1
|
Vallino V, Berni A, Coletto A, Serafino S, Bandello F, Reibaldi M, Borrelli E. Structural OCT and OCT angiography biomarkers associated with the development and progression of geographic atrophy in AMD. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2024:10.1007/s00417-024-06497-8. [PMID: 38689123 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-024-06497-8] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced, irreversible, and progressive form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) have been largely used to characterize this stage of AMD and, more importantly, to define biomarkers associated with the development and progression of GA in AMD. METHODS Articles pertaining to OCT and OCTA biomarkers related to the development and progression of GA with relevant key words were used to search in PubMed, Researchgate, and Google Scholar. The articles were selected based on their relevance, reliability, publication year, published journal, and accessibility. RESULTS Previous reports have highlighted various OCT and OCTA biomarkers linked to the onset and advancement of GA. These biomarkers encompass characteristics such as the size, volume, and subtype of drusen, the presence of hyperreflective foci, basal laminar deposits, incomplete retinal pigment epithelium and outer retinal atrophy (iRORA), persistent choroidal hypertransmission defects, and the existence of subretinal drusenoid deposits (also referred to as reticular pseudodrusen). Moreover, biomarkers associated with the progression of GA include thinning of the outer retina, photoreceptor degradation, the distance between retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch's membrane, and choriocapillaris loss. CONCLUSION The advent of novel treatment strategies for GA underscores the heightened need for prompt diagnosis and precise monitoring of individuals with this condition. The utilization of structural OCT and OCTA becomes essential for identifying distinct biomarkers associated with the initiation and progression of GA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Vallino
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, Turin, Italy
- Department of Ophthalmology, "City of Health and Science" Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Berni
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University Milan, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Coletto
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, Turin, Italy
- Department of Ophthalmology, "City of Health and Science" Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Sonia Serafino
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, Turin, Italy
- Department of Ophthalmology, "City of Health and Science" Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Bandello
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University Milan, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Reibaldi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, Turin, Italy
- Department of Ophthalmology, "City of Health and Science" Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Enrico Borrelli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, Turin, Italy.
- Department of Ophthalmology, "City of Health and Science" Hospital, Turin, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Curcio CA, Kar D, Owsley C, Sloan KR, Ach T. Age-Related Macular Degeneration, a Mathematically Tractable Disease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:4. [PMID: 38466281 PMCID: PMC10916886 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.3.4] [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: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
A progression sequence for age-related macular degeneration onset may be determinable with consensus neuroanatomical nomenclature augmented by drusen biology and eye-tracked clinical imaging. This narrative review proposes to supplement the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (sETDRS) grid with a ring to capture high rod densities. Published photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) densities in flat mounted aged-normal donor eyes were recomputed for sETDRS rings including near-periphery rich in rods and cumulatively for circular fovea-centered regions. Literature was reviewed for tissue-level studies of aging outer retina, population-level epidemiology studies regionally assessing risk, vision studies regionally assessing rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA), and impact of atrophy on photopic visual acuity. The 3 mm-diameter xanthophyll-rich macula lutea is rod-dominant and loses rods in aging whereas cone and RPE numbers are relatively stable. Across layers, the largest aging effects are accumulation of lipids prominent in drusen, loss of choriocapillary coverage of Bruch's membrane, and loss of rods. Epidemiology shows maximal risk for drusen-related progression in the central subfield with only one third of this risk level in the inner ring. RMDA studies report greatest slowing at the perimeter of this high-risk area. Vision declines precipitously when the cone-rich central subfield is invaded by geographic atrophy. Lifelong sustenance of foveal cone vision within the macula lutea leads to vulnerability in late adulthood that especially impacts rods at its perimeter. Adherence to an sETDRS grid and outer retinal cell populations within it will help dissect mechanisms, prioritize research, and assist in selecting patients for emerging treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine A. Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Deepayan Kar
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Cynthia Owsley
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Kenneth R. Sloan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Thomas Ach
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Edwards MM, McLeod DS, Shen M, Grebe R, Sunness JS, Bhutto IA, McDonnell E, Pado AM, Gregori G, Rosenfeld PJ, Lutty GA. Clinicopathologic Findings in Three Siblings With Geographic Atrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:2. [PMID: 36862121 PMCID: PMC9983703 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.3.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness among the elderly worldwide. Clinical imaging and histopathologic studies are crucial to understanding disease pathology. This study combined clinical observations of three brothers with geographic atrophy (GA), followed for 20 years, with histopathologic analysis. Methods For two of the three brothers, clinical images were taken in 2016, 2 years prior to death. Immunohistochemistry, on both flat-mounts and cross sections, histology, and transmission electron microscopy were used to compare the choroid and retina in GA eyes to those of age-matched controls. Results Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA) lectin staining of the choroid demonstrated a significant reduction in the percent vascular area and vessel diameter. In one donor, histopathologic analysis demonstrated two separate areas with choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Reevaluation of swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) images revealed CNV in two of the brothers. UEA lectin also revealed a significant reduction in retinal vasculature in the atrophic area. A subretinal glial membrane, composed of processes positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein and/or vimentin, occupied areas identical to those of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroidal atrophy in all three AMD donors. SS-OCTA also demonstrated presumed calcific drusen in the two donors imaged in 2016. Immunohistochemical analysis and alizarin red S staining verified calcium within drusen, which was ensheathed by glial processes. Conclusions This study demonstrates the importance of clinicohistopathologic correlation studies. It emphasizes the need to better understand how the symbiotic relationship between choriocapillaris and RPE, glial response, and calcified drusen impact GA progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Malia M. Edwards
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - D. Scott McLeod
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Mengxi Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Rhonda Grebe
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Janet S. Sunness
- Hoover Low Vision Rehabilitation Services, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Towson, United States
| | - Imran A. Bhutto
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Erin McDonnell
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Alexandra M. Pado
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Giovanni Gregori
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Philip J. Rosenfeld
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Gerard A. Lutty
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Song MJ, Quinn R, Nguyen E, Hampton C, Sharma R, Park TS, Koster C, Voss T, Tristan C, Weber C, Singh A, Dejene R, Bose D, Chen YC, Derr P, Derr K, Michael S, Barone F, Chen G, Boehm M, Maminishkis A, Singec I, Ferrer M, Bharti K. Bioprinted 3D outer retina barrier uncovers RPE-dependent choroidal phenotype in advanced macular degeneration. Nat Methods 2023; 20:149-161. [PMID: 36550275 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01701-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness, initiates in the outer-blood-retina-barrier (oBRB) formed by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Bruch's membrane, and choriocapillaris. The mechanisms of AMD initiation and progression remain poorly understood owing to the lack of physiologically relevant human oBRB models. To this end, we engineered a native-like three-dimensional (3D) oBRB tissue (3D-oBRB) by bioprinting endothelial cells, pericytes, and fibroblasts on the basal side of a biodegradable scaffold and establishing an RPE monolayer on top. In this 3D-oBRB model, a fully-polarized RPE monolayer provides barrier resistance, induces choriocapillaris fenestration, and supports the formation of Bruch's-membrane-like structure by inducing changes in gene expression in cells of the choroid. Complement activation in the 3D-oBRB triggers dry AMD phenotypes (including subRPE lipid-rich deposits called drusen and choriocapillaris degeneration), and HIF-α stabilization or STAT3 overactivation induce choriocapillaris neovascularization and type-I wet AMD phenotype. The 3D-oBRB provides a physiologically relevant model to studying RPE-choriocapillaris interactions under healthy and diseased conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Jae Song
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Russ Quinn
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Eric Nguyen
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | | | - Ruchi Sharma
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Tea Soon Park
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Céline Koster
- Department of Human Genetics Amsterdam, Section of Ophthalmogenetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ty Voss
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Carlos Tristan
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Claire Weber
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Anju Singh
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Roba Dejene
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Devika Bose
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Yu-Chi Chen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Paige Derr
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Kristy Derr
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Sam Michael
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Francesca Barone
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Guibin Chen
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Manfred Boehm
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Ilyas Singec
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Marc Ferrer
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Kapil Bharti
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA.
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Enyong EN, Gurley JM, De Ieso ML, Stamer WD, Elliott MH. Caveolar and non-Caveolar Caveolin-1 in ocular homeostasis and disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 91:101094. [PMID: 35729002 PMCID: PMC9669151 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Caveolae, specialized plasma membrane invaginations present in most cell types, play important roles in multiple cellular processes including cell signaling, lipid uptake and metabolism, endocytosis and mechanotransduction. They are found in almost all cell types but most abundant in endothelial cells, adipocytes and fibroblasts. Caveolin-1 (Cav1), the signature structural protein of caveolae was the first protein associated with caveolae, and in association with Cavin1/PTRF is required for caveolae formation. Genetic ablation of either Cav1 or Cavin1/PTRF downregulates expression of the other resulting in loss of caveolae. Studies using Cav1-deficient mouse models have implicated caveolae with human diseases such as cardiomyopathies, lipodystrophies, diabetes and muscular dystrophies. While caveolins and caveolae are extensively studied in extra-ocular settings, their contributions to ocular function and disease pathogenesis are just beginning to be appreciated. Several putative caveolin/caveolae functions are relevant to the eye and Cav1 is highly expressed in retinal vascular and choroidal endothelium, Müller glia, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and the Schlemm's canal endothelium and trabecular meshwork cells. Variants at the CAV1/2 gene locus are associated with risk of primary open angle glaucoma and the high risk HTRA1 variant for age-related macular degeneration is thought to exert its effect through regulation of Cav1 expression. Caveolins also play important roles in modulating retinal neuroinflammation and blood retinal barrier permeability. In this article, we describe the current state of caveolin/caveolae research in the context of ocular function and pathophysiology. Finally, we discuss new evidence showing that retinal Cav1 exists and functions outside caveolae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric N Enyong
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jami M Gurley
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Michael L De Ieso
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - W Daniel Stamer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Michael H Elliott
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wu A, Lu R, Lee E. Tissue engineering in age-related macular degeneration: a mini-review. J Biol Eng 2022; 16:11. [PMID: 35578246 PMCID: PMC9109377 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-022-00291-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive, degenerative disease of the macula, leading to severe visual loss in the elderly population. There are two types of AMD: non-exudative ('dry') AMD and exudative ('wet') AMD. Non-exudative AMD is characterized by drusen formation and macular atrophy, while the blood vessels are not leaky. Exudative AMD is a more advanced form of the disease, featured with abnormal blood vessel growth and vascular leakage. Even though anti-angiogenic therapies have been effective in treating wet AMD by normalizing blood vessels, there is no treatment available to prevent or treat dry AMD. Currently, the mechanisms of drusen formation and macular atrophy in the dry AMD are poorly understood, in part because the currently available in vivo models of AMD could not decouple and isolate the complex biological and biophysical factors in the macular region for a detailed mechanism study, including the complement system, angiogenesis factors, extracellular matrix, etc. In the present review article, we describe the biological background of AMD and the key cells and structures in AMD, including retinal epithelium, photoreceptor, Bruch's membrane, and choriocapillaris. We also discuss pre-clinical animal models of AMD and in vivo tissue-engineered approaches, including cell suspension injection and organoid-derived cell sheet transplantation. We also discuss in vitro tissue-engineered models for AMD research. Specifically, we evaluate and compare currently available two- and three-dimensional AMD tissue-engineered models that mimic key anatomical players in AMD progression, including pathophysiological characteristics in Bruch's membrane, photoreceptor, and choriocapillaris. Finally, we discuss the limitation of current AMD models and future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andres Wu
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Renhao Lu
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rosenfeld PJ, Trivizki O, Gregori G, Wang RK. An Update on the Hemodynamic Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Am J Ophthalmol 2022; 235:291-299. [PMID: 34509436 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2021.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To provide an update on the hemodynamic model of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN Evidence-based perspective. METHODS Review of the literature and experience of the authors. RESULTS Choroidal hemodynamics are not the primary cause of AMD as proposed by Ephraim Friedman in 1997. However, evidence is accumulating to suggest that choroidal perfusion is an important environmental influence that contributes to our understanding of disease progression in this complex genetic disorder. Although early and intermediate AMD seem to be influenced to a large extent by the underlying genetics, the asymmetry of disease progression to the later stages of AMD cannot be explained by genetics alone. The progression of disease and the asymmetry of this progression seem to correlate with abnormalities in choroidal perfusion that can be documented by optical coherence tomography. These perfusion abnormalities in the setting of a thickened Bruch's membrane are thought to exacerbate the impaired nutritional exchange between the retinal pigment epithelium and the choriocapillaris. We propose that the genetic susceptibility to develop AMD combined with age-related changes in macular choroidal hemodynamics, such as increasing choriocapillaris perfusion deficits and decreasing choroidal vascular densities, play an important role in disease progression and may help to explain the asymmetry between eyes, particularly in the later stages of AMD. CONCLUSIONS This updated hemodynamic model of AMD focuses on disease progression and highlights the importance of age-related changes in the choroidal circulation as a major environmental influence on disease severity in eyes that are genetically susceptible to develop AMD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Rosenfeld
- From the Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (P.J.P., O.T., G.G.), Miami, Florida, USA.
| | - Omer Trivizki
- From the Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (P.J.P., O.T., G.G.), Miami, Florida, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv University (O.T.), Tel Aviv, Israel and the Department of Bioengineering (R.K.W.) and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Giovanni Gregori
- From the Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (P.J.P., O.T., G.G.), Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Ruikang K Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology (R.K.W.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zouache MA. Variability in Retinal Neuron Populations and Associated Variations in Mass Transport Systems of the Retina in Health and Aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:778404. [PMID: 35283756 PMCID: PMC8914054 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.778404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with a broad range of visual impairments that can have dramatic consequences on the quality of life of those impacted. These changes are driven by a complex series of alterations affecting interactions between multiple cellular and extracellular elements. The resilience of many of these interactions may be key to minimal loss of visual function in aging; yet many of them remain poorly understood. In this review, we focus on the relation between retinal neurons and their respective mass transport systems. These metabolite delivery systems include the retinal vasculature, which lies within the inner portion of the retina, and the choroidal vasculature located externally to the retinal tissue. A framework for investigation is proposed and applied to identify the structures and processes determining retinal mass transport at the cellular and tissue levels. Spatial variability in the structure of the retina and changes observed in aging are then harnessed to explore the relation between variations in neuron populations and those seen among retinal metabolite delivery systems. Existing data demonstrate that the relation between inner retinal neurons and their mass transport systems is different in nature from that observed between the outer retina and choroid. The most prominent structural changes observed across the eye and in aging are seen in Bruch’s membrane, which forms a selective barrier to mass transfers at the interface between the choroidal vasculature and the outer retina.
Collapse
|
9
|
Epithelial phenotype restoring drugs suppress macular degeneration phenotypes in an iPSC model. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7293. [PMID: 34911940 PMCID: PMC8674335 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27488-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), a blinding eye disease, is characterized by pathological protein- and lipid-rich drusen deposits underneath the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and atrophy of the RPE monolayer in advanced disease stages - leading to photoreceptor cell death and vision loss. Currently, there are no drugs that stop drusen formation or RPE atrophy in AMD. Here we provide an iPSC-RPE AMD model that recapitulates drusen and RPE atrophy. Drusen deposition is dependent on AMD-risk-allele CFH(H/H) and anaphylatoxin triggered alternate complement signaling via the activation of NF-κB and downregulation of autophagy pathways. Through high-throughput screening we identify two drugs, L-745,870, a dopamine receptor antagonist, and aminocaproic acid, a protease inhibitor that reduce drusen deposits and restore RPE epithelial phenotype in anaphylatoxin challenged iPSC-RPE with or without the CFH(H/H) genotype. This comprehensive iPSC-RPE model replicates key AMD phenotypes, provides molecular insight into the role of CFH(H/H) risk-allele in AMD, and discovers two candidate drugs to treat AMD.
Collapse
|
10
|
Liu YV, Konar G, Aziz K, Tun SBB, Hua CHE, Tan B, Tian J, Luu CD, Barathi VA, Singh MS. Localized Structural and Functional Deficits in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Outer Retinal Atrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:8. [PMID: 34643661 PMCID: PMC8525844 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.13.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Cell-based therapy development for geographic atrophy (GA) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is hampered by the paucity of models of localized photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration. We aimed to characterize the structural and functional deficits in a laser-induced nonhuman primate model, including an analysis of the choroid. Methods Macular laser photocoagulation was applied in four macaques. Fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), dye angiography, and OCT-angiography were conducted over 4.5 months, with histological correlation. Longitudinal changes in spatially resolved macular dysfunction were measured using multifocal electroretinography (MFERG). Results Lesion features, depending on laser settings, included photoreceptor layer degeneration, inner retinal sparing, skip lesions, RPE elevation, and neovascularization. The intralesional choroid was degenerated. The normalized mean MFERG amplitude within lesions was consistently lower than control regions (0.94 ± 0.35 vs. 1.10 ± 0.27, P = 0.032 at month 1, 0.67 ± 0.22 vs. 0.83 ± 0.15, P = 0.0002 at month 2, and 0.97 ± 0.31 vs. 1.20 ± 0.21, P < 0.0001 at month 3.5). The intertest variation of mean MFERG amplitudes in rings 1 to 5 ranged from 13.0% to 26.0% in normal eyes. Conclusions Laser application in this model caused localized outer retinal, RPE, and choriocapillaris loss. Localized dysfunction was apparent by MFERG in the first month after lesion induction. Correlative structure-function testing may be useful for research on the functional effects of stem cell-based therapy for GA. MFERG amplitude data should be interpreted in the context of relatively high intertest variability of the rings that correspond to the central macula. Sustained choroidal insufficiency may limit long-term subretinal graft viability in this model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying V Liu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Gregory Konar
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Kanza Aziz
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Sai Bo Bo Tun
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Candice Ho Ee Hua
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bingyao Tan
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore.,SERI-NTU Advanced Ocular Engineering (STANCE), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jing Tian
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Chi D Luu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Victoria, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Veluchamy A Barathi
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore.,Academic Clinical Program in Ophthalmology, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mandeep S Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lejoyeux R, Benillouche J, Ong J, Errera MH, Rossi EA, Singh SR, Dansingani KK, da Silva S, Sinha D, Sahel JA, Freund KB, Sadda SR, Lutty GA, Chhablani J. Choriocapillaris: Fundamentals and advancements. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 87:100997. [PMID: 34293477 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The choriocapillaris is the innermost structure of the choroid that directly nourishes the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors. This article provides an overview of its hemovasculogenesis development to achieve its final architecture as a lobular vasculature, and also summarizes the current histological and molecular knowledge about choriocapillaris and its dysfunction. After describing the existing state-of-the-art tools to image the choriocapillaris, we report the findings in the choriocapillaris encountered in the most frequent retinochoroidal diseases including vascular diseases, inflammatory diseases, myopia, pachychoroid disease spectrum disorders, and glaucoma. The final section focuses on the development of imaging technology to optimize visualization of the choriocapillaris as well as current treatments of retinochoroidal disorders that specifically target the choriocapillaris. We conclude the article with pertinent unanswered questions and future directions in research for the choriocapillaris.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joshua Ong
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Marie-Hélène Errera
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Ethan A Rossi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Sumit R Singh
- Jacobs Retina Center, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kunal K Dansingani
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Susana da Silva
- Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Debasish Sinha
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Rothschild Foundation, 75019, Paris, France; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France
| | - K Bailey Freund
- LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, New York, NY, USA; Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, NY, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, New York University of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - SriniVas R Sadda
- Doheny Image Reading Center, Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gerard A Lutty
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Jay Chhablani
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Brinks J, van Dijk EHC, Klaassen I, Schlingemann RO, Kielbasa SM, Emri E, Quax PHA, Bergen AA, Meijer OC, Boon CJF. Exploring the choroidal vascular labyrinth and its molecular and structural roles in health and disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 87:100994. [PMID: 34280556 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The choroid is a key player in maintaining ocular homeostasis and plays a role in a variety of chorioretinal diseases, many of which are poorly understood. Recent advances in the field of single-cell RNA sequencing have yielded valuable insights into the properties of choroidal endothelial cells (CECs). Here, we review the role of the choroid in various physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms, focusing on the role of CECs. We also discuss new insights regarding the phenotypic properties of CECs, CEC subpopulations, and the value of measuring transcriptomics in primary CEC cultures derived from post-mortem eyes. In addition, we discuss key phenotypic, structural, and functional differences that distinguish CECs from other endothelial cells such as retinal vascular endothelial cells. Understanding the specific clinical and molecular properties of the choroid will shed new light on the pathogenesis of the broad clinical range of chorioretinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, central serous chorioretinopathy and other diseases within the pachychoroid spectrum, uveitis, and diabetic choroidopathy. Although our knowledge is still relatively limited with respect to the clinical features and molecular pathways that underlie these chorioretinal diseases, we summarise new approaches and discuss future directions for gaining new insights into these sight-threatening diseases and highlight new therapeutic strategies such as pluripotent stem cell‒based technologies and gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Brinks
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - E H C van Dijk
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - I Klaassen
- Ocular Angiogenesis Group, Departments of Ophthalmology and Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - R O Schlingemann
- Ocular Angiogenesis Group, Departments of Ophthalmology and Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, Fondation Asile des Aveugles, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - S M Kielbasa
- Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - E Emri
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Section of Ophthalmogenetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - P H A Quax
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - A A Bergen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Section of Ophthalmogenetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - O C Meijer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - C J F Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
The Impact of Oxidative Stress on Blood-Retinal Barrier Physiology in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010064. [PMID: 33406612 PMCID: PMC7823525 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood retinal barrier (BRB) is a fundamental eye component, whose function is to select the flow of molecules from the blood to the retina and vice-versa, and its integrity allows the maintenance of a finely regulated microenvironment. The outer BRB, composed by the choriocapillaris, the Bruch's membrane, and the retinal pigment epithelium, undergoes structural and functional changes in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness worldwide. BRB alterations lead to retinal dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Several risk factors have been associated with AMD onset in the past decades and oxidative stress is widely recognized as a key factor, even if the exact AMD pathophysiology has not been exactly elucidated yet. The present review describes the BRB physiology, the BRB changes occurring in AMD, the role of oxidative stress in AMD with a focus on the outer BRB structures. Moreover, we propose the use of cerium oxide nanoparticles as a new powerful anti-oxidant agent to combat AMD, based on the relevant existing data which demonstrated their beneficial effects in protecting the outer BRB in animal models of AMD.
Collapse
|
14
|
Edwards M, Lutty GA. Bruch's Membrane and the Choroid in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1256:89-119. [PMID: 33847999 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-66014-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A healthy choroidal vasculature is necessary to support the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors, because there is a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between the components of the photoreceptor/retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/Bruch's membrane (BrMb)/choriocapillaris (CC) complex. This relationship is compromised in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by the dysfunction or death of the choroidal vasculature. This chapter will provide a basic description of the human Bruch's membrane and choroidal anatomy and physiology and how they change in AMD.The choriocapillaris is the lobular, fenestrated capillary system of choroid. It lies immediately posterior to the pentalaminar Bruch's membrane (BrMb). The blood supply for this system is the intermediate blood vessels of Sattler's layer and the large blood vessels in Haller's layer.In geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of dry AMD, large confluent drusen form on BrMb, and hyperpigmentation (presumably dysfunction in RPE) appears to be the initial insult. The resorption of these drusen and loss of RPE (hypopigmentation) can be predictive for progression of GA. The death and dysfunction of CC and photoreceptors appear to be secondary events to loss in RPE. The loss of choroidal vasculature may be the initial insult in neovascular AMD (nAMD). We have observed a loss of CC with an intact RPE monolayer in nAMD, by making RPE hypoxic. These hypoxic cells then produce angiogenic substances like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which stimulate growth of new vessels from CC, resulting in choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Reduction in blood supply to the CC, often stenosis of intermediate and large blood vessels, is associated with CC loss.The polymorphisms in the complement system components are associated with AMD. In addition, the environment of the CC, basement membrane and intercapillary septa, is a proinflammatory milieu with accumulation of proinflammatory molecules like CRP and complement components during AMD. In this toxic milieu, CC die or become dysfunctional even early in AMD. The loss of CC might be a stimulus for drusen formation since the disposal system for retinal debris and exocytosed material from RPE would be limited. Ultimately, the photoreceptors die of lack of nutrients, leakage of serum components from the neovascularization, and scar formation.Therefore, the mutualistic symbiotic relationship of the photoreceptor/RPE/BrMb/CC complex is lost in both forms of AMD. Loss of this functionally integrated relationship results in death and dysfunction of all of the components in the complex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Malia Edwards
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gerard A Lutty
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Innate Immunity in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1256:121-141. [PMID: 33848000 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-66014-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Multiple lines of investigation have demonstrated that inflammation plays significant roles in etiology of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although interventional trials in AMD therapy targeting inflammatory pathways have been conducted, they have not yet been successful and a detailed understanding as to why some have failed is still elusive. One limitation is the relative dearth of information on how immune cells interact with retinal cells to generate AMD phenotypes at each disease stage. Here, we summarize current research evidence and hypotheses regarding potential pathogenic roles of innate immune cells in the eye, which include resident retinal microglia, macrophages derived from infiltrating systemic monocytes, and macrophages resident in the choroid. We relate recent findings regarding the physiology, function, and cellular interactions involving innate immune cells in the retina and choroid to AMD-related processes, including: (1) drusen formation and regression, (2) the onset and spread of degeneration in late atrophic AMD, and (3) the initiation, growth, and exudation of neovascular vessels in late "wet" AMD. Understanding how innate immune cells contribute to specific AMD phenotypes can assist in generating a comprehensive view on the inflammatory etiology of AMD and aid in identifying anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies and selecting appropriate clinical outcomes for the planned interventions.
Collapse
|
16
|
Mainolfi N, Ehara T, Karki RG, Anderson K, Mac Sweeney A, Liao SM, Argikar UA, Jendza K, Zhang C, Powers J, Klosowski DW, Crowley M, Kawanami T, Ding J, April M, Forster C, Serrano-Wu M, Capparelli M, Ramqaj R, Solovay C, Cumin F, Smith TM, Ferrara L, Lee W, Long D, Prentiss M, De Erkenez A, Yang L, Liu F, Sellner H, Sirockin F, Valeur E, Erbel P, Ostermeier D, Ramage P, Gerhartz B, Schubart A, Flohr S, Gradoux N, Feifel R, Vogg B, Wiesmann C, Maibaum J, Eder J, Sedrani R, Harrison RA, Mogi M, Jaffee BD, Adams CM. Discovery of 4-((2 S,4 S)-4-Ethoxy-1-((5-methoxy-7-methyl-1 H-indol-4-yl)methyl)piperidin-2-yl)benzoic Acid (LNP023), a Factor B Inhibitor Specifically Designed To Be Applicable to Treating a Diverse Array of Complement Mediated Diseases. J Med Chem 2020; 63:5697-5722. [PMID: 32073845 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The alternative pathway (AP) of the complement system is a key contributor to the pathogenesis of several human diseases including age-related macular degeneration, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), and various glomerular diseases. The serine protease factor B (FB) is a key node in the AP and is integral to the formation of C3 and C5 convertase. Despite the prominent role of FB in the AP, selective orally bioavailable inhibitors, beyond our own efforts, have not been reported previously. Herein we describe in more detail our efforts to identify FB inhibitors by high-throughput screening (HTS) and leveraging insights from several X-ray cocrystal structures during optimization efforts. This work culminated in the discovery of LNP023 (41), which is currently being evaluated clinically in several diverse AP mediated indications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nello Mainolfi
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Takeru Ehara
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Rajeshri G Karki
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Karen Anderson
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Aengus Mac Sweeney
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sha-Mei Liao
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Upendra A Argikar
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Keith Jendza
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Chun Zhang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - James Powers
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Daniel W Klosowski
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Maura Crowley
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Toshio Kawanami
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jian Ding
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Myriam April
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Cornelia Forster
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Michael Serrano-Wu
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Michael Capparelli
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Rrezarta Ramqaj
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Catherine Solovay
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Frederic Cumin
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas M Smith
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Luciana Ferrara
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Wendy Lee
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Debby Long
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Melissa Prentiss
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Andrea De Erkenez
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Louis Yang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Fang Liu
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Holger Sellner
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Finton Sirockin
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eric Valeur
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Paulus Erbel
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Ostermeier
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Paul Ramage
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Gerhartz
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna Schubart
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Flohr
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Gradoux
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roland Feifel
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Vogg
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Wiesmann
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Maibaum
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Eder
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Richard Sedrani
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Richard A Harrison
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Muneto Mogi
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Bruce D Jaffee
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Christopher M Adams
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chen L, Messinger JD, Sloan KR, Swain TA, Sugiura Y, Yannuzzi LA, Curcio CA, Freund KB. Nonexudative Macular Neovascularization Supporting Outer Retina in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Clinicopathologic Correlation. Ophthalmology 2020; 127:931-947. [PMID: 32247535 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Type 1 macular neovascularization (MNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may sustain hypoxic and micronutrient-insufficient outer retinal cells compensatorily. We explored this hypothesis via histologic analysis of an eye with a shallow irregular retinal pigment epithelial elevation (SIRE) on OCT and good vision. DESIGN Case study and clinicopathologic correlation. PARTICIPANT A white woman with untreated nonexudative neovascular AMD and 20/30 visual acuity (left eye) and neovascular AMD (right eye), with 9 years' multimodal imaging before dying at 90 years of age. METHODS The left eye was preserved 6.25 hours after death and prepared for submicrometer epoxy resin sections and transmission electron microscopy aligned to clinical OCT B-scans. Inside and outside the MNV area, layer thicknesses, phenotypes, and vascular density of native choriocapillaris and neovessels were measured. Lengths of choriocapillaries and intervening gaps in the index eye and in early AMD eyes and healthy eyes with similar age (n = 19 each) from the Project MACULA (Maculopathy Unveiled by Laminar Analysis) online histopathologic resource (http://projectmacula.cis.uab.edu/) were measured with custom software (Caps and Gaps). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Descriptive features, vascular density, histologic and OCT layer thicknesses, and distribution of choriocapillaries and intervening gaps. RESULTS The SIRE correlated to a type 1 MNV that expanded slowly without evidence of exudation and with numerous choroidal vessels traversing Bruch's membrane defects, some visible on OCT. Tissue layers in and adjacent to the MNV area showed continuous RPE and characteristic AMD deposits. Capillary-like neovessels with fenestrations and caveolae resembling native choriocapillaris lined the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with a vascular density comparable with surrounding non-MNV areas. Relative to early AMD and healthy aged eyes, the index eye showed similar capillary lengths but larger gaps between vessels, indicating dropout. Outer nuclear layer thickness was preserved and showed less photoreceptor degeneration over areas of relative choriocapillaris health, including the type 1 MNV. CONCLUSIONS Eyes with nonexudative type 1 MNV in AMD may progress to exudation, yet this stable MNV complex supported outer retinal structure for 9 years. Distinguishing features were numerous connecting vessels, high density of neovessels, continuous RPE, and slow growth. Maintaining beneficial type 1 MNV may be a therapeutic strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama; State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jeffrey D Messinger
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Kenneth R Sloan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Thomas A Swain
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Yoshimi Sugiura
- Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York; Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Lawrence A Yannuzzi
- Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York; LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York; Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Harkness Eye Institute, New York, New York
| | - Christine A Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama.
| | - K Bailey Freund
- Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York; LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York; Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Harkness Eye Institute, New York, New York
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Lutty GA, McLeod DS, Bhutto IA, Edwards MM, Seddon JM. Choriocapillaris dropout in early age-related macular degeneration. Exp Eye Res 2020; 192:107939. [PMID: 31987759 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.107939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Loss of choriocapillaris (CC) in advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is well documented but changes in early AMD have not been quantified. Postmortem eyes from donors with clinically documented early AMD were examined in choroidal whole mounts to determine the area, pattern, and severity of CC loss. Choroids from postmortem human eyes without AMD (n = 7; mean age = 86.1) and from eyes with a Grade 2 clinical classification of early AMD (n = 7; mean age = 87) were immunolabeled with Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA) lectin-FITC to stain blood vessels. Whole mounts were imaged using confocal microscopy and image analysis was performed to determine the area of vascular changes and density of vasculature (percent vascular area, %VA). All areas evaluated had a complete RPE monolayer upon gross examination. In age-matched control eyes, the CC had broad lumens and a homogenous pattern of freely interconnecting capillaries. The mean %VA ± standard deviation in submacula of control subjects was 78.1 ± 3.25%. In eyes with early AMD, there was a significant decrease in mean %VA to 60.1 ± 10.4% (p < 0.0001). The paramacular %VA was not significantly different in eyes with or without AMD. The area of submacular choroid affected by CC dropout was 0.04 ± 0.09 mm2 in control eyes. In eyes with early AMD, the mean area affected by CC dropout was significantly increased (10.4 ± 6.1 mm2; p < 0.001). In some cases, incipient neovascular buds were observed at the border of regions with CC dropout in early AMD choroids. In conclusion, UEA lectin-labeled choroidal whole mounts from donors with clinically documented early AMD has provided a unique opportunity to examine regional changes in vascular pathology associated with choriocapillaris. The study demonstrated attenuation of submacular CC in early AMD subjects but no vascular pathology was observed outside the submacular region. While the affected area in some eyes was quite extensive histologically, these changes may not be detectable clinically using standard in vivo imaging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerard A Lutty
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
| | - D Scott McLeod
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Imran A Bhutto
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Malia M Edwards
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Johanna M Seddon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worchester, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Lipecz A, Miller L, Kovacs I, Czakó C, Csipo T, Baffi J, Csiszar A, Tarantini S, Ungvari Z, Yabluchanskiy A, Conley S. Microvascular contributions to age-related macular degeneration (AMD): from mechanisms of choriocapillaris aging to novel interventions. GeroScience 2019; 41:813-845. [PMID: 31797238 PMCID: PMC6925092 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-019-00138-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging of the microcirculatory network plays a central role in the pathogenesis of a wide range of age-related diseases, from heart failure to Alzheimer's disease. In the eye, changes in the choroid and choroidal microcirculation (choriocapillaris) also occur with age, and these changes can play a critical role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In order to develop novel treatments for amelioration of choriocapillaris aging and prevention of AMD, it is essential to understand the cellular and functional changes that occur in the choroid and choriocapillaris during aging. In this review, recent advances in in vivo analysis of choroidal structure and function in AMD patients and patients at risk for AMD are discussed. The pathophysiological roles of fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired resistance to molecular stressors in the choriocapillaris are also considered in terms of their contribution to the pathogenesis of AMD. The pathogenic roles of cardiovascular risk factors that exacerbate microvascular aging processes, such as smoking, hypertension, and obesity as they relate to AMD and choroid and choriocapillaris changes in patients with these cardiovascular risk factors, are also discussed. Finally, future directions and opportunities to develop novel interventions to prevent/delay AMD by targeting fundamental cellular and molecular aging processes are presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Lipecz
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Josa Andras Hospital, Nyiregyhaza, Hungary
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral School of Basic and Translational Medicine/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Lauren Miller
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L. Young Blvd. BMSB553, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Illes Kovacs
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Ophthalmology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Cecília Czakó
- Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamas Csipo
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral School of Basic and Translational Medicine/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Judit Baffi
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Anna Csiszar
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral School of Basic and Translational Medicine/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Theoretical Medicine Doctoral School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Stefano Tarantini
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral School of Basic and Translational Medicine/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Theoretical Medicine Doctoral School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Ungvari
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral School of Basic and Translational Medicine/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Theoretical Medicine Doctoral School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Andriy Yabluchanskiy
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Shannon Conley
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration Program, Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging/Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L. Young Blvd. BMSB553, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|