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Carrero L, Antequera D, Municio C, Carro E. Circadian rhythm disruption and retinal dysfunction: a bidirectional link in Alzheimer's disease? Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1967-1972. [PMID: 38227523 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.390962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction in circadian rhythms is a common occurrence in patients with Alzheimer's disease. A predominant function of the retina is circadian synchronization, carrying information to the brain through the retinohypothalamic tract, which projects to the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Notably, Alzheimer's disease hallmarks, including amyloid-β, are present in the retinas of Alzheimer's disease patients, followed/associated by structural and functional disturbances. However, the mechanistic link between circadian dysfunction and the pathological changes affecting the retina in Alzheimer's disease is not fully understood, although some studies point to the possibility that retinal dysfunction could be considered an early pathological process that directly modulates the circadian rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Carrero
- Group of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre Research Institute (imas12), Madrid, Spain; Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Autonoma de Madrid University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Desireé Antequera
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer's Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Municio
- Group of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre Research Institute (imas12), Madrid, Spain; Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Carro
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer's Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
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2
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Gaire BP, Koronyo Y, Fuchs DT, Shi H, Rentsendorj A, Danziger R, Vit JPS, Mirzaei N, Doustar J, Sheyn J, Hampel H, Vergallo A, Davis MR, Jallow O, Baldacci F, Verdooner SR, Barron E, Mirzaei M, Gupta VK, Graham SL, Tayebi M, Carare RO, Sadun AA, Miller CA, Dumitrascu OM, Lahiri S, Gao L, Black KL, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Alzheimer's Disease Pathophysiology in the Retina. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024:101273. [PMID: 38759947 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101273] [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: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The retina is an emerging CNS target for potential noninvasive diagnosis and tracking of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies have identified the pathological hallmarks of AD, including amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposits and abnormal tau protein isoforms, in the retinas of AD patients and animal models. Moreover, structural and functional vascular abnormalities such as reduced blood flow, vascular Aβ deposition, and blood-retinal barrier damage, along with inflammation and neurodegeneration, have been described in retinas of patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD dementia. Histological, biochemical, and clinical studies have demonstrated that the nature and severity of AD pathologies in the retina and brain correspond. Proteomics analysis revealed a similar pattern of dysregulated proteins and biological pathways in the retina and brain of AD patients, with enhanced inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes, impaired oxidative-phosphorylation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Notably, investigational imaging technologies can now detect AD-specific amyloid deposits, as well as vasculopathy and neurodegeneration in the retina of living AD patients, suggesting alterations at different disease stages and links to brain pathology. Current and exploratory ophthalmic imaging modalities, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT-angiography, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and hyperspectral imaging, may offer promise in the clinical assessment of AD. However, further research is needed to deepen our understanding of AD's impact on the retina and its progression. To advance this field, future studies require replication in larger and diverse cohorts with confirmed AD biomarkers and standardized retinal imaging techniques. This will validate potential retinal biomarkers for AD, aiding in early screening and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhakta Prasad Gaire
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Haoshen Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Altan Rentsendorj
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ron Danziger
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe S Vit
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jonah Doustar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Julia Sheyn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Harald Hampel
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Andrea Vergallo
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Miyah R Davis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ousman Jallow
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Filippo Baldacci
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Ernesto Barron
- Department of Ophthalmology, Doheny Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vivek K Gupta
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart L Graham
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mourad Tayebi
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Alfredo A Sadun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Doheny Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carol A Miller
- Department of Pathology Program in Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Shouri Lahiri
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Liang Gao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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3
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Suiwal S, Wartenberg P, Boehm U, Schmitz F, Schwarz K. A Novel Cre Recombinase Mouse Strain for Cell-Specific Deletion of Floxed Genes in Ribbon Synapse-Forming Retinal Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1916. [PMID: 38339191 PMCID: PMC10856425 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
We generated a novel Cre mouse strain for cell-specific deletion of floxed genes in ribbon synapse-forming retinal neurons. Previous studies have shown that the RIBEYE promotor targets the expression of recombinant proteins such as fluorescently tagged RIBEYE to photoreceptors and retinal bipolar cells and generates fluorescent synaptic ribbons in situ in these neurons. Here, we used the same promotor to generate a novel transgenic mouse strain in which the RIBEYE promotor controls the expression of a Cre-ER(T2) recombinase (RIBEYE-Cre). To visualize Cre expression, the RIBEYE-Cre animals were crossed with ROSA26 tau-GFP (R26-τGFP) reporter mice. In the resulting RIBEYE-Cre/R26 τGFP animals, Cre-mediated removal of a transcriptional STOP cassette results in the expression of green fluorescent tau protein (tau-GFP) that binds to cellular microtubules. We detected robust tau-GFP expression in retinal bipolar cells. Surprisingly, we did not find fluorescent tau-GFP expression in mouse photoreceptors. The lack of tau-GFP reporter protein in these cells could be based on the previously reported absence of tau protein in mouse photoreceptors which could lead to the degradation of the recombinant tau protein. Consistent with this, we detected Cre and tau-GFP mRNA in mouse photoreceptor slices by RT-PCR. The transgenic RIBEYE-Cre mouse strain provides a new tool to study the deletion of floxed genes in ribbon synapse-forming neurons of the retina and will also allow for analyzing gene deletions that are lethal if globally deleted in neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Suiwal
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Neuroanatomy, Medical School, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany;
| | - Philipp Wartenberg
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS) and Center for Gender-Specific Biology and Medicine (CGBM), Medical School, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (P.W.); (U.B.)
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS) and Center for Gender-Specific Biology and Medicine (CGBM), Medical School, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; (P.W.); (U.B.)
| | - Frank Schmitz
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Neuroanatomy, Medical School, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany;
| | - Karin Schwarz
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Neuroanatomy, Medical School, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany;
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Xu Z, Guo Y, Xiang K, Xiao D, Xiang M. Rapid and efficient generation of a transplantable population of functional retinal ganglion cells from fibroblasts. Cell Prolif 2024; 57:e13550. [PMID: 37740641 PMCID: PMC10849786 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma and other optic neuropathies lead to progressive and irreversible vision loss by damaging retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Cell replacement therapy is a potential promising treatment. However, current methods to obtain RGCs have inherent limitations, including time-consuming procedures, inefficient yields and complex protocols, which hinder their practical application. Here, we have developed a straightforward, rapid and efficient approach for directly inducing RGCs from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) using a combination of triple transcription factors (TFs): ASCL1, BRN3B and PAX6 (ABP). We showed that on the 6th day following ABP induction, neurons with molecular characteristics of RGCs were observed, and more than 60% of induced neurons became iRGCs (induced retinal ganglion cells) in the end. Transplanted iRGCs had the ability to survive and appropriately integrate into the RGC layer of mouse retinal explants and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-damaged retinas. Moreover, they exhibited electrophysiological properties typical of RGCs, and were able to regrow dendrites and axons and form synaptic connections with host retinal cells. Together, we have established a rapid and efficient approach to acquire functional RGCs for potential cell replacement therapy to treat glaucoma and other optic neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of OphthalmologyZhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat‐sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual ScienceGuangzhouChina
| | - Yanan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of OphthalmologyZhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat‐sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual ScienceGuangzhouChina
| | - Kangjian Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of OphthalmologyZhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat‐sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual ScienceGuangzhouChina
| | - Dongchang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of OphthalmologyZhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat‐sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual ScienceGuangzhouChina
| | - Mengqing Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of OphthalmologyZhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat‐sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual ScienceGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of MedicineSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
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5
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Casciano F, Zauli E, Celeghini C, Caruso L, Gonelli A, Zauli G, Pignatelli A. Retinal Alterations Predict Early Prodromal Signs of Neurodegenerative Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1689. [PMID: 38338966 PMCID: PMC10855697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031689] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are an increasingly common group of diseases that occur late in life with a significant impact on personal, family, and economic life. Among these, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the major disorders that lead to mild to severe cognitive and physical impairment and dementia. Interestingly, those diseases may show onset of prodromal symptoms early after middle age. Commonly, the evaluation of these neurodegenerative diseases is based on the detection of biomarkers, where functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have shown a central role in revealing early or prodromal phases, although it can be expensive, time-consuming, and not always available. The aforementioned diseases have a common impact on the visual system due to the pathophysiological mechanisms shared between the eye and the brain. In Parkinson's disease, α-synuclein deposition in the retinal cells, as well as in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, alters the visual cortex and retinal function, resulting in modifications to the visual field. Similarly, the visual cortex is modified by the neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic amyloid β plaques typically seen in the Alzheimer's disease brain, and this may reflect the accumulation of these biomarkers in the retina during the early stages of the disease, as seen in postmortem retinas of AD patients. In this light, the ophthalmic evaluation of retinal neurodegeneration could become a cost-effective method for the early diagnosis of those diseases, overcoming the limitations of functional and structural imaging of the deep brain. This analysis is commonly used in ophthalmic practice, and interest in it has risen in recent years. This review will discuss the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease with retinal degeneration, highlighting how retinal analysis may represent a noninvasive and straightforward method for the early diagnosis of these neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Casciano
- Department of Translational Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Enrico Zauli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Claudio Celeghini
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Caruso
- Department of Environment and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Arianna Gonelli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgio Zauli
- Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialistic Hospital, Riyadh 12329, Saudi Arabia
| | - Angela Pignatelli
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
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Etebar F, Harkin DG, White AR, Dando SJ. Non-invasive in vivo imaging of brain and retinal microglia in neurodegenerative diseases. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1355557. [PMID: 38348116 PMCID: PMC10859418 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1355557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia play crucial roles in immune responses and contribute to fundamental biological processes within the central nervous system (CNS). In neurodegenerative diseases, microglia undergo functional changes and can have both protective and pathogenic roles. Microglia in the retina, as an extension of the CNS, have also been shown to be affected in many neurological diseases. While our understanding of how microglia contribute to pathological conditions is incomplete, non-invasive in vivo imaging of brain and retinal microglia in living subjects could provide valuable insights into their role in the neurodegenerative diseases and open new avenues for diagnostic biomarkers. This mini-review provides an overview of the current brain and retinal imaging tools for studying microglia in vivo. We focus on microglia targets, the advantages and limitations of in vivo microglia imaging approaches, and applications for evaluating the pathogenesis of neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazeleh Etebar
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Damien G. Harkin
- Centre for Vision and Eye Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Anthony R. White
- Mental Health and Neuroscience Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Samantha J. Dando
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Vision and Eye Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Nuñez-Diaz C, Andersson E, Schultz N, Pocevičiūtė D, Hansson O, Nilsson KPR, Wennström M. The fluorescent ligand bTVBT2 reveals increased p-tau uptake by retinal microglia in Alzheimer's disease patients and App NL-F/NL-F mice. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:4. [PMID: 38167557 PMCID: PMC10763304 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01375-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyloid beta (Aβ) deposits and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) accumulation have been identified in the retina of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and transgenic AD mice. Previous studies have shown that retinal microglia engulf Aβ, but this property decreases in AD patients. Whether retinal microglia also take up p-tau and if this event is affected in AD is yet not described. In the current study, we use the p-tau-specific thiophene-based ligand bTVBT2 to investigate the relationship between disease progression and p-tau uptake by microglia in the retina of AD patients and AppNL-F/NL-F knock-in mice, an AD mouse model known to demonstrate extracellular Aβ plaques and dystrophic neurites in the brain from 6 months of age. METHODS Evaluation of bTVBT2 specificity and its presence within microglia was assessed by immunofluorescent staining of hippocampal sections and flat-mount retina samples from non-demented controls, AD patients, 3-, 9-, and 12-month-old AppNL-F/NL-F knock-in mice and 12- and 18-month-old wild type (WT) mice. We used ImageJ to analyze the amount of bTVBT2 inside Iba1-positive microglia. Co-localization between the ligand and p-tau variant Ser396/Ser404 (PHF-1), Aβ, phosphorylated TAR DNA binding protein 43 (pTDP-43), and islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in the brain and retina was analyzed using confocal imaging. RESULTS Confocal imaging analysis showed that bTVBT2 binds to PHF-1- and AT8-positive aggregates inside retinal microglia, and not to Aβ, pTDP-43, or IAPP. The density of bTVBT2-positive microglia was higher in cases with a high Aβ load compared to those with a low Aβ load. This density correlated with the neurofibrillary tangle load in the brain, but not with retinal levels of high molecular weight (aggregated) Aβ40 or Aβ42. Analysis of AppNL-F/NL-F knock-in mouse retina further showed that 50% of microglia in 3-month-old AppNL-F/NL-F knock-in mice contained bTVBT2. The percentage significantly increased in 9- and 12-month-old mice. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that the microglial capability to uptake p-tau in the retina persists and intensifies with AD progression. These results also highlight bTVBT2 as a ligand of interest in future monitoring of retinal AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Nuñez-Diaz
- Cognitive Disorder Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Emelie Andersson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Nina Schultz
- Cognitive Disorder Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Dovilė Pocevičiūtė
- Cognitive Disorder Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology IFM, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Malin Wennström
- Cognitive Disorder Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
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Gao J, Leinonen H, Wang EJ, Ding M, Perry G, Palczewski K, Wang X. Sex-Specific Early Retinal Dysfunction in Mutant TDP-43 Transgenic Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:927-937. [PMID: 38143367 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231102] [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] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence has highlighted retinal impairments in neurodegenerative diseases. Dominant mutations in TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and the accumulation of TDP-43 in the cytoplasm is a pathological hallmark of ALS, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and many other neurodegenerative diseases. OBJECTIVE While homozygous transgenic mice expressing the disease-causing human TDP-43 M337V mutant (TDP-43M337V mice) experience premature death, hemizygous TDP-43M337V mice do not suffer sudden death, but they exhibit age-dependent motor-coordinative and cognitive deficits. This study aims to leverage the hemizygous TDP-43M337V mice as a valuable ALS/FTD disease model for the assessment also of retinal changes during the disease progression. METHODS We evaluated the retinal function of young TDP-43M337V mice by full field electroretinogram (ERG) recordings. RESULTS At 3-4 months of age, well before the onset of brain dysfunction at 8 months, the ERG responses were notably impaired in the retinas of young female TDP-43M337V mice in contrast to their male counterparts and age-matched non-transgenic mice. Mitochondria have been implicated as critical targets of TDP-43. Further investigation revealed that significant changes in the key regulators of mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetics were only observed in the retinas of young female TDP-43M337V mice, while these alterations were not present in the brains of either gender. CONCLUSIONS Together our findings suggest a sex-specific vulnerability within the retina in the early disease stage, and highlight the importance of retinal changes and mitochondrial markers as potential early diagnostic indicators for ALS, FTD, and other TDP-43 related neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Henri Leinonen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Evan J Wang
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mao Ding
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - George Perry
- College of Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, UCI, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Chemistry and Molecular Biology and Biochemsitry, UCI, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Xinglong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Alber J, Bouwman F, den Haan J, Rissman RA, De Groef L, Koronyo‐Hamaoui M, Lengyel I, Thal DR. Retina pathology as a target for biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease: Current status, ophthalmopathological background, challenges, and future directions. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:728-740. [PMID: 37917365 PMCID: PMC10917008 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
There is emerging evidence that amyloid beta protein (Aβ) and tau-related lesions in the retina are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ and hyperphosphorylated (p)-tau deposits have been described in the retina and were associated with small amyloid spots visualized by in vivo imaging techniques as well as degeneration of the retina. These changes correlate with brain amyloid deposition as determined by histological quantification, positron emission tomography (PET) or clinical diagnosis of AD. However, the literature is not coherent on these histopathological and in vivo imaging findings. One important reason for this is the variability in the methods and the interpretation of findings across different studies. In this perspective, we indicate the critical methodological deviations among different groups and suggest a roadmap moving forward on how to harmonize (i) histopathologic examination of retinal tissue; (ii) in vivo imaging among different methods, devices, and interpretation algorithms; and (iii) inclusion/exclusion criteria for studies aiming at retinal biomarker validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Alber
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Rhode IslandKingstonRhode IslandUSA
- Butler Hospital Memory & Aging ProgramProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Femke Bouwman
- Amsterdam UMC, location VUmcAlzheimer Center, Department of NeurologyAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Jurre den Haan
- Amsterdam UMC, location VUmcAlzheimer Center, Department of NeurologyAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Robert A. Rissman
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research InstituteKeck School of Medicine of the University of Southern CaliforniaSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lies De Groef
- Cellular Communication and Neurodegeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of BiologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Maya Koronyo‐Hamaoui
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Biomedical SciencesMaxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars‐Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Imre Lengyel
- The Wellcome‐Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical ScienceQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and Pathology, and Leuven Brain Institute, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of PathologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
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Donato L, Mordà D, Scimone C, Alibrandi S, D’Angelo R, Sidoti A. Bridging Retinal and Cerebral Neurodegeneration: A Focus on Crosslinks between Alzheimer-Perusini's Disease and Retinal Dystrophies. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3258. [PMID: 38137479 PMCID: PMC10741418 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123258] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In the early stages of Alzheimer-Perusini's disease (AD), individuals often experience vision-related issues such as color vision impairment, reduced contrast sensitivity, and visual acuity problems. As the disease progresses, there is a connection with glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) leading to retinal cell death. The retina's involvement suggests a link with the hippocampus, where most AD forms start. A thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) due to the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is seen as a potential AD diagnostic marker using electroretinography (ERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Amyloid beta fragments (Aβ), found in the eye's vitreous and aqueous humor, are also present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and accumulate in the retina. Aβ is known to cause tau hyperphosphorylation, leading to its buildup in various retinal layers. However, diseases like AD are now seen as mixed proteinopathies, with deposits of the prion protein (PrP) and α-synuclein found in affected brains and retinas. Glial cells, especially microglial cells, play a crucial role in these diseases, maintaining immunoproteostasis. Studies have shown similarities between retinal and brain microglia in terms of transcription factor expression and morphotypes. All these findings constitute a good start to achieving better comprehension of neurodegeneration in both the eye and the brain. New insights will be able to bring the scientific community closer to specific disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Donato
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Domenico Mordà
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Concetta Scimone
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Simona Alibrandi
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Rosalia D’Angelo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
| | - Antonina Sidoti
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
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11
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Passaro ML, Matarazzo F, Abbadessa G, Pezone A, Porcellini A, Tranfa F, Rinaldi M, Costagliola C. Glaucoma as a Tauopathy-Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle? J Clin Med 2023; 12:6900. [PMID: 37959365 PMCID: PMC10650423 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12216900] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder affecting the visual system which can result in vision loss and blindness. The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying glaucomatous optic neuropathy are ultimately enigmatic, prompting ongoing investigations into its potential shared pathogenesis with other neurodegenerative neurological disorders. Tauopathies represent a subclass of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the abnormal deposition of tau protein within the brain and consequent microtubule destabilization. The extended spectrum of tauopathies includes conditions such as frontotemporal dementias, progressive supranuclear palsy, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and Alzheimer's disease. Notably, recent decades have witnessed emerging documentation of tau inclusion among glaucoma patients, providing substantiation that this ocular disease may similarly manifest features of tauopathies. These studies found that: (i) aggregated tau inclusions are present in the somatodendritic compartment of RGCs in glaucoma patients; (ii) the etiology of the disease may affect tau splicing, phosphorylation, oligomerization, and subcellular localization; and (iii) short interfering RNA against tau, administered intraocularly, significantly decreased retinal tau accumulation and enhanced RGC somas and axon survival, demonstrating a crucial role for tau modifications in ocular hypertension-induced neuronal injury. Here, we examine the most recent evidence surrounding the interplay between tau protein dysregulation and glaucomatous neurodegeneration. We explore the novel perspective of glaucoma as a tau-associated disorder and open avenues for cross-disciplinary collaboration and new treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Passaro
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.L.P.); (F.T.); (C.C.)
| | | | - Gianmarco Abbadessa
- Division of Neurology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Antonio Pezone
- Department of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Antonio Porcellini
- Department of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Fausto Tranfa
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.L.P.); (F.T.); (C.C.)
| | - Michele Rinaldi
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.L.P.); (F.T.); (C.C.)
| | - Ciro Costagliola
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.L.P.); (F.T.); (C.C.)
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12
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Ebrahimi M, Thompson P, Lauer AK, Sivaprasad S, Perry G. The retina-brain axis and diabetic retinopathy. Eur J Ophthalmol 2023; 33:2079-2095. [PMID: 37259525 DOI: 10.1177/11206721231172229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major contributor to permanent vision loss and blindness. Changes in retinal neurons, glia, and microvasculature have been the focus of intensive study in the quest to better understand DR. However, the impact of diabetes on the rest of the visual system has received less attention. There are reports of associations of changes in the visual system with preclinical and clinical manifestations of diabetes. Simultaneous investigation of the retina and the brain may shed light on the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in diabetics. Additionally, investigating the links between DR and other neurodegenerative disorders of the brain including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease may reveal shared mechanisms for neurodegeneration and potential therapy options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moein Ebrahimi
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy, and Autoimmunity, Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Paul Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Andreas K Lauer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Sobha Sivaprasad
- National Institute of Health and Care Research Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
| | - George Perry
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas and San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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13
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García-Bermúdez MY, Vohra R, Freude K, van Wijngaarden P, Martin K, Thomsen MS, Aldana BI, Kolko M. Potential Retinal Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15834. [PMID: 37958816 PMCID: PMC10649108 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents a major diagnostic challenge, as early detection is crucial for effective intervention. This review examines the diagnostic challenges facing current AD evaluations and explores the emerging field of retinal alterations as early indicators. Recognizing the potential of the retina as a noninvasive window to the brain, we emphasize the importance of identifying retinal biomarkers in the early stages of AD. However, the examination of AD is not without its challenges, as the similarities shared with other retinal diseases introduce complexity in the search for AD-specific markers. In this review, we address the relevance of using the retina for the early diagnosis of AD and the complex challenges associated with the search for AD-specific retinal biomarkers. We provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and highlight avenues for progress in AD diagnosis by retinal examination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rupali Vohra
- Eye Translational Research Unit, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Kristine Freude
- Group of Stem Cell Models and Embryology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Peter van Wijngaarden
- Center for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Keith Martin
- Center for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Maj Schneider Thomsen
- Neurobiology Research and Drug Delivery, Department of Health, Science and Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Blanca Irene Aldana
- Neurometabolism Research Group, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Miriam Kolko
- Eye Translational Research Unit, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
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14
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Wang S, Jiang X, Peng W, Yang S, Pi R, Zhou S. Acrolein Induces Retinal Abnormalities of Alzheimer's Disease in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13576. [PMID: 37686379 PMCID: PMC10487815 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
It is reported that retinal abnormities are related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients and animal models. However, it is unclear whether the retinal abnormities appear in the mouse model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD) induced by acrolein. We investigated the alterations of retinal function and structure, the levels of β-amyloid (Aβ) and phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) in the retina, and the changes in the retinal vascular system in this mouse model. We demonstrated that the levels of Aβ and p-Tau were increased in the retinas of mice from the acrolein groups. Subsequently, a decreased amplitudes of b-waves in the scotopic and photopic electroretinogram (ERG), decreased thicknesses of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in the retina, and slight retinal venous beading were found in the mice induced by acrolein. We propose that sAD mice induced by acrolein showed abnormalities in the retina, which may provide a valuable reference for the study of the retina in sAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xiuying Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Foshan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Weijia Peng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuangjian Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Institute for Vision and Eye Research, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Rongbiao Pi
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 528406, China
| | - Shiyou Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
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15
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Lavekar SS, Harkin J, Hernandez M, Gomes C, Patil S, Huang KC, Puntambekar SS, Lamb BT, Meyer JS. Development of a three-dimensional organoid model to explore early retinal phenotypes associated with Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13827. [PMID: 37620502 PMCID: PMC10449801 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40382-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, resulting in synaptic loss and neurodegeneration. The retina is an extension of the central nervous system within the eye, sharing many structural similarities with the brain, and previous studies have observed AD-related phenotypes within the retina. Three-dimensional retinal organoids differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can effectively model some of the earliest manifestations of disease states, yet early AD-associated phenotypes have not yet been examined. Thus, the current study focused upon the differentiation of hPSCs into retinal organoids for the analysis of early AD-associated alterations. Results demonstrated the robust differentiation of retinal organoids from both familial AD and unaffected control cell lines, with familial AD retinal organoids exhibiting a significant increase in the Aβ42:Aβ40 ratio as well as phosphorylated Tau protein, characteristic of AD pathology. Further, transcriptional analyses demonstrated the differential expression of many genes and cellular pathways, including those associated with synaptic dysfunction. Taken together, the current study demonstrates the ability of retinal organoids to serve as a powerful model for the identification of some of the earliest retinal alterations associated with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sailee S Lavekar
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Jade Harkin
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Melody Hernandez
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Cátia Gomes
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Shruti Patil
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Kang-Chieh Huang
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Shweta S Puntambekar
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Bruce T Lamb
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Jason S Meyer
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Glick Eye Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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16
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Fukiyama Y, Hirokawa T, Takai S, Kida T, Oku H. Involvement of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β (GSK3β) in Formation of Phosphorylated Tau and Death of Retinal Ganglion Cells of Rats Caused by Optic Nerve Crush. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:6941-6957. [PMID: 37754222 PMCID: PMC10527756 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45090438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathy is a neurodegenerative condition associated with oligomeric tau formation through abnormal phosphorylation. We previously showed that tauopathy is involved in death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve crush (ONC). It has been proposed that glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is involved in the hyperphosphorylation of tau in Alzheimer's disease. To determine the roles of GSK3β in tauopathy-related death of RGCs, lithium chloride (LiCl), a GSK3β inhibitor, was injected intravitreally just after ONC. The neuroprotective effects of LiCl were determined by counting Tuj-1-stained RGCs on day 7. Changes of phosphorylated (ser 396) tau in the retina were determined by Simple Western analysis (WES) on day 3. Retinal GSK3β levels were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and an ELISA. There was a 1.9- and 2.1-fold increase in the levels of phosphorylated tau monomers and dimers on day 3 after ONC. LiCl significantly suppressed the increase in the levels of phosphorylated tau induced by ONC. GSK3β was mainly present in somas of RGCs, and ELISA showed that retinal levels increased to 2.0-fold on day 7. IHC showed that the GSK3β expression increased over time and remained in RGCs that were poorly stained by Tuj-1. The GSK3β and tau expression was colocalized in RGCs. The number of RGCs decreased from 1881 ± 188 (sham control) to 1150 ± 192 cells/mm2 on day 7, and LiCl preserved the levels at 1548 ± 173 cells/mm2. Accordingly, GSK3β may be a promising target for some optic nerve injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurie Fukiyama
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan; (Y.F.); (T.H.); (T.K.)
| | - Takahisa Hirokawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan; (Y.F.); (T.H.); (T.K.)
| | - Shinji Takai
- Department of Innovative Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan;
| | - Teruyo Kida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan; (Y.F.); (T.H.); (T.K.)
| | - Hidehiro Oku
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan; (Y.F.); (T.H.); (T.K.)
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17
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Sparks S, Pinto J, Hayes G, Spitschan M, Bulte DP. The impact of Alzheimer's disease risk factors on the pupillary light response. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1248640. [PMID: 37650103 PMCID: PMC10463762 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1248640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, and its prevalence is increasing and is expected to continue to increase over the next few decades. Because of this, there is an urgent requirement to determine a way to diagnose the disease, and to target interventions to delay and ideally stop the onset of symptoms, specifically those impacting cognition and daily livelihood. The pupillary light response (PLR) is controlled by the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, and impairments to the pupillary light response (PLR) have been related to AD. However, most of these studies that assess the PLR occur in patients who have already been diagnosed with AD, rather than those who are at a higher risk for the disease but without a diagnosis. Determining whether the PLR is similarly impaired in subjects before an AD diagnosis is made and before cognitive symptoms of the disease begin, is an important step before using the PLR as a diagnostic tool. Specifically, identifying whether the PLR is impaired in specific at-risk groups, considering both genetic and non-genetic risk factors, is imperative. It is possible that the PLR may be impaired in association with some risk factors but not others, potentially indicating different pathways to neurodegeneration that could be distinguished using PLR. In this work, we review the most common genetic and lifestyle-based risk factors for AD and identify established relationships between these risk factors and the PLR. The evidence here shows that many AD risk factors, including traumatic brain injury, ocular and intracranial hypertension, alcohol consumption, depression, and diabetes, are directly related to changes in the PLR. Other risk factors currently lack sufficient literature to make any conclusions relating directly to the PLR but have shown links to impairments in the parasympathetic nervous system; further research should be conducted in these risk factors and their relation to the PLR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sierra Sparks
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joana Pinto
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Genevieve Hayes
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Manuel Spitschan
- TUM Department of Sport and Health Sciences (TUM SG), Chronobiology and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS), Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Translational Sensory and Circadian Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Daniel P. Bulte
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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18
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Móvio MI, de Lima-Vasconcellos TH, Dos Santos GB, Echeverry MB, Colombo E, Mattos LS, Resende RR, Kihara AH. Retinal organoids from human-induced pluripotent stem cells: From studying retinal dystrophies to early diagnosis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 144:77-86. [PMID: 36210260 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have provided new methods to study neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to their wide application in neuronal disorders, hiPSCs technology can also encompass specific conditions, such as inherited retinal dystrophies. The possibility of evaluating alterations related to retinal disorders in 3D organoids increases the truthfulness of in vitro models. Moreover, both Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) have been described as causing early retinal alterations, generating beta-amyloid protein accumulation, or affecting dopaminergic amacrine cells. This review addresses recent advances and future perspectives obtained from in vitro modeling of retinal diseases, focusing on retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Additionally, we depicted the possibility of evaluating changes related to AD and PD in retinal organoids obtained from potential patients long before the onset of the disease, constituting a valuable tool in early diagnosis. With this, we pointed out prospects in the study of retinal dystrophies and early diagnosis of AD and PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marília Inês Móvio
- Laboratório de Neurogenética, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcela Bermudez Echeverry
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Elisabetta Colombo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Leonardo S Mattos
- Biomedical Robotics Laboratory, Department of Advanced Robotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Rodrigo Ribeiro Resende
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Hiroaki Kihara
- Laboratório de Neurogenética, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil; Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
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19
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Li B, Leng J, Şencan-Eğilmez I, Takase H, Alfadhel MAH, Fu B, Shahidi M, Lo EH, Arai K, Sakadžić S. Differential reductions in the capillary red-blood-cell flux between retina and brain under chronic global hypoperfusion. NEUROPHOTONICS 2023; 10:035001. [PMID: 37323511 PMCID: PMC10266089 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.10.3.035001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Significance It has been hypothesized that abnormal microcirculation in the retina might predict the risk of ischemic damages in the brain. Direct comparison between the retinal and the cerebral microcirculation using similar animal preparation and under similar experimental conditions would help test this hypothesis. Aim We investigated capillary red-blood-cell (RBC) flux changes under controlled conditions and bilateral-carotid-artery-stenosis (BCAS)-induced hypoperfusion, and then compared them with our previous measurements performed in the brain. Approach We measured capillary RBC flux in mouse retina with two-photon microscopy using a fluorescence-labeled RBC-passage approach. Key physiological parameters were monitored during experiments to ensure stable physiology. Results We found that under the controlled conditions, capillary RBC flux in the retina was much higher than in the brain (i.e., cerebral cortical gray matter and subcortical white matter), and that BCAS induced a much larger decrease in capillary RBC flux in the retina than in the brain. Conclusions We demonstrated a two-photon microscopy-based technique to efficiently measure capillary RBC flux in the retina. Since cerebral subcortical white matter often exhibits early pathological developments due to global hypoperfusion, our results suggest that retinal microcirculation may be utilized as an early marker of brain diseases involving global hypoperfusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoqiang Li
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute; Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen–Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Ji Leng
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute; Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen–Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Ikbal Şencan-Eğilmez
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Hajime Takase
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Radiology, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Mohammed Ali H. Alfadhel
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Buyin Fu
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Mahnaz Shahidi
- University of Southern California, Department of Ophthalmology, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Eng H. Lo
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Radiology, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Ken Arai
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Radiology, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Sava Sakadžić
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States
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20
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Latina V, Atlante A, Malerba F, La Regina F, Balzamino BO, Micera A, Pignataro A, Stigliano E, Cavallaro S, Calissano P, Amadoro G. The Cleavage-Specific Tau 12A12mAb Exerts an Anti-Amyloidogenic Action by Modulating the Endocytic and Bioenergetic Pathways in Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119683. [PMID: 37298634 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Beyond deficits in hippocampal-dependent episodic memory, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) features sensory impairment in visual cognition consistent with extensive neuropathology in the retina. 12A12 is a monoclonal cleavage specific antibody (mAb) that in vivo selectively neutralizes the AD-relevant, harmful N-terminal 20-22 kDa tau fragment(s) (i.e., NH2htau) without affecting the full-length normal protein. When systemically injected into the Tg2576 mouse model overexpressing a mutant form of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), APPK670/671L linked to early onset familial AD, this conformation-specific tau mAb successfully reduces the NH2htau accumulating both in their brain and retina and, thus, markedly alleviates the phenotype-associated signs. By means of a combined biochemical and metabolic experimental approach, we report that 12A12mAb downregulates the steady state expression levels of APP and Beta-Secretase 1 (BACE-1) and, thus, limits the Amyloid beta (Aβ) production both in the hippocampus and retina from this AD animal model. The local, antibody-mediated anti-amyloidogenic action is paralleled in vivo by coordinated modulation of the endocytic (BIN1, RIN3) and bioenergetic (glycolysis and L-Lactate) pathways. These findings indicate for the first time that similar molecular and metabolic retino-cerebral pathways are modulated in a coordinated fashion in response to 12A12mAb treatment to tackle the neurosensorial Aβ accumulation in AD neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Atlante
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (IBIOM), National Research Council (CNR), Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca Malerba
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Federico La Regina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Bijorn Omar Balzamino
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Micera
- Research Laboratories in Ophthalmology, IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Annabella Pignataro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Egidio Stigliano
- Area of Pathology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Istituto di Anatomia Patologica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council (CNR), Via P. Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
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21
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Duwat C, Léal P, Vautheny A, Aurégan G, Joséphine C, Gaillard MC, Hérard AS, Jan C, Gipchtein P, Mitja J, Fouquet S, Niepon ML, Hantraye P, Brouillet E, Bonvento G, Cambon K, Bemelmans AP. Development of an AAV-based model of tauopathy targeting retinal ganglion cells and the mouse visual pathway to study the role of microglia in Tau pathology. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 181:106116. [PMID: 37054900 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106116] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathy is a typical feature of Alzheimer's disease of major importance because it strongly correlates with the severity of cognitive deficits experienced by patients. During the pathology, it follows a characteristic spatiotemporal course which takes its origin in the transentorhinal cortex, and then gradually invades the entire forebrain. To study the mechanisms of tauopathy, and test new therapeutic strategies, it is necessary to set-up relevant and versatile in vivo models allowing to recapitulate tauopathy. With this in mind, we have developed a model of tauopathy by overexpression of the human wild-type Tau protein in retinal ganglion cells in mice (RGCs). This overexpression led to the presence of hyperphosphorylated forms of the protein in the transduced cells as well as to their progressive degeneration. The application of this model to mice deficient in TREM2 (Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells-2, an important genetic risk factor for AD) as well as to 15-month-old mice showed that microglia actively participate in the degeneration of RGCs. Surprisingly, although we were able to detect the transgenic Tau protein up to the terminal arborization of RGCs at the level of the superior colliculi, spreading of the transgenic Tau protein to post-synaptic neurons was detected only in aged animals. This suggests that there may be neuron-intrinsic- or microenvironment mediators facilitating this spreading that appear with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Duwat
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Pauline Léal
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Audrey Vautheny
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Gwennaëlle Aurégan
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Charlène Joséphine
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Marie-Claude Gaillard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Hérard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Caroline Jan
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Pauline Gipchtein
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Julien Mitja
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Stéphane Fouquet
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | | | - Philippe Hantraye
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Emmanuel Brouillet
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Gilles Bonvento
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Karine Cambon
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Alexis-Pierre Bemelmans
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: mécanismes, thérapies, imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
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22
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Carrero L, Antequera D, Alcalde I, Megías D, Figueiro-Silva J, Merayo-Lloves J, Municio C, Carro E. Disturbed circadian rhythm and retinal degeneration in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:55. [PMID: 37004084 PMCID: PMC10067208 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01529-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The circadian clock is synchronized to the 24 h day by environmental light which is transmitted from the retina to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) primarily via the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT). Circadian rhythm abnormalities have been reported in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Whether these AD-related changes are a result of the altered clock gene expression, retina degeneration, including the dysfunction in RHT transmission, loss of retinal ganglion cells and its electrophysiological capabilities, or a combination of all of these pathological mechanisms, is not known. Here, we evaluated transgenic APP/PS1 mouse model of AD and wild-type mice at 6- and 12-month-old, as early and late pathological stage, respectively. We noticed the alteration of circadian clock gene expression not only in the hypothalamus but also in two extra-hypothalamic brain regions, cerebral cortex and hippocampus, in APP/PS1 mice. These alterations were observed in 6-month-old transgenic mice and were exacerbated at 12 months of age. This could be explained by the reduced RHT projections in the SCN of APP/PS1 mice, correlating with downregulation of hypothalamic GABAergic response in APP/PS1 mice in advanced stage of pathology. Importantly, we also report retinal degeneration in APP/PS1 mice, including Aβ deposits and reduced choline acetyltransferase levels, loss of melanopsin retinal ganglion cells and functional integrity mainly of inner retina layers. Our findings support the theory that retinal degeneration constitutes an early pathological event that directly affects the control of circadian rhythm in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Carrero
- Group of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre Research Institute (imas12), 28041, Madrid, Spain
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
- Autonoma de Madrid University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Desireé Antequera
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer's Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Alcalde
- Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de Oviedo and Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
| | - Diego Megías
- Advanced Optical Microscopy Unit, Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joana Figueiro-Silva
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Molecular Life Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jesús Merayo-Lloves
- Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega, Universidad de Oviedo and Fundación de Investigación Oftalmológica, Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
| | - Cristina Municio
- Group of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre Research Institute (imas12), 28041, Madrid, Spain.
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Eva Carro
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
- Neurobiology of Alzheimer's Disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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23
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Latina V, De Introna M, Caligiuri C, Loviglio A, Florio R, La Regina F, Pignataro A, Ammassari-Teule M, Calissano P, Amadoro G. Immunotherapy with Cleavage-Specific 12A12mAb Reduces the Tau Cleavage in Visual Cortex and Improves Visuo-Spatial Recognition Memory in Tg2576 AD Mouse Model. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020509. [PMID: 36839831 PMCID: PMC9965010 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau-targeted immunotherapy is a promising approach for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Beyond cognitive decline, AD features visual deficits consistent with the manifestation of Amyloid β-protein (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the eyes and higher visual centers, both in animal models and affected subjects. We reported that 12A12-a monoclonal cleavage-specific antibody (mAb) which in vivo neutralizes the neurotoxic, N-terminal 20-22 kDa tau fragment(s)-significantly reduces the retinal accumulation in Tg(HuAPP695Swe)2576 mice of both tau and APP/Aβ pathologies correlated with local inflammation and synaptic deterioration. Here, we report the occurrence of N-terminal tau cleavage in the primary visual cortex (V1 area) and the beneficial effect of 12A12mAb treatment on phenotype-associated visuo-spatial deficits in this AD animal model. We found out that non-invasive administration of 12 A12mAb markedly reduced the pathological accumulation of both truncated tau and Aβ in the V1 area, correlated to significant improvement in visual recognition memory performance along with local increase in two direct readouts of cortical synaptic plasticity, including the dendritic spine density and the expression level of activity-regulated cytoskeleton protein Arc/Arg3.1. Translation of these findings to clinical therapeutic interventions could offer an innovative tau-directed opportunity to delay or halt the visual impairments occurring during AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Margherita De Introna
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Caligiuri
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Loviglio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Florio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Federico La Regina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Annabella Pignataro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Martine Ammassari-Teule
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Via Ercole Ramarini 32, 00015 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-49255252
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24
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Hart de Ruyter FJ, Morrema THJ, den Haan J, Twisk JWR, de Boer JF, Scheltens P, Boon BDC, Thal DR, Rozemuller AJ, Verbraak FD, Bouwman FH, Hoozemans JJM. Phosphorylated tau in the retina correlates with tau pathology in the brain in Alzheimer's disease and primary tauopathies. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 145:197-218. [PMID: 36480077 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02525-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The retina is a potential source of biomarkers for the detection of neurodegenerative diseases. Accumulation of phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in the brain is a pathological feature characteristic for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and primary tauopathies. In this study the presence of p-tau in the retina in relation to tau pathology in the brain was assessed. Post-mortem eyes and brains were collected through the Netherlands Brain Bank from donors with AD (n = 17), primary tauopathies (n = 8), α-synucleinopathies (n = 13), other neurodegenerative diseases including non-tau frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) (n = 9), and controls (n = 15). Retina cross-sections were assessed by immunohistochemistry using antibodies directed against total tau (HT7), 3R and 4R tau isoforms (RD3, RD4), and phospho-epitopes Ser202/Thr205 (AT8), Thr217 (anti-T217), Thr212/Ser214 (AT100), Thr181 (AT270), Ser396 (anti-pS396) and Ser422 (anti-pS422). Retinal tau load was compared to p-tau Ser202/Thr205 and p-tau Thr217 load in various brain regions. Total tau, 3R and 4R tau isoforms were most prominently present in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and outer plexiform layer (OPL) of the retina and were detected in all cases and controls as a diffuse and somatodendritic signal. Total tau, p-tau Ser202/Thr205 and p-tau Thr217 was observed in amacrine and horizontal cells of the inner nuclear layer (INL). Various antibodies directed against phospho-epitopes of tau showed immunoreactivity in the IPL, OPL, and INL. P-tau Ser202/Thr205 and Thr217 showed significant discrimination between AD and other tauopathies, and non-tauopathy cases including controls. Whilst immunopositivity was observed for p-tau Thr212/Ser214, Thr181 and Ser396, there were no group differences. P-tau Ser422 did not show any immunoreactivity in the retina. The presence of retinal p-tau Ser202/Thr205 and Thr217 correlated with Braak stage for NFTs and with the presence of p-tau Ser202/Thr205 in hippocampus and cortical brain regions. Depending on the phospho-epitope, p-tau in the retina is a potential biomarker for AD and primary tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederique J Hart de Ruyter
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Tjado H J Morrema
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jurre den Haan
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jos W R Twisk
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes F de Boer
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, LaserLaB, Physics and Astronomy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Scheltens
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Baayla D C Boon
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Mayo Clinic, Neuroscience, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Dietmar R Thal
- Laboratory for Neuropathology, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven Brain Institute, O&N IV Herestraat 49, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Annemieke J Rozemuller
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank D Verbraak
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Ophthalmology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Femke H Bouwman
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen J M Hoozemans
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pathology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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25
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Harris G, Rickard JJS, Butt G, Kelleher L, Blanch RJ, Cooper J, Oppenheimer PG. Review: Emerging Eye-Based Diagnostic Technologies for Traumatic Brain Injury. IEEE Rev Biomed Eng 2023; 16:530-559. [PMID: 35320105 PMCID: PMC9888755 DOI: 10.1109/rbme.2022.3161352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The study of ocular manifestations of neurodegenerative disorders, Oculomics, is a growing field of investigation for early diagnostics, enabling structural and chemical biomarkers to be monitored overtime to predict prognosis. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) triggers a cascade of events harmful to the brain, which can lead to neurodegeneration. TBI, termed the "silent epidemic" is becoming a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. There is currently no effective diagnostic tool for TBI, and yet, early-intervention is known to considerably shorten hospital stays, improve outcomes, fasten neurological recovery and lower mortality rates, highlighting the unmet need for techniques capable of rapid and accurate point-of-care diagnostics, implemented in the earliest stages. This review focuses on the latest advances in the main neuropathophysiological responses and the achievements and shortfalls of TBI diagnostic methods. Validated and emerging TBI-indicative biomarkers are outlined and linked to ocular neuro-disorders. Methods detecting structural and chemical ocular responses to TBI are categorised along with prospective chemical and physical sensing techniques. Particular attention is drawn to the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a non-invasive sensing of neurological molecular signatures in the ocular projections of the brain, laying the platform for the first tangible path towards alternative point-of-care diagnostic technologies for TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Harris
- School of Chemical Engineering, Advanced Nanomaterials Structures and Applications Laboratories, College of Engineering and Physical SciencesUniversity of BirminghamB15 2TTBirminghamU.K.
| | - Jonathan James Stanley Rickard
- School of Chemical Engineering, Advanced Nanomaterials Structures and Applications Laboratories, College of Engineering and Physical SciencesUniversity of BirminghamB15 2TTBirminghamU.K.
- Department of Physics, Cavendish LaboratoryUniversity of CambridgeCB3 0HECambridgeU.K.
| | - Gibran Butt
- Ophthalmology DepartmentUniversity Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation TrustB15 2THBirminghamU.K.
| | - Liam Kelleher
- School of Chemical Engineering, Advanced Nanomaterials Structures and Applications Laboratories, College of Engineering and Physical SciencesUniversity of BirminghamB15 2TTBirminghamU.K.
| | - Richard James Blanch
- Department of Military Surgery and TraumaRoyal Centre for Defence MedicineB15 2THBirminghamU.K.
- Neuroscience and Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation TrustcBirminghamU.K.
| | - Jonathan Cooper
- School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of GlasgowG12 8LTGlasgowU.K.
| | - Pola Goldberg Oppenheimer
- School of Chemical Engineering, Advanced Nanomaterials Structures and Applications Laboratories, College of Engineering and Physical SciencesUniversity of BirminghamB15 2TTBirminghamU.K.
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational MedicineB15 2THBirminghamU.K.
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26
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Okan ICT, Ozdemir F, Agca C. Axonal Transport Defects in Retinal Ganglion Cell Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1415:223-227. [PMID: 37440037 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
For the survival and maintenance of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), axonal transportation is fundamental. Axonal transportation defects can cause severe neuropathies leading to neuronal loss. Axonal transport defects usually precede axonal degeneration and RGC loss in disease models. To date, the main causes of axonal transport defects have not been fully understood. Therefore, elucidation of the mechanisms that lead to transport defects will help us to develop novel therapeutic targets and early diagnostic tools. In this review, we provide an overview of optic neuropathies and axonal degeneration with a focus on axonal transport.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fatma Ozdemir
- Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering Program, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Cavit Agca
- Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering Program, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey.
- Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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27
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Hao X, Zhang W, Jiao B, Yang Q, Zhang X, Chen R, Wang X, Xiao X, Zhu Y, Liao W, Wang D, Shen L. Correlation between retinal structure and brain multimodal magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1088829. [PMID: 36909943 PMCID: PMC9992546 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1088829] [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: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The retina imaging and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can both reflect early changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may serve as potential biomarker for early diagnosis, but their correlation and the internal mechanism of retinal structural changes remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the possible correlation between retinal structure and visual pathway, brain structure, intrinsic activity changes in AD patients, as well as to build a classification model to identify AD patients. Methods In the study, 49 AD patients and 48 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. Retinal images were obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Multimodal MRI sequences of all subjects were collected. Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression models were used to assess the correlation between OCT parameters and multimodal MRI findings. The diagnostic value of combination of retinal imaging and brain multimodal MRI was assessed by performing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Compared with HCs, retinal thickness and multimodal MRI findings of AD patients were significantly altered (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were presented between the fractional anisotropy (FA) value of optic tract and mean retinal thickness, macular volume, macular ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness, inner plexiform layer (IPL) thickness in AD patients (p < 0.01). The fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (fALFF) value of primary visual cortex (V1) was correlated with temporal quadrant peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness (p < 0.05). The model combining thickness of GCL and temporal quadrant pRNFL, volume of hippocampus and lateral geniculate nucleus, and age showed the best performance to identify AD patients [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.936, sensitivity = 89.1%, specificity = 87.0%]. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that retinal structure change was related to the loss of integrity of white matter fiber tracts in the visual pathway and the decreased LGN volume and functional metabolism of V1 in AD patients. Trans-synaptic axonal retrograde lesions may be the underlying mechanism. Combining retinal imaging and multimodal MRI may provide new insight into the mechanism of retinal structural changes in AD and may serve as new target for early auxiliary diagnosis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Hao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bin Jiao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qijie Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ruiting Chen
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuewen Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuan Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weihua Liao
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dongcui Wang
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lu Shen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
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Mesoscopic Mapping of Visual Pathway in a Female 5XFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233901. [PMID: 36497159 PMCID: PMC9740259 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and Aβ-induced neurodegeneration appear in the retina and retinorecipient areas in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although these Aβ-related changes in the retina cause damage to the visual functions, no studies have yet revealed the alterations in the visual pathways of AD. Therefore, we investigated the alterations of visual circuits in the AD mouse model using anterograde tracer cholera toxin β subunits (CTβ). Moreover, we investigated the Aβ accumulation in the retina and retinorecipient areas and the neuronal loss, and synaptic degeneration in retinorecipient areas by immunofluorescent staining of 4- and 12-month-old female 5XFAD transgenic mice. Our results demonstrated that Aβ accumulation and neurodegeneration occurred in the retina and retinorecipient regions of early and late stages of the 5XFAD mice. Retinal efferents to the suprachiasmatic nucleus and lateral geniculate nucleus were impaired in the early stage of AD. Moreover, retinal connections to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and superior colliculus were degenerated in the late-stage of AD. These findings reveal the Aβ-related pathology induced visual circuit disturbances at the mesoscale level in both the early and late stages of AD and provide anatomical and functional insights into the visual circuitry of AD.
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Buscho S, Palacios E, Xia F, Shi S, Li S, Luisi J, Kayed R, Motamedi M, Zhang W, Liu H. Longitudinal characterization of retinal vasculature alterations with optical coherence tomography angiography in a mouse model of tauopathy. Exp Eye Res 2022; 224:109240. [PMID: 36096190 PMCID: PMC10162407 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies are a family of neurodegenerative diseases which predominately afflict the rapidly growing aging population suffering from various brain disorders including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism-17 and Pick disease. As the only visually accessible region of the central nervous system, in recent years, the retina has attracted extensive attention for its potential as a target for visualizing and quantifying emerging biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases. Our previous study has found that retinal vascular inflammation and leakage occur at the very early stage of tauopathic mouse model. Here, we aimed to non-invasively visualize age-dependent alterations of retinal vasculature assessing the potential for using changes in retinal vasculature as the biomarker for the early diagnosis of tauopathy. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), a non-invasive depth-resolved high-resolution imaging technique was used to visualize and quantify tauopathy-induced alterations of retinal vasculature in P301S transgenic mice overexpressing the P301S mutant form of human tau and age-matched wild type littermate mice at 3, 6 and 10 months of age. We observed significant alterations of vascular features in the intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) but not in the superficial vascular complex (SVC) of P301S mice at early stages of tauopathy. With aging, alterations of vascular features in P301S mice became more prominent in all three vascular plexuses. Staining of retinal vasculature in flatmounts and trypsin digests of P301S mice at 10 months of age revealed decreased vessel density and increased acellular capillary formation, indicating that vascular degeneration also occurs during tauopathy. Overall, our results demonstrate that the changes in retinal vascular features accelerate during the progression of tauopathy. Vessels in the ICP and DCP may be more susceptible to tauopathy than vessels in the SVC. Since changes in retinal vasculature often precede tau pathology in the brain, non-invasive identification of retinal vascular alterations with OCTA may be a useful biomarker for the early diagnosis of tauopathy and monitoring its progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth Buscho
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Erick Palacios
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Fan Xia
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Shuizhen Shi
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Shengguo Li
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Jonathan Luisi
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Massoud Motamedi
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Departments of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
| | - Hua Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
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Fernández-Albarral JA, Salobrar-García E, Matamoros JA, Fernández-Mendívil C, del Sastre E, Chen L, de Hoz R, López-Cuenca I, Sánchez-Puebla L, Ramírez JM, Salazar JJ, Lopez MG, Ramírez AI. Microglial Hemoxygenase-1 Deletion Reduces Inflammation in the Retina of Old Mice with Tauopathy. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:2151. [PMID: 36358522 PMCID: PMC9686584 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11112151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease are characterized by the accumulation of neurotoxic aggregates of tau protein. With aging and, especially, in Alzheimer's patients, the inducible enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) progressively increases in microglia, causing iron accumulation, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. The retina is an organ that can be readily accessed and can reflect changes that occur in the brain. In this context, we evaluated how the lack of microglial HO-1, using mice that do not express HO-1 in microglia (HMO-KO), impacts retinal macro and microgliosis of aged subjects (18 months old mice) subjected to tauopathy by intrahippocampal delivery of AAV-hTauP301L (TAU). Our results show that although tauopathy, measured as anti-TAUY9 and anti-AT8 positive immunostaining, was not observed in the retina of WT-TAU or HMO-KO+TAU mice, a morphometric study of retinal microglia and macroglia showed significant retinal changes in the TAU group compared to the WT group, such as: (i) increased number of activated microglia, (ii) retraction of microglial processes, (iii) increased number of CD68+ microglia, and (iv) increased retinal area occupied by GFAP (AROA) and C3 (AROC3). This retinal inflammatory profile was reduced in HMO-KO+TAU mice. Conclusion: Reduction of microglial HO-1 could be beneficial to prevent tauopathy-induced neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A. Fernández-Albarral
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - José A. Matamoros
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Fernández-Mendívil
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitario (IIS-IP), Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eric del Sastre
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitario (IIS-IP), Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lejing Chen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Sánchez-Puebla
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M. Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J. Salazar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuela G. Lopez
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitario (IIS-IP), Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana I. Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
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Lacomme M, Hales SC, Brown TW, Stevanovic K, Jolicoeur C, Cai J, Bois T, Desrosiers M, Dalkara D, Cayouette M. Numb regulates Tau levels and prevents neurodegeneration in tauopathy mouse models. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm4295. [PMID: 36260685 PMCID: PMC9581485 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm4295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein Tau is linked to neuronal cell death in tauopathies, but how intraneuronal Tau levels are regulated in health and disease remains unclear. Here, we show that conditional inactivation of the trafficking adaptor protein Numb in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) increases Tau levels and leads to axonal blebbing, which is followed by neuronal cell loss in aged mice. In the TauP301S mouse model of tauopathy, conditional inactivation of Numb in RGCs and spinal motoneurons accelerates neurodegeneration, and loss of Numb in motoneurons also leads to precocious hindlimb paralysis. Conversely, overexpression of the long isoform of Numb (Numb-72) decreases intracellular Tau levels and reduces axonal blebbing in TauP301S RGCs, leading to improved electrical activity in cultured neurons and improves performance in a visually guided behavior test in vivo. These results uncover Numb as a key regulator of intracellular Tau levels and identify Numb-72 as a potential therapeutic factor for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Lacomme
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Sarah C. Hales
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Thomas W. Brown
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Katarina Stevanovic
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Christine Jolicoeur
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Jenny Cai
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Therence Bois
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Melissa Desrosiers
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Michel Cayouette
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montreal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
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Altered retinal cerebral vessel oscillation frequencies in Alzheimer's disease compatible with impaired amyloid clearance. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 120:117-127. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Narsineni L, Rao PPN, Pham AT, Foldvari M. Peptide-Modified Gemini Surfactants as Delivery System Building Blocks with Dual Functionalities for Glaucoma Treatment: Gene Carriers and Amyloid-Beta (Aβ) Self-Aggregation Inhibitors. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:2737-2753. [PMID: 35802484 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neurodegeneration in glaucoma has potential links with amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition. Targeting the Aβ pathway was shown to reduce RGC apoptosis and protect RGCs from degeneration. We report exploratory studies on the amyloid Aβ40 aggregation inhibition properties of four cell adhesion peptide (CAP)-gemini surfactants that are intended as building blocks for gene carrier nanoparticles for glaucoma treatment. The CAP-gemini surfactants (18-7N(p1-4)-18) were evaluated as potential Aβ40 peptide aggregation inhibitors by a fluorescence kinetic assay and for their binding interactions with Aβ40 dimers by molecular docking studies. In vitro Aβ40 peptide aggregation inhibition studies showed that the 18-7N(p3)-18 and 18-7N(p1)-18 ligands inhibit Aβ40 peptide aggregation and prevent the formation of higher order structures. CDOCKER energies and CDOCKER interaction energies demonstrated that the CAP-gemini surfactants formed more stable complexes in the Aβ40 dimer assembly and underwent both polar and nonpolar interactions compared to CAP peptides alone. Also, 18-7N(p3)-18 showed a significantly lower CDOCKER energy compared to that of the unmodified gemini surfactant 18-7NH-18 (p < 0.0001) and 18-7N(p4)-18 (p < 0.001), 18-7N(p1)-18, and 18-7N(p2)-18. Similarly, 18-7N(p3)-18 showed a significantly lower CDOCKER interaction energy compared to that of 18-7NH-18, 18-7N(p4)-18 (p < 0.0001), and 18-7N(p2)-18 (p < 0.001), while 18-7N(p3)-18 and 18-7N(p1)-18 showed similar CDOCKER interaction energies. These studies suggest that a combination of both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions contributes to the anti-Aβ40 aggregation activity of CAP-gemini surfactants. CAP-gemini surfactants showed 10-fold better Aβ40 peptide aggregation inhibition compared to previously reported values and could provide a new opportunity for glaucoma treatment as dual-functional gene carriers.
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Zhang WJ, Li DN, Lian TH, Guo P, Zhang YN, Li JH, Guan HY, He MY, Zhang WJ, Zhang WJ, Luo DM, Wang XM, Zhang W. Clinical Features and Potential Mechanisms Relating Neuropathological Biomarkers and Blood-Brain Barrier in Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease and Hearing Loss. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:911028. [PMID: 35783139 PMCID: PMC9245454 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.911028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to explore clinical features and potential mechanisms relating neuropathological biomarkers and blood-brain barrier (BBB) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and hearing loss (HL). Materials and Methods A total of 65 patients with AD were recruited and auditory function was assessed by threshold of pure tone audiometry (PTA). Patients were divided into AD with HL (AD-HL) and AD with no HL (AD-nHL) groups based on the standard of World Health Organization. Clinical symptoms were assessed by multiple rating scales. The levels of neuropathological biomarkers of β amyloid1-42 (Aβ1–42) and multiple phosphorylated tau (P-tau), and BBB factors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), receptor of advanced glycation end products, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 1 were measured. Results (1) Compared with AD-nHL group, AD-HL group had significantly impaired overall cognitive function and cognitive domains of memory, language, attention, execution, and activities of daily living (ADL) reflected by the scores of rating scales (P < 0.05). PTA threshold was significantly correlated with the impairments of overall cognitive function and cognitive domains of memory and language, and ADL in patients with AD (P < 0.05). (2) P-tau (S199) level was significantly increased in CSF from AD-HL group (P < 0.05), and was significantly and positively correlated with PTA threshold in patients with AD. (3) MMP-3 level was significantly elevated in CSF from AD-HL group (P < 0.05), and was significantly and positively correlated with PTA threshold in patients with AD (P < 0.05). (4) In AD-HL group, P-tau (S199) level was significantly and positively correlated with the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-3 in CSF (P < 0.05). Conclusion AD-HL patients have severely compromised overall cognitive function, multiple cognitive domains, and ADL. The potential mechanisms of AD-HL involve elevations of AD neuropathological biomarker of P-tau (S199) and BBB factor of MMP-3, and close correlations between P-tau (S199) and MMP-2/MMP-3 in CSF. Findings from this investigation highly suggest significance of early evaluation of HL for delaying AD progression, and indicate new directions of drug development by inhibiting neuropathological biomarkers of AD and protecting BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-jiao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Dan-ning Li
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Teng-hong Lian
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Guo
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-nan Zhang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-hui Li
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui-ying Guan
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ming-yue He
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-jing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei-jia Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Dong-mei Luo
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-min Wang
- Department of Physiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Center of Parkinson’s Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory on Parkinson’s Disease, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Wei Zhang,
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Frame G, Schuller A, Smith MA, Crish SD, Dengler-Crish CM. Alterations in Retinal Signaling Across Age and Sex in 3xTg Alzheimer’s Disease Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 88:471-492. [PMID: 35599482 PMCID: PMC9398084 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background: Visual disturbances often precede cognitive dysfunction in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and may coincide with early accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein in the retina. These findings have inspired critical research on in vivo ophthalmic Aβ imaging for disease biomarker detection but have not fully answered mechanistic questions on how retinal pathology affects visual signaling between the eye and brain. Objective: The goal of this study was to provide a functional and structural assessment of eye-brain communication between retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their primary projection target, the superior colliculus, in female and male 3xTg-AD mice across disease stages. Methods: Retinal electrophysiology, axonal transport, and immunofluorescence were used to determine RGC projection integrity, and retinal and collicular Aβ levels were assessed with advanced protein quantitation techniques. Results: 3xTg mice exhibited nuanced deficits in RGC electrical signaling, axonal transport, and synaptic integrity that exceeded normal age-related decrements in RGC function in age- and sex-matched healthy control mice. These deficits presented in sex-specific patterns among 3xTg mice, differing in the timing and severity of changes. Conclusion: These data support the premise that retinal Aβ is not just a benign biomarker in the eye, but may contribute to subtle, nuanced visual processing deficits. Such disruptions might enhance the biomarker potential of ocular amyloid and differentiate patients with incipient AD from patients experiencing normal age-related decrements in visual function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Frame
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Adam Schuller
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - Matthew A. Smith
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
- Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute, Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron, OH, USA
| | - Samuel D. Crish
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
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Zhang J, Shi L, Shen Y. The retina: A window in which to view the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2022; 77:101590. [PMID: 35192959 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most familiar type of dementia affecting elderly populations worldwide. Studies of AD patients and AD transgenic mice have revealed alterations in the retina similar to alterations which occur in the AD brain. Moreover, AD retinal pathology occurs even earlier than AD brain pathology. Importantly, non-invasive imaging techniques can be utilized for retinal observation due to the unique optical transparency of the eye, which acts as a convenient window in which preclinical pathology in the AD brain can be monitored. In this review, we overview the existing literature covering different forms of AD retinal pathology and propose a basis for the clinical application of using the retina as a window to view AD during preclinical and clinical stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, School of Life Science, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Lei Shi
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, School of Life Science, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yong Shen
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, School of Life Science, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Center for Excellence in Brain Sciences and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
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37
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Boccuni I, Fairless R. Retinal Glutamate Neurotransmission: From Physiology to Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:638. [PMID: 35629305 PMCID: PMC9147752 DOI: 10.3390/life12050638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate neurotransmission and metabolism are finely modulated by the retinal network, where the efficient processing of visual information is shaped by the differential distribution and composition of glutamate receptors and transporters. However, disturbances in glutamate homeostasis can result in glutamate excitotoxicity, a major initiating factor of common neurodegenerative diseases. Within the retina, glutamate excitotoxicity can impair visual transmission by initiating degeneration of neuronal populations, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The vulnerability of RGCs is observed not just as a result of retinal diseases but has also been ascribed to other common neurodegenerative and peripheral diseases. In this review, we describe the vulnerability of RGCs to glutamate excitotoxicity and the contribution of different glutamate receptors and transporters to this. In particular, we focus on the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor as the major effector of glutamate-induced mechanisms of neurodegeneration, including impairment of calcium homeostasis, changes in gene expression and signalling, and mitochondrial dysfunction, as well as the role of endoplasmic reticular stress. Due to recent developments in the search for modulators of NMDA receptor signalling, novel neuroprotective strategies may be on the horizon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Boccuni
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Richard Fairless
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Clinical Cooperation Unit (CCU) Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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38
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Klyucherev TO, Olszewski P, Shalimova AA, Chubarev VN, Tarasov VV, Attwood MM, Syvänen S, Schiöth HB. Advances in the development of new biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:25. [PMID: 35449079 PMCID: PMC9027827 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00296-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex, heterogeneous, progressive disease and is the most common type of neurodegenerative dementia. The prevalence of AD is expected to increase as the population ages, placing an additional burden on national healthcare systems. There is a large need for new diagnostic tests that can detect AD at an early stage with high specificity at relatively low cost. The development of modern analytical diagnostic tools has made it possible to determine several biomarkers of AD with high specificity, including pathogenic proteins, markers of synaptic dysfunction, and markers of inflammation in the blood. There is a considerable potential in using microRNA (miRNA) as markers of AD, and diagnostic studies based on miRNA panels suggest that AD could potentially be determined with high accuracy for individual patients. Studies of the retina with improved methods of visualization of the fundus are also showing promising results for the potential diagnosis of the disease. This review focuses on the recent developments of blood, plasma, and ocular biomarkers for the diagnosis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timofey O Klyucherev
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Pawel Olszewski
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alena A Shalimova
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir N Chubarev
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vadim V Tarasov
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Misty M Attwood
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stina Syvänen
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden.
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39
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Kim S, Nam Y, Kim HS, Jung H, Jeon SG, Hong SB, Moon M. Alteration of Neural Pathways and Its Implications in Alzheimer’s Disease. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040845. [PMID: 35453595 PMCID: PMC9025507 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease accompanied by cognitive and behavioral symptoms. These AD-related manifestations result from the alteration of neural circuitry by aggregated forms of amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau, which are neurotoxic. From a neuroscience perspective, identifying neural circuits that integrate various inputs and outputs to determine behaviors can provide insight into the principles of behavior. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the alterations in the neural circuits associated with AD-related behavioral and psychological symptoms. Interestingly, it is well known that the alteration of neural circuitry is prominent in the brains of patients with AD. Here, we selected specific regions in the AD brain that are associated with AD-related behavioral and psychological symptoms, and reviewed studies of healthy and altered efferent pathways to the target regions. Moreover, we propose that specific neural circuits that are altered in the AD brain can be potential targets for AD treatment. Furthermore, we provide therapeutic implications for targeting neuronal circuits through various therapeutic approaches and the appropriate timing of treatment for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujin Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Korea; (S.K.); (Y.N.); (H.s.K.); (H.J.); (S.G.J.); (S.B.H.)
- Research Institute for Dementia Science, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Korea
| | - Yunkwon Nam
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Korea; (S.K.); (Y.N.); (H.s.K.); (H.J.); (S.G.J.); (S.B.H.)
| | - Hyeon soo Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Korea; (S.K.); (Y.N.); (H.s.K.); (H.J.); (S.G.J.); (S.B.H.)
| | - Haram Jung
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Korea; (S.K.); (Y.N.); (H.s.K.); (H.J.); (S.G.J.); (S.B.H.)
| | - Seong Gak Jeon
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Korea; (S.K.); (Y.N.); (H.s.K.); (H.J.); (S.G.J.); (S.B.H.)
| | - Sang Bum Hong
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Korea; (S.K.); (Y.N.); (H.s.K.); (H.J.); (S.G.J.); (S.B.H.)
| | - Minho Moon
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Korea; (S.K.); (Y.N.); (H.s.K.); (H.J.); (S.G.J.); (S.B.H.)
- Research Institute for Dementia Science, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Korea
- Correspondence:
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Christinaki E, Kulenovic H, Hadoux X, Baldassini N, Van Eijgen J, De Groef L, Stalmans I, van Wijngaarden P. Retinal imaging biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases. Clin Exp Optom 2022; 105:194-204. [PMID: 34751086 DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.1984179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The timely detection of neurodegenerative diseases is central to improving clinical care as well as enabling the development and deployment of disease-modifying therapies. Retinal imaging is emerging as a method to detect features of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, given the anatomical and functional similarities between the retina and the brain. This review provides an overview of the current status of retinal imaging biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis. Whilst research findings are promising, efforts to harmonise study designs and imaging methods will be important in translating these findings into clinical care. Doing so may mean that eye care providers will play important roles in the detection of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Christinaki
- Research Group Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hana Kulenovic
- Research Group Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Xavier Hadoux
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicole Baldassini
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jan Van Eijgen
- Research Group Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ingeborg Stalmans
- Research Group Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter van Wijngaarden
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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41
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Alzheimer's Disease Seen through the Eye: Ocular Alterations and Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052486. [PMID: 35269629 PMCID: PMC8910735 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is one of the main neurodegenerative diseases worldwide. Unfortunately, AD shares many similarities with other dementias at early stages, which impedes an accurate premortem diagnosis. Therefore, it is urgent to find biomarkers to allow for early diagnosis of the disease. There is increasing scientific evidence highlighting the similarities between the eye and other structures of the CNS, suggesting that knowledge acquired in eye research could be useful for research and diagnosis of AD. For example, the retina and optic nerve are considered part of the central nervous system, and their damage can result in retrograde and anterograde axon degeneration, as well as abnormal protein aggregation. In the anterior eye segment, the aqueous humor and tear film may be comparable to the cerebrospinal fluid. Both fluids are enriched with molecules that can be potential neurodegenerative biomarkers. Indeed, the pathophysiology of AD, characterized by cerebral deposits of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau protein, is also present in the eyes of AD patients, besides numerous structural and functional changes observed in the structure of the eyes. Therefore, all this evidence suggests that ocular changes have the potential to be used as either predictive values for AD assessment or as diagnostic tools.
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42
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Little K, Llorián-Salvador M, Scullion S, Hernández C, Simó-Servat O, Del Marco A, Bosma E, Vargas-Soria M, Carranza-Naval MJ, Van Bergen T, Galbiati S, Viganò I, Musi CA, Schlingemann R, Feyen J, Borsello T, Zerbini G, Klaassen I, Garcia-Alloza M, Simó R, Stitt AW. Common pathways in dementia and diabetic retinopathy: understanding the mechanisms of diabetes-related cognitive decline. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2022; 33:50-71. [PMID: 34794851 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2021.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with multiple comorbidities, including diabetic retinopathy (DR) and cognitive decline, and T2D patients have a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Both DR and AD are characterized by a number of pathological mechanisms that coalesce around the neurovascular unit, including neuroinflammation and degeneration, vascular degeneration, and glial activation. Chronic hyperglycemia and insulin resistance also play a significant role, leading to activation of pathological mechanisms such as increased oxidative stress and the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Understanding these common pathways and the degree to which they occur simultaneously in the brain and retina during diabetes will provide avenues to identify T2D patients at risk of cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karis Little
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - María Llorián-Salvador
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Sarah Scullion
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Cristina Hernández
- Vall d'Hebron Research Institute and CIBERDEM (ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga Simó-Servat
- Vall d'Hebron Research Institute and CIBERDEM (ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angel Del Marco
- Division of Physiology, School of Medicine, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Cadiz (INIBICA), Universidad de Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain
| | - Esmeralda Bosma
- Ocular Angiogenesis Group, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Vargas-Soria
- Division of Physiology, School of Medicine, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Cadiz (INIBICA), Universidad de Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain
| | - Maria Jose Carranza-Naval
- Division of Physiology, School of Medicine, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Cadiz (INIBICA), Universidad de Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain
| | | | - Silvia Galbiati
- Complications of Diabetes Unit, Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Ilaria Viganò
- Complications of Diabetes Unit, Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Clara Alice Musi
- Università Degli Studi di Milano and Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri- IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Reiner Schlingemann
- Ocular Angiogenesis Group, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Tiziana Borsello
- Università Degli Studi di Milano and Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri- IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Gianpaolo Zerbini
- Complications of Diabetes Unit, Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Ingeborg Klaassen
- Ocular Angiogenesis Group, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Monica Garcia-Alloza
- Division of Physiology, School of Medicine, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Cadiz (INIBICA), Universidad de Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain
| | - Rafael Simó
- Vall d'Hebron Research Institute and CIBERDEM (ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Alan W Stitt
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
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Retinal ganglion cell loss in an ex vivo mouse model of optic nerve cut is prevented by curcumin treatment. Cell Death Discov 2021; 7:394. [PMID: 34911931 PMCID: PMC8674341 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00760-1] [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] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss is a pathologic feature common to several retinopathies associated to optic nerve damage, leading to visual loss and blindness. Although several scientific efforts have been spent to understand the molecular and cellular changes occurring in retinal degeneration, an effective therapy to counteract the retinal damage is still not available. Here we show that eyeballs, enucleated with the concomitant optic nerve cut (ONC), when kept in PBS for 24 h showed retinal and optic nerve degeneration. Examining retinas and optic nerves at different time points in a temporal window of 24 h, we found a thinning of some retinal layers especially RGC's layer, observing a powerful RGC loss after 24 h correlated with an apoptotic, MAPKs and degradative pathways dysfunctions. Specifically, we detected a time-dependent increase of Caspase-3, -9 and pro-apoptotic marker levels, associated with a strong reduction of BRN3A and NeuN levels. Importantly, a powerful activation of JNK, c-Jun, and ERK signaling (MAPKs) were observed, correlated with a significant augmented SUMO-1 and UBC9 protein levels. The degradation signaling pathways was also altered, causing a significant decrease of ubiquitination level and an increased LC3B activation. Notably, it was also detected an augmented Tau protein level. Curcumin, a powerful antioxidant natural compound, prevented the alterations of apoptotic cascade, MAPKs, and SUMO-1 pathways and the degradation system, preserving the RGC survival and the retinal layer thickness. This ex vivo retinal degeneration model could be a useful method to study, in a short time window, the effect of neuroprotective tools like curcumin that could represent a potential treatment to contrast retinal cell death.
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Age dependence of retinal vascular plexus attenuation in the triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Exp Eye Res 2021; 214:108879. [PMID: 34896306 PMCID: PMC10155044 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The influence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression and severity on the structural and functional integrity of the cerebral vasculature is well recognized. The retina is an extension of the brain; thus, changes in retinal vascular features may serve as markers of AD cerebrovascular pathologies. However, differentiating normal aging-versus AD-induced retinal vascular changes is unresolved. Therefore, we compared and quantified changes in superficial (SVP), intermediate (IVP), and deep (DVP) retinal vascular plexuses in young, middle-age, and old triple transgenic mouse model of AD (3xT-AD) to the changes that occur in age-matched controls (C57BL/6j). We used immunostaining combined with a novel tissue optical clearing approach along with a computational tool for quantitative analysis of vascular network alterations (vessel length and density) in SVP, IVP, and DVP. All three layers had comparable structural features and densities in young 3xTg-AD and control animals. In controls, IVP and DVP densities decreased with aging (-14% to -32% change from young to old, p < 0.05), while no changes were observed in SVP. In contrast, vascular parameters in the transgenic group decreased in all three layers with aging (-12% to -49% change from young to old, p < 0.05). Furthermore, in the old group, SVP and DVP vascular parameters were lower in the transgenics compared to age-matched controls (p < 0.05). Our analysis demonstrates that normal aging and progression of AD lead to various degrees of vascular alterations in the retina. Specifically, compared to normal aging, changes in vascular features of SVP and DVP regions of the retina are accelerated during AD progression. Considering recent advances in the field of depth-resolved imaging of retinal capillary network and microangiography, noninvasive quantitative monitoring of changes in retinal vascular network parameters of SVP and DVP may serve as markers for diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer's disease and discriminating AD-induced vascular attenuation from age-related vasculopathy.
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Shi H, Koronyo Y, Rentsendorj A, Fuchs DT, Sheyn J, Black KL, Mirzaei N, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Retinal Vasculopathy in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:731614. [PMID: 34630020 PMCID: PMC8493243 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.731614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The retina has been increasingly investigated as a site of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) manifestation for over a decade. Early reports documented degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and their axonal projections. Our group provided the first evidence of the key pathological hallmarks of AD, amyloid β-protein (Aβ) plaques including vascular Aβ deposits, in the retina of AD and mild cognitively impaired (MCI) patients. Subsequent studies validated these findings and further identified electroretinography and vision deficits, retinal (p)tau and inflammation, intracellular Aβ accumulation, and retinal ganglion cell-subtype degeneration surrounding Aβ plaques in these patients. Our data suggest that the brain and retina follow a similar trajectory during AD progression, probably due to their common embryonic origin and anatomical proximity. However, the retina is the only CNS organ feasible for direct, repeated, and non-invasive ophthalmic examination with ultra-high spatial resolution and sensitivity. Neurovascular unit integrity is key to maintaining normal CNS function and cerebral vascular abnormalities are increasingly recognized as early and pivotal factors driving cognitive impairment in AD. Likewise, retinal vascular abnormalities such as changes in vessel density and fractal dimensions, blood flow, foveal avascular zone, curvature tortuosity, and arteriole-to-venule ratio were described in AD patients including early-stage cases. A rapidly growing number of reports have suggested that cerebral and retinal vasculopathy are tightly associated with cognitive deficits in AD patients and animal models. Importantly, we recently identified early and progressive deficiency in retinal vascular platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRβ) expression and pericyte loss that were associated with retinal vascular amyloidosis and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in MCI and AD patients. Other studies utilizing optical coherence tomography (OCT), retinal amyloid-fluorescence imaging and retinal hyperspectral imaging have made significant progress in visualizing and quantifying AD pathology through the retina. With new advances in OCT angiography, OCT leakage, scanning laser microscopy, fluorescein angiography and adaptive optics imaging, future studies focusing on retinal vascular AD pathologies could transform non-invasive pre-clinical AD diagnosis and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoshen Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Altan Rentsendorj
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Julia Sheyn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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46
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Liao C, Xu J, Chen Y, Ip NY. Retinal Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease and Implications for Biomarkers. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11081215. [PMID: 34439882 PMCID: PMC8394950 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081215] [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: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that manifests as cognitive deficits and memory decline, especially in old age. Several biomarkers have been developed to monitor AD progression. Given that the retina and brain share some similarities including features related to anatomical composition and neurological functions, the retina is closely associated with the progression of AD. Herein, we review the evidence of retinal dysfunction in AD, particularly at the early stage, together with the underlying molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, we compared the retinal pathologies of AD and other ophthalmological diseases and summarized potential retinal biomarkers measurable by existing technologies for detecting AD, providing insights for the future development of diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Liao
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science—Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China; (C.L.); (J.X.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Jinying Xu
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science—Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China; (C.L.); (J.X.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science—Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China; (C.L.); (J.X.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Correspondence: (Y.C.); (N.Y.I.); Tel.: +86-755-2692-5498 (Y.C.); +852-2358-6161 (N.Y.I.)
| | - Nancy Y. Ip
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
- Division of Life Science, Molecular Neuroscience Center, and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Correspondence: (Y.C.); (N.Y.I.); Tel.: +86-755-2692-5498 (Y.C.); +852-2358-6161 (N.Y.I.)
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47
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Kim TH, Son T, Klatt D, Yao X. Concurrent OCT and OCT angiography of retinal neurovascular degeneration in the 5XFAD Alzheimer's disease mice. NEUROPHOTONICS 2021; 8:035002. [PMID: 34277888 PMCID: PMC8271351 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.8.3.035002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Significance: As one part of the central nervous system, the retina manifests neurovascular defects in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Quantitative imaging of retinal neurovascular abnormalities may promise a new method for early diagnosis and treatment assessment of AD. Previous imaging studies of transgenic AD mouse models have been limited to the central part of the retina. Given that the pathological hallmarks of AD frequently appear in different peripheral quadrants, a comprehensive regional investigation is needed for a better understanding of the retinal degeneration associated with AD-like pathology. Aim: We aim to demonstrate concurrent optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) of retinal neuronal and vascular abnormalities in the 5XFAD mouse model and to investigate region-specific retinal degeneration. Approach: A custom-built OCT system was used for retinal imaging. Retinal thickness, vessel width, and vessel density were quantitatively measured. The artery and vein (AV) were classified for differential AV analysis, and trilaminar vascular plexuses were segmented for depth-resolved density measurement. Results: It was observed that inner and outer retinal thicknesses were explicitly reduced in the dorsal and temporal quadrants, respectively, in 5XFAD mice. A significant arterial narrowing in 5XFAD mice was also observed. Moreover, overall capillary density consistently showed a decreasing trend in 5XFAD mice, but regional specificity was not identified. Conclusions: Quadrant- and layer-specific neurovascular degeneration was observed in 5XFAD mice. Concurrent OCT and OCTA promise a noninvasive method for quantitative monitoring of AD progression and treatment assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae-Hoon Kim
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Bioengineering, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Taeyoon Son
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Bioengineering, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Dieter Klatt
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Bioengineering, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Xincheng Yao
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Bioengineering, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chicago, Illinois, United States
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48
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Guo L, Ravindran N, Shamsher E, Hill D, Cordeiro MF. Retinal Changes in Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2021; 18:89-102. [PMID: 33855942 DOI: 10.2174/1567205018666210414113634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, the most common form of dementia. AD is characterised by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the brain, in association with neuronal loss and synaptic failure, causing cognitive deficits. Accurate and early diagnosis is currently unavailable in lifespan, hampering early intervention of potential new treatments. Visual deficits have been well documented in AD patients, and the pathological changes identified in the brain are also believed to be found in the retina, an integral part of the central nervous system. Retinal changes can be detected by real-time non-invasive imaging, due to the transparent nature of the ocular media, potentially allowing an earlier diagnosis as well as monitoring disease progression and treatment outcome. Animal models are essential for AD research, and this review has a focus on retinal changes in various transgenic AD mouse models with retinal imaging and immunohistochemical analysis as well as therapeutic effects in those models. We also discuss the limitations of transgenic AD models in clinical translations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Guo
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nivedita Ravindran
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ehtesham Shamsher
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Hill
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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49
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Lee GI, Chi SA, Kim K, Seo SW, Kim HJ, Chung TY, Lim DH. Visual impairment increases the risk of dementia, especially in young males in a 12-year longitudinal follow-up study of a national cohort. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11393. [PMID: 34059787 PMCID: PMC8167134 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91026-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effect of visual impairment (VI) on dementia development in a national cohort. In this 12-year nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study, national data were collected from National Health Insurance Cooperation of South Korea from 2002 to 2017, comprising 799,074 subjects selected from the dementia-free cohort representative of the Korean population. Crude hazard ratios (HRs) as well as age- and sex-adjusted HRs and confidence intervals (CIs) for the development of dementia were estimated using multivariable Cox regression models. VI significantly increased the risk of dementia with a HR of 2.726 (95% CI 2.251–3.300, p < 0.0001) after adjusting for age, sex, and interaction between age, sex, and VI. HR of interaction between VI and age for dementia was 0.539 (95% CI 0.436–0.667, p < 0.0001). In the sensitivity analysis after adjustment for age, sex, household income level, BMI and other comorbidities, VI showed higher risk for all the type of dementia (p < 0.0001). In subgroup analysis of VI, young males showed the highest risk for development of dementia with a HR of 2.687 (95% CI 2.219–3.254, p < 0.0001). VI significantly increased the risk of dementia in the study cohort, and young males with VI appeared to be the most susceptible to the development of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ga-In Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, #81, Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Sang Ah Chi
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea.,Statistics and Data Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyunga Kim
- Statistics and Data Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang Won Seo
- Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hee Jin Kim
- Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Tae-Young Chung
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, #81, Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea.
| | - Dong Hui Lim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, #81, Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea. .,Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea. .,Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea.
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50
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Gu L, Kwong JM, Caprioli J, Piri N. Loss of Rbfox1 Does Not Affect Survival of Retinal Ganglion Cells Injured by Optic Nerve Crush. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:687690. [PMID: 34108862 PMCID: PMC8180555 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.687690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rbfox1 is a multifunctional RNA binding protein that regulates alternative splicing, transcription, mRNA stability and translation. Its roles in neurogenesis and neuronal functions are well established. Recent studies also implicate Rbfox1 in the regulation of gene networks that support cell survival during stress. We have earlier characterized the expression of Rbfox1 in amacrine and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and showed that deletion of Rbfox1 in adult animals results in depth perception deficiency. The current study investigates the effect of Rbfox1 downregulation on survival of RGCs injured by optic nerve crush (ONC). Seven days after ONC, animals sustained severe degeneration of RGC axons in the optic nerve and significant loss of RGC somas. Semi-quantitative grading of optic nerve damage in control + ONC, control + tamoxifen + ONC, and Rbfox1 -/- + ONC groups ranged from 4.6 to 4.8 on a scale of 1 (normal; no degenerated axons were noted) to 5 (total degeneration; all axons showed degenerated organelles, axonal content, and myelin sheath), indicating a severe degeneration. Among these three ONC groups, no statistical significance was observed when any two groups were compared. The number of RGC somas were quantitatively analyzed in superior, inferior, nasal and temporal retinal quadrants at 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mm from the center of the optic disc. The average RGC densities (cells/mm2) were: control 6,438 ± 1,203; control + ONC 2,779 ± 573; control + tamoxifen 6,163 ± 861; control + tamoxifen + ONC 2,573 ± 555; Rbfox1 -/- 6,437 ± 893; and Rbfox1 -/- + ONC 2,537 ± 526. The RGC loss in control + ONC, control + tamoxifen + ONC and Rbfox1 -/- + ONC was 57% (P = 1.44954E-42), 58% (P = 1.37543E-57) and 61% (P = 5.552E-59) compared to RGC numbers in the relevant uninjured groups, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed between any two groups of uninjured animals or between any two ONC groups. Our data indicate that Rbfox1-mediated pathways have no effect on survival of RGCs injured by ONC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Gu
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jacky M Kwong
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Joseph Caprioli
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Natik Piri
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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