1
|
Suleymanova I, Bychkov D, Kopra J. A deep convolutional neural network for efficient microglia detection. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11139. [PMID: 37429956 PMCID: PMC10333175 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37963-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglial cells are a type of glial cells that make up 10-15% of all brain cells, and they play a significant role in neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Despite their vital role in these diseases, developing fully automated microglia counting methods from immunohistological images is challenging. Current image analysis methods are inefficient and lack accuracy in detecting microglia due to their morphological heterogeneity. This study presents development and validation of a fully automated and efficient microglia detection method using the YOLOv3 deep learning-based algorithm. We applied this method to analyse the number of microglia in different spinal cord and brain regions of rats exposed to opioid-induced hyperalgesia/tolerance. Our numerical tests showed that the proposed method outperforms existing computational and manual methods with high accuracy, achieving 94% precision, 91% recall, and 92% F1-score. Furthermore, our tool is freely available and adds value to exploring different disease models. Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our new tool in automated microglia detection, providing a valuable asset for researchers in neuroscience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilida Suleymanova
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Dmitrii Bychkov
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), Helsinki Institute for Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaakko Kopra
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Furman MJ, Meuth SG, Albrecht P, Dietrich M, Blum H, Mares J, Milo R, Hartung HP. B cell targeted therapies in inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1129906. [PMID: 36969208 PMCID: PMC10034856 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1129906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cumulative evidence along several lines indicates that B cells play an important role in the pathological course of multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitisoptica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and related CNS diseases. This has prompted extensive research in exploring the utility of targeting B cells to contain disease activity in these disorders. In this review, we first recapitulate the development of B cells from their origin in the bone marrow to their migration to the periphery, including the expression of therapy-relevant surface immunoglobulin isotypes. Not only the ability of B cells to produce cytokines and immunoglobulins seems to be essential in driving neuroinflammation, but also their regulatory functions strongly impact pathobiology. We then critically assess studies of B cell depleting therapies, including CD20 and CD19 targeting monoclonal antibodies, as well as the new class of B cell modulating substances, Bruton´s tyrosinekinase (BTK) inhibitors, in MS, NMOSD and MOGAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moritz J. Furman
- Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sven G. Meuth
- Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp Albrecht
- Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Maria Hilf Clinic, Moenchengladbach, Germany
| | - Michael Dietrich
- Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Heike Blum
- Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jan Mares
- Department of Neurology, Palacky University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Ron Milo
- Department of Neurology, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel
| | - Hans-Peter Hartung
- Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Palacky University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czechia
- Brain and Mind Center, Medical Faculty, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Salazar JJ, Satriano A, Matamoros JA, Fernández-Albarral JA, Salobrar-García E, López-Cuenca I, de Hoz R, Sánchez-Puebla L, Ramírez JM, Alonso C, Satta V, Hernández-Fisac I, Sagredo O, Ramírez AI. Retinal Tissue Shows Glial Changes in a Dravet Syndrome Knock-in Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032727. [PMID: 36769051 PMCID: PMC9916888 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Dravet syndrome (DS) is an epileptic encephalopathy caused by mutations in the Scn1a gene encoding the α1 subunit of the Nav1.1 sodium channel, which is associated with recurrent and generalized seizures, even leading to death. In experimental models of DS, histological alterations have been found in the brain; however, the retina is a projection of the brain and there are no studies that analyze the possible histological changes that may occur in the disease. This study analyzes the retinal histological changes in glial cells (microglia and astrocytes), retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and GABAergic amacrine cells in an experimental model of DS (Syn-Cre/Scn1aWT/A1783V) compared to a control group at postnatal day (PND) 25. Retinal whole-mounts were labeled with anti-GFAP, anti-Iba-1, anti-Brn3a and anti-GAD65/67. Signs of microglial and astroglial activation, and the number of Brn3a+ and GAD65+67+ cells were quantified. We found retinal activation of astroglial and microglial cells but not death of RGCs and GABAergic amacrine cells. These changes are similar to those found at the level of the hippocampus in the same experimental model in PND25, indicating a relationship between brain and retinal changes in DS. This suggests that the retina could serve as a possible biomarker in DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- 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
| | - Andrea Satriano
- Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - 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
| | - 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
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- 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
| | - 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
| | - 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
| | - Cristina Alonso
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Valentina Satta
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés Hernández-Fisac
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Onintza Sagredo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (O.S.); (A.I.R.)
| | - 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
- Correspondence: (O.S.); (A.I.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Khakpour M, Ibáñez FG, Bordeleau M, Picard K, Mckee-Reid L, Ben-Azu B, Maggi L, Tremblay MÈ. Manual versus automatic analysis of microglial density and distribution: a comparison in the hippocampus of healthy and lipopolysaccharide-challenged mature male mice. Micron 2022; 161:103334. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2022.103334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
|
5
|
Fernández-Albarral JA, de Hoz R, Matamoros JA, Chen L, López-Cuenca I, Salobrar-García E, Sánchez-Puebla L, Ramírez JM, Triviño A, Salazar JJ, Ramírez AI. Retinal Changes in Astrocytes and Müller Glia in a Mouse Model of Laser-Induced Glaucoma: A Time-Course Study. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10050939. [PMID: 35625676 PMCID: PMC9138377 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10050939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Macroglia (astrocytes and Müller glia) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. In a glaucoma mouse model, we studied the effects of unilateral laser-induced ocular hypertension (OHT) on macroglia in OHT and contralateral eyes at different time points after laser treatment (1, 3, 5, 8 and 15 days) using anti-GFAP and anti-MHC-II, analyzing the morphological changes, GFAP-labelled retinal area (GFAP-PA), and GFAP and MHC-II immunoreactivity intensities ((GFAP-IRI and MHC-II-IRI)). In OHT and contralateral eyes, with respect to naïve eyes, at all the time points, we found the following: (i) astrocytes with thicker somas and more secondary processes, mainly in the intermediate (IR) and peripheral retina (PR); (ii) astrocytes with low GFAP-IRI and only primary processes near the optic disc (OD); (iii) an increase in total GFAP-RA, which was higher at 3 and 5 days, except for at 15 days; (iv) an increase in GFAP-IRI in the IR and especially in the PR; (v) a decrease in GFAP-IRI near the OD, especially at 1 and 5 days; (vi) a significant increase in MHC-II-IRI, which was higher in the IR and PR; and (vii) the Müller glia were GFAP+ and MHC-II+. In conclusion, in this model of glaucoma, there is a bilateral macroglial activation maintained over time involved in the inflammatory glaucoma process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose A. Fernández-Albarral
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.F.-A.); (R.d.H.); (J.A.M.); (L.C.); (I.L.-C.); (E.S.-G.); (L.S.-P.); (J.M.R.); (A.T.)
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.F.-A.); (R.d.H.); (J.A.M.); (L.C.); (I.L.-C.); (E.S.-G.); (L.S.-P.); (J.M.R.); (A.T.)
- Departamento de Inmunología, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, 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; (J.A.F.-A.); (R.d.H.); (J.A.M.); (L.C.); (I.L.-C.); (E.S.-G.); (L.S.-P.); (J.M.R.); (A.T.)
| | - Lejing Chen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.F.-A.); (R.d.H.); (J.A.M.); (L.C.); (I.L.-C.); (E.S.-G.); (L.S.-P.); (J.M.R.); (A.T.)
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.F.-A.); (R.d.H.); (J.A.M.); (L.C.); (I.L.-C.); (E.S.-G.); (L.S.-P.); (J.M.R.); (A.T.)
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.F.-A.); (R.d.H.); (J.A.M.); (L.C.); (I.L.-C.); (E.S.-G.); (L.S.-P.); (J.M.R.); (A.T.)
- Departamento de Inmunología, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Sánchez-Puebla
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.F.-A.); (R.d.H.); (J.A.M.); (L.C.); (I.L.-C.); (E.S.-G.); (L.S.-P.); (J.M.R.); (A.T.)
| | - José M. Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.F.-A.); (R.d.H.); (J.A.M.); (L.C.); (I.L.-C.); (E.S.-G.); (L.S.-P.); (J.M.R.); (A.T.)
- Departamento de Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Triviño
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.F.-A.); (R.d.H.); (J.A.M.); (L.C.); (I.L.-C.); (E.S.-G.); (L.S.-P.); (J.M.R.); (A.T.)
- Departamento de Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, 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; (J.A.F.-A.); (R.d.H.); (J.A.M.); (L.C.); (I.L.-C.); (E.S.-G.); (L.S.-P.); (J.M.R.); (A.T.)
- Departamento de Inmunología, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.J.S.); (A.I.R.)
| | - Ana I. Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.F.-A.); (R.d.H.); (J.A.M.); (L.C.); (I.L.-C.); (E.S.-G.); (L.S.-P.); (J.M.R.); (A.T.)
- Departamento de Inmunología, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.J.S.); (A.I.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Choi S, Hill D, Guo L, Nicholas R, Papadopoulos D, Cordeiro MF. Automated characterisation of microglia in ageing mice using image processing and supervised machine learning algorithms. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1806. [PMID: 35110632 PMCID: PMC8810899 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05815-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The resident macrophages of the central nervous system, microglia, are becoming increasingly implicated as active participants in neuropathology and ageing. Their diverse and changeable morphology is tightly linked with functions they perform, enabling assessment of their activity through image analysis. To better understand the contributions of microglia in health, senescence, and disease, it is necessary to measure morphology with both speed and reliability. A machine learning approach was developed to facilitate automatic classification of images of retinal microglial cells as one of five morphotypes, using a support vector machine (SVM). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for this SVM was between 0.99 and 1, indicating strong performance. The densities of the different microglial morphologies were automatically assessed (using the SVM) within wholemount retinal images. Retinas used in the study were sourced from 28 healthy C57/BL6 mice split over three age points (2, 6, and 28-months). The prevalence of 'activated' microglial morphology was significantly higher at 6- and 28-months compared to 2-months (p < .05 and p < .01 respectively), and 'rod' significantly higher at 6-months than 28-months (p < 0.01). The results of the present study propose a robust cell classification SVM, and further evidence of the dynamic role microglia play in ageing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soyoung Choi
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Daniel Hill
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Li Guo
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Richard Nicholas
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
- Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK
- Population Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Dimitrios Papadopoulos
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521, Athens, Greece
- School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, 2414, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Maria Francesca Cordeiro
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK.
- Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sung CYW, Barzik M, Costain T, Wang L, Cunningham LL. Semi-automated Quantification of Hair Cells in the Mature Mouse Utricle. Hear Res 2022; 416:108429. [PMID: 35081508 PMCID: PMC9034969 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2021.108429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The mouse utricle model system is the best-characterized ex vivo preparation for studies of mature mammalian hair cells (HCs). Despite the many advantages of this model system, efficient and reliable quantification of HCs from cultured utricles has been a persistent challenge with this model system. Utricular HCs are commonly quantified by counting immunolabeled HCs in regions of interest (ROIs) placed over an image of the utricle. Our data indicate that the accuracy of HC counts obtained using this method can be impacted by variability in HC density across different regions of the utricle. In addition, the commonly used HC marker myosin 7a results in a diffuse cytoplasmic stain that is not conducive to automated quantification and must be quantified manually, a labor-intensive task. Furthermore, myosin 7a immunoreactivity is retained in dead HCs, resulting in inaccurate quantification of live HCs using this marker. Here we have developed a method for semi-automated quantification of surviving HCs that combines immunoreactivity for the HC-specific transcription factor Pou4f3 with labeling of activated caspase 3/7 (AC3/7) to detect apoptotic HCs. The discrete nuclear Pou4f3 signal allowed us to utilize the binary or threshold function within ImageJ to automate HC quantification. To further streamline this process, we created an ImageJ macro that automates the process from raw image loading to a final quantified image that can be immediately evaluated for accuracy. Within this quantified image, the user can manually correct the quantification via an image overlay indicating the counted HC nuclei. Pou4f3-positive HCs that also express AC3/7 are subtracted to yield accurate counts of surviving HCs. Overall, we present a semi-automated method that is faster than manual HC quantification and identifies surviving HCs with high accuracy.
Collapse
|
8
|
Rojas P, Ramírez AI, Cadena M, Fernández-Albarral JA, Salobrar-García E, López-Cuenca I, Santos-García I, de Lago E, Urcelay-Segura JL, Ramírez JM, de Hoz R, Salazar JJ. Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss and Microglial Activation in a SOD1G93A Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041663. [PMID: 33562231 PMCID: PMC7915199 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affects the spinal cord, brain stem, and cerebral cortex. In this pathology, both neurons and glial cells are affected. However, few studies have analyzed retinal microglia in ALS models. In this study, we quantified the signs of microglial activation and the number of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in an SOD1G93A transgenic mouse model at 120 days (advanced stage of the disease) in retinal whole-mounts. For SOD1G93A animals (compared to the wild-type), we found, in microglial cells, (i) a significant increase in the area occupied by each microglial cell in the total area of the retina; (ii) a significant increase in the arbor area in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) inferior sector; (iii) the presence of cells with retracted processes; (iv) areas of cell groupings in some sectors; (v) no significant increase in the number of microglial cells; (vi) the expression of IFN-γ and IL-1β; and (vii) the non-expression of IL-10 and arginase-I. For the RGCs, we found a decrease in their number. In conclusion, in the SOD1G93A model (at 120 days), retinal microglial activation occurred, taking a pro-inflammatory phenotype M1, which affected the OPL and inner retinal layers and could be related to RGC loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Rojas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (M.C.); (J.L.U.-S.)
| | - Ana I. Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- OFTARED-ISCIII, IIORC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Cadena
- Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (M.C.); (J.L.U.-S.)
| | - José A. Fernández-Albarral
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- OFTARED-ISCIII, IIORC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
| | - Irene Santos-García
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain; (I.S.-G.); (E.d.L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva de Lago
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain; (I.S.-G.); (E.d.L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José L. Urcelay-Segura
- Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (M.C.); (J.L.U.-S.)
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M. Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- OFTARED-ISCIII, IIORC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- OFTARED-ISCIII, IIORC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (R.d.H.); (J.J.S.)
| | - Juan J. Salazar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (A.I.R.); (J.A.F.-A.); (E.S.-G.); (I.L.-C.); (J.M.R.)
- OFTARED-ISCIII, IIORC, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28011 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (R.d.H.); (J.J.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
Normal retina and its cell layers are essential for processing visual stimuli, and loss of its integrity has been documented in many disease processes. The numbers and the axonal processes of retinal ganglion cells are reduced substantially in glaucoma, leading to vision loss and blindness. Similarly, selective loss of photoreceptors in age-related macular degeneration and hereditary retinal dystrophies also results in the compromise of visual acuity. Development of genetically modified mice has led to increased understanding of the pathogenesis of many retinal diseases. Similarly, in this digital era, usage of modalities to quantify the retinal cell loss has grown exponentially leading to a better understanding of the suitability of animal models to study human retinal diseases. These quantification modalities provide valuable quantifiable data in studying pathogenesis and disease progression. This review will discuss the immunohistochemical markers for various retinal cells, available automated tools to quantify retinal cells, and present an example of retinal ganglion cell quantification using HALO image analysis platform. Additionally, we briefly review retinal cell types and subtypes, salient features of retina in various laboratory animal species, and a few of the main disease processes that affect retinal cell numbers in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry Chen
- 7845Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Ying Hu
- 7845Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - Oliver C Turner
- Novartis, 98557Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Preclinical Safety, East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | - Olulanu H Aina
- 426218Janssen Pharmaceutical Company of Johnson & Johnson, Spring House, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ramírez AI, Fernández-Albarral JA, Hoz RD, López-Cuenca I, Salobrar-García E, Rojas P, Valiente-Soriano FJ, Avilés-Trigueros M, Villegas-Pérez MP, Vidal-Sanz M, Triviño A, Salazar JJ, Ramírez JM. Microglial changes in the early aging stage in a healthy retina and an experimental glaucoma model. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2020; 256:125-149. [PMID: 32958210 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is an age-related neurodegenerative disease that begins at the onset of aging. In this disease, there is an involvement of the immune system and therefore of the microglia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the microglial activation using a mouse model of ocular hypertension (OHT) at the onset of aging. For this purpose, we used both naive and ocular hypertensives of 15-month-old mice (early stage of aging). In the latter, we analyzed the OHT eyes and the eyes contralateral to them to compare them with their aged controls. In the eyes of aged naive, aged OHT and aged contralateral eyes, microglial changes were observed compared to the young mice, including: (i) aged naive vs young naive: An increased soma size and vertical processes; (ii) aged OHT eyes vs young OHT eyes: A decrease in the area of the retina occupied by Iba-1 cells and in vertical processes; and (iii) aged contralateral vs young contralateral: A decrease in the soma size and arbor area and an increase in the number of microglia in the outer segment layer. Aged OHT eyes and the eyes contralateral to them showed an up-regulation of the CD68 expression in the branched microglia and a down-regulation in the MHCII and P2RY12 expression with respect to the eyes of young OHT mice. Conclusion: in the early phase of aging, morphological microglial changes along with changes in the expression of MHCII, CD68 and P2RY12, in both naive and OHT mice. These changes appear in aged OHT eyes and the eyes contralateral to them eyes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana I Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Fernández-Albarral
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Rojas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Valiente-Soriano
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Murcia and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Marcelino Avilés-Trigueros
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Murcia and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - María Paz Villegas-Pérez
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Murcia and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Manuel Vidal-Sanz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Murcia and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Alberto Triviño
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J Salazar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - José M Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Time course of bilateral microglial activation in a mouse model of laser-induced glaucoma. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4890. [PMID: 32184450 PMCID: PMC7078298 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61848-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglial activation is associated with glaucoma. In the model of unilateral laser-induced ocular hypertension (OHT), the time point at which the inflammatory process peaks remains unknown. Different time points (1, 3, 5, 8, and 15 d) were compared to analyze signs of microglial activation both in OHT and contralateral eyes. In both eyes, microglial activation was detected in all retinal layers at all time points analyzed, including: i) increase in the cell number in the outer segment photoreceptor layer and plexiform layers (only in OHT eyes) from 3 d onward; ii) increase in soma size from 1 d onward; iii) retraction of the processes from 1 d in OHT eyes and 3 d in contralateral eyes; iv) increase in the area of the retina occupied by Iba-1+ cells in the nerve fiber layer/ganglion cell layer from 1 d onward; v) increase in the number of vertical processes from 1 d in contralateral eyes and 3 d in OHT eyes. In OHT eyes at 24 h and 15 d, most Iba-1+ cells were P2RY12+ and were down-regulated at 3 and 5 d. In both eyes, microglial activation was stronger at 3 and 5 d (inflammation peaked in this model). These time points could be useful to identify factors implicated in the inflammatory process.
Collapse
|
12
|
Phenotypic Differences in Primary Murine Microglia Treated with NOD1, NOD2, and NOD1/2 Agonists. J Mol Neurosci 2020; 70:600-609. [PMID: 31907866 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-019-01466-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the study was studying the influence of different NOD agonists on the morphological phenotype of primary murine microglia and to examine their influence on characteristic cytokines. Primary CD11b-positive cells were isolated from the brain of neonatal mice. The microglial phenotype of the cells was examined by ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule (Iba)1 staining. After14 days in culture, these cells were stimulated by iE-DAP, L18-MDP, or M-TriDAP as NOD1, NOD2, and NOD1/2 agonists, respectively. The cellular morphology was recorded and compared to the phenotype of cells cultured in medium alone or after LPS stimulation. The cells developed a specific phenotype only after treatment with the NOD2 agonist L18-MDP. These cells were characterized by straight extensions carrying tiny spikes and had a high ramification index. This was in sharp contrast to all other treatments, which always resulted in an amoeboid phenotype typically shown by activated microglia in vivo and by cultured microglia in vitro. The staining intensity of IL-6 and TNF-α did not reveal any clear difference independent of the NOD agonist treatment. In contrast, an increased staining intensity was observed for IL-10 after L18-MDP treatment. The NOD2 agonist L18-MDP induced a morphologically distinct phenotype characterized by microspike-decorated dendritiform extensions and a high degree of ramification in primary murine microglia. Increased ramification index and elevated staining intensity of anti-inflammatory IL-10 as hallmarks suggest that a M2-like phenotype of microglia was induced.
Collapse
|
13
|
Fernández-Albarral JA, Ramírez AI, de Hoz R, López-Villarín N, Salobrar-García E, López-Cuenca I, Licastro E, Inarejos-García AM, Almodóvar P, Pinazo-Durán MD, Ramírez JM, Salazar JJ. Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Hydrophilic Saffron Extract in a Model of Glaucoma. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4110. [PMID: 31443568 PMCID: PMC6747458 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). An increase in the intraocular pressure is the principal risk factor for such loss, but controlling this pressure does not always prevent glaucomatous damage. Activation of immune cells resident in the retina (microglia) may contribute to RGC death. Thus, a substance with anti-inflammatory activity may protect against RGC degeneration. This study investigated the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of a hydrophilic saffron extract standardized to 3% crocin content in a mouse model of unilateral, laser-induced ocular hypertension (OHT). Treatment with saffron extract decreased microglion numbers and morphological signs of their activation, including soma size and process retraction, both in OHT and in contralateral eyes. Saffron extract treatment also partially reversed OHT-induced down-regulation of P2RY12. In addition, the extract prevented retinal ganglion cell death in OHT eyes. Oral administration of saffron extract was able to decrease the neuroinflammation associated with increased intraocular pressure, preventing retinal ganglion cell death. Our findings indicate that saffron extract may exert a protective effect in glaucomatous pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana I Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, UCM, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, UCM, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Nerea López-Villarín
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ester Licastro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Paula Almodóvar
- Pharmactive Biotech Products, SL. Parque Científico de Madrid, Faraday 7, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria D Pinazo-Durán
- Unidad de Investigación Oftalmológica Santiago Grisolia, Universidad de Valencia, 46017 Valencia, Spain
| | - José M Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Juan J Salazar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, UCM, 28037 Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Stolz L, Derouiche A, Weber F, Foerch C, Brunkhorst R. Unsupervised quantification of tissue immunofluorescence in animal models of multiple sclerosis - Instructions for use. J Neurosci Methods 2019; 320:87-97. [PMID: 30876913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the analysis of animal models of CNS diseases such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), immunostaining and histopathology are important readouts. However, the complex morphological features of a tissue staining are often reduced to a single measure which relies on tedious manual planimetry. Furthermore, the measure itself and co-variables such as the region being analysed are chosen in a human decision-making process, which introduces bias. NEW METHOD First aim of the present study is to provide an open-source workflow for the high-throughput, unsupervised quantification of different stainings in the spinal cord. We evaluate different EAE models, spinal cord regions and different time points of disease. By applying random forest classification, we compare different measures. RESULTS Exemplified for glial reactivity, we show that measures and variables interact and that their values are non-normally distributed, hampering the common use of parametric tests. Furthermore, we demonstrate that one-dimensional measures are insufficient descriptors for immunofluorescence data in EAE and thus need to be considered as partly invalid. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS We show in a systematic analysis of EAE studies that currently published immunohistological outcomes are highly incompatible regarding methodology and statistics. Furthermore, they lack the report of important information necessary for reproducibility and do not use unsupervised automatic analysis. CONCLUSIONS Our results discover relevant caveats in the currently used methods of immunofluorescence analysis. The provided step-by-step instructions and open-source code are intended to serve as a framework for sensitive, unbiased immunofluorescence analysis of tissue sections in translational research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Stolz
- Department of Neurology, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Amin Derouiche
- Institute for Anatomy II, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frank Weber
- Neurologische Klinik, Sana Kliniken des Landkreises Cham, Cham, Germany
| | - Christian Foerch
- Department of Neurology, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Robert Brunkhorst
- Department of Neurology, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Aires ID, Boia R, Rodrigues-Neves AC, Madeira MH, Marques C, Ambrósio AF, Santiago AR. Blockade of microglial adenosine A 2A receptor suppresses elevated pressure-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death in retinal cells. Glia 2019; 67:896-914. [PMID: 30667095 PMCID: PMC6590475 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a retinal degenerative disease characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells and damage of the optic nerve. Recently, we demonstrated that antagonists of adenosine A2A receptor (A2A R) control retinal inflammation and afford protection to rat retinal cells in glaucoma models. However, the precise contribution of microglia to retinal injury was not addressed, as well as the effect of A2A R blockade directly in microglia. Here we show that blocking microglial A2A R prevents microglial cell response to elevated pressure and it is sufficient to protect retinal cells from elevated pressure-induced death. The A2A R antagonist SCH 58261 or the knockdown of A2A R expression with siRNA in microglial cells prevented the increase in microglia response to elevated hydrostatic pressure. Furthermore, in retinal neural cell cultures, the A2A R antagonist decreased microglia proliferation, as well as the expression and release of pro-inflammatory mediators. Microglia ablation prevented neural cell death triggered by elevated pressure. The A2A R blockade recapitulated the effects of microglia depletion, suggesting that blocking A2A R in microglia is able to control neurodegeneration in glaucoma-like conditions. Importantly, in human organotypic retinal cultures, A2A R blockade prevented the increase in reactive oxygen species and the morphological alterations in microglia triggered by elevated pressure. These findings place microglia as the main contributors for retinal cell death during elevated pressure and identify microglial A2A R as a therapeutic target to control retinal neuroinflammation and prevent neural apoptosis elicited by elevated pressure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inês Dinis Aires
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Raquel Boia
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Catarina Rodrigues-Neves
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Helena Madeira
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carla Marques
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António Francisco Ambrósio
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Raquel Santiago
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC.IBILI Consortium, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), Coimbra, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Williams PA, Braine CE, Kizhatil K, Foxworth NE, Tolman NG, Harder JM, Scott RA, Sousa GL, Panitch A, Howell GR, John SWM. Inhibition of monocyte-like cell extravasation protects from neurodegeneration in DBA/2J glaucoma. Mol Neurodegener 2019; 14:6. [PMID: 30670050 PMCID: PMC6341618 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-018-0303-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glaucoma is characterized by the progressive dysfunction and loss of retinal ganglion cells. Recent work in animal models suggests that a critical neuroinflammatory event damages retinal ganglion cell axons in the optic nerve head during ocular hypertensive injury. We previously demonstrated that monocyte-like cells enter the optic nerve head in an ocular hypertensive mouse model of glaucoma (DBA/2 J), but their roles, if any, in mediating axon damage remain unclear. METHODS To understand the function of these infiltrating monocyte-like cells, we used RNA-sequencing to profile their transcriptomes. Based on their pro-inflammatory molecular signatures, we hypothesized and confirmed that monocyte-platelet interactions occur in glaucomatous tissue. Furthermore, to test monocyte function we used two approaches to inhibit their entry into the optic nerve head: (1) treatment with DS-SILY, a peptidoglycan that acts as a barrier to platelet adhesion to the vessel wall and to monocytes, and (2) genetic targeting of Itgam (CD11b, an immune cell receptor that enables immune cell extravasation). RESULTS Monocyte specific RNA-sequencing identified novel neuroinflammatory pathways early in glaucoma pathogenesis. Targeting these processes pharmacologically (DS-SILY) or genetically (Itgam / CD11b knockout) reduced monocyte entry and provided neuroprotection in DBA/2 J eyes. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate a key role of monocyte-like cell extravasation in glaucoma and demonstrate that modulating neuroinflammatory processes can significantly lessen optic nerve injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pete A Williams
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Ophthalmology and Vision, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Rebecca A Scott
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | | | - Alyssa Panitch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Gareth R Howell
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA. .,Graduate Program in Genetics, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Simon W M John
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. .,The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bar Harbor, ME, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bilateral early activation of retinal microglial cells in a mouse model of unilateral laser-induced experimental ocular hypertension. Exp Eye Res 2018. [PMID: 29526796 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The immune system plays an important role in glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Retinal microglial reactivation associated with ganglion cell loss could reportedly contribute to the glaucoma progression. Recently we have described signs of microglia activation both in contralateral and ocular hypertension (OHT) eyes involving all retinal layers 15 days after OHT laser induction in mice. However, no works available have analyzed the microglial activation at earliest time points after OHT induction (24 h) in this experimental model. Thus, we seek to describe and quantify signs of microglia activation and differences depending on the retinal layer, 24 h after unilateral laser-induced OHT. Two groups of adult Swiss mice were used: age-matched control (naïve) and lasered. In the lasered animals, OHT eyes as well as contralateral eyes were analyzed. Retinal whole-mounts were immunostained with antibodies against Iba-1 and MHC-II. We quantified the number of microglial cells in the photoreceptor layer (OS), outer plexiform layer (OPL), and inner plexiform layer (IPL); the number of microglial vertical processes connecting the OPL and OS; the area of the retina occupied by Iba-1+ cells (Iba1-RA) in the nerve fiber layer-ganglion cell layer (NFL-GCL), the total arbor area of microglial cells in the OPL and IPL and; Iba-1+ cell body area in the OPL, IPL and NFL-GCL. In contralateral and OHT eyes the morphological features of Iba-1+ cell activation were: migration, enlargement of the cell body, higher degree of branching and reorientation of the processes, radial disposition of the soma and processes toward adjacent microglial plexuses, and presence of amoeboid cells acting as macrophages. These signs were more pronounced in OHT eyes. Most of Iba-1+ cells did not express MHC-II; rather, only dendritic and rounded cells expressed it. In comparison with naïve eyes, in OHT eyes and contralateral eyes no significant differences were found in the microglial cell number; but there was a significant increase in Iba1-RA. The total arbor area of microglial cells was significantly decreased in: i) OHT eyes with respect contralateral eyes and naïve-eyes in IPL; ii) OHT eyes with respect to naïve eyes in OPL. The number of microglial vertical processes connecting the OPL and OS were significantly increased in contralateral eyes compared with naïve-eyes and OHT eyes. In OPL, IPL and NFL-GCL, the cell body area of Iba-1+ cells was significantly greater in OHT eyes than in naïve and contralateral eyes, and greater in contralateral eyes than in naïve eyes. A non-proliferative microglial reactivation was detected both in contralateral eyes and in OHT eyes in an early time after unilateral laser-induced OHT (24 h). This fast microglial activation, which involves the contralateral eye, could be mediated by the immune system.
Collapse
|
18
|
Davis BM, Salinas-Navarro M, Cordeiro MF, Moons L, De Groef L. Characterizing microglia activation: a spatial statistics approach to maximize information extraction. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1576. [PMID: 28484229 PMCID: PMC5431479 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01747-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia play an important role in the pathology of CNS disorders, however, there remains significant uncertainty about the neuroprotective/degenerative role of these cells due to a lack of techniques to adequately assess their complex behaviour in response to injury. Advancing microscopy techniques, transgenic lines and well-characterized molecular markers, have made histological assessment of microglia populations more accessible. However, there is a distinct lack of tools to adequately extract information from these images to fully characterise microglia behaviour. This, combined with growing economic pressures and the ethical need to minimise the use of laboratory animals, led us to develop tools to maximise the amount of information obtained. This study describes a novel approach, combining image analysis with spatial statistical techniques. In addition to monitoring morphological parameters and global changes in microglia density, nearest neighbour distance, and regularity index, we used cluster analyses based on changes in soma size and roundness to yield novel insights into the behaviour of different microglia phenotypes in a murine optic nerve injury model. These methods should be considered a generic tool to quantitatively assess microglia activation, to profile phenotypic changes into microglia subpopulations, and to map spatial distributions in virtually every CNS region and disease state.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Davis
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom
| | - Manual Salinas-Navarro
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 61 box 2464, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom.,Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, 171 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5QH, United Kingdom
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 61 box 2464, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom. .,Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 61 box 2464, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Mouton PR, Phoulady HA, Goldgof D, Hall LO, Gordon M, Morgan D. Unbiased estimation of cell number using the automatic optical fractionator. J Chem Neuroanat 2016; 80:A1-A8. [PMID: 27988177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
A novel stereology approach, the automatic optical fractionator, is presented for obtaining unbiased and efficient estimates of the number of cells in tissue sections. Used in combination with existing segmentation algorithms and ordinary immunostaining methods, automatic estimates of cell number are obtainable from extended depth of field images built from three-dimensional volumes of tissue (disector stacks). The automatic optical fractionator is more accurate, 100% objective and 8-10 times faster than the manual optical fractionator. An example of the automatic fractionator is provided for counts of immunostained neurons in neocortex of a genetically modified mouse model of neurodegeneration. Evidence is presented for the often overlooked prerequisite that accurate counting by the optical fractionator requires a thin focal plane generated by a high optical resolution lens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter R Mouton
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, University of South Florida Colleges of Medicine and Engineering, 4001 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA; Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 4001 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA; Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.
| | - Hady Ahmady Phoulady
- Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.
| | - Dmitry Goldgof
- Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.
| | - Lawrence O Hall
- Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.
| | - Marcia Gordon
- Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 4001 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
| | - David Morgan
- Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 4001 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
Glaucoma is a multifactorial optic neuropathy characterized by the damage and death of the retinal ganglion cells. This disease results in vision loss and blindness. Any vision loss resulting from the disease cannot be restored and nowadays there is no available cure for glaucoma; however an early detection and treatment, could offer neuronal protection and avoid later serious damages to the visual function. A full understanding of the etiology of the disease will still require the contribution of many scientific efforts. Glial activation has been observed in glaucoma, being microglial proliferation a hallmark in this neurodegenerative disease. A typical project studying these cellular changes involved in glaucoma often needs thousands of images - from several animals - covering different layers and regions of the retina. The gold standard to evaluate them is the manual count. This method requires a large amount of time from specialized personnel. It is a tedious process and prone to human error. We present here a new method to count microglial cells by using a computer algorithm. It counts in one hour the same number of images that a researcher counts in four weeks, with no loss of reliability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz I Gallego
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Departamento de Oftalmología y Otorrinolaringología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo de Gracia
- Midwestern University, Chicago College of Optometry, Downers Grove, IL, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| |
Collapse
|