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Kulbay M, Tuli N, Akdag A, Kahn Ali S, Qian CX. Optogenetics and Targeted Gene Therapy for Retinal Diseases: Unravelling the Fundamentals, Applications, and Future Perspectives. J Clin Med 2024; 13:4224. [PMID: 39064263 PMCID: PMC11277578 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13144224] [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: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
With a common aim of restoring physiological function of defective cells, optogenetics and targeted gene therapies have shown great clinical potential and novelty in the branch of personalized medicine and inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). The basis of optogenetics aims to bypass defective photoreceptors by introducing opsins with light-sensing capabilities. In contrast, targeted gene therapies, such as methods based on CRISPR-Cas9 and RNA interference with noncoding RNAs (i.e., microRNA, small interfering RNA, short hairpin RNA), consists of inducing normal gene or protein expression into affected cells. Having partially leveraged the challenges limiting their prompt introduction into the clinical practice (i.e., engineering, cell or tissue delivery capabilities), it is crucial to deepen the fields of knowledge applied to optogenetics and targeted gene therapy. The aim of this in-depth and novel literature review is to explain the fundamentals and applications of optogenetics and targeted gene therapies, while providing decision-making arguments for ophthalmologists. First, we review the biomolecular principles and engineering steps involved in optogenetics and the targeted gene therapies mentioned above by bringing a focus on the specific vectors and molecules for cell signalization. The importance of vector choice and engineering methods are discussed. Second, we summarize the ongoing clinical trials and most recent discoveries for optogenetics and targeted gene therapies for IRDs. Finally, we then discuss the limits and current challenges of each novel therapy. We aim to provide for the first time scientific-based explanations for clinicians to justify the specificity of each therapy for one disease, which can help improve clinical decision-making tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Kulbay
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3S5, Canada;
| | - Nicolas Tuli
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 2M1, Canada (A.A.)
| | - Arjin Akdag
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 2M1, Canada (A.A.)
| | - Shigufa Kahn Ali
- Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada;
| | - Cynthia X. Qian
- Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centre Universitaire d’Ophtalmologie (CUO), Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada
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Li M, Xu J, Wang Y, Du X, Zhang T, Chen Y. Astragaloside A Protects Against Photoreceptor Degeneration in Part Through Suppressing Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage-Induced Necroptosis and Inflammation in the Retina. J Inflamm Res 2022; 15:2995-3020. [PMID: 35645574 PMCID: PMC9130102 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s362401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Photoreceptors are specialized retinal neurons responsible for phototransduction. Loss of photoreceptors directly leads to irreversible vision impairment. Pharmacological therapies protecting against photoreceptor degeneration are clinically lacking. Oxidative stress and inflammation are common mechanisms playing important roles in the pathogenesis of photoreceptor degeneration. Astragaloside A (AS-A) is a naturally occurring antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent with neuroprotective activities. However, the photoreceptor protective effects of AS-A remain unknown. The current study thus aims to illustrate the pharmacological potentials of AS-A in protecting against photoreceptor degeneration. Methods BALB/c and C57/BL6J mice were exposed to bright light and DNA alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) to develop oxidative stress and DNA damage-mediated photoreceptor degeneration, respectively. Microstructural, morphological and functional assessments were performed to directly evaluate the photoreceptor protective effects of AS-A. Ultrastructural and molecular changes in the retina were examined to better understand the pharmacological mechanisms of AS-A in protecting against photoreceptor degeneration. Results AS-A protected against bright light-induced photoreceptor impairment. Bright light-induced retinal oxidative stress and photoreceptor cell death were attenuated by AS-A treatment. AS-A treatment mitigated bright light-induced DNA damage, activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and nuclear dislocation of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in photoreceptors. AS-A broadly counteracted bright light-altered retinal gene expression profiles. In particular, AS-A decreased the retinal expression of genes involved in necroptosis and inflammatory responses. Bright light-induced microglial activation was also suppressed as a result of AS-A treatment. Furthermore, AS-A attenuated MMS-induced photoreceptor morphological impairment, elevated expression of pro-necroptotic and proinflammatory genes as well as microglial activation in the retina. Conclusion The work here demonstrates for the first time that AS-A protects against photoreceptor degeneration in part through mitigating oxidative stress and DNA damage-induced necroptosis and inflammatory responses in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Li
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200427, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Xu
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200427, People's Republic of China.,Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujue Wang
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200427, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoye Du
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200427, People's Republic of China.,Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People's Republic of China
| | - Teng Zhang
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200427, People's Republic of China.,Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Chen
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200427, People's Republic of China.,Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200427, People's Republic of China
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Rohrer B, Biswal MR, Obert E, Dang Y, Su Y, Zuo X, Fogelgren B, Kondkar AA, Lobo GP, Lipschutz JH. Conditional Loss of the Exocyst Component Exoc5 in Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) Results in RPE Dysfunction, Photoreceptor Cell Degeneration, and Decreased Visual Function. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5083. [PMID: 34064901 PMCID: PMC8151988 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To characterize the mechanisms by which the highly conserved exocyst trafficking complex regulates eye physiology in zebrafish and mice, we focused on Exoc5 (also known as sec10), a central exocyst component. We analyzed both exoc5 zebrafish mutants and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE)-specific Exoc5 knockout mice. Exoc5 is present in both the non-pigmented epithelium of the ciliary body and in the RPE. In this study, we set out to establish an animal model to study the mechanisms underlying the ocular phenotype and to establish if loss of visual function is induced by postnatal RPE Exoc5-deficiency. Exoc5-/- zebrafish had smaller eyes, with decreased number of melanocytes in the RPE and shorter photoreceptor outer segments. At 3.5 days post-fertilization, loss of rod and cone opsins were observed in zebrafish exoc5 mutants. Mice with postnatal RPE-specific loss of Exoc5 showed retinal thinning associated with compromised visual function and loss of visual photoreceptor pigments. Abnormal levels of RPE65 together with a reduced c-wave amplitude indicate a dysfunctional RPE. The retinal phenotype in Exoc5-/- mice was present at 20 weeks, but was more pronounced at 27 weeks, indicating progressive disease phenotype. We previously showed that the exocyst is necessary for photoreceptor ciliogenesis and retinal development. Here, we report that exoc5 mutant zebrafish and mice with RPE-specific genetic ablation of Exoc5 develop abnormal RPE pigmentation, resulting in retinal cell dystrophy and loss of visual pigments associated with compromised vision. Together, these data suggest that exocyst-mediated signaling in the RPE is required for RPE structure and function, indirectly leading to photoreceptor degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bärbel Rohrer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (B.R.); (E.O.)
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Division of Research, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
| | - Manas R. Biswal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Elisabeth Obert
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (B.R.); (E.O.)
| | - Yujing Dang
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (Y.D.); (Y.S.); (X.Z.); (J.H.L.)
| | - Yanhui Su
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (Y.D.); (Y.S.); (X.Z.); (J.H.L.)
| | - Xiaofeng Zuo
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (Y.D.); (Y.S.); (X.Z.); (J.H.L.)
| | - Ben Fogelgren
- Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA;
| | - Altaf A. Kondkar
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11411, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Glenn P. Lobo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (B.R.); (E.O.)
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (Y.D.); (Y.S.); (X.Z.); (J.H.L.)
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, Lions Research Building, 2001 6th Street SE., Room 225, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Joshua H. Lipschutz
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (Y.D.); (Y.S.); (X.Z.); (J.H.L.)
- Department of Medicine, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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Solanki AK, Kondkar AA, Fogerty J, Su Y, Kim SH, Lipschutz JH, Nihalani D, Perkins BD, Lobo GP. A Functional Binding Domain in the Rbpr2 Receptor Is Required for Vitamin A Transport, Ocular Retinoid Homeostasis, and Photoreceptor Cell Survival in Zebrafish. Cells 2020; 9:E1099. [PMID: 32365517 PMCID: PMC7290320 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary vitamin A/all-trans retinol/ROL plays a critical role in human vision. ROL circulates bound to the plasma retinol-binding protein (RBP4) as RBP4-ROL. In the eye, the STRA6 membrane receptor binds to circulatory RBP4 and internalizes ROL. STRA6 is, however, not expressed in systemic tissues, where there is high affinity RBP4 binding and ROL uptake. We tested the hypothesis that the second retinol binding protein 4 receptor 2 (Rbpr2), which is highly expressed in systemic tissues of zebrafish and mouse, contains a functional RBP4 binding domain, critical for ROL transport. As for STRA6, modeling and docking studies confirmed three conserved RBP4 binding residues in zebrafish Rbpr2. In cell culture studies, disruption of the RBP4 binding residues on Rbpr2 almost completely abolished uptake of exogenous vitamin A. CRISPR-generated rbpr2-RBP4 domain zebrafish mutants showed microphthalmia, shorter photoreceptor outer segments, and decreased opsins, which were attributed to impaired ocular retinoid content. Injection of WT-Rbpr2 mRNA into rbpr2 mutant or all-trans retinoic acid treatment rescued the mutant eye phenotypes. In conclusion, zebrafish Rbpr2 contains a putative extracellular RBP4-ROL ligand-binding domain, critical for yolk vitamin A transport to the eye for ocular retinoid production and homeostasis, for photoreceptor cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish K. Solanki
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
| | - Altaf A. Kondkar
- Glaucoma Research Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11411, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Joseph Fogerty
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (J.F.); (B.D.P.)
| | - Yanhui Su
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
| | - Seok-Hyung Kim
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
| | - Joshua H. Lipschutz
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Division of Research, Charleston, SC 29420, USA
| | - Deepak Nihalani
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
| | - Brian D. Perkins
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (J.F.); (B.D.P.)
| | - Glenn P. Lobo
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (Y.S.); (S.-H.K.); (J.H.L.); (D.N.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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Satir P, Satir BH. The conserved ancestral signaling pathway from cilium to nucleus. J Cell Sci 2019; 132:132/15/jcs230441. [PMID: 31375541 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.230441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many signaling molecules are localized to both the primary cilium and nucleus. Localization of specific transmembrane receptors and their signaling scaffold molecules in the cilium is necessary for correct physiological function. After a specific signaling event, signaling molecules leave the cilium, usually in the form of an endocytic vesicle scaffold, and move to the nucleus, where they dissociate from the scaffold and enter the nucleus to affect gene expression. This ancient pathway probably arose very early in eukaryotic evolution as the nucleus and cilium co-evolved. Because there are similarities in molecular composition of the nuclear and ciliary pores the entry and exit of proteins in both organelles rely on similar mechanisms. In this Hypothesis, we propose that the pathway is a dynamic universal cilia-based signaling pathway with some variations from protists to man. Everywhere the cilium functions as an important organelle for molecular storage of certain key receptors and selection and concentration of their associated signaling molecules that move from cilium to nucleus. This could also have important implications for human diseases such as Huntington disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Satir
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461 .,B&P Nanobiology Consultants, 7 Byfield Lane, Greenwich, CT 06830, USA
| | - Birgit H Satir
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461.,B&P Nanobiology Consultants, 7 Byfield Lane, Greenwich, CT 06830, USA
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Abstract
Cilia are highly conserved for their structure and also for their sensory functions. They serve as antennae for extracellular information. Whether the cilia are motile or not, they respond to environmental mechanical and chemical stimuli and signal to the cell body. The information from extracellular stimuli is commonly converted to electrical signals through the repertoire of ion-conducting channels in the ciliary membrane resulting in changes in concentrations of ions, especially Ca2+, in the cilia. These changes, in turn, affect motility and signaling pathways in the cilia and cell body to carry on the signal transduction. We review here the activities of ion channels in cilia from protists to vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Kleene
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH 45267-0576 USA 1-513-558-6099 (phone) 1-513-558-5738 (fax)
| | - Judith L Van Houten
- Department of Biology University of Vermont Burlington, VT 05405, USA 1-802-656-0452 (phone) 1-802-656-2914 (FAX)
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Weber I, Ramos A, Strzyz P, Leung L, Young S, Norden C. Mitotic Position and Morphology of Committed Precursor Cells in the Zebrafish Retina Adapt to Architectural Changes upon Tissue Maturation. Cell Rep 2014; 7:386-397. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Revised: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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