1
|
Tempone MH, Borges-Martins VP, César F, Alexandrino-Mattos DP, de Figueiredo CS, Raony Í, dos Santos AA, Duarte-Silva AT, Dias MS, Freitas HR, de Araújo EG, Ribeiro-Resende VT, Cossenza M, P. Silva H, P. de Carvalho R, Ventura ALM, Calaza KC, Silveira MS, Kubrusly RCC, de Melo Reis RA. The Healthy and Diseased Retina Seen through Neuron-Glia Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1120. [PMID: 38256192 PMCID: PMC10817105 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The retina is the sensory tissue responsible for the first stages of visual processing, with a conserved anatomy and functional architecture among vertebrates. To date, retinal eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, and others, affect nearly 170 million people worldwide, resulting in vision loss and blindness. To tackle retinal disorders, the developing retina has been explored as a versatile model to study intercellular signaling, as it presents a broad neurochemical repertoire that has been approached in the last decades in terms of signaling and diseases. Retina, dissociated and arranged as typical cultures, as mixed or neuron- and glia-enriched, and/or organized as neurospheres and/or as organoids, are valuable to understand both neuronal and glial compartments, which have contributed to revealing roles and mechanisms between transmitter systems as well as antioxidants, trophic factors, and extracellular matrix proteins. Overall, contributions in understanding neurogenesis, tissue development, differentiation, connectivity, plasticity, and cell death are widely described. A complete access to the genome of several vertebrates, as well as the recent transcriptome at the single cell level at different stages of development, also anticipates future advances in providing cues to target blinding diseases or retinal dysfunctions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matheus H. Tempone
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-000, Brazil; (M.H.T.); (F.C.); (D.P.A.-M.); (V.T.R.-R.)
| | - Vladimir P. Borges-Martins
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedical Institute and Program of Neurosciences, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-150, Brazil; (V.P.B.-M.); (A.A.d.S.); (M.C.); (R.C.C.K.)
| | - Felipe César
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-000, Brazil; (M.H.T.); (F.C.); (D.P.A.-M.); (V.T.R.-R.)
| | - Dio Pablo Alexandrino-Mattos
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-000, Brazil; (M.H.T.); (F.C.); (D.P.A.-M.); (V.T.R.-R.)
| | - Camila S. de Figueiredo
- Department of Neurobiology and Program of Neurosciences, Institute of Biology, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (A.T.D.-S.); (E.G.d.A.); (R.P.d.C.); (A.L.M.V.); (K.C.C.)
| | - Ícaro Raony
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (Í.R.); (H.R.F.)
| | - Aline Araujo dos Santos
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedical Institute and Program of Neurosciences, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-150, Brazil; (V.P.B.-M.); (A.A.d.S.); (M.C.); (R.C.C.K.)
| | - Aline Teixeira Duarte-Silva
- Department of Neurobiology and Program of Neurosciences, Institute of Biology, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (A.T.D.-S.); (E.G.d.A.); (R.P.d.C.); (A.L.M.V.); (K.C.C.)
| | - Mariana Santana Dias
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy and Viral Vectors, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-000, Brazil; (M.S.D.); (H.P.S.)
| | - Hércules Rezende Freitas
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (Í.R.); (H.R.F.)
| | - Elisabeth G. de Araújo
- Department of Neurobiology and Program of Neurosciences, Institute of Biology, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (A.T.D.-S.); (E.G.d.A.); (R.P.d.C.); (A.L.M.V.); (K.C.C.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation—INCT-NIM, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Victor Tulio Ribeiro-Resende
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-000, Brazil; (M.H.T.); (F.C.); (D.P.A.-M.); (V.T.R.-R.)
| | - Marcelo Cossenza
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedical Institute and Program of Neurosciences, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-150, Brazil; (V.P.B.-M.); (A.A.d.S.); (M.C.); (R.C.C.K.)
| | - Hilda P. Silva
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy and Viral Vectors, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-000, Brazil; (M.S.D.); (H.P.S.)
| | - Roberto P. de Carvalho
- Department of Neurobiology and Program of Neurosciences, Institute of Biology, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (A.T.D.-S.); (E.G.d.A.); (R.P.d.C.); (A.L.M.V.); (K.C.C.)
| | - Ana L. M. Ventura
- Department of Neurobiology and Program of Neurosciences, Institute of Biology, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (A.T.D.-S.); (E.G.d.A.); (R.P.d.C.); (A.L.M.V.); (K.C.C.)
| | - Karin C. Calaza
- Department of Neurobiology and Program of Neurosciences, Institute of Biology, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (A.T.D.-S.); (E.G.d.A.); (R.P.d.C.); (A.L.M.V.); (K.C.C.)
| | - Mariana S. Silveira
- Laboratory for Investigation in Neuroregeneration and Development, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-000, Brazil;
| | - Regina C. C. Kubrusly
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedical Institute and Program of Neurosciences, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-150, Brazil; (V.P.B.-M.); (A.A.d.S.); (M.C.); (R.C.C.K.)
| | - Ricardo A. de Melo Reis
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-000, Brazil; (M.H.T.); (F.C.); (D.P.A.-M.); (V.T.R.-R.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lee YH, Kothmann WW, Lin YP, Chuang AZ, Diamond JS, O'Brien J. Sources of Calcium at Connexin 36 Gap Junctions in the Retina. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0493-22.2023. [PMID: 37527925 PMCID: PMC10450809 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0493-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity is a fundamental feature of the CNS that controls the magnitude of signal transmission between communicating cells. Many electrical synapses exhibit substantial plasticity that modulates the degree of coupling within groups of neurons, alters the fidelity of signal transmission, or even reconfigures functional circuits. In several known examples, such plasticity depends on calcium and is associated with neuronal activity. Calcium-driven signaling is known to promote potentiation of electrical synapses in fish Mauthner cells, mammalian retinal AII amacrine cells, and inferior olive neurons, and to promote depression in thalamic reticular neurons. To measure local calcium dynamics in situ, we developed a transgenic mouse expressing a GCaMP calcium biosensor fused to Connexin 36 (Cx36) at electrical synapses. We examined the sources of calcium for activity-dependent plasticity in retina slices using confocal or Super-Resolution Radial Fluctuations imaging. More than half of Cx36-GCaMP gap junctions responded to puffs of glutamate with transient increases in fluorescence. The responses were strongly dependent on NMDA receptors, in keeping with known activity-dependent signaling in some amacrine cells. We also found that some responses depended on the activity of voltage-gated calcium channels, representing a previously unrecognized source of calcium to control retinal electrical synaptic plasticity. The high prevalence of calcium signals at electrical synapses in response to glutamate application indicates that a large fraction of electrical synapses has the potential to be regulated by neuronal activity. This provides a means to tune circuit connectivity dynamically based on local activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Hao Lee
- Richard S. Ruiz, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - W Wade Kothmann
- Synaptic Physiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Ya-Ping Lin
- Richard S. Ruiz, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Alice Z Chuang
- Richard S. Ruiz, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Jeffrey S Diamond
- Synaptic Physiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - John O'Brien
- Richard S. Ruiz, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas 77030
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jiang L, Liu X, Zhou L, Busoy JMF, Khine MT, Dan YS, Ke M, Brennan NA, Catbagan KJV, Schmetterer L, Barathi VA, Hoang QV. Choroidal Thickness in Early Postnatal Guinea Pigs Predicts Subsequent Naturally Occurring and Form-Deprivation Myopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:10. [PMID: 36239975 PMCID: PMC9586133 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.11.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To identify choroidal characteristics associated with susceptibility to development of naturally occurring and experimentally induced myopia. Methods We compared choroidal properties between pigmented and albino guinea pig (GP) strains. Biometry, cycloplegic refractive error (RE), and eye wall sublayer thickness were measured from 171 GPs at postnatal day (P)6, 14, and 28. Forty-three P14 GPs underwent two-week monocular form-deprivation myopia (FDM). En face images of choroidal vasculature were obtained with a customized swept-source optical coherence tomography. Multivariate regression analyses were performed, with P28 RE as the outcome and P14 choroidal thickness (ChT) as the main predictor variable. Proteomic analysis was performed on choroidal tissue from P14 albino and pigmented GPs. Results At P14, RE was correlated with thickness of the choroid (β = 0.06), sclera (β = 0.12), and retina (β = 0.27; all P < 0.001). P14 ChT was correlated with P28 RE both with (β = 0.06, P = 0.0007) and without FDM (β = 0.05, P = 0.008). Multivariate regression analysis, taking into account FDM (versus physiological growth) and strain, revealed that for every 10-µm greater ChT at P14, P28 RE was 0.50D more positive (P = 0.005, n = 70). En face images of choroidal sublayers showed that albino choroids were relatively underdeveloped, with frequent avascular regions. Consistent with this finding, proteomic analysis suggested abnormalities of the nitric oxide system in the albino GP choroid. Conclusions Current results are consistent with the notion that greater ChT could protect from or delay the onset of myopia, while lower ChT is associated with greater susceptibility to myopia development. The underlying mechanism could be related to dysfunction of the choroidal vascular system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liqin Jiang
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Lei Zhou
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joanna M Fianza Busoy
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Myo Thu Khine
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Yee Shan Dan
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Mengyuan Ke
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Noel A Brennan
- Johnson & Johnson Vision, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
| | - Karen J V Catbagan
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Leopold Schmetterer
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Veluchamy A Barathi
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Quan V Hoang
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rodriguez TC, Zhong L, Simpson H, Gleason E. Reduced Expression of TMEM16A Impairs Nitric Oxide-Dependent Cl− Transport in Retinal Amacrine Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:937060. [PMID: 35966201 PMCID: PMC9363626 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.937060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Postsynaptic cytosolic Cl− concentration determines whether GABAergic and glycinergic synapses are inhibitory or excitatory. We have shown that nitric oxide (NO) initiates the release of Cl− from acidic internal stores into the cytosol of retinal amacrine cells (ACs) thereby elevating cytosolic Cl−. In addition, we found that cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) expression and Ca2+ elevations are necessary for the transient effects of NO on cytosolic Cl− levels, but the mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the involvement of TMEM16A as a possible link between Ca2+ elevations and cytosolic Cl− release. TMEM16A is a Ca2+-activated Cl− channel that is functionally coupled with CFTR in epithelia. Both proteins are also expressed in neurons. Based on this and its Ca2+ dependence, we test the hypothesis that TMEM16A participates in the NO-dependent elevation in cytosolic Cl− in ACs. Chick retina ACs express TMEM16A as shown by Western blot analysis, single-cell PCR, and immunocytochemistry. Electrophysiology experiments demonstrate that TMEM16A functions in amacrine cells. Pharmacological inhibition of TMEM16A with T16inh-AO1 reduces the NO-dependent Cl− release as indicated by the diminished shift in the reversal potential of GABAA receptor-mediated currents. We confirmed the involvement of TMEM16A in the NO-dependent Cl− release using CRISPR/Cas9 knockdown of TMEM16A. Two different modalities targeting the gene for TMEM16A (ANO1) were tested in retinal amacrine cells: an all-in-one plasmid vector and crRNA/tracrRNA/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein. The all-in-one CRISPR/Cas9 modality did not change the expression of TMEM16A protein and produced no change in the response to NO. However, TMEM16A-specific crRNA/tracrRNA/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein effectively reduces both TMEM16A protein levels and the NO-dependent shift in the reversal potential of GABA-gated currents. These results show that TMEM16A plays a role in the NO-dependent Cl− release from retinal ACs.
Collapse
|
5
|
Neumann A, Breher K, Wahl S. Effects of screen-based retinal light stimulation measured with a novel contrast sensitivity test. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254877. [PMID: 34324537 PMCID: PMC8320929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Myopia is increasing worldwide hence it exists a pressing demand to find effective myopia control strategies. Previous studies have shown that light, spectral composition, spatial frequencies, and contrasts play a critical role in refractive development. The effects of light on multiple retinal processes include growth regulation, but also visual performance and perception. Changes in subjective visual performance can be examined by contrast sensitivity (CS). This study was conducted to investigate whether retinal light stimulation of different wavelength ranges is able to elicit changes in CS and, therefore, may be used for myopia control purposes. In total, 30 right eyes were stimulated with the light of different wavelength ranges, including dominant wavelengths of ∼480 nm, ∼530 nm, ∼630 nm and polychromatic light via a commercial liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. Stimulation was performed screen full-field and on the optic nerve head only. CS was measured before any stimulation and after each stimulation condition using a novel and time-efficient CS test. Post-stimulation CS changes were analyzed by ANOVA regarding the influencing factors spatial frequency, stimulation wavelength and stimulation location. A priorly conducted verification study on a subset of five participants compared the newly developed CS test to a validated CS test. The novel CS test exhibited good reliability of 0.94 logCS and repeatability of 0.13 logCS with a duration of 92 sec ± 17 sec. No clinically critical change between pre- and post-stimulation CS was detected (all p>0.05). However, the results showed that post-stimulation CS differed significantly at 18 cpd after stimulation with polychromatic light from short-wavelength light (p<0.0001). Location of illumination (screen full-field vs. optic nerve head) or any interactions with other factors did not reveal significant influences (all p>0.05). To summarize, a novel CS test measures the relationship between retinal light stimulation and CS. However, using retinal illumination via LCD screens to increase CS is inconclusive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Neumann
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Breher
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH, Aalen, Germany
| | - Siegfried Wahl
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH, Aalen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhi Z, Xiang J, Fu Q, Pei X, Zhou D, Cao Y, Xie L, Zhang S, Chen S, Qu J, Zhou X. The Role of Retinal Connexins Cx36 and Horizontal Cell Coupling in Emmetropization in Guinea Pigs. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:27. [PMID: 34283211 PMCID: PMC8300059 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.9.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether retinal gap junctions (GJs) via connexin 36 (Cx36, mediating coupling of many retinal cell types) and horizontal cell (HC-HC) coupling, are involved in emmetropization. Methods Guinea pigs (3 weeks old) were monocularly form deprived (FD) or raised without FD (in normal visual [NV] environment) for 2 days or 4 weeks; alternatively, they wore a -4 D lens (hyperopic defocus [HD]) or 0 D lens for 2 days or 1 week. FD and NV eyes received daily subconjunctival injections of a nonspecific GJ-uncoupling agent, 18-β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid (18-β-GA). The amounts of total Cx36 and of phosphorylated Cx36 (P-Cx36; activated state that increases cell-cell coupling), in the inner and outer plexiform layers (IPLs and OPLs), were evaluated by quantitative immunofluorescence (IF), and HC-HC coupling was evaluated by cut-loading with neurobiotin. Results FD per se (excluding effect of light-attenuation) increased HC-HC coupling in OPL, whereas HD did not affect it. HD for 2 days or 1 week had no significant effect on retinal content of Cx36 or P-Cx36. FD for 4 weeks decreased the total amounts of Cx36 and P-Cx36, and the P-Cx36/Cx36 ratio, in the IPL. Subconjunctival 18-β-GA induced myopia in NV eyes and increased the myopic shifts in FD eyes, while reducing the amounts of Cx36 and P-Cx36 in both the IPL and OPL. Conclusions These results suggest that cell-cell coupling via GJs containing Cx36 (particularly those in the IPL) plays a role in emmetropization and form deprivation myopia (FDM) in mammals. Although both FD and 18-β-GA induced myopia, they had opposite effects on HC-HC coupling. These findings suggest that HC-HC coupling in the OPL might not play a significant role in emmetropization and myopia development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhina Zhi
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health People's Republic of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Xiang
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health People's Republic of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qian Fu
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health People's Republic of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaomeng Pei
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health People's Republic of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dengke Zhou
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health People's Republic of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuqing Cao
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health People's Republic of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liqin Xie
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health People's Republic of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sen Zhang
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health People's Republic of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Si Chen
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health People's Republic of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jia Qu
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health People's Republic of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiangtian Zhou
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- State Key Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Vision Science, Ministry of Health People's Republic of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Quint WH, Tadema KCD, de Vrieze E, Lukowicz RM, Broekman S, Winkelman BHJ, Hoevenaars M, de Gruiter HM, van Wijk E, Schaeffel F, Meester-Smoor M, Miller AC, Willemsen R, Klaver CCW, Iglesias AI. Loss of Gap Junction Delta-2 (GJD2) gene orthologs leads to refractive error in zebrafish. Commun Biol 2021; 4:676. [PMID: 34083742 PMCID: PMC8175550 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02185-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Myopia is the most common developmental disorder of juvenile eyes, and it has become an increasing cause of severe visual impairment. The GJD2 locus has been consistently associated with myopia in multiple independent genome-wide association studies. However, despite the strong genetic evidence, little is known about the functional role of GJD2 in refractive error development. Here, we find that depletion of gjd2a (Cx35.5) or gjd2b (Cx35.1) orthologs in zebrafish, cause changes in the biometry and refractive status of the eye. Our immunohistological and scRNA sequencing studies show that Cx35.5 (gjd2a) is a retinal connexin and its depletion leads to hyperopia and electrophysiological changes in the retina. These findings support a role for Cx35.5 (gjd2a) in the regulation of ocular biometry. Cx35.1 (gjd2b) has previously been identified in the retina, however, we found an additional lenticular role. Lack of Cx35.1 (gjd2b) led to a nuclear cataract that triggered axial elongation. Our results provide functional evidence of a link between gjd2 and refractive error. Quint et al. use zebrafish lines deficient in one of two orthologs of the Gap Junction Delta-2 (GJD2) gene, which is associated with myopia by genome-wide association studies. They link gjd2 with refractive error and report evidence to suggest that gjd2a plays a role in ocular biometry whilst gjd2b, previously found in the retina, possesses an additional lenticular role.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wim H Quint
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. .,Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Kirke C D Tadema
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik de Vrieze
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Rachel M Lukowicz
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, United States
| | - Sanne Broekman
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Beerend H J Winkelman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Cerebellar Coordination and Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Melanie Hoevenaars
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Erwin van Wijk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Frank Schaeffel
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Magda Meester-Smoor
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adam C Miller
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, United States
| | - Rob Willemsen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Caroline C W Klaver
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Ophthalmology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Adriana I Iglesias
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. .,Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
Our previous research showed that increased phosphorylation of connexin (Cx)36 indicated extended coupling of AII amacrine cells (ACs) in the rod-dominant mouse myopic retina. This research will determine whether phosphorylation at serine 276 of Cx35-containing gap junctions increased in the myopic chicken, whose retina is cone-dominant. Refractive errors and ocular biometric dimensions of 7-days-old chickens were determined following 12 h and 7 days induction of myopia by a −10D lens. The expression pattern and size of Cx35-positive plaques were examined in the early (12 h) and compensated stages (7 days) of lens-induced myopia (LIM). At the same time, phosphorylation at serine 276 (functional assay) of Cx35 in strata 5 (S5) of the inner plexiform layer was investigated. The axial length of the 7 days LIM eyes was significantly longer than that of non-LIM controls (P < 0.05). Anti-phospho-Ser276 (Ser276-P)-labeled plaques were significantly increased in LIM retinas at both 12 h and 7 days. The density of Ser276-P of Cx35 was observed to increase after 12 h LIM. In the meanwhile, the areas of existing Cx35 plaques did not change. As there was more phosphorylation of connexin35 at Ser276 at both the early and late stages (12 h) and 7 days of LIM chicken retinal activity, the coupling with ACs could be increased in myopia development of the cone-dominated chicken retina.
Collapse
|
9
|
Muralidharan AR, Lança C, Biswas S, Barathi VA, Wan Yu Shermaine L, Seang-Mei S, Milea D, Najjar RP. Light and myopia: from epidemiological studies to neurobiological mechanisms. Ther Adv Ophthalmol 2021; 13:25158414211059246. [PMID: 34988370 PMCID: PMC8721425 DOI: 10.1177/25158414211059246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Myopia is far beyond its inconvenience and represents a true, highly prevalent, sight-threatening ocular condition, especially in Asia. Without adequate interventions, the current epidemic of myopia is projected to affect 50% of the world population by 2050, becoming the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Although blurred vision, the predominant symptom of myopia, can be improved by contact lenses, glasses or refractive surgery, corrected myopia, particularly high myopia, still carries the risk of secondary blinding complications such as glaucoma, myopic maculopathy and retinal detachment, prompting the need for prevention. Epidemiological studies have reported an association between outdoor time and myopia prevention in children. The protective effect of time spent outdoors could be due to the unique characteristics (intensity, spectral distribution, temporal pattern, etc.) of sunlight that are lacking in artificial lighting. Concomitantly, studies in animal models have highlighted the efficacy of light and its components in delaying or even stopping the development of myopia and endeavoured to elucidate possible mechanisms involved in this process. In this narrative review, we (1) summarize the current knowledge concerning light modulation of ocular growth and refractive error development based on studies in human and animal models, (2) summarize potential neurobiological mechanisms involved in the effects of light on ocular growth and emmetropization and (3) highlight a potential pathway for the translational development of noninvasive light-therapy strategies for myopia prevention in children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Dan Milea
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore
| | - Raymond P Najjar
- Visual Neurosciences Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, Discovery Tower Level 6, Singapore 169856
| |
Collapse
|