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Jacobs M, El-Rashedy M, Fowler N, Shirkey B, Kitchens J, Maldonado RS. ANATOMICAL AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES OF BEVACIZUMAB TREATMENT IN PEDIATRIC AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE BESTROPHINOPATHY. Retin Cases Brief Rep 2024; 18:378-386. [PMID: 36729806 PMCID: PMC11027967 DOI: 10.1097/icb.0000000000001390] [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: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to report functional and anatomical outcomes of anti-VEGF treatment in eyes with autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB) presenting in the first decade of life. METHODS The study included case series of four eyes from two siblings with compound heterozygous mutations in the BEST1 gene who were treated with eight monthly intravitreal bevacizumab injections. Response to treatment was analyzed using color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography, OCT angiography, and microperimetry. RESULTS Patient 1 (male, age 9 years) had visual acuity of 20/20 in the right eye and 20/50 in the left eye. Patient 2 (female, age 10 years) had visual acuity of 20/25 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. All eyes had multifocal subretinal deposition of lipofuscin and subretinal fluid, and three eyes had choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Lipofuscin material reabsorbed in 2 of 4 eyes, the CNV regressed in 3 of 3 eyes, a bacillary detachment resolved in 1 of 1 eye, but the subretinal fluid did not change. Functional improvement in visual acuity was noted, but MP showed scattered areas of reduced retinal sensitivity. No ocular or systemic side effects were detected. CONCLUSION Anti-VEGF treatment of choroidal neovascularization in eyes with ARB resulted in anatomical changes that were only clinically significant in the eye with decreased visual acuity. The hyporeflective subretinal material remained unchanged suggesting a nonexudative cause. These findings provide new insights into the management of ARB, especially in pediatric subjects with CNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell Jacobs
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - May El-Rashedy
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Nicholas Fowler
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | | | - John Kitchens
- Retina Associates of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky; and
| | - Ramiro S. Maldonado
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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Wu V, Swider M, Sumaroka A, Dufour VL, Vance JE, Aleman TS, Aguirre GD, Beltran WA, Cideciyan AV. Retinal response to light exposure in BEST1-mutant dogs evaluated with ultra-high resolution OCT. Vision Res 2024; 218:108379. [PMID: 38460402 PMCID: PMC11009038 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2024.108379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Mutations in BEST1 cause an autosomal recessive disease in dogs where the earliest changes localize to the photoreceptor-RPE interface and show a retina-wide micro-detachment that is modulated by light exposure. The purpose of this study was to define the spatial and temporal details of the outer retina and its response to light with ultra-high resolution OCT across a range of ages and with different BEST1 mutations. Three retinal regions were selected in each eye: near the fovea-like area, near the optic nerve, both in the tapetal area, and inferior to the optic nerve in the non-tapetal area. The OS+ slab thickness was defined between the peak near the junction of inner and outer segments (IS/OS) and the transition between basal RPE, Bruch membrane, choriocapillaris and proximal tapetum (RPE/T). In wildtype (WT) dogs, two tapetal regions showed additional hyperscattering OCT peaks within the OS+ slab likely representing cone and rod outer segment tips (COST and ROST). The inferior non-tapetal region of WT dogs had only one of these peaks, likely ROST. In dogs with BEST1 mutations, all three locations showed a single peak, likely suggesting optical silence of COST. Light-dependent expansion of the micro-detachment by about 10 um was detectable in both tapetal and non-tapetal retina across all ages and BEST1 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Wu
- Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Malgorzata Swider
- Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Alexander Sumaroka
- Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Valerie L Dufour
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Tomas S Aleman
- Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Gustavo D Aguirre
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - William A Beltran
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Artur V Cideciyan
- Center for Hereditary Retinal Degenerations, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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Du X, Butler AG, Chen HY. Cell-cell interaction in the pathogenesis of inherited retinal diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1332944. [PMID: 38500685 PMCID: PMC10944940 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1332944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The retina is part of the central nervous system specialized for vision. Inherited retinal diseases (IRD) are a group of clinically and genetically heterogenous disorders that lead to progressive vision impairment or blindness. Although each disorder is rare, IRD accumulatively cause blindness in up to 5.5 million individuals worldwide. Currently, the pathophysiological mechanisms of IRD are not fully understood and there are limited treatment options available. Most IRD are caused by degeneration of light-sensitive photoreceptors. Genetic mutations that abrogate the structure and/or function of photoreceptors lead to visual impairment followed by blindness caused by loss of photoreceptors. In healthy retina, photoreceptors structurally and functionally interact with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Müller glia (MG) to maintain retinal homeostasis. Multiple IRD with photoreceptor degeneration as a major phenotype are caused by mutations of RPE- and/or MG-associated genes. Recent studies also reveal compromised MG and RPE caused by mutations in ubiquitously expressed ciliary genes. Therefore, photoreceptor degeneration could be a direct consequence of gene mutations and/or could be secondary to the dysfunction of their interaction partners in the retina. This review summarizes the mechanisms of photoreceptor-RPE/MG interaction in supporting retinal functions and discusses how the disruption of these processes could lead to photoreceptor degeneration, with an aim to provide a unique perspective of IRD pathogenesis and treatment paradigm. We will first describe the biology of retina and IRD and then discuss the interaction between photoreceptors and MG/RPE as well as their implications in disease pathogenesis. Finally, we will summarize the recent advances in IRD therapeutics targeting MG and/or RPE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Holly Y. Chen
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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4
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Bianco L, Arrigo A, Antropoli A, Saladino A, Aragona E, Bandello F, Parodi MB. Non-vasogenic cystoid maculopathy in autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy: novel insights from NIR-FAF and OCTA imaging. Ophthalmic Genet 2024; 45:44-50. [PMID: 37041716 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2023.2191711] [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: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autosomal Recessive Bestrophinopathy (ARB) is an inherited retinal disease caused by biallelic mutations in the BEST1 gene. Herein, we report the multimodal imaging findings of ARB presenting with cystoid maculopathy and investigate the short-term response to combined systemic and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs). MATERIAL AND METHODS An observational, prospective, case series on two siblings affected by ARB is presented. Patients underwent genetic testing and optical coherence tomography (OCT), blue-light fundus autofluorescence (BL-FAF), near-infrared fundus autofluorescence (NIR-FAF), fluorescein angiography (FA), MultiColor imaging, and OCT angiography (OCTA). RESULTS Two male siblings, aged 22 and 16, affected by ARB resulting from c.598C>T, p.(Arg200*) and c.728C>A, p.(Ala243Glu) BEST1 compound heterozygous variants, presented with bilateral multifocal yellowish pigment deposits scattered through the posterior pole that corresponded to hyperautofluorescent deposits on BL-FAF. Vice versa, NIR-FAF mainly disclosed wide hypoautofluorescent areas in the macula. A cystoid maculopathy and shallow subretinal fluid were evident on structural OCT, albeit without evidence of dye leakage or pooling on FA. OCTA demonstrated disruption of the choriocapillaris throughout the posterior pole and sparing of intraretinal capillary plexuses. Six months of combined therapy with oral acetazolamide and topical brinzolamide resulted in limited clinical benefit. CONCLUSIONS We reported two siblings affected by ARB, presenting as non-vasogenic cystoid maculopathy. Prominent alteration of NIR-FAF signal and concomitant choriocapillaris rarefaction on OCTA were noted in the macula. The limited short-term response to combined systemic and topical CAIs might be explained by the impairment of the RPE-CC complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Bianco
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Arrigo
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Antropoli
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Saladino
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Aragona
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Bandello
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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Petersen-Jones SM, Komáromy AM. Canine and Feline Models of Inherited Retinal Diseases. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041286. [PMID: 37217283 PMCID: PMC10835616 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Naturally occurring inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) in cats and dogs provide a rich source of potential models for human IRDs. In many cases, the phenotypes between the species with mutations of the homologous genes are very similar. Both cats and dogs have a high-acuity retinal region, the area centralis, an equivalent to the human macula, with tightly packed photoreceptors and higher cone density. This and the similarity in globe size to that of humans means these large animal models provide information not obtainable from rodent models. The established cat and dog models include those for Leber congenital amaurosis, retinitis pigmentosa (including recessive, dominant, and X-linked forms), achromatopsia, Best disease, congenital stationary night blindness and other synaptic dysfunctions, RDH5-associated retinopathy, and Stargardt disease. Several of these models have proven to be important in the development of translational therapies such as gene-augmentation therapies. Advances have been made in editing the canine genome, which necessitated overcoming challenges presented by the specifics of canine reproduction. Feline genome editing presents fewer challenges. We can anticipate the generation of specific cat and dog IRD models by genome editing in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon M Petersen-Jones
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - András M Komáromy
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
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Bianco L, Arrigo A, Antropoli A, Berni A, Saladino A, Vilela MAP, Mansour AM, Bandello F, Battaglia Parodi M. Multimodal imaging in Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy: Literature review and novel insights. Eur J Ophthalmol 2024; 34:39-51. [PMID: 36972471 PMCID: PMC10757402 DOI: 10.1177/11206721231166434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy (BVMD) is a dominantly inherited retinal disease caused by dominant variants in the BEST1 gene. The original classification of BVMD is based on biomicroscopy and color fundus photography (CFP); however, advancements in retinal imaging provided unique structural, vascular, and functional data and novel insights on disease pathogenesis. Quantitative fundus autofluorescence studies informed us that lipofuscin accumulation, the hallmark of BVMD, is unlikely to be a primary effect of the genetic defect. It could be due to a lack of apposition between photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium in the macula with subsequent accumulation of shed outer segments over time. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and adaptive optics imaging revealed that vitelliform lesions are characterized by progressive changes in the cone mosaic corresponding to a thinning of the outer nuclear layer and then disruption of the ellipsoid zone, which are associated with a decreased sensitivity and visual acuity. Therefore, an OCT staging system based on lesion composition, thus reflecting disease evolution, has been recently developed. Lastly, the emerging role of OCT Angiography proved a greater prevalence of macular neovascularization, the majority of which are non-exudative and develop in late disease stages. In conclusion, effective diagnosis, staging, and clinical management of BVMD will likely require a deep understanding of the multimodal imaging features of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Bianco
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Arrigo
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Antropoli
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Berni
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Saladino
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuel AP Vilela
- Clinical Surgery, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ahmad M Mansour
- Department of Ophthalmology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rafic Hariri University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Francesco Bandello
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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Cohen SY, Chowers I, Nghiem-Buffet S, Mrejen S, Souied E, Gaudric A. Subretinal autofluorescent deposits: A review and proposal for clinical classification. Surv Ophthalmol 2023; 68:1050-1070. [PMID: 37392968 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.06.009] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Subretinal autofluorescent deposits (SADs) may be found in the posterior pole, associated with very various conditions. These disorders usually present a typical pattern of autofluorescent lesions seen on short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence. We describe SADs according to their putative pathophysiological origin and also according to their clinical pattern, i.e., number, shape, and usual location. Five main putative pathophysiological origins of SADs were identified in disorders associated with an intrinsic impairment of phagocytosis and protein transportation, with excess of retinal pigment epithelium phagocytic capacity, with direct or indirect retinal pigment epithelium injury, and/or disorders associated with long-standing serous retinal detachment with mechanical separation between the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptor outer segments. Clinically, however, they could be classified into eight subclasses of SADs, as observed on fundus autofluorescence as follows: single vitelliform macular lesion, multiple roundish or vitelliform lesions, multiple peripapillary lesions, flecked lesions, leopard-spot lesions, macular patterned lesions, patterned lesions located in the same area as the causal disorder, or nonpatterned lesions. Thus, if multimodal imaging may be required to diagnose the cause of SADs, the proposed classification based on noninvasive, widely available short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence could guide clinicians in making their diagnosis decision tree before considering the use of more invasive tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salomon Yves Cohen
- Ophthalmology Center for Imaging and Laser, Paris, France; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France.
| | - Itay Chowers
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Hospital, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Sarah Mrejen
- Ophthalmology Center for Imaging and Laser, Paris, France
| | - Eric Souied
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Alain Gaudric
- Ophthalmology Center for Imaging and Laser, Paris, France; Department of Ophthalmology, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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Antonio-Aguirre B, Ling C, Singh MS. Very Large Cystoid Macular Lesions Identified Using Outlier Analysis of Genetically Confirmed Inherited Retinal Disease Cases. Ophthalmic Genet 2023; 44:430-436. [PMID: 37246744 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2023.2212757] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cystoid macular lesions (CML) in inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) can contribute to vision impairment. Studying the morphologic range and outlier presentations of CML may inform clinical associations, mechanistic research, and trial design. Thus, we aim to describe the distribution of optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters in IRD cases with CML and identify phenotype-genotype associations in very large cystoid macular lesions (VLCML). MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study retrieved clinical information from electronic records from January 2020 to December 2021. VLCML cases were identified using the robust distance (Mahalanobis) of the correlation between central foveal thickness (CFT) and total macular volume (TMV) and a 99.9% probability ellipse. The distribution of OCT parameters was calculated by genotype and phenotype. RESULTS We included 173 eyes of 103 subjects. The median age was 55.9 (interquartile range [IQR], 37.9, 63.7) and 47.6% (49/103) were females. Patients had disease-causing mutations in 30 genes. The most common genes included USH2A (n = 18), RP1 (n = 12), and ABCA4 (n = 11). Robust distance analysis showed that the prevalence of VLCML was 1.94% (n = 2 patients, 4 eyes). VLCML was seen in cases of NR2E3 (119-2A>C) and BEST1 (1120_1121insG) mutations. The median CFT in cases without VLCML was 269 µm (IQR 209, 318.50) while the median for VLCML cases was 1,490 µm (IQR 1,445.50, 1,548.00) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Subjects with different IRD genotypes may develop VLCMLs. Future studies could consider the range and outlier values of CML foveal thickness when determining inclusion criteria and biostatistical plans for observational and interventional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlthan Ling
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mandeep S Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Amato A, Wongchaisuwat N, Lamborn A, Schmidt R, Everett L, Yang P, Pennesi ME. Gene therapy in bestrophinopathies: Insights from preclinical studies in preparation for clinical trials. Saudi J Ophthalmol 2023; 37:287-295. [PMID: 38155675 PMCID: PMC10752275 DOI: 10.4103/sjopt.sjopt_175_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The BEST1 gene encodes bestrophin-1, a homopentameric ion channel expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), where it localizes to the basolateral plasma membrane. Pathogenic variants in this gene can cause different autosomal dominant and recessive inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), collectively named "bestrophinopathies." These disorders share a number of clinical and molecular features that make them an appealing target for gene therapy. Clinically, bestrophinopathies are often slowly progressive with a wide window of opportunity, and the presence of subretinal material (vitelliform deposits and/or fluid) as a hallmark of these conditions provides an easily quantifiable endpoint in view of future clinical trials. From a molecular standpoint, most BEST1 pathogenic variants have been shown to cause either loss of function (LOF) of the protein or a dominant-negative (DN) effect, with a smaller subset causing a toxic gain of function (GOF). Both LOF and DN mutations may be amenable to gene augmentation alone. On the other hand, individuals harboring GOF variants would require a combination of gene silencing and gene augmentation, which has been shown to be effective in RPE cells derived from patients with Best disease. In this article, we review the current knowledge of BEST1-related IRDs and we discuss how their molecular and clinical features are being used to design novel and promising therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Amato
- Department of Ophthalmic Genetics, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Nida Wongchaisuwat
- Department of Ophthalmic Genetics, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Andrew Lamborn
- Department of Ophthalmic Genetics, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Ryan Schmidt
- Department of Ophthalmic Genetics, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Lesley Everett
- Department of Ophthalmic Genetics, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Paul Yang
- Department of Ophthalmic Genetics, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Mark E. Pennesi
- Department of Ophthalmic Genetics, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
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Daich Varela M, Georgiadis A, Michaelides M. Genetic treatment for autosomal dominant inherited retinal dystrophies: approaches, challenges and targeted genotypes. Br J Ophthalmol 2023; 107:1223-1230. [PMID: 36038193 DOI: 10.1136/bjo-2022-321903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) have been in the front line of gene therapy development for the last decade, providing a useful platform to test novel therapeutic approaches. More than 40 clinical trials have been completed or are ongoing, tackling autosomal recessive and X-linked conditions, mostly through adeno-associated viral vector delivery of a normal copy of the disease-causing gene. However, only recently has autosomal dominant (ad) disease been targeted, with the commencement of a trial for rhodopsin (RHO)-associated retinitis pigmentosa (RP), implementing antisense oligonucleotide (AON) therapy, with promising preliminary results (NCT04123626).Autosomal dominant RP represents 15%-25% of all RP, with RHO accounting for 20%-30% of these cases. Autosomal dominant macular and cone-rod dystrophies (MD/CORD) correspond to approximately 7.5% of all IRDs, and approximately 35% of all MD/CORD cases, with the main causative gene being BEST1 Autosomal dominant IRDs are not only less frequent than recessive, but also tend to be less severe and have later onset; for example, an individual with RHO-adRP would typically become severely visually impaired at an age 2-3 times older than in X-linked RPGR-RP.Gain-of-function and dominant negative aetiologies are frequently seen in the prevalent adRP genes RHO, RP1 and PRPF31 among others, which would not be effectively addressed by gene supplementation alone and need creative, novel approaches. Zinc fingers, RNA interference, AON, translational read-through therapy, and gene editing by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas are some of the strategies that are currently under investigation and will be discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malena Daich Varela
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Michel Michaelides
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
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Sabbaghi H, Madani S, Ahmadieh H, Daftarian N, Suri F, Khorrami F, Saviz P, Shahriari MH, Motevasseli T, Fekri S, Nourinia R, Moradian S, Sheikhtaheri A. A health terminological system for inherited retinal diseases: Content coverage evaluation and a proposed classification. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281858. [PMID: 37540684 PMCID: PMC10403057 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To present a classification of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) and evaluate its content coverage in comparison with common standard terminology systems. METHODS In this comparative cross-sectional study, a panel of subject matter experts annotated a list of IRDs based on a comprehensive review of the literature. Then, they leveraged clinical terminologies from various reference sets including Unified Medical Language System (UMLS), Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED-CT) and Orphanet Rare Disease Ontology (ORDO). RESULTS Initially, we generated a hierarchical classification of 62 IRD diagnosis concepts in six categories. Subsequently, the classification was extended to 164 IRD diagnoses after adding concepts from various standard terminologies. Finally, 158 concepts were selected to be classified into six categories and genetic subtypes of 412 cases were added to the related concepts. UMLS has the greatest content coverage of 90.51% followed respectively by SNOMED-CT (83.54%), ORDO (81.01%), OMIM (60.76%), and ICD-11 (60.13%). There were 53 IRD concepts (33.54%) that were covered by all five investigated systems. However, 2.53% of the IRD concepts in our classification were not covered by any of the standard terminologies. CONCLUSIONS This comprehensive classification system was established to organize IRD diseases based on phenotypic and genotypic specifications. It could potentially be used for IRD clinical documentation purposes and could also be considered a preliminary step forward to developing a more robust standard ontology for IRDs or updating available standard terminologies. In comparison, the greatest content coverage of our proposed classification was related to the UMLS Metathesaurus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamideh Sabbaghi
- Ophthalmic Epidemiology Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Optometry, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sina Madani
- Department of HealthIT, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Hamid Ahmadieh
- Ophthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Narsis Daftarian
- Ocular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Suri
- Ophthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farid Khorrami
- Department of Health Information Technology, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Proshat Saviz
- Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hasan Shahriari
- Department of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahmineh Motevasseli
- Ophthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahba Fekri
- Ophthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramin Nourinia
- Ophthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Siamak Moradian
- Ophthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Sheikhtaheri
- Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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12
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Li Y, Bracha P, Aleman TS, Brucker AJ. ADULT-ONSET BEST1 -VITELLIFORM DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATED WITH ANGIOID STREAK-LIKE CHANGES IN TWO SIBLINGS. Retin Cases Brief Rep 2023; 17:256-260. [PMID: 34001763 DOI: 10.1097/icb.0000000000001164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE To describe the association between autosomal dominant Best disease and peripapillary angioid streak-like changes. METHODS Case report of two siblings. RESULTS A 76-year-old White man was referred for evaluation of bilateral macular changes and worsening visual distortion over the preceding 2 years. Best-corrected visual acuity measured 20/30 in the right eye and 20/80 in the left eye. Funduscopic examination revealed multifocal yellow lesions in the posterior pole that were hyperautofluorescent on short-wavelength excitation and corresponded with subretinal hyperreflective material on optical coherence tomography. The posterior pole examination was interesting because of the juxtapapillary involvement of the vitelliform lesions and the presence of bilateral peripapillary angioid streak-like changes despite no history of conditions associated with angioid streaks. On further workup, an electrooculogram revealed reduced Arden ratios and a known heterozygous missense mutation in BEST1 (c.903T>G; p .D301E) was found. The patient's 69-year-old younger brother was brought in and found to have a remarkably similar phenotype, including the presence of angioid streak-like changes associated with the same BEST1 mutation. CONCLUSION These two cases demonstrate the possibility of late-onset multifocal vitelliform disease due to dominantly inherited BEST1 . A consistent phenotype in this family with macular lesions extending into the peripapillary region, associated with angioid streak-like changes, suggests susceptibility of this region to changes in dominant BEST1 -vitelliform macular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafeng Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. P. Bracha is now at Gundersen Eye Institute, Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin
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13
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Han IC, Coussa RG, Mansoor M, Critser DB, Sohn EH, Russell JF, Stone EM. Choroidal Neovascularization Is Common in Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy and Plays a Role in Vitelliform Lesion Evolution. Ophthalmol Retina 2023; 7:441-449. [PMID: 36528270 PMCID: PMC10164042 DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2022.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is usually considered to be a late-stage complication in Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD) and can be difficult to diagnose with fluorescein angiography. This study used swept-source (SS) OCT angiography (OCTA) to evaluate the prevalence of CNV in BVMD, identify structural features associated with CNV, and provide insight into the role of CNV in vitelliform lesion evolution. DESIGN Institutional review board-approved, retrospective, cross-sectional, and longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS Patients with molecularly confirmed BVMD. METHODS Charts from consecutive patients with BVMD imaged with SS-OCTA (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl-Zeiss Meditec Inc) at the University of Iowa from September 2017 to October 2021 were reviewed. Clinical data, including age, gender, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and treatment with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections were recorded. The presence of CNV on SS-OCTA was determined by expert graders and correlated with structural features, such as interstitial fluid, subretinal fluid, nodular subretinal pillar, focal choroidal excavation (FCE), and subfoveal choroidal thickness, with a P value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Presence of CNV on SS-OCTA and correlation with structural features on SS-OCT. RESULTS A total of 53 eyes from 27 patients (13 women; 48.1%) were included. The mean age was 45 years (range, 8-79 years), and the mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution BCVA was 0.38 (range, 0-1). Choroidal neovascularization was identified on SS-OCTA in 27 eyes (50.9%), of which 63.0% had a vitelliform (Gass stage 2) lesion. In 40.7% (11 of 27) of eyes, there was no prior clinical diagnosis of CNV. Other structural features associated with CNV included FCEs (15.1%, 8 of 53 eyes) and nodular pillars (15.1%, 8 of 53 eyes) (P < 0.01). Seven patients had available longitudinal imaging, and most of these patients had CNV visible on SS-OCTA (71.4%; 10 of 14 eyes). CONCLUSION Choroidal neovascularization is common in BVMD, including in the early stages of the disease. The presence of FCEs or nodular pillars should heighten the clinical suspicion of CNV, which may accelerate vitelliform lesion evolution. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C Han
- Iowa Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
| | - Razek Georges Coussa
- Iowa Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Dean McGee Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Mahsaw Mansoor
- Iowa Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - D Brice Critser
- Iowa Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Elliott H Sohn
- Iowa Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Jonathan F Russell
- Iowa Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Edwin M Stone
- Iowa Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
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14
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Iwagawa T, Masumoto H, Tabuchi H, Tani K, Conklin BR, Watanabe S. Evaluation of CRISPR/Cas9 exon-skipping vector for choroideremia using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE. J Gene Med 2023; 25:e3464. [PMID: 36413603 PMCID: PMC9898118 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3464] [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: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exon-skipping is a powerful genetic tool, especially when delivering genes using an AAV-mediated full-length gene supplementation strategy is difficult owing to large length of genes. Here, we used engineered human induced pluripotent stem cells and artificial intelligence to evaluate clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein 9-based exon-skipping vectors targeting genes of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The model system was choroideremia; this is an X-linked inherited retinal disease caused by mutation of the CHM gene. METHODS We explored whether artificial intelligence detected differentiation of human OTX2, PAX6 and MITF (hOPM) cells, in which OTX2, PAX6 and MITF expression was induced by doxycycline treatment, into RPE. Plasmid encoding CHM exon-skipping modules targeting the splice donor sites of exons 6 were constructed. A clonal hOPM cell line with a frameshift mutation in exon 6 was generated and differentiated into RPE. CHM exon 6-skipping was induced, and the effects of skipping on phagocytic activity, cell death and prenylation of Rab small GTPase (RAB) were evaluated using flow cytometry, an in vitro prenylation assay and western blotting. RESULTS Artificial intelligence-based evaluation of RPE differentiation was successful. Retinal pigment epithelium cells with a frameshift mutation in exon 6 showed increased cell death, reduced phagocytic activity and increased cytosolic unprenylated RABs only when oxidative stress was in play. The latter two phenotypes were partially rescued by exon 6-skipping of CHM. CONCLUSIONS CHM exon 6-skipping contributed to RPE phagocytosis probably by increasing RAB38 prenylation under oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiro Iwagawa
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Retinal Biology and Pathology, University of Tokyo Hospital, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Masumoto
- Xeno Hoc, inc
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tsukazaki Hospital, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Tabuchi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tsukazaki Hospital, Hyogo, Japan
- Department of Technology and Design Thinking for Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kenzaburo Tani
- Laboratory of ALA Advanced Medical Research, Institute for quantitative Biosciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Bruce R. Conklin
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Medicine, Ophthalmology & Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States, USA
| | - Sumiko Watanabe
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Retinal Biology and Pathology, University of Tokyo Hospital, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Morgan CE, Zhang Z, Miyagi M, Golczak M, Yu EW. Toward structural-omics of the bovine retinal pigment epithelium. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111876. [PMID: 36577381 PMCID: PMC9875382 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of an integrated systems biology approach to investigate tissues and organs has been thought to be impracticable in the field of structural biology, where the techniques mainly focus on determining the structure of a particular biomacromolecule of interest. Here, we report the use of cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) to define the composition of a raw bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) lysate. From this sample, we simultaneously identify and solve cryo-EM structures of seven different RPE enzymes whose functions affect neurotransmitter recycling, iron metabolism, gluconeogenesis, glycolysis, axonal development, and energy homeostasis. Interestingly, dysfunction of these important proteins has been directly linked to several neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia. Our work underscores the importance of cryo-EM in facilitating tissue and organ proteomics at the atomic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E. Morgan
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,Department of Chemistry, Thiel College, Greenville, PA 16125, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Zhemin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Masaru Miyagi
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Marcin Golczak
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Edward W. Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA,Lead contact,Correspondence:
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16
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Cideciyan AV, Jacobson SG, Swider M, Sumaroka A, Sheplock R, Krishnan AK, Garafalo AV, Guziewicz KE, Aguirre GD, Beltran WA, Heon E. Photoreceptor Function and Structure in Autosomal Dominant Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy Caused by BEST1 Mutations. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:12. [PMID: 36512348 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.13.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate rod and cone function and outer retinal structure within macular lesions, and surrounding extralesional areas of patients with autosomal dominant Best vitelliform macular dystrophy caused by BEST1 mutations. Methods Seventeen patients from seven families were examined with dark- and light-adapted chromatic perimetry and optical coherence tomography. Subsets of patients had long-term follow-up (14-22 years, n = 6) and dark-adaptation kinetics measured (n = 5). Results Within central lesions with large serous retinal detachments, rod sensitivity was severely reduced but visual acuity and cone sensitivity were relatively retained. In surrounding extralesional areas, there was a mild but detectable widening of the subretinal space in some patients and some retinal areas. Available evidence was consistent with subretinal widening causing slower dark-adaptation kinetics. Over long-term follow-up, some eyes showed formation of de novo satellite lesions at retinal locations that years previously demonstrated subretinal widening. A subclinical abnormality consisting of a retina-wide mild thickening of the outer nuclear layer was evident in many patients and thickening increased in the subset of patients with long-term follow-up. Conclusions Outcome measures for future clinical trials should include evaluations of rod sensitivity within central lesions and quantitative measures of outer retinal structure in normal-appearing regions surrounding the lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur V Cideciyan
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Samuel G Jacobson
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Malgorzata Swider
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Alexander Sumaroka
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Rebecca Sheplock
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Arun K Krishnan
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Alexandra V Garafalo
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Karina E Guziewicz
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Gustavo D Aguirre
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - William A Beltran
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Elise Heon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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17
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Wei X, Roy R, Saurabh K, Sen P, Bhende M, Shelke K, Finocchio L, Sodi A, Virgili G, Invernizzi A, Salvetti AP, Mishra C, Agrawal R. Optical Coherence Tomography-Based Choroidal Structural Analysis and Vascularity Index in Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy. Ophthalmol Ther 2022; 11:2141-2152. [DOI: 10.1007/s40123-022-00567-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
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18
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Pandey RS, Krebs MP, Bolisetty MT, Charette JR, Naggert JK, Robson P, Nishina PM, Carter GW. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Molecular Features of Heterogeneity in the Murine Retinal Pigment Epithelium. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:10419. [PMID: 36142331 PMCID: PMC9499471 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptomic analysis of the mammalian retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) aims to identify cellular networks that influence ocular development, maintenance, function, and disease. However, available evidence points to RPE cell heterogeneity within native tissue, which adds complexity to global transcriptomic analysis. Here, to assess cell heterogeneity, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of RPE cells from two young adult male C57BL/6J mice. Following quality control to ensure robust transcript identification limited to cell singlets, we detected 13,858 transcripts among 2667 and 2846 RPE cells. Dimensional reduction by principal component analysis and uniform manifold approximation and projection revealed six distinct cell populations. All clusters expressed transcripts typical of RPE cells; the smallest (C1, containing 1-2% of total cells) exhibited the hallmarks of stem and/or progenitor (SP) cells. Placing C1-6 along a pseudotime axis suggested a relative decrease in melanogenesis and SP gene expression and a corresponding increase in visual cycle gene expression upon RPE maturation. K-means clustering of all detected transcripts identified additional expression patterns that may advance the understanding of RPE SP cell maintenance and the evolution of cellular metabolic networks during development. This work provides new insights into the transcriptome of the mouse RPE and a baseline for identifying experimentally induced transcriptional changes in future studies of this tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi S. Pandey
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Dr., Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Mark P. Krebs
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Mohan T. Bolisetty
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Dr., Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | | | | | - Paul Robson
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Dr., Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Patsy M. Nishina
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
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19
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Hemptinne C, Willermain F, de Jong C, Postolache L, Postelmans L. Autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy associated with compound heterozygous variants in the BEST1 gene. Ophthalmic Genet 2022; 44:318-320. [PMID: 36062537 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2022.2116649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Coralie Hemptinne
- Ophthalmology Department, CHU Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - François Willermain
- Ophthalmology Department, CHU Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Ophthalmology Department, CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Casper de Jong
- Ophthalmology Department, Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lavinia Postolache
- Ophthalmology Department, Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence Postelmans
- Ophthalmology Department, CHU Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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20
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Non-vasogenic cystoid maculopathies. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 91:101092. [PMID: 35927124 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Besides cystoid macular edema due to a blood-retinal barrier breakdown, another type of macular cystoid spaces referred to as non-vasogenic cystoid maculopathies (NVCM) may be detected on optical coherence tomography but not on fluorescein angiography. Various causes may disrupt retinal cell cohesion or impair retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Müller cell functions in the maintenance of retinal dehydration, resulting in cystoid spaces formation. Tractional causes include vitreomacular traction, epiretinal membranes and myopic foveoschisis. Surgical treatment does not always allow cystoid space resorption. In inherited retinal dystrophies, cystoid spaces may be part of the disease as in X-linked retinoschisis or enhanced S-cone syndrome, or occur occasionally as in bestrophinopathies, retinitis pigmentosa and allied diseases, congenital microphthalmia, choroideremia, gyrate atrophy and Bietti crystalline dystrophy. In macular telangiectasia type 2, cystoid spaces and cavitations do not depend on the fluid leakage from telangiectasia. Various causes affecting RPE function may result in NVCM such as chronic central serous chorioretinopathy and paraneoplastic syndromes. Non-exudative age macular degeneration may also be complicated by intraretinal cystoid spaces in the absence of fluorescein leakage. In these diseases, cystoid spaces occur in a context of retinal cell loss. Various causes of optic atrophy, including open-angle glaucoma, result in microcystoid spaces in the inner nuclear layer due to a retrograde transsynaptic degeneration. Lastly, drug toxicity may also induce cystoid maculopathy. Identifying NVCM on multimodal imaging, including fluorescein angiography if needed, allows guiding the diagnosis of the causative disease and choosing adequate treatment when available.
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21
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Liu T, Aguilera N, Bower AJ, Li J, Ullah E, Dubra A, Cukras C, Brooks BP, Jeffrey BG, Hufnagel RB, Huryn LA, Zein WM, Tam J. Photoreceptor and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Relationships in Eyes With Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy Revealed by Multimodal Adaptive Optics Imaging. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:27. [PMID: 35900727 PMCID: PMC9344216 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.8.27] [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 assess the structure of cone photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitelliform macular dystrophy (VMD) arising from various genetic etiologies. Methods Multimodal adaptive optics (AO) imaging was performed in 11 patients with VMD using a custom-assembled instrument. Non-confocal split detection and AO-enhanced indocyanine green were used to visualize the cone photoreceptor and RPE mosaics, respectively. Cone and RPE densities were measured and compared across BEST1-, PRPH2-, IMPG1-, and IMPG2-related VMD. Results Within macular lesions associated with VMD, both cone and RPE densities were reduced below normal, to 37% of normal cone density (eccentricity 0.2 mm) and to 8.4% of normal RPE density (eccentricity 0.5 mm). Outside of lesions, cone and RPE densities were slightly reduced (both to 92% of normal values), but with high degree of variability in the individual measurements. Comparison of juxtalesional cone and RPE measurements (<1 mm from the lesion edge) revealed significant differences in RPE density across the four genes (P < 0.05). Overall, cones were affected to a greater extent than RPE in patients with IMPG1 and IMPG2 pathogenic variants, but RPE was affected more than cones in BEST1 and PRPH2 VMD. This trend was observed even in contralateral eyes from a subset of five patients who presented with macular lesions in only one eye. Conclusions Assessment of cones and RPE in retinal locations outside of the macular lesions reveals a pattern of cone and RPE disruption that appears to be gene dependent in VMD. These findings provide insight into the cellular pathogenesis of disease in VMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Liu
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9864-3896
| | - Nancy Aguilera
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0863-596X
| | - Andrew J Bower
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1645-5950
| | - Joanne Li
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2845-2490
| | - Ehsan Ullah
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0107-6608
| | - Alfredo Dubra
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6506-9020
| | - Catherine Cukras
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Brian P Brooks
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1916-7551
| | - Brett G Jeffrey
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9549-0644
| | - Robert B Hufnagel
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3015-3545
| | - Laryssa A Huryn
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0309-9419
| | - Wadih M Zein
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3771-6120
| | - Johnny Tam
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.,https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2300-0567
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22
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Liu B, Cong C, Li Z, Hao L, Yuan X, Wang W, Shi Y, Liu T. Analysis of the aqueous humor lipid profile in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Exp Eye Res 2022; 222:109160. [PMID: 35753432 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the lipid profiles of aqueous humor from polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) patients and identify potential biomarkers to increase the understanding of PCV pathomechanism. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry based untargeted lipidomic analysis was performed to acquire lipid profiles of aqueous humor of PCV patients and control subjects. Differentially expressed lipids were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. A receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was conducted to confirm the potential of identified lipids as biomarkers. Sixteen PCV patients and twenty-eight control subjects were enrolled in this study. In total, we identified 33 lipid classes and 639 lipid species in aqueous humor using the LipidSearch software. Of them, 50 differential lipids were obtained by combining univariate and multivariate statistical analyses (VIP>1 and P < 0.05), and 19 potential lipid biomarkers were identified by ROC analysis. In addition, significant alterations were found in several metabolic pathways, including glycerophospholipid, glycerolipid, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor biosynthesis. This study is the first to systematically characterize the alterations in lipid profiles in aqueous humor of PCV patients and screen for the potential lipid biomarkers for PCV diagnosis and treatment intervention. The results of this study are likely to broaden our understanding of the pathogenesis of PCV and contribute to improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, China
| | - Chenyang Cong
- Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250002, China
| | - Zhongen Li
- Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250002, China; Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250002, China
| | - Linlin Hao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, China
| | - Xiaomeng Yuan
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Wenqi Wang
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Yanmei Shi
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China.
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23
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Tebbe L, Sakthivel H, Makia MS, Kakakhel M, Conley SM, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Prph2 disease mutations lead to structural and functional defects in the RPE. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22284. [PMID: 35344225 PMCID: PMC10599796 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101562rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Prph2 is a photoreceptor-specific tetraspanin with an essential role in the structure and function of photoreceptor outer segments. PRPH2 mutations cause a multitude of retinal diseases characterized by the degeneration of photoreceptors as well as defects in neighboring tissues such as the RPE. While extensive research has analyzed photoreceptors, less attention has been paid to these secondary defects. Here, we use different Prph2 disease models to evaluate the damage of the RPE arising from photoreceptor defects. In Prph2 disease models, the RPE exhibits structural abnormalities and cell loss. Furthermore, RPE functional defects are observed, including impaired clearance of phagocytosed outer segment material and increased microglia activation. The severity of RPE damage is different between models, suggesting that the different abnormal outer segment structures caused by Prph2 disease mutations lead to varying degrees of RPE stress and thus influence the clinical phenotype observed in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Tebbe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Haarthi Sakthivel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mustafa S. Makia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mashal Kakakhel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Shannon M. Conley
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Muayyad R. Al-Ubaidi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Muna I. Naash
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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24
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Collin GB, Shi L, Yu M, Akturk N, Charette JR, Hyde LF, Weatherly SM, Pera MF, Naggert JK, Peachey NS, Nishina PM, Krebs MP. A Splicing Mutation in Slc4a5 Results in Retinal Detachment and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2220. [PMID: 35216333 PMCID: PMC8875008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluid and solute transporters of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) are core components of the outer blood-retinal barrier. Characterizing these transporters and their role in retinal homeostasis may provide insights into ocular function and disease. Here, we describe RPE defects in tvrm77 mice, which exhibit hypopigmented patches in the central retina. Mapping and nucleotide sequencing of tvrm77 mice revealed a disrupted 5' splice donor sequence in Slc4a5, a sodium bicarbonate cotransporter gene. Slc4a5 expression was reduced 19.7-fold in tvrm77 RPE relative to controls, and alternative splice variants were detected. SLC4A5 was localized to the Golgi apparatus of cultured human RPE cells and in apical and basal membranes. Fundus imaging, optical coherence tomography, microscopy, and electroretinography (ERG) of tvrm77 mice revealed retinal detachment, hypopigmented patches corresponding to neovascular lesions, and retinal folds. Detachment worsened and outer nuclear layer thickness decreased with age. ERG a- and b-wave response amplitudes were initially normal but declined in older mice. The direct current ERG fast oscillation and light peak were reduced in amplitude at all ages, whereas other RPE-associated responses were unaffected. These results link a new Slc4a5 mutation to subretinal fluid accumulation and altered light-evoked RPE electrophysiological responses, suggesting that SLC4A5 functions at the outer blood-retinal barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayle B. Collin
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Lanying Shi
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Minzhong Yu
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (M.Y.); (N.S.P.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Nurten Akturk
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Jeremy R. Charette
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Lillian F. Hyde
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Sonia M. Weatherly
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Martin F. Pera
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Jürgen K. Naggert
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Neal S. Peachey
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (M.Y.); (N.S.P.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Patsy M. Nishina
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Mark P. Krebs
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
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25
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Różanowska MB, Różanowski B. Photodegradation of Lipofuscin in Suspension and in ARPE-19 Cells and the Similarity of Fluorescence of the Photodegradation Product with Oxidized Docosahexaenoate. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020922. [PMID: 35055111 PMCID: PMC8778276 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal lipofuscin accumulates with age in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), where its fluorescence properties are used to assess retinal health. It was observed that there is a decrease in lipofuscin fluorescence above the age of 75 years and in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the response of lipofuscin isolated from human RPE and lipofuscin-laden cells to visible light, and to determine whether an abundant component of lipofuscin, docosahexaenoate (DHA), can contribute to lipofuscin fluorescence upon oxidation. Exposure of lipofuscin to visible light leads to a decrease in its long-wavelength fluorescence at about 610 nm, with a concomitant increase in the short-wavelength fluorescence. The emission spectrum of photodegraded lipofuscin exhibits similarity with that of oxidized DHA. Exposure of lipofuscin-laden cells to light leads to a loss of lipofuscin granules from cells, while retaining cell viability. The spectral changes in fluorescence in lipofuscin-laden cells resemble those seen during photodegradation of isolated lipofuscin. Our results demonstrate that fluorescence emission spectra, together with quantitation of the intensity of long-wavelength fluorescence, can serve as a marker useful for lipofuscin quantification and for monitoring its oxidation, and hence useful for screening the retina for increased oxidative damage and early AMD-related changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata B. Różanowska
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
- Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER), Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-2920875057
| | - Bartosz Różanowski
- Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Kraków, 30-084 Kraków, Poland;
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26
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Korkka I, Skottman H, Nymark S. OUP accepted manuscript. Stem Cells Transl Med 2022; 11:753-766. [PMID: 35639962 PMCID: PMC9299513 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szac029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is extensively used in RPE research, disease modeling, and transplantation therapies. For successful outcomes, a thorough evaluation of their physiological authenticity is a necessity. Essential determinants of this are the different ion channels of the RPE, yet studies evaluating this machinery in hPSC-RPE are scarce. We examined the functionality and localization of potassium (K+) channels in the human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived RPE. We observed a heterogeneous pattern of voltage-gated K+ (KV) and inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) channels. Delayed rectifier currents were recorded from most of the cells, and immunostainings showed the presence of KV1.3 channel. Sustained M-currents were also present in the hESC-RPE, and based on immunostaining, these currents were carried by KCNQ1-KCNQ5 channel types. Some cells expressed transient A-type currents characteristic of native human fetal RPE (hfRPE) and cultured primary RPE and carried by KV1.4 and KV4.2 channels. Of the highly important Kir channels, we found that Kir7.1 is present both at the apical and basolateral membranes of the hESC- and fresh native mouse RPE. Kir currents, however, were recorded only from 14% of the hESC-RPE cells with relatively low amplitudes. Compared to previous studies, our data suggest that in the hESC-RPE, the characteristics of the delayed rectifier and M-currents resemble native adult RPE, while A-type and Kir currents resemble native hfRPE or cultured primary RPE. Overall, the channelome of the RPE is a sensitive indicator of maturity and functionality affecting its therapeutic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iina Korkka
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Heli Skottman
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Soile Nymark
- Corresponding author: Soile Nymark, PhD, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland. Tel: +358 40 849 0009; E-mail:
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27
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Lewandowski D, Sander CL, Tworak A, Gao F, Xu Q, Skowronska-Krawczyk D. Dynamic lipid turnover in photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium throughout life. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 89:101037. [PMID: 34971765 PMCID: PMC10361839 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.101037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The retinal pigment epithelium-photoreceptor interphase is renewed each day in a stunning display of cellular interdependence. While photoreceptors use photosensitive pigments to convert light into electrical signals, the RPE supports photoreceptors in their function by phagocytizing shed photoreceptor tips, regulating the blood retina barrier, and modulating inflammatory responses, as well as regenerating the 11-cis-retinal chromophore via the classical visual cycle. These processes involve multiple protein complexes, tightly regulated ligand-receptors interactions, and a plethora of lipids and protein-lipids interactions. The role of lipids in maintaining a healthy interplay between the RPE and photoreceptors has not been fully delineated. In recent years, novel technologies have resulted in major advancements in understanding several facets of this interplay, including the involvement of lipids in phagocytosis and phagolysosome function, nutrient recycling, and the metabolic dependence between the two cell types. In this review, we aim to integrate the complex role of lipids in photoreceptor and RPE function, emphasizing the dynamic exchange between the cells as well as discuss how these processes are affected in aging and retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Lewandowski
- Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, School of Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Christopher L Sander
- Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, School of Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Aleksander Tworak
- Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, School of Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Fangyuan Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, School of Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Qianlan Xu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Center for Translational Vision Research, School of Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, School of Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Center for Translational Vision Research, School of Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, School of Medicine, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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28
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Small KW, Jampol LM, Bakall B, Small L, Wiggins R, Agemy S, Udar N, Avetisjan J, Vincent A, Shaya FS. Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy (BVMD) is a phenocopy of North Carolina Macular Dystrophy (NCMD/MCDR1). Ophthalmic Genet 2021; 43:1-11. [PMID: 34895015 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2021.2010771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE North Carolina Macular Dystrophy (NCMD) and Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy (BVMD) are rare autosomal dominant macular dystrophies. Both BVMD and NCMD have markedly variable expressivity. In some individuals, it can be difficult to differentiate between the two disease entities. METHODS Clinical findings including fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were evaluated in 5 individuals with NCMD and 3 with BMD. Electrooculography (EOG) was performed in 2 NCMD subjects. Molecular diagnosis was performed using Sanger DNA sequencing. IRB approval was obtained. RESULTS Five NCMD subjects had clinical findings indistinguishable from three of our BVMD subjects. Molecular diagnosis was confirmed in all but one BVMD subject who had an abnormal EOG prior to discovery of the BEST1 gene. Two NCMD subjects had an abnormal EOG with a normal ERG, which has been considered a unique feature of BVMD. SD-OCT in one BVMD subject demonstrated a small lucency/excavation into the choroid similar to that in grade 3 lesions of NCMD. Two NCMD subjects had elevated sub-macular lesions giving a pseudo-vitelliform appearance on OCT similar to BVMD. CONCLUSION Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy can be a phenocopy of NCMD. There is considerable clinical overlap between NCMD and BVMD, which can cause diagnostic inaccuracies. Our new findings demonstrate that like BVMD, NCMD can also have an abnormal EOG with a normal ERG. The overlapping phenotypes of BVMD with NCMD may provide insights into the mechanisms of the macular changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kent W Small
- Department of ophthalmology, Molecular Insight Research Foundation, Glendale and Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of ophthalmology, Macula and Retina Institute, Glendale and Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lee M Jampol
- Department of ophthalmology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Benjamin Bakall
- Department of ophthalmology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Leslie Small
- Department of ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Robert Wiggins
- Department of ophthalmology, Asheville Eye Associates, North Carolina, USA
| | - Steven Agemy
- Department of ophthalmology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Nitin Udar
- Department of ophthalmology, Molecular Insight Research Foundation, Glendale and Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of ophthalmology, Macula and Retina Institute, Glendale and Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jessica Avetisjan
- Department of ophthalmology, Molecular Insight Research Foundation, Glendale and Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of ophthalmology, Macula and Retina Institute, Glendale and Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Andrea Vincent
- Department of ophthalmology, University of Auckland, New Zealand Eye Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Fadi S Shaya
- Department of ophthalmology, Molecular Insight Research Foundation, Glendale and Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of ophthalmology, Macula and Retina Institute, Glendale and Los Angeles, California, USA
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29
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Marinho LFLP, Occelli LM, Bortolini M, Sun K, Winkler PA, Montiani-Ferreira F, Petersen-Jones SM. Development of retinal bullae in dogs with progressive retinal atrophy. Vet Ophthalmol 2021; 25:109-117. [PMID: 34708922 PMCID: PMC10074838 DOI: 10.1111/vop.12932] [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: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report the development of focal bullous retinal detachments (bullae) in dogs with different forms of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). PROCEDURES Dogs with three distinct forms of PRA (PRA-affected Whippets, German Spitzes and CNGB1-mutant Papillon crosses) were examined by indirect ophthalmoscopy and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Retinal bullae were monitored over time. One CNGB1-mutant dog was treated with gene augmentation therapy. The canine BEST1 gene coding region and flanking intronic sequence was sequenced in at least one affected dog of each breed. RESULTS Multiple focal bullous retinal detachments (bullae) were identified in PRA-affected dogs of all three types. They developed in 4 of 5 PRA-affected Whippets, 3 of 8 PRA-affected Germans Spitzes and 15 of 20 CNGB1-mutant dogs. The bullae appeared prior to marked retinal degeneration and became less apparent as retinal degeneration progressed. Bullae were not seen in any heterozygous animals of any of the types of PRA. Screening of the coding region and flanking intronic regions of the canine BEST1 gene failed to reveal any associated pathogenic variants. Retinal gene augmentation therapy in one of the CNGB1-mutant dogs appeared to prevent formation of bullae. CONCLUSIONS Retinal bullae were identified in dogs with three distinct forms of progressive retinal atrophy. The lesions develop prior to retinal thinning. This clinical change should be monitored for in dogs with PRA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Felipe L P Marinho
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Laurence M Occelli
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Mariza Bortolini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Kelian Sun
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Paige A Winkler
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Simon M Petersen-Jones
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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30
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Dhingra A, Sharp RC, Kim T, Popov AV, Ying GS, Pietrofesa RA, Park K, Christofidou-Solomidou M, Boesze-Battaglia K. Assessment of a Small Molecule Synthetic Lignan in Enhancing Oxidative Balance and Decreasing Lipid Accumulation in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5764. [PMID: 34071220 PMCID: PMC8198017 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual function depends on the intimate structural, functional and metabolic interactions between the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the neural retina. The daily phagocytosis of the photoreceptor outer segment tips by the overlaying RPE provides essential nutrients for the RPE itself and photoreceptors through intricate metabolic synergy. Age-related retinal changes are often characterized by metabolic dysregulation contributing to increased lipid accumulation and peroxidation as well as the release of proinflammatory cytokines. LGM2605 is a synthetic lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) with free radical scavenging, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties demonstrated in diverse in vitro and in vivo inflammatory disease models. In these studies, we tested the hypothesis that LGM2605 may be an attractive small-scale therapeutic that protects RPE against inflammation and restores its metabolic capacity under lipid overload. Using an in vitro model in which loss of the autophagy protein, LC3B, results in defective phagosome degradation and metabolic dysregulation, we show that lipid overload results in increased gasdermin cleavage, IL-1 β release, lipid accumulation and decreased oxidative capacity. The addition of LGM2605 resulted in enhanced mitochondrial capacity, decreased lipid accumulation and amelioration of IL-1 β release in a model of defective lipid homeostasis. Collectively, these studies suggest that lipid overload decreases mitochondrial function and increases the inflammatory response, with LGM2605 acting as a protective agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Dhingra
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (A.D.); (R.C.S.)
| | - Rachel C. Sharp
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (A.D.); (R.C.S.)
| | - Taewan Kim
- Department of Periodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Anatoliy V. Popov
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Gui-Shuang Ying
- Center for Preventive Ophthalmology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (G.-S.Y.); (K.P.)
| | - Ralph A. Pietrofesa
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (R.A.P.); (M.C.-S.)
| | - Kyewon Park
- Center for Preventive Ophthalmology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (G.-S.Y.); (K.P.)
| | - Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (R.A.P.); (M.C.-S.)
| | - Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (A.D.); (R.C.S.)
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31
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La Cunza N, Tan LX, Thamban T, Germer CJ, Rathnasamy G, Toops KA, Lakkaraju A. Mitochondria-dependent phase separation of disease-relevant proteins drives pathological features of age-related macular degeneration. JCI Insight 2021; 6:142254. [PMID: 33822768 PMCID: PMC8262309 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.142254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) damages the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), the tissue that safeguards photoreceptor health, leading to irreversible vision loss. Polymorphisms in cholesterol and complement genes are implicated in AMD, yet mechanisms linking risk variants to RPE injury remain unclear. We sought to determine how allelic variants in the apolipoprotein E cholesterol transporter modulate RPE homeostasis and function. Using live-cell imaging, we show that inefficient cholesterol transport by the AMD risk-associated ApoE2 increases RPE ceramide, leading to autophagic defects and complement-mediated mitochondrial damage. Mitochondrial injury drives redox state–sensitive cysteine-mediated phase separation of ApoE2, forming biomolecular condensates that could nucleate drusen. The protective ApoE4 isoform lacks these cysteines and is resistant to phase separation and condensate formation. In Abca–/– Stargardt macular degeneration mice, mitochondrial dysfunction induces liquid-liquid phase separation of p62/SQSTM1, a multifunctional protein that regulates autophagy. Drugs that decrease RPE cholesterol or ceramide prevent mitochondrial injury and phase separation in vitro and in vivo. In AMD donor RPE, mitochondrial fragmentation correlates with ApoE and p62 condensates. Our studies demonstrate that major AMD genetic and biological risk pathways converge upon RPE mitochondria, and identify mitochondrial stress-mediated protein phase separation as an important pathogenic mechanism and promising therapeutic target in AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilsa La Cunza
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, and.,Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Graduate Program, Graduate Division, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Li Xuan Tan
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, and
| | | | - Colin J Germer
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, and.,Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Graduate Program, Graduate Division, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Kimberly A Toops
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Aparna Lakkaraju
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, and.,Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Graduate Program, Graduate Division, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.,Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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Soto-Sierra M, Morillo-Sánchez MJ, Martín-Sánchez M, Ramos-Jiménez M, López-Domínguez M, Ponte-Zuñiga B, Antiñolo G, Rodríguez-de-la-Rúa E. Novel BEST1 mutations and clinical characteristics of autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy in a Spanish patient. Eur J Ophthalmol 2021; 32:NP77-NP81. [PMID: 33866859 DOI: 10.1177/11206721211010615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe the clinical and genetic characteristics (novel mutation in BEST1 gene) of a Spanish patient with autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB). METHODS The detailed ophthalmological examination included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), color and autofluorescence photography, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and electrophysiology tests. A next-generation sequencing (NGS) strategy was applied to the index patient, and then sequenced in an Illumina NextSeq500 system. RESULTS A 55-year-old male presented with a BCVA of 20/25 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. Fundoscopy revealed perifoveal yellow flecked-like lesions. Fluorescein angiography and fundus autofluorescence results were consistent with pattern dystrophy. A homozygous frameshift mutation in BEST1 (c.341_342del; p.(Leu114Glnfs*57)) was identified as the cause of the disease. CONCLUSION ARB is a genetic disease that leads to irreversible visual loss. In this report we found a novel mutation responsible for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Soto-Sierra
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Marta Martín-Sánchez
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Manuel Ramos-Jiménez
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Beatriz Ponte-Zuñiga
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain.,Retics Oftared, Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Guillermo Antiñolo
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Seville, Spain
| | - Enrique Rodríguez-de-la-Rúa
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain.,Retics Oftared, Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Singh Grewal S, Smith JJ, Carr AJF. Bestrophinopathies: perspectives on clinical disease, Bestrophin-1 function and developing therapies. Ther Adv Ophthalmol 2021; 13:2515841421997191. [PMID: 33738427 PMCID: PMC7934022 DOI: 10.1177/2515841421997191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bestrophinopathies are a group of clinically distinct inherited retinal dystrophies that typically affect the macular region, an area synonymous with central high acuity vision. This spectrum of disorders is caused by mutations in bestrophin1 (BEST1), a protein thought to act as a Ca2+-activated Cl- channel in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the eye. Although bestrophinopathies are rare, over 250 individual pathological mutations have been identified in the BEST1 gene, with many reported to have various clinical expressivity and incomplete penetrance. With no current clinical treatments available for patients with bestrophinopathies, understanding the role of BEST1 in cells and the pathological pathways underlying disease has become a priority. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology is helping to uncover disease mechanisms and develop treatments for RPE diseases, like bestrophinopathies. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the pathophysiology of bestrophinopathies and highlight how patient-derived iPSC-RPE are being used to test new genomic therapies in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph J Smith
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Amanda-Jayne F Carr
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
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MERTK-Dependent Ensheathment of Photoreceptor Outer Segments by Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 14:374-389. [PMID: 32160519 PMCID: PMC7066375 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of a healthy photoreceptor-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) interface is essential for vision. At the center of this interface, apical membrane protrusions stemming from the RPE ensheath photoreceptor outer segments (POS), and are possibly involved in the recycling of POS through phagocytosis. The molecules that regulate POS ensheathment and its relationship to phagocytosis remain to be deciphered. By means of ultrastructural analysis, we revealed that Mer receptor tyrosine kinase (MERTK) ligands, GAS6 and PROS1, rather than αVβ5 integrin receptor ligands, triggered POS ensheathment by human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived RPE. Furthermore, we found that ensheathment is required for POS fragmentation before internalization. Consistently, POS ensheathment, fragmentation, and internalization were abolished in MERTK mutant RPE, and rescue of MERTK expression in retinitis pigmentosa (RP38) patient RPE counteracted these defects. Our results suggest that loss of ensheathment due to MERTK dysfunction might contribute to vision impairment in RP38 patients. POS are ensheathed in vitro by human embryonic stem cell-derived RPE POS ensheathment is upregulated by MERTK ligands: GAS6 and PROS1 αVβ5 integrin receptor ligands do not stimulate POS ensheathment MERTK is essential for POS ensheathment and fragmentation before internalization
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35
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Lu ZG, May A, Dinh B, Lin V, Su F, Tran C, Adivikolanu H, Ehlen R, Che B, Wang ZH, Shaw DH, Borooah S, Shaw PX. The interplay of oxidative stress and ARMS2-HTRA1 genetic risk in neovascular AMD. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 5. [PMID: 34017939 PMCID: PMC8133762 DOI: 10.20517/2574-1209.2020.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in adults over 60 years old globally. There are two forms of advanced AMD: “dry” and “wet”. Dry AMD is characterized by geographic atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium and overlying photoreceptors in the macular region; whereas wet AMD is characterized by vascular penetrance from the choroid into the retina, known as choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Both phenotypes eventually lead to loss of central vision. The pathogenesis of AMD involves the interplay of genetic polymorphisms and environmental risk factors, many of which elevate retinal oxidative stress. Excess reactive oxygen species react with cellular macromolecules, forming oxidation-modified byproducts that elicit chronic inflammation and promote CNV. Additionally, genome-wide association studies have identified several genetic variants in the age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2/high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 (ARMS2-HTRA1) locus associated with the progression of late-stage AMD, especially the wet subtype. In this review, we will focus on the interplay of oxidative stress and HTRA1 in drusen deposition, chronic inflammation, and chronic angiogenesis. We aim to present a multifactorial model of wet AMD progression, supporting HTRA1 as a novel therapeutic target upstream of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the conventional target in AMD therapeutics. By inhibiting HTRA1’s proteolytic activity, we can reduce pro-angiogenic signaling and prevent proteolytic breakdown of the blood-retina barrier. The anti-HTRA1 approach offers a promising alternative treatment option to wet AMD, complementary to anti-VEGF therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Gang Lu
- Department of Neurology, First People's Hospital of Jingmen, Jingchu University of Technology, Jingmen 448000, Hubei, China.,Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Adam May
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Brian Dinh
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Victor Lin
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Fei Su
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Christina Tran
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Harini Adivikolanu
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Rachael Ehlen
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Briana Che
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Zhi-Hao Wang
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Daniel H Shaw
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Westview High School, San Diego, CA 92131, USA
| | - Shyamanga Borooah
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Peter X Shaw
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Shah M, Broadgate S, Shanks M, Clouston P, Yu J, MacLaren RE, Németh AH, Halford S, Downes SM. Association of Clinical and Genetic Heterogeneity With BEST1 Sequence Variations. JAMA Ophthalmol 2021; 138:544-551. [PMID: 32239196 DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.0666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Importance Detailed phenotypic information on the spectrum of fundus abnormalities and clinical variability of all phenotypes associated with sequence variations in BEST1 is limited. Objective To report a detailed phenotypic and genetic analysis of a patient cohort with sequence variations in BEST1. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective case series took place at the Oxford Eye Hospital in Oxford, UK. Thirty-six patients from a single center with disease-causing sequence variations in BEST1 from 25 different families were analyzed. Data were collected from November 2017 to June 2018, and analysis began April 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures Results of ocular phenotyping and genetic testing using targeted next-generation sequencing to identify BEST1 sequence variations. Results Thirty-six patients from 25 families with disease-causing sequence variations in BEST1 were included. Of 36 patients, 20 (55.6%) were female. Three distinct clinical phenotypes were identified: autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB), best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD), and adult-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy. The ARB phenotype group comprised 18 patients from 9 families with age in years at symptom onset ranging from less than 10 to 40s. All patients showed a common phenotype of fundus autofluorescence abnormalities, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography features were similar in all patients with schitic and cystoid changes. A phenotype of a beaten metallic retinal appearance extending from the mid periphery to the far periphery was identified in 8 patients. Four patients from 1 family with ARB were previously reported to have autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa but were reclassified as having ARB as part of this study. The BVMD phenotype group comprised 16 patients from 14 families with age at symptom onset ranging from less than 10 to 70s. Fundus features were localized to the macula and consistent with the stage of BVMD. In the adult-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy phenotype group, the age in years at symptom onset varied from 50s to 70s in 2 patients from 2 families. Fundus features included small vitelliform lesions. Where available, electro-oculogram results demonstrated a reduced or absent light rise in all patients with ARB and BVMD. Genetic testing identified 22 variants in BEST1. Conclusions and Relevance These findings support the notion that ARB, BVMD, and adult-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy are clinically distinct and recognizable phenotypes and suggest that the association of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa with sequence variations in BEST1 should be rereviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mital Shah
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Suzanne Broadgate
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Morag Shanks
- Oxford Medical Genetics Laboratories, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Penny Clouston
- Oxford Medical Genetics Laboratories, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jing Yu
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert E MacLaren
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea H Németh
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie Halford
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Susan M Downes
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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A Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium-Based Screening Platform Reveals Inducers of Photoreceptor Outer Segments Phagocytosis. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 15:1347-1361. [PMID: 33242397 PMCID: PMC7724476 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Phagocytosis is a key function in various cells throughout the body. A deficiency in photoreceptor outer segment (POS) phagocytosis by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) causes vision loss in inherited retinal diseases and possibly age-related macular degeneration. To date, there are no effective therapies available aiming at recovering the lost phagocytosis function. Here, we developed a high-throughput screening assay based on RPE derived from human embryonic stem cells (hRPE) to reveal enhancers of POS phagocytosis. One of the hits, ramoplanin (RM), reproducibly enhanced POS phagocytosis and ensheathment in hRPE, and enhanced the expression of proteins known to regulate membrane dynamics and ensheathment in other cell systems. Additionally, RM rescued POS internalization defect in Mer receptor tyrosine kinase (MERTK) mutant hRPE, derived from retinitis pigmentosa patient induced pluripotent stem cells. Our platform, including a primary phenotypic screening phagocytosis assay together with orthogonal assays, establishes a basis for RPE-based therapy discovery aiming at a broad patient spectrum.
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38
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Bonilha VL, Bell BA, DeBenedictis MJ, Hagstrom SA, Fishman GA, Hollyfield JG. Cellular Changes in Retinas From Patients With BEST1 Mutations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:573330. [PMID: 33154968 PMCID: PMC7591587 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.573330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Best disease (BD), also known as vitelliform macular dystrophy, is an inherited disease of the central retina caused by more than 300 pathogenic variants in the BEST1 gene. The phenotype of BD is variable, and there are just a few reports on the histopathology of eyes from donors with BD. Here, we describe the histopathological comparison of donor’s eyes from two patients with BD. Eyes obtained from 85-year-old (donor 1) and 65-year-old (donor 2) donors were fixed within 25 h postmortem. Perifoveal and peripheral retinal regions were processed for histology and immunocytochemistry using retinal-specific and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-specific antibodies. Three age-matched normal eyes were used as controls. DNA was obtained from donor blood samples. Sequence analysis of the entire BEST1 coding region was performed and identified a c.886A > C (p.Asn296His) variant in donor 1 and a c.602T > C (p.Ile201Thr) variant in donor 2; both mutations were heterozygous. Fundus examination showed that donor 1 displayed a macular lesion with considerable scarring while donor 2 displayed close to normal macular morphology. Our studies of histology and molecular pathology in the perifovea and periphery of these two BD donor eyes revealed panretinal abnormalities in both photoreceptors and RPE cellular levels in the periphery; donor 1 also displayed macular lesion. Our findings confirm the phenotypic variability of BD associated with BEST1 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera L Bonilha
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Brent A Bell
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Meghan J DeBenedictis
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Stephanie A Hagstrom
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Gerald A Fishman
- Pangere Center at The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Joe G Hollyfield
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
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NOVEL BEST1 MUTATIONS DETECTED BY NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING IN A CHINESE POPULATION WITH VITELLIFORM MACULAR DYSTROPHY. Retina 2020; 39:1613-1622. [PMID: 29781975 DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000002183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize novel BEST1 mutations and the phenotype-genotype correlations in vitelliform macular dystrophy in a Chinese population. METHODS Seventeen individuals affected by vitelliform macular dystrophy underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations, including a best-corrected visual acuity test, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography angiography. Next-generation sequencing was used to screen 790 genes frequently involved in common inherited nonsyndromic eye diseases in all participants. Sanger sequencing was used to identify possible disease-causing variants. RESULTS The mean ± SD age of the patients was 44.20 ± 15.09 (range: 16-69) years. Seven novel BEST1 mutations were identified: six heterozygous missense (p.Thr307Asn, p.Ile295The, p.Leu75Pro, p.Thr2Ser, p.Ser79Tyr, and p.Val81Leu) and one frameshift (p.Glu115GlufsX120) mutation. Choroidal neovascularization was detected in two probands. One individual presented with subfoveal focal choroidal excavation. Arden ratios obtained by electrooculography were less than the 1.5 cutoff value in 7 patients. No mutations were identified in 2 patients, one of whom had a fundus appearance typical of vitelliform macular dystrophy and a decreased Arden ratio (1.2/1.2). CONCLUSION Patients with the same heterozygous BEST1 mutations exhibited varying phenotypes. Our results have expanded the BEST1 mutation spectrum in a Chinese population with vitelliform macular dystrophy.
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40
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Tan LX, Germer CJ, La Cunza N, Lakkaraju A. Complement activation, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial injury: Converging pathways in age-related macular degeneration. Redox Biol 2020; 37:101781. [PMID: 33162377 PMCID: PMC7767764 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the primary site of injury in non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration or dry AMD. Polymorphisms in genes that regulate complement activation and cholesterol metabolism are strongly associated with AMD, but the biology underlying disease-associated variants is not well understood. Here, we highlight recent studies that have used molecular, biochemical, and live-cell imaging methods to elucidate mechanisms by which aging-associated insults conspire with AMD genetic risk variants to tip the balance towards disease. We discuss how critical functions including lipid metabolism, autophagy, complement regulation, and mitochondrial dynamics are compromised in the RPE, and how a deeper understanding of these mechanisms has helped identify promising therapeutic targets to preserve RPE homeostasis in AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Xuan Tan
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Colin J Germer
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nilsa La Cunza
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aparna Lakkaraju
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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41
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Lee JH, Oh JO, Lee CS. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Modeling of Best Disease and Autosomal Recessive Bestrophinopathy. Yonsei Med J 2020; 61:816-825. [PMID: 32882766 PMCID: PMC7471084 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2020.61.9.816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To understand the pathophysiology of Best disease (BD) and autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB) by establishing an in vitro model using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Human iPSC lines were generated from mononuclear cells in peripheral blood of one ARB patient, one autosomal dominant BD patient, and two normal controls. Immunocytochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in iPSC lines were conducted to demonstrate the pluripotent markers. After the differentiation of iPSC into functional retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), morphological characteristics of the RPE were evaluated using confocal microscopy and immunocytochemistry. The rates of fluid flow across iPSC-RPE monolayer were measured to compare apical to basal fluid transports by RPE. RNA sequencing was performed on iPSC-RPE to identify the differences in gene expression profiles, and specific gene sets were tested using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. RESULTS Morphological characteristics, gene expression, and epithelial integrity of ARB iPSC were comparable to those of BD patient or normal control. Fluid transport from apical to basal was significantly decreased in ARB iPSC-RPE compared with BD iPSC-RPE or control iPSC-RPE. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis confirmed that ARB iPSC-RPE exhibited significant enrichments of epithelial-mesenchymal transition gene set and TNF-α signaling via NF-κB gene set compared to control iPSC-RPE or BD iPSC-RPE. CONCLUSION A human iPSC model of ARB showed a functional deficiency rather than anatomical defects. ARB may be caused by RPE dysfunction following BEST1 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hwan Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin Ok Oh
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Christopher Seungkyu Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Sinha D, Steyer B, Shahi PK, Mueller KP, Valiauga R, Edwards KL, Bacig C, Steltzer SS, Srinivasan S, Abdeen A, Cory E, Periyasamy V, Siahpirani AF, Stone EM, Tucker BA, Roy S, Pattnaik BR, Saha K, Gamm DM. Human iPSC Modeling Reveals Mutation-Specific Responses to Gene Therapy in a Genotypically Diverse Dominant Maculopathy. Am J Hum Genet 2020; 107:278-292. [PMID: 32707085 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Dominantly inherited disorders are not typically considered to be therapeutic candidates for gene augmentation. Here, we utilized induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (iPSC-RPE) to test the potential of gene augmentation to treat Best disease, a dominant macular dystrophy caused by over 200 missense mutations in BEST1. Gene augmentation in iPSC-RPE fully restored BEST1 calcium-activated chloride channel activity and improved rhodopsin degradation in an iPSC-RPE model of recessive bestrophinopathy as well as in two models of dominant Best disease caused by different mutations in regions encoding ion-binding domains. A third dominant Best disease iPSC-RPE model did not respond to gene augmentation, but showed normalization of BEST1 channel activity following CRISPR-Cas9 editing of the mutant allele. We then subjected all three dominant Best disease iPSC-RPE models to gene editing, which produced premature stop codons specifically within the mutant BEST1 alleles. Single-cell profiling demonstrated no adverse perturbation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) transcriptional programs in any model, although off-target analysis detected a silent genomic alteration in one model. These results suggest that gene augmentation is a viable first-line approach for some individuals with dominant Best disease and that non-responders are candidates for alternate approaches such as gene editing. However, testing gene editing strategies for on-target efficiency and off-target events using personalized iPSC-RPE model systems is warranted. In summary, personalized iPSC-RPE models can be used to select among a growing list of gene therapy options to maximize safety and efficacy while minimizing time and cost. Similar scenarios likely exist for other genotypically diverse channelopathies, expanding the therapeutic landscape for affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Sinha
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Benjamin Steyer
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Pawan K Shahi
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Katherine P Mueller
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Rasa Valiauga
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | | | - Cole Bacig
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Stephanie S Steltzer
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Sandhya Srinivasan
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Amr Abdeen
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Evan Cory
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Viswesh Periyasamy
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | | | - Edwin M Stone
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Budd A Tucker
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Sushmita Roy
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Biostatistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Bikash R Pattnaik
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Krishanu Saha
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - David M Gamm
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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Sun X, Liu T, Sun S, Lu Y, Wang F, Xie Y, Li G, Wang H, Jiang Y, Huang Y. Injury of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium in macular area of a preterm infant: A case analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e21096. [PMID: 32702856 PMCID: PMC7373569 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000021096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONAL Injury of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in macular area of premature infants is very rare. PATIENT CONCERNS A preterm infant delivered under general anesthesia. The infant was born at 28 weeks' and 4 days' gestation, with a birth weight of 1.15 kg and a treatment of oxygen inhalation after birth. According to the related protocol formulated by the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association in 2014, the infant was regularly checked in our hospital. DIAGNOSIS Optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination showed injuries of the photoreceptors and RPE in macular area. INTERVENTIONS The fundus screening at 40 weeks' and 4 days' gestation (corrected gestational age) showed retinopathy of prematurity in bilateral eyes, with round yellow-white lesions at the macular area of right eye and sub-temporal macular area. OCT examination showed interrupted signals in the external limiting membrane (ELM), inner segment of the photoreceptors (IS)/outer segment of the photoreceptors (OS) layer, interdigitation zone (IZ), and RPE of the central fovea of macula of the right eye, with the area of defect of approximately 184 μm. Enhanced signal reflection was found under the defect area. Interrupted signals were also found in the IS/OS layer of the central fovea of macula of the left eye, with the area of defect of approximately 222 μm. Fundus fluorescence angiography (FFA) examination showed transmitted fluorescence at the macular area of the right eye and sub-temporal macular area of the left eye, suggesting retinopathy of prematurity in bilateral eyes. OUTCOMES Several factors, such as photic damage, eye injuries, hyperpyrexia, and underlying diseases, could cause macular retinal injuries. However, the baby had not received any radiation from high energy intense light sources, and had no history of hyperpyrexia or trauma. Fundamental screening was performed 1 year and 4 months of age and no obvious change was found in the round yellow-white lesions of the eyes compared with that in earlier stages. We have contacted with the patient for the follow-up OCT and FFA examinations a month later to check the possible structural changes of the macular area. LESSONS The retina of a preterm infant is underdeveloped, we speculated that the bilateral retinal injuries in this baby could be caused by various factors.
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Zhong Y, Mohan K, Liu J, Al-Attar A, Lin P, Flight RM, Sun Q, Warmoes MO, Deshpande RR, Liu H, Jung KS, Mitov MI, Lin N, Butterfield DA, Lu S, Liu J, Moseley HNB, Fan TWM, Kleinman ME, Wang QJ. Loss of CLN3, the gene mutated in juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, leads to metabolic impairment and autophagy induction in retinal pigment epithelium. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165883. [PMID: 32592935 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL, aka. juvenile Batten disease or CLN3 disease) is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by progressive blindness, seizures, cognitive and motor failures, and premature death. JNCL is caused by mutations in the Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, Neuronal 3 (CLN3) gene, whose function is unclear. Although traditionally considered a neurodegenerative disease, CLN3 disease displays eye-specific effects: Vision loss not only is often one of the earliest symptoms of JNCL, but also has been reported in non-syndromic CLN3 disease. Here we described the roles of CLN3 protein in maintaining healthy retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and normal vision. Using electroretinogram, fundoscopy and microscopy, we showed impaired visual function, retinal autofluorescent lesions, and RPE disintegration and metaplasia/hyperplasia in a Cln3 ~ 1 kb-deletion mouse model [1] on C57BL/6J background. Utilizing a combination of biochemical analyses, RNA-Seq, Seahorse XF bioenergetic analysis, and Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics (SIRM), we further demonstrated that loss of CLN3 increased autophagic flux, suppressed mTORC1 and Akt activities, enhanced AMPK activity, and up-regulated gene expression of the autophagy-lysosomal system in RPE-1 cells, suggesting autophagy induction. This CLN3 deficiency induced autophagy induction coincided with decreased mitochondrial oxygen consumption, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and ATP production. We also reported for the first time that loss of CLN3 led to glycogen accumulation despite of impaired glycogen synthesis. Our comprehensive analyses shed light on how loss of CLN3 affect autophagy and metabolism. This work suggests possible links among metabolic impairment, autophagy induction and lysosomal storage, as well as between RPE atrophy/degeneration and vision loss in JNCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhong
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Kabhilan Mohan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Ahmad Al-Attar
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Penghui Lin
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Robert M Flight
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Qiushi Sun
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Marc O Warmoes
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Rahul R Deshpande
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Huijuan Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Kyung Sik Jung
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Mihail I Mitov
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | | | - D Allan Butterfield
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Shuyan Lu
- Pfizer Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jinze Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Computer Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Hunter N B Moseley
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Teresa W M Fan
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Mark E Kleinman
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Qing Jun Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.
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Gao T, Tian C, Xu H, Tang X, Huang L, Zhao M. Disease-causing mutations associated with bestrophinopathies promote apoptosis in retinal pigment epithelium cells. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2020; 258:2251-2261. [PMID: 32507900 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-020-04636-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD) and autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB) are two kinds of bestrophinopathies which are caused by BEST1 mutations and characterized by accumulation of lipofuscin-like materials on the retinal pigment epithelium cell-photoreceptor interface. In the past two decades, research about the pathogenesis of bestrophinopathies was mainly focused on the anion channel and intracellular Ca2+ signaling, but seldom concentrated on the function of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. In this study, we explored the possible effect of the three BEST1 mutations p.V143F, p.S142G, and p.A146T on the apoptosis in human fetal RPE cells. METHODS Wild-type plasmid and mutant plasmids BEST1-pcDNA3.1 p.V143F, p.S142G, and p.A146T were transfected to human fetal RPE cells. The molecules caspase-3, phospho-Bcl-2, BAX, PARP, and AIF associated with apoptosis were determined by quantitative PCR and Western blot. Apoptotic rate and active Caspase-3 staining were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS Caspase-3 and PARP expression were significantly increased in BEST1-pcDNA3.1 p.S142G and p.A146T group. Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rates were significantly increased in the BEST1-pcDNA3.1 p.V143F, p.S142G, and p.A146T group compared with the wild-type group. CONCLUSIONS For the first time, we found that the three mutations promoted RPE cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the results indicated that BEST1 mutations p.S142G and p.A146T may contribute apoptosis of RPE cells by targeting Caspase 3. Our observations suggested that the apoptosis of RPE cells may be one of the mechanisms in bestrophinopathies, which may provide a new potential therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of Ophthalmology & Clinical Centre of Optometry, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University People's Hospital, Xizhimen South Street 11, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Chengqiang Tian
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Clinical Centre of Optometry, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University People's Hospital, Xizhimen South Street 11, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Xin Tang
- Department of Ophthalmology & Clinical Centre of Optometry, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University People's Hospital, Xizhimen South Street 11, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Lvzhen Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology & Clinical Centre of Optometry, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University People's Hospital, Xizhimen South Street 11, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
| | - Mingwei Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology & Clinical Centre of Optometry, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University People's Hospital, Xizhimen South Street 11, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
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Koster C, Wever KE, Wagstaff EL, Hirk KTVD, Hooijmans CR, Bergen AA. A Systematic Review on Transplantation Studies of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E2719. [PMID: 32295315 PMCID: PMC7216090 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the adjacent light-sensitive photoreceptors form a single functional unit lining the back of the eye. Both cell layers are essential for normal vision. RPE degeneration is usually followed by photoreceptor degeneration and vice versa. There are currently almost no effective therapies available for RPE disorders such as Stargardt disease, specific types of retinitis pigmentosa, and age-related macular degeneration. RPE replacement for these disorders, especially in later stages of the disease, may be one of the most promising future therapies. There is, however, no consensus regarding the optimal RPE source, delivery strategy, or the optimal experimental host in which to test RPE replacement therapy. Multiple RPE sources, delivery methods, and recipient animal models have been investigated, with variable results. So far, a systematic evaluation of the (variables influencing) efficacy of experimental RPE replacement parameters is lacking. Here we investigate the effect of RPE transplantation on vision and vision-based behavior in animal models of retinal degenerated diseases. In addition, we aim to explore the effect of RPE source used for transplantation, the method of intervention, and the animal model which is used. METHODS In this study, we systematically identified all publications concerning transplantation of RPE in experimental animal models targeting the improvement of vision (e.g., outcome measurements related to the morphology or function of the eye). A variety of characteristics, such as species, gender, and age of the animals but also cell type, number of cells, and other intervention characteristics were extracted from all studies. A risk of bias analysis was performed as well. Subsequently, all references describing one of the following outcomes were analyzed in depth in this systematic review: a-, b-, and c-wave amplitudes, vision-based, thickness analyses based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) data, and transplant survival based on scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) data. Meta-analyses were performed on the a- and b-wave amplitudes from electroretinography (ERG) data as well as data from vision-based behavioral assays. RESULTS original research articles met the inclusion criteria after two screening rounds. Overall, most studies were categorized as unclear regarding the risk of bias, because many experimental details were poorly reported. Twenty-three studies reporting one or more of the outcome measures of interest were eligible for either descriptive (thickness analyses based on OCT data; n = 2) or meta-analyses. RPE transplantation significantly increased ERG a-wave (Hedges' g 1.181 (0.471-1.892), n = 6) and b-wave (Hedges' g 1.734 (1.295-2.172), n = 42) amplitudes and improved vision-based behavior (Hedges' g 1.018 (0.826-1.209), n = 96). Subgroup analyses revealed a significantly increased effect of the use of young and adolescent animals compared to adult animals. Moreover, transplanting more cells (in the range of 105 versus in the range of 104) resulted in a significantly increased effect on vision-based behavior as well. The origin of cells mattered as well. A significantly increased effect was found on vision-based behavior when using ARPE-19 and OpRegen® RPE. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review shows that RPE transplantation in animal models for retinal degeneration significantly increases a- and b- wave amplitudes and improves vision-related behavior. These effects appear to be more pronounced in young animals, when the number of transplanted cells is larger and when ARPE-19 and OpRegen® RPE cells are used. We further emphasize that there is an urgent need for improving the reporting and methodological quality of animal experiments, to make such studies more comparable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Koster
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (AUMC), Location Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kimberley E Wever
- Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE), Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ellie L Wagstaff
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (AUMC), Location Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Koen T van den Hirk
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (AUMC), Location Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carlijn R Hooijmans
- Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE), Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Arthur A Bergen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (AUMC), Location Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, AUMC, AMC, UvA, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmogenetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN-KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Proteoglycan IMPG2 Shapes the Interphotoreceptor Matrix and Modulates Vision. J Neurosci 2020; 40:4059-4072. [PMID: 32265257 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2994-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptor neurons are surrounded by an extracellular matrix, called the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM). Activities crucial to vision occur within the IPM, including trafficking of nutrients and metabolites, retinal attachment, and interactions needed for normal outer segment phagocytosis. The IPM includes the following two unique proteoglycans: IPM proteoglycan 1 (IMPG1) and IMPG2. Patients with mutations in IMPG1/IMPG2 develop visual deficits with subretinal material accumulation, highlighting the critical role of the IPM in vision. To determine the role of these proteoglycans in retinal physiology and the pathologic mechanisms that lead to vision loss, we generated mouse models lacking IMPG1/IMPG2. In normal retina, IMPG1 and IMPG2 occupy distinct IPM compartments, represent the main source of chondroitin sulfate and are fundamental for the constitution of the cone-specific glycocalyx stained by the PNA (peanut agglutinin) lectin marker. No evident morphologic or functional deficits were found in mice lacking IMPG1. In the absence of IMPG2, IMPG1 abnormally accumulated at the subretinal space need, likely leading to the formation of subretinal lesions and reduced visual function. Interestingly, mice lacking both IMPG1 and IMPG2, regardless of sex, showed normal retinal structure and function, demonstrating that the aberrant IMPG1 distribution is the main cause of the visual alterations observed in the absence of IMPG2. In conclusion, our results show the dependence of secreted proteoglycans such as IMPG1 on the extracellular environment to properly integrate into the matrix, demonstrate the role of IMPG2 in shaping the IPM, and shed light on the potential mechanisms leading to the development of subretinal lesions and vision loss.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The photoreceptors are specialized neurons that drive phototransduction in the mammalian retina. These cells are organized and surrounded by an extracellular matrix, the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM). Mutations in IPM proteoglycans are associated with blindness in humans. Our studies show that two specific proteoglycans of the IPM, IPM proteoglycan 1 (IMPG1) and IMPG2, form a dynamic structure with distinct localization and dependency. When IMPG2 is absent, IMPG1 cannot integrate into the IPM, leading to abnormal proteoglycan accumulation and visual deficits. This work adds a new layer of understanding to IPM physiology and describes the pathologic events following deficits in proteoglycans, providing novel possibilities for visual restoration in patients with IMPG-related pathologies.
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Ye P, Xu J, Luo Y, Su Z, Yao K. Familial autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy: identification of a novel variant in BEST1 gene and the specific metabolomic profile. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2020; 21:16. [PMID: 31969119 PMCID: PMC6977271 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-020-0951-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB) is a retinal degenerative disorder caused by BEST1 mutations with autosomal recessive inheritance. We aim to map a comprehensive genomic and metabolomic profile of a consanguineous Chinese family with ARB. METHODS Ophthalmic examinations were performed on the affected patients with ARB. The proband was screened for potential causative mutations in a panel with 256 known retinal disease genes by using target capture sequencing. The related mutation was further validated and segregated in the family members by Sanger sequencing. In silico prediction tools were used for pathogenicity assessment. A UHPLC-MS/MS metabolomic analysis was performed to explore the disease-associated metabolic feature. RESULTS The affected patients from this family were characterized by low vision, the presence of subretinal fluid, macular edema, and hyperopia with coincidental angle closure. DNA sequencing identified a novel missense mutation in the BEST1 gene c.646G > A (p.Val216Ile) of the proband. Sanger sequencing further confirmed the mutation. The missense mutation was co-segregation across the pedigree and predicted to be deleterious by SIFT (0.017). The blood metabolic profiles were highly similar among all family members probably because of the same lifestyle, habitat and genomic background. However, ARB patients presented a significant deregulation of metabolites, such as citric acid, L-Threonic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid. CONCLUSIONS We identified a novel disease-associated variant in the BEST1 gene as well as a disease-specific metabolic feature in familial ARB. Our findings helped improve the understanding of ARB mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Ye
- Eye Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Eye Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jia Xu
- Eye Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yueqiu Luo
- Eye Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Eye Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhitao Su
- Eye Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Eye Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ke Yao
- Eye Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Eye Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Cordes M, Bucichowski P, Alfaar AS, Tsang SH, Almedawar S, Reichhart N, Strauß O. Inhibition of Ca 2+ channel surface expression by mutant bestrophin-1 in RPE cells. FASEB J 2020; 34:4055-4071. [PMID: 31930599 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901202rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The BEST1 gene product bestrophin-1, a Ca2+ -dependent anion channel, interacts with CaV 1.3 Ca2+ channels in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). BEST1 mutations lead to Best vitelliform macular dystrophy. A common functional defect of these mutations is reduced trafficking of bestrophin-1 into the plasma membrane. We hypothesized that this defect affects the interaction partner CaV 1.3 channel affecting Ca2+ signaling and altered RPE function. Thus, we investigated the protein interaction between CaV 1.3 channels and bestrophin-1 by immunoprecipitation, CaV 1.3 activity in the presence of mutant bestrophin-1 and intracellular trafficking of the interaction partners in confluent RPE monolayers. We selected four BEST1 mutations, each representing one mutational hotspot of the disease: T6P, F80L, R218C, and F305S. Heterologously expressed L-type channels and mutant bestrophin-1 showed reduced interaction, reduced CaV 1.3 channel activity, and changes in surface expression. Transfection of polarized RPE (porcine primary cells, iPSC-RPE) that endogenously express CaV 1.3 and wild-type bestrophin-1, with mutant bestrophin-1 confirmed reduction of CaV 1.3 surface expression. For the four selected BEST1 mutations, presence of mutant bestrophin-1 led to reduced CaV 1.3 activity by modulating pore-function or decreasing surface expression. Reduced CaV 1.3 activity might open new ways to understand symptoms of Best vitelliform macular dystrophy such as reduced electro-oculogram, lipofuscin accumulation, and vision impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Cordes
- Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a corporate member of Freie Universität, Humboldt-University, the Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Piotr Bucichowski
- Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a corporate member of Freie Universität, Humboldt-University, the Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ahmad S Alfaar
- Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a corporate member of Freie Universität, Humboldt-University, the Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Departments of Ophthalmology Pathology & Cell Biology, Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seba Almedawar
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Center for Regenerative Therapies, Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nadine Reichhart
- Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a corporate member of Freie Universität, Humboldt-University, the Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Olaf Strauß
- Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a corporate member of Freie Universität, Humboldt-University, the Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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Stem Cell Transplantation Therapy for Retinal Degenerative Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1266:127-139. [PMID: 33105499 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-4370-8_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In the past decade, progress in the research on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has provided the solid basis to derive retinal pigment epithelium, photoreceptors, and ganglion cells from hESCs/iPSCs for transplantation therapy of retinal degenerative diseases (RDD). Recently, the iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelium cells have achieved efficacy in treating patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, there is still much work to be done about the differentiation of hESCs/iPSCs into clinically required retinal cells and improvement in the methods to deliver the cells into the retina of patients. Here we will review the research advances in stem cell transplantation in animal studies and clinical trials as well as propose the challenges for improving the clinical efficacy and safety of hESCs/iPSCs-derived retinal neural cells in treating retinal degenerative diseases.
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