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Wang X, Wang T, Kaneko S, Kriukov E, Lam E, Szczepan M, Chen J, Gregg A, Wang X, Fernandez-Gonzalez A, Mitsialis SA, Kourembanas S, Baranov P, Sun Y. Photoreceptors inhibit pathological retinal angiogenesis through transcriptional regulation of Adam17 via c-Fos. Angiogenesis 2024:10.1007/s10456-024-09912-0. [PMID: 38483712 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-024-09912-0] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Pathological retinal angiogenesis profoundly impacts visual function in vascular eye diseases, such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants and age-related macular degeneration in the elderly. While the involvement of photoreceptors in these diseases is recognized, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study delved into the pivotal role of photoreceptors in regulating abnormal retinal blood vessel growth using an oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse model through the c-Fos/A disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (Adam17) axis. Our findings revealed a significant induction of c-Fos expression in rod photoreceptors, and c-Fos depletion in these cells inhibited pathological neovascularization and reduced blood vessel leakage in the OIR mouse model. Mechanistically, c-Fos directly regulated the transcription of Adam17 a shedding protease responsible for the production of bioactive molecules involved in inflammation, angiogenesis, and cell adhesion and migration. Furthermore, we demonstrated the therapeutic potential by using an adeno-associated virus carrying a rod photoreceptor-specific short hairpin RNA against c-fos which effectively mitigated abnormal retinal blood vessel overgrowth, restored retinal thickness, and improved electroretinographic (ERG) responses. In conclusion, this study highlights the significance of photoreceptor c-Fos in ROP pathology, offering a novel perspective for the treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tianxi Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Satoshi Kaneko
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emil Kriukov
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Enton Lam
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Manon Szczepan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jasmine Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Austin Gregg
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xingyan Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Angeles Fernandez-Gonzalez
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - S Alex Mitsialis
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stella Kourembanas
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Petr Baranov
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ye Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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Zheng Y, Chen S. Transcriptional precision in photoreceptor development and diseases - Lessons from 25 years of CRX research. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1347436. [PMID: 38414750 PMCID: PMC10896975 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1347436] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate retina is made up of six specialized neuronal cell types and one glia that are generated from a common retinal progenitor. The development of these distinct cell types is programmed by transcription factors that regulate the expression of specific genes essential for cell fate specification and differentiation. Because of the complex nature of transcriptional regulation, understanding transcription factor functions in development and disease is challenging. Research on the Cone-rod homeobox transcription factor CRX provides an excellent model to address these challenges. In this review, we reflect on 25 years of mammalian CRX research and discuss recent progress in elucidating the distinct pathogenic mechanisms of four CRX coding variant classes. We highlight how in vitro biochemical studies of CRX protein functions facilitate understanding CRX regulatory principles in animal models. We conclude with a brief discussion of the emerging systems biology approaches that could accelerate precision medicine for CRX-linked diseases and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiao Zheng
- Molecular Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program, Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Shiming Chen
- Molecular Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program, Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, United States
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Lu K, Liang XF, Tang SL, Wu J, Zhang L, Wang Y, Chai F. Role of short-wave-sensitive 1 (sws1) in cone development and first feeding in larval zebrafish. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2023; 49:801-813. [PMID: 37495865 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-023-01213-5] [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: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Color vision is mediated by the expression of different major visual pigment proteins (opsins) on retinal photoreceptors. Vertebrates have four classes of cone opsins that are most sensitive to different wavelengths of light: short wavelength sensitive 1 (SWS1), short wavelength sensitive 2 (SWS2), medium wavelength sensitive (RH2), and long wavelength sensitive (LWS). UV wavelengths play important roles in foraging and communication. However, direct evidence provide links between sws1 and first feeding is lacking. Here, CRISPR/Cas9 technology was performed to generate mutant zebrafish lines with sws1 deletion. sws1 mutant zebrafish larvae exhibited decreased sws1, rh2-2, and lws1 expression, and increased rod gene (rho and gnat1) expression. Furthermore, the sws1-deficient larvae exhibited significantly reduced food intake, and the orexigenic genes npy and agrp signaling were upregulated at 6 days postfertilization (dpf). The transcription expression of sws1 and rh2-3 genes decreased in sws1-/- adults compared to wild type. Surprisingly, the results of feeding at the adult stage were not the same with larvae. sws1 deficiency did not affect food intake and appetite gene expression at adult stages. These results reveal a role for sws1 in normal cone development and first feeding in larval zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Lu
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xu-Fang Liang
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | - Shu-Lin Tang
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jiaqi Wu
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Lixin Zhang
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yuye Wang
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Farui Chai
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, China
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Bunker J, Bashir M, Bailey S, Boodram P, Perry A, Delaney R, Tsachaki M, Sprecher SG, Nelson E, Call GB, Rister J. Blimp-1/PRDM1 and Hr3/RORβ specify the blue-sensitive photoreceptor subtype in Drosophila by repressing the hippo pathway. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1058961. [PMID: 36960411 PMCID: PMC10027706 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1058961] [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: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
During terminal differentiation of the mammalian retina, transcription factors control binary cell fate decisions that generate functionally distinct subtypes of photoreceptor neurons. For instance, Otx2 and RORβ activate the expression of the transcriptional repressor Blimp-1/PRDM1 that represses bipolar interneuron fate and promotes rod photoreceptor fate. Moreover, Otx2 and Crx promote expression of the nuclear receptor Nrl that promotes rod photoreceptor fate and represses cone photoreceptor fate. Mutations in these four transcription factors cause severe eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. Here, we show that a post-mitotic binary fate decision in Drosophila color photoreceptor subtype specification requires ecdysone signaling and involves orthologs of these transcription factors: Drosophila Blimp-1/PRDM1 and Hr3/RORβ promote blue-sensitive (Rh5) photoreceptor fate and repress green-sensitive (Rh6) photoreceptor fate through the transcriptional repression of warts/LATS, the nexus of the phylogenetically conserved Hippo tumor suppressor pathway. Moreover, we identify a novel interaction between Blimp-1 and warts, whereby Blimp-1 represses a warts intronic enhancer in blue-sensitive photoreceptors and thereby gives rise to specific expression of warts in green-sensitive photoreceptors. Together, these results reveal that conserved transcriptional regulators play key roles in terminal cell fate decisions in both the Drosophila and the mammalian retina, and the mechanistic insights further deepen our understanding of how Hippo pathway signaling is repurposed to control photoreceptor fates for Drosophila color vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Bunker
- Department of Biology, Integrated Sciences Complex, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mhamed Bashir
- Department of Biology, Integrated Sciences Complex, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sydney Bailey
- Department of Biology, Integrated Sciences Complex, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Pamela Boodram
- Department of Biology, Integrated Sciences Complex, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
- NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alexis Perry
- Department of Biology, Integrated Sciences Complex, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rory Delaney
- Department of Biology, Integrated Sciences Complex, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Maria Tsachaki
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Simon G. Sprecher
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Erik Nelson
- Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, United States
| | - Gerald B. Call
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, United States
| | - Jens Rister
- Department of Biology, Integrated Sciences Complex, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Jens Rister,
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Liu F, Qin Y, Huang Y, Gao P, Li J, Yu S, Jia D, Chen X, Lv Y, Tu J, Sun K, Han Y, Reilly J, Shu X, Lu Q, Tang Z, Xu C, Luo D, Liu M. Rod genesis driven by mafba in an nrl knockout zebrafish model with altered photoreceptor composition and progressive retinal degeneration. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009841. [PMID: 35245286 PMCID: PMC8926279 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural retina leucine zipper (NRL) is an essential gene for the fate determination and differentiation of the precursor cells into rod photoreceptors in mammals. Mutations in NRL are associated with the autosomal recessive enhanced S-cone syndrome and autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. However, the exact role of Nrl in regulating the development and maintenance of photoreceptors in the zebrafish (Danio rerio), a popular animal model used for retinal degeneration and regeneration studies, has not been fully determined. In this study, we generated an nrl knockout zebrafish model via the CRISPR-Cas9 technology and observed a surprising phenotype characterized by a reduced number, but not the total loss, of rods and over-growth of green cones. We discovered two waves of rod genesis, nrl-dependent and -independent at the embryonic and post-embryonic stages, respectively, in zebrafish by monitoring the rod development. Through bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, we characterized the gene expression profiles of the whole retina and each retinal cell type from the wild type and nrl knockout zebrafish. The over-growth of green cones and mis-expression of green-cone-specific genes in rods in nrl mutants suggested that there are rod/green-cone bipotent precursors, whose fate choice between rod versus green-cone is controlled by nrl. Besides, we identified the mafba gene as a novel regulator of the nrl-independent rod development, based on the cell-type-specific expression patterns and the retinal phenotype of nrl/mafba double-knockout zebrafish. Gene collinearity analysis revealed the evolutionary origin of mafba and suggested that the function of mafba in rod development is specific to modern fishes. Furthermore, the altered photoreceptor composition and abnormal gene expression in nrl mutants caused progressive retinal degeneration and subsequent regeneration. Accordingly, this study revealed a novel function of the mafba gene in rod development and established a working model for the developmental and regulatory mechanisms regarding the rod and green-cone photoreceptors in zebrafish. Vision is mediated by two types of light-sensing cells named rod and cone photoreceptors in animal eyes. Abnormal generation, dysfunction or death of photoreceptor cells all cause irreversible vision problems. NRL is an essential gene for the generation and function of rod cells in mice and humans. Surprisingly, we found that in the zebrafish, a popular animal model for human diseases and therapeutic testing, there are two types of rod cells, and eliminating the function of nrl gene affects the rod cell formation at the embryonic stage but not at the juvenile and adult stages. The rod cell formation at the post-embryonic is driven by the mafba gene, which has not been reported to play a role in rod cells. In addition to the reduced number of rod cells, deletion of nrl also results in the emergence of rod/green-cone hybrid cells and an increased number of green cones. The ensuing cellular and molecular alterations collectively lead to retinal degeneration. These findings expand our understanding of photoreceptor development and maintenance and highlight the underlying conserved and species-specific regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, P.R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yayun Qin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
- Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Yuwen Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Pan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Jingzhen Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Shanshan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Danna Jia
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Yuexia Lv
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Jiayi Tu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Kui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Yunqiao Han
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - James Reilly
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Xinhua Shu
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Qunwei Lu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Zhaohui Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Chengqi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
- * E-mail: (CX); (DL); (ML)
| | - Daji Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, P.R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (CX); (DL); (ML)
| | - Mugen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
- * E-mail: (CX); (DL); (ML)
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Smith CL, Lan Y, Jain R, Epstein JA, Poleshko A. Global chromatin relabeling accompanies spatial inversion of chromatin in rod photoreceptors. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabj3035. [PMID: 34559565 PMCID: PMC8462898 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj3035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The nuclear architecture of rod photoreceptor cells in nocturnal mammals is unlike that of other animal cells. Murine rod cells have an “inverted” chromatin organization with euchromatin at the nuclear periphery and heterochromatin packed in the center of the nucleus. In conventional nuclear architecture, euchromatin is mostly in the interior, and heterochromatin is largely at the nuclear periphery. We demonstrate that inverted nuclear architecture is achieved through global relabeling of the rod cell epigenome. During rod cell maturation, H3K9me2-labeled nuclear peripheral heterochromatin is relabeled with H3K9me3 and repositioned to the nuclear center, while transcriptionally active euchromatin is labeled with H3K9me2 and positioned at the nuclear periphery. Global chromatin relabeling is correlated with spatial rearrangement, suggesting a critical role for histone modifications, specifically H3K9 methylation, in nuclear architecture. These results reveal a dramatic example of genome-wide epigenetic relabeling of chromatin that accompanies altered nuclear architecture in a postnatal, postmitotic cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl L. Smith
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yemin Lan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rajan Jain
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, and Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan A. Epstein
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, and Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrey Poleshko
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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7
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Andreazzoli M, Barravecchia I, De Cesari C, Angeloni D, Demontis GC. Inducible Pluripotent Stem Cells to Model and Treat Inherited Degenerative Diseases of the Outer Retina: 3D-Organoids Limitations and Bioengineering Solutions. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092489. [PMID: 34572137 PMCID: PMC8471616 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) affecting either photoreceptors or pigment epithelial cells cause progressive visual loss and severe disability, up to complete blindness. Retinal organoids (ROs) technologies opened up the development of human inducible pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) for disease modeling and replacement therapies. However, hiPSC-derived ROs applications to IRD presently display limited maturation and functionality, with most photoreceptors lacking well-developed outer segments (OS) and light responsiveness comparable to their adult retinal counterparts. In this review, we address for the first time the microenvironment where OS mature, i.e., the subretinal space (SRS), and discuss SRS role in photoreceptors metabolic reprogramming required for OS generation. We also address bioengineering issues to improve culture systems proficiency to promote OS maturation in hiPSC-derived ROs. This issue is crucial, as satisfying the demanding metabolic needs of photoreceptors may unleash hiPSC-derived ROs full potential for disease modeling, drug development, and replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ivana Barravecchia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | | | - Debora Angeloni
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Gian Carlo Demontis
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Correspondence: (M.A.); (G.C.D.)
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Features of Retinal Neurogenesis as a Key Factor of Age-Related Neurodegeneration: Myth or Reality? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147373. [PMID: 34298993 PMCID: PMC8303671 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that constitutes the most common cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly in the developed countries. Incomplete knowledge about its pathogenesis prevents the search for effective methods of prevention and treatment of AMD, primarily of its "dry" type which is by far the most common (90% of all AMD cases). In the recent years, AMD has become "younger": late stages of the disease are now detected in relatively young people. It is known that AMD pathogenesis-according to the age-related structural and functional changes in the retina-is linked with inflammation, hypoxia, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and an impairment of neurotrophic support, but the mechanisms that trigger the conversion of normal age-related changes to the pathological process as well as the reason for early AMD development remain unclear. In the adult mammalian retina, de novo neurogenesis is very limited. Therefore, the structural and functional features that arise during its maturation and formation can exert long-term effects on further ontogenesis of this tissue. The aim of this review was to discuss possible contributions of the changes/disturbances in retinal neurogenesis to the early development of AMD.
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9
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Development of a zebrafish screening model for diabetic retinopathy induced by hyperglycemia: Reproducibility verification in animal model. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 135:111201. [PMID: 33421732 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.111201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed at creating a zebrafish screening model for diabetic retinopathy, and evaluated the effects of aflibercept, which is being used to treated diabetic retinopathy. A morphological change occurred at 160 mM of glucose. The survival and hatching rate decreased in a dose-dependent manner. In the 130 mM glucose group, the retinal vessel diameter was more than double that in the normal group. The zebrafish embryo morphology changed in 200 μg/mL and 400 μg/mL at aflibercept. The survival and hatching rate decrease at 400 μg/mL. Aflibercept 100 μg/mL was a nontoxic and effective dose for the zebrafish diabetic retinopathy model. The expression of diabetic retinopathy inflammatory markers was increased in hyperglycemia. But the inflammation was improved by aflibercept in the zebrafish eye. In a zebrafish diabetic retinopathy model, the diameters of retinal vessels were reduced after treatment with aflibercept, and molecular biological and histopathological efficacy was confirmed. This model can serve for screening of new drug candidates for treatment of in diabetic retinopathy.
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10
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de Carvalho ER, Robson AG, Arno G, Boon CJF, Webster AA, Michaelides M. Enhanced S-Cone Syndrome: Spectrum of Clinical, Imaging, Electrophysiologic, and Genetic Findings in a Retrospective Case Series of 56 Patients. Ophthalmol Retina 2021; 5:195-214. [PMID: 32679203 PMCID: PMC7861019 DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2020.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe the detailed phenotype, long-term clinical course, clinical variability, and genotype of patients with enhanced S-cone syndrome (ESCS). DESIGN Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS Fifty-six patients with ESCS. METHODS Clinical history, examination, imaging, and electrophysiologic findings of 56 patients (age range, 1-75 years) diagnosed with ESCS were reviewed. Diagnosis was established by molecular confirmation of disease-causing variants in the NR2E3 gene (n = 38) or by diagnostic full-field electroretinography findings (n = 18). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Age at onset of visual symptoms, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), quantitative age-related electrophysiologic decline, and imaging findings. RESULTS Mean age at onset of visual symptoms was 4.0 years, and median age at presentation was 20.5 years, with mean follow-up interval being 6.1 years. Six patients were assessed once. Disease-causing variants in NR2E3 were identified in 38 patients. Mean BCVA of the better-seeing eye was 0.32 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) at baseline and 0.39 logMAR at follow-up. In most eyes (76% [76/100]), BCVA remained stable, with a mean BCVA change of 0.07 logMAR during follow-up. Nyctalopia was the most common initial symptom, reported in 92.9% of patients (52/56). Clinical findings were highly variable and included foveomacular schisis (41.1% [26/56]), yellow-white dots (57.1% [32/56]), nummular pigmentation (85.7% [48/56]), torpedo-like lesions (10.7% [6/56]), and circumferential subretinal fibrosis (7.1% [4/56]). Macular and peripheral patterns of autofluorescence were classified as (1) minimal change, (2) hypoautofluorescent (mild diffuse, moderate speckled, moderate diffuse, or advanced), or (3) hyperautofluorescent flecks. One patient showed undetectable electroretinography findings; quantification of main electroretinography components in all other patients revealed amplitude and peak time variability but with pathognomonic electroretinography features. The main electroretinography components showed evidence of age-related worsening over 6.7 decades, at a rate indistinguishable from that seen in unaffected control participants. Eighteen sequence variants in NR2E3 were identified, including 4 novel missense changes. CONCLUSIONS Enhanced S-cone syndrome has a highly variable phenotype with relative clinical and imaging stability over time. Most electroretinography findings have pathognomonic features, but quantitative assessment reveals variability and a normal mean rate of age-related decline, consistent with largely nonprogressive peripheral retinal dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel R de Carvalho
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anthony G Robson
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gavin Arno
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Camiel J F Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew A Webster
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michel Michaelides
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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11
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Ke Y, Fan X, Hao R, Dong L, Xue M, Tan L, Yang C, Li X, Ren X. Human embryonic stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles alleviate retinal degeneration by upregulating Oct4 to promote retinal Müller cell retrodifferentiation via HSP90. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:21. [PMID: 33413616 PMCID: PMC7792097 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-02034-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Retinal degenerative diseases remain the dominant causes of blindness worldwide, and cell replacement is viewed as a promising therapeutic direction. However, the resources of seed cells are hard to obtain. To further explore this therapeutic approach, human embryonic stem extracellular vesicles (hESEVs) were extracted from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to inspect its effect and the possible mechanism on retinal Müller cells and retinal function. Methods hESEVs were extracted by multi-step differential centrifugation, whose morphologies and specific biomarkers (TSG101, CD9, CD63, and CD81) were observed and measured. After hESEVs were injected into the vitreous cavity of RCS rats, the retinal tissues and retinal functions of rats were assessed. The alteration of Müller cells and retinal progenitor cells was also recorded. Microvesicles (MVs) or exosomes (EXOs) were extracted from hESCs transfected with sh-HSP90 or pcDNA3.1-HSP9, and then incubated with Müller cells to measure the uptake of EVs, MVs, or EXOs in Müller cells by immunofluorescence. The retrodifferentiation of Müller cells was determined by measuring Vimentin and CHX10. qRT-PCR and western blot were used to detect HSP90 expression in MVs and evaluate Oct4 level in Müller cells, and Co-IP to inspect the interaction of HSP90 and Oct4. Results RCS rats at the postnatal 30 days had increased retinal progenitor cells which were dedifferentiated from Müller cells. hESEVs were successfully extracted from hESCs, evidenced by morphology observation and positive expressions of specific biomarkers (TSG101, CD9, CD63, and CD81). hESEVs promoted Müller cells dedifferentiated and retrodifferentiated into retinal progenitor cells evidenced by the existence of a large amount of CHX10-positive cells in the retinal inner layer of RCS rats in response to hESEV injection. The promotive role of hESEVs was exerted by MVs demonstrated by elevated fluorescence intensity of CHX10 and suppressed Vimentin fluorescence intensity in MVs rather than in EXOs. HSP90 in MVs inhibited the retrodifferentiation of Müller cells and suppressed the expression level of Oct4 in Müller cells. Co-IP revealed that HSP90 can target Oct4 in Müller cells. Conclusion hESEVs could promote the retrodifferentiation of Müller cells into retinal progenitor cells by regulating the expression of Oct4 in Müller cells by HSP90 mediation in MVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Ke
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, No 251, Fukang Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoe Fan
- Jincheng People's Hospital, Jincheng, 048000, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Hao
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Nankai University Eye Hospital, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300020, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijie Dong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, No 251, Fukang Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Xue
- Department of Ophthalmology, Anhui No.2 Provincial People's Hospital, Hefei, 230000, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Liangzhang Tan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, No 251, Fukang Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunbo Yang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, No 251, Fukang Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3 BZ, UK
| | - Xiaorong Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, No 251, Fukang Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xinjun Ren
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, No 251, Fukang Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China.
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12
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Nr2e3 functional domain ablation by CRISPR-Cas9D10A identifies a new isoform and generates retinitis pigmentosa and enhanced S-cone syndrome models. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 146:105122. [PMID: 33007388 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in NR2E3 cause retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and enhanced S-cone syndrome (ESCS) in humans. This gene produces a large isoform encoded in 8 exons and a previously unreported shorter isoform of 7 exons, whose function is unknown. We generated two mouse models by targeting exon 8 of Nr2e3 using CRISPR/Cas9-D10A nickase. Allele Δ27 is an in-frame deletion of 27 bp that ablates the dimerization domain H10, whereas allele ΔE8 (full deletion of exon 8) produces only the short isoform, which lacks the C-terminal part of the ligand binding domain (LBD) that encodes both H10 and the AF2 domain involved in the Nr2e3 repressor activity. The Δ27 mutant shows developmental alterations and a non-progressive electrophysiological dysfunction that resembles the ESCS phenotype. The ΔE8 mutant exhibits progressive retinal degeneration, as occurs in human RP patients. Our mutants suggest a role for Nr2e3 as a cone-patterning regulator and provide valuable models for studying mechanisms of NR2E3-associated retinal dystrophies and evaluating potential therapies.
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13
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Hu FY, Gao FJ, Xu P, Zhang SH, Wu JH. Cell Development Deficiency and Gene Expression Dysregulation of Trisomy 21 Retina Revealed by Single-Nucleus RNA Sequencing. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:564057. [PMID: 33072724 PMCID: PMC7538860 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.564057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Retina is a crucial tissue for capturing and processing light stimulus. It is critical to describe the characteristics of retina at the single-cell level for understanding its biological functions. A variety of abnormalities in terms of morphology and function are present in the trisomy 21 (T21) retina. To evaluate the consequences of chromosome aneuploidy on retina development, we identified the single-cell transcriptional profiles of a T21 fetus and performed comprehensive bioinformatic analyses. Our data revealed the diversity and heterogeneity of cellular compositions in T21 retina, as well as the abnormal constitution of T21 retina compared to disomic retina. In total, we identified seven major cell types and several subtypes within each cell type, followed by the detection of corresponding molecular markers, including previously reported ones and a series of novel markers. Through the analysis of the retinal differentiation process, subtypes of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) exhibiting the potential of different retinal cell-type commitments and certain Müller glial cells (MGs) with differentiating potency were identified. Moreover, the extensive communication networks between cellular types were confirmed, among which a few ligand–receptor interactions were related to the formation and function of retina and immunoregulatory interactions. Taken together, our data provides the first ever single-cell transcriptome profiles for human T21 retina, which facilitates the understanding on the dosage effects of chromosome 21 on the development of retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Yuan Hu
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University); Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng-Juan Gao
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University); Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Xu
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University); Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng-Hai Zhang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University); Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji-Hong Wu
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University); Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China
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14
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Yi W, Lu Y, Zhong S, Zhang M, Sun L, Dong H, Wang M, Wei M, Xie H, Qu H, Peng R, Hong J, Yao Z, Tong Y, Wang W, Ma Q, Liu Z, Ma Y, Li S, Yin C, Liu J, Ma C, Wang X, Wu Q, Xue T. A single-cell transcriptome atlas of the aging human and macaque retina. Natl Sci Rev 2020; 8:nwaa179. [PMID: 34691611 PMCID: PMC8288367 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwaa179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The human retina is a complex neural tissue that detects light and sends visual information to the brain. However, the molecular and cellular processes that underlie aging primate retina remain unclear. Here, we provide a comprehensive transcriptomic atlas based on 119 520 single cells of the foveal and peripheral retina of humans and macaques covering different ages. The molecular features of retinal cells differed between the two species, suggesting distinct regional and species specializations of the human and macaque retinae. In addition, human retinal aging occurred in a region- and cell-type-specific manner. Aging of human retina exhibited a foveal to peripheral gradient. MYO9A− rods and a horizontal cell subtype were greatly reduced in aging retina, indicating their vulnerability to aging. Moreover, we generated a dataset showing the cell-type- and region-specific gene expression associated with 55 types of human retinal disease, which provides a foundation to understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying human retinal diseases. Such datasets are valuable to understanding of the molecular characteristics of primate retina, as well as molecular regulation of aging progression and related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyang Yi
- Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yufeng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Suijuan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Mei Zhang
- Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Le Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hao Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Mengdi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Min Wei
- Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Haohuan Xie
- Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Hongqiang Qu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Rongmei Peng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jing Hong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ziqin Yao
- Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yunyun Tong
- Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qiang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zeyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yuqian Ma
- Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Shouzhen Li
- Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Chonghai Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jianwei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chao Ma
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Brain-Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Tian Xue
- Eye Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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15
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Foxn4 is a temporal identity factor conferring mid/late-early retinal competence and involved in retinal synaptogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:5016-5027. [PMID: 32071204 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1918628117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, neural progenitors change their competence states over time to sequentially generate different types of neurons and glia. Several cascades of temporal transcription factors (tTFs) have been discovered in Drosophila to control the temporal identity of neuroblasts, but the temporal regulation mechanism is poorly understood in vertebrates. Mammalian retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) give rise to several types of neuronal and glial cells following a sequential yet overlapping temporal order. Here, by temporal cluster analysis, RNA-sequencing analysis, and loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies, we show that the Fox domain TF Foxn4 functions as a tTF during retinogenesis to confer RPCs with the competence to generate the mid/late-early cell types: amacrine, horizontal, cone, and rod cells, while suppressing the competence of generating the immediate-early cell type: retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In early embryonic retinas, Foxn4 inactivation causes down-regulation of photoreceptor marker genes and decreased photoreceptor generation but increased RGC production, whereas its overexpression has the opposite effect. Just as in Drosophila, Foxn4 appears to positively regulate its downstream tTF Casz1 while negatively regulating its upstream tTF Ikzf1. Moreover, retina-specific ablation of Foxn4 reveals that it may be indirectly involved in the synaptogenesis, establishment of laminar structure, visual signal transmission, and long-term maintenance of the retina. Together, our data provide evidence that Foxn4 acts as a tTF to bias RPCs toward the mid/late-early cell fates and identify a missing member of the tTF cascade that controls RPC temporal identities to ensure the generation of proper neuronal diversity in the retina.
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16
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Perez-Cervantes C, Smith LA, Nadadur RD, Hughes AEO, Wang S, Corbo JC, Cepko C, Lonfat N, Moskowitz IP. Enhancer transcription identifies cis-regulatory elements for photoreceptor cell types. Development 2020; 147:dev184432. [PMID: 31915147 PMCID: PMC7033740 DOI: 10.1242/dev.184432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Identification of cell type-specific cis-regulatory elements (CREs) is crucial for understanding development and disease, although identification of functional regulatory elements remains challenging. We hypothesized that context-specific CREs could be identified by context-specific non-coding RNA (ncRNA) profiling, based on the observation that active CREs produce ncRNAs. We applied ncRNA profiling to identify rod and cone photoreceptor CREs from wild-type and mutant mouse retinas, defined by presence or absence, respectively, of the rod-specific transcription factor (TF) NrlNrl-dependent ncRNA expression strongly correlated with epigenetic profiles of rod and cone photoreceptors, identified thousands of candidate rod- and cone-specific CREs, and identified motifs for rod- and cone-specific TFs. Colocalization of NRL and the retinal TF CRX correlated with rod-specific ncRNA expression, whereas CRX alone favored cone-specific ncRNA expression, providing quantitative evidence that heterotypic TF interactions distinguish cell type-specific CRE activity. We validated the activity of novel Nrl-dependent ncRNA-defined CREs in developing cones. This work supports differential ncRNA profiling as a platform for the identification of cell type-specific CREs and the discovery of molecular mechanisms underlying TF-dependent CRE activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Perez-Cervantes
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Linsin A Smith
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Rangarajan D Nadadur
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Andrew E O Hughes
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Sui Wang
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joseph C Corbo
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Constance Cepko
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nicolas Lonfat
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ivan P Moskowitz
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology, and Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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17
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Liang Q, Dharmat R, Owen L, Shakoor A, Li Y, Kim S, Vitale A, Kim I, Morgan D, Liang S, Wu N, Chen K, DeAngelis MM, Chen R. Single-nuclei RNA-seq on human retinal tissue provides improved transcriptome profiling. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5743. [PMID: 31848347 PMCID: PMC6917696 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12917-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA-seq is a powerful tool in decoding the heterogeneity in complex tissues by generating transcriptomic profiles of the individual cell. Here, we report a single-nuclei RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) transcriptomic study on human retinal tissue, which is composed of multiple cell types with distinct functions. Six samples from three healthy donors are profiled and high-quality RNA-seq data is obtained for 5873 single nuclei. All major retinal cell types are observed and marker genes for each cell type are identified. The gene expression of the macular and peripheral retina is compared to each other at cell-type level. Furthermore, our dataset shows an improved power for prioritizing genes associated with human retinal diseases compared to both mouse single-cell RNA-seq and human bulk RNA-seq results. In conclusion, we demonstrate that obtaining single cell transcriptomes from human frozen tissues can provide insight missed by either human bulk RNA-seq or animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingnan Liang
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, 77030, TX, USA
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Rachayata Dharmat
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, 77030, TX, USA
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Leah Owen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Akbar Shakoor
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Yumei Li
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sangbae Kim
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Albert Vitale
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Ivana Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Denise Morgan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, the College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Shaoheng Liang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Nathaniel Wu
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ken Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Margaret M DeAngelis
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, the College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
| | - Rui Chen
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, 77030, TX, USA.
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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18
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Abstract
The retina is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the body, consuming high levels of oxygen and nutrients. A well-organized ocular vascular system adapts to meet the metabolic requirements of the retina to ensure visual function. Pathological conditions affect growth of the blood vessels in the eye. Understanding the neuronal biological processes that govern retinal vascular development is of interest for translational researchers and clinicians to develop preventive and interventional therapeutics for vascular eye diseases that address early drivers of abnormal vascular growth. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the cellular and molecular processes governing both physiological and pathological retinal vascular development, which is dependent on the interaction among retinal cell populations, including neurons, glia, immune cells, and vascular endothelial cells. We also review animal models currently used for studying retinal vascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;
| | - Lois E H Smith
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;
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19
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Schlosser G. A Short History of Nearly Every Sense-The Evolutionary History of Vertebrate Sensory Cell Types. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 58:301-316. [PMID: 29741623 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolving from filter feeding chordate ancestors, vertebrates adopted a more active life style. These ecological and behavioral changes went along with an elaboration of the vertebrate head including novel complex paired sense organs such as the eyes, inner ears, and olfactory epithelia. However, the photoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, and chemoreceptors used in these sense organs have a long evolutionary history and homologous cell types can be recognized in many other bilaterians or even cnidarians. After briefly introducing some of the major sensory cell types found in vertebrates, this review summarizes the phylogenetic distribution of sensory cell types in metazoans and presents a scenario for the evolutionary history of various sensory cell types involving several cell type diversification and fusion events. It is proposed that the evolution of novel cranial sense organs in vertebrates involved the redeployment of evolutionarily ancient sensory cell types for building larger and more complex sense organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Schlosser
- School of Natural Sciences and Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), National University of Ireland, Biomedical Sciences Building, Newcastle Road, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
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20
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Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of the early developmental origins of six ocular tissues: the cornea, lens, ciliary body, iris, neural retina, and retina pigment epithelium. Many of these tissue types are concurrently specified and undergo a complex set of morphogenetic movements that facilitate their structural interconnection. Within the context of vertebrate eye organogenesis, we also discuss the genetic hierarchies of transcription factors and signaling pathways that regulate growth, patterning, cell type specification and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel B Miesfeld
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Nadean L Brown
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, United States.
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21
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Achim K, Eling N, Vergara HM, Bertucci PY, Musser J, Vopalensky P, Brunet T, Collier P, Benes V, Marioni JC, Arendt D. Whole-Body Single-Cell Sequencing Reveals Transcriptional Domains in the Annelid Larval Body. Mol Biol Evol 2018; 35:1047-1062. [PMID: 29373712 PMCID: PMC5913682 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msx336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal bodies comprise diverse arrays of cells. To characterize cellular identities across an entire body, we have compared the transcriptomes of single cells randomly picked from dissociated whole larvae of the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii. We identify five transcriptionally distinct groups of differentiated cells, each expressing a unique set of transcription factors and effector genes that implement cellular phenotypes. Spatial mapping of cells into a cellular expression atlas, and wholemount in situ hybridization of group-specific genes reveals spatially coherent transcriptional domains in the larval body, comprising, for example, apical sensory-neurosecretory cells versus neural/epidermal surface cells. These domains represent new, basic subdivisions of the annelid body based entirely on differential gene expression, and are composed of multiple, transcriptionally similar cell types. They do not represent clonal domains, as revealed by developmental lineage analysis. We propose that the transcriptional domains that subdivide the annelid larval body represent families of related cell types that have arisen by evolutionary diversification. Their possible evolutionary conservation makes them a promising tool for evo-devo research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaia Achim
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nils Eling
- EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paola Yanina Bertucci
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jacob Musser
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pavel Vopalensky
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thibaut Brunet
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paul Collier
- Genomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vladimir Benes
- Genomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - John C Marioni
- EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Detlev Arendt
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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22
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Ma Y, Han X, de Castro RB, Zhang P, Zhang K, Hu Z, Qin L. Analysis of the bystander effect in cone photoreceptors via a guided neural network platform. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaas9274. [PMID: 29750200 PMCID: PMC5942910 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aas9274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian retina system consists of a complicated photoreceptor structure, which exhibits extensive random synaptic connections. To study retinal development and degeneration, various experimental models have been used previously, but these models are often uncontrollable, are difficult to manipulate, and do not provide sufficient similarity or precision. Therefore, the mechanisms in many retinal diseases remain unclear because of the limited capability in observing the progression and molecular driving forces. For example, photoreceptor degeneration can spread to surrounding healthy photoreceptors via a phenomenon known as the bystander effect; however, no in-depth observations can be made to decipher the molecular mechanisms or the pathways that contribute to the spreading. It is then necessary to build dissociated neural networks to investigate the communications with controllability of cells and their treatment. We developed a neural network chip (NN-Chip) to load single neurons into highly ordered microwells connected by microchannels for synapse formation to build the neural network. By observing the distribution of apoptosis spreading from light-induced apoptotic cones to the surrounding cones, we demonstrated convincing evidence of the existence of a cone-to-cone bystander killing effect. Combining the NN-Chip with microinjection technology, we also found that the gap junction protein connexin 36 (Cx36) is critical for apoptosis spreading and the bystander effect in cones. In addition, our unique NN-Chip platform provides a quantitative, high-throughput tool for investigating signaling mechanisms and behaviors in neurons and opens a new avenue for screening potential drug targets to cure retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Ma
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- College of Materials Sciences and Optoelectronics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Xin Han
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ricardo Bessa de Castro
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
- College of Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Pengchao Zhang
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Zhongbo Hu
- College of Materials Sciences and Optoelectronics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
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23
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Abstract
The pupillary light reflex (PLR) describes the constriction and subsequent dilation of the pupil in response to light as a result of the antagonistic actions of the iris sphincter and dilator muscles. Since these muscles are innervated by the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, respectively, different parameters of the PLR can be used as indicators for either sympathetic or parasympathetic modulation. Thus, the PLR provides an important metric of autonomic nervous system function that has been exploited for a wide range of clinical applications. Measurement of the PLR using dynamic pupillometry is now an established quantitative, non-invasive tool in assessment of traumatic head injuries. This review examines the more recent application of dynamic pupillometry as a diagnostic tool for a wide range of clinical conditions, varying from neurodegenerative disease to exposure to toxic chemicals, as well as its potential in the non-invasive diagnosis of infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte A Hall
- Research Centre for Topical Drug Delivery and Toxicology, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield SP10 1JX, UK.
| | - Robert P Chilcott
- Research Centre for Topical Drug Delivery and Toxicology, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield SP10 1JX, UK.
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24
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Musser JM, Arendt D. Loss and gain of cone types in vertebrate ciliary photoreceptor evolution. Dev Biol 2017; 431:26-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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25
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da Silva S, Cepko CL. Fgf8 Expression and Degradation of Retinoic Acid Are Required for Patterning a High-Acuity Area in the Retina. Dev Cell 2017; 42:68-81.e6. [PMID: 28648799 PMCID: PMC5798461 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 04/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Species that are highly reliant on their visual system have a specialized retinal area subserving high-acuity vision, e.g., the fovea in humans. Although of critical importance for our daily activities, little is known about the mechanisms driving the development of retinal high-acuity areas (HAAs). Using the chick as a model, we found a precise and dynamic expression pattern of fibroblast growth factor 8 (Fgf8) in the HAA anlage, which was regulated by enzymes that degrade retinoic acid (RA). Transient manipulation of RA signaling, or reduction of Fgf8 expression, disrupted several features of HAA patterning, including photoreceptor distribution, ganglion cell density, and organization of interneurons. Notably, patterned expression of RA signaling components was also found in humans, suggesting that RA also plays a role in setting up the human fovea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana da Silva
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Constance L Cepko
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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26
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Li Y, Hao H, Swerdel MR, Cho HY, Lee KB, Hart RP, Lyu YL, Cai L. Top2b is involved in the formation of outer segment and synapse during late-stage photoreceptor differentiation by controlling key genes of photoreceptor transcriptional regulatory network. J Neurosci Res 2017; 95:1951-1964. [PMID: 28370415 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Topoisomerase II beta (Top2b) is an enzyme that alters the topologic states of DNA during transcription. Top2b deletion in early retinal progenitor cells causes severe defects in neural differentiation and affects cell survival in all retinal cell types. However, it is unclear whether the observed severe phenotypes are the result of cell-autonomous/primary defects or non-cell-autonomous/secondary defects caused by alterations of other retinal cells. Using photoreceptor cells as a model, we first characterized the phenotypes in Top2b conditional knockout. Top2b deletion leads to malformation of photoreceptor outer segments (OSs) and synapses accompanied by dramatic cell loss at late-stage photoreceptor differentiation. Then, we performed mosaic analysis with shRNA-mediated Top2b knockdown in neonatal retina using in vivo electroportation to target rod photoreceptors in neonatal retina. Top2b knockdown causes defective OS without causing a dramatic cell loss, suggesting a Top2b cell-autonomous function. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis reveals that Top2b controls the expression of key genes in the photoreceptor gene-regulatory network (e.g., Crx, Nr2e3, Opn1sw, Vsx2) and retinopathy-related genes (e.g., Abca4, Bbs7, Pde6b). Together, our data establish a combinatorial cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous role for Top2b in the late stage of photoreceptor differentiation and maturation. © 2017 The Authors Journal of Neuroscience Research Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Hailing Hao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Mavis R Swerdel
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Hyeon-Yeol Cho
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Ki-Bum Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Ronald P Hart
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Yi Lisa Lyu
- Office of Research Commercialization, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Li Cai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
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