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Malka S, Biswas P, Berry AM, Sangermano R, Ullah M, Lin S, D'Antonio M, Jestin A, Jiao X, Quinodoz M, Sullivan L, Gardner JC, Place EM, Michaelides M, Kaminska K, Mahroo OA, Schiff E, Wright G, Cancellieri F, Vaclavik V, Santos C, Rehman AU, Mehrotra S, Azhar Baig HM, Iqbal M, Ansar M, Santos LC, Sousa AB, Tran VH, Matsui H, Bhatia A, Naeem MA, Akram SJ, Akram J, Riazuddin S, Ayuso C, Pierce EA, Hardcastle AJ, Riazuddin SA, Frazer KA, Hejtmancik JF, Rivolta C, Bujakowska KM, Arno G, Webster AR, Ayyagari R. Substitution of a single non-coding nucleotide upstream of TMEM216 causes non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa and is associated with reduced TMEM216 expression. Am J Hum Genet 2024:S0002-9297(24)00281-7. [PMID: 39191256 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.07.020] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome analysis of individuals affected by retinitis pigmentosa (RP) identified two rare nucleotide substitutions at the same genomic location on chromosome 11 (g.61392563 [GRCh38]), 69 base pairs upstream of the start codon of the ciliopathy gene TMEM216 (c.-69G>A, c.-69G>T [GenBank: NM_001173991.3]), in individuals of South Asian and African ancestry, respectively. Genotypes included 71 homozygotes and 3 mixed heterozygotes in trans with a predicted loss-of-function allele. Haplotype analysis showed single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) common across families, suggesting ancestral alleles within the two distinct ethnic populations. Clinical phenotype analysis of 62 available individuals from 49 families indicated a similar clinical presentation with night blindness in the first decade and progressive peripheral field loss thereafter. No evident systemic ciliopathy features were noted. Functional characterization of these variants by luciferase reporter gene assay showed reduced promotor activity. Nanopore sequencing confirmed the lower transcription of the TMEM216 c.-69G>T allele in blood-derived RNA from a heterozygous carrier, and reduced expression was further recapitulated by qPCR, using both leukocytes-derived RNA of c.-69G>T homozygotes and total RNA from genome-edited hTERT-RPE1 cells carrying homozygous TMEM216 c.-69G>A. In conclusion, these variants explain a significant proportion of unsolved cases, specifically in individuals of African ancestry, suggesting that reduced TMEM216 expression might lead to abnormal ciliogenesis and photoreceptor degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Malka
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Pooja Biswas
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Anne-Marie Berry
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Riccardo Sangermano
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mukhtar Ullah
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), Basel, Switzerland; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Siying Lin
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Matteo D'Antonio
- Department of Medicine, Division of Biomedical Informatics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Aleksandr Jestin
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Xiaodong Jiao
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mathieu Quinodoz
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), Basel, Switzerland; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Lori Sullivan
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jessica C Gardner
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Emily M Place
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michel Michaelides
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Karolina Kaminska
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), Basel, Switzerland; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Omar A Mahroo
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK; Section of Ophthalmology, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Elena Schiff
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Genevieve Wright
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Francesca Cancellieri
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), Basel, Switzerland; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Cristina Santos
- Instituto de Oftalmologia Dr. Gama Pinto (IOGP), Lisboa, Portugal; Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 7 iNOVA4Health, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Atta Ur Rehman
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological and Health Sciences, Hazara University, Mansehra 21300, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Sudeep Mehrotra
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hafiz Muhammad Azhar Baig
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Muhammad Iqbal
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ansar
- Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules-Gonin, Lausanne, Switzerland; Advanced Molecular Genetics and Genomics Disease Research and Treatment Centre, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi 74200, Pakistan
| | | | - Ana Berta Sousa
- Medical Genetics Unit, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Lisboa Norte (CHULN), Lisboa, Portugal; Serviço de Genética Médica, Departamento de Pediatria, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Viet H Tran
- Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules-Gonin, Lausanne, Switzerland; Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Hiroko Matsui
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Anjana Bhatia
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Muhammad Asif Naeem
- National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Javed Akram
- Allama Iqbal Medical Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan; Jinnah Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Center, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sheikh Riazuddin
- Jinnah Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Center, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan; Department of Genetics, Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Ayuso
- Department of Genetics, Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28049 Madrid, Spain; Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eric A Pierce
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - S Amer Riazuddin
- The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kelly A Frazer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - J Fielding Hejtmancik
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Carlo Rivolta
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), Basel, Switzerland; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Kinga M Bujakowska
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gavin Arno
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK; Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Andrew R Webster
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Radha Ayyagari
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Zuo Z, Cheng X, Ferdous S, Shao J, Li J, Bao Y, Li J, Lu J, Jacobo Lopez A, Wohlschlegel J, Prieve A, Thomas MG, Reh TA, Li Y, Moshiri A, Chen R. Single cell dual-omic atlas of the human developing retina. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6792. [PMID: 39117640 PMCID: PMC11310509 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50853-5] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of the retina is under tight temporal and spatial control. To gain insights into the molecular basis of this process, we generate a single-nuclei dual-omic atlas of the human developing retina with approximately 220,000 nuclei from 14 human embryos and fetuses aged between 8 and 23-weeks post-conception with matched macular and peripheral tissues. This atlas captures all major cell classes in the retina, along with a large proportion of progenitors and cell-type-specific precursors. Cell trajectory analysis reveals a transition from continuous progression in early progenitors to a hierarchical development during the later stages of cell type specification. Both known and unrecorded candidate transcription factors, along with gene regulatory networks that drive the transitions of various cell fates, are identified. Comparisons between the macular and peripheral retinae indicate a largely consistent yet distinct developmental pattern. This atlas offers unparalleled resolution into the transcriptional and chromatin accessibility landscapes during development, providing an invaluable resource for deeper insights into retinal development and associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zuo
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
- Graduate Program in Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xuesen Cheng
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Salma Ferdous
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jianming Shao
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jin Li
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yourong Bao
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jean Li
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jiaxiong Lu
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Antonio Jacobo Lopez
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, UC Davis School of Medicine, 4860 Y St, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Juliette Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, 1410 NE Campus Pkwy, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Aric Prieve
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, 1410 NE Campus Pkwy, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mervyn G Thomas
- Ulverscroft Eye Unit, School of Psychology and Vision Sciences, The University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, 1410 NE Campus Pkwy, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yumei Li
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ala Moshiri
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, UC Davis School of Medicine, 4860 Y St, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA.
- Graduate Program in Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA.
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA.
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute - Center for Translational Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, USA.
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3
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Mondal AK, Gaur M, Advani J, Swaroop A. Epigenome-metabolism nexus in the retina: implications for aging and disease. Trends Genet 2024; 40:718-729. [PMID: 38782642 PMCID: PMC11303112 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.04.012] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Intimate links between epigenome modifications and metabolites allude to a crucial role of cellular metabolism in transcriptional regulation. Retina, being a highly metabolic tissue, adapts by integrating inputs from genetic, epigenetic, and extracellular signals. Precise global epigenomic signatures guide development and homeostasis of the intricate retinal structure and function. Epigenomic and metabolic realignment are hallmarks of aging and highlight a link of the epigenome-metabolism nexus with aging-associated multifactorial traits affecting the retina, including age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Here, we focus on emerging principles of epigenomic and metabolic control of retinal gene regulation, with emphasis on their contribution to human disease. In addition, we discuss potential mitigation strategies involving lifestyle changes that target the epigenome-metabolome relationship for maintaining retinal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupam K Mondal
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mohita Gaur
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jayshree Advani
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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4
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D'haene E, López-Soriano V, Martínez-García PM, Kalayanamontri S, Rey AD, Sousa-Ortega A, Naranjo S, Van de Sompele S, Vantomme L, Mahieu Q, Vergult S, Neto A, Gómez-Skarmeta JL, Martínez-Morales JR, Bauwens M, Tena JJ, De Baere E. Comparative 3D genome analysis between neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium reveals differential cis-regulatory interactions at retinal disease loci. Genome Biol 2024; 25:123. [PMID: 38760655 PMCID: PMC11100165 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03250-6] [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: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vision depends on the interplay between photoreceptor cells of the neural retina and the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Most genes involved in inherited retinal diseases display specific spatiotemporal expression within these interconnected retinal components through the local recruitment of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) in 3D nuclear space. RESULTS To understand the role of differential chromatin architecture in establishing tissue-specific expression at inherited retinal disease loci, we mapped genome-wide chromatin interactions using in situ Hi-C and H3K4me3 HiChIP on neural retina and RPE/choroid from human adult donor eyes. We observed chromatin looping between active promoters and 32,425 and 8060 candidate CREs in the neural retina and RPE/choroid, respectively. A comparative 3D genome analysis between these two retinal tissues revealed that 56% of 290 known inherited retinal disease genes were marked by differential chromatin interactions. One of these was ABCA4, which is implicated in the most common autosomal recessive inherited retinal disease. We zoomed in on retina- and RPE-specific cis-regulatory interactions at the ABCA4 locus using high-resolution UMI-4C. Integration with bulk and single-cell epigenomic datasets and in vivo enhancer assays in zebrafish revealed tissue-specific CREs interacting with ABCA4. CONCLUSIONS Through comparative 3D genome mapping, based on genome-wide, promoter-centric, and locus-specific assays of human neural retina and RPE, we have shown that gene regulation at key inherited retinal disease loci is likely mediated by tissue-specific chromatin interactions. These findings do not only provide insight into tissue-specific regulatory landscapes at retinal disease loci, but also delineate the search space for non-coding genomic variation underlying unsolved inherited retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva D'haene
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Víctor López-Soriano
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pedro Manuel Martínez-García
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Soraya Kalayanamontri
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alfredo Dueñas Rey
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ana Sousa-Ortega
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Silvia Naranjo
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Stijn Van de Sompele
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lies Vantomme
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Quinten Mahieu
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Vergult
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ana Neto
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José Luis Gómez-Skarmeta
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Juan Ramón Martínez-Morales
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Miriam Bauwens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Juan Jesús Tena
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Elfride De Baere
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
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5
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Dorgau B, Collin J, Rozanska A, Boczonadi V, Moya-Molina M, Unsworth A, Hussain R, Coxhead J, Dhanaseelan T, Armstrong L, Queen R, Lako M. Deciphering the spatiotemporal transcriptional and chromatin accessibility of human retinal organoid development at the single-cell level. iScience 2024; 27:109397. [PMID: 38510120 PMCID: PMC10952046 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109397] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Molecular information on the early stages of human retinal development remains scarce due to limitations in obtaining early human eye samples. Pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids (ROs) provide an unprecedented opportunity for studying early retinogenesis. Using a combination of single cell RNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics we present for the first-time a single cell spatiotemporal transcriptome of RO development. Our data demonstrate that ROs recapitulate key events of retinogenesis including optic vesicle/cup formation, presence of a putative ciliary margin zone, emergence of retinal progenitor cells and their orderly differentiation to retinal neurons. Combining the scRNA- with scATAC-seq data, we were able to reveal cell-type specific transcription factor binding motifs on accessible chromatin at each stage of organoid development, and to show that chromatin accessibility is highly correlated to the developing human retina, but with some differences in the temporal emergence and abundance of some of the retinal neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birthe Dorgau
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Joseph Collin
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Agata Rozanska
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Veronika Boczonadi
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Marina Moya-Molina
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
- Newcells Biotech, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5BX, UK
| | - Adrienne Unsworth
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Rafiqul Hussain
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Jonathan Coxhead
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Tamil Dhanaseelan
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Lyle Armstrong
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Rachel Queen
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
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6
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Lopez Soriano V, Dueñas Rey A, Mukherjee R, Coppieters F, Bauwens M, Willaert A, De Baere E. Multi-omics analysis in human retina uncovers ultraconserved cis-regulatory elements at rare eye disease loci. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1600. [PMID: 38383453 PMCID: PMC10881467 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45381-1] [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: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cross-species genome comparisons have revealed a substantial number of ultraconserved non-coding elements (UCNEs). Several of these elements have proved to be essential tissue- and cell type-specific cis-regulators of developmental gene expression. Here, we characterize a set of UCNEs as candidate CREs (cCREs) during retinal development and evaluate the contribution of their genomic variation to rare eye diseases, for which pathogenic non-coding variants are emerging. Integration of bulk and single-cell retinal multi-omics data reveals 594 genes under potential cis-regulatory control of UCNEs, of which 45 are implicated in rare eye disease. Mining of candidate cis-regulatory UCNEs in WGS data derived from the rare eye disease cohort of Genomics England reveals 178 ultrarare variants within 84 UCNEs associated with 29 disease genes. Overall, we provide a comprehensive annotation of ultraconserved non-coding regions acting as cCREs during retinal development which can be targets of non-coding variation underlying rare eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Lopez Soriano
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alfredo Dueñas Rey
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Frauke Coppieters
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Miriam Bauwens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andy Willaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elfride De Baere
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
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7
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Seo Y, Joo K, Lee J, Diaz A, Jang S, Cherry TJ, Bujakowska KM, Han J, Woo SJ, Small KW. Two novel non-coding single nucleotide variants in the DNase1 hypersensitivity site of PRDM13 causing North Carolina macular dystrophy in Korea. Mol Vis 2024; 30:58-66. [PMID: 38601016 PMCID: PMC11006008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Pathogenic variants in North Carolina macular dystrophy (NCMD) have rarely been reported in the East Asian population. Herein, we reported novel variants of NCMD in 2 Korean families. Methods The regions associated with NCMD were analyzed with genome sequencing, and variants were filtered based on the minor allele frequency (0.5%) and heterozygosity. Non-coding variants were functionally annotated using multiple computational tools. Results We identified two rare novel variants, chr6:g.99,598,914T>C (hg38; V17) and chr6:g.99,598,926G>A (hg38; V18) upstream of PRDM13 in families A and B, respectively. In Family 1, Grade 2 NCMD and a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/25 and 20/200 in the right and left eyes, respectively, were observed. In Family B, all affected individuals had Grade 1 NCMD with characteristic confluent drusen at the fovea and a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 in both eyes. These two variants are 10-22 bp downstream of the reported V10 variant within the DNase1 hypersensitivity site. This site is associated with progressive bifocal chorioretinal atrophy and congenital posterior polar chorioretinal hypertrophy and lies in the putative enhancer site of PRDM13. Conclusion We identified two novel NCMD variants in the Korean population and further validated the regulatory role of the DNase1 hypersensitivity site upstream of PRDM13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Seo
- Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Kwangsic Joo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Junwon Lee
- Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Amber Diaz
- Macula and Retina Institute, Glendale and Los Angeles, CA
- Molecular Insight Research Foundation, Glendale and Los Angeles, CA
| | | | - Timothy J. Cherry
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
- Brotman Baty Institute, Seattle, WA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Kinga M. Bujakowska
- Ocular Genomic Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jinu Han
- Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Ocular Genomic Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Se Joon Woo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Kent W. Small
- Macula and Retina Institute, Glendale and Los Angeles, CA
- Molecular Insight Research Foundation, Glendale and Los Angeles, CA
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8
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Wu K, Bu F, Wu Y, Zhang G, Wang X, He S, Liu MF, Chen R, Yuan H. Exploring noncoding variants in genetic diseases: from detection to functional insights. J Genet Genomics 2024; 51:111-132. [PMID: 38181897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.01.001] [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: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies on genetic diseases predominantly focused on protein-coding variations, overlooking the vast noncoding regions in the human genome. The development of high-throughput sequencing technologies and functional genomics tools has enabled the systematic identification of functional noncoding variants. These variants can impact gene expression, regulation, and chromatin conformation, thereby contributing to disease pathogenesis. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie the impact of noncoding variants on genetic diseases is indispensable for the development of precisely targeted therapies and the implementation of personalized medicine strategies. The intricacies of noncoding regions introduce a multitude of challenges and research opportunities. In this review, we introduce a spectrum of noncoding variants involved in genetic diseases, along with research strategies and advanced technologies for their precise identification and in-depth understanding of the complexity of the noncoding genome. We will delve into the research challenges and propose potential solutions for unraveling the genetic basis of rare and complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Wu
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Fengxiao Bu
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Gen Zhang
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Shunmin He
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Center for Big Data Research in Health, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mo-Fang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Runsheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Center for Big Data Research in Health, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Huijun Yuan
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
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9
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Kwong A, Zawistowski M, Fritsche LG, Zhan X, Bragg-Gresham J, Branham KE, Advani J, Othman M, Ratnapriya R, Teslovich TM, Stambolian D, Chew EY, Abecasis GR, Swaroop A. Whole genome sequencing of 4,787 individuals identifies gene-based rare variants in age-related macular degeneration. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:374-385. [PMID: 37934784 PMCID: PMC10840384 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad189] [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: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have contributed extensively to the discovery of disease-associated common variants. However, the genetic contribution to complex traits is still largely difficult to interpret. We report a genome-wide association study of 2394 cases and 2393 controls for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) via whole-genome sequencing, with 46.9 million genetic variants. Our study reveals significant single-variant association signals at four loci and independent gene-based signals in CFH, C2, C3, and NRTN. Using data from the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) for a gene-based test, we demonstrate an enrichment of predicted rare loss-of-function variants in CFH, CFI, and an as-yet unreported gene in AMD, ORMDL2. Our method of using a large variant list without individual-level genotypes as an external reference provides a flexible and convenient approach to leverage the publicly available variant datasets to augment the search for rare variant associations, which can explain additional disease risk in AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Kwong
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Matthew Zawistowski
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Lars G Fritsche
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Xiaowei Zhan
- Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
| | - Jennifer Bragg-Gresham
- Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center, Department of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Kari E Branham
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, 1000 Wall St, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States
| | - Jayshree Advani
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Drive, MSC 0610, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Mohammad Othman
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, 1000 Wall St, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States
| | - Rinki Ratnapriya
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Drive, MSC 0610, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Tanya M Teslovich
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Dwight Stambolian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, 51 N. 39th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Emily Y Chew
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Application, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive Building 10-CRC, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Gonçalo R Abecasis
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Drive, MSC 0610, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
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10
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Krueger MR, Fishman-Williams E, Simó S, Tarantal AF, La Torre A. Expression patterns of CYP26A1, FGF8, CDKN1A, and NPVF in the developing rhesus monkey retina. Differentiation 2024; 135:100743. [PMID: 38147763 PMCID: PMC10868720 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2023.100743] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The fovea centralis (fovea) is a specialized region of the primate retina that plays crucial roles in high-resolution visual acuity and color perception. The fovea is characterized by a high density of cone photoreceptors and no rods, and unique anatomical properties that contribute to its remarkable visual capabilities. Early histological analyses identified some of the key events that contribute to foveal development, but the mechanisms that direct the specification of this area are not understood. Recently, the expression of the retinoic acid-metabolizing enzyme CYP26A1 has become a hallmark of some of the retinal specializations found in vertebrates, including the primate fovea and the high-acuity area in avian species. In chickens, the retinoic acid pathway regulates the expression of FGF8 to then direct the development of a rod-free area. Similarly, high levels of CYP26A1, CDKN1A, and NPVF expression have been observed in the primate macula using transcriptomic approaches. However, which retinal cells express these genes and their expression dynamics in the developing primate eye remain unknown. Here, we systematically characterize the expression patterns of CYP26A1, FGF8, CDKN1A, and NPVF during the development of the rhesus monkey retina, from early stages of development in the first trimester until the third trimester (near term). Our data suggest that some of the markers previously proposed to be fovea-specific are not enriched in the progenitors of the rhesus monkey fovea. In contrast, CYP26A1 is expressed at high levels in the progenitors of the fovea, while it localizes in a subpopulation of macular Müller glia cells later in development. Together these data provide invaluable insights into the expression dynamics of several molecules in the nonhuman primate retina and highlight the developmental advancement of the foveal region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda R Krueger
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
| | - Elizabeth Fishman-Williams
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
| | - Sergi Simó
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
| | - Alice F Tarantal
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, United States; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
| | - Anna La Torre
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, United States.
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11
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Zhang K, Cai W, Hu L, Chen S. Generating Retinas through Guided Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation and Direct Somatic Cell Reprogramming. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 19:1251-1262. [PMID: 37807418 DOI: 10.2174/011574888x255496230923164547] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Retinal degeneration diseases affect millions of people worldwide but are among the most difficult eye diseases to cure. Studying the mechanisms and developing new therapies for these blinding diseases requires researchers to have access to many retinal cells. In recent years there has been substantial advances in the field of biotechnology in generating retinal cells and even tissues in vitro, either through programmed sequential stem cell differentiation or direct somatic cell lineage reprogramming. The resemblance of these in vitro-generated retinal cells to native cells has been increasingly utilized by researchers. With the help of these in vitro retinal models, we now have a better understanding of human retinas and retinal diseases. Furthermore, these in vitro-generated retinal cells can be used as donor cells which solves a major hurdle in the development of cell replacement therapy for retinal degeneration diseases, while providing a promising option for patients suffering from these diseases. In this review, we summarize the development of pluripotent stem cell-to-retinal cell differentiation methods, the recent advances in generating retinal cells through direct somatic cell reprogramming, and the translational applications of retinal cells generated in vitro. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the current protocols and possible future directions for improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Wenwen Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Leyi Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Shuyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510623, China
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12
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Qu Z, Batz Z, Singh N, Marchal C, Swaroop A. Stage-specific dynamic reorganization of genome topology shapes transcriptional neighborhoods in developing human retinal organoids. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113543. [PMID: 38048222 PMCID: PMC10790351 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113543] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We have generated a high-resolution Hi-C map of developing human retinal organoids to elucidate spatiotemporal dynamics of genomic architecture and its relationship with gene expression patterns. We demonstrate progressive stage-specific alterations in DNA topology and correlate these changes with transcription of cell-type-restricted gene markers during retinal differentiation. Temporal Hi-C reveals a shift toward A compartment for protein-coding genes and B compartment for non-coding RNAs, displaying high and low expression, respectively. Notably, retina-enriched genes are clustered near lost boundaries of topologically associated domains (TADs), and higher-order assemblages (i.e., TAD cliques) localize in active chromatin regions with binding sites for eye-field transcription factors. These genes gain chromatin contacts at their transcription start site as organoid differentiation proceeds. Our study provides a global view of chromatin architecture dynamics associated with diversification of cell types during retinal development and serves as a foundational resource for in-depth functional investigations of retinal developmental traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zepeng Qu
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zachary Batz
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nivedita Singh
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Claire Marchal
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; In silichrom Ltd, 15 Digby Road, Newbury RG14 1TS, UK
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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13
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Wohlschlegel J, Finkbeiner C, Hoffer D, Kierney F, Prieve A, Murry AD, Haugan AK, Ortuño-Lizarán I, Rieke F, Golden SA, Reh TA. ASCL1 induces neurogenesis in human Müller glia. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:2400-2417. [PMID: 38039971 PMCID: PMC10724232 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.10.021] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals, loss of retinal cells due to disease or trauma is an irreversible process that can lead to blindness. Interestingly, regeneration of retinal neurons is a well established process in some non-mammalian vertebrates and is driven by the Müller glia (MG), which are able to re-enter the cell cycle and reprogram into neurogenic progenitors upon retinal injury or disease. Progress has been made to restore this mechanism in mammals to promote retinal regeneration: MG can be stimulated to generate new neurons in vivo in the adult mouse retina after the over-expression of the pro-neural transcription factor Ascl1. In this study, we applied the same strategy to reprogram human MG derived from fetal retina and retinal organoids into neurons. Combining single cell RNA sequencing, single cell ATAC sequencing, immunofluorescence, and electrophysiology we demonstrate that human MG can be reprogrammed into neurogenic cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Connor Finkbeiner
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dawn Hoffer
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Faith Kierney
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Aric Prieve
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexandria D Murry
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexandra K Haugan
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Fred Rieke
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sam A Golden
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Center of Excellence in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion (NAPE), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Institute for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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14
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Santiago CP, Gimmen MY, Lu Y, McNally MM, Duncan LH, Creamer TJ, Orzolek LD, Blackshaw S, Singh MS. Comparative Analysis of Single-cell and Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing in a Rabbit Model of Retinal Detachment-related Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy. OPHTHALMOLOGY SCIENCE 2023; 3:100335. [PMID: 37496518 PMCID: PMC10365955 DOI: 10.1016/j.xops.2023.100335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the most common cause of failure of retinal reattachment surgery, and the molecular changes leading to this aberrant wound healing process are currently unknown. Our ultimate goal is to study PVR pathogenesis by employing single-cell transcriptomics to dissect cellular heterogeneity. Design Here we aimed to compare single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) of retinal PVR samples in the rabbit model. Participants Unilateral induction of PVR lesions in rabbit eyes with contralateral eyes serving as controls. Methods Proliferative vitreoretinopathy was induced unilaterally in Dutch Belted rabbits. At different timepoints after PVR induction, retinas were dissociated into either cells or nuclei suspension and processed for scRNA-seq or snRNA-seq. Main Outcome Measures Single cell and nuclei transcriptomic profiles of retinas after PVR induction. Results Single-cell RNA sequencing and snRNA-seq were conducted on retinas at 4 hours and 14 days after disease induction. Although the capture rate of unique molecular identifiers and genes were greater in scRNA-seq samples, overall gene expression profiles of individual cell types were highly correlated between scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq. A major disparity between the 2 sequencing modalities was the cell type capture rate, however, with glial cell types overrepresented in scRNA-seq, and inner retinal neurons were enriched by snRNA-seq. Furthermore, fibrotic Müller glia were overrepresented in snRNA-seq samples, whereas reactive Müller glia were overrepresented in scRNA-seq samples. Trajectory analyses were similar between the 2 methods, allowing for the combined analysis of the scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq data sets. Conclusions These findings highlight limitations of both scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq analysis and imply that use of both techniques together can more accurately identify transcriptional networks critical for aberrant fibrogenesis in PVR than using either in isolation. Financial Disclosures Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clayton P. Santiago
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Megan Y. Gimmen
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yuchen Lu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Minda M. McNally
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Leighton H. Duncan
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Tyler J. Creamer
- Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Linda D. Orzolek
- Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mandeep S. Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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15
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Gu Y, Zhang W, Wu X, Zhang Y, Xu K, Su J. Organoid assessment technologies. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1499. [PMID: 38115706 PMCID: PMC10731122 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1499] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite enormous advances in the generation of organoids, robust and stable protocols of organoids are still a major challenge to researchers. Research for assessing structures of organoids and the evaluations of their functions on in vitro or in vivo is often limited by precision strategies. A growing interest in assessing organoids has arisen, aimed at standardizing the process of obtaining organoids to accurately resemble human-derived tissue. The complex microenvironment of organoids, intricate cellular crosstalk, organ-specific architectures and further complicate functions urgently quest for high-through schemes. By utilizing multi-omics analysis and single-cell analysis, cell-cell interaction mechanisms can be deciphered, and their structures can be investigated in a detailed view by histological analysis. In this review, we will conclude the novel approaches to study the molecular mechanism and cell heterogeneity of organoids and discuss the histological and morphological similarity of organoids in comparison to the human body. Future perspectives on functional analysis will be developed and the organoids will become mature models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyuan Gu
- Institute of Translational MedicineShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
- Organoid Research CenterShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
- School of MedicineShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wencai Zhang
- Department of OrthopedicsFirst Affiliated HospitalJinan UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xianmin Wu
- Department of OrthopedicsShanghai Zhongye HospitalShanghaiChina
| | - Yuanwei Zhang
- Institute of Translational MedicineShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
- Organoid Research CenterShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of OrthopaedicsXinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Ke Xu
- Institute of Translational MedicineShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
- Organoid Research CenterShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
- Wenzhou Institute of Shanghai UniversityWenzhouChina
| | - Jiacan Su
- Institute of Translational MedicineShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
- Organoid Research CenterShanghai UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of OrthopaedicsXinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
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16
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Kruczek K, Swaroop A. Patient stem cell-derived in vitro disease models for developing novel therapies of retinal ciliopathies. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 155:127-163. [PMID: 38043950 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.09.003] [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] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Primary cilia are specialized organelles on the surface of almost all cells in vertebrate tissues and are primarily involved in the detection of extracellular stimuli. In retinal photoreceptors, cilia are uniquely modified to form outer segments containing components required for the detection of light in stacks of membrane discs. Not surprisingly, vision impairment is a frequent phenotype associated with ciliopathies, a heterogeneous class of conditions caused by mutations in proteins required for formation, maintenance and/or function of primary cilia. Traditionally, immortalized cell lines and model organisms have been used to provide insights into the biology of ciliopathies. The advent of methods for reprogramming human somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells has enabled the generation of in vitro disease models directly from patients suffering from ciliopathies. Such models help us in investigating pathological mechanisms specific to human physiology and in developing novel therapeutic approaches. In this article, we review current protocols to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into retinal cell types, and discuss how these cellular and/or organoid models can be utilized to interrogate pathobiology of ciliopathies affecting the retina and for testing prospective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Kruczek
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
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17
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Chakrabarty K, Nayak D, Debnath J, Das D, Shetty R, Ghosh A. Retinal organoids in disease modeling and drug discovery: Opportunities and challenges. Surv Ophthalmol 2023:S0039-6257(23)00127-3. [PMID: 37778668 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.09.003] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Diseases leading to retinal cell loss can cause severe visual impairment and blindness. The lack of effective therapies to address retinal cell loss and the absence of intrinsic regeneration in the human retina leads to an irreversible pathological condition. Progress in recent years in the generation of human three-dimensional retinal organoids from pluripotent stem cells makes it possible to recreate the cytoarchitecture and associated cell-cell interactions of the human retina in remarkable detail. These human three-dimensional retinal organoid systems made of distinct retinal cell types and possessing contextual physiological responses allow the study of human retina development and retinal disease pathology in a way animal model and two-dimensional cell cultures were unable to achieve. We describe the derivation of retinal organoids from human pluripotent stem cells and their application for modeling retinal disease pathologies, while outlining the opportunities and challenges for its application in academia and industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koushik Chakrabarty
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
| | - Divyani Nayak
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Jayasree Debnath
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Debashish Das
- Stem Cell Research Lab, GROW Lab, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Rohit Shetty
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Narayana Nethralaya Eye Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Arkasubhra Ghosh
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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18
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Rosarda JD, Giles S, Harkins-Perry S, Mills EA, Friedlander M, Wiseman RL, Eade KT. Imbalanced unfolded protein response signaling contributes to 1-deoxysphingolipid retinal toxicity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4119. [PMID: 37433773 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39775-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of atypical, cytotoxic 1-deoxysphingolipids (1-dSLs) has been linked to retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and Macular Telangiectasia Type 2. However, the molecular mechanisms by which 1-dSLs induce toxicity in retinal cells remain poorly understood. Here, we integrate bulk and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing to define biological pathways that modulate 1-dSL toxicity in human retinal organoids. Our results demonstrate that 1-dSLs differentially activate signaling arms of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in photoreceptor cells and Müller glia. Using a combination of pharmacologic activators and inhibitors, we show that sustained PERK signaling through the integrated stress response (ISR) and deficiencies in signaling through the protective ATF6 arm of the UPR are implicated in 1-dSL-induced photoreceptor toxicity. Further, we demonstrate that pharmacologic activation of ATF6 mitigates 1-dSL toxicity without impacting PERK/ISR signaling. Collectively, our results identify new opportunities to intervene in 1-dSL linked diseases through targeting different arms of the UPR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica D Rosarda
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Sarah Giles
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Lowy Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Sarah Harkins-Perry
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Lowy Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Mills
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Lowy Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Martin Friedlander
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Lowy Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - R Luke Wiseman
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Kevin T Eade
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
- Lowy Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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19
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de la O S, Yao X, Chang S, Liu Z, Sneddon JB. Single-cell chromatin accessibility of developing murine pancreas identifies cell state-specific gene regulatory programs. Mol Metab 2023; 73:101735. [PMID: 37178817 PMCID: PMC10230264 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have characterized the existence of cell subtypes, along with their corresponding transcriptional profiles, within the developing mouse pancreas. The upstream mechanisms that initiate and maintain gene expression programs across cell states, however, remain largely unknown. Here, we generate single-nucleus ATAC-Sequencing data of developing murine pancreas and perform an integrated, multi-omic analysis of both chromatin accessibility and RNA expression to describe the chromatin landscape of the developing pancreas at both E14.5 and E17.5 at single-cell resolution. We identify candidate transcription factors regulating cell fate and construct gene regulatory networks of active transcription factor binding to regulatory regions of downstream target genes. This work serves as a valuable resource for the field of pancreatic biology in general and contributes to our understanding of lineage plasticity among endocrine cell types. In addition, these data identify which epigenetic states should be represented in the differentiation of stem cells to the pancreatic beta cell fate to best recapitulate in vitro the gene regulatory networks that are critical for progression along the beta cell lineage in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean de la O
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Xinkai Yao
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Sean Chang
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Zhe Liu
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Julie B Sneddon
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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20
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Usui-Ouchi A, Giles S, Harkins-Perry S, Mills EA, Bonelli R, Wei G, Ouchi Y, Ebihara N, Nakao S, Friedlander M, Eade KT. Integrating human iPSC-derived macrophage progenitors into retinal organoids to generate a mature retinal microglial niche. Glia 2023. [PMID: 37335016 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
In the retina, microglia are resident immune cells that are essential for development and function. Retinal microglia play a central role in mediating pathological degeneration in diseases such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, age-related neurodegeneration, ischemic retinopathy, and diabetic retinopathy. Current models of mature human retinal organoids (ROs) derived from iPS cell (hiPSC) do not contain resident microglia integrated into retinal layers. Increasing cellular diversity in ROs by including resident microglia would more accurately represent the native retina and better model diseases in which microglia play a key role. In this study, we develop a new 3D in vitro tissue model of microglia-containing retinal organoids by co-culturing ROs and hiPSC-derived macrophage precursor cells (MPCs). We optimized the parameters for successful integration of MPCs into retinal organoids. We show that while in the ROs, MPCs migrate to the equivalent of the outer plexiform layer where retinal microglia cells reside in healthy retinal tissue. While there, they develop a mature morphology characterized by small cell bodies and long branching processes which is only observed in vivo. During this maturation process these MPCs cycle through an activated phase followed by a stable mature microglial phase as seen by the down regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, we characterized mature ROs with integrated MPCs using RNAseq showing an enrichment of cell-type specific microglia markers. We propose that this co-culture system may be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of retinal diseases involving retinal microglia and for drug discovery directly in human tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayumi Usui-Ouchi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Urayasu, Japan
| | - Sarah Giles
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- The Lowy Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Sarah Harkins-Perry
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- The Lowy Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Roberto Bonelli
- The Lowy Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Guoqin Wei
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Yasuo Ouchi
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Ebihara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Urayasu, Japan
| | - Shintaro Nakao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Martin Friedlander
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- The Lowy Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Kevin T Eade
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- The Lowy Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
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21
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Liang Q, Cheng X, Wang J, Owen L, Shakoor A, Lillvis JL, Zhang C, Farkas M, Kim IK, Li Y, DeAngelis M, Chen R. A multi-omics atlas of the human retina at single-cell resolution. CELL GENOMICS 2023; 3:100298. [PMID: 37388908 PMCID: PMC10300490 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Cell classes in the human retina are highly heterogeneous with their abundance varying by several orders of magnitude. Here, we generated and integrated a multi-omics single-cell atlas of the adult human retina, including more than 250,000 nuclei for single-nuclei RNA-seq and 137,000 nuclei for single-nuclei ATAC-seq. Cross-species comparison of the retina atlas among human, monkey, mice, and chicken revealed relatively conserved and non-conserved types. Interestingly, the overall cell heterogeneity in primate retina decreases compared with that of rodent and chicken retina. Through integrative analysis, we identified 35,000 distal cis-element-gene pairs, constructed transcription factor (TF)-target regulons for more than 200 TFs, and partitioned the TFs into distinct co-active modules. We also revealed the heterogeneity of the cis-element-gene relationships in different cell types, even from the same class. Taken together, we present a comprehensive single-cell multi-omics atlas of the human retina as a resource that enables systematic molecular characterization at individual cell-type resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingnan Liang
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xuesen Cheng
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Leah Owen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Akbar Shakoor
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - John L. Lillvis
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA
| | - Charles Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Michael Farkas
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA
| | - Ivana K. Kim
- Retina Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Yumei Li
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Margaret DeAngelis
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- HGSC, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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22
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Kang J, Gong J, Yang C, Lin X, Yan L, Gong Y, Xu H. Application of Human Stem Cell Derived Retinal Organoids in the Exploration of the Mechanisms of Early Retinal Development. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2023:10.1007/s12015-023-10553-x. [PMID: 37269529 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10553-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The intricate neural circuit of retina extracts salient features of the natural world and forms bioelectric impulse as the origin of vision. The early development of retina is a highly complex and coordinated process in morphogenesis and neurogenesis. Increasing evidence indicates that stem cells derived human retinal organoids (hROs) in vitro faithfully recapitulates the embryonic developmental process of human retina no matter in the transcriptome, cellular biology and histomorphology. The emergence of hROs greatly deepens on the understanding of early development of human retina. Here, we reviewed the events of early retinal development both in animal embryos and hROs studies, which mainly comprises the formation of optic vesicle and optic cup shape, differentiation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), photoreceptor cells (PRs) and its supportive retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE). We also discussed the classic and frontier molecular pathways up to date to decipher the underlying mechanisms of early development of human retina and hROs. Finally, we summarized the application prospect, challenges and cutting-edge techniques of hROs for uncovering the principles and mechanisms of retinal development and related developmental disorder. hROs is a priori selection for studying human retinal development and function and may be a fundamental tool for unlocking the unknown insight into retinal development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Kang
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jing Gong
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Cao Yang
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xi Lin
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Lijuan Yan
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yu Gong
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Sciences Research Center, University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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23
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Li R, Liu J, Yi P, Yang X, Chen J, Zhao C, Liao X, Wang X, Xu Z, Lu H, Li H, Zhang Z, Liu X, Xiang J, Hu K, Qi H, Yu J, Yang P, Hou S. Integrative Single-Cell Transcriptomics and Epigenomics Mapping of the Fetal Retina Developmental Dynamics. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206623. [PMID: 37017569 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The underlying mechanisms that determine gene expression and chromatin accessibility in retinogenesis are poorly understood. Herein, single-cell RNA sequencing and single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing are performed on human embryonic eye samples obtained 9-26 weeks after conception to explore the heterogeneity of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) and neurogenic RPCs. The differentiation trajectory from RPCs to 7 major types of retinal cells are verified. Subsequently, diverse lineage-determining transcription factors are identified and their gene regulatory networks are refined at the transcriptomic and epigenomic levels. Treatment of retinospheres, with the inhibitor of RE1 silencing transcription factor, X5050, induces more neurogenesis with the regular arrangement, and a decrease in Müller glial cells. The signatures of major retinal cells and their correlation with pathogenic genes associated with multiple ocular diseases, including uveitis and age-related macular degeneration are also described. A framework for the integrated exploration of single-cell developmental dynamics of the human primary retina is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruonan Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Jiangyi Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Ping Yi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401120, P. R. China
| | - Xianli Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401120, P. R. China
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401147, P. R. China
| | - Chenyang Zhao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Xingyun Liao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, P. R. China
| | - Xiaotang Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Zongren Xu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Huiping Lu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Hongshun Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Xianyang Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Junjie Xiang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Ke Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Hongbo Qi
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 401147, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Jia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, P. R. China
- The Key Laboratory of RNA and Hematopoietic Regulation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100005, P. R. China
| | - Peizeng Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
| | - Shengping Hou
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Chongqing, 400016, P. R. China
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, P. R. China
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24
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Yin W, Mao X, Xu M, Chen M, Xue M, Su N, Yuan S, Liu Q. Epigenetic regulation in the commitment of progenitor cells during retinal development and regeneration. Differentiation 2023:S0301-4681(23)00023-3. [PMID: 37069005 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Retinal development is initiated by multipotent retinal progenitor cells, which undergo several rounds of cell divisions and subsequently terminal differentiation. Retinal regeneration is usually considered as the recapitulation of retinal development, which share common mechanisms underlying the cell cycle re-entry of adult retinal stem cells and the differentiation of retinal neurons. However, how proliferative retinal progenitor cells perform a precise transition to postmitotic retinal cell types during the process of development and regeneration remains elusive. It is proposed that both the intrinsic and extrinsic programming are involved in the transcriptional regulation of the spatio-temporal fate commitment. Epigenetic modifications and the regulatory mechanisms at both DNA and chromatin levels are also postulated to play an important role in the timing of differentiation of specific retinal cells. In the present review, we have summarized recent knowledge of epigenetic regulation that underlies the commitment of retinal progenitor cells in the settings of retinal development and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Yin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiying Mao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingkang Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengting Xue
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Su
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Songtao Yuan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qinghuai Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China.
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Sánchez-Sáez X, Ortuño-Lizarán I, Sánchez-Castillo C, Lax P, Cuenca N. Starburst amacrine cells, involved in visual motion perception, loose their synaptic input from dopaminergic amacrine cells and degenerate in Parkinson's disease patients. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:17. [PMID: 37013599 PMCID: PMC10071607 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00348-y] [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: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The main clinical symptoms characteristic of Parkinson's disease (PD) are bradykinesia, tremor, and other motor deficits. However, non-motor symptoms, such as visual disturbances, can be identified at early stages of the disease. One of these symptoms is the impairment of visual motion perception. Hence, we sought to determine if the starburst amacrine cells, which are the main cellular type involved in motion direction selectivity, are degenerated in PD and if the dopaminergic system is related to this degeneration. METHODS Human eyes from control (n = 10) and PD (n = 9) donors were available for this study. Using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, we quantified starburst amacrine cell density (choline acetyltransferase [ChAT]-positive cells) and the relationship between these cells and dopaminergic amacrine cells (tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells and vesicular monoamine transporter-2-positive presynapses) in cross-sections and wholemount retinas. RESULTS First, we found two different ChAT amacrine populations in the human retina that presented different ChAT immunoreactivity intensity and different expression of calcium-binding proteins. Both populations are affected in PD and their density is reduced compared to controls. Also, we report, for the first time, synaptic contacts between dopaminergic amacrine cells and ChAT-positive cells in the human retina. We found that, in PD retinas, there is a reduction of the dopaminergic synaptic contacts into ChAT cells. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, this work indicates degeneration of starburst amacrine cells in PD related to dopaminergic degeneration and that dopaminergic amacrine cells could modulate the function of starburst amacrine cells. Since motion perception circuitries are affected in PD, their assessment using visual tests could provide new insights into the diagnosis of PD.
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Grants
- FEDER-PID 2019-106230RB-I00 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- FEDER-PID 2019-106230RB-I00 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- FPU16/04114 Ministerio de Universidades
- RETICS-FEDER RD16/0008/0016 Instituto de Salud Carlos III
- IDIFEDER/2017/064 Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad Digital, Generalitat Valenciana
- PROMETEO/2021/024 Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad Digital, Generalitat Valenciana
- PROMETEO/2021/024 Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad Digital, Generalitat Valenciana
- APOSTD/2020/245 Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad Digital, Generalitat Valenciana
- 2019/00286/001 Es Retina Asturias
- 2019/00286/001 Es Retina Asturias
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Sánchez-Sáez
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
| | - Isabel Ortuño-Lizarán
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
| | - Carla Sánchez-Castillo
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
| | - Pedro Lax
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
- Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain
| | - Nicolás Cuenca
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain.
- Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain.
- Ramón Margalef Institute, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain.
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Smirnov A, Melino G, Candi E. Gene expression in organoids: an expanding horizon. Biol Direct 2023; 18:11. [PMID: 36964575 PMCID: PMC10038780 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-023-00360-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent development of human three-dimensional organoid cultures has opened new doors and opportunities ranging from modelling human development in vitro to personalised cancer therapies. These new in vitro systems are opening new horizons to the classic understanding of human development and disease. However, the complexity and heterogeneity of these models requires cutting-edge techniques to capture and trace global changes in gene expression to enable identification of key players and uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms. Rapid development of sequencing approaches made possible global transcriptome analyses and epigenetic profiling. Despite challenges in organoid culture and handling, these techniques are now being adapted to embrace organoids derived from a wide range of human tissues. Here, we review current state-of-the-art multi-omics technologies, such as single-cell transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility assays, employed to study organoids as a model for development and a platform for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem Smirnov
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Torvergata Oncoscience Research, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Gerry Melino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Torvergata Oncoscience Research, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Candi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Torvergata Oncoscience Research, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Istituto Dermopatico Immacolata (IDI-IRCCS), 00166, Rome, Italy.
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27
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Kim HJ, O’Hara-Wright M, Kim D, Loi TH, Lim BY, Jamieson RV, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Yang P. Comprehensive characterization of fetal and mature retinal cell identity to assess the fidelity of retinal organoids. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:175-189. [PMID: 36630901 PMCID: PMC9860116 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.12.002] [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: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Characterizing cell identity in complex tissues such as the human retina is essential for studying its development and disease. While retinal organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells have been widely used to model development and disease of the human retina, there is a lack of studies that have systematically evaluated the molecular and cellular fidelity of the organoids derived from various culture protocols in recapitulating their in vivo counterpart. To this end, we performed an extensive meta-atlas characterization of cellular identities of the human eye, covering a wide range of developmental stages. The resulting map uncovered previously unknown biomarkers of major retinal cell types and those associated with cell-type-specific maturation. Using our retinal-cell-identity map from the fetal and adult tissues, we systematically assessed the fidelity of the retinal organoids in mimicking the human eye, enabling us to comprehensively benchmark the current protocols for retinal organoid generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hani Jieun Kim
- Computational Systems Biology Group, Children’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia,School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Michelle O’Hara-Wright
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia,Stem Cell Medicine Group, Children’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Daniel Kim
- Computational Systems Biology Group, Children’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - To Ha Loi
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia,Eye Genetics Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Benjamin Y. Lim
- Stem Cell Medicine Group, Children’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Robyn V. Jamieson
- Specialty of Genomic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia,Eye Genetics Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; Stem Cell Medicine Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
| | - Pengyi Yang
- Computational Systems Biology Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
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28
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Cheng L, Kuehn MH. Human Retinal Organoids in Therapeutic Discovery: A Review of Applications. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2023; 281:157-187. [PMID: 37608005 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_691] [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] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)- and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived retinal organoids (ROs) are three-dimensional laminar structures that recapitulate the developmental trajectory of the human retina. The ROs provide a fascinating tool for basic science research, eye disease modeling, treatment development, and biobanking for tissue/cell replacement. Here we review the previous studies that paved the way for RO technology, the two most widely accepted, standardized protocols to generate ROs, and the utilization of ROs in medical discovery. This review is conducted from the perspective of basic science research, transplantation for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and therapeutic development for drug screening and gene therapy. ROs have opened avenues for new technologies such as assembloids, coculture with other organoids, vasculature or immune cells, microfluidic devices (organ-on-chip), extracellular vesicles for drug delivery, biomaterial engineering, advanced imaging techniques, and artificial intelligence (AI). Nevertheless, some shortcomings of ROs currently limit their translation for medical applications and pose a challenge for future research. Despite these limitations, ROs are a powerful tool for functional studies and therapeutic strategies for retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.
- Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| | - Markus H Kuehn
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Multi-omics approach dissects cis-regulatory mechanisms underlying North Carolina macular dystrophy, a retinal enhanceropathy. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:2029-2048. [PMID: 36243009 PMCID: PMC9674966 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
North Carolina macular dystrophy (NCMD) is a rare autosomal-dominant disease affecting macular development. The disease is caused by non-coding single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in two hotspot regions near PRDM13 and by duplications in two distinct chromosomal loci, overlapping DNase I hypersensitive sites near either PRDM13 or IRX1. To unravel the mechanisms by which these variants cause disease, we first established a genome-wide multi-omics retinal database, RegRet. Integration of UMI-4C profiles we generated on adult human retina then allowed fine-mapping of the interactions of the PRDM13 and IRX1 promoters and the identification of eighteen candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs), the activity of which was investigated by luciferase and Xenopus enhancer assays. Next, luciferase assays showed that the non-coding SNVs located in the two hotspot regions of PRDM13 affect cCRE activity, including two NCMD-associated non-coding SNVs that we identified herein. Interestingly, the cCRE containing one of these SNVs was shown to interact with the PRDM13 promoter, demonstrated in vivo activity in Xenopus, and is active at the developmental stage when progenitor cells of the central retina exit mitosis, suggesting that this region is a PRDM13 enhancer. Finally, mining of single-cell transcriptional data of embryonic and adult retina revealed the highest expression of PRDM13 and IRX1 when amacrine cells start to synapse with retinal ganglion cells, supporting the hypothesis that altered PRDM13 or IRX1 expression impairs interactions between these cells during retinogenesis. Overall, this study provides insight into the cis-regulatory mechanisms of NCMD and supports that this condition is a retinal enhanceropathy.
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Single-cell multiome of the human retina and deep learning nominate causal variants in complex eye diseases. CELL GENOMICS 2022; 2:100164. [PMID: 36277849 PMCID: PMC9584034 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2022.100164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of eye disorders have identified hundreds of genetic variants associated with ocular disease. However, the vast majority of these variants are noncoding, making it challenging to interpret their function. Here we present a joint single-cell atlas of gene expression and chromatin accessibility of the adult human retina with more than 50,000 cells, which we used to analyze single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) implicated by GWASs of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, myopia, and type 2 macular telangiectasia. We integrate this atlas with a HiChIP enhancer connectome, expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data, and base-resolution deep learning models to predict noncoding SNPs with causal roles in eye disease, assess SNP impact on transcription factor binding, and define their known and novel target genes. Our efforts nominate pathogenic SNP-target gene interactions for multiple vision disorders and provide a potentially powerful resource for interpreting noncoding variation in the eye.
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31
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Hu Y, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Gao Y, San T, Li X, Song S, Yan B, Zhao Z. Advances in application of single-cell RNA sequencing in cardiovascular research. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:905151. [PMID: 35958408 PMCID: PMC9360414 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.905151] [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: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides high-resolution information on transcriptomic changes at the single-cell level, which is of great significance for distinguishing cell subtypes, identifying stem cell differentiation processes, and identifying targets for disease treatment. In recent years, emerging single-cell RNA sequencing technologies have been used to make breakthroughs regarding decoding developmental trajectories, phenotypic transitions, and cellular interactions in the cardiovascular system, providing new insights into cardiovascular disease. This paper reviews the technical processes of single-cell RNA sequencing and the latest progress based on single-cell RNA sequencing in the field of cardiovascular system research, compares single-cell RNA sequencing with other single-cell technologies, and summarizes the extended applications and advantages and disadvantages of single-cell RNA sequencing. Finally, the prospects for applying single-cell RNA sequencing in the field of cardiovascular research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Hu
- Department of Cardiology, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Central Hospital Affiliated Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yutong Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Department of Research Center of Translational Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Tiantian San
- Department of Cardiology, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaoying Li
- Department of Research Center of Translational Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Department of Emergency, Central Hospital Affiliated Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Sensen Song
- Department of Cardiology, Central Hospital Affiliated Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Binglong Yan
- Department of Cardiology, Central Hospital Affiliated Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhuo Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Cardiology, Central Hospital Affiliated Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Zhuo Zhao
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32
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Hussey KA, Hadyniak SE, Johnston RJ. Patterning and Development of Photoreceptors in the Human Retina. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:878350. [PMID: 35493094 PMCID: PMC9049932 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.878350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans rely on visual cues to navigate the world around them. Vision begins with the detection of light by photoreceptor cells in the retina, a light-sensitive tissue located at the back of the eye. Photoreceptor types are defined by morphology, gene expression, light sensitivity, and function. Rod photoreceptors function in low-light vision and motion detection, and cone photoreceptors are responsible for high-acuity daytime and trichromatic color vision. In this review, we discuss the generation, development, and patterning of photoreceptors in the human retina. We describe our current understanding of how photoreceptors are patterned in concentric regions. We conclude with insights into mechanisms of photoreceptor differentiation drawn from studies of model organisms and human retinal organoids.
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Bisbach CM, Hass DT, Thomas ED, Cherry TJ, Hurley JB. Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 (MCT1) Mediates Succinate Export in the Retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:1. [PMID: 35363247 PMCID: PMC8976921 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.4.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Succinate is exported by the retina and imported by eyecup tissue. The transporters mediating this process have not yet been identified. Recent studies showed that monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) can transport succinate across plasma membranes in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) both express multiple MCT isoforms including MCT1. We tested the hypothesis that MCTs facilitate retinal succinate export and RPE succinate import. Methods We assessed retinal succinate export and eyecup succinate import in short-term ex vivo culture using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We tested the dependence of succinate export and import on pH, proton ionophores, conventional MCT substrates, and the MCT inhibitors AZD3965, AR-C155858, and diclofenac. Results Succinate exits retinal tissue through MCT1 but does not enter the RPE through MCT1 or any other MCT. Intracellular succinate levels are a contributing factor that determines if an MCT1-expressing tissue will export succinate. Conclusions MCT1 facilitates export of succinate from retinas. An unidentified, non-MCT transporter facilitates import of succinate into RPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia M. Bisbach
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Daniel T. Hass
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Eric D. Thomas
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Timothy J. Cherry
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - James B. Hurley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
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