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Yusuf IH, Burgoyne T, Salman A, McClements ME, MacLaren RE, Charbel Issa P. Rescue of cone and rod photoreceptor function in a CDHR1-model of age-related retinal degeneration. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1445-1460. [PMID: 38504520 PMCID: PMC11081940 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.03.026] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of untreatable blindness in the developed world. Recently, CDHR1 has been identified as the cause of a subset of AMD that has the appearance of the "dry" form, or geographic atrophy. Biallelic variants in CDHR1-a specialized protocadherin highly expressed in cone and rod photoreceptors-result in blindness from shortened photoreceptor outer segments and progressive photoreceptor cell death. Here we demonstrate long-term morphological, ultrastructural, functional, and behavioral rescue following CDHR1 gene therapy in a relevant murine model, sustained to 23-months after injection. This represents the first demonstration of rescue of a monogenic cadherinopathy in vivo. Moreover, the durability of CDHR1 gene therapy seems to be near complete-with morphological findings of the rescued retina not obviously different from wildtype throughout the lifespan of the mouse model. A follow-on clinical trial in patients with CDHR1-associated retinal degeneration is warranted. Hypomorphic CDHR1 variants may mimic advanced dry AMD. Accurate clinical classification is now critical, as their pathogenesis and treatment are distinct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran H Yusuf
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Oxford Eye Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Thomas Burgoyne
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Ahmed Salman
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Michelle E McClements
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Robert E MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Oxford Eye Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
| | - Peter Charbel Issa
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Oxford Eye Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
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2
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Chung WG, Jang J, Cui G, Lee S, Jeong H, Kang H, Seo H, Kim S, Kim E, Lee J, Lee SG, Byeon SH, Park JU. Liquid-metal-based three-dimensional microelectrode arrays integrated with implantable ultrathin retinal prosthesis for vision restoration. Nat Nanotechnol 2024; 19:688-697. [PMID: 38225357 PMCID: PMC11106006 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01587-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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Electronic retinal prostheses for stimulating retinal neurons are promising for vision restoration. However, the rigid electrodes of conventional retinal implants can inflict damage on the soft retina tissue. They also have limited selectivity due to their poor proximity to target cells in the degenerative retina. Here we present a soft artificial retina (thickness, 10 μm) where flexible ultrathin photosensitive transistors are integrated with three-dimensional stimulation electrodes of eutectic gallium-indium alloy. Platinum nanoclusters locally coated only on the tip of these three-dimensional liquid-metal electrodes show advantages in reducing the impedance of the stimulation electrodes. These microelectrodes can enhance the proximity to the target retinal ganglion cells and provide effective charge injections (72.84 mC cm-2) to elicit neural responses in the retina. Their low Young's modulus (234 kPa), owing to their liquid form, can minimize damage to the retina. Furthermore, we used an unsupervised machine learning approach to effectively identify the evoked spikes to grade neural activities within the retinal ganglion cells. Results from in vivo experiments on a retinal degeneration mouse model reveal that the spatiotemporal distribution of neural responses on their retina can be mapped under selective localized illumination areas of light, suggesting the restoration of their vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Gi Chung
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiuk Jang
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gang Cui
- Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Eye Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghoon Lee
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Han Jeong
- Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Eye Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Haisu Kang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hunkyu Seo
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sumin Kim
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Enji Kim
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Junwon Lee
- Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Geol Lee
- School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Organic Material Science and Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
| | - Suk Ho Byeon
- Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Eye Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jang-Ung Park
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Lin B, Singh RK, Seiler MJ, Nasonkin IO. Survival and Functional Integration of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Organoids After Shipping and Transplantation into Retinal Degeneration Rats. Stem Cells Dev 2024; 33:201-213. [PMID: 38390839 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2023.0257] [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: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Because derivation of retinal organoids (ROs) and transplantation are frequently split between geographically distant locations, we developed a special shipping device and protocol capable of the organoids' delivery to any location. Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived ROs were differentiated from the hESC line H1 (WA01), shipped overnight to another location, and then transplanted into the subretinal space of blind immunodeficient retinal degeneration (RD) rats. Development of transplants was monitored by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Visual function was accessed by optokinetic tests and superior colliculus (SC) electrophysiology. Cryostat sections through transplants were stained with hematoxylin and eosin; or processed for immunohistochemistry to label human donor cells, retinal cell types, and synaptic markers. After transplantation, ROs integrated into the host RD retina, formed functional photoreceptors, and improved vision in rats with advanced RD. The survival and vision improvement are comparable with our previous results of hESC-ROs without a long-distance delivery. Furthermore, for the first time in the stem cell transplantation field, we demonstrated that the response heatmap on the SC showed a similar shape to the location of the transplant in the host retina, which suggested the point-to-point projection of the transplant from the retina to SC. In conclusion, our results showed that using our special device and protocol, the hESC-derived ROs can be shipped over long distance and are capable of survival and visual improvement after transplantation into the RD rats. Our data provide a proof-of-concept for stem cell replacement as a therapy for RD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lin
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Sue and Bill Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | | | - Magdalene J Seiler
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Sue and Bill Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
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Klymenko V, González Martínez OG, Zarbin MA. Recent Progress in Photoreceptor Cell-Based Therapy for Degenerative Retinal Disease. Stem Cells Transl Med 2024; 13:332-345. [PMID: 38417110 PMCID: PMC11016853 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szae005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa are degenerative retinal diseases that cause severe vision loss. Early clinical trials involving transplantation of photoreceptors as treatment for these conditions are underway. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the field of photoreceptor transplantation, including some pertinent results regarding photoreceptor manufacture, photoreceptor transplantation, mechanisms of donor-host cell integration such as material transfer and photoreceptor transplant immunology. We conclude by proposing several approaches that may provide a rational basis for selecting a vision restoration strategy (eg, donor-host synapse formation vs donor-host nanotube formation) and improved transplant efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriia Klymenko
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, USA
| | - Orlando G González Martínez
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, USA
| | - Marco A Zarbin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, USA
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Wang Y, Liu X, Wang B, Sun H, Ren Y, Zhang H. Compounding engineered mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes: A potential rescue strategy for retinal degeneration. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116424. [PMID: 38471273 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116424] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, has been increasing globally and is linked to the aging population and improved life expectancy. These diseases are characterized by chronic, progressive neuronal damage or depletion of the photoreceptor cells in the retina, and limited effective treatment options are currently available. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-EXOs) containing cytokines, growth factors, lipids, mRNA, and miRNA, which act as mediators of intercellular communication transferring bioactive molecules to recipient cells, offer an appealing, non-cellular nanotherapeutic approach for retinal degenerative diseases. However, treatment specificity is compromised due to their high heterogeneity in size, content, functional effects, and parental cellular source. To improve this, engineered MSC-EXOs with increased drug-loading capacity, targeting ability, and resistance to bodily degradation and elimination have been developed. This review summarizes the recent advances in miRNAs of MSC-EXOs as a treatment for retinal degeneration, discussing the strategies and methods for engineering therapeutic MSC-EXOs. Notably, to address the single functional role of engineered MSC-EXOs, we propose a novel concept called "Compound Engineered MSC-EXOs (Co-E-MSC-EXOs)" along with its derived potential therapeutic approaches. The advantages and challenges of employing Co-E-MSC-EXOs for retinal degeneration in clinical applications, as well as the strategies and issues related to them, are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wang
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an No.1 hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710002, China.
| | - Xianning Liu
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an No.1 hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710002, China
| | - Bei Wang
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Hanhan Sun
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Yiqian Ren
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an No.1 hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710002, China
| | - Hongbing Zhang
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an No.1 hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710002, China.
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Bovi Dos Santos G, de Lima-Vasconcellos TH, Móvio MI, Birbrair A, Del Debbio CB, Kihara AH. New Perspectives in Stem Cell Transplantation and Associated Therapies to Treat Retinal Diseases: From Gene Editing to 3D Bioprinting. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:722-737. [PMID: 38319527 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10689-4] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Inherited and non-inherited retinopathies can affect distinct cell types, leading to progressive cell death and visual loss. In the last years, new approaches have indicated exciting opportunities to treat retinopathies. Cell therapy in retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular disease, and glaucoma have yielded encouraging results in rodents and humans. The first two diseases mainly impact the photoreceptors and the retinal pigmented epithelium, while glaucoma primarily affects the ganglion cell layer. Induced pluripotent stem cells and multipotent stem cells can be differentiated in vitro to obtain specific cell types for use in transplant as well as to assess the impact of candidate molecules aimed at treating retinal degeneration. Moreover, stem cell therapy is presented in combination with newly developed methods, such as gene editing, Müller cells dedifferentiation, sheet & drug delivery, virus-like particles, optogenetics, and 3D bioprinting. This review describes the recent advances in this field, by presenting an updated panel based on cell transplants and related therapies to treat retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrieli Bovi Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Neurogenética, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Santo André, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Marília Inês Móvio
- Laboratório de Neurogenética, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Santo André, SP, Brazil
| | - Alexander Birbrair
- Department of Dermatology, Medical Sciences Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rm 4385, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Carolina Beltrame Del Debbio
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Hiroaki Kihara
- Laboratório de Neurogenética, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
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Ho MT, Kawai K, Abdo D, Comanita L, Ortin-Martinez A, Ueno Y, Tsao E, Rastgar-Moghadam A, Xue C, Cui H, Wallace VA, Shoichet MS. Transplanted human photoreceptors transfer cytoplasmic material but not to the recipient mouse retina. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:79. [PMID: 38486269 PMCID: PMC10941468 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03679-3] [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] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The discovery of material transfer between transplanted and host mouse photoreceptors has expanded the possibilities for utilizing transplanted photoreceptors as potential vehicles for delivering therapeutic cargo. However, previous research has not directly explored the capacity for human photoreceptors to engage in material transfer, as human photoreceptor transplantation has primarily been investigated in rodent models of late-stage retinal disease, which lack host photoreceptors. METHODS In this study, we transplanted human stem-cell derived photoreceptors purified from human retinal organoids at different ontological ages (weeks 10, 14, or 20) into mouse models with intact photoreceptors and assessed transfer of human proteins and organelles to mouse photoreceptors. RESULTS Unexpectedly, regardless of donor age or mouse recipient background, human photoreceptors did not transfer material in the mouse retina, though a rare subset of donor cells (< 5%) integrated into the mouse photoreceptor cell layer. To investigate the possibility that a species barrier impeded transfer, we used a flow cytometric assay to examine material transfer in vitro. Interestingly, dissociated human photoreceptors transferred fluorescent protein with each other in vitro, yet no transfer was detected in co-cultures of human and mouse photoreceptors, suggesting that material transfer is species specific. CONCLUSIONS While xenograft models are not a tractable system to study material transfer of human photoreceptors, these findings demonstrate that human retinal organoid-derived photoreceptors are competent donors for material transfer and thus may be useful to treat retinal degenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret T Ho
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Kotoe Kawai
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto, 619-0216, Japan
| | - Dhana Abdo
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lacrimioara Comanita
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Arturo Ortin-Martinez
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Yui Ueno
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto, 619-0216, Japan
| | - Emily Tsao
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Azam Rastgar-Moghadam
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chang Xue
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Hong Cui
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Valerie A Wallace
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Molly S Shoichet
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada.
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Yu CT, Kandoi S, Periasamy R, Reddy LVK, Follett HM, Summerfelt P, Martinez C, Guillaume C, Bowie O, Connor TB, Lipinski DM, Allen KP, Merriman DK, Carroll J, Lamba DA. Human iPSC-derived photoreceptor transplantation in the cone dominant 13-lined ground squirrel. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:331-342. [PMID: 38335965 PMCID: PMC10937153 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.01.005] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Several retinal degenerations affect the human central retina, which is primarily comprised of cones and is essential for high acuity and color vision. Transplanting cone photoreceptors is a promising strategy to replace degenerated cones in this region. Although this approach has been investigated in a handful of animal models, commonly used rodent models lack a cone-rich region and larger models can be expensive and inaccessible, impeding the translation of therapies. Here, we transplanted dissociated GFP-expressing photoreceptors from retinal organoids differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells into the subretinal space of damaged and undamaged cone-dominant 13-lined ground squirrel eyes. Transplanted cell survival was documented via noninvasive high-resolution imaging and immunohistochemistry to confirm the presence of human donor photoreceptors for up to 4 months posttransplantation. These results demonstrate the utility of a cone-dominant rodent model for advancing the clinical translation of cell replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching Tzu Yu
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Sangeetha Kandoi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ramesh Periasamy
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - L Vinod K Reddy
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hannah M Follett
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Phyllis Summerfelt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Cassandra Martinez
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Chloe Guillaume
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; School of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Owen Bowie
- School of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Thomas B Connor
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Daniel M Lipinski
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Kenneth P Allen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biomedical Resource Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Dana K Merriman
- Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI, USA
| | - Joseph Carroll
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Deepak A Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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9
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Sun X, Liang C, Chen Y, Cui T, Han J, Dai M, Zhang Y, Zhou Q, Li W. Knockout and Replacement Gene Surgery to Treat Rhodopsin-Mediated Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa. Hum Gene Ther 2024; 35:151-162. [PMID: 38368562 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2023.201] [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: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the rhodopsin (RHO) gene are the predominant causes of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP). Given the diverse gain-of-function mutations, therapeutic strategies targeting specific sequences face significant challenges. Here, we provide a universal approach to conquer this problem: we have devised a CRISPR-Cas12i-based, mutation-independent gene knockout and replacement compound therapy carried by a dual AAV2/8 system. In this study, we successfully delayed the progression of retinal degeneration in the classic mouse disease model RhoP23H, and also RhoP347S, a new native mouse mutation model we developed. Our research expands the horizon of potential options for future treatments of RHO-mediated adRP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Chen Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Yangcan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Tongtong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiabao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Moyu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
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10
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Iwama Y, Nomaru H, Masuda T, Kawamura Y, Matsumura M, Murata Y, Teranishi K, Nishida K, Ota S, Mandai M, Takahashi M. Label-free enrichment of human pluripotent stem cell-derived early retinal progenitor cells for cell-based regenerative therapies. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:254-269. [PMID: 38181785 PMCID: PMC10874851 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cell-based therapy for retinal degenerative diseases is a promising approach to restoring visual function. A clinical study using retinal organoid (RO) sheets was recently conducted in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. However, the graft preparation currently requires advanced skills to identify and excise suitable segments from the transplantable area of the limited number of suitable ROs. This remains a challenge for consistent clinical implementations. Herein, we enabled the enrichment of wild-type (non-reporter) retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) from dissociated ROs using a label-free ghost cytometry (LF-GC)-based sorting system, where a machine-based classifier was trained in advance with another RPC reporter line. The sorted cells reproducibly formed retinal spheroids large enough for transplantation and developed mature photoreceptors in the retinal degeneration rats. This method of enriching early RPCs with no specific surface antigens and without any reporters or chemical labeling is promising for robust preparation of graft tissues during cell-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuaki Iwama
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; Cell and Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Laboratory, BZP, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | | | - Tomohiro Masuda
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; Cell and Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Laboratory, BZP, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
| | | | - Michiru Matsumura
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | | | | | - Kohji Nishida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Sadao Ota
- ThinkCyte K.K., Tokyo 113-8654, Japan; Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Michiko Mandai
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
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11
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Stürmer S, Bolz S, Zrenner E, Ueffing M, Haq W. Sustained Extracellular Electrical Stimulation Modulates the Permeability of Gap Junctions in rd1 Mouse Retina with Photoreceptor Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1616. [PMID: 38338908 PMCID: PMC10855676 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031616] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurons build vast gap junction-coupled networks (GJ-nets) that are permeable to ions or small molecules, enabling lateral signaling. Herein, we investigate (1) the effect of blinding diseases on GJ-nets in mouse retinas and (2) the impact of electrical stimulation on GJ permeability. GJ permeability was traced in the acute retinal explants of blind retinal degeneration 1 (rd1) mice using the GJ tracer neurobiotin. The tracer was introduced via the edge cut method into the GJ-net, and its spread was visualized in histological preparations (fluorescent tagged) using microscopy. Sustained stimulation was applied to modulate GJ permeability using a single large electrode. Our findings are: (1) The blind rd1 retinas displayed extensive intercellular coupling via open GJs. Three GJ-nets were identified: horizontal, amacrine, and ganglion cell networks. (2) Sustained stimulation significantly diminished the tracer spread through the GJs in all the cell layers, as occurs with pharmaceutical inhibition with carbenoxolone. We concluded that the GJ-nets of rd1 retinas remain coupled and functional after blinding disease and that their permeability is regulatable by sustained stimulation. These findings are essential for understanding molecular signaling in diseases over coupled networks and therapeutic approaches using electrical implants, such as eliciting visual sensations or suppressing cortical seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Wadood Haq
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
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12
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Bai Y, He H, Ren B, Ren J, Zou T, Chen X, Liu Y. Sstr2 Defines the Cone Differentiation-Competent Late-Stage Retinal Progenitor Cells in the Developing Mouse Retina. Stem Cells Transl Med 2024; 13:83-99. [PMID: 37935630 PMCID: PMC10785222 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szad073] [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: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cone cell death is a characteristic shared by various retinal degenerative disorders, such as cone-rod dystrophy, Stargardt disease, achromatopsia, and retinitis pigmentosa. This leads to conditions like color blindness and permanently impaired visual acuity. Stem cell therapy focused on photoreceptor replacement holds promise for addressing these conditions. However, identifying surface markers that aid in enriching retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) capable of differentiating into cones remains a complex task. In this study, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to scrutinize the transcriptome of developing retinas in C57BL/6J mice. This revealed the distinctive expression of somatostatin receptor 2 (Sstr2), a surface protein, in late-stage RPCs exhibiting the potential for photoreceptor differentiation. In vivo lineage tracing experiments verified that Sstr2+ cells within the late embryonic retina gave rise to cones, amacrine and horizontal cells during the developmental process. Furthermore, Sstr2+ cells that were isolated from the late embryonic mouse retina displayed RPC markers and exhibited the capability to differentiate into cones in vitro. Upon subretinal transplantation into both wild-type and retinal degeneration 10 (rd10) mice, Sstr2+ cells survived and expressed cone-specific markers. This study underscores the ability of Sstr2 to enrich late-stage RPCs primed for cone differentiation to a large extent. It proposes the utility of Sstr2 as a biomarker for RPCs capable of generating cones for transplantation purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihan Bai
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Han He
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bangqi Ren
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiayun Ren
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ting Zou
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yong Liu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
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13
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Aziz AA, Khan H, Khanani ZA, Thomas MJ, Khan H, Ahmed A, Gahn GM, Khanani AM. Review of Gene Therapy Clinical Trials for Retinal Diseases. Int Ophthalmol Clin 2024; 64:141-151. [PMID: 38146887 DOI: 10.1097/iio.0000000000000517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
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14
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Bergen AA, Buijs MJ, Ten Asbroek AL, Balfoort BM, Boon CJ, Brands MM, Wanders RJ, van Karnebeek CD, Houtkooper RH. Vision on gyrate atrophy: why treat the eye? EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:4-7. [PMID: 38177529 PMCID: PMC10883273 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-023-00001-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In the April issue of this Journal, Boffa and coworkers put forward a new therapeutic approach for Gyrate Atrophy of the Choroid and Retina (GACR; OMIM 258870) (Boffa et al, 2023). The authors propose to apply gene therapy to the liver for GACR, a metabolic disease primarily affecting eyesight due to retinal degeneration. Their vision is enthusiastically supported by a News and Views comment in the same issue (Seker Yilmaz and Gissen, 2023). However, based on disease pathology, patient's needs, ethical considerations, therapeutic developmental time lines, and current state of the art of gene therapy for liver and eye, we have a different view on this issue: We argue below that local treatment of the eye is the preferred option for GACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur A Bergen
- Department of Human Genetics, Section Ophthalmogenetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Emma Center for Personalized Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mark Jn Buijs
- Department of Human Genetics, Section Ophthalmogenetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anneloor Lma Ten Asbroek
- Department of Human Genetics, Section Ophthalmogenetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Berith M Balfoort
- Department of Paediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Camiel Jf Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden UMC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marion M Brands
- Emma Center for Personalized Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Paediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- United for Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald Ja Wanders
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- United for Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Clara Dm van Karnebeek
- Emma Center for Personalized Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Paediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- United for Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Riekelt H Houtkooper
- Emma Center for Personalized Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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15
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Liu Q, Liu J, Guo M, Sung TC, Wang T, Yu T, Tian Z, Fan G, Wu W, Higuchi A. Comparison of retinal degeneration treatment with four types of different mesenchymal stem cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells and RPE cells in a rat retinal degeneration model. J Transl Med 2023; 21:910. [PMID: 38098048 PMCID: PMC10720187 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04785-1] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal degeneration (RD) is a group of disorders on irreversible vision loss. Multiple types of stem cells were used in clinical trials for RD treatment. However, it remains unknown what kinds of stem cells are most effective for the treatment. Therefore, we investigated the subretinal transplantation of several types of stem cells, human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs), amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs), bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs), dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs), induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC), and hiPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells for protection effects, paracrine effects and treatment efficiency in an RD disease model rats. METHODS The generation and characterization of these stem cells and hiPSC-derived RPE cells were performed before transplantation. The stem cells or hiPSC-derived RPE cell suspension labelled with CellTracker Green to detect transplanted cells were delivered into the subretinal space of 3-week-old RCS rats. The control group received subretinal PBS injection or non-injection. A series of detections including fundus photography, optomotor response (OMR) evaluations, light-dark box testing, electroretinography (ERG), and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of retinal sections were conducted after subretinal injection of the cells. RESULTS Each stem cell, hiPSC-derived RPE cell or PBS (blank experiment) was successfully transplanted into at least six RCS rats subretinally. Compared with the control rats, RCS rats subjected to subretinal transplantation of any stem cells except hiPSCs showed higher ERG waves (p < 0.05) and quantitative OMR (qOMR) index values (hADSCs: 1.166, hAFSCs: 1.249, hBMSCs: 1.098, hDPSCs: 1.238, hiPSCs: 1.208, hiPSC-RPE cells: 1.294, non-injection: 1.03, PBS: 1.06), which indicated better visual function, at 4 weeks post-injection. However, only rats that received hiPSC-derived RPE cells maintained their visual function at 8 weeks post-injection (p < 0.05). The outer nuclear layer thickness observed in histological sections after HE staining showed the same pattern as the ERG and qOMR results. CONCLUSIONS Compared to hiPSC-derived RPE cells, adult and fetal stem cells yielded improvements in visual function for up to 4 weeks post-injection; this outcome was mainly based on the paracrine effects of several types of growth factors secreted by the stem cells. Patients with RD will benefit from the stem cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, No. 270, Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, No. 270, Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Minmei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, No. 270, Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tzu-Cheng Sung
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, No. 270, Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, No. 270, Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, No. 270, Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zeyu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, No. 270, Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guoping Fan
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Wencan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, No. 270, Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Akon Higuchi
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, No. 270, Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda RD., Jhongli, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan.
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16
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Scalabrino ML, Thapa M, Wang T, Sampath AP, Chen J, Field GD. Late gene therapy limits the restoration of retinal function in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8256. [PMID: 38086857 PMCID: PMC10716155 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44063-8] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited photoreceptor degeneration that begins with rod loss followed by cone loss. This cell loss greatly diminishes vision, with most patients becoming legally blind. Gene therapies are being developed, but it is unknown how retinal function depends on the time of intervention. To uncover this dependence, we utilize a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa capable of artificial genetic rescue. This model enables a benchmark of best-case gene therapy by removing variables that complicate answering this question. Complete genetic rescue was performed at 25%, 50%, and 70% rod loss (early, mid and late, respectively). Early and mid treatment restore retinal output to near wild-type levels. Late treatment retinas exhibit continued, albeit slowed, loss of sensitivity and signal fidelity among retinal ganglion cells, as well as persistent gliosis. We conclude that gene replacement therapies delivered after 50% rod loss are unlikely to restore visual function to normal. This is critical information for administering gene therapies to rescue vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda L Scalabrino
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mishek Thapa
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tian Wang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alapakkam P Sampath
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeannie Chen
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Greg D Field
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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17
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Li RTH, Roman AJ, Sumaroka A, Stanton CM, Swider M, Garafalo AV, Heon E, Vincent A, Wright AF, Megaw R, Aleman TS, Browning AC, Dhillon B, Cideciyan AV. Treatment Strategy With Gene Editing for Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration Caused by a Founder Variant in C1QTNF5. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:33. [PMID: 38133503 PMCID: PMC10746929 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.15.33] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Genome editing is an emerging group of technologies with the potential to ameliorate dominant, monogenic human diseases such as late-onset retinal degeneration (L-ORD). The goal of this study was to identify disease stages and retinal locations optimal for evaluating the efficacy of a future genome editing trial. Methods Twenty five L-ORD patients (age range, 33-77 years; median age, 59 years) harboring the founder variant S163R in C1QTNF5 were enrolled from three centers in the United Kingdom and United States. Patients were examined with widefield optical coherence tomography (OCT) and chromatic perimetry under dark-adapted and light-adapted conditions to derive phenomaps of retinal disease. Results were analyzed with a model of a shared natural history of a single delayed exponential across all subjects and all retinal locations. Results Critical age for the initiation of photoreceptor loss ranged from 48 years at the temporal paramacular retina to 74 years at the inferior midperipheral retina. Subretinal deposits (sRET-Ds) became more prevalent as critical age was approached. Subretinal pigment epithelial deposits (sRPE-Ds) were detectable in the youngest patients showing no other structural or functional abnormalities at the retina. The sRPE-D thickness continuously increased, reaching 25 µm in the extrafoveal retina and 19 µm in the fovea at critical age. Loss of light sensitivity preceded shortening of outer segments and loss of photoreceptors by more than a decade. Conclusions Retinal regions providing an ideal treatment window exist across all severity stages of L-ORD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randa T. H. Li
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandro J. Roman
- Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Alexander Sumaroka
- Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Chloe M. Stanton
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Malgorzata Swider
- Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Alexandra V. Garafalo
- Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Elise Heon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ajoy Vincent
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alan F. Wright
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Roly Megaw
- Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Tomas S. Aleman
- Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Andrew C. Browning
- Newcastle Eye Centre, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Baljean Dhillon
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Artur V. Cideciyan
- Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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18
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Tessmer K, Gasparini SJ, Hammer J, Adhikari T, Schmidtke K, Knöbel S, Ader M. Invited Session II: Retinal remodeling and regeneration: Insights into retinal cell replacement: Optimising photoreceptor and RPE transplantation. J Vis 2023; 23:10. [PMID: 38109638 DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.15.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and inherited retinal degenerations, are characterized by the dysfunction and ultimately loss of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Retinal cell replacement has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy. This is enabled by the availability of desired donor cells differentiated in large numbers from human embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells. With many differentiation protocols around, detailed comparison of donor cell and host characteristics allowing improved transplantations outcomes are however still sparse. Here, I will present our work on a more detailed assessment of photoreceptor and RPE single cell suspension transplantations. Human photoreceptors incorporate extensively into a cone-degeneration mouse host, interact with host Müller glia and bipolar cells and polarize to form inner and outer segments as well as synapses. Importantly, increased donor-host interactions correlate with improved graft polarization and maturation, with donor cell age greatly influencing this process. Similarly, RPE transplantations into an acute RPE depletion mouse model showed that monolayer formation strongly depends on RPE differentiation times, with further improvement by enrichment of an RPE subpopulation by cell surface markers. Overall, our work highlights the need for careful selection of appropriate donor cells for structural integration into recipient tissue after transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Tessmer
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, TUD Dresden University of Technology
| | | | - Juliane Hammer
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, TUD Dresden University of Technology
| | - Trishla Adhikari
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, TUD Dresden University of Technology
| | - Klara Schmidtke
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, TUD Dresden University of Technology
| | | | - Marius Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, TUD Dresden University of Technology
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19
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Shahin S, Tan P, Chetsawang J, Lu B, Svendsen S, Ramirez S, Conniff T, Alfaro JS, Fernandez M, Fulton A, Laperle AH, Svendsen CN, Wang S. Human Neural Progenitors Expressing GDNF Enhance Retinal Protection in a Rodent Model of Retinal Degeneration. Stem Cells Transl Med 2023; 12:727-744. [PMID: 37786347 PMCID: PMC10630082 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szad054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy for retinal degenerative diseases has been extensively tested in preclinical and clinical studies. However, preclinical studies performed in animal models at the early stage of disease do not optimally translate to patients that present to the clinic at a later stage of disease. As the retina degenerates, inflammation and oxidative stress increase and trophic factor support declines. Testing stem cell therapies in animal models at a clinically relevant stage is critical for translation to the clinic. Human neural progenitor cells (hNPC) and hNPC engineered to stably express GDNF (hNPCGDNF) were subretinally injected into the Royal College of Surgeon (RCS) rats, a well-established model for retinal degeneration, at early and later stages of the disease. hNPCGDNF treatment at the early stage of retinal degeneration provided enhanced visual function compared to hNPC alone. Treatment with both cell types resulted in preserved retinal morphology compared to controls. hNPCGDNF treatment led to significantly broader photoreceptor protection than hNPC treatment at both early and later times of intervention. The phagocytic role of hNPC appears to support RPE cell functions and the secreted GDNF offers neuroprotection and enables the extended survival of photoreceptor cells in transplanted animal eyes. Donor cells in the RCS rat retina survived with only limited proliferation, and hNPCGDNF produced GDNF in vivo. Cell treatment led to significant changes in various pathways related to cell survival, antioxidative stress, phagocytosis, and autophagy. A combined stem cell and trophic factor therapy holds great promise for treating retinal degenerative diseases including retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saba Shahin
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Tan
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jason Chetsawang
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bin Lu
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Soshana Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stephany Ramirez
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Trevor Conniff
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jorge S Alfaro
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael Fernandez
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Aaron Fulton
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alexander H Laperle
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shaomei Wang
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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20
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Liu Y, Xia P, Yan F, Yuan M, Yuan H, Du Y, Yan J, Song Q, Zhang T, Hu D, Shen Y. Engineered Extracellular Vesicles for Delivery of an IL-1 Receptor Antagonist Promote Targeted Repair of Retinal Degeneration. Small 2023; 19:e2302962. [PMID: 37518765 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202302962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Retinal degeneration (RD) is an irreversible blinding disease that seriously affects patients' daily activities and mental health. Targeting hyperactivated microglia and regulating polarization are promising strategies for treating the disease. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is proven to be an effective treatment due to its immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. However, the low efficiency of cell migration and integration of MSCs remains a major obstacle to clinical use. The goal of this study is to develop a nanodelivery system that targets hyperactivated microglia and inhibits their release of proinflammatory factors, to achieve durable neuroprotection. This approach is to engineer extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from MSC, modify them with a cyclic RGD (cRGD) peptide on their surface, and load them with an antagonist of the IL-1 receptor, anakinra. Comparing with non-engineered EVs, it is observed that engineered cRGD-EVs exhibit an increased targeting efficiency against hyperactivated microglia and strongly protected photoreceptors in experimental RD cells and animal models. This study provides a strategy to improve drug delivery to degenerated retinas and offers a promising approach to improve the treatment of RD through targeted modulation of the immune microenvironment via engineered cRGD-EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizong Liu
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Peng Xia
- Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430062, P. R. China
| | - Feiyue Yan
- Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, P. R. China
| | - Man Yuan
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Haitao Yuan
- Department of Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, P. R. China
| | - Yuxin Du
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Jiangbo Yan
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Qiulin Song
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Tianlu Zhang
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Danping Hu
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, P. R. China
| | - Yin Shen
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, P. R. China
- Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, P. R. China
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21
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Sobh M, Lagali PS, Ghiasi M, Montroy J, Dollin M, Hurley B, Leonard BC, Dimopoulos I, Lafreniere M, Fergusson DA, Lalu MM, Tsilfidis C. Safety and Efficacy of Adeno-Associated Viral Gene Therapy in Patients With Retinal Degeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2023; 12:24. [PMID: 37982768 PMCID: PMC10668613 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.12.11.24] [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: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose This systematic review evaluates the safety and efficacy of ocular gene therapy using adeno-associated virus (AAV). Methods MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched systematically for controlled or non-controlled interventional gene therapy studies using key words related to retinal diseases, gene therapy, and AAV vectors. The primary outcome measure was safety, based on ocular severe adverse events (SAEs). Secondary outcome measures evaluated efficacy of the therapy based on best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and improvements in visual sensitivity and systemic involvement following ocular delivery. Pooling was done using a DerSimonian Laird random effects model. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, version 1. Results Our search identified 3548 records. Of these, 80 publications met eligibility criteria, representing 28 registered clinical trials and 5 postmarket surveillance studies involving AAV gene therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), choroideremia, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), X-linked retinoschisis, and achromatopsia. Overall, AAV therapy vectors were associated with a cumulative incidence of at least one SAE of 8% (95% confidence intervals [CIs] of 5% to 12%). SAEs were often associated with the surgical procedure rather than the therapeutic vector itself. Poor or inconsistent reporting of adverse events (AEs) were a limitation for the meta-analysis. The proportion of patients with any improvement in BCVA and visual sensitivity was 41% (95% CIs of 31% to 51%) and 51% (95% CIs of 31% to 70%), respectively. Systemic immune involvement was associated with a cumulative incidence of 31% (95% CI = 21% to 42%). Conclusions AAV gene therapy vectors appear to be safe but the surgical procedure required to deliver them is associated with some risk. The large variability in efficacy can be attributed to the small number of patients treated, the heterogeneity of the population and the variability in dosage, volume, and follow-up. Translational Relevance This systematic review will help to inform and guide future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Sobh
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, BLUEPRINT Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pamela S. Lagali
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maryam Ghiasi
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, BLUEPRINT Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joshua Montroy
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, BLUEPRINT Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Dollin
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa, University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bernard Hurley
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa, University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian C. Leonard
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa, University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ioannis Dimopoulos
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa, University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mackenzie Lafreniere
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, BLUEPRINT Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dean A. Fergusson
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, BLUEPRINT Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Manoj M. Lalu
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, BLUEPRINT Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catherine Tsilfidis
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa, University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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22
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Kerschensteiner D. Losing, preserving, and restoring vision from neurodegeneration in the eye. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R1019-R1036. [PMID: 37816323 PMCID: PMC10575673 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
The retina is a part of the brain that sits at the back of the eye, looking out onto the world. The first neurons of the retina are the rod and cone photoreceptors, which convert changes in photon flux into electrical signals that are the basis of vision. Rods and cones are frequent targets of heritable neurodegenerative diseases that cause visual impairment, including blindness, in millions of people worldwide. This review summarizes the diverse genetic causes of inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) and their convergence onto common pathogenic mechanisms of vision loss. Currently, there are few effective treatments for IRDs, but recent advances in disparate areas of biology and technology (e.g., genome editing, viral engineering, 3D organoids, optogenetics, semiconductor arrays) discussed here enable promising efforts to preserve and restore vision in IRD patients with implications for neurodegeneration in less approachable brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kerschensteiner
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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23
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Matsevich C, Gopalakrishnan P, Chang N, Obolensky A, Beryozkin A, Salameh M, Kostic C, Sharon D, Arsenijevic Y, Banin E. Gene augmentation therapy attenuates retinal degeneration in a knockout mouse model of Fam161a retinitis pigmentosa. Mol Ther 2023; 31:2948-2961. [PMID: 37580905 PMCID: PMC10556223 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.08.011] [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: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptor cell degeneration and death is the major hallmark of a wide group of human blinding diseases including age-related macular degeneration and inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. In recent years, inherited retinal diseases have become the "testing ground" for novel therapeutic modalities, including gene and cell-based therapies. Currently there is no available treatment for retinitis pigmentosa caused by FAM161A biallelic pathogenic variants. In this study, we injected an adeno-associated virus encoding for the longer transcript of mFam161a into the subretinal space of P24-P29 Fam161a knockout mice to characterize the safety and efficacy of gene augmentation therapy. Serial in vivo assessment of retinal function and structure at 3, 6, and 8 months of age using the optomotor response test, full-field electroretinography, fundus autofluorescence, and optical coherence tomography imaging as well as ex vivo quantitative histology and immunohistochemical studies revealed a significant structural and functional rescue effect in treated eyes accompanied by expression of the FAM161A protein in photoreceptors. The results of this study may serve as an important step toward future application of gene augmentation therapy in FAM161A-deficient patients by identifying a promising isoform to rescue photoreceptors and their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Matsevich
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Ning Chang
- Group for Retinal Disorder Research, Department of Ophthalmology, University Lausanne - Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital Fondation Asile des Aveugles, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexey Obolensky
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Avigail Beryozkin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Manar Salameh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Corinne Kostic
- Group for Retinal Disorder Research, Department of Ophthalmology, University Lausanne - Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital Fondation Asile des Aveugles, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dror Sharon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Yvan Arsenijevic
- Unit of Retinal Degeneration and Regeneration, Department of Ophthalmology, University Lausanne, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Fondation Asile des Aveugles, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eyal Banin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
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24
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Choi SW, Seo S, Hong HK, Yoon SJ, Kim M, Moon S, Lee JY, Lim J, Lee JB, Woo SJ. Therapeutic Extracellular Vesicles from Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Retinal Degenerative Disease. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2023; 20:951-964. [PMID: 37440108 PMCID: PMC10519919 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-023-00555-8] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal degenerative disease (RDD), one of the most common causes of blindness, is predominantly caused by the gradual death of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEs) and photoreceptors due to various causes. Cell-based therapies, such as stem cell implantation, have been developed for the treatment of RDD, but potential risks, including teratogenicity and immune reactions, have hampered their clinical application. Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have recently emerged as a cell-free alternative therapeutic strategy; however, additional invasiveness and low yield of the stem cell extraction process is problematic. METHODS To overcome these limitations, we developed therapeutic EVs for the treatment of RDD which were extracted from tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells obtained from human tonsil tissue discarded as medical waste following tonsillectomy (T-MSC EVs). To verify the biocompatibility and cytoprotective effect of T-MSC EVs, we measured cell viability by co-culture with human RPE without or with toxic all-trans-retinal. To elucidate the cytoprotective mechanism of T-MSC EVs, we performed transcriptome sequencing using RNA extracted from RPEs. The in vivo protective effect of T-MSC EVs was evaluated using Pde6b gene knockout rats as an animal model of retinitis pigmentosa. RESULTS T-MSC EVs showed high biocompatibility and the human pigment epithelial cells were significantly protected in the presence of T-MSC EVs from the toxic effect of all-trans-retinal. In addition, T-MSC EVs showed a dose-dependent cell death-delaying effect in real-time quantification of cell death. Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that the efficient ability of T-MSC EVs to regulate intracellular oxidative stress may be one of the reasons explaining their excellent cytoprotective effect. Additionally, intravitreally injected T-MSC EVs had an inhibitory effect on the destruction of the outer nuclear layer in the Pde6b gene knockout rat. CONCLUSIONS Together, the results of this study indicate the preventive and therapeutic effects of T-MSC EVs during the initiation and development of retinal degeneration, which may be a beneficial alternative for the treatment of RDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Woo Choi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Korea
| | - Sooin Seo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Korea
| | - Hye Kyoung Hong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Korea
| | - So Jung Yoon
- Bundang CHA Biobank, CHA University College of Medicine, CHA University Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, 13496, Korea
| | - Minah Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Korea
| | - Sunghyun Moon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Seoul Siripdaero, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, 02504, Korea
| | - Joo Yong Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jaeseung Lim
- Cellatoz Therapeutics Lnc, Seongnam, 13487, Korea
| | - Jong Bum Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Seoul Siripdaero, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, 02504, Korea
| | - Se Joon Woo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Korea.
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25
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Lu B, Avalos P, Svendsen S, Zhang C, Nocito L, Jones MK, Pieplow C, Saylor J, Ghiam S, Block A, Fernandez M, Ljubimov AV, Small K, Liao D, Svendsen CN, Wang S. GMP-grade human neural progenitors delivered subretinally protect vision in rat model of retinal degeneration and survive in minipigs. J Transl Med 2023; 21:650. [PMID: 37743503 PMCID: PMC10519102 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04501-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stem cell products are increasingly entering early stage clinical trials for treating retinal degeneration. The field is learning from experience about comparability of cells proposed for preclinical and clinical use. Without this, preclinical data supporting translation to a clinical study might not adequately reflect the performance of subsequent clinical-grade cells in patients. METHODS Research-grade human neural progenitor cells (hNPC) and clinical-grade hNPC (termed CNS10-NPC) were injected into the subretinal space of the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat, a rodent model of retinal degeneration such as retinitis pigmentosa. An investigational new drug (IND)-enabling study with CNS10-NPC was performed in the same rodent model. Finally, surgical methodology for subretinal cell delivery in the clinic was optimized in a large animal model with Yucatan minipigs. RESULTS Both research-grade hNPC and clinical-grade hNPC can survive and provide functional and morphological protection in a dose-dependent fashion in RCS rats and the optimal cell dose was defined and used in IND-enabling studies. Grafted CNS10-NPC migrated from the injection site without differentiation into retinal cell phenotypes. Additionally, CNS10-NPC showed long-term survival, safety and efficacy in a good laboratory practice (GLP) toxicity and tumorigenicity study, with no observed cell overgrowth even at the maximum deliverable dose. Finally, using a large animal model with the Yucatan minipig, which has an eye size comparable to the human, we optimized the surgical methodology for subretinal cell delivery in the clinic. CONCLUSIONS These extensive studies supported an approved IND and the translation of CNS10-NPC to an ongoing Phase 1/2a clinical trial (NCT04284293) for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lu
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Pablo Avalos
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Soshana Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Changqing Zhang
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Laura Nocito
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Melissa K Jones
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Cosmo Pieplow
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Joshua Saylor
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Sean Ghiam
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Amanda Block
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Michael Fernandez
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Alexander V Ljubimov
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Kent Small
- Macula& Retina Institute, Glendale, CA, 91203, USA
| | - David Liao
- Retina Vitreous Associates Medical Group, Beverly Hills, CA, 90211, USA
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Shaomei Wang
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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26
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Gonzalez Calle A, Paknahad J, Pollalis D, Kosta P, Thomas B, Tew BY, Salhia B, Louie S, Lazzi G, Humayun M. An extraocular electrical stimulation approach to slow down the progression of retinal degeneration in an animal model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15924. [PMID: 37741821 PMCID: PMC10517961 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40547-1] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are characterized by unrelenting neuronal death. However, electrical stimulation has been shown to induce neuroprotective changes in the retina capable of slowing down the progression of retinal blindness. In this work, a multi-scale computational model and modeling platform were used to design electrical stimulation strategies to better target the bipolar cells (BCs), that along with photoreceptors are affected at the early stage of retinal degenerative diseases. Our computational findings revealed that biphasic stimulus pulses of long pulse duration could decrease the activation threshold of BCs, and the differential stimulus threshold between ganglion cells (RGCs) and BCs, offering the potential of targeting the BCs during the early phase of degeneration. In vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the electrode placement and parameters found to target bipolar cells and evaluate the safety and efficacy of the treatment. Results indicate that the proposed transcorneal Electrical Stimulation (TES) strategy can attenuate retinal degeneration in a Royal College of Surgeon (RCS) rodent model, offering the potential to translate this work to clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Gonzalez Calle
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Javad Paknahad
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- USC Institute for Technology and Medical Systems Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Dimitrios Pollalis
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Pragya Kosta
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- USC Institute for Technology and Medical Systems Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Biju Thomas
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Ben Yi Tew
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- USC Department of Translational Genomics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Bodour Salhia
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- USC Department of Translational Genomics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Stan Louie
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Gianluca Lazzi
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- USC Institute for Technology and Medical Systems Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Mark Humayun
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
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Wong NK, Yip SP, Huang CL. Establishing Functional Retina in a Dish: Progress and Promises of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Retinal Neuron Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13652. [PMID: 37686457 PMCID: PMC10487913 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713652] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The human eye plays a critical role in vision perception, but various retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can lead to vision loss or blindness. Although progress has been made in understanding retinal development and in clinical research, current treatments remain inadequate for curing or reversing these degenerative conditions. Animal models have limited relevance to humans, and obtaining human eye tissue samples is challenging due to ethical and legal considerations. Consequently, researchers have turned to stem cell-based approaches, specifically induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to generate distinct retinal cell populations and develop cell replacement therapies. iPSCs offer a novel platform for studying the key stages of human retinogenesis and disease-specific mechanisms. Stem cell technology has facilitated the production of diverse retinal cell types, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and photoreceptors, and the development of retinal organoids has emerged as a valuable in vitro tool for investigating retinal neuron differentiation and modeling retinal diseases. This review focuses on the protocols, culture conditions, and techniques employed in differentiating retinal neurons from iPSCs. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significance of molecular and functional validation of the differentiated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonthaphat Kent Wong
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shea Ping Yip
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chien-Ling Huang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
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28
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Tang Z, Liu Y, Xiang H, Dai X, Huang X, Ju Y, Ni N, Huang R, Gao H, Zhang J, Fan X, Su Y, Chen Y, Gu P. Bifunctional MXene-Augmented Retinal Progenitor Cell Transplantation for Retinal Degeneration. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2023; 10:e2302747. [PMID: 37379237 PMCID: PMC10477897 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302747] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Retinal degeneration, characterized by the progressive loss of retinal neurons, is the leading cause of incurable visual impairment. Retinal progenitor cells (RPCs)-based transplantation can facilitate sight restoration, but the clinical efficacy of this process is compromised by the imprecise neurogenic differentiation of RPCs and undermining function of transplanted cells surrounded by severely oxidative retinal lesions. Here, it is shown that ultrathin niobium carbide (Nb2 C) MXene enables performance enhancement of RPCs for retinal regeneration. Nb2 C MXene with moderate photothermal effect markedly improves retinal neuronal differentiation of RPCs by activating intracellular signaling, in addition to the highly effective RPC protection by scavenging free radicals concurrently, which has been solidly evidenced by the comprehensive biomedical assessments and theoretical calculations. A dramatically increased neuronal differentiation is observed upon subretinal transplantation of MXene-assisted RPCs into the typical retinal degeneration 10 (rd10) mice, thereby contributing to the efficient restoration of retinal architecture and visual function. The dual-intrinsic function of MXene synergistically aids RPC transplantation, which represents an intriguing paradigm in vision-restoration research filed, and will broaden the multifunctionality horizon of nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Tang
- Department of OphthalmologyShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200011P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular OncologyShanghai200011P. R. China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of OphthalmologyShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200011P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular OncologyShanghai200011P. R. China
| | - Huijing Xiang
- Materdicine LabSchool of Life SciencesShanghai UniversityShanghai200444P. R. China
| | - Xinyue Dai
- Materdicine LabSchool of Life SciencesShanghai UniversityShanghai200444P. R. China
| | - Xiaolin Huang
- Department of OphthalmologyShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200011P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular OncologyShanghai200011P. R. China
| | - Yahan Ju
- Department of OphthalmologyShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200011P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular OncologyShanghai200011P. R. China
| | - Ni Ni
- Department of OphthalmologyShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200011P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular OncologyShanghai200011P. R. China
| | - Rui Huang
- Department of OphthalmologyShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200011P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular OncologyShanghai200011P. R. China
| | - Huiqin Gao
- Department of OphthalmologyShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200011P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular OncologyShanghai200011P. R. China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of OphthalmologyShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200011P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular OncologyShanghai200011P. R. China
| | - Xianqun Fan
- Department of OphthalmologyShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200011P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular OncologyShanghai200011P. R. China
| | - Yun Su
- Department of OphthalmologyShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200011P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular OncologyShanghai200011P. R. China
| | - Yu Chen
- Materdicine LabSchool of Life SciencesShanghai UniversityShanghai200444P. R. China
| | - Ping Gu
- Department of OphthalmologyShanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai200011P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular OncologyShanghai200011P. R. China
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29
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Lu J, Zheng KQ, Bertrand RE, Quinlan J, Ferdous S, Srinivasan T, Oh S, Wang K, Chen R. Gene augmentation therapy to rescue degenerative photoreceptors in a Cwc27 mutant mouse model. Exp Eye Res 2023; 234:109596. [PMID: 37479075 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109596] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Previous reports have demonstrated that defects in the spliceosome-associated protein CWC27 can lead to the degeneration of retinal cells in Cwc27 mutant mouse models. However, it is unknown whether gene replacement therapy can rescue this phenotype. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether AAV based gene therapy could rescue the retinal degeneration observed in Cwc27 mutant mice. By 6 months of age, Cwc27 mutant mice show a retinal degenerative phenotype, including morphological and functional abnormalities, primarily driven by the death of photoreceptors. We hypothesize that subretinal injection of AAV8 to drive exogenous CWC27 protein expression will improve the retinal phenotype. We evaluated these improvements after gene therapy with electroretinography (ERG) and histology, either hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) or immunostaining. In this study, we demonstrated that subretinal injection of AAV8-GRK-Cwc27-FLAG in mutant mice can improve the functionality and morphology of the retina. Immunostaining analyses revealed a notable decrease in photoreceptor degeneration, including cone cell degeneration, in the AAV-injected eyes compared to the PBS-injected eyes. Based on these results, gene replacement therapy could be a promising method for treating retinal degeneration caused by mutations in Cwc27.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxiong Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Karen Q Zheng
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Renae Elaine Bertrand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Joseph Quinlan
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Salma Ferdous
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Tanmay Srinivasan
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Soo Oh
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Keqing Wang
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Human Genome Sequencing Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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30
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Reichel FF, Seitz I, Wozar F, Dimopoulos S, Jung R, Kempf M, Kohl S, Kortüm FC, Ott S, Pohl L, Stingl K, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Stingl K, Fischer MD. Development of retinal atrophy after subretinal gene therapy with voretigene neparvovec. Br J Ophthalmol 2023; 107:1331-1335. [PMID: 35609955 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-321023] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Voretigene neparvovec (VN) is the first and only subretinal gene therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency. Real-world application has started in 2018 in patients with vision impairment due to biallelic retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) 65 mutation-associated inherited retinal degenerations. Herein, we evaluated the development of retinal atrophy within in a single-centre patient cohort treated with VN. METHODS 13 eyes of eight patients treated with VN were retrospectively analysed for areas of retinal atrophy over a period of 6-24 months following surgery. Ultrawide field images were used to measure the area of atrophy. Fundus autofluorescence imaging is presented as an instrument for early detection of signs of retinal atrophy in these patients. RESULTS Atrophic changes beyond the retinotomy site were observed in all eyes. Areas of atrophy developed within the area of detachment (bleb) in all eight patients and outside the bleb in three patients. Changes in autofluorescence preceded the development of retinal atrophy and were already evident 2 weeks after surgery in the majority of patients. The areas of atrophy increase with time and progression continued over year 1. Functional outcomes remained stable (VA, FST, visual field). CONCLUSION Subretinal injection of VN can lead to RPE atrophy with consequent photoreceptor loss in and outside of the bleb area. Fundus autofluorescence is an important tool to monitor atrophic changes in patients after gene therapy. Interestingly, while areas of atrophy also included central areas, the functional benefits of the treatment did not appear to be affected and remained stable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Immanuel Seitz
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Fabian Wozar
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Ronja Jung
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Melanie Kempf
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Kohl
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Saskia Ott
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lisa Pohl
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Krunoslav Stingl
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Katarina Stingl
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - M Dominik Fischer
- Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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31
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Moran AL, Fehilly JD, Blacque O, Kennedy BN. Gene therapy for RAB28: What can we learn from zebrafish? Vision Res 2023; 210:108270. [PMID: 37321111 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2023.108270] [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: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The eye is particularly suited to gene therapy due to its accessibility, immunoprivileged state and compartmentalised structure. Indeed, many clinical trials are underway for therapeutic gene strategies for inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs). However, as there are currently 281 genes associated with IRD, there is still a large unmet need for effective therapies for the majority of IRD-causing genes. In humans, RAB28 null and hypomorphic alleles cause autosomal recessive cone-rod dystrophy (arCORD). Previous work demonstrated that restoring wild type zebrafish Rab28 via germline transgenesis, specifically in cone photoreceptors, is sufficient to rescue the defects in outer segment phagocytosis (OSP) observed in zebrafish rab28-/- knockouts (KO). This rescue suggests that gene therapy for RAB28-associated CORD may be successful by RAB28 gene restoration to cones. It also inspired us to critically consider the scenarios in which zebrafish can provide informative preclinical data for development of gene therapies. Thus, this review focuses on RAB28 biology and disease, and delves into both the opportunities and limitations of using zebrafish as a model for both gene therapy development and as a diagnostic tool for patient variants of unknown significance (VUS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailis L Moran
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John D Fehilly
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Oliver Blacque
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Breandán N Kennedy
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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32
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Abstract
PURPOSE To report surgical observations formulated during the first 120 cases of subretinal gene therapy in patients with inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs). METHODS A two-surgeon team compiled surgical observations and formulated surgical pearls based on the consecutive cases of subretinal viral vector injection in patients enrolled in clinical trials focusing on choroideremia, achromatopsia, and RP GTPase regulator associated retinitis pigmentosa, as well as patients with retinal pigment epithelium-specific-65-kDa (RPE65) associated Leber congenital amaurosis receiving Food and Drug Administration-approved voretigene neparvovec-rzyl therapy. RESULTS One hundred twenty subretinal surgeries were performed by a two-surgeon team. Key anatomical features pertinent to surgical management were noted and are described in this article. Surgical decision making for successful subretinal administration of viral vectors and management of potential surgical challenges were formulated. CONCLUSION Lessons learned during subretinal gene therapy cases may be helpful to other surgeons entering clinical trials or performing postapproval gene therapy administration. Surgical pearls outlined in this article may also be helpful for other targeted subretinal therapies, such as cellular transplantation or retinal prosthesis implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ninel Z Gregori
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
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33
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Rosa JGS, Disner GR, Pinto FJ, Lima C, Lopes-Ferreira M. Revisiting Retinal Degeneration Hallmarks: Insights from Molecular Markers and Therapy Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13079. [PMID: 37685886 PMCID: PMC10488251 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713079] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual impairment and blindness are a growing public health problem as they reduce the life quality of millions of people. The management and treatment of these diseases represent scientific and therapeutic challenges because different cellular and molecular actors involved in the pathophysiology are still being identified. Visual system components, particularly retinal cells, are extremely sensitive to genetic or metabolic alterations, and immune responses activated by local insults contribute to biological events, culminating in vision loss and irreversible blindness. Several ocular diseases are linked to retinal cell loss, and some of them, such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, are characterized by pathophysiological hallmarks that represent possibilities to study and develop novel treatments for retinal cell degeneration. Here, we present a compilation of revisited information on retinal degeneration, including pathophysiological and molecular features and biochemical hallmarks, and possible research directions for novel treatments to assist as a guide for innovative research. The knowledge expansion upon the mechanistic bases of the pathobiology of eye diseases, including information on complex interactions of genetic predisposition, chronic inflammation, and environmental and aging-related factors, will prompt the identification of new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Monica Lopes-Ferreira
- Immunoregulation Unit, Laboratory of Applied Toxinology (CeTICs/FAPESP), Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503900, Brazil; (J.G.S.R.); (G.R.D.); (F.J.P.); (C.L.)
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34
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Laperle AH, Moser VA, Avalos P, Lu B, Wu A, Fulton A, Ramirez S, Garcia VJ, Bell S, Ho R, Lawless G, Roxas K, Shahin S, Shelest O, Svendsen S, Wang S, Svendsen CN. Human iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells secreting GDNF provide protection in rodent models of ALS and retinal degeneration. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1629-1642. [PMID: 37084724 PMCID: PMC10444557 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a renewable cell source that can be differentiated into neural progenitor cells (iNPCs) and transduced with glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (iNPC-GDNFs). The goal of the current study is to characterize iNPC-GDNFs and test their therapeutic potential and safety. Single-nuclei RNA-seq show iNPC-GDNFs express NPC markers. iNPC-GDNFs delivered into the subretinal space of the Royal College of Surgeons rodent model of retinal degeneration preserve photoreceptors and visual function. Additionally, iNPC-GDNF transplants in the spinal cord of SOD1G93A amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) rats preserve motor neurons. Finally, iNPC-GDNF transplants in the spinal cord of athymic nude rats survive and produce GDNF for 9 months, with no signs of tumor formation or continual cell proliferation. iNPC-GDNFs survive long-term, are safe, and provide neuroprotection in models of both retinal degeneration and ALS, indicating their potential as a combined cell and gene therapy for various neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander H Laperle
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - V Alexandra Moser
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Pablo Avalos
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bin Lu
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amanda Wu
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Aaron Fulton
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stephany Ramirez
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Veronica J Garcia
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shaughn Bell
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ritchie Ho
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - George Lawless
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kristina Roxas
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Saba Shahin
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Oksana Shelest
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Soshana Svendsen
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shaomei Wang
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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35
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Ail D, Nava D, Hwang IP, Brazhnikova E, Nouvel-Jaillard C, Dentel A, Joffrois C, Rousseau L, Dégardin J, Bertin S, Sahel JA, Goureau O, Picaud S, Dalkara D. Inducible nonhuman primate models of retinal degeneration for testing end-stage therapies. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadg8163. [PMID: 37531424 PMCID: PMC10396314 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg8163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The anatomical differences between the retinas of humans and most animal models pose a challenge for testing novel therapies. Nonhuman primate (NHP) retina is anatomically closest to the human retina. However, there is a lack of relevant NHP models of retinal degeneration (RD) suitable for preclinical studies. To address this unmet need, we generated three distinct inducible cynomolgus macaque models of RD. We developed two genetically targeted strategies using optogenetics and CRISPR-Cas9 to ablate rods and mimic rod-cone dystrophy. In addition, we created an acute model by physical separation of the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium using a polymer patch. Among the three models, the CRISPR-Cas9-based approach was the most advantageous model in view of recapitulating disease-specific features and its ease of implementation. The acute model, however, resulted in the fastest degeneration, making it the most relevant model for testing end-stage vision restoration therapies such as stem cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Ail
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Diane Nava
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - In Pyo Hwang
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Elena Brazhnikova
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | | | - Alexandre Dentel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
- CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, F-75012 Paris, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Corentin Joffrois
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Lionel Rousseau
- ESYCOM, Université Eiffel, CNRS, CNAM, ESIEE Paris, F-77454 Marne-la-Vallée, France
| | - Julie Dégardin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Stephane Bertin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
- CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
- CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, F-75012 Paris, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, F-75019 Paris, France
| | - Olivier Goureau
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Serge Picaud
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
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Maeda T, Takahashi M. iPSC-RPE in Retinal Degeneration: Recent Advancements and Future Perspectives. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041308. [PMID: 36690464 PMCID: PMC10411862 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Regenerative medicine is a great hope for patients suffering from diseases for which no effective treatment is available. With the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in 2006, research and development has accelerated expeditiously, reaching a practical stage worldwide. The iPSC-regenerative medicine in ophthalmology is one of the pioneers, which has kicked off clinical application ahead of other fields owing to its advantages. The clinical safety issues of iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelial (iPSC-RPE) transplantation for exudative age-related macular degeneration have been addressed to a certain extent. Preparations are being made for the next clinical study based on the improvement of its therapeutic effects and expansion of indications globally. Steady progress toward the practical applications of regenerative medicine for the treatment of retinal disorders is expected in the future while strengthening global cooperation amid various research areas, clinical fields, and regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadao Maeda
- Research Center, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Vision Care Cell Therapy, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- Research Center, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Vision Care Cell Therapy, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
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Pittler SJ, Fliesler SJ. Cells Special Issue: "The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Retinal Diseases". Cells 2023; 12:1933. [PMID: 37566012 PMCID: PMC10416830 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent success in the treatment of hereditary retinal disease caused by defects in the RPE65 gene and the FDA approval of this treatment has established the importance of the study of animal models and the translational impact of these research findings [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Pittler
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, Vision Science Research Center, School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0019, USA
| | - Steven J. Fliesler
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Biochemistry and Neuroscience Graduate Program, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York-University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203-1121, USA;
- VA Western NY Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY 14215-1129, USA
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Ly K, Lovell NH, Muralidharan M, Italiano ML, Tsai D, Shivdasani MN, Guo T, Dokos S. The direct influence of retinal degeneration on electrical stimulation efficacy: Significant implications for retinal prostheses. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2023; 2023:1-4. [PMID: 38083376 DOI: 10.1109/embc40787.2023.10340724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Photoreceptor loss and inner retinal network remodeling severely impacts the ability of retinal prosthetic devices to create artificial vision. We developed a computational model of a degenerating retina based on rodent data and tested its response to retinal electrical stimulation. This model includes detailed network connectivity and diverse neural intrinsic properties, capable of exploring how the degenerated retina influences the performance of electrical stimulation during the degeneration process. Our model suggests the possibility of quantitatively modulating retinal ON and OFF pathways between phase II and III of retinal degeneration without requiring any differences between ON and OFF RGC intrinsic cellular properties. The model also provided insights about how remodeling events influence stage-dependent differential electrical responses of ON and OFF pathways.Clinical Relevance-This data-driven model can guide future development of retinal prostheses and stimulation strategies that may benefit patients at different stages of retinal disease progression, particularly in the early and mid-stages, thus increasing their global acceptance.
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Maidana DE, Gonzalez-Buendia L, Miller JW, Vavvas DG. RIPK necrotic cell death pathway in both donor photoreceptor and host immune cells synergize to affect photoreceptor graft survival. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22847. [PMID: 36862516 PMCID: PMC10590064 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201137r] [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: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Photoreceptor transplant has been put forward as a repair strategy to tackle degenerated retinas. Nonetheless, cell death and immune rejection seriously limit the success of this strategy, with only a small fraction of transplanted cells surviving. Improving the survival of transplanted cells is of critical importance. Recent evidence has identified receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) as a molecular trigger controlling necroptotic cell death and inflammation. However, its role in photoreceptor transplantation and regenerative medicine has not been studied. We hypothesized that modulation of RIPK3 to address both cell death and immunity could have advantageous effects on photoreceptor survival. In a model of inherited retinal degeneration, deletion of RIPK3 in donor photoreceptor precursors significantly increases the survival of transplanted cells. Simultaneous RIPK3 deletion in donor photoreceptors and recipients maximizes graft survival. Lastly, to discern the role of RIPK3 in the host immune response, bone marrow transplant experiments demonstrated that peripheral immune cell RIPK3 deficiency is protective for both donor and host photoreceptor survival. Interestingly, this finding is independent of photoreceptor transplantation, as the peripheral protective effect is also observed in an additional retinal detachment photoreceptor degeneration model. Altogether, these results indicate that immunomodulatory and neuroprotective strategies targeting the RIPK3 pathway can aid regenerative therapies of photoreceptor transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E. Maidana
- Retina Service, Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Lucia Gonzalez-Buendia
- Retina Service, Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Joan W. Miller
- Retina Service, Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Demetrios G. Vavvas
- Retina Service, Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Lorenz B, Tavares J, van den Born LI, Marques JP, Pilotto E, Stingl K, Charbel Issa P, Leroux D, Dollfus H, Scholl HPN. Current Management of Patients with RPE65 Mutation Associated Inherited Retinal Degenerations in Europe: Results of a 2-Year Follow-Up Multinational Survey. Ophthalmic Res 2023; 66:727-748. [PMID: 36878196 DOI: 10.1159/000529777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to evaluate the current management of RPE65 biallelic mutation-associated inherited retinal degeneration (RPE65-IRD) in Europe since market authorization of voretigene neparvovec (VN, LuxturnaTM) in 2018. By July 2022, over 200 patients have been treated outside the USA, of whom about 90% in Europe. We conducted among all centers of the European Vision Institute Clinical Research Network (EVICR.net) and health care providers (HCPs) of the European Reference Network dedicated to Rare Eye Diseases (ERN-EYE) the second multinational survey on management of IRDs in Europe elaborated by EVICR.net with a special focus on RPE65-IRD. METHODS An electronic survey questionnaire with 48 questions specifically addressing RPE65-IRD (2019 survey 35) was developed and sent by June 2021 to 95 EVICR.net centers and 40 ERN-EYE HCPs and affiliated members. Of note, 11 centers are members of both networks. Statistical analysis was performed with Excel and R. RESULTS The overall response rate was 44% (55/124); 26 centers follow RPE65 biallelic mutation-associated IRD patients. By June 2021, 8/26 centers have treated 57 RPE65-IRD cases (1-19/center, median 6) and 43 planned for treatment (range 0-10/center, median 6). The overall age range was 3-52 years, and on average 22% of the patients did not (yet) qualify for treatment (range 2-60%/center, median 15%). Main reasons were too advanced (range 0-100, median 75%) or mild disease (range 0-100, median 0). Eighty-three percent of centers (10/12) that follow RPE65 mutation-associated IRD patients treated with VN participate in the PERCEIVE registry (EUPAS31153, http://www.encepp.eu/encepp/viewResource.htm?id=37005). Quality of life and full-field stimulus test improvements had the highest scores of the survey-reported outcome parameters in VN treatment follow-up. CONCLUSION This second multinational survey on management of RPE65-IRD by EVICR.net centers and ERN-EYE HCPs in Europe indicates that RPE65-IRD might be diagnosed more reliably in 2021 compared to 2019. By June 2021, 8/26 centers reported detailed results including VN treatment. Main reasons for non-treatment were too advanced or mild disease, followed by absence of 2 class 4 or 5 mutations on both alleles or because of a too young age. Patient satisfaction with treatment was estimated to be high by 50% of the centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Lorenz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Joana Tavares
- AIBILI - Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal,
| | - L Ingeborgh van den Born
- Rotterdam Eye Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Rotterdam Ophthalmic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - João Pedro Marques
- AIBILI - Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Katarina Stingl
- University Eye Hospital, Center for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Peter Charbel Issa
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dorothée Leroux
- CARGO & ERN-EYE management, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Hélène Dollfus
- CARGO & ERN-EYE management, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Hendrik P N Scholl
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Tay HG, Andre H, Chrysostomou V, Adusumalli S, Guo J, Ren X, Tan WS, Tor JE, Moreno-Moral A, Plastino F, Bartuma H, Cai Z, Tun SBB, Barathi VA, Siew Wei GT, Grenci G, Chong LY, Holmgren A, Kvanta A, Crowston JG, Petretto E, Tryggvason K. Photoreceptor laminin drives differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells to photoreceptor progenitors that partially restore retina function. Mol Ther 2023; 31:825-846. [PMID: 36638800 PMCID: PMC10014235 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.12.012] [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: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Blindness caused by advanced stages of inherited retinal diseases and age-related macular degeneration are characterized by photoreceptor loss. Cell therapy involving replacement with functional photoreceptor-like cells generated from human pluripotent stem cells holds great promise. Here, we generated a human recombinant retina-specific laminin isoform, LN523, and demonstrated the role in promoting the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into photoreceptor progenitors. This chemically defined and xenogen-free method enables reproducible production of photoreceptor progenitors within 32 days. We observed that the transplantation into rd10 mice were able to protect the host photoreceptor outer nuclear layer (ONL) up to 2 weeks post transplantation as measured by full-field electroretinogram. At 4 weeks post transplantation, the engrafted cells were found to survive, mature, and associate with the host's rod bipolar cells. Visual behavioral assessment using the water maze swimming test demonstrated visual improvement in the cell-transplanted rodents. At 20 weeks post transplantation, the maturing engrafted cells were able to replace the loss of host ONL by extensive association with host bipolar cells and synapses. Post-transplanted rabbit model also provided congruent evidence for synaptic connectivity with the degenerated host retina. The results may pave the way for the development of stem cell-based therapeutics for retina degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwee Goon Tay
- Centre for Vision Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
| | - Helder Andre
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vicki Chrysostomou
- Centre for Vision Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore; Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | | | - Jing Guo
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Xiaoyuan Ren
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wei Sheng Tan
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Jia En Tor
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Aida Moreno-Moral
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Flavia Plastino
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hammurabi Bartuma
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zuhua Cai
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Sai Bo Bo Tun
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
| | - Veluchamy Amutha Barathi
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gavin Tan Siew Wei
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
| | - Gianluca Grenci
- Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) and Department of Biomedical Engineering, NUS, Singapore
| | - Li Yen Chong
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Arne Holmgren
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Kvanta
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonathan Guy Crowston
- Centre for Vision Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore; Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
| | - Enrico Petretto
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Karl Tryggvason
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Rodgers J, Hughes S, Lindner M, Allen AE, Ebrahimi AS, Storchi R, Peirson SN, Lucas RJ, Hankins MW. Functional integrity of visual coding following advanced photoreceptor degeneration. Curr Biol 2023; 33:474-486.e5. [PMID: 36630957 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Photoreceptor degeneration sufficient to produce severe visual loss often spares the inner retina. This raises hope for vision restoration treatments using optogenetics or electrical stimulation, which generate a replacement light input signal in surviving neurons. The success of these approaches is dependent on the capacity of surviving circuits of the visual system to generate and propagate an appropriate visual code in the face of neuroanatomical remodeling. To determine whether retinally degenerate animals possess this capacity, we generated a transgenic mouse model expressing the optogenetic actuator ReaChR in ON bipolar cells (second-order neurons in the visual projection). After crossing this with the rd1 model of photoreceptor degeneration, we compared ReaChR-derived responses with photoreceptor-driven responses in wild-type (WT) mice at the level of retinal ganglion cells and the visual thalamus. The ReaChR-driven responses in rd1 animals showed low photosensitivity, but in other respects generated a visual code that was very similar to the WT. ReaChR rd1 responses had high trial-to-trial reproducibility and showed sensitivity normalization to code contrast across background intensities. At the single unit level, ReaChR-derived responses exhibited broadly similar variations in response polarity, contrast sensitivity, and temporal frequency tuning as the WT. Units from the WT and ReaChR rd1 mice clustered together when subjected to unsupervised community detection based on stimulus-response properties. Our data reveal an impressive ability for surviving circuitry to recreate a rich visual code following advanced retinal degeneration and are promising for regenerative medicine in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Rodgers
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Steven Hughes
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Moritz Lindner
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Philipps University, Deutschhausstr. 1-2, Marburg 35037, Germany
| | - Annette E Allen
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Aghileh S Ebrahimi
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Riccardo Storchi
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Stuart N Peirson
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Robert J Lucas
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
| | - Mark W Hankins
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
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Cideciyan AV, Jacobson SG, Sumaroka A, Swider M, Krishnan AK, Sheplock R, Garafalo AV, Guziewicz KE, Aguirre GD, Beltran WA, Matsui Y, Kondo M, Heon E. Photoreceptor function and structure in retinal degenerations caused by biallelic BEST1 mutations. Vision Res 2023; 203:108157. [PMID: 36450205 PMCID: PMC9825664 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2022.108157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The only approved retinal gene therapy is for biallelic RPE65 mutations which cause a recessive retinopathy with a primary molecular defect located at the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). For a distinct recessive RPE disease caused by biallelic BEST1 mutations, a pre-clinical proof-of-concept for gene therapy has been demonstrated in canine eyes. The current study was undertaken to consider potential outcome measures for a BEST1 clinical trial in patients demonstrating a classic autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB) phenotype. Spatial distribution of retinal structure showed a wide expanse of abnormalities including large intraretinal cysts, shallow serous retinal detachments, abnormalities of inner and outer segments, and an unusual prominence of the external limiting membrane. Surrounding the central macula extending from 7 to 30 deg eccentricity, outer nuclear layer was thicker than expected from a cone only retina and implied survival of many rod photoreceptors. Co-localized however, were large losses of rod sensitivity despite preserved cone sensitivities. The dissociation of rod function from rod structure observed, supports a large treatment potential in the paramacular region for biallelic bestrophinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur V Cideciyan
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Samuel G Jacobson
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alexander Sumaroka
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Malgorzata Swider
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Arun K Krishnan
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rebecca Sheplock
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alexandra V Garafalo
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Karina E Guziewicz
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Gustavo D Aguirre
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - William A Beltran
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yoshitsugu Matsui
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Mineo Kondo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Elise Heon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2L3, Canada
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Lorenz B, Tavares J, van den Born LI, Marques JP, Pilotto E, Stingl K, Charbel Issa P, Leroux D, Dollfus H, Scholl HPN. Current Management of Inherited Retinal Degeneration Patients in Europe: Results of a 2-Year Follow-Up Multinational Survey by the European Vision Institute Clinical Research Network - EVICR.net. Ophthalmic Res 2023; 66:550-568. [PMID: 36592621 DOI: 10.1159/000528716] [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: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION An increasing number of gene-specific therapies are being developed for inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs). Identification of well-characterized patients is an emerging need. We conducted the second multinational survey among the EVICR.net and ERN-EYE members to understand the management and treatment of IRDs in Europe and compared it to the 2019 survey. METHODS An electronic survey questionnaire was developed and sent to 124 clinical centers (25 countries) by June/July 2021. Statistical analysis was performed with Excel and R. RESULTS The overall response rate was 44% but varied among countries. Only 9% of responding centers do not see IRD patients (2019 survey 14%), 42% follow at least 200 patients per year, 18% follow 500-999, and 2% more than 1,000. Databases exist in 86% of the centers (local 86%; national web based 12%). IRD patients are referred to EVICR.net and ERN-EYE centers mainly by general ophthalmologists, patient self-referral, or medical retina specialists. Most IRD patients are first seen as adults. Signs and symptoms depend on age of onset: in infancy, nystagmus; at older age, night blindness and reduced visual field; reduced visual acuity is described at any age. Comprehensive ophthalmic examination always includes visual acuity and almost always visual field multimodal retinal imaging, electrophysiology, color vision testing, and refraction. Identification of genotypes is successful in 72% of centers in 40-80% of cases (2019 survey 69% of centers). The time for confirmation of the genetic diagnosis varies from 2-4 weeks to 24 months (2019 survey >4 weeks ≤10 years). Genetic testing is covered by public health service in 83%, private health insurance in 29%, research funds in 24%; 5% do not have access to genetic testing (2019 survey 15%). The most striking result is the high increase in the involvement of centers in natural history and gene therapy trials that more than doubled for the latter. DISCUSSION This second multinational survey on management of IRDs in Europe highlights persistent important differences in the number of IRD patients managed per center, comparable diagnostic work-up, and increasing genotyping in diagnostic laboratories. The important increase in involvement of centers in natural history and gene therapy trials reflects the rapidly evolving field of gene therapy development. The survey provides important follow-up data for researchers, clinicians, caregivers, patient advocate groups, pharmaceutical companies, and investors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Lorenz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Joana Tavares
- AIBILI - Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal,
| | - L Ingeborgh van den Born
- Rotterdam Eye Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Rotterdam Ophthalmic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - João Pedro Marques
- AIBILI - Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Katarina Stingl
- Center for Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Peter Charbel Issa
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dorothée Leroux
- CARGO & ERN-EYE management, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Hélène Dollfus
- CARGO & ERN-EYE management, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Hendrik P N Scholl
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Hollingsworth TJ, Wang X, Simpson RN, White WA, Williams RW, Jablonski MM. Current Advancements in Mouse Models of Retinal Disease. Adv Exp Med Biol 2023; 1415:371-376. [PMID: 37440059 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_54] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The field of retinal degenerative (RDs) disease study has been in a state of exponential growth from discovering the underlying genetic components of such diseases as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) to the first gene therapy developed and approved for human Leber congenital amaurosis. However, a source for high-fidelity animal models of these complex, multifactorial, and/or polygenic diseases is a need that has yet to be fulfilled. While models for AMD and RP do exist, they often require aging the animals for a year or more, feeding special diets, or introduction of external modulators such as exposure to cigarette smoke. Currently, work is being done to uncover high-fidelity naturally occurring models of these retinal diseases with the hope and intent of providing the vision community the tools it needs to better understand, treat, and, one day, cure the patients suffering from these devastating afflictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Hollingsworth
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Xiangdi Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Raven N Simpson
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - William A White
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Robert W Williams
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Monica M Jablonski
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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Caruso SM, Tsai YT, da Costa BL, Kolesnikova M, Jenny LA, Tsang SH, Quinn PMJ. Prime Editing Strategy to Install the PRPH2 c.828+1G>A Mutation. Adv Exp Med Biol 2023; 1415:97-102. [PMID: 37440020 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in peripherin 2 (PRPH2) are associated with a spectrum of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) including retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and macular degeneration. As PRPH2 is localized to cone and rod outer segments, mutations in PRPH2 lead the disorganization or absence of photoreceptor outer segments. Here, we report on a patient with PRPH2-linked RP who exhibited widespread RPE atrophy with a central area of macular atrophy sparing the fovea. In future studies, we plan to model the pathobiology of PRPH2-based RP using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived retinal organoids. To effectively model rare mutations using iPSC-derived retinal organoids, we first require a strategy that can install the desired mutation in healthy wild-type iPSC, which can efficiently generate well-laminated retinal organoids. In this study, we developed an efficient prime editing strategy for the installation of the pathogenic PRPH2 c.828+1 G>A splice-site mutation underlying our patient's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Marco Caruso
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yi-Ting Tsai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bruna Lopes da Costa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Masha Kolesnikova
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura A Jenny
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter M J Quinn
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Mondal AK, Swaroop A. Network Biology and Medicine to Rescue: Applications for Retinal Disease Mechanisms and Therapy. Adv Exp Med Biol 2023; 1415:165-171. [PMID: 37440030 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_25] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) are clinically and genetically heterogenous blinding diseases that manifest through dysfunction of target cells, photoreceptors, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the retina. Despite knowledge of numerous underlying genetic defects, current therapeutic approaches, including gene centric applications, have had limited success, thereby asserting the need of new directions for basic and translational research. Human diseases have commonalities that can be represented in a network form, called diseasome, which captures relationships among disease genes, proteins, metabolites, and patient meta-data. Clinical and genetic information of IRDs suggest shared relationships among pathobiological factors, making these a model case for network medicine. Characterization of the diseasome would considerably improve our understanding of retinal pathologies and permit better design of targeted therapies for disrupted regions within the integrated disease network. Network medicine in synergy with the ongoing artificial intelligence revolution can boost therapeutic developments, especially gene agnostic treatment opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupam K Mondal
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Xue Y. Txnip Gene Therapy of Retinitis Pigmentosa Improves Cone Health. Adv Exp Med Biol 2023; 1415:143-146. [PMID: 37440027 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_22] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a hereditary retinal degenerative disease that can lead to blindness. In RP, rod photoreceptors die first, followed by cone photoreceptors death due to unknown mechanisms. However, one clue for cone death concerns their metabolism. Early changes suggest that they do not have enough glucose, which normally fuels their metabolism. We sought to design adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy to address their metabolic challenges and found that overexpressing Txnip is an effective gene therapy that extends cone survival and vision in three strains of RP mice. The Txnip-mediated rescue was found to be dependent upon lactate dehydrogenase b (Ldhb), which is required for lactate catabolism. Txnip also was found to improve mitochondrial health. Herein, we propose a model in which Txnip shifts cones from their normal reliance on glucose to enhanced utilization of lactate to benefit cones in a condition where the glucose supply is limiting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlu Xue
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Kandoi S, Lamba DA. Retinal Organoids: A Human Model System for Development, Diseases, and Therapies. Adv Exp Med Biol 2023; 1415:549-554. [PMID: 37440085 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_80] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) encompasses a group of heterogeneous disorders causing debilitating visual diseases and blindness, affecting more than two million people worldwide, in all age groups. The inheritance patterns vary from autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked, and sporadic with mutations in over 260 genes identified to date. Despite the significant advances in clinical diagnosis, there is no effective treatment available. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) derived in vitro 3D retinal organoids offer a powerful preclinical tool to investigate the molecular mechanism(s) of inherited diseases. Organoids have the potential for the development of personalized therapies by modeling the disease-specific and patient-specific IRD. This mini-review will elaborate on the utility of the advanced culture model system by focusing on staging the in vitro human retinogenesis, modeling retinal diseases, and as a tool for testing potential therapeutic approaches to restore or prevent vision loss in affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeetha Kandoi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Deepak A Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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da Costa BL, Jenny LA, Maumenee IH, Tsang SH, Quinn PMJ. Analysis of CRB1 Pathogenic Variants Correctable with CRISPR Base and Prime Editing. Adv Exp Med Biol 2023; 1415:103-107. [PMID: 37440021 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_16] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The mouse and human retina contain three major Crumbs homologue-1 (CRB1) isoforms. CRB1-A and CRB1-B have cell-type-specific expression patterns making the choice of gene augmentation strategy unclear. Gene editing may be a viable alternative for the amelioration of CRB1-associated retinal degenerations. To assess the prevalence and spectrum of CRB1-associated pathogenic variants amenable to base and prime editing, we carried out an analysis of the Leiden Open Variation Database. Editable variants accounted for 54.5% for base editing and 99.8% for prime editing of all CRB1 pathogenic variants in the Leiden Open Variation Database. The 10 most common editable pathogenic variants for CRB1 accounted for 34.95% of all pathogenic variants, with the c.2843G>A, p.(Cys948Tyr) being the most common editable CRB1 variant. These findings outline the next step toward developing base and prime editing therapeutics as an alternative to gene augmentation for the amelioration of CRB1-associated retinal degenerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Lopes da Costa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura A Jenny
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Irene H Maumenee
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter M J Quinn
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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