1
|
Grubaugh CR, Dhingra A, Prakash B, Montenegro D, Sparrow JR, Daniele LL, Curcio CA, Bell BA, Hussain MM, Boesze-Battaglia K. Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein is necessary to maintain lipid homeostasis and retinal function. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23522. [PMID: 38445789 PMCID: PMC10949407 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202302491r] [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: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Lipid processing by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is necessary to maintain retinal health and function. Dysregulation of retinal lipid homeostasis due to normal aging or age-related disease triggers lipid accumulation within the RPE, on Bruch's membrane (BrM), and in the subretinal space. In its role as a hub for lipid trafficking into and out of the neural retina, the RPE packages a significant amount of lipid into lipid droplets for storage and into apolipoprotein B (APOB)-containing lipoproteins (Blps) for export. Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), encoded by the MTTP gene, is essential for Blp assembly. Herein we test the hypothesis that MTP expression in the RPE is essential to maintain lipid balance and retinal function using the newly generated RPEΔMttp mouse model. Using non-invasive ocular imaging, electroretinography, and histochemical and biochemical analyses we show that genetic depletion of Mttp from the RPE results in intracellular lipid accumulation, increased photoreceptor-associated cholesterol deposits, and photoreceptor cell death, and loss of rod but not cone function. RPE-specific reduction in Mttp had no significant effect on plasma lipids and lipoproteins. While APOB was decreased in the RPE, most ocular retinoids remained unchanged, with the exception of the storage form of retinoid, retinyl ester. Thus suggesting that RPE MTP is critical for Blp synthesis and assembly but is not directly involved in plasma lipoprotein metabolism. These studies demonstrate that RPE-specific MTP expression is necessary to establish and maintain retinal lipid homeostasis and visual function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catharina R. Grubaugh
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anuradha Dhingra
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Binu Prakash
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, New York University Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, 11501 USA
| | - Diego Montenegro
- Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027 USA
| | - Janet R. Sparrow
- Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027 USA
| | - Lauren L. Daniele
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christine A. Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Brent A. Bell
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104 USA
| | - M. Mahmood Hussain
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, New York University Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, 11501 USA
| | - Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Grubaugh CR, Dhingra A, Prakash B, Montenegro D, Sparrow JR, Daniele LL, Curcio CA, Bell BA, Hussain MM, Boesze-Battaglia K. Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein is necessary to maintain lipid homeostasis and retinal function. bioRxiv 2023:2023.12.06.570418. [PMID: 38105975 PMCID: PMC10723417 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.06.570418] [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: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Lipid processing by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is necessary to maintain retinal health and function. Dysregulation of retinal lipid homeostasis due to normal aging or to age-related disease triggers lipid accumulation within the RPE, on Bruch's membrane (BrM), and in the subretinal space. In its role as a hub for lipid trafficking into and out of the neural retina, the RPE packages a significant amount of lipid into lipid droplets for storage and into apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing lipoproteins (Blps) for export. Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), encoded by the MTTP gene, is essential for Blp assembly. Herein we test the hypothesis that MTP expression in the RPE is essential to maintain lipid balance and retinal function using the newly generated RPEΔMttp mouse model. Using non-invasive ocular imaging, electroretinography, and histochemical and biochemical analyses we show that genetic deletion of Mttp from the RPE results in intracellular lipid accumulation, increased photoreceptor -associated cholesterol deposits and photoreceptor cell death, and loss of rod but not cone function. RPE-specific ablation of Mttp had no significant effect on plasma lipids and lipoproteins. While, apoB was decreased in the RPE, ocular retinoid concentrations remained unchanged. Thus suggesting that RPE MTP is critical for Blp synthesis and assembly but not directly involved in ocular retinoid and plasma lipoprotein metabolism. These studies demonstrate that RPE-specific MTP expression is necessary to establish and maintain retinal lipid homeostasis and visual function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catharina R. Grubaugh
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anuradha Dhingra
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Binu Prakash
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, New York University Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, 11501 USA
| | - Diego Montenegro
- Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY,10027 USA
| | - Janet R. Sparrow
- Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY,10027 USA
| | - Lauren L. Daniele
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christine A. Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Brent A. Bell
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104 USA
| | - M. Mahmood Hussain
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, New York University Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, 11501 USA
| | - Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|