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Klein T, Grüner J, Breyer M, Schlegel J, Schottmann NM, Hofmann L, Gauss K, Mease R, Erbacher C, Finke L, Klein A, Klug K, Karl-Schöller F, Vignolo B, Reinhard S, Schneider T, Günther K, Fink J, Dudek J, Maack C, Klopocki E, Seibel J, Edenhofer F, Wischmeyer E, Sauer M, Üçeyler N. Small fibre neuropathy in Fabry disease: a human-derived neuronal in vitro disease model and pilot data. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae095. [PMID: 38638148 PMCID: PMC11024803 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Acral burning pain triggered by fever, thermal hyposensitivity and skin denervation are hallmarks of small fibre neuropathy in Fabry disease, a life-threatening X-linked lysosomal storage disorder. Variants in the gene encoding alpha-galactosidase A may lead to impaired enzyme activity with cellular accumulation of globotriaosylceramide. To study the underlying pathomechanism of Fabry-associated small fibre neuropathy, we generated a neuronal in vitro disease model using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells from three Fabry patients and one healthy control. We further generated an isogenic control line via gene editing. We subjected induced pluripotent stem cells to targeted peripheral neuronal differentiation and observed intra-lysosomal globotriaosylceramide accumulations in somas and neurites of Fabry sensory neurons using super-resolution microscopy. At functional level, patch-clamp analysis revealed a hyperpolarizing shift of voltage-gated sodium channel steady-state inactivation kinetics in isogenic control neurons compared with healthy control neurons (P < 0.001). Moreover, we demonstrate a drastic increase in Fabry sensory neuron calcium levels at 39°C mimicking clinical fever (P < 0.001). This pathophysiological phenotype was accompanied by thinning of neurite calibres in sensory neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells derived from Fabry patients compared with healthy control cells (P < 0.001). Linear-nonlinear cascade models fit to spiking responses revealed that Fabry cell lines exhibit altered single neuron encoding properties relative to control. We further observed mitochondrial aggregation at sphingolipid accumulations within Fabry sensory neurites utilizing a click chemistry approach together with mitochondrial dysmorphism compared with healthy control cells. We pioneer pilot insights into the cellular mechanisms contributing to pain, thermal hyposensitivity and denervation in Fabry small fibre neuropathy and pave the way for further mechanistic in vitro studies in Fabry disease and the development of novel treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Klein
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Julia Grüner
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Breyer
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jan Schlegel
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Lukas Hofmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kevin Gauss
- Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebecca Mease
- Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Erbacher
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Laura Finke
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Klein
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Klug
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Bettina Vignolo
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Reinhard
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tamara Schneider
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Günther
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Julian Fink
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jan Dudek
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center CHFC, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Maack
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center CHFC, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Eva Klopocki
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Seibel
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Frank Edenhofer
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Erhard Wischmeyer
- Institute of Physiology, University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nurcan Üçeyler
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Würzburg Fabry Center for Interdisciplinary Therapy (FAZIT), University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
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Chanchal DK, Chaudhary JS, Kumar P, Agnihotri N, Porwal P. CRISPR-Based Therapies: Revolutionizing Drug Development and Precision Medicine. Curr Gene Ther 2024; 24:193-207. [PMID: 38310456 DOI: 10.2174/0115665232275754231204072320] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
With the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9, drug development and precision medicine have undergone a major change. This review article looks at the new ways that CRISPR-based therapies are being used and how they are changing the way medicine is done. CRISPR technology's ability to precisely and flexibly edit genes has opened up new ways to find, validate, and develop drug targets. Also, it has made way for personalized gene therapies, precise gene editing, and advanced screening techniques, all of which hold great promise for treating a wide range of diseases. In this article, we look at the latest research and clinical trials that show how CRISPR could be used to treat genetic diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, and other hard-to-treat conditions. However, ethical issues and problems with regulations are also discussed in relation to CRISPR-based therapies, which shows how important it is to use them safely and responsibly. As CRISPR continues to change how drugs are made and used, this review shines a light on the amazing things that have been done and what the future might hold in this rapidly changing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilip Kumar Chanchal
- Department of Pharmacy, Smt. Vidyawati College of Pharmacy, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Glocal School of Pharmacy, Glocal University Mirzapur Pole, Saharanpur - 247121, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Pushpendra Kumar
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah 206130, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Neha Agnihotri
- Department of Pharmacy, Maharana Pratap College of Pharmacy, Kothi, Mandhana, Kanpur-209217, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prateek Porwal
- Glocal School of Pharmacy, Glocal University Mirzapur Pole, Saharanpur - 247121, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Hytti M, Korhonen E, Hongisto H, Kaarniranta K, Skottman H, Kauppinen A. Differential Expression of Inflammasome-Related Genes in Induced Pluripotent Stem-Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells with or without History of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136800. [PMID: 34202702 PMCID: PMC8268331 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is a key underlying factor of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and inflammasome activation has been linked to disease development. Induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells (iPSC-RPE) are an attractive novel model system that can help to further elucidate disease pathways of this complex disease. Here, we analyzed the effect of dysfunctional protein clearance on inflammation and inflammasome activation in iPSC-RPE cells generated from a patient suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and an age-matched control. We primed iPSC-RPE cells with IL-1α and then inhibited both proteasomal degradation and autophagic clearance using MG-132 and bafilomycin A1, respectively, causing inflammasome activation. Subsequently, we determined cell viability, analyzed the expression levels of inflammasome-related genes using a PCR array, and measured the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 secreted into the medium. Cell treatments modified the expression of 48 inflammasome-related genes and increased the secretion of mature IL-1β, while reducing the levels of IL-6 and MCP-1. Interestingly, iPSC-RPE from an AMD donor secreted more IL-1β and expressed more Hsp90 prior to the inhibition of protein clearance, while MCP-1 and IL-6 were reduced at both protein and mRNA levels. Overall, our results suggest that cellular clearance mechanisms might already be dysfunctional, and the inflammasome activated, in cells with a disease origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Hytti
- Immuno-Ophthalmology, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland;
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (A.K.); Tel.: +358-50-362-3058 (M.H.); +358-40-355-3216 (A.K.)
| | - Eveliina Korhonen
- Immuno-Ophthalmology, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland;
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heidi Hongisto
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland; (H.H.); (H.S.)
- Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland;
| | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, 70029 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heli Skottman
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland; (H.H.); (H.S.)
| | - Anu Kauppinen
- Immuno-Ophthalmology, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland;
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (A.K.); Tel.: +358-50-362-3058 (M.H.); +358-40-355-3216 (A.K.)
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Zhang H, Su B, Jiao L, Xu ZH, Zhang CJ, Nie J, Gao ML, Zhang YV, Jin ZB. Transplantation of GMP-grade human iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells in rodent model: the first pre-clinical study for safety and efficacy in China. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:245. [PMID: 33708872 PMCID: PMC7940887 DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-4707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly due in large part to age-dependent atrophy of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. RPE cells form a monolayer located between the choroid and the outer segments of photoreceptors, playing multifarious roles in maintenance of visual function. Allogeneically induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE (iPSC-RPE or iRPE) has become a potential approach for providing an abundant source of donors for clinical cell products. Transplantation of iRPE has been proven effective in rescuing impaired retinas in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats after approximately 5 to 6 weeks. Here, we explore the long-term (19 weeks) safety and efficacy of human iRPE cell transplantation in pre-clinical animal models. Methods The expression of human RPE-specific markers in iRPE cells was determined using immunofluorescence staining. For the proliferative test, Ki-67 expression was also verified by immunofluorescence and flow cytometric analysis. Then, iRPE cells were transplanted into the subretinal space of immune-deficient NOD/SCID/IL-2Rgcnull (NSG) mice to assess their safety. To evaluate whether the transplanted cells could survive and rescue visual function, we performed color fundus photography, focal electroretinogram and immunostaining after delivering iRPE cells into the subretinal space of RCS rats. Results Human iRPE cells expressed native RPE-specific markers, such as microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MiTF), retinal pigment epithelium-specific 65-kDa protein (RPE65) and tight-junction associated structural protein (ZO-1), and their proliferative capacity (Ki-67 expression) was poor after 25 days of induction. A tumorigenicity test revealed no tumor formation or abnormal proliferation in the immunodeficient mice after subretinal injection of 5×105 iRPE cells. The transplanted iRPE cells survived for at least 19 weeks and maintained visual function for 15 weeks. Conclusions In the present study, we provided further evidence for the use of human iRPE transplantation to treat retinal degenerative disease in pre-clinical animal models. Therefore, we consider human iRPE cells a promising source of cell replacement therapy for AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China.,Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Bingnan Su
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Luyan Jiao
- Nuwacell Biotechnologies Co., Ltd, Hefei, China
| | - Ze-Hua Xu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chang-Jun Zhang
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jinfu Nie
- Center of Medical Physics and Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Mei-Ling Gao
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | | | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China.,National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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5
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Islamov RR, Bashirov FV, Sokolov ME, Izmailov AA, Fadeev FO, Markosyan VA, Davleeva MA, Zubkova OV, Smarov MM, Logunov DY, Naroditskyi BS, Salafutdinov II, Rizvanov AA, Turaev RG. Gene-modified leucoconcentrate for personalized ex vivo gene therapy in a mini pig model of moderate spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:357-361. [PMID: 32859798 PMCID: PMC7896207 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.290902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that gene-modified umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells overexpressing a combination of recombinant neurotrophic factors are a promising therapeutic approach for cell-mediated gene therapy for neurodegenerative diseases, neurotrauma, and stroke. In this study, using a mini pig model of spinal cord injury, we proposed for the first time the use of gene-modified leucoconcentrate prepared from peripheral blood in the plastic blood bag for personalized ex vivo gene therapy. Leucoconcentrate obtained from mini pig peripheral blood was transduced with a chimeric adenoviral vector (Ad5/35F) that carried an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter gene in the plastic blood bag. The day after blood donation, the mini pigs were subjected to moderate SCI and four hours post-surgery they were intravenously autoinfused with gene-modified leucoconcentrate. A week after gene-modified leucoconcentrate therapy, fluorescent microscopy revealed EGFP-expressing leucocytes in spinal cord at the site of contusion injury. In the spleen the groups of EGFP-positive cells located in the lymphoid follicles were observed. In vitro flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy studies of the gene-modified leucoconcentrate samples also confirmed the production of EGFP by leucocytes. Thus, the efficacy of leucocytes transduction in the plastic blood bag and their migratory potential suggest their use for temporary production of recombinant biologically active molecules to correct certain pathological conditions. This paper presents a proof-of-concept of simple, safe and effective approach for personalized ex vivo gene therapy based on gene-modified leucoconcentrate autoinfusion. The animal protocols were approved by the Kazan State Medical University Animal Care and Use Committee (approval No. 5) on May 27, 2014.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Olga V Zubkova
- Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim M Smarov
- Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis Yu Logunov
- Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Boris S Naroditskyi
- Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Ramil G Turaev
- The Republican Blood Center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan, Russia
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6
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Mishra P, Cohen RI, Zhao N, Moghe PV. Fluorescence-based actin turnover dynamics of stem cells as a profiling method for stem cell functional evolution, heterogeneity and phenotypic lineage parsing. Methods 2020; 190:44-54. [PMID: 32473293 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2020.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells are widely explored in regenerative medicine as a source to produce diverse cell types. Despite the wide usage of stem cells like mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), there is a lack of robust methods to rapidly discern the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of stem cells. The organization of actin cytoskeleton has been previously used to discern divergent stem cell differentiation pathways. In this paper, we highlight the versatility of a cell profiling method for actin turnover dynamics. Actin filaments in live stem cells are labeled using SiR-actin, a cell permeable fluorogenic probe, to determine the endogenous actin turnover. Live MSC imaging after days of induction successfully demonstrated lineage specific change in actin turnover. Next, we highlighted the differences in the cellular heterogeneity of actin dynamics during adipogenic or osteogenic MSC differentiation. Next, we applied the method to differentiating iPSCs in culture, and detected a progressive slowdown in actin turnover during differentiation upon stimulation with neural or cardiac media. Finally, as a proof of concept, the actin dynamic profiling was used to isolate MSCs via flow cytometry prior to sorting into three distinct sub-populations with low, intermediate or high actin dynamics. A greater fraction of MSCs with more rapid actin dynamics demonstrated increased inclination for adipogenesis, whereas, slower actin dynamics correlated with increased osteogenesis. Together, these results show that actin turnover can serve as a versatile biomarker to not only track cellular phenotypic heterogeneity but also harvest live cells with potential for differential phenotypic fates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakhar Mishra
- Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program in Cell and Developmental Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Ricky I Cohen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Nanxia Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Prabhas V Moghe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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7
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Tsukamoto T. Gene Therapy Approaches to Functional Cure and Protection of Hematopoietic Potential in HIV Infection. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:pharmaceutics11030114. [PMID: 30862061 PMCID: PMC6470728 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11030114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Although current antiretroviral drug therapy can suppress the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a lifelong prescription is necessary to avoid viral rebound. The problem of persistent and ineradicable viral reservoirs in HIV-infected people continues to be a global threat. In addition, some HIV-infected patients do not experience sufficient T-cell immune restoration despite being aviremic during treatment. This is likely due to altered hematopoietic potential. To achieve the global eradication of HIV disease, a cure is needed. To this end, tremendous efforts have been made in the field of anti-HIV gene therapy. This review will discuss the concepts of HIV cure and relative viral attenuation and provide an overview of various gene therapy approaches aimed at a complete or functional HIV cure and protection of hematopoietic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Tsukamoto
- Department of Immunology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka 5898511, Japan.
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8
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Carella T, De Silvestri M, Finedore M, Haniff I, Esmailbeigi H. Emotion Recognition for Brain Machine Interface: Non-linear Spectral Analysis of EEG Signals Using Empirical Mode Decomposition. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2018; 2018:223-226. [PMID: 30440378 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2018.8512228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Emotions are a fundamental part of the human experience but currently there are no methods that can objectively detect and categorize them. This study utilizes the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method to categorize emotions from encephalography (EEG) recordings. In the past, EMD has proven to be a very useful signal analysis tool because of its ability to decompose nonstationary signals, like those from an EEG, into component signals with varying frequency content called intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). The method in this paper utilizes three features extracted from the IMFs-the first difference of time, the first difference of phase, and the normalized energy-for data categorization using support vector machine (SVM) classifiers. Two classifiers were trained for each subject, one for valence and another for arousal. The mean accuracies yielded for valence and arousal were 75.86% and 75.31%, respectively. The results of this study verify previous findings by other researchers that these three features are useful in emotion recognition when applied to previously recorded EEG data, though we add the caveat that subject-specific classifiers are needed instead of generalized, global classifiers.
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Kumari R, Kumar D, Brahmachari SK, Srivastava AK, Faruq M, Mukerji M. Paradigm for disease deconvolution in rare neurodegenerative disorders in Indian population: insights from studies in cerebellar ataxias. J Genet 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s12041-018-0948-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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10
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Verbakel SK, van Huet RAC, Boon CJF, den Hollander AI, Collin RWJ, Klaver CCW, Hoyng CB, Roepman R, Klevering BJ. Non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa. Prog Retin Eye Res 2018; 66:157-186. [PMID: 29597005 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 486] [Impact Index Per Article: 81.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) encompasses a group of inherited retinal dystrophies characterized by the primary degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors. RP is a leading cause of visual disability, with a worldwide prevalence of 1:4000. Although the majority of RP cases are non-syndromic, 20-30% of patients with RP also have an associated non-ocular condition. RP typically manifests with night blindness in adolescence, followed by concentric visual field loss, reflecting the principal dysfunction of rod photoreceptors; central vision loss occurs later in life due to cone dysfunction. Photoreceptor function measured with an electroretinogram is markedly reduced or even absent. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging show a progressive loss of outer retinal layers and altered lipofuscin distribution in a characteristic pattern. Over the past three decades, a vast number of disease-causing variants in more than 80 genes have been associated with non-syndromic RP. The wide heterogeneity of RP makes it challenging to describe the clinical findings and pathogenesis. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical characteristics of RP specific to genetically defined patient subsets. We supply a unique atlas with color fundus photographs of most RP subtypes, and we discuss the relevant considerations with respect to differential diagnoses. In addition, we discuss the genes involved in the pathogenesis of RP, as well as the retinal processes that are affected by pathogenic mutations in these genes. Finally, we review management strategies for patients with RP, including counseling, visual rehabilitation, and current and emerging therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne K Verbakel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ramon A C van Huet
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Camiel J F Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anneke I den Hollander
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rob W J Collin
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Caroline C W Klaver
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carel B Hoyng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald Roepman
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - B Jeroen Klevering
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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11
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Sun S, Li Z, Glencer P, Cai B, Zhang X, Yang J, Li X. Bringing the age-related macular degeneration high-risk allele age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 into focus with stem cell technology. Stem Cell Res Ther 2017; 8:135. [PMID: 28583181 PMCID: PMC5460466 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-017-0584-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness in older adults in developed countries. It is a multifactorial disease triggered by both environmental and genetic factors. High-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1) and age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) are two genes that are strongly associated with AMD. Because ARMS2 is an evolutionarily recent primate-specific gene and because the ARMS2/HTRA1 genes are positioned at a locus on chromosome 10q26 in a region with strong linkage disequilibrium, it is difficult to distinguish the functions of the individual genes. Therefore, it is necessary to bring these genes into focus. Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) provides direct access to a patient's genetics and allows for the possibility of identifying the initiating events of RPE-associated degenerative diseases. In this paper, a review of recent epidemiological studies of AMD is offered. An argument for a definite correlation between the ARMS2 gene and AMD is presented. A summary of the use of ARMS2 genotyping for medical treatment is provided. Several ARMS2-related genetic models based on such stem cells as iPSCs are introduced. The possibility of applying gene-editing techniques and stem-cell techniques to better explore the mechanisms of the ARMS2 high-risk allele, which will lead to important guidance for treatment, is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Sun
- Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384 China
| | - ZhiQing Li
- Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384 China
| | - Patrick Glencer
- Nova Southeastern College of Optometry, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 USA
| | - BinCui Cai
- Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384 China
| | - XiaoMin Zhang
- Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384 China
| | - Jin Yang
- Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384 China
| | - XiaoRong Li
- Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384 China
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12
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May-Simera H, Nagel-Wolfrum K, Wolfrum U. Cilia - The sensory antennae in the eye. Prog Retin Eye Res 2017; 60:144-180. [PMID: 28504201 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cilia are hair-like projections found on almost all cells in the human body. Originally believed to function merely in motility, the function of solitary non-motile (primary) cilia was long overlooked. Recent research has demonstrated that primary cilia function as signalling hubs that sense environmental cues and are pivotal for organ development and function, tissue hoemoestasis, and maintenance of human health. Cilia share a common anatomy and their diverse functional features are achieved by evolutionarily conserved functional modules, organized into sub-compartments. Defects in these functional modules are responsible for a rapidly growing list of human diseases collectively termed ciliopathies. Ocular pathogenesis is common in virtually all classes of syndromic ciliopathies, and disruptions in cilia genes have been found to be causative in a growing number of non-syndromic retinal dystrophies. This review will address what is currently known about cilia contribution to visual function. We will focus on the molecular and cellular functions of ciliary proteins and their role in the photoreceptor sensory cilia and their visual phenotypes. We also highlight other ciliated cell types in tissues of the eye (e.g. lens, RPE and Müller glia cells) discussing their possible contribution to disease progression. Progress in basic research on the cilia function in the eye is paving the way for therapeutic options for retinal ciliopathies. In the final section we describe the latest advancements in gene therapy, read-through of non-sense mutations and stem cell therapy, all being adopted to treat cilia dysfunction in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen May-Simera
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Cilia Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Kerstin Nagel-Wolfrum
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Molecular Cell Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Uwe Wolfrum
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Molecular Cell Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany.
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13
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Tang Z, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Zhang D, Shen B, Luo M, Gu P. Progress of stem/progenitor cell-based therapy for retinal degeneration. J Transl Med 2017; 15:99. [PMID: 28486987 PMCID: PMC5424366 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-017-1183-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal degeneration (RD), such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa, is one of the leading causes of blindness. Presently, no satisfactory therapeutic options are available for these diseases principally because the retina and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) do not regenerate, although wet AMD can be prevented from further progression by anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Nevertheless, stem/progenitor cell approaches exhibit enormous potential for RD treatment using strategies mainly aimed at the rescue and replacement of photoreceptors and RPE. The sources of stem/progenitor cells are classified into two broad categories in this review, which are (1) ocular-derived progenitor cells, such as retinal progenitor cells, and (2) non-ocular-derived stem cells, including embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and mesenchymal stromal cells. Here, we discuss in detail the progress in the study of four predominant stem/progenitor cell types used in animal models of RD. A short overview of clinical trials involving the stem/progenitor cells is also presented. Currently, stem/progenitor cell therapies for RD still have some drawbacks such as inhibited proliferation and/or differentiation in vitro (with the exception of the RPE) and limited long-term survival and function of grafts in vivo. Despite these challenges, stem/progenitor cells represent the most promising strategy for RD treatment in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Tang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuyao Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Dandan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingqiao Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ping Gu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
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14
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Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells isolated from connective tissues are pluripotent and differentiate into phenotypes of connective tissue cell lineages (osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes) in vitro and in vivo. They have been used to treat mouse models of connective tissue disease such as lumican-null (Lum) and mucopolysaccharidosis (Gusb) mice. Mesenchymal stem cells have unique immunosuppressive properties allowing evasion of host rejection; thus, they are valuable tools for cell therapy of congenital and acquired diseases involving immune dysfunction of multiple tissues including ocular surface tissues (cornea). We previously showed that human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells (UMSCs) modulated host immune responses, enabling them to survive xenograft transplantation. In vitro, UMSCs modulated inflammatory cells by inhibiting adhesion and invasion, and inducing cell death. UMSCs also regulated M1/M2 macrophage polarization and induced T-regulatory cell maturation from naive intraperitoneal cavity lavage cells. UMSCs exposed to inflammatory cells synthesized a rich extracellular glycocalyx composed of hyaluronan (HA) bound to the heavy chains (HCs) of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (HC-HA), which contains tumor necrosis factor-α-stimulated gene 6 (TSG6) that catalyzes the transfer of HCs to HA, versican, and pentraxin-3. Our in vivo and in vitro results showed that the glycocalyx regulated inflammatory cells, allowing UMSCs to survive host immune rejection. Administration of antibodies against glycocalyx constituents or digestion with hyaluronidase and chondroitinase ABC abolished the UMSCs' ability to modulate immune responses. Treatment with anti-CD44 antibodies also diminished modulation of M2 macrophages by UMSCs, indicating that cell surface CD44 is required for correct UMSC glycocalyx assembly to modulate inflammatory cells.
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15
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Toral MA, Velez G, Boudreault K, Schaefer KA, Xu Y, Saffra N, Bassuk AG, Tsang SH, Mahajan VB. Structural modeling of a novel SLC38A8 mutation that causes foveal hypoplasia. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2017; 5:202-209. [PMID: 28546991 PMCID: PMC5441399 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Foveal hypoplasia (FH) in the absence of albinism, aniridia, microphthalmia, or achromatopsia is exceedingly rare, and the molecular basis for the disorder remains unknown. FH is characterized by the absence of both the retinal foveal pit and avascular zone, but with preserved retinal architecture. SLC38A8 encodes a sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter with a preference for glutamate as a substrate. SLC38A8 has been linked to FH. Here, we describe a novel mutation to SLC38A8 which causes FH, and report the novel use of OCT-angiography to improve the precision of FH diagnosis. More so, we used computational modeling to explore possible functional effects of known SLC38A8 mutations. METHODS Fundus autofluorescence, SD-OCT, and OCT-angiography were used to make the clinical diagnosis. Whole-exome sequencing led to the identification of a novel disease-causing variant in SLC38A8. Computational modeling approaches were used to visualize known SLC38A8 mutations, as well as to predict mutation effects on transporter structure and function. RESULTS We identified a novel point mutation in SLC38A8 that causes FH. A conclusive diagnosis was made using OCT-angiography, which more clearly revealed retinal vasculature penetrating into the foveal region. Structural modeling of the channel showed the mutation was near previously published mutations, clustered on an extracellular loop. Our modeling also predicted that the mutation destabilizes the protein by altering the electrostatic potential within the channel pore. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate a novel use for OCT-angiography in confirming FH, and also uncover genotype-phenotype correlations of FH-linked SLC38A8 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus A Toral
- Omics LaboratoryUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa.,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual SciencesUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa.,Medical Scientist Training ProgramUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa
| | - Gabriel Velez
- Omics LaboratoryUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa.,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual SciencesUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa.,Medical Scientist Training ProgramUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa
| | | | - Kellie A Schaefer
- Omics LaboratoryUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa.,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual SciencesUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa
| | - Yu Xu
- Department of OphthalmologyUniversity of MontrealMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Norman Saffra
- Department of OphthalmologyMaimonides Medical CenterBrooklynNew York
| | | | - Stephen H Tsang
- The Barbara & Donald Jonas Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma LaboratoryDepartments of Ophthalmology, Pathology & Cell BiologyCollege of Physicians & SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew York CityNew York.,Edward S. Harkness Eye InstituteNew York-Presbyterian HospitalNew York CityNew York
| | - Vinit B Mahajan
- Omics LaboratoryUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa.,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual SciencesUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa
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16
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Zakikhan K, Pournasr B, Vosough M, Nassiri-Asl M. In Vitro Generated Hepatocyte-Like Cells: A Novel Tool in Regenerative Medicine and Drug Discovery. CELL JOURNAL 2017; 19:204-217. [PMID: 28670513 PMCID: PMC5412779 DOI: 10.22074/cellj.2016.4362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) are generated from either various human pluripotent stem
cells (hPSCs) including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells
(ESCs), or direct cell conversion, mesenchymal stem cells as well as other stem cells like
gestational tissues. They provide potential cell sources for biomedical applications. Liver
transplantation is the gold standard treatment for the patients with end stage liver disease,
but there are many obstacles limiting this process, like insufficient number of donated
healthy livers. Meanwhile, the number of patients receiving a liver organ transplant for
a better life is increasing. In this regard, HLCs may provide an adequate cell source to
overcome these shortages. New molecular engineering approaches such as CRISPR/
Cas system applying in iPSCs technology provide the basic principles of gene correction
for monogenic inherited metabolic liver diseases, as another application of HLCs. It has
been shown that HLCs could replace primary human hepatocytes in drug discovery and
hepatotoxicity tests. However, generation of fully functional HLCs is still a big challenge;
several research groups have been trying to improve current differentiation protocols to
achieve better HLCs according to morphology and function of cells. Large-scale generation
of functional HLCs in bioreactors could make a new opportunity in producing enough
hepatocytes for treating end-stage liver patients as well as other biomedical applications
such as drug studies. In this review, regarding the biomedical value of HLCs, we focus
on the current and efficient approaches for generating hepatocyte-like cells in vitro and
discuss about their applications in regenerative medicine and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kobra Zakikhan
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Behshad Pournasr
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Biomedicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marjan Nassiri-Asl
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.,Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
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Regulation of Stem Cell Properties of Müller Glia by JAK/STAT and MAPK Signaling in the Mammalian Retina. Stem Cells Int 2017; 2017:1610691. [PMID: 28194183 PMCID: PMC5282447 DOI: 10.1155/2017/1610691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans and other mammals, the neural retina does not spontaneously regenerate, and damage to the retina that kills retinal neurons results in permanent blindness. In contrast to embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and embryonic/fetal retinal stem cells, Müller glia offer an intrinsic cellular source for regenerative strategies in the retina. Müller glia are radial glial cells within the retina that maintain retinal homeostasis, buffer ion flux associated with phototransduction, and form the blood/retinal barrier within the retina proper. In injured or degenerating retinas, Müller glia contribute to gliotic responses and scar formation but also show regenerative capabilities that vary across species. In the mammalian retina, regenerative responses achieved to date remain insufficient for potential clinical applications. Activation of JAK/STAT and MAPK signaling by CNTF, EGF, and FGFs can promote proliferation and modulate the glial/neurogenic switch. However, to achieve clinical relevance, additional intrinsic and extrinsic factors that restrict or promote regenerative responses of Müller glia in the mammalian retina must be identified. This review focuses on Müller glia and Müller glial-derived stem cells in the retina and phylogenetic differences among model vertebrate species and highlights some of the current progress towards understanding the cellular mechanisms regulating their regenerative response.
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18
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Potential of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) for Treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Cells 2016; 5:cells5040044. [PMID: 27941641 PMCID: PMC5187528 DOI: 10.3390/cells5040044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The field of stem cell biology has rapidly evolved in the last few decades. In the area of regenerative medicine, clinical applications using stem cells hold the potential to be a powerful tool in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases, in particular, disorders of the eye. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are promising technologies that can potentially provide an unlimited source of cells for cell replacement therapy in the treatment of retinal degenerative disorders such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Stargardt disease, and other disorders. ESCs and iPSCs have been used to generate retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and their functional behavior has been tested in vitro and in vivo in animal models. Additionally, iPSC-derived RPE cells provide an autologous source of cells for therapeutic use, as well as allow for novel approaches in disease modeling and drug development platforms. Clinical trials are currently testing the safety and efficacy of these cells in patients with AMD. In this review, the current status of iPSC disease modeling of AMD is discussed, as well as the challenges and potential of this technology as a viable option for cell replacement therapy in retinal degeneration.
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19
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Moshfegh Y, Velez G, Li Y, Bassuk AG, Mahajan VB, Tsang SH. BESTROPHIN1 mutations cause defective chloride conductance in patient stem cell-derived RPE. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:2672-2680. [PMID: 27193166 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bestrophin1 (BEST1) is expressed in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and mutations in the BEST1 gene commonly cause retinal dysfunction and macular degeneration. BEST1 is presumed to assemble into a calcium-activated chloride channel and be involved in chloride transport but there is no direct evidence in live human RPE cells to support this idea. To test whether BEST1 functions as a chloride channel in living tissue, BEST1-mutant RPE (R218H, L234P, A243T) were generated from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and compared with wild-type RPE in a retinal environment, using a biosensor that visualizes calcium-induced chloride ion flux in the cell. Calcium stimulation elicited chloride ion export in normal RPE but not in RPE derived from three patients with BEST1 mutations. These data, along with three-dimensional modeling, provide evidence that BEST1 assembles into a key calcium-sensing chloride channel in human RPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Moshfegh
- Barbara & Donald Jonas Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Gabriel Velez
- Omics Lab.,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.,Medical Scientist Training Program
| | - Yao Li
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | - Vinit B Mahajan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.,Medical Scientist Training Program
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Barbara & Donald Jonas Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA .,Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA
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