1
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Berkowitz BA, Podolsky RH, Childers KL, Roberts R, Katz R, Waseem R, Robbings BM, Hass DT, Hurley JB, Sweet IR, Goodman C, Qian H, Alvisio B, Heaps S. Transducin-Deficient Rod Photoreceptors Evaluated With Optical Coherence Tomography and Oxygen Consumption Rate Energy Biomarkers. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:22. [PMID: 36576748 PMCID: PMC9804021 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.13.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To test the hypothesis that rod energy biomarkers in light and dark are similar in mice without functional rod transducin (Gnat1rd17). Methods Gnat1rd17 and wildtype (WT) mice were studied in canonically low energy demand (light) and high energy demand (dark) conditions. We measured rod inner segment ellipsoid zone (ISez) profile shape, external limiting membrane-retinal pigment epithelium (ELM-RPE) thickness, and magnitude of a hyporeflective band (HB) intensity dip located between photoreceptor tips and apical RPE; antioxidants were given in a subset of mice. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and visual performance indexes were also measured. Results The lower energy demand expected in light-adapted wildtype retinas was associated with an elongated ISez, thicker ELM-RPE, and higher HB magnitude, and lower OCR compared to high energy demand conditions in the dark. Gnat1rd17 mice showed a wildtype-like ISez profile shape at 20 minutes of light that became rounder at 60 minutes; at both times, ELM-RPE was smaller than wildtype values, and the HB magnitude was unmeasurable. OCR was higher than in the dark. Light-adapted Gnat1rd17 mice biomarkers were unaffected by anti-oxidants. Gnat1rd17 mice showed modest outer nuclear layer thinning and no reduction in visual performance indexes. Conclusions Light-stimulated changes in all biomarkers in WT mice are consistent with the established light-induced decrease in net energy demand. In contrast, biomarker changes in Gnat1rd17 mice raise the possibility that light increases net energy demand in the absence of rod phototransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce A Berkowitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Robert H Podolsky
- Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Children's National Hospital, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - Karen Lins Childers
- Beaumont Research Institute, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
| | - Robin Roberts
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Ryan Katz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Rida Waseem
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Brian M Robbings
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States.,Department of Medicine, UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Daniel T Hass
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - James B Hurley
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Ian R Sweet
- Department of Medicine, UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Cole Goodman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Haohua Qian
- Visual Function Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Bruno Alvisio
- OSIO Bioinformatics Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Sam Heaps
- OSIO Bioinformatics Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
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2
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Huang K, Zapata D, Tang Y, Teng Y, Li Y. In vivo delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing components for therapeutic applications. Biomaterials 2022; 291:121876. [PMID: 36334354 PMCID: PMC10018374 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121876] [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: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
Since its mechanism discovery in 2012 and the first application for mammalian genome editing in 2013, CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized the genome engineering field and created countless opportunities in both basic science and translational medicine. The first clinical trial of CRISPR therapeutics was initiated in 2016, which employed ex vivo CRISPR-Cas9 edited PD-1 knockout T cells for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. So far there have been dozens of clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov in regard to using the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing as the main intervention for therapeutic applications; however, most of these studies use ex vivo genome editing approach, and only a few apply the in vivo editing strategy. Compared to ex vivo editing, in vivo genome editing bypasses tedious procedures related to cell isolation, maintenance, selection, and transplantation. It is also applicable to a wide range of diseases and disorders. The main obstacles to the successful translation of in vivo therapeutic genome editing include the lack of safe and efficient delivery system and safety concerns resulting from the off-target effects. In this review, we highlight the therapeutic applications of in vivo genome editing mediated by the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Following a brief introduction of the history, biology, and functionality of CRISPR-Cas9, we showcase a series of exemplary studies in regard to the design and implementation of in vivo genome editing systems that target the brain, inner ear, eye, heart, liver, lung, muscle, skin, immune system, and tumor. Current challenges and opportunities in the field of CRISPR-enabled therapeutic in vivo genome editing are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Daniel Zapata
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Yan Tang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Yamin Li
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA.
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3
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Stofkova A, Zloh M, Andreanska D, Fiserova I, Kubovciak J, Hejda J, Kutilek P, Murakami M. Depletion of Retinal Dopaminergic Activity in a Mouse Model of Rod Dysfunction Exacerbates Experimental Autoimmune Uveoretinitis: A Role for the Gateway Reflex. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010453. [PMID: 35008877 PMCID: PMC8745287 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The gateway reflex is a mechanism by which neural inputs regulate chemokine expression at endothelial cell barriers, thereby establishing gateways for the invasion of autoreactive T cells into barrier-protected tissues. In this study, we hypothesized that rod photoreceptor dysfunction causes remodeling of retinal neural activity, which influences the blood–retinal barrier and the development of retinal inflammation. We evaluated this hypothesis using Gnat1rd17 mice, a model of night blindness with late-onset rod-cone dystrophy, and experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU). Retinal remodeling and its effect on EAU development were investigated by transcriptome profiling, target identification, and functional validation. We showed that Gnat1rd17 mice primarily underwent alterations in their retinal dopaminergic system, triggering the development of an exacerbated EAU, which was counteracted by dopamine replacement with L-DOPA administered either systemically or locally. Remarkably, dopamine acted on retinal endothelial cells to inhibit NF-κB and STAT3 activity and the expression of downstream target genes such as chemokines involved in T cell recruitment. These results suggest that rod-mediated dopamine release functions in a gateway reflex manner in the homeostatic control of immune cell entry into the retina, and the loss of retinal dopaminergic activity in conditions associated with rod dysfunction increases the susceptibility to autoimmune uveitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Stofkova
- Department of Physiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 4, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.Z.); (D.A.); (I.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-224-902-718
| | - Miloslav Zloh
- Department of Physiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 4, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.Z.); (D.A.); (I.F.)
| | - Dominika Andreanska
- Department of Physiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 4, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.Z.); (D.A.); (I.F.)
| | - Ivana Fiserova
- Department of Physiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 4, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.Z.); (D.A.); (I.F.)
- Department of Pathophysiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruska 87, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kubovciak
- Laboratory of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Jan Hejda
- Department of Health Care and Population Protection, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Sitna Sq. 3105, 272 01 Kladno, Czech Republic; (J.H.); (P.K.)
| | - Patrik Kutilek
- Department of Health Care and Population Protection, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Sitna Sq. 3105, 272 01 Kladno, Czech Republic; (J.H.); (P.K.)
| | - Masaaki Murakami
- Division of Molecular Psychoimmunology, Institute for Genetic Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0815, Japan;
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4
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Xu M, Jiang Y, Su L, Chen X, Shao X, Ea V, Shang Z, Zhang X, Barnstable CJ, Li X, Tombran-Tink J. Novel Regulators of Retina Neovascularization: A Proteomics Approach. J Proteome Res 2021; 21:101-117. [PMID: 34919406 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify proteins that regulate vascular remodeling in an ROP mouse model. Pups were subjected to fluctuating oxygen levels and retinas sampled during vessel regression (PN12) or neovascularization (PN17) for comparative SWATH-MS proteomics using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We developed a human retinal endothelial cell (HREC) ROP correlate to validate the expression of retina neovascular-specific markers. A total of 5191 proteins were identified in OIR retinas with 498 significantly regulated in elevated oxygen and 345 after a return to normoxia. A total of 122 proteins were uniquely regulated during vessel regression and 69 during neovascularization (FC ≥ 1.5; p ≤ 0.05), with several validated by western blot analyses. Expressions of 56/69 neovascular-specific proteins were confirmed in hypoxic HRECs with 23 regulated in the same direction as OIR neovascular retinas. These proteins control angiogenesis-related processes including matrix remodeling, cell migration, adhesion, and proliferation. RNAi and transfection overexpression studies confirmed that VASP and ECH1, showing the highest levels in hypoxic HRECs, promoted human umbilical vein (HUVEC) and HREC cell proliferation, while SNX1 and CD109, showing the lowest levels, inhibited their proliferation. These proteins are potential biomarkers and exploitable intervention tools for vascular-related disorders. The proteomics data set generated has been deposited to the ProteomeXchange/iProX Consortium with the Identifier:PXD029208.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhong Xu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Yilin Jiang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Lin Su
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Xianfeng Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, National Center for Protein Sciences (The PHOENIX Center, Beijing), Beijing 102206, China
| | - Vicki Ea
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Zhenying Shang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Colin J Barnstable
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300384, China.,Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States
| | - Xiaorong Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Joyce Tombran-Tink
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300384, China.,Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States
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5
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Nishiguchi KM, Fujita K, Miya F, Katayama S, Nakazawa T. Single AAV-mediated mutation replacement genome editing in limited number of photoreceptors restores vision in mice. Nat Commun 2020; 11:482. [PMID: 31980606 PMCID: PMC6981188 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-14181-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Supplementing wildtype copies of functionally defective genes with adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a strategy being explored clinically for various retinal dystrophies. However, the low cargo limit of this vector allows its use in only a fraction of patients with mutations in relatively small pathogenic genes. To overcome this issue, we developed a single AAV platform that allows local replacement of a mutated sequence with its wildtype counterpart, based on combined CRISPR-Cas9 and micro-homology-mediated end-joining (MMEJ). In blind mice, the mutation replacement rescued approximately 10% of photoreceptors, resulting in an improvement in light sensitivity and an increase in visual acuity. These effects were comparable to restoration mediated by gene supplementation, which targets a greater number of photoreceptors. This strategy may be applied for the treatment of inherited disorders caused by mutations in larger genes, for which conventional gene supplementation therapy is not currently feasible. Replacing mutant genes with wildtype copies using adeno-associated virus (AAV) has been explored for the treatment of inherited retinopathies, but the low cargo limit restricts its use. Here the authors describe a single AAV platform that allows local replacement of a mutated sequence with its wildtype counterpart, based on combined CRISPR-Cas9 and micro-homology-mediated end joining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji M Nishiguchi
- Department of Advanced Ophthalmic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan.
| | - Kosuke Fujita
- Department of Ophthalmic Imaging and Information Analytics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Fuyuki Miya
- Department of Medical Science Mathematics, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Shota Katayama
- Department of Advanced Ophthalmic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Toru Nakazawa
- Department of Advanced Ophthalmic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan. .,Department of Ophthalmic Imaging and Information Analytics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan.
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6
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Kubota D, Oishi N, Gocho K, Kikuchi S, Yamaki K, Igarashi T, Takahashi H, Ishida N, Iwata T, Mizota A, Kameya S. Novel homozygous in-frame deletion of GNAT1 gene causes golden appearance of fundus and reduced scotopic ERGs similar to that in Oguchi disease in Japanese family. Ophthalmic Genet 2019; 40:480-487. [PMID: 31696758 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2019.1686159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: The GNAT1 gene encodes the alpha-subunit of transducin in rod photoreceptors and is an important part of the phototransduction cascade. Defects in GNAT1 are very rare but have been identified in autosomal dominant and recessive congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) and autosomal recessive rod-cone dystrophy. The purpose of this study was to determine the phenotype-genotype relationship in a non-consanguineous Japanese family with a GNAT1 mutation.Methods: Detailed ophthalmic examinations were performed on the patients and their family members. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was applied to the DNA obtained from the family members. Sanger sequencing and co-segregation analyses were performed to identify the most likely pathogenic variant.Results: Two female (13- and 11-years) and one male (15-years) patients from a family had night blindness from their childhood. The fundus had a mild golden appearance regardless of the state of light- or dark-adaptation. Electroretinographic (ERG) analyses showed that the scotopic a-wave was extinguished, and the mixed rod-cone responses were severely reduced with an electronegative form in patients. The shapes of the dark-adapted ERGs were similar to those recorded from patients with Oguchi disease. We identified a homozygous in-frame deletion c.818_820delAGA, p.Lys273del in the GNAT1 gene. Variants were verified by Sanger sequencing and co-segregated with the disease in five members of the family.Conclusions: Our findings indicate that a recessive GNAT1 mutation found in this family could be the cause of the golden appearance of the fundus and negative ERGs with reduced a-waves, and nearly absent b-waves in the mixed rod-cone ERGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Kubota
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Inzai, Chiba, Japan
| | - Noriko Oishi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Inzai, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kiyoko Gocho
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Inzai, Chiba, Japan
| | - Sachiko Kikuchi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Inzai, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Yamaki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Inzai, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Igarashi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Takeshi Iwata
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Sensory Organs, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Mizota
- Department of Ophthalmology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuhei Kameya
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Inzai, Chiba, Japan
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7
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Nishiguchi KM, Fujita K, Tokashiki N, Komamura H, Takemoto-Kimura S, Okuno H, Bito H, Nakazawa T. Retained Plasticity and Substantial Recovery of Rod-Mediated Visual Acuity at the Visual Cortex in Blind Adult Mice with Retinal Dystrophy. Mol Ther 2018; 26:2397-2406. [PMID: 30064895 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
In patients born blind with retinal dystrophies, understanding the critical periods of cortical plasticity is important for successful visual restoration. In this study, we sought to model childhood blindness and investigate the plasticity of visual pathways. To this end, we generated double-mutant (Pde6ccpfl1/cpfl1Gnat1IRD2/IRD2) mice with absent rod and cone photoreceptor function, and we evaluated their response for restoring rod (GNAT1) function through gene therapy. Despite the limited effectiveness of gene therapy in restoring visual acuity in patients with retinal dystrophy, visual acuity was, unexpectedly, successfully restored in the mice at the level of the primary visual cortex in this study. This success in visual restoration, defined by changes in the quantified optokinetic response and pattern visually evoked potential, was achieved regardless of the age at treatment (up to 16 months). In the contralateral visual cortex, cortical plasticity, tagged with light-triggered transcription of Arc, was also restored after the treatment in blind mice carrying an Arc promoter-driven reporter gene, dVenus. Our results demonstrate the remarkable plasticity of visual circuits for one of the two photoreceptor mechanisms in older as well as younger mice with congenital blindness due to retinal dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji M Nishiguchi
- Department of Advanced Ophthalmic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan; Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.
| | - Kosuke Fujita
- Department of Retinal Disease Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Tokashiki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Komamura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Sayaka Takemoto-Kimura
- Department of Neuroscience I, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan; PRESTO-Japan Science and Technology Agency, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Okuno
- Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Bito
- Department of Neurochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Toru Nakazawa
- Department of Advanced Ophthalmic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan; Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan; Department of Retinal Disease Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
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8
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Moreno AM, Fu X, Zhu J, Katrekar D, Shih YRV, Marlett J, Cabotaje J, Tat J, Naughton J, Lisowski L, Varghese S, Zhang K, Mali P. In Situ Gene Therapy via AAV-CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated Targeted Gene Regulation. Mol Ther 2018; 26:1818-1827. [PMID: 29754775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of efficacious in vivo delivery platforms for CRISPR-Cas9-based epigenome engineering will be critical to enable the ability to target human diseases without permanent modification of the genome. Toward this, we utilized split-Cas9 systems to develop a modular adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector platform for CRISPR-Cas9 delivery to enable the full spectrum of targeted in situ gene regulation functionalities, demonstrating robust transcriptional repression (up to 80%) and activation (up to 6-fold) of target genes in cell culture and mice. We also applied our platform for targeted in vivo gene-repression-mediated gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa. Specifically, we engineered targeted repression of Nrl, a master regulator of rod photoreceptor determination, and demonstrated Nrl knockdown mediates in situ reprogramming of rod cells into cone-like cells that are resistant to retinitis pigmentosa-specific mutations, with concomitant prevention of secondary cone loss. Furthermore, we benchmarked our results from Nrl knockdown with those from in vivo Nrl knockout via gene editing. Taken together, our AAV-CRISPR-Cas9 platform for in vivo epigenome engineering enables a robust approach to target disease in a genomically scarless and potentially reversible manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Moreno
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Xin Fu
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomics Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA; Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomics Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA; Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dhruva Katrekar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Yu-Ru V Shih
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - John Marlett
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Cabotaje
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jasmine Tat
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - John Naughton
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, The Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Centre, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Shyni Varghese
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kang Zhang
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomics Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA; Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Veterans Administration Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Prashant Mali
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
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9
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Reprogramming of adult rod photoreceptors prevents retinal degeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:1732-7. [PMID: 23319618 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1214387110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A prime goal of regenerative medicine is to direct cell fates in a therapeutically useful manner. Retinitis pigmentosa is one of the most common degenerative diseases of the eye and is associated with early rod photoreceptor death followed by secondary cone degeneration. We hypothesized that converting adult rods into cones, via knockdown of the rod photoreceptor determinant Nrl, could make the cells resistant to the effects of mutations in rod-specific genes, thereby preventing secondary cone loss. To test this idea, we engineered a tamoxifen-inducible allele of Nrl to acutely inactivate the gene in adult rods. This manipulation resulted in reprogramming of rods into cells with a variety of cone-like molecular, histologic, and functional properties. Moreover, reprogramming of adult rods achieved cellular and functional rescue of retinal degeneration in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. These findings suggest that elimination of Nrl in adult rods may represent a unique therapy for retinal degeneration.
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10
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Miyamoto M, Aoki M, Sugimoto S, Kawasaki K, Imai R. IRD1 and IRD2 Mice, Naturally Occurring Models of Hereditary Retinal Dysfunction, Show Late-Onset and Progressive Retinal Degeneration. Curr Eye Res 2010; 35:137-45. [DOI: 10.3109/02713680903447900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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