Adenosine regulates the survival of avian retinal neurons and photoreceptors in culture

Silva H, P. de Carvalho R, Ventura ALM, Calaza KC, Silveira MS, Kubrusly RCC, de Melo Reis RA. The Healthy and Diseased Retina Seen through Neuron-Glia Interactions

The retina is the sensory tissue responsible for the first stages of visual processing, with a conserved anatomy and functional architecture among vertebrates. To date, retinal eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, and others, affect nearly 170 million people worldwide, resulting in vision loss and blindness. To tackle retinal disorders, the developing retina has been explored as a versatile model to study intercellular signaling, as it presents a broad neurochemical repertoire that has been approached in the last decades in terms of signaling and diseases. Retina, dissociated and arranged as typical cultures, as mixed or neuron- and glia-enriched, and/or organized as neurospheres and/or as organoids, are valuable to understand both neuronal and glial compartments, which have contributed to revealing roles and mechanisms between transmitter systems as well as antioxidants, trophic factors, and extracellular matrix proteins. Overall, contributions in understanding neurogenesis, tissue development, differentiation, connectivity, plasticity, and cell death are widely described. A complete access to the genome of several vertebrates, as well as the recent transcriptome at the single cell level at different stages of development, also anticipates future advances in providing cues to target blinding diseases or retinal dysfunctions.

Circadian clock organization in the retina: From clock components to rod and cone pathways and visual function

Circadian (24-h) clocks are cell-autonomous biological oscillators that orchestrate many aspects of our physiology on a daily basis. Numerous circadian rhythms in mammalian and non-mammalian retinas have been observed and the presence of an endogenous circadian clock has been demonstrated. However, how the clock and associated rhythms assemble into pathways that support and control retina function remains largely unknown. Our goal here is to review the current status of our knowledge and evaluate recent advances. We describe many previously-observed retinal rhythms, including circadian rhythms of morphology, biochemistry, physiology, and gene expression. We evaluate evidence concerning the location and molecular machinery of the retinal circadian clock, as well as consider findings that suggest the presence of multiple clocks. Our primary focus though is to describe in depth circadian rhythms in the light responses of retinal neurons with an emphasis on clock control of rod and cone pathways. We examine evidence that specific biochemical mechanisms produce these daily light response changes. We also discuss evidence for the presence of multiple circadian retinal pathways involving rhythms in neurotransmitter activity, transmitter receptors, metabolism, and pH. We focus on distinct actions of two dopamine receptor systems in the outer retina, a dopamine D4 receptor system that mediates circadian control of rod/cone gap junction coupling and a dopamine D1 receptor system that mediates non-circadian, light/dark adaptive regulation of gap junction coupling between horizontal cells. Finally, we evaluate the role of circadian rhythmicity in retinal degeneration and suggest future directions for the field of retinal circadian biology.

Chemical signaling in the developing avian retina: Focus on cyclic AMP and AKT-dependent pathways

Communication between developing progenitor cells as well as differentiated neurons and glial cells in the nervous system is made through direct cell contacts and chemical signaling mediated by different molecules. Several of these substances are synthesized and released by developing cells and play roles since early stages of Central Nervous System development. The chicken retina is a very suitable model for neurochemical studies, including the study of regulation of signaling pathways during development. Among advantages of the model are its very well-known histogenesis, the presence of most neurotransmitter systems found in the brain and the possibility to make cultures of neurons and/or glial cells where many neurochemical functions develop in a similar way than in the intact embryonic tissue. In the chicken retina, some neurotransmitters or neuromodulators as dopamine, adenosine, and others are coupled to cyclic AMP production or adenylyl cyclase inhibition since early stages of development. Other substances as vitamin C and nitric oxide are linked to the major neurotransmitter glutamate and AKT metabolism. All these different systems regulate signaling pathways, including PKA, PKG, SRC, AKT and ERK, and the activation of the transcription factor CREB. Dopamine and adenosine stimulate cAMP accumulation in the chick embryo retina through activation of D1 and A2a receptors, respectively, but the onset of dopamine stimulation is much earlier than that of adenosine. However, adenosine can inhibit adenylyl cyclase and modulate dopamine-dependent cAMP increase since early developmental stages through A1 receptors. Dopamine stimulates different PKA as well as EPAC downstream pathways both in intact tissue and in culture as the CSK-SRC pathway modulating glutamate NMDA receptors as well as vitamin C release and CREB phosphorylation. By the other hand, glutamate modulates nitric oxide production and AKT activation in cultured retinal cells and this pathway controls neuronal survival in retina. Glutamate and adenosine stimulate the release of vitamin C and this vitamin regulates the transport of glutamate, activation of NMDA receptors and AKT phosphorylation in cultured retinal cells. In the present review we will focus on these reciprocal interactions between neurotransmitters or neuromodulators and different signaling pathways during retinal development.

ATP and Adenosine in the Retina and Retinal Diseases

Extracellular ATP and its ultimate degradation product adenosine are potent extracellular signaling molecules that elicit a variety of pathophysiological pathways in retina through the activation of P2 and P1 purinoceptors, respectively. Excessive build-up of extracellular ATP accelerates pathologic responses in retinal diseases, whereas accumulation of adenosine protects retinal cells against degeneration or inflammation. This mini-review focuses on the roles of ATP and adenosine in three types of blinding diseases including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Several agonists and antagonists of ATP receptors and adenosine receptors (ARs) have been developed for the potential treatment of glaucoma, DR and AMD: antagonists of P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) (BBG, MRS2540) prevent ATP-induced neuronal apoptosis in glaucoma, DR, and AMD; A1 receptor (A1R) agonists (INO-8875) lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma; A2A receptor (A2AR) agonists (CGS21680) or antagonists (SCH58261, ZM241385) reduce neuroinflammation in glaucoma, DR, and AMD; A3 receptor (A3R) agonists (2-Cl-lB-MECA, MRS3558) protect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from apoptosis in glaucoma.

Inhibition by Marine Algae of Chikungunya Virus Isolated From Patients in a Recent Disease Outbreak in Rio de Janeiro

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection is one of the most challenging re-emergent diseases caused by a virus, and with no specific antiviral treatment it has now become a major public health concern. In this investigation, 25 blood samples were collected from patients with characteristic CHIKV symptoms and submitted to a virus isolation protocol, which detected 3 CHIKV isolates. These samples were evaluated by sequencing for the characterization of the strains and any homology to viruses circulating in Brazil during a recent outbreak. These viruses were used for the development of antiviral assays. Subsequently, the inhibitory effects of seaweed extracts on CHIKV replication were studied. The marine species of algae tested were Bryothamnion triquetrum, Caulerpa racemosa, Laurencia dendroidea, Osmundaria obtusiloba, Ulva fasciata, and Kappaphycus alvarezii, all of which are found in different countries including Brazil. The results revealed high levels of CHIKV inhibition, including extracts of O. obtusiloba with inhibition values of 1.25 μg/mL and a selectivity index of 420. Viral inhibition was dependent on the time of addition of extract of O. obtusiloba to the infected cells, with the optimal inhibition occurring up to 16 h after infection. Neuron evaluations with O. obtusiloba were performed and demonstrated low toxicity, and in infected neurons we observed high inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that the algal extracts may be promising novel candidates for the development of therapeutic agents against CHIKV infections.

Caffeine regulates GABA transport via A1R blockade and cAMP signaling

Caffeine is the most consumed psychostimulant drug in the world, acting as a non-selective antagonist of adenosine receptors A₁R and A_2AR, which are widely expressed in retinal layers. We have previously shown that caffeine, when administered acutely, acts on A₁R to potentiate the NMDA receptor-induced GABA release. Now we asked if long-term caffeine exposure also modifies GABA uptake in the avian retina and which mechanisms are involved in this process. Chicken embryos aged E11 were injected with a single dose of caffeine (30 mg/kg) in the air chamber. Retinas were dissected on E15 for ex vivo neurochemical assays. Our results showed that [³H]-GABA uptake was dependent on Na⁺ and blocked at 4 °C or by NO-711 and caffeine. This decrease was observed after 60 min of [³H]-GABA uptake assay at E15, which is accompanied by an increase in [³H]-GABA release. Caffeine increased the protein levels of A₁R without altering ADORA1 mRNA and was devoid of effects on A_2AR density or ADORA2A mRNA levels. The decrease of GABA uptake promoted by caffeine was reverted by A₁R activation with N6-cyclohexyl adenosine (CHA) but not by A_2AR activation with CGS 21680. Caffeine exposure increased cAMP levels and GAT-1 protein levels, which was evenly expressed between E11-E15. As expected, we observed an increase of GABA containing amacrine cells and processes in the IPL, also, cAMP pathway blockage by H-89 decreased caffeine mediated [³H]-GABA uptake. Our data support the idea that chronic injection of caffeine alters GABA transport via A₁R during retinal development and that the cAMP/PKA pathway plays an important role in the regulation of GAT-1 function.

Adenosine receptor expression in the adult zebrafish retina

Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside in the central nervous system that acts on adenosine receptors. These are G protein-coupled receptors that have four known subtypes: A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 receptors. In the present study, we aimed to map the location of the adenosine receptor subtypes in adult wild-type zebrafish retina using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. A1R, A2AR, and A2BR mRNA were detected in the ganglion cell layer (GCL), the inner nuclear layer (INL), the outer nuclear layer (ONL), and the outer segment (OS). A3R mRNA was detected in the GCL, ONL, and OS. A1R-immunoreactivity was expressed as puncta in the INL and in the outer plexiform layer (OPL). A1Rs were located within the cone pedicle and contiguous to horizontal cell tips in the OPL. A2AR-immunoreactivity was expressed as puncta in the GCL, inner plexiform layer (IPL), INL, and outer retina. A2AR puncta in the outer retina were situated around the ellipsoids and nuclei of cones, and weakly around the rod nuclei. A1Rs and A2ARs were clustered around ON cone bipolar cell terminals and present in the OFF lamina of the INL but were not expressed on mixed rod/cone response bipolar cell terminals. A2BR-immunoreactivity was mainly localized to the Müller cells, while A3Rs were found to be expressed in retinal ganglion cells of the GCL, INL, ONL, and OS. In summary, all four adenosine receptor subtypes were localized in the zebrafish retina and are in agreement with expression patterns shown in retinas from other species.

Number of Circulating CD 73-Expressing Lymphocytes Correlates With Survival After Cardiac Arrest

Background

Patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest (CA) have highly variable neurological, circulatory, and systemic ischemia‐reperfusion injuries. After the initial hypoxic‐ischemic insult, a cascade of immune and inflammatory responses develops and is often fatal. The role of the immune response in pathophysiological characteristics and recovery is not well understood. We studied immune cell activity and its association with outcomes in a cohort of CA survivors.

Methods and Results

After informed consent, we collected blood samples at intervals over a week after resuscitation from CA. We examined the expression of CD39 and CD73 (alias 5′‐nucleotidase), production of tumor necrosis factor‐α, generation of reactive oxygen species, and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor by circulating myeloid and lymphoid cells, in comparison to cells obtained from control subjects before coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The number of circulating total and CD73‐expressing lymphocytes correlated with survival after CA. Incubation of immune cells, obtained from post‐CA subjects, with AMP, a substrate for CD73, resulted in inhibition of tumor necrosis factor‐α production and generation of reactive oxygen species. This effect was blocked by adenosine 5′‐(α, β‐methylene) diphosphate, a specific inhibitor of CD73 and ZM 241385, an A2 adenosine receptor antagonist. We also found that AMP‐dependent activation of CD73 induces production of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Conclusions

CD73‐expressing lymphocytes mediate cellular protection from inflammation after CA through inhibition of proinflammatory activation of myeloid cells and promotion of vascular endothelial growth factor secretion. The contribution of CD73 lymphocytes in the regulation of acute inflammation and tissue injury after CA warrants further study.

Purinergic signaling in the retina: From development to disease

Retinal injuries and diseases are major causes of human disability involving vision impairment by the progressive and permanent loss of retinal neurons. During development, assembly of this tissue entails a successive and overlapping, signal-regulated engagement of complex events that include proliferation of progenitors, neurogenesis, cell death, neurochemical differentiation and synaptogenesis. During retinal damage, several of these events are re-activated with both protective and detrimental consequences. Purines and pyrimidines, along with their metabolites are emerging as important molecules regulating both retinal development and the tissue's responses to damage. The present review provides an overview of the purinergic signaling in the developing and injured retina. Recent findings on the presence of vesicular and channel-mediated ATP release by retinal and retinal pigment epithelial cells, adenosine synthesis and release, expression of receptors and intracellular signaling pathways activated by purinergic signaling in retinal cells are reported. The pathways by which purinergic receptors modulate retinal cell proliferation, migration and death of retinal cells during development and injury are summarized. The contribution of nucleotides to the self-repair of the injured zebrafish retina is also discussed.

Effect of Adenosine and Adenosine Receptor Antagonists on Retinal Müller Cell Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channels under Exogenous Glutamate Stimulation

The vitreousness of glaucoma subjects contains elevated glutamate, and excessive extracellular glutamate is toxic to retinal neurons. Therefore, glutamate clearance is potentially impaired in the retina of glaucoma subjects. Müller cells play an important role in maintaining low extracellular levels of neurotransmitters, such as glutamate. A better understanding of the cross-talk between adenosine and glutamate may provide a better characterization of the regulatory network in Müller cells. Here, Müller cells were purified from the rat retina on postnatal day 5 using the papain digestion method. Application of increasing concentrations of glutamate (0-20 mmol/L) caused a dose-dependent decrease in the expression levels of Kir4.1, Kir2.1, GLAST, and GS. Exogenous adenosine regulated Kir channels and subsequently promoted GLAST and GS expression levels in Müller cells under exogenous glutamate stimulation. These effects were partly dependent on adenosine receptors.

Chlorogenic acids inhibit glutamate dehydrogenase and decrease intracellular ATP levels in cultures of chick embryo retina cells

Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) are a group of phenolic compounds found in worldwide consumed beverages such as coffee and green tea. They are synthesized from an esterification reaction between cinnamic acids, including caffeic (CFA), ferulic and p-coumaric acids with quinic acid (QA), forming several mono- and di-esterified isomers. The most prevalent and studied compounds are 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3-CQA), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4-CQA) and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), widely described as having antioxidant and cell protection effects. CGAs can also modulate glutamate release from microglia by a mechanism involving a decrease of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Increased energy metabolism is highly associated with enhancement of ROS production and cellular damage. Glutamate can also be used as an energy source by glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) enzyme, providing α-ketoglutarate to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle for ATP synthesis. High GDH activity is associated with some disorders, such as schizophrenia and hyperinsulinemia/hyperammonemia syndrome. In line with this, our objective was to investigate the effect of CGAs on GDH activity. We show that CGAs and CFA inhibits GDH activity in dose-dependent manner, reaching complete inhibition at high concentration with IC50 of 52 μM for 3-CQA and 158.2 μM for CFA. Using live imaging confocal microscopy and microplate reader, we observed that 3-CQA and CFA can be transported into neuronal cells by an Na⁺-dependent mechanism. Moreover, neuronal cells treated with CGAs presented lower intracellular ATP levels. Overall, these data suggest that CGAs have therapeutic potential for treatment of disorders associated with high GDH activity.

Caffeine exposure alters adenosine system and neurochemical markers during retinal development

Evidence points to beneficial properties of caffeine in the adult central nervous system, but teratogenic effects have also been reported. Caffeine exerts most of its effects by antagonizing adenosine receptors, especially A1 and A2A subtypes. In this study, we evaluated the role of caffeine on the expression of components of the adenosinergic system in the developing avian retina and the impact of caffeine exposure upon specific markers for classical neurotransmitter systems. Caffeine exposure (5-30 mg/kg by in ovo injection) to 14-day-old chick embryos increased the expression of A1 receptors and concomitantly decreased A2A adenosine receptors expression after 48 h. Accordingly, caffeine (30 mg/kg) increased [(3) H]-8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (A1 antagonist) binding and reduced [(3) H]-ZM241385 (A2A antagonist) binding. The caffeine time-response curve demonstrated a reduction in A1 receptors 6 h after injection, but an increase after 18 and 24 h. In contrast, caffeine exposure increased the expression of A2A receptors from 18 and 24 h. Kinetic assays of [(3) H]-S-(4-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine binding to the equilibrative adenosine transporter ENT1 revealed an increase in Bmax with no changes in Kd , an effect accompanied by an increase in adenosine uptake. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a decrease in retinal content of tyrosine hydroxylase, calbindin and choline acetyltransferase, but not Brn3a, after 48 h of caffeine injection. Furthermore, retinas exposed to caffeine had increased levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase and cAMP-response element binding protein. Overall, we show an in vivo regulation of the adenosine system, extracellular signal-regulated kinase and cAMP-response element binding protein function and protein expression of specific neurotransmitter systems by caffeine in the developing retina. The beneficial or maleficent effects of caffeine have been demonstrated by the work of different studies. It is known that during animal development, caffeine can exert harmful effects, impairing the correct formation of CNS structures. In this study, we demonstrated cellular and tissue effects of caffeine's administration on developing chick embryo retinas. Those effects include modulation of adenosine receptors (A1 , A2 ) content, increasing in cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation (pERK), augment of adenosine equilibrative transporter content/activity, and a reduction of some specific cell subpopulations. ENT1, Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1.

Efficient Gene Transfer in Chick Retinas for Primary Cell Culture Studies: An Ex-ovo Electroporation Approach

The cone photoreceptor-enriched cultures derived from embryonic chick retinas have become an indispensable tool for researchers around the world studying the biology of retinal neurons, particularly photoreceptors. The applications of this system go beyond basic research, as they can easily be adapted to high throughput technologies for drug development. However, genetic manipulation of retinal photoreceptors in these cultures has proven to be very challenging, posing an important limitation to the usefulness of the system. We have recently developed and validated an ex ovo plasmid electroporation technique that increases the rate of transfection of retinal cells in these cultures by five-fold compared to other currently available protocols(1). In this method embryonic chick eyes are enucleated at stage 27, the RPE is removed, and the retinal cup is placed in a plasmid-containing solution and electroporated using easily constructed custom-made electrodes. The retinas are then dissociated and cultured using standard procedures. This technique can be applied to overexpression studies as well as to the downregulation of gene expression, for example via the use of plasmid-driven RNAi technology, commonly achieving transgene expression in 25% of the photoreceptor population. The video format of the present publication will make this technology easily accessible to researchers in the field, enabling the study of gene function in primary retinal cultures. We have also included detailed explanations of the critical steps of this procedure for a successful outcome and reproducibility.

Adenosine transporters and receptors: key elements for retinal function and neuroprotection

Adenosine is an important neuroactive substance in the central nervous system, including in the retina where subclasses of adenosine receptors and transporters are expressed since early stages of development. Here, we review some evidence showing that adenosine plays important functions in the mature as well as in the developing tissue. Adenosine transporters are divided into equilibrative and concentrative, and the major transporter subtype present in the retina is the ENT1. This transporter is responsible for a bidirectional transport of adenosine and the uptake or release of this nucleoside appears to be regulated by different signaling pathways that are also controlled by activation of adenosine receptors. Adenosine receptors are also key players in retina physiology regulating a variety of functions in the mature and developing tissue. Regulation of excitatory neurotransmitter release and neuroprotection are the main functions played be adenosine in the mature tissue, while regulation of cell survival and neurogenesis are some of the functions played by adenosine in developing retina. Since adenosine is neuroprotective against excitotoxic and metabolic dysfunctions observed in neurological and ocular diseases, the search for adenosine-related drugs regulating adenosine transporters and receptors can be important for advancement of therapeutic strategies against these diseases.

The nitric oxide-cGKII system relays death and survival signals during embryonic retinal development via AKT-induced CREB1 activation

During early neurogenesis, retinal neuronal cells display a conserved differentiation program in vertebrates. Previous studies established that nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP accumulation regulate essential events in retinal physiology. Here we used pharmacological and genetic loss-of-function to investigate the effects of NO and its downstream signaling pathway in the survival of developing avian retinal neurons in vitro and in vivo. Six-day-old (E6) chick retinal cells displayed increased calcium influx and produced higher amounts of NO when compared with E8 cells. L-arginine (substrate for NO biosynthesis) and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP; a nitrosothiol NO donor) promoted extensive cell death in E6 retinas, whereas in E8 both substances decreased apoptosis. The effect of NO at both periods was mediated by soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and cGMP-dependent kinase (cGK) activation. In addition, shRNA-mediated cGKII knockdown prevented NO-induced cell death (E6) and cell survival (E8). This, NO-induced cell death or cell survival was not correlated with an early inhibition of retinal cell proliferation. E6 cells also responded differentially from E8 neurons regarding cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) activation in the retina in vivo. NO strongly decreased nuclear phospho-CREB staining in E6 but it robustly enhanced CREB phosphorylation in the nuclei of E8 neurons, an effect that was completely abrogated by cGKII shRNAs at both embryonic stages. The ability of NO in regulating CREB differentially during retinal development relied on the capacity of cGKII in decreasing (E6) or increasing (E8) nuclear AKT (V-Akt murine thymoma viral oncogene) activation. Accordingly, inhibiting AKT prevented both cGKII shRNA-mediated CREB upregulation in E6 and SNAP-induced CREB activation in E8. Furthermore, shRNA-mediated in vivo cGKII or in vitro CREB1 knockdown confirmed that NO/cGKII dualistically regulated the downstream CREB1 pathway and caspase activation in the chick retina to modulate neuronal viability. These data demonstrate that NO-mediated cGKII signaling may function to control the viability of neuronal cells during early retinal development via AKT/CREB1 activity.

Nitric oxide in the nervous system: biochemical, developmental, and neurobiological aspects

Nitric oxide (NO) is a very reactive molecule, and its short half-life would make it virtually invisible until its discovery. NO activates soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), increasing 3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels to activate PKGs. Although NO triggers several phosphorylation cascades due to its ability to react with Fe II in heme-containing proteins such as sGC, it also promotes a selective posttranslational modification in cysteine residues by S-nitrosylation, impacting on protein function, stability, and allocation. In the central nervous system (CNS), NO synthesis usually requires a functional coupling of nitric oxide synthase I (NOS I) and proteins such as NMDA receptors or carboxyl-terminal PDZ ligand of NOS (CAPON), which is critical for specificity and triggering of selected pathways. NO also modulates CREB (cAMP-responsive element-binding protein), ERK, AKT, and Src, with important implications for nerve cell survival and differentiation. Differences in the regulation of neuronal death or survival by NO may be explained by several mechanisms involving localization of NOS isoforms, amount of NO being produced or protein sets being modulated. A number of studies show that NO regulates neurotransmitter release and different aspects of synaptic dynamics, such as differentiation of synaptic specializations, microtubule dynamics, architecture of synaptic protein organization, and modulation of synaptic efficacy. NO has also been associated with synaptogenesis or synapse elimination, and it is required for long-term synaptic modifications taking place in axons or dendrites. In spite of tremendous advances in the knowledge of NO biological effects, a full description of its role in the CNS is far from being completely elucidated.

Ex vivo electroporation of retinal cells: a novel, high efficiency method for functional studies in primary retinal cultures

Primary retinal cultures constitute valuable tools not only for basic research on retinal cell development and physiology, but also for the identification of factors or drugs that promote cell survival and differentiation. In order to take full advantage of the benefits of this system it is imperative to develop efficient and reliable techniques for the manipulation of gene expression. However, achieving appropriate transfection efficiencies in these cultures has remained challenging. The purpose of this work was to develop and optimize a technique that would allow the transfection of chick retinal cells with high efficiency and reproducibility for multiple applications. We developed an ex vivo electroporation method applied to dissociated retinal cell cultures that offers a significant improvement over other currently available transfection techniques, increasing efficiency by five-fold. In this method, eyes were enucleated, devoid of RPE, and electroporated with GFP-encoding plasmids using custom-made electrodes. Electroporated retinas were then dissociated into single cells and plated in low density conditions, to be analyzed after 4 days of incubation. Parameters such as voltage and number of electric pulses, as well as plasmid concentration and developmental stage of the animal were optimized for efficiency. The characteristics of the cultures were assessed by morphology and immunocytochemistry, and cell viability was determined by ethidium homodimer staining. Cell imaging and counting was performed using an automated high-throughput system. This procedure resulted in transfection efficiencies in the order of 22-25% of cultured cells, encompassing both photoreceptors and non-photoreceptor neurons, and without affecting normal cell survival and differentiation. Finally, the feasibility of the technique for cell-autonomous studies of gene function in a biologically relevant context was tested by carrying out gain and loss-of-function experiments for the transcription factor PAX6. Electroporation of a plasmid construct expressing PAX6 resulted in a marked upregulation in the expression levels of this protein that could be measured in the whole culture as well as cell-intrinsically. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in the percentage of cells differentiating as photoreceptors among the transfected population. Conversely, electroporation of an RNAi construct targeting PAX6 resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of this protein, with a concomitant increase in the proportion of photoreceptors. Taken together these results provide strong proof-of-principle of the suitability of this technique for genetic studies in retinal cultures. The combination of the high transfection efficiency obtained by this method with automated high-throughput cell analysis supplies the scientific community with a powerful system for performing functional studies in a cell-autonomous manner.

Rediscovering the chick embryo as a model to study retinal development

The embryonic chick occupies a privileged place among animal models used in developmental studies. Its rapid development and accessibility for visualization and experimental manipulation are just some of the characteristics that have made it a vertebrate model of choice for more than two millennia. Until a few years ago, the inability to perform genetic manipulations constituted a major drawback of this system. However, the completion of the chicken genome project and the development of techniques to manipulate gene expression have allowed this classic animal model to enter the molecular age. Such techniques, combined with the embryological manipulations that this system is well known for, provide a unique toolkit to study the genetic basis of neural development. A major advantage of these approaches is that they permit targeted gene misexpression with extremely high spatiotemporal resolution and over a large range of developmental stages, allowing functional analysis at a level, speed and ease that is difficult to achieve in other systems. This article provides a general overview of the chick as a developmental model focusing more specifically on its application to the study of eye development. Special emphasis is given to the state of the art of the techniques that have made gene gain- and loss-of-function studies in this model a reality. In addition, we discuss some methodological considerations derived from our own experience that we believe will be beneficial to researchers working with this system.

Developmental regulation of neuronal survival by adenosine in the in vitro and in vivo avian retina depends on a shift of signaling pathways leading to CREB phosphorylation or dephosphorylation

Previous studies have shown a cAMP/protein kinase A-dependent neuroprotective effect of adenosine on glutamate or re-feeding-induced apoptosis in chick retina neuronal cultures. In the present work, we have studied the effect of adenosine on the survival of retinal progenitor cells. Cultures obtained from 6-day-old (E6) or from 8-day-old (E8) chick embryos were challenged 2 h (C0) or 1 day (C1) after seeding and analyzed after 3-4 days in vitro. Surprisingly, treatment with the selective A2a adenosine receptor agonists N(6) -[2-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methylphenyl)-ethyl]adenosine (DPMA) or 3-[4-[2-[[6-amino-9-[(2R,3R,4S,5S)-5-(ethylcarbamoyl)-3,4-dihydroxy-oxolan-2-yl]purin-2-yl]amino]ethyl]phenyl]propanoic acid (CGS21680) promoted cell death when added at E6C0 but not at E6C1 or E8C0. DPMA-induced cell death involved activation of A2a receptors and the phospholipase C/protein kinase C but not the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway, and was not correlated with early modulation of precursor cells proliferation. Regarding cyclic nucleotide responsive element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation, cultures from E6 embryos behave in an opposite manner from that from E8 embryos, both in vitro and in vivo. While the phospho-CREB level was high at E6C0 cultures and could be diminished by DPMA, it was lower at E8C0 and could be increased by DPMA. Similar to what was observed in cell survival studies, CREB dephosphorylation induced by DPMA in E6C0 cultures was dependent on the Phospholipase C/protein kinase C pathway. Accordingly, cell death induced by DPMA was inhibited by okadaic acid, a phosphatase blocker. Moreover, DPMA as well as the adenosine uptake blocker nitrobenzyl mercaptopurine riboside (NBMPR) modulate cell survival and CREB phosphorylation in a population of cells in the ganglion cell layer in vivo. These data suggest that A2a adenosine receptors as well as CREB may display a novel and important function by controlling the repertoire of developing retinal neurons.

Modulation of A1 adenosine receptor expression by cell aggregation and long-term activation of A2a receptors in cultures of avian retinal cells: involvement of the cyclic AMP/PKA pathway

The expression of A1 and A2a adenosine receptors is developmentally regulated in the chick retina, but little is known about the factors important for this regulation. Here, we show that cell aggregation and cAMP analogs promote a dramatic increase in A1 receptor expression. Importantly, a long-term stimulation of A2a receptors also promotes an increase of A1 receptor expression accompanied by a down-regulation of A2a receptors. Chick embryo retina cultures grown in the form of aggregates or dispersed cells accumulate cAMP when stimulated with dopamine or the adenosine agonist 2-chloroadenosine. However, inhibition of dopamine-dependent cAMP accumulation by 2-chloroadenosine was observed in aggregate cultures but not in dispersed cell cultures. Accordingly, A1 receptor binding sites were detected in aggregate cultures, but were low or absent from dispersed cell cultures. Interestingly, an increase of A1 binding sites was detected when dispersed cell cultures were treated for 5 days with permeable cAMP analogs, the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin or A2a receptor agonists. Although a significant amount of A1 receptor protein was detected in dispersed cell cultures by western blot or immunocytochemistry, the long-term stimulation of A2a receptors also promoted an increase of the A1 receptor protein and mRNA, indicating that A2a receptors and cAMP were regulating transcription and/or translation of A1 receptors. We also found an increase of A1 receptors in locations in or near the membrane after treatment with A2a agonist. The long-term stimulation of retinal explants with A2a agonist also promoted an increase of A1 receptor protein. The results indicate that A2a receptors and the cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway are involved in the regulation of A1 receptor expression during retinal development.

A1 adenosine receptor activation promotes angiogenesis and release of VEGF from monocytes

Adenosine is a proangiogenic purine nucleoside released from ischemic and hypoxic tissues. Of the 4 adenosine receptor (AR) subtypes (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3), the A2 and A3 have been previously linked to the modulation of angiogenesis. We used the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model to determine whether A1 AR activation affects angiogenesis. We cloned and pharmacologically characterized chicken AR subtypes to evaluate the selectivity of various agonists and antagonists. Application of the A1 AR-selective agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA; 100 nmol/L) to the CAM resulted in a 40% increase in blood vessel number (P<0.01), which was blocked by the A1 AR-selective antagonist C8-(N-methylisopropyl)-amino-N6-(5'-endohydroxy)-endonorbornan-2-yl-9-methyladenine (WRC-0571; 1 micromol/L). Selective A2A AR agonists did not stimulate angiogenesis in the CAM. In an ex vivo rat aortic ring model of angiogenesis that includes cocultured endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells, 50 nmol/L CPA did not directly stimulate capillary formation; however, medium from human mononuclear cells pretreated with CPA, but not vehicle, increased capillary formation by 48% (P<0.05). This effect was blocked by WRC-0571 (1.5 micromol/L) or anti-VEGF antibody (1 microg/mL). CPA (5 nmol/L) stimulated a 1.7-fold increase in VEGF release from the mononuclear cells. This is the first study to show that A1 AR activation induces angiogenesis. Stimulation of A2 ARs on endothelial cells results in proliferation and tube formation, and A2 and A3 ARs on inflammatory cells modulate release of angiogenic factors. We conclude that adenosine promotes a coordinated angiogenic response through its interactions with multiple receptors on multiple cell types.

Purinergic signalling in the subretinal space: a role in the communication between the retina and the RPE

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is separated from the photoreceptor outer segments by the subretinal space. While the actual volume of this space is minimal, the communication that occurs across this microenvironment is important to the visual process, and accumulating evidence suggests the purines ATP and adenosine contribute to this communication. P1 and P2 receptors are localized to membranes on both the photoreceptor outer segments and on the apical membrane of the RPE which border subretinal space. ATP is released across the apical membrane of the RPE into this space in response to various triggers including glutamate and chemical ischemia. This ATP is dephosphorylated into adenosine by a series of ectoenzymes on the RPE apical membrane. Regulation of release and ectoenzyme activity in response to light-sensitive signals can alter the balance of purines in subretinal space, and thus coordinate communication across subretinal space with the visual process.

Nitric oxide regulates cell survival in purified cultures of avian retinal neurons: involvement of multiple transduction pathways

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule in the CNS, regulating neuronal survival, proliferation and differentiation. Here, we explored the mechanism by which NO, produced from the NO donor S-nitroso-acetyl-d-l-penicillamine (SNAP), exerts its neuroprotective effect in purified cultures of chick retinal neurons. Cultures prepared from 8-day-old chick embryo retinas and incubated for 24 h (1 day in culture, C1) were treated or not with SNAP, incubated for a further 72 h (up to 4 days in culture, C4), fixed, and the number of cells estimated, or processed for cell death estimation, by measuring the reduction of the metabolic dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Experimental cultures were run in parallel but were re-fed with fresh medium in the absence or presence of SNAP at culture day 3 (C3), incubated for a further 24 h up to C4, then fixed or processed for the MTT assay. Previous studies showed that the re-feeding procedure promotes extensive cell death. SNAP prevented this death in a concentration- and time-dependent manner through the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase; this protection was significantly reversed by the enzyme inhibitors 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) or LY83583, and mimicked by 8-bromo cyclic guanosine 5'-phosphate (8Br-cGMP) (GMP) or 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzyl indazole (YC-1), guanylate cyclase activators. The effect was blocked by the NO scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO). The effect of NO was also suppressed by LY294002, Wortmannin, PD98059, KN93 or H89, indicating the involvement, respectively, of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, extracellular-regulated kinases, calmodulin-dependent kinases and protein kinase A signaling pathways. NO also induced a significant increase of neurite outgrowth, indicative of neuronal differentiation, and blocked cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide. Cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore considered an important mediator of apoptosis and necrosis, as well as boc-aspartyl (OMe) fluoromethylketone (BAF), a caspase inhibitor, also blocked cell death induced by re-feeding the cultures. These findings demonstrate that NO inhibits apoptosis of retinal neurons in a cGMP/protein kinase G (PKG)-dependent way, and strengthens the notion that NO plays an important role during CNS development.

Up-regulation and increased phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC) delta, mu and theta in the degenerating rd1 mouse retina

The rd1 mouse serves as a model for inherited photoreceptor degeneration: retinitis pigmentosa. Microarray techniques were employed to compare the transcriptomes of rd1 and congenic wild-type retinas at postnatal day 11, when degenerative processes have started but most photoreceptors are still present. Of the several genes that were differentially expressed, focus was put on those associated with the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway, in particular PKCdelta, mu and theta. Microarray identified these as being up-regulated in the rd1 retina, which was confirmed by QRT-PCR. Western blotting and immunostaining, using antibodies against either total or phosphorylated variants of the PKC isoforms, revealed increased expression and phosphorylation of PKCdelta, mu and theta in the rd1 retina at the protein level as well. Our results suggest that these PKC isoforms are involved in rd1 degeneration.

Neuroprotection by adenosine in the brain: From A(1) receptor activation to A (2A) receptor blockade

Adenosine is a neuromodulator that operates via the most abundant inhibitory adenosine A(1) receptors (A(1)Rs) and the less abundant, but widespread, facilitatory A(2A)Rs. It is commonly assumed that A(1)Rs play a key role in neuroprotection since they decrease glutamate release and hyperpolarize neurons. In fact, A(1)R activation at the onset of neuronal injury attenuates brain damage, whereas its blockade exacerbates damage in adult animals. However, there is a down-regulation of central A(1)Rs in chronic noxious situations. In contrast, A(2A)Rs are up-regulated in noxious brain conditions and their blockade confers robust brain neuroprotection in adult animals. The brain neuroprotective effect of A(2A)R antagonists is maintained in chronic noxious brain conditions without observable peripheral effects, thus justifying the interest of A(2A)R antagonists as novel protective agents in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, ischemic brain damage and epilepsy. The greater interest of A(2A)R blockade compared to A(1)R activation does not mean that A(1)R activation is irrelevant for a neuroprotective strategy. In fact, it is proposed that coupling A(2A)R antagonists with strategies aimed at bursting the levels of extracellular adenosine (by inhibiting adenosine kinase) to activate A(1)Rs might constitute the more robust brain neuroprotective strategy based on the adenosine neuromodulatory system. This strategy should be useful in adult animals and especially in the elderly (where brain pathologies are prevalent) but is not valid for fetus or newborns where the impact of adenosine receptors on brain damage is different.

Control of programmed cell death by neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the developing mammalian retina

It has long been known that a barrage of signals from neighboring and connecting cells, as well as components of the extracellular matrix, control cell survival. Given the extensive repertoire of retinal neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and neurotrophic factors, and the exhuberant interconnectivity of retinal interneurons, it is likely that various classes of released neuroactive substances may be involved in the control of sensitivity to retinal cell death. The aim of this article is to review evidence that neurotransmitters and neuropeptides control the sensitivity to programmed cell death in the developing retina. Whereas the best understood mechanism of execution of cell death is that of caspase-mediated apoptosis, current evidence shows that not only there are many parallel pathways to apoptotic cell death, but non-apoptotic programs of execution of cell death are also available, and may be triggered either in isolation or combined with apoptosis. The experimental data show that many upstream signaling pathways can modulate cell death, including those dependent on the second messengers cAMP-PKA, calcium and nitric oxide. Evidence for anterograde neurotrophic control is provided by a variety of models of the central nervous system, and the data reviewed here indicate that an early function of certain neurotransmitters, such as glutamate and dopamine, as well as neuropeptides such as pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide is the trophic support of cell populations in the developing retina. This may have implications both regarding the mechanisms of retinal organogenesis, as well as pathological conditions leading to retinal dystrophies and to dysfunctional cellular behavior.