 29016, Spain
- Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Plaza del Hospital Civil, S/N, Málaga, 29009, Spain
- Departamento de Cirugía, Área de Oftalmología, Universidad de Sevilla, Doctor Fedriani, S/N, Seville, 41009, Spain
| | - Vito Romano
- Ophthalmic Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Ophthalmic Unit, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Joaquín Fernández
- Qvision, Department of Ophthalmology of VITHAS Almería Hospital, Almería, 04120, Spain
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28
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Loiseau A, Raîche-Marcoux G, Maranda C, Bertrand N, Boisselier E. Animal Models in Eye Research: Focus on Corneal Pathologies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16661. [PMID: 38068983 PMCID: PMC10706114 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316661] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The eye is a complex sensory organ that enables visual perception of the world. The dysfunction of any of these tissues can impair vision. Conduction studies on laboratory animals are essential to ensure the safety of therapeutic products directly applied or injected into the eye to treat ocular diseases before eventually proceeding to clinical trials. Among these tissues, the cornea has unique homeostatic and regenerative mechanisms for maintaining transparency and refraction of external light, which are essential for vision. However, being the outermost tissue of the eye and directly exposed to the external environment, the cornea is particularly susceptible to injury and diseases. This review highlights the evidence for selecting appropriate animals to better understand and treat corneal diseases, which rank as the fifth leading cause of blindness worldwide. The development of reliable and human-relevant animal models is, therefore, a valuable research tool for understanding and translating fundamental mechanistic findings, as well as for assessing therapeutic potential in humans. First, this review emphasizes the unique characteristics of animal models used in ocular research. Subsequently, it discusses current animal models associated with human corneal pathologies, their utility in understanding ocular disease mechanisms, and their role as translational models for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Loiseau
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Québec Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; (G.R.-M.); (C.M.)
| | - Gabrielle Raîche-Marcoux
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Québec Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; (G.R.-M.); (C.M.)
| | - Cloé Maranda
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Québec Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; (G.R.-M.); (C.M.)
| | - Nicolas Bertrand
- Faculty of Pharmacy, CHU de Quebec Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada;
| | - Elodie Boisselier
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Québec Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; (G.R.-M.); (C.M.)
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29
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Lamberg J, Zarrinkhat F, Tamminen A, Baggio M, Ala-Laurinaho J, Rius J, Romeu J, Khaled EEM, Taylor Z. Wavefront-modified vector beams for THz cornea spectroscopy. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:40293-40307. [PMID: 38041334 DOI: 10.1364/oe.494460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Terahertz spectroscopy is a promising method to diagnose ocular diseases, where the cornea is typically imaged by Gaussian beams. However, the beam's mismatch with the cornea's spherical surface produces a 5-10 % error in analysis. We investigate cornea spectroscopy with wavefront-modified vector beams, reducing the original analysis error to less than 0.5 %. Vector beams are synthesized by our developed 3D Angular Spectrum Method expanded to vector spherical harmonic presentation, allowing wavefront modification and scattering analysis from 100-layer cornea models. We show that wavefront-modified spherical vector beams possess increased accuracy and non-sensitive focusing on cornea spectroscopy compared to the Gaussian beams. Additionally, we investigate wavefront-modified cylindrical vector beams, which show frequency-dependent scattering power arising from s- and p-polarizations. As a result, these beams are unsuitable for cornea spectroscopy, although they have potential for optical force applications. Wavefront-modified vector beams can be applied to spherical target spectroscopy and optical force applications, such as medicine, medical imaging, and optical tweezers.
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Singh RB, Parmar UPS, Kahale F, Jeng BH, Jhanji V. Prevalence and Economic Burden of Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy in the Medicare Population in the United States. Cornea 2023:00003226-990000000-00402. [PMID: 37906001 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and economic burden of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) in patients older than 65 years in the United States. METHODS A retrospective analysis of the Medicare data reported to the Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System including patients diagnosed with FECD between 2014 and 2019 was performed. The crude prevalence rate of FECD was assessed and extrapolated to estimate the total case burden in the United States. The prevalence data were further compared between men and women and different racial groups. In addition, the economic burden was computed using inflation-adjusted direct costs of treatment to patients. RESULTS The Medicare database included 25,432,700 patients older than 65 years. The national prevalence of FECD in this population cohort was calculated to be 1.12% in 2019. In 2019, FECD case burden in Medicare patients older than 65 years was 284,846 and total estimated FECD case count in the country in this age group was 591,226. FECD prevalence was significantly higher in women as compared to men during the 6-year period evaluated in this study. The intergroup comparison revealed that FECD prevalence in the White population was significantly higher than all other racial groups (P < 0.0001). The total inflation-adjusted economic burden of FECD in the United States in 2019 was USD 291.648 million and has increased from USD 243.998 million over the 6-year study period. CONCLUSIONS The estimated prevalence of FECD in the individuals older than 65 years is 1.12% in the United States. FECD prevalence is significantly higher in women and White population compared with other ethnicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan Bir Singh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Population, Policy and Practice Research, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Discipline of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Francesca Kahale
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Bennie H Jeng
- Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennslyvania, Philadelphia, PA; and
| | - Vishal Jhanji
- Vision Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
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Han S, Mueller C, Wuebbolt C, Kilcullen S, Nayyar V, Calle Gonzalez B, Mahdavi Fard A, Floss JC, Morales MJ, Patel SP. Selective effects of estradiol on human corneal endothelial cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15279. [PMID: 37714879 PMCID: PMC10504266 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42290-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), mitochondrial and oxidative stresses in corneal endothelial cells (HCEnCs) contribute to cell demise and disease progression. FECD is more common in women than men, but the basis for this observation is poorly understood. To understand the sex disparity in FECD prevalence, we studied the effects of the sex hormone 17-β estradiol (E2) on growth, oxidative stress, and metabolism in primary cultures of HCEnCs grown under physiologic ([O2]2.5) and hyperoxic ([O2]A) conditions. We hypothesized that E2 would counter the damage of oxidative stress generated at [O2]A. HCEnCs were treated with or without E2 (10 nM) for 7-10 days under both conditions. Treatment with E2 did not significantly alter HCEnC density, viability, ROS levels, oxidative DNA damage, oxygen consumption rates, or extracellular acidification rates in either condition. E2 disrupted mitochondrial morphology in HCEnCs solely from female donors in the [O2]A condition. ATP levels were significantly higher at [O2]2.5 than at [O2]A in HCEnCs from female donors only, but were not affected by E2. Our findings demonstrate the resilience of HCEnCs against hyperoxic stress. The effects of hyperoxia and E2 on HCEnCs from female donors suggest cell sex-specific mechanisms of toxicity and hormonal influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seoyoung Han
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Christian Mueller
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Caitlin Wuebbolt
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Sean Kilcullen
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Varinda Nayyar
- Research Service, Veterans Administration Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Brayan Calle Gonzalez
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Ali Mahdavi Fard
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jamie C Floss
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Morales
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Sangita P Patel
- Research Service, Veterans Administration Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
- Ophthalmology Service, Veterans Administration Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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32
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Cai Y, Chen J, Sun H, Zhou T, Cai X, Fu Y. Crosstalk between TRPV1 and immune regulation in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Clin Immunol 2023; 254:109701. [PMID: 37482117 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is the leading indication for corneal transplantation worldwide. Our aim was to investigate the role of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) and the associated immune regulation contributing to this pathological condition. Significant upregulation of TRPV1 was detected in the H2O2-induced in vitro FECD model. Based on gene expression microarray dataset GSE142538 and in vitro results, a comprehensive immune landscape was studied and a negative correlation was found between TRPV1 with different immune cells, especially regulatory T cells (Tregs). Functional analyses of the 313 TRPV1-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed the involvement of TRP-regulated calcium transport, as well as inflammatory and immune pathways. Four TRPV1-related core genes (MAPK14, GNB1, GNAQ, and ARRB2) were screened, validated by microarray dataset GSE112039 and the combined validation dataset E-GEAD-399 & 564, and verified by in vitro experiments. Our study suggested a potential crosstalk between TRPV1 and immune regulation contributing to FECD pathogenesis. The identified pivotal biomarkers and immune-related pathways provide a novel framework for future mechanistic and therapeutic studies of FECD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Cai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Tianyi Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueyao Cai
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yao Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China.
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Nealon CL, Halladay CW, Gorman BR, Simpson P, Roncone DP, Canania RL, Anthony SA, Rogers LRS, Leber JN, Dougherty JM, Bailey JNC, Crawford DC, Sullivan JM, Galor A, Wu WC, Greenberg PB, Lass JH, Iyengar SK, Peachey NS. Association Between Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy, Diabetes Mellitus, and Multimorbidity. Cornea 2023; 42:1140-1149. [PMID: 37170406 PMCID: PMC10523841 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003311] [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: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to assess risk for demographic variables and other health conditions that are associated with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). METHODS We developed a FECD case-control algorithm based on structured electronic health record data and confirmed accuracy by individual review of charts at 3 Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers. This algorithm was applied to the Department of VA Million Veteran Program cohort from whom sex, genetic ancestry, comorbidities, diagnostic phecodes, and laboratory values were extracted. Single-variable and multiple variable logistic regression models were used to determine the association of these risk factors with FECD diagnosis. RESULTS Being a FECD case was associated with female sex, European genetic ancestry, and a greater number of comorbidities. Of 1417 diagnostic phecodes evaluated, 213 had a significant association with FECD, falling in both ocular and nonocular conditions, including diabetes mellitus (DM). Five of 69 laboratory values were associated with FECD, with the direction of change for 4 being consistent with DM. Insulin dependency and type 1 DM raised risk to a greater degree than type 2 DM, like other microvascular diabetic complications. CONCLUSIONS Female sex, European ancestry, and multimorbidity increased FECD risk. Endocrine/metabolic clinic encounter codes and altered patterns of laboratory values support DM increasing FECD risk. Our results evoke a threshold model in which the FECD phenotype is intensified by DM and potentially other health conditions that alter corneal physiology. Further studies to better understand the relationship between FECD and DM are indicated and may help identify opportunities for slowing FECD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cari L. Nealon
- Eye Clinic, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Christopher W. Halladay
- Center of Innovation in Long Term Services and Supports, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Bryan R. Gorman
- VA Cooperative Studies Program, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
- Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Virginia, USA
| | - Piana Simpson
- Eye Clinic, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - David P. Roncone
- Eye Clinic, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Scott A. Anthony
- Eye Clinic, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Jenna N. Leber
- Ophthalmology Section, VA Western NY Health Care System, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | | | - Jessica N. Cooke Bailey
- Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Population & Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Research Service, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Dana C. Crawford
- Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Population & Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Research Service, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jack M. Sullivan
- Ophthalmology Section, VA Western NY Health Care System, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Research Service, VA Western NY Health Care System, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology (Ross Eye Institute), University at Buffalo-SUNY, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Anat Galor
- Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida, USA
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Wen-Chih Wu
- Cardiology Section, Medical Service, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Paul B. Greenberg
- Ophthalmology Section, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Division of Ophthalmology, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | - Jonathan H. Lass
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- University Hospitals Eye Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Sudha K. Iyengar
- Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Population & Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Research Service, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Neal S. Peachey
- Research Service, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Chan MF, Pan P, Wolfreys FD. Novel Mechanisms Guide Innovative Molecular-Based Therapeutic Strategies for Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. Cornea 2023; 42:929-933. [PMID: 37318135 PMCID: PMC10313750 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Major advances in genomics have dramatically increased our understanding of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and identified diverse genetic causes and associations. Biomarkers derived from these studies have the potential to inform both clinical treatment and yield novel therapeutics for this corneal dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda F. Chan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Peipei Pan
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Finn D. Wolfreys
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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35
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Kaufman AR, Bal S, Boakye J, Jurkunas UV. Recurrence of Guttae and Endothelial Dysfunction After Successful Descemet Stripping Only in Fuchs Dystrophy. Cornea 2023; 42:1037-1040. [PMID: 36729028 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE There are limited data about long-term durability of endothelial rejuvenation after Descemet stripping only (DSO). This study reports a case of bilaterally recurrent endothelial dysfunction and guttae formation after initially successful DSO in combination with cataract extraction (DSO-CE). METHODS This is a retrospective case report. A 49-year-old man with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy with bilateral visually significant endothelial guttae (predominantly confluent centrally) and concomitant cataract underwent DSO-CE bilaterally. Postoperative course to long-term outcome at 6 years was analyzed. RESULTS Baseline central corneal thickness (CCT) was 568 μm in OD and 582 μm in OS. Preoperatively, both eyes had no countable central endothelial cells but good peripheral endothelial mosaic. In both eyes, the cornea clinically cleared at approximately 1 month postoperatively after DSO-CE. In short-term follow-up (OD postoperative month 6 and OS postoperative month 3), CCT was 556 μm in OD and 561 μm in OS and central endothelial cell density was 1352 cells/mm 2 in OD and 880 cells/mm 2 in OS. The patient returned to our center in postoperative year 6 OU. At this time, OU had interval formation of guttae within the descemetorhexis, with increased CCT (OD 631 μm and OS 609 μm) and decreased central endothelial cell density (OD 728 cells/mm 2 and OS 609 cells/mm 2 ). CONCLUSIONS After DSO, progressive endothelial dysfunction with new guttae formation can occur within the descemetorhexis region of repopulated endothelium. Larger analyses with longer follow-up are needed to better characterize long-term outcomes of DSO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron R Kaufman
- Cornea Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and
| | - Sila Bal
- Cornea Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jeffrey Boakye
- Cornea Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
| | - Ula V Jurkunas
- Cornea Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and
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Liu H, Cheng J, Zhuang X, Qi B, Li F, Zhang B. Genomic instability and eye diseases. ADVANCES IN OPHTHALMOLOGY PRACTICE AND RESEARCH 2023; 3:103-111. [PMID: 37846358 PMCID: PMC10577848 DOI: 10.1016/j.aopr.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Background Genetic information is stored in the bases of double-stranded DNA. However, the integrity of DNA molecules is constantly threatened by various mutagenic agents, including pollutants, ultraviolet light (UV), and medications. To counteract these environmental damages, cells have established multiple mechanisms, such as producing molecules to identify and eliminate damaged DNA, as well as reconstruct the original DNA structures. Failure or insufficiency of these mechanisms can cause genetic instability. However, the role of genome stability in eye diseases is still under-researched, despite extensive study in cancer biology. Main text As the eye is directly exposed to the external environment, the genetic materials of ocular cells are constantly under threat. Some of the proteins essential for DNA damage repair, such as pRb, p53, and RAD21, are also key during the ocular disease development. In this review, we discuss five ocular diseases that are associated with genomic instability. Retinoblastoma and pterygium are linked to abnormal cell cycles. Fuchs' corneal endothelial dystrophy and age-related macular degeneration are related to the accumulation of DNA damage caused by oxidative damage and UV. The mutation of the subunit of the cohesin complex during eye development is linked to sclerocornea. Conclusions Failure of DNA damage detection or repair leads to increased genomic instability. Deciphering the role of genomic instability in ocular diseases can lead to the development of new treatments and strategies, such as protecting vulnerable cells from risk factors or intensifying damage to unwanted cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Liu
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
- School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jun Cheng
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
- School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoyun Zhuang
- School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), Jinan, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Benxiang Qi
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
- School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Qingdao, China
| | - Fenfen Li
- The Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bining Zhang
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
- School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Qingdao, China
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Voncken Santana S, Vasiliauskaitė I, van Dijk K, van Tilborg M, Melles GRJ, Kocaba V, Oellerich S. Impact of Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy Severity on Scheimpflug-Derived Parameters After Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty. Cornea 2023; 42:970-979. [PMID: 36036666 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate how Scheimpflug-derived parameters of eyes with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) are influenced by Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) depending on FECD severity and the presence of subclinical edema. METHODS A retrospective cohort study including 115 eyes (115 patients) that underwent DMEK for FECD and a control group of 27 eyes with nonpathological corneas was conducted. Preoperative and 6 months postoperative Scheimpflug imaging was used to analyze pachymetry, presence of tomographic features (loss of isopachs/displacement of the thinnest point/focal posterior depression), and corneal backscatter. FECD severity was based on the modified Krachmer scale and the absence/presence of subclinical edema. RESULTS Scheimpflug-derived pachymetry, tomographic, and corneal backscatter parameters were correlated with FECD severity, and all changed from preoperatively to postoperatively (all P < 0.05). Postoperative central corneal thickness, anterior and posterior corneal backscatter, and presence of focal posterior depression remained different from the control group (all P < 0.05). Of eyes without preoperative clinical edema (n = 75), 18.7% showed 0 or 1 tomographic feature (no edema group) and 82.4% had 2 or 3 features (subclinical edema group). Compared with the control group, postoperative best-corrected visual acuity for the "no edema" group did not differ (0.03 ± 0.12 vs. -0.02 ± 0.08 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, P = 0.150) but was worse for the subclinical edema group (0.06 ± 0.08 vs. -0.02 ± 0.08 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS For eyes without preoperative edema, more parameters reversed back to 'normal' levels than for eyes with (sub)clinical edema. Although most analyzed parameters correlated with FECD severity, corneal tomography might be best suited for objective grading of disease severity to aid in surgical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Voncken Santana
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Hogeschool Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Indrė Vasiliauskaitė
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Melles Cornea Clinic Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and
| | - Korine van Dijk
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Melles Cornea Clinic Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and
| | | | - Gerrit R J Melles
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Melles Cornea Clinic Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and
| | - Viridiana Kocaba
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Melles Cornea Clinic Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and
- Tissue and Cell Therapy Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore
| | - Silke Oellerich
- Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Steindor FA, Büchau TM, Borgardts KC, Borrelli M, Guthoff R, Geerling G, Spaniol K. Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty and Triple Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty in Eyes With Macular Comorbidity. Cornea 2023; 42:986-991. [PMID: 36542355 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate results after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and DMEK with cataract surgery (triple DMEK) in eyes with endothelial dysfunction and concomitant macular pathology. METHODS A monocentric, prospective clinical observational study of patients who underwent DMEK or triple DMEK surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany, from June 2013 to February 2016 was conducted. Sex, age, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central corneal thickness, endothelial cell density, and central retinal thickness in the 1 millimeter zone were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 209 eyes were included in the study. Forty-two eyes (20.1%) had vision-limiting concomitant maculopathies. These were age-related macular degeneration (n = 17, 8.1%), epiretinal gliosis (n = 13, 6.2%), chronic macular edema (n = 7, 3.3%), macular holes (n = 3, 1.4%), and macular scarring (n = 2, 1.0%). BCVA significantly increased in patients without maculopathy from 0.6 ± 0.33 logMAR to 0.1 ± 0.15 logMAR ( P < 0.001) and also in patients with maculopathy from 0.9 ± 0.38 logMAR to 0.27 ± 0.23 logMAR 12 months postoperatively ( P < 0.001). There was a significant central retinal thickness increase of 34.1 μm 6 weeks after triple DMEK in the central 1-mm zone ( P = 0.011). This increase was insignificant after DMEK. Postoperative macular edema occurred in 5.9% of cases after DMEK and 8.1% after triple DMEK, which was not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS DMEK and triple DMEK significantly increase BCVA in eyes with concomitant maculopathy. Postoperative macular edema is a common disorder after lamellar keratoplasty; therefore, prophylactic treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs should be considered. Maculopathies did not predispose the development of postoperative macular edema.
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Parekh M, Ramos T, Ferrari S, Ahmad S. Inhibiting miR-195-5p Induces Proliferation of Human Corneal Endothelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11490. [PMID: 37511249 PMCID: PMC10380751 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411490] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Transparency of the human cornea is responsible for clear vision, which is maintained by a monolayer of non-proliferative human corneal endothelial cells (HCEnCs). Dysfunction of these cells can result in irreversible corneal blindness. It is important to identify key factors that limit the proliferation of HCEnCs and thus attempt to reverse them. Extracellular vesicles contain cargo which includes microRNAs (miRNAs) that can modulate a cellular function. In non small cell lung cancer, expression of miR-195-5p has been shown to inhibit proliferation; therefore, we aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of miR-195-5p in inducing the proliferation of HCEnCs. Human corneal endothelial cell line (HCEC-12) and primary HCEnCs were cultured with miR-195-5p scramble, mimic or inhibitor. Corneal tissues from human cadaveric and FECD donors, and from pigs, mice and rabbits, were used for RT-PCR. miR-195-5p showed an abundance value of 11,363.31 a.u. When normalized against HCEnCs from cadaveric donors, FECD tissues showed a significant upregulation of miR-195-5p (p < 0.05) but was significantly downregulated in pig (p < 0.001), mouse (p < 0.01) and rabbit (p < 0.001) CEnCs, which have known proliferative capacity. Proliferation, cell doubling, and wound healing rates were significantly higher when miR-195-5p was inhibited. Inhibiting miR-195-5p showed a significant improvement in viability (HEC staining), decreased cell apoptosis (TdT-dNTP staining) and expression of ZO-1, NA+/K+-ATPase and Ki-67 markers. Expression of miR-195-5p is found in HCEnCs and FECD cells, which restricts the proliferation of these cells. However, inhibiting miR-195-5p can induce the proliferation of HCEnCs, which opens exciting directions for future research in prolonging FECD pathogenesis by increasing the proliferative capacity of HCEnCs using anti-miR therapy in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Parekh
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
- Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto Onlus, Via Paccagnella, 11, 30174 Venice, Italy
| | - Tiago Ramos
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Stefano Ferrari
- Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto Onlus, Via Paccagnella, 11, 30174 Venice, Italy
| | - Sajjad Ahmad
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 162 City Rd, London EC1V 2PD, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 162 City Rd, London EC1V 2PD, UK
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40
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Arts JA, Laberthonnière C, Lima Cunha D, Zhou H. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing: Opportunities and Challenges for Studies on Corneal Biology in Health and Disease. Cells 2023; 12:1808. [PMID: 37443842 PMCID: PMC10340756 DOI: 10.3390/cells12131808] [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: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The structure and major cell types of the multi-layer human cornea have been extensively studied. However, various cell states in specific cell types and key genes that define the cell states are not fully understood, hindering our comprehension of corneal homeostasis, related diseases, and therapeutic discovery. Single-cell RNA sequencing is a revolutionary and powerful tool for identifying cell states within tissues such as the cornea. This review provides an overview of current single-cell RNA sequencing studies on the human cornea, highlighting similarities and differences between them, and summarizing the key genes that define corneal cell states reported in these studies. In addition, this review discusses the opportunities and challenges of using single-cell RNA sequencing to study corneal biology in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian A. Arts
- Molecular Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.A.A.)
| | - Camille Laberthonnière
- Molecular Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.A.A.)
| | - Dulce Lima Cunha
- Molecular Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.A.A.)
| | - Huiqing Zhou
- Molecular Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.A.A.)
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Moshirfar M, Masud M, Harvey DH, Payne C, Bruce E, Ronquillo YC, Hoopes PC. The Multifold Etiologies of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency: A Comprehensive Review on the Etiologies and Additional Treatment Options for Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4418. [PMID: 37445454 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12134418] [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: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the various ocular manifestations of limbal stem cell insufficiency, an awareness of the genetic, acquired, and immunological causes and associated additional treatments of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is essential for providers. We performed a comprehensive review of the literature on the various etiologies and specific therapies for LSCD. The resources utilized in this review included Medline (PubMed), Embase, and Google Scholar. All English-language articles and case reports published from November 1986 through to October 2022 were reviewed in this study. There were collectively 99 articles on these topics. No other exclusion criteria were applied. Depending on the etiology, ocular manifestations of limbal stem cell deficiency range from dry eye syndrome and redness to more severe outcomes, including corneal ulceration, ocular surface failure, and vision loss. Identifying the source of damage for LSCD is critical in the treatment process, given that therapy may extend beyond the scope of the standard protocol, including artificial tears, refractive surgery, and allogeneic stem cell transplants. This comprehensive review of the literature demonstrates the various genetic, acquired, and immunological causes of LSCD and the spectrum of supplemental therapies available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Moshirfar
- Hoopes Vision Research Center, Hoopes Vision, Draper, UT 84020, USA
- John A. Moran Eye Center, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Utah Lions Eye Bank, Murray, UT 84107, USA
| | - Maliha Masud
- School of Medicine, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Devon Hori Harvey
- College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Carter Payne
- Hoopes Vision Research Center, Hoopes Vision, Draper, UT 84020, USA
| | - Elayna Bruce
- McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Philip C Hoopes
- Hoopes Vision Research Center, Hoopes Vision, Draper, UT 84020, USA
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Vottonen L, Koskela A, Felszeghy S, Wylegala A, Kryszan K, Gurubaran IS, Kaarniranta K, Wylegala E. Oxidative Stress and Cellular Protein Accumulation Are Present in Keratoconus, Macular Corneal Dystrophy, and Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4332. [PMID: 37445366 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12134332] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate oxidative stress as well as cellular protein accumulation in corneal diseases including keratoconus (KC), macular corneal dystrophy (MCD), and Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) at their primary affecting sites. Corneal buttons from KC, MCD, and FECD patients, as well as healthy controls, were analyzed immunohistochemically to evaluate the presence of oxidative stress and the function of the proteostasis network. 4-Fydroxynonenal (4-HNE) was used as a marker of oxidative stress, whereas the levels of catalase and heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) were analyzed to evaluate the response of the antioxidant defense system and molecular chaperones, respectively. Sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) levels were determined to assess protein aggregation and the functionality of autophagic degradation. Basal epithelial cells of the KC samples showed increased levels of oxidative stress marker 4-HNE and antioxidant enzyme catalase together with elevated levels of HSP70 and accumulation of SQSTM1. Corneal stromal cells and endothelial cells from MCD and FECD samples, respectively, showed similarly increased levels of these markers. All corneal diseases showed the presence of oxidative stress and activation of the molecular chaperone response to sustain protein homeostasis. However, the accumulation of protein aggregates suggests insufficient function of the protective mechanisms to limit the oxidative damage and removal of protein aggregates via autophagy. These results suggest that oxidative stress has a role in KC, MCD, and FECD at the cellular level as a secondary outcome. Thus, antioxidant- and autophagy-targeted therapies could be included as supporting care when treating KC or corneal dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Vottonen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ali Koskela
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Szabolcs Felszeghy
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Adam Wylegala
- Health Promotion and Obesity Management Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland
- Ophthalmology Department, Railway Hospital, 40-760 Katowice, Poland
| | | | | | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143, 90-236 Lodz, Poland
| | - Edward Wylegala
- Ophthalmology Department, Railway Hospital, 40-760 Katowice, Poland
- Clinical Department of Ophthalmology, II School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 40-760 Katowice, Poland
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Nakagawa T, Okumura N, Ikegawa M, Toyama Y, Nirasawa T, Mascarelli F, Vaitinadapoule H, Aouimeur I, He Z, Gain P, Thuret G, Koizumi N. Shotgun proteomics identification of proteins expressed in the Descemet's membrane of patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10401. [PMID: 37369713 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37104-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a slowly evolving, bilateral disease of the corneal endothelium, characterized by an abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the basement membrane (Descemet's membrane, DM). This results in the formation of small round excrescences, called guttae, and a progressive disappearance of endothelial cells. In the intermediate stage, the numerous guttae create significant optical aberrations, and in the late stage, the loss of endothelial function leads to permanent corneal edema. The molecular components of guttae have not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we conducted shotgun proteomics of the DMs, including guttae, obtained from patients with FECD and revealed that 32 proteins were expressed only in the FECD-DMs but not in the DMs of control subjects. Subsequent enrichment analyses identified associations with multiple ECM-related pathways. Immunostaining of flat-mounted DMs confirmed that 4 of the top 5 identified proteins (hemoglobin α, SRPX2, tenascin-C, and hemoglobin γδεβ) were expressed in FECD-DMs but not in non-FECD-DMs. Fibrinogen α was strongly expressed in FECD-DMs, but weakly expressed in non-FECD-DMs. We also demonstrated that matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) can display the in situ spatial distribution of biomolecules expressed in the DM, including the guttae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Nakagawa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, 610-0394, Japan
| | - Naoki Okumura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, 610-0394, Japan.
| | - Masaya Ikegawa
- Genomics, Proteomics and Biomedical Functions, Graduate School of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yumiko Toyama
- Genomics, Proteomics and Biomedical Functions, Graduate School of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Frederic Mascarelli
- Laboratory of Biology, Engineering and Imaging for Ophthalmology (BiiO), Faculty of Medicine, Health Innovation Campus, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, UMR S1138, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Hanielle Vaitinadapoule
- Laboratory of Biology, Engineering and Imaging for Ophthalmology (BiiO), Faculty of Medicine, Health Innovation Campus, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Ines Aouimeur
- Laboratory of Biology, Engineering and Imaging for Ophthalmology (BiiO), Faculty of Medicine, Health Innovation Campus, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Zhiguo He
- Laboratory of Biology, Engineering and Imaging for Ophthalmology (BiiO), Faculty of Medicine, Health Innovation Campus, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Philippe Gain
- Laboratory of Biology, Engineering and Imaging for Ophthalmology (BiiO), Faculty of Medicine, Health Innovation Campus, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Gilles Thuret
- Laboratory of Biology, Engineering and Imaging for Ophthalmology (BiiO), Faculty of Medicine, Health Innovation Campus, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Noriko Koizumi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, 610-0394, Japan
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Tsedilina TR, Sharova E, Iakovets V, Skorodumova LO. Systematic review of SLC4A11, ZEB1, LOXHD1, and AGBL1 variants in the development of Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1153122. [PMID: 37441688 PMCID: PMC10333596 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1153122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The pathogenic role of variants in TCF4 and COL8A2 in causing Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is not controversial and has been confirmed by numerous studies. The causal role of other genes, SLC4A11, ZEB1, LOXHD1, and AGBL1, which have been reported to be associated with FECD, is more complicated and less obvious. We performed a systematic review of the variants in the above-mentioned genes in FECD cases, taking into account the currently available population frequency information, transcriptomic data, and the results of functional studies to assess their pathogenicity. Methods Search for articles published in 2005-2022 was performed manually between July 2022 and February 2023. We searched for original research articles in peer-reviewed journals, written in English. Variants in the genes of interest identified in patients with FECD were extracted for the analysis. We classified each presented variant by pathogenicity status according to the ACMG criteria implemented in the Varsome tool. Diagnosis, segregation data, presence of affected relatives, functional analysis results, and gene expression in the corneal endothelium were taken into account. Data on the expression of genes of interest in the corneal endothelium were extracted from articles in which transcriptome analysis was performed. The identification of at least one variant in a gene classified as pathogenic or significantly associated with FECD was required to confirm the causal role of the gene in FECD. Results The analysis included 34 articles with 102 unique ZEB1 variants, 20 articles with 64 SLC4A11 variants, six articles with 26 LOXHD1 variants, and five articles with four AGBL1 variants. Pathogenic status was confirmed for seven SLC4A11 variants found in FECD. No variants in ZEB1, LOXHD1, and AGBL1 genes were classified as pathogenic for FECD. According to the transcriptome data, AGBL1 and LOXHD1 were not expressed in the corneal endothelium. Functional evidence for the association of LOXHD1, and AGBL1 with FECD was conflicting. Conclusion Our analysis confirmed the causal role of SLC4A11 variants in the development of FECD. The causal role of ZEB1, LOXHD1, and AGBL1 variants in FECD has not been confirmed. Further evidence from familial cases and functional analysis is needed to confirm their causal roles in FECD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Romanovna Tsedilina
- Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Sharova
- Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valeriia Iakovets
- Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Liubov Olegovna Skorodumova
- Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
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Peachey N, Gorman B, Francis M, Nealon C, Halladay C, Duro N, Markianos K, Genovese G, Hysi P, Choquet H, Afshari N, Li YJ, Gaziano JM, Hung A, Wu WC, Greenberg P, Pyarajan S, Lass J, Iyengar S. Multi-ancestry GWAS of Fuchs corneal dystrophy highlights roles of laminins, collagen, and endothelial cell regulation. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2762003. [PMID: 37205546 PMCID: PMC10187421 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2762003/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a leading indication for corneal transplantation, but its molecular pathophysiology remains poorly understood. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of FECD in the Million Veteran Program (MVP) and meta-analyzed with the previous largest FECD GWAS, finding twelve significant loci (eight novel). We further confirmed the TCF4 locus in admixed African and Hispanic/Latino ancestries, and found an enrichment of European-ancestry haplotypes at TCF4 in FECD cases. Among the novel associations are low frequency missense variants in laminin genes LAMA5 and LAMB1 which, together with previously reported LAMC1, form laminin-511 (LM511). AlphaFold 2 protein modeling suggests that mutations at LAMA5 and LAMB1 may destabilize LM511 by altering inter-domain interactions or extracellular matrix binding. Finally, phenome-wide association scans and co-localization analyses suggest that the TCF4 CTG18.1 trinucleotide repeat expansion leads to dysregulation of ion transport in the corneal endothelium and has pleiotropic effects on renal function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hélène Choquet
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Saiju Pyarajan
- Center for Data and Computational Sciences, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System
| | - Jonathan Lass
- Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Case Medical Center
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Ye M, Lu Q, Zhao D, Zhao B, Zhang S, Liao Y, Liao R. New Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy in a Chinese Family. Cornea 2023; 42:529-535. [PMID: 36796013 PMCID: PMC10060041 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003209] [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: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical presentation of atypical endothelial corneal dystrophy (ECD) and to identify possible associated genetic variants in a Chinese family. METHODS Six affected members, 4 unaffected first-degree relatives, and 3 spouses who were enrolled in this study underwent ophthalmic examinations. Genetic linkage analysis was performed for 4 affected and 2 unaffected members, and whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed for 2 patients to identify disease-causing variants. Candidate causal variants were verified using Sanger sequencing in family members and 200 healthy controls. RESULTS The mean age at disease onset was 16.5 years. The early phenotype of this atypical ECD was characterized by multiple small white translucent spots located in Descemet membrane of the peripheral cornea. These spots coalesced to form opacities with variable shapes, and eventually merged along the limbus. Subsequently, translucent spots appeared in central Descemet membrane and accumulated, causing diffuse polymorphous opacities over time. Finally, significant endothelial decompensation led to diffuse corneal edema. A heterozygous missense variant in the KIAA1522 gene (c.1331G>A; p.R444Q) was identified by WES, which was present in all 6 patients but was absent in the unaffected members and healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS The clinical features of atypical ECD are unique compared with those of known corneal dystrophies. Moreover, genetic analysis identified the c.1331G>A variant in KIAA1522 , which may be responsible for the pathogenesis of this atypical ECD. Thus, we propose this is a new form of ECD based on our clinical findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjie Ye
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qinyi Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Duran Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Bingying Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Shengquan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; and
| | - Yi Liao
- Eye Institute of Xiamen University, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Rongfeng Liao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Han S, Mueller C, Wuebbolt C, Kilcullen S, Nayyar V, Gonzalez BC, Fard AM, Floss JC, Morales MJ, Patel SP. Selective effects of estradiol on human corneal endothelial cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.27.538629. [PMID: 37162976 PMCID: PMC10168450 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.27.538629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) results from genetic and environmental factors triggering mitochondrial and oxidative stress in corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs) leading to CEnC death and corneal opacification. FECD is more common in women than men, but the basis for this observation is unknown. Because FECD is commonly diagnosed around the time of the menopausal transition in women when estrogen levels decrease precipitously, we studied the effects of the potent estrogen,17-β estradiol (E2) on growth, oxidative stress, and metabolism in primary cultures of human CEnCs (HCEnCs) under conditions of physiologic 2.5% O 2 ([O 2 ] 2.5 ) and under hyperoxic stress ([O 2 ] A : room air + 5% CO 2 ). We hypothesized that E2 would counter the stresses of the hyperoxic environment in HCEnCs. HCEnCs were treated ± 10 nM E2 for 7-10 days at [O 2 ] 2.5 and [O 2 ] A followed by measurements of cell density, viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial morphology, oxidative DNA damage, ATP levels, mitochondrial respiration (O 2 consumption rate [OCR]), and glycolysis (extracellular acidification rate [ECAR]). There were no significant changes in HCEnC density, viability, ROS levels, oxidative DNA damage, OCR, and ECAR in response to E2 under either O 2 condition. We found that E2 disrupted mitochondrial morphology in HCEnCs from female donors but not male donors at the [O 2 ] A condition. ATP levels were significantly higher at [O 2 ] 2.5 compared to [O 2 ] A in HCEnCs from female donors only, but were not affected by E2. Our findings demonstrate the overall resilience of primary HCEnCs against hyperoxic stress. The selective detrimental effects of hyperoxia and estradiol on HCEnCs from female but not male donors suggests mechanisms of toxicity based upon cell-sex in addition to hormonal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seoyoung Han
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Christian Mueller
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Caitlin Wuebbolt
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Sean Kilcullen
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Varinda Nayyar
- Research Service, Veterans Administration of Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Ross Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Brayan Calle Gonzalez
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Ali Mahdavi Fard
- Ross Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jamie C. Floss
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Michael J. Morales
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Sangita P. Patel
- Research Service, Veterans Administration of Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Ross Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
- Ophthalmology Service, Veterans Administration of Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, New York, USA
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Wong EN, Foo VHX, Peh GSL, Htoon HM, Ang HP, Tan BYL, Ong HS, Mehta JS. Early Visibility of Cellular Aggregates and Changes in Central Corneal Thickness as Predictors of Successful Corneal Endothelial Cell Injection Therapy. Cells 2023; 12:cells12081167. [PMID: 37190076 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Cell injection therapy is an emerging treatment for bullous keratopathy (BK). Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) imaging allows the high-resolution assessment of the anterior chamber. Our study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the visibility of cellular aggregates for corneal deturgescence in an animal model of bullous keratopathy. (2) Methods: Cell injections of corneal endothelial cells were performed in 45 eyes in a rabbit model of BK. AS-OCT imaging and central corneal thickness (CCT) measurement were performed at baseline and on day 1, day 4, day 7 and day 14 following cell injection. A logistic regression was modelled to predict successful corneal deturgescence and its failure with cell aggregate visibility and CCT. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted, and areas under the curve (AUC) calculated for each time point in these models. (3) Results: Cellular aggregates were identified on days 1, 4, 7 and 14 in 86.7%, 39.5%, 20.0% and 4.4% of eyes, respectively. The positive predictive value of cellular aggregate visibility for successful corneal deturgescence was 71.8%, 64.7%, 66.7% and 100.0% at each time point, respectively. Using logistic regression modelling, the visibility of cellular aggregates on day 1 appeared to increase the likelihood of successful corneal deturgescence, but this did not reach statistical significance. An increase in pachymetry, however, resulted in a small but statistically significant decreased likelihood of success, with an odds ratio of 0.996 for days 1 (95% CI 0.993-1.000), 2 (95% CI 0.993-0.999) and 14 (95% CI 0.994-0.998) and an odds ratio of 0.994 (95% CI 0.991-0.998) for day 7. The ROC curves were plotted, and the AUC values were 0.72 (95% CI 0.55-0.89), 0.80 (95% CI 0. 62-0.98), 0.86 (95% CI 0.71-1.00) and 0.90 (95% CI 0.80-0.99) for days 1, 4, 7 and 14, respectively. (4) Conclusions: Logistic regression modelling of cell aggregate visibility and CCT was predictive of successful corneal endothelial cell injection therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan N Wong
- Corneal and External Diseases Department, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
- Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 169856, Singapore
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Incorporating Lions Eye Institute), The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Valencia H X Foo
- Corneal and External Diseases Department, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Gary S L Peh
- Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 169856, Singapore
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Graduate Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Hla M Htoon
- Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 169856, Singapore
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Graduate Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Heng-Pei Ang
- Corneal and External Diseases Department, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Belinda Y L Tan
- Corneal and External Diseases Department, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Hon-Shing Ong
- Corneal and External Diseases Department, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
- Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 169856, Singapore
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Graduate Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Jodhbir S Mehta
- Corneal and External Diseases Department, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
- Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 169856, Singapore
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Graduate Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- School of Material Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
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Blau-Most M, Levy A, Assia EI, Kleinmann G. Clinical Outcomes of Toric Intraocular Lenses in Patients with Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. Ophthalmol Ther 2023; 12:1747-1755. [PMID: 37052875 PMCID: PMC10164209 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-023-00700-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Implantation of toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) in patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is still considered relatively contraindicated, without sufficient clinical evidence. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the results of toric IOL implantation in patients with FECD. METHODS A retrospective case-control study of 28 eyes of FECD patients and 84 eyes of healthy control patients who received toric IOLs during routine cataract surgery was performed. The outcome measures were uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity, spherical equivalent, and refractive residual astigmatism. RESULTS The mean postoperative uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity in the FECD eyes compared to the control eyes were 0.15 ± 0.14 vs. 0.13 ± 0.17, respectively (P = 0.32), and 0.05 ± 0.08 vs. 0.06 ± 0.10, respectively (P = 0.95). The spherical equivalent in the FECD eyes compared to the control eyes was - 0.29 ± 0.43 vs. - 0.21 ± 0.50, respectively (P = 0.19). The preoperative corneal centroid astigmatism in the FECD eyes compared to the control eyes was 0.85 D@93° ± 2.42° vs. 0.23 D@68° ± 2.50°, respectively (P = 0.43), and the mean preoperative corneal astigmatism magnitude was 2.26 ± 1.1 D vs. 2.28 ± 1.03 D, respectively (P = 0.82). A trend toward higher postoperative refractive centroid astigmatism was found in the FECD eyes compared with the control eyes: 0.24 D@28° ± 0.57° vs. 0.03 D@127° ± 0.53°, respectively (P = 0.09). However, the mean refractive astigmatism magnitude was similar in FECD eyes and the healthy control eyes: 0.52 ± 0.31 D vs. 0.42 ± 0.31 D, respectively (P = 0.44) (D diopters). CONCLUSION The postoperative refractive astigmatism (both centroid astigmatism and mean magnitude astigmatism) was no higher than 0.52 D in both groups. Therefore, FECD patients without corneal edema can be considered for toric IOLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Blau-Most
- Ein-Tal Eye Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Adi Levy
- Ein-Tal Eye Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ehud I Assia
- Ein-Tal Eye Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Sava, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Guy Kleinmann
- Ein-Tal Eye Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Department of Ophthalmology, E. Wolfson Medical Center, 62 Halohamim St., POB 5, 5810001, Holon, Israel.
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50
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Nakagawa H, Alemi H, Wang S, Kahale F, Blanco T, Liu C, Yin J, Dohlman TH, Dana R. Descemet Stripping Only Technique for Corneal Endothelial Damage in Mice. Cornea 2023; 42:470-475. [PMID: 36728991 PMCID: PMC10117527 DOI: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003223] [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: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Descemet stripping only is an emerging surgical technique used to remove central Descemet membrane and corneal endothelial cells in patients with corneal endothelial disease. Here, we describe a murine model of this procedure to help facilitate basic science investigation and evaluation of postoperative outcomes using this surgical technique. METHODS Slitlamp biomicroscopy, central corneal thickness assessment (by optical coherence tomography), and immunohistochemistry were used to assess the model through 7 weeks of follow-up. RESULTS Complete removal of the endothelium and Descemet membrane was confirmed by slitlamp biomicroscopy and by histology. Central corneal thickness peaked at day 1 postinjury and then declined over the course of 2 weeks to a stable level of persistent edema. Seven weeks postinjury, immunohistochemical staining for ZO-1 showed the area of Descemet stripping was fully covered by enlarged and dysmorphic corneal endothelial cell. No significant ocular complications were appreciated through the end of the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate the feasibility of and provide detailed instructions for a murine model of Descemet stripping only. This model provides a potential in vivo platform to investigate the mechanisms and biology of this emerging surgical procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayate Nakagawa
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Hamid Alemi
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Shudan Wang
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Francesca Kahale
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Tomas Blanco
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Catherine Liu
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jia Yin
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Thomas H. Dohlman
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Reza Dana
- Laboratory of Corneal Immunology, Transplantation and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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