The outer limiting membrane (OLM) revisited: clinical implications

Nanoparticle-based optical interfaces for retinal neuromodulation: a review

Degeneration of photoreceptors in the retina is a leading cause of blindness, but commonly leaves the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and/or bipolar cells extant. Consequently, these cells are an attractive target for the invasive electrical implants colloquially known as "bionic eyes." However, after more than two decades of concerted effort, interfaces based on conventional electrical stimulation approaches have delivered limited efficacy, primarily due to the current spread in retinal tissue, which precludes high-acuity vision. The ideal prosthetic solution would be less invasive, provide single-cell resolution and an ability to differentiate between different cell types. Nanoparticle-mediated approaches can address some of these requirements, with particular attention being directed at light-sensitive nanoparticles that can be accessed via the intrinsic optics of the eye. Here we survey the available known nanoparticle-based optical transduction mechanisms that can be exploited for neuromodulation. We review the rapid progress in the field, together with outstanding challenges that must be addressed to translate these techniques to clinical practice. In particular, successful translation will likely require efficient delivery of nanoparticles to stable and precisely defined locations in the retinal tissues. Therefore, we also emphasize the current literature relating to the pharmacokinetics of nanoparticles in the eye. While considerable challenges remain to be overcome, progress to date shows great potential for nanoparticle-based interfaces to revolutionize the field of visual prostheses.

Cell-cell interaction in the pathogenesis of inherited retinal diseases

The retina is part of the central nervous system specialized for vision. Inherited retinal diseases (IRD) are a group of clinically and genetically heterogenous disorders that lead to progressive vision impairment or blindness. Although each disorder is rare, IRD accumulatively cause blindness in up to 5.5 million individuals worldwide. Currently, the pathophysiological mechanisms of IRD are not fully understood and there are limited treatment options available. Most IRD are caused by degeneration of light-sensitive photoreceptors. Genetic mutations that abrogate the structure and/or function of photoreceptors lead to visual impairment followed by blindness caused by loss of photoreceptors. In healthy retina, photoreceptors structurally and functionally interact with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Müller glia (MG) to maintain retinal homeostasis. Multiple IRD with photoreceptor degeneration as a major phenotype are caused by mutations of RPE- and/or MG-associated genes. Recent studies also reveal compromised MG and RPE caused by mutations in ubiquitously expressed ciliary genes. Therefore, photoreceptor degeneration could be a direct consequence of gene mutations and/or could be secondary to the dysfunction of their interaction partners in the retina. This review summarizes the mechanisms of photoreceptor-RPE/MG interaction in supporting retinal functions and discusses how the disruption of these processes could lead to photoreceptor degeneration, with an aim to provide a unique perspective of IRD pathogenesis and treatment paradigm. We will first describe the biology of retina and IRD and then discuss the interaction between photoreceptors and MG/RPE as well as their implications in disease pathogenesis. Finally, we will summarize the recent advances in IRD therapeutics targeting MG and/or RPE.

Long-term predictors of anti-VEGF treatment response in patients with neovascularization secondary to CSCR: a longitudinal study

PURPOSE

To identify the baseline predictors of anti-VEGF treatment response at 3 years in patients affected by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).

METHODS

In this retrospective longitudinal study, medical records of patients diagnosed with CNV secondary to CSCR and treated using anti-VEGF injections between April 2015 and May 2020 were reviewed. The potential qualitative and quantitative predictors of treatment response were identified or measured based on the multimodal imaging examination available for each patient at the baseline, including structural OCT, fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and OCT-angiography (OCT-A). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine eyes from 29 patients affected by CNV complicating CSCR were included in the study. At the end of the 3-year follow-up, the mean BCVA was 20/50 Snellen equivalent (0.38 ± 0.36 LogMAR), and no significant difference with baseline BCVA (0.37 ± 0.29 LogMAR) was found (p = 0.9). Twenty out of 29 eyes (69%) had active lesions at the end of the follow-up. At multivariate analysis, none of the included features was independently associated with the 3-year BCVA outcome. Pigment epithelium detachment (PED) height (ß = 0.017, p = 0.028) and outer limiting membrane (OLM) preservation at the fovea (ß = -5.637, p = 0.026) were independently associated with the CNV activity at 3 years.

CONCLUSION

PED height and OLM obliteration at the fovea might be considered baseline predictors of lesion activity at 3-year follow-up in patients with CNV secondary to CSCR treated with anti-VEGF therapy.

Evaluation of Foveal Cone and Müller Cells in Epiretinal Membrane using Adaptive Optics OCT

Objective

To investigate cellular-level morphological alterations in the retinal neuroglia in eyes with epiretinal membrane (ERM).

Design

Prospective cross-sectional, observational study (November 2020-May 2022).

Subjects and Controls

We included 41 eyes with unilateral idiopathic ERM and 33 healthy eyes of healthy volunteers.

Methods

We examined the foveal microstructures in all eyes using adaptive optics OCT (AO-OCT) with axial and lateral resolutions of 3.4 and 3.0 μm, respectively. Adaptive optics OCT images were acquired for a 2.5° (728 μm) area at the foveal center.

Main Outcome Measures

Foveal microstructures on AO-OCT images, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution units, and associations between these parameters.

Results

Adaptive optics OCT imaging of healthy eyes and eyes with ERM revealed sharp hyperreflective lines of the external limiting membrane (ELM), accompanied by hyporeflective gaps, individual nuclei of the foveal cone photoreceptors, and Müller cell bodies. The arrangement of Müller cell bodies was more vertical in eyes with ERM than in normal eyes. Epiretinal membranes adhered to foveal Müller cells via the internal limiting membrane (ILM), exerting vertical traction that pulled the foveal cones anteriorly. Adaptive optics OCT also enabled visualization of outer segment (OS) discs. Hyperreflective changes in the OS discs were observed beneath the vertically thickened ellipsoid zone (EZ) in 15 eyes (36.6%) with ERM. For eyes with ERM, multiple regression analysis showed that the length from ILM to the inner border of the outer nuclear layer and the EZ thickness were significantly associated with BCVA (β = 5.3 × 10-4 and 82.7 × 10-4, respectively), with associated 95% confidence intervals of 1.3 × 10-4 to 9.3 × 10-4 (P = 0.011) and 39.0 × 10-4 to 126.5 × 10-4 (P < 0.001), respectively. The EZ thickness was significantly and positively associated with the length from ELM to the retinal pigment epithelium (β = 23.9 × 10-2, 95% confidence interval: 4.8 × 10-2 to 42.9 × 10-2; P = 0.015).

Conclusions

Cellular imaging of retinal neuroglia by AO-OCT may suggest possible mechanisms associated with visual impairment in patients with ERM, which could potentially contribute to the growing body of knowledge on its pathophysiology. However, these insights require further validation through extensive studies to fully ascertain their significance.

Financial Disclosures

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography (AO-SLO-OCT) system for in vivo mouse retina imaging

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) are imaging technologies invented in the 1980s that have revolutionized the field of in vivo retinal diagnostics and are now commonly used in ophthalmology clinics as well as in vision science research. Adaptive optics (AO) technology enables high-fidelity correction of ocular aberrations, resulting in improved resolution and sensitivity for both SLO and OCT systems. The potential of gathering multi-modal cellular-resolution information in a single instrument is of great interest to the ophthalmic imaging community. Although similar instruments have been developed for imaging the human retina, developing such a system for mice will benefit basic science research and should help with further dissemination of AO technology. Here, we present our work integrating OCT into an existing mouse retinal AO-SLO system, resulting in a multi-modal AO-enhanced imaging system of the living mouse eye. The new system allows either independent or simultaneous data acquisition of AO-SLO and AO-OCT, depending on the requirements of specific scientific experiments. The system allows a data acquisition speed of 200 kHz A-scans/pixel rate for OCT and SLO, respectively. It offers ∼6 µm axial resolution for AO-OCT and a ∼1 µm lateral resolution for AO-SLO-OCT imaging.

XLRS Rat with Rs1-/Y Exon-1-Del Shows Failure of Early Postnatal Outer Retina Development

We generated a Long Evans transgenic rat with targeted deletion of the whole Rs1 exon-1 and evaluated the pathological retinal phenotype of this Rs1-/Y rat model of X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS). The Rs1-/Y rat exhibited very early onset and rapidly progressive photoreceptor degeneration. The outer limiting membrane (OLM) was disrupted and discontinuous by post-natal day (P15) and allowed photoreceptor nuclei to dislocate from the outer nuclear layers (ONL) into the sub-retinal side of the OLM. Dark-adapted electroretinogram (ERG) a-wave and b-wave amplitudes were considerably reduced to only 20-25% of WT by P17. Microglia and Müller glial showed cell marker activation by P7. Intravitreal application of AAV8-RS1 at P5-6 induced RS1 expression by P15 and rescued the inner nuclear layer (INL) and outer plexiform layer (OPL) cavity formation otherwise present at P15, and the outer-retinal structure was less disrupted. This Rs1-/Y exon-1-del rat model displays substantially faster rod cell loss compared to the exon-1-del Rs1-KO mouse. Most unexpected was the rapid appearance of schisis cavities between P7 and P15, and then cavities rapidly disappeared by P21/P30. The rat model provides clues on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying XLRS pathology in this model and points to a substantial and early changes to normal retinal development.

Arap1 loss causes retinal pigment epithelium phagocytic dysfunction and subsequent photoreceptor death

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a retinal degenerative disease, is the leading cause of heritable blindness. Previously, we described that Arap1^−/− mice develop a similar pattern of photoreceptor degeneration. Arap1 is an Arf-directed GTPase-activating protein shown to modulate actin cytoskeletal dynamics. Curiously, Arap1 expression was detected in Müller glia and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), but not the photoreceptors themselves. In this study, we generated conditional knockout mice for Müller glia/RPE, Müller glia and RPE via targeting Rlbp1, Glast and Vmd2 promoters, respectively, to drive Cre recombinase expression to knock out Arap1. Vmd2-Cre Arap1^tm1c/tm1c and Rlbp1-Cre Arap1^tm1c/tm1c mice, but not Glast-Cre Arap1^tm1c/tm1c mice, recapitulated the phenotype originally observed in germline Arap1^−/− mice. Mass spectrometry analysis of human ARAP1 co-immunoprecipitation identified candidate binding partners of ARAP1, revealing potential interactants involved in phagocytosis, cytoskeletal composition, intracellular trafficking and endocytosis. Quantification of outer segment phagocytosis in vivo demonstrated a clear phagocytic defect in Arap1^−/− mice compared to Arap1^+/+ controls. We conclude that Arap1 expression in RPE is necessary for photoreceptor survival due to its indispensable function in RPE phagocytosis.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Summary: We provide evidence that Arap1 expression in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is essential for maintaining photoreceptor health due to its indispensable role in RPE phagocytosis.

Harnessing the Neuroprotective Behaviors of Müller Glia for Retinal Repair

Progressive and irreversible vision loss in mature and aging adults creates a health and economic burden, worldwide. Despite the advancements of many contemporary therapies to restore vision, few approaches have considered the innate benefits of gliosis, the endogenous processes of retinal repair that precede vision loss. Retinal gliosis is fundamentally driven by Müller glia (MG) and is characterized by three primary cellular mechanisms: hypertrophy, proliferation, and migration. In early stages of gliosis, these processes have neuroprotective potential to halt the progression of disease and encourage synaptic activity among neurons. Later stages, however, can lead to glial scarring, which is a hallmark of disease progression and blindness. As a result, the neuroprotective abilities of MG have remained incompletely explored and poorly integrated into current treatment regimens. Bioengineering studies of the intrinsic behaviors of MG hold promise to exploit glial reparative ability, while repressing neuro-disruptive MG responses. In particular, recent in vitro systems have become primary models to analyze individual gliotic processes and provide a stepping stone for in vivo strategies. This review highlights recent studies of MG gliosis seeking to harness MG neuroprotective ability for regeneration using contemporary biotechnologies. We emphasize the importance of studying gliosis as a reparative mechanism, rather than disregarding it as an unfortunate clinical prognosis in diseased retina.

Beyond Genetics: The Role of Metabolism in Photoreceptor Survival, Development and Repair

Vision commences in the retina with rod and cone photoreceptors that detect and convert light to electrical signals. The irreversible loss of photoreceptors due to neurodegenerative disease leads to visual impairment and blindness. Interventions now in development include transplanting photoreceptors, committed photoreceptor precursors, or retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, with the latter protecting photoreceptors from dying. However, introducing exogenous human cells in a clinical setting faces both regulatory and supply chain hurdles. Recent work has shown that abnormalities in central cell metabolism pathways are an underlying feature of most neurodegenerative disorders, including those in the retina. Reversal of key metabolic alterations to drive retinal repair thus represents a novel strategy to treat vision loss based on cell regeneration. Here, we review the connection between photoreceptor degeneration and alterations in cell metabolism, along with new insights into how metabolic reprogramming drives both retinal development and repair following damage. The potential impact of metabolic reprogramming on retinal regeneration is also discussed, specifically in the context of how metabolic switches drive both retinal development and the activation of retinal glial cells known as Müller glia. Müller glia display latent regenerative properties in teleost fish, however, their capacity to regenerate new photoreceptors has been lost in mammals. Thus, re-activating the regenerative properties of Müller glia in mammals represents an exciting new area that integrates research into developmental cues, central metabolism, disease mechanisms, and glial cell biology. In addition, we discuss this work in relation to the latest insights gleaned from other tissues (brain, muscle) and regenerative species (zebrafish).

Visualizing retinal cells with adaptive optics imaging modalities using a translational imaging framework

Adaptive optics reflectance-based retinal imaging has proved a valuable tool for the noninvasive visualization of cells in the living human retina. Many subcellular features that remain at or below the resolution limit of current in vivo techniques may be more easily visualized with the same modalities in an ex vivo setting. While most microscopy techniques provide significantly higher resolution, enabling the visualization of fine cellular detail in ex vivo retinal samples, they do not replicate the reflectance-based imaging modalities of in vivo retinal imaging. Here, we introduce a strategy for imaging ex vivo samples using the same imaging modalities as those used for in vivo retinal imaging, but with increased resolution. We also demonstrate the ability of this approach to perform protein-specific fluorescence imaging and reflectance imaging simultaneously, enabling the visualization of nearly transparent layers of the retina and the classification of cone photoreceptor types.

Contribution of Müller Cells in the Diabetic Retinopathy Development: Focus on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Diabetic retinopathy is a neurovascular complication of diabetes and the main cause of vision loss in adults. Glial cells have a key role in maintenance of central nervous system homeostasis. In the retina, the predominant element is the Müller cell, a specialized cell with radial morphology that spans all retinal layers and influences the function of the entire retinal circuitry. Müller cells provide metabolic support, regulation of extracellular composition, synaptic activity control, structural organization of the blood–retina barrier, antioxidant activity, and trophic support, among other roles. Therefore, impairments of Müller actions lead to retinal malfunctions. Accordingly, increasing evidence indicates that Müller cells are affected in diabetic retinopathy and may contribute to the severity of the disease. Here, we will survey recently described alterations in Müller cell functions and cellular events that contribute to diabetic retinopathy, especially related to oxidative stress and inflammation. This review sheds light on Müller cells as potential therapeutic targets of this disease.

Volumetric data analysis enabled spatially resolved optoretinogram to measure the functional signals in the living retina

Optoretinogram, a technique in which optical coherence tomography (OCT) is used to measure retinal functions in response to a visible light stimulus, can be a potentially useful tool to quantify retinal health alterations. Existing experimental studies on animals have focused on measuring the global retinal response by transversally averaging 3D data across the retina, which minimizes the spatial resolution of the signals, and limits the signal-to-noise ratio because only central B-scans are collected and analyzed. These problems were addressed in this study by collecting volumetric data to probe functional signals and developing an improved 3D registration approach to align such series-acquired OCT volumes. These data were then divided into small blocks and subject to a spatiotemporal analysis, whose results confirmed the spatial-dependence of functional signals. By further averaging, the overall measurement accuracies for the position and the scattering signals were estimated to be approximately 30 nm and 1.1 %, respectively. With improved accuracy, this method revealed certain novel functional signals that have not been previously reported. In conclusion, this work provides a powerful tool to monitor retinal local and global functional changes in aging, diseased, or treated rodent eyes.

The expression, localisation and interactome of pigeon CRY2

Cryptochromes (CRY) are highly conserved signalling molecules that regulate circadian rhythms and are candidate radical pair based magnetoreceptors. Birds have at least four cryptochromes (CRY1a, CRY1b, CRY2, and CRY4), but few studies have interrogated their function. Here we investigate the expression, localisation and interactome of clCRY2 in the pigeon retina. We report that clCRY2 has two distinct transcript variants, clCRY2a, and a previously unreported splice isoform, clCRY2b which is larger in size. We show that clCRY2a mRNA is expressed in all retinal layers and clCRY2b is enriched in the inner and outer nuclear layer. To define the localisation and interaction network of clCRY2 we generated and validated a monoclonal antibody that detects both clCRY2 isoforms. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that clCRY2a/b is present in all retinal layers and is enriched in the outer limiting membrane and outer plexiform layer. Proteomic analysis showed clCRY2a/b interacts with typical circadian molecules (PER2, CLOCK, ARTNL), cell junction proteins (CTNNA1, CTNNA2) and components associated with the microtubule motor dynein (DYNC1LI2, DCTN1, DCTN2, DCTN3) within the retina. Collectively these data show that clCRY2 is a component of the avian circadian clock and unexpectedly associates with the microtubule cytoskeleton.

Inducible Pluripotent Stem Cells to Model and Treat Inherited Degenerative Diseases of the Outer Retina: 3D-Organoids Limitations and Bioengineering Solutions

Inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) affecting either photoreceptors or pigment epithelial cells cause progressive visual loss and severe disability, up to complete blindness. Retinal organoids (ROs) technologies opened up the development of human inducible pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) for disease modeling and replacement therapies. However, hiPSC-derived ROs applications to IRD presently display limited maturation and functionality, with most photoreceptors lacking well-developed outer segments (OS) and light responsiveness comparable to their adult retinal counterparts. In this review, we address for the first time the microenvironment where OS mature, i.e., the subretinal space (SRS), and discuss SRS role in photoreceptors metabolic reprogramming required for OS generation. We also address bioengineering issues to improve culture systems proficiency to promote OS maturation in hiPSC-derived ROs. This issue is crucial, as satisfying the demanding metabolic needs of photoreceptors may unleash hiPSC-derived ROs full potential for disease modeling, drug development, and replacement therapies.

Human Foveal Cone and Müller Cells Examined by Adaptive Optics Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to image and investigate the foveal microstructure of human cone and Müller cells using adaptive optics-optical coherence tomography.

Methods

Six healthy subjects underwent the prototype adaptive optics-optical coherence tomography imaging, which allowed an axial resolution of 3.4 µm and a transverse resolution of approximately 3 µm. The morphological features of the individual retinal cells observed in the foveola were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated.

Results

In the six healthy subjects, the image B-scans showed hyper-reflective dots that were densely packed in the outer nuclear layer. The mean number, diameter, and density of hyper-reflective dots in the foveola were 250.8 ± 59.6, 12.7 ± 59.6 µm, and 6966 ± 1833/mm2, respectively. These qualitative and quantitative findings regarding the hyper-reflective dots were markedly consistent with the morphological features of the foveal cone cell nuclei. Additionally, the images showed the funnel-shaped hyporeflective bodies running vertically and obliquely between the inner and external limiting membranes, illustrating the cell morphology of the foveal Müller cells.

Conclusions

Using adaptive optics, we succeeded in visualizing cross-sectional images of the individual cone and Müller cells of the human retina in vivo.

Translational Relevance

Adaptive optics-optical coherence tomography would help to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of macular diseases.

Hyperreflective Foci, Optical Coherence Tomography Progression Indicators in Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Include Transdifferentiated Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Purpose

By optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, hyperreflective foci (HRF) indicate progression risk for advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and are in part attributable to ectopic retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We hypothesized that ectopic RPE are molecularly distinct from in-layer cells and that their cross-retinal course follows Müller glia.

Methods

In clinical OCT (61 eyes, 44 patients with AMD, 79.4 ± 7.7 years; 29 female; follow-up = 4.7 ± 0.9 years), one HRF type, RPE plume (n = 129 in 4 morphologies), was reviewed. Twenty eyes of 20 donors characterized by ex vivo OCT were analyzed by histology (normal, 4; early/intermediate AMD, 7; geographic atrophy, 6; neovascular AMD, 3). Cryosections were stained with antibodies to retinoid (RPE65, CRALPB) and immune (CD68, CD163) markers. In published RPE cellular phenotypes, red immunoreactivity was assessed semiquantitatively by one observer (none, some cells, all cells).

Results

Plume morphology evolved over time and many resolved (40%). Trajectories of RPE plume and cellular debris paralleled Müller glia, including near atrophy borders. RPE corresponding to HRF lost immunoreactivity for retinoid markers and gained immunoreactivity for immune markers. Aberrant immunoreactivity appeared in individual in-layer RPE cells and extended to all abnormal phenotypes. Müller glia remained CRALBP positive. Plume cells approached and contacted retinal capillaries.

Conclusions

HRF are indicators not predictors of overall disease activity. Gain and loss of function starts with individual in-layer RPE cells and extends to all abnormal phenotypes. Evidence for RPE transdifferentiation, possibly due to ischemia, supports a proposed process of epithelial–mesenchyme transition. Data can propel new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for AMD.

Quantitative Assessment of Choroidal Parameters in Patients with Various Types of Diabetic Macular Oedema: A Single-Centre Cross-Sectional Analysis

Simple Summary

Choroidopathy is one of the components in the pathogenesis of diabetic macular oedema (DME). This study investigated the optical coherence tomography-based choroidal parameters: thickness, volume, choroidal vascularity index (CVI), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), and total choroidal area (TCA) in relation to the presence and type of DME (cystoid, diffuse, and with subretinal fluid). Diabetic choroidopathy seems to play a role in the development of DME but is less likely involved in the pathogenesis of specific types thereof.

Abstract

Diabetic macular oedema (DME) is an outcome of multiple, complex and not fully understood mechanisms. The aim of this study was to define the role of choroidopathy in the pathogenesis of various DME types. The retrospective cross-sectional single-centre study included 140 eyes from 105 patients with DME and 76 eyes from 52 non-diabetic controls. The eyes were stratified according to the type of DME: cystoid, diffuse, and with subretinal fluid. Optical coherence tomography-based choroidal parameters: thickness, volume, choroidal vascularity index (CVI), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), and total choroidal area (TCA) were compared. Eyes with DME, regardless of the type thereof, had lower choroidal thickness, volume, and CVI values than the controls. Further, the eyes with some specific DME types differed significantly from the controls in terms of LA and SA. While the eyes with various DME types did not differ significantly in terms of their choroidal thickness, volume and CVI, some between-group differences were found in LA, SA and TCA. Diabetic choroidopathy seems to play a role in the development of DME but is less likely involved in the pathogenesis of specific types thereof.

Semaphorin 3fa Controls Ocular Vascularization From the Embryo Through to the Adult

Purpose

Pathological blood vessel growth in the eye is implicated in several diseases that result in vision loss, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. The limits of current disease therapies have created the need to identify and characterize new antiangiogenic drugs. Here, we identify the secreted chemorepellent semaphorin-3fa (Sema3fa) as an endogenous anti-angiogenic in the eye.

Methods

We generated a CRISPR/Cas9 sema3fa zebrafish mutant line, sema3faca304/304. We assessed the retinal and choroidal vasculature in both larval and adult wild-type and sema3fa mutant zebrafish.

Results

We find sema3fa mRNA is expressed by the ciliary marginal zone, neural retina, and retinal pigment epithelium of zebrafish larvae as choroidal vascularization emerges and the hyaloid/retinal vasculature is remodeled. The hyaloid vessels of sema3fa mutants develop appropriately but fail to remodel during the larval period, with adult mutants exhibiting a denser network of capillaries in the retinal periphery than seen in wild-type. The choroid vasculature is also defective in that it develops precociously, and aberrant, leaky sprouts are present in the normally avascular outer retina of both sema3faca304/304 larvae and adult fish.

Conclusions

Sema3fa is a key endogenous signal for maintaining an avascular retina and preventing pathologic vascularization. Furthermore, we provide a new experimentally accessible model for studying choroid neovascularization (CNV) resulting from primary changes in the retinal environment that lead to downstream vessel infiltration.

Rho-Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Refractory Diabetic Macular Oedema

Diabetic macular oedema (DMO) is one of the leading causes of vision loss associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). New insights in managing this condition have changed the paradigm in its treatment, with intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) having become the standard therapy for DMO worldwide. However, there is no single standard therapy for all patients DMO refractory to anti-VEGF treatment; thus, further investigation is still needed. The key obstacles in developing suitable therapeutics for refractory DMO lie in its complex pathophysiology; therefore, there is an opportunity for further improvements in the progress and applications of new drugs. Previous studies have indicated that Rho-associated kinase (Rho-kinase/ROCK) is an essential molecule in the pathogenesis of DMO. This is why the Rho/ROCK signalling pathway has been proposed as a possible target for new treatments. The present review focuses on the recent progress on the possible role of ROCK and its therapeutic potential in DMO. A systematic literature search was performed, covering the years 1991 to 2021, using the following keywords: "rho-Associated Kinas-es", "Diabetic Retinopathy", "Macular Edema", "Ripasudil", "Fasudil" and "Netarsudil". Better insight into the pathological role of Rho-kinase/ROCK may lead to the development of new strategies for refractory DMO treatment and prevention.

Age, Initial Central Retinal Thickness, and OCT Biomarkers Have an Influence on the Outcome of Diabetic Macular Edema Treated With Ranibizumab- Tri-center 12-Month Treat-and-Extend Study

Objective: We report the tri-center 1-year outcomes of a treat-and-extend (T&E) regimen in four-week intervals with ranibizumab for diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: In this retrospective study, all eyes received 3 monthly loading injections of 0.5 mg ranibizumab, followed by a T&E regimen for DME. Regression models were used to evaluate the associating factors for visual and anatomical outcomes.

Results: Ninety one eyes from 64 patients were enrolled. Mean LogMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved from 0.58 at baseline to 0.36 at month 12 and mean central retinal thickness (CRT) decreased from 411 μm at baseline to 290 μm at month 12. Younger age and eyes having thinner baseline CRT, with ellipsoid zone disruption (EZD), and without epiretinal membrane (ERM) were associated with better final CRT. Moreover, eyes with thicker baseline CRT tend to receive more injections. Among the parameters, only having ERM or EZD was associated with significant BCVA recovery.

Conclusions: A T&E regimen with ranibizumab by 4-week intervals is effective in improving BCVA and reducing CRT with efficacy notable starting from the third month. Clinical parameters including age, initial CRT, and presence of ERM or EZD significantly influenced therapeutic outcomes. Moreover, the presence of ERM should not preclude DME patients from receiving anti-VEGF therapy. Future studies with larger cohorts are warranted.

Subretinal Rather Than Intravitreal Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Delivery of a Complement Alternative Pathway Inhibitor Is Effective in a Mouse Model of RPE Damage

Purpose

The risk for age-related macular degeneration has been tied to an overactive complement system. Despite combined attempts by academia and industry to develop therapeutics that modulate the complement response, particularly in the late geographic atrophy form of advanced AMD, to date, there is no effective treatment. We have previously demonstrated that pathology in the smoke-induced ocular pathology (SIOP) model, a model with similarities to dry AMD, is dependent on activation of the alternative complement pathway and that a novel complement activation site targeted inhibitor of the alternative pathway can be delivered to ocular tissues via an adeno-associated virus (AAV).

Methods

Two different viral vectors for specific tissue targeting were compared: AAV5-VMD2-CR2-fH for delivery to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and AAV2YF-smCBA-CR2-fH for delivery to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Efficacy was tested in SIOP (6 months of passive smoke inhalation), assessing visual function (optokinetic responses), retinal structure (optical coherence tomography), and integrity of the RPE and Bruch's membrane (electron microscopy). Protein chemistry was used to assess complement activation, CR2-fH tissue distribution, and CR2-fH transport across the RPE.

Results

RPE- but not RGC-mediated secretion of CR2-fH was found to reduce SIOP and complement activation in RPE/choroid. Bioavailability of CR2-fH in RPE/choroid could be confirmed only after AAV5-VMD2-CR2-fH treatment, and inefficient, adenosine triphosphate-dependent transport of CR2-fH across the RPE was identified.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that complement inhibition for AMD-like pathology is required basal to the RPE and argues in favor of AAV vector delivery to the RPE or outside the blood-retina barrier.

The internal limiting membrane: Roles in retinal development and implications for emerging ocular therapies

Basement membranes help to establish, maintain, and separate their associated tissues. They also provide growth and signaling substrates for nearby resident cells. The internal limiting membrane (ILM) is the basement membrane at the ocular vitreoretinal interface. While the ILM is essential for normal retinal development, it is dispensable in adulthood. Moreover, the ILM may constitute a significant barrier to emerging ocular therapeutics, such as viral gene therapy or stem cell transplantation. Here we take a neurodevelopmental perspective in examining how retinal neurons, glia, and vasculature interact with individual extracellular matrix constituents at the ILM. In addition, we review evidence that the ILM may impede novel ocular therapies and discuss approaches for achieving retinal parenchymal targeting of gene vectors and cell transplants delivered into the vitreous cavity by manipulating interactions with the ILM.

External limiting membrane: retinal structural barrier in diabetic macular edema

Advances in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) technology have enhanced the understanding of external limiting membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (EZ) in diabetic macular edema. An increase in VEGF has been demonstrated to be associated with sequential ELM and EZ disruption on SD-OCT. An intact ELM is a prerequisite for an intact EZ in DME. Anti-VEGF therapy leads to restoration of barrier effect of ELM. The ELM restores first followed by EZ restoration.

A Comparison of the Primary Sensory Neurons Used in Olfaction and Vision

Vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch are the tools used to perceive and navigate the world. They enable us to obtain essential resources such as food and highly desired resources such as mates. Thanks to the investments in biomedical research the molecular unpinning’s of human sensation are rivaled only by our knowledge of sensation in the laboratory mouse. Humans rely heavily on vision whereas mice use smell as their dominant sense. Both modalities have many features in common, starting with signal detection by highly specialized primary sensory neurons—rod and cone photoreceptors (PR) for vision, and olfactory sensory neurons (OSN) for the smell. In this chapter, we provide an overview of how these two types of primary sensory neurons operate while highlighting the similarities and distinctions.

The effects of PEGylation on LNP based mRNA delivery to the eye

Gene therapy is now an effective approach to treat many forms of retinal degeneration. Delivery agents that are cell-specific, allow for multiple dosing regimens, and have low immunogenicity are needed to expand the utility of gene therapy for the retina. We generated eight novel lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) ranging in size from 50 nm to 150 nm by changing the PEG content from 5% to 0.5%, respectively. Subretinal injections of LNP-mRNA encoding luciferase revealed that 0.5% PEG content within nanoparticles elicits the highest expression. Similar injections of LNP delivered cre mRNA into Ai9 mice revealed cell-specific protein expression in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), confirmed by fundus photography and immunohistochemistry of whole globe cross-sections. To investigate mechanisms of LNP delivery to the eye, we injected mCherry mRNA using the subretinal approach in apoE-/- and Mertk-/- mice. RPE transfection was observed in both mouse models suggesting that LNP intracellular delivery is not solely dependent on apolipoprotein adsorption or phagocytosis. To investigate LNP penetration, particles were delivered to the vitreous chamber via an intravitreal injection. The 0.5% PEG particles mediated the highest luciferase activity and expression was observed in the Müller glia, the optic nerve head and the trabecular meshwork, but failed to reach the RPE. Overall, particles containing less PEG (~150 nm in size) mediated the highest expression in the eye. Thus far, these particles successfully transfect RPE, Müller cells, the optic nerve head and the trabecular meshwork based on route of administration which can expand the utility of LNP-mediated gene therapies for the eye.

Abnormal Cone and Rod Photoreceptor Morphogenesis in gdf6a Mutant Zebrafish

Purpose

Analysis of photoreceptor morphology and gene expression in mispatterned eyes of zebrafish growth differentiation factor 6a (gdf6a) mutants.

Methods

Rod and cone photoreceptors were compared between gdf6a mutant and control zebrafish from larval to late adult stages using transgenic labels, immunofluorescence, and confocal microscopy, as well as by transmission electron microscopy. To compare transcriptomes between larval gdf6a mutant and control zebrafish, RNA-Seq was performed on isolated eyes.

Results

Although rod and cone photoreceptors differentiate in gdf6a mutant zebrafish, the cells display aberrant growth and morphology. The cone outer segments, the light-detecting sensory endings, are reduced in size in the mutant larvae and fail to recover to control size at subsequent stages. In contrast, rods form temporarily expanded outer segments. The inner segments, which generate the required energy and proteins for the outer segments, are shortened in both rods and cones at all stages. RNA-Seq analysis provides a set of misregulated genes associated with the observed abnormal photoreceptor morphogenesis.

Conclusions

GDF6 mutations were previously identified in patients with Leber congenital amaurosis. Here, we reveal a unique photoreceptor phenotype in the gdf6a mutant zebrafish whereby rods and cones undergo abnormal maturation distinct for each cell type. Further, subsequent development shows partial recovery of cell morphology and maintenance of the photoreceptor layer. By conducting a transcriptomic analysis of the gdf6a larval eyes, we identified a collection of genes that are candidate regulators of photoreceptor size and morphology.

A connectomics approach to understanding a retinal disease

Macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel), a late-onset macular degeneration, has been linked to a loss in the retina of Müller glial cells and the amino acid serine, synthesized by the Müller cells. The disease is confined mainly to a central retinal region called the MacTel zone. We have used electron microscopic connectomics techniques, optimized for disease analysis, to study the retina from a 48-y-old woman suffering from MacTel. The major observations made were specific changes in mitochondrial structure within and outside the MacTel zone that were present in all retinal cell types. We also identified an abrupt boundary of the MacTel zone that coincides with the loss of Müller cells and macular pigment. Since Müller cells synthesize retinal serine, we propose that a deficiency of serine, required for mitochondrial maintenance, causes mitochondrial changes that underlie MacTel development.

Morphology of partial-thickness macular defects: presumed roles of Müller cells and tissue layer interfaces of low mechanical stability

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of partial-thickness macular defects and the role of Müller glial cells in the development of such defects are not well understood. We document the morphological characteristics of various types of partial-thickness macular defects using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, with the focus on tractional and degenerative lamellar holes, and discuss possible pathogenic mechanisms.

METHODS

A retrospective case series of 61 eyes of 61 patients with different types of partial-thickness macular defects is described.

RESULTS

Partial-thickness macular defects are caused by anteroposterior or tangential traction onto the fovea exerted by the partially detached posterior hyaloid and epiretinal membranes, respectively. Tractional elevation of the inner Müller cell layer of the foveola-without (outer lamellar holes, foveal pseudocysts) or with a disruption of this layer (tractional lamellar holes, macular pseudoholes)-produces an elevation of the inner layers of the foveal walls (nerve fiber layer to outer plexiform layer [OPL]) and a schisis between the OPL and Henle fiber layer (HFL). With the exception of outer lamellar holes, the (outer part of the) central outer nuclear layer and the external limiting membrane remain nondisrupted in the various types of partial-thickness defects. Degenerative lamellar holes are characterized by cavitations between the inner plexiform layer and HFL of the foveal walls; many cases have lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP). Proliferating cells of the disrupted Müller cell cone may contribute to the development of LHEP and fill the spaces left by degenerated photoreceptors in the foveal center.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that morphological characteristics of partial-thickness macular defects can be explained by the disruption of the (stalk of the) Müller cell cone in the foveola and the location of tissue layer interfaces with low mechanical stability: the boundary with no cellular connections between both Müller cell populations in the foveola, and the interface between the OPL and HFL in the foveal walls and parafovea. We propose that the development of the cavitations in degenerative lamellar holes is initiated by traction which produces a schisis between the OPL and HFL, and enlarged by a slow and chronic degeneration of Henle fibers and bipolar cells.Trial registration retrospectively registered, #143/20-ek, 04/03/2020.

Two different populations of Müller cells stabilize the structure of the fovea: an optical coherence tomography study

PURPOSE

To document with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography the structural stabilization of the fovea and the sealing of outer macular defects by Müller cells.

METHODS

A retrospective case series of 45 eyes of 34 patients is described.

RESULTS

In cases of a cystic disruption of the foveola as in macular telangiectasia type 2 and vitreomacular traction, the Müller cell cone provides the structural stability of the fovea. In cases of a detachment or disruption of the Müller cell cone, e.g., in foveal pseudocysts, outer lamellar holes, and degenerative and tractional lamellar holes, Müller cells of the foveal walls may provide the structural stability of the fovea by the formation of a hyperreflective external limiting membrane (ELM) which bridges the holes in the central outer nuclear layer (ONL). Müller cells of the foveal walls and parafovea mediate the regeneration of the foveal architecture in cases of outer lamellar and full-thickness macular holes. The regeneration proceeds by a centripetal displacement of photoreceptor cell somata which closes the holes in the central ONL. The closure may be supported by the formation of a glial tissue band at the ELM which seals the hole.

CONCLUSIONS

The Müller cell cone provides the foveal stability in cases of a cystic disruption of the foveola. The structural stability of the outer foveal layers is mainly provided by the Müller cells of the foveal walls and parafovea; these cells also mediate the regeneration of the outer fovea in cases of a defect of the central ONL.

Neurodegeneration, gliosis, and resolution of haemorrhage in neovascular age-related macular degeneration, a clinicopathologic correlation

BACKGROUND

To analyse cellular and spatiotemporal factors of neurodegeneration and gliosis in a patient with submacular haemorrhage (SMH) secondary to type 1 macular neovascularization in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

METHODS

This is a case study and clinicopathologic correlation of an 84-year-old white man with nAMD treated with antiangiogenic drugs and photodynamic therapy during a 6-year follow-up. Eyes were recovered for histology 8.23 h after death. In vivo multimodal imaging including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and en face modalities was compared with ex vivo OCT and high-resolution histologic images, using a custom image registration procedure. SMH components were defined (intraretinal, subretinal, sub-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and dehemoglobinized blood). Neurodegenerative changes in each of these areas were described. One anonymous donor eye with haemorrhagic nAMD was also reviewed as a comparator.

RESULTS

By in vivo OCT, progressive resolution of the haemorrhage and gradual transformation of sub-RPE fluid to fibrous hyperreflective tissue, progressive macular atrophy, and variation in external limiting membrane (ELM) visibility were observed. Histology showed intense photoreceptor loss with preservation and self-adhesion of macular Müller glia resulting in ELM condensation. The comparator eye exhibited shed cone inner segments among subretinal erythrocytes.

CONCLUSION

This is the most detailed clinicopathologic correlation of nAMD with SMH resolution to date, and the first in the OCT era. Our results reveal profound macular neurodegeneration and gliosis, signified by condensed ELM, soon after haemorrhage begins. Intensified OCT reflectivity of the ELM, an important retinal barrier, has potential as a biomarker for severe photoreceptor loss and gliosis.

Sfrp1 deficiency makes retinal photoreceptors prone to degeneration

Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from impaired vision, a condition with multiple origins that often impinge upon the light sensing cells of the retina, the photoreceptors, affecting their integrity. The molecular components contributing to this integrity are however not yet fully understood. Here we have asked whether Secreted Frizzled Related Protein 1 (SFRP1) may be one of such factors. SFRP1 has a context-dependent function as modulator of Wnt signalling or of the proteolytic activity of A Disintegrin And Metalloproteases (ADAM) 10, a main regulator of neural cell-cell communication. We report that in Sfrp1^−/− mice, the outer limiting membrane (OLM) is discontinuous and the photoreceptors disorganized and more prone to light-induced damage. Sfrp1 loss significantly enhances the effect of the Rpe65^Leu450Leu genetic variant -present in the mouse genetic background- which confers sensitivity to light-induced stress. These alterations worsen with age, affect visual function and are associated to an increased proteolysis of Protocadherin 21 (PCDH21), localized at the photoreceptor outer segment, and N-cadherin, an OLM component. We thus propose that SFRP1 contributes to photoreceptor fitness with a mechanism that involves the maintenance of OLM integrity. These conclusions are discussed in view of the broader implication of SFRP1 in neurodegeneration and aging.

Focused ultrasound as a novel strategy for noninvasive gene delivery to retinal Müller glia

Müller glia are specialized retinal cells with stem cell properties in fish and frogs but not in mammals. Current efforts to develop gene therapies to activate mammalian Müller glia for retinal repair will require safe and effective delivery strategies for recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), vectors of choice for clinical translation. Intravitreal and subretinal injections are currently used for AAV gene delivery in the eye, but less invasive methods efficiently targeting Müller glia have yet to be developed. Methods: As gene delivery strategies have been more extensively studied in the brain, to validate our vectors, we initially compared the glial tropism of AAV-PHP.eB, an AAV9 that crosses the blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers, for its ability to drive fluorescent protein expression in glial cells in both the brain and retina. We then tested the glial transduction of AAV2/8-GFAP-mCherry, a virus that does not cross blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers, for its effectiveness in transducing Müller glia in murine retinal explants ex vivo. For in vivo assays we used larger rat eyes, performing invasive intravitreal injections, and non-invasive intravenous delivery using focused ultrasound (FUS) (pressure amplitude: 0.360 - 0.84 MPa) and microbubbles (Definity, 0.2 ml/kg). Results: We showed that AAV-PHP.eB carrying a ubiquitous promoter (CAG) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter, readily crossed the blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers after intravenous delivery in mice. However, murine Müller glia did not express GFP, suggesting that they were not transduced by AAV-PHP.eB. We thus tested an AAV2/8 variant, which was selected based on its safety record in multiple clinical trials, adding a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter and mCherry (red fluorescent protein) reporter. We confirmed the glial specificity of AAV2/8-GFAP-mCherry, showing effective expression of mCherry in astrocytes after intracranial injection in the mouse brain, and of Müller glia in murine retinal explants. For in vivo experiments we switched to rats because of their larger size, injecting AAV2/8-GFAP-mCherry intravitreally, an invasive procedure, demonstrating passage across the inner limiting membrane, leading to Müller glia transduction. We then tested an alternative non-invasive delivery approach targeting a different barrier - the inner blood-retinal-barrier, applying focused ultrasound (FUS) to the retina after intravenous injection of AAV2/8 and microbubbles in rats, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for FUS targeting. FUS permeabilized the rat blood-retinal-barrier and allowed the passage of macromolecules to the retina (Evans blue, IgG, IgM), with minimal extravasation of platelets and red blood cells. Intravenous injection of microbubbles and AAV2/8-GFAP-mCherry followed by FUS resulted in mCherry expression in rat Müller glia. However, systemic delivery of AAV2/8 also had off-target effects, transducing several murine peripheral organs, particularly the liver. Conclusions: Retinal permeabilisation via FUS in the presence of microbubbles is effective for delivering AAV2/8 across the inner blood-retinal-barrier, targeting Müller glia, which is less invasive than intravitreal injections that bypass the inner limiting membrane. However, implementing FUS in the clinic will require a comprehensive consideration of any off-target tropism of the AAV in peripheral organs, combined ideally, with the development of Müller glia-specific promoters.

Emerging therapies in the management of macular edema: a review

Macular edema (ME) is a major complication of several vascular and inflammatory retinal diseases. Multiple mechanisms are implicated in its development and lead to visual impairment that could be reversible (the acute stages) or not reversible (long-standing ME). For this reason, an effective approach to the treatment of ME is of paramount importance in order to prevent irreversible damage of visual function. In this review, we discuss the management of ME and, in particular, current data of studies and clinical trials about drugs that have already been evaluated or are under investigation in the management of ME. Although several diseases could lead to the development of ME, we focus on the three main causes: diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and uveitis. The introduction into clinical practice of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections (ranibizumab and aflibercept) and dexamethasone implants has revolutionized the treatment of ME secondary to DR and RVO. However, new drugs are needed in the treatment of resistant forms of ME secondary to DR and RVO. A fluocinolone acetonide implant has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of diabetic ME but not for RVO. Furthermore, brolucizumab and abicipar pegol have been shown to be effective in preliminary studies and have the chance to be approved soon for diabetic ME treatment. In ME secondary to uveitis, a crucial role is played by corticosteroids and non-biologic immunomodulatory drugs. However, several new biologic agents are under investigation in different clinical trials and could be important new therapeutic options in cases with a low response to first-line therapy. However, only a few of these drugs will enter the market after proving their safety and efficacy. Only after that will we be able to offer a new therapeutic option to patients affected by uveitic ME.

Low availability of choline in utero disrupts development and function of the retina

Adequate supply of choline, an essential nutrient, is necessary to support proper brain development. Whether prenatal choline availability plays a role in development of the visual system is currently unknown. In this study, we addressed the role of in utero choline supply for the development and later function of the retina in a mouse model. We lowered choline availability in the maternal diet during pregnancy and assessed proliferative and differentiation properties of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) in the developing prenatal retina, as well as visual function in adult offspring. We report that low choline availability during retinogenesis leads to persistent retinal cytoarchitectural defects, ranging from focal lesions with displacement of retinal neurons into subretinal space to severe hypocellularity and ultrastructural defects in photoreceptor organization. We further show that low choline availability impairs timely differentiation of retinal neuronal cells, such that the densities of early-born retinal ganglion cells, amacrine and horizontal cells, as well as cone photoreceptor precursors, are reduced in low choline embryonic d 17.5 retinas. Maintenance of higher proportions of RPCs that fail to exit the cell cycle underlies aberrant neuronal differentiation in low choline embryos. Increased RPC cell cycle length, and associated reduction in neurofibromin 2/Merlin protein, an upstream regulator of the Hippo signaling pathway, at least in part, explain aberrant neurogenesis in low choline retinas. Furthermore, we find that animals exposed to low choline diet in utero exhibit a significant degree of intraindividual variation in vision, characterized by marked functional discrepancy between the 2 eyes in individual animals. Together, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that choline availability plays an essential role in the regulation of temporal progression of retinogenesis and provide evidence for the importance of adequate supply of choline for proper development of the visual system.-Trujillo-Gonzalez, I., Friday, W. B., Munson, C. A., Bachleda, A., Weiss, E. R., Alam, N. M., Sha, W., Zeisel, S. H., Surzenko, N. Low availability of choline in utero disrupts development and function of the retina.

Lipid nanoparticles for delivery of messenger RNA to the back of the eye

Retinal gene therapy has had unprecedented success in generating treatments that can halt vision loss. However, immunogenic response and long-term toxicity with the use of viral vectors remain a concern. Non-viral vectors are relatively non-immunogenic, scalable platforms that have had limited success with DNA delivery to the eye. Messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics has expanded the ability to achieve high gene expression while eliminating unintended genomic integration or the need to cross the restrictive nuclear barrier. Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) remain at the forefront of potent delivery vectors for nucleic acids. Herein, we tested eleven different LNP variants for their ability to deliver mRNA to the back of the eye. LNPs that contained ionizable lipids with low pKa and unsaturated hydrocarbon chains showed the highest amount of reporter gene transfection in the retina. The kinetics of gene expression showed a rapid onset (within 4 h) that persisted for 96 h. The gene delivery was cell-type specific with majority of the expression in the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and limited expression in the Müller glia. LNP-delivered mRNA can be used to treat monogenic retinal degenerative disorders of the RPE. The transient nature of mRNA-based therapeutics makes it desirable for applications that are directed towards retinal reprogramming or genome editing. Overall, non-viral delivery of RNA therapeutics to diverse cell types within the retina can provide transformative new approaches to prevent blindness.

An FRMD4B variant suppresses dysplastic photoreceptor lesions in models of enhanced S-cone syndrome and of Nrl deficiency

Photoreceptor dysplasia, characterized by formation of folds and (pseudo-)rosettes in the outer retina, is associated with loss of functional nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group E member 3 (NR2E3) and neural retina leucine-zipper (NRL) in both humans and mice. A sensitized chemical mutagenesis study to identify genetic modifiers that suppress photoreceptor dysplasia in Nr2e3rd7mutant mice identified line Tvrm222, which exhibits a normal fundus appearance in the presence of the rd7 mutation. The Tvrm222 modifier of Nr2e3rd7/rd7 was localized to Chromosome 6 and identified as a missense mutation in the FERM domain containing 4B (Frmd4b) gene. The variant is predicted to cause the substitution of a serine residue 938 with proline (S938P). The Frmd4bTvrm222 allele was also found to suppress outer nuclear layer (ONL) rosettes in Nrl-/- mice. Fragmentation of the external limiting membrane (ELM), normally observed in rd7 and Nrl-/-mouse retinas, was absent in the presence of the Frmd4bTvrm222 allele. FRMD4B, a binding partner of cytohesin 3, is proposed to participate in cell junction remodeling. Its biological function in photoreceptor dysplasia has not been previously examined. In vitro experiments showed that the FRMD4B938P variant fails to be efficiently recruited to the cell surface upon insulin stimulation. In addition, we found a reduction in protein kinase B phosphorylation and increased levels of cell junction proteins, Catenin beta 1 and tight junction protein 1, associated with the cell membrane in Tvrm222 retinas. Taken together, this study reveals a critical role of FRMD4B in maintaining ELM integrity and in rescuing morphological abnormalities of the ONL in photoreceptor dysplasia.

Mechanisms Underlying the Visual Benefit of Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Retinal Degenerations

The transplantation of retinal cells has been studied in animals to establish proof of its potential benefit for the treatment of blinding diseases. Photoreceptor precursors have been grafted in animal models of Mendelian-inherited retinal degenerations, and retinal pigmented epithelial cells have been used to restore visual function in animal models of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and recently in patients. Cell therapy over corrective gene therapy in inherited retinal degeneration can overcome the genetic heterogeneity by providing one treatment for all genetic forms of the diseases. In AMD, the existence of multiple risk alleles precludes a priori the use of corrective gene therapy. Mechanistically, the experiments of photoreceptor precursor transplantation reveal the importance of cytoplasmic material exchange between the grafted cells and the host cells for functional rescue, an unsuspected mechanism and novel concept. For transplantation of retinal pigmented epithelial cells, the mechanisms behind the therapeutic benefit are only partially understood, and clinical trials are ongoing. The fascinating studies that describe the development of methodologies to produce cells to be grafted and demonstrate the functional benefit for vision are reviewed.

Bioactive lipids and pathological retinal angiogenesis

Angiogenesis, disruption of the retinal barrier, leukocyte-adhesion and oedema are cardinal signs of proliferative retinopathies that are associated with vision loss. Therefore, identifying factors that regulate these vascular dysfunctions is critical to target pathological angiogenesis. Given the conflicting role of bioactive lipids reported in the current literature, the goal of this review is to provide the reader a clear road map of what has been accomplished so far in the field with specific focus on the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)-derived metabolites in proliferative retinopathies. This necessarily entails a description of the different retina cells, blood retina barriers and the role of (PUFAs)-derived metabolites in diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and age-related macular degeneration as the most common types of proliferative retinopathies.

Pluripotent Stem Cells for Retinal Tissue Engineering: Current Status and Future Prospects

The retina is a very fine and layered neural tissue, which vitally depends on the preservation of cells, structure, connectivity and vasculature to maintain vision. There is an urgent need to find technical and biological solutions to major challenges associated with functional replacement of retinal cells. The major unmet challenges include generating sufficient numbers of specific cell types, achieving functional integration of transplanted cells, especially photoreceptors, and surgical delivery of retinal cells or tissue without triggering immune responses, inflammation and/or remodeling. The advances of regenerative medicine enabled generation of three-dimensional tissues (organoids), partially recreating the anatomical structure, biological complexity and physiology of several tissues, which are important targets for stem cell replacement therapies. Derivation of retinal tissue in a dish creates new opportunities for cell replacement therapies of blindness and addresses the need to preserve retinal architecture to restore vision. Retinal cell therapies aimed at preserving and improving vision have achieved many improvements in the past ten years. Retinal organoid technologies provide a number of solutions to technical and biological challenges associated with functional replacement of retinal cells to achieve long-term vision restoration. Our review summarizes the progress in cell therapies of retina, with focus on human pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal tissue, and critically evaluates the potential of retinal organoid approaches to solve a major unmet clinical need—retinal repair and vision restoration in conditions caused by retinal degeneration and traumatic ocular injuries. We also analyze obstacles in commercialization of retinal organoid technology for clinical application.

Directional ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux and apoB-lipoprotein secretion in the retinal pigment epithelium

Cholesterol-containing soft drusen and subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs) occur at the basolateral and apical side of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), respectively, in the chorioretina and are independent risk factors for late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Cholesterol in these deposits could originate from the RPE as nascent HDL or apoB-lipoprotein. We characterized cholesterol efflux and apoB-lipoprotein secretion in RPE cells. Human RPE cells, ARPE-19, formed nascent HDL that was similar in physicochemical properties to nascent HDL formed by other cell types. In highly polarized primary human fetal RPE (phfRPE) monolayers grown in low-lipid conditions, cholesterol efflux to HDL was moderately directional to the apical side and much stronger than ABCA1-mediated efflux to apoA-I at both sides; ABCA1-mediated efflux was weak and equivalent between the two sides. Feeding phfRPE monolayers with oxidized or acetylated LDL increased intracellular levels of free and esterified cholesterol and substantially raised ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux at the apical side. phfRPE monolayers secreted apoB-lipoprotein preferentially to the apical side in low-lipid and oxidized LDL-feeding conditions. These findings together with evidence from human genetics and AMD pathology suggest that RPE-generated HDL may contribute lipid to SDDs.

Relationship between G proteins coupled receptors and tight junctions

Tight junctions (TJs) are sites of cell-cell adhesion, constituted by a cytoplasmic plaque of molecules linked to integral proteins that form a network of strands around epithelial and endothelial cells at the uppermost portion of the lateral membrane. TJs maintain plasma membrane polarity and form channels and barriers that regulate the transit of ions and molecules through the paracellular pathway. This structure that regulates traffic between the external milieu and the organism is affected in numerous pathological conditions and constitutes an important target for therapeutic intervention. Here, we describe how a wide array of G protein-coupled receptors that are activated by diverse stimuli including light, ions, hormones, peptides, lipids, nucleotides and proteases, signal through heterotrimeric G proteins, arrestins and kinases to regulate TJs present in the blood-brain barrier, the blood-retinal barrier, renal tubular cells, keratinocytes, lung and colon, and the slit diaphragm of the glomerulus.

Quercetin Mitigates Inflammatory Responses Induced by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Mouse Retinal Photoreceptor Cells through Suppression of Nuclear Factor Kappa B

Retinal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increased by neovascularization is well known as a pathogenic factor in ocular neovascular diseases. However, it is still unclear how retinal neurons are damaged by VEGF. The aims of this study are to demonstrate the inflammatory protein expression regulated by VEGF using mouse photoreceptor-derived cells and the protective effect of quercetin against VEGF-induced inflammatory response. Expression and phosphorylation of protein and expression of mRNA were detected by immunoblot and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. VEGF-induced degradation of limiting membrane and translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were analyzed by immunocytochemistry. VEGF treatment activated angiogenic signaling pathway in photoreceptor cells. In addition, adhesion molecules and matrix metalloproteinases were increased in VEGF-treated photoreceptor cells. All these events were reversed by quercetin. Zona occludins-1 and β-catenin decreased by VEGF were recovered by quercetin. NF-κB signaling pathway regulated by VEGF through phosphorylations of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) was suppressed by quercetin. These results suggest that quercetin suppressed VEGF-induced excessive inflammatory response in retinal photoreceptor cells by inactivation of NF-κB signals through inhibition of MAPKs and Akt. These data may provide a basic information for development of pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals for treatment of retinal diseases caused by excessive VEGF.

Potential role of Müller cells in the pathogenesis of macropsia associated with epiretinal membrane: a hypothesis revisited

Pathophysiological explanations for metamorphopsia associated with retinal pathologies generally focus on photoreceptor organization disruption. However, the retinal microarchitecture is complicated, and we hypothesize that other retinal cells may also be involved. Metamorphopsia has been widely studied in eyes with epiretinal membranes and we revisit the idea that Müller cell displacement causes retinal macropsia. A PubMed query and related article search for the macula ultrastructure under normal and pathological conditions revealed an enormous amount of information, particularly ultrahigh definition optical coherence tomography and other retinal imaging modality studies. Findings of these imaging studies support our hypothesis that Müller cells, and not cone photoreceptors, are primarily responsible for macropsia in eyes with epiretinal membranes. More specifically, we conclude that displacement of Müller cell endfeet, and not photoreceptor cones, is a more likely the explanation for retinal macropsia associated with epiretinal membranes.

Quantitative Analysis of Outer Retinal Tubulation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration From Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and Histology

Purpose

To assess outer retinal tubulation (ORT) morphology from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) volumes and donor eye histology, analyze ORT reflectivity, and estimate the number of cones surviving in ORT.

Methods

In SD-OCT volumes from nine patients with advanced AMD, ORT was analyzed en face and in B-scans. The hyperreflective ORT border in cross-section was delineated and surface area calculated. Reflectivity was compared between ORT types (Closed, Open, Forming, and Branching). A flatmount retina from a donor with neovascular AMD was labeled to visualize the external limiting membrane that delimits ORT and allow measurements of cross-sectional cone area, center-to-center cone spacing, and cone density. The number of cones surviving in ORT was estimated.

Results

By en face SD-OCT, ORT varies in complexity and shape. Outer retinal tubulation networks almost always contain Closed cross-sections. Spectral-domain OCT volumes containing almost exclusively Closed ORTs showed no significant direction-dependent differences in hyperreflective ORT border intensity. The surface areas of partial ORT assessed by SD-OCT volumes ranged from 0.16 to 1.76 mm². From the flatmount retina, the average cross-sectional area of cone inner segments was 49.1 ± 7.9 μm². The average cone spacing was 7.5 ± 0.6 μm. Outer retinal tubulation cone density was 20,351 cones/mm². The estimated number of cones in ORT in a macula ranged from 26,399 to 186,833 cones, which is 6% to 44% of the cones present in a healthy macula.

Conclusions

These first estimates for cone density and number of cones surviving in ORT suggest that ORT formation considerably distorts the photoreceptor mosaic. Results provide additional insight into the reflectivity characteristics and number of ORT cones observable in living patients by SD-OCT, as cones persist and disease progresses.

VISUALIZING RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM PHENOTYPES IN THE TRANSITION TO GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

PURPOSE

To inform the interpretation of clinical optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence imaging in geographic atrophy (GA) of age-related macular degeneration by determining the distribution of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) phenotypes in the transition from health to atrophy in donor eyes.

METHODS

In RPE-Bruch membrane flat mounts of two GA eyes, the terminations of organized RPE cytoskeleton and autofluorescent material were compared. In high-resolution histological sections of 13 GA eyes, RPE phenotypes were assessed at ±500 and ±100 μm from the descent of the external limiting membrane (ELM) toward Bruch membrane. The ELM descent was defined as curved, reflected, or oblique in shape. Thicknesses of RPE, basal laminar deposit (BLamD), and RPE plus BLamD were measured.

RESULTS

A border of atrophy that can be precisely delimited is the ELM descent, as opposed to the termination of the RPE layer itself, because of dissociated RPE in the atrophic area. Approaching the ELM descent, the percentage of abnormal RPE morphologies increases, the percentage of age-normal cells decreases, overall RPE thickens, and BLamD does not thin. The combination of RPE plus BLamD is 19.7% thicker at -100 μm from the ELM descent than that at -500 μm (23.1 ± 10.7 μm vs. 19.3 ± 8.2 μm; P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The distribution of RPE phenotypes at the GA transition supports the idea that these morphologies represent defined stages of a degeneration sequence. The idea that RPE dysmorphia including rounding and stacking helps explain variable autofluorescence patterns in GA is supported. The ELM descent and RPE plus BLamD thickness profile may have utility as spectral domain optical coherence tomography metrics in clinical trials.

VISUALIZING RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM PHENOTYPES IN THE TRANSITION TO ATROPHY IN NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

PURPOSE

To enable future studies of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) fate in the macular atrophy occurring in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD), the authors determined how RPE morphology changes across the transition from health to atrophy in donor eyes with nvAMD.

METHOD

In RPE-Bruch membrane flat mounts of 5 nvAMD eyes, the terminations of organized RPE cytoskeleton and autofluorescent material were compared. In high-resolution histologic sections of 27 nvAMD eyes, RPE phenotypes were assessed at ±500 μm and ±100 μm from the descent of the external limiting membrane (ELM) toward the Bruch membrane. Thicknesses of RPE, basal laminar deposit (BLamD), and RPE + BLamD were determined. Shapes of the ELM descent were recorded.

RESULTS

Approaching the ELM descent, the percentage of different RPE phenotypes and the thickness of RPE, BLamD, and RPE + BLamD each stayed roughly constant. Compared with a separately described cohort of eyes with geographic atrophy, eyes with nvAMD were more likely to have RPE dysmorphia that did not worsen toward the atrophy border, thinner BLamD overall (3.25 ± 3.46 μm vs. 7.99 ± 7.49 μm for geographic atrophy), and a higher proportion of oblique ELM descents (47.9 vs. 31.9%).

CONCLUSION

The distribution of RPE phenotypes at the transition to macular atrophy in eyes with nvAMD differs from that in primary geographic atrophy, likely reflecting greater photoreceptor loss and the effects of exudation in nvAMD. This distribution, the shape of ELM descents, and thickness profiles may be useful metrics in clinical studies of macular atrophy using optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence.

Neonatal disease environment limits the efficacy of retinal transplantation in the LCA8 mouse model

Background

Mutations of Crb1 gene cause irreversible and incurable visual impairment in humans. This study aims to use an LCA8-like mouse model to identify host-mediated responses that might interfere with survival, retinal integration and differentiation of grafted cells during neonatal cell therapy.

Methods

Mixed retinal donor cells (1 ~ 2 × 10⁴) isolated from neural retinas of neonatal eGFP transgenic mice were injected into the subretinal space of LCA8-like model neonatal mice. Markers of specific cell types were used to analyze microglial attraction, CSPG induction and retinal cell differentiation. The positions of host retinal cells were traced according to their laminar location during disease progression to look for host cell rearrangements that might inhibit retinal integration of the transplanted cells.

Results

Transplanted retinal cells showed poor survival and attracted microglial cells, but CSPG was not greatly induced. Retinas of the LCA8 model hosts underwent significant cellular rearrangement, including rosette formation and apical displacement of inner retinal cells.

Conclusions

Local disease environment, particularly host immune responses to injected cells and formation of a physical barrier caused by apical migration of host retinal cells upon disruption of outer limiting membrane, may impose two major barriers in LCAs cell transplantation therapy.

Reshaping the Cone-Mosaic in a Rat Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa: Modulatory Role of ZO-1 Expression in DL-Alpha-Aminoadipic Acid Reshaping

In S334ter-line-3 rat model of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), rod cell death induces the rearrangement of cones into mosaics of rings while the fibrotic processes of Müller cells remodel to fill the center of the rings. In contrast, previous work established that DL-alpha-aminoadipic-acid (AAA), a compound that transiently blocks Müller cell metabolism, abolishes these highly structured cone rings. Simultaneously, adherens-junction associated protein, Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression forms in a network between the photoreceptor segments and Müller cells processes. Thus, we hypothesized that AAA treatment alters the cone mosaic rings by disrupting the distal sealing formed by these fibrotic processes, either directly or indirectly, by down regulating the expression of ZO-1. Therefore, we examined these processes and ZO-1 expression at the outer retina after intravitreal injection of AAA and observed that AAA treatment transiently disrupts the distal glial sealing in RP retina, plus induces cones in rings to become more homogeneous. Moreover, ZO-1 expression is actively suppressed after 3 days of AAA treatment, which coincided with cone ring disruption. Similar modifications of glial sealing and cone distribution were observed after injection of siRNA to inhibit ZO-1 expression. These findings support our hypothesis and provide additional information about the critical role played by ZO-1 in glial sealing and shaping the ring mosaic in RP retina. These studies represent important advancements in the understanding of retinal degeneration's etiology and pathophysiology.

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide, A Potential Therapeutic Agent for Diabetic Retinopathy in Rats: Focus on the Vertical Information Processing Pathway

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neurotrophic and neuroprotective peptide that has been shown to exert protective effects in different neuronal injuries, such as retinal degenerations. Diabetic retinopathy (DR), the most common complication of diabetes, affects the microvasculature and neuronal architecture of the retina. We have proven earlier that PACAP is also protective in a rat model of DR. In this study, streptozotocin-induced DR was treated with intravitreal PACAP administration in order to further analyze the synaptic structure and proteins of PACAP-treated diabetic retinas, primarily in the vertical information processing pathway. Streptozotocin-treated Wistar rats received intravitreal PACAP injection three times into the right eye 2 weeks after the induction of diabetes. Morphological and molecular biological (qRT-PCR; Western blot) methods were used to analyze retinal synapses (ribbons, conventional) and related structures. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that retinal pigment epithelium, the ribbon synapses and other synaptic profiles suffered alterations in diabetes. However, in PACAP-treated diabetic retinas more bipolar ribbon synapses were found intact in the inner plexiform layer than in DR animals. The ribbon synapse was marked with C-terminal binding protein 2/Bassoon and formed horseshoe-shape ribbons, which were more retained in PACAP-treated diabetic retinas than in DR rats. These results are supported by molecular biological data. The selective degeneration of related structures such as bipolar and ganglion cells could be ameliorated by PACAP treatment. In summary, intravitreal administration of PACAP may have therapeutic potential in streptozotocin-induced DR through maintaining synapse integrity in the vertical pathway.