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Li J, Choi J, Cheng X, Ma J, Pema S, Sanes JR, Mardon G, Frankfort BJ, Tran NM, Li Y, Chen R. Comprehensive single-cell atlas of the mouse retina. iScience 2024; 27:109916. [PMID: 38812536 PMCID: PMC11134544 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109916] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has advanced our understanding of cellular heterogeneity by characterizing cell types across tissues and species. While several mouse retinal scRNA-seq datasets exist, each dataset is either limited in cell numbers or focused on specific cell classes, thereby hindering comprehensive gene expression analysis across all retina types. To fill the gap, we generated the largest retinal scRNA-seq dataset to date, comprising approximately 190,000 single cells from C57BL/6J mouse retinas, enriched for rare population cells via antibody-based magnetic cell sorting. Integrating this dataset with public datasets, we constructed the Mouse Retina Cell Atlas (MRCA) for wild-type mice, encompassing over 330,000 cells, characterizing 12 major classes and 138 cell types. The MRCA consolidates existing knowledge, identifies new cell types, and is publicly accessible via CELLxGENE, UCSC Cell Browser, and the Broad Single Cell Portal, providing a user-friendly resource for the mouse retina research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jongsu Choi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xuesen Cheng
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Justin Ma
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shahil Pema
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joshua R. Sanes
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02130, USA
| | - Graeme Mardon
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Benjamin J. Frankfort
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nicholas M. Tran
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yumei Li
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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2
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Vessey KA, Jobling AI, Greferath U, Fletcher EL. Pharmaceutical therapies targeting autophagy for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2024; 76:102463. [PMID: 38788268 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2024.102463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of irreversible vision loss in the elderly. Although new therapies have recently emerged, there are currently no ways of preventing the development of the disease. Changes in intracellular recycling processes. Changes in intracellular recycling processes, called autophagy, lead to debris accumulation and cellular dysfunction in AMD models and AMD patients. Drugs that enhance autophagy hold promise as therapies for slowing AMD progression in preclinical models; however, more studies in humans are required. While a definitive cure for AMD will likely hinge on a personalized medicine approach, treatments that enhance autophagy hold promise for slowing vision loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstan A Vessey
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; School of Science and Technology, The University of New England, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - Andrew I Jobling
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Ursula Greferath
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Erica L Fletcher
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
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3
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Costa BLD, Quinn PMJ, Wu WH, Liu S, Nolan ND, Demirkol A, Tsai YT, Caruso SM, Cabral T, Wang NK, Tsang SH. Targeting miR-181a/b in retinitis pigmentosa: implications for disease progression and therapy. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:64. [PMID: 38773556 PMCID: PMC11110387 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01243-3] [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: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetically heterogeneous group of degenerative disorders causing progressive vision loss due to photoreceptor death. RP affects other retinal cells, including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). MicroRNAs (miRs) are implicated in RP pathogenesis, and downregulating miR-181a/b has shown therapeutic benefit in RP mouse models by improving mitochondrial function. This study investigates the expression profile of miR-181a/b in RPE cells and the neural retina during RP disease progression. We also evaluate how miR-181a/b downregulation, by knocking out miR-181a/b-1 cluster in RPE cells, confers therapeutic efficacy in an RP mouse model and explore the mechanisms underlying this process. RESULTS Our findings reveal distinct expression profiles, with downregulated miR-181a/b in RPE cells suggesting a protective response and upregulated miR-181a/b in the neural retina indicating a role in disease progression. We found that miR-181a/b-2, encoded in a separate genomic cluster, compensates for miR-181a/b-1 ablation in RPE cells at late time points. The transient downregulation of miR-181a/b in RPE cells at post-natal week 6 (PW6) led to improved RPE morphology, retarded photoreceptor degeneration and decreased RPE aerobic glycolysis. CONCLUSIONS Our study elucidates the underlying mechanisms associated with the therapeutic modulation of miR-181a/b, providing insights into the metabolic processes linked to its RPE-specific downregulation. Our data further highlights the impact of compensatory regulation between miR clusters with implications for the development of miR-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Lopes da Costa
- Jonas Children's Vision Care (JCVC) and Barbara & Donald Jonas Stem Cell Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter M J Quinn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wen-Hsuan Wu
- Jonas Children's Vision Care (JCVC) and Barbara & Donald Jonas Stem Cell Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Siyuan Liu
- Jonas Children's Vision Care (JCVC) and Barbara & Donald Jonas Stem Cell Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas D Nolan
- Jonas Children's Vision Care (JCVC) and Barbara & Donald Jonas Stem Cell Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aykut Demirkol
- Jonas Children's Vision Care (JCVC) and Barbara & Donald Jonas Stem Cell Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yi-Ting Tsai
- Jonas Children's Vision Care (JCVC) and Barbara & Donald Jonas Stem Cell Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Salvatore Marco Caruso
- Jonas Children's Vision Care (JCVC) and Barbara & Donald Jonas Stem Cell Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thiago Cabral
- Department of Specialized Medicine, CCS and Vision Center Unit, Ophthalmology EBSERH, HUCAM/CCS, UFES-Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Brazil
- Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nan-Kai Wang
- Jonas Children's Vision Care (JCVC) and Barbara & Donald Jonas Stem Cell Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Jonas Children's Vision Care (JCVC) and Barbara & Donald Jonas Stem Cell Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Institute of Human Nutrition ,Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Hammer Health Sciences Center 205b, 701 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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4
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Shechter Y, Cohen R, Namestnikov M, Shapira A, Barak A, Barzelay A, Dvir T. Sequential Fabrication of a Three-Layer Retina-like Structure. Gels 2024; 10:336. [PMID: 38786253 PMCID: PMC11121616 DOI: 10.3390/gels10050336] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tissue engineering is considered a promising approach to treating advanced degenerative maculopathies such as nonexudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The retina consists of several hierarchical tissue layers, each of which is supported by a layer underneath. Each of these layers has a different morphology and requires distinct conditions for proper assembly. In fact, a prerequisite step for the assembly of each of these layers is the organization of the layer underneath. Advanced retinal degeneration includes degeneration of the other retina layers, including the choroid, the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), and the photoreceptors. Here, we report a step-by-step fabrication process of a three-layer retina-like structure. The process included the 3D printing of a choroid-like structure in an extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel, followed by deposition of the RPE monolayer. After the formation of the blood vessel-RPE interface, the photoreceptor cells were deposited to interact with the RPE layer. At the end of the fabrication process, each layer was characterized for its morphology and expression of specific markers, and the integration of the three-layer retina was evaluated. We envision that such a retina-like structure may be able to attenuate the deterioration of a degenerated retina and improve engraftment and regeneration. This retinal implant may potentially be suitable for a spectrum of macular degenerative diseases for which there are currently no cures and may save millions from complete blindness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahel Shechter
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (Y.S.); (R.C.); (M.N.); (A.S.)
| | - Roni Cohen
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (Y.S.); (R.C.); (M.N.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Michael Namestnikov
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (Y.S.); (R.C.); (M.N.); (A.S.)
| | - Assaf Shapira
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (Y.S.); (R.C.); (M.N.); (A.S.)
| | - Adiel Barak
- Division of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel;
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Aya Barzelay
- Division of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv 6423906, Israel;
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Tal Dvir
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; (Y.S.); (R.C.); (M.N.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Sagol Center for Regenerative Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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5
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Schustak J, Han H, Bond K, Huang Q, Saint-Geniez M, Bao Y. Phenotypic high-throughput screening identifies aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonism as common inhibitor of toxin-induced retinal pigment epithelium cell death. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301239. [PMID: 38635505 PMCID: PMC11025755 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301239] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is essential to maintain retinal function, and RPE cell death represents a key pathogenic stage in the progression of several blinding ocular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). To identify pathways and compounds able to prevent RPE cell death, we developed a phenotypic screening pipeline utilizing a compound library and high-throughput screening compatible assays on the human RPE cell line, ARPE-19, in response to different disease relevant cytotoxic stimuli. We show that the metabolic by-product of the visual cycle all-trans-retinal (atRAL) induces RPE apoptosis, while the lipid peroxidation by-product 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) promotes necrotic cell death. Using these distinct stimuli for screening, we identified agonists of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) as a consensus target able to prevent both atRAL mediated apoptosis and 4-HNE-induced necrotic cell death. This works serves as a framework for future studies dedicated to screening for inhibitors of cell death, as well as support for the discussion of AhR agonism in RPE pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Schustak
- Department of Ophthalmology, BioMedical Research, Novartis, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hongwei Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, BioMedical Research, Novartis, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kyle Bond
- Department of Ophthalmology, BioMedical Research, Novartis, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Qian Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, BioMedical Research, Novartis, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Magali Saint-Geniez
- Department of Ophthalmology, BioMedical Research, Novartis, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Yi Bao
- Department of Ophthalmology, BioMedical Research, Novartis, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
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6
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Pollalis D, Georgescu C, Wren JD, Tombulyan G, Leung JM, Lo PA, Bloemhof CM, Lee RH, Bae E, Bailey JK, Pennington BO, Khan AI, Kelly KR, Yeh AK, Sundaram KS, Humayun M, Louie S, Clegg DO, Lee SY. Rescuing Photoreceptors in RPE Dysfunction-Driven Retinal Degeneration: The Role of Small Extracellular Vesicles Secreted from Retinal Pigment Epithelium. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.09.588773. [PMID: 38645051 PMCID: PMC11030310 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.09.588773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a common shared pathology in major degenerative retinal diseases despite variations in the primary etiologies of each disease. Due to their demanding and indispensable functional roles throughout the lifetime, RPE cells are vulnerable to genetic predisposition, external stress, and aging processes. Building upon recent advancements in stem cell technology for differentiating healthy RPE cells and recognizing the significant roles of small extracellular vesicles (sEV) in cellular paracrine and autocrine actions, we investigated the hypothesis that the RPE-secreted sEV alone can restore essential RPE functions and rescue photoreceptors in RPE dysfunction-driven retinal degeneration. Our findings support the rationale for developing intravitreal treatment of sEV. We demonstrate that intravitreally delivered sEV effectively penetrate the full thickness of the retina. Xenogenic intraocular administration of human-derived EVs did not induce acute immune reactions in rodents. sEV derived from human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived fully differentiated RPE cells, but not sEV-depleted conditioned cell culture media (CCM minus sEV), rescued photoreceptors and their function in a Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat model. This model is characterized by photoreceptor death and retinal degeneration resulting from a mutation in the MerTK gene in RPE cells. From the bulk RNA sequencing study, we identified 447 differently expressed genes in the retina after hESC-RPE-sEV treatment compared with the untreated control. Furthermore, 394 out of 447 genes (88%) showed a reversal in expression toward the healthy state in Long-Evans (LE) rats after treatment compared to the diseased state. Particularly, detrimental alterations in gene expression in RCS rats, including essential RPE functions such as phototransduction, vitamin A metabolism, and lipid metabolism were partially reversed. Defective photoreceptor outer segment engulfment due to intrinsic MerTK mutation was partially ameliorated. These findings suggest that RPE-secreted sEV may play a functional role similar to that of RPE cells. Our study justifies further exploration to fully unlock future therapeutic interventions with sEV in a broad array of degenerative retinal diseases.
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Ashimori A, Higashijima F, Ogata T, Sakuma A, Hamada W, Sunada J, Aoki R, Mikuni M, Hayashi K, Wakuta M, Yoshimoto T, Minamoto A, Ko JA, Kimura K. HIF-1α-dependent upregulation of angiogenic factors by mechanical stimulation in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050640. [PMID: 38691000 PMCID: PMC11095633 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050640] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanical stimulation as a mimic of drusen formation in the eye increases the expression of angiogenic factors in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated and characterized the effects of mechanical stimulation on the expression of angiogenic factors in RPE cells both in vitro and in a mouse model. Mechanical stimulation increased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, encoded by VEGFA) and other angiogenesis-related genes in cultured RPE1 cells. The presence of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α, encoded by HIF1A) was also increased, and both knockdown of HIF-1α and treatment with the HIF-1α inhibitor CAY10585 attenuated the effect of mechanical stimulation on angiogenesis factor gene expression. Signaling by the tyrosine kinase SRC and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was involved in HIF-1α activation and consequent angiogenesis-related gene expression induced by mechanical stimulation. Our results suggest that SRC-p38 and HIF-1α signaling are involved in the upregulation of angiogenic factors in RPE cells by mechanical stimulation. Such in vivo suppression of upregulated expression of angiogenesis-related genes by pharmacological inhibitors of HIF-1α suggests a new potential approach to the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushige Ashimori
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Higashijima
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Tadahiko Ogata
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Ayano Sakuma
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Waka Hamada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Junki Sunada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Ren Aoki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Masanori Mikuni
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Ken'ichiro Hayashi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Makiko Wakuta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoshimoto
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Akira Minamoto
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
| | - Ji-Ae Ko
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Kimura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube City, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
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8
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Lin JB, Narayanan R, Philippakis E, Yonekawa Y, Apte RS. Retinal detachment. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2024; 10:18. [PMID: 38485969 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-024-00501-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Retinal detachment (RD) occurs when the neurosensory retina, the neurovascular tissue responsible for phototransduction, is separated from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Given the importance of the RPE for optimal retinal function, RD invariably leads to decreased vision. There are three main types of RD: rhegmatogenous, tractional and exudative (also termed serous) RD. In rhegmatogenous RD, one or more retinal breaks enable vitreous fluid to enter the subretinal space and separate the neurosensory retina from the RPE. In tractional RD, preretinal, intraretinal or subretinal membranes contract and exert tangential forces and elevate the retina from the underlying RPE. Finally, in exudative RD, an underlying inflammatory condition, vascular abnormality or the presence of a tumour causes exudative fluid to accumulate in the subretinal space, exceeding the osmotic pump function of the RPE. The surgical management of RD usually involves pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckling or pneumatic retinopexy. The approach taken often depends on patient characteristics as well as on practitioner experience and clinical judgement. Advances in surgical technology and continued innovation have improved outcomes for many patients. However, even if retinal re-attachment is achieved, some patients still experience decreased vision or other visual symptoms, such as metamorphopsia, that diminish their quality of life. Continued research in the areas of neuroprotection and retinal biology as well as continued surgical innovation are necessary to enhance therapeutic options and outcomes for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Lin
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Raja Narayanan
- Anant Bajaj Retina Institute, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
| | - Elise Philippakis
- Université de Paris, Ophthalmology Department, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - Yoshihiro Yonekawa
- Wills Eye Hospital, Mid Atlantic Retina, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rajendra S Apte
- John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Developmental, Regenerative, and Stem Cell Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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9
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Messner A, Aranha dos Santos V, Puchner S, Stegmann H, Schlatter A, Schmidl D, Leitgeb R, Schmetterer L, Werkmeister RM. The Impact of Photopigment Bleaching on the Human Rod Photoreceptor Subretinal Space Measured Via Optical Coherence Tomography. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:20. [PMID: 38470325 PMCID: PMC10941995 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.3.20] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate rod photopigment bleaching-driven intrinsic optical signals (IOS) in the human outer retina and its measurement repeatability based on a commercial optical coherence tomography (OCT) platform. Methods The optical path length of the rod photoreceptor subretinal space (SRS), that is, the distance between signal bands of rod outer segment tips and retinal pigment epithelium, was measured in 15 healthy subjects in ambient light and during a long-duration bleaching white-light exposure. Results On 2 identical study days (day 1 and day 2 [D1 and D2]), light stimulation resulted in a significant decrease in rod SRS by 21.3 ± 7.6% and 19.8 ± 8.5% (both P < 0.001), respectively. The test-retest reliability of the SRS maximum change of an individual subject was moderate for single measures (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.730, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.376, 0.900, P < 0.001) and good for average measures (ICC = 0.844, 95% CI = 0.546, 0.947, P < 0.001). The mean area under the stimulus response curve with values of 14.8 ± 9.4 and 15.5 ± 7.5 µm × minutes (P = 0.782) showed excellent agreement between the stimulus response on D1 and D2. Intermittent dark adaptation of the retina led to an initial increase of the SRS by 6.1% (P = 0.018) and thereafter showed a decrease toward baseline, despite continued dark adaptation. Conclusions The data indicate the potential of commercial OCT in measuring slow IOS in the outer retina suggesting that the rod SRS could serve as a biomarker for photoreceptor function. The presented approach could provide an easily implementable clinical tool for the early detection of diseases affecting photoreceptor health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Messner
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Stefan Puchner
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hannes Stegmann
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Schlatter
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Institute for Research in Ocular Surgery (VIROS), Department of Ophthalmology, Hanusch Hospital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Doreen Schmidl
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rainer Leitgeb
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leopold Schmetterer
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- SERI-NTU Advanced Ocular Engineering (STANCE), Singapore, Singapore
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - René M. Werkmeister
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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10
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Gurubaran IS. Mitochondrial damage and clearance in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Acta Ophthalmol 2024; 102 Suppl 282:3-53. [PMID: 38467968 DOI: 10.1111/aos.16661] [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: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a devastating eye disease that causes permanent vision loss in the central part of the retina, known as the macula. Patients with such severe visual loss face a reduced quality of life and are at a 1.5 times greater risk of death compared to the general population. Currently, there is no cure for or effective treatment for dry AMD. There are several mechanisms thought to underlie the disease, for example, ageing-associated chronic oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, harmful protein aggregation and inflammation. As a way of gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind AMD and thus developing new therapies, we have created a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (PGC1α/NFE2L2) double-knockout (dKO) mouse model that mimics many of the clinical features of dry AMD, including elevated levels of oxidative stress markers, damaged mitochondria, accumulating lysosomal lipofuscin and extracellular drusen-like structures in retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE). In addition, a human RPE cell-based model was established to examine the impact of non-functional intracellular clearance systems on inflammasome activation. In this study, we found that there was a disturbance in the autolysosomal machinery responsible for clearing mitochondria in the RPE cells of one-year-old PGC1α/NFE2L2-deficient mice. The confocal immunohistochemical analysis revealed an increase in autophagosome marker microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3B) as well as multiple mitophagy markers such as PTE-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and E3 ubiquitin ligase (PARKIN), along with signs of damaged mitochondria. However, no increase in autolysosome formation was detected, nor was there a colocalization of the lysosomal marker LAMP2 or the mitochondrial marker, ATP synthase β. There was an upregulation of late autolysosomal fusion Ras-related protein (Rab7) in the perinuclear space of RPE cells, together with autofluorescent aggregates. Additionally, we observed an increase in the numbers of Toll-like receptors 3 and 9, while those of NOD-like receptor 3 were decreased in PGC1α/NFE2L2 dKO retinal specimens compared to wild-type animals. There was a trend towards increased complement component C5a and increased involvement of the serine protease enzyme, thrombin, in enhancing the terminal pathway producing C5a, independent of C3. The levels of primary acute phase C-reactive protein and receptor for advanced glycation end products were also increased in the PGC1α/NFE2L2 dKO retina. Furthermore, selective proteasome inhibition with epoxomicin promoted both nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase and mitochondrial-mediated oxidative stress, leading to the release of mitochondrial DNA to the cytosol, resulting in potassium efflux-dependent activation of the absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome and the subsequent secretion of interleukin-1β in ARPE-19 cells. In conclusion, the data suggest that there is at least a relative decrease in mitophagy, increases in the amounts of C5 and thrombin and decreased C3 levels in this dry AMD-like model. Moreover, selective proteasome inhibition evoked mitochondrial damage and AIM2 inflammasome activation in ARPE-19 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iswariyaraja Sridevi Gurubaran
- Department of Medicine, Clinical Medicine Unit, University of Eastern Finland Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kuopio, Northern Savonia, Finland
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11
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Korhonen E. Inflammasome activation in response to aberrations of cellular homeostasis in epithelial cells from human cornea and retina. Acta Ophthalmol 2024; 102 Suppl 281:3-68. [PMID: 38386419 DOI: 10.1111/aos.16646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
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12
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Fasih-Ahmad S, Wang Z, Mishra Z, Vatanatham C, Clark ME, Swain TA, Curcio CA, Owsley C, Sadda SR, Hu ZJ. Potential Structural Biomarkers in 3D Images Validated by the First Functional Biomarker for Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration - ALSTAR2 Baseline. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:1. [PMID: 38300559 PMCID: PMC10846345 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.2.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Lack of valid end points impedes developing therapeutic strategies for early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Delayed rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA) is the first functional biomarker for incident early AMD. The relationship between RMDA and the status of outer retinal bands on optical coherence tomography (OCT) have not been well defined. This study aims to characterize these relationships in early and intermediate AMD. Methods Baseline data from 476 participants was assessed including eyes with early AMD (n = 138), intermediate AMD (n = 101), and normal aging (n = 237). Participants underwent volume OCT imaging of the macula and rod intercept time (RIT) was measured. The ellipsoid zone (EZ) and interdigitation zone (IZ) on all OCT B-scans of the volumes were segmented. The area of detectable EZ and IZ, and mean thickness of IZ within the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid were computed and associations with RIT were assessed by Spearman's correlation coefficient and age adjusted. Results Delayed RMDA (longer RIT) was most strongly associated with less preserved IZ area (r = -0.591; P < 0.001), followed by decreased IZ thickness (r = -0.434; P < 0.001), and EZ area (r = -0.334; P < 0.001). This correlation between RIT and IZ integrity was not apparent when considering normal eyes alone within 1.5 mm of the fovea. Conclusions RMDA is correlated with the status of outer retinal bands in early and intermediate AMD eyes, particularly, the status of the IZ. This correlation is consistent with a previous analysis of only foveal B-scans and is biologically plausible given that retinoid availability, involving transfer at the interface attributed to the IZ, is rate-limiting for RMDA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ziyuan Wang
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States
| | - Zubin Mishra
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States
| | | | - Mark E Clark
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Thomas A Swain
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Christine A Curcio
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Cynthia Owsley
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
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13
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Zhu S, Xie T, Lv Z, Leng YB, Zhang YQ, Xu R, Qin J, Zhou Y, Roy VAL, Han ST. Hierarchies in Visual Pathway: Functions and Inspired Artificial Vision. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2301986. [PMID: 37435995 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202301986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
The development of artificial intelligence has posed a challenge to machine vision based on conventional complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuits owing to its high latency and inefficient power consumption originating from the data shuffling between memory and computation units. Gaining more insights into the function of every part of the visual pathway for visual perception can bring the capabilities of machine vision in terms of robustness and generality. Hardware acceleration of more energy-efficient and biorealistic artificial vision highly necessitates neuromorphic devices and circuits that are able to mimic the function of each part of the visual pathway. In this paper, we review the structure and function of the entire class of visual neurons from the retina to the primate visual cortex within reach (Chapter 2) are reviewed. Based on the extraction of biological principles, the recent hardware-implemented visual neurons located in different parts of the visual pathway are discussed in detail in Chapters 3 and 4. Furthermore, valuable applications of inspired artificial vision in different scenarios (Chapter 5) are provided. The functional description of the visual pathway and its inspired neuromorphic devices/circuits are expected to provide valuable insights for the design of next-generation artificial visual perception systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirui Zhu
- Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Tao Xie
- Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Ziyu Lv
- College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Yan-Bing Leng
- Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Qi Zhang
- Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Runze Xu
- Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Jingrun Qin
- Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Ye Zhou
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
| | - Vellaisamy A L Roy
- School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, 999077, P. R. China
| | - Su-Ting Han
- College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, P. R. China
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14
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Li J, Choi J, Cheng X, Ma J, Pema S, Sanes JR, Mardon G, Frankfort BJ, Tran NM, Li Y, Chen R. Comprehensive single-cell atlas of the mouse retina. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.24.577060. [PMID: 38328114 PMCID: PMC10849744 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.24.577060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has advanced our understanding of cellular heterogeneity at the single-cell resolution by classifying and characterizing cell types in multiple tissues and species. While several mouse retinal scRNA-seq reference datasets have been published, each dataset either has a relatively small number of cells or is focused on specific cell classes, and thus is suboptimal for assessing gene expression patterns across all retina types at the same time. To establish a unified and comprehensive reference for the mouse retina, we first generated the largest retinal scRNA-seq dataset to date, comprising approximately 190,000 single cells from C57BL/6J mouse whole retinas. This dataset was generated through the targeted enrichment of rare population cells via antibody-based magnetic cell sorting. By integrating this new dataset with public datasets, we conducted an integrated analysis to construct the Mouse Retina Cell Atlas (MRCA) for wild-type mice, which encompasses over 330,000 single cells. The MRCA characterizes 12 major classes and 138 cell types. It captured consensus cell type characterization from public datasets and identified additional new cell types. To facilitate the public use of the MRCA, we have deposited it in CELLxGENE, UCSC Cell Browser, and the Broad Single Cell Portal for visualization and gene expression exploration. The comprehensive MRCA serves as an easy-to-use, one-stop data resource for the mouse retina communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jongsu Choi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Xuesen Cheng
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Justin Ma
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Shahil Pema
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Joshua R. Sanes
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02130, USA
| | - Graeme Mardon
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Benjamin J. Frankfort
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Nicholas M. Tran
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yumei Li
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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15
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Romero FJ, Diaz-Llopis M, Romero-Gomez MI, Miranda M, Romero-Wenz R, Sancho-Pelluz J, Romero B, Muriach M, Barcia JM. Small Extracellular Vesicles and Oxidative Pathophysiological Mechanisms in Retinal Degenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1618. [PMID: 38338894 PMCID: PMC10855665 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031618] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on the role of small extracellular vesicles in the pathophysiological mechanisms of retinal degenerative diseases. Many of these mechanisms are related to or modulated by the oxidative burden of retinal cells. It has been recently demonstrated that cellular communication in the retina involves extracellular vesicles and that their rate of release and cargo features might be affected by the cellular environment, and in some instances, they might also be mediated by autophagy. The fate of these vesicles is diverse: they could end up in circulation being used as markers, or target neighbor cells modulating gene and protein expression, or eventually, in angiogenesis. Neovascularization in the retina promotes vision loss in diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The importance of micro RNAs, either as small extracellular vesicles' cargo or free circulating, in the regulation of retinal angiogenesis is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J. Romero
- Hospital General de Requena, Conselleria de Sanitat, Generalitat Valenciana, 46340 Requena, Spain;
| | - Manuel Diaz-Llopis
- Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | | | - Maria Miranda
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad CEU-Cardenal Herrera, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Spain;
| | - Rebeca Romero-Wenz
- Hospital General de Requena, Conselleria de Sanitat, Generalitat Valenciana, 46340 Requena, Spain;
| | - Javier Sancho-Pelluz
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Valencia, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (J.S.-P.); (B.R.); (J.M.B.)
| | - Belén Romero
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Valencia, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (J.S.-P.); (B.R.); (J.M.B.)
- Unidad de Cuidados intensivos, Hospital de Manises, 46940 Manises, Spain
| | - Maria Muriach
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universitat Jaume I, 12006 Castelló de la Plana, Spain;
| | - Jorge M. Barcia
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Valencia, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (J.S.-P.); (B.R.); (J.M.B.)
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16
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Kim SH, Kim YK, Shin YI, Kang G, Kim SP, Lee H, Hong IH, Chang IB, Hong SB, Yoon HJ, Ha A. Nighttime Outdoor Artificial Light and Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2351650. [PMID: 38227312 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.51650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Light pollution's impact on human health is increasingly recognized, but its link to exudative age-related macular degeneration (EAMD) remains unclear. Objective To investigate the association between exposure to outdoor artificial light at night (OALAN) and the risk of incident EAMD. Design, Setting, and Participants In this nationwide population-based case-control study, all individuals 50 years or older with newly diagnosed EAMD between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2011, were identified with reference to the Korean National Health Insurance Service registration program database for rare and intractable diseases. Birth year- and sex-matched controls (with no EAMD diagnosis until 2020) were selected at a 1:30 ratio. Data were acquired from May 1 to December 31, 2021, and analyzed from June 1 to November 30, 2022. Exposures Mean levels of OALAN at participants' residential addresses during 2008 and 2009 were estimated using time-varying satellite data for a composite view of persistent nighttime illumination at an approximate scale of 1 km2. Main Outcomes and Measures The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs of the association between residential OALAN and risk of incident EAMD were determined based on maximum likelihood estimation after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, and area-level risk factors (ie, nighttime traffic noise and particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm in each participant's administrative district of residence). Results A total of 126 418 participants were included in the analysis (mean [SD] age, 66.0 [7.9] years; 78 244 men [61.9%]). Of these, 4078 were patients with newly diagnosed EAMD and 122 340 were EAMD-free matched controls. In fully adjusted models, an IQR (55.8 nW/cm2/sr) increase in OALAN level was associated with an HR of 1.67 (95% CI, 1.56-1.78) for incident EAMD. The exposure-response curve demonstrated a nonlinear, concave upward slope becoming more pronounced at higher levels of light exposure (ie, at approximately 110 nW/cm2/sr). In a subgroup analysis, an IQR increase in OALAN was associated with increased risk of incident EAMD in urban areas (HR, 1.46 [95% CI, 1.33-1.61]) but not in rural areas (HR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.84-1.22]). Conclusions and Relevance In this nationwide population-based case-control study, higher levels of residential OALAN were associated with an increased risk of incident EAMD. Future studies with more detailed information on exposure, individual adaptive behaviors, and potential mediators are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Hwan Kim
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Kook Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, SNUH, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- EyeLight Data Science Laboratory, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young In Shin
- Department of Ophthalmology, SNUH, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Goneui Kang
- EyeLight Data Science Laboratory, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seong Pyo Kim
- Interdisciplinary Program of Medical Informatics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hajoung Lee
- EyeLight Data Science Laboratory, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - In Hwan Hong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hwaseong, Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University Medical Center, Hwaseong, Korea
| | | | - Soon-Beom Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, SNUH, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, SNU Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyung-Jin Yoon
- Medical Bigdata Research Center, SNU College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ahnul Ha
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, Korea
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17
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Burri C, Salzmann S, Wandel J, Hoffmann L, Považay B, Meier C, Frenz M. Real-time OCT feedback-controlled RPE photodisruption in ex vivo porcine eyes using 8 microsecond laser pulses. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:6328-6349. [PMID: 38420306 PMCID: PMC10898567 DOI: 10.1364/boe.503941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Selective retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) photodisruption requires reliable real-time feedback dosimetry (RFD) to prevent unwanted overexposure. In this study, optical coherence tomography (OCT) based RFD was investigated in ex vivo porcine eyes exposed to laser pulses of 8 µs duration (wavelength: 532 nm, exposure area: 90 × 90 µm2, radiant exposure: 247 to 1975 mJ/µm2). For RFD, fringe washouts in time-resolved OCT M-scans (central wavelength: 870 nm, scan rate: 85 kHz) were compared to an RPE cell viability assay. Statistical analysis revealed a moderate correlation between RPE lesion size and applied treatment energy, suggesting RFD adaptation to inter- and intraindividual RPE pigmentation and ocular transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Burri
- optoLab, Institute for Human Centered Engineering, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Biel, Switzerland
- Biomedical Photonics Group, Institute of Applied Physics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simon Salzmann
- optoLab, Institute for Human Centered Engineering, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Biel, Switzerland
| | - Jasmin Wandel
- Institute for Optimisation and Data Analysis, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Burgdorf, Switzerland
| | - Leonie Hoffmann
- optoLab, Institute for Human Centered Engineering, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Biel, Switzerland
| | - Boris Považay
- optoLab, Institute for Human Centered Engineering, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Biel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Meier
- optoLab, Institute for Human Centered Engineering, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Biel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Frenz
- Biomedical Photonics Group, Institute of Applied Physics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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18
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Fietz A, Schnichels S, Hurst J. Co-cultivation of primary porcine RPE cells and neuroretina induces inflammation: a potential inflammatory AMD-model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19345. [PMID: 37935821 PMCID: PMC10630302 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46029-8] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
One common aspect in the pathology of many retinal diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the death of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. RPE cells are essential for photoreceptor survival as they recycle and remove compounds of the visual cycle and secrete protective cytokines. Studying RPE cells is crucial to improve our understanding of retinal pathologies, yet only a few retinal ex vivo models include them or do so only indirectly. Besides the positive effects in indirect co-cultivation models, also a slight inflammation was observed. In this study we developed an ex vivo model consisting of a primary porcine RPE monolayer directly co-cultured with porcine retinal organ cultures, to investigate and simulate inflammatory retinal diseases, such as (dry) AMD. The direct co-cultivation resulted in immune reactivity (enhanced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines e.g., IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8) and cell death. These effects were evaluated for the retinal explant as well as for the RPE-monolayer to further understand the complex interactions between these two compartments. Taken together, this ex vivo model can be used to study inflammatory retinal diseases like AMD as well as the rejection observed after RPE-transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Fietz
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sven Schnichels
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - José Hurst
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
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19
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Cohen SY, Chowers I, Nghiem-Buffet S, Mrejen S, Souied E, Gaudric A. Subretinal autofluorescent deposits: A review and proposal for clinical classification. Surv Ophthalmol 2023; 68:1050-1070. [PMID: 37392968 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.06.009] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Subretinal autofluorescent deposits (SADs) may be found in the posterior pole, associated with very various conditions. These disorders usually present a typical pattern of autofluorescent lesions seen on short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence. We describe SADs according to their putative pathophysiological origin and also according to their clinical pattern, i.e., number, shape, and usual location. Five main putative pathophysiological origins of SADs were identified in disorders associated with an intrinsic impairment of phagocytosis and protein transportation, with excess of retinal pigment epithelium phagocytic capacity, with direct or indirect retinal pigment epithelium injury, and/or disorders associated with long-standing serous retinal detachment with mechanical separation between the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptor outer segments. Clinically, however, they could be classified into eight subclasses of SADs, as observed on fundus autofluorescence as follows: single vitelliform macular lesion, multiple roundish or vitelliform lesions, multiple peripapillary lesions, flecked lesions, leopard-spot lesions, macular patterned lesions, patterned lesions located in the same area as the causal disorder, or nonpatterned lesions. Thus, if multimodal imaging may be required to diagnose the cause of SADs, the proposed classification based on noninvasive, widely available short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence could guide clinicians in making their diagnosis decision tree before considering the use of more invasive tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salomon Yves Cohen
- Ophthalmology Center for Imaging and Laser, Paris, France; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France.
| | - Itay Chowers
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Hospital, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Sarah Mrejen
- Ophthalmology Center for Imaging and Laser, Paris, France
| | - Eric Souied
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Alain Gaudric
- Ophthalmology Center for Imaging and Laser, Paris, France; Department of Ophthalmology, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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20
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Silva EHA, Santana NNM, Seixas NRM, Bezerra LLF, Silva MMO, Santos SF, Cavalcante JS, Leocadio-Miguel MA, Engelberth RC. Blue light exposure-dependent improvement in robustness of circadian rest-activity rhythm in aged rats. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292342. [PMID: 37792859 PMCID: PMC10550138 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The aging effects on circadian rhythms have diverse implications including changes in the pattern of rhythmic expressions, such as a wide fragmentation of the rhythm of rest-activity and decrease in amplitude of activity regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The study of blue light on biological aspects has received great current interest due, among some aspects, to its positive effects on psychiatric disorders in humans. This study aims to evaluate the effect of blue light therapy on the SCN functional aspects, through the evaluation of the rest-activity rhythm, in aging rats. For this, 33 sixteen-months-old male Wistar rats underwent continuous records of locomotor activity and were exposed to periods of 6 hours of blue light during the first half of the light phase (Zeitgeber times 0-6) for 14 days. After this, the rats were maintained at 12h:12h light:dark cycle to check the long-term effect of blue light for 14 days. Blue light repeated exposure showed positive effects on the rhythmic variables of locomotor activity in aged rats, particularly the increase in amplitude, elevation of rhythmic robustness, phase advance in acrophase, and greater consolidation of the resting phase. This effect depends on the presence of daily blue light exposure. In conclusion, our results indicate that blue light is a reliable therapy to reduce circadian dysfunctions in aged rats, but other studies assessing how blue light modulates the neural components to modulate this response are still needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eryck Holmes A. Silva
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | | | - Narita Renata M. Seixas
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Lyzandro Lucas F. Bezerra
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Maria Milena O. Silva
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Sâmarah F. Santos
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Jeferson S. Cavalcante
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | | | - Rovena Clara Engelberth
- Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology and Behavior, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
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21
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Shome I, Thathapudi NC, Aramati BMR, Kowtharapu BS, Jangamreddy JR. Stages, pathogenesis, clinical management and advancements in therapies of age-related macular degeneration. Int Ophthalmol 2023; 43:3891-3909. [PMID: 37347455 DOI: 10.1007/s10792-023-02767-2] [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: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a retinal degenerative disorder prevalent in the elderly population, which leads to the loss of central vision. The disease progression can be managed, if not prevented, either by blocking neovascularization ("wet" form of AMD) or by preserving retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor cells ("dry" form of AMD). Although current therapeutic modalities are moderately successful in delaying the progression and management of the disease, advances over the past years in regenerative medicine using iPSC, embryonic stem cells, advanced materials (including nanomaterials) and organ bio-printing show great prospects in restoring vision and efficient management of either forms of AMD. This review focuses on the molecular mechanism of the disease, model systems (both cellular and animal) used in studying AMD, the list of various regenerative therapies and the current treatments available. The article also highlights on the recent clinical trials using regenerative therapies and management of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishita Shome
- UR Advanced Therapeutics Private Limited, ASPIRE-BioNest, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Neethi C Thathapudi
- Centre de Recherche Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Bindu Madhav Reddy Aramati
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Bhavani S Kowtharapu
- UR Advanced Therapeutics Private Limited, ASPIRE-BioNest, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Jaganmohan R Jangamreddy
- UR Advanced Therapeutics Private Limited, ASPIRE-BioNest, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India.
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22
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Marquina S, Ozgul M, Robertson-Brown K, Kenney MC. A review on PLGA particles as a sustained drug-delivery system and its effect on the retina. Exp Eye Res 2023; 235:109626. [PMID: 37652091 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109626] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
In this review, the designs and recent developments of polymer-based drug delivery of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) will be discussed for the possible treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). PLGA is a versatile co-polymer that consists of synthetic lactic acid and glycolic acid monomers that are constructed to produce nanoparticles, microparticles, and scaffolds for the intraocular delivery of various drugs. As an FDA-approved polymer, PLGA has historically been well-suited for systemic slow-sustained release therapies due to its performance in biodegradability and biocompatibility. This review will examine recent in vitro and in vivo studies that provide evidence for PLGA-based particles as a therapeutic drug carrier for the treatment of AMD. Anti-angiogenic and antiproliferative effects of small peptides, small molecules, RNA molecules, and proteins within PLGA particles are briefly discussed. AMD is a leading cause of central vision loss in people over 55 years and the number of those afflicted will rise as the aging population increases. AMD has two forms that are often sequential. Dry AMD and wet AMD account for 85-90% and 10-15% of cases, respectively. The distinct categories of PLGA-based drug delivery vehicles are important for dispensing novel small molecules, RNA molecules, peptides, and proteins as a long-term effective treatment of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvana Marquina
- School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, 843 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Mustafa Ozgul
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California Irvine, 843 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Kenneth Robertson-Brown
- School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, 843 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - M Cristina Kenney
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, 843 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
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23
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Fasih-Ahmad S, Wang Z, Mishra Z, Vatanatham C, Clark ME, Swain TA, Curcio CA, Owsley C, Sadda SR, Hu ZJ. Potential Structural Biomarkers in 3D Images Validated by the First Functional Biomarker for Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration - ALSTAR2 Baseline. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.09.10.23295309. [PMID: 37745353 PMCID: PMC10516097 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.10.23295309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Purpose While intermediate and late age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) have been widely investigated, rare studies were focused on the pathophysiologic mechanism of early AMD. Delayed rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA) is the first functional biomarker for incident early AMD. The status of outer retinal bands on optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be potential imaging biomarkers and the purpose is to investigate the hypothesis that the integrity of interdigitation zone (IZ) may provide insight into the health of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in early AMD. Methods We establish the structure-function relationship between ellipsoid zone (EZ) integrity and RMDA, and IZ integrity and RMDA in a large-scale OCT dataset from eyes with normal aging (n=237), early AMD (n=138), and intermediate AMD (n=101) by utilizing a novel deep-learning-derived algorithm with manual correction when needed to segment the EZ and IZ on OCT B-scans (57,596 B-scans), and utilizing the AdaptDx device to measure RMDA. Results Our data demonstrates that slower RMDA is associated with less preserved EZ (r = -0.334; p<0.001) and IZ area (r = -0.591; p<0.001), and decreased IZ thickness (r = -0.434; p<0.001). These associations are not apparent when considering normal eyes alone. Conclusions The association with IZ area and RMDA in large-scale data is biologically plausible because retinoid availability and transfer at the interface attributed to IZ is rate-limiting for RMDA. This study supports the hypothesis that the IZ integrity provides insight into the health of photoreceptors and RPE in early AMD and is a potential new imaging biomarker.
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24
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Jones MK, Orozco LD, Qin H, Truong T, Caplazi P, Elstrott J, Modrusan Z, Chaney SY, Jeanne M. Integration of human stem cell-derived in vitro systems and mouse preclinical models identifies complex pathophysiologic mechanisms in retinal dystrophy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1252547. [PMID: 37691820 PMCID: PMC10483287 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1252547] [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: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare DRAM2 coding variants cause retinal dystrophy with early macular involvement via unknown mechanisms. We found that DRAM2 is ubiquitously expressed in the human eye and expression changes were observed in eyes with more common maculopathy such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). To gain insights into pathogenicity of DRAM2-related retinopathy, we used a combination of in vitro and in vivo models. We found that DRAM2 loss in human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived retinal organoids caused the presence of additional mesenchymal cells. Interestingly, Dram2 loss in mice also caused increased proliferation of cells from the choroid in vitro and exacerbated choroidal neovascular lesions in vivo. Furthermore, we observed that DRAM2 loss in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells resulted in increased susceptibility to stress-induced cell death in vitro and that Dram2 loss in mice caused age-related photoreceptor degeneration. This highlights the complexity of DRAM2 function, as its loss in choroidal cells provided a proliferative advantage, whereas its loss in post-mitotic cells, such as photoreceptor and RPE cells, increased degeneration susceptibility. Different models such as human pluripotent stem cell-derived systems and mice can be leveraged to study and model human retinal dystrophies; however, cell type and species-specific expression must be taken into account when selecting relevant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa K. Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
- Product Development Clinical Science Ophthalmology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Luz D. Orozco
- Department of Bioinformatics, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Han Qin
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Tom Truong
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Patrick Caplazi
- Department of Research Pathology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Justin Elstrott
- Department of Translational Imaging, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Zora Modrusan
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, Lipidomics and Next-Generation Sequencing, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Shawnta Y. Chaney
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Marion Jeanne
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
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25
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Zhang K, Di G, Bai Y, Liu A, Bian W, Chen P. Aquaporin 5 in the eye: Expression, function, and roles in ocular diseases. Exp Eye Res 2023; 233:109557. [PMID: 37380095 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109557] [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: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
As a water channel protein, aquaporin 5 (AQP5) is essential for the maintenance of the normal physiological functions of ocular tissues. This review provides an overview of the expression and function of AQP5 in the eye and discusses their role in related eye diseases. Although AQP5 plays a vital role in ocular functions, such as maintaining corneal and lens transparency, regulating water movement, and maintaining homeostasis, some of its functions in ocular tissues are still unclear. Based on the key role of AQP5 in eye function, this review suggests that in the future, eye diseases may be treated by regulating the expression of aquaporin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaier Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Guohu Di
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Ying Bai
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Anxu Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Wenhan Bian
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong Province, China; Clinical Laboratory, Qingdao Central Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266042, Shandong Province, China.
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26
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Maeda T, Takahashi M. iPSC-RPE in Retinal Degeneration: Recent Advancements and Future Perspectives. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041308. [PMID: 36690464 PMCID: PMC10411862 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Regenerative medicine is a great hope for patients suffering from diseases for which no effective treatment is available. With the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in 2006, research and development has accelerated expeditiously, reaching a practical stage worldwide. The iPSC-regenerative medicine in ophthalmology is one of the pioneers, which has kicked off clinical application ahead of other fields owing to its advantages. The clinical safety issues of iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelial (iPSC-RPE) transplantation for exudative age-related macular degeneration have been addressed to a certain extent. Preparations are being made for the next clinical study based on the improvement of its therapeutic effects and expansion of indications globally. Steady progress toward the practical applications of regenerative medicine for the treatment of retinal disorders is expected in the future while strengthening global cooperation amid various research areas, clinical fields, and regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadao Maeda
- Research Center, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Vision Care Cell Therapy, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- Research Center, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Vision Care Cell Therapy, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
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27
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Nita M, Grzybowski A. Antioxidative Role of Heterophagy, Autophagy, and Mitophagy in the Retina and Their Association with the Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Etiopathogenesis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1368. [PMID: 37507908 PMCID: PMC10376332 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12071368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an oxidative stress-linked neurodegenerative disease, leads to irreversible damage of the central retina and severe visual impairment. Advanced age and the long-standing influence of oxidative stress and oxidative cellular damage play crucial roles in AMD etiopathogenesis. Many authors emphasize the role of heterophagy, autophagy, and mitophagy in maintaining homeostasis in the retina. Relevantly modifying the activity of both macroautophagy and mitophagy pathways represents one of the new therapeutic strategies in AMD. Our review provides an overview of the antioxidative roles of heterophagy, autophagy, and mitophagy and presents associations between dysregulations of these molecular mechanisms and AMD etiopathogenesis. The authors performed an extensive analysis of the literature, employing PubMed and Google Scholar, complying with the 2013-2023 period, and using the following keywords: age-related macular degeneration, RPE cells, reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, heterophagy, autophagy, and mitophagy. Heterophagy, autophagy, and mitophagy play antioxidative roles in the retina; however, they become sluggish and dysregulated with age and contribute to AMD development and progression. In the retina, antioxidative roles also play in RPE cells, NFE2L2 and PGC-1α proteins, NFE2L2/PGC-1α/ARE signaling cascade, Nrf2 factor, p62/SQSTM1/Keap1-Nrf2/ARE pathway, circulating miRNAs, and Yttrium oxide nanoparticles performed experimentally in animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Nita
- Domestic and Specialized Medicine Centre "Dilmed", 40-231 Katowice, Poland
| | - Andrzej Grzybowski
- Institute for Research in Ophthalmology, Foundation for Ophthalmology Development, Gorczyczewskiego 2/3, 61-553 Poznań, Poland
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28
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Burri C, Salzmann S, Amstutz M, Hoffmann L, Považay B, Meier C, Frenz M. Investigation of the Influence of Pulse Duration and Application Mode on Microsecond Laser Microsurgery of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1314. [PMID: 37374097 DOI: 10.3390/life13061314] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Optical microsurgery confined to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) requires locally optimized laser parameters and reliable real-time feedback dosimetry (RFD) to prevent unwanted neuroretinal overexposure. This study aimed to compare pulses of different durations and application modes (single, ramp, burst). Moreover, optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based RFD was investigated in an ex vivo experiment, utilizing nine porcine eyes that were exposed to laser pulses of 8, 12, 16 and 20 µs duration (wavelength: 532 nm, exposure area: 90 × 90 µm2, radiant exposure: 247 to 1975 mJ/µm2). Simultaneously, time-resolved OCT M-scans were recorded (central wavelength: 870 nm, scan rate: 85 kHz) for RFD. Post irradiation, retinal changes were assessed with color fundus photography (CFP) and cross-sectional OCT B-scans. RPE cell damage was quantified via fluorescence-based cell viability assay and compared to the OCT dosimetry feedback. Our experiments indicate cumulative RPE damage for pulse bursts of 16 µs and 20 µs, whereas no cumulative effects were found for pulse durations of 8 µs and 12 µs applied in ramp mode. According to statistical analysis, OCT-RFD correctly detected RPE cell damage with 96% sensitivity and 97% specificity using pulses of 8 µs duration in ramp mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Burri
- Biomedical Photonics Group, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Institute for Human Centered Engineering (HuCE)-OptoLab, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Quellgasse 21, 2501 Biel, Switzerland
| | - Simon Salzmann
- Institute for Human Centered Engineering (HuCE)-OptoLab, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Quellgasse 21, 2501 Biel, Switzerland
| | - Mylène Amstutz
- Institute for Human Centered Engineering (HuCE)-OptoLab, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Quellgasse 21, 2501 Biel, Switzerland
| | - Leonie Hoffmann
- Institute for Human Centered Engineering (HuCE)-OptoLab, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Quellgasse 21, 2501 Biel, Switzerland
| | - Boris Považay
- Institute for Human Centered Engineering (HuCE)-OptoLab, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Quellgasse 21, 2501 Biel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Meier
- Institute for Human Centered Engineering (HuCE)-OptoLab, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Quellgasse 21, 2501 Biel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Frenz
- Biomedical Photonics Group, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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29
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Bakri SJ, Bektas M, Sharp D, Luo R, Sarda SP, Khan S. Geographic atrophy: Mechanism of disease, pathophysiology, and role of the complement system. J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2023; 29:S2-S11. [PMID: 37125931 PMCID: PMC10408405 DOI: 10.18553/jmcp.2023.29.5-a.s2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), characterized by atrophic lesions that first start in the outer retina and progressively expand to cover the macula and the fovea, the center of the macula, leading to irreversible loss of vision over time. GA is distinct from wet or neovascular AMD (nAMD), the other form of advanced AMD. Neovascular AMD is characterized by new invading leaky blood vessels in the macula that can lead to acute vision loss. GA and nAMD may coexist in the same eye. The underlying pathophysiology of GA is complex and thought to involve chronic inflammation due to overactivation of the complement system that leads to the loss of photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and the underlying choriocapillaris. The disappearance of these structures appears as sharply demarcated atrophic lesions that are typical of GA. Researchers have reported about 1 million reported cases of GA in the United States, and about 160,000 cases occur per year. The most important risk factors for GA are increasing age and family history. Diagnosis of GA is usually made by using multimodal imaging techniques. Lesions associated with GA are highly heterogeneous, and the growth rate may differ from patient to patient. Despite the progressive nature of GA, the fovea may be spared until much later in the disease, thereby retaining central vision in patients. With time, atrophic lesions may progressively grow to involve the fovea, thereby severely impairing central vision. Vision loss can happen rapidly once the lesions reach the fovea. However, even without the involvement of the fovea, ongoing vision impairment impacting daily life may be present. Median time from GA not involving the center of the fovea (without subfoveal involvement) to GA with lesion boundary affecting the foveal center (subfoveal involvement) ranges from 1.4 to 2.5 years. GA can greatly impact patients' functioning and quality of life and limit their independence by interfering with activities of daily living, including difficulties with reading, driving, watching television, recognizing faces, and being unable to do household chores. No treatments have been available until intravitreal pegcetacoplan was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for GA secondary to AMD. DISCLOSURES: Dr Bakri serves as a consultant to Apellis Pharmaceuticals, as well as AbbVie, Adverum, Eyepoint, iLumen, Iveric Bio, Genentech, Novartis, Outlook Therapeutics, Pixium, Regeneron, Roche, and Regenxbio. Drs Sharp, Luo, and Sarda are employees of Apellis Pharmaceuticals. Dr Bektas and Ms Khan are employees of RTI Health Solutions. Apellis developed and led the concept design of this publication, review and interpretation, approval, and decision to publish. This research was developed under a research contract between RTI Health Solutions and Apellis Pharmaceuticals and was funded by Apellis Pharmaceuticals. This supplement is to describe the disease of geographic atrophy and was funded by Apellis. Apellis Pharmaceuticals has developed Syfovre (pegcetacoplan), the first and only treatment for geographic atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Shahnaz Khan
- RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, NC
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30
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Choudhary M, Malek G. Potential therapeutic targets for age-related macular degeneration: The nuclear option. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 94:101130. [PMID: 36220751 PMCID: PMC10082136 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101130] [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: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The functions and activities of nuclear receptors, the largest family of transcription factors in the human genome, have classically focused on their ability to act as steroid and hormone sensors in endocrine organs. However, they are responsible for a diverse array of physiological functions, including cellular homeostasis and metabolism, during development and aging. Though the eye is not a traditional endocrine organ, recent studies have revealed high expression levels of nuclear receptors in cells throughout the posterior pole. These findings have precipitated an interest in investigating the role of these transcription factors in the eye as a function of age and ocular disease, in particular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As the leading cause of vision impairment in the elderly, identifying signaling pathways that may be targeted for AMD therapy is of great importance, given the lack of therapeutic options for over 85% of patients with this disease. Herein we review this relatively new field and recent findings supporting the hypothesis that the eye is a secondary endocrine organ, in which nuclear receptors serve as the bedrock for biological processes in cells vulnerable in AMD, including retinal pigment epithelial and choroidal endothelial cells, and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting these receptors for AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur Choudhary
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Goldis Malek
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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31
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Piskova T, Kozyrina AN, Di Russo J. Mechanobiological implications of age-related remodelling in the outer retina. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 147:213343. [PMID: 36801797 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The outer retina consists of the light-sensitive photoreceptors, the pigmented epithelium, and the choroid, which interact in a complex manner to sustain homeostasis. The organisation and function of these cellular layers are mediated by the extracellular matrix compartment named Bruch's membrane, situated between the retinal epithelium and the choroid. Like many tissues, the retina experiences age-related structural and metabolic changes, which are relevant for understanding major blinding diseases of the elderly, such as age-related macular degeneration. Compared with other tissues, the retina mainly comprises postmitotic cells, making it less able to maintain its mechanical homeostasis over the years functionally. Aspects of retinal ageing, like the structural and morphometric changes of the pigment epithelium and the heterogenous remodelling of the Bruch's membrane, imply changes in tissue mechanics and may affect functional integrity. In recent years, findings in the field of mechanobiology and bioengineering highlighted the importance of mechanical changes in tissues for understanding physiological and pathological processes. Here, we review the current knowledge of age-related changes in the outer retina from a mechanobiological perspective, aiming to generate food for thought for future mechanobiology studies in the outer retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodora Piskova
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Aleksandra N Kozyrina
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jacopo Di Russo
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany; DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstrasse 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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A laser-induced mouse model of progressive retinal degeneration with central sparing displays features of parafoveal geographic atrophy. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4194. [PMID: 36918701 PMCID: PMC10014848 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31392-3] [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: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
There are no disease-modifying treatments available for geographic atrophy (GA), the advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration. Current murine models fail to fully recapitulate the features of GA and thus hinder drug discovery. Here we describe a novel mouse model of retinal degeneration with hallmark features of GA. We used an 810 nm laser to create a retinal lesion with central sparing (RLCS), simulating parafoveal atrophy observed in patients with progressive GA. Laser-induced RLCS resulted in progressive GA-like pathology with the development of a confluent atrophic lesion. We demonstrate significant changes to the retinal structure and thickness in the central unaffected retina over a 24-week post-laser period, confirmed by longitudinal optical coherence tomography scans. We further show characteristic features of progressive GA, including a gradual reduction in the thickness of the central, unaffected retina and of total retinal thickness. Histological changes observed in the RLCS correspond to GA pathology, which includes the collapse of the outer nuclear layer, increased numbers of GFAP + , CD11b + and FcγRI + cells, and damage to cone and rod photoreceptors. We demonstrate a laser-induced mouse model of parafoveal GA progression, starting at 2 weeks post-laser and reaching confluence at 24 weeks post-laser. This 24-week time-frame in which GA pathology develops, provides an extended window of opportunity for proof-of-concept evaluation of drugs targeting GA. This time period is an added advantage compared to several existing models of geographic atrophy.
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Ma JY, Greferath U, Wong JH, Fothergill LJ, Jobling AI, Vessey KA, Fletcher EL. Aging induces cell loss and a decline in phagosome processing in the mouse retinal pigment epithelium. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 128:1-16. [PMID: 37130462 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss and dysfunction in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with age is known to contribute to disease development. The aim of this study was to investigate how the C57BL/6J mouse RPE changes with age. RPE structure was found to change with age and eccentricity, with cell size increasing, nuclei lost, and tight junctions altered in the peripheral retina. Phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments (POS) by the RPE was investigated using gene expression analysis and histology. RNA-Seq transcriptomic gene profiling of the RPE showed a downregulation of genes involved in phagosome processing and histological analysis showed a decline in phagosome-lysosome association in the aged tissue. In addition, failures in the autophagy pathway that modulates intracellular waste degradation were observed in the aged RPE tissue. These findings highlight that RPE cell loss and slowing of POS processing contribute to RPE dysfunction with age and may predispose the aging eye to AMD development.
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Emri E, Cappa O, Kelly C, Kortvely E, SanGiovanni JP, McKay BS, Bergen AA, Simpson DA, Lengyel I. Zinc Supplementation Induced Transcriptional Changes in Primary Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium: A Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Study to Understand Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Cells 2023; 12:773. [PMID: 36899910 PMCID: PMC10000409 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050773] [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: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc supplementation has been shown to be beneficial to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the molecular mechanism underpinning this benefit is not well understood. This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to identify transcriptomic changes induced by zinc supplementation. Human primary retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells could mature for up to 19 weeks. After 1 or 18 weeks in culture, we supplemented the culture medium with 125 µM added zinc for one week. RPE cells developed high transepithelial electrical resistance, extensive, but variable pigmentation, and deposited sub-RPE material similar to the hallmark lesions of AMD. Unsupervised cluster analysis of the combined transcriptome of the cells isolated after 2, 9, and 19 weeks in culture showed considerable heterogeneity. Clustering based on 234 pre-selected RPE-specific genes divided the cells into two distinct clusters, we defined as more and less differentiated cells. The proportion of more differentiated cells increased with time in culture, but appreciable numbers of cells remained less differentiated even at 19 weeks. Pseudotemporal ordering identified 537 genes that could be implicated in the dynamics of RPE cell differentiation (FDR < 0.05). Zinc treatment resulted in the differential expression of 281 of these genes (FDR < 0.05). These genes were associated with several biological pathways with modulation of ID1/ID3 transcriptional regulation. Overall, zinc had a multitude of effects on the RPE transcriptome, including several genes involved in pigmentation, complement regulation, mineralization, and cholesterol metabolism processes associated with AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eszter Emri
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT97BL, UK
- Section Ophthalmogenetics, Department of Human Genetics, Queen Emma Centre for Precision Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Oisin Cappa
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT97BL, UK
| | - Caoimhe Kelly
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT97BL, UK
| | - Elod Kortvely
- Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (I2O) Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - John Paul SanGiovanni
- Biosciences Research Laboratories, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, 1230 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Brian S. McKay
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Arizona, 1656 E. Mabel Street, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Arthur A. Bergen
- Section Ophthalmogenetics, Department of Human Genetics, Queen Emma Centre for Precision Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN-KNAW), 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David A. Simpson
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT97BL, UK
| | - Imre Lengyel
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT97BL, UK
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Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Development: Extrapolating Basic Biology to Stem Cell Research. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020310. [PMID: 36830851 PMCID: PMC9952929 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) forms an important cellular monolayer, which contributes to the normal physiology of the eye. Damage to the RPE leads to the development of degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Apart from acting as a physical barrier between the retina and choroidal blood vessels, the RPE is crucial in maintaining photoreceptor (PR) and visual functions. Current clinical intervention to treat early stages of AMD includes stem cell-derived RPE transplantation, which is still in its early stages of evolution. Therefore, it becomes essential to derive RPEs which are functional and exhibit features as observed in native human RPE cells. The conventional strategy is to use the knowledge obtained from developmental studies using various animal models and stem cell-based exploratory studies to understand RPE biogenies and developmental trajectory. This article emphasises such studies and aims to present a comprehensive understanding of the basic biology, including the genetics and molecular pathways of RPE development. It encompasses basic developmental biology and stem cell-based developmental studies to uncover RPE differentiation. Knowledge of the in utero developmental cues provides an inclusive methodology required for deriving RPEs using stem cells.
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36
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Kalargyrou AA, Guilfoyle SE, Smith AJ, Ali RR, Pearson RA. Extracellular vesicles in the retina - putative roles in physiology and disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1042469. [PMID: 36710933 PMCID: PMC9877344 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1042469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The retina encompasses a network of neurons, glia and epithelial and vascular endothelia cells, all coordinating visual function. Traditionally, molecular information exchange in this tissue was thought to be orchestrated by synapses and gap junctions. Recent findings have revealed that many cell types are able to package and share molecular information via extracellular vesicles (EVs) and the technological advancements in visualisation and tracking of these delicate nanostructures has shown that the role of EVs in cell communication is pleiotropic. EVs are released under physiological conditions by many cells but they are also released during various disease stages, potentially reflecting the health status of the cells in their cargo. Little is known about the physiological role of EV release in the retina. However, administration of exogenous EVs in vivo after injury suggest a neurotrophic role, whilst photoreceptor transplantation in early stages of retina degeneration, EVs may facilitate interactions between photoreceptors and Müller glia cells. In this review, we consider some of the proposed roles for EVs in retinal physiology and discuss current evidence regarding their potential impact on ocular therapies via gene or cell replacement strategies and direct intraocular administration in the diseased eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini A. Kalargyrou
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Siobhan E. Guilfoyle
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander J. Smith
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R. Ali
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Rachael A. Pearson
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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37
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Cioanca AV, Natoli R, Wooff Y. Proteomics of Retinal Extracellular Vesicles: A Review into an Unexplored Mechanism in Retinal Health and AMD Pathogenesis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1415:87-94. [PMID: 37440019 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EV) are nanosized delivery vehicles that participate in cell-to-cell communication through the selective transfer of molecular materials including RNA, DNA, lipids, and proteins. In the retina, the role of EV proteins is largely unclear, in part due to the lack of studies and the depth of proteomic analyses of EV cargo. This review summarizes the existing knowledge on retinal EV proteins and provides a comparative reanalysis of existing retinal EV proteomic datasets. Collective findings highlight that in homeostasis, the protein components of neural retinal and RPE-derived EV largely reflect the function of the host cells, while in disease RPE-EV protein composition becomes altered, favoring inflammatory modulation and potentially contributing to drusen formation. While these studies shed light on the potential roles of EV proteins in the neural retina and RPE, it is clear that comprehensive proteomic and molecular studies are required, in particular using in vivo models of retinal degenerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian V Cioanca
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- The School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Riccardo Natoli
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- The School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yvette Wooff
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
- The School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
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38
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Morgan CE, Zhang Z, Miyagi M, Golczak M, Yu EW. Toward structural-omics of the bovine retinal pigment epithelium. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111876. [PMID: 36577381 PMCID: PMC9875382 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111876] [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: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of an integrated systems biology approach to investigate tissues and organs has been thought to be impracticable in the field of structural biology, where the techniques mainly focus on determining the structure of a particular biomacromolecule of interest. Here, we report the use of cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) to define the composition of a raw bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) lysate. From this sample, we simultaneously identify and solve cryo-EM structures of seven different RPE enzymes whose functions affect neurotransmitter recycling, iron metabolism, gluconeogenesis, glycolysis, axonal development, and energy homeostasis. Interestingly, dysfunction of these important proteins has been directly linked to several neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia. Our work underscores the importance of cryo-EM in facilitating tissue and organ proteomics at the atomic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E. Morgan
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,Department of Chemistry, Thiel College, Greenville, PA 16125, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Zhemin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Masaru Miyagi
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Marcin Golczak
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Edward W. Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,Lead contact,Correspondence:
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39
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Jung WK, Park SB, Yu HY, Kim YH, Kim J. Effect of Esculetin on Tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide-Induced Oxidative Injury in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells In Vitro. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27248970. [PMID: 36558102 PMCID: PMC9781126 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27248970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Esculetin is a coumarin-derived compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The current study aims to evaluate the therapeutic implications of esculetin on retinal dysfunction and uncover the underlying mechanisms. Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) at a concentration of 300 μM was used to induce oxidative stress in human retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19) cells. Esculetin at concentrations below 250 μM did not cause cytotoxicity to ARPE-19 cells. Cell viability analysis confirmed that t-BHP induced oxidative injury of ARPE-19 cells. However, ARPE-19 cells were protected from t-BHP-induced oxidative injury by esculetin in a concentration-dependent manner. As a result of the TUNEL assay to confirm apoptosis, esculetin treatment reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells. Esculetin down-regulated the expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3, and PARP and up-regulated the expression level of Bcl2. Collectively, this study demonstrates that esculetin exerts potent antioxidant properties in ARPE-19 cells, inhibiting t-BHP-induced apoptosis under the regulation of apoptotic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Junghyun Kim
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-63-270-4032; Fax: +82-63-270-4025
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40
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Motschi AR, Schwarzhans F, Desissaire S, Steiner S, Bogunović H, Roberts PK, Vass C, Hitzenberger CK, Pircher M. Quantitative assessment of depolarization by the retinal pigment epithelium in healthy and glaucoma subjects measured over a large field of view. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278679. [PMID: 36512582 PMCID: PMC9746957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278679] [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: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We present measurements of depolarization introduced by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) over a 45° field of view using polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography. A detailed spatial distribution analysis of depolarization caused by the RPE is presented in a total of 153 subjects including both healthy and diseased eyes. Age and sex related differences in the depolarizing character of the RPE are investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice R. Motschi
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Schwarzhans
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sylvia Desissaire
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Steiner
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hrvoje Bogunović
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Retina, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp K. Roberts
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Vass
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph K. Hitzenberger
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Pircher
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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41
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Mungale A, McGaughey DM, Zhang C, Yousaf S, Liu J, Brooks BP, Maminishkis A, Fufa TD, Hufnagel RB. Transcriptional mapping of the macaque retina and RPE-choroid reveals conserved inter-tissue transcription drivers and signaling pathways. Front Genet 2022; 13:949449. [PMID: 36506320 PMCID: PMC9732541 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.949449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The macula and fovea comprise a highly sensitive visual detection tissue that is susceptible to common disease processes like age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Our understanding of the molecular determinants of high acuity vision remains unclear, as few model organisms possess a human-like fovea. We explore transcription factor networks and receptor-ligand interactions to elucidate tissue interactions in the macula and peripheral retina and concomitant changes in the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid. Poly-A selected, 100 bp paired-end RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed across the macular/foveal, perimacular, and temporal peripheral regions of the neural retina and RPE/choroid tissues of four adult Rhesus macaque eyes to characterize region- and tissue-specific gene expression. RNA-seq reads were mapped to both the macaque and human genomes for maximum alignment and analyzed for differential expression and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment. Comparison of the neural retina and RPE/choroid tissues indicated distinct, contiguously changing gene expression profiles from fovea through perimacula to periphery. Top GO enrichment of differentially expressed genes in the RPE/choroid included cell junction organization and epithelial cell development. Expression of transcriptional regulators and various disease-associated genes show distinct location-specific preference and retina-RPE/choroid tissue-tissue interactions. Regional gene expression changes in the macaque retina and RPE/choroid is greater than that found in previously published transcriptome analysis of the human retina and RPE/choroid. Further, conservation of human macula-specific transcription factor profiles and gene expression in macaque tissues suggest a conservation of programs required for retina and RPE/choroid function and disease susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameera Mungale
- Medical Genetics and Ophthalmic Genomics Unit, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - David M. McGaughey
- Bioinformatics Group, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Congxiao Zhang
- Section on Epithelial and Retinal Physiology and Disease, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Sairah Yousaf
- Medical Genetics and Ophthalmic Genomics Unit, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - James Liu
- Medical Genetics and Ophthalmic Genomics Unit, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Brian P. Brooks
- Pediatric, Developmental and Genetic Ophthalmology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Arvydas Maminishkis
- Section on Epithelial and Retinal Physiology and Disease, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Temesgen D. Fufa
- Medical Genetics and Ophthalmic Genomics Unit, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Robert B. Hufnagel
- Medical Genetics and Ophthalmic Genomics Unit, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Robert B. Hufnagel,
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42
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Wong JHC, Ma JYW, Jobling AI, Brandli A, Greferath U, Fletcher EL, Vessey KA. Exploring the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration: A review of the interplay between retinal pigment epithelium dysfunction and the innate immune system. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1009599. [PMID: 36408381 PMCID: PMC9670140 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1009599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the older population. Classical hallmarks of early and intermediate AMD are accumulation of drusen, a waste deposit formed under the retina, and pigmentary abnormalities in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). When the disease progresses into late AMD, vision is affected due to death of the RPE and the light-sensitive photoreceptors. The RPE is essential to the health of the retina as it forms the outer blood retinal barrier, which establishes ocular immune regulation, and provides support for the photoreceptors. Due to its unique anatomical position, the RPE can communicate with the retinal environment and the systemic immune environment. In AMD, RPE dysfunction and the accumulation of drusen drive the infiltration of retinal and systemic innate immune cells into the outer retina. While recruited endogenous or systemic mononuclear phagocytes (MPs) contribute to the removal of noxious debris, the accumulation of MPs can also result in chronic inflammation and contribute to AMD progression. In addition, direct communication and indirect molecular signaling between MPs and the RPE may promote RPE cell death, choroidal neovascularization and fibrotic scarring that occur in late AMD. In this review, we explore how the RPE and innate immune cells maintain retinal homeostasis, and detail how RPE dysfunction and aberrant immune cell recruitment contribute to AMD pathogenesis. Evidence from AMD patients will be discussed in conjunction with data from preclinical models, to shed light on future therapeutic targets for the treatment of AMD.
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43
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Harju N. Regulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Acta Ophthalmol 2022; 100 Suppl 273:3-59. [DOI: 10.1111/aos.15275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Niina Harju
- School of Pharmacy University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
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44
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The retinal pigmentation pathway in human albinism: Not so black and white. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 91:101091. [PMID: 35729001 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Albinism is a pigment disorder affecting eye, skin and/or hair. Patients usually have decreased melanin in affected tissues and suffer from severe visual abnormalities, including foveal hypoplasia and chiasmal misrouting. Combining our data with those of the literature, we propose a single functional genetic retinal signalling pathway that includes all 22 currently known human albinism disease genes. We hypothesise that defects affecting the genesis or function of different intra-cellular organelles, including melanosomes, cause syndromic forms of albinism (Hermansky-Pudlak (HPS) and Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS)). We put forward that specific melanosome impairments cause different forms of oculocutaneous albinism (OCA1-8). Further, we incorporate GPR143 that has been implicated in ocular albinism (OA1), characterised by a phenotype limited to the eye. Finally, we include the SLC38A8-associated disorder FHONDA that causes an even more restricted "albinism-related" ocular phenotype with foveal hypoplasia and chiasmal misrouting but without pigmentation defects. We propose the following retinal pigmentation pathway, with increasingly specific genetic and cellular defects causing an increasingly specific ocular phenotype: (HPS1-11/CHS: syndromic forms of albinism)-(OCA1-8: OCA)-(GPR143: OA1)-(SLC38A8: FHONDA). Beyond disease genes involvement, we also evaluate a range of (candidate) regulatory and signalling mechanisms affecting the activity of the pathway in retinal development, retinal pigmentation and albinism. We further suggest that the proposed pigmentation pathway is also involved in other retinal disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration. The hypotheses put forward in this report provide a framework for further systematic studies in albinism and melanin pigmentation disorders.
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45
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Antiangiogenic potential of small polypeptide sequences: In vivo assays, cytotoxicity, synthetic approaches and influence of C-terminal carboxyamidation. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.133493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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46
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Pandey RS, Krebs MP, Bolisetty MT, Charette JR, Naggert JK, Robson P, Nishina PM, Carter GW. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Molecular Features of Heterogeneity in the Murine Retinal Pigment Epithelium. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:10419. [PMID: 36142331 PMCID: PMC9499471 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptomic analysis of the mammalian retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) aims to identify cellular networks that influence ocular development, maintenance, function, and disease. However, available evidence points to RPE cell heterogeneity within native tissue, which adds complexity to global transcriptomic analysis. Here, to assess cell heterogeneity, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of RPE cells from two young adult male C57BL/6J mice. Following quality control to ensure robust transcript identification limited to cell singlets, we detected 13,858 transcripts among 2667 and 2846 RPE cells. Dimensional reduction by principal component analysis and uniform manifold approximation and projection revealed six distinct cell populations. All clusters expressed transcripts typical of RPE cells; the smallest (C1, containing 1-2% of total cells) exhibited the hallmarks of stem and/or progenitor (SP) cells. Placing C1-6 along a pseudotime axis suggested a relative decrease in melanogenesis and SP gene expression and a corresponding increase in visual cycle gene expression upon RPE maturation. K-means clustering of all detected transcripts identified additional expression patterns that may advance the understanding of RPE SP cell maintenance and the evolution of cellular metabolic networks during development. This work provides new insights into the transcriptome of the mouse RPE and a baseline for identifying experimentally induced transcriptional changes in future studies of this tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi S. Pandey
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Dr., Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Mark P. Krebs
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Mohan T. Bolisetty
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Dr., Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | | | | | - Paul Robson
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Dr., Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Patsy M. Nishina
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
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Chauhan P, Kho AM, FitzGerald P, Shibata B, Srinivasan VJ. Subcellular Comparison of Visible-Light Optical Coherence Tomography and Electron Microscopy in the Mouse Outer Retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:10. [PMID: 35943734 PMCID: PMC9379865 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.9.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose We employed in vivo, 1.0-µm axial resolution visible-light optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ex vivo electron microscopy (EM) to investigate three subcellular features in the mouse outer retina: reflectivity oscillations inner to band 1 (study 1); hyperreflective band 2, attributed to the ellipsoid zone or inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction (study 2); and the hyperreflective retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) within band 4 (study 3). Methods Pigmented (C57BL/6J, n = 10) and albino (BALB/cJ, n = 3) mice were imaged in vivo. Enucleated eyes were processed for light and electron microscopy. Using well-accepted reference surfaces, we compared micrometer-scale axial reflectivity of visible-light OCT with subcellular organization, as revealed by 9449 annotated EM organelles and features across four pigmented eyes. Results In study 1, outer nuclear layer reflectivity peaks coincided with valleys in heterochromatin clump density (−0.34 ± 2.27 µm limits of agreement [LoA]). In study 2, band 2 depth on OCT and IS/OS junction depth on EM agreed (−0.57 ± 0.76 µm LoA), with both having similar distributions. In study 3, RPE electron dense organelle distribution did not agree with reflectivity in C57BL/6J mice, with OCT measures of RPE thickness exceeding those of EM (2.09 ± 0.89 µm LoA). Finally, RPE thickness increased with age in pigmented mice (slope = 0.056 µm/mo; P = 6.8 × 10−7). Conclusions Visible-light OCT bands arise from subcellular organization, enabling new measurements in mice. Quantitative OCT–EM comparisons may be confounded by hydration level, particularly in the OS and RPE. Caution is warranted in generalizing results to other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Chauhan
- Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States
| | - Aaron M Kho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States
| | - Paul FitzGerald
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States
| | - Bradley Shibata
- Biological Electron Microscopy Facility, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States
| | - Vivek J Srinivasan
- Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, United States
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Transcriptome Changes in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Post-PNU-282987 Treatment Associated with Adult Retinal Neurogenesis in Mice. J Mol Neurosci 2022; 72:1990-2010. [PMID: 35867327 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-022-02049-z] [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: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
PNU-282987, a selective alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, has previously been shown to have both neurogenic and broad regenerative effects in the adult murine retina. The objective of this study was to assay the molecular mechanism by which PNU-282987 promotes the production of Muller-derived progenitor cells through signaling via the resident retinal pigment epithelium. These Muller-derived progenitor cells generate a myriad of differentiated neurons throughout the retina that have previously been characterized by morphology. Herein, we demonstrate that topical application of PNU-282987 stimulates production of functional neurons as measured by electroretinograms. Further, we examine the mechanism of how this phenomenon occurs through activation of this atypical receptor using a transcriptomic approach isolated retinal pigment epithelium activated by PNU-282987 and in whole retina. We provide evidence that PNU-282987 causes a bi-modal signaling event in which early activation primes the retina with an inflammatory response and developmental signaling cues, followed by an inhibition of gliotic mechanisms and a decrease in the immune response, ending with upregulation of genes associated with specific retinal neuron generation. Taken together, these data provide evidence that PNU-282987 activates the retinal pigment epithelium to signal to Muller glia to produce Muller-derived progenitor cells, which can differentiate into new, functional neurons in adult mice. These data not only increase our understanding of how adult mammalian retinal regeneration can occur, but also provide therapeutic promise for treating functional vision loss.
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Tao Y, Murakami Y, Vavvas DG, Sonoda KH. Necroptosis and Neuroinflammation in Retinal Degeneration. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:911430. [PMID: 35844208 PMCID: PMC9277228 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.911430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Necroptosis mediates the chronic inflammatory phenotype in neurodegeneration. Receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK) plays a pivotal role in the induction of necroptosis in various cell types, including microglia, and it is implicated in diverse neurodegenerative diseases in the central nervous system and the retina. Targeting RIPK has been proven beneficial for alleviating both neuroinflammation and degeneration in basic/preclinical studies. In this review, we discuss the role of necroptosis in retinal degeneration, including (1) the molecular pathways involving RIPK, (2) RIPK-dependent microglial activation and necroptosis, and (3) the interactions between necroptosis and retinal neuroinflammation/degeneration. This review will contribute to a renewed focus on neuroinflammation induced by necroptosis and to the development of anti-RIPK drugs against retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Tao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yusuke Murakami
- Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Demetrios G Vavvas
- Ines and Frederick Yeatts Retinal Research Laboratory, Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Koh-Hei Sonoda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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50
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Tong Y, Zhang Z, Wang S. Role of Mitochondria in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Aging and Degeneration. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2022; 3:926627. [PMID: 35912040 PMCID: PMC9337215 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2022.926627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells form a monolayer between the neuroretina and choroid. It has multiple important functions, including acting as outer blood-retina barrier, maintaining the function of neuroretina and photoreceptors, participating in the visual cycle and regulating retinal immune response. Due to high oxidative stress environment, RPE cells are vulnerable to dysfunction, cellular senescence, and cell death, which underlies RPE aging and age-related diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Mitochondria are the powerhouse of cells and a major source of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) that contribute to mitochondrial DNA damage, cell death, senescence, and age-related diseases. Mitochondria also undergo dynamic changes including fission/fusion, biogenesis and mitophagy for quality control in response to stresses. The role of mitochondria, especially mitochondrial dynamics, in RPE aging and age-related diseases, is still unclear. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of mitochondrial function, biogenesis and especially dynamics such as morphological changes and mitophagy in RPE aging and age-related RPE diseases, as well as in the biological processes of RPE cellular senescence and cell death. We also discuss the current preclinical and clinical research efforts to prevent or treat RPE degeneration by restoring mitochondrial function and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Tong
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Zunyi Zhang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Shusheng Wang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Tulane Personalized Health Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
- *Correspondence: Shusheng Wang,
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