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Buffault J, Brignole-Baudouin F, Labbé A, Baudouin C. An Overview of Current Glaucomatous Trabecular Meshwork Models. Curr Eye Res 2023; 48:1089-1099. [PMID: 37661784 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2023.2253378] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To provide an overview of the existing alternative models for studying trabecular meshwork (TM). METHODS Literature review. RESULTS The TM is a complex tissue that regulates aqueous humor outflow from the eye. Dysfunction of the TM is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of open-angle glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The TM is a porous structure composed of trabecular meshwork cells (TMC) within a multi-layered extracellular matrix (ECM). Although dysregulation of the outflow throughout the TM represents the first step in the disease process, the underlying mechanisms of TM degeneration associate cell loss and accumulation of ECM, but remain incompletely understood, and drugs targeting the TM are limited. Therefore, experimental models of glaucomatous trabeculopathy are necessary for preclinical screening, to advance research on this disease's pathophysiology, and to develop new therapeutic strategies targeting the TM. Traditional animal models have been used extensively, albeit with inherent limitations, including ethical concerns and limited translatability to humans. Consequently, there has been an increasing focus on developing alternative in vitro models to study the TM. Recent advancements in three-dimensional cell culture and tissue engineering are still in their early stages and do not yet fully reflect the complexity of the outflow pathway. However, they have shown promise in reducing reliance on animal experimentation in certain aspects of glaucoma research. CONCLUSION This review provides an overview of the existing alternative models for studying TM and their potential for advancing research on the pathophysiology of open-angle glaucoma and developing new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Buffault
- Department of Ophthalmology III, Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital, IHU Foresight, Paris, France
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, IHU Foresight, Paris, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ambroise Paré Hospital, APHP, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Françoise Brignole-Baudouin
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, IHU Foresight, Paris, France
- Department of Biology, Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital, IHU Foresight, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Labbé
- Department of Ophthalmology III, Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital, IHU Foresight, Paris, France
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, IHU Foresight, Paris, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ambroise Paré Hospital, APHP, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Christophe Baudouin
- Department of Ophthalmology III, Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital, IHU Foresight, Paris, France
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, IHU Foresight, Paris, France
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Bikuna‐Izagirre M, Aldazabal J, Extramiana L, Moreno‐Montañés J, Carnero E, Paredes J. Technological advances in ocular trabecular meshwork in vitro models for glaucoma research. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:2698-2714. [PMID: 35836364 PMCID: PMC9543213 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and is characterized by the progressive degeneration of the optic nerve. Intraocular pressure (IOP), which is considered to be the main risk factor for glaucoma development, builds up in response to the resistance (resistance to what?) provided by the trabecular meshwork (TM) to aqueous humor (AH) outflow. Although the TM and its relationship to AH outflow have remained at the forefront of scientific interest, researchers remain uncertain regarding which mechanisms drive the deterioration of the TM. Current tissue-engineering fabrication techniques have come up with promising approaches to successfully recreate the TM. Nonetheless, more accurate models are needed to understand the factors that make glaucoma arise. In this review, we provide a chronological evaluation of the technological milestones that have taken place in the field of glaucoma research, and we conduct a comprehensive comparison of available TM fabrication technologies. Additionally, we also discuss AH perfusion platforms, since they are essential for the validation of these scaffolds, as well as pressure-outflow relationship studies and the discovery of new IOP-reduction therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bikuna‐Izagirre
- Tecnun School of EngineeringUniversity of NavarraSan SebastiánSpain
- Biomedical Engineering CenterUniversity of NavarraPamplonaSpain
| | - Javier Aldazabal
- Tecnun School of EngineeringUniversity of NavarraSan SebastiánSpain
- Biomedical Engineering CenterUniversity of NavarraPamplonaSpain
| | - Leire Extramiana
- Departamento de oftalmología ClínicaClínica Universidad de NavarraPamplonaEspaña
| | | | - Elena Carnero
- Departamento de oftalmología ClínicaClínica Universidad de NavarraPamplonaEspaña
| | - Jacobo Paredes
- Tecnun School of EngineeringUniversity of NavarraSan SebastiánSpain
- Biomedical Engineering CenterUniversity of NavarraPamplonaSpain
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Włodarczyk-Biegun MK, Villiou M, Koch M, Muth C, Wang P, Ott J, del Campo A. Melt Electrowriting of Graded Porous Scaffolds to Mimic the Matrix Structure of the Human Trabecular Meshwork. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:3899-3911. [PMID: 35984428 PMCID: PMC9472227 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The permeability of the human trabecular meshwork (HTM) regulates eye pressure via a porosity gradient across its thickness modulated by stacked layers of matrix fibrils and cells. Changes in HTM porosity are associated with increases in intraocular pressure and the progress of diseases such as glaucoma. Engineered HTMs could help to understand the structure-function relation in natural tissues and lead to new regenerative solutions. Here, melt electrowriting (MEW) is explored as a biofabrication technique to produce fibrillar, porous scaffolds that mimic the multilayer, gradient structure of native HTM. Poly(caprolactone) constructs with a height of 125-500 μm and fiber diameters of 10-12 μm are printed. Scaffolds with a tensile modulus between 5.6 and 13 MPa and a static compression modulus in the range of 6-360 kPa are obtained by varying the scaffold design, that is, the density and orientation of the fibers and number of stacked layers. Primary HTM cells attach to the scaffolds, proliferate, and form a confluent layer within 8-14 days, depending on the scaffold design. High cell viability and cell morphology close to that in the native tissue are observed. The present work demonstrates the utility of MEW for reconstructing complex morphological features of natural tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Villiou
- INM-Leibniz
Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Chemistry
Department, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Marcus Koch
- INM-Leibniz
Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Christina Muth
- INM-Leibniz
Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Peixi Wang
- INM-Leibniz
Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Chemistry
Department, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Jenna Ott
- INM-Leibniz
Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Aranzazu del Campo
- INM-Leibniz
Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Chemistry
Department, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
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Crouch DJ, Sheridan CM, Behnsen JG, Bosworth LA. An Optimized Method to Decellularize Human Trabecular Meshwork. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:194. [PMID: 35621472 PMCID: PMC9137515 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9050194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is linked to raised intraocular pressure (IOP). The trabecular meshwork (TM) plays a major role in regulating IOP by enabling outflow of aqueous humor from the eye through its complex 3D structure. A lack of therapies targeting the dysfunctional TM highlights the need to develop biomimetic scaffolds that provide 3D in vitro models for glaucoma research or as implantable devices to regenerate TM tissue. To artificially mimic the TM's structure, we assessed methods for its decellularization and outline an optimized protocol for cell removal and structural retention. Using bovine TM, we trialed 2 lysing agents-Trypsin (0.05% v/v) and Ammonium Hydroxide (NH4OH; 2% v/v). Twenty-four hours in Trypsin caused significant structural changes. Shorter exposure (2 h) reduced this disruption whilst decellularizing the tissue (dsDNA 26 ± 14 ng/mL (control 1970 ± 146 ng/mL)). In contrast, NH4OH lysed all cells (dsDNA 25 ± 21 ng/mL), and the TM structure remained intact. For human TM, 2% v/v NH4OH similarly removed cells (dsDNA 52 ± 4 ng/mL (control 1965 ± 233 ng/mL)), and light microscopy and SEM presented no structural damage. X-ray computed tomography enabled a novel 3D reconstruction of decellularized human TM and observation of the tissue's intricate architecture. This study provides a new, validated method using NH4OH to decellularize delicate human TM without compromising tissue structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon J. Crouch
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK;
| | - Carl M. Sheridan
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK;
| | - Julia G. Behnsen
- Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 6GB, UK;
| | - Lucy A. Bosworth
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK;
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Hidalgo-Alvarez V, Dhowre HS, Kingston OA, Sheridan CM, Levis HJ. Biofabrication of Artificial Stem Cell Niches in the Anterior Ocular Segment. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:135. [PMID: 34677208 PMCID: PMC8533470 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8100135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The anterior segment of the eye is a complex set of structures that collectively act to maintain the integrity of the globe and direct light towards the posteriorly located retina. The eye is exposed to numerous physical and environmental insults such as infection, UV radiation, physical or chemical injuries. Loss of transparency to the cornea or lens (cataract) and dysfunctional regulation of intra ocular pressure (glaucoma) are leading causes of worldwide blindness. Whilst traditional therapeutic approaches can improve vision, their effect often fails to control the multiple pathological events that lead to long-term vision loss. Regenerative medicine approaches in the eye have already had success with ocular stem cell therapy and ex vivo production of cornea and conjunctival tissue for transplant recovering patients' vision. However, advancements are required to increase the efficacy of these as well as develop other ocular cell therapies. One of the most important challenges that determines the success of regenerative approaches is the preservation of the stem cell properties during expansion culture in vitro. To achieve this, the environment must provide the physical, chemical and biological factors that ensure the maintenance of their undifferentiated state, as well as their proliferative capacity. This is likely to be accomplished by replicating the natural stem cell niche in vitro. Due to the complex nature of the cell microenvironment, the creation of such artificial niches requires the use of bioengineering techniques which can replicate the physico-chemical properties and the dynamic cell-extracellular matrix interactions that maintain the stem cell phenotype. This review discusses the progress made in the replication of stem cell niches from the anterior ocular segment by using bioengineering approaches and their therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Hidalgo-Alvarez
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Hala S. Dhowre
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; (H.S.D.); (O.A.K.)
| | - Olivia A. Kingston
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; (H.S.D.); (O.A.K.)
| | - Carl M. Sheridan
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; (H.S.D.); (O.A.K.)
| | - Hannah J. Levis
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; (H.S.D.); (O.A.K.)
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