1
|
Zuo Z, Fan B, Zhang Z, Liang Y, Chi J, Li G. Interleukin-4 protects retinal ganglion cells and promotes axon regeneration. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:236. [PMID: 38650003 PMCID: PMC11034112 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01604-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The preservation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the facilitation of axon regeneration are crucial considerations in the management of various vision-threatening disorders. Therefore, we investigate the efficacy of interleukin-4 (IL-4), a potential therapeutic agent, in promoting neuroprotection and axon regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) as identified through whole transcriptome sequencing in an in vitro axon growth model. METHODS A low concentration of staurosporine (STS) was employed to induce in vitro axon growth. Whole transcriptome sequencing was utilized to identify key target factors involved in the molecular mechanism underlying axon growth. The efficacy of recombinant IL-4 protein on promoting RGC axon growth was validated through in vitro experiments. The protective effect of recombinant IL-4 protein on somas of RGCs was assessed using RBPMS-specific immunofluorescent staining in mouse models with optic nerve crush (ONC) and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) injury. The protective effect on RGC axons was evaluated by anterograde labeling of cholera toxin subunit B (CTB), while the promotion of RGC axon regeneration was assessed through both anterograde labeling of CTB and immunofluorescent staining for growth associated protein-43 (GAP43). RESULTS Whole-transcriptome sequencing of staurosporine-treated 661 W cells revealed a significant upregulation in intracellular IL-4 transcription levels during the process of axon regeneration. In vitro experiments demonstrated that recombinant IL-4 protein effectively stimulated axon outgrowth. Subsequent immunostaining with RBPMS revealed a significantly higher survival rate of RGCs in the rIL-4 group compared to the vehicle group in both NMDA and ONC injury models. Axonal tracing with CTB confirmed that recombinant IL-4 protein preserved long-distance projection of RGC axons, and there was a notably higher number of surviving axons in the rIL-4 group compared to the vehicle group following NMDA-induced injury. Moreover, intravitreal delivery of recombinant IL-4 protein substantially facilitated RGC axon regeneration after ONC injury. CONCLUSION The recombinant IL-4 protein exhibits the potential to enhance the survival rate of RGCs, protect RGC axons against NMDA-induced injury, and facilitate axon regeneration following ONC. This study provides an experimental foundation for further investigation and development of therapeutic agents aimed at protecting the optic nerve and promoting axon regeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyang Zuo
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, 130041, Changchun, China
| | - Bin Fan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, 130041, Changchun, China
| | - Ziyuan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, 130041, Changchun, China
| | - Yang Liang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, 130041, Changchun, China
| | - Jing Chi
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, 130041, Changchun, China
| | - Guangyu Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, 130041, Changchun, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Guan R, Angxiu S, Li L, Kang Z, Yan X. Differentially expressed circRNAs in peripheral blood samples as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for acute angle-closure glaucoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16928. [PMID: 37805546 PMCID: PMC10560268 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44073-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital roles in various biological processes as microRNA (miRNA) sponges and, thus, have been investigated as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in numerous human diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in the pathogenesis of glaucoma remain unclear. Therefore, transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify relevant circRNAs in peripheral blood samples from patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to investigate the potential roles of differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. In total, 481 differentially expressed genes in addition to 345 DEcircRNAs were identified in patients with glaucoma. Based on a public database, targeted gene analysis identified 11 DEcircRNAs that potentially regulate the expression of five genes as miRNA sponges in glaucoma. In addition, quantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis verified that expression of the circRNA hsa-circ-0000745 was positively correlated with the expression of NEAT1 as a potential target gene. These results suggest that DEcircRNAs are involved in a gene expression regulatory network related to immune cell function and progression of glaucoma. Thus, DEcircRNAs in peripheral blood are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for glaucoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruijuan Guan
- Ophthalmology Department, Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, 2 Gonghe Road, Xining, 810000, Qinghai, China
| | - Suonan Angxiu
- Orthopedics Department, Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, 2 Gonghe Road, Xining, 810000, Qinghai, China
| | - Ling Li
- Ophthalmology Department, Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, 2 Gonghe Road, Xining, 810000, Qinghai, China.
| | - Zefeng Kang
- Eye Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, 33 Lugu Road, Beijing, 100040, China.
| | - Xin Yan
- Eye Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, 33 Lugu Road, Beijing, 100040, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cabrera-Maqueda JM, Boia R, Lucas-Ruiz F, González-Riquelme MJ, Ambrósio AF, Santiago AR, Vidal-Sanz M, Agudo-Barriuso M, Galindo-Romero C. Neuroinflammation and gliosis in the injured and contralateral retinas after unilateral optic nerve crush. Exp Eye Res 2023; 235:109627. [PMID: 37619829 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of unilateral optic nerve crush in the gene expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, and gliosis markers in injured and contralateral retinas. Retinas from intact, unilaterally optic nerve injured or sham-operated C57BL/6J mice were analyzed 1, 3, 9 and 30 days after the surgery (n = 5/group and time point) and the relative expression of TGF-β1, IL-1β, TNF-α, Iba1, AQP4, GFAP, MHCII, and TSPO was analyzed in injured and contralateral using qPCR. The results indicated that compared with intact retinas, sham-operated animals showed an early (day 1) upregulation of IL-1β, TNF-α and TSPO and a late (day 30) upregulation of TNF-α. In sham-contralateral retinas, TNF-α and TSPO mRNA expression were upregulated and day 30 while GFAP, Iba1, AQP4 and MHCII downregulated at day 9. Compared with sham-operated animals, in retinas affected by optic nerve crush GFAP and TSPO upregulated at day 1 and TNF-α, Iba1, AQP4 and MHCII at day 3. In the crushed-contralateral retinas, TGF-β1, TNF-α, Iba1 and MHCII were upregulated at day 1. TSPO was upregulated up to day 30 whereas TGF-β1 and Iba1 downregulated after day 9. In conclusion, both sham surgery and optic nerve crush changed the profile of inflammatory and gliosis markers in the injured and contralateral retinas, changes that were more pronounced for optic nerve crush when compared to sham.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José María Cabrera-Maqueda
- Grupo de Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120, Murcia, Spain; Center of Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Boia
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Fernando Lucas-Ruiz
- Grupo de Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120, Murcia, Spain
| | - María José González-Riquelme
- Grupo de Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120, Murcia, Spain
| | - António Francisco Ambrósio
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal; Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Raquel Santiago
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal; Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Manuel Vidal-Sanz
- Grupo de Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120, Murcia, Spain
| | - Marta Agudo-Barriuso
- Grupo de Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Caridad Galindo-Romero
- Grupo de Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, 30120, Murcia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Soucy JR, Aguzzi EA, Cho J, Gilhooley MJ, Keuthan C, Luo Z, Monavarfeshani A, Saleem MA, Wang XW, Wohlschlegel J, Baranov P, Di Polo A, Fortune B, Gokoffski KK, Goldberg JL, Guido W, Kolodkin AL, Mason CA, Ou Y, Reh TA, Ross AG, Samuels BC, Welsbie D, Zack DJ, Johnson TV. Retinal ganglion cell repopulation for vision restoration in optic neuropathy: a roadmap from the RReSTORe Consortium. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:64. [PMID: 37735444 PMCID: PMC10514988 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00655-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies results in irreversible vision loss due to the mammalian central nervous system's limited regenerative capacity. RGC repopulation is a promising therapeutic approach to reverse vision loss from optic neuropathies if the newly introduced neurons can reestablish functional retinal and thalamic circuits. In theory, RGCs might be repopulated through the transplantation of stem cell-derived neurons or via the induction of endogenous transdifferentiation. The RGC Repopulation, Stem Cell Transplantation, and Optic Nerve Regeneration (RReSTORe) Consortium was established to address the challenges associated with the therapeutic repair of the visual pathway in optic neuropathy. In 2022, the RReSTORe Consortium initiated ongoing international collaborative discussions to advance the RGC repopulation field and has identified five critical areas of focus: (1) RGC development and differentiation, (2) Transplantation methods and models, (3) RGC survival, maturation, and host interactions, (4) Inner retinal wiring, and (5) Eye-to-brain connectivity. Here, we discuss the most pertinent questions and challenges that exist on the path to clinical translation and suggest experimental directions to propel this work going forward. Using these five subtopic discussion groups (SDGs) as a framework, we suggest multidisciplinary approaches to restore the diseased visual pathway by leveraging groundbreaking insights from developmental neuroscience, stem cell biology, molecular biology, optical imaging, animal models of optic neuropathy, immunology & immunotolerance, neuropathology & neuroprotection, materials science & biomedical engineering, and regenerative neuroscience. While significant hurdles remain, the RReSTORe Consortium's efforts provide a comprehensive roadmap for advancing the RGC repopulation field and hold potential for transformative progress in restoring vision in patients suffering from optic neuropathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Soucy
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erika A Aguzzi
- The Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, England, UK
| | - Julie Cho
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Michael James Gilhooley
- The Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, England, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England, UK
| | - Casey Keuthan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ziming Luo
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Aboozar Monavarfeshani
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Meher A Saleem
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Health System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Xue-Wei Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Petr Baranov
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adriana Di Polo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Brad Fortune
- Discoveries in Sight Research Laboratories, Devers Eye Institute and Legacy Research Institute, Legacy Health, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kimberly K Gokoffski
- Department of Ophthalmology, Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Goldberg
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - William Guido
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Alex L Kolodkin
- The Solomon H Snyder, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carol A Mason
- Departments of Pathology and Cell Biology, Neuroscience, and Ophthalmology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yvonne Ou
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ahmara G Ross
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Brian C Samuels
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Callahan Eye Hospital, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Derek Welsbie
- Shiley Eye Institute and Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Donald J Zack
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21287 MD, USA
- Departments of Neuroscience, Molecular Biology & Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas V Johnson
- Departments of Neuroscience, Molecular Biology & Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21287 MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lagali PS, Shanmugalingam U, Baker AN, Mezey N, Smith PD, Coupland SG, Tsilfidis C. Assessment of the uniform field electroretinogram for mouse retinal ganglion cell functional analysis. Doc Ophthalmol 2023:10.1007/s10633-023-09933-y. [PMID: 37106219 DOI: 10.1007/s10633-023-09933-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The uniform field electroretinogram (UF-ERG) has been suggested as an alternative to the pattern electroretinogram (PERG) for non-invasive assessment of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) function in primates. We evaluated the validity of the UF-ERG to assess mouse RGC activity in vivo. METHODS Unilateral optic nerve crush (ONC) was performed on adult C57BL/6J mice. Contralateral eyes with uncrushed optic nerves and eyes from surgically naive mice served as experimental controls. Electrophysiological visual assessment was performed at 12 weeks post-ONC. Flash-mediated visual-evoked cortical potentials (VEPs) were measured to confirm the robustness of the ONC procedure. Full-field flash ERGs were used to interrogate photoreceptor and retinal bipolar cell function. RGC function was assessed with pattern ERGs. Summed onset and offset UF-ERG responses to alternating dark and light uniform field flash stimuli of different intensities and wavelengths were recorded from ONC and control eyes, and relative differences were compared to the PERG results. Following electrophysiological analysis, RGC loss was monitored by immunohistochemical staining of the RGC marker protein, RBPMS, in post-mortem retinal tissues. RESULTS ONC dramatically impacts RGC integrity and optic nerve function, demonstrated by reduced RGC counts and near complete elimination of VEPs. ONC did not affect scotopic ERG a-wave and b-wave amplitudes, while PERG amplitudes of eyes subjected to ONC were reduced by approximately 50% compared to controls. Summation of ON and OFF UF-ERG responses did not reveal statistically significant differences between ONC and control eyes, regardless of visual stimulus. CONCLUSIONS PERG responses are markedly impaired upon ONC, while UF-ERG responses are not significantly affected by surgical trauma to RGC axons in mice. The more closely related pattern and uniform field ERGs recorded in primates suggests species-specific differences in RGC features or subpopulations corresponding to PERG and UF-ERG response generators, limiting the utility of the UF-ERG for mouse RGC functional analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela S Lagali
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
- University of Ottawa Eye Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | | | - Adam N Baker
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
- University of Ottawa Eye Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Natalie Mezey
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Patrice D Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Stuart G Coupland
- University of Ottawa Eye Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Catherine Tsilfidis
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
- University of Ottawa Eye Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gubin D, Neroev V, Malishevskaya T, Kolomeichuk S, Cornelissen G, Yuzhakova N, Vlasova A, Weinert D. Depression scores are associated with retinal ganglion cells loss. J Affect Disord 2023; 333:290-296. [PMID: 37084971 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Light is a known factor affecting mood and the circadian system. Light deficit is linked to deteriorated transduction of photic information to the brain, and reduced amplitude of the perceived circadian light signaling. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) loss due to advanced glaucoma can be a factor compromising light perception, with consequences for circadian rhythms, sleep and mood. This study aimed to estimate associations of RGCs loss with a depression score by multiple regression, accounting for other features of glaucoma. METHODS One hundred and fifteen patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma completed the Beck Depression Inventory II questionnaire. The damage to their RGCs was assessed by high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT) and their function by pattern electroretinogram (PERG). On fifteen of these patients, 24-h salivary melatonin patterns were determined under light-controlled laboratory conditions, and analysis of eight clock related gene polymorphisms was performed. RESULTS Backward stepwise multiple regression revealed that the BDI score was the strongest factor that was most closely associated with the HD-OCT-based percentage of global RGCs loss (standardized coefficient, b* = 0.784, p < 0.001), surpassing other related factors, including age, intraocular pressure, visual field loss, and PERG amplitude. A high BDI score was associated with the GNβ3 825C > T polymorphism (dbSNP rs5443). LIMITATIONS This study did not specifically address damage to intrinsically photoreceptive RGCs. The gene study is based on a limited number of volunteers. CONCLUSIONS Depression scores are strongly associated with RGCs loss, increasing abruptly above a threshold of 15 %, supporting the hypothesis that RGCs loss in advanced glaucoma may affect non-visual photic transduction and lead to mood disturbances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denis Gubin
- Laboratory for Chronobiology and Chronomedicine, Research Institute of Biomedicine and Biomedical Technologies, Medical University, 625023 Tyumen, Russia; Department of Biology, Medical University, 625023 Tyumen, Russia; Tyumen Cardiology Research Center, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Science, Tomsk, Russia.
| | - Vladimir Neroev
- Helmholz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia.
| | | | - Sergey Kolomeichuk
- Laboratory for Genomics, Metabolomics and Proteomics, Research Institute of Biomedicine and Biomedical Technologies, Medical University, 625023 Tyumen, Russia; Laboratory of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Karelian Scientific Center of RAS, Petrozavodsk, Russia; Tyumen State Medical University, Tyumen, Russia
| | - Germaine Cornelissen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Natalia Yuzhakova
- Laboratory for Genomics, Metabolomics and Proteomics, Research Institute of Biomedicine and Biomedical Technologies, Medical University, 625023 Tyumen, Russia.
| | - Anastasia Vlasova
- State Autonomous Health Care Institution Tyumen Regional Ophthalmological Dispensary, 625048, Tyumen, Russia
| | - Dietmar Weinert
- Institute of Biology/Zoology, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rizk E, Madrid A, Koueik J, Sun D, Stewart K, Chen D, Luo S, Hong F, Papale LA, Hariharan N, Alisch RS, Iskandar BJ. Purified regenerating retinal neurons reveal regulatory role of DNA methylation-mediated Na+/K+-ATPase in murine axon regeneration. Commun Biol 2023; 6:120. [PMID: 36717618 PMCID: PMC9886953 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04463-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
While embryonic mammalian central nervous system (CNS) axons readily grow and differentiate, only a minority of fully differentiated mature CNS neurons are able to regenerate injured axons, leading to stunted functional recovery after injury and disease. To delineate DNA methylation changes specifically associated with axon regeneration, we used a Fluorescent-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)-based methodology in a rat optic nerve transection model to segregate the injured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) into regenerating and non-regenerating cell populations. Whole-genome DNA methylation profiling of these purified neurons revealed genes and pathways linked to mammalian RGC regeneration. Moreover, whole-methylome sequencing of purified uninjured adult and embryonic RGCs identified embryonic molecular profiles reactivated after injury in mature neurons, and others that correlate specifically with embryonic or adult axon growth, but not both. The results highlight the contribution to both embryonic growth and adult axon regeneration of subunits encoding the Na+/K+-ATPase. In turn, both biochemical and genetic inhibition of the Na+/K+-ATPase pump significantly reduced RGC axon regeneration. These data provide critical molecular insights into mammalian CNS axon regeneration, pinpoint the Na+/K+-ATPase as a key regulator of regeneration of injured mature CNS axons, and suggest that successful regeneration requires, in part, reactivation of embryonic signals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elias Rizk
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792 USA ,grid.240473.60000 0004 0543 9901Department of Neurological Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Andy Madrid
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792 USA
| | - Joyce Koueik
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792 USA
| | - Dandan Sun
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| | - Krista Stewart
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792 USA
| | - David Chen
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792 USA
| | - Susan Luo
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792 USA
| | - Felissa Hong
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792 USA
| | - Ligia A. Papale
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792 USA
| | - Nithya Hariharan
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792 USA
| | - Reid S. Alisch
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792 USA
| | - Bermans J. Iskandar
- grid.14003.360000 0001 2167 3675Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792 USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Shen B, Yu H, Zhang M, Chen J, Zhang Y, Xu S, Han R, Huang S, Huang P, Zhong Y. Establishment of a minimally invasive distal traumatic optic neuropathy model in mice to investigate cascade reactions of retinal glial cells. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22682. [PMID: 36468758 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202200861r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is a complication of craniocerebral, orbital and facial injuries, leading to irreversible vision loss. At present, there is no reliable, widely used animal model, although it has been confirmed that TON can cause the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGC). However, the cascade reaction of retinal glial cells underlying TON is unclear. Therefore, the establishment of an animal model to explore the pathological mechanism of TON would be of great interest to the scientific community. In this study, we propose a novel mouse model utilizing a 3D stereotaxic apparatus combined with a 27G needle to evaluate damage to the optic nerve by micro-CT, anatomy, SD-OCT and F-VEP. Immunofluorescence, western blotting, qPCR experiments were conducted to investigate the loss of RGCs and activation or inactivation of microglia, astrocytes and Müller glial cells in the retina from the first week to the fourth week after modeling. The results showed that this minimally invasive method caused damage to the distal optic nerve and loss of RGC after optic nerve injury. Microglia cells were found to be activated from the first week to the third week; however, they were inactivated at the fourth week; astrocytes were activated at the second week of injury, while Müller glial cells were gradually inactivated following injury. In conclusion, this method can be used as a novel animal model of distal TON, that results in a series of cascade reactions of retinal glial cells, which will provide a basis for future studies aimed at exploring the mechanism of TON and the search for effective treatment methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bingqiao Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingui Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjue Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shushu Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiqi Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shouyue Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yisheng Zhong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li L, Feng X, Fang F, Miller DA, Zhang S, Zhuang P, Huang H, Liu P, Liu J, Sredar N, Liu L, Sun Y, Duan X, Goldberg JL, Zhang HF, Hu Y. Longitudinal in vivo Ca 2+ imaging reveals dynamic activity changes of diseased retinal ganglion cells at the single-cell level. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2206829119. [PMID: 36409915 PMCID: PMC9889883 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2206829119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are heterogeneous projection neurons that convey distinct visual features from the retina to brain. Here, we present a high-throughput in vivo RGC activity assay in response to light stimulation using noninvasive Ca2+ imaging of thousands of RGCs simultaneously in living mice. Population and single-cell analyses of longitudinal RGC Ca2+ imaging reveal distinct functional responses of RGCs and unprecedented individual RGC activity conversions during traumatic and glaucomatous degeneration. This study establishes a foundation for future in vivo RGC function classifications and longitudinal activity evaluations using more advanced imaging techniques and visual stimuli under normal, disease, and neural repair conditions. These analyses can be performed at both the population and single-cell levels using temporal and spatial information, which will be invaluable for understanding RGC pathophysiology and identifying functional biomarkers for diverse optic neuropathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Li
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Xue Feng
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Fang Fang
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha410011, China
| | - David A. Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
| | - Shaobo Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Pei Zhuang
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Haoliang Huang
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Pingting Liu
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Junting Liu
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Nripun Sredar
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Liang Liu
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Yang Sun
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Xin Duan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Jeffrey L. Goldberg
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
| | - Hao F. Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
| | - Yang Hu
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA94304
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
McGrady NR, Holden JM, Ribeiro M, Boal AM, Risner ML, Calkins DJ. Axon hyperexcitability in the contralateral projection following unilateral optic nerve crush in mice. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac251. [PMID: 36267329 PMCID: PMC9576152 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Optic neuropathies are characterized by degeneration of retinal ganglion cell axonal projections to the brain, including acute conditions like optic nerve trauma and progressive conditions such as glaucoma. Despite different aetiologies, retinal ganglion cell axon degeneration in traumatic optic neuropathy and glaucoma share common pathological signatures. We compared how early pathogenesis of optic nerve trauma and glaucoma influence axon function in the mouse optic projection. We assessed pathology by measuring anterograde axonal transport from retina to superior colliculus, current-evoked optic nerve compound action potential and retinal ganglion cell density 1 week following unilateral optic nerve crush or intraocular pressure elevation. Nerve crush reduced axon transport, compound axon potential and retinal ganglion cell density, which were unaffected by intraocular pressure elevation. Surprisingly, optic nerves contralateral to crush demonstrated 5-fold enhanced excitability in compound action potential compared with naïve nerves. Enhanced excitability in contralateral sham nerves is not due to increased accumulation of voltage-gated sodium channel 1.6, or ectopic voltage-gated sodium channel 1.2 expression within nodes of Ranvier. Our results indicate hyperexcitability is driven by intrinsic responses of αON-sustained retinal ganglion cells. We found αON-sustained retinal ganglion cells in contralateral, sham and eyes demonstrated increased responses to depolarizing currents compared with those from naïve eyes, while light-driven responses remained intact. Dendritic arbours of αON-sustained retinal ganglion cells of the sham eye were like naïve, but soma area and non-phosphorylated neurofilament H increased. Current- and light-evoked responses of sham αOFF-sustained retinal ganglion cells remained stable along with somato-dendritic morphologies. In retinas directly affected by crush, light responses of αON- and αOFF-sustained retinal ganglion cells diminished compared with naïve cells along with decreased dendritic field area or branch points. Like light responses, αOFF-sustained retinal ganglion cell current-evoked responses diminished, but surprisingly, αON-sustained retinal ganglion cell responses were similar to those from naïve retinas. Optic nerve crush reduced dendritic length and area in αON-sustained retinal ganglion cells in eyes ipsilateral to injury, while crush significantly reduced dendritic branching in αOFF-sustained retinal ganglion cells. Interestingly, 1 week of intraocular pressure elevation only affected αOFF-sustained retinal ganglion cell physiology, depolarizing resting membrane potential in cells of affected eyes and blunting current-evoked responses in cells of saline-injected eyes. Collectively, our results suggest that neither saline nor sham surgery provide a true control, chronic versus acute optic neuropathies differentially affect retinal ganglion cells composing the ON and OFF pathways, and acute stress can have near-term effects on the contralateral projection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nolan R McGrady
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, AA7103 MCN/VUIIS, 1161 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Joseph M Holden
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, AA7103 MCN/VUIIS, 1161 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Marcio Ribeiro
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, AA7103 MCN/VUIIS, 1161 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Andrew M Boal
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, AA7103 MCN/VUIIS, 1161 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Michael L Risner
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, AA7103 MCN/VUIIS, 1161 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - David J Calkins
- Correspondence to: David J. Calkins, PhD AA7103 MCN/VUIIS 1161 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37232, USA E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lin S, Gao W, Zhu C, Lou Q, Ye C, Ren Y, Mehmood R, Huang B, Nan K. Efficiently suppress of ferroptosis using deferoxamine nanoparticles as a new method for retinal ganglion cell protection after traumatic optic neuropathy. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 138:212936. [PMID: 35913229 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.212936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is the major contributor to optic nerve damage, where the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are substantially lost. However, the underlying pathological mechanisms for these conditions remain largely elusive. Present work conducted a study on TON rat model, where the iron-dependent cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) overexpression and lipid peroxidation were observed in RGCs, suggesting ferroptosis, an iron-dependent non-apoptotic cell death, is involved in TON-induced death of RGCs. Hence, the newly formulated hyaluronic acid (HA)-based deferoxamine (DFO) nanoparticles (DFO-NPs) were intravitreally administrated in the rat model. It was hypothesized that the effective delivery of DFO, iron chelator, to the RGCs might rescue RGC ferroptosis from TON-induced injury. Also, since DFO is poor in bioavailability and of very short half-life in vivo, its safe and efficient intravitreal delivery is critical. Therefore, DFO-NPs were prepared by chemical grafting DFO onto HA molecules, and then crosslinking them in microemulsion bubbles for nanoparticles formulation. The nanoparticles were highly accumulated around the ganglionic cells and DFO uptake was increased in RGCs, accompanied by the significantly inhibited the overexpression of COX-2 and inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). These results indicate that DFO-NPs acted as an effective ferroptosis inhibitor, for the prevention of TON-induced RGC death. The current study provides new insights into the underlying mechanism of TON-induced RGC death, which may help to explore a novel strategy for the treatment of TON.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sen Lin
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China; School of Biomedical and Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
| | - Wa Gao
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China; Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital and Institute, Tianjin 300384, PR China
| | - Chenchen Zhu
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Qi Lou
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Cong Ye
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China; School of Biomedical and Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Yueping Ren
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Rashid Mehmood
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, UNSW Sydney, High Street, Building E10, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia; Adult Cancer Program, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Corner Botany & High Streets, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Baoshan Huang
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China; School of Biomedical and Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
| | - Kaihui Nan
- School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China; School of Biomedical and Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lee PY, Zhao D, Wong VHY, Chrysostomou V, Crowston JG, Bui BV. The Effect of Aging on Retinal Function and Retinal Ganglion Cell Morphology Following Intraocular Pressure Elevation. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:859265. [PMID: 35645783 PMCID: PMC9133539 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.859265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) are two major risk factors for glaucomatous optic neuropathy; a condition characterized by the selective, progressive injury, and subsequent loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). We examined how age modified the capacity for RGCs to functionally recover following a reproducible IOP elevation (50 mmHg for 30 min). We found that RGC functional recovery (measured using electroretinography) was complete by 7 days in 3-month-old mice but was delayed in 12-month-old mice until 14 days. At the 7-day recovery endpoint when RGC function had recovered in young but not older eyes, we examined RGC structural responses to IOP-related stress by analyzing RGC dendritic morphology. ON-RGC cell volume was attenuated following IOP elevation in both young and older mice. We also found that following IOP elevation OFF-RGC dendritic morphology became less complex per cell volume in young mice, an effect that was not observed in older eyes. Our data suggest that adaptations in OFF-RGCs in young eyes were associated with better functional recovery 7 days after IOP elevation. Loss of RGC cellular adaptations may account for delayed functional recovery in older eyes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pei Ying Lee
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Da Zhao
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Vickie H. Y. Wong
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Vicki Chrysostomou
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jonathan G. Crowston
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bang V. Bui
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia,*Correspondence: Bang V. Bui,
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zhang N, Cao W, He X, Xing Y, Yang N. Using methanol to preserve retinas for immunostaining. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2022; 50:325-333. [PMID: 35040242 DOI: 10.1111/ceo.14042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experimental studies on retinal vasculature and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) investigating the developmental and pathological conditions of the retina mainly rely on whole-mount retinal immunostaining. Methanol, an auxiliary fixed medium for retinal whole-mount preparations, has been used in some studies; however, its application in short- and long-term storage of retinas for further study has not been well described. We aimed to evaluate methanol use as a preservation treatment for further immunostaining of the retina. METHODS We generated oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) and optic nerve crush (ONC) mouse models and used their retinas for analysis. We pipetted cold methanol (-20°C) on the surface of the retina to help fix the tissues while promoting permeability, after which the retinas were stored in cold methanol (-20°C) for 1, 6, or 12 months before being evaluated using various optical techniques. Thereafter, retinal whole-mount immunostaining was performed to analyse retinal neovascularisation and retinal hypoxia in OIR model, and retinal ganglion cell survival rate in ONC model. RESULTS Quantitative analysis revealed no significant differences in the fixed retinas after long-term storage in terms of retinal vasculature or retinal hypoxia in the OIR model. Similarly, no significant difference was found in RGC survival rate after long-term storage in methanol. These results suggest that methanol can be used as a storage medium when preserving retinal whole-mount samples. CONCLUSIONS Cold (-20°C) methanol can serve as an effective medium for long-term storage of fixed retinas, which is useful for further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ningzhi Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenye Cao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuejun He
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiqiao Xing
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Liu S, Xiang K, Lei Q, Qiu S, Xiang M, Jin K. An optimized procedure to record visual evoked potential in mice. Exp Eye Res 2022; 218:109011. [PMID: 35245512 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Visual evoked potential (VEP) is commonly used to evaluate visual acuity in both clinical and basic studies. Subdermal needle electrodes or skull pre-implanted screw electrodes are usually used to record VEP in rodents. However, the VEP amplitudes recorded by the former are small while the latter may damage the brain. In this study, we established a new invasive procedure for VEP recording, and made a series of comparisons of VEP parameters recorded from different electrode locations, different times of day (day and night) and bilateral eyes, to evaluate the influence of these factors on VEP in mice. Our data reveal that our invasive method is reliable and can record VEP with good waveforms and large amplitudes. The comparison data show that VEP is greatly influenced by active electrode locations and difference between day and night. In C57 or CD1 ONC (optic nerve crush) models and Brn3bAP/AP mice, which are featured by loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), amplitudes of VEP N1 and P1 waves are drastically reduced. The newly established VEP procedure is very reliable and stable, and is particularly useful for detecting losses of RGC quantities, functions or connections to the brain. Our analyses of various recording conditions also provide useful references for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510060, China
| | - Kangjian Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510060, China
| | - Qiannan Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510060, China
| | - Suo Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510060, China
| | - Mengqing Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510060, China; Guangzhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China.
| | - Kangxin Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510060, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Differential susceptibility of retinal ganglion cell subtypes against neurodegenerative diseases. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2022; 260:1807-1821. [PMID: 35038014 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-022-05556-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are essential to propagate external visual information from the retina to the brain. Death of RGCs is speculated to be closely correlated with blinding retinal diseases, such as glaucoma and traumatic optic neuropathy (TON). Emerging innovative technologies have helped refine and standardize the classification of RGCs; at present, they are classified into more than 40 subpopulations in mammals. These RGC subtypes are identified by a combination of anatomical morphologies, electrophysiological functions, and genetic profiles. Increasing evidence suggests that neurodegenerative diseases do not collectively affect the RGCs. In fact, which RGC subtype exhibits the strongest or weakest susceptibility is hotly debated. Although a consensus has not yet been reached, it is certain that assorted RGCs display differential susceptibility against irreversible degeneration. Interestingly, a single RGC subtype can exhibit various vulnerabilities to optic nerve damage in diverse injury models. Thus, elucidating how susceptible RGC subtypes are to various injuries can protect vulnerable RGCs from damage and improve the possibility of preventing and treating visual impairment caused by neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize in detail the progress and status quo of research on the type-specific susceptibility of RGCs and point out current limitations and the possible directions for future research in this field.
Collapse
|
16
|
Construction and analysis of mRNA, lncRNA, and transcription factor regulatory networks after retinal ganglion cell injury. Exp Eye Res 2021; 215:108915. [PMID: 34971620 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) injury is a critical pathological feature of several optic neurodegenerative diseases. The regulatory mechanisms underlying RGC injury remain poorly understood. Recent evidence has highlighted the important roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in degenerative neuropathy but few studies have focused on lncRNAs associated with RGC injury. In this study, we analyzed dysregulated lncRNAs associated with RGC injury, their potential regulatory functions, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of lncRNAs and transcription factors (TFs). We analyzed lncRNA and mRNA profiles in the GSE142881 dataset associated with RGC injury and identified 1049 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 18 differentially expressed (DE) TFs among 883 DE mRNAs and 312 DE lncRNAs. The predicted DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs were used to construct a lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to explore the functions of the lncRNAs and mRNAs. The co-expression network between DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs was highly enriched in inflammatory and immune-related pathways, indicating that they play role in the process of RGC injury. Among the DE mRNAs, we screened 18 DE TFs, including activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), associated with RGC injury. Co-expression analysis predicted that 13 lncRNAs were potential binding targets of ATF3. The screening of the potential targets of these 13 lncRNAs showed that they were also significantly enriched in functional pathways associated with inflammation and apoptosis. After analysis, we constructed the mRNA-ATF3-lncRNA regulatory network after RGCs injury. In summary, we identified the gene module associated with immune and inflammatory responses after optic nerve injury and constructed a regulatory network of lncRNA-TF-mRNA. The results indicate that lncRNAs, by binding to TFs, can regulate downstream genes and function during RGC injury. The results provide a foundation for further studies of the mechanism of RGC injury and provide insight into the clinical diagnosis and investigation direction of neurodegenerative diseases such as traumatic optic neuropathy and glaucoma.
Collapse
|
17
|
Kingston R, Amin D, Misra S, Gross JM, Kuwajima T. Serotonin transporter-mediated molecular axis regulates regional retinal ganglion cell vulnerability and axon regeneration after nerve injury. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009885. [PMID: 34735454 PMCID: PMC8594818 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular insights into the selective vulnerability of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in optic neuropathies and after ocular trauma can lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at preserving RGCs. However, little is known about what molecular contexts determine RGC susceptibility. In this study, we show the molecular mechanisms underlying the regional differential vulnerability of RGCs after optic nerve injury. We identified RGCs in the mouse peripheral ventrotemporal (VT) retina as the earliest population of RGCs susceptible to optic nerve injury. Mechanistically, the serotonin transporter (SERT) is upregulated on VT axons after injury. Utilizing SERT-deficient mice, loss of SERT attenuated VT RGC death and led to robust retinal axon regeneration. Integrin β3, a factor mediating SERT-induced functions in other systems, is also upregulated in RGCs and axons after injury, and loss of integrin β3 led to VT RGC protection and axon regeneration. Finally, RNA sequencing analyses revealed that loss of SERT significantly altered molecular signatures in the VT retina after optic nerve injury, including expression of the transmembrane protein, Gpnmb. GPNMB is rapidly downregulated in wild-type, but not SERT- or integrin β3-deficient VT RGCs after injury, and maintaining expression of GPNMB in RGCs via AAV2 viruses even after injury promoted VT RGC survival and axon regeneration. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the SERT-integrin β3-GPNMB molecular axis mediates selective RGC vulnerability and axon regeneration after optic nerve injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rody Kingston
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Dwarkesh Amin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Sneha Misra
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey M. Gross
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Developmental Biology, The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Takaaki Kuwajima
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Vidal-Villegas B, Di Pierdomenico J, Gallego-Ortega A, Galindo-Romero C, Martínez-de-la-Casa JM, García-Feijoo J, Villegas-Pérez MP, Vidal-Sanz M. Systemic treatment with 7,8-Dihydroxiflavone activates TtkB and affords protection of two different retinal ganglion cell populations against axotomy in adult rats. Exp Eye Res 2021; 210:108694. [PMID: 34245756 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze responses of different RGC populations to left intraorbital optic nerve transection (IONT) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) treatment with 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (DHF), a potent selective TrkB agonist. METHODS Adult albino Sprague-Dawley rats received, following IONT, daily i.p. injections of vehicle (1%DMSO in 0.9%NaCl) or DHF. Group-1 (n = 58) assessed at 7days (d) the optimal DHF amount (1-25 mg/kg). Group-2, using freshly dissected naïve or treated retinas (n = 28), investigated if DHF treatment was associated with TrkB activation using Western-blotting at 1, 3 or 7d. Group-3 (n = 98) explored persistence of protection and was analyzed at survival intervals from 7 to 60d after IONT. Groups 2-3 received daily i.p. vehicle or DHF (5 mg/kg). Retinal wholemounts were immunolabelled for Brn3a and melanopsin to identify Brn3a+RGCs and m+RGCs, respectively. RESULTS Optimal neuroprotection was achieved with 5 mg/kg DHF and resulted in TrkB phosphorylation. The percentage of surviving Brn3a+RGCs in vehicle treated rats was 60, 28, 18, 13, 12 or 8% of the original value at 7, 10, 14, 21, 30 or 60d, respectively, while in DHF treated retinas was 94, 70, 64, 17, 10 or 9% at the same time intervals. The percentages of m+RGCs diminished by 7d-13%, and recovered by 14d-38% in vehicle-treated and to 48% in DHF-treated retinas, without further variations. CONCLUSIONS DHF neuroprotects Brn3a + RGCs and m + RGCs; its protective effects for Brn3a+RGCs are maximal at 7 days but still significant at 21d, whereas for m+RGCs neuroprotection was significant at 14d and permanent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Vidal-Villegas
- Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Virgen de la Arrixaca. Campus de CC de la Salud, 30120, El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Johnny Di Pierdomenico
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Virgen de la Arrixaca. Campus de CC de la Salud, 30120, El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Alejandro Gallego-Ortega
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Virgen de la Arrixaca. Campus de CC de la Salud, 30120, El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Caridad Galindo-Romero
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Virgen de la Arrixaca. Campus de CC de la Salud, 30120, El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jose M Martínez-de-la-Casa
- Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Julian García-Feijoo
- Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María P Villegas-Pérez
- Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Virgen de la Arrixaca. Campus de CC de la Salud, 30120, El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Manuel Vidal-Sanz
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Virgen de la Arrixaca. Campus de CC de la Salud, 30120, El Palmar, Murcia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Khan RS, Ross AG, Aravand P, Dine K, Selzer EB, Shindler KS. RGC and Vision Loss From Traumatic Optic Neuropathy Induced by Repetitive Closed Head Trauma Is Dependent on Timing and Force of Impact. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2021; 10:8. [PMID: 33505775 PMCID: PMC7794277 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.10.1.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is often caused by blunt head trauma and has no currently effective treatment. Common animal models of TON induced by surgical crush injury are plagued by variability and do not mimic typical mechanisms of TON injury. Traumatic head impact models have recently shown evidence of TON, but the degree of head impact necessary to consistently induce TON is not well characterized, and it is examined here. Methods Traumatic skull impacts to C57BL/6J mice were induced using an electromagnetic controlled impact device. One impact performed at two depths (mild and severe), as well as three and five repetitive impacts with an interconcussion interval of 48 hours, were tested. Optokinetic responses (OKRs) and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss were measured. Results Five repetitive mild impacts significantly decreased OKR scores and RGC numbers compared with control mice 10 weeks after initial impact, with maximal pathology observed by 6 weeks and partial but significant loss present by 3 weeks. One severe impact induced similar TON. Three mild impacts also induced early OKR and RGC loss, but one mild impact did not. Equivalent degrees of TON were induced bilaterally, and a significant correlation was observed between OKR scores and RGC numbers. Conclusions Repetitive, mild closed head trauma in mice induces progressive RGC and vision loss that worsens with increasing impacts. Translational Relevance Results detail a reproducible model of TON that provides a reliable platform for studying potential treatments over a 3- to 6-week time course.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reas S Khan
- Department of Ophthalmology, F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ahmara G Ross
- Department of Ophthalmology, F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Puya Aravand
- Department of Ophthalmology, F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kimberly Dine
- Department of Ophthalmology, F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Evan B Selzer
- Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kenneth S Shindler
- Department of Ophthalmology, F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Völgyi B. Molecular Biology of Retinal Ganglion Cells. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112483. [PMID: 33203148 PMCID: PMC7697858 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The main goal of this thematic issue was to bring both original research papers and reviews together to provide an insight into the rather broad topic of molecular biology of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) [...].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Béla Völgyi
- János Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary;
- Retinal Electrical Synapses Research Group, National Brain Research Program (NAP 2.0), Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1051 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Kong AW, Della Santina L, Ou Y. Probing ON and OFF Retinal Pathways in Glaucoma Using Electroretinography. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2020; 9:14. [PMID: 33117606 PMCID: PMC7571283 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.11.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a progressive neurodegenerative disease involving damage and eventually death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that comprise the optic nerve. This review summarizes current understanding of specific RGC type vulnerability in glaucoma and how electroretinography (ERG) may provide an objective measure of these functional perturbations. There is building evidence to suggest that ON RGCs, which respond to light increments, may be more resilient to elevated intraocular pressure and glaucoma, whereas OFF RGCs, which respond to light decrements, may be more susceptible. ERG experiments in nonhuman primates and mice have also shown that the ON- and OFF-pathways can be separated using a variety of techniques such as pattern ERG and the photopic negative response. Another ERG paradigm of interest to separate the ON and OFF responses is a flicker stimulus at varying temporal frequencies. Response to lower temporal frequencies is associated with the ON-pathway, and ERG response to higher frequencies is associated with the OFF-pathway. In mice, experimental glaucoma models have shown greater decreases in ERG response at higher frequencies, suggesting that the OFF-pathway is more susceptible. We also summarize current clinical ERG protocols used for glaucoma and discuss innovations for developing new types of stimuli that can further separate the ON- and OFF-pathways. Applying these novel paradigms that distinguish ON- and OFF-pathways may ultimately improve glaucoma diagnostics and monitoring of glaucoma progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan W Kong
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Luca Della Santina
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Yvonne Ou
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
A Dietary Combination of Forskolin with Homotaurine, Spearmint and B Vitamins Protects Injured Retinal Ganglion Cells in a Rodent Model of Hypertensive Glaucoma. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12041189. [PMID: 32340314 PMCID: PMC7230514 DOI: 10.3390/nu12041189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There is indication that nutritional supplements protect retinal cells from degeneration. In a previous study, we demonstrated that dietary supplementation with an association of forskolin, homotaurine, spearmint extract and B vitamins efficiently counteracts retinal dysfunction associated with retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death caused by optic nerve crush. We extended our investigation on the efficacy of dietary supplementation with the use of a mouse model in which RGC degeneration depends as closely as possible on intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation. In this model, injecting the anterior chamber of the eye with methylcellulose (MCE) causes IOP elevation leading to RGC dysfunction. The MCE model was characterized in terms of IOP elevation, retinal dysfunction as determined by electrophysiological recordings, RGC loss as determined by brain-specific homeobox/POU domain protein 3A immunoreactivity and dysregulated levels of inflammatory and apoptotic markers. Except for IOP elevation, dysfunctional retinal parameters were all recovered by dietary supplementation indicating the involvement of non-IOP-related neuroprotective mechanisms of action. Our hypothesis is that the diet supplement may be used to counteract the inflammatory processes triggered by glial cell activation, thus leading to spared RGC loss and the preservation of visual dysfunction. In this respect, the present compound may be viewed as a potential remedy to be added to the currently approved drug therapies for improving RGC protection.
Collapse
|