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Lukomska A, Frost MP, Theune WC, Xing J, Gupta M, Trakhtenberg EF. Nfe2l3 promotes neuroprotection and long-distance axon regeneration after injury in vivo. Exp Neurol 2024; 375:114741. [PMID: 38395216 PMCID: PMC10981571 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Nuclear factor erythroid 2 like (Nfe2l) gene family members 1-3 mediate cellular response to oxidative stress, including in the central nervous system (CNS). However, neuronal functions of Nfe2l3 are unknown. Here, we comparatively evaluated expression of Nfe2l1, Nfe2l2, and Nfe2l3 in singe cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq)-profiled cortical and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) CNS projection neurons, investigated whether Nfe2l3 regulates neuroprotection and axon regeneration after CNS injury in vivo, and characterized a gene network associated with Nfe2l3 in neurons. We showed that, Nfe2l3 expression transiently peaks in developing immature cortical and RGC projection neurons, but is nearly abolished in adult neurons and is not upregulated after injury. Furthermore, within the retina, Nfe2l3 is enriched in RGCs, primarily neonatally, and not upregulated in injured RGCs, whereas Nfe2l1 and Nfe2l2 are expressed robustly in other retinal cell types as well and are upregulated in injured RGCs. We also found that, expressing Nfe2l3 in injured RGCs through localized intralocular viral vector delivery promotes neuroprotection and long-distance axon regeneration after optic nerve injury in vivo. Moreover, Nfe2l3 provided a similar extent of neuroprotection and axon regeneration as viral vector-targeting of Pten and Klf9, which are prominent regulators of neuroprotection and long-distance axon regeneration. Finally, we bioinformatically characterized a gene network associated with Nfe2l3 in neurons, which predicted the association of Nfe2l3 with established mechanisms of neuroprotection and axon regeneration. Thus, Nfe2l3 is a novel neuroprotection and axon regeneration-promoting factor with a therapeutic potential for treating CNS injury and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Lukomska
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Matthew P Frost
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - William C Theune
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Jian Xing
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Mahit Gupta
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Ephraim F Trakhtenberg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
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Kim M, Kim JY, Rhim WK, Cimaglia G, Want A, Morgan JE, Williams PA, Park CG, Han DK, Rho S. Extracellular vesicle encapsulated nicotinamide delivered via a trans-scleral route provides retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:65. [PMID: 38649962 PMCID: PMC11036688 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01777-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The progressive and irreversible degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons is the major characteristic of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a cofactor and metabolite of redox reaction critical for neuronal survival. Supplementation with nicotinamide (NAM), a precursor of NAD, can confer neuroprotective effects against glaucomatous damage caused by an age-related decline of NAD or mitochondrial dysfunction, reflecting the high metabolic activity of RGCs. However, oral supplementation of drug is relatively less efficient in terms of transmissibility to RGCs compared to direct delivery methods such as intraocular injection or delivery using subconjunctival depots. Neither method is ideal, given the risks of infection and subconjunctival scarring without novel techniques. By contrast, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have advantages as a drug delivery system with low immunogeneity and tissue interactions. We have evaluated the EV delivery of NAM as an RGC protective agent using a quantitative assessment of dendritic integrity using DiOlistics, which is confirmed to be a more sensitive measure of neuronal health in our mouse glaucoma model than the evaluation of somatic loss via the immunostaining method. NAM or NAM-loaded EVs showed a significant neuroprotective effect in the mouse retinal explant model. Furthermore, NAM-loaded EVs can penetrate the sclera once deployed in the subconjunctival space. These results confirm the feasibility of using subconjunctival injection of EVs to deliver NAM to intraocular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myungjin Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, 59 Yatap-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13496, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Yong Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Intelligent Precision of Healthcare Convergence, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Jangan-gu, Suwon-Si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Kyu Rhim
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Gloria Cimaglia
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Andrew Want
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - James E Morgan
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Pete A Williams
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chun Gwon Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Intelligent Precision of Healthcare Convergence, SKKU Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Jangan-gu, Suwon-Si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Keun Han
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungsoo Rho
- Department of Ophthalmology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, 59 Yatap-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13496, Republic of Korea.
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Wang Y, Brahma MM, Takahashi K, Hernandez ANB, Ichikawa K, Minami S, Goshima Y, Harada T, Ohshima T. Drug Treatment Attenuates Retinal Ganglion Cell Death by Inhibiting Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 2 Phosphorylation in Mouse Models of Normal Tension Glaucoma. Neuromolecular Med 2024; 26:13. [PMID: 38619671 PMCID: PMC11018674 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-024-08778-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Normal tension glaucoma (NTG) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in glaucoma families. Typical glaucoma develops because of increased intraocular pressure (IOP), whereas NTG develops despite normal IOP. As a subtype of open-angle glaucoma, NTG is characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration, gradual loss of axons, and injury to the optic nerve. The relationship between glutamate excitotoxicity and oxidative stress has elicited great interest in NTG studies. We recently reported that suppressing collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) phosphorylation in S522A CRMP2 mutant (CRMP2 KIKI) mice inhibited RGC death in NTG mouse models. This study evaluated the impact of the natural compounds huperzine A (HupA) and naringenin (NAR), which have therapeutic effects against glutamate excitotoxicity and oxidative stress, on inhibiting CMRP2 phosphorylation in mice intravitreally injected with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and GLAST mutant mice. Results of the study demonstrated that HupA and NAR significantly reduced RGC degeneration and thinning of the inner retinal layer, and inhibited the elevated CRMP2 phosphorylation. These treatments protected against glutamate excitotoxicity and suppressed oxidative stress, which could provide insight into developing new effective therapeutic strategies for NTG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuebing Wang
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan
| | - Musukha Mala Brahma
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan
| | - Kazuya Takahashi
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan
| | | | - Koki Ichikawa
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan
| | - Syuntaro Minami
- Nara Medical University, Kashihara City, Nara, 634-8521, Japan
| | - Yoshio Goshima
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neurobiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Takayuki Harada
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - Toshio Ohshima
- Laboratory for Molecular Brain Science, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan.
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4
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Shi Y, Ye D, Cui K, Bai X, Fan M, Feng Y, Hu C, Xu Y, Huang J. Melatonin ameliorates retinal ganglion cell senescence and apoptosis in a SIRT1-dependent manner in an optic nerve injury model. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167053. [PMID: 38325588 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167053] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Melatonin is involved in exerting protective effects in aged-related and neurodegenerative diseases through a silent information regulator type 1 (SIRT1)-dependent pathway. However, little was known about the impact of melatonin on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) senescence and apoptosis following optic nerve crush (ONC). Thus, this study aimed to examine the effects of melatonin on RGC senescence and apoptosis after ONC and investigate the involvement of SIRT1 in this process. To study this, an ONC model was established. EX-527, an inhibitor of SIRT1, was injected intraperitoneally into mice. And melatonin was administrated abdominally into mice after ONC every day. Hematoxylin & eosin staining, retina flat-mounts and optical coherence tomography were used to evaluate the loss of retina cells/neurons. Pattern electroretinogram (p-ERG) was performed to evaluate the function of RGCs. Immunofluorescence and western blot were used to evaluate protein expression. SA-β-gal staining was employed to detect senescent cells. The results demonstrated that melatonin partially rescued the expression of SIRT1 in RGC 3 days after ONC. Additionally, melatonin administration partly rescued the decreased RGC number and ganglion cell complex thickness observed 14 days after ONC. Melatonin also suppressed ONC-induced senescence and apoptosis index. Furthermore, p-ERG showed that melatonin improved the amplitude of P50, N95 and N95/P50 following ONC. Importantly, the protective effects of melatonin were reversed when EX-527 was administered. In summary, this study revealed that melatonin attenuated RGC senescence and apoptosis through a SIRT1-dependent pathway after ONC. These findings provide valuable insights for the treatment of RGC senescence and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxun Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Dan Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China; Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 151 Yanjiang Road, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Kaixuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xue Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Matthew Fan
- Yale College, Yale University, New Haven, CT 201942, United States
| | - Yanlin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Chenyang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China.
| | - Jingjing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China.
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5
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Choi J, Joisher HNV, Gill HK, Lin L, Cepko C. Characterization of the development of the high-acuity area of the chick retina. Dev Biol 2024; 511:39-52. [PMID: 38548147 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The fovea is a small region within the central retina that is responsible for our high acuity daylight vision. Chickens also have a high acuity area (HAA), and are one of the few species that enables studies of the mechanisms of HAA development, due to accessible embryonic tissue and methods to readily perturb gene expression. To enable such studies, we characterized the development of the chick HAA using single molecule fluorescent in situ hybridization (smFISH), along with more classical methods. We found that Fgf8 provides a molecular marker for the HAA throughout development and into adult stages, allowing studies of the cellular composition of this area over time. The radial dimension of the ganglion cell layer (GCL) was seen to be the greatest at the HAA throughout development, beginning during the period of neurogenesis, suggesting that genesis, rather than cell death, creates a higher level of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in this area. In contrast, the HAA acquired its characteristic high density of cone photoreceptors post-hatching, which is well after the period of neurogenesis. We also confirmed that rod photoreceptors are not present in the HAA. Analyses of cell death in the developing photoreceptor layer, where rods would reside, did not show apoptotic cells, suggesting that lack of genesis, rather than death, created the "rod-free zone" (RFZ). Quantification of each cone photoreceptor subtype showed an ordered mosaic of most cone subtypes. The changes in cellular densities and cell subtypes between the developing and mature HAA provide some answers to the overarching strategy used by the retina to create this area and provide a framework for future studies of the mechanisms underlying its formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiho Choi
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA
| | - Heer N V Joisher
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA
| | | | - Lucas Lin
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA
| | - Constance Cepko
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA.
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6
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He C, Peng K, Zhu X, Wang Z, Xiu W, Zhang G, Chen Y, Sun C, Xiao X, Liu D, Li A, Gao Y, Wang J, Shuai P, Chen Y, Yu L, Lu F. Th1 cells contribute to retinal ganglion cell loss in glaucoma in a VCAM-1-dependent manner. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:43. [PMID: 38317227 PMCID: PMC10840227 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03035-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and optic nerve axons, leading to irreversible visual impairment. Despite its clinical significance, the underlying mechanisms of glaucoma pathogenesis remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to unravel the multifaceted nature of glaucoma by investigating the interaction between T cells and retinas. By utilizing clinical samples, murine glaucoma models, and T cell transfer models, we made several key findings. Firstly, we observed that CD4+ T cells from glaucoma patients displayed enhanced activation and a bias towards T helper (Th) 1 responses, which correlated with visual impairment. Secondly, we identified the infiltration of Th1 cells into the retina, where they targeted RGC and integrated into the pro-inflammatory glial network, contributing to progressive RGC loss. Thirdly, we discovered that circulating Th1 cells upregulated vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1) on retinal microvessels, facilitating their entry into the neural retina. Lastly, we found that Th1 cells underwent functional reprogramming before reaching the retina, acquiring a phenotype associated with lymphocyte migration and neurodegenerative diseases. Our study provides novel insights into the role of peripheral CD4+ T cells in glaucoma pathogenesis, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying their infiltration into the retina and offering potential avenues for innovative therapeutic interventions in this sight-threatening disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong He
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Kun Peng
- Health Management Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiong Zhu
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Zuo Wang
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenbo Xiu
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Gao Zhang
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Chaonan Sun
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Donghua Liu
- Health Management Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - An Li
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanping Gao
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinxia Wang
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ping Shuai
- Health Management Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yilian Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical Center, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fang Lu
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Quzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Quzhou, China.
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Zhang X, Wang F, Su Y. TRPV: An emerging target in glaucoma and optic nerve damage. Exp Eye Res 2024; 239:109784. [PMID: 38199261 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109784] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels are members of the TRP channel superfamily, which are ion channels that sense mechanical and osmotic stimuli and participate in Ca2+ signalling across the cell membrane. TRPV channels play important roles in maintaining the normal functions of an organism, and defects or abnormalities in TRPV channel function cause a range of diseases, including cardiovascular, neurological and urological disorders. Glaucoma is a group of chronic progressive optic nerve diseases with pathological changes that can occur in the tissues of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye, including the ciliary body, trabecular meshwork, Schlemm's canal, and retina. TRPV channels are expressed in these tissues and play various roles in glaucoma. In this article, we review various aspects of the pathogenesis of glaucoma, the structure and function of TRPV channels, the relationship between TRPV channels and systemic diseases, and the relationship between TRPV channels and ocular diseases, especially glaucoma, and we suggest future research directions. This information will help to further our understanding of TRPV channels and provide new ideas and targets for the treatment of glaucoma and optic nerve damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
| | - Ying Su
- Eye Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
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Chrysostomou V, Bell KC, Ng SW, Suresh S, Karthik G, Millet M, Chung Y, Crowston JG. A new model of axon degeneration in the mouse optic nerve using repeat intraocular pressure challenge. Exp Eye Res 2024; 238:109722. [PMID: 37952724 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109722] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
We characterize a new experimental model for inducing retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dysfunction and degeneration in mice. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to two acute periods of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation (50 mmHg for 30 min) by cannulation of the anterior chamber. We used full-field electroretinography and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to measure subsequent changes in retina and optic nerve function, and histochemical techniques to assess RGC survival and optic nerve structure. In 12 month old mice, a single IOP challenge caused loss and subsequent recovery of RGC function over the following 28 days with minimal cell death and no observed axonal damage. A second identical IOP challenge resulted in persistent RGC dysfunction and significant (36%) loss of RGC somas. This was accompanied by a 16.7% delay in the latency and a 27.6% decrease in the amplitude of the VEP. Severe axonal damage was seen histologically with enlargement of axons, myelin disruption, reduced axon density, and the presence of glial scarring. In contrast, younger 3 month old mice when exposed to a single or repeat IOP challenge showed quicker RGC functional recovery after a single challenge and full functional recovery after a repeat challenge with no detectable optic nerve dysfunction. These data demonstrate a highly reproducible and minimally invasive method for inducing RGC degeneration and axonal damage in mice. Resilience of the optic nerve to damage is highly dependent on animal age. The time-defined nature of functional versus structural loss seen in this model stands to facilitate investigation of neuroglial responses in the retina after IOP injury and the associated evaluation of neuroprotective treatment strategies. Further, the model may be used to investigate the impact of aging and the cellular switch between neurorecovery and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki Chrysostomou
- Centre for Vision Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, 169856, Singapore.
| | - Katharina C Bell
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, 169856, Singapore; EYE-ACP, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore; Save Sight Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Sze Woei Ng
- Centre for Vision Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, 169856, Singapore
| | - Samyuktha Suresh
- Centre for Vision Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore
| | - Gayathri Karthik
- Centre for Vision Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore
| | - Marion Millet
- Centre for Vision Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, 169856, Singapore
| | - Yingying Chung
- Centre for Vision Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, 169856, Singapore
| | - Jonathan G Crowston
- Centre for Vision Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, 169856, Singapore; Save Sight Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Australia
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9
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Chien JY, Ciou JW, Yen Y, Huang SP. Protective effects of compound M01 on retinal ganglion cells in experimental anterior ischemic optic neuropathy by inhibiting TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 169:115861. [PMID: 37972470 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115861] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Apoptotic death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is a common pathologic feature in different types of optic neuropathy, including ischemic optic neuropathy and glaucoma, ultimately leading to irreversible visual function loss. Potent and effective protection against RGC death is determinative in developing a successful treatment for these optic neuropathies. This study evaluated the neuroprotective effect of a HECT domain-E3 ubiquitin ligase inhibitor, M01, on retinal ganglion cells after ischemic injury. Experimental anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) was induced by photothrombotic occlusion of microvessels supplying optic nerve in rats. M01 was administered (100 mg/Kg and 200 mg/Kg) subcutaneously for three consecutive days after AION induction. Administration of M01 (100 mg/Kg) significantly increased RGC survival and preserved visual function after AION induction. The number of TUNEL-positive cells and ED1-positive cells was significantly decreased, and optic disc edema was reduced considerably after ischemic infarction with M01 treatment. Moreover, M01 effectively ameliorated optic nerve demyelination and enhanced M2 microglial polarization after AION induction. M01 enhanced the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2); subsequently, downregulated Thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) expression, inhibited NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) activation, and further decreased inflammatory factors, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in the retina after ischemic injury. These findings suggested that M01 has therapeutic potential by modulating Nrf2 and TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome pathways in the retina and optic nerve ischemic damage-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Ying Chien
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Jhih-Wei Ciou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Yun Yen
- The Translational Research Program of Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; College of Medical Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shun-Ping Huang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Department of Ophthalmology, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
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10
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Ouyang L, He T, Xing Y. Park7 protects retinal ganglion cells and promotes functional preservation after optic nerve crush via regulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2023; 261:3489-3502. [PMID: 37199801 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-023-06099-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We aim to investigate the effect of Park7 on mice RGC survival and function following optic nerve crush (ONC), and to explore its potential mechanism. METHODS Wild-type male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to optic nerve crush. Six weeks before ONC, mice received rAAV-shRNA (Park7)-EGFP or rAAV-EGFP intravitreally. Western blotting was used to detect Park7 levels. RGC survival was measured using immunofluorescence. Retinal cell apoptosis was detected using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end-labelling. An electroretinogram (ERG) and the optomotor response (OMR) were used to assess RGC function. Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) levels were assessed using western blotting. RESULTS ONC injury increased the relative expression of Park7 significantly and decreased RGC survival, the amplitude of the photopic negative response (PhNR), and OMR. Intravitreal injection of rAAV-shRNA(Park7)-EGFP downregulated Park7 expression and was clearly demonstrated by the green fluorescence protein in many retinal layers. Moreover, Park7 downregulation aggravated the decrease in RGC survival and amplitude of PhNR as well as the visual acuity after ONC. However, inhibition of Park7 significantly increased Keap1 levels, decreased the total and nuclear Nrf2 levels, and reduced HO-1 levels. CONCLUSIONS Park7 downregulation enhanced RGC injury and decreased retinal electrophysiological response and OMR after ONC in mice via the Keap1-Nrf2-HO-1 signaling pathway. Park7 may have neuroprotective effects and could represent a novel way to treat optic neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyi Ouyang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Tao He
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Yiqiao Xing
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
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11
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Zhao R, He T, Xing Y, Luo J. COG1410 regulates microglial states and protects retinal ganglion cells in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Exp Eye Res 2023; 237:109678. [PMID: 37839665 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) caused by retinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury can lead to irreversible vision impairment, with neuroinflammatory responses playing an important role in this process. COG1410, a mimetic peptide of apolipoprotein E, has demonstrated protective potential in the central nervous system, but its effects on retinal IR injury remain unexplored. In this study, we established a mouse model of retinal IR injury to investigate the effects of COG1410 on retinal microglia and RGCs. We observed CD16/32-marked and CD206-marked microglia and RGCs using immunofluorescence staining, detected the expression of inflammatory factors by PCR, and evaluated retinal apoptosis with TUNEL staining. We further investigated the potential mechanism by detecting the expression of key proteins via Western blot. The results reveal that COG1410 decreased the number of CD16/32-marked microglia and increased the number of CD206-marked microglia, alleviated the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α, and reduced the loss of RGCs by inhibiting the mitochondrial-related apoptotic pathway. COG1410 was found to increase the expression of ERK1/2 and Nr4a1 but decrease the expression of NF-κB. The expression of TREM2 showed an increasing trend after COG1410 administration, but it was not statistically significant. In conclusion, COG1410 regulates microglial states and protects RGCs in retinal IR injury, showing promising potential for the treatment of eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Tao He
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yiqiao Xing
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jinyuan Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
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12
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Camós-Carreras A, Figueras-Roca M, Dotti-Boada M, Alcubierre R, Casaroli-Marano RP, Muñoz E, Sánchez-Dalmau B. Progression of Retinal Ganglion Cell and Nerve Fiber Layer Loss in Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3 Patients. Cerebellum 2023:10.1007/s12311-023-01634-1. [PMID: 38030858 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01634-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) allows noninvasive measurements of retinal neuron layers. Here, we evaluate the relationship between clinical features and anatomical SD-OCT measurements in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) and how they change with time. A retrospective review was conducted on SCA3 patients. Clinical variables such as disease duration, number of CAG repeats, and the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) score were correlated with SD-OCT measurements, including retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness, macular volume (MV), and central macular thickness (CMT). Seventeen SCA3 patients with an average follow-up of 44.9 months were recruited. Clinical features with significant baseline correlations with SD-OCT measurements included disease duration (CMT r = - 0.590; GCC r = - 0.585), SARA score (CMT r = - 0.560; RNFL r = - 0.390), and number of CAG repeats (MV r = - 0.552; RNFL r = - 0.503; GCC r = - 0.493). The annual rate of change of the SARA score during follow-up was associated with that of both the MV (r = - 0.494; p = 0.005) and GCC thickness (r = - 0.454; p = 0.012). High disability (stages 2 and 3) was independently inversely associated with the annual change in MV (ß coefficient - 17.09; p = 0.025). This study provides evidence of an association between clinical features and objective anatomical measurements obtained by SD-OCT in SCA3 patients. MV and GCC thickness could serve as potential biomarkers of disease severity, as their rates of decrease seem to be related to a worsening in the SARA score. These findings highlight the potential of SD-OCT as a noninvasive tool for assessing disease severity and progression in SCA3 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Camós-Carreras
- Ophthalmology Department, Seu Maternitat, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marc Figueras-Roca
- Ophthalmology Department, Seu Maternitat, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació Per La Recerca Biomèdica-IDIBAPS, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marina Dotti-Boada
- Ophthalmology Department, Seu Maternitat, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafel Alcubierre
- Ophthalmology Department, Seu Maternitat, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricardo Pedro Casaroli-Marano
- Ophthalmology Department, Seu Maternitat, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació Per La Recerca Biomèdica-IDIBAPS, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esteban Muñoz
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació Per La Recerca Biomèdica-IDIBAPS, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Neurology Department, Seu Villarroel, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bernardo Sánchez-Dalmau
- Ophthalmology Department, Seu Maternitat, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació Per La Recerca Biomèdica-IDIBAPS, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Wang X, Lin Q, Liu S, Li X, Kong X, Wang Y, Ten W, Huang Y, Yang Y, Zhao J, Ma X, Zhou X. LncRNA-XR_002792574.1-mediated ceRNA network reveals potential biomarkers in myopia-induced retinal ganglion cell damage. J Transl Med 2023; 21:785. [PMID: 37932794 PMCID: PMC10629108 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04662-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a key role in the occurrence and progression of myopia. However, the function of lncRNAs in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the pathogenesis of myopia is still unknown. The aim of our study was to explore the lncRNA-mediated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in RGCs during the development of myopia. METHODS RNA sequencing was performed to analyze lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles in RGCs between guinea pigs with form-deprived myopia (FDM) and normal control guinea pigs, and related ceRNA networks were constructed. Then, potentially important genes in ceRNA networks were verified by qRT‒PCR, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed to explore biological functions in the RGCs of FDM guinea pigs. The important genes and related signaling pathways were further verified by qRT‒PCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blot in myopia in FDM guinea pigs, FDM mice, and highly myopic adults. RESULTS The distribution of RGCs was uneven, the number of RGCs was decreased, and RGC apoptosis was increased in FDM guinea pigs. In total, 873 lncRNAs and 2480 mRNAs were determined to be differentially expressed genes in RGCs from normal control and FDM guinea pigs. Via lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network construction and PCR verification, we found that lncRNA-XR_002792574.1 may be involved in the development of myopia through the miR-760-3p/Adcy1 pathway in RGCs. Further verification in FDM guinea pigs, FDM mice, and highly myopic adults demonstrated that the lncRNA-XR_002792574.1/miR-760-3p/Adcy1 axis in RGCs might be related to cGMP/PKG, the apelin signaling pathway and scleral remodeling. CONCLUSION We demonstrated that the lncRNA-XR_002792574.1/miR-760-3p/Adcy1 axis in RGCs might be related to myopia. On the one hand, the lncRNA-XR_002792574.1/miR-760-3p/Adcy1 axis might inhibit the cGMP/PKG and apelin signaling pathways in RGCs, thereby causing RGC damage in myopia. On the other hand, the lncRNA-XR_002792574.1/miR-760-3p/Adcy1 axis may cause myopic scleral remodeling through the ERK-MMP-2 pathway. These findings may reveal novel potential targets in myopia and provide reference value for exploration and development of gene editing therapeutics for hereditary myopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejun Wang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinghong Lin
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengtao Liu
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoying Li
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiehe Kong
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuliang Wang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, China
| | - Weijung Ten
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, China
| | - Yangyi Huang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanting Yang
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaopeng Ma
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xingtao Zhou
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, China.
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14
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Ahn J, Yoo Y, Goo YS. Multiple consecutive-biphasic pulse stimulation improves spatially localized firing of retinal ganglion cells in the degenerate retina. Korean J Physiol Pharmacol 2023; 27:541-553. [PMID: 37884286 PMCID: PMC10613570 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2023.27.6.541] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Retinal prostheses have shown some clinical success in restoring vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. However, the post-implantation visual acuity does not exceed that of legal blindness. The reason for the poor visual acuity might be that (1) degenerate retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are less responsive to electrical stimulation than normal RGCs, and (2) electrically-evoked RGC spikes show a more widespread not focal response. The single-biphasic pulse electrical stimulation, commonly used in artificial vision, has limitations in addressing these issues. In this study, we propose the benefit of multiple consecutive-biphasic pulse stimulation. We used C57BL/6J mice and C3H/HeJ (rd1) mice for the normal retina and retinal degeneration model. An 8 × 8 multi-electrode array was used to record electrically-evoked RGC spikes. We compared RGC responses when increasing the amplitude of a single biphasic pulse versus increasing the number of consecutive biphasic pulses at the same stimulus charge. Increasing the amplitude of a single biphasic pulse induced more RGC spike firing while the spatial resolution of RGC populations decreased. For multiple consecutive-biphasic pulse stimulation, RGC firing increased as the number of pulses increased, and the spatial resolution of RGC populations was well preserved even up to 5 pulses. Multiple consecutive-biphasic pulse stimulation using two or three pulses in degenerate retinas induced as much RGC spike firing as in normal retinas. These findings suggest that the newly proposed multiple consecutive-biphasic pulse stimulation can improve the visual acuity in prosthesis-implanted patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungryul Ahn
- Department of Physiology, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Yongseok Yoo
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Korea
| | - Yong Sook Goo
- Department of Physiology, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju 28644, Korea
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15
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Naguib S, Backstrom JR, Artis E, Ghose P, Stahl A, Hardin R, Haider AA, Ang J, Calkins DJ, Rex TS. NRF2/ARE mediated antioxidant response to glaucoma: role of glia and retinal ganglion cells. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:171. [PMID: 37875948 PMCID: PMC10594672 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01663-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma, the second leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, is associated with age and sensitivity to intraocular pressure (IOP). We have shown that elevated IOP causes an early increase in levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the microbead occlusion mouse model. We also detected an endogenous antioxidant response mediated by Nuclear factor erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (NRF2), a transcription factor that binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE) and increases transcription of antioxidant genes. Our previous studies show that inhibiting this pathway results in earlier and greater glaucoma pathology. In this study, we sought to determine if this endogenous antioxidant response is driven by the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) or glial cells. We used Nrf2fl/fl mice and cell-type specific adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) expressing Cre to alter Nrf2 levels in either the RGCs or glial cells. Then, we quantified the endogenous antioxidant response, visual function and optic nerve histology after IOP elevation. We found that knock-down of Nrf2 in either cell type blunts the antioxidant response and results in earlier pathology and vision loss. Further, we show that delivery of Nrf2 to the RGCs is sufficient to provide neuroprotection. In summary, both the RGCs and glial cells contribute to the antioxidant response, but treatment of the RGCs alone with increased Nrf2 is sufficient to delay onset of vision loss and axon degeneration in this induced model of glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Naguib
- Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jon R Backstrom
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Elisabeth Artis
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Purnima Ghose
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Amy Stahl
- Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Rachael Hardin
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ameer A Haider
- Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - John Ang
- Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - David J Calkins
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Tonia S Rex
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Nashville, TN, USA.
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16
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Strong TA, Esquivel J, Wang Q, Ledon PJ, Wang H, Gaidosh G, Tse D, Pelaez D. Activation of multiple Eph receptors on neuronal membranes correlates with the onset of optic neuropathy. Eye Vis (Lond) 2023; 10:42. [PMID: 37779186 PMCID: PMC10544557 DOI: 10.1186/s40662-023-00359-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optic neuropathy is a major cause of irreversible blindness, yet the molecular determinants that contribute to neuronal demise have not been fully elucidated. Several studies have identified 'ephrin signaling' as one of the most dysregulated pathways in the early pathophysiology of optic neuropathy with varied etiologies. Developmentally, gradients in ephrin signaling coordinate retinotopic mapping via repulsive modulation of cytoskeletal dynamics in neuronal membranes. Little is known about the role ephrin signaling plays in the post-natal visual system and its correlation with the onset of optic neuropathy. METHODS Postnatal mouse retinas were collected for mass spectrometry analysis for erythropoietin-producing human hepatocellular (Eph) receptors. Optic nerve crush (ONC) model was employed to induce optic neuropathy, and proteomic changes during the acute phase of neuropathic onset were analyzed. Confocal and super-resolution microscopy determined the cellular localization of activated Eph receptors after ONC injury. Eph receptor inhibitors assessed the neuroprotective effect of ephrin signaling modulation. RESULTS Mass spectrometry revealed expression of seven Eph receptors (EphA2, A4, A5, B1, B2, B3, and B6) in postnatal mouse retinal tissue. Immunoblotting analysis indicated a significant increase in phosphorylation of these Eph receptors 48 h after ONC. Confocal microscopy demonstrated the presence of both subclasses of Eph receptors within the retina. Stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) super-resolution imaging combined with optimal transport colocalization analysis revealed a significant co-localization of activated Eph receptors with injured neuronal cells, compared to uninjured neuronal and/or injured glial cells, 48 h post-ONC. Eph receptor inhibitors displayed notable neuroprotective effects for retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after six days of ONC injury. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate the functional presence of diverse Eph receptors in the postnatal mammalian retina, capable of modulating multiple biological processes. Pan-Eph receptor activation contributes to the onset of neuropathy in optic neuropathies, with preferential activation of Eph receptors on neuronal processes in the inner retina following optic nerve injury. Notably, Eph receptor activation precedes neuronal loss. We observed a neuroprotective effect on RGCs upon inhibiting Eph receptors. Our study highlights the importance of investigating this repulsive pathway in early optic neuropathies and provides a comprehensive characterization of the receptors present in the developed retina of mice, relevant to both homeostasis and disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Strong
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1638 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA
| | - Juan Esquivel
- Department of Physics, University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Qikai Wang
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1638 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Paul J Ledon
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1638 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Hua Wang
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1638 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Gabriel Gaidosh
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - David Tse
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1638 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Daniel Pelaez
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
- Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1638 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
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17
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Eraslan M, Çerman E, Bozkurt S, Genç D, Virlan AT, Demir CS, Akkoç T, Karaöz E, Akkoç T. Mesenchymal stem cells differentiate to retinal ganglion-like cells in rat glaucoma model induced by polystyrene microspheres. Tissue Cell 2023; 84:102199. [PMID: 37633122 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2023.102199] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
AIM The study aimed to evaluate the differentiation ability of intravitreally injected rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBM-MSCs) to retinal ganglion-like cells in a polystyrene microsphere induced rat glaucoma model. MATERIALS AND METHODS The glaucoma rat model was generated via intracameral injection of 7 microliter polystyrene microspheres. Green fluorescence protein-labeled (GFP) rBM-MSCs were transplanted intravitreally at or after induction of ocular hypertension (OHT), depending on the groups. By the end of the fourth week, flat-mount retinal dissection was performed, and labeled against Brn3a, CD90, GFAP, CD11b, Vimentin, and localization of GFP positive rBM-MSCs was used for evaluation through immunofluorescence staining and to count differentiated retinal cells by flow cytometry. From 34 male Wistar albino rats, 56 eyes were investigated. RESULTS Flow cytometry revealed significantly increased CD90 and Brn3a positive cells in glaucoma induced and with rBM-MSC injected groups compared to control(P = 0.006 and P = 0.003 respectively), sham-operated (P = 0.007 and P < 0.001 respectively), and only rBM-MSCs injected groups (P = 0.002 and P = 0.009 respectively). Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed differentiation of GFP labeled stem cells to various retinal cells, including ganglion-like cells. rBM-MSCs were observable in ganglion cells, inner and outer nuclear retinal layers in rBM-MSCs injected eyes. CONCLUSION Intravitreally transplanted rBM-MSCs differentiated into retinal cells, including ganglion-like cells, which successfully created a glaucoma model damaged with polystyrene microspheres. Promisingly, MSCs may have a role in neuro-protection and neuro-regeneration treatment of glaucoma in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhsin Eraslan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Eren Çerman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Süheyla Bozkurt
- Department of Pathology, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Deniz Genç
- Department of Pediatric Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey
| | - Aysın Tulunay Virlan
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Cansu Subaşı Demir
- Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research & Manufacturing (LivMedCell), Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tolga Akkoç
- Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute, Tubitak Marmara Research Center, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Erdal Karaöz
- Department of Histology & Embryology, Istinye University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey; Center for Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Research & Practice, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tunç Akkoç
- Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Immunology, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey; Marstem Cell Technologies, Marmara University Technopark, İstanbul, Turkey
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18
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Xing J, Theune WC, Lukomska A, Frost MP, Damania A, Trakhtenberg EF. Experimental upregulation of developmentally downregulated ribosomal protein large subunits 7 and 7A promotes axon regeneration after injury in vivo. Exp Neurol 2023; 368:114510. [PMID: 37633482 PMCID: PMC10529763 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Ribosomal proteins are involved in neurodevelopment and central nervous system (CNS) disease and injury. However, the roles of specific ribosomal protein subunits in developmental axon growth, and their potential as therapeutic targets for treating CNS injuries, are still poorly understood. Here, we show that ribosomal protein large (Rpl) and small (Rps) subunit genes are substantially (56-fold) enriched amongst the genes, which are downregulated during maturation of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) CNS projection neurons. We also show that Rpl and Rps subunits are highly co-regulated in RGCs, and partially re-upregulated after optic nerve crush (ONC). Because developmental downregulation of ribosomal proteins coincides with developmental decline in neuronal intrinsic axon growth capacity, we hypothesized that Rpl/Rps incomplete re-upregulation after injury may be a part of the cellular response which attempts to reactivate intrinsic axon growth mechanisms. We found that experimentally upregulating Rpl7 and Rpl7A promoted axon regeneration after ONC in vivo. Finally, we characterized gene networks associated with Rpl/Rps, and showed that Rpl7 and Rpl7A belong to the cluster of genes, which are shared between translational and neurodevelopmental biological processes (based on gene-ontology) that are co-downregulated in maturing RGCs during the decline in intrinsic axon growth capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Xing
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - William C Theune
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Agnieszka Lukomska
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Matthew P Frost
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Ashiti Damania
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Ephraim F Trakhtenberg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
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19
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Canovai A, Tribble JR, Jöe M, Westerlund DY, Amato R, Trounce IA, Dal Monte M, Williams PA. Pyrroloquinoline quinone drives ATP synthesis in vitro and in vivo and provides retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:146. [PMID: 37684640 PMCID: PMC10486004 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01642-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells are highly metabolically active requiring strictly regulated metabolism and functional mitochondria to keep ATP levels in physiological range. Imbalances in metabolism and mitochondrial mechanisms can be sufficient to induce a depletion of ATP, thus altering retinal ganglion cell viability and increasing cell susceptibility to death under stress. Altered metabolism and mitochondrial abnormalities have been demonstrated early in many optic neuropathies, including glaucoma, autosomal dominant optic atrophy, and Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a quinone cofactor and is reported to have numerous effects on cellular and mitochondrial metabolism. However, the reported effects are highly context-dependent, indicating the need to study the mechanism of PQQ in specific systems. We investigated whether PQQ had a neuroprotective effect under different retinal ganglion cell stresses and assessed the effect of PQQ on metabolic and mitochondrial processes in cortical neuron and retinal ganglion cell specific contexts. We demonstrated that PQQ is neuroprotective in two models of retinal ganglion cell degeneration. We identified an increased ATP content in healthy retinal ganglion cell-related contexts both in in vitro and in vivo models. Although PQQ administration resulted in a moderate effect on mitochondrial biogenesis and content, a metabolic variation in non-diseased retinal ganglion cell-related tissues was identified after PQQ treatment. These results suggest the potential of PQQ as a novel neuroprotectant against retinal ganglion cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Canovai
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - James R. Tribble
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Melissa Jöe
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniela Y. Westerlund
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rosario Amato
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ian A. Trounce
- Department of Surgery, Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Australia
| | | | - Pete A. Williams
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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20
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Murai Y, Mori S, Okuda M, Kusuhara S, Kurimoto T, Nakamura M. Effects of Elevated Intraocular Pressure on Retinal Ganglion Cell Density and Expression and Interaction of Retinal Aquaporin 9 and Monocarboxylate Transporters. Ophthalmic Res 2023; 66:1222-1229. [PMID: 37647868 PMCID: PMC10614569 DOI: 10.1159/000533497] [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: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Astrocyte-to-neuron lactate shuttle (ANLS) plays an important role in the energy metabolism of neurons, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Aquaporin 9 (AQP9), which is an aquaglyceroporin that can transport lactate, may be involved in ANLS together with monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) to maintain RGC function and survival. This study aimed to investigate the impact of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) on AQP9-MCT interaction and RGC survival. METHODS IOP was elevated in Aqp9 knock-out (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) littermates by anterior chamber microbead injection. RGC density was measured by TUBB3 immunostaining on retinal flat mounts. Immunolabeling, immunoblot, and immunoprecipitation were conducted to identify and quantitate expressions of AQP9, MCT1, MCT2, and MCT4 in whole retinas and ganglion cell layer (GCL). RESULTS Aqp9 KO and WT mice had similar RGC density at baseline. Microbead injection increased cumulative IOP by approximately 32% up to 4 weeks, resulting in RGC density loss of 42% and 34% in WT and Aqp9 KO mice, respectively, with no statistical difference. In the retina of WT mice, elevated IOP decreased the amount of AQP9, MCT1, and MCT2 protein and changed the AQP9 immunoreactivity and reduced MCT1 and MCT2 immunoreactivities in GCL. Meanwhile, it decreased MCT1 and increased MCT2 that interact with AQP9, without affecting MCT4 expression. Aqp9 gene deletion increased baseline MCT2 expression in the GCL and counteracted IOP elevation regarding MCT1 and MCT2 expressions. CONCLUSION The compensatory upregulation of MCT1 and MCT2 with Aqp9 gene deletion and ocular hypertension may reflect the need to maintain lactate transport in the retina for RGC survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Murai
- Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Sotaro Mori
- Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Mina Okuda
- Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Sentaro Kusuhara
- Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takuji Kurimoto
- Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Makoto Nakamura
- Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
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21
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Tribble JR, Hui F, Quintero H, El Hajji S, Bell K, Di Polo A, Williams PA. Neuroprotection in glaucoma: Mechanisms beyond intraocular pressure lowering. Mol Aspects Med 2023; 92:101193. [PMID: 37331129 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a common, complex, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive dysfunction and then loss of retinal ganglion cells, the output neurons of the retina. Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness and affects ∼80 million people worldwide with many more undiagnosed. The major risk factors for glaucoma are genetics, age, and elevated intraocular pressure. Current strategies only target intraocular pressure management and do not directly target the neurodegenerative processes occurring at the level of the retinal ganglion cell. Despite strategies to manage intraocular pressure, as many as 40% of glaucoma patients progress to blindness in at least one eye during their lifetime. As such, neuroprotective strategies that target the retinal ganglion cell and these neurodegenerative processes directly are of great therapeutic need. This review will cover the recent advances from basic biology to on-going clinical trials for neuroprotection in glaucoma covering degenerative mechanisms, metabolism, insulin signaling, mTOR, axon transport, apoptosis, autophagy, and neuroinflammation. With an increased understanding of both the basic and clinical mechanisms of the disease, we are closer than ever to a neuroprotective strategy for glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Tribble
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Flora Hui
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Heberto Quintero
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Neuroscience Division, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada
| | - Sana El Hajji
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Neuroscience Division, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada
| | - Katharina Bell
- NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Australia; Eye ACP Duke-NUS, Singapore
| | - Adriana Di Polo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Neuroscience Division, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada
| | - Pete A Williams
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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22
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Ju WK, Perkins GA, Kim KY, Bastola T, Choi WY, Choi SH. Glaucomatous optic neuropathy: Mitochondrial dynamics, dysfunction and protection in retinal ganglion cells. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 95:101136. [PMID: 36400670 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and is characterized by a slow, progressive, and multifactorial degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons, resulting in vision loss. Despite its high prevalence in individuals 60 years of age and older, the causing factors contributing to glaucoma progression are currently not well characterized. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only proven treatable risk factor. However, lowering IOP is insufficient for preventing disease progression. One of the significant interests in glaucoma pathogenesis is understanding the structural and functional impairment of mitochondria in RGCs and their axons and synapses. Glaucomatous risk factors such as IOP elevation, aging, genetic variation, neuroinflammation, neurotrophic factor deprivation, and vascular dysregulation, are potential inducers for mitochondrial dysfunction in glaucoma. Because oxidative phosphorylation stress-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with structural and functional impairment of mitochondria in glaucomatous RGCs, understanding the underlying mechanisms and relationship between structural and functional alterations in mitochondria would be beneficial to developing mitochondria-related neuroprotection in RGCs and their axons and synapses against glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Here, we review the current studies focusing on mitochondrial dynamics-based structural and functional alterations in the mitochondria of glaucomatous RGCs and therapeutic strategies to protect RGCs against glaucomatous neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Kyu Ju
- Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Guy A Perkins
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Keun-Young Kim
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Tonking Bastola
- Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Woo-Young Choi
- Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Department of Plastic Surgery, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwang-ju, South Korea
| | - Soo-Ho Choi
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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23
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Balraj A, Clarkson-Paredes C, Miller RH. Loss of optic nerve oligodendrocytes during maturation alters retinal organization. Exp Eye Res 2023:109540. [PMID: 37364629 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The myelin sheath facilitates signal conduction along axons in white matter tracts, and when disrupted, can result in significant functional deficits. Demyelination, observed in diseases like multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis, are associated with neural degeneration, however the extent of this damage on upstream circuitry is not well understood. Here we use the MBP-iCP9 mouse model to induce selective oligodendrocyte ablation in the optic nerve at P14 via a chemical inducer of dimerization (CID), resulting in partial demyelination of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons with minimal inflammation after two weeks. Oligodendrocyte loss reduced axon diameter and altered compound action potential waveforms, blocking conduction in the slowest-conducting axon populations. Demyelination resulted in disruptions to the normal composition of the retina, including reduced density of RBPMS+, Brn3a+, and OFF-transient RGCs, thinning of the IPL, and reduced density of displaced amacrine cells. The INL and ONL were unaffected by oligodendrocyte loss, suggesting that demyelination-induced deficits in this model are specific to the IPL and GCL. These results show that a partial demyelination of a subpopulation of RGC axons disrupts optic nerve function and affects the organization of the retinal network. This study highlights the significance of myelination in maintaining upstream neural connectivity and provides support for targeting neuronal degeneration in treatments of demyelinating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Balraj
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Cheryl Clarkson-Paredes
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Robert H Miller
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA.
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24
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Narsineni L, Chen DW, Foldvari M. BDNF gene delivery to the retina by cell adhesion peptide-conjugated Gemini Nanoplexes in vivo. J Control Release 2023:S0168-3659(23)00346-2. [PMID: 37257566 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neurodegeneration in glaucoma is not prevented by controlling the elevated intraocular pressure alone. Neuroprotective gene therapy approaches could be an essential part of a combination treatment. Five cell adhesion peptide (CAP)-gemini surfactants (18-7 N(p1-5)-18) were synthesized as building blocks for BDNF gene carrier nanoparticles (CAP-NPXs). The composition of CAP-NPXs was optimized, physicochemically characterized and evaluated for in vitro transfection efficiency (TE) in A7 astrocytes and 3D retinal neurospheres; and for gene expression in vivo in CD1 mice using RFP reporter gene and BDNF levels after intravitreal (IVT) injection. The IgSF-binding 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 pNPXs treated cells demonstrated 1.4-fold higher TE compared to integrin-binding 18-7 N(pRGD)-18 pNPXs and parent 18-7NH-18 NPXs with overall viability between 86 and 95%. The 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 pNPXs selectively transfected RGCs in 3D MiEye8 neurospheres. In the in vivo CD1 mouse model 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 pNPXs administered by IVT injection delivered tdTomato/BDNF plasmid to retinal cells and produced higher gene expression than the 18-7 N(pRGD)-18 pNPXs, the parent 18-7NH-18 NPXs and Lipofectamine® 3000 as demonstrated by confocal microscopy of whole mount retinas. The BDNF gene expression, assessed by ELISA, showed significantly high levels of BDNF with 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 (422.60 ± 42.60 pg/eye), followed by 18-7 N(pRGD)-18 pNPXs (230.62 ± 24.47 pg/eye), 18-7NH-18 NPXs (245.90 ± 39.72 pg/eye), Lipofectamine® 3000 (199.99 ± 29.90 pg/eye) and untreated controls (131.33 ± 20.30 pg/eye). In sum, the 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 pNPXs induced 3.4-fold higher BDNF level compared to controls and 2-fold higher than 18-7 N(pRGD)-18 pNPXs. The in vivo efficacy of 18-7 N(pFASNKL)-18 NPXs to produce BDNF levels at pharmacologically relevant levels supports further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokesh Narsineni
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Ding-Wen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
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25
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Kiyama T, Altay HY, Badea TC, Mao CA. Pou4f1-Tbr1 transcriptional cascade controls the formation of Jam2-expressing retinal ganglion cells. Front Ophthalmol (Lausanne) 2023; 3:1175568. [PMID: 38469155 PMCID: PMC10926710 DOI: 10.3389/fopht.2023.1175568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
More than 40 retinal ganglion cell (RGC) subtypes have been categorized in mouse based on their morphologies, functions, and molecular features. Among these diverse subtypes, orientation-selective Jam2-expressing RGCs (J-RGCs) has two unique morphologic characteristics: the ventral-facing dendritic arbor and the OFF-sublaminae stratified terminal dendrites in the inner plexiform layer. Previously, we have discovered that T-box transcription factor T-brain 1 (Tbr1) is expressed in J-RGCs. We further found that Tbr1 is essential for the expression of Jam2, and Tbr1 regulates the formation and the dendritic morphogenesis of J-RGCs. However, Tbr1 begins to express in terminally differentiated RGCs around perinatal stage, suggesting that it is unlikely involved in the initial fate determination for J-RGC and other upstream transcription factors must control Tbr1 expression and J-RGC formation. Using the Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation technique, we discovered that Pou4f1 binds to Tbr1 on the evolutionary conserved exon 6 and an intergenic region downstream of the 3'UTR, and on a region flanking the promoter and the first exon of Jam2. We showed that Pou4f1 is required for the expression of Tbr1 and Jam2, indicating Pou4f1 as a direct upstream regulator of Tbr1 and Jam2. Most interestingly, the Pou4f1-bound element in exon 6 of Tbr1 possesses high-level enhancer activity, capable of directing reporter gene expression in J-RGCs. Together, these data revealed a Pou4f1-Tbr1-Jam2 genetic hierarchy as a critical pathway in the formation of J-RGC subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takae Kiyama
- Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Halit Y. Altay
- Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tudor C. Badea
- Research and Development Institute, Transilvania University of Brasov, School of Medicine, Brasov 500484, Romania
- National Center for Brain Research, Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Romanian Academy, Bucharest 050711, Romania
| | - Chai-An Mao
- Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The MD Anderson Cancer Center/UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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26
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Ahn J, Jeong Y, Cha S, Lee JY, Yoo Y, Goo YS. High amplitude pulses on the same charge condition efficiently elicit bipolar cell-mediated retinal ganglion cell responses in the degenerate retina. Biomed Eng Lett 2023; 13:129-140. [PMID: 37124107 PMCID: PMC10130300 DOI: 10.1007/s13534-023-00260-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal pigmentosa (RP) patients lose vision due to the loss of photoreceptors. Retinal prostheses bypass the dead photoreceptors by electrically stimulating surviving retinal neurons, such as bipolar cells or retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In previous studies, stimulus charge has been mainly optimized to maximize the RGC response to electrical stimulation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of amplitude and duration even under the same charge condition on eliciting RGC spikes in the wild-type and degenerate retinas. Wild-type (WT) Sprague-Dawley rats were used as the normal retinal model, and Pde6b knockout rats were used as a retinal degeneration (RD) model. Electrically-evoked RGC spikes were recorded from isolated rat retinas using an 8 × 8 multielectrode array. The same charge was maintained (10 or 20 nC), and electrical stimulation was applied to WT and RD retinas, adjusting the amplitude and duration of the 1st phase of biphasic pulses. In the pulse modulation of the 1st phase, high amplitude (short duration) pulses induced more RGC spikes than low amplitude (long duration) pulses. Both WT and RD retinas showed a significant reduction in the number of RGC spikes upon stimulation with lower amplitude (longer duration) pulses. In clinical trials where stimulus charges are delivered to the degenerate retina of blind patients, high amplitude (short duration) pulses would help elicit more RGC spikes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungryul Ahn
- Department of Physiology, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Yurim Jeong
- Department of Physiology, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Seongkwang Cha
- Department of Physiology, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea
| | - Joo Yong Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yongseok Yoo
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yong Sook Goo
- Department of Physiology, Chungbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheongju, South Korea
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27
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Theune WC, Frost MP, Trakhtenberg EF. Transcriptomic profiling of retinal cells reveals a subpopulation of microglia/macrophages expressing Rbpms marker of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that confound identification of RGCs. Brain Res 2023; 1811:148377. [PMID: 37121423 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by scRNA-seq is emerging as a state-of-the-art method for studying RGC biology and subtypes, as well as for studying the mechanisms of neuroprotection and axon regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS). Rbpms has been established as a pan-RGC marker, and Spp1 has been established as an αRGC type and macrophage marker. Here, we analyzed by scRNA-seq retinal microglia and macrophages, and found Rbpms+ subpopulations of retinal microglia/macrophages, which pose a potential pitfall in scRNA-seq studies involving RGCs. We performed comparative analysis of cellular identity of the presumed RGC cells isolated in recent scRNA-seq studies, and found that Rbpms+ microglia/macrophages confounded identification of RGCs. We also showed using immunohistological analysis that, Rbpms protein localizes to stress granules in a subpopulation of retinal microglia after optic nerve injury, which was further supported by bioinformatics analysis identifying stress granule-associated genes enriched in the Rbpms+ microglia/macrophages. Our findings suggest that the identification of Rbpms+ RGCs by immunostaining after optic nerve injury should exclude cells in which Rbpms signal is restricted to a subcellular granule, and include only those cells in which the Rbpms signal is labeling cell soma diffusely. Finally, we provide solutions for circumventing this potential pitfall of Rbpm-expressing microglia/macrophages in scRNA-seq studies, by including in RGC and αRGC selection criteria other pan-RGC and αRGC markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Theune
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Matthew P Frost
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Ephraim F Trakhtenberg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA.
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Rheaume BA, Xing J, Lukomska A, Theune WC, Damania A, Sjogren G, Trakhtenberg EF. PTEN inhibition dedifferentiates long-distance axon-regenerating intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells and upregulates mitochondria-associated DYNLT1A and LARS2. Development 2023; 150:307159. [PMID: 37039265 PMCID: PMC10163351 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) projection neurons fail to spontaneously regenerate injured axons. Targeting developmentally regulated genes in order to reactivate embryonic intrinsic axon growth capacity, or targeting pro-growth tumor suppressor genes such as Pten, promotes long-distance axon regeneration in only a small subset of injured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), despite many RGCs regenerating short-distance axons. A recent study identified αRGCs as the primary type that regenerates short-distance axons in response to Pten inhibition, but the rare types which regenerate long-distance axons, and cellular features that enabled such response, remained unknown. Here, we used a new method for capturing specifically the rare long-distance axon-regenerating RGCs, and also compared their transcriptomes to embryonic RGCs, in order to answer these questions. We found the existence of adult non-α intrinsically-photosensitive (ip) M1 RGC subtypes that retained features of embryonic cell state, and showed that these subtypes partially dedifferentiated towards an embryonic state and regenerated long-distance axons in response to Pten inhibition. We also identified Pten inhibition-upregulated mitochondria-associated genes, Dynlt1a and Lars2, which promote axon regeneration on their own, and thus present novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce A Rheaume
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Jian Xing
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Agnieszka Lukomska
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - William C Theune
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Ashiti Damania
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Greg Sjogren
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Ephraim F Trakhtenberg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
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29
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Wang Q, Lin X, Wang J. An optimized method for retrograde labelling and quantification of rabbit retinal ganglion cells. Exp Eye Res 2023; 229:109432. [PMID: 36822495 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Rabbits are a commonly used animal model in glaucoma research, but their application has been limited by the techniques used to assess optic nerve injury (ONI). Our study devised an optimized method for retrograde labelling and analysing rabbit retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). This method involved improvements over the conventional method regarding the stereotaxic device, the positioning of superior colliculi, the target of axonal tracer delivery, and the visualization and analysis of labelled RGCs. To evaluate its efficacy, eight New Zealand White rabbits were divided into naïve and ONI groups. Unilateral limbal buckling surgery was performed in each animal of the ONI group to induce chronic ocular hypertension (OHT). The animals of both groups were injected with indocyanine green (ICG) into the interstice between the superior colliculus and occipital lobe on each side of the brain, and their eyes were examined by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (CSLO) after 48 h. The acquired images were then analysed to quantify the number of ICG-labelled RGCs in these eyes and their loss induced by OHT. To verify the identity and changes of the labelled RGCs, the retinas of the rabbits were subjected to immunofluorescence analyses. In addition, three animals were subjected to a second ICG labelling after 12 months to determine the influence of this procedure on the long-term viability of the labelled RGCs. Our results showed that ICG-labelled RGCs were detected by CSLO throughout the retinas of all animals. These RGCs showed a distinctly higher density below the ONH and were defective in sectorial areas in OHT eyes. Their average number in the cell counting area was 3989.2 ± 414.2 and 4023.3 ± 603.4 in the right and left eyes, respectively, of the naïve animals and 2590.9 ± 1474.2 and 3966.7 ± 24.0 in the OHT and non-OHT eyes, respectively, of the ONI animals. Immunofluorescence analyses showed positive staining with Brn3a and RBPMS in the ICG-labelled RGCs and sectorial defects of the cells in the OHT eyes, similarly as observed by CSLO. The second ICG labelling after 12 months in three animals showed no appreciable changes in RGC density compared with the first one. In summary, the optimized method of rabbit RGC retrograde labelling is reliable and accurate in both naïve and ONI animals and offers an approach for longitudinal observation of RGCs in the same eyes, which suggests its potential as a powerful tool for glaucoma and optic nerve research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| | - Xingyan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Juanjuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
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30
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Sun CC, Wu IW, Lee CC, Liu CF, Lin YT, Yeung L. Retinal Neurodegeneration and Visual Acuity Decline in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Ophthalmol Ther 2023; 12:909-923. [PMID: 36571674 PMCID: PMC10011354 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-022-00635-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with accelerated retinal neurodegeneration. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between retinal neurodegeneration and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) decline in patients with CKD. METHODS Post hoc analysis of two prospective studies. Patients with CKD stage ≥ 3 were enrolled. Macular thickness, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness, and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness were measured by optical coherence tomography. Eyes were classified into three groups: Group 1, no GCC defect; Group 2, GCC defect confined to parafoveal area; and Group 3, GCC defects extending beyond the parafoveal area. Each group was matched for age, sex, axial length, lens status, and cataract grading. RESULTS A total of 120 eyes (40 eyes in each group) from 120 patients (age 63.0 ± 10.3 years) were included. The logMAR BCVA was 0.076 ± 0.101, 0.100 ± 0.127, and 0.196 ± 0.191 in Group 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Group 3, but not Group 2, had a significantly worse BCVA than Group 1. In simple linear regression, parafoveal inner retinal thickness, pRNFL thickness, presence of pRNFL defect, GCC thickness, GCC global loss volume, GCC focal loss volume, and GCC defect extending beyond parafoveal area were associated with BCVA. Central subfield retinal thickness (CRT), parafoveal full retinal thickness, and parafoveal outer retinal thickness were not associated with BCVA. In backward stepwise linear regression, age and GCC defects extending beyond the parafoveal area were factors associated with BCVA. Moreover, GCC defect extending beyond parafoveal area was connected with worse BCVA in both phakic and pseudophakic subgroups. CONCLUSIONS GCC defect extending beyond parafoveal area could be an independent biomarker associated with decreased BCVA in patients with CKD. However, macular thinning measured by CRT or parafoveal full retinal thickness might have low discriminative power in determining BCVA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chin Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 222, Maijin Rd., Anle Dist., Keelung, 20401, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - I-Wen Wu
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Nephrology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.,Community Medicine Research Center, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Chan Lee
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Nephrology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Fu Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 222, Maijin Rd., Anle Dist., Keelung, 20401, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Program in Molecular Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Tze Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 222, Maijin Rd., Anle Dist., Keelung, 20401, Taiwan.,Retina Center, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Ling Yeung
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 222, Maijin Rd., Anle Dist., Keelung, 20401, Taiwan. .,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. .,Retina Center, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
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31
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Tribble JR, Hagström A, Jusseaume K, Lardner E, Wong RCB, Stålhammar G, Williams PA. NAD salvage pathway machinery expression in normal and glaucomatous retina and optic nerve. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:18. [PMID: 36681854 PMCID: PMC9867855 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01513-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness and is a major health and economic burden. Current treatments do not address the neurodegenerative component of glaucoma. In animal models of glaucoma, the capacity to maintain retinal nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) pools declines early during disease pathogenesis. Treatment with nicotinamide, an NAD precursor through the NAD salvage pathway, robustly protects against neurodegeneration in a number of glaucoma models and improves vision in existing glaucoma patients. However, it remains unknown in humans what retinal cell types are able to process nicotinamide to NAD and how these are affected in glaucoma. To address this, we utilized publicly available RNA-sequencing data (bulk, single cell, and single nucleus) and antibody labelling in highly preserved enucleated human eyes to identify expression of NAD synthesizing enzyme machinery. This identifies that the neural retina favors expression of the NAD salvage pathway, and that retinal ganglion cells are particularly enriched for these enzymes. NMNAT2, a key terminal enzyme in the salvage pathway, is predominantly expressed in retinal ganglion cell relevant layers of the retina and declines in glaucoma. These findings suggest that human retinal ganglion cells can directly utilize nicotinamide and could maintain a capacity to do so in glaucoma, showing promise for ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Tribble
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Hagström
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kenza Jusseaume
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emma Lardner
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Raymond Ching-Bong Wong
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gustav Stålhammar
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pete A Williams
- Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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32
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Jacobi A, Tran NM. Defining Selective Neuronal Resilience and Identifying Targets for Neuroprotection and Axon Regeneration Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing: Experimental Approaches. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2636:1-18. [PMID: 36881292 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3012-9_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
A prevalent feature among neurodegenerative conditions, including axonal injury, is that certain neuronal types are disproportionately affected, while others are more resilient. Identifying molecular features that separate resilient from susceptible populations could reveal potential targets for neuroprotection and axon regeneration. A powerful approach to resolve molecular differences across cell types is single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). scRNA-seq is a robustly scalable approach that enables the parallel sampling of gene expression across many individual cells. Here we present a systematic framework to apply scRNA-seq to track neuronal survival and gene expression changes following axonal injury. Our methods utilize the mouse retina because it is an experimentally accessible central nervous system tissue and its cell types have been comprehensively characterized by scRNA-seq. This chapter will focus on preparing retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) for scRNA-seq and pre-processing of sequencing results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Jacobi
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas M Tran
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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33
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Whitney IE, Butrus S, Dyer MA, Rieke F, Sanes JR, Shekhar K. Vision-Dependent and -Independent Molecular Maturation of Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells. Neuroscience 2023; 508:153-173. [PMID: 35870562 PMCID: PMC10809145 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The development and connectivity of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the retina's sole output neurons, are patterned by activity-independent transcriptional programs and activity-dependent remodeling. To inventory the molecular correlates of these influences, we applied high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to mouse RGCs at six embryonic and postnatal ages. We identified temporally regulated modules of genes that correlate with, and likely regulate, multiple phases of RGC development, ranging from differentiation and axon guidance to synaptic recognition and refinement. Some of these genes are expressed broadly while others, including key transcription factors and recognition molecules, are selectively expressed by one or a few of the 45 transcriptomically distinct types defined previously in adult mice. Next, we used these results as a foundation to analyze the transcriptomes of RGCs in mice lacking visual experience due to dark rearing from birth or to mutations that ablate either bipolar or photoreceptor cells. 98.5% of visually deprived (VD) RGCs could be unequivocally assigned to a single RGC type based on their transcriptional profiles, demonstrating that visual activity is dispensable for acquisition and maintenance of RGC type identity. However, visual deprivation significantly reduced the transcriptomic distinctions among RGC types, implying that activity is required for complete RGC maturation or maintenance. Consistent with this notion, transcriptomic alternations in VD RGCs significantly overlapped with gene modules found in developing RGCs. Our results provide a resource for mechanistic analyses of RGC differentiation and maturation, and for investigating the role of activity in these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene E Whitney
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Salwan Butrus
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael A Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Fred Rieke
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Joshua R Sanes
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Karthik Shekhar
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, QB3, Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Biological Systems Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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34
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Lu S, Xia T, Zhang Y. Evaluation of Retinal Ganglion Cell via Visual Evoked Potential. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2708:141-146. [PMID: 37558968 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3409-7_15] [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] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) is an electrical signal recorded from the visual cortex in response to light stimulation. It can be used as an in vivo method to objectively access the functional integrity of the retinogeniculocortical pathway. Here we describe the methods to perform flash VEP (FVEP) recording in rodents and goat and pattern VEP (PVEP) recording in rhesus macaque.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjian Lu
- The Eye Hospital, School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Tian Xia
- The Eye Hospital, School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yikui Zhang
- The Eye Hospital, School of Ophthalmology & Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
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35
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Huang KC, Gomes C, Meyer JS. Retinal Ganglion Cells in a Dish: Current Strategies and Recommended Best Practices for Effective In Vitro Modeling of Development and Disease. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2023; 281:83-102. [PMID: 36907969 PMCID: PMC10497719 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
The ability to derive retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provides an extraordinary opportunity to study the development of RGCs as well as cellular mechanisms underlying their degeneration in optic neuropathies. In the past several years, multiple approaches have been established that allow for the generation of RGCs from hPSCs, with these methods greatly improved in more recent studies to yield mature RGCs that more faithfully recapitulate phenotypes within the eye. Nevertheless, numerous differences still remain between hPSC-RGCs and those found within the human eye, with these differences likely explained at least in part due to the environment in which hPSC-RGCs are grown. With the ultimate goal of generating hPSC-RGCs that most closely resemble those within the retina for proper studies of retinal development, disease modeling, as well as cellular replacement, we review within this manuscript the current effective approaches for the differentiation of hPSC-RGCs, as well as how they have been applied for the investigation of RGC neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma. Furthermore, we provide our opinions on the characteristics of RGCs necessary for their use as effective in vitro disease models and importantly, how these current systems should be improved to more accurately reflect disease states. The establishment of characteristics in differentiated hPSC-RGCs that more effectively mimic RGCs within the retina will not only enable their use as effective models of RGC development, but will also create a better disease model for the identification of mechanisms underlying the neurodegeneration of RGCs in disease states such as glaucoma, further facilitating the development of therapeutic approaches to rescue RGCs from degeneration in disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang-Chieh Huang
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Cátia Gomes
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jason S Meyer
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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36
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Hu B, Huang Y, Jakobs TC, Kang Q, Lv Z, Liu W, Wang R. Viability of mitochondria-labeled retinal ganglion cells in organotypic retinal explant cultures by two methods. Exp Eye Res 2023; 226:109311. [PMID: 36403849 PMCID: PMC11003390 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Retinal explant cultures provide a valuable system to study retinal function in vitro. This study established a new retinal explant culture method to prolong the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Explants were prepared in two different ways: with or without optic nerve. Retinas from newborn mice that had received an injection of MitoTracker Red into the contralateral superior colliculus to label axonal mitochondria were cultured as organotypic culture for 7 days in vitro. At several time points during the culture, viability of RGCs was assessed by multi-electrode array recording, and morphology by immunohistochemical methods. During the culture, the thickness of the retinal tissue in both groups gradually decreased, however, the structure of the layers of the retina could be identified. Massive apoptosis in the retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL) appeared on the first day of culture, thereafter the number of apoptotic cells decreased. Glial activation was observed throughout the culture, and there was no difference in morphology between the two groups. RGCs loss was exacerbated on 3rdday of culture, and RGCs loss in retinal explants with preserved optic nerve was significantly lower than in retinas that did not preserve the optic nerve. More and longer-lasting mitochondrial signals were observed in the injured area of the optic nerve-preserving explants. Retinal explants provide an invaluable tool for studying retinal function and developing treatments for ocular diseases. The optic nerve-preserving culture helps preserve the integrity of RGCs. The higher number of mitochondria in the nerve-preserving cultures may help maintain viability of RGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoqi Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710002, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Xi'an No. 1 Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710002, China
| | - Yaoyao Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710002, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Xi'an No. 1 Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710002, China; Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tatjana C Jakobs
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary / Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA, 02114, United States
| | - Qianyan Kang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Ziwei Lv
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenxuan Liu
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710002, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Xi'an No. 1 Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710002, China; Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710002, China.
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37
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Meehan SD, Bhattacharya S. Retinal Ganglion Cell Axon Fractionation. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2636:43-53. [PMID: 36881294 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3012-9_3] [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: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon regeneration in mammals can be stimulated through gene knockouts, pharmacological agents, and biophysical stimulation. Here we present a fractionation method to isolate regenerating RGC axons for downstream analysis using immunomagnetic separation of cholera toxin subunit B (CTB)-bound RGC axons. After optic nerve tissue dissection and dissociation, conjugated CTB is used to bind preferentially to regenerated RGC axons. Anti-CTB antibodies crosslinked to magnetic sepharose beads are used to isolate CTB-bound axons from a nonbound fraction of extracellular matrix and neuroglia. We provide a method of verifying fractionation by immunodetection of conjugated CTB and the RGC marker, Tuj1 (β-tubulin III). These fractions can be further analyzed with lipidomic methods, such as LC-MS/MS to gather fraction-specific enrichments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean D Meehan
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine at University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Miami Integrative Metabolomics Research Center, Miami, FL, USA.,Molecular Cellular Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Sanjoy Bhattacharya
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine at University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. .,Miami Integrative Metabolomics Research Center, Miami, FL, USA. .,Molecular Cellular Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
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38
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Inoue-Yanagimachi M, Himori N, Uchida K, Tawarayama H, Sato K, Yamamoto M, Namekata K, Harada T, Nakazawa T. Changes in glial cells and neurotrophic factors due to rotenone-induced oxidative stress in Nrf2 knockout mice. Exp Eye Res 2023; 226:109314. [PMID: 36400285 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of blindness worldwide. It is thought to be a multifactorial disease with underlying mechanisms that include mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Here, we used NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) knockout (KO) mice, which are vulnerable to oxidative stress, to examine a neuroprotective effect against oxidative stress due to rotenone, a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor. Wild-type (WT) and Nrf2 KO mice received an oral solution of rotenone for 30 days. We then extracted the retinas and performed immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR. We also prepared a primary Müller cell culture of samples from each mouse, added 30 μM rotenone, and then measured cell viability, cytotoxicity and CellRox absorbance. We also examined gene expression. We found a significant increase in the number of 8-OHdG-positive retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after rotenone administration in both the WT and Nrf2 KO mice. There was no difference in the number of RNA-binding protein with multiple splicing (RBPMS)-positive RGCs in the WT and Nrf2 KO mice, but Nrf2 KO mice that were given rotenone had significantly less retinal gene expression of RBPMS than Nrf2 KO mice given a control. Moreover, there was significantly higher mRNA gene expression of vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in Nrf2 KO mice that received rotenone than WT mice that received rotenone. A statistical analysis of the in vitro experiment showed that cell viability was lower, cytotoxicity was higher, and oxidative stress was higher in the Müller cells of the Nrf2 KO mice than the WT mice. Finally, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were significantly higher in the Müller cells of the Nrf2 KO mice than the WT mice. These findings suggest that in Nrf2 KO mice under oxidative stress caused by rotenone, temporary neurotrophic factors are secreted from the Müller cells, conferring neuroprotection in these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maki Inoue-Yanagimachi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Noriko Himori
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; Department of Aging Vision Healthcare, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Sendai, Japan
| | - Keiko Uchida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tawarayama
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; Department of Retinal Disease Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kota Sato
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; Department of Advanced Ophthalmic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Namekata
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Harada
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toru Nakazawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; Department of Retinal Disease Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; Department of Advanced Ophthalmic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; Department of Ophthalmic Imaging and Information Analytics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan; Collaborative Program for Ophthalmic Drug Discovery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
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Hao L, Liu Y, Liu X, Lee RK. Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy to Image Retinal Ganglion Cells in Real-Time. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2708:115-121. [PMID: 37558965 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3409-7_12] [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] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Real-time imaging of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) provides an opportunity for detailed investigation of retinal development, disease mechanisms, and the evaluation of interventions affecting ocular structures. Here we use a transgenic model to describe a step-by-step protocol for visualizing RGC survival in real-time by using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Hao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Xiangxiang Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Richard K Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
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Rangel B, Mesentier-Louro LA, Lowe LL, Shariati AM, Dalal R, Imventarza JA, Liao YJ. Upregulation of retinal VEGF and connexin 43 in murine nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy induced with 577 nm laser. Exp Eye Res 2022; 225:109139. [PMID: 35691373 PMCID: PMC10870834 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a common acute optic neuropathy and cause of irreversible vision loss in those older than 50 years of age. There is currently no effective treatment for NAION and the biological mechanisms leading to neuronal loss are not fully understood. Promising novel targets include glial cells activation and intercellular communication mediated by molecules such as gap junction protein Connexin 43 (Cx43), which modulate neuronal fate in central nervous system disorders. In this study, we investigated retinal glial changes and neuronal loss following a novel NAION animal model using a 577 nm yellow laser. We induced unilateral photochemical thrombosis using rose bengal at the optic nerve head vasculature in adult C57BL/6 mice using a 577 nm laser and performed morphometric analysis of the retinal structure using serial in vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT) and histology for glial and neuronal markers. One day after experimental NAION, in acute phase, OCT imaging revealed peripapillary thickening of the retinal ganglion cell complex (GCC, baseline: 79.5 ± 1.0 μm, n = 8; NAION: 93.0 ± 2.5 μm, n = 8, P < 0.01) and total retina (baseline: 202.9 ± 2.4 μm, n = 8; NAION: 228.1 ± 6.8 μm, n = 8, P < 0.01). Twenty-one days after ischemia, at a chronic phase, there was significant GCC thinning (baseline 78.3 ± 2.1 μm, n = 6; NAION: 72.2 ± 1.9 μm, n = 5, P < 0.05), mimicking human disease. Examination of molecular changes in the retina one day after ischemia revealed that NAION induced a significant increase in retinal VEGF levels (control: 2319 ± 195, n = 5; NAION: 4549 ± 683 gray mean value, n = 5, P < 0.05), which highly correlated with retinal thickness (r = 0.89, P < 0.05). NAION also led to significant increase in mRNA level for Cx43 (Gj1a) at day 1 (control: 1.291 ± 0.38; NAION: 3.360 ± 0.58 puncta/mm2, n = 5, P < 0.05), but not of glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap) at the same time (control: 2,800 ± 0.59; NAION: 4,690 ± 0.90 puncta/mm2 n = 5, P = 0.19). Retinal ganglion cell loss at day 21 was confirmed by a 30% decrease in Brn3a+ cells (control: 2,844 ± 235; NAION: 2,001 ± 264 cells/mm2, n = 4, P < 0.05). We described a novel protocol of NAION induction by photochemical thrombosis using a 577 nm laser, leading to retinal edema and VEGF increase at day 1 and RGCs loss at day 21 after injury, consistent with the pathophysiology of human NAION. Early changes in glial cells intercommunication revealed by increased Cx43+ gap junctions are consistent with a retinal glial role in mediating cell-to-cell signaling after an ischemic insult. Our study demonstrates an early glial response in a novel NAION animal model and reveals glial intercommunication molecules such as Cx43 as a promising therapeutic target in acute NAION.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Rangel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94303, USA
| | | | - Lauryn L Lowe
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94303, USA
| | - Ali Mohammad Shariati
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94303, USA
| | - Roopa Dalal
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94303, USA
| | - Joel A Imventarza
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94303, USA
| | - Yaping Joyce Liao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94303, USA; Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA.
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Zhang J, Huo YB, Yang JL, Wang XZ, Yan BY, Du XH, Hao RQ, Yang F, Liu JX, Liu L, Liu Y, Zhang HB. Automatic counting of retinal ganglion cells in the entire mouse retina based on improved YOLOv5. Zool Res 2022; 43:738-749. [PMID: 35927396 PMCID: PMC9486514 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is characterized by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), although the pathogenic mechanism remains largely unknown. To study the mechanism and assess RGC degradation, mouse models are often used to simulate human glaucoma and specific markers are used to label and quantify RGCs. However, manually counting RGCs is time-consuming and prone to distortion due to subjective bias. Furthermore, semi-automated counting methods can produce significant differences due to different parameters, thereby failing objective evaluation. Here, to improve counting accuracy and efficiency, we developed an automated algorithm based on the improved YOLOv5 model, which uses five channels instead of one, with a squeeze-and-excitation block added. The complete number of RGCs in an intact mouse retina was obtained by dividing the retina into small overlapping areas and counting, and then merging the divided areas using a non-maximum suppression algorithm. The automated quantification results showed very strong correlation (mean Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.993) with manual counting. Importantly, the model achieved an average precision of 0.981. Furthermore, the graphics processing unit (GPU) calculation time for each retina was less than 1 min. The developed software has been uploaded online as a free and convenient tool for studies using mouse models of glaucoma, which should help elucidate disease pathogenesis and potential therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- MOEMIL Laboratory, School of Optoelectronic Information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
| | - Yi-Bo Huo
- MOEMIL Laboratory, School of Optoelectronic Information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
| | - Jia-Liang Yang
- Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Xiang-Zhou Wang
- MOEMIL Laboratory, School of Optoelectronic Information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
| | - Bo-Yun Yan
- MOEMIL Laboratory, School of Optoelectronic Information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Du
- MOEMIL Laboratory, School of Optoelectronic Information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
| | - Ru-Qian Hao
- MOEMIL Laboratory, School of Optoelectronic Information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
| | - Fang Yang
- Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Juan-Xiu Liu
- MOEMIL Laboratory, School of Optoelectronic Information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
| | - Lin Liu
- MOEMIL Laboratory, School of Optoelectronic Information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China. E-mail:
| | - Yong Liu
- MOEMIL Laboratory, School of Optoelectronic Information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
| | - Hou-Bin Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China. E-mail:
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Pandurangan K, Sachidanandam R, Sen P. Structural and functional changes among diabetics with no diabetic retinopathy and mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography and photopic negative response. Doc Ophthalmol 2022; 145:113-125. [PMID: 35902440 DOI: 10.1007/s10633-022-09891-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the structural and functional changes among diabetics with no diabetic retinopathy (NDR) and mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SSOCTA) and photopic negative response (PhNR) and to find the earliest changes. METHODS This was a prospective, cross-sectional, case-control study. Participants with minimum 5 years of diabetes mellitus (DM) were recruited and classified as NDR and mild NPDR based on fundus findings. Age-matched normals with nil ocular pathology were considered as controls. SSOCTA scan acquisition (6*6 mm angiography), followed by full field photopic electroretinography (FFERG) and red on blue PhNR (R/B PhNR) were done with complete pupillary dilatation. RESULTS A total of 88 participants were included with 35 controls, 39 NDR and 14 mild NPDR subjects. Vessel density of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) of mild NPDR were significantly reduced compared to the controls (17.12 ± 2.65 mm-1 vs. 18.75 ± 0.90 mm-1, p = 0.025 and 7.96 ± 3.92 mm-1 vs. 11.83 ± 3.05 mm-1, p = 0.001 respectively). None of the parameters of controls had significant difference compared to NDR group (p > 0.05). The amplitudes of white on white (W/W) a-wave, W/W b-wave, red on blue (R/B) PhNR baseline to trough (BT) and R/B PhNR peak to trough in controls were significantly high compared to NDR and mild NPDR. Amplitude of R/B PhNR BT had the maximum area under the curve of 75.9% with a sensitivity and specificity of 94.3and 77.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION A significant decrease in functional changes as measured by ERG especially PhNR, is seen even among the NDR group compared to controls unlike SSOCTA parameters that measures very early vascular structural changes. PhNR is a sensitive test to identify early preclinical changes in DR when microvascular structural changes as determined by SSOCTA are normal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ramya Sachidanandam
- Elite School of Optometry, Unit of Medical Research Foundation, Chennai, India
| | - Parveen Sen
- Department of Vitreo-Retinal Services, Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Medical Research Foundation, 18 College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai, 600 006, India.
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Ichsan AM, Bukhari A, Lallo S, Miskad UA, Dzuhry AA, Islam IC, Muhiddin HS. Effect of retinol and α-tocopherol supplementation on photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in diabetic rats model. Int J Retina Vitreous 2022; 8:40. [PMID: 35715832 PMCID: PMC9205037 DOI: 10.1186/s40942-022-00392-2] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes. Retinol and α-tocopherol of diabetic models prevent the damage of photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cells (RGC) caused by hyperglycemia. OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine the effect of retinol and α-tocopherol on photoreceptor and RGC densities and the expression of caspase-3 and -7 on the retinal layers of the diabetic rat model. METHODS Alloxan 150 mg/kg body weight single dose was used to develop animal models, which were separated into eight groups. These consist of one group without intervention (group 1), one positive control with only induced alloxan (group 2), and others receiving retinol (group 3 and 6), α-tocopherol (group 4 and 7), or their combination (group 5 and 8). Furthermore, histopathological examination was performed using Hematoxylin-Eosin staining to evaluate the photoreceptor and RGC densities, while immunohistochemistry staining evaluated the caspase-3 and -7 expressions. RESULTS In the treatment group, the highest and lowest densities were identified in diabetic rats given α-tocopherol (group 7) and retinol (group 3) respectively. The caspase-3 and -7 expression showed that the group given α-tocopherol (group 7) had the lowest value. CONCLUSION In diabetic rats, retinol and α-tocopherol compounds maintained densities and prevented photoreceptor and RGC death. However, α-tocopherol was more promising than retinol or combinations in the prevention of retinal cells apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andi Muhammad Ichsan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia.
| | - Agussalim Bukhari
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Subehan Lallo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Upik Anderiani Miskad
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Andi Afdal Dzuhry
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Itzar Chaidir Islam
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
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Sharif NA. Degeneration of retina-brain components and connections in glaucoma: Disease causation and treatment options for eyesight preservation. Curr Res Neurobiol 2022; 3:100037. [PMID: 36685768 PMCID: PMC9846481 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2022.100037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Eyesight is the most important of our sensory systems for optimal daily activities and overall survival. Patients who experience visual impairment due to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) are often those afflicted with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) which slowly robs them of their vision unless treatment is administered soon after diagnosis. The hallmark features of POAG and other forms of glaucoma are damaged optic nerve, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss and atrophied RGC axons connecting to various brain regions associated with receipt of visual input from the eyes and eventual decoding and perception of images in the visual cortex. Even though increased IOP is the major risk factor for POAG, the disease is caused by many injurious chemicals and events that progress slowly within all components of the eye-brain visual axis. Lowering of IOP mitigates the damage to some extent with existing drugs, surgical and device implantation therapeutic interventions. However, since multifactorial degenerative processes occur during aging and with glaucomatous optic neuropathy, different forms of neuroprotective, nutraceutical and electroceutical regenerative and revitalizing agents and processes are being considered to combat these eye-brain disorders. These aspects form the basis of this short review article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najam A. Sharif
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore,Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), Singapore,Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College of Science and Technology, St. Mary's Campus, London, UK,Department of Pharmacy Sciences, School of School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA,Ophthalmology Innovation Center, Santen Incorporated, 6401 Hollis Street (Suite #125), Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA,Ophthalmology Innovation Center, Santen Incorporated, 6401 Hollis Street (Suite #125), Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.
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Reboussin É, Buffault J, Brignole-Baudouin F, Réaux-Le Goazigo A, Riancho L, Olmiere C, Sahel JA, Mélik Parsadaniantz S, Baudouin C. Evaluation of neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells in an ex vivo retinal explant model. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:63. [PMID: 35236378 PMCID: PMC8892697 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02418-w] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glaucoma is a blinding degenerative neuropathy in which the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) causes progressive loss of visual field and eventually vision. Neuroinflammation appears to be a key event in the progression and spread of this disease. Thus, microglial immunomodulation represents a promising therapeutic approach in which mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) might play a crucial role. Their neuroprotective and regenerative potentials have already raised hope in animal models. Yet no definitive treatment has been developed, and some safety concerns have been reported in human trials. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties as well as the safety of MSCs in an ex vivo neuroretina explant model. METHODS Labeled rat bone marrow MSCs were placed in coculture with rat retinal explants after optic nerve axotomy. We analyzed the neuroprotective effect of MSCs on RGC survival by immunofluorescence using RBPMS, Brn3a, and NeuN markers. Gliosis and retinal microglial activation were measured by using GFAP, CD68, and ITGAM mRNA quantification and GFAP, CD68, and Iba1 immunofluorescence stainings. We also analyzed the mRNA expression of both 'M1' or classically activated state inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL1β, and IL6), and 'M2' or alternatively activated state microglial markers (Arginase 1, IL10, CD163, and TNFAIP6). RESULTS The number of RGCs was significantly higher in retinal explants cultured with MSCs compared to the control group at Day 7 following the optic nerve axotomy. Retinal explants cultured with MSCs showed a decrease in mRNA markers of gliosis and microglial activations, and immunostainings revealed that GFAP, Iba1, and CD68 were limited to the inner layers of the retina compared to controls in which microglial activation was observed throughout the retina. In addition, MSCs inhibited the M1 phenotype of the microglia. However, edema of the explants was observed in presence of MSCs, with an increase in fibronectin labeling at the surface of the explant corresponding to an epiretinal membrane-like phenotype. CONCLUSION Using an ex vivo neuroretina model, we demonstrated a neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effect of MSCs on RGCs. Unfortunately, the presence of MSCs also led to explant edema and epiretinal membrane formation, as described in human trials. Using the MSC secretome might offer the beneficial effects of MSCs without their potential adverse effects, through paracrine signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élodie Reboussin
- Sorbonne Université UM80, INSERM UMR 968, CNRS UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, IHU FOReSIGHT, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Juliette Buffault
- Sorbonne Université UM80, INSERM UMR 968, CNRS UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, IHU FOReSIGHT, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France. .,Service 3, CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, 28 rue de Charenton, 75012, Paris, France.
| | - Françoise Brignole-Baudouin
- Sorbonne Université UM80, INSERM UMR 968, CNRS UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, IHU FOReSIGHT, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France.,Laboratoire, CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, 28 rue de Charenton, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Annabelle Réaux-Le Goazigo
- Sorbonne Université UM80, INSERM UMR 968, CNRS UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, IHU FOReSIGHT, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Luisa Riancho
- Sorbonne Université UM80, INSERM UMR 968, CNRS UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, IHU FOReSIGHT, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France
| | | | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université UM80, INSERM UMR 968, CNRS UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, IHU FOReSIGHT, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France.,Service 3, CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, 28 rue de Charenton, 75012, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Stéphane Mélik Parsadaniantz
- Sorbonne Université UM80, INSERM UMR 968, CNRS UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, IHU FOReSIGHT, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Baudouin
- Sorbonne Université UM80, INSERM UMR 968, CNRS UMR 7210, Institut de la Vision, IHU FOReSIGHT, 17 rue Moreau, 75012, Paris, France.,Service 3, CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, 28 rue de Charenton, 75012, Paris, France
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Tezel G. Molecular regulation of neuroinflammation in glaucoma: Current knowledge and the ongoing search for new treatment targets. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 87:100998. [PMID: 34348167 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation relying on the inflammatory responses of glial cells has emerged as an impactful component of the multifactorial etiology of neurodegeneration in glaucoma. It has become increasingly evident that despite early adaptive and reparative features of glial responses, prolonged reactivity of the resident glia, along with the peripheral immune cells, create widespread toxicity to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons, somas, and synapses. As much as the synchronized responses of astrocytes and microglia to glaucoma-related stress or neuron injury, their bi-directional interactions are critical to build and amplify neuroinflammation and to dictate the neurodegenerative outcome. Although distinct molecular programs regulate somatic and axonal degeneration in glaucoma, inhibition of neurodegenerative inflammation can provide a broadly beneficial treatment strategy to rescue RGC integrity and function. Since inflammatory toxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction are converging etiological paths that can boost each other and feed into a vicious cycle, anti-inflammatory treatments may also offer a multi-target potential. This review presents an overview of the current knowledge on neuroinflammation in glaucoma with particular emphasis on the cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic factors involved in the reciprocal regulation of glial responses, the interdependence between inflammatory and mitochondrial routes of neurodegeneration, and the research aspects inspiring for prospective immunomodulatory treatments. With the advent of powerful technologies, ongoing research on molecular and functional characteristics of glial responses is expected to accumulate more comprehensive and complementary information and to rapidly move the field forward to safe and effective modulation of the glial pro-inflammatory activities, while restoring or augmenting the glial immune-regulatory and neurosupport functions.
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Ohashi T, Namekata K, Guo X, Kimura A, Harada C, Harada T. Effects of lighting environment on the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in glutamate/aspartate transporter deficient mice, a mouse model of normal tension glaucoma. Biochem Biophys Rep 2022; 29:101197. [PMID: 35028438 PMCID: PMC8741416 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.101197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lighting conditions may affect the development of retinal degenerative diseases such as macular degeneration. In this study, to determine whether the lighting environment affects the progression of degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), we examined glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST) heterozygous (GLAST+/-) mice, a mouse model of normal tension glaucoma. GLAST+/- mice were reared under a 12-h light-dark cycle (Light/Dark) or complete darkness (Dark/Dark) condition after birth. The total RGC number in the Dark/Dark group was significantly decreased compared with the Light/Dark group at 3 weeks old, while the number of osteopontin-positive αRGCs were similar in both groups. At 6 and 12 weeks old, the total RGC number were not significantly different in both conditions. In addition, the retinal function examined by multifocal electroretinogram were similar at 12 weeks old. These results suggest that lighting conditions may regulate the progression of RGC degeneration in some types of glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kazuhiko Namekata
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Xiaoli Guo
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsuko Kimura
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chikako Harada
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Harada
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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Lin JQ, Cioni JM. Live Imaging of RNA Transport and Translation in Xenopus Retinal Axons. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2431:49-69. [PMID: 35412271 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1990-2_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In neurons, specific mRNAs are transported into axons, where their local translation supports essential cellular functions. Over the years, our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying axonal mRNA translation has rapidly expanded. However, tools to study mRNA localization and translation in real time with high spatial precision were not available until recently. Here, we present a live imaging approach to examine axonal mRNA trafficking and translation simultaneously in Xenopus retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), using in vitro synthesized fluorescently labeled mRNAs coupled with a genetically encoded protein tagging system to visualize synthesizing peptides at single-molecule resolution. We further describe the process of image analysis in detail, thus providing a methodology that can be used to investigate new research questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Qiaojin Lin
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jean-Michel Cioni
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
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Orshan D, Tirsi A, Sheha H, Gliagias V, Tsai J, Park SC, Obstbaum SA, Tello C. Structure-function models for estimating retinal ganglion cell count using steady-state pattern electroretinography and optical coherence tomography in glaucoma suspects and preperimetric glaucoma: an electrophysiological pilot study. Doc Ophthalmol 2022; 145:221-35. [PMID: 36161380 DOI: 10.1007/s10633-022-09900-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To derive and validate structure-function models for estimating retinal ganglion cell (RGC) count using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and steady-state pattern electroretinography (ssPERG) parameters in glaucoma suspects (GS) and preperimetric glaucoma (PPG). METHODS In this prospective cross-sectional study, 25 subjects (50 eyes) were recruited at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. Subjects underwent comprehensive eye examinations, OCT, standard automated perimetry (SAP), and ssPERG testing. Eyes were divided into three groups based on the Global Glaucoma Staging System: healthy (N = 30), GS (N = 10), and PPG (N = 10) eyes. The combined structure-function index (CSFI), which estimates retinal ganglion cell count (eRGCCSFI) from SAP and OCT parameters, was calculated in each study subject. Two prediction formulas were derived using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to predict eRGCCSFI from ssPERG parameters, age, and average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (ARNFLT) in 30 eyes selected at random (training group). GLMM predicted values were cross-validated with the remaining 20 eyes (validation group). RESULTS The ARNFLT, ssPERG parameters magnitude (Mag) and magnitudeD (MagD), and eRGCCSFI were significantly different among study groups (ANOVA p ≤ 0.001). Pearson correlations demonstrated significant associations among ARNFLT, ssPERG parameters, and eRGCCSFI (r2 ≥ 0.31, p < 0.001). Two GLMMs predicted eRGCCSFI from Mag (eRGCMag) and MagD (eRGCMagD), respectively, with significant equations (F(3,18), F(3,19) ≥ 58.37, R2 = 0.90, p < 0.001). eRGCMag and eRGCMagD in the validation group (R2 = 0.89) correlated with eRGCCSFI similarly to the training group. Multivariate pairwise comparisons revealed that eRGCMag and eRGCMagD distinguished between healthy, GS, and PPG eyes (p ≤ 0.035), whereas independent Mag, MagD, and ARNFLT measures did not distinguish between GS and PPG eyes. CONCLUSION This pilot study offers the first combined structure-function models for estimating RGC count using ssPERG parameters. RGC counts estimated with these models were generalizable, strongly associated with CSFI estimates, and performed better than individual ssPERG and OCT measures in distinguishing healthy, GS, and PPG eyes.
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Yang N, Yang J, He X, Zhang W, Xing Y. Construction and analysis of mRNA, lncRNA, and transcription factor regulatory networks after retinal ganglion cell injury. Exp Eye Res 2021; 215:108915. [PMID: 34971620 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) injury is a critical pathological feature of several optic neurodegenerative diseases. The regulatory mechanisms underlying RGC injury remain poorly understood. Recent evidence has highlighted the important roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in degenerative neuropathy but few studies have focused on lncRNAs associated with RGC injury. In this study, we analyzed dysregulated lncRNAs associated with RGC injury, their potential regulatory functions, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of lncRNAs and transcription factors (TFs). We analyzed lncRNA and mRNA profiles in the GSE142881 dataset associated with RGC injury and identified 1049 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 18 differentially expressed (DE) TFs among 883 DE mRNAs and 312 DE lncRNAs. The predicted DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs were used to construct a lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to explore the functions of the lncRNAs and mRNAs. The co-expression network between DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs was highly enriched in inflammatory and immune-related pathways, indicating that they play role in the process of RGC injury. Among the DE mRNAs, we screened 18 DE TFs, including activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), associated with RGC injury. Co-expression analysis predicted that 13 lncRNAs were potential binding targets of ATF3. The screening of the potential targets of these 13 lncRNAs showed that they were also significantly enriched in functional pathways associated with inflammation and apoptosis. After analysis, we constructed the mRNA-ATF3-lncRNA regulatory network after RGCs injury. In summary, we identified the gene module associated with immune and inflammatory responses after optic nerve injury and constructed a regulatory network of lncRNA-TF-mRNA. The results indicate that lncRNAs, by binding to TFs, can regulate downstream genes and function during RGC injury. The results provide a foundation for further studies of the mechanism of RGC injury and provide insight into the clinical diagnosis and investigation direction of neurodegenerative diseases such as traumatic optic neuropathy and glaucoma.
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