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Calbiague-Garcia V, Chen Y, Cádiz B, Tapia F, Paquet-Durand F, Schmachtenberg O. Extracellular lactate as an alternative energy source for retinal bipolar cells. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:106794. [PMID: 38403245 PMCID: PMC10966802 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.106794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Retinal bipolar and amacrine cells receive visual information from photoreceptors and participate in the first steps of image processing in the retina. Several studies have suggested the operation of aerobic glycolysis and a lactate shuttle system in the retina due to the high production of this metabolite under aerobic conditions. However, whether bipolar cells form part of this metabolic circuit remains unclear. Here, we show that the monocarboxylate transporter 2 is expressed and functional in inner retinal neurons. Additionally, we used genetically encoded FRET nanosensors to demonstrate the ability of inner retinal neurons to consume extracellular lactate as an alternative to glucose. In rod bipolar cells, lactate consumption allowed cells to maintain the homeostasis of ions and electrical responses. We also found that lactate synthesis and transporter inhibition caused functional alterations and an increased rate of cell death. Overall, our data shed light on a notable but still poorly understood aspect of retinal metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Calbiague-Garcia
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; CINV, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Yiyi Chen
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bárbara Cádiz
- CINV, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Felipe Tapia
- CINV, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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Kropp M, Mohit M, Leroy-Ciocanea CI, Schwerm L, Harmening N, Bascuas T, De Clerck E, Kreis AJ, Pajic B, Johnen S, Thumann G. Mammalian Animal and Human Retinal Organ Culture as Pre-Clinical Model to Evaluate Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Intraocular Therapeutics. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1211. [PMID: 37371942 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12061211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress (OS) is involved in the pathogenesis of retinal neurodegenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) and an important target of therapeutic treatments. New therapeutics are tested in vivo despite limits in terms of transferability and ethical concerns. Retina cultures using human tissue can deliver critical information and significantly reduce the number of animal experiments along with increased transferability. We cultured up to 32 retina samples derived from one eye, analyzed the model's quality, induced OS, and tested the efficiency of antioxidative therapeutics. Bovine, porcine, rat, and human retinae were cultured in different experimental settings for 3-14 d. OS was induced by a high amount of glucose or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and treated with scutellarin, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), and/or granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The tissue morphology, cell viability, inflammation, and glutathione level were determined. The retina samples showed only moderate necrosis (23.83 ± 5.05 increased to 27.00 ± 1.66 AU PI-staining over 14 d) after 14 days in culture. OS was successfully induced (reduced ATP content of 288.3 ± 59.9 vs. 435.7 ± 166.8 nM ATP in the controls) and the antioxidants reduced OS-induced apoptosis (from 124.20 ± 51.09 to 60.80 ± 319.66 cells/image after the scutellarin treatment). Enhanced mammalian animal and human retina cultures enable reliable, highly transferable research on OS-triggered age-related diseases and pre-clinical testing during drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Kropp
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva,1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mohit Mohit
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva,1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Laura Schwerm
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Nina Harmening
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva,1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thais Bascuas
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva,1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eline De Clerck
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva,1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andreas J Kreis
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva,1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bojan Pajic
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva,1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Eye Clinic ORASIS, Swiss Eye Research Foundation, 5734 Reinach, Switzerland
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, University of Defense, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sandra Johnen
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Gabriele Thumann
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva,1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
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Calbiague García V, Cadiz B, Herrera P, Díaz A, Schmachtenberg O. Evaluation of Photobiomodulation and Boldine as Alternative Treatment Options in Two Diabetic Retinopathy Models. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097918. [PMID: 37175628 PMCID: PMC10178531 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy causes progressive and irreversible damage to the retina through activation of inflammatory processes, overproduction of oxidative species, and glial reactivity, leading to changes in neuronal function and finally ischemia, edema, and hemorrhages. Current treatments are invasive and mostly applied at advanced stages, stressing the need for alternatives. To this end, we tested two unconventional and potentially complementary non-invasive treatment options: Photobiomodulation, the stimulation with near-infrared light, has shown promising results in ameliorating retinal pathologies and insults in several studies but remains controversial. Boldine, on the other hand, is a potent natural antioxidant and potentially useful to prevent free radical-induced oxidative stress. To establish a baseline, we first evaluated the effects of diabetic conditions on the retina with immunofluorescence, histological, and ultrastructural analysis in two diabetes model systems, obese LepRdb/db mice and organotypic retinal explants, and then tested the potential benefits of photobiomodulation and boldine treatment in vitro on retinal explants subjected to high glucose concentrations, mimicking diabetic conditions. Our results suggest that the principal subcellular structures affected by these conditions were mitochondria in the inner segment of photoreceptors, which displayed morphological changes in both model systems. In retinal explants, lactate metabolism, assayed as an indicator of mitochondrial function, was altered, and decreased photoreceptor viability was observed, presumably as a consequence of increased oxidative-nitrosative stress. The latter was reduced by boldine treatment in vitro, while photobiomodulation improved mitochondrial metabolism but was insufficient to prevent retinal structural damage caused by high glucose. These results warrant further research into alternative and complementary treatment options for diabetic retinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Calbiague García
- Ph. D. Program in Neuroscience, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso (CINV), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile
| | - Bárbara Cadiz
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso (CINV), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile
| | - Pablo Herrera
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile
| | - Alejandra Díaz
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso (CINV), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile
| | - Oliver Schmachtenberg
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso (CINV), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile
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Preventable risk factors for type 2 diabetes can be detected using noninvasive spontaneous electroretinogram signals. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0278388. [PMID: 36634073 PMCID: PMC9836271 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the ever-increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity, the pressure on global healthcare is expected to be colossal, especially in terms of blindness. Electroretinogram (ERG) has long been perceived as a first-use technique for diagnosing eye diseases, and some studies suggested its use for preventable risk factors of type 2 diabetes and thereby diabetic retinopathy (DR). Here, we show that in a non-evoked mode, ERG signals contain spontaneous oscillations that predict disease cases in rodent models of obesity and in people with overweight, obesity, and metabolic syndrome but not yet diabetes, using one single random forest-based model. Classification performance was both internally and externally validated, and correlation analysis showed that the spontaneous oscillations of the non-evoked ERG are altered before oscillatory potentials, which are the current gold-standard for early DR. Principal component and discriminant analysis suggested that the slow frequency (0.4-0.7 Hz) components are the main discriminators for our predictive model. In addition, we established that the optimal conditions to record these informative signals, are 5-minute duration recordings under daylight conditions, using any ERG sensors, including ones working with portative, non-mydriatic devices. Our study provides an early warning system with promising applications for prevention, monitoring and even the development of new therapies against type 2 diabetes.
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Calbiague García V, Chen Y, Cádiz B, Wang L, Paquet-Durand F, Schmachtenberg O. Imaging of lactate metabolism in retinal Müller cells with a FRET nanosensor. Exp Eye Res 2023; 226:109352. [PMID: 36528083 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Müller cells, the glial cells of the retina, provide metabolic support for photoreceptors and inner retinal neurons, and have been proposed as source of the significant lactate production of this tissue. To better understand the role of lactate in retinal metabolism, we expressed a lactate and a glucose nanosensor in organotypic mouse retinal explants cultured for 14 days, and used FRET imaging in acute vibratome sections of the explants to study metabolite flux in real time. Pharmacological manipulation with specific monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) inhibitors and immunohistochemistry revealed the functional expression of MCT1, MCT2 and MCT4 in Müller cells of retinal explants. The introduction of FRET nanosensors to measure key metabolites at the cellular level may contribute to a better understanding of heretofore poorly understood issues in retinal metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Calbiague García
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile; CINV, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Yiyi Chen
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bárbara Cádiz
- CINV, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Lan Wang
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Germany
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Sundberg CA, Lakk M, Paul S, Figueroa KP, Scoles DR, Pulst SM, Križaj D. The RNA-binding protein and stress granule component ATAXIN-2 is expressed in mouse and human tissues associated with glaucoma pathogenesis. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:537-552. [PMID: 34350994 PMCID: PMC8716417 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Polyglutamine repeat expansions in the Ataxin-2 (ATXN2) gene were first implicated in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2, a disease associated with degeneration of motor neurons and Purkinje cells. Recent studies linked single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene to elevated intraocular pressure in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG); yet, the localization of ATXN2 across glaucoma-relevant tissues of the vertebrate eye has not been thoroughly examined. This study characterizes ATXN2 expression in the mouse and human retina, and anterior eye, using an antibody validated in ATXN2-/- retinas. ATXN2-ir was localized to cytosolic sub compartments in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) somata and proximal dendrites in addition to GABAergic, glycinergic, and cholinergic amacrine cells in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and displaced amacrine cells. Human, but not mouse retinas showed modest immunolabeling of bipolar cells. ATXN2 immunofluorescence was prominent in the trabecular meshwork and pigmented and nonpigmented cells of the ciliary body, with analyses of primary human trabecular meshwork cells confirming the finding. The expression of ATXN2 in key POAG-relevant ocular tissues supports the potential role in autophagy and stress granule formation in response to ocular hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad A. Sundberg
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Monika Lakk
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Sharan Paul
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Karla P. Figueroa
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Daniel R. Scoles
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Stefan M. Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - David Križaj
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Yang M, Chen Y, Vagionitis S, Körtvely E, Ueffing M, Schmachtenberg O, Hu Z, Jiao K, Paquet-Durand F. Expression of glucose transporter-2 in murine retina: Evidence for glucose transport from horizontal cells to photoreceptor synapses. J Neurochem 2021; 160:283-296. [PMID: 34726780 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The retina has the highest relative energy consumption of any tissue, depending on a steady supply of glucose from the bloodstream. Glucose uptake is mediated by specific transporters whose regulation and expression are critical for the pathogenesis of many diseases, including diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. Here, we used immunofluorescence to show that glucose transporter-2 (GLUT2) is expressed in horizontal cells of the mouse neuroretina in proximity to inner retinal capillaries. To study the function of GLUT2 in the murine retina, we used organotypic retinal explants, cultivated under entirely controlled, serum-free conditions and exposed them to streptozotocin, a cytotoxic drug transported exclusively by GLUT2. Contrary to our expectations, streptozotocin did not measurably affect horizontal cell viability, while it ablated rod and cone photoreceptors in a concentration-dependent manner. Staining for poly-ADP-ribose (PAR) indicated that the detrimental effect of streptozotocin on photoreceptors may be associated with DNA damage. The negative effect of streptozotocin on the viability of rod photoreceptors was counteracted by co-administration of either the inhibitor of connexin-formed hemi-channels meclofenamic acid or the blocker of clathrin-mediated endocytosis dynasore. Remarkably, cone photoreceptors were not protected from streptozotocin-induced degeneration by neither of the two drugs. Overall, these data suggest the existence of a GLUT2-dependent glucose transport shuttle, from horizontal cells into photoreceptor synapses. Moreover, our study points at different glucose uptake mechanisms in rod and cone photoreceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University & 2nd People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Eye Institute & Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China.,1st Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Yiyi Chen
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard-Karls-Universität, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stavros Vagionitis
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elöd Körtvely
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology (I2O), Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marius Ueffing
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard-Karls-Universität, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Schmachtenberg
- CINV, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Zhulin Hu
- Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University & 2nd People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Eye Institute & Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
| | - Kangwei Jiao
- Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University & 2nd People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Eye Institute & Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
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Abstract
Based on clinical findings, diabetic retinopathy (DR) has traditionally been defined as a retinal microvasculopathy. Retinal neuronal dysfunction is now recognized as an early event in the diabetic retina before development of overt DR. While detrimental effects of diabetes on the survival and function of inner retinal cells, such as retinal ganglion cells and amacrine cells, are widely recognized, evidence that photoreceptors in the outer retina undergo early alterations in diabetes has emerged more recently. We review data from preclinical and clinical studies demonstrating a conserved reduction of electrophysiological function in diabetic retinas, as well as evidence for photoreceptor loss. Complementing in vivo studies, we discuss the ex vivo electroretinography technique as a useful method to investigate photoreceptor function in isolated retinas from diabetic animal models. Finally, we consider the possibility that early photoreceptor pathology contributes to the progression of DR, and discuss possible mechanisms of photoreceptor damage in the diabetic retina, such as enhanced production of reactive oxygen species and other inflammatory factors whose detrimental effects may be augmented by phototransduction.
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Becker S, Carroll LS, Vinberg F. Rod phototransduction and light signal transmission during type 2 diabetes. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 2020; 8:8/1/e001571. [PMID: 32784250 PMCID: PMC7418690 DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2020-001571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diabetic retinopathy is a major complication of diabetes recently associated with compromised photoreceptor function. Multiple stressors in diabetes, such as hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and inflammatory factors, have been identified, but systemic effects of diabetes on outer retina function are incompletely understood. We assessed photoreceptor physiology in vivo and in isolated retinas to better understand how alterations in the cellular environment compared with intrinsic cellular/molecular properties of the photoreceptors, affect light signal transduction and transmission in the retina in chronic type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Photoreceptor function was assessed in BKS.Cs-Dock7m+/+Lepr db/J mice, using homozygotes for Leprdb as a model of type 2 diabetes and heterozygotes as non-diabetic controls. In vivo electroretinogram (ERG) was recorded in dark-adapted mice at both 3 and 6 months of age. For ex vivo ERG, isolated retinas were superfused with oxygenated Ames' media supplemented with 30 mM glucose or mannitol as iso-osmotic control and electrical responses to light stimuli were recorded. RESULTS We found that both transduction and transmission of light signals by rod photoreceptors were compromised in 6-month-old (n=9-10 eyes from 5 animals, ***p<0.001) but not in 3-month-old diabetic mice in vivo (n=4-8 eyes from 2 to 4 animals). In contrast, rod signaling was similar in isolated retinas from 6-month-old control and diabetic mice under normoglycemic conditions (n=11). Acutely elevated glucose ex vivo increased light-evoked rod photoreceptor responses in control mice (n=11, ***p<0.001), but did not affect light responses in diabetic mice (n=11). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that long-term diabetes does not irreversibly change the ability of rod photoreceptors to transduce and mediate light signals. However, type 2 diabetes appears to induce adaptational changes in the rods that render them less sensitive to increased availability of glucose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Becker
- Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Lara S Carroll
- Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Frans Vinberg
- Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Schnichels S, Paquet-Durand F, Löscher M, Tsai T, Hurst J, Joachim SC, Klettner A. Retina in a dish: Cell cultures, retinal explants and animal models for common diseases of the retina. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 81:100880. [PMID: 32721458 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
For many retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy (DR), the exact pathogenesis is still unclear. Moreover, the currently available therapeutic options are often unsatisfactory. Research designed to remedy this situation heavily relies on experimental animals. However, animal models often do not faithfully reproduce human disease and, currently, there is strong pressure from society to reduce animal research. Overall, this creates a need for improved disease models to understand pathologies and develop treatment options that, at the same time, require fewer or no experimental animals. Here, we review recent advances in the field of in vitro and ex vivo models for AMD, glaucoma, and DR. We highlight the difficulties associated with studies on complex diseases, in which both the initial trigger and the ensuing pathomechanisms are unclear, and then delineate which model systems are optimal for disease modelling. To this end, we present a variety of model systems, ranging from primary cell cultures, over organotypic cultures and whole eye cultures, to animal models. Specific advantages and disadvantages of such models are discussed, with a special focus on their relevance to putative in vivo disease mechanisms. In many cases, a replacement of in vivo research will mean that several different in vitro models are used in conjunction, for instance to analyze and validate causative molecular pathways. Finally, we argue that the analytical decomposition into appropriate cell and tissue model systems will allow making significant progress in our understanding of complex retinal diseases and may furthermore advance the treatment testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Schnichels
- University Eye Hospital, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Germany.
| | - François Paquet-Durand
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marina Löscher
- University Eye Hospital, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Teresa Tsai
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - José Hurst
- University Eye Hospital, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephanie C Joachim
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Alexa Klettner
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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