1
|
Qian C, Xin Y, Qi C, Wang H, Dong BC, Zack DJ, Blackshaw S, Hattar S, Zhou FQ, Qian J. Intercellular communication atlas reveals Oprm1 as a neuroprotective factor for retinal ganglion cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2206. [PMID: 38467611 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46428-z] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous studies of neuronal survival have primarily focused on identifying intrinsic mechanisms controlling the process. This study explored how intercellular communication contributes to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival following optic nerve crush based on single-cell RNA-seq analysis. We observed transcriptomic changes in retinal cells in response to the injury, with astrocytes and Müller glia having the most interactions with RGCs. By comparing RGC subclasses characterized by distinct resilience to cell death, we found that the high-survival RGCs tend to have more ligand-receptor interactions with neighboring cells. We identified 47 interactions stronger in high-survival RGCs, likely mediating neuroprotective effects. We validated one identified target, the μ-opioid receptor (Oprm1), to be neuroprotective in three retinal injury models. Although the endogenous Oprm1 is preferentially expressed in intrinsically photosensitive RGCs, its neuroprotective effect can be transferred to other subclasses by pan-RGC overexpression of Oprm1. Lastly, manipulating the Oprm1 activity improved visual functions in mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Qian
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ying Xin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Cheng Qi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hui Wang
- Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bryan C Dong
- Neuroscience Study Program, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Donald J Zack
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Samer Hattar
- Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Feng-Quan Zhou
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Jiang Qian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Upreti S, Nag TC, Ghosh MP. Trolox aids coenzyme Q 10 in neuroprotection against NMDA induced damage via upregulation of VEGF in rat model of glutamate excitotoxicity. Exp Eye Res 2024; 238:109740. [PMID: 38056553 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109740] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Glutamate induced damage to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) requires tight physiological regulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Previously, studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective abilities of antioxidants like coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and vitamin E analogs like α-tocopherol against neuropathies resulting from NMDA insult, but have failed to shed light on the effect of CoQ10 and trolox, a hydrophilic analog of vitamin E, on glaucomatous neurodegeneration. In the current study, we wanted to investigate whether the combined effect of trolox with CoQ10 could alleviate NMDA-induced death of retinal cells while also trying to elucidate the underlying mechanism in relation to the yet unexplained role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in NMDA-mediated excitotoxicity. After successful NMDA-induced degeneration, we followed it up with the treatment of combination of Trolox and CoQ10. The structural damage by NMDA was repaired significantly and retina retained structural integrity comparable to levels of control in the treatment group of Trolox and CoQ10. Detection of ROS generation after NMDA insult showed that together, Trolox and CoQ10 could significantly bring down the high levels of free radicals while also rescuing mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). A significant increase in NMDA receptor Grin2A by CoQ10 alone as well as by CoQ10 and trolox was accompanied by a lowered Grin2B receptor expression, suggesting neuroprotective action of Trolox and CoQ10. Subsequently, lowered VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 receptor expression by NMDA treatment also recovered when subjected to combined treatment of Trolox and CoQ10. Western blot analyses also indicated the same whereby Trolox and CoQ10 could increase the diminished levels of phosphorylated VEGFR2. Immunofluorescence studies also indicated a positive correlation between recovered VEGFR2 and NMDAR2A levels and diminished levels of NMDAR2D, confirming the results obtained by RT-PCR analysis. This is the first report in our knowledge that demonstrates the efficacy of trolox in combination with CoQ10 highlighting the importance of maintaining VEGF levels that are lowered in ocular diseases due to NMDA-related toxicities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shikha Upreti
- Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics Lab, Centre for Medical Biotechnology, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, 201313, India.
| | - Tapas Chandra Nag
- Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India.
| | - Madhumita P Ghosh
- Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics Lab, Centre for Medical Biotechnology, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, 201313, India.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Basavarajappa D, Galindo-Romero C, Gupta V, Agudo-Barriuso M, Gupta VB, Graham SL, Chitranshi N. Signalling pathways and cell death mechanisms in glaucoma: Insights into the molecular pathophysiology. Mol Aspects Med 2023; 94:101216. [PMID: 37856930 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a complex multifactorial eye disease manifesting in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death and optic nerve degeneration, ultimately causing irreversible vision loss. Research in recent years has significantly enhanced our understanding of RGC degenerative mechanisms in glaucoma. It is evident that high intraocular pressure (IOP) is not the only contributing factor to glaucoma pathogenesis. The equilibrium of pro-survival and pro-death signalling pathways in the retina strongly influences the function and survival of RGCs and optic nerve axons in glaucoma. Molecular evidence from human retinal tissue analysis and a range of experimental models of glaucoma have significantly contributed to unravelling these mechanisms. Accumulating evidence reveals a wide range of molecular signalling pathways that can operate -either alone or via intricate networks - to induce neurodegeneration. The roles of several molecules, including neurotrophins, interplay of intracellular kinases and phosphates, caveolae and adapter proteins, serine proteases and their inhibitors, nuclear receptors, amyloid beta and tau, and how their dysfunction affects retinal neurons are discussed in this review. We further underscore how anatomical alterations in various animal models exhibiting RGC degeneration and susceptibility to glaucoma-related neuronal damage have helped to characterise molecular mechanisms in glaucoma. In addition, we also present different regulated cell death pathways that play a critical role in RGC degeneration in glaucoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devaraj Basavarajappa
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Caridad Galindo-Romero
- Experimental Ophthalmology Group, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca) & Ophthalmology Department, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Vivek Gupta
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Marta Agudo-Barriuso
- Experimental Ophthalmology Group, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca) & Ophthalmology Department, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Veer B Gupta
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stuart L Graham
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nitin Chitranshi
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Qian C, Xin Y, Cheng Q, Wang H, Zack D, Blackshaw S, Hattar S, Feng-Quan Z, Qian J. Intercellular communication atlas reveals Oprm1 as a neuroprotective factor for retinal ganglion cells. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-3193738. [PMID: 37645816 PMCID: PMC10462234 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3193738/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The progressive death of mature neurons often results in neurodegenerative diseases. While the previous studies have mostly focused on identifying intrinsic mechanisms controlling neuronal survival, the extracellular environment also plays a critical role in regulating cell viability. Here we explore how intercellular communication contributes to the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) following the optic nerve crush (ONC). Although the direct effect of the ONC is restricted to the RGCs, we observed transcriptomic responses in other retinal cells to the injury based on the single-cell RNA-seq, with astrocytes and Müller glia having the most interactions with RGCs. By comparing the RGC subclasses showing distinct resilience to ONC-induced cell death, we found that the high-survival RGCs tend to have more ligand-receptor interactions with other retinal cells, suggesting that these RGCs are intrinsically programmed to foster more communication with their surroundings. Furthermore, we identified top 47 interactions that are stronger in the high-survival RGCs, likely representing neuroprotective interactions. We performed functional assays on one of the receptors, μ opioid receptor (Oprm1), a receptor known to play roles in regulating pain, reward, and addictive behavior. Although Oprm1 is preferentially expressed in intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), its neuroprotective effect could be transferred to multiple RGC subclasses by specific overexpressing Oprm1 in pan-RGCs in ONC, excitotoxicity, and glaucoma models. Lastly, manipulating Oprm1 activity improved visual functions and altered pupillary light response in mice. Our study provides an atlas of cell-cell interactions in both intact and post-ONC retina and an effective strategy to predict molecular mechanisms in neuroprotection, underlying the principal role played by extracellular environment in supporting neuron survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Qian
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Ying Xin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Qi Cheng
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Hui Wang
- Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Donald Zack
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Samer Hattar
- Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Zhou Feng-Quan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiang Qian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Qian C, Xin Y, Qi C, Wang H, Dong BC, Zack D, Blackshaw S, Hattar S, Zhou FQ, Qian J. Intercellular communication atlas reveals Oprm1 as a neuroprotective factor for retinal ganglion cells. bioRxiv 2023:2023.07.14.549118. [PMID: 37502873 PMCID: PMC10370148 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.14.549118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The progressive death of mature neurons often results in neurodegenerative diseases. While the previous studies have mostly focused on identifying intrinsic mechanisms controlling neuronal survival, the extracellular environment also plays a critical role in regulating cell viability. Here we explore how intercellular communication contributes to the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) following the optic nerve crush (ONC). Although the direct effect of the ONC is restricted to the RGCs, we observed transcriptomic responses in other retinal cells to the injury based on the single-cell RNA-seq, with astrocytes and Müller glia having the most interactions with RGCs. By comparing the RGC subclasses with distinct resilience to ONC-induced cell death, we found that the high-survival RGCs tend to have more ligand-receptor interactions with other retinal cells, suggesting that these RGCs are intrinsically programmed to foster more communication with their surroundings. Furthermore, we identified the top 47 interactions that are stronger in the high-survival RGCs, likely representing neuroprotective interactions. We performed functional assays on one of the receptors, μ-opioid receptor (Oprm1), a receptor known to play roles in regulating pain, reward, and addictive behavior. Although Oprm1 is preferentially expressed in intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC), its neuroprotective effect could be transferred to multiple RGC subclasses by selectively overexpressing Oprm1 in pan-RGCs in ONC, excitotoxicity, and glaucoma models. Lastly, manipulating Oprm1 activity improved visual functions or altered pupillary light response in mice. Our study provides an atlas of cell-cell interactions in intact and post-ONC retina, and a strategy to predict molecular mechanisms controlling neuroprotection, underlying the principal role played by extracellular environment in supporting neuron survival.
Collapse
|
6
|
Vautier A, Lebreton AL, Codron P, Awada Z, Gohier P, Cassereau J. Retinal vessels as a window on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathophysiology: A systematic review. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2023; 179:548-562. [PMID: 36842953 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2022.11.010] [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: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare fatal motor neuron disease. Although many potential mechanisms have been proposed, the pathophysiology of the disease remains unknown. Currently available treatments can only delay the progression of the disease and prolong life expectancy by a few months. There is still no definitive cure for ALS, and the development of new treatments is limited by a lack of understanding of the underlying biological processes that trigger and promote neurodegeneration. Several scientific results suggest a neurovascular impairment in ALS providing perspectives for the development of new biomarkers and treatments. In this article, we performed a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines including PubMed, EmBase, GoogleScholar, and Web of Science Core Collection to analyze the scientific literature published between 2000 and 2021 discussing the neurocardiovascular involvement and ophthalmologic abnormalities in ALS. In total, 122 articles were included to establish this systematic review. Indeed, microvascular pathology seems to be involved in ALS, affecting all the neurovascular unit components. Retinal changes have also been recently highlighted without significant alteration of the visual pathways. Despite the peripheral location of the retina, it is considered as an extension of the central nervous system (CNS) as it displays similarities to the brain, the inner blood-retinal barrier, and the blood-brain barrier. This suggests that the eye could be considered as a 'window' into the brain in many CNS disorders. Thus, studying ocular manifestations of brain pathologies seems very promising in understanding neurodegenerative disorders, mainly ALS. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) could therefore be a powerful approach for exploration of retinal microvascularization allowing to obtain new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Vautier
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France.
| | - A L Lebreton
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - P Codron
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Center, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Angers, France; Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology, University Hospital, Angers, France; University of Angers, Inserm, CNRS, MITOVASC, SFR ICAT, Angers, France
| | - Z Awada
- Department of neuroscience, LHH-SIUH, New York, USA
| | - P Gohier
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - J Cassereau
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Center, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Angers, France; University of Angers, Inserm, CNRS, MITOVASC, SFR ICAT, Angers, France.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wei W, Anantharanjit R, Patel RP, Cordeiro MF. Detection of macular atrophy in age-related macular degeneration aided by artificial intelligence. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2023:1-10. [PMID: 37144908 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2208751] [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] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible visual impairment worldwide. The endpoint of AMD, both in its dry or wet form, is macular atrophy (MA) which is characterized by the permanent loss of the RPE and overlying photoreceptors either in dry AMD or in wet AMD. A recognized unmet need in AMD is the early detection of MA development. AREAS COVERED Artificial Intelligence (AI) has demonstrated great impact in detection of retinal diseases, especially with its robust ability to analyze big data afforded by ophthalmic imaging modalities, such as color fundus photography (CFP), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), near-infrared reflectance (NIR), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Among these, OCT has been shown to have great promise in identifying early MA using the new criteria in 2018. EXPERT OPINION There are few studies in which AI-OCT methods have been used to identify MA; however, results are very promising when compared to other imaging modalities. In this paper, we review the development and advances of ophthalmic imaging modalities and their combination with AI technology to detect MA in AMD. In addition, we emphasize the application of AI-OCT as an objective, cost-effective tool for the early detection and monitoring of the progression of MA in AMD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, China
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group, London, UK
| | - Rajeevan Anantharanjit
- Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group, London, UK
- Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust, London, UK
| | - Radhika Pooja Patel
- Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group, London, UK
- Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust, London, UK
| | - Maria Francesca Cordeiro
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group, London, UK
- Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ates N, Caglayan A, Balcikanli Z, Sertel E, Beker MC, Dilsiz P, Caglayan AB, Celik S, Dasdelen MF, Caglayan B, Yigitbasi T, Ozbek H, Doeppner TR, Hermann DM, Kilic E. Phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt at Thr308, but not MAPK kinase, mediates lithium-induced neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia in mice. Exp Neurol 2022; 351:113996. [PMID: 35122865 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.113996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Lithium, in addition to its effect on acute and long-term bipolar disorder, is involved in neuroprotection after ischemic stroke. Yet, its mechanism of action is still poorly understood, which was only limited to its modulatory effect on GSK pathway. Therefore, we initially analyzed the dose-dependent effects of lithium on neurological deficits, infarct volume, brain edema and blood-brain barrier integrity, along with neuronal injury and survival in mice subjected to focal cerebral ischemia. Thereafter, we investigated the involvement of the PI3K/Akt and MEK signal transduction pathways and their components. Our observations revealed that 2 mmol/kg lithium significantly improved post-ischemic brain tissue survival. Although, 2 mmol/kg lithium had no negative effect on brain microcirculation, 5 and 20 mmol/kg lithium reduced brain perfusion. Furthermore, supratherapeutic dose of lithium in 20 mmol/kg lead to animal death. In addition, improvement of brain perfusion with L-arginine, did not change the effect of 5 mmol/kg lithium on brain injury. Additionally, post-stroke blood-brain barrier leakage, hemodynamic impairment and apoptosis have been reversed by lithium treatment. Interestingly, lithium-induced neuroprotection was associated with increased phosphorylation of Akt at Thr308 and suppressed GSK-3β phosphorylation at Ser9 residue. Lithium upregulated Erk-2 and downregulated JNK-2 phosphorylation. To distinguish whether neuroprotective effects of lithium are modulated by PI3K/Akt or MEK, we sequentially blocked these pathways and demonstrated that the neuroprotective activity of lithium persisted during MEK/ERK inhibition, whereas PI3K/Akt inhibition abolished neuroprotection. Collectively, we demonstrated lithium exerts its post-stroke neuroprotective activity via the PI3K/Akt pathway, specifically via Akt phosphorylation at Thr308, but not via MEK/ERK.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nilay Ates
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Pharmacology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aysun Caglayan
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Balcikanli
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Elif Sertel
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Caglar Beker
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pelin Dilsiz
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Pharmacology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Burak Caglayan
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Süleyman Celik
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Muhammed Furkan Dasdelen
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Berrak Caglayan
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, International School of Medicine, Dept. of Medical Biology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Türkan Yigitbasi
- Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Biochemistry, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hanefi Ozbek
- Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Pharmacology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Thorsten Roland Doeppner
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; University Medical Center Göttingen, Department of Neurology, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dirk Matthias Hermann
- University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Department of Neurology, Essen, Germany
| | - Ertugrul Kilic
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Marcos LF, Wilson SL, Roach P. Tissue engineering of the retina: from organoids to microfluidic chips. J Tissue Eng 2021; 12:20417314211059876. [PMID: 34917332 PMCID: PMC8669127 DOI: 10.1177/20417314211059876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advancements in tissue engineering, challenges remain for fabricating functional tissues that incorporate essential features including vasculature and complex cellular organisation. Monitoring of engineered tissues also raises difficulties, particularly when cell population maturity is inherent to function. Microfluidic, or lab-on-a-chip, platforms address the complexity issues of conventional 3D models regarding cell numbers and functional connectivity. Regulation of biochemical/biomechanical conditions can create dynamic structures, providing microenvironments that permit tissue formation while quantifying biological processes at a single cell level. Retinal organoids provide relevant cell numbers to mimic in vivo spatiotemporal development, where conventional culture approaches fail. Modern bio-fabrication techniques allow for retinal organoids to be combined with microfluidic devices to create anato-physiologically accurate structures or ‘retina-on-a-chip’ devices that could revolution ocular sciences. Here we present a focussed review of retinal tissue engineering, examining the challenges and how some of these have been overcome using organoids, microfluidics, and bioprinting technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis F Marcos
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Samantha L Wilson
- Centre for Biological Engineering, School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Paul Roach
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Pesce NA, Canovai A, Plastino F, Lardner E, Kvanta A, Cammalleri M, André H, Dal Monte M. An imbalance in autophagy contributes to retinal damage in a rat model of oxygen-induced retinopathy. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:10480-10493. [PMID: 34623024 PMCID: PMC8581343 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), the abnormal retinal neovascularization is often accompanied by retinal neuronal dysfunction. Here, a rat model of oxygen‐induced retinopathy (OIR), which mimics the ROP disease, was used to investigate changes in the expression of key mediators of autophagy and markers of cell death in the rat retina. In addition, rats were treated from birth to postnatal day 14 and 18 with 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA), an inhibitor of autophagy. Immunoblot and immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that autophagic mechanisms are dysregulated in the retina of OIR rats and indicated a possible correlation between autophagy and necroptosis, but not apoptosis. We found that 3‐MA acts predominantly by reducing autophagic and necroptotic markers in the OIR retinas, having no effects on apoptotic markers. However, 3‐MA does not ameliorate retinal function, which results compromised in this model. Taken together, these results revealed the crucial role of autophagy in retinal cells of OIR rats. Thus, inhibiting autophagy may be viewed as a putative strategy to counteract ROP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noemi Anna Pesce
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | | | - Flavia Plastino
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Emma Lardner
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Anders Kvanta
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | | | - Helder André
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lazzara F, Amato R, Platania CBM, Conti F, Chou TH, Porciatti V, Drago F, Bucolo C. 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 protects retinal ganglion cells in glaucomatous mice. J Neuroinflammation 2021; 18:206. [PMID: 34530842 PMCID: PMC8444391 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-021-02263-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy characterized by loss of function and death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), leading to irreversible vision loss. Neuroinflammation is recognized as one of the causes of glaucoma, and currently no treatment is addressing this mechanism. We aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 (1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, calcitriol), in a genetic model of age-related glaucomatous neurodegeneration (DBA/2J mice). METHODS DBA/2J mice were randomized to 1,25(OH)2D3 or vehicle treatment groups. Pattern electroretinogram, flash electroretinogram, and intraocular pressure were recorded weekly. Immunostaining for RBPMS, Iba-1, and GFAP was carried out on retinal flat mounts to assess retinal ganglion cell density and quantify microglial and astrocyte activation, respectively. Molecular biology analyses were carried out to evaluate retinal expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, pNFκB-p65, and neuroprotective factors. Investigators that analysed the data were blind to experimental groups, which were unveiled after graph design and statistical analysis, that were carried out with GraphPad Prism. Several statistical tests and approaches were used: the generalized estimated equations (GEE) analysis, t-test, and one-way ANOVA. RESULTS DBA/2J mice treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 for 5 weeks showed improved PERG and FERG amplitudes and reduced RGCs death, compared to vehicle-treated age-matched controls. 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment decreased microglial and astrocyte activation, as well as expression of inflammatory cytokines and pNF-κB-p65 (p < 0.05). Moreover, 1,25(OH)2D3-treated DBA/2J mice displayed increased mRNA levels of neuroprotective factors (p < 0.05), such as BDNF. CONCLUSIONS 1,25(OH)2D3 protected RGCs preserving retinal function, reducing inflammatory cytokines, and increasing expression of neuroprotective factors. Therefore, 1,25(OH)2D3 could attenuate the retinal damage in glaucomatous patients and warrants further clinical evaluation for the treatment of optic neuropathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Lazzara
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Rosario Amato
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Bianca Maria Platania
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Federica Conti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Tsung-Han Chou
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Vittorio Porciatti
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Filippo Drago
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Center for Research in Ocular Pharmacology - CERFO, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Claudio Bucolo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
- Center for Research in Ocular Pharmacology - CERFO, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zwanzig A, Meng J, Müller H, Bürger S, Schmidt M, Pankonin M, Wiedemann P, Unterlauft JD, Eichler W. Neuroprotective effects of glial mediators in interactions between retinal neurons and Müller cells. Exp Eye Res 2021; 209:108689. [PMID: 34216615 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss underlies a number of retinal neurodegenerative disorders, which may lead to permanent vision loss. However, secreted neuroprotective factors, such as PEDF, VEGF and IL-6, which are produced by Müller cells, have been shown to promote RGC survival. Assuming that the communication of RGCs with Müller cells involves a release of glioactive substances we sought to determine whether retinal neurons are able to modulate expression levels of Müller cell-derived PEDF, VEGF and IL-6. We demonstrate elevated mRNA levels of these factors in Müller cells in co-cultures with RGCs or R28 cells when compared to homotypic Müller cell cultures. Furthermore, R28 cells were more protected from apoptosis when co-cultured with Müller cells. IL-6 and VEGF were upregulated in Müller cells under hypoxia. Both cytokines, as well as PEDF, induced an altered neuronal expression of members of the Bcl-2 family, which are central molecules in the regulation of apoptosis. These results suggest that in retinal ischemia, via own secreted mediators, RGCs can resist a potential demise by stimulating Müller cells to increase production of neuroprotective factors, which counteract RGC apoptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annette Zwanzig
- Leipzig University, Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jie Meng
- Leipzig University, Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Heidi Müller
- Leipzig University, Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Susanne Bürger
- Leipzig University, Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Manuela Schmidt
- Leipzig University, Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maik Pankonin
- Leipzig University, Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter Wiedemann
- Leipzig University, Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jan Darius Unterlauft
- Leipzig University, Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wolfram Eichler
- Leipzig University, Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Liebigstrasse 10-14, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Jones I, Hägglund AC, Carlsson L. Reduced mTORC1-signaling in retinal ganglion cells leads to vascular retinopathy. Dev Dyn 2021; 251:321-335. [PMID: 34148274 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coordinated wiring of neurons, glia and endothelial cells into neurovascular units is critical for central nervous system development. This is best exemplified in the mammalian retina where interneurons, astrocytes and retinal ganglion cells sculpt their vascular environment to meet the metabolic demands of visual function. Identifying the molecular networks that underlie neurovascular unit formation is an important step towards a deeper understanding of nervous system development and function. RESULTS Here, we report that cell-to-cell mTORC1-signaling is essential for neurovascular unit formation during mouse retinal development. Using a conditional knockout approach we demonstrate that reduced mTORC1 activity in asymmetrically positioned retinal ganglion cells induces a delay in postnatal vascular network formation in addition to the production of rudimentary and tortuous vessel networks in adult animals. The severity of this vascular phenotype is directly correlated to the degree of mTORC1 down regulation within the neighboring retinal ganglion cell population. CONCLUSIONS This study establishes a cell nonautonomous role for mTORC1-signaling during retinal development. These findings contribute to our current understanding of neurovascular unit formation and demonstrate how ganglion cells actively sculpt their local environment to ensure that the retina is perfused with an appropriate supply of oxygen and nutrients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iwan Jones
- Umeå Center for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Leif Carlsson
- Umeå Center for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Morita A, Yoshizumi M, Arima S, Mori A, Sakamoto K, Nagamitsu T, Nakahara T. Pharmacological depletion of retinal neurons prevents vertical angiogenic sprouting without affecting the superficial vascular plexus. Dev Dyn 2021; 250:497-512. [PMID: 33085163 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In mice, a tri-layered (superficial, intermediate, and deep) vascular structure is formed in the retina during the third postnatal week. Short-term treatment of newborn mice with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor inhibitors delays the formation of superficial vascular plexus and this allows us to investigate the developmental process of superficial and deep vascular plexuses at the same time. Using this model, we examined the effect of pharmacological depletion of retinal neurons on the formation of superficial and deep vascular plexuses. RESULTS Neuronal cell loss induced by an intravitreal injection of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid on postnatal day (P) 8 delayed vascular development in the deep layer but not in the superficial layer in mice treated with KRN633, a VEGF receptor inhibitor, on P0 and P1. In KRN633-treated mice, neuronal cell loss decreased the number of vertical sprouts originating from the superficial plexus without affecting the number of angiogenic sprouts growing in front. Neuronal cell loss did not impair networks of fibronectin and astrocytes in the superficial layer. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that inner retinal neurons play a crucial role in forming the deep vascular plexus by directing the sprouts from the superficial blood vessels to the deep layer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akane Morita
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mika Yoshizumi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shiho Arima
- Department of Organic Synthesis, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Asami Mori
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakamoto
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tohru Nagamitsu
- Department of Organic Synthesis, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Nakahara
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bae HW, Choi W, Hwang AR, Lee SY, Seong GJ, Kim CY. Effects of Hypoxic Preconditioning and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on the Survival of Isolated Primary Retinal Ganglion Cells. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11030391. [PMID: 33800918 PMCID: PMC8002095 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) on primary retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and the associated mechanism, including the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Retinas were separated from the enucleated eyeballs of Sprague-Dawley rats on postnatal days 1-4. RGCs were harvested using an immunopanning-magnetic separation system and maintained for 24 h in a defined medium. Hypoxic damage (0.3% O2) was inflicted on the cells using a CO₂ chamber. Anti-VEGF antibody (bevacizumab) was administered to RGCs exposed to hypoxic conditions, and RGC survival rate was compared to that of non-anti-VEGF antibody-treated RGCs. HPC lasting 4 h significantly increased RGC survival rate. In the RGCs exposed to hypoxic conditions for 4 h, VEGF mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased. Treatment with high dose bevacizumab (>1 mg/mL) countered HPC-mediated RGC survival. Protein kinase B and focal adhesion kinase levels were significantly increased in 4-h hypoxia-treated RGCs. HPC showed beneficial effects on primary RGC survival. However, only specifically controlled exposure to hypoxic conditions rendered neuroprotective effects. Strong inhibition of VEGF inhibited HPC-mediated RGC survival. These results indicate that VEGF may play an essential role in promoting cell survival under hypoxic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Chan Yun Kim
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-2228-3570; Fax: +82-2-312-0541
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bürger S, Meng J, Zwanzig A, Beck M, Pankonin M, Wiedemann P, Eichler W, Unterlauft JD. Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor (PEDF) Receptors Are Involved in Survival of Retinal Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:E369. [PMID: 33396450 PMCID: PMC7795132 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The demise of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is characteristic of diseases of the retina such as glaucoma and diabetic or ischemic retinopathies. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a multifunctional secreted protein that mediates neuroprotection and inhibition of angiogenesis in the retina. We have studied expression and regulation of two of several receptors for PEDF, patatin-like phospholipase 2 gene product/PEDF-R and laminin receptor (LR), in serum-starved RGC under normoxia and hypoxia and investigated their involvement in the survival of retinal neuronal cells. We show that PEDF-R and LR are co-expressed in RGC and R28 retinal precursor cells. Expression of both receptors was enhanced in the presence of complex secretions from retinal glial (Müller) cells and upregulated by VEGF and under hypoxic conditions. PEDF-R- and LR-knocked-down cells demonstrated a markedly attenuated expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL) and neuroprotective mediators (PEDF, VEGF, BDNF) suggesting that both PEDF-R and LR mediate pro-survival effects of PEDF on RGC. While this study does not provide evidence for a differential survival-promoting influence of either PEDF-R or LR, it nevertheless highlights the importance of both PEDF receptors for the viability of retinal neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Wolfram Eichler
- Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Leipzig University, Liebigstrasse 10-14, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany; (S.B.); (J.M.); (A.Z.); (M.B.); (M.P.); (P.W.); (J.D.U.)
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Huang JB, Hsu SP, Pan HY, Chen SD, Chen SF, Lin TK, Liu XP, Li JH, Chen NC, Liou CW, Hsu CY, Chuang HY, Chuang YC. Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Coactivator 1α Activates Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor That Protects Against Neuronal Cell Death Following Status Epilepticus through PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197247. [PMID: 33008083 PMCID: PMC7583914 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Status epilepticus may cause molecular and cellular events, leading to hippocampal neuronal cell death. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) is an important regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), also known as fetal liver kinase receptor 1 (Flk-1). Resveratrol is an activator of PGC-1α. It has been suggested to provide neuroprotective effects in epilepsy, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we used microinjection of kainic acid into the left hippocampal CA3 region in Sprague Dawley rats to induce bilateral prolonged seizure activity. Upregulating the PGC-1α pathway will increase VEGF/VEGFR2 (Flk-1) signaling and further activate some survival signaling that includes the mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/mitogen activated protein kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathways and offer neuroprotection as a consequence of apoptosis in the hippocampal neurons following status epilepticus. Otherwise, downregulation of PGC-1α by siRNA against pgc-1α will inhibit VEGF/VEGFR2 (Flk-1) signaling and suppress pro-survival PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways that are also accompanied by hippocampal CA3 neuronal cell apoptosis. These results may indicate that the PGC-1α induced VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway may trigger the neuronal survival signaling, and the PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. Thus, the axis of PGC-1α/VEGF/VEGFR2 (Flk-1) and the triggering of downstream PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling could be considered an endogenous neuroprotective effect against apoptosis in the hippocampus following status epilepticus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jyun-Bin Huang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (J.-B.H.); (H.-Y.P.)
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (S.-D.C.); (S.-F.C.); (T.-K.L.); (N.-C.C.); (C.-W.L.)
| | - Shih-Pin Hsu
- Department of Neurology, E-Da Hospital/School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 824, Taiwan;
| | - Hsiu-Yung Pan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (J.-B.H.); (H.-Y.P.)
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (S.-D.C.); (S.-F.C.); (T.-K.L.); (N.-C.C.); (C.-W.L.)
| | - Shang-Der Chen
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (S.-D.C.); (S.-F.C.); (T.-K.L.); (N.-C.C.); (C.-W.L.)
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
- Institute for Translation Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (X.-P.L.); (J.-H.L.)
| | - Shu-Fang Chen
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (S.-D.C.); (S.-F.C.); (T.-K.L.); (N.-C.C.); (C.-W.L.)
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Tsu-Kung Lin
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (S.-D.C.); (S.-F.C.); (T.-K.L.); (N.-C.C.); (C.-W.L.)
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
- Mitochondrial Research Unit, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Xuan-Ping Liu
- Institute for Translation Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (X.-P.L.); (J.-H.L.)
| | - Jie-Hau Li
- Institute for Translation Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (X.-P.L.); (J.-H.L.)
| | - Nai-Ching Chen
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (S.-D.C.); (S.-F.C.); (T.-K.L.); (N.-C.C.); (C.-W.L.)
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Liou
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (S.-D.C.); (S.-F.C.); (T.-K.L.); (N.-C.C.); (C.-W.L.)
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
- Mitochondrial Research Unit, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yao Hsu
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Hung-Yi Chuang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and School of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Yao-Chung Chuang
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (S.-D.C.); (S.-F.C.); (T.-K.L.); (N.-C.C.); (C.-W.L.)
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
- Institute for Translation Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (X.-P.L.); (J.-H.L.)
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
- Department of Biological Science, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Froger N, Matonti F, Roubeix C, Forster V, Ivkovic I, Brunel N, Baudouin C, Sahel JA, Picaud S. VEGF is an autocrine/paracrine neuroprotective factor for injured retinal ganglion neurons. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12409. [PMID: 32710087 PMCID: PMC7382485 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68488-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) is the angiogenic factor promoting the pathological neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or diabetic macular edema (DME). Evidences have suggested a neurotrophic and neuroprotective role of VEGF, albeit in retina, cellular mechanisms underlying the VEGF neuroprotection remain elusive. Using purified adult retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in culture, we demonstrated here that VEGF is released by RGCs themselves to promote their own survival, while VEGF neutralization by specific antibodies or traps drastically reduced the RGC survival. These results indicate an autocrine VEGF neuroprotection on RGCs. In parallel, VEGF produced by mixed retinal cells or by mesenchymal stem cells exerted a paracrine neuroprotection on RGCs. Such neuroprotective effect was obtained using the recombinant VEGF-B, suggesting the involvement of VEGF-R1 pathway in VEGF-elicited RGC survival. Finally, glaucomatous patients injected with VEGF traps (ranibizumab or aflibercept) due to either AMD or DME comorbidity, showed a significant reduction of RGC axon fiber layer thickness, consistent with the plausible reduction of the VEGF autocrine stimulation of RGCs. Our results provide evidence of the autocrine neuroprotective function of VEGF on RGCs is crucially involved to preserve injured RGCs such as in glaucomatous patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Froger
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de La Vision, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France.
| | - Frédéric Matonti
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de La Vision, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France.,Centre Monticelli Paradis, 433 bis rue Paradis, 13008, Marseille, France.,Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INT, Inst Neurosci Timone, 13005, Marseille, France
| | - Christophe Roubeix
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de La Vision, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Forster
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de La Vision, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Ivana Ivkovic
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de La Vision, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Nadège Brunel
- UMS 29 INSERM Plateforme FluExGen UPMC, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Baudouin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de La Vision, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France.,CHNO Des Quinze-Vingts, DHU Sight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, 75012, Paris, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de La Vision, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France.,CHNO Des Quinze-Vingts, DHU Sight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, 75012, Paris, France.,Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, 75020, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Serge Picaud
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de La Vision, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France. .,Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, 75020, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Sideromenos S, Lindtner C, Zambon A, Horvath O, Berger A, Pollak DD. VEGF Treatment Ameliorates Depression-Like Behavior in Adult Offspring After Maternal Immune Activation. Cells 2020; 9:E1048. [PMID: 32331397 DOI: 10.3390/cells9041048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy impacts offspring neurodevelopmental trajectories and induces lifelong consequences, including emotional and cognitive alterations. Using the polyinosinic:polycytidilic acid (PIC) MIA model we have previously demonstrated enhanced depression-like behavior in adult MIA offspring, which was associated with reduced expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in the hippocampus. Since VEGF mediates the effects of various antidepressant agents, we here set out to explore whether VEGF administration could rescue the depression-like behavioral deficits in MIA offspring. To test our hypothesis, control and MIA offspring were intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) infused with either VEGF or vehicle solution and depression-related behavior was assessed in the sucrose preference test (SPT) and the tail suspension test (TST). As a surrogate of VEGF activity, the phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in hippocampus was quantified. We found that VEGF treatment reduced depression-related behavioral despair in the TST in MIA offspring but had no effect on anhedonia-like behavior in the SPT. While VEGF administration induced the phosphorylation of ERK in the hippocampus of control offspring, this effect was blunted in the MIA offspring. We conclude that VEGF administration, at the dosage tested, beneficially affects some aspects of the depression-like phenotype in the adult MIA offspring, inviting further studies using different dosage regimes to further explore the therapeutic potential of VEGF treatment in MIA-related changes in brain function and behavior.
Collapse
|
20
|
Barui AK, Jhelum P, Nethi SK, Das T, Bhattacharya D, B V, Karri S, Chakravarty S, Patra CR. Potential Therapeutic Application of Zinc Oxide Nanoflowers in the Cerebral Ischemia Rat Model through Neuritogenic and Neuroprotective Properties. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:895-906. [PMID: 32050064 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Neuritogenesis, a complex process of the sprouting of neurites, plays a vital role in the structural and functional restoration of cerebral ischemia-injured neuronal tissue. Practically, there is no effective long-term treatment strategy for cerebral ischemia in clinical practice to date due to several limitations of conventional therapies, facilitating the urgency to develop new alternative therapeutic approaches. Herein, for the first time we report that pro-angiogenic nanomaterials, zinc oxide nanoflowers (ZONF), exhibit neuritogenic activity by elevating mRNA expression of different neurotrophins, following PI3K/Akt-MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. Further, ZONF administration to global cerebral ischemia-induced Fischer rats shows improved neurobehavior and enhanced synaptic plasticity of neurons via upregulation of Neurabin-2 and NT-3, revealing their neuroprotective activity. Altogether, this study offers the basis for exploitation of angio-neural cross talk of other pro-angiogenic nano/biomaterials for future advancement of alternative treatment strategies for cerebral ischemia, where neuritogenesis and neural repair are highly critical.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayan Kumar Barui
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
| | - Priya Jhelum
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India
| | - Susheel Kumar Nethi
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
| | - Tapatee Das
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
| | - Dwaipayan Bhattacharya
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India
| | - Vinothkumar B
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India
| | - Shailaja Karri
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India
| | - Sumana Chakravarty
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
| | - Chitta Ranjan Patra
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Masaeli E, Forster V, Picaud S, Karamali F, Nasr-Esfahani MH, Marquette C. Tissue engineering of retina through high resolution 3-dimensional inkjet bioprinting. Biofabrication 2020; 12:025006. [PMID: 31578006 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ab4a20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian retina contains multiple cellular layers, each carrying out a specific task. Such a controlled organization should be considered as a crucial factor for designing retinal therapies. The maintenance of retinal layered complexity through the use of scaffold-free techniques has recently emerged as a promising approach for clinical ocular tissue engineering. In an attempt to fabricate such layered retinal model, we are proposing herein a unique inkjet bioprinting system applied to the deposition of a photoreceptor cells (PRs) layer on top of a bioprinted retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), in a precise arrangement and without any carrier material. The results showed that, after bioprinting, both RPE and PRs were well positioned in a layered structure and expressed their structural markers, which was further demonstrated by ZO1, MITF, rhodopsin, opsin B, opsin R/G and PNA immunostaining, three days after bioprinting. We also showed that considerable amounts of human vascular endothelial growth factors (hVEGF) were released from the RPE printed layer, which confirmed the formation of a functional RPE monolayer after bioprinting. Microstructures of bioprinted cells as well as phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments by apical RPE microvilli were finally established through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. In summary, using this carrier-free bioprinting method, it was possible to develop a reasonable in vitro retina model for studying some sight-threatening diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elahe Masaeli
- Department of Cellular Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran. 3d.FAB, Univ Lyon, Université Lyon1, CNRS, INSA, CPE-Lyon, ICBMS, UMR 5246, Bat. Lederer, 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Jalilzad M, Jafari A, Babaei P. Neuregulin1β improves both spatial and associative learning and memory in Alzheimer model of rats possibly through signaling pathways other than Erk1/2. Neuropeptides 2019; 78:101963. [PMID: 31522857 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2019.101963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuregulin-1β (NRG1 β) is associated with various neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, depression and Parkinson's disease. However, its role in Alzheimer's (AD) has not been understood yet. Here, we have studied the effect of NRG1 β and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling on special and associative memories and emotional stress in AD model of rats. METHODS Fifty six male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups of: Saline + Saline, Aβ + Saline, Aβ + NRG1β (5 μg/5 ul), Aβ + PBS, Aβ + NRG1β + PD98059 (PD, 5 μg/2 μl), Aβ + NRG1β + Saline and Saline + PD. AD model was induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of beta-amyloid protein (Aβ1-42, 4 μg/2 μl). The cognitive performances of rats were evaluated using Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Step through passive avoidance. Also locomotors activity and emotionality of animals were considered in an Open field test. Data were analyzed by one way Anova one way, repeated measure and T-test. RESULTS Significant improvement was found in spatial learning and memory assessed by total time spent in target quadrant [F (4, 32) = 12.4, p = 0.001], escape latency [F (4, 32) = 15.767, p = 0.001] and distance moved [F (4, 32) = 5.55, p = 0.002], in Aβ + NRG1β compared with Aβ + Saline in MWM. Also Aβ + NRG1β showed long latencies to enter into the dark compartment [F (4, 32) = 6.43, p = 0.001], but short time spent [F (4, 32) =6.93, p = 0.001] compared with control. Administration of an ERK inhibitor (PD98059, 5 μg, 15 min before NRG1β) didn't completely block learning memory restored by NRG1β in AD model (p = 0.7). No significant between groups differences was found in emotional stress characteristics in open field, except the grooming numbers which were higher in Saline + PD compared with Saline + Saline (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that NRG1β restores cognitive dysfunctions induced by amyloid β through signaling pathways possibly other than Erk1/2, with no significant change in anxiety, locomotion and vegetative activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Jalilzad
- Cellular & Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Adele Jafari
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Parvin Babaei
- Cellular & Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran; Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Santo SD, Seiler S, Andres R, Widmer HR. Endothelial Progenitor Cells Conditioned Medium Supports Number of GABAergic Neurons and Exerts Neuroprotection in Cultured Striatal Neuronal Progenitor Cells. Cell Transplant 2019; 28:367-378. [PMID: 31017468 PMCID: PMC6628568 DOI: 10.1177/0963689719835192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that stem and progenitor cells exert regenerative actions by means of paracrine factors. In line with these notions, we recently demonstrated that endothelial progenitor cell (EPC)-derived conditioned medium (EPC-CM) substantially increased viability of brain microvascular cells. In the present study, we aimed at investigating whether EPC-CM supports cell survival of cultured striatal progenitor cells. For that purpose, primary cultures from fetal rat embryonic (E14) ganglionic eminence were prepared and grown for 7 days in vitro (DIV). EPC-CM was administered from DIV5–7. Treatment of the striatal cultures with EPC-CM resulted in significantly increased densities of GABA-immunoreactive (-ir) neurons. Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, but not of the ROCK pathway, significantly attenuated the EPC-CM induced increase in GABA-ir cell densities. Similar results were observed when EPC-CM was subjected to proteolytic digestion and lipid extraction. Furthermore, inhibition of translation abolished the EPC-CM induced effects. Importantly, EPC-CM displayed neuroprotection against 3-nitropropionic acid induced toxicity. These findings demonstrate that EPC-derived paracrine factors substantially promote survival and/or differentiation of cultured striatal progenitor cells involving both proteinaceous factors and lipidic factors. In sum, EPC-CM constituents might lead to a novel cell-free therapeutic strategy to challenge neuronal degeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Di Santo
- 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Bern University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Seiler
- 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Bern University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Robert Andres
- 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Bern University Hospital, Switzerland
| | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Millán-Rivero JE, Nadal-Nicolás FM, García-Bernal D, Sobrado-Calvo P, Blanquer M, Moraleda JM, Vidal-Sanz M, Agudo-Barriuso M. Human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells protect axotomized rat retinal ganglion cells via secretion of anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic factors. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16299. [PMID: 30389962 PMCID: PMC6214908 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34527-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is emerging as an ideal tool to restore the wounded central nervous system (CNS). MSCs isolated from extra-embryonic tissues have some advantages compared to MSCs derived from adult ones, such as an improved proliferative capacity, life span, differentiation potential and immunomodulatory properties. In addition, they are more immunoprivileged, reducing the probability of being rejected by the recipient. Umbilical cords (UCs) are a good source of MSCs because they are abundant, safe, non-invasively harvested after birth and, importantly, they are not encumbered with ethical problems. Here we show that the intravitreal transplant of Wharton´s jelly mesenchymal stem cells isolated from three different human UCs (hWJMSCs) delays axotomy-induced retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss. In vivo, hWJMSCs secrete anti-inflammatory molecules and trophic factors, the latter alone may account for the elicited neuroprotection. Interestingly, this expression profile differs between naive and injured retinas, suggesting that the environment in which the hWJMSCs are modulates their secretome. Finally, even though the transplant itself is not toxic for RGCs, it is not innocuous as it triggers a transient but massive infiltration of Iba1+cells from the choroid to the retina that alters the retinal structure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose E Millán-Rivero
- Unidad de Terapia Celular y Trasplante Hematopoyético. Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.,Dpto Medicina Interna, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Francisco M Nadal-Nicolás
- Dpto Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Grupo de Oftalmología Experimental, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.,Retinal Neurophysiology Section, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - David García-Bernal
- Unidad de Terapia Celular y Trasplante Hematopoyético. Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.,Dpto Medicina Interna, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Paloma Sobrado-Calvo
- Dpto Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Grupo de Oftalmología Experimental, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Miguel Blanquer
- Unidad de Terapia Celular y Trasplante Hematopoyético. Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.,Dpto Medicina Interna, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jose M Moraleda
- Unidad de Terapia Celular y Trasplante Hematopoyético. Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.,Dpto Medicina Interna, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Manuel Vidal-Sanz
- Dpto Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Grupo de Oftalmología Experimental, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Marta Agudo-Barriuso
- Dpto Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain. .,Grupo de Oftalmología Experimental, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Farzaei MH, Tewari D, Momtaz S, Argüelles S, Nabavi SM. Targeting ERK signaling pathway by polyphenols as novel therapeutic strategy for neurodegeneration. Food Chem Toxicol 2018; 120:183-195. [PMID: 29981370 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 04/07/2018] [Revised: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Numerous chemicals, such as phenolic compounds are strong radical scavengers, capable of alleviating oxidative stress induced neurodegeneration. Dietary antioxidants, especially flavonoids, are being considered as a promising approach to prevent or slow the pathological development of neurological illness and aging. One of the major advantage of natural products is that of their anti-amyloid effects over synthetic counterpart, however a healthy diet provides these beneficial natural substances as nutraceuticals. The extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is one of the main pharmacological target of natural phenolic compounds, participating in several therapeutic effects. Mounting evidence revealed that numerous bioflavonoids, obtained from a variety of dietary fruits or plants as well as medicinal herbal sources, exhibit protective or therapeutic functions versus development of neurodegenerative diseases mainly through modulation of different compartments of ERK signaling pathway. Currently, there is remarkable interest in the beneficial effects of natural flavonoids to improve neural performance and prevent the onset and development of major neurodegenerative diseases. Natural products originated from medicinal plants, in particular antioxidants, have gained a great deal of attention due to their safe and non-toxic natures. Here, we summarized the effect of natural bioflavonoids on ERK signaling pathway and their molecular mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hosein Farzaei
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
| | - Devesh Tewari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Technology, Bhimtal Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Saeideh Momtaz
- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran; Toxicology and Diseases Group, The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Sandro Argüelles
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Seyed Mohammad Nabavi
- Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Feng XX, Li C, Shao WW, Yuan YG, Qian XB, Zheng QS, Li YJ, Gao QY. Intravitreal anti-VEGF agents, oral glucocorticoids, and laser photocoagulation combination therapy for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion: preliminary report. Int J Ophthalmol 2018; 11:429-437. [PMID: 29600177 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2018.03.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, oral glucocorticoid, and laser photocoagulation therapy for macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS This study included 16 eyes of 16 patients with RVO-associated ME. Patients were initially treated with oral prednisone and an intravitreal anti-VEGF agent. Two weeks later, patients underwent standard laser photocoagulation. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and retinal vessel oxygenation were examined over 12mo. RESULTS Patients received 1.43±0.81 anti-VEGF injections. Mean baseline and 12-month logMAR BCVA were 0.96±0.51 (20/178) and 0.31±0.88 (20/40), respectively, in eyes with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) (P<0.00), and 1.02±0.45 (20/209) and 0.60±0.49 (20/80), respectively, in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) (P<0.00). At 12mo, CRT had significantly decreased in eyes with CRVO (P<0.00) and BRVO (P<0.00). Venous oxygen saturation had significantly increased in eyes with CRVO (P<0.00) and BRVO (P<0.00). No examined parameters were significantly different between the 2 RVO groups. No serious adverse effects occurred. CONCLUSION Anti-VEGF, glucocorticoid, and photocoagulation combination therapy improves visual outcome, prolongs therapeutic effect, and reduces the number of intravitreal injections in eyes with RVO-associated ME.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xiao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Cheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wan-Wen Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yong-Guang Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qi-Shan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yu-Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qian-Ying Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Nakano A, Asano D, Kondo R, Mori A, Arima S, Ushikubo H, Sakamoto K, Nagamitsu T, Ishii K, Nakahara T. Retinal neuronal cell loss prevents abnormal retinal vascular growth in a rat model of retinopathy of prematurity. Exp Eye Res 2018; 168:115-127. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
28
|
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), leading causes of blindness, share a common retinal environment: hypoxia which is a major stimulator for the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a cardinal pathogenic factor for the breakdown of blood-retina barrier (BRB). As a result of intensive studies on VEGF pathobiology, anti-VEGF strategy has become a major therapeutics for wet AMD and DR. To investigate the potential impact of anti-VEGF strategy on major retinal supporting cells, Müller glia (MG), we disrupted VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) in MG with conditional knockout (CKO) and examined the effect of VEGFR2-null on MG viability and neuronal integrity in mice. VEGFR2 CKO mice demonstrated a significant loss of MG density in diabetes/hypoxia, which in turn resulted in accelerated retinal degeneration. These defects appear similar to the clinical characteristics in a significant portion of wet-AMD patients with long-term anti-VEGF therapies. In this article, we will discuss the potential relevance of these clinical characteristics to the critical role of VEGF signaling in MG viability and neuronal integrity in hypoxia.
Collapse
|
29
|
Chitranshi N, Dheer Y, Abbasi M, You Y, Graham SL, Gupta V. Glaucoma Pathogenesis and Neurotrophins: Focus on the Molecular and Genetic Basis for Therapeutic Prospects. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 16:1018-1035. [PMID: 29676228 PMCID: PMC6120108 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x16666180419121247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration is a major feature of glaucoma pathology. Neuroprotective approaches that delay or halt the progression of RGC loss are needed to prevent vision loss which can occur even after conventional medical or surgical treatments to lower intraocular pressure. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review was to examine the progress in genetics and cellular mechanisms associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, RGC dysfunction and cell death pathways in glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Here, we review the involvement of neurotrophins like brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its high affinity receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase (TrkB) in glaucoma. The role of ER stress markers in human and animal retinas in health and disease conditions is also discussed. Further, we analysed the literature highlighting genetic linkage in the context of primary open angle glaucoma and suggested mechanistic insights into potential therapeutic options relevant to glaucoma management. RESULTS The literature review of the neurobiology underlying neurotrophin pathways, ER stress and gene associations provide critical insights into association of RGCs death in glaucoma. Alteration in signalling pathway is associated with increased risk of misfolded protein aggregation in ER promoting RGC apoptosis. Several genes that are linked with neurotrophin signalling pathways have been reported to be associated with glaucoma pathology. CONCLUSION Understanding genetic heterogeneity and involvement of neurotrophin biology in glaucoma could help to understand the complex pathophysiology of glaucoma. Identification of novel molecular targets will be critical for drug development and provide neuroprotection to the RGCs and optic nerve.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nitin Chitranshi
- Address correspondence to this author at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 75, Talavera Road, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Tel: +61-298502760; E-mail:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Wang L, Wang F, Liu S, Yang X, Yang J, Ming D. VEGF attenuates 2-VO induced cognitive impairment and neuronal injury associated with the activation of PI3K/Akt and Notch1 pathway. Exp Gerontol 2018; 102:93-100. [PMID: 29248560 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2017.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [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: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been identified as a potential treatment for effectively improving cognitive function in several neuropathological conditions. However, the underlying mechanism and the relevant downstream protective pathways that are activated in neurons by VEGF remain elusive, especially in chronic global cerebral ischemia. In this study, we intended to investigate the signaling mechanisms of VEGF in cognitive protection and anti-apoptosis in a rat model of chronic global cerebral ischemia induced by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2-VO). The results showed that intranasal administration of VEGF (72h post-ischemia for 6 successive days) caused a significant improvement in the cognitive deficits induced by 2-VO, accompanied by a reversal of oxidative stress and VEGF depletion in the hippocampus. In addition, VEGF-treatment decreased the expression of Bax and Caspase-3, increased the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xl and the main protein involved in energy homeostasis AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which may account for the anti-apoptotic effects of VEGF. Importantly, VEGF administration upregulated the phosphorylation levels of Akt (pAkt) and PI3K, activated Notch1 pathway in 2-VO hippocampus. These findings suggested that intranasal administration of VEGF alleviated cognitive impairment induced by 2-VO injury, and attenuated oxidative damage and neuronal injury in hippocampus associated with the regulation of PI3K/Akt and Notch1 signaling pathway, which might be the underlying mechanisms of VEGF on global chronic cerebral ischemia.
Collapse
|
31
|
Joly S, Dalkara D, Pernet V. Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor 1 Modulates CNTF-Induced Axonal Growth and Neuroprotection in the Mouse Visual System. Neural Plast 2017; 2017:6818970. [PMID: 29234527 DOI: 10.1155/2017/6818970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The lack of axonal regeneration and neuronal cell death causes permanent neurological deficits in the injured CNS. Using the classical CNS injury model of optic nerve crush in mice, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) was found to stimulate retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and axonal growth, but in an incomplete fashion. The elucidation of molecular mechanisms impairing CNTF-induced axonal regeneration is paramount to promote visual recovery. In the present study, we sought to evaluate the contribution of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) to the neuroprotective and regenerative effects of CNTF. The transduction of retinal cells with adeno-associated viruses (AAV) allowed to activate CNTF/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) signaling and to modulate S1PR1 expression in RGCs. Our results showed that CNTF/Stat3 prevented injury-induced S1PR1 downregulation. Silencing S1PR1 in RGCs significantly enhanced CNTF-induced axonal growth in the injured optic nerve. In contrast, RGC survival was markedly decreased when S1PR1 was repressed with viral vectors. The level of phosphorylated Stat3 (P-Stat3), an intracellular mediator of CNTF, did not fluctuate after S1PR1 inhibition and CNTF stimulation. Collectively, these results suggest that S1PR1 acts as a major regulator of retinal neuron survival and restricts the RGC growth response induced by CNTF.
Collapse
|
32
|
Huang W, Gao X, Chen S, Li X, Zhang X, Zhang X. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor is Increased in Aqueous Humor of Acute Primary Angle-Closure Eyes. J Glaucoma 2016; 25:e647-51. [PMID: 25719239 DOI: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000000242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To measure and compare the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the aqueous humor of patients with acute primary angle closure (APAC), primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), and normal cataract (controls). METHODS Aqueous humor samples were prospectively collected from 38 APAC eyes, 36 PACG eyes, and 25 nonglaucomatous cataract control eyes. The levels of aqueous humor VEGF were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassays. The clinical characteristics of participants were also collected for correlation analysis. RESULTS VEGF was detected in aqueous humor samples of 35 of 38 APAC patients (mean±SE of the mean, 935±258 pg/mL), 30 of 36 PACG patients (165±37.5 pg/mL), and 16 of 25 cataract controls (69.5±13.5 pg/mL). The mean concentration of VEGF in APAC eyes was 13.5 and 5.7 times higher than that in controls and PACG eyes, respectively, and these differences were statistically significant (both P<0.0167). In the correlation analysis that included all participants, the aqueous humor VEGF level was found to correlate negatively with axial length (ρ=-0.342, P=0.001), and positively with intraocular pressure (ρ=0.434, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS VEGF was significantly increased in aqueous humor of APAC eyes. An increase in aqueous humor VEGF may be the result of the characteristic ocular ischemia and hypoxia observed in APAC eyes as a consequence of sudden excessive increases in intraocular pressure during the acute episode.
Collapse
|
33
|
Schlecht A, Leimbeck SV, Jägle H, Feuchtinger A, Tamm ER, Braunger BM. Deletion of Endothelial Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling Leads to Choroidal Neovascularization. Am J Pathol 2017; 187:2570-2589. [PMID: 28823871 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The molecular pathogenesis of choroidal neovascularization (CNV), an angiogenic process that critically contributes to vision loss in age-related macular degeneration, is unclear. Herein, we analyzed the role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling for CNV formation by generating a series of mutant mouse models with induced conditional deletion of TGF-β signaling in the entire eye, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), or the vascular endothelium. Deletion of TGF-β signaling in the eye caused CNV, irrespectively if it was ablated in newborn or 3-week-old mice. Areas of CNV showed photoreceptor degeneration, multilayered RPE, basal lamina deposits, and accumulations of monocytes/macrophages. The changes progressed, leading to marked structural and functional alterations of the retina. Although the specific deletion of TGF-β signaling in the RPE caused no obvious changes, specific deletion in vascular endothelial cells caused CNV and a phenotype similar to that observed after the deletion in the entire eye. We conclude that impairment of TGF-β signaling in the vascular endothelium of the eye is sufficient to trigger CNV formation. Our findings highlight the importance of TGF-β signaling as a key player in the development of ocular neovascularization and indicate a fundamental role of TGF-β signaling in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anja Schlecht
- Institute of Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sarah V Leimbeck
- Institute of Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Herbert Jägle
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinic Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Annette Feuchtinger
- Research Unit Analytical Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ernst R Tamm
- Institute of Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Barbara M Braunger
- Institute of Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Caglayan B, Caglayan AB, Beker MC, Yalcin E, Beker M, Kelestemur T, Sertel E, Ozturk G, Kilic U, Sahin F, Kilic E. Evidence that activation of P2X7R does not exacerbate neuronal death after optic nerve transection and focal cerebral ischemia in mice. Exp Neurol 2017; 296:23-31. [PMID: 28669743 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Conflicting data in the literature about the function of P2X7R in survival following ischemia necessitates the conductance of in-depth studies. To investigate the impacts of activation vs inhibition of the receptor on neuronal survival as well as the downstream signaling cascades, in addition to optic nerve transection (ONT), 30min and 90min of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) models were performed in mice. Intracellular calcium levels were assessed in primary cortical neuron cultures. Here, we show that P2X7R antagonist Brilliant Blue G (BBG) decreased DNA fragmentation, infarct volume, brain swelling, neurological deficit scores and activation of microglial cells after focal cerebral ischemia. BBG also significantly increased the number of surviving retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after ONT and the number of surviving neurons following MCAo. Importantly, receptor agonist BzATP resulted in increased activation of microglial cells and induced phosphorylation of ERK, AKT and JNK. These results indicated that inhibition of P2X7R with BBG promoted neuronal survival, not through the activation of survival kinase pathways, but possibly by improved intracellular Ca2+ overload and decreased the levels of Caspase 1, IL-1β and Bax proteins. On the other hand, BzATP-mediated increased number of activated microglia and increased survival kinase levels in addition to increased caspase-1 and IL-1β levels indicate the complex nature of the P2X7 receptor-mediated signaling in neuronal injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Berrak Caglayan
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey; Yeditepe University, Dept. of Genetics and Bioengineering, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahmet B Caglayan
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mustafa C Beker
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Esra Yalcin
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Merve Beker
- Bezmialem Vakif University, Dept. of Medical Biology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Taha Kelestemur
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Elif Sertel
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gürkan Ozturk
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ulkan Kilic
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Medical Biology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Fikrettin Sahin
- Yeditepe University, Dept. of Genetics and Bioengineering, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ertugrul Kilic
- Istanbul Medipol University, Regenerative and Restorative Medical Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul Medipol University, Dept. of Physiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Le YZ. VEGF production and signaling in Müller glia are critical to modulating vascular function and neuronal integrity in diabetic retinopathy and hypoxic retinal vascular diseases. Vision Res 2017; 139:108-14. [PMID: 28601428 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2017.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Müller glia (MG) are major retinal supporting cells that participate in retinal metabolism, function, maintenance, and protection. During the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a neurovascular disease and a leading cause of blindness, MG modulate vascular function and neuronal integrity by regulating the production of angiogenic and trophic factors. In this article, I will (1) briefly summarize our work on delineating the role and mechanism of MG-modulated vascular function through the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and on investigating VEGF signaling-mediated MG viability and neural protection in diabetic animal models, (2) explore the relationship among VEGF and neurotrophins in protecting Müller cells in in vitro models of diabetes and hypoxia and its potential implication to neuroprotection in DR and hypoxic retinal diseases, and (3) discuss the relevance of our work to the effectiveness and safety of long-term anti-VEGF therapies, a widely used strategy to combat DR, diabetic macular edema, neovascular age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, and other hypoxic retinal vascular disorders.
Collapse
|
36
|
Ayar O, Alpay A, Koban Y, Akdemir MO, Yazgan S, Canturk Ugurbas S, Ugurbas SH. The Effect of Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Patients Diagnosed with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion. Curr Eye Res 2017. [PMID: 28632411 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2017.1313430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of a single dose of intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) in a 6-month period. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective observational study included the patients with BRVO who received intravitreal DEX implant and whose assessment included the baseline RNFL thickness measurements. The data of 26 eyes of 24 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Spectral domain optic coherence tomography was used to measure peripapillary RNFL thickness in six regional subfields. Intraocular pressure (IOP) values at each visit were recorded. The data of single dose DEX implant during 6 months were assessed. RESULTS The mean preoperative and postoperative 6th month nasal RNFL values were 85.4 ± 23.0 μm and 82.1 ± 17.6 μm, respectively, and the difference between the measurements was not statistically significant (p = 0.372). There was a slight decrease in the mean RNFL values postoperatively compared to the baseline values in all quadrants except supero-temporal quadrant; however, none of them reached statistically significant level (p > 0.05). The mean IOP values before and 6 months after implantation were 15.7 ± 2.9 mmHg and 16.5 ± 4.2 mmHg, respectively. The difference between the 6th month IOP values and baseline IOP values was not statistically significant (p = 0.236). CONCLUSION Intravitreal DEX implant seems to have no adverse effect on RNFL thickness in BRVO patients in a 6-month period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Orhan Ayar
- a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology , Bulent Ecevit University , Zonguldak , Turkey
| | - Atilla Alpay
- a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology , Bulent Ecevit University , Zonguldak , Turkey
| | - Yaran Koban
- b Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology , Kafkas University , Kars , Turkey
| | - Mehmet Orcun Akdemir
- a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology , Bulent Ecevit University , Zonguldak , Turkey
| | - Serpil Yazgan
- a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology , Bulent Ecevit University , Zonguldak , Turkey
| | - Sılay Canturk Ugurbas
- a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology , Bulent Ecevit University , Zonguldak , Turkey
| | - Suat Hayri Ugurbas
- a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology , Bulent Ecevit University , Zonguldak , Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Caballero B, Sherman SJ, Falk T. Insights into the Mechanisms Involved in Protective Effects of VEGF-B in Dopaminergic Neurons. Parkinsons Dis 2017; 2017:4263795. [PMID: 28473940 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4263795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor-B (VEGF-B), when initially discovered, was thought to be an angiogenic factor, due to its intimate sequence homology and receptor binding similarity to the prototype angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). Studies demonstrated that VEGF-B, unlike VEGF-A, did not play a significant role in angiogenesis or vascular permeability and has become an active area of interest because of its role as a survival factor in pathological processes in a multitude of systems, including the brain. By characterization of important downstream targets of VEGF-B that regulate different cellular processes in the nervous system and cardiovascular system, it may be possible to develop more effective clinical interventions in diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and ischemic heart disease, which all share mitochondrial dysfunction as part of the disease. Here we summarize what is currently known about the mechanism of action of VEGF-B in pathological processes. We explore its potential as a homeostatic protective factor that improves mitochondrial function in the setting of cardiovascular and neurological disease, with a specific focus on dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease.
Collapse
|
38
|
Fernandez MP, Berrocal AM, Goff TC, Ghassibi MP, Harper CA, Chou E, Michael SK, Hellman J, Dubovy SR. Histopathologic Characterization of the Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in a Case of Retinopathy of Prematurity Treated With Ranibizumab. Am J Ophthalmol 2017; 176:134-140. [PMID: 27993591 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a patient with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treated with ranibizumab (Case 1) and compare it with a case of ROP without treatment (Case 2), a case of a premature baby without ROP (Case 3), and a case of a baby without history of ROP or prematurity (Case 4). DESIGN Observational case series. METHODS The eyes of the deceased babies were removed postmortem and were sent to the Florida Lions Ocular Pathology Laboratory, where they were processed. The specimens were immunostained using an antibody against VEGF. RESULTS All eyes except for the eyes in Case 4 disclosed positive VEGF staining. Positive staining was present within the nerve fiber layer, inner plexiform layer, and inner and outer nuclear layers and within the spindle-shaped cell population in the vanguard in Case 1. In the posterior pole, positive staining was only observed at the level of the nerve fiber layer. This case also demonstrated less positive staining when compared with Case 2, where positive staining was found within all layers of the retina. CONCLUSION Less VEGF staining was observed within the retina of the eyes treated with ranibizumab when compared with the VEGF staining in Case 2. This supports the idea that anti-VEGF agents are effective in reducing the amount of VEGF present in the retina. Furthermore, the fact that some expression of VEGF remains in the immature retina after injection supports the idea that anti-VEGF agents can suppress uncontrolled neovascularization without completely blocking the vascular drive for the vascularization of the immature retina.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Fernandez
- Florida Lions Ocular Pathology Laboratory, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Audina M Berrocal
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Tyler C Goff
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, South Carolina
| | - Mark P Ghassibi
- Florida Lions Ocular Pathology Laboratory, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - C Armitage Harper
- Austin Retina Associates, Austin, Texas; University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Eva Chou
- Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Simon K Michael
- Newborn Intensive Care Unit & High-Risk Infant Specialty Transport Service, Dell Children's Medical Center, Austin, Texas
| | - Justin Hellman
- Davis Eye Center, University of California, Sacramento, California
| | - Sander R Dubovy
- Florida Lions Ocular Pathology Laboratory, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Cheng L, Yu H, Yan N, Lai K, Xiang M. Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Target Genes Contribute to Retinal Neuroprotection. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:20. [PMID: 28289375 PMCID: PMC5326762 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [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: 07/10/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a transcription factor that facilitates cellular adaptation to hypoxia and ischemia. Long-standing evidence suggests that one isotype of HIF, HIF-1α, is involved in the pathogenesis of various solid tumors and cardiac diseases. However, the role of HIF-1α in retina remains poorly understood. HIF-1α has been recognized as neuroprotective in cerebral ischemia in the past two decades. Additionally, an increasing number of studies has shown that HIF-1α and its target genes contribute to retinal neuroprotection. This review will focus on recent advances in the studies of HIF-1α and its target genes that contribute to retinal neuroprotection. A thorough understanding of the function of HIF-1α and its target genes may lead to identification of novel therapeutic targets for treating degenerative retinal diseases including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou, China
| | - Honghua Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, China; Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command of PLAGuangzhou, China
| | - Naihong Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Laboratories, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu, China
| | - Kunbei Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengqing Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, China; Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine and Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers University-Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolPiscataway, NJ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Ishimaru Y, Sumino A, Kajioka D, Shibagaki F, Yamamuro A, Yoshioka Y, Maeda S. Apelin protects against NMDA-induced retinal neuronal death via an APJ receptor by activating Akt and ERK1/2, and suppressing TNF-α expression in mice. J Pharmacol Sci 2017; 133:34-41. [PMID: 28087150 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamate excitotoxicity mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors is an important cause of retinal ganglion cell death in glaucoma. To elucidate whether apelin protects against retinal neuronal cell death, we examined protective effects of exogenous and endogenous apelin on neuronal cell death induced by intravitreal injection of NMDA in the retinas of mice. An intravitreal injection of NMDA induced neuronal cell death in both the retinal ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer, and reduced the amplitudes of scotopic threshold response (STR) in electroretinography studies. Both cell death and STR amplitudes decrease induced by NMDA were prevented by a co-injection of [Pyr1]-apelin-13, and were facilitated by apelin deficiency. The neuroprotective effects of [Pyr1]-apelin-13 were blocked by an apelin receptor APJ antagonist, and by inhibitors of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathways. Additionally, an intravitreal injection of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) neutralizing antibody prevented NMDA-induced retinal neuronal cell death, and exogenous and endogenous apelin suppressed NMDA-induced upregulation of TNF-α in the retina. These results suggest that apelin protects neuronal cells against NMDA-induced death via an APJ receptor in the retina, and that apelin may have beneficial effects in the treatment of glaucoma.
Collapse
|
41
|
Ohlmann A, Scholz M, Koch M, Tamm ER. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the retinal pigment epithelium causes choriocapillaris atrophy. Histochem Cell Biol 2016; 146:769-80. [PMID: 27372654 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-016-1461-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [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] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is commonly observed at sites of choroidal neovascularization in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration. To learn in an experimental model how RPE EMT affects the biology of the choroidal vasculature, we studied transgenic mice (βB1-TGF-β1) with ocular overexpression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). RPE EMT was detectable at postnatal day (P)1 and included marked structural and functional alterations such as loss of the outer blood-retina barrier and reduced mRNA expression of the RPE-characteristic molecules Rlbp1, Rpe65, Rbp1 and Vegfa. Moreover, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was not detectable by immunohistochemistry at the RPE/choroid interface, while RPE cells stained intensely for α-smooth muscle actin. The choriocapillaris, the characteristic choroidal capillary network adjacent to the RPE, developed normally and was not obviously changed in embryonic transgenic eyes but was absent at P1 indicating its atrophy. At around the same time, photoreceptors stopped to differentiate and photoreceptor apoptosis was abundant in the second week of life. Structural changes were also seen in the retinal vasculature of transgenic animals, which did not form intraretinal vessels, and the hyaloid vasculature, which did not regress. In addition, the amounts of retinal HIF-1α and its mRNA were markedly reduced. We conclude that high amounts of active TGF-β1 in the mouse eye cause transdifferentiation of the RPE to a mesenchymal phenotype. The loss of epithelial differentiation leads to the diminished synthesis of RPE-characteristic molecules including that of VEGF. Lack of RPE-derived VEGF causes atrophy of the choriocapillaris, a scenario that disrupts photoreceptor differentiation and finally results in photoreceptor apoptosis. Lack of retinal vessel formation and of hyaloid vessel regression might be caused by the decrease in the metabolic requirements of the neuroretina leading to low amounts of retinal HIF-1α. In summary, our data indicate that failure of RPE differentiation may well precede and cause atrophy of the choriocapillaris. In contrast, RPE EMT is not sufficient to cause choroidal neovascularization.
Collapse
|
42
|
Chakravarthy U, Harding SP, Rogers CA, Downes S, Lotery AJ, Dakin HA, Culliford L, Scott LJ, Nash RL, Taylor J, Muldrew A, Sahni J, Wordsworth S, Raftery J, Peto T, Reeves BC. A randomised controlled trial to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alternative treatments to Inhibit VEGF in Age-related choroidal Neovascularisation (IVAN). Health Technol Assess 2016; 19:1-298. [PMID: 26445075 DOI: 10.3310/hta19780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bevacizumab (Avastin®, Roche), which is used in cancer therapy, is the 'parent' molecule from which ranibizumab (Lucentis®, Novartis) was derived for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). There were reports in the literature on the effectiveness of bevacizumab in treating nAMD, but no trials. The cost per dose of bevacizumab is about 5-10% that of ranibizumab. This trial was a head-to-head comparison of these two drugs. OBJECTIVE To compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of ranibizumab and bevacizumab, and two treatment regimens, for nAMD. DESIGN Multicentre, factorial randomised controlled trial with within-trial cost-utility and cost-minimisation analyses from the perspective of the UK NHS. Participants, health professionals and researchers were masked to allocation of drug but not regimen. Computer-generated random allocations to combinations of ranibizumab or bevacizumab, and continuous or discontinuous regimen, were stratified by centre, blocked and concealed. SETTING Twenty-three ophthalmology departments in NHS hospitals. PARTICIPANTS Patients ≥ 50 years old with active nAMD in the study eye with best corrected distance visual acuity (BCVA) ≥ 25 letters measured on a Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart. Previous treatment for nAMD, long-standing disease, lesion diameter > 6000 µm, thick blood at the fovea and any other confounding ocular disease were exclusion criteria. One eye per participant was studied; the fellow eye was treated according to usual care, if required. INTERVENTIONS Ranibizumab and bevacizumab were procured commercially. Doses were ranibizumab 0.5 mg or bevacizumab 1.25 mg. The repackaged bevacizumab was quality assured. All participants were treated at visits 0, 1 and 2. Participants randomised to the continuous regimen were treated monthly thereafter. Participants randomised to the discontinuous regimen were not retreated after visit 2 unless pre-specified criteria for active disease were met. If retreatment was needed, monthly injections over 3 months were mandated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was BCVA. The non-inferiority margin was 3.5 letters. Secondary outcomes were contrast sensitivity; near visual acuity; reading index; neovascular lesion morphology; generic and disease-specific patient-reported outcomes, including macular disease-specific quality of life; survival free from treatment failure; resource use; quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs); and development of new geographic atrophy (GA) (outcome added during the trial). Results are reported for the study eye, except for patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS Between 27 March 2008 and 15 October 2010, 610 participants were allocated and treated (314 ranibizumab, 296 bevacizumab; at 3 months, 305 continuous, 300 discontinuous). After 2 years, bevacizumab was neither non-inferior nor inferior to ranibizumab [-1.37 letters, 95% confidence interval (CI) -3.75 to +1.01 letters] and discontinuous treatment was neither non-inferior nor inferior to continuous treatment (-1.63 letters, 95% CI -4.01 to +0.75 letters). Lesion thickness at the fovea was similar by drug [geometric mean ratio (GMR) 0.96, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.03; p = 0.24] but 9% less with continuous treatment (GMR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.97; p = 0.004). Odds of developing new GA during the trial were similar by drug [odds ratio (OR) 0.87, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.25; p = 0.46] but significantly higher with continuous treatment (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.11; p = 0.033). Safety outcomes did not differ by drug but mortality was lower with continuous treatment (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.03; p = 0.05). Continuous ranibizumab cost £3.5M per QALY compared with continuous bevacizumab; continuous bevacizumab cost £30,220 per QALY compared with discontinuous bevacizumab. These results were robust in sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS Ranibizumab and bevacizumab have similar efficacy. Discontinuing treatment and restarting when required results in slightly worse efficacy. Safety was worse with discontinuous treatment, although new GA developed more often with continuous treatment. Ranibizumab is not cost-effective, although it remains uncertain whether or not continuous bevacizumab is cost-effective compared with discontinuous bevacizumab at £20,000 per QALY threshold. Future studies should focus on the ocular safety of the two drugs, further optimisation of treatment regimens and criteria for stopping treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN92166560. FUNDING This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 19, No. 78. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Usha Chakravarthy
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Clinical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Simon P Harding
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Chris A Rogers
- Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Susan Downes
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew J Lotery
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Helen A Dakin
- Health Economic Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lucy Culliford
- Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Lauren J Scott
- Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Rachel L Nash
- Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jodi Taylor
- Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Alyson Muldrew
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Clinical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Jayashree Sahni
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sarah Wordsworth
- Health Economic Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - James Raftery
- Wessex Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Tunde Peto
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Barnaby C Reeves
- Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
de Hoz R, Rojas B, Ramírez AI, Salazar JJ, Gallego BI, Triviño A, Ramírez JM. Retinal Macroglial Responses in Health and Disease. Biomed Res Int 2016; 2016:2954721. [PMID: 27294114 DOI: 10.1155/2016/2954721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Due to their permanent and close proximity to neurons, glial cells perform essential tasks for the normal physiology of the retina. Astrocytes and Müller cells (retinal macroglia) provide physical support to neurons and supplement them with several metabolites and growth factors. Macroglia are involved in maintaining the homeostasis of extracellular ions and neurotransmitters, are essential for information processing in neural circuits, participate in retinal glucose metabolism and in removing metabolic waste products, regulate local blood flow, induce the blood-retinal barrier (BRB), play fundamental roles in local immune response, and protect neurons from oxidative damage. In response to polyetiological insults, glia cells react with a process called reactive gliosis, seeking to maintain retinal homeostasis. When malfunctioning, macroglial cells can become primary pathogenic elements. A reactive gliosis has been described in different retinal pathologies, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetes, glaucoma, retinal detachment, or retinitis pigmentosa. A better understanding of the dual, neuroprotective, or cytotoxic effect of macroglial involvement in retinal pathologies would help in treating the physiopathology of these diseases. The extensive participation of the macroglia in retinal diseases points to these cells as innovative targets for new drug therapies.
Collapse
|
44
|
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes and has been recognized as a vascular dysfunction leading to blindness in working-age adults. It becomes increasingly clear that neural cells in retina play an important role in the pathogenesis of DR. Neural retina located at the back of the eye is part of the brain and a representative of the central nervous system. The neurosensory deficits seen in DR are related to inflammation and occur prior to the clinically identifiable vascular complications. The neural deficits are associated with abnormal reactions of retina glial cells and neurons in response to hyperglycemia. Improper activation of the innate immune system may also be an important contributor to the pathophysiology of DR. Therefore, DR manifests characteristics of both vasculopathy and chronic neuroinflammatory diseases. In this article, we attempt to provide an overview of the current understanding of inflammation in neural retina abnormalities in diabetes. Inhibition of neuroinflammation may represent a novel therapeutic strategy to the prevention of the progression of DR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 S Xianlie Road, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| | - Hui Chen
- Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Shao Bo Su
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 S Xianlie Road, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Wei J, Jiang H, Gao H, Wang G. Raf-1 Kinase Inhibitory Protein (RKIP) Promotes Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival and Axonal Regeneration Following Optic Nerve Crush. J Mol Neurosci 2015; 57:243-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-015-0612-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
|
46
|
Ishikawa M, Sawada Y, Yoshitomi T. Structure and function of the interphotoreceptor matrix surrounding retinal photoreceptor cells. Exp Eye Res 2015; 133:3-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2015.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
47
|
Sriramoju B, Kanwar RK, Kanwar JR. Nanoformulated Mutant SurR9-C84A: a Possible Key for Alzheimer’s and its Associated Inflammation. Pharm Res 2015; 32:2787-97. [DOI: 10.1007/s11095-015-1664-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
|
48
|
Nakahara T, Hoshino M, Hoshino SI, Mori A, Sakamoto K, Ishii K. Structural and functional changes in retinal vasculature induced by retinal ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Exp Eye Res 2015; 135:134-45. [PMID: 25728136 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2015.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 10/14/2014] [Revised: 01/25/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown retinal blood vessel damage in experimental models of retinal degeneration. The present study aimed to provide a detailed description of the structural and functional changes in retinal vasculature induced by retinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats. Retinal ischemia was induced for 60 min by raising the intraocular pressure to 130 mmHg. Morphological changes in vascular components (endothelial cells, pericytes, and basement membranes), the patency and perfusion of blood vessels, and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were assessed in the retinas at 2, 7, and 14 days after I/R. Significant reductions in vascular densities were observed at 7 and 14 days after I/R. Pericyte loss occurred after the appearance of endothelial cell degeneration, whereas the vascular basement membranes remained unchanged. Some vessels showed no perfusion in damaged retina. A decrease in the immunoreactivity of VEGF in the region extending from the ganglion cell layer to the outer plexiform layer was evident 2 days after I/R. In retinal I/R model, retinal ganglion cells are rapidly (<2 day) damaged following reperfusion, therefore, the current results suggest that neuronal cell damage precedes capillary degeneration, and neuronal cells may play an important role in maintaining vascular structure and function through the production and release of endothelial cell survival factors, including VEGF. Neuronal cell damage could be an additional cause of progression of ischemic retinal damage by reducing blood supply to the retinal neurons due to the destruction of the blood vessel network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Nakahara
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan.
| | - Maya Hoshino
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichiro Hoshino
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Asami Mori
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakamoto
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Kunio Ishii
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Kimura A, Guo X, Noro T, Harada C, Tanaka K, Namekata K, Harada T. Valproic acid prevents retinal degeneration in a murine model of normal tension glaucoma. Neurosci Lett 2015; 588:108-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2014.12.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2014] [Revised: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 12/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|
50
|
Kong N, Lu X, Li B. Downregulation of microRNA-100 protects apoptosis and promotes neuronal growth in retinal ganglion cells. BMC Mol Biol 2014; 15:25. [PMID: 25406880 PMCID: PMC4271342 DOI: 10.1186/s12867-014-0025-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are preferentially lost in glaucoma or optic neuritis. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of mircoRNA 100 (miR-100) against oxidative stress induced apoptosis in RGC-5 cells. RESULTS Rat RGC-5 cells were cultured in plates and H2O2 was added to induce oxidative stress. TUNEL assay and qRT-PCR showed H2O2 induced apoptosis and up-regulated miR-100 in a dose-dependent manner in RGC-5 cells. Conversely, lentiviral-mediated miR-100 down-regulation protected H2O2 induced apoptosis, promoted neurite growth and activated AKT/ERK and TrkB pathways through phosphorylation. Luciferase assay confirmed that IGF1R was directly regulated by miR-100 in RGC-5 cells, and siRNA-mediated IGF1R knockdown activated AKT protein through phosphorylation, down-regulated miR-100, therefore exerted a protective effect on RGC-5 apoptosis. CONCLUSION Down-regulating miR-100 is an effective method to protect H2O2 induced apoptosis in RGC-5 cells, possible associated with IGF1R regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ning Kong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong Province, China. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Xiaohe Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|