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Stehle IF, Imventarza JA, Woerz F, Hoffmann F, Boldt K, Beyer T, Quinn PM, Ueffing M. Human CRB1 and CRB2 form homo- and heteromeric protein complexes in the retina. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302440. [PMID: 38570189 PMCID: PMC10992996 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302440] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) is one of the key genes linked to retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis, which are characterized by a high clinical heterogeneity. The Crumbs family member CRB2 has a similar protein structure to CRB1, and in zebrafish, Crb2 has been shown to interact through the extracellular domain. Here, we show that CRB1 and CRB2 co-localize in the human retina and human iPSC-derived retinal organoids. In retina-specific pull-downs, CRB1 was enriched in CRB2 samples, supporting a CRB1-CRB2 interaction. Furthermore, novel interactors of the crumbs complex were identified, representing a retina-derived protein interaction network. Using co-immunoprecipitation, we further demonstrate that human canonical CRB1 interacts with CRB1 and CRB2, but not with CRB3, which lacks an extracellular domain. Next, we explored how missense mutations in the extracellular domain affect CRB1-CRB2 interactions. We observed no or a mild loss of CRB1-CRB2 interaction, when interrogating various CRB1 or CRB2 missense mutants in vitro. Taken together, our results show a stable interaction of human canonical CRB2 and CRB1 in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel F Stehle
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Joel A Imventarza
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY, USA
| | - Franziska Woerz
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Felix Hoffmann
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Karsten Boldt
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tina Beyer
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Mj Quinn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY, USA
| | - Marius Ueffing
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Zhou X, Zhao L, Wang C, Sun W, Jia B, Li D, Fu J. Diverse functions and pathogenetic role of Crumbs in retinopathy. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:290. [PMID: 38802833 PMCID: PMC11129452 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01673-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The Crumbs protein (CRB) family plays a crucial role in maintaining the apical-basal polarity and integrity of embryonic epithelia. The family comprises different isoforms in different animals and possesses diverse structural, localization, and functional characteristics. Mutations in the human CRB1 or CRB2 gene may lead to a broad spectrum of retinal dystrophies. Various CRB-associated experimental models have recently provided mechanistic insights into human CRB-associated retinopathies. The knowledge obtained from these models corroborates the importance of CRB in retinal development and maintenance. Therefore, complete elucidation of these models can provide excellent therapeutic prospects for human CRB-associated retinopathies. In this review, we summarize the current animal models and human-derived models of different CRB family members and describe the main characteristics of their retinal phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuebin Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Liangliang Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Chenguang Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Wei Sun
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Bo Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Jinling Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China.
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Ayash J, Woods RL, Akula JD, Rajabi F, Alwattar BK, Altschwager P, Fulton AB. Characteristics of Eyes With CRB1-Associated EOSRD/LCA: Age-Related Changes. Am J Ophthalmol 2024; 263:168-178. [PMID: 38461945 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2024.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate ocular and retinal features of CRB1-associated early onset severe retinal dystrophy/Leber congenital amaurosis (EOSRD/LCA) for age-related changes. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. METHODS Sixteen pediatric patients with biallelic CRB1 EOSRD/LCA who had been followed for up to 18 years were reviewed. Results of comprehensive ophthalmic examinations-including visual acuity, refractive error, dark-adapted visual threshold, Goldmann perimetry, and macular optical coherence tomography (OCT)-were analyzed for significant age-related changes using mixed-effects models. RESULTS Visual acuity dark-adapted visual sensitivity, and area of seeing visual field (all subnormal from the earliest ages recorded) declined with increasing age. Hyperopia was stable through childhood and adolescence. In CRB1 EOSRD/LCA, OCT extrafoveal inner and outer laminar thicknesses exceeded those in controls but varied little with age, and foveal metrics (depth, breadth, thickness at rim) differed significantly from those in controls, but variations in foveal metrics were not associated with declines in acuity. CONCLUSIONS From the youngest ages, retinal and visual function is significantly subnormal and becomes progressively compromized. A goal of future therapies should be intervention at young ages, when there is more function to be rescued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jad Ayash
- From the Department of Ophthalmology (J.A., R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Russell L Woods
- From the Department of Ophthalmology (J.A., R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James D Akula
- From the Department of Ophthalmology (J.A., R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Farrah Rajabi
- From the Department of Ophthalmology (J.A., R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bilal K Alwattar
- From the Department of Ophthalmology (J.A., R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pablo Altschwager
- From the Department of Ophthalmology (J.A., R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anne B Fulton
- From the Department of Ophthalmology (J.A., R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (R.L.W., J.D.A., F.R., B.K.A., P.A., A.B.F.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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Du X, Butler AG, Chen HY. Cell-cell interaction in the pathogenesis of inherited retinal diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1332944. [PMID: 38500685 PMCID: PMC10944940 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1332944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The retina is part of the central nervous system specialized for vision. Inherited retinal diseases (IRD) are a group of clinically and genetically heterogenous disorders that lead to progressive vision impairment or blindness. Although each disorder is rare, IRD accumulatively cause blindness in up to 5.5 million individuals worldwide. Currently, the pathophysiological mechanisms of IRD are not fully understood and there are limited treatment options available. Most IRD are caused by degeneration of light-sensitive photoreceptors. Genetic mutations that abrogate the structure and/or function of photoreceptors lead to visual impairment followed by blindness caused by loss of photoreceptors. In healthy retina, photoreceptors structurally and functionally interact with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Müller glia (MG) to maintain retinal homeostasis. Multiple IRD with photoreceptor degeneration as a major phenotype are caused by mutations of RPE- and/or MG-associated genes. Recent studies also reveal compromised MG and RPE caused by mutations in ubiquitously expressed ciliary genes. Therefore, photoreceptor degeneration could be a direct consequence of gene mutations and/or could be secondary to the dysfunction of their interaction partners in the retina. This review summarizes the mechanisms of photoreceptor-RPE/MG interaction in supporting retinal functions and discusses how the disruption of these processes could lead to photoreceptor degeneration, with an aim to provide a unique perspective of IRD pathogenesis and treatment paradigm. We will first describe the biology of retina and IRD and then discuss the interaction between photoreceptors and MG/RPE as well as their implications in disease pathogenesis. Finally, we will summarize the recent advances in IRD therapeutics targeting MG and/or RPE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Holly Y. Chen
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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5
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Boon N, Lu X, Andriessen CA, Orlovà M, Quinn PM, Boon CJ, Wijnholds J. Characterization and AAV-mediated CRB gene augmentation in human-derived CRB1KO and CRB1KOCRB2+/- retinal organoids. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 31:101128. [PMID: 37886604 PMCID: PMC10597801 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.101128] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The majority of patients with mutations in CRB1 develop either early-onset retinitis pigmentosa as young children or Leber congenital amaurosis as newborns. The cause for the phenotypic variability in CRB1-associated retinopathies is unknown, but might be linked to differences in CRB1 and CRB2 protein levels in Müller glial cells and photoreceptor cells. Here, CRB1KO and CRB1KOCRB2+/- differentiation day 210 retinal organoids showed a significant decrease in the number of photoreceptor nuclei in a row and a significant increase in the number of photoreceptor cell nuclei above the outer limiting membrane. This phenotype with outer retinal abnormalities is similar to CRB1 patient-derived retinal organoids and Crb1 or Crb2 mutant mouse retinal disease models. The CRB1KO and CRB1KOCRB2+/- retinal organoids develop an additional inner retinal phenotype due to the complete loss of CRB1 from Müller glial cells, suggesting an essential role for CRB1 in proper localization of neuronal cell types. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) transduction was explored at early and late stages of organoid development. Moreover, AAV-mediated gene augmentation therapy with AAV.hCRB2 improved the outer retinal phenotype in CRB1KO retinal organoids. Altogether, these data provide essential information for future gene therapy approaches for patients with CRB1-associated retinal dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanda Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Xuefei Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte A. Andriessen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Michaela Orlovà
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Peter M.J. Quinn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Camiel J.F. Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1000 AE Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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6
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Buck TM, Quinn PMJ, Pellissier LP, Mulder AA, Jongejan A, Lu X, Boon N, Koot D, Almushattat H, Arendzen CH, Vos RM, Bradley EJ, Freund C, Mikkers HMM, Boon CJF, Moerland PD, Baas F, Koster AJ, Neefjes J, Berlin I, Jost CR, Wijnholds J. CRB1 is required for recycling by RAB11A+ vesicles in human retinal organoids. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1793-1810. [PMID: 37541258 PMCID: PMC10545476 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.07.001] [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: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
CRB1 gene mutations can cause early- or late-onset retinitis pigmentosa, Leber congenital amaurosis, or maculopathy. Recapitulating human CRB1 phenotypes in animal models has proven challenging, necessitating the development of alternatives. We generated human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived retinal organoids of patients with retinitis pigmentosa caused by biallelic CRB1 mutations and evaluated them against autologous gene-corrected hiPSCs and hiPSCs from healthy individuals. Patient organoids show decreased levels of CRB1 and NOTCH1 expression at the retinal outer limiting membrane. Proximity ligation assays show that human CRB1 and NOTCH1 can interact via their extracellular domains. CRB1 patient organoids feature increased levels of WDFY1+ vesicles, fewer RAB11A+ recycling endosomes, decreased VPS35 retromer complex components, and more degradative endolysosomal compartments relative to isogenic control organoids. Taken together, our data demonstrate that patient-derived retinal organoids enable modeling of retinal degeneration and highlight the importance of CRB1 in early endosome maturation receptor recycling in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilo M Buck
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Peter M J Quinn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Lucie P Pellissier
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam 1105 BA, the Netherlands
| | - Aat A Mulder
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2300 RC, the Netherlands
| | - Aldo Jongejan
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Epidemiology & Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, the Netherlands
| | - Xuefei Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Nanda Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Daniëlle Koot
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Hind Almushattat
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
| | | | - Rogier M Vos
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam 1105 BA, the Netherlands
| | - Edward J Bradley
- Department of Genome Analysis, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, the Netherlands
| | - Christian Freund
- Leiden University Medical Center hiPSC Hotel, Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Harald M M Mikkers
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2300 RC, the Netherlands; Leiden University Medical Center hiPSC Hotel, Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Camiel J F Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1000 AE, the Netherlands
| | - Perry D Moerland
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Epidemiology & Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, the Netherlands
| | - Frank Baas
- Department of Genome Analysis, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Genetics/LDGA, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Abraham J Koster
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2300 RC, the Netherlands
| | - Jacques Neefjes
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2300 RC, the Netherlands
| | - Ilana Berlin
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2300 RC, the Netherlands
| | - Carolina R Jost
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2300 RC, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands; Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam 1105 BA, the Netherlands.
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7
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Boon N, Lu X, Andriessen CA, Moustakas I, Buck TM, Freund C, Arendzen CH, Böhringer S, Mei H, Wijnholds J. AAV-mediated gene augmentation therapy of CRB1 patient-derived retinal organoids restores the histological and transcriptional retinal phenotype. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1123-1137. [PMID: 37084726 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis are inherited retinal dystrophies that can be caused by mutations in the Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) gene. CRB1 is required for organizing apical-basal polarity and adhesion between photoreceptors and Müller glial cells. CRB1 patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells were differentiated into CRB1 retinal organoids that showed diminished expression of variant CRB1 protein observed by immunohistochemical analysis. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed impact on, among others, the endosomal pathway and cell adhesion and migration in CRB1 patient-derived retinal organoids compared with isogenic controls. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated hCRB2 or hCRB1 gene augmentation in Müller glial and photoreceptor cells partially restored the histological phenotype and transcriptomic profile of CRB1 patient-derived retinal organoids. Altogether, we show proof-of-concept that AAV.hCRB1 or AAV.hCRB2 treatment improved the phenotype of CRB1 patient-derived retinal organoids, providing essential information for future gene therapy approaches for patients with mutations in the CRB1 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanda Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Xuefei Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte A Andriessen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ioannis Moustakas
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Thilo M Buck
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Christian Freund
- hiPSC Hotel, Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Christiaan H Arendzen
- hiPSC Hotel, Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan Böhringer
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands; Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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8
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Clinical and Therapeutic Evaluation of the Ten Most Prevalent CRB1 Mutations. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020385. [PMID: 36830922 PMCID: PMC9953187 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020385] [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: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) gene lead to severe inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs), accounting for nearly 80,000 cases worldwide. To date, there is no therapeutic option for patients suffering from CRB1-IRDs. Therefore, it is of great interest to evaluate gene editing strategies capable of correcting CRB1 mutations. A retrospective chart review was conducted on ten patients demonstrating one or two of the top ten most prevalent CRB1 mutations and receiving care at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. Patient phenotypes were consistent with previously published data for individual CRB1 mutations. To identify the optimal gene editing strategy for these ten mutations, base and prime editing designs were evaluated. For base editing, we adopted the use of a near-PAMless Cas9 (SpRY Cas9), whereas for prime editing, we evaluated the canonical NGG and NGA prime editors. We demonstrate that for the correction of c.2843G>A, p.(Cys948Tyr), the most prevalent CRB1 mutation, base editing has the potential to generate harmful bystanders. Prime editing, however, avoids these bystanders, highlighting its future potential to halt CRB1-mediated disease progression. Additional studies investigating prime editing for CRB1-IRDs are needed, as well as a thorough analysis of prime editing's application, efficiency, and safety in the retina.
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da Costa BL, Jenny LA, Maumenee IH, Tsang SH, Quinn PMJ. Analysis of CRB1 Pathogenic Variants Correctable with CRISPR Base and Prime Editing. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1415:103-107. [PMID: 37440021 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_16] [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
The mouse and human retina contain three major Crumbs homologue-1 (CRB1) isoforms. CRB1-A and CRB1-B have cell-type-specific expression patterns making the choice of gene augmentation strategy unclear. Gene editing may be a viable alternative for the amelioration of CRB1-associated retinal degenerations. To assess the prevalence and spectrum of CRB1-associated pathogenic variants amenable to base and prime editing, we carried out an analysis of the Leiden Open Variation Database. Editable variants accounted for 54.5% for base editing and 99.8% for prime editing of all CRB1 pathogenic variants in the Leiden Open Variation Database. The 10 most common editable pathogenic variants for CRB1 accounted for 34.95% of all pathogenic variants, with the c.2843G>A, p.(Cys948Tyr) being the most common editable CRB1 variant. These findings outline the next step toward developing base and prime editing therapeutics as an alternative to gene augmentation for the amelioration of CRB1-associated retinal degenerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Lopes da Costa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura A Jenny
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Irene H Maumenee
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter M J Quinn
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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10
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Weatherly SM, Collin GB, Charette JR, Stone L, Damkham N, Hyde LF, Peterson JG, Hicks W, Carter GW, Naggert JK, Krebs MP, Nishina PM. Identification of Arhgef12 and Prkci as genetic modifiers of retinal dysplasia in the Crb1rd8 mouse model. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009798. [PMID: 35675330 PMCID: PMC9212170 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the apicobasal polarity gene CRB1 lead to diverse retinal diseases, such as Leber congenital amaurosis, cone-rod dystrophy, retinitis pigmentosa (with and without Coats-like vasculopathy), foveal retinoschisis, macular dystrophy, and pigmented paravenous chorioretinal atrophy. Limited correlation between disease phenotypes and CRB1 alleles, and evidence that patients sharing the same alleles often present with different disease features, suggest that genetic modifiers contribute to clinical variation. Similarly, the retinal phenotype of mice bearing the Crb1 retinal degeneration 8 (rd8) allele varies with genetic background. Here, we initiated a sensitized chemical mutagenesis screen in B6.Cg-Crb1rd8/Pjn, a strain with a mild clinical presentation, to identify genetic modifiers that cause a more severe disease phenotype. Two models from this screen, Tvrm266 and Tvrm323, exhibited increased retinal dysplasia. Genetic mapping with high-throughput exome and candidate-gene sequencing identified causative mutations in Arhgef12 and Prkci, respectively. Epistasis analysis of both strains indicated that the increased dysplastic phenotype required homozygosity of the Crb1rd8 allele. Retinal dysplastic lesions in Tvrm266 mice were smaller and caused less photoreceptor degeneration than those in Tvrm323 mice, which developed an early, large diffuse lesion phenotype. At one month of age, Müller glia and microglia mislocalization at dysplastic lesions in both modifier strains was similar to that in B6.Cg-Crb1rd8/Pjn mice but photoreceptor cell mislocalization was more extensive. External limiting membrane disruption was comparable in Tvrm266 and B6.Cg-Crb1rd8/Pjn mice but milder in Tvrm323 mice. Immunohistological analysis of mice at postnatal day 0 indicated a normal distribution of mitotic cells in Tvrm266 and Tvrm323 mice, suggesting normal early development. Aberrant electroretinography responses were observed in both models but functional decline was significant only in Tvrm323 mice. These results identify Arhgef12 and Prkci as modifier genes that differentially shape Crb1-associated retinal disease, which may be relevant to understanding clinical variability and underlying disease mechanisms in humans. Inherited eye diseases affect roughly 1:1,000 individuals worldwide. Although these diseases are often linked to variants of a single gene, it is increasingly recognized that a second variant in other genes may modify disease characteristics, including age of onset, severity, and lesion appearance. Identifying such modifier genes in humans is difficult. In this study, two modifiers of a gene associated with retinal damage leading to childhood blindness in humans (CRB1) were identified in mice. Retinal damage caused by Crb1 mutation alone was less severe than in the presence of Arhgef12 or Prkci mutations. Furthermore, the modifier gene mutations caused retinal damage only in the presence of the Crb1 mutation. Our results point to a role of mouse Crb1 and the modifying effects of Arhgef12 and Prkci in a biological network that controls adhesive interactions between cells. The variation in disease severity, lesion appearance, and visual responses in these mice provide a dramatic example of modifier gene influence. This work may lead to an improved understanding of the molecular basis of CRB1-associated retinal disease, with possible relevance to diagnostic and therapeutic intervention in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gayle B. Collin
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | - Lisa Stone
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Nattaya Damkham
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Immunology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Lillian F. Hyde
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | - Wanda Hicks
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | | | - Mark P. Krebs
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MPK); (PMN)
| | - Patsy M. Nishina
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MPK); (PMN)
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11
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Zernant J, Lee W, Wang J, Goetz K, Ullah E, Nagasaki T, Su PY, Fishman GA, Tsang SH, Tumminia SJ, Brooks BP, Hufnagel RB, Chen R, Allikmets R. Rare and common variants in ROM1 and PRPH2 genes trans-modify Stargardt/ABCA4 disease. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010129. [PMID: 35353811 PMCID: PMC9000055 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Over 1,500 variants in the ABCA4 locus cause phenotypes ranging from severe, early-onset retinal degeneration to very late-onset maculopathies. The resulting ABCA4/Stargardt disease is the most prevalent Mendelian eye disorder, although its underlying clinical heterogeneity, including penetrance of many alleles, are not well-understood. We hypothesized that a share of this complexity is explained by trans-modifiers, i.e., variants in unlinked loci, which are currently unknown. We sought to identify these by performing exome sequencing in a large cohort for a rare disease of 622 cases and compared variation in seven genes known to clinically phenocopy ABCA4 disease to cohorts of ethnically matched controls. We identified a significant enrichment of variants in 2 out of the 7 genes. Moderately rare, likely functional, variants, at the minor allele frequency (MAF) <0.005 and CADD>25, were enriched in ROM1, where 1.3% of 622 patients harbored a ROM1 variant compared to 0.3% of 10,865 controls (p = 2.41E04; OR 3.81 95% CI [1.77; 8.22]). More importantly, analysis of common variants (MAF>0.1) identified a frequent haplotype in PRPH2, tagged by the p.Asp338 variant with MAF = 0.21 in the matched general population that was significantly increased in the patient cohort, MAF 0.25, p = 0.0014. Significant differences were also observed between ABCA4 disease subgroups. In the late-onset subgroup, defined by the hypomorphic p.Asn1868Ile variant and including c.4253+43G>A, the allele frequency for the PRPH2 p.Asp338 variant was 0.15 vs 0.27 in the remaining cohort, p = 0.00057. Known functional data allowed suggesting a mechanism by which the PRPH2 haplotype influences the ABCA4 disease penetrance. These associations were replicated in an independent cohort of 408 patients. The association was highly statistically significant in the combined cohorts of 1,030 cases, p = 4.00E-05 for all patients and p = 0.00014 for the hypomorph subgroup, suggesting a substantial trans-modifying role in ABCA4 disease for both rare and common variants in two unlinked loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Zernant
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Winston Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kerry Goetz
- National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ehsan Ullah
- National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Takayuki Nagasaki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Pei-Yin Su
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Gerald A. Fishman
- The Pangere Center for Inherited Retinal Diseases, The Chicago Lighthouse, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Stephen H. Tsang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Santa J. Tumminia
- National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brian P. Brooks
- National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Robert B. Hufnagel
- National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rando Allikmets
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
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12
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Nahar A, Cho SH. Current perspectives in Leber congenital amaurosis type 8 mouse modeling. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:1094-1106. [PMID: 35150033 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the CRB1 (Crumbs homolog 1) cause rare retinal diseases like retinitis pigmentosa type 12 (RP12) and Leber congenital amaurosis type 8 (LCA8). RP12 results in progressively worsening peripheral vision, whereas LCA8 causes severe visual impairment at birth or in early life. While several mouse models have been proposed for RP12, few replicate the full spectrum of human LCA8 pathology, such as disorganized retinal layering, abnormal retinal thickening, pigmentary defects, hyperreflective lesions, and severely attenuated electroretinogram responses at birth. Six models have been proposed utilizing the Cre-loxP system to delete candidate genes in specific retinal cell types and developmental stages. The model ablating Crb1 and its homolog Crb2 (using mRx-Cre) from the beginning of the eye development is the most complete as it shows blindness during the eye-opening stage, pigmentary defects in the RPE, ganglion cell layer heterotopia, disruption of retinal lamination, and acellular patches. LCA8 represents a unique type of retinal dystrophy among LCA subtypes, driven by dysfunctional retinal progenitor cells during eye development. In contrast, other LCA types and RP12 are caused by photoreceptor defects. Therefore, the most accurate LCA8-like mouse model must target both alleles of the Crb1 and Crb2 genes in the optic vesicle or earlier. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Nahar
- Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Seo-Hee Cho
- Center for Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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13
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Schoonderwoerd RA, Buck TM, Andriessen CA, Wijnholds J, Hattar S, Meijer JH, Deboer T. Sleep Deprivation Does not Change the Flash Electroretinogram in Wild-type and Opn4-/-Gnat1-/- Mice. J Biol Rhythms 2022; 37:216-221. [PMID: 35132885 PMCID: PMC9008555 DOI: 10.1177/07487304221074995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Sleep deprivation reduces the response of neuronal activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the phase shift in circadian behaviour to phase shifting light pulses, and thus seems to impair the adaptation of the circadian clock to the external light-dark cycle. The question remains where in the pathway of light input to the SCN the response is reduced. We therefore investigated whether the electroretinogram (ERG) changes after sleep deprivation in wild-type mice and in Opn4−/−Gnat1−/− mutant male mice. We found that the ERG is clearly affected by the Opn4−/−Gnat1−/− mutations, but that the ERG after sleep deprivation does not differ from the baseline response. The difference between wild-type and mutant is in accordance with the lack of functional rod and melanopsin in the retina of the mutant mice. We conclude that the decrease in light responsiveness of the SCN after sleep deprivation is probably not caused by changes at the retinal level, but rather at the postsynaptic site within the SCN, reflecting affected neurotransmitter signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin A Schoonderwoerd
- Laboratory for Neurophysiology, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Thilo M Buck
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Samer Hattar
- Section of Light and Circadian Rhythms, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Johanna H Meijer
- Laboratory for Neurophysiology, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tom Deboer
- Laboratory for Neurophysiology, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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14
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Defining Phenotype, Tropism, and Retinal Gene Therapy Using Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors (AAVs) in New-Born Brown Norway Rats with a Spontaneous Mutation in Crb1. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073563. [PMID: 33808129 PMCID: PMC8036486 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the Crumbs homologue 1 (CRB1) gene cause inherited retinal dystrophies, such as early-onset retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis. A Brown Norway rat strain was reported with a spontaneous insertion-deletion (indel) mutation in exon 6 of Crb1. It has been reported that these Crb1 mutant rats show vascular abnormalities associated with retinal telangiectasia and possess an early-onset retinal degenerative phenotype with outer limiting membrane breaks and focal loss of retinal lamination at 2 months of age. Here, we further characterized the morphological phenotype of new-born and adult Crb1 mutant rats in comparison with age-matched Brown Norway rats without a mutation in Crb1. A significantly decreased retinal function and visual acuity was observed in Crb1 mutant rats at 1 and 3 months of age, respectively. Moreover, in control rats, the subcellular localization of canonical CRB1 was observed at the subapical region in Müller glial cells while CRB2 was observed at the subapical region in both photoreceptors and Müller glial cells by immuno-electron microscopy. CRB1 localization was lost in the Crb1 mutant rats, whereas CRB2 was still observed. In addition, we determined the tropism of subretinal or intravitreally administered AAV5-, AAV9- or AAV6-variant ShH10Y445F vectors in new-born control and Crb1 mutant rat retinas. We showed that subretinal injection of AAV5 and AAV9 at postnatal days 5 (P5) or 8 (P8) predominantly infected the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor cells; while intravitreal injection of ShH10Y445F at P5 or P8 resulted in efficient infection of mainly Müller glial cells. Using knowledge of the subcellular localization of CRB1 and the ability of ShH10Y445F to infect Müller glial cells, canonical hCRB1 and hCRB2 AAV-mediated gene therapy were explored in new-born Crb1 mutant rats. Enhanced retinal function after gene therapy delivery in the Crb1 rat was not observed. No timely rescue of the retinal phenotype was observed using retinal function and visual acuity, suggesting the need for earlier onset of expression of recombinant hCRB proteins in Müller glial cells to rescue the severe retinal phenotype in Crb1 mutant rats.
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15
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Hao Q, Zheng M, Weng K, Hao Y, Zhou Y, Lin Y, Gao F, Kou Z, Kawamura S, Yao K, Xu P, Chen J, Zou J. Crumbs proteins stabilize the cone mosaics of photoreceptors and improve vision in zebrafish. J Genet Genomics 2021; 48:52-62. [PMID: 33771456 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Although the unique organization of vertebrate cone mosaics was first described long ago, both their underlying molecular basis and physiological significance are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Crumbs proteins, the key regulators of epithelial apical polarity, establish the planar cellular polarity of photoreceptors in zebrafish. Via heterophilic Crb2a-Crb2b interactions, the apicobasal polarity protein Crb2b restricts the asymmetric planar distribution of Crb2a in photoreceptors. The planar polarized Crumbs proteins thus balance intercellular adhesions and tension between photoreceptors, thereby stabilizing the geometric organization of cone mosaics. Notably, loss of Crb2b in zebrafish induces a nearsightedness-like phenotype in zebrafish accompanied by an elongated eye axis and impairs zebrafish visual perception for predation. These data reveal a detailed mechanism for cone mosaic homeostasis via previously undiscovered apical-planar polarity coordination and propose a pathogenic mechanism for nearsightedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinlong Hao
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China; The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Mingjie Zheng
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China; The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Kechao Weng
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China; The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yumei Hao
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China; The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yao Zhou
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China; The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yuchen Lin
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China; Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Ziqi Kou
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China; The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shoji Kawamura
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Ke Yao
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Pinglong Xu
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jinghai Chen
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Jian Zou
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China; The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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16
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Buck TM, Vos RM, Alves CH, Wijnholds J. AAV- CRB2 protects against vision loss in an inducible CRB1 retinitis pigmentosa mouse model. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 20:423-441. [PMID: 33575434 PMCID: PMC7848734 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Loss of Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) or CRB2 proteins in Müller cells or photoreceptors in the mouse retina results in a CRB dose-dependent retinal phenotype. In this study, we present a novel Müller cell-specific Crb1KOCrb2LowMGC retinitis pigmentosa mouse model (complete loss of CRB1 and reduced levels of CRB2 specifically in Müller cells). The Crb double mutant mice showed deficits in electroretinography, optokinetic head tracking, and retinal morphology. Exposure of retinas to low levels of dl-α-aminoadipate acid induced gliosis and retinal disorganization in Crb1KOCrb2LowMGC retinas but not in wild-type or Crb1-deficient retinas. Crb1KOCrb2LowMGC mice showed a substantial decrease in inner/outer photoreceptor segment length and optokinetic head-tracking response. Intravitreal application of rAAV vectors expressing human CRB2 (hCRB2) in Müller cells of Crb1KOCrb2LowMGC mice subsequently exposed to low levels of dl-α-aminoadipate acid prevented loss of vision, whereas recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors expressing human CRB1 (hCRB1) did not. Both rAAV vectors partially protected the morphology of the retina. The results suggest that hCRB expression in Müller cells is vital for control of retinal cell adhesion at the outer limiting membrane, and that the rAAV-cytomegalovirus (CMV)-hCRB2 vector is more potent than rAAV-minimal CMV (CMVmin)-hCRB1 in protection against loss of vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilo M Buck
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Rogier M Vos
- Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - C Henrique Alves
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands.,Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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17
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Manafi N, Shokri F, Achberger K, Hirayama M, Mohammadi MH, Noorizadeh F, Hong J, Liebau S, Tsuji T, Quinn PMJ, Mashaghi A. Organoids and organ chips in ophthalmology. Ocul Surf 2020; 19:1-15. [PMID: 33220469 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2020.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances have driven the development of stem cell-derived, self-organizing, three-dimensional miniature organs, termed organoids, which mimic different eye tissues including the retina, cornea, and lens. Organoids and engineered microfluidic organ-on-chips (organ chips) are transformative technologies that show promise in simulating the architectural and functional complexity of native organs. Accordingly, they enable exploration of facets of human disease and development not accurately recapitulated by animal models. Together, these technologies will increase our understanding of the basic physiology of different eye structures, enable us to interrogate unknown aspects of ophthalmic disease pathogenesis, and serve as clinically-relevant surrogates for the evaluation of ocular therapeutics. Both the burden and prevalence of monogenic and multifactorial ophthalmic diseases, which can cause visual impairment or blindness, in the human population warrants a paradigm shift towards organoids and organ chips that can provide sensitive, quantitative, and scalable phenotypic assays. In this article, we review the current situation of organoids and organ chips in ophthalmology and discuss how they can be leveraged for translational applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navid Manafi
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, The Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University, 2333CC, Leiden, the Netherlands; Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Fereshteh Shokri
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kevin Achberger
- Institute of Neuroanatomy & Developmental Biology (INDB), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Österbergstrasse 3, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Masatoshi Hirayama
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College Ichikawa General Hospital, Chiba, 272-8513, Japan; Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Melika Haji Mohammadi
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, The Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University, 2333CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jiaxu Hong
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, The Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University, 2333CC, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Eye, and ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 83 Fenyang Road, Shanghai, China; Key NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Myopia, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Shanghai, China
| | - Stefan Liebau
- Institute of Neuroanatomy & Developmental Biology (INDB), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Österbergstrasse 3, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Takashi Tsuji
- Laboratory for Organ Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan; Organ Technologies Inc., Minato, Tokyo, 105-0001, Japan
| | - Peter M J Quinn
- Jonas Children's Vision Care and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Departments of Ophthalmology, Pathology & Cell Biology, Institute of Human Nutrition, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. New York, NY, USA; Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center - New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Alireza Mashaghi
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, The Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University, 2333CC, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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18
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Boon N, Wijnholds J, Pellissier LP. Research Models and Gene Augmentation Therapy for CRB1 Retinal Dystrophies. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:860. [PMID: 32922261 PMCID: PMC7456964 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) are inherited degenerative retinal dystrophies with vision loss that ultimately lead to blindness. Several genes have been shown to be involved in early onset retinal dystrophies, including CRB1 and RPE65. Gene therapy recently became available for young RP patients with variations in the RPE65 gene. Current research programs test adeno-associated viral gene augmentation or editing therapy vectors on various disease models mimicking the disease in patients. These include several animal and emerging human-derived models, such as human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal organoids or hiPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and human donor retinal explants. Variations in the CRB1 gene are a major cause for early onset autosomal recessive RP with patients suffering from visual impairment before their adolescence and for LCA with newborns experiencing severe visual impairment within the first months of life. These patients cannot benefit yet from an available gene therapy treatment. In this review, we will discuss the recent advances, advantages and disadvantages of different CRB1 human and animal retinal degeneration models. In addition, we will describe novel therapeutic tools that have been developed, which could potentially be used for retinal gene augmentation therapy for RP patients with variations in the CRB1 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanda Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Lucie P Pellissier
- Biology and Bioinformatics of Signalling Systems, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements INRAE UMR 0085, CNRS UMR 7247, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
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19
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Buck TM, Wijnholds J. Recombinant Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors (rAAV)-Vector Elements in Ocular Gene Therapy Clinical Trials and Transgene Expression and Bioactivity Assays. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4197. [PMID: 32545533 PMCID: PMC7352801 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal dystrophies and optic neuropathies cause chronic disabling loss of visual function. The development of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV) gene therapies in all disease fields have been promising, but the translation to the clinic has been slow. The safety and efficacy profiles of rAAV are linked to the dose of applied vectors. DNA changes in the rAAV gene cassette affect potency, the expression pattern (cell-specificity), and the production yield. Here, we present a library of rAAV vectors and elements that provide a workflow to design novel vectors. We first performed a meta-analysis on recombinant rAAV elements in clinical trials (2007-2020) for ocular gene therapies. We analyzed 33 unique rAAV gene cassettes used in 57 ocular clinical trials. The rAAV gene therapy vectors used six unique capsid variants, 16 different promoters, and six unique polyadenylation sequences. Further, we compiled a list of promoters, enhancers, and other sequences used in current rAAV gene cassettes in preclinical studies. Then, we give an update on pro-viral plasmid backbones used to produce the gene therapy vectors, inverted terminal repeats, production yield, and rAAV safety considerations. Finally, we assess rAAV transgene and bioactivity assays applied to cells or organoids in vitro, explants ex vivo, and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilo M. Buck
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands;
- Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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20
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Collin GB, Gogna N, Chang B, Damkham N, Pinkney J, Hyde LF, Stone L, Naggert JK, Nishina PM, Krebs MP. Mouse Models of Inherited Retinal Degeneration with Photoreceptor Cell Loss. Cells 2020; 9:cells9040931. [PMID: 32290105 PMCID: PMC7227028 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal degeneration (RD) leads to the impairment or loss of vision in millions of individuals worldwide, most frequently due to the loss of photoreceptor (PR) cells. Animal models, particularly the laboratory mouse, have been used to understand the pathogenic mechanisms that underlie PR cell loss and to explore therapies that may prevent, delay, or reverse RD. Here, we reviewed entries in the Mouse Genome Informatics and PubMed databases to compile a comprehensive list of monogenic mouse models in which PR cell loss is demonstrated. The progression of PR cell loss with postnatal age was documented in mutant alleles of genes grouped by biological function. As anticipated, a wide range in the onset and rate of cell loss was observed among the reported models. The analysis underscored relationships between RD genes and ciliary function, transcription-coupled DNA damage repair, and cellular chloride homeostasis. Comparing the mouse gene list to human RD genes identified in the RetNet database revealed that mouse models are available for 40% of the known human diseases, suggesting opportunities for future research. This work may provide insight into the molecular players and pathways through which PR degenerative disease occurs and may be useful for planning translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayle B. Collin
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (N.G.); (B.C.); (N.D.); (J.P.); (L.F.H.); (L.S.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Navdeep Gogna
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (N.G.); (B.C.); (N.D.); (J.P.); (L.F.H.); (L.S.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Bo Chang
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (N.G.); (B.C.); (N.D.); (J.P.); (L.F.H.); (L.S.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Nattaya Damkham
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (N.G.); (B.C.); (N.D.); (J.P.); (L.F.H.); (L.S.); (J.K.N.)
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
- Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Jai Pinkney
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (N.G.); (B.C.); (N.D.); (J.P.); (L.F.H.); (L.S.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Lillian F. Hyde
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (N.G.); (B.C.); (N.D.); (J.P.); (L.F.H.); (L.S.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Lisa Stone
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (N.G.); (B.C.); (N.D.); (J.P.); (L.F.H.); (L.S.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Jürgen K. Naggert
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (N.G.); (B.C.); (N.D.); (J.P.); (L.F.H.); (L.S.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Patsy M. Nishina
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (N.G.); (B.C.); (N.D.); (J.P.); (L.F.H.); (L.S.); (J.K.N.)
- Correspondence: (P.M.N.); (M.P.K.); Tel.: +1-207-2886-383 (P.M.N.); +1-207-2886-000 (M.P.K.)
| | - Mark P. Krebs
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (N.G.); (B.C.); (N.D.); (J.P.); (L.F.H.); (L.S.); (J.K.N.)
- Correspondence: (P.M.N.); (M.P.K.); Tel.: +1-207-2886-383 (P.M.N.); +1-207-2886-000 (M.P.K.)
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21
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Cisneros E, di Marco F, Rueda-Carrasco J, Lillo C, Pereyra G, Martín-Bermejo MJ, Vargas A, Sanchez R, Sandonís Á, Esteve P, Bovolenta P. Sfrp1 deficiency makes retinal photoreceptors prone to degeneration. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5115. [PMID: 32198470 PMCID: PMC7083943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61970-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from impaired vision, a condition with multiple origins that often impinge upon the light sensing cells of the retina, the photoreceptors, affecting their integrity. The molecular components contributing to this integrity are however not yet fully understood. Here we have asked whether Secreted Frizzled Related Protein 1 (SFRP1) may be one of such factors. SFRP1 has a context-dependent function as modulator of Wnt signalling or of the proteolytic activity of A Disintegrin And Metalloproteases (ADAM) 10, a main regulator of neural cell-cell communication. We report that in Sfrp1−/− mice, the outer limiting membrane (OLM) is discontinuous and the photoreceptors disorganized and more prone to light-induced damage. Sfrp1 loss significantly enhances the effect of the Rpe65Leu450Leu genetic variant -present in the mouse genetic background- which confers sensitivity to light-induced stress. These alterations worsen with age, affect visual function and are associated to an increased proteolysis of Protocadherin 21 (PCDH21), localized at the photoreceptor outer segment, and N-cadherin, an OLM component. We thus propose that SFRP1 contributes to photoreceptor fitness with a mechanism that involves the maintenance of OLM integrity. These conclusions are discussed in view of the broader implication of SFRP1 in neurodegeneration and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Cisneros
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León and IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro Universitario Internacional de Madrid (CUNIMAD), Dept. de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabiana di Marco
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Concepción Lillo
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León and IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | | | - Alba Vargas
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocío Sanchez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - África Sandonís
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Esteve
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paola Bovolenta
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain.
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22
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Xu L, Bolch SN, Santiago CP, Dyka FM, Akil O, Lobanova ES, Wang Y, Martemyanov KA, Hauswirth WW, Smith WC, Handa JT, Blackshaw S, Ash JD, Dinculescu A. Clarin-1 expression in adult mouse and human retina highlights a role of Müller glia in Usher syndrome. J Pathol 2019; 250:195-204. [PMID: 31625146 PMCID: PMC7003947 DOI: 10.1002/path.5360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Usher syndrome type 3 (USH3) is an autosomal recessively inherited disorder caused by mutations in the gene clarin‐1 (CLRN1), leading to combined progressive hearing loss and retinal degeneration. The cellular distribution of CLRN1 in the retina remains uncertain, either because its expression levels are low or because its epitopes are masked. Indeed, in the adult mouse retina, Clrn1 mRNA is developmentally downregulated, detectable only by RT‐PCR. In this study we used the highly sensitive RNAscope in situ hybridization assay and single‐cell RNA‐sequencing techniques to investigate the distribution of Clrn1 and CLRN1 in mouse and human retina, respectively. We found that Clrn1 transcripts in mouse tissue are localized to the inner retina during postnatal development and in adult stages. The pattern of Clrn1 mRNA cellular expression is similar in both mouse and human adult retina, with CLRN1 transcripts being localized in Müller glia, and not photoreceptors. We generated a novel knock‐in mouse with a hemagglutinin (HA) epitope‐tagged CLRN1 and showed that CLRN1 is expressed continuously at the protein level in the retina. Following enzymatic deglycosylation and immunoblotting analysis, we detected a single CLRN1‐specific protein band in homogenates of mouse and human retina, consistent in size with the main CLRN1 isoform. Taken together, our results implicate Müller glia in USH3 pathology, placing this cell type to the center of future mechanistic and therapeutic studies to prevent vision loss in this disease. © 2019 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Susan N Bolch
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Clayton P Santiago
- Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Frank M Dyka
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Omar Akil
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Yuchen Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | | | | | - W Clay Smith
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - James T Handa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Center for Human Systems Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John D Ash
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Astra Dinculescu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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23
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Retinogenesis of the Human Fetal Retina: An Apical Polarity Perspective. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10120987. [PMID: 31795518 PMCID: PMC6947654 DOI: 10.3390/genes10120987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Crumbs complex has prominent roles in the control of apical cell polarity, in the coupling of cell density sensing to downstream cell signaling pathways, and in regulating junctional structures and cell adhesion. The Crumbs complex acts as a conductor orchestrating multiple downstream signaling pathways in epithelial and neuronal tissue development. These pathways lead to the regulation of cell size, cell fate, cell self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, migration, mitosis, and apoptosis. In retinogenesis, these are all pivotal processes with important roles for the Crumbs complex to maintain proper spatiotemporal cell processes. Loss of Crumbs function in the retina results in loss of the stratified appearance resulting in retinal degeneration and loss of visual function. In this review, we begin by discussing the physiology of vision. We continue by outlining the processes of retinogenesis and how well this is recapitulated between the human fetal retina and human embryonic stem cell (ESC) or induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived retinal organoids. Additionally, we discuss the functionality of in utero and preterm human fetal retina and the current level of functionality as detected in human stem cell-derived organoids. We discuss the roles of apical-basal cell polarity in retinogenesis with a focus on Leber congenital amaurosis which leads to blindness shortly after birth. Finally, we discuss Crumbs homolog (CRB)-based gene augmentation.
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24
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Alves CH, Boon N, Mulder AA, Koster AJ, Jost CR, Wijnholds J. CRB2 Loss in Rod Photoreceptors Is Associated with Progressive Loss of Retinal Contrast Sensitivity. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174069. [PMID: 31438467 PMCID: PMC6747345 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Variations in the Crumbs homolog-1 (CRB1) gene are associated with a wide variety of autosomal recessive retinal dystrophies, including early onset retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). CRB1 belongs to the Crumbs family, which in mammals includes CRB2 and CRB3. Here, we studied the specific roles of CRB2 in rod photoreceptor cells and whether ablation of CRB2 in rods exacerbates the Crb1-disease. Therefore, we assessed the morphological, retinal, and visual functional consequences of specific ablation of CRB2 from rods with or without concomitant loss of CRB1. Our data demonstrated that loss of CRB2 in mature rods resulted in RP. The retina showed gliosis and disruption of the subapical region and adherens junctions at the outer limiting membrane. Rods were lost at the peripheral and central superior retina, while gross retinal lamination was preserved. Rod function as measured by electroretinography was impaired in adult mice. Additional loss of CRB1 exacerbated the retinal phenotype leading to an early reduction of the dark-adapted rod photoreceptor a-wave and reduced contrast sensitivity from 3-months-of-age, as measured by optokinetic tracking reflex (OKT) behavior testing. The data suggest that CRB2 present in rods is required to prevent photoreceptor degeneration and vision loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Henrique Alves
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nanda Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aat A Mulder
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Abraham J Koster
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Carolina R Jost
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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25
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Targeted deletion of Crb1/Crb2 in the optic vesicle models key features of leber congenital amaurosis 8. Dev Biol 2019; 453:141-154. [PMID: 31145883 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The Crb1 and 2 (Crumbs homolog 1 & 2) genes encode large, single-pass transmembrane proteins essential for the apicobasal polarity and adhesion of epithelial cells. Crb1 mutations cause degenerative retinal diseases in humans, including Leber congenital amaurosis type 8 (LCA8) and retinitis pigmentosa type 12 (RP12). In LCA8, impaired photoreceptor development and/or survival is thought to cause blindness during early infancy, whereas, in RP12, progressive photoreceptor degeneration damages peripheral vision later in life. There are multiple animal models of RP12 pathology, but no experimental model of LCA8 recapitulates the full spectrum of its pathological features. To generate a mouse model of LCA8 and identify the functions of Crb1/2 in developing ocular tissues, we used an mRx-Cre driver to generate allelic combinations that enabled conditional gene ablation from the optic vesicle stage. In this series only Crb1/2 double knockout (dKO) mice exhibited characteristics of human LCA8 disease: locally thickened retina with spots devoid of cells, aberrant positioning of retinal cells, severely disrupted lamination, and depigmented retinal-pigmented epithelium. Retinal defects antedated E12.5, which is far earlier than the stage at which photoreceptor cells mainly differentiate. Most remarkably, Crb1/Crb2 dKO showed a severely attenuated electroretinogram at the eye opening stage. These results suggest that human LCA8 can be modeled in the mouse by simultaneously ablating Crb1/2 from the beginning of eye development. Importantly, they also indicate that LCA8 is caused by malfunction of retinal progenitor cells during early ocular development rather than by defective photoreceptor-Muller glial interaction, a mechanism proposed for RP12.
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26
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Quinn PM, Buck TM, Mulder AA, Ohonin C, Alves CH, Vos RM, Bialecka M, van Herwaarden T, van Dijk EHC, Talib M, Freund C, Mikkers HMM, Hoeben RC, Goumans MJ, Boon CJF, Koster AJ, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM, Jost CR, Wijnholds J. Human iPSC-Derived Retinas Recapitulate the Fetal CRB1 CRB2 Complex Formation and Demonstrate that Photoreceptors and Müller Glia Are Targets of AAV5. Stem Cell Reports 2019; 12:906-919. [PMID: 30956116 PMCID: PMC6522954 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human retinal organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can be used to confirm the localization of proteins in retinal cell types and to test transduction and expression patterns of gene therapy vectors. Here, we compared the onset of CRB protein expression in human fetal retina with human iPSC-derived retinal organoids. We show that CRB2 protein precedes the expression of CRB1 in the developing human retina. Our data suggest the presence of CRB1 and CRB2 in human photoreceptors and Müller glial cells. Thus the fetal CRB complex formation is replicated in hiPSC-derived retina. CRB1 patient iPSC retinal organoids showed disruptions at the outer limiting membrane as found in Crb1 mutant mice. Furthermore, AAV serotype 5 (AAV5) is potent in infecting human Müller glial cells and photoreceptors in hiPSC-derived retinas and retinal explants. Our data suggest that human photoreceptors can be efficiently transduced by AAVs in the presence of photoreceptor segments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Quinn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thilo M Buck
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aat A Mulder
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte Ohonin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - C Henrique Alves
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rogier M Vos
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Monika Bialecka
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa van Herwaarden
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Elon H C van Dijk
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mays Talib
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Christian Freund
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Harald M M Mikkers
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rob C Hoeben
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marie-José Goumans
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Camiel J F Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1000 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Abraham J Koster
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Carolina R Jost
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands; Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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