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Li H, Li B, Zheng Y. Role of microglia/macrophage polarisation in intraocular diseases (Review). Int J Mol Med 2024; 53:45. [PMID: 38551157 PMCID: PMC10998719 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2024.5369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophages form a crucial component of the innate immune system, and their activation is indispensable for various aspects of immune and inflammatory processes, tissue repair, and maintenance of the balance of the body's state. Macrophages are found in all ocular tissues, spanning from the front surface, including the cornea, to the posterior pole, represented by the choroid/sclera. The neural retina is also populated by specialised resident macrophages called microglia. The plasticity of microglia/macrophages allows them to adopt different activation states in response to changes in the tissue microenvironment. When exposed to various factors, microglia/macrophages polarise into distinct phenotypes, each exhibiting unique characteristics and roles. Furthermore, extensive research has indicated a close association between microglia/macrophage polarisation and the development and reversal of various intraocular diseases. The present article provides a review of the recent findings on the association between microglia/macrophage polarisation and ocular pathological processes (including autoimmune uveitis, optic neuritis, sympathetic ophthalmia, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, subretinal fibrosis, uveal melanoma, ischaemic optic neuropathy, retinopathy of prematurity and choroidal neovascularization). The paradoxical role of microglia/macrophage polarisation in retinopathy of prematurity is also discussed. Several studies have shown that microglia/macrophages are involved in the pathology of ocular diseases. However, it is required to further explore the relevant mechanisms and regulatory processes. The relationship between the functional diversity displayed by microglia/macrophage polarisation and intraocular diseases may provide a new direction for the treatment of intraocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Li
- School of Opthalmology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, P.R. China
| | - Biao Li
- School of Opthalmology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, P.R. China
| | - Yanlin Zheng
- School of Opthalmology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, P.R. China
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Tu Y, Guo Y, Sun H, Zhang Y, Wang Q, Xu Y, Xie L, Zhu M. Tocilizumab attenuates choroidal neovascularization by regulating macrophage polarization through the IL-6R/STAT3/VEGF pathway. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27893. [PMID: 38524531 PMCID: PMC10958357 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Globally, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible visual impairment. Up to 80% of severe vision loss is caused by AMD, which is characterized by the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Uncertainty exists regarding the precise pathophysiological mechanisms of CNV. It has been suggested that the interleukin (IL) IL-6/IL-6R signaling pathway is crucial in the progression of CNV. Tocilizumab (TCZ), a monoclonal antibody, binds to soluble and membrane-bound IL-6R and competitively inhibits IL-6 downstream signaling. Previous research has demonstrated that TCZ promotes several roles related to inflammation and neovascularization. However, the effects of TCZ on CNV and the underlying mechanism are still unknown. This study found that TCZ administration decreased the area and leakage of CNV lesions in the mice model of laser-induced CNV. Additionally, results demonstrated that TCZ promotes the expression of iNOS, CCL-3, CCL-5, TNF-α and inhibits the expression of Arg-1, IL-10, YM-1 and CD206. Furthermore, TCZ treatment inhibited the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) STAT3/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, which was activated after CNV formation. Colivelin, a STAT3 agonist, reversed the inhibitory effects of TCZ on CNV formation and macrophage polarization. In a mouse model of laser-induced CNV, our findings demonstrated that TCZ attenuated CNV formation and inhibited the leakage of CNV lesions by regulating macrophage polarization via inhibiting the STAT3/VEGF axis. TCZ is the potential therapeutic strategy for CNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Tu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Guo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haotian Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuting Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qiaoyun Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yiqian Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Laiqing Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Manhui Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Yang Q, Cai Y, Ma Q, Xiong A, Xu P, Zhang Z, Xu J, Zhou Y, Liu Z, Zhao D, Asara J, Li W, Shi H, Caldwell RB, Sodhi A, Huo Y. Inactivation of adenosine receptor 2A suppresses endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition and inhibits subretinal fibrosis in mice. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadk3868. [PMID: 38446902 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adk3868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy has had a substantial impact on the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. Despite treatment, many patients with nAMD still develop severe and irreversible visual impairment because of the development of subretinal fibrosis. We recently reported the anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic effects of inhibiting the gene encoding adenosine receptor 2A (Adora2a), which has been implicated in cardiovascular disease. Here, using two mouse models of subretinal fibrosis (mice with laser injury-induced CNV or mice with a deficiency in the very low-density lipoprotein receptor), we found that deletion of Adora2a either globally or specifically in endothelial cells reduced subretinal fibrosis independently of angiogenesis. We showed that Adora2a-dependent endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition contributed to the development of subretinal fibrosis in mice with laser injury-induced CNV. Deficiency of Adora2a in cultured mouse and human choroidal endothelial cells suppressed induction of the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. A metabolomics analysis of cultured human choroidal endothelial cells showed that ADORA2A knockdown with an siRNA reversed the increase in succinate because of decreased succinate dehydrogenase B expression under fibrotic conditions. Pharmacological inhibition of ADORA2A with a small-molecule KW6002 in both mouse models recapitulated the reduction in subretinal fibrosis observed in mice with genetic deletion of Adora2a. ADORA2A inhibition may be a therapeutic approach to treat subretinal fibrosis associated with nAMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuhua Yang
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Yongfeng Cai
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Qian Ma
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Albert Xiong
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33606, USA
| | - Peishan Xu
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Zhidan Zhang
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Jiean Xu
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Yaqi Zhou
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Zhiping Liu
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Dingwei Zhao
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - John Asara
- Division of Signal Transduction, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Huidong Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Ruth B Caldwell
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Akrit Sodhi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Yuqing Huo
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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Zhang D, Jia N, Hu Z, Keqing Z, Chenxi S, Chunying S, Chen C, Chen W, Hu Y, Ruan Z. Bioinformatics identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ischemic stroke and vascular dementia. Exp Gerontol 2024; 187:112374. [PMID: 38320734 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Ischemic stroke and vascular dementia, as common cerebrovascular diseases, with the former causing irreversible neurological damage and the latter causing cognitive and memory impairment, are closely related and have long received widespread attention. Currently, the potential causative genes of these two diseases have yet to be investigated, and effective early diagnostic tools for the diseases have not yet emerged. In this study, we screened new potential biomarkers and analyzed new therapeutic targets for both diseases from the perspective of immune infiltration. Two gene expression profiles on ischemic stroke and vascular dementia were obtained from the NCBI GEO database, and key genes were identified by LASSO regression and SVM-RFE algorithms, and key genes were analyzed by GO and KEGG enrichment. The CIBERSORT algorithm was applied to the gene expression profile species of the two diseases to quantify the 24 subpopulations of immune cells. Moreover, logistic regression modeling analysis was applied to illustrate the stability of the key genes in the diagnosis. Finally, the key genes were validated using RT-PCR assay. A total of 105 intersecting DEGs genes were obtained in the 2 sets of GEO datasets, and bioinformatics functional analysis of the intersecting DEGs genes showed that GO was mainly involved in the purine ribonucleoside triphosphate metabolic process,respiratory chain complex,DNA-binding transcription factor binding and active transmembrane transporter activity. KEGG is mainly involved in the Oxidative phosphorylation, cAMP signaling pathway. The LASSO regression algorithm and SVM-RFE algorithm finally obtained three genes, GAS2L1, ARHGEF40 and PFKFB3, and the logistic regression prediction model determined that the three genes, GAS2L1 (AUC: 0.882), ARHGEF40 (AUC: 0.867) and PFKFB3 (AUC: 0.869), had good diagnostic performance. Meanwhile, the two disease core genes and immune infiltration were closely related, GAS2L1 and PFKFB3 had the highest positive correlation with macrophage M1 (p < 0.001) and the highest negative correlation with mast cell activation (p = 0.0017); ARHGEF40 had the highest positive correlation with macrophage M1 and B cells naive (p < 0.001), the highest negative correlation with B cell memory highest correlation (p = 0.0047). RT-PCR results showed that the relative mRNA expression levels of GAS2L1, ARHGEF40, and PFKFB3 were significantly elevated in the populations of both disease groups (p < 0.05). Immune infiltration-based models can be used to predict the diagnosis of patients with ischemic stroke and vascular dementia and provide a new perspective on the early diagnosis and treatment of both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding Zhang
- Guangxi university of chinese medicine Nanning, China
| | - Ni Jia
- Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Xianyang, China
| | - Zhihan Hu
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai, China
| | - Zhou Keqing
- Guangxi university of chinese medicine Nanning, China
| | - Song Chenxi
- Guangxi university of chinese medicine Nanning, China
| | - Sun Chunying
- Guangxi university of chinese medicine Nanning, China
| | - Canrong Chen
- Guangxi university of chinese medicine Nanning, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Guangxi university of chinese medicine First Affiliated Hospital Nanning, China
| | - Yueqiang Hu
- Guangxi university of chinese medicine First Affiliated Hospital Nanning, China.
| | - Ziyun Ruan
- Guangxi university of chinese medicine Nanning, China
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Liu P, Sun D, Zhang S, Chen S, Wang X, Li H, Wei F. PFKFB3 in neovascular eye disease: unraveling mechanisms and exploring therapeutic strategies. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:21. [PMID: 38341583 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01205-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neovascular eye disease is characterized by pathological neovascularization, with clinical manifestations such as intraocular exudation, bleeding, and scar formation, ultimately leading to blindness in millions of individuals worldwide. Pathologic ocular angiogenesis often occurs in common fundus diseases including proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) targets the core pathology of ocular angiogenesis. MAIN BODY In recent years, therapies targeting metabolism to prevent angiogenesis have also rapidly developed, offering assistance to patients with a poor prognosis while receiving anti-VEGF therapy and reducing the side effects associated with long-term VEGF usage. Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), a key enzyme in targeted metabolism, has been shown to have great potential, with antiangiogenic effects and multiple protective effects in the treatment of neovascular eye disease. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of common types of neovascular eye diseases; discuss the protective effect and potential mechanism of targeting PFKFB3, including the related inhibitors of PFKFB3; and look forward to the future exploration directions and therapeutic prospects of PFKFB3 in neovascular eye disease. CONCLUSION Neovascular eye disease, the most common and severely debilitating retinal disease, is largely incurable, necessitating the exploration of new treatment methods. PFKFB3 has been shown to possess various potential protective mechanisms in treating neovascular eye disease. With the development of several drugs targeting PFKFB3 and their gradual entry into clinical research, targeting PFKFB3-mediated glycolysis has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for the future of neovascular eye disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyu Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Dandan Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Shuchang Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Shimei Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Xiaoqian Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Huiming Li
- Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fang Wei
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China.
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Shen T, Lin R, Hu C, Yu D, Ren C, Li T, Zhu M, Wan Z, Su T, Wu Y, Cai W, Yu J. Succinate-induced macrophage polarization and RBP4 secretion promote vascular sprouting in ocular neovascularization. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:308. [PMID: 38129891 PMCID: PMC10734053 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02998-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological neovascularization is a pivotal biological process in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), in which macrophages (Mφs) play a key role. Tip cell specialization is critical in angiogenesis; however, its interconnection with the surrounding immune environment remains unclear. Succinate is an intermediate in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and was significantly elevated in patients with wet AMD by metabolomics. Advanced experiments revealed that SUCNR1 expression in Mφ and M2 polarization was detected in abnormal vessels of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) models. Succinate-induced M2 polarization via SUCNR1, which facilitated vascular endothelial cell (EC) migration, invasion, and tubulation, thus promoting angiogenesis in pathological neovascularization. Furthermore, evidence indicated that succinate triggered the release of RBP4 from Mφs into the surroundings to regulate endothelial sprouting and pathological angiogenesis via VEGFR2, a marker of tip cell formation. In conclusion, our results suggest that succinate represents a novel class of vasculature-inducing factors that modulate Mφ polarization and the RBP4/VEGFR2 pathway to induce pathological angiogenic signaling through tip cell specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Ruoyi Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Chengyu Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Donghui Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Chengda Ren
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Meijiang Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Zhongqi Wan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Tu Su
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
| | - Wenting Cai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
| | - Jing Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Bengbu, Bengbu, China.
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Yang Q, Huo E, Cai Y, Zhang Z, Dong C, Asara JM, Shi H, Wei Q. Myeloid PFKFB3-mediated glycolysis promotes kidney fibrosis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1259434. [PMID: 38035106 PMCID: PMC10687406 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1259434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive renal fibrosis is a common pathology in progressive chronic kidney diseases. Inflammatory injury and aberrant repair processes contribute to the development of kidney fibrosis. Myeloid cells, particularly monocytes/macrophages, play a crucial role in kidney fibrosis by releasing their proinflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrix components such as collagen and fibronectin into the microenvironment of the injured kidney. Numerous signaling pathways have been identified in relation to these activities. However, the involvement of metabolic pathways in myeloid cell functions during the development of renal fibrosis remains understudied. In our study, we initially reanalyzed single-cell RNA sequencing data of renal myeloid cells from Dr. Denby's group and observed an increased gene expression in glycolytic pathway in myeloid cells that are critical for renal inflammation and fibrosis. To investigate the role of myeloid glycolysis in renal fibrosis, we utilized a model of unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice deficient of Pfkfb3, an activator of glycolysis, in myeloid cells (Pfkfb3 ΔMϕ ) and their wild type littermates (Pfkfb3 WT). We observed a significant reduction in fibrosis in the obstructive kidneys of Pfkfb3 ΔMϕ mice compared to Pfkfb3 WT mice. This was accompanied by a substantial decrease in macrophage infiltration, as well as a decrease of M1 and M2 macrophages and a suppression of macrophage to obtain myofibroblast phenotype in the obstructive kidneys of Pfkfb3 ΔMϕ mice. Mechanistic studies indicate that glycolytic metabolites stabilize HIF1α, leading to alterations in macrophage phenotype that contribute to renal fibrosis. In conclusion, our study implicates that targeting myeloid glycolysis represents a novel approach to inhibit renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuhua Yang
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Emily Huo
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
- Augusta Preparatory Day School, Martinez, GA, United States
| | - Yongfeng Cai
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Zhidan Zhang
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Charles Dong
- Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - John M. Asara
- Division of Signal Transduction, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Huidong Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Qingqing Wei
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
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8
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Droho S, Voigt AP, Sterling JK, Rajesh A, Chan KS, Cuda CM, Perlman H, Lavine JA. NR4A1 deletion promotes pro-angiogenic polarization of macrophages derived from classical monocytes in a mouse model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:238. [PMID: 37858232 PMCID: PMC10588116 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02928-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neovascular age-related macular degeneration causes vision loss from destructive angiogenesis, termed choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Cx3cr1-/- mice display alterations in non-classical monocytes and microglia with increased CNV size, suggesting that non-classical monocytes may inhibit CNV formation. NR4A1 is a transcription factor that is necessary for maturation of non-classical monocytes from classical monocytes. While Nr4a1-/- mice are deficient in non-classical monocytes, results are confounded by macrophage hyper-activation. Nr4a1se2/se2 mice lack a transcriptional activator, resulting in non-classical monocyte loss without macrophage hyper-activation. MAIN BODY We subjected Nr4a1-/- and Nr4a1se2/se2 mice to the laser-induced CNV model and performed multi-parameter flow cytometry. We found that both models lack non-classical monocytes, but only Nr4a1-/- mice displayed increased CNV area. Additionally, CD11c+ macrophages were increased in Nr4a1-/- mice. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis uncovered that CD11c+ macrophages were enriched from Nr4a1-/- mice and expressed a pro-angiogenic transcriptomic profile that was disparate from prior reports of macrophage hyper-activation. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that non-classical monocytes are dispensable during CNV, and NR4A1 deficiency results in increased recruitment of pro-angiogenic macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Droho
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Andrew P Voigt
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Jacob K Sterling
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Amrita Rajesh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Kyle S Chan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Carla M Cuda
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Harris Perlman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Jeremy A Lavine
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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9
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Yang Q, Huo E, Cai Y, Zhang Z, Dong C, Asara JM, Wei Q. PFKFB3-Mediated Glycolysis Boosts Fibroblast Activation and Subsequent Kidney Fibrosis. Cells 2023; 12:2081. [PMID: 37626891 PMCID: PMC10453197 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal fibrosis, a hallmark of chronic kidney diseases, is driven by the activation of renal fibroblasts. Recent studies have highlighted the role of glycolysis in this process. Nevertheless, one critical glycolytic activator, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), remains unexplored in renal fibrosis. Upon reanalyzing the single-cell sequencing data from Dr. Humphreys' lab, we noticed an upregulation of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the TGFβ signaling pathway in myofibroblasts from fibrotic kidneys after unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) or kidney ischemia/reperfusion. Furthermore, our experiments showed significant induction of PFKFB3 in mouse kidneys following UUO or kidney ischemia/reperfusion. To delve deeper into the role of PFKFB3, we generated mice with Pfkfb3 deficiency, specifically in myofibroblasts (Pfkfb3f/f/PostnMCM). Following UUO or kidney ischemia/reperfusion, a substantial decrease in fibrosis in the injured kidneys of Pfkfb3f/f/PostnMCM mice was identified compared to their wild-type littermates. Additionally, in cultured renal fibroblast NRK-49F cells, PFKFB3 was elevated upon exposure to TGFβ1, accompanied by an increase in α-SMA and fibronectin. Notably, this upregulation was significantly diminished with PFKFB3 knockdown, correlated with glycolysis suppression. Mechanistically, the glycolytic metabolite lactate promoted the fibrotic activation of NRK-49F cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the critical role of PFKFB3 in driving fibroblast activation and subsequent renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuhua Yang
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Emily Huo
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Augusta Preparatory Day School, 285 Flowing Wells Rd, Martinez, GA 30907, USA
| | - Yongfeng Cai
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Zhidan Zhang
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Charles Dong
- Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - John M. Asara
- Division of Signal Transduction, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Qingqing Wei
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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10
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Le NT. Metabolic regulation of endothelial senescence. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1232681. [PMID: 37649668 PMCID: PMC10464912 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1232681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cell (EC) senescence is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to the development of vascular dysfunction and age-related disorders and diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The regulation of cellular senescence is known to be influenced by cellular metabolism. While extensive research has been conducted on the metabolic regulation of senescence in other cells such as cancer cells and fibroblasts, our understanding of the metabolic regulation of EC senescence remains limited. The specific metabolic changes that drive EC senescence are yet to be fully elucidated. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the intricate interplay between cellular metabolism and senescence, with a particular emphasis on recent advancements in understanding the metabolic changes preceding cellular senescence. I will summarize the current knowledge on the metabolic regulation of EC senescence, aiming to offer insights into the underlying mechanisms and future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nhat-Tu Le
- Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
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11
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Nan W, He Y, Wang S, Zhang Y. Molecular mechanism of VE-cadherin in regulating endothelial cell behaviour during angiogenesis. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1234104. [PMID: 37601629 PMCID: PMC10433914 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1234104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, an endothelium-specific adhesion protein, is found in the junctions between endothelial cells (ECs). It's crucial to maintain the homogeneity of ECs. Keeping and controlling the contact between ECs is essential. In addition to its adhesive function, VE-cadherin plays important roles in vascular development, permeability, and tumour angiogenesis. Signal transfer, cytoskeletal reconstruction, and contractile integrating, which are crucial for constructing and maintaining monolayer integrity as well as for repair and regeneration, are the foundation of endothelial cell (EC) junctional dynamics. The molecular basis of adhesion junctions (AJs), which are closely related and work with actin filaments, is provided by the VE-cadherin-catenin complex. They can activate intracellular signals that drive ECs to react or communicate structural changes to junctions. An increasing number of molecules, including the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and vascular endothelial protein tyrosine phosphatase (VE-PTP), have been connected to VE-cadherin in addition to the conventional VE-cadherin-catenin complex. This review demonstrates significant progress in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that affect VE-cadherin's function in the regulation of EC behaviour during angiogenesis. The knowledge of the molecular processes that control VE-cadherin's role in the regulation of EC behaviour during angiogenesis has recently advanced, as shown in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijin Nan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuxi He
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shurong Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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12
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Peng X, Zhang T, Liu R, Jin X. Potential in exosome-based targeted nano-drugs and delivery vehicles for posterior ocular disease treatment: from barriers to therapeutic application. Mol Cell Biochem 2023:10.1007/s11010-023-04798-w. [PMID: 37402019 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04798-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Posterior ocular disease, a disease that accounts for 55% of all ocular diseases, can contribute to permanent vision loss if left without treatment. Due to the special structure of the eye, various obstacles make it difficult for drugs to reach lesions in the posterior ocular segment. Therefore, the development of highly permeable targeted drugs and delivery systems is particularly important. Exosomes are a class of extracellular vesicles at 30-150 nm, which are secreted by various cells, tissues, and body fluids. They carry various signaling molecules, thus endowing them with certain physiological functions. In this review, we describe the ocular barriers and the biogenesis, isolation, and engineering of exosomes, as exosomes not only have pharmacological effects but also are good nanocarriers with targeted properties. Moreover, their biocompatibility and immunogenicity are better than synthetic nanocarriers. Most importantly, they may have the ability to pass through the blood-eye barrier. Thus, they may be developed as both targeted nano-drugs and nano-delivery vehicles for the treatment of posterior ocular diseases. We focus on the current status and potential application of exosomes as targeted nano-drugs and nano-delivery vehicles in posterior ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingru Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Component‑based Chinese Medicine, Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, College of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Component‑based Chinese Medicine, Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, College of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Rui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Component‑based Chinese Medicine, Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, College of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - Xin Jin
- Department of Health Services, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, Chenlin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162, China.
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13
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Wang Y, Han S, Chen J, Sun J, Sun X. PFKFB3 knockdown attenuates Amyloid β-Induced microglial activation and retinal pigment epithelium disorders in mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 115:109691. [PMID: 36638665 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by progressive accumulation of drusen deposits and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) disorders. As the main component of drusen, amyloid β (Aβ) plays a critical role in activating microglia and causing neuroinflammation in AMD pathogenesis. However, the role of activated microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in RPE senescence remains unclear. Recent evidence indicates that inflammatory microglia are glycolytic and driven by an increase in 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), an enzyme described as the master regulator of glycolysis. In this study, we mimicked the retinal inflammatory microenvironment of AMD by intravitreal injection of oligomeric Aβ1-40 in mice, which resulted in activation of microglia and upregulation of PFKFB3. RNA sequencing was performed to evaluate PFKFB3-mediated microglial activation. The effect of microglial activation on RPE disorders was assessed using gene knockout experiments, immunofluorescence, CCK-8 assay, and β-galactosidase staining. Intravitreal Aβ1-40 injection induced proinflammatory activation of microglia by upregulating PFKFB3 and resulted in RPE disorders, which was verified in heterozygous Pfkfb3-deficient mice (Pfkfb3+/-) mice, Aβ1-40-activated microglial cell line BV2, and co-culture of RPE cell line ARPE19. RNA sequencing revealed that PFKFB3 mainly affected innate immune processes during Aβ1-40-induced retinal inflammation. PFKFB3 knockdown inhibited RPE disorders and rescued the retinal structure and function. Overall, the modulation of PFKFB3-mediated microglial glycolysis and activation is a promising strategy for AMD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusong Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic Diseases, Shanghai, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyang Han
- National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic Diseases, Shanghai, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jieqiong Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic Diseases, Shanghai, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junran Sun
- National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic Diseases, Shanghai, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaodong Sun
- National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic Diseases, Shanghai, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, China
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