1
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Andries L, Kancheva D, Masin L, Scheyltjens I, Van Hove H, De Vlaminck K, Bergmans S, Claes M, De Groef L, Moons L, Movahedi K. Immune stimulation recruits a subset of pro-regenerative macrophages to the retina that promotes axonal regrowth of injured neurons. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:85. [PMID: 37226256 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01580-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The multifaceted nature of neuroinflammation is highlighted by its ability to both aggravate and promote neuronal health. While in mammals retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are unable to regenerate following injury, acute inflammation can induce axonal regrowth. However, the nature of the cells, cellular states and signalling pathways that drive this inflammation-induced regeneration have remained elusive. Here, we investigated the functional significance of macrophages during RGC de- and regeneration, by characterizing the inflammatory cascade evoked by optic nerve crush (ONC) injury, with or without local inflammatory stimulation in the vitreous. By combining single-cell RNA sequencing and fate mapping approaches, we elucidated the response of retinal microglia and recruited monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) to RGC injury. Importantly, inflammatory stimulation recruited large numbers of MDMs to the retina, which exhibited long-term engraftment and promoted axonal regrowth. Ligand-receptor analysis highlighted a subset of recruited macrophages that exhibited expression of pro-regenerative secreted factors, which were able to promote axon regrowth via paracrine signalling. Our work reveals how inflammation may promote CNS regeneration by modulating innate immune responses, providing a rationale for macrophage-centred strategies for driving neuronal repair following injury and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lien Andries
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 61, Box 2464, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Daliya Kancheva
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luca Masin
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 61, Box 2464, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Scheyltjens
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hannah Van Hove
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karen De Vlaminck
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steven Bergmans
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 61, Box 2464, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Marie Claes
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 61, Box 2464, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 61, Box 2464, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
- Cellular Communication and Neurodegeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 61, Box 2464, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.
| | - Kiavash Movahedi
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium.
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium.
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2
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Retinal Ganglion Cells: Global Number, Density and Vulnerability to Glaucomatous Injury in Common Laboratory Mice. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172689. [PMID: 36078097 PMCID: PMC9454702 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
How many RBPMS+ retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) does a standard C57BL/6 laboratory mouse have on average and is this number substrain- or sex-dependent? Do RGCs of (European) C57BL/6J and -N mice show a different intrinsic vulnerability upon glaucomatous injury? Global RGC numbers and densities of common laboratory mice were previously determined via axon counts, retrograde tracing or BRN3A immunohistochemistry. Here, we report the global RGC number and density by exploiting the freely available tool RGCode to automatically count RGC numbers and densities on entire retinal wholemounts immunostained for the pan-RGC marker RBPMS. The intrinsic vulnerability of RGCs from different substrains to glaucomatous injury was evaluated upon introduction of the microbead occlusion model, followed by RBPMS counts, retrograde tracing and electroretinography five weeks post-injury. We demonstrate that the global RGC number and density varies between substrains, yet is not sex-dependent. C57BL/6J mice have on average 46K ± 2K RBPMS+ RGCs per retina, representing a global RGC density of 3268 ± 177 RGCs/mm2. C57BL/6N mice, on the other hand, have on average less RBPMS+ RGCs (41K ± 3K RGCs) and a lower density (3018 ± 189 RGCs/mm2). The vulnerability of the RGC population of the two C57BL/6 substrains to glaucomatous injury did, however, not differ in any of the interrogated parameters.
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Soldatov VO, Kukharsky MS, Soldatova MO, Puchenkova OA, Nikitina Y, Lysikova EA, Kartashkina NL, Deykin AV, Pokrovskiy MV. Retinal abnormalities in transgenic mice overexpressing aberrant human FUS[1-359] gene. BULLETIN OF RUSSIAN STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2021.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Retinal damage is an optional sign in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of this work was to assess the structural and functional state of the retina in a murine model of ALS caused by overexpression of the aberrant FUS protein [1-359]. The retinal examination was carried out on 12 transgenic and 13 wild-type mice of 2.5–3 months of age. The study revealed not statistically significant higher level of ophthalmoscopic violations in FUS[1-359] mice. Moreover, gene expression assay confirmed an increased expression of the inflammatory genes Vegfa, Il1b, Il6, Icam1, Tnfa. However, despite the detected structural and functional abnormalities, western blot analysis and quantitative PCR did not detect the expression of the protein and mRNA products of the FUS transgene in the retina of FUS[1-359] mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- VO Soldatov
- Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - MS Kukharsky
- Institute of Physiologically Active Substances, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - OA Puchenkova
- Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - YuA Nikitina
- Institute of Physiologically Active Substances, Moscow, Russia
| | - EA Lysikova
- Institute of Physiologically Active Substances, Moscow, Russia
| | - NL Kartashkina
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - AV Deykin
- Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - MV Pokrovskiy
- Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
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MMP2 Modulates Inflammatory Response during Axonal Regeneration in the Murine Visual System. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071672. [PMID: 34359839 PMCID: PMC8307586 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation has been put forward as a mechanism triggering axonal regrowth in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), yet little is known about the underlying cellular and molecular players connecting these two processes. In this study, we provide evidence that MMP2 is an essential factor linking inflammation to axonal regeneration by using an in vivo mouse model of inflammation-induced axonal regeneration in the optic nerve. We show that infiltrating myeloid cells abundantly express MMP2 and that MMP2 deficiency results in reduced long-distance axonal regeneration. However, this phenotype can be rescued by restoring MMP2 expression in myeloid cells via a heterologous bone marrow transplantation. Furthermore, while MMP2 deficiency does not affect the number of infiltrating myeloid cells, it does determine the coordinated expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules. Altogether, in addition to its role in axonal regeneration via resolution of the glial scar, here, we reveal a new mechanism via which MMP2 facilitates axonal regeneration, namely orchestrating the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules by infiltrating innate immune cells.
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Veys L, Van Houcke J, Aerts J, Van Pottelberge S, Mahieu M, Coens A, Melki R, Moechars D, De Muynck L, De Groef L. Absence of Uptake and Prion-Like Spreading of Alpha-Synuclein and Tau After Intravitreal Injection of Preformed Fibrils. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 12:614587. [PMID: 33519421 PMCID: PMC7843377 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.614587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Although very different in etiology and symptoms, numerous neurodegenerative diseases can be classified as proteinopathies. More so, evidence indicates that the key misfolded proteins at the basis of different neuropathies might share common mechanisms of propagation. As such, the prion-like spreading of protein aggregates through the neural network is subject of intensive research focus and requires adequate models. Here, we made use of the well-defined architecture and large accessibility of the visual system, of which the retinotopic connections represent a simple route of anterograde signaling and an elegant model to investigate transsynaptic, prion-like spreading. In two independent studies, uptake and seeding of alpha-synuclein and tau were examined after intravitreal injection of preformed fibrils. However, extracellular matrix components in the vitreous space and at the vitreoretinal surface appeared to act as a barrier for the entry of both fibrils into the retina. These results show that further experimental refinement is needed to fully realize the potential of the visual system as a model for studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms of anterograde, transsynaptic spreading of prion-like proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lien Veys
- Laboratory Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jessie Van Houcke
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Aerts
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Sophie Van Pottelberge
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Michel Mahieu
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Audrey Coens
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute François Jacob, MIRCen, CEA-CNRS, Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Ronald Melki
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute François Jacob, MIRCen, CEA-CNRS, Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Dieder Moechars
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Louis De Muynck
- Department of Neuroscience, Janssen Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Laboratory Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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6
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Masin L, Claes M, Bergmans S, Cools L, Andries L, Davis BM, Moons L, De Groef L. A novel retinal ganglion cell quantification tool based on deep learning. Sci Rep 2021; 11:702. [PMID: 33436866 PMCID: PMC7804414 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80308-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a disease associated with the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), and remains one of the primary causes of blindness worldwide. Major research efforts are presently directed towards the understanding of disease pathogenesis and the development of new therapies, with the help of rodent models as an important preclinical research tool. The ultimate goal is reaching neuroprotection of the RGCs, which requires a tool to reliably quantify RGC survival. Hence, we demonstrate a novel deep learning pipeline that enables fully automated RGC quantification in the entire murine retina. This software, called RGCode (Retinal Ganglion Cell quantification based On DEep learning), provides a user-friendly interface that requires the input of RBPMS-immunostained flatmounts and returns the total RGC count, retinal area and density, together with output images showing the computed counts and isodensity maps. The counting model was trained on RBPMS-stained healthy and glaucomatous retinas, obtained from mice subjected to microbead-induced ocular hypertension and optic nerve crush injury paradigms. RGCode demonstrates excellent performance in RGC quantification as compared to manual counts. Furthermore, we convincingly show that RGCode has potential for wider application, by retraining the model with a minimal set of training data to count FluoroGold-traced RGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Masin
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marie Claes
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven Bergmans
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lien Cools
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lien Andries
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benjamin M. Davis
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK ,grid.496779.2Central Laser Facility, Science and Technologies Facilities Council, UK Research and Innovation, Didcot, Oxfordshire UK
| | - Lieve Moons
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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7
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Davis BM, Guo L, Ravindran N, Shamsher E, Baekelandt V, Mitchell H, Bharath AA, De Groef L, Cordeiro MF. Dynamic changes in cell size and corresponding cell fate after optic nerve injury. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21683. [PMID: 33303775 PMCID: PMC7730151 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77760-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying disease-specific patterns of retinal cell loss in pathological conditions has been highlighted by the emergence of techniques such as Detection of Apoptotic Retinal Cells and Adaptive Optics confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy which have enabled single-cell visualisation in vivo. Cell size has previously been used to stratify Retinal Ganglion Cell (RGC) populations in histological samples of optic neuropathies, and early work in this field suggested that larger RGCs are more susceptible to early loss than smaller RGCs. More recently, however, it has been proposed that RGC soma and axon size may be dynamic and change in response to injury. To address this unresolved controversy, we applied recent advances in maximising information extraction from RGC populations in retinal whole mounts to evaluate the changes in RGC size distribution over time, using three well-established rodent models of optic nerve injury. In contrast to previous studies based on sampling approaches, we examined the whole Brn3a-positive RGC population at multiple time points over the natural history of these models. The morphology of over 4 million RGCs was thus assessed to glean novel insights from this dataset. RGC subpopulations were found to both increase and decrease in size over time, supporting the notion that RGC cell size is dynamic in response to injury. However, this study presents compelling evidence that smaller RGCs are lost more rapidly than larger RGCs despite the dynamism. Finally, using a bootstrap approach, the data strongly suggests that disease-associated changes in RGC spatial distribution and morphology could have potential as novel diagnostic indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Davis
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
- Western Eye Hospital, ICORG, Imperial College London, London, NW1 5QH, UK
| | - Li Guo
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Nivedita Ravindran
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Ehtesham Shamsher
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Veerle Baekelandt
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hannah Mitchell
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Ireland
| | - Anil A Bharath
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Lies De Groef
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 61, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK.
- Western Eye Hospital, ICORG, Imperial College London, London, NW1 5QH, UK.
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8
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Lefevere E, Salinas‐Navarro M, Andries L, Noterdaeme L, Etienne I, Van Wonterghem E, Vinckier S, Davis BM, Van Bergen T, Van Hove I, Movahedi K, Vandenbroucke RE, Moons L, De Groef L. Tightening the retinal glia limitans attenuates neuroinflammation after optic nerve injury. Glia 2020; 68:2643-2660. [DOI: 10.1002/glia.23875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Evy Lefevere
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute (LBI) KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Manuel Salinas‐Navarro
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute (LBI) KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Lien Andries
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute (LBI) KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Lut Noterdaeme
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | | | - Elien Van Wonterghem
- Barriers in Inflammation Lab VIB Center for Inflammation Research Ghent Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Stefan Vinckier
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, and Department of Oncology and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI) VIB and KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Benjamin M. Davis
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Research, Visual Neuroscience UCL Institute of Ophthalmology London UK
| | | | - Inge Van Hove
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
- Oxurion NV Leuven Belgium
| | - Kiavash Movahedi
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab VIB Center for Inflammation Research Brussels Belgium
- Lab of Cellular and Molecular Immunology Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium
| | - Roosmarijn E. Vandenbroucke
- Barriers in Inflammation Lab VIB Center for Inflammation Research Ghent Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute (LBI) KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute (LBI) KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
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9
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Lin D, Zeng X, Sanogo B, He P, Xiang S, Du S, Zhang Y, Wang L, Wan S, Zeng X, Yang Y, Lv Z, Liang Y, Deng Z, Hui JHL, Yuan D, Ding T, Wu Z, Sun X. The potential risk of Schistosoma mansoni transmission by the invasive freshwater snail Biomphalaria straminea in South China. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008310. [PMID: 32511225 PMCID: PMC7302743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes infect more than 200 million people worldwide, and globally, over 700 million people are at risk of infection. The snail Biomphalaria straminea, as one of the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, consecutively invaded Hong Kong in 1973, raising great concern in China. In this study, a malacological survey was conducted over a period of four years, and investigations were performed on the mechanism of susceptibility of B. straminea to S. mansoni. B. straminea was investigated in China from 2014 to 2018. Out of 185 investigated sites, 61 were positive for stages of black B. straminea (BBS), which shows pigmented spots. Twenty of the 61 sites were positive for red B. straminea (RBS), which is partially albino and red colored. Phylogenetic analyses based on cox1 and 18S rRNA sequences demonstrated that both phenotypes were clustered with Brazilian strains. No S. mansoni infections were detected in field-collected snail. However, in laboratory experiments, 4.17% of RBS were susceptible to a Puerto Rican strain of S. mansoni, while BBS was not susceptible. The highest susceptibility rate (70.83%) was observed in the F2 generation of RBS in lab. The density of RBS has increased from south to north and from west to east in Guangdong since 2014. Five tyrosinase tyrosine metabolism genes were upregulated in BBS. Transcriptome comparisons of RBS and BBS showed that ficolin, C1q, MASP-like, and membrane attack complex (MAC)/perforin models of the complement system were significantly upregulated in BBS. Our study demonstrated that B. straminea is widely distributed in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, which is expanding northwards very rapidly as a consequence of its adaptation to local environments. Our results suggest that B. straminea from South China is susceptible to S. mansoni, implying the high potential for S. mansoni transmission and increased S. mansoni infection risk in China. Biomphalaria straminea is an important intermediate host for the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. B. straminea has spread in Hong Kong and in mainland China since 1973. However, whether resident snails can transmit intestinal schistosomiasis caused by S. mansoni remains unclear. Our results revealed that different types of B. straminea are widespread in cities such as Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou and Puning and that the distribution of the species has shifted northwards. The most important finding was that one of the phenotypes (red phenotype of B. straminea, RBS), which is highly susceptible to S. mansoni, has spread into the city of Shenzhen since 2016. The density of RBS in Guangdong Province has increased rapidly since 2014, especially since 2016. Transcriptome analysis showed that the high expression levels of ficolin, C1q, MASP-like, and membrane attack complex (MAC)/perforin models of the complement system might be associated with the mechanism of susceptibility. Our study suggested that B. straminea is susceptible to S. mansoni, implying a high potential risk of S. mansoni transmission in South China. More attention should be paid to the potential transmission of S. mansoni, and control measures should be established to prevent the spread of this snail in South China.
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Affiliation(s)
- DaTao Lin
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xin Zeng
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Benjamin Sanogo
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ping He
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Suoyu Xiang
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuling Du
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - YanHua Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lifu Wang
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuo Wan
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - XingDa Zeng
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ya Yang
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Tropical Disease Research Center, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - ZhiYue Lv
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - YouSheng Liang
- Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiansu Province, China
| | - ZhuoHui Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jerome Ho-Lam Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - DongJuan Yuan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Ding
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - ZhongDao Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- * E-mail: (ZDW); (XS)
| | - Xi Sun
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- * E-mail: (ZDW); (XS)
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10
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Andries L, De Groef L, Moons L. Neuroinflammation and Optic Nerve Regeneration: Where Do We Stand in Elucidating Underlying Cellular and Molecular Players? Curr Eye Res 2019; 45:397-409. [PMID: 31567007 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2019.1669664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system (CNS) trauma are highly irreversible, in part because adult mammals lack a robust regenerative capacity. A multifactorial problem underlies the limited axonal regeneration potential. Strikingly, neuroinflammation seems able to induce axonal regrowth in the adult mammalian CNS. It is increasingly clear that both blood-borne and resident inflammatory cells as well as reactivated glial cells affect axonal regeneration. The scope of this review is to give a comprehensive overview of the knowledge that links inflammation (with a focus on the innate immune system) to axonal regeneration and to critically reflect on the controversy that still prevails about the cells, molecules and pathways that are dominating the scene. Also, a brief overview is given of what is already known about the crosstalk between and the heterogeneity of cell types that might play a role in axonal regeneration. Recent research indicates that inflammation-induced axonal regrowth is not solely driven by a single-cell population but probably relies on the crosstalk between multiple cell types and the strong regulation of these cell populations in time and space. Moreover, there is growing evidence that the different cell populations are highly heterogeneous and as such can react differently upon injury. This could explain the controversial results that have been obtained over the past years. The primary focus of this manuscript is the retinofugal system of adult mammals, however, when relevant, insights or examples of the spontaneous regenerating zebrafish model and spinal cord research are added.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lien Andries
- Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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11
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Claes M, De Groef L, Moons L. Target-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Deprivation Puts Retinal Ganglion Cells on Death Row: Cold Hard Evidence and Caveats. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4314. [PMID: 31484425 PMCID: PMC6747494 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma and other optic neuropathies are characterized by axonal transport deficits. Axonal cargo travels back and forth between the soma and the axon terminus, a mechanism ensuring homeostasis and the viability of a neuron. An example of vital molecules in the axonal cargo are neurotrophic factors (NTFs). Hindered retrograde transport can cause a scarcity of those factors in the retina, which in turn can tilt the fate of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) towards apoptosis. This postulation is one of the most widely recognized theories to explain RGC death in the disease progression of glaucoma and is known as the NTF deprivation theory. For several decades, research has been focused on the use of NTFs as a novel neuroprotective glaucoma treatment. Until now, results in animal models have been promising, but translation to the clinic has been highly disappointing. Are we lacking important knowledge to lever NTF therapies towards the therapeutic armamentarium? Or did we get the wrong end of the stick regarding the NTF deprivation theory? In this review, we will tackle the existing evidence and caveats advocating for and against the target-derived NTF deprivation theory in glaucoma, whilst digging into associated therapy efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Claes
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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12
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Geeraerts E, Claes M, Dekeyster E, Salinas-Navarro M, De Groef L, Van den Haute C, Scheyltjens I, Baekelandt V, Arckens L, Moons L. Optogenetic Stimulation of the Superior Colliculus Confers Retinal Neuroprotection in a Mouse Glaucoma Model. J Neurosci 2019; 39:2313-2325. [PMID: 30655352 PMCID: PMC6433760 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0872-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is characterized by a progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the eye, which ultimately results in visual impairment or even blindness. Because current therapies often fail to halt disease progression, there is an unmet need for novel neuroprotective therapies to support RGC survival. Various research lines suggest that visual target centers in the brain support RGC functioning and survival. Here, we explored whether increasing neuronal activity in one of these projection areas could improve survival of RGCs in a mouse glaucoma model. Prolonged activation of an important murine RGC target area, the superior colliculus (SC), was established via a novel optogenetic stimulation paradigm. By leveraging the unique channel kinetics of the stabilized step function opsin (SSFO), protracted stimulation of the SC was achieved with only a brief light pulse. SSFO-mediated collicular stimulation was confirmed by immunohistochemistry for the immediate-early gene c-Fos and behavioral tracking, which both demonstrated consistent neuronal activity upon repeated stimulation. Finally, the neuroprotective potential of optogenetic collicular stimulation was investigated in mice of either sex subjected to a glaucoma model and a 63% reduction in RGC loss was found. This work describes a new paradigm for optogenetic collicular stimulation and a first demonstration that increasing target neuron activity can increase survival of the projecting neurons.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Despite glaucoma being a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment worldwide, no curative therapies exist. This study describes a novel paradigm to reduce retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration underlying glaucoma. Building on previous observations that RGC survival is supported by the target neurons to which they project and using an innovative optogenetic approach, we increased neuronal activity in the mouse superior colliculus, a main projection target of rodent RGCs. This proved to be efficient in reducing RGC loss in a glaucoma model. Our findings establish a new optogenetic paradigm for target stimulation and encourage further exploration of the molecular signaling pathways mediating retrograde neuroprotective communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiel Geeraerts
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marie Claes
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eline Dekeyster
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Manuel Salinas-Navarro
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chris Van den Haute
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Viral Vector Core Leuven, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium, and
| | - Isabelle Scheyltjens
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology; KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Baekelandt
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lutgarde Arckens
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology; KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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13
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A Hydroxypyrone-Based Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-12 Displays Neuroprotective Properties in Both Status Epilepticus and Optic Nerve Crush Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19082178. [PMID: 30044455 PMCID: PMC6121268 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19082178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, we showed that matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) is highly expressed in microglia and myeloid infiltrates, which are presumably involved in blood–brain barrier (BBB) leakage and subsequent neuronal cell death that follows status epilepticus (SE). Here, we assessed the effects of a hydroxypyrone-based inhibitor selective for MMP-12 in the pilocarpine-induced SE rat model to determine hippocampal cell survival. In the hippocampus of rats treated with pilocarpine, intra-hippocampal injections of the MMP-12 inhibitor protected Cornu Ammonis 3 (CA3) and hilus of dentate gyrus neurons against cell death and limited the development of the ischemic-like lesion that typically develops in the CA3 stratum lacunosum-moleculare of the hippocampus. Furthermore, we showed that MMP-12 inhibition limited immunoglobulin G and albumin extravasation after SE, suggesting a reduction in BBB leakage. Finally, to rule out any possible involvement of seizure modulation in the neuroprotective effects of MMP-12 inhibition, neuroprotection was also observed in the retina of treated animals after optic nerve crush. Overall, these results support the hypothesis that MMP-12 inhibition can directly counteract neuronal cell death and that the specific hydroxypyrone-based inhibitor used in this study could be a potential therapeutic agent against neurological diseases/disorders characterized by an important inflammatory response and/or neuronal cell loss.
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14
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Davis BM, Salinas-Navarro M, Cordeiro MF, Moons L, De Groef L. Characterizing microglia activation: a spatial statistics approach to maximize information extraction. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1576. [PMID: 28484229 PMCID: PMC5431479 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01747-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia play an important role in the pathology of CNS disorders, however, there remains significant uncertainty about the neuroprotective/degenerative role of these cells due to a lack of techniques to adequately assess their complex behaviour in response to injury. Advancing microscopy techniques, transgenic lines and well-characterized molecular markers, have made histological assessment of microglia populations more accessible. However, there is a distinct lack of tools to adequately extract information from these images to fully characterise microglia behaviour. This, combined with growing economic pressures and the ethical need to minimise the use of laboratory animals, led us to develop tools to maximise the amount of information obtained. This study describes a novel approach, combining image analysis with spatial statistical techniques. In addition to monitoring morphological parameters and global changes in microglia density, nearest neighbour distance, and regularity index, we used cluster analyses based on changes in soma size and roundness to yield novel insights into the behaviour of different microglia phenotypes in a murine optic nerve injury model. These methods should be considered a generic tool to quantitatively assess microglia activation, to profile phenotypic changes into microglia subpopulations, and to map spatial distributions in virtually every CNS region and disease state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Davis
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom
| | - Manual Salinas-Navarro
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 61 box 2464, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom.,Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, 171 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5QH, United Kingdom
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 61 box 2464, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom. .,Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 61 box 2464, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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15
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Van Hove I, Lefevere E, De Groef L, Sergeys J, Salinas-Navarro M, Libert C, Vandenbroucke R, Moons L. MMP-3 Deficiency Alleviates Endotoxin-Induced Acute Inflammation in the Posterior Eye Segment. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17111825. [PMID: 27809288 PMCID: PMC5133826 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17111825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is known to mediate neuroinflammatory processes by activating microglia, disrupting blood-central nervous system barriers and supporting neutrophil influx into the brain. In addition, the posterior part of the eye, more specifically the retina, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the blood-retinal barrier, is affected upon neuroinflammation, but a role for MMP-3 during ocular inflammation remains elusive. We investigated whether MMP-3 contributes to acute inflammation in the eye using the endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) model. Systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide induced an increase in MMP-3 mRNA and protein expression level in the posterior part of the eye. MMP-3 deficiency or knockdown suppressed retinal leukocyte adhesion and leukocyte infiltration into the vitreous cavity in mice subjected to EIU. Moreover, retinal and RPE mRNA levels of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (Icam1), interleukin 6 (Il6), cytokine-inducible nitrogen oxide synthase (Nos2) and tumor necrosis factor α (Tnfα), which are key molecules involved in EIU, were clearly reduced in MMP-3 deficient mice. In addition, loss of MMP-3 repressed the upregulation of the chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1). These findings suggest a contribution of MMP-3 during EIU, and its potential use as a therapeutic drug target in reducing ocular inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge Van Hove
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Evy Lefevere
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Lies De Groef
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Jurgen Sergeys
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Manuel Salinas-Navarro
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Claude Libert
- Inflammation Research Center, VIB, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Roosmarijn Vandenbroucke
- Inflammation Research Center, VIB, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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16
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Geeraerts E, Dekeyster E, Gaublomme D, Salinas-Navarro M, De Groef L, Moons L. A freely available semi-automated method for quantifying retinal ganglion cells in entire retinal flatmounts. Exp Eye Res 2016; 147:105-113. [PMID: 27107795 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2016.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Revised: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Glaucomatous optic neuropathies are characterized by progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the neurons that connect the eye to the brain. Quantification of these RGCs is a cornerstone in experimental optic neuropathy research and commonly performed via manually quantifying parts of the retina. However, this is a time-consuming process subject to inter- and intra-observer variability. Here we present a freely available ImageJ script to semi-automatically quantify RGCs in entire retinal flatmounts after immunostaining for the RGC-specific transcription factor Brn3a. The blob-like signal of Brn3a-immunopositive RGCs is enhanced via eigenvalues of the Hessian matrix and the resulting local maxima are counted as RGCs. After the user has outlined the retinal flatmount area, the total RGC number and retinal area are reported and an isodensity map, showing the RGC density distribution across the retina, is created. The semi-automated quantification shows a very strong correlation (Pearson's r ≥ 0.99) with manual counts for both widefield and confocal images, thereby validating the data generated via the developed script. Moreover, application of this method in established glaucomatous optic neuropathy models such as N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced excitotoxicity, optic nerve crush and laser-induced ocular hypertension revealed RGC loss conform with literature. Compared to manual counting, the described automated quantification method is faster and shows user-independent consistency. Furthermore, as the script detects the RGC number in entire retinal flatmounts, the method allows detection of regional differences in RGC density. As such, it can help advance research investigating the degenerative mechanisms of glaucomatous optic neuropathies and the effectiveness of new neuroprotective treatments. Because the script is flexible and easy to optimize due to a low number of critical parameters, it can potentially be applied in combination with other tissues or alternative labeling protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Geeraerts
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Section, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - E Dekeyster
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Section, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - D Gaublomme
- Unit for Molecular Immunology and Inflammation, VIB Inflammation Research Centre, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory for Molecular Immunology and Inflammation, Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - M Salinas-Navarro
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Section, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - L De Groef
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Section, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - L Moons
- Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Section, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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