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Velaga SB, Alagorie AR, Emamverdi M, Ashrafkhorasani M, Habibi A, Nittala MG, Sing G, Haines J, Pericak-Vance MA, Stambolian D, Sadda SR. Alterations of the Ganglion Cell Complex in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Amish Eye Study Analysis. Am J Ophthalmol 2024; 265:80-87. [PMID: 38677638 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2024.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness in eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) vs healthy controls in an elderly Amish population. DESIGN Prospective cross-sectional study. METHODS This is a post hoc analysis of the family-based prospective study of Amish subjects. Study subjects underwent imaging with the Cirrus HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc) using a macular cube protocol of 512 × 128 scans (128 horizontal B-scans, each comprising 512 A-scans) over a 6 mm × 6 mm region centered on the fovea. The ganglion cell analysis algorithm calculated the GCC thickness by segmenting the outer boundaries of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and inner plexiform layer (IPL) in all B-scans of the volume, with the region between these boundaries representing the combined thickness of the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and the IPL. A number of parameters were used to evaluate the GCC thickness: the average GCC thickness, minimum (lowest GCC thickness at a single meridian crossing the elliptical annulus), and sectoral (within each of 6 sectoral areas: superior, superotemporal, superonasal, inferior, inferonasal, and inferotemporal). The stage of AMD was graded on color fundus photographs in accordance with the Beckman Initiative for Macular Research classification system. RESULTS Of 1339 subjects enrolled in the Amish eye study, a total of 1294 eyes of 1294 subjects had all required imaging studies of sufficient quality and were included in the final analysis. Of these, 798 (62%) were female. Following age adjustment, the average GCC thickness was significantly (P < .001) thinner in AMD subjects (73.71 ± SD; 13.77 µm) compared to normals (77.97 ± 10.42 µm). An independent t test showed that the early AMD (75.03 ± 12.45 µm) and late AMD (61.64 ± 21.18 µm) groups (among which eyes with geographic atrophy [GA] had the lowest thickness, of 58.10 ± 20.27 µm) had a statistically significant lower GCC thickness compared to eyes without AMD. There was no significant differences in average GCC thickness between early AMD and intermediate AMD (76.36 ± 9.25 µm) eyes. CONCLUSIONS The GCC thickness in AMD eyes is reduced compared to normal eyes; however, the relationship is complex, with the greatest reduction in late AMD eyes (particularly eyes with GA) but no difference between early and intermediate AMD eyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swetha Bindu Velaga
- From the Doheny Eye Institute (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., G.S., S.R.S.), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., S.R.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ahmed Roshdy Alagorie
- From the Doheny Eye Institute (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., G.S., S.R.S.), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., S.R.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (A.R.A.), Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Mehdi Emamverdi
- From the Doheny Eye Institute (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., G.S., S.R.S.), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., S.R.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Maryam Ashrafkhorasani
- From the Doheny Eye Institute (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., G.S., S.R.S.), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., S.R.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Abbas Habibi
- From the Doheny Eye Institute (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., G.S., S.R.S.), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., S.R.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Muneeswar Gupta Nittala
- From the Doheny Eye Institute (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., G.S., S.R.S.), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., S.R.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gagan Sing
- From the Doheny Eye Institute (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., G.S., S.R.S.), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA; Department of Ophthalmology (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., S.R.S.), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Haines
- Department of Population & Quantitative Health Sciences (J.H.), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Institute for Computational Biology (J.H.), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Margaret A Pericak-Vance
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics (M.A.P.-V), University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Dwight Stambolian
- Department of Ophthalmology (D.S.), University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Srinivas R Sadda
- From the Doheny Eye Institute (S.B.V., A.R.A., M.E., M.A., A.H., M.G.N., G.S., S.R.S.), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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Pickel L, Kim SJ, Hacibekiroglu S, Nagy A, Lee J, Sung HK. The Circadian Clock of Müller Glia Is Necessary for Retinal Homeostasis and Neuronal Survival. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024:S0002-9440(24)00290-6. [PMID: 39147235 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Biological processes throughout the body are orchestrated in time through the regulation of local circadian clocks. The retina is among the most metabolically active tissues, with demands depending greatly on the light/dark cycle. Most cell types within the retina are known to express the circadian clock in rodents; however, retinal clock expression in the human has not previously been localized. Moreover, the effect of local circadian clock dysfunction on retinal homeostasis is incompletely understood. We demonstrate an age-dependent decline in circadian clock gene and protein expression in the human retina. Using an animal model of targeted Bmal1 deficiency, we identify the circadian clock of the retinal Müller glia as essential for neuronal survival, vascular integrity, and retinal function. These results suggest a potential role for the local retinal circadian clock within the Müller glia in age-related retinal disease and retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Pickel
- Translational Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Soo Jin Kim
- Department of Medical Science, AMIST, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Translational Biomedical Research Group, Asan Institute for Life Science, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sabiha Hacibekiroglu
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andras Nagy
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Junyeop Lee
- Department of Medical Science, AMIST, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Translational Biomedical Research Group, Asan Institute for Life Science, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hoon-Ki Sung
- Translational Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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3
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Lin CR, Toychiev A, Ablordeppey RK, Srinivas M, Benavente-Perez A. Sustained Retinal Defocus Increases the Effect of Induced Myopia on the Retinal Astrocyte Template. Cells 2024; 13:595. [PMID: 38607034 PMCID: PMC11011523 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this article is to describe sustained myopic eye growth's effect on astrocyte cellular distribution and its association with inner retinal layer thicknesses. Astrocyte density and distribution, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer, and inner plexiform layer (IPL) thicknesses were assessed using immunochemistry and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography on seventeen common marmoset retinas (Callithrix jacchus): six induced with myopia from 2 to 6 months of age (6-month-old myopes), three induced with myopia from 2 to 12 months of age (12-month-old myopes), five age-matched 6-month-old controls, and three age-matched 12-month-old controls. Untreated marmoset eyes grew normally, and both RNFL and IPL thicknesses did not change with age, with astrocyte numbers correlating to RNFL and IPL thicknesses in both control age groups. Myopic marmosets did not follow this trend and, instead, exhibited decreased astrocyte density, increased GFAP+ spatial coverage, and thinner RNFL and IPL, all of which worsened over time. Myopic changes in astrocyte density, GFAP+ spatial coverage and inner retinal layer thicknesses suggest astrocyte template reorganization during myopia development and progression which increased over time. Whether or not these changes are constructive or destructive to the retina still remains to be assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Alexandra Benavente-Perez
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York College of Optometry, New York, NY 10036, USA; (C.R.L.); (A.T.); (R.K.A.); (M.S.)
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4
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Navneet S, Wilson K, Rohrer B. Müller Glial Cells in the Macula: Their Activation and Cell-Cell Interactions in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:42. [PMID: 38416457 PMCID: PMC10910558 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.2.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Müller glia, the main glial cell of the retina, are critical for neuronal and vascular homeostasis in the retina. During age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathogenesis, Müller glial activation, remodeling, and migrations are reported in the areas of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) degeneration, photoreceptor loss, and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) lesions. Despite this evidence indicating glial activation localized to the regions of AMD pathogenesis, it is unclear whether these glial responses contribute to AMD pathology or occur merely as a bystander effect. In this review, we summarize how Müller glia are affected in AMD retinas and share a prospect on how Müller glial stress might directly contribute to the pathogenesis of AMD. The goal of this review is to highlight the need for future studies investigating the Müller cell's role in AMD. This may lead to a better understanding of AMD pathology, including the conversion from dry to wet AMD, which has no effective therapy currently and may shed light on drug intolerance and resistance to current treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Navneet
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
| | - Kyrie Wilson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
| | - Bärbel Rohrer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Division of Research, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
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5
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Zengin S, Mercan S, Tarhan D, Gök A, Ercan AM. Age-related changes on physicochemical properties of the artificial vitreous humor: A practical tool for enhancing ex vivo studies. Exp Eye Res 2024; 239:109762. [PMID: 38147936 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109762] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The vitreous humor (VH) is a hydrophilic, jelly-like ocular fluid, which is located in the posterior chamber of the eye. The rheological, structural, and chemical properties of VH change significantly during aging, which further causes eye-associated diseases and could be a potential indicator for various diseases. In this study, artificial VH (A-VH) samples were created by taking into account different age groups to observe age-related changes in the physicochemical properties of these samples. This study aimed to measure the physicochemical properties of age-dependently prepared A-VH samples to determine the changes with aging in the physicochemical properties of A-VH samples. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-based A-VH samples were prepared in three types representing adult, middle-aged, and elder individuals. Age-related changes in physicochemical properties (surface tension, osmolality, pH, relative viscosity, density, and refractive index) were analyzed by related equipment. The A-VH samples, prepared using PBS, showed strong similarity to authentic VH in terms of physicochemical properties. While the age-related changes studies have revealed some discrepancies between age-dependently prepared A-VH samples in terms of surface tension, osmolality, relative viscosity, and pH with high correlation coefficients (r2 > 0,94), density and refractive index values did not show any significant differences and correlation between types of A-VH representing 3 age groups. In conclusion, age-dependent A-VH samples were created successfully to use ex vivo method development studies, and the influence of aging on the physicochemical properties of VH was demonstrated as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simge Zengin
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Institute of Forensic Sciences and Legal Medicine, Department of Science, Buyukcekmece, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Selda Mercan
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Institute of Forensic Sciences and Legal Medicine, Department of Science, Buyukcekmece, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Duygu Tarhan
- Bahcesehir University, School of Medicine, Department of Biophysics, Goztepe, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aslı Gök
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Avcılar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Alev Meltem Ercan
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biophysics, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
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6
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Fernández-Albarral JA, Ramírez AI, de Hoz R, Matamoros JA, Salobrar-García E, Elvira-Hurtado L, López-Cuenca I, Sánchez-Puebla L, Salazar JJ, Ramírez JM. Glaucoma: from pathogenic mechanisms to retinal glial cell response to damage. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1354569. [PMID: 38333055 PMCID: PMC10850296 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1354569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease of the retina characterized by the irreversible loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) leading to visual loss. Degeneration of RGCs and loss of their axons, as well as damage and remodeling of the lamina cribrosa are the main events in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Different molecular pathways are involved in RGC death, which are triggered and exacerbated as a consequence of a number of risk factors such as elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), age, ocular biomechanics, or low ocular perfusion pressure. Increased IOP is one of the most important risk factors associated with this pathology and the only one for which treatment is currently available, nevertheless, on many cases the progression of the disease continues, despite IOP control. Thus, the IOP elevation is not the only trigger of glaucomatous damage, showing the evidence that other factors can induce RGCs death in this pathology, would be involved in the advance of glaucomatous neurodegeneration. The underlying mechanisms driving the neurodegenerative process in glaucoma include ischemia/hypoxia, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. In glaucoma, like as other neurodegenerative disorders, the immune system is involved and immunoregulation is conducted mainly by glial cells, microglia, astrocytes, and Müller cells. The increase in IOP produces the activation of glial cells in the retinal tissue. Chronic activation of glial cells in glaucoma may provoke a proinflammatory state at the retinal level inducing blood retinal barrier disruption and RGCs death. The modulation of the immune response in glaucoma as well as the activation of glial cells constitute an interesting new approach in the treatment of glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A. Fernández-Albarral
- Ramon Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana I. Ramírez
- Ramon Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Ramon Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A. Matamoros
- Ramon Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Ramon Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Elvira-Hurtado
- Ramon Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- Ramon Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Sánchez-Puebla
- Ramon Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J. Salazar
- Ramon Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M. Ramírez
- Ramon Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Grupo UCM 920105, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Nag TC. Müller cell vulnerability in aging human retina: Implications on photoreceptor cell survival. Exp Eye Res 2023; 235:109645. [PMID: 37683797 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109645] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Müller glial cells (MC) support various metabolic functions of the retinal neurons, and maintain the homeostasis. Oxidative stress is intensified with aging, and in human retina, MC and photoreceptors undergo lipid peroxidation and protein nitration. Information on how MC respond to oxidative stress is vital to understand the fate of aging retinal neurons. This study examined age-related changes in MC of donor human retina (age: 35-98 years; N = 18 donors). Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical observations indicate that MC undergo gliosis and increased lipid peroxidation, and show osmotic changes with advanced aging (>80 years). Photoreceptor cells also undergo oxidative-nitrosative stress with aging, and their synapses also show clear osmotic swelling. MC respond to oxidative stress via proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in their processes, and increased expression of aquaporin-4 in endfeet and outer retina. In advanced aged retinas (81-98 years), they showed mitochondrial disorganisation, accumulation of lipids and autophagosomes, lipofuscin granules and axonal remnants in phagolysosomes in their inner processes, suggesting a reduced phagocytotic potential in them with aging. Glutamine synthetase expression does not alter until advanced aging, when the retinas show its increased expression in endfeet and Henle fiber layer. It is evident that MC are vulnerable with normal aging and this could be a reason for photoreceptor cell abnormalities reported with aging of the human retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapas C Nag
- Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
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Abstract
Because the central nervous system is largely nonrenewing, neurons and their synapses must be maintained over the lifetime of an individual to ensure circuit function. Age is a dominant risk factor for neural diseases, and declines in nervous system function are a common feature of aging even in the absence of disease. These alterations extend to the visual system and, in particular, to the retina. The retina is a site of clinically relevant age-related alterations but has also proven to be a uniquely approachable system for discovering principles that govern neural aging because it is well mapped, contains diverse neuron types, and is experimentally accessible. In this article, we review the structural and molecular impacts of aging on neurons within the inner and outer retina circuits. We further discuss the contribution of non-neuronal cell types and systems to retinal aging outcomes. Understanding how and why the retina ages is critical to efforts aimed at preventing age-related neural decline and restoring neural function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Zhu
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA;
| | - Sharma Pooja Tarachand
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA;
| | - Qudrat Abdulwahab
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA;
| | - Melanie A Samuel
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA;
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9
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Wang Z, Tan W, Li B, Zou J, Li Y, Xiao Y, He Y, Yoshida S, Zhou Y. Exosomal non-coding RNAs in angiogenesis: Functions, mechanisms and potential clinical applications. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18626. [PMID: 37560684 PMCID: PMC10407155 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that can be produced by most cells. Exosomes act as important intermediaries in intercellular communication, and participate in a variety of biological activities between cells. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) usually refer to RNAs that do not encode proteins. Although ncRNAs have no protein-coding capacity, they are able to regulate gene expression at multiple levels. Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, which is an important physiological process. However, abnormal angiogenesis could induce many diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetic retinopathy and cancer. Many studies have shown that ncRNAs can stably exist in exosomes and play a wide range of physiological and pathological roles including regulation of angiogenesis. In brief, some specific ncRNAs can be enriched in exosomes secreted by cells and absorbed by recipient cells through the exosome pathway, thus activating relevant signaling pathways in target cells and playing a role in regulating angiogenesis. In this review, we describe the physiological and pathological functions of exosomal ncRNAs in angiogenesis, summarize their role in angiogenesis-related diseases, and illustrate potential clinical applications like novel drug therapy strategies and diagnostic markers in exosome research as inspiration for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zicong Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Wei Tan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Bingyan Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Jingling Zou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Yangyan Xiao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Yan He
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Shigeo Yoshida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan
| | - Yedi Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
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10
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Liu S, Ji Y, Li H, Ren L, Zhu J, Yang T, Li X, Yao J, Cao X, Yan B. EYE-503: A Novel Retinoic Acid Drug for Treating Retinal Neurodegeneration. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1033. [PMID: 37513944 PMCID: PMC10386480 DOI: 10.3390/ph16071033] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal neurodegeneration is a major cause of vision loss. Retinoic acid signaling is critical for the maintenance of retinal function, and its dysfunction can cause retinal neurodegeneration. However, the therapeutic effects of retinoic acid drugs on retinal neurodegeneration remain unclear. In this study, we designed a novel retinoic acid drug called EYE-503 and investigated its therapeutic effects of EYE-503 on retinal neurodegeneration. The optic nerve crush (ONC) model was selected for the retinal neurodegeneration study. H&E staining, TUNEL staining, immunofluorescence staining, and visual electrophysiology assays were performed to determine the role of EYE-503 in retinal neurodegeneration in vivo. The CCK-8 assay, EdU incorporation assay, PI staining, and flow cytometry assays were performed to investigate the effects of EYE-503 administration on retinal neurodegeneration in vitro. The potential mechanism of EYE-503 in retinal neurodegeneration was investigated by network pharmacology and Western blots. The results showed that EYE-503 administration had no detectable cytotoxicity and tissue toxicity. EYE-503 administration alleviated ONC-induced retinal injury and optic nerve injury in vivo. EYE-503 administration attenuated retinal ganglion cell apoptosis, inhibited reactive gliosis, and retarded the progression of retinal neurodegeneration. Mechanistically, EYE-503 regulated retinal neurodegeneration by targeting the JNK/p38 signaling pathway. This study suggests that EYE-503 is a promising therapeutic agent for retinal neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Liu
- The Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yuke Ji
- The Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Huan Li
- The Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Ling Ren
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Junya Zhu
- The Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Tianjing Yang
- The Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xiumiao Li
- The Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Jin Yao
- The Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xin Cao
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Biao Yan
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia, Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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11
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Yao X, Yang H, Han H, Kou X, Jiang Y, Luo M, Zhou Y, Wang J, Fan X, Wang X, Li MJ, Yan H. Genome-wide analysis of genetic pleiotropy and causal genes across three age-related ocular disorders. Hum Genet 2023; 142:507-522. [PMID: 36917350 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02542-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataract, and glaucoma are leading causes of blindness worldwide. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have revealed a variety of susceptible loci associated with age-related ocular disorders, yet the genetic pleiotropy and causal genes across these diseases remain poorly understood. By leveraging large-scale genetic and observational data from ocular disease GWASs and UK Biobank (UKBB), we found significant pairwise genetic correlations and consistent epidemiological associations among these ocular disorders. Cross-disease meta-analysis uncovered seven pleiotropic loci, three of which were replicated in an additional cohort. Integration of variants in pleiotropic loci and multiple single-cell omics data identified that Müller cells and astrocytes were likely trait-related cell types underlying ocular comorbidity. In addition, we comprehensively integrated eye-specific gene expression quantitative loci (eQTLs), epigenomic profiling, and 3D genome data to prioritize causal pleiotropic genes. We found that pleiotropic genes were essential in nerve development and eye pigmentation, and targetable by aflibercept and pilocarpine for the treatment of AMD and glaucoma. These findings will not only facilitate the mechanistic research of ocular comorbidities but also benefit the therapeutic optimization of age-related ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueming Yao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Hongxi Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammation Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Han Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Xuejing Kou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Yuhan Jiang
- Department of Bioinformatics, The Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Menghan Luo
- Department of Bioinformatics, The Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Yao Zhou
- Department of Bioinformatics, The Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics, The Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Xutong Fan
- Department of Bioinformatics, The Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammation Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.
| | - Mulin Jun Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammation Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China. .,Department of Bioinformatics, The Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.
| | - Hua Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China. .,Laboratory of Molecular Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China. .,School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
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12
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Edwards MM, McLeod DS, Shen M, Grebe R, Sunness JS, Bhutto IA, McDonnell E, Pado AM, Gregori G, Rosenfeld PJ, Lutty GA. Clinicopathologic Findings in Three Siblings With Geographic Atrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:2. [PMID: 36862121 PMCID: PMC9983703 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.3.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness among the elderly worldwide. Clinical imaging and histopathologic studies are crucial to understanding disease pathology. This study combined clinical observations of three brothers with geographic atrophy (GA), followed for 20 years, with histopathologic analysis. Methods For two of the three brothers, clinical images were taken in 2016, 2 years prior to death. Immunohistochemistry, on both flat-mounts and cross sections, histology, and transmission electron microscopy were used to compare the choroid and retina in GA eyes to those of age-matched controls. Results Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA) lectin staining of the choroid demonstrated a significant reduction in the percent vascular area and vessel diameter. In one donor, histopathologic analysis demonstrated two separate areas with choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Reevaluation of swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) images revealed CNV in two of the brothers. UEA lectin also revealed a significant reduction in retinal vasculature in the atrophic area. A subretinal glial membrane, composed of processes positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein and/or vimentin, occupied areas identical to those of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroidal atrophy in all three AMD donors. SS-OCTA also demonstrated presumed calcific drusen in the two donors imaged in 2016. Immunohistochemical analysis and alizarin red S staining verified calcium within drusen, which was ensheathed by glial processes. Conclusions This study demonstrates the importance of clinicohistopathologic correlation studies. It emphasizes the need to better understand how the symbiotic relationship between choriocapillaris and RPE, glial response, and calcified drusen impact GA progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malia M. Edwards
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - D. Scott McLeod
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Mengxi Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Rhonda Grebe
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Janet S. Sunness
- Hoover Low Vision Rehabilitation Services, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Towson, United States
| | - Imran A. Bhutto
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Erin McDonnell
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Alexandra M. Pado
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Giovanni Gregori
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Philip J. Rosenfeld
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Gerard A. Lutty
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
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13
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Albertos-Arranz H, Martínez-Gil N, Sánchez-Sáez X, Noailles A, Monferrer Adsuara C, Remolí Sargues L, Pérez-Santonja JJ, Lax P, Calvo Andrés R, Cuenca N. Microglia activation and neuronal alterations in retinas from COVID-19 patients: correlation with clinical parameters. EYE AND VISION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 10:12. [PMID: 36855168 PMCID: PMC9974399 DOI: 10.1186/s40662-023-00329-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Different ocular alterations have been described in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our aim was to determine whether COVID-19 affected retinal cells and establish correlations with clinical parameters. METHODS Retinal sections and flat-mount retinas from human donors with COVID-19 (n = 16) and controls (n = 15) were immunostained. The location of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the morphology of microglial cells, Müller cells, astrocytes, and photoreceptors were analyzed by confocal microscopy. Microglial quantification and the area occupied by them were measured. Correlations among retinal and clinical parameters were calculated. RESULTS ACE2 was mainly located in the Müller cells, outer segment of cones and retinal pigment epithelium. Cell bodies of Müller cells in COVID-19 group showed greater staining of ACE2 and cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP). The 81.3% of COVID-19 patients presented disorganization of honeycomb-like pattern formed by Müller cells. Gliosis was detected in 56.3% of COVID-19 patients compared to controls (40%) as well as epiretinal membranes (ERMs) or astrocytes protruding (50%). Activated or ameboid-shape microglia was the main sign in the COVID-19 group (93.8%). Microglial migration towards the vessels was greater in the COVID-19 retinas (P < 0.05) and the area occupied by microglia was also reduced (P < 0.01) compared to control group. Cone degeneration was more severe in the COVID-19 group. Duration of the disease, age and respiratory failure were the most relevant clinical data in relation with retinal degeneration. CONCLUSIONS The retinas of patients with COVID-19 exhibit glial activation and neuronal alterations, mostly related to the inflammation, hypoxic conditions, and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henar Albertos-Arranz
- grid.5268.90000 0001 2168 1800Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig Road W/N, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Natalia Martínez-Gil
- grid.5268.90000 0001 2168 1800Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig Road W/N, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Xavier Sánchez-Sáez
- grid.5268.90000 0001 2168 1800Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig Road W/N, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Agustina Noailles
- grid.5268.90000 0001 2168 1800Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig Road W/N, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Clara Monferrer Adsuara
- grid.106023.60000 0004 1770 977XDepartment of Ophthalmology, General University Hospital Consortium of Valencia (CHGUV), 46014 Valencia, Spain
| | - Lidia Remolí Sargues
- grid.106023.60000 0004 1770 977XDepartment of Ophthalmology, General University Hospital Consortium of Valencia (CHGUV), 46014 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan J. Pérez-Santonja
- grid.411086.a0000 0000 8875 8879Department of Ophthalmology, General University Hospital of Alicante (HGUA), 03010 Alicante, Spain ,grid.513062.30000 0004 8516 8274Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain
| | - Pedro Lax
- grid.5268.90000 0001 2168 1800Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig Road W/N, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - Ramón Calvo Andrés
- grid.106023.60000 0004 1770 977XDepartment of Ophthalmology, General University Hospital Consortium of Valencia (CHGUV), 46014 Valencia, Spain
| | - Nicolás Cuenca
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig Road W/N, 03690, Alicante, Spain. .,Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain. .,National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), (RETICS) Cooperative Health Network for Research in Ophthalmology (Oftared), 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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14
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Malek G, Campisi J, Kitazawa K, Webster C, Lakkaraju A, Skowronska-Krawczyk D. Does senescence play a role in age-related macular degeneration? Exp Eye Res 2022; 225:109254. [PMID: 36150544 PMCID: PMC10032649 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Advanced age is the most established risk factor for developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the elderly, in Western and developed countries. Similarly, after middle age, there is an exponential increase in pathologic molecular and cellular events that can induce senescence, traditionally defined as an irreversible loss of the cells' ability to divide and most recently reported to also occur in select post-mitotic and terminally differentiated cells, such as neurons. Together these facts raise the question as to whether or not cellular senescence, may play a role in the development of AMD. A number of studies have reported the effect of ocular-relevant inducers of senescence using primarily in vitro models of poorly polarized, actively dividing retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell lines. However, in interpretating the data, the fidelity of these culture models to the RPE in vivo, must be considered. Fewer studies have explored the presence and/or impact of senescent cells in in vivo models that present with phenotypic features of AMD, leaving this an open field for further investigation. The goal of this review is to discuss current thoughts on the potential role of senescence in AMD development and progression, with consideration of the model systems used and their relevance to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goldis Malek
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Judith Campisi
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Koji Kitazawa
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Corey Webster
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - Aparna Lakkaraju
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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15
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Fan J, Lyu Y, Zhang Q, Wang X, Li M, Xiao R. MuSiC2: cell-type deconvolution for multi-condition bulk RNA-seq data. Brief Bioinform 2022; 23:bbac430. [PMID: 36208175 PMCID: PMC9677503 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbac430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-type composition of intact bulk tissues can vary across samples. Deciphering cell-type composition and its changes during disease progression is an important step toward understanding disease pathogenesis. To infer cell-type composition, existing cell-type deconvolution methods for bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data often require matched single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data, generated from samples with similar clinical conditions, as reference. However, due to the difficulty of obtaining scRNA-seq data in diseased samples, only limited scRNA-seq data in matched disease conditions are available. Using scRNA-seq reference to deconvolve bulk RNA-seq data from samples with different disease conditions may lead to a biased estimation of cell-type proportions. To overcome this limitation, we propose an iterative estimation procedure, MuSiC2, which is an extension of MuSiC, to perform deconvolution analysis of bulk RNA-seq data generated from samples with multiple clinical conditions where at least one condition is different from that of the scRNA-seq reference. Extensive benchmark evaluations indicated that MuSiC2 improved the accuracy of cell-type proportion estimates of bulk RNA-seq samples under different conditions as compared with the traditional MuSiC deconvolution. MuSiC2 was applied to two bulk RNA-seq datasets for deconvolution analysis, including one from human pancreatic islets and the other from human retina. We show that MuSiC2 improves current deconvolution methods and provides more accurate cell-type proportion estimates when the bulk and single-cell reference differ in clinical conditions. We believe the condition-specific cell-type composition estimates from MuSiC2 will facilitate the downstream analysis and help identify cellular targets of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Fan
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yafei Lyu
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Qihuang Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1G1, Canada
| | - Xuran Wang
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Mingyao Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rui Xiao
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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16
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Li R, Liang Y, Lin B. Accumulation of systematic TPM1 mediates inflammation and neuronal remodeling by phosphorylating PKA and regulating the FABP5/NF-κB signaling pathway in the retina of aged mice. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13566. [PMID: 35148456 PMCID: PMC8920455 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms underlying functional decline during normal brain aging are poorly understood. Here, we identified the actin‐associated protein tropomyosin 1 (TPM1) as a new systemic pro‐aging factor associated with function deficits in normal aging retinas. Heterochronic parabiosis and blood plasma treatment confirmed that systemic factors regulated age‐related inflammatory responses and the ectopic dendritic sprouting of rod bipolar (RBC) and horizontal (HC) cells in the aging retina. Proteomic analysis revealed that TPM1 was a potential systemic molecule underlying structural and functional deficits in the aging retina. Recombinant TPM1 protein administration accelerated the activation of glial cells, the dendritic sprouting of RBCs and HCs and functional decline in the retina of young mice, whereas anti‐TPM1 neutralizing antibody treatment ameliorated age‐related structural and function changes in the retina of aged mice. Old mouse plasma (OMP) induced glial cell activation and the dendritic outgrowth of RBCs and HCs in young mice, and yet TMP1‐depleted OMP failed to reproduce the similar effect in young mice. These results confirmed that TPM1 was a systemic pro‐aging factor. Moreover, we demonstrated that systematic TPM1 was an immune‐related molecule, which elicited endogenous TPM1 expression and inflammation by phosphorylating PKA and regulating FABP5/NF‐κB signaling pathway in normal aging retinas. Interestingly, we observed TPM1 upregulation and the ectopic dendritic sprouting of RBCs and HCs in young mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, indicating a potential role of TPM1 in age‐related neurodegenerative diseases. Our data indicate that TPM1 could be targeted for combating the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- School of Optometry The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Kowloon Hong Kong
| | - Yuxiang Liang
- The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences The University of Hong Kong Pok Fu Lam Hong Kong
| | - Bin Lin
- School of Optometry The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Kowloon Hong Kong
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17
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Puertas-Neyra K, Galindo-Cabello N, Hernández-Rodríguez LA, González-Pérez F, Rodríguez-Cabello JC, González-Sarmiento R, Pastor JC, Usategui-Martín R, Fernandez-Bueno I. Programmed Cell Death and Autophagy in an in vitro Model of Spontaneous Neuroretinal Degeneration. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:812487. [PMID: 35221932 PMCID: PMC8873173 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.812487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal neurodegenerative diseases are the leading causes of visual impairment and irreversible blindness worldwide. Although the retinal response to injury remains closely similar between different retinal neurodegenerative diseases, available therapeutic alternatives are only palliative, too expensive, or very specific, such as gene therapy. In that sense, the development of broad-spectrum neuroprotective therapies seems to be an excellent option. In this regard, it is essential to identify molecular targets involved in retinal degeneration, such as cell death mechanisms. Apoptosis has been considered as the primary cell death mechanism during retinal degeneration; however, recent studies have demonstrated that the only use of anti-apoptotic drugs is not enough to confer good neuroprotection in terms of cell viability and preservation. For that reason, the interrelationship that exists between apoptosis and other cell death mechanisms needs to be characterized deeply to design future therapeutic options that simultaneously block the main cell death pathways. In that sense, the study aimed to characterize the programmed cell death (in terms of apoptosis and necroptosis) and autophagy response and modulation in retinal neurodegenerative diseases, using an in vitro model of spontaneous retinal neurodegeneration. For that purpose, we measured the mRNA relative expression through qPCR of a selected pool of genes involved in apoptosis (BAX, BCL2, CASP3, CASP8, and CASP9), necroptosis (MLKL, RIPK1, and RIPK3), and autophagy (ATG7, BCLIN1, LC3B, mTOR, and SQSTM1); besides, the immunoexpression of their encoding proteins (Casp3, MLKL, RIPK1, LC3B, and p62) were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Our results showed an increase of pro-apoptotic and pro-necroptotic related genes and proteins during in vitro retinal neurodegeneration. Besides, we describe for the first time the modulation between programmed cell death mechanisms and autophagy in an in vitro retinal neurodegeneration model. This study reinforces the idea that cell death mechanisms are closely interconnected and provides new information about molecular signaling and autophagy along the retinal degeneration process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Puertas-Neyra
- Retina Group, Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Nadia Galindo-Cabello
- Retina Group, Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Postgraduate Unit, Faculty of Biological Sciences, National University of San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Fernando González-Pérez
- Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology (GIR BIOFORGE), CIBER-BBN, Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - José Carlos Rodríguez-Cabello
- Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology (GIR BIOFORGE), CIBER-BBN, Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Centro en Red de Medicina Regenerativa y Terapia Celular de Castilla y León, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Rogelio González-Sarmiento
- Molecular Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Cancer (IBMCC), University of Salamanca-CSIC, Salamanca, Spain
| | - José Carlos Pastor
- Retina Group, Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Centro en Red de Medicina Regenerativa y Terapia Celular de Castilla y León, Valladolid, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Oftared, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Valladolid, Spain
- RetiBrain (RED2018-102499-T), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Usategui-Martín
- Retina Group, Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Centro en Red de Medicina Regenerativa y Terapia Celular de Castilla y León, Valladolid, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Oftared, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Valladolid, Spain
- RetiBrain (RED2018-102499-T), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Valladolid, Spain
- Ricardo Usategui-Martín,
| | - Ivan Fernandez-Bueno
- Retina Group, Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
- Centro en Red de Medicina Regenerativa y Terapia Celular de Castilla y León, Valladolid, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Oftared, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Valladolid, Spain
- RetiBrain (RED2018-102499-T), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Valladolid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Ivan Fernandez-Bueno,
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18
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Kim JM, Lee M, Lim HB, Won YK, Shin Y, Lee W, Kim J. Longitudinal changes in the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness of age-related macular degeneration. Acta Ophthalmol 2021; 99:e1056-e1062. [PMID: 33555661 DOI: 10.1111/aos.14784] [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: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine longitudinal changes of the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness in patients with non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) without other ophthalmic disease. METHODS Thirty-three eyes of 33 patients with early and intermediate non-exudative AMD (non-exudative AMD group) and 33 normal control eyes were followed for 2 years, and GC-IPL thickness was measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography at 1-year intervals. The mean rate of GC-IPL reduction was estimated using a linear mixed model and compared between two groups. RESULTS The mean age of patients in the non-exudative AMD group and control groups were 68.82 ± 6.81 years and 67.73 ± 5.87 years, respectively (p = 0.488). The mean GC-IPL thickness at the first visit was 76.61 ± 16.33 μm in the non-exudative AMD and 81.76 ± 3.69 μm in control group (p = 0.387), and these values significantly decreased over time, with an average reduction rate of average GC-IPL -0.86 μm/year in the non-exudative AMD group and -0.32 μm/year in the control group. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001), and there was also a significant interaction between group and duration in linear mixed models in mean GC-IPL thickness (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The reduction rate of the GC-IPL thickness was greater in non-exudative AMD eyes, even at relatively early stages of the disease. Physicians should maintain awareness of the presence of non-exudative AMD in various cases of ophthalmic diseases where GC-IPL thickness evaluation is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Mi Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology Chungnam National University College of Medicine Daejeon Korea
| | - Min‐Woo Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology Konyang University college of medicine Daejeon Korea
| | - Hyung Bin Lim
- Department of Ophthalmology Chungnam National University College of Medicine Daejeon Korea
| | - Yeo Kyoung Won
- Department of Ophthalmology Chungnam National University College of Medicine Daejeon Korea
| | - Yong‐il Shin
- Department of Ophthalmology Chungnam National University College of Medicine Daejeon Korea
| | - Woo‐Hyuck Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology Chungnam National University College of Medicine Daejeon Korea
| | - Jung‐Yeul Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology Chungnam National University College of Medicine Daejeon Korea
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19
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Hernandez M, González-Zamora J, Recalde S, Moreno-Orduña M, Bilbao-Malavé V, Saenz de Viteri M, Landecho MF, Fernandez-Robredo P, García-Layana A. Evaluation of Macular Retinal Vessels and Histological Changes in Two Cases of COVID-19. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1546. [PMID: 34829775 PMCID: PMC8615149 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess vascular and histological alterations in two COVID-19 and three control post-mortem retinas. The macular areas of flat-mounted samples were processed for immunofluorescence. Lectin and collagen IV positive vessels were captured under confocal microscopy, and endothelium loss and tortuosity were analyzed. Expression of ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) (the receptor for SARS-CoV-2), Iba1 (ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1) and GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) were quantified in retinal sections. The number of lectin vessels in COVID-19 retinas decreased by 27% compared to the control (p < 0.01) and the tortuosity increased in COVID-19 retinas (7.3 ± 0.2) vs. control retinas (6.8 ± 0.07) (p < 0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis revealed an increase in ACE2 (2.3 ± 1.3 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1; p < 0.0001) and Iba1 expression (3.06 ± 0.6 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1; p < 0.01) in COVID-19 sections whereas no changes in GFAP were observed. Analysis of the COVID-19 macular retinal tissue suggested that endothelial cells are a preferential target of SARS-CoV-2 with subsequent changes through their ACE2 receptor expression and morphology. Thus, microglial activation was hyperactive when facing an ensuing immunological challenge after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Hernandez
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa Sanitaria en Enfermedades Oculares (Oftared), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jorge González-Zamora
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
| | - Sergio Recalde
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa Sanitaria en Enfermedades Oculares (Oftared), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maite Moreno-Orduña
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Valentina Bilbao-Malavé
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
| | - Manuel Saenz de Viteri
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa Sanitaria en Enfermedades Oculares (Oftared), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Manuel F. Landecho
- COVID-19 Unit, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Patricia Fernandez-Robredo
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa Sanitaria en Enfermedades Oculares (Oftared), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Alfredo García-Layana
- Retinal Pathologies and New Therapies Group, Experimental Ophthalmology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.G.-Z.); (M.M.-O.); (V.B.-M.); (M.S.d.V.); (P.F.-R.); (A.G.-L.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research—IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa Sanitaria en Enfermedades Oculares (Oftared), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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20
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Campello L, Singh N, Advani J, Mondal AK, Corso-Díaz X, Swaroop A. Aging of the Retina: Molecular and Metabolic Turbulences and Potential Interventions. Annu Rev Vis Sci 2021; 7:633-664. [PMID: 34061570 PMCID: PMC11375453 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-vision-100419-114940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Multifaceted and divergent manifestations across tissues and cell types have curtailed advances in deciphering the cellular events that accompany advanced age and contribute to morbidities and mortalities. Increase in human lifespan during the past century has heightened awareness of the need to prevent age-associated frailty of neuronal and sensory systems to allow a healthy and productive life. In this review, we discuss molecular and physiological attributes of aging of the retina, with a goal of understanding age-related impairment of visual function. We highlight the epigenome-metabolism nexus and proteostasis as key contributors to retinal aging and discuss lifestyle changes as potential modulators of retinal function. Finally, we deliberate promising intervention strategies for promoting healthy aging of the retina for improved vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Campello
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA;
| | - Nivedita Singh
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA;
| | - Jayshree Advani
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA;
| | - Anupam K Mondal
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA;
| | - Ximena Corso-Díaz
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA;
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA;
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21
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Coppe AM, Lapucci G, Ripandelli G, Pesci FR, Buzzonetti L, Iarossi G. Inner Macular Changes in Fellow Eye of Patients With Unilateral Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:29. [PMID: 34427622 PMCID: PMC8399621 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.10.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose We evaluated a series of fellow eyes (FEs) in patients affected by unilateral idiopathic epiretinal membrane (IERM) with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT-A) to determine if a previous defect in the inner retina is present before the mechanical damage to the inner limiting membrane (ILM) caused by posterior vitreous detachment. Methods In patients with IERM (N = 39), ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness in FEs was assessed with SD-OCT; in a subgroup (N = 25) the vessel density (VD) at the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) was assessed with swept-source OCT-A (SS-OCT-A). These values were then compared with 30 age-matched healthy control eyes (CEs). The statistical analyses used SPSS software version 15.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Data collected underwent 1-way ANOVA. A level of P < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results The GCL thickness in the FEs was significantly lower than in CEs, with a significant thinning in all sectors except temporal ones (mean P < 0.001, superior P = 0.0002, superonasal P < 0.001, inferonasal P < 0.001, and inferior P = 0.002). The VD was significantly lower in the FEs in all sectors of SCP (mean P = 0.009, inner ring P = 0.028, and outer ring P = 0.007). Conclusions GCL and SCP are significantly reduced in the FEs. These data suggest that a vascular defect in the SCP could cause a cellular loss in the inner retina that may determine the cascade events leading to the IERM proliferation; the diagnosis in a preclinical phase could provide a treatment strategy to prevent the progression of the disease.
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22
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Lyu Y, Zauhar R, Dana N, Strang CE, Hu J, Wang K, Liu S, Pan N, Gamlin P, Kimble JA, Messinger JD, Curcio CA, Stambolian D, Li M. Implication of specific retinal cell-type involvement and gene expression changes in AMD progression using integrative analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-seq profiling. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15612. [PMID: 34341398 PMCID: PMC8329233 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95122-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a blinding eye disease with no unifying theme for its etiology. We used single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze the transcriptomes of ~ 93,000 cells from the macula and peripheral retina from two adult human donors and bulk RNA sequencing from fifteen adult human donors with and without AMD. Analysis of our single-cell data identified 267 cell-type-specific genes. Comparison of macula and peripheral retinal regions found no cell-type differences but did identify 50 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with about 1/3 expressed in cones. Integration of our single-cell data with bulk RNA sequencing data from normal and AMD donors showed compositional changes more pronounced in macula in rods, microglia, endothelium, Müller glia, and astrocytes in the transition from normal to advanced AMD. KEGG pathway analysis of our normal vs. advanced AMD eyes identified enrichment in complement and coagulation pathways, antigen presentation, tissue remodeling, and signaling pathways including PI3K-Akt, NOD-like, Toll-like, and Rap1. These results showcase the use of single-cell RNA sequencing to infer cell-type compositional and cell-type-specific gene expression changes in intact bulk tissue and provide a foundation for investigating molecular mechanisms of retinal disease that lead to new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Lyu
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Randy Zauhar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Nicholas Dana
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Human Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Christianne E Strang
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Jian Hu
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kui Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Information Theory and Data Science, School of Mathematical Sciences and LPMC, Nankai University, Tianjin, 30071, China
| | - Shanrun Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Naifei Pan
- Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Paul Gamlin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - James A Kimble
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Messinger
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Christine A Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Dwight Stambolian
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Human Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Mingyao Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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23
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Riccitelli S, Di Paolo M, Ashley J, Bisti S, Di Marco S. The Timecourses of Functional, Morphological, and Molecular Changes Triggered by Light Exposure in Sprague-Dawley Rat Retinas. Cells 2021; 10:1561. [PMID: 34205615 PMCID: PMC8234029 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal neurodegeneration can impair visual perception at different levels, involving not only photoreceptors, which are the most metabolically active cells, but also the inner retina. Compensatory mechanisms may hide the first signs of these impairments and reduce the likelihood of receiving timely treatments. Therefore, it is essential to characterize the early critical steps in the neurodegenerative progression to design adequate therapies. This paper describes and correlates early morphological and biochemical changes in the degenerating retina with in vivo functional analysis of retinal activity and investigates the progression of neurodegenerative stages for up to 7 months. For these purposes, Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 1000 lux light either for different durations (12 h to 24 h) and examined seven days afterward (7d) or for a fixed duration (24 h) and monitored at various time points following the exposure (up to 210d). Flash electroretinogram (fERG) recordings were correlated with morphological and histological analyses to evaluate outer and inner retinal disruptions, gliosis, trophic factor release, and microglial activation. Twelve hours or fifteen hours of exposure to constant light led to a severe retinal dysfunction with only minor morphological changes. Therefore, early pathological signs might be hidden by compensatory mechanisms that silence retinal dysfunction, accounting for the discrepancy between photoreceptor loss and retinal functional output. The long-term analysis showed a transient functional recovery, maximum at 45 days, despite a progressive loss of photoreceptors and coincident increases in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (bFGF-2) expression. Interestingly, the progression of the disease presented different patterns in the dorsal and ventral retina. The information acquired gives us the potential to develop a specific diagnostic tool to monitor the disease's progression and treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Riccitelli
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (S.R.); (M.D.P.); (S.B.)
| | - Mattia Di Paolo
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (S.R.); (M.D.P.); (S.B.)
| | - James Ashley
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;
| | - Silvia Bisti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (S.R.); (M.D.P.); (S.B.)
- Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), 00136 Roma, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Marco
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (S.R.); (M.D.P.); (S.B.)
- Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), 00136 Roma, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16132 Genova, Italy
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
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24
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Jáñez-García L, Bachtoula O, Salobrar-García E, de Hoz R, Ramirez AI, Gil P, Ramirez JM, Jáñez-Escalada L. Roughness of retinal layers in Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11804. [PMID: 34083574 PMCID: PMC8175587 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91097-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that thinned retinal regions are interspersed with thickened regions in all retinal layers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), causing roughness to appear on layer thickness maps. The hypothesis is that roughness of retinal layers, assessed by the fractal dimension (FD) of their thickness maps, is an early biomarker of AD. Ten retinal layers have been studied in macular volumes of optical coherence tomography from 24 healthy volunteers and 19 patients with mild AD (Mini-Mental State Examination 23.42 ± 3.11). Results show that FD of retinal layers is greater in the AD group, the differences being statistically significant (p < 0.05). Correlation of layer FD with cognitive score, visual acuity and age reach statistical significance at 7 layers. Nearly all (44 out of 45) FD correlations among layers are positive and half of them reached statistical significance (p < 0.05). Factor analysis unveiled two independent factors identified as the dysregulation of the choroidal vascular network and the retinal inflammatory process. Conclusions: surface roughness is a holistic feature of retinal layers that can be assessed by the FD of their thickness maps and it is an early biomarker of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Jáñez-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Tecnología del Conocimiento, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Omar Bachtoula
- Instituto de Tecnología del Conocimiento, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, UCM, IdiSSC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, UCM, IdiSSC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana I Ramirez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, UCM, IdiSSC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Gil
- Unidad de Memoria, Servicio de Geriatría, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Ramirez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Departamento de Inmunología, Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina (UCM), IdiSSC, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Luis Jáñez-Escalada
- Instituto de Tecnología del Conocimiento, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología en Ciencias del Comportamiento, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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25
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Foveal Avascular Zone and Choroidal Thickness Are Decreased in Subjects with Hard Drusen and without High Genetic Risk of Developing Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9060638. [PMID: 34199664 PMCID: PMC8229973 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9060638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A family history (FH+) of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and ɛ4 allele of the ApoE gene are the main genetic risk factors for developing AD, whereas ɛ4 allele plays a protective role in age-related macular degeneration. Ocular vascular changes have been reported in both pathologies. We analyzed the choroidal thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) using OCT-angiography and compared the results with ApoE gene expression, AD FH+, and the presence or absence of hard drusen (HD) in 184 cognitively healthy subjects. Choroidal thickness was statistically significantly different in the (FH−, ɛ4−, HD+) group compared with (i) both the (FH−, ɛ4−, HD−) and the (FH+, ɛ4+, HD+) groups in the superior and inferior points at 1500 μm, and (ii) the (FH+, ɛ4−, HD+) group in the superior point at 1500 μm. There were statistically significant differences in the superficial FAZ between the (FH+, ɛ4−, HD+) group and (i) the (FH+, ɛ4−, HD−) group and (ii) the (FH+, ɛ4+, HD−) group. In conclusion, ocular vascular changes are not yet evident in participants with a genetic risk of developing AD.
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26
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Retinal Neurodegeneration: Correlation between Nutraceutical Treatment and Animal Model. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13030770. [PMID: 33673449 PMCID: PMC7997156 DOI: 10.3390/nu13030770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal diseases can be induced by a variety of factors, including gene mutations, environmental stresses and dysmetabolic processes. The result is a progressive deterioration of visual function, which sometimes leads to blindness. Many treatments are under investigation, though results are still mostly unsatisfactory and restricted to specific pathologies, particularly in the case of gene therapy. The majority of treatments have been tested in animal models, but very few have progressed to human clinical trials. A relevant approach is to study the relation between the type of treatments and the degenerative characteristics of the animal model to better understand the effectiveness of each therapy. Here we compare the results obtained from different animal models treated with natural compounds (saffron and naringenin) to anticipate the potentiality of a single treatment in different pathologies.
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27
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Chen N, Wu J, Wang J, Piri N, Chen F, Xiao T, Zhao Y, Sun D, Kaplan HJ, Shao H. Short chain fatty acids inhibit endotoxin-induced uveitis and inflammatory responses of retinal astrocytes. Exp Eye Res 2021; 206:108520. [PMID: 33617852 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced by gut microbiota as fermentation products of digestion-resistant oligosaccharides and fibers. Their primary roles are functioning as major energy sources for colon cells and assisting in gut homeostasis by immunomodulation. Recent evidence suggests that they affect various organs both at cellular and molecular levels, and regulate functions in distance sites including gene expression, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, apoptosis and inflammation. In this study, we examined whether SCFAs are present in the mouse eye and whether SCFAs affect inflammatory responses of the eye and retinal astrocytes (RACs). We observed that intra-peritoneal injected SCFAs were detected in the eye and reduced intraocular inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Moreover, SCFAs displayed two disparate effects on LPS-stimulated RACs - namely, cytokine and chemokine production was reduced, but the ability to activate T cells was enhanced. Our results support the existence of gut-eye cross talk and suggest that SCFAs can cross the blood-eye-barrier via the systemic circulation. If applied at high concentrations, SCFAs may reduce inflammation and impact cellular functions in the intraocular milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nu Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Jingrui Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Niloofar Piri
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Feilan Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Tong Xiao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Huntsville, TX, USA
| | - Deming Sun
- Doheny Eye Institute & Department. Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Henry J Kaplan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Hui Shao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
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Cao T, Wang J, Wu Y, Wang L, Zhang H. Antiglaucoma Potential of β-Glucogallin Is Mediated by Modulating Mitochondrial Responses in Experimentally Induced Glaucoma. Neuroimmunomodulation 2021; 27:142-151. [PMID: 33571990 DOI: 10.1159/000512992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of phytochemicals for the treatment of various bodily ailments has been in practice since ancient days. Even though in practice, scientific studies on the protective effect of β-glucogallin (BG) against glaucoma is limited. OBJECTIVES In the present study, the in vitro glaucoma model (hydrostatic pressure) using PC12 neuronal cells exposed to BG were used to elucidate its protective effects. METHOD The cultured cells were analyzed for the mitochondrial responses, oxidant-antioxidant status, and expression of caveolin-1, ANGPTL7, the glaucoma markers, and cytokines. RESULTS We demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, ANGPTL7, with altered mitochondrial enzymes in glaucoma cells compared to the control. Moreover, cells predisposed to hydrostatic pressure demonstrated an increase in oxidative stress with augmented (p < 0.01) inflammatory cytokines such as IL-2, CXCR4, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and TNF-α. On the other hand, cells pretreated with BG attenuated the reactive oxygen species levels with improved antioxidant enzymes. Simultaneously, the levels of inflammatory cytokines and ANGPTL7 proteins were found attenuated with restored mitochondrial responses in BG pretreated cells. CONCLUSION Thus, the results of the present study demonstrate that the use of BG on retinal cells against relieving the intraocular pressure may be a promising therapeutic for controlling the disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Cao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, China,
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Orthopedic, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Department of Tumour, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, China
| | - Lianfeng Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, China
| | - Huiqin Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, China
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Hermenean A, Trotta MC, Gharbia S, Hermenean AG, Peteu VE, Balta C, Cotoraci C, Gesualdo C, Rossi S, Gherghiceanu M, D'Amico M. Changes in Retinal Structure and Ultrastructure in the Aged Mice Correlate With Differences in the Expression of Selected Retinal miRNAs. Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:593514. [PMID: 33519453 PMCID: PMC7838525 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.593514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Age and gender are two important factors that may influence the function and structure of the retina and its susceptibility to retinal diseases. The aim of this study was to delineate the influence that biological sex and age exert on the retinal structural and ultrastructural changes in mice and to identify the age-related miRNA dysregulation profiles in the retina by gender. Experiments were undertaken on male and female Balb/c aged 24 months (approximately 75–85 years in humans) compared to the control (3 months). The retinas were analyzed by histology, transmission electron microscopy, and age-related miRNA expression profile analysis. Retinas of both sexes showed a steady decline in retinal thickness as follows: photoreceptor (PS) and outer layers (p < 0.01 for the aged male vs. control; p < 0.05 for the aged female vs. control); the inner retinal layers were significantly affected by the aging process in the males (p < 0.01) but not in the aged females. Electron microscopy revealed more abnormalities which involve the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch’s membrane, outer and inner layers, vascular changes, deposits of amorphous materials, and accumulation of lipids or lipofuscins. Age-related miRNAs, miR-27a-3p (p < 0.01), miR-27b-3p (p < 0.05), and miR-20a-5p (p < 0.05) were significantly up-regulated in aged male mice compared to the controls, whereas miR-20b-5p was significantly down-regulated in aged male (p < 0.05) and female mice (p < 0.05) compared to the respective controls. miR-27a-3p (5.00 fold; p < 0.01) and miR-27b (7.58 fold; p < 0.01) were significantly up-regulated in aged male mice vs. aged female mice, whereas miR-20b-5p (−2.10 fold; p < 0.05) was significantly down-regulated in aged male mice vs. aged female mice. Interestingly, miR-27a-3p, miR-27b-3p, miR-20a-5p, and miR-20b-5p expressions significantly correlated with the thickness of the retinal PS layer (p < 0.01), retinal outer layers (p < 0.01), and Bruch’s membrane (p < 0.01). Our results showed that biological sex can influence the structure and function of the retina upon aging, suggesting that this difference may be underlined by the dysregulation of age-related mi-RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Hermenean
- "Aurel Ardelean" Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, Arad, Romania.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Maria Consiglia Trotta
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Sami Gharbia
- "Aurel Ardelean" Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, Arad, Romania.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | | | - Cornel Balta
- "Aurel Ardelean" Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, Arad, Romania
| | - Coralia Cotoraci
- Faculty of Medicine, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, Arad, Romania
| | - Carlo Gesualdo
- Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Settimio Rossi
- Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Mihaela Gherghiceanu
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.,Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Michele D'Amico
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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30
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Gao L, Wang J, You Q, Guo Y, Flaxel CJ, Hwang TS, Huang D, Jia Y, Bailey ST. Plexus-specific retinal capillary avascular area in exudative age-related macular degeneration with projection-resolved OCT angiography. Br J Ophthalmol 2020; 106:719-723. [PMID: 33355172 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-317562] [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: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To detect the plexus-specific retinal capillary avascular area in exudative age-related macular degeneration (EAMD) with projection-resolved optical coherence tomography angiography (PR-OCTA). METHODS AND ANALYSIS In this prospective cross-sectional single centre study, eyes with treatment-naïve EAMD underwent macular 3×3 mm OCTA with AngioVue system. OCTA scans were analysed and processed including three-dimensional projection artefact removal, retinal layer semi-automated segmentation and en face angiogram generation. Automated quantification of extrafoveal (excluding the central 1 mm circle) avascular area (EAA) were calculated on projection-resolved superficial vascular complex (SVC), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), respectively. RESULTS Nineteen eyes with EAMD and 19 age-matched healthy control eyes were included. There was no significant difference between the EAMD and control eyes in terms of age, sex, axial length and mean ocular perfusion pressure (all p>0.05). Compared with control eyes, EAMD eyes had significantly larger EAA in SVC (median 0.125 vs 0.059 mm2, p=0.006), ICP (0.016 vs 0.000 mm2, p=0.004) and DCP (0.033 vs 0.000 mm2, p<0.001). CONCLUSION PR-OCTA showed that EAMD is associated with focal avascular area in all the three retinal vascular plexuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqin Gao
- Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Qisheng You
- Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Yukun Guo
- Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Christina J Flaxel
- Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Thomas S Hwang
- Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - David Huang
- Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Yali Jia
- Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Steven T Bailey
- Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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31
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Lee SE, Lim HB, Shin YI, Ryu CK, Lee WH, Kim JY. Characteristics of the inner retinal layer in the fellow eyes of patients with unilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239555. [PMID: 32966311 PMCID: PMC7511006 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the thicknesses of the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of the fellow eyes of patients with unilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS A total of 107 patients with unilateral exudative AMD [34 of typical choroidal neovascularization (tCNV), Group A; 73 of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), Group B] and 73 normal control eyes (Group C) were included. Drusen and subretinal drusenoid deposits were assessed in all participants using fundus photography, autofluorescence, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The GC-IPL and RNFL thicknesses were measured using Cirrus HD-OCT and compared among groups. Linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the factors associated with GC-IPL thicknesses. RESULTS The average GC-IPL thicknesses of Groups A, B, and C were 77.09 ± 3.87, 80.10 ± 6.61, and 80.88 ± 6.50 μm, respectively (p = 0.022). Sectoral GC-IPLs and central macular thicknesses (CMTs) were significantly different among groups (all, p <0.05), whereas none of the RNFL parameters differed significantly (all, p >0.05). Multivariate linear regression analyses revealed that age (p <0.001), CMT (p <0.001), and tCNV (p = 0.013) were significantly associated with average GC-IPL thickness, and the rate of reduction of GC-IPL thickness with increasing age in the fellow eyes of tCNV patients was higher than those in the PCV and control groups. CONCLUSIONS Unilateral tCNV patients exhibited statistically significant reduction of the GC-IPL thickness in the fellow eyes, compared to values of the fellow eyes of unilateral PCV patients or control patients. RNFL values trended to be lower but did not reach statistical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Eun Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Bin Lim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Il Shin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Rhee’s Eye Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheon Kuk Ryu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Hyuk Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Yeul Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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32
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ALTERATIONS OF MACULAR BLOOD FLOW IN SUPERFICIAL AND DEEP CAPILLARY PLEXUSES IN THE FELLOW AND AFFECTED EYES OF PATIENTS WITH UNILATERAL IDIOPATHIC EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE. Retina 2020; 40:1540-1548. [DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000002617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Oxidative stress in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE): Role of aging, and DJ-1. Redox Biol 2020; 37:101623. [PMID: 32826201 PMCID: PMC7767746 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
High levels of oxidative radicals generated by daily light exposure and high metabolic rate suggest that the antioxidant machinery of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is crucial for their survival. DJ-1 is a redox-sensitive protein that has been shown to have neuroprotective function in the brain in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we analyzed the role of DJ-1 in the retina during oxidative stress and aging. We induced low-level oxidative stress in young (3-month-old) and old (15-month-old) C57BL/6J (WT) and DJ-1 knockout (KO) mice and evaluated effects in the RPE and retina. Absence of DJ-1 resulted in increased retinal dysfunction in response to low levels of oxidative stress. Our findings suggest that loss of DJ-1 affects the RPE antioxidant machinery, rendering it unable to combat and neutralize low-level oxidative stress, irrespective of age. Moreover, they draw a parallel to the retinal degeneration observed in AMD, where the occurrence of genetic variants may leave the retina and RPE unable to fight sustained, low-levels of oxidative stress. Antioxidants are upregulated in young DJ-1 KO RPE but downregulated in the retina. DJ-1 KO retinas are degenerated under low-level oxidative stress, regardless of age. Retinas of both young C57BL and DJ-1 KO were able to regulate antioxidant genes upon low-level oxidative stress. Retinas of both aged C57BL and DJ-1 KO were unable to regulate antioxidant genes upon low-level oxidative stress. RPE of aged C57BLl mice upregulated some antioxidant genes.
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Prokopiou E, Kolovos P, Georgiou C, Kalogerou M, Potamiti L, Sokratous K, Kyriacou K, Georgiou T. Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation protects the retina from age-associated degeneration in aged C57BL/6J mice. BMJ Open Ophthalmol 2019; 4:e000326. [PMID: 31799410 PMCID: PMC6861077 DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2019-000326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of omega-3 (ω3) fatty acids in the retina of aged mice when the blood arachidonic acid (AA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio is maintained between 1.0 and 1.5. Methods and analysis Aged (24-month-old) wild-type C57BL/6J mice were allocated to two groups: ω3 treated and untreated. Treatment with ω3 was by daily gavage administration of EPA and docosahexaenoic acid for 60 days. Gas chromatography was used to identify and quantify fatty acids in the blood and retina. To count lipofuscin granules and measure the photoreceptor layer, eyecups were examined histologically using transmission electron microscopy and light microscopy. We also analysed eyecups using mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Results AA levels were lower, and EPA levels were higher, in the blood and retinas of the ω3-treated group than in the untreated group, resulting in a lower AA/EPA ratio. The ω3-treated group also showed significantly fewer lipofuscin granules and a thicker outer nuclear layer than the untreated group. Proteomic analysis revealed significantly greater expression of myelin basic protein, myelin regulatory factor-like protein, myelin proteolipid protein and glial fibrillar acidic protein in the ω3-treated group than in the untreated group. Three different pathways were significantly affected by ω3 treatment: fatty acid elongation, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and metabolic pathways. Conclusion Two months of ω3 supplementation (when the blood AA/EPA~1.0-1.5) in aged mice reduced lipofuscin granule formation in the retina and protected the photoreceptor layer, suggesting that ω3 supplementation slows normal age-related retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekatherine Prokopiou
- Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.,University of Nicosia Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | | | - Maria Kalogerou
- Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Louiza Potamiti
- Department of Electron Microscopy/Molecular Pathology, Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Kleitos Sokratous
- Department of Electron Microscopy/Molecular Pathology, Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus.,Bioinformatics Group, Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Kyriacos Kyriacou
- Department of Electron Microscopy/Molecular Pathology, Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus.,The Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Tassos Georgiou
- Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
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35
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Reichenbach A, Bringmann A. Glia of the human retina. Glia 2019; 68:768-796. [PMID: 31793693 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The human retina contains three types of glial cells: microglia and two types of macroglia, astrocytes and Müller cells. Macroglia provide homeostatic and metabolic support to photoreceptors and neurons required for neuronal activity. The fovea, the site of the sharpest vision which is astrocyte- and microglia-free, contains two populations of Müller glia: cells which form the Müller cell cone in the foveola and z-shaped Müller cells of the foveal walls. Both populations are characterized by morphological and functional differences. Müller cells of the foveola do not support the activity of photoreceptors and neurons, but provide the structural stability of the foveal tissue and improve the light transmission through the tissue to the photoreceptors. This article gives overviews of the glia of the human retina and the structure and function of both Müller cell types in the fovea, and describes the contributions of astrocytes and Müller cells to the ontogenetic development of the fovea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Reichenbach
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Bringmann
- Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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36
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Arnold E, Thébault S, Aroña RM, Martínez de la Escalera G, Clapp C. Prolactin mitigates deficiencies of retinal function associated with aging. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 85:38-48. [PMID: 31698287 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Aging causes the progressive degeneration of retinal cells leading to the eventual loss of vision. The hormone prolactin (PRL) is a neurotrophic factor able to compensate for photoreceptor cell death and electroretinogram deficits induced by light retinal damage. Here, we used adult 4-month old and aged 20-month old pigmented mice, null or not for the PRL receptor to explore whether PRL provides trophic support against age-related retinal dysfunction. Retinal functionality, apoptosis, glia activation, and neurotrophin expression were assessed by electroretinogram, TUNEL, glial fibrillary acidic protein and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 immunohistochemistry, and real-time PCR, respectively. Lack of PRL signaling in aged mice, but not in adult mice, correlated with photosensitive retinal dysfunction, increased photoreceptor apoptosis, differential expression of proapoptotic mediators, and microglia activation. We conclude that PRL is required for maintaining retinal functionality in both female and male mice during aging and has potential therapeutic value against age-related retinal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith Arnold
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, Querétaro, México; CONACYT-Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - Stéphanie Thébault
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - Rodrigo M Aroña
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | | | - Carmen Clapp
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, Querétaro, México.
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37
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Gábriel R, Pöstyéni E, Dénes V. Neuroprotective Potential of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide in Retinal Degenerations of Metabolic Origin. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1031. [PMID: 31649495 PMCID: PMC6794456 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP1-38) is a highly conserved member of the secretin/glucagon/VIP family. The repressive effect of PACAP1-38 on the apoptotic machinery has been an area of active research conferring a significant neuroprotective potential onto this peptide. A remarkable number of studies suggest its importance in the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly in relation to retinal metabolic disorders. In our review, we provide short descriptions of various pathological conditions (diabetic retinopathy, excitotoxic retinal injury and ischemic retinal lesion) in which the remedial effect of PACAP has been well demonstrated in various animal models. Of all the pathological conditions, diabetic retinopathy seems to be the most intriguing as it develops in 75% of patients with type 1 and 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes, with concomitant progression to legal blindness in about 5%. Several animal models have been developed in recent years to study retinal degenerations and out of these glaucoma and age-related retina degeneration models bear human recapitulations. PACAP neuroprotection is thought to operate through enhanced cAMP production upon binding to PAC1-R. However, the underlying signaling network that leads to neuroprotection is not fully understood. We observed that (i) PACAP is not equally efficient in the above conditions; (ii) in some cases more than one signaling pathways are activated; (iii) the coupling of PAC1-R and signaling is stage dependent; and (iv) PAC1-R is not the only receptor that must be considered to interpret the effects in our experiments. These observations point to a complex signaling mechanism, that involves alternative routes besides the classical cAMP/protein kinase A pathway to evoke the outstanding neuroprotective action. Consequently, the possible contribution of the other two main receptors (VPAC1-R and VPAC2-R) will also be discussed. Finally, the potential medical use of PACAP in some retinal and ocular disorders will also be reviewed. By taking advantage of, low-cost synthesis technologies today, PACAP may serve as an alternative to the expensive treatment modelities currently available in ocular or retinal conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Gábriel
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,János Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Etelka Pöstyéni
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Viktória Dénes
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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Palmhof M, Frank V, Rappard P, Kortenhorn E, Demuth J, Biert N, Stute G, Dick HB, Joachim SC. From Ganglion Cell to Photoreceptor Layer: Timeline of Deterioration in a Rat Ischemia/Reperfusion Model. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:174. [PMID: 31133806 PMCID: PMC6524469 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal damage and impaired vision in different retinal disorders are induced, among other factors, by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Since the mechanisms and the progression of ischemic injury are still not completely clarified, a timeline of this retinal degeneration is needed. In this study, we investigated protein and mRNA alterations at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h as well as 3 and 7 days after ischemia to determine the course of an ischemic insult through the whole retina. Moreover, functional analyses were performed at later stages. We detected a significant functional loss of cells in the inner nuclear layer and photoreceptors at 3 and 7 days. Additionally, the thickness of the whole retina was decreased at these points in time, indicating a severe degradation of all retinal layers. Immunohistological and qRT-PCR analyses of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), glial cells, AII amacrine, cone and rod bipolar as well as cone and rod photoreceptor cells confirmed this first assumption. Our results show that all investigated cell types were damaged by ischemia induction. Especially RGCs, cone bipolar cells, and photoreceptor cones are very sensitive to I/R. These cells were lost shortly after ischemia induction with a progressive course up to 7 days. In addition, Müller cell gliosis was observed over the entire period of time. These results provide evidence, that I/R induces damage of the whole retina at early stages and increases over time. In conclusion, our study could demonstrate the intense impact of an ischemic injury. The ischemic defect spreads across the whole retina right up to the outer layers in the long-term and thus seems to impair the visual perception already during the stimulus processing. In addition, our findings indicate that the cone pathway seems to be particularly affected by this damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Palmhof
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Viktoria Frank
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Pascal Rappard
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Emely Kortenhorn
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Julia Demuth
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nora Biert
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Gesa Stute
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - H Burkhard Dick
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stephanie C Joachim
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Abstract
Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted glycosylated phosphoprotein that influences cell survival, inflammation, migration, and homeostasis after injury. As the role of OPN in the retina remains unclear, this study issue was addressed by aiming to study how the absence of OPN in knock-out mice affects the retina and the influence of age on these effects. The study focused on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and glial cells (astrocytes, Müller cells, and resident microglia) in 3- and 20-month-old mice. The number of RGCs in the retina was quantified and the area occupied by astrocytes was measured. In addition, the morphology of Müller cells and microglia was examined in retinal sections. The deficiency in OPN reduces RGC density by 25.09% at 3 months of age and by 60.37% at 20 months of age. The astrocyte area was also reduced by 51.01% in 3-month-old mice and by 57.84% at 20 months of age, although Müller glia and microglia did not seem to be affected by the lack of OPN. This study demonstrates the influence of OPN on astrocytes and RGCs, whereby the absence of OPN in the retina diminishes the area occupied by astrocytes and produces a secondary reduction in the number of RGCs. Accordingly, OPN could be a target to develop therapies to combat neurodegenerative diseases and astrocytes may represent a key mediator of such effects.
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40
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Inan ÜÜ, Baysal Z, Inan S. Long-term changes in retinal layers in patients undergoing intravitreal ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Int Ophthalmol 2019; 39:2721-2730. [DOI: 10.1007/s10792-019-01116-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Telegina DV, Kozhevnikova OS, Kolosova NG. Changes in Retinal Glial Cells with Age and during Development of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2018; 83:1009-1017. [PMID: 30472939 DOI: 10.1134/s000629791809002x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Age is the major risk factor in the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which is a complex multifactor neurodegenerative disease of the retina and the main cause of irreversible vision loss in people over 60 years old. The major role in AMD pathogenesis belongs to structure-functional changes in the retinal pigment epithelium cells, while the onset and progression of AMD are commonly believed to be caused by the immune system dysfunctions. The role of retinal glial cells (Muller cells, astrocytes, and microglia) in AMD pathogenesis is studied much less. These cells maintain neurons and retinal vessels through the synthesis of neurotrophic and angiogenic factors, as well as perform supporting, separating, trophic, secretory, and immune functions. It is known that retinal glia experiences morphological and functional changes with age. Age-related impairments in the functional activity of glial cells are closely related to the changes in the expression of trophic factors that affect the status of all cell types in the retina. In this review, we summarized available literature data on the role of retinal macro- and microglia and on the contribution of these cells to AMD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D V Telegina
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - O S Kozhevnikova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - N G Kolosova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
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42
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Liu S, Chen Y, Chen Z, Xing Y, Shen Y. Immunohistochemical profile of long-standing traumatic retinal detachment in atrophic globe in a young patient. Exp Ther Med 2018; 16:2387-2391. [PMID: 30186481 PMCID: PMC6122497 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.6497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptor cell death is the ultimate cause of irreversible vision loss in retinal detachment (RD). The present study aimed to investigate the retinal changes in a case of long-standing traumatic RD in a young patient. The RD-induced atrophic globe was examined following enucleation. A control eye acquired from a deceased donor (normal histology; age- and sex-matched) was evaluated correspondingly. Frozen sections of retina tissue were assessed by immunofluorescence staining. The atrophic retina demonstrated structural disruption along with reduction in the retinal outer nuclear layer/inner nuclear layer thickness ratio. Photoreceptor degeneration was noted with complete loss of the outer segment of short-wavelength sensitive (S) cones. In addition, Müller cell hypertrophy was observed across the retinal nuclear layers. These results indicate that RD without successful medical treatment may lead to retinal atrophy associated with disruption of retinal integrity, dramatic S cones loss and subretinal gliosis. Further clarifications of the mechanisms underlying photoreceptor cell death and glial cell reprogramming may facilitate the design of novel therapeutic strategies for RD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiliang Liu
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Yiqiao Xing
- 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
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43
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El Massri N, Weinrich TW, Kam JH, Jeffery G, Mitrofanis J. Photobiomodulation reduces gliosis in the basal ganglia of aged mice. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 66:131-137. [PMID: 29571001 PMCID: PMC5933512 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This study explored the effects of long-term photobiomodulation (PBM) on the glial and neuronal organization in the striatum of aged mice. Mice aged 12 months were pretreated with PBM (670 nm) for 20 minutes per day, commencing at 5 months old and continued for 8 months. We had 2 control groups, young at 3 months and aged at 12 months old; these mice received no treatment. Brains were aldehyde-fixed and processed for immunohistochemistry with various glial and neuronal markers. We found a clear reduction in glial cell number, both astrocytes and microglia, in the striatum after PBM in aged mice. By contrast, the number of 2 types of striatal interneurons (parvalbumin+ and encephalopsin+), together with the density of striatal dopaminergic terminals (and their midbrain cell bodies), remained unchanged after such treatment. In summary, our results indicated that long-term PBM had beneficial effects on the aging striatum by reducing glial cell number; and furthermore, that this treatment did not have any deleterious effects on the neurons and terminations in this nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabil El Massri
- Department of Anatomy F13, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tobias W Weinrich
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, England
| | - Jaimie Hoh Kam
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, England
| | - Glen Jeffery
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, England
| | - John Mitrofanis
- Department of Anatomy F13, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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44
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Nadal-Nicolás FM, Vidal-Sanz M, Agudo-Barriuso M. The aging rat retina: from function to anatomy. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 61:146-168. [PMID: 29080498 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
In healthy beings, age is the ultimate reason of cellular malfunction and death. In the rat retina, age causes a functional decline and loss of specific neuronal populations. In this regard, controversial conclusions have been reported for the innermost retina. Here, we have studied the albino and pigmented retina for the duration of the rat life-span. Independent of age (21 days-22 months), the electroretinographic recordings and the volume of the retina and its layers are smaller in albinos. Functionally, aging causes in both strains a loss of cone- and rod-mediated responses. Anatomically, cell density decreases with age because the retina grows linearly with time; no cell loss is observed in the ganglion cell layer; and only in the pigmented rat, there is a decrease in cone photoreceptors. In old animals of both strains, there is gliosis in the superior colliculi and a diminution of the area innervated by retinal ganglion cells. In conclusion, this work provides the basis for further studies linking senescence to neurodegenerative retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco M Nadal-Nicolás
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca) and Departamento de Oftalmología Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Manuel Vidal-Sanz
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca) and Departamento de Oftalmología Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Marta Agudo-Barriuso
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca) and Departamento de Oftalmología Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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45
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Renner M, Stute G, Alzureiqi M, Reinhard J, Wiemann S, Schmid H, Faissner A, Dick HB, Joachim SC. Optic Nerve Degeneration after Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion in a Rodent Model. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:254. [PMID: 28878627 PMCID: PMC5572359 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal ischemia is a common pathomechanism in many ocular disorders such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or retinal vascular occlusion. Several studies demonstrated that ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) leads to morphological and functional changes of different retinal cell types. However, little is known about the ischemic effects on the optic nerve. The goal of this study was to evaluate these effects. Ischemia was induced by raising the intraocular pressure (IOP) in one eye of rats to 140 mmHg for 1 h followed by natural reperfusion. After 21 days, histological as well as quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses of optic nerves were performed. Ischemic optic nerves showed an infiltration of cells and also degeneration with signs of demyelination. Furthermore, a migration and an activation of microglia could be observed histologically as well as on mRNA level. In regard to macroglia, a trend toward gliosis could be noted after ischemia induction by vimentin staining. Additionally, an up-regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mRNA was found in ischemic optic nerves. Counting of oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 positive (Olig2+) cells revealed a decrease of oligodendrocytes in the ischemic group. Also, myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) mRNA expression was down-regulated after induction of I/R. On immunohistological level, a decrease of MOG was detectable in ischemic optic nerves as well. In addition, SMI-32 stained neurofilaments of longitudinal optic nerve sections showed a strong structural damage of the ischemic optic nerves in comparison to controls. Consequently, retinal ischemia impacts optic nerve degeneration. These findings could help to better understand the course of destruction in the optic nerve after an ischemic insult. Especially for therapeutic studies, the optic nerve is important because of its susceptibility to be damaged as a result to retinal ischemic injury and also its connecting function between the eye and the brain. So, future drug screenings should target not only the retina, but also the functionality and structure of the optic nerve. In the future, these results could lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for treatment of ischemic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Renner
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumBochum, Germany
| | - Gesa Stute
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumBochum, Germany
| | - Mohammad Alzureiqi
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumBochum, Germany
| | - Jacqueline Reinhard
- Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University BochumBochum, Germany
| | - Susanne Wiemann
- Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University BochumBochum, Germany
| | - Heiko Schmid
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumBochum, Germany
| | - Andreas Faissner
- Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University BochumBochum, Germany
| | - H Burkhard Dick
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumBochum, Germany
| | - Stephanie C Joachim
- Experimental Eye Research, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumBochum, Germany
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Edwards MM, McLeod DS, Bhutto IA, Grebe R, Duffy M, Lutty GA. Subretinal Glial Membranes in Eyes With Geographic Atrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017; 58:1352-1367. [PMID: 28249091 PMCID: PMC5358932 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.16-21229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Müller cells create the external limiting membrane (ELM) by forming junctions with photoreceptor cells. This study evaluated the relationship between focal photoreceptors and RPE loss in geographic atrophy (GA) and Müller cell extension into the subretinal space. Methods Human donor eyes with no retinal disease or geographic atrophy (GA) were fixed and the eye cups imaged. The retinal posterior pole was stained for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP; astrocytes and activated Müller cells) and vimentin (Müller cells) while the submacular choroids were labeled with Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin lectin (blood vessels). Choroids and retinas were imaged using a Zeiss 710 confocal microscope. Additional eyes were cryopreserved or processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to better visualize the Müller cells. Results Vimentin staining of aged control retinas (n = 4) revealed a panretinal cobblestone-like ELM. While this pattern was also observed in the GA retinas (n = 7), each also had a distinct area in which vimentin+ and vimentin+/GFAP+ processes created a subretinal membrane. Subretinal glial membranes closely matched areas of RPE atrophy in the gross photos. Choroidal vascular loss was also evident in these atrophic areas. Smaller glial projections were noted, which correlated with drusen in gross photos. The presence of glia in the subretinal space was confirmed by TEM and cross cross-section immunohistochemistry. Conclusions In eyes with GA, subretinal Müller cell membranes present in areas of RPE atrophy may be a Müller cell attempt to replace the ELM. These membranes could interfere with treatments such as stem cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malia M Edwards
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - D Scott McLeod
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Imran A Bhutto
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Rhonda Grebe
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Maeve Duffy
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Gerard A Lutty
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
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Cashman SM, Gracias J, Adhi M, Kumar-Singh R. Adenovirus-mediated delivery of Factor H attenuates complement C3 induced pathology in the murine retina: a potential gene therapy for age-related macular degeneration. J Gene Med 2016; 17:229-43. [PMID: 26369397 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.2865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly, with no therapy available for 90% of patients. Recent genetic evidence implicates activation of complement in the pathogenesis of AMD. We have recently discovered that adenovirus (Ad)-mediated expression of complement component C3 (AdCMVC3) in the murine retina recapitulates many of the pathological features found in human AMD. In the present study, utilizing a gene therapy approach, we examine whether Ad-mediated expression of complement Factor H (AdCAGfH) attenuates AdCMVC3-mediated retinal pathology. METHODS AdCMVC3 was co-injected with either AdCAGfH or a negative control virus expressing green fluorescent protein (AdCMVGFP) into the subretinal space of adult mice. The resulting retinal pathology was analyzed by histology and immunocytochemistry and retinal function was quantified by electroretinography. RESULTS Morphological and functional analyses indicated that AdCMVC3-mediated retinal pathology could be attenuated by AdCAGfH. Specifically, endothelial cell proliferation was reduced by 91% and atrophy of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) could be attenuated by 69%. AdCAGfH injected eyes exhibited 90-150% greater A-wave and 120-180% greater B-wave amplitudes relative to control eyes. Immunocytochemical analysis of rhodopsin and RPE65 was consistent with the rescue of photoreceptors and RPE in AdCAGfH injected eyes. CONCLUSIONS C3-induced pathology in murine retina can be attenuated by Ad-mediated expression of Factor H. Expression of Factor H is worthy of further study as a potential gene therapy for AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobhan M Cashman
- Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology and the Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jessica Gracias
- Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology and the Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mehreen Adhi
- Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology and the Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rajendra Kumar-Singh
- Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology and the Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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48
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Retinal Macroglial Responses in Health and Disease. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:2954721. [PMID: 27294114 PMCID: PMC4887628 DOI: 10.1155/2016/2954721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Due to their permanent and close proximity to neurons, glial cells perform essential tasks for the normal physiology of the retina. Astrocytes and Müller cells (retinal macroglia) provide physical support to neurons and supplement them with several metabolites and growth factors. Macroglia are involved in maintaining the homeostasis of extracellular ions and neurotransmitters, are essential for information processing in neural circuits, participate in retinal glucose metabolism and in removing metabolic waste products, regulate local blood flow, induce the blood-retinal barrier (BRB), play fundamental roles in local immune response, and protect neurons from oxidative damage. In response to polyetiological insults, glia cells react with a process called reactive gliosis, seeking to maintain retinal homeostasis. When malfunctioning, macroglial cells can become primary pathogenic elements. A reactive gliosis has been described in different retinal pathologies, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetes, glaucoma, retinal detachment, or retinitis pigmentosa. A better understanding of the dual, neuroprotective, or cytotoxic effect of macroglial involvement in retinal pathologies would help in treating the physiopathology of these diseases. The extensive participation of the macroglia in retinal diseases points to these cells as innovative targets for new drug therapies.
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49
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Fernández-Sánchez L, Lax P, Campello L, Pinilla I, Cuenca N. Astrocytes and Müller Cell Alterations During Retinal Degeneration in a Transgenic Rat Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:484. [PMID: 26733810 PMCID: PMC4686678 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Retinitis pigmentosa includes a group of progressive retinal degenerative diseases that affect the structure and function of photoreceptors. Secondarily to the loss of photoreceptors, there is a reduction in retinal vascularization, which seems to influence the cellular degenerative process. Retinal macroglial cells, astrocytes, and Müller cells provide support for retinal neurons and are fundamental for maintaining normal retinal function. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution of macroglial changes during retinal degeneration in P23H rats. Methods: Homozygous P23H line-3 rats aged from P18 to 18 months were used to study the evolution of the disease, and SD rats were used as controls. Immunolabeling with antibodies against GFAP, vimentin, and transducin were used to visualize macroglial cells and cone photoreceptors. Results: In P23H rats, increased GFAP labeling in Müller cells was observed as an early indicator of retinal gliosis. At 4 and 12 months of age, the apical processes of Müller cells in P23H rats clustered in firework-like structures, which were associated with ring-like shaped areas of cone degeneration in the outer nuclear layer. These structures were not observed at 16 months of age. The number of astrocytes was higher in P23H rats than in the SD matched controls at 4 and 12 months of age, supporting the idea of astrocyte proliferation. As the disease progressed, astrocytes exhibited a deteriorated morphology and marked hypertrophy. The increase in the complexity of the astrocytic processes correlated with greater connexin 43 expression and higher density of connexin 43 immunoreactive puncta within the ganglion cell layer (GCL) of P23H vs. SD rat retinas. Conclusions: In the P23H rat model of retinitis pigmentosa, the loss of photoreceptors triggers major changes in the number and morphology of glial cells affecting the inner retina.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pedro Lax
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante Alicante, Spain
| | - Laura Campello
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante Alicante, Spain
| | - Isabel Pinilla
- Department of Ophthalmology, Aragon Institute for Health Research, Lozano Blesa University Hospital Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Nicolás Cuenca
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of AlicanteAlicante, Spain; Institute Ramón Margalef, University of AlicanteAlicante, Spain
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50
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Moreno Páramo D, Reyna Vielma S, Rodríguez Reyes A, Hernández Ayuso I, Quiroz Mercado H. Intravitreal memantine retinal toxicity in rabbits. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 91:65-8. [PMID: 26652730 DOI: 10.1016/j.oftal.2015.10.005] [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: 06/11/2014] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To histologically evaluate whether the intravitreal application of memantine produces retinal toxicity in rabbits. METHODS A cross-sectional design, experimental, descriptive study was performed on 16 eyes of 16 New Zealand rabbits of 3 kg, divided in 4 groups of 4 rabbits. A dose of 70 ng/ml of intravitreal memantine was administered in Group A, a dose of 150 ng/ml in Group B, a dose of 400 ng/ml in Group C, and Group D received 1 ml of balanced salt solution. The injected eye of half of each group was enucleated 15 days after the injection, and the rest within 30 days after injection. Following enucleation, each eye was placed in 10% formaldehyde. Histopathological analysis was performed on all enucleated eyes. The animals were treated according to the guidelines of the Association for Research on Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). RESULTS Groups A, B and D did not show any histopathological changes after their enucleation at 15 and 30 days. Group C showed changes in the photoreceptor layer after enucleation at 15 and 30 days. CONCLUSIONS In our study, it was observed that memantine concentrations at 70 ng/ml and 150 ng/ml are safe when administered intravitreally; however, doses of 400 ng/ml produced retinal structural changes. This research should continue to assess its clinical usefulness.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Moreno Páramo
- Servicio de Retina, Hospital General de México, México, D.F., México
| | - S Reyna Vielma
- Servicio de Retina, Hospital General de México, México, D.F., México.
| | - A Rodríguez Reyes
- Servicio de Patología, Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México, México, D.F., México
| | - I Hernández Ayuso
- Servicio de Patología, Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México, México, D.F., México
| | - H Quiroz Mercado
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, EE. UU
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