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Rowe AA, Reyes S, Velasquez MJ, Yee T, Nettesheim ER, McDonald JG, Wert KJ. Female sex hormones exacerbate retinal neurodegeneration. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.11.603104. [PMID: 39071341 PMCID: PMC11275730 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.11.603104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and macular degeneration represent major sources of human suffering, yet the factors influencing disease severity remain poorly understood. Sex has been implicated as one potential modifying factor. Here, we show that female sex is a risk factor for worsened outcomes in a model of retinal degeneration. Further, we show that this susceptibility is caused by the presence of female-specific circulating sex hormones. The adverse effect of female sex hormones was specific to diseased retinal neurons, and depletion of these hormones ameliorated this phenotypic effect. These findings provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of neurogenerative diseases and how sex hormones can impact the severity of disease. These findings have far-reaching implications for clinical trial design and the use of hormonal therapy in females with certain neurogenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley A. Rowe
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, U.S.A
| | - Sofia Reyes
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, U.S.A
| | | | - Tiffany Yee
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, U.S.A
| | - Emily R. Nettesheim
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, U.S.A
| | - Jeffrey G. McDonald
- Center for Human Nutrition, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, U.S.A
- Department of Molecular Genetics, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, U.S.A
| | - Katherine J. Wert
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, U.S.A
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, U.S.A
- Peter J. O’Donnell, Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, U.S.A
- Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, U.S.A
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Yang H, Zhang H, Li X. Navigating the future of retinitis pigmentosa treatments: A comprehensive analysis of therapeutic approaches in rd10 mice. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 193:106436. [PMID: 38341159 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106436] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a degenerative disease, caused by genetic mutations that lead to a loss in photoreceptors. For research on RP, rd10 mice, which carry mutations in the phosphodiesterase (PDE) gene, exhibit degenerative patterns comparable to those of patients with RP, making them an ideal model for investigating potential treatments. Although numerous studies have reported the potential of biochemical drugs, gene correction, and stem cell transplantation in decelerating rd10 retinal degeneration, a comprehensive review of these studies has yet to be conducted. Therefore, here, a comparative analysis of rd10 mouse treatment research over the past decade was performed. Our findings suggest that biochemical drugs capable of inhibiting the inflammatory response may be promising therapeutics. Additionally, significant progress has been made in the field of gene therapy; nevertheless, challenges such as strict delivery requirements, bystander editing, and off-target effects still need to be resolved. Nevertheless, secretory function is the only unequivocal protective effect of stem cell transplantation. In summary, this review presents a comprehensive analysis and synthesis of the treatment approaches employing rd10 mice as experimental subjects, describing a clear pathway for future RP treatment research and identifies potential clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Yang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, No. 251, Fukang Road, Tianjin 300384, China.
| | - Hui Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, No. 251, Fukang Road, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Xiaorong Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, No. 251, Fukang Road, Tianjin 300384, China.
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3
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Sex Hormones and Their Effects on Ocular Disorders and Pathophysiology: Current Aspects and Our Experience. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063269. [PMID: 35328690 PMCID: PMC8949880 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex hormones are molecules produced by the gonads and to a small extent by the adrenal gland, which not only determine the primary and secondary sexual characteristics of an individual, differentiating man from woman, but also participate in the functioning of the various systems of the body. The evidence that many eye diseases differ in terms of prevalence between men and women has allowed us, in recent years, to carry out several studies that have investigated the association between sex hormones and the pathophysiology of eye tissues. Specific receptors for sex hormones have been found on the lacrimal and meibomian glands, conjunctiva, cornea, lens, retina, and choroid. This work summarizes the current knowledge on the role that sex hormones play in the pathogenesis of the most common ocular disorders and indicates our clinical experience in these situations. The aim is to stimulate an interdisciplinary approach between endocrinology, neurology, molecular biology, and ophthalmology to improve the management of these diseases and to lay the foundations for new therapeutic strategies.
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Alambiaga-Caravaca AM, Cantó A, Rodilla V, Miranda M, López-Castellano A. Topical Ocular Administration of Progesterone Decreases Photoreceptor Cell Death in Retinal Degeneration Slow (rds) Mice. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15030328. [PMID: 35337126 PMCID: PMC8953546 DOI: 10.3390/ph15030328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited eye disorder which triggers a cascade of retinal disorders leading to photoreceptor cell death and for which there is currently no effective treatment. The purpose of this research was to study whether ocular administration of a solution of progesterone (PG) in β-cyclodextrins (CD) could delay photoreceptor cell death and counteract the gliosis process in an animal model of RP (rds mice). The possible effect of PG reaching the contralateral eye through the circulatory system was also evaluated. Finally, this research discusses and evaluates the diffusion of the drug from possible topical formulations for ocular administration of PG. A group of rds mice received one drop of a solution of PG in CD every 12 h for 10 days to the left eye, while the right eye was left untreated. Another group of rds mice (control) received the drug vehicle (PBS) on the left eye and, again, the right eye was left untreated. Once the treatment was finished on postnatal day 21, the animals were euthanized and histological immunofluorescence studies (TUNEL, GFAP, and DAPI staining) were carried out. Our results showed that the administration of a solution of PG in CD (CD-PG) as drops significantly decreased cell death and inflammation in the retina of the PG-treated eyes of rds mice. No effect was seen in the contralateral eye from PG that may have entered systemic circulation. In conclusion, CD-PG applied topically as drops to the eye decreases photoreceptor cell death in the early stages of RP, delaying vision loss and decreasing gliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián M Alambiaga-Caravaca
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, C/Santiago Ramón y Cajal, s/n., Alfara del Patriarca, 46115 Valencia, Spain
| | - Antolín Cantó
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, C/Santiago Ramón y Cajal, s/n., Alfara del Patriarca, 46115 Valencia, Spain
| | - Vicent Rodilla
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, C/Santiago Ramón y Cajal, s/n., Alfara del Patriarca, 46115 Valencia, Spain
| | - María Miranda
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, C/Santiago Ramón y Cajal, s/n., Alfara del Patriarca, 46115 Valencia, Spain
| | - Alicia López-Castellano
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, C/Santiago Ramón y Cajal, s/n., Alfara del Patriarca, 46115 Valencia, Spain
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Alambiaga-Caravaca AM, Domenech-Monsell IM, Sebastián-Morelló M, Calatayud-Pascual MA, Merino V, Rodilla V, López-Castellano A. Development, characterization, and ex vivo evaluation of an insert for the ocular administration of progesterone. Int J Pharm 2021; 606:120921. [PMID: 34303817 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Progesterone (PG) affords neuroprotection in degenerative diseases associated to oxidative stress, such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and retinitis pigmentosa. The aim of this project was to develop ocular inserts for delivery of PG to the eye. Different inserts with PG in its composition were formulated and the insert with the best characteristics (59% polyvinyl alcohol, 39% polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 and 2% propylene glycol) was selected for ex vivo studies. Physical characteristics and drug release patterns of the insert were analysed. In vitro diffusion studies revealed a controlled diffusion of progesterone. Ex vivo experiments demonstrated similar trans-corneal and trans-scleral PG diffusion (corneal apparent permeability coefficient 6.46 ± 0.38 × 10-7 cm/s and scleral apparent permeability coefficient 5.87 ± 1.18 × 10-7 cm/s; mean ± SD; n = 5). However, the amount of PG accumulated in scleras was statistically higher than in corneas (30.07 ± 9.09 μg/cm2 and 15.56 ± 4.36 μg/cm2 respectively). The PG-loaded inserts (55.6 μg/cm2) were thin, translucent, showed no irritancy (HET-CAM test) and were elastic and robust, all suitable properties for its potential use in the treatment of several ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián M Alambiaga-Caravaca
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical sciences, Cardenal Herrera-CEU University, CEU Universities, C/Santiago Ramón y Cajal, s/n., Alfara del Patriarca 46115, Valencia, Spain
| | - Iris M Domenech-Monsell
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical sciences, Cardenal Herrera-CEU University, CEU Universities, C/Santiago Ramón y Cajal, s/n., Alfara del Patriarca 46115, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Sebastián-Morelló
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical sciences, Cardenal Herrera-CEU University, CEU Universities, C/Santiago Ramón y Cajal, s/n., Alfara del Patriarca 46115, Valencia, Spain
| | - M Aracely Calatayud-Pascual
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical sciences, Cardenal Herrera-CEU University, CEU Universities, C/Santiago Ramón y Cajal, s/n., Alfara del Patriarca 46115, Valencia, Spain
| | - Virginia Merino
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy. Institute of Molecular Recognition and Technological Development, Polytechnic University of Valencia, University of València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Vicent Rodilla
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical sciences, Cardenal Herrera-CEU University, CEU Universities, C/Santiago Ramón y Cajal, s/n., Alfara del Patriarca 46115, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Alicia López-Castellano
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical sciences, Cardenal Herrera-CEU University, CEU Universities, C/Santiago Ramón y Cajal, s/n., Alfara del Patriarca 46115, Valencia, Spain.
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Ruiz-Pastor MJ, Kutsyr O, Lax P, Cuenca N. Decrease in DHA and other fatty acids correlates with photoreceptor degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa. Exp Eye Res 2021; 209:108667. [PMID: 34119484 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Fatty acids, and especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential for photoreceptor cell integrity and are involved in the phototransduction cascade. In this study, we analyzed the changes in the fatty acid profile in the retina of the rd10 mouse, model of retinitis pigmentosa, in order to identify potential risk factors for retinal degeneration and possible therapeutic approaches. Fatty acids from C57BL/6J and rd10 mouse retinas were extracted with Folch's method and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Changes in retinal morphology were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The rd10 mouse retina showed a decreased number of photoreceptor rows and alterations in photoreceptor morphology compared to C57BL/6J mice. The total amount of fatty acids dropped by 29.4% in the dystrophic retinas compared to C57BL/6J retinas. A positive correlation was found between the retinal content of specific fatty acids and the number of photoreceptor rows. We found that the amount of several short-chain and long-chain saturated fatty acids, as well as monounsaturated fatty acids, decreased in the retina of rd10 mice. Moreover, the content of the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid arachidonic acid and the n-3 polyunsaturated DHA decreased markedly in the dystrophic retina. The fall of DHA was more pronounced, hence the n-6/n-3 ratio was significantly increased in the diseased retina. The content of specific fatty acids in the retina decreased with photoreceptor degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa mice, with a remarkable reduction in DHA and other saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids could be essential for photoreceptor cell viability, and they should be evaluated for the design of therapeutical strategies and nutritional supplements.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Ruiz-Pastor
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Oksana Kutsyr
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Pedro Lax
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Nicolás Cuenca
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
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Berkowitz BA, Podolsky RH, Childers KL, Roche SL, Cotter TG, Graffice E, Harp L, Sinan K, Berri AM, Schneider M, Qian H, Gao S, Roberts R. Rod Photoreceptor Neuroprotection in Dark-Reared Pde6brd10 Mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:14. [PMID: 33156341 PMCID: PMC7671864 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.13.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that anti-oxidant and / or anti-inflammation drugs that suppress rod death in cyclic light-reared Pde6brd10 mice are also effective in dark-reared Pde6brd10 mice. Methods In untreated dark-reared Pde6brd10 mice at post-natal (P) days 23 to 24, we measured the outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness (histology) and dark-light thickness difference in external limiting membrane-retinal pigment epithelium (ELM-RPE) (optical coherence tomography [OCT]), retina layer oxidative stress (QUEnch-assiSTed [QUEST] magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]); and microglia/macrophage-driven inflammation (immunohistology). In dark-reared P50 Pde6brd10 mice, ONL thickness was measured (OCT) in groups given normal chow or chow admixed with methylene blue (MB) + Norgestrel (anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory), or MB or Norgestrel separately. Results P24 Pde6brd10 mice showed no significant dark-light ELM-RPE response in superior and inferior retina consistent with high cGMP levels. Norgestrel did not significantly suppress the oxidative stress of Pde6brd10 mice that is only found in superior central outer retina of males at P23. Overt rod degeneration with microglia/macrophage activation was observed but only in the far peripheral superior retina in male and female P23 Pde6brd10 mice. Significant rod protection was measured in female P50 Pde6brd10 mice given 5 mg/kg/day MB + Norgestrel diet; no significant benefit was seen with MB chow or Norgestrel chow alone, nor in similarly treated male mice. Conclusions In early rod degeneration in dark-reared Pde6brd10 mice, little evidence is found in central retina for spatial associations among biomarkers of the PDE6B mutation, oxidative stress, and rod death; neuroprotection at P50 was limited to a combination of anti-oxidant/anti-inflammation treatment in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce A Berkowitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Robert H Podolsky
- Beaumont Research Institute, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
| | - Karen Lins Childers
- Beaumont Research Institute, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
| | - Sarah L Roche
- Cell Development and Disease Laboratory, Biochemistry Department, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Thomas G Cotter
- Cell Development and Disease Laboratory, Biochemistry Department, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Emma Graffice
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Lamis Harp
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Kenan Sinan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Ali M Berri
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Michael Schneider
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Haohua Qian
- Visual Function Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Shasha Gao
- Visual Function Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Robin Roberts
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
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Retinal Inflammation, Cell Death and Inherited Retinal Dystrophies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042096. [PMID: 33672611 PMCID: PMC7924201 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are a group of retinal disorders that cause progressive and severe loss of vision because of retinal cell death, mainly photoreceptor cells. IRDs include retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the most common IRD. IRDs present a genetic and clinical heterogeneity that makes it difficult to achieve proper treatment. The progression of IRDs is influenced, among other factors, by the activation of the immune cells (microglia, macrophages, etc.) and the release of inflammatory molecules such as chemokines and cytokines. Upregulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is found in IRDs. This cytokine may influence photoreceptor cell death. Different cell death mechanisms are proposed, including apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, excessive activation of calpains, or parthanatos for photoreceptor cell death. Some of these cell death mechanisms are linked to TNFα upregulation and inflammation. Therapeutic approaches that reduce retinal inflammation have emerged as useful therapies for slowing down the progression of IRDs. We focused this review on the relationship between retinal inflammation and the different cell death mechanisms involved in RP. We also reviewed the main anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of IRDs.
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Wang J, Xiao H, Barwick S, Liu Y, Smith SB. Optimal timing for activation of sigma 1 receptor in the Pde6b rd10/J (rd10) mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. Exp Eye Res 2021; 202:108397. [PMID: 33310057 PMCID: PMC7808329 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Sigma 1 Receptor (Sig1R), a pluripotent modulator of cell survival, is a promising target for treatment of retinal degenerative diseases. Previously, we reported that administration of the high-affinity, high-specificity Sig1R ligand (+)-pentazocine, ((+)-PTZ) beginning at post-natal day 14 (P14) and continuing every other day improves visual acuity and delays loss of photoreceptor cells (PRCs) in the Pde6βrd10/J (rd10) mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. Whether administration of (+)-PTZ, at time points concomitant with (P18) or following (P21, P24) onset of PRC death, would prove neuroprotective was investigated in this study. Rd10 mice were administered (+)-PTZ intraperitoneally [0.5 mg/kg], starting at either P14, P18, P21 or P24. Injections continued every other day through P42. Visual acuity was assessed using the optokinetic tracking response (OKR). Rd10 mice treated with (+)-PTZ beginning at P14 retained visual acuity for the duration of the study (~0.33 c/d at P21, ~0.38 c/d at P28, ~0.32 c/d at P35, ~0.32 c/d at P42), whereas mice injected beginning at P18, P21, P24 showed a decline in acuity when tested at P35 and P42. Their acuity was only slightly better than rd10-non-treated mice. Electrophysiologic function was assessed using scotopic and photopic electroretinography (ERG) to assess rod and cone function, respectively. Photopic a- and b-wave amplitudes were significantly greater in rd10 mice treated with (+)-PTZ beginning at P14 compared with non-treated mice and those in the later-onset (+)-PTZ injection groups. Retinal architecture was visualized in living mice using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) allowing measurement of the total retinal thickness, the inner retina and the outer retina (the area most affected in rd10 mice). The outer retina measured ~35 μm in rd10 mice treated with (+)-PTZ beginning at P14, which was significantly greater than mice in the later-onset (+)-PTZ injection groups (~25 μm) and non-treated rd10 mice (~25 μm). Following the visual function studies performed in the living mice, eyes were harvested at P42 for histologic analysis. While the inner retina was largely intact in all (+)-PTZ-injection groups, there was a marked reduction in the outer retina of non-treated rd10 mice (e.g. in the outer nuclear layer there were ~10 PRCs/100 μm retinal length). The rd10 mice treated with (+)-PTZ beginning at P14 had ~20 PRCs/100 μm retinal length, whereas the mice in groups beginning P18, P21 and P24 had ~16 PRCs/100 μm retinal length. In conclusion, the data indicate that delaying (+)-PTZ injection past the onset of PRC death in rd10 mice - even by a few days - can negatively impact the long-term preservation of retinal function. Our findings suggest that optimizing the administration of Sig1R ligands is critical for retinal neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States; James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Haiyan Xiao
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States; James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Shannon Barwick
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States; James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Yutao Liu
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States; James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Sylvia B Smith
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States; James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States; Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States.
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10
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Kutsyr O, Sánchez-Sáez X, Martínez-Gil N, de Juan E, Lax P, Maneu V, Cuenca N. Gradual Increase in Environmental Light Intensity Induces Oxidative Stress and Inflammation and Accelerates Retinal Neurodegeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:1. [PMID: 32744596 PMCID: PMC7441298 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.10.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a blinding neurodegenerative disease of the retina that can be affected by many factors. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of different environmental light intensities in rd10 mice retina. Methods C57BL/6J and rd10 mice were bred and housed under three different environmental light intensities: scotopic (5 lux), mesopic (50 lux), and photopic (300 lux). Visual function was studied using electroretinography and optomotor testing. The structural and morphological integrity of the retinas was evaluated by optical coherence tomography imaging and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, inflammatory processes and oxidative stress markers were analyzed by flow cytometry and western blotting. Results When the environmental light intensity was higher, retinal function decreased in rd10 mice and was accompanied by light-dependent photoreceptor loss, followed by morphological alterations, and synaptic connectivity loss. Moreover, light-dependent retinal degeneration was accompanied by an increased number of inflammatory cells, which became more activated and phagocytic, and by an exacerbated reactive gliosis. Furthermore, light-dependent increment in oxidative stress markers in rd10 mice retina pointed to a possible mechanism for light-induced photoreceptor degeneration. Conclusions An increase in rd10 mice housing light intensity accelerates retinal degeneration, activating cell death, oxidative stress pathways, and inflammatory cells. Lighting intensity is a key factor in the progression of retinal degeneration, and standardized lighting conditions are advisable for proper analysis and interpretation of experimental results from RP animal models, and specifically from rd10 mice. Also, it can be hypothesized that light protection could be an option to slow down retinal degeneration in some cases of RP.
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Rasmussen M, Welinder C, Schwede F, Ekström P. The cGMP system in normal and degenerating mouse neuroretina: New proteins with cGMP interaction potential identified by a proteomics approach. J Neurochem 2020; 157:2173-2186. [PMID: 33230839 PMCID: PMC8359485 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The hereditary disease Retinitis pigmentosa results in severe vision loss due to photoreceptor degeneration by unclear mechanisms. In several disease models, the second messenger cGMP accumulates in the degenerating photoreceptors, where it may over‐activate specific cGMP‐interacting proteins, like cGMP‐dependent protein kinase. Moreover, interventions that counteract the activity of these proteins lead to reduced photoreceptor cell death. Yet there is little or no information whether other than such regular cGMP‐interactors are present in the retina, which we, therefore, investigated in wild‐type and retinal degeneration (rd1, rd10, and rd2) mouse models. An affinity chromatography based proteomics approach that utilized immobilized cGMP analogs was applied to enrich and select for regular and potentially new cGMP‐interacting proteins as identified by mass spectrometry. This approach revealed 12 regular and 10 potentially new retinal cGMP‐interacting proteins (e.g., EPAC2 and CaMKIIα). Several of the latter were found to be expressed in the photoreceptors and to have proximity to cGMP and may thus be of interest when defining prospective therapeutic targets or biomarkers for retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Rasmussen
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Ophthalmology, Lund, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Welinder
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Oncology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Frank Schwede
- BIOLOG Life Science Institute GmbH & Co. KG, Bremen, Germany
| | - Per Ekström
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Ophthalmology, Lund, Sweden
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12
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Xiong YC, Chen T, Yang XB, Deng CL, Ning QL, Quan R, Yu XR. 17β-Oestradiol Attenuates the Photoreceptor Apoptosis in Mice with Retinitis Pigmentosa by Regulating N-myc Downstream Regulated Gene 2 Expression. Neuroscience 2020; 452:280-294. [PMID: 33246060 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous group of retinal degenerative diseases in which the final pathological feature is photoreceptor cell apoptosis. Currently, the pathogenesis of RP remains poorly understood and therapeutics are ineffective. 17β-Oestradiol (βE2) is universally acknowledged as a neuroprotective factor in neurodegenerative diseases and has manifested neuroprotective effects in a light-induced retinal degeneration model. Recently, we identified N-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) suppression as a molecular marker of mouse retinal photoreceptor-specific cell death. βE2 has also been reported to regulate NDRG2 in salivary acinar cells. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether βE2 plays a protective role in RP and regulates NDRG2 in photoreceptor cells. To this end, we generated RP models and observed that βE2 not only reduced the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells, but also restored the level of NDRG2 expression in RP models. Then, we showed that siNDRG2 inhibits the anti-apoptotic effect of βE2 on photoreceptor cells in a cellular RP model. Subsequently, we used a classic oestrogen receptor (ER) antagonist to attenuate the effects of βE2, suggesting that βE2 exerted its effects on RP models via the classic ERs. In addition, we performed a bioinformatics analysis, and the results indicated that the reported oestrogen response element (ERE) sequence is present in the promoter region of the mouse NDRG2 gene. Overall, our results suggest that βE2 attenuated the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in RP models by maintaining NDRG2 expression via a classic ER-mediated mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Cheng Xiong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Xiao-Bei Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Chun-Lei Deng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Qi-Lan Ning
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Rui Quan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Xiao-Rui Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
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13
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Zhuang YY, Xiang L, Wen XR, Shen RJ, Zhao N, Zheng SS, Han RY, Qu J, Lu F, Jin ZB. Slc7a14 Is Indispensable in Zebrafish Retinas. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:333. [PMID: 31921845 PMCID: PMC6920099 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous study has identified SLC7A14 as a new causative gene of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). However, the role of SLC7A14 has not been fully characterized. The goal of this study was to investigate the biological features of slc7a14 in zebrafish. To determine the expression of slc7a14 in developing zebrafish, we performed in situ hybridization (ISH) and quantitative real-time PCR. Morpholino knockdown and overexpression experiments were performed to study the role of slc7a14 in zebrafish retinas. Immunostaining was carried out to observe structural changes. Visual motor responses (VMR) and optokinetic responses (OKR) were analyzed to assess visual behaviors. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (dUTP) nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed to survey apoptotic retinal cells. We found that slc7a14 was highly expressed in neuronal tissues, including the brain, spinal cord and retina, and that the expression levels increased during early embryogenesis. Consistently, ISH showed a similar expression pattern. Knockdown of slc7a14 led to dose-dependent microphthalmia that was reversed by overexpression. The immunostaining results revealed that the rod-specific protein zpr-3 and the retinal pigment epithelium-specific protein zpr-2 (decreased to 44.48%) were significantly suppressed in the slc7a14-silenced morphants. Notably, visual behaviors (the VMR and the OKR) were severely impaired in the slc7a14-deficient morphant, especially the VMR OFF response. In addition, apoptotic cells were observed in the retina at 3 days post fertilization (dpf) and 5 dpf by TUNEL assay. Our results demonstrated that slc7a14 is essential for visually mediated behaviors in zebrafish. Temporary silencing of slc7a14 in larvae led to severe visual impairments, consistent with the manifestations observed in RP patients. Our findings provide further insights into the genetic mechanisms of RP predisposition caused by SLC7A14 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- You-Yuan Zhuang
- Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, China
| | - Lue Xiang
- Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xin-Ran Wen
- Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ren-Juan Shen
- Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ning Zhao
- Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, China
| | - Si-Si Zheng
- Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ru-Yi Han
- Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jia Qu
- Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, China
| | - Fan Lu
- Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, China
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14
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Marquioni-Ramella MD, Cubilla MA, Bermúdez V, Tate PS, Marazita MC, Suburo AM. Glucocorticoid and progesterone mechanisms in photoreceptor survival. Exp Eye Res 2019; 190:107854. [PMID: 31669405 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.107854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Death of retinal photoreceptors is the basis of prevalent blinding diseases. Since steroids might have a therapeutic role in retinal degenerations, we compared the protective effects of dexamethasone and progesterone on photoreceptor death induced by mifepristone and light exposure. Therefore, we studied the effective protection doses for each steroid in the two models. In addition, we analyzed changes in the levels of pro- and antiapoptotic molecules, glucocorticoid receptors α and β (GRα and GRβ), and rhodopsin under conditions of successful protection and photoreceptor survival. Mifepristone and light exposure selectively damaged photoreceptors. In light exposed retinas, photoreceptors mainly disappeared in the dorsotemporal region, while mifepristone produced a uniform damage. Dexamethasone and progesterone, at the same dose of 4 mg/kg/day for 2 days, preserved over 88% photoreceptor nuclei in both models. Assessment of cell death regulators showed that, in control retinas, both steroids activated BCL-XL, a prosurvival molecule, and decreased BID, a proapoptotic regulator. After steroid treatment of damaged retinas, BCL-XL, BCL2 and BAX showed characteristic patterns depending on the use of dexamethasone or progesterone on mifepristone or light exposed retinas. By contrast, BID decreased with any injury-steroid combination. Changes in GRα or GRβ levels did not correlate with survival but were consistent with a mechanism of ligand induced downregulation of receptor expression. GRβ might be upregulated by progesterone. Both dexamethasone and progesterone increased retinal rhodopsin stores, suggesting a link between photoreceptor protection and transduction pathways. Results show that dexamethasone and progesterone induced comparable but not identical protection responses in each model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa D Marquioni-Ramella
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Translational (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, CONICET, Pilar, B1629AHJ, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marisa A Cubilla
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Translational (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, CONICET, Pilar, B1629AHJ, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vicente Bermúdez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Translational (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, CONICET, Pilar, B1629AHJ, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo S Tate
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Translational (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, CONICET, Pilar, B1629AHJ, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariela C Marazita
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Translational (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, CONICET, Pilar, B1629AHJ, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Angela M Suburo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Translational (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, CONICET, Pilar, B1629AHJ, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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15
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García-Ayuso D, Di Pierdomenico J, Vidal-Sanz M, Villegas-Pérez MP. Retinal Ganglion Cell Death as a Late Remodeling Effect of Photoreceptor Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20184649. [PMID: 31546829 PMCID: PMC6770703 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20184649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited or acquired photoreceptor degenerations, one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the world, are a group of retinal disorders that initially affect rods and cones, situated in the outer retina. For many years it was assumed that these diseases did not spread to the inner retina. However, it is now known that photoreceptor loss leads to an unavoidable chain of events that cause neurovascular changes in the retina including migration of retinal pigment epithelium cells, formation of “subretinal vascular complexes”, vessel displacement, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axonal strangulation by retinal vessels, axonal transport alteration and, ultimately, RGC death. These events are common to all photoreceptor degenerations regardless of the initial trigger and thus threaten the outcome of photoreceptor substitution as a therapeutic approach, because with a degenerating inner retina, the photoreceptor signal will not reach the brain. In conclusion, therapies should be applied early in the course of photoreceptor degeneration, before the remodeling process reaches the inner retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego García-Ayuso
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Johnny Di Pierdomenico
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Manuel Vidal-Sanz
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
| | - María P Villegas-Pérez
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), 30120 Murcia, Spain.
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