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Chung J, Vig V, Sun X, Han X, O’Connor GT, Chen X, DeAngelis MM, Farrer LA, Subramanian ML. Genome-Wide Pleiotropy Study Identifies Association of PDGFB with Age-Related Macular Degeneration and COVID-19 Infection Outcomes. J Clin Med 2022; 12:jcm12010109. [PMID: 36614910 PMCID: PMC9821609 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12010109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been implicated as a risk factor for severe consequences from COVID-19. We evaluated the genetic architecture shared between AMD and COVID-19 (critical illness, hospitalization, and infections) using analyses of genetic correlations and pleiotropy (i.e., cross-phenotype meta-analysis) of AMD (n = 33,976) and COVID-19 (n ≥ 1,388,342) and subsequent analyses including expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL), differential gene expression, and Mendelian randomization (MR). We observed a significant genetic correlation between AMD and COVID-19 infection (rG = 0.10, p = 0.02) and identified novel genome-wide significant associations near PDGFB (best SNP: rs130651; p = 2.4 × 10-8) in the pleiotropy analysis of the two diseases. The disease-risk allele of rs130651 was significantly associated with increased gene expression levels of PDGFB in multiple tissues (best eQTL p = 1.8 × 10-11 in whole blood) and immune cells (best eQTL p = 7.1 × 10-20 in T-cells). PDGFB expression was observed to be higher in AMD cases than AMD controls {fold change (FC) = 1.02; p = 0.067}, as well as in the peak COVID-19 symptom stage (11-20 days after the symptom onset) compared to early/progressive stage (0-10 days) among COVID-19 patients over age 40 (FC = 2.17; p = 0.03) and age 50 (FC = 2.15; p = 0.04). Our MR analysis found that the liability of AMD risk derived from complement system dysfunction {OR (95% CI); hospitalization = 1.02 (1.01-1.03), infection = 1.02 (1.01-1.03) and increased levels of serum cytokine PDGF-BB {β (95% CI); critical illness = 0.07 (0.02-0.11)} are significantly associated with COVID-19 outcomes. Our study demonstrated that the liability of AMD is associated with an increased risk of COVID-19, and PDGFB may be responsible for the severe COVID-19 outcomes among AMD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeyoon Chung
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Viha Vig
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Xinyu Sun
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Xudong Han
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - George T. O’Connor
- Department of Medicine (Pulmonary & Critical Care), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Xuejing Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Margaret M. DeAngelis
- Department of Population Health Sciences and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo and VA Research Service, Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Lindsay A. Farrer
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Correspondence: (L.A.F.); (M.L.S.); Tel.: +1-617-358-3550 (L.A.F.); +1-617-414-2020 (M.L.S.)
| | - Manju L. Subramanian
- Department of Medicine (Pulmonary & Critical Care), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Correspondence: (L.A.F.); (M.L.S.); Tel.: +1-617-358-3550 (L.A.F.); +1-617-414-2020 (M.L.S.)
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Lokman Hakim NYDB, Noble S, Thomas NV, Geegana Gamage BS, Maxwell GK, Govindasamy V, Then KY, Das AK, Cheong SK. Genetic Modification as a New Approach to Ameliorate the Therapeutic Efficacy of Stem Cells in Diabetic Retinopathy. Eur J Ophthalmol 2022; 32:11206721211073430. [PMID: 35037488 DOI: 10.1177/11206721211073430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decades, the strategy of using stem cells has gained a lot of attention in treating many diseases. Recently, DR was identified as one of the common complications experienced by diabetic patients around the world. The current treatment strategy needs to be addressed since the active progression of DR may lead to permanent blindness. Interestingly, varieties of stem cells have emerged to optimize the therapeutic effects. It is also known that stem cells possess multilineage properties and are capable of differentiating, expanding in vitro and undergoing genetic modification. Moreover, modified stem cells have shown to be an ideal resource to prevent the degenerative disease and exhibit promising effects in conferring the migratory, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and provide better homing for cells into the damaged tissue or organ as well promoting healing properties. Therefore, the understanding of the functional properties of the stem cells may provide the comprehensive guidance to understand the manipulation of stem cells making them useful for long-term therapeutic applications. Hence in this review the potential use and current challenges of genetically modified stem cells to treat DR will be discussed along with its future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven Noble
- CryoCord Sdn Bhd, Bio-X Centre, Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | | | | | | | - Kong-Yong Then
- CryoCord Sdn Bhd, Bio-X Centre, Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia
- Brighton Healthcare (Bio-X Healthcare Sdn Bhd), Bio-X Centre, Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Anjan Kumar Das
- Department of Surgery, 483702IQ City Medical College, Durgapur, West Bengal, India
| | - Soon-Keng Cheong
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, 65287Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Mayr D, Preishuber-Pflügl J, Koller A, Brunner SM, Runge C, Ladek AM, Rivera FJ, Reitsamer HA, Trost A. Characterization of the two inducible Cre recombinase-based mouse models NG2- CreER TM and PDGFRb-P2A-CreER T2 for pericyte labeling in the retina. Curr Eye Res 2021; 47:590-596. [PMID: 34758271 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2021.2002910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE/AIM OF THE STUDY Pericytes (PCs), located abluminal of endothelial cells on capillaries, are essential for vascular development and stability. They display a heterogeneous morphology depending on organ localization, differentiation state and function. Consequently, PCs show a diverse gene expression profile, impeding the usage of a unique PC marker and therefore the distinct identification of PCs. Inducible reporter mouse models represent an important tool for investigating the fate of PCs under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. PC-specific expression efficiency of the fluorescence reporter tdTomato following tamoxifen induction was analyzed and compared in two inducible Cre recombinase-expressing mouse models under control of the NG2 and PDGFRb promotor. MATERIAL AND METHODS The NG2-CreERTM-tdTomato and the PDGFRb-P2A-CreERT2-tdTomato mice were treated with tamoxifen at three defining time points of retinal vascular development: postnatal days (P)5, P10/11/12 and P48/49/50/51. TdTomato reporter induction efficiency was determined by analyzing retinal whole mounts utilizing confocal microscopy, using the antibodies Anti-neural/glial antigen 2 (PCs), Anti-Collagen IV (basement membrane) and Anti-Glutamine Synthetase (Müller glial cells). RESULTS Tamoxifen induction at the three different time points resulted in PC-specific expression of tdTomato in both reporter models. In the NG2-CreERTM-tdTomato mouse, the induction efficiency ranged from 21.9 to 35.5%. In the PDGFRb-P2A-CreERT2-tdTomato mouse an induction efficiency between 78.9 and 94.1% was achieved. TdTomato expression in the retina was restricted to PCs and vascular smooth muscle cells in the NG2-CreERTM-tdTomato mouse, however, in the PDGFRb-P2A-CreERT2-tdTomato mouse, tdTomato was also expressed in Müller glial cells. CONCLUSION Both reporter mouse models represent promising tools for fate mapping studies of PCs. While the NG2-CreERTM-tdTomato mouse reveals very specific labeling of PCs in the retina, its induction efficiency is lower compared to the PDGFRb-P2A-CreERT2-tdTomato mouse. Although the latter revealed a high percentage of tdTomato-positive PCs in the retina, additional labeling of Müller cells potentially hampers analysis of reporter-positive PCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Mayr
- Research Program for Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria
| | - Julia Preishuber-Pflügl
- Research Program for Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria
| | - Andreas Koller
- Research Program for Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria
| | - Susanne M Brunner
- Research Program for Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria
| | - Christian Runge
- Research Program for Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria
| | - Anja-Maria Ladek
- Research Program for Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria
| | - Francisco J Rivera
- Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center, Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Neuroregeneration, Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.,Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on the Nervous System (CISNe), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Herbert A Reitsamer
- Research Program for Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria.,Director of the Research Program for Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research
| | - Andrea Trost
- Research Program for Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Austria
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Lefevere E, Van Hove I, Sergeys J, Steel DHW, Schlingemann R, Moons L, Klaassen I. PDGF as an Important Initiator for Neurite Outgrowth Associated with Fibrovascular Membranes in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy. Curr Eye Res 2021; 47:277-286. [PMID: 34612091 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2021.1966479] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The formation of fibrovascular membranes (FVMs) is a serious sight-threatening complication of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) that may result in retinal detachment and eventual blindness. During the formation of these membranes, neurite/process outgrowth occurs in retinal neurons and glial cells, which may both serve as a scaffold and have guiding or regulatory roles. To further understand this process, we investigated whether previously identified candidate proteins, from vitreous of PDR patients with FVMs, could induce neurite outgrowth in an experimental setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retinal explants of C57BL6/N mouse pups on postnatal day 3 (P3) were cultured in poly-L-lysine- and laminin-coated dishes. Outgrowth stimulation experiments were performed with the addition of potential inducers of neurite outgrowth. Automated analysis of neurite outgrowth was performed by measuring β-tubulin-immunopositive neurites using Image J. Expression of PDGF receptors was quantified by RT-PCR in FVMs of PDR patients. RESULTS Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induced neurite outgrowth in a concentration-dependent manner, whilst neuregulin 1 (NRG1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) did not. When comparing three different PDGF dimers, treatment with PDGF-AB resulted in the highest neurite induction, followed by PDGF-AA and -BB. In addition, incubation of retinal explants with vitreous from PDR patients resulted in a significant induction of neurite outgrowth as compared to non-diabetic control vitreous from patients with macular holes, which could be prevented by addition of CP673451, a potent PDGF receptor (PDGFR) inhibitor. Abundant expression of PDGF receptors was detected in FVMs. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that PDGF may be involved in the retinal neurite outgrowth, which is associated with the formation of FVMs in PDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evy Lefevere
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inge Van Hove
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jurgen Sergeys
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - David H W Steel
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.,Department of Ophthalmology, Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Sunderland, UK
| | - Reinier Schlingemann
- Ocular Angiogenesis Group, Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, Fondation Asile Des Aveugles, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ingeborg Klaassen
- Ocular Angiogenesis Group, Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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