1
|
Corral-domenge C, de la Villa P, Mansilla A, Germain F. Tools and Biomarkers for the Study of Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4287. [PMID: 35457104 PMCID: PMC9025234 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The retina is part of the central nervous system, its analysis may provide an idea of the health and functionality, not only of the retina, but also of the entire central nervous system, as has been shown in Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. Within the retina, the ganglion cells (RGC) are the neurons in charge of processing and sending light information to higher brain centers. Diverse insults and pathological states cause degeneration of RGC, leading to irreversible blindness or impaired vision. RGCs are the measurable endpoints in current research into experimental therapies and diagnosis in multiple ocular pathologies, like glaucoma. RGC subtype classifications are based on morphological, functional, genetical, and immunohistochemical aspects. Although great efforts are being made, there is still no classification accepted by consensus. Moreover, it has been observed that each RGC subtype has a different susceptibility to injury. Characterizing these subtypes together with cell death pathway identification will help to understand the degenerative process in the different injury and pathological models, and therefore prevent it. Here we review the known RGC subtypes, as well as the diagnostic techniques, probes, and biomarkers for programmed and unprogrammed cell death in RGC.
Collapse
|
2
|
Eriksen AZ, Eliasen R, Oswald J, Kempen PJ, Melander F, Andresen TL, Young M, Baranov P, Urquhart AJ. Multifarious Biologic Loaded Liposomes that Stimulate the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway Show Retina Neuroprotection after Retina Damage. ACS Nano 2018; 12:7497-7508. [PMID: 30004669 PMCID: PMC6117751 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b00596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
A common event in optic neuropathies is the loss of axons and death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) resulting in irreversible blindness. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway agonists have been shown to foster axon regeneration and RGC survival in animal models of optic nerve damage. However, many challenges remain in developing therapies that exploit cell growth and tissue remodeling including (i) activating/inhibiting cell pathways synergistically, (ii) avoiding tumorigenesis, and (iii) ensuring appropriate physiological tissue function. These challenges are further exacerbated by the need to overcome ocular physiological barriers and clearance mechanisms. Here we present liposomes loaded with multiple mTOR pathway stimulating biologics designed to enhance neuroprotection after retina damage. Liposomes were loaded with ciliary neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, a lipopeptide N-fragment osteopontin mimic, and lipopeptide phosphatase tension homologue inhibitors for either the ATP domain or the c-terminal tail. In a mouse model of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid induced RGC death, a single intravitreal administration of liposomes reduced both RGC death and loss of retina electrophysiological function. Furthermore, combining liposomes with transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cell derived RGCs led to an improved electrophysiological outcome in mice. The results presented here show that liposomes carrying multiple signaling pathway modulators can facilitate neuroprotection and transplant electrophysiological outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Z. Eriksen
- DTU
Nanotech, Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rasmus Eliasen
- DTU
Nanotech, Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Julia Oswald
- Schepens
Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Paul J. Kempen
- DTU
Nanotech, Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Fredrik Melander
- DTU
Nanotech, Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas L. Andresen
- DTU
Nanotech, Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Michael Young
- Schepens
Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Petr Baranov
- Schepens
Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Andrew J. Urquhart
- DTU
Nanotech, Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hedberg-Buenz A, Christopher MA, Lewis CJ, Fernandes KA, Dutca LM, Wang K, Scheetz TE, Abràmoff MD, Libby RT, Garvin MK, Anderson MG. Quantitative measurement of retinal ganglion cell populations via histology-based random forest classification. Exp Eye Res 2016; 146:370-385. [PMID: 26474494 PMCID: PMC4841761 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2015.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The inner surface of the retina contains a complex mixture of neurons, glia, and vasculature, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the final output neurons of the retina and primary neurons that are damaged in several blinding diseases. The goal of the current work was two-fold: to assess the feasibility of using computer-assisted detection of nuclei and random forest classification to automate the quantification of RGCs in hematoxylin/eosin (H&E)-stained retinal whole-mounts; and if possible, to use the approach to examine how nuclear size influences disease susceptibility among RGC populations. To achieve this, data from RetFM-J, a semi-automated ImageJ-based module that detects, counts, and collects quantitative data on nuclei of H&E-stained whole-mounted retinas, were used in conjunction with a manually curated set of images to train a random forest classifier. To test performance, computer-derived outputs were compared to previously published features of several well-characterized mouse models of ophthalmic disease and their controls: normal C57BL/6J mice; Jun-sufficient and Jun-deficient mice subjected to controlled optic nerve crush (CONC); and DBA/2J mice with naturally occurring glaucoma. The result of these efforts was development of RetFM-Class, a command-line-based tool that uses data output from RetFM-J to perform random forest classification of cell type. Comparative testing revealed that manual and automated classifications by RetFM-Class correlated well, with 83.2% classification accuracy for RGCs. Automated characterization of C57BL/6J retinas predicted 54,642 RGCs per normal retina, and identified a 48.3% Jun-dependent loss of cells at 35 days post CONC and a 71.2% loss of RGCs among 16-month-old DBA/2J mice with glaucoma. Output from automated analyses was used to compare nuclear area among large numbers of RGCs from DBA/2J mice (n = 127,361). In aged DBA/2J mice with glaucoma, RetFM-Class detected a decrease in median and mean nucleus size of cells classified into the RGC category, as did an independent confirmation study using manual measurements of nuclear area demarcated by BRN3A-immunoreactivity. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that histology-based random forest classification is feasible and can be utilized to study RGCs in a high-throughput fashion. Despite having some limitations, this approach demonstrated a significant association between the size of the RGC nucleus and the DBA/2J form of glaucoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Hedberg-Buenz
- VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Mark A Christopher
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Carly J Lewis
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kimberly A Fernandes
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Laura M Dutca
- VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Todd E Scheetz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Michael D Abràmoff
- VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Richard T Libby
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Mona K Garvin
- VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Michael G Anderson
- VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gómez-Vicente V, Lax P, Fernández-Sánchez L, Rondón N, Esquiva G, Germain F, de la Villa P, Cuenca N. Neuroprotective Effect of Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid on N-Methyl-D-Aspartate-Induced Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137826. [PMID: 26379056 PMCID: PMC4574963 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell degeneration underlies the pathophysiology of diseases affecting the retina and optic nerve. Several studies have previously evidenced the anti-apoptotic properties of the bile constituent, tauroursodeoxycholic acid, in diverse models of photoreceptor degeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of systemic administration of tauroursodeoxycholic acid on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced damage in the rat retina using a functional and morphological approach. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid was administered intraperitoneally before and after intravitreal injection of NMDA. Three days after insult, full-field electroretinograms showed reductions in the amplitudes of the positive and negative-scotopic threshold responses, scotopic a- and b-waves and oscillatory potentials. Quantitative morphological evaluation of whole-mount retinas demonstrated a reduction in the density of retinal ganglion cells. Systemic administration of tauroursodeoxycholic acid attenuated the functional impairment induced by NMDA, which correlated with a higher retinal ganglion cell density. Our findings sustain the efficacy of tauroursodeoxycholic acid administration in vivo, suggesting it would be a good candidate for the pharmacological treatment of degenerative diseases coursing with retinal ganglion cell loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Gómez-Vicente
- Departamento de Óptica, Farmacología y Anatomía, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Pedro Lax
- Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Laura Fernández-Sánchez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Netxibeth Rondón
- Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Gema Esquiva
- Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Francisco Germain
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Pedro de la Villa
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Nicolás Cuenca
- Departamento de Fisiología, Genética y Microbiología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Smith CA, Chauhan BC. Imaging retinal ganglion cells: enabling experimental technology for clinical application. Prog Retin Eye Res 2015; 44:1-14. [PMID: 25448921 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2014.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 10/04/2014] [Accepted: 10/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in clinical ophthalmic imaging have enhanced patient care. However, the ability to differentiate retinal neurons, such as retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), would advance many areas within ophthalmology, including the screening and monitoring of glaucoma and other optic neuropathies. Imaging at the single cell level would take diagnostics to the next level. Experimental methods have provided techniques and insight into imaging RGCs, however no method has yet to be translated to clinical application. This review provides an overview of the importance of non-invasive imaging of RGCs and the clinically relevant capabilities. In addition, we report on experimental data from wild-type mice that received an in vivo intravitreal injection of a neuronal tracer that labelled RGCs, which in turn were monitored for up to 100 days post-injection with confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. We were able to demonstrate efficient and consistent RGC labelling with this delivery method and discuss the issue of cell specificity. This type of experimental work is important in progressing towards clinically applicable methods for monitoring loss of RGCs in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies. We discuss the challenges to translating these findings to clinical application and how this method of tracking RGCs in vivo could provide valuable structural and functional information to clinicians.
Collapse
|
6
|
Smith BJ, Wang X, Chauhan BC, Côté PD, Tremblay F. Contribution of retinal ganglion cells to the mouse electroretinogram. Doc Ophthalmol 2014; 128:155-68. [DOI: 10.1007/s10633-014-9433-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|
7
|
Stutzki H, Leibig C, Andreadaki A, Fischer D, Zeck G. Inflammatory stimulation preserves physiological properties of retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve injury. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:38. [PMID: 24574973 PMCID: PMC3922046 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Axonal injury in the optic nerve is associated with retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration and irreversible loss of vision. However, inflammatory stimulation (IS) by intravitreal injection of Pam3Cys transforms RGCs into an active regenerative state enabling these neurons to survive injury and to regenerate axons into the injured optic nerve. Although morphological changes have been well studied, the functional correlates of RGCs transformed either into a de- or regenerating state at a sub-cellular level remain unclear. In the current study, we investigated the signal propagation in single intraretinal axons as well as characteristic activity features of RGCs in a naive, a degenerative or a regenerative state in ex vivo retinae 1 week after either optic nerve cut alone (ONC) or additional IS (ONC + IS). Recordings of single RGCs using high-density microelectrode arrays demonstrate that the mean intraretinal axonal conduction velocity significantly decreased within the first week after ONC. In contrast, when ONC was accompanied by regenerative Pam3Cys treatment the mean intraretinal velocity was undistinguishable from control RGCs, indicating a protective effect on the proximal axon. Spontaneous RGC activity decreased for the two most numerous RGC types (ON- and OFF-sustained cells) within one post-operative week, but did not significantly increase in RGCs after IS. The analysis of light-induced activity revealed that RGCs in ONC animals respond on average later and with fewer spikes than control RGCs. IS significantly improved the responsiveness of the two studied RGC types. These results show that the transformation into a regenerative state by IS preserves, at least transiently, the physiological functional properties of injured RGCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henrike Stutzki
- Neurochip Research Group, Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen Reutlingen, Germany ; Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Leibig
- Neurochip Research Group, Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen Reutlingen, Germany ; Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anastasia Andreadaki
- Department of Neurology, Experimental Neurology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dietmar Fischer
- Department of Neurology, Experimental Neurology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Günther Zeck
- Neurochip Research Group, Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen Reutlingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|