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Ran J, Guo G, Zhang S, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Li D, Wu S, Cong Y, Wang X, Xie S, Zhao H, Liu H, Ou G, Zhu X, Zhou J, Liu M. KIF11 UFMylation Maintains Photoreceptor Cilium Integrity and Retinal Homeostasis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400569. [PMID: 38666385 PMCID: PMC11220646 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The photoreceptor cilium is vital for maintaining the structure and function of the retina. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the photoreceptor cilium integrity and retinal homeostasis are largely unknown. Herein, it is shown that kinesin family member 11 (KIF11) localizes at the transition zone (connecting cilium) of the photoreceptor and plays a crucial role in orchestrating the cilium integrity. KIF11 depletion causes malformations of both the photoreceptor ciliary axoneme and membranous discs, resulting in photoreceptor degeneration and the accumulation of drusen-like deposits throughout the retina. Mechanistic studies show that the stability of KIF11 is regulated by an interplay between its UFMylation and ubiquitination; UFMylation of KIF11 at lysine 953 inhibits its ubiquitination by synoviolin 1 and thereby prevents its proteasomal degradation. The lysine 953-to-arginine mutant of KIF11 is more stable than wild-type KIF11 and also more effective in reversing the ciliary and retinal defects induced by KIF11 depletion. These findings identify a critical role for KIF11 UFMylation in the maintenance of photoreceptor cilium integrity and retinal homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ran
- Center for Cell Structure and FunctionShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Guizhi Guo
- Center for Cell Structure and FunctionShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Sai Zhang
- Center for Cell Structure and FunctionShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Yufei Zhang
- Center for Cell Structure and FunctionShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Center for Cell Structure and FunctionShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Dengwen Li
- Department of Genetics and Cell BiologyState Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Life SciencesNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Shian Wu
- Department of Genetics and Cell BiologyState Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Life SciencesNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Yusheng Cong
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang ProvinceInstitute of Aging ResearchSchool of MedicineHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou310036China
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Department of PharmacologyTianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammation BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Songbo Xie
- Center for Cell Structure and FunctionShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Huijie Zhao
- Center for Cell Structure and FunctionShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Hongbin Liu
- Center for Reproductive MedicineCheeloo College of MedicineKey Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of EducationShandong UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Guangshuo Ou
- Tsinghua‐Peking Center for Life SciencesMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Protein ScienceSchool of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Xueliang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyCAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
| | - Jun Zhou
- Center for Cell Structure and FunctionShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
- Department of Genetics and Cell BiologyState Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Life SciencesNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Min Liu
- Laboratory of Tissue HomeostasisHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemTianjin300462China
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Kurzawa-Akanbi M, Tzoumas N, Corral-Serrano JC, Guarascio R, Steel DH, Cheetham ME, Armstrong L, Lako M. Pluripotent stem cell-derived models of retinal disease: Elucidating pathogenesis, evaluating novel treatments, and estimating toxicity. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 100:101248. [PMID: 38369182 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101248] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Blindness poses a growing global challenge, with approximately 26% of cases attributed to degenerative retinal diseases. While gene therapy, optogenetic tools, photosensitive switches, and retinal prostheses offer hope for vision restoration, these high-cost therapies will benefit few patients. Understanding retinal diseases is therefore key to advance effective treatments, requiring in vitro models replicating pathology and allowing quantitative assessments for drug discovery. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) provide a unique solution given their limitless supply and ability to differentiate into light-responsive retinal tissues encompassing all cell types. This review focuses on the history and current state of photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell generation from PSCs. We explore the applications of this technology in disease modelling, experimental therapy testing, biomarker identification, and toxicity studies. We consider challenges in scalability, standardisation, and reproducibility, and stress the importance of incorporating vasculature and immune cells into retinal organoids. We advocate for high-throughput automation in data acquisition and analyses and underscore the value of advanced micro-physiological systems that fully capture the interactions between the neural retina, RPE, and choriocapillaris.
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Wong WM, Tham YC, Simunovic MP, Chen FK, Luu CD, Chen H, Jin ZB, Shen RJ, Li S, Sui R, Zhao C, Yang L, Bhende M, Raman R, Sen P, Ghosh A, Poornachandra B, Sasongko MB, Arianti A, Chia V, Mangunsong CO, Manurung F, Fujinami K, Ikeda H, Woo SJ, Kim SJ, Mohd Khialdin S, Othman O, Bastion MLC, Kamalden AT, Lott PWP, Fong K, Shunmugam M, Lim A, Thapa R, Pradhan E, Rajkarnikar SP, Adhikari S, Ibañez BMBI, Koh A, Chan CMM, Fenner BJ, Tan TE, Laude A, Ngo WK, Holder GE, Su X, Chen TC, Wang NK, Kang EYC, Huang CH, Surawatsatien N, Pisuchpen P, Sujirakul T, Kumaramanickavel G, Singh M, Leroy B, Michaelides M, Cheng CY, Chen LJ, Chan HW. Rationale and protocol paper for the Asia Pacific Network for inherited eye diseases. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) 2024; 13:100030. [PMID: 38233300 DOI: 10.1016/j.apjo.2023.100030] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE There are major gaps in our knowledge of hereditary ocular conditions in the Asia-Pacific population, which comprises approximately 60% of the world's population. Therefore, a concerted regional effort is urgently needed to close this critical knowledge gap and apply precision medicine technology to improve the quality of lives of these patients in the Asia-Pacific region. DESIGN Multi-national, multi-center collaborative network. METHODS The Research Standing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and the Asia-Pacific Society of Eye Genetics fostered this research collaboration, which brings together renowned institutions and experts for inherited eye diseases in the Asia-Pacific region. The immediate priority of the network will be inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), where there is a lack of detailed characterization of these conditions and in the number of established registries. RESULTS The network comprises 55 members from 35 centers, spanning 12 countries and regions, including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. The steering committee comprises ophthalmologists with experience in consortia for eye diseases in the Asia-Pacific region, leading ophthalmologists and vision scientists in the field of IRDs internationally, and ophthalmic geneticists. CONCLUSIONS The Asia Pacific Inherited Eye Disease (APIED) network aims to (1) improve genotyping capabilities and expertise to increase early and accurate genetic diagnosis of IRDs, (2) harmonise deep phenotyping practices and utilization of ontological terms, and (3) establish high-quality, multi-user, federated disease registries that will facilitate patient care, genetic counseling, and research of IRDs regionally and internationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy M Wong
- Centre for Innovation & Precision Eye Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Yih Chung Tham
- Centre for Innovation & Precision Eye Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Matthew P Simunovic
- Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Retinal Unit, Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Fred Kuanfu Chen
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Lions Eye Institute), The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chi D Luu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Haoyu Chen
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center, Shantou University & The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Ren-Juan Shen
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Shiying Li
- Department of Ophthalmology in Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University and Medical Center of Xiamen University, School of Medicine in Xiamen University, Eye Institute of Xiamen University, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Fujian Engineering and Research Center of Eye Regenerative Medicine, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Ruifang Sui
- Department of Ophthalmology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, No. 1, Shuai Fu Yuan, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Zhao
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liping Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Muna Bhende
- Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal services, Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India
| | - Rajiv Raman
- Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal services, Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India
| | - Parveen Sen
- Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal services, Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India; Dr Agarwal Eye Hospital, Chandigarh, India
| | - Arkasubhra Ghosh
- GROW Lab, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - B Poornachandra
- Vitreo-Retina Services, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, India
| | - Muhammad Bayu Sasongko
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada - Sardjito Eye Center, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Alia Arianti
- JEC Eye Hospitals and Clinics, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Valen Chia
- JEC Eye Hospitals and Clinics, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | | | | | - Kaoru Fujinami
- Laboratory of Visual Physiology, Division of Vision Research, National Institute of Sensory Organs, NHO Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hanako Ikeda
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Se Joon Woo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Jin Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Safinaz Mohd Khialdin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; UKM Specialist Children's Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Othmaliza Othman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ain Tengku Kamalden
- UM Eye Research Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pooi Wah Penny Lott
- UM Eye Research Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Amelia Lim
- Ophthalmology, Penang Gleneagles, Malaysia
| | - Raba Thapa
- Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Eli Pradhan
- Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | | | - B Manuel Benjamin Iv Ibañez
- Makati Medical Center, Makati City, Philippines; DOH Eye Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Adrian Koh
- Eye & Retina Surgeons, Camden Medical Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Choi Mun M Chan
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program (EYE ACP), Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Beau J Fenner
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program (EYE ACP), Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Tien-En Tan
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program (EYE ACP), Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Augustinus Laude
- National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei Kiong Ngo
- National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Graham E Holder
- Centre for Innovation & Precision Eye Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Xinyi Su
- Centre for Innovation & Precision Eye Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Ta-Ching Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Center of Frontier Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nan-Kai Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Eugene Yu-Chuan Kang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Hsuan Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nuntachai Surawatsatien
- Center of Excellence in Retina, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Phattrawan Pisuchpen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Division of Academic Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tharikarn Sujirakul
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Mandeep Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Bart Leroy
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Ophthalmology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Michel Michaelides
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ching-Yu Cheng
- Centre for Innovation & Precision Eye Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore
| | - Li Jia Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hwei Wuen Chan
- Centre for Innovation & Precision Eye Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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Kim H, Roh H, Kim SH, Lee K, Im M, Oh SJ. Effective protection of photoreceptors using an inflammation-responsive hydrogel to attenuate outer retinal degeneration. NPJ Regen Med 2023; 8:68. [PMID: 38097595 PMCID: PMC10721838 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-023-00342-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an outer retinal degenerative disease that can lead to photoreceptor cell death and profound vision loss. Although effective regulation of intraretinal inflammation can slow down the progression of the disease, an efficient anti-inflammatory treatment strategy is still lacking. This study reports the fabrication of a hyaluronic acid-based inflammation-responsive hydrogel (IRH) and its epigenetic regulation effects on retinal degeneration. The injectable IRH was designed to respond to cathepsin overexpression in an inflammatory environment. The epigenetic drug, the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) inhibitors, was loaded into the hydrogel to attenuate inflammatory factors. On-demand anti-inflammatory effects of microglia cells via the drug-loaded IRH were verified in vitro and in vivo retinal degeneration 10 (rd10) mice model. Therefore, our IRH not only reduced intraretinal inflammation but also protected photoreceptors morphologically and functionally. Our results suggest the IRH reported here can be used to considerably delay vision loss caused by RP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyerim Kim
- Program in Nanoscience and Technology, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Hyeonhee Roh
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, South Korea
- School of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Sang-Heon Kim
- Center for Biomaterials, Biomedical Research Institute, KIST, Seoul, 02792, South Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, 02792, South Korea
| | - Kangwon Lee
- Department of Applied Bioengineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
- Research Institute for Convergence Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
| | - Maesoon Im
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, South Korea.
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, 02792, South Korea.
- KHU-KIST Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, South Korea.
| | - Seung Ja Oh
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 17104, South Korea.
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Bohrer LR, Stone NE, Wright AT, Han S, Sicher I, Sulchek TA, Mullins RF, Tucker BA. CGMP Compliant Microfluidic Transfection of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for CRISPR-Mediated Genome Editing. Stem Cells 2023; 41:1037-1046. [PMID: 37632456 PMCID: PMC10631803 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxad063] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Inherited retinal degeneration is a term used to describe heritable disorders that result from the death of light sensing photoreceptor cells. Although we and others believe that it will be possible to use gene therapy to halt disease progression early in its course, photoreceptor cell replacement will likely be required for patients who have already lost their sight. While advances in autologous photoreceptor cell manufacturing have been encouraging, development of technologies capable of efficiently delivering genome editing reagents to stem cells using current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) are needed. Gene editing reagents were delivered to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using a Zephyr microfluidic transfection platform (CellFE). CRISPR-mediated cutting was quantified using an endonuclease assay. CRISPR correction was confirmed via digital PCR and Sanger sequencing. The resulting corrected cells were also karyotyped and differentiated into retinal organoids. We describe use of a novel microfluidic transfection platform to correct, via CRISPR-mediated homology-dependent repair (HDR), a disease-causing NR2E3 mutation in patient-derived iPSCs using cGMP compatible reagents and approaches. We show that the resulting cell lines have a corrected genotype, exhibit no off-target cutting, retain pluripotency and a normal karyotype and can be differentiated into retinal tissue suitable for transplantation. The ability to codeliver CRISPR/Cas9 and HDR templates to patient-derived iPSCs without using proprietary transfection reagents will streamline manufacturing protocols, increase the safety of resulting cell therapies, and greatly reduce the regulatory burden of clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura R Bohrer
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Nicholas E Stone
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Allison T Wright
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | | | - Todd A Sulchek
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Robert F Mullins
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Budd A Tucker
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Kruczek K, Swaroop A. Patient stem cell-derived in vitro disease models for developing novel therapies of retinal ciliopathies. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 155:127-163. [PMID: 38043950 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.09.003] [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] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Primary cilia are specialized organelles on the surface of almost all cells in vertebrate tissues and are primarily involved in the detection of extracellular stimuli. In retinal photoreceptors, cilia are uniquely modified to form outer segments containing components required for the detection of light in stacks of membrane discs. Not surprisingly, vision impairment is a frequent phenotype associated with ciliopathies, a heterogeneous class of conditions caused by mutations in proteins required for formation, maintenance and/or function of primary cilia. Traditionally, immortalized cell lines and model organisms have been used to provide insights into the biology of ciliopathies. The advent of methods for reprogramming human somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells has enabled the generation of in vitro disease models directly from patients suffering from ciliopathies. Such models help us in investigating pathological mechanisms specific to human physiology and in developing novel therapeutic approaches. In this article, we review current protocols to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into retinal cell types, and discuss how these cellular and/or organoid models can be utilized to interrogate pathobiology of ciliopathies affecting the retina and for testing prospective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Kruczek
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
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Ma J, Fang X, Chen M, Wang Y, Zhang L. Hyaluronan-CD44 Interaction Regulates Mouse Retinal Progenitor Cells Migration, Proliferation and Neuronal Differentiation. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2023; 19:2929-2942. [PMID: 37707669 PMCID: PMC10661819 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10622-1] [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] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based therapies have shown great potential because of their abilities to replace dying retinal neuron cells and preserve vision. The migration, proliferation and differentiation of retinal progenitor cells(RPCs) plays a vital role in the integration of the RPCs into the retina when transplanted into the host. Our study aimed to explore the effects of Hyaluronan(HA)-CD44 interactions on the regulation of RPCs migration, proliferation and differentiation, and investigate the underlying regulatory mechanisms. We found that CD44 was expressed in RPCs, and the HA-CD44 interaction markedly improved RPCs adhesion and migration. The stimulation of microRNA-21(miR-21) expression by the HA-CD44 interaction was protein kinase C (PKC)/Nanog-dependent in RPCs. Treatment of RPCs with PKC- or Nanog-specific ASODN or miR-21 antagomir effectively blocked HA-mediated RPCs adhesion and migration. Moreover, Rho-Kinase(ROK)/ Grb2-associated binders(Gab-1) associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT signalling activation was required for HA-CD44 interaction mediated RPCs proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Our findings demonstrated new roles for the HA-CD44 interaction in regulating the migration, proliferation and neuronal differentiation of RPCs. HA-CD44 signalling could represent a novel approach to controlling RPC fates, and the findings may be instructive for the application of RPCs for future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Ma
- Eye Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
| | - Xiaoyun Fang
- Eye Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Min Chen
- Eye Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Eye Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Eye Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
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Dubey AK, Mostafavi E. Biomaterials-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 delivery: recent challenges and opportunities in gene therapy. Front Chem 2023; 11:1259435. [PMID: 37841202 PMCID: PMC10568484 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1259435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of biomaterials in delivering CRISPR/Cas9 for gene therapy in infectious diseases holds tremendous potential. This innovative approach combines the advantages of CRISPR/Cas9 with the protective properties of biomaterials, enabling accurate and efficient gene editing while enhancing safety. Biomaterials play a vital role in shielding CRISPR/Cas9 components, such as lipid nanoparticles or viral vectors, from immunological processes and degradation, extending their effectiveness. By utilizing the flexibility of biomaterials, tailored systems can be designed to address specific genetic diseases, paving the way for personalized therapeutics. Furthermore, this delivery method offers promising avenues in combating viral illnesses by precisely modifying pathogen genomes, and reducing their pathogenicity. Biomaterials facilitate site-specific gene modifications, ensuring effective delivery to infected cells while minimizing off-target effects. However, challenges remain, including optimizing delivery efficiency, reducing off-target effects, ensuring long-term safety, and establishing scalable production techniques. Thorough research, pre-clinical investigations, and rigorous safety evaluations are imperative for successful translation from the laboratory to clinical applications. In this review, we discussed how CRISPR/Cas9 delivery using biomaterials revolutionizes gene therapy and infectious disease treatment, offering precise and safe editing capabilities with the potential to significantly improve human health and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Kumar Dubey
- Global Research and Publishing Foundation, New Delhi, India
- Institute of Scholars, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Ebrahim Mostafavi
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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9
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Sarkar S, Panikker P, D’Souza S, Shetty R, Mohan RR, Ghosh A. Corneal Regeneration Using Gene Therapy Approaches. Cells 2023; 12:1280. [PMID: 37174680 PMCID: PMC10177166 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most remarkable advancements in medical treatments of corneal diseases in recent decades has been corneal transplantation. However, corneal transplants, including lamellar strategies, have their own set of challenges, such as graft rejection, delayed graft failure, shortage of donor corneas, repeated treatments, and post-surgical complications. Corneal defects and diseases are one of the leading causes of blindness globally; therefore, there is a need for gene-based interventions that may mitigate some of these challenges and help reduce the burden of blindness. Corneas being immune-advantaged, uniquely avascular, and transparent is ideal for gene therapy approaches. Well-established corneal surgical techniques as well as their ease of accessibility for examination and manipulation makes corneas suitable for in vivo and ex vivo gene therapy. In this review, we focus on the most recent advances in the area of corneal regeneration using gene therapy and on the strategies involved in the development of such therapies. We also discuss the challenges and potential of gene therapy for the treatment of corneal diseases. Additionally, we discuss the translational aspects of gene therapy, including different types of vectors, particularly focusing on recombinant AAV that may help advance targeted therapeutics for corneal defects and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhradeep Sarkar
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore 560099, Karnataka, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Priyalakshmi Panikker
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore 560099, Karnataka, India
| | - Sharon D’Souza
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore 560010, Karnataka, India
| | - Rohit Shetty
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore 560010, Karnataka, India
| | - Rajiv R. Mohan
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- One-Health Vision Research Program, Departments of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Mason Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Arkasubhra Ghosh
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore 560099, Karnataka, India
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Allen BN, Wendland RJ, Thompson JD, Tucker BA, Worthington KS. Photopolymerization Parameters Influence Mechanical, Microstructural, and Cell Loading Properties of Rapidly Fabricated Cell Scaffolds. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:2663-2671. [PMID: 37075323 PMCID: PMC10170473 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00408] [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: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Engineered scaffolds are commonly used to assist in cellular transplantations, providing crucial support and specific architecture for a variety of tissue engineering applications. Photopolymerization as a fabrication technique for cell scaffolds enables precise spatial and temporal control of properties and structure. One simple technique to achieve a two-dimensional structure is the use of a patterned photomask, which results in regionally selective photo-cross-linking. However, the relationships between photopolymerization parameters like light intensity and exposure time and outcomes like structural fidelity and mechanical properties are not well-established. In this work, we used photopolymerization to generate degradable polycaprolactone triacrylate (PCLTA) scaffolds with a defined microstructure. We examined the impact of light intensity and exposure time on scaffold properties such as shear modulus and micropore structure. To assess feasibility in a specific application and determine the relationship between parameter-driven properties and cell loading, we cultured retinal progenitor cells on the PCLTA scaffolds. We found that light intensity and polymerization time directly impact the scaffold stiffness and micropore structure, which in turn influenced the cell loading capacity of the scaffold. Because material stiffness and topography are known to impact cell viability and fate, understanding the effect of scaffold fabrication parameters on mechanical and structural properties is critical to optimizing cell scaffolds for specific applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany N Allen
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1002, United States
| | - Rion J Wendland
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1002, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Roy J. Carver College of Medicine, Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1002, United States
| | - Jacob D Thompson
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1002, United States
| | - Budd A Tucker
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Roy J. Carver College of Medicine, Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1002, United States
| | - Kristan S Worthington
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1002, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Roy J. Carver College of Medicine, Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1002, United States
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11
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Nguyen XTA, Moekotte L, Plomp AS, Bergen AA, van Genderen MM, Boon CJF. Retinitis Pigmentosa: Current Clinical Management and Emerging Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087481. [PMID: 37108642 PMCID: PMC10139437 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) comprises a group of inherited retinal dystrophies characterized by the degeneration of rod photoreceptors, followed by the degeneration of cone photoreceptors. As a result of photoreceptor degeneration, affected individuals experience gradual loss of visual function, with primary symptoms of progressive nyctalopia, constricted visual fields and, ultimately, central vision loss. The onset, severity and clinical course of RP shows great variability and unpredictability, with most patients already experiencing some degree of visual disability in childhood. While RP is currently untreatable for the majority of patients, significant efforts have been made in the development of genetic therapies, which offer new hope for treatment for patients affected by inherited retinal dystrophies. In this exciting era of emerging gene therapies, it remains imperative to continue supporting patients with RP using all available options to manage their condition. Patients with RP experience a wide variety of physical, mental and social-emotional difficulties during their lifetime, of which some require timely intervention. This review aims to familiarize readers with clinical management options that are currently available for patients with RP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan-Thanh-An Nguyen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lude Moekotte
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Astrid S Plomp
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arthur A Bergen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria M van Genderen
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Bartiméus, Diagnostic Center for Complex Visual Disorders, 3703 AJ Zeist, The Netherlands
| | - Camiel J F Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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12
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RNA-targeting strategies as a platform for ocular gene therapy. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 92:101110. [PMID: 35840489 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101110] [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: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Genetic medicine is offering hope as new therapies are emerging for many previously untreatable diseases. The eye is at the forefront of these advances, as exemplified by the approval of Luxturna® by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) in 2017 for the treatment of one form of Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), an inherited blindness. Luxturna® was also the first in vivo human gene therapy to gain US FDA approval. Numerous gene therapy clinical trials are ongoing for other eye diseases, and novel delivery systems, discovery of new drug targets and emerging technologies are currently driving the field forward. Targeting RNA, in particular, is an attractive therapeutic strategy for genetic disease that may have safety advantages over alternative approaches by avoiding permanent changes in the genome. In this regard, antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and RNA interference (RNAi) are the currently popular strategies for developing RNA-targeted therapeutics. Enthusiasm has been further fuelled by the emergence of clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR associated (Cas) systems that allow targeted manipulation of nucleic acids. RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas systems now provide a novel way to develop RNA-targeted therapeutics and may provide superior efficiency and specificity to existing technologies. In addition, RNA base editing technologies using CRISPR-Cas and other modalities also enable precise alteration of single nucleotides. In this review, we showcase advances made by RNA-targeting systems for ocular disease, discuss applications of ASO and RNAi technologies, highlight emerging CRISPR-Cas systems and consider the implications of RNA-targeting therapeutics in the development of future drugs to treat eye disease.
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13
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Britten-Jones AC, Markakis D, Guymer RH, Lin ML, Skalicky S, Ayton LN, Mack HG. Characterising the diagnosis of genetic maculopathies in a real-world private tertiary retinal practice in Australia: protocol for a retrospective clinical audit. Ann Med 2023; 55:2250538. [PMID: 37634060 PMCID: PMC10461509 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2250538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Accurate diagnosis of macular atrophy is paramount to enable appropriate treatment when novel treatments for geographic atrophy and macular dystrophies become available. Genetic testing is useful in distinguishing between the two conditions but is not feasible for the majority of patients in real-world clinical practice. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential misdiagnosis of inherited macular dystrophy as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in real-world ophthalmic practice to assist in the development of guidelines to improve diagnostic accuracy while minimizing genetic testing for targeted patients. METHODS Retrospective review of the medical records of patients diagnosed with AMD, which included imaging, between 1995 and 2023 from a large multidisciplinary private ophthalmic practice in Australia. We will use a stepwise method to screen for probable cases of macular dystrophy, followed by a consensus review by an expert panel. The outcomes are (1) to determine the potential misdiagnosis rate of macular dystrophy as atrophic AMD by retinal specialists and general ophthalmologists; (2) to identify clinical imaging modalities that are most useful for differentiating macular dystrophy from atrophic AMD; and (3) to establish preliminary guidance for clinicians to improve the diagnosis of macular atrophy from AMD in practice, and thereby target cost-efficient genetic testing. DISCUSSION Improving the diagnostic accuracy of both AMD and macular dystrophy, while ensuring cost-efficient genetic testing, will improve the targeted treatment of macular diseases when emerging treatments become available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Ceecee Britten-Jones
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Demi Markakis
- Cabrini Hospital, Malvern, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Robyn H. Guymer
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ming-Lee Lin
- Eye Surgery Associates, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Simon Skalicky
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Eye Surgery Associates, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lauren N. Ayton
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Heather G. Mack
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Eye Surgery Associates, East Melbourne, Australia
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14
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Abstract
The trabecular meshwork (TM) of the eye serves as an essential tissue in controlling aqueous humor (AH) outflow and intraocular pressure (IOP) homeostasis. However, dysfunctional TM cells and/or decreased TM cellularity is become a critical pathogenic cause for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Consequently, it is particularly valuable to investigate TM characteristics, which, in turn, facilitates the development of new treatments for POAG. Since 2006, the advancement in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provides a new tool to (1) model the TM in vitro and (2) regenerate degenerative TM in POAG. In this context, we first summarize the current approaches to induce the differentiation of TM-like cells from iPSCs and compare iPSC-derived TM models to the conventional in vitro TM models. The efficacy of iPSC-derived TM cells for TM regeneration in POAG models is also discussed. Through these approaches, iPSCs are becoming essential tools in glaucoma modeling and for developing personalized treatments for TM regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University & Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shen Wu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital Eye Center, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ningli Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University & Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital Eye Center, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Markus H Kuehn
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA
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15
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Jo DH, Bae S, Kim HH, Kim JS, Kim JH. In vivo application of base and prime editing to treat inherited retinal diseases. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 94:101132. [PMID: 36241547 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are vision-threatening retinal disorders caused by pathogenic variants of genes related to visual functions. Genomic analyses in patients with IRDs have revealed pathogenic variants which affect vision. However, treatment options for IRDs are limited to nutritional supplements regardless of genetic variants or gene-targeting approaches based on antisense oligonucleotides and adeno-associated virus vectors limited to targeting few genes. Genome editing, particularly that involving clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas9 technologies, can correct pathogenic variants and provide additional treatment opportunities. Recently developed base and prime editing platforms based on CRISPR-Cas9 technologies are promising for therapeutic genome editing because they do not employ double-stranded breaks (DSBs), which are associated with P53 activation, large deletions, and chromosomal translocations. Instead, using attached deaminases and reverse transcriptases, base and prime editing efficiently induces specific base substitutions and intended genetic changes (substitutions, deletions, or insertions), respectively, without DSBs. In this review, we will discuss the recent in vivo application of CRISPR-Cas9 technologies, focusing on base and prime editing, in animal models of IRDs.
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16
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Panikker P, Roy S, Ghosh A, Poornachandra B, Ghosh A. Advancing precision medicines for ocular disorders: Diagnostic genomics to tailored therapies. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:906482. [PMID: 35911417 PMCID: PMC9334564 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.906482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful sequencing of the human genome and evolving functional knowledge of gene products has taken genomic medicine to the forefront, soon combining broadly with traditional diagnostics, therapeutics, and prognostics in patients. Recent years have witnessed an extraordinary leap in our understanding of ocular diseases and their respective genetic underpinnings. As we are entering the age of genomic medicine, rapid advances in genome sequencing, gene delivery, genome surgery, and computational genomics enable an ever-increasing capacity to provide a precise and robust diagnosis of diseases and the development of targeted treatment strategies. Inherited retinal diseases are a major source of blindness around the world where a large number of causative genes have been identified, paving the way for personalized diagnostics in the clinic. Developments in functional genetics and gene transfer techniques has also led to the first FDA approval of gene therapy for LCA, a childhood blindness. Many such retinal diseases are the focus of various clinical trials, making clinical diagnoses of retinal diseases, their underlying genetics and the studies of natural history important. Here, we review methodologies for identifying new genes and variants associated with various ocular disorders and the complexities associated with them. Thereafter we discuss briefly, various retinal diseases and the application of genomic technologies in their diagnosis. We also discuss the strategies, challenges, and potential of gene therapy for the treatment of inherited and acquired retinal diseases. Additionally, we discuss the translational aspects of gene therapy, the important vector types and considerations for human trials that may help advance personalized therapeutics in ophthalmology. Retinal disease research has led the application of precision diagnostics and precision therapies; therefore, this review provides a general understanding of the current status of precision medicine in ophthalmology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shomereeta Roy
- Grow Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bengaluru, India
| | - Anuprita Ghosh
- Grow Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bengaluru, India
| | | | - Arkasubhra Ghosh
- Grow Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bengaluru, India
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17
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Ran J, Zhang Y, Zhang S, Li H, Zhang L, Li Q, Qin J, Li D, Sun L, Xie S, Zhang X, Liu L, Liu M, Zhou J. Targeting the HDAC6-Cilium Axis Ameliorates the Pathological Changes Associated with Retinopathy of Prematurity. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2105365. [PMID: 35619548 PMCID: PMC9313505 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202105365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the leading causes of childhood visual impairment and blindness. However, there are still very few effective pharmacological interventions for ROP. Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6)-mediated disassembly of photoreceptor cilia has recently been implicated as an early event in the pathogenesis of ROP. Herein it is shown that enhanced expression of HDAC6 by intravitreal injection of adenoviruses encoding HDAC6 induces the typical pathological changes associated with ROP in mice, including disruption of the membranous disks of photoreceptor outer segments and a decrease in electroretinographic amplitudes. Hdac6 transgenic mice exhibit similar ROP-related defects in retinal structures and functions and disassembly of photoreceptor cilia, whereas Hdac6 knockout mice are resistant to oxygen change-induced retinal defects. It is further shown that blocking HDAC6-mediated cilium disassembly by intravitreal injection of small-molecule compounds protect mice from ROP-associated retinal defects. The findings indicate that pharmacological targeting of the HDAC6-cilium axis may represent a promising strategy for the prevention of ROP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ran
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology in Universities of ShandongCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology in Universities of ShandongCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Sai Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology in Universities of ShandongCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Haixia Li
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology in Universities of ShandongCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology in Universities of ShandongCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Qingchao Li
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology in Universities of ShandongCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Juan Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Life SciencesHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Dengwen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Life SciencesHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Lei Sun
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology in Universities of ShandongCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Songbo Xie
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology in Universities of ShandongCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and DiseasesEye Institute and School of OptometryTianjin Medical University Eye HospitalTianjin300384China
| | - Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Life SciencesHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Min Liu
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology in Universities of ShandongCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
| | - Jun Zhou
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance BiologyCollaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology in Universities of ShandongCollege of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinan250014China
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of Life SciencesHaihe Laboratory of Cell EcosystemNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
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18
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Rosa RH, Xie W, Zhao M, Tsai SH, Roddy GW, Su MG, Potts LB, Hein TW, Kuo L. Intravitreal Administration of Stanniocalcin-1 Rescues Photoreceptor Degeneration with Reduced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in a Porcine Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa. Am J Ophthalmol 2022; 239:230-243. [PMID: 35307380 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2022.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the effect of stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1), a secreted polypeptide exhibiting multiple functions in cell survival and death, on photoreceptor degeneration in a porcine model of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). METHODS P23H transgenic pigs (TG P23H) and wild-type hybrid littermates were obtained from the National Swine Resource and Research Center. Human recombinant STC-1 was injected intravitreally every 2 weeks from postnatal day 15 (P15) to P75. The contralateral eye was injected with balanced salt solution as a control. Electroretinography (ERG) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were performed to evaluate retinal function and morphology in vivo at P90. Retinal tissue was collected for histologic analysis and molecular assays to evaluate the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms by which STC-1 may rescue photoreceptor degeneration. RESULTS Intravitreal injection of STC-1 improved retinal function in TG P23H pigs with increased photopic and flicker ERG a- and b-wave amplitudes. Greater integrity of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) band on SD-OCT and morphologic rescue with preservation of cone photoreceptors were observed in STC-1-treated TG P23H pigs. STC-1 altered gene expression in TG P23H pig retina on microarray analysis and increased photoreceptor specific gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. STC-1 significantly decreased oxidative stress and the expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome, cleaved caspase-1, and IL-1β in TG P23H pig retina. CONCLUSIONS Intravitreal administration of STC-1 enhances cone photoreceptor function, improves EZ integrity, and reduces retinal degeneration through antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in a large animal (pig) model of the most common form of autosomal dominant RP in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Rosa
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, ST, LP, TH, LK); Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor Scott & White Eye Institute, Temple, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, MS, LP, TH, LK).
| | - Wankun Xie
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, ST, LP, TH, LK); Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor Scott & White Eye Institute, Temple, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, MS, LP, TH, LK)
| | - Min Zhao
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, ST, LP, TH, LK); Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor Scott & White Eye Institute, Temple, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, MS, LP, TH, LK)
| | - Shu-Huai Tsai
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, ST, LP, TH, LK)
| | - Gavin W Roddy
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (GR)
| | - Maxwell G Su
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor Scott & White Eye Institute, Temple, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, MS, LP, TH, LK)
| | - Luke B Potts
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, ST, LP, TH, LK); Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor Scott & White Eye Institute, Temple, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, MS, LP, TH, LK)
| | - Travis W Hein
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, ST, LP, TH, LK); Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor Scott & White Eye Institute, Temple, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, MS, LP, TH, LK)
| | - Lih Kuo
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, ST, LP, TH, LK); Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor Scott & White Eye Institute, Temple, TX, USA (RR, WX, MZ, MS, LP, TH, LK)
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19
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Tornabene P, Ferla R, Llado-Santaeularia M, Centrulo M, Dell'Anno M, Esposito F, Marrocco E, Pone E, Minopoli R, Iodice C, Nusco E, Rossi S, Lyubenova H, Manfredi A, Di Filippo L, Iuliano A, Torella A, Piluso G, Musacchia F, Surace EM, Cacchiarelli D, Nigro V, Auricchio A. Therapeutic homology-independent targeted integration in retina and liver. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1963. [PMID: 35414130 PMCID: PMC9005519 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29550-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Challenges to the widespread application of gene therapy with adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors include dominant conditions due to gain-of-function mutations which require allele-specific knockout, as well as long-term transgene expression from proliferating tissues, which is hampered by AAV DNA episomal status. To overcome these challenges, we used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology-independent targeted integration (HITI) in retina and liver as paradigmatic target tissues. We show that AAV-HITI targets photoreceptors of both mouse and pig retina, and this results in significant improvements to retinal morphology and function in mice with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. In addition, we show that neonatal systemic AAV-HITI delivery achieves stable liver transgene expression and phenotypic improvement in a mouse model of a severe lysosomal storage disease. We also show that HITI applications predominantly result in on-target editing. These results lay the groundwork for the application of AAV-HITI for the treatment of diseases affecting various organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Tornabene
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Rita Ferla
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Miriam Centrulo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Margherita Dell'Anno
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Esposito
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Elena Marrocco
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Emanuela Pone
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Renato Minopoli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Carolina Iodice
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Edoardo Nusco
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Settimio Rossi
- Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Anna Manfredi
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Next Generation Diagnostic Srl, 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | | | - Antonella Iuliano
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Annalaura Torella
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Giulio Piluso
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Enrico Maria Surace
- Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Davide Cacchiarelli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Armenise/Harvard Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Nigro
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Alberto Auricchio
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy. .,Medical Genetics, Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, 80131, Naples, Italy.
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20
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Lohia A, Sahel DK, Salman M, Singh V, Mariappan I, Mittal A, Chitkara D. Delivery Strategies for CRISPR/Cas Genome editing tool for Retinal Dystrophies: challenges and opportunities. Asian J Pharm Sci 2022; 17:153-176. [PMID: 36320315 PMCID: PMC9614410 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajps.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas, an adaptive immune system in bacteria, has been adopted as an efficient and precise tool for site-specific gene editing with potential therapeutic opportunities. It has been explored for a variety of applications, including gene modulation, epigenome editing, diagnosis, mRNA editing, etc. It has found applications in retinal dystrophic conditions including progressive cone and cone-rod dystrophies, congenital stationary night blindness, X-linked juvenile retinoschisis, retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, leber's congenital amaurosis, etc. Most of the therapies for retinal dystrophic conditions work by regressing symptoms instead of reversing the gene mutations. CRISPR/Cas9 through indel could impart beneficial effects in the reversal of gene mutations in dystrophic conditions. Recent research has also consolidated on the approaches of using CRISPR systems for retinal dystrophies but their delivery to the posterior part of the eye is a major concern due to high molecular weight, negative charge, and in vivo stability of CRISPR components. Recently, non-viral vectors have gained interest due to their potential in tissue-specific nucleic acid (miRNA/siRNA/CRISPR) delivery. This review highlights the opportunities of retinal dystrophies management using CRISPR/Cas nanomedicine.
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21
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Fenner BJ, Tan TE, Barathi AV, Tun SBB, Yeo SW, Tsai ASH, Lee SY, Cheung CMG, Chan CM, Mehta JS, Teo KYC. Gene-Based Therapeutics for Inherited Retinal Diseases. Front Genet 2022; 12:794805. [PMID: 35069693 PMCID: PMC8782148 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.794805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a heterogenous group of orphan eye diseases that typically result from monogenic mutations and are considered attractive targets for gene-based therapeutics. Following the approval of an IRD gene replacement therapy for Leber's congenital amaurosis due to RPE65 mutations, there has been an intensive international research effort to identify the optimal gene therapy approaches for a range of IRDs and many are now undergoing clinical trials. In this review we explore therapeutic challenges posed by IRDs and review current and future approaches that may be applicable to different subsets of IRD mutations. Emphasis is placed on five distinct approaches to gene-based therapy that have potential to treat the full spectrum of IRDs: 1) gene replacement using adeno-associated virus (AAV) and nonviral delivery vectors, 2) genome editing via the CRISPR/Cas9 system, 3) RNA editing by endogenous and exogenous ADAR, 4) mRNA targeting with antisense oligonucleotides for gene knockdown and splicing modification, and 5) optogenetic approaches that aim to replace the function of native retinal photoreceptors by engineering other retinal cell types to become capable of phototransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beau J Fenner
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tien-En Tan
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Sai Bo Bo Tun
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sia Wey Yeo
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrew S H Tsai
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shu Yen Lee
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chui Ming Gemmy Cheung
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Choi Mun Chan
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jodhbir S Mehta
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore.,School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kelvin Y C Teo
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
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22
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Chandra B, Tung ML, Hsu Y, Scheetz T, Sheffield VC. Retinal ciliopathies through the lens of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome: Past, present and future. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 89:101035. [PMID: 34929400 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.101035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The primary cilium is a highly specialized and evolutionary conserved organelle in eukaryotes that plays a significant role in cell signaling and trafficking. Over the past few decades tremendous progress has been made in understanding the physiology of cilia and the underlying pathomechanisms of various ciliopathies. Syndromic ciliopathies consist of a group of disorders caused by ciliary dysfunction or abnormal ciliogenesis. These disorders have multiorgan involvement in addition to retinal degeneration underscoring the ubiquitous distribution of primary cilia in different cell types. Genotype-phenotype correlation is often challenging due to the allelic heterogeneity and pleiotropy of these disorders. In this review, we discuss the clinical and genetic features of syndromic ciliopathies with a focus on Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) as a representative disorder. We discuss the structure and function of primary cilia and their role in retinal photoreceptors. We describe the progress made thus far in understanding the functional and genetic characterization including expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis of BBS genes. In the future directions section, we discuss the emerging technologies, such as gene therapy, as well as anticipated challenges and their implications in therapeutic development for ciliopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharatendu Chandra
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Moon Ley Tung
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ying Hsu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Todd Scheetz
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Val C Sheffield
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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23
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Schneider N, Sundaresan Y, Gopalakrishnan P, Beryozkin A, Hanany M, Levanon EY, Banin E, Ben-Aroya S, Sharon D. Inherited retinal diseases: Linking genes, disease-causing variants, and relevant therapeutic modalities. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 89:101029. [PMID: 34839010 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.101029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a clinically complex and heterogenous group of visual impairment phenotypes caused by pathogenic variants in at least 277 nuclear and mitochondrial genes, affecting different retinal regions, and depleting the vision of affected individuals. Genes that cause IRDs when mutated are unique by possessing differing genotype-phenotype correlations, varying inheritance patterns, hypomorphic alleles, and modifier genes thus complicating genetic interpretation. Next-generation sequencing has greatly advanced the identification of novel IRD-related genes and pathogenic variants in the last decade. For this review, we performed an in-depth literature search which allowed for compilation of the Global Retinal Inherited Disease (GRID) dataset containing 4,798 discrete variants and 17,299 alleles published in 31 papers, showing a wide range of frequencies and complexities among the 194 genes reported in GRID, with 65% of pathogenic variants being unique to a single individual. A better understanding of IRD-related gene distribution, gene complexity, and variant types allow for improved genetic testing and therapies. Current genetic therapeutic methods are also quite diverse and rely on variant identification, and range from whole gene replacement to single nucleotide editing at the DNA or RNA levels. IRDs and their suitable therapies thus require a range of effective disease modelling in human cells, granting insight into disease mechanisms and testing of possible treatments. This review summarizes genetic and therapeutic modalities of IRDs, provides new analyses of IRD-related genes (GRID and complexity scores), and provides information to match genetic-based therapies such as gene-specific and variant-specific therapies to the appropriate individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Schneider
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Yogapriya Sundaresan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Prakadeeswari Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Avigail Beryozkin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Mor Hanany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Erez Y Levanon
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Eyal Banin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Shay Ben-Aroya
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Dror Sharon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
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24
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Stone NE, Voigt AP, Mullins RF, Sulchek T, Tucker BA. Microfluidic processing of stem cells for autologous cell replacement. Stem Cells Transl Med 2021; 10:1384-1393. [PMID: 34156760 PMCID: PMC8459636 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.21-0080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Autologous photoreceptor cell replacement is one of the most promising approaches currently under development for the treatment of inherited retinal degenerative blindness. Unlike endogenous stem cell populations, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be differentiated into both rod and cone photoreceptors in high numbers, making them ideal for this application. That said, in addition to photoreceptor cells, state of the art retinal differentiation protocols give rise to all of the different cell types of the normal retina, the majority of which are not required and may in fact hinder successful photoreceptor cell replacement. As such, following differentiation photoreceptor cell enrichment will likely be required. In addition, to prevent the newly generated photoreceptor cells from suffering the same fate as the patient's original cells, correction of the patient's disease-causing genetic mutations will be necessary. In this review we discuss literature pertaining to the use of different cell sorting and transfection approaches with a focus on the development and use of novel next generation microfluidic devices. We will discuss how gold standard strategies have been used, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and how novel microfluidic platforms can be incorporated into the clinical manufacturing pipeline to reduce the complexity, cost, and regulatory burden associated with clinical grade production of photoreceptor cells for autologous cell replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E. Stone
- The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Andrew P. Voigt
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of MedicineUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Robert F. Mullins
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of MedicineUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Todd Sulchek
- The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Budd A. Tucker
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of MedicineUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
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25
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Shughoury A, Ciulla TA, Bakall B, Pennesi ME, Kiss S, Cunningham ET. Genes and Gene Therapy in Inherited Retinal Disease. Int Ophthalmol Clin 2021; 61:3-45. [PMID: 34584043 DOI: 10.1097/iio.0000000000000377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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26
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Chung SH, Frick SL, Yiu G. Targeting vascular endothelial growth factor using retinal gene therapy. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1277. [PMID: 34532414 PMCID: PMC8421957 DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-4417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pharmacotherapies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have revolutionized the management for neovascular retinal disorders including diabetic retinopathy and neovascular age-related macular degeneration. However, the burden of frequent injections, high cost, and treatment resistance in some patients remain unresolved. To overcome these challenges, newer generations of anti-angiogenic biological therapies, engineered proteins, implantable delivery systems, and biopolymers are currently being developed to enable more sustained, longer-lasting treatments. The use of gene therapies for pathologic angiogenesis has garnered renewed interests since the first FDA-approval of a gene therapy to treat inherited retinal diseases associated with biallelic RPE65 mutations. Newer generations of viral vectors and novel methods of intraocular injections helped overcome ocular barriers, improving the efficiency of transduction as well as safety profile. In addition, unlike current anti-VEGF gene therapy strategies which employ a biofactory approach to mimic existing pharmacotherapies, novel genome editing strategies that target pro-angiogenic factors at the DNA level offer a unique and distinct mechanistic approach that can potentially be more precise and lead to a permanent cure. Here, we review current anti-VEGF therapies and newer pharmacologic agents under development, examine technologies and progress in adapting anti-VEGF gene therapies, and explore the future application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to suppress ocular angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sook H Chung
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Sonia L Frick
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Glenn Yiu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
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27
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Huang D, Heath Jeffery RC, Aung-Htut MT, McLenachan S, Fletcher S, Wilton SD, Chen FK. Stargardt disease and progress in therapeutic strategies. Ophthalmic Genet 2021; 43:1-26. [PMID: 34455905 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2021.1966053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Stargardt disease (STGD1) is an autosomal recessive retinal dystrophy due to mutations in ABCA4, characterized by subretinal deposition of lipofuscin-like substances and bilateral centrifugal vision loss. Despite the tremendous progress made in the understanding of STGD1, there are no approved treatments to date. This review examines the challenges in the development of an effective STGD1 therapy.Materials and Methods: A literature review was performed through to June 2021 summarizing the spectrum of retinal phenotypes in STGD1, the molecular biology of ABCA4 protein, the in vivo and in vitro models used to investigate the mechanisms of ABCA4 mutations and current clinical trials.Results: STGD1 phenotypic variability remains an challenge for clinical trial design and patient selection. Pre-clinical development of therapeutic options has been limited by the lack of animal models reflecting the diverse phenotypic spectrum of STDG1. Patient-derived cell lines have facilitated the characterization of splice mutations but the clinical presentation is not always predicted by the effect of specific mutations on retinoid metabolism in cellular models. Current therapies primarily aim to delay vision loss whilst strategies to restore vision are less well developed.Conclusions: STGD1 therapy development can be accelerated by a deeper understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Huang
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.,Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Incorporating Lions Eye Institute), the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science & the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Rachael C Heath Jeffery
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Incorporating Lions Eye Institute), the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - May Thandar Aung-Htut
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science & the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Samuel McLenachan
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Incorporating Lions Eye Institute), the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sue Fletcher
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science & the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Steve D Wilton
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science & the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Fred K Chen
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Incorporating Lions Eye Institute), the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Australian Inherited Retinal Disease Registry and DNA Bank, Department of Medical Technology and Physics, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Ophthalmology, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
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28
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Rocha LFM, Braga LAM, Mota FB. Gene Editing for Treatment and Prevention of Human Diseases: A Global Survey of Gene Editing-Related Researchers. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 31:852-862. [PMID: 32718240 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the next decades, gene editing technologies are expected to be used in the treatment and prevention of human diseases. Yet, the future uses of gene editing in medicine are still unknown, including its applicability and effectiveness to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, cancer, and monogenic and polygenic hereditary diseases. This study aims to address this gap by analyzing the views of over 1,000 gene editing-related researchers from all over the world. Some of our survey results show that, in the next 10 years, DNA double-strand breaks are expected to be the main method for gene editing, and CRISPR-Cas systems to be the mainstream programmable nuclease. In the same period, gene editing is expected to have more applicability and effectiveness to treat and prevent infectious diseases and cancer. Off-targeting mutations, reaching therapeutic levels of editing efficiency, difficulties in targeting specific tissues in vivo, and regulatory and ethical challenges are among the most relevant factors that might hamper the use of gene editing in humans. In conclusion, our results suggest that gene editing might become a reality to the treatment and prevention of a variety of human diseases in the coming 10 years. If the future confirms these researchers' expectations, gene editing could change the way medicine, health systems, and public health deal with the treatment and prevention of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fabio Batista Mota
- Center for Strategic Studies, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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29
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Yang C, Georgiou M, Atkinson R, Collin J, Al-Aama J, Nagaraja-Grellscheid S, Johnson C, Ali R, Armstrong L, Mozaffari-Jovin S, Lako M. Pre-mRNA Processing Factors and Retinitis Pigmentosa: RNA Splicing and Beyond. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:700276. [PMID: 34395430 PMCID: PMC8355544 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.700276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common inherited retinal disease characterized by progressive degeneration of photoreceptors and/or retinal pigment epithelium that eventually results in blindness. Mutations in pre-mRNA processing factors (PRPF3, 4, 6, 8, 31, SNRNP200, and RP9) have been linked to 15–20% of autosomal dominant RP (adRP) cases. Current evidence indicates that PRPF mutations cause retinal specific global spliceosome dysregulation, leading to mis-splicing of numerous genes that are involved in a variety of retina-specific functions and/or general biological processes, including phototransduction, retinol metabolism, photoreceptor disk morphogenesis, retinal cell polarity, ciliogenesis, cytoskeleton and tight junction organization, waste disposal, inflammation, and apoptosis. Importantly, additional PRPF functions beyond RNA splicing have been documented recently, suggesting a more complex mechanism underlying PRPF-RPs driven disease pathogenesis. The current review focuses on the key RP-PRPF genes, depicting the current understanding of their roles in RNA splicing, impact of their mutations on retinal cell’s transcriptome and phenome, discussed in the context of model species including yeast, zebrafish, and mice. Importantly, information on PRPF functions beyond RNA splicing are discussed, aiming at a holistic investigation of PRPF-RP pathogenesis. Finally, work performed in human patient-specific lab models and developing gene and cell-based replacement therapies for the treatment of PRPF-RPs are thoroughly discussed to allow the reader to get a deeper understanding of the disease mechanisms, which we believe will facilitate the establishment of novel and better therapeutic strategies for PRPF-RP patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunbo Yang
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Georgiou
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Atkinson
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Collin
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jumana Al-Aama
- Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Colin Johnson
- Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Ali
- King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lyle Armstrong
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Sina Mozaffari-Jovin
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Gumerson JD, Alsufyani A, Yu W, Lei J, Sun X, Dong L, Wu Z, Li T. Restoration of RPGR expression in vivo using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Gene Ther 2021; 29:81-93. [PMID: 34257417 PMCID: PMC8856954 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-021-00258-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the gene for Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator (RPGR) cause the X-linked form of inherited retinal degeneration, and the majority are frameshift mutations in a highly repetitive, purine-rich region of RPGR known as the OFR15 exon. Truncation of the reading frame in this terminal exon ablates the functionally important C-terminal domain. We hypothesized that targeted excision in ORF15 by CRISPR/Cas9 and the ensuing repair by non-homologous end joining could restore RPGR reading frame in a portion of mutant photoreceptors thereby correcting gene function in vivo. We tested this hypothesis in the rd9 mouse, a naturally occurring mutant line that carries a frameshift mutation in RPGRORF15, through a combination of germline and somatic gene therapy approaches. In germline gene-edited rd9 mice, probing with RPGR domain-specific antibodies demonstrated expression of full length RPGRORF15 protein. Hallmark features of RPGR mutation-associated early disease phenotypes, such as mislocalization of cone opsins, were no longer present. Subretinal injections of the same guide RNA (sgRNA) carried in AAV sgRNA and SpCas9 expression vectors restored reading frame of RPGRORF15 in a subpopulation of cells with broad distribution throughout the retina, confirming successful correction of the mutation. These data suggest that a simplified form of genome editing mediated by CRISPR, as described here, could be further developed to repair RPGRORF15 mutations in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica D Gumerson
- Neurobiology Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory (N-NRL), National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Amal Alsufyani
- Neurobiology Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory (N-NRL), National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.,King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Montgomery College, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Wenhan Yu
- Ocular Gene Therapy Core, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jingqi Lei
- Genetic Engineering Core, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xun Sun
- Neurobiology Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory (N-NRL), National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lijin Dong
- Genetic Engineering Core, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zhijian Wu
- Ocular Gene Therapy Core, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tiansen Li
- Neurobiology Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory (N-NRL), National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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31
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Mullin NK, Voigt AP, Cooke JA, Bohrer LR, Burnight ER, Stone EM, Mullins RF, Tucker BA. Patient derived stem cells for discovery and validation of novel pathogenic variants in inherited retinal disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 83:100918. [PMID: 33130253 PMCID: PMC8559964 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of inherited retinal disease has benefited immensely from molecular genetic analysis over the past several decades. New technologies that allow for increasingly detailed examination of a patient's DNA have expanded the catalog of genes and specific variants that cause retinal disease. In turn, the identification of pathogenic variants has allowed the development of gene therapies and low-cost, clinically focused genetic testing. Despite this progress, a relatively large fraction (at least 20%) of patients with clinical features suggestive of an inherited retinal disease still do not have a molecular diagnosis today. Variants that are not obviously disruptive to the codon sequence of exons can be difficult to distinguish from the background of benign human genetic variations. Some of these variants exert their pathogenic effect not by altering the primary amino acid sequence, but by modulating gene expression, isoform splicing, or other transcript-level mechanisms. While not discoverable by DNA sequencing methods alone, these variants are excellent targets for studies of the retinal transcriptome. In this review, we present an overview of the current state of pathogenic variant discovery in retinal disease and identify some of the remaining barriers. We also explore the utility of new technologies, specifically patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based modeling, in further expanding the catalog of disease-causing variants using transcriptome-focused methods. Finally, we outline bioinformatic analysis techniques that will allow this new method of variant discovery in retinal disease. As the knowledge gleaned from previous technologies is informing targets for therapies today, we believe that integrating new technologies, such as iPSC-based modeling, into the molecular diagnosis pipeline will enable a new wave of variant discovery and expanded treatment of inherited retinal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel K Mullin
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Andrew P Voigt
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jessica A Cooke
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Laura R Bohrer
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Erin R Burnight
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Edwin M Stone
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Robert F Mullins
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Budd A Tucker
- The Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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32
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Hu ML, Edwards TL, O'Hare F, Hickey DG, Wang JH, Liu Z, Ayton LN. Gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases: progress and possibilities. Clin Exp Optom 2021; 104:444-454. [PMID: 33689657 DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.1880863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) comprise a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders affecting the retina. Caused by mutations in over 300 genes, IRDs result in visual impairment due to dysfunction and degeneration of photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, or the choroid. Important photoreceptor IRDs include retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis. Macular dystrophies include Stargardt and Best disease. Currently, IRDs are largely incurable but the landscape of treatment options is rapidly changing for these diseases which, untreated, result in severe visual impairment and blindness.Advances in DNA delivery to the retina and improved genetic diagnosis of IRDs have led to a new era of research into gene therapy for these vision-threatening disorders. Gene therapy is a compelling approach due to the monogenic nature of most IRDs, with the retina being a favourable target for administering genetic vectors due to its immunoprivileged environment, direct visibility, and multiple methods to assess sensitivity and function. Generally, retinal gene therapy involves a subretinal or intravitreal injection of a viral vector, which infects target cells to deliver a therapeutic gene, or transgene. A gene augmentation strategy introduces a functioning copy of a gene to restore expression of a mutated gene, whereas a gene-editing strategy aims to directly edit and correct the mutation. Common delivery vectors include adeno-associated virus (AAV) and lentivirus.Voretigene neparvovec-rzyl (Luxturna) became the first FDA-approved direct gene therapy in December 2017, and the Australian TGA followed suit in August 2020. More are projected to follow, with clinical trials underway for many other IRDs.This review provides an overview of gene therapy for IRDs, including current progress and challenges. A companion article in this issue details target patient populations for IRD gene therapy, and how optometrists can assist in assessing individuals who may be eligible for current and future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica L Hu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Thomas L Edwards
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Fleur O'Hare
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Doron G Hickey
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jiang-Hui Wang
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Zhengyang Liu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lauren N Ayton
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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de Jong S, Gagliardi G, Garanto A, de Breuk A, Lechanteur YTE, Katti S, van den Heuvel LP, Volokhina EB, den Hollander AI. Implications of genetic variation in the complement system in age-related macular degeneration. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 84:100952. [PMID: 33610747 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the main cause of vision loss among the elderly in the Western world. While AMD is a multifactorial disease, the complement system was identified as one of the main pathways contributing to disease risk. The strong link between the complement system and AMD was demonstrated by genetic associations, and by elevated complement activation in local eye tissue and in the systemic circulation of AMD patients. Several complement inhibitors have been and are being explored in clinical trials, but thus far with limited success, leaving the majority of AMD patients without treatment options to date. This indicates that there is still a gap of knowledge regarding the functional implications of the complement system in AMD pathogenesis and how to bring these towards clinical translation. Many different experimental set-ups and disease models have been used to study complement activation in vivo and in vitro, and recently emerging patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and genome-editing techniques open new opportunities to study AMD disease mechanisms and test new therapeutic strategies in the future. In this review we provide an extensive overview of methods employed to understand the molecular processes of complement activation in AMD pathogenesis. We discuss the findings, advantages and challenges of each approach and conclude with an outlook on how recent, exciting developments can fill in current knowledge gaps and can aid in the development of effective complement-targeting therapeutic strategies in AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah de Jong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Giuliana Gagliardi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Alejandro Garanto
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Anita de Breuk
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Yara T E Lechanteur
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Suresh Katti
- Gemini Therapeutics Inc., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Lambert P van den Heuvel
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Elena B Volokhina
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Anneke I den Hollander
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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34
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Splicing mutations in inherited retinal diseases. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100874
expr 921883647 + 833887994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
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35
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Single-cell RNA sequencing in vision research: Insights into human retinal health and disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 83:100934. [PMID: 33383180 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Gene expression provides valuable insight into cell function. As such, vision researchers have frequently employed gene expression studies to better understand retinal physiology and disease. With the advent of single-cell RNA sequencing, expression experiments provide an unparalleled resolution of information. Instead of studying aggregated gene expression across all cells in a heterogenous tissue, single-cell technology maps RNA to an individual cell, which facilitates grouping of retinal and choroidal cell types for further study. Single-cell RNA sequencing has been quickly adopted by both basic and translational vision researchers, and single-cell level gene expression has been studied in the visual systems of animal models, retinal organoids, and primary human retina, RPE, and choroid. These experiments have generated detailed atlases of gene expression and identified new retinal cell types. Likewise, single-cell RNA sequencing investigations have characterized how gene expression changes in the setting of many retinal diseases, including how choroidal endothelial cells are altered in age-related macular degeneration. In addition, this technology has allowed vision researchers to discover drivers of retinal development and model rare retinal diseases with induced pluripotent stem cells. In this review, we will overview the growing number of single-cell RNA sequencing studies in the field of vision research. We will summarize experimental considerations for designing single-cell RNA sequencing experiments and highlight important advancements in retinal, RPE, choroidal, and retinal organoid biology driven by this technology. Finally, we generalize these findings to genes involved in retinal degeneration and outline the future of single-cell expression experiments in studying retinal disease.
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36
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Toualbi L, Toms M, Moosajee M. USH2A-retinopathy: From genetics to therapeutics. Exp Eye Res 2020; 201:108330. [PMID: 33121974 PMCID: PMC8417766 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Bilallelic variants in the USH2A gene can cause Usher syndrome type 2 and non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa. In both disorders, the retinal phenotype involves progressive rod photoreceptor loss resulting in nyctalopia and a constricted visual field, followed by subsequent cone degeneration, leading to the loss of central vision and severe visual impairment. The USH2A gene raises many challenges for researchers and clinicians due to a broad spectrum of mutations, a large gene size hampering gene therapy development and limited knowledge on its pathogenicity. Patients with Usher type 2 may benefit from hearing aids or cochlear implants to correct their hearing defects, but there are currently no approved treatments available for the USH2A-retinopathy. Several treatment strategies, including antisense oligonucleotides and translational readthrough inducing drugs, have shown therapeutic promise in preclinical studies. Further understanding of the pathogenesis and natural history of USH2A-related disorders is required to develop innovative treatments and design clinical trials based on reliable outcome measures. The present review will discuss the current knowledge about USH2A, the emerging therapeutics and existing challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyes Toualbi
- Development, Ageing and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Maria Toms
- Development, Ageing and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Mariya Moosajee
- Development, Ageing and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Genetics, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, EC1V 2PD, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH, UK.
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Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCLs) is a group of inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal storage diseases that together represent the most common cause of dementia in children. Phenotypically, patients have visual impairment, cognitive and motor decline, epilepsy, and premature death. A primary challenge is to halt and/or reverse these diseases, towards which developments in potential effective therapies are encouraging. Many treatments, including enzyme replacement therapy (for CLN1 and CLN2 diseases), stem-cell therapy (for CLN1, CLN2, and CLN8 diseases), gene therapy vector (for CLN1, CLN2, CLN3, CLN5, CLN6, CLN7, CLN10, and CLN11 diseases), and pharmacological drugs (for CLN1, CLN2, CLN3, and CLN6 diseases) have been evaluated for safety and efficacy in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Currently, cerliponase alpha for CLN2 disease is the only approved therapy for NCL. Lacking is any study of potential treatments for CLN4, CLN9, CLN12, CLN13 or CLN14 diseases. This review provides an overview of genetics for each CLN disease, and we discuss the current understanding from pre-clinical and clinical study of potential therapeutics. Various therapeutic interventions have been studied in many experimental animal models. Combination of treatments may be useful to slow or even halt disease progression; however, few therapies are unlikely to even partially reverse the disease and a complete reversal is currently improbable. Early diagnosis to allow initiation of therapy, when indicated, during asymptomatic stages is more important than ever.
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38
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Ran J, Zhou J. Targeting the photoreceptor cilium for the treatment of retinal diseases. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2020; 41:1410-1415. [PMID: 32753732 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-020-0486-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptors, as polarised sensory neurons, are essential for light sensation and phototransduction, which are highly dependent on the photoreceptor cilium. Structural defects and/or dysfunction of the photoreceptor cilium caused by mutations in photoreceptor-specific genes or common ciliary genes can lead to retinal diseases, including syndromic and nonsyndromic diseases. In this review, we describe the structure and function of the photoreceptor cilium. We also discuss recent findings that underscore the dysregulation of the photoreceptor cilium in various retinal diseases and the therapeutic potential of targeting ciliary genes in these diseases.
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Han IC, Cheng JL, Burnight ER, Ralston CL, Fick JL, Thomsen GJ, Tovar EF, Russell SR, Sohn EH, Mullins RF, Stone EM, Tucker BA, Wiley LA. Retinal Tropism and Transduction of Adeno-Associated Virus Varies by Serotype and Route of Delivery (Intravitreal, Subretinal, or Suprachoroidal) in Rats. Hum Gene Ther 2020; 31:1288-1299. [PMID: 32948113 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral-mediated gene augmentation offers tremendous promise for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases. The development of effective gene therapy requires an understanding of the vector's tissue-specific behavior, which may vary depending on serotype, route of delivery, or target species. Using an ex vivo organotypic explant system, we previously demonstrated that retinal tropism and transduction of adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) vary significantly depending on serotype in human eyes. However, the ex vivo system has limited ability to assess route of ocular delivery, and relatively little literature exists on tropic differences between serotypes and routes of delivery in vivo. In this study, we demonstrate that retinal tropism and transduction efficiency of five different AAV2 serotypes (AAV2/1, AAV2/2, AAV2/6, AAV2/8, and AAV2/9) expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein driven by a cytomegalovirus promoter vary greatly depending on serotype and route of delivery (intravitreal, subretinal, or suprachoroidal) in rats. With subretinal delivery, all serotypes successfully transduced the retinal pigmented epithelium and outer nuclear layer (ONL), with AAV2/1 displaying the highest transduction efficiency and AAV2/2 and AAV2/6 showing lower ONL transduction. There was minimal transduction of the inner retina through subretinal delivery for any serotype. Tropism by suprachoroidal delivery mirrored that of subretinal delivery for all AAV serotypes but resulted in a wider distribution and greater ONL transduction. With intravitreal delivery, retinal transduction was seen primarily in the inner retina (retinal nerve fiber, ganglion cell, and inner nuclear layers) for AAV2/1 and AAV2/6, with AAV2/6 showing the highest transduction. When compared with data from human explant models, there are substantial differences in tropism and transduction that are important to consider when using rats as preclinical models for the development of ocular gene therapies for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C Han
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Justine L Cheng
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Erin R Burnight
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Christy L Ralston
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Jessica L Fick
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Gabriella J Thomsen
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Emilio F Tovar
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Stephen R Russell
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Elliott H Sohn
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Robert F Mullins
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Edwin M Stone
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Budd A Tucker
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Luke A Wiley
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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Eintracht J, Toms M, Moosajee M. The Use of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Model for Developmental Eye Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:265. [PMID: 32973457 PMCID: PMC7468397 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately one-third of childhood blindness is attributed to developmental eye disorders, of which 80% have a genetic cause. Eye morphogenesis is tightly regulated by a highly conserved network of transcription factors when disrupted by genetic mutations can result in severe ocular malformation. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are an attractive tool to study early eye development as they are more physiologically relevant than animal models, can be patient-specific and their use does not elicit the ethical concerns associated with human embryonic stem cells. The generation of self-organizing hiPSC-derived optic cups is a major advancement to understanding mechanisms of ocular development and disease. Their development in vitro has been found to mirror that of the human eye and these early organoids have been used to effectively model microphthalmia caused by a VSX2 variant. hiPSC-derived optic cups, retina, and cornea organoids are powerful tools for future modeling of disease phenotypes and will enable a greater understanding of the pathophysiology of many other developmental eye disorders. These models will also provide an effective platform for identifying molecular therapeutic targets and for future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Toms
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom.,The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mariya Moosajee
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom.,The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom.,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.,Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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41
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Goureau O, Reichman S, Orieux G. [Retinal organoids as a new tool for understanding and treating retinal diseases]. Med Sci (Paris) 2020; 36:626-632. [PMID: 32614314 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2020098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of retinal organoids from pluripotent stem cells represents an important advance in the study of retinal development and offer new perspectives for the study of retinal diseases missing suitable animal models. Understanding the key stages of retinal development in vertebrates enabled to design protocols to generate self-organized three-dimensional structures derived from pluripotent stem cells and containing all retinal cell types. In addition to their application in basic research, such as the characterization of molecular and cellular mechanisms in retinal pathophysiology, these miniature organs also open up encouraging prospects in the field of cell therapy or the screening of therapeutic molecules, although some obstacles remain to be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Goureau
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Sacha Reichman
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Gaël Orieux
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
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Nielsen NS, Poulsen ET, Lukassen MV, Chao Shern C, Mogensen EH, Weberskov CE, DeDionisio L, Schauser L, Moore TC, Otzen DE, Hjortdal J, Enghild JJ. Biochemical mechanisms of aggregation in TGFBI-linked corneal dystrophies. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 77:100843. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Splicing mutations in inherited retinal diseases. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 80:100874. [PMID: 32553897 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mutations which induce aberrant transcript splicing represent a distinct class of disease-causing genetic variants in retinal disease genes. Such mutations may either weaken or erase regular splice sites or create novel splice sites which alter exon recognition. While mutations affecting the canonical GU-AG dinucleotides at the splice donor and splice acceptor site are highly predictive to cause a splicing defect, other variants in the vicinity of the canonical splice sites or those affecting additional cis-acting regulatory sequences within exons or introns are much more difficult to assess or even to recognize and require additional experimental validation. Splicing mutations are unique in that the actual outcome for the transcript (e.g. exon skipping, pseudoexon inclusion, intron retention) and the encoded protein can be quite different depending on the individual mutation. In this article, we present an overview on the current knowledge about and impact of splicing mutations in inherited retinal diseases. We introduce the most common sub-classes of splicing mutations including examples from our own work and others and discuss current strategies for the identification and validation of splicing mutations, as well as therapeutic approaches, open questions, and future perspectives in this field of research.
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Chen Y, Zhi S, Liang P, Zheng Q, Liu M, Zhao Q, Ren J, Cui J, Huang J, Liu Y, Songyang Z. Single AAV-Mediated CRISPR-SaCas9 Inhibits HSV-1 Replication by Editing ICP4 in Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 18:33-43. [PMID: 32577430 PMCID: PMC7298336 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) is the most common cause of corneal blindness in developed nations, caused by primary or recurrent herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection of the cornea. Latent infection of HSV-1, especially in the trigeminal ganglion (TG), causes recurrence of HSV-1 infection. As antiviral treatment is not effective on latent HSV-1, to test the possibility of inhibiting HSV-1 by SpCas9 (Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9) or SaCas9 (Staphylococcus aureus Cas9), ICP0 and ICP4, two important genes required for HSV-1 replication and reactivation, were chosen as targets. In Vero cells, SpCas9 and SaCas9 targeting ICP0 or ICP4 can effectively inhibit the proliferation of HSV-1 without affecting cell viability. No significant guide RNA (gRNA)-dependent off-targets were observed in the human genome by digenome sequencing and deep sequencing verification. Adeno-associated virus 1 (AAV1)-mediated delivery of SaCas9 inhibits HSV-1 replication by targeting ICP4 in mouse primary TG neuronal cells. SpCas9 and SaCas9 are able to inhibit HSV-1 infection in Vero cells and mouse TG neuronal cultures with high efficiency and good biosafety. AAV1-mediated delivery of SaCas9 shows great potential in treating HSK and inhibiting HSV-1 in TG neurons. Further investigations may be needed to test the inhibition of latent infections, which may result in the development of novel methods for treating viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Shengyao Zhi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Puping Liang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Qi Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Mengni Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Jian Ren
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Jun Cui
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Junjiu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, The First Affiliated Hospital and School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- Corresponding author: Junjiu Huang, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
| | - Yizhi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
- Corresponding author: Yizhi Liu, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
| | - Zhou Songyang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- Corresponding author Zhou Songyang, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
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Singh MS, Park SS, Albini TA, Canto-Soler MV, Klassen H, MacLaren RE, Takahashi M, Nagiel A, Schwartz SD, Bharti K. Retinal stem cell transplantation: Balancing safety and potential. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 75:100779. [PMID: 31494256 PMCID: PMC7056514 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2019.100779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Stem cell transplantation holds great promise as a potential treatment for currently incurable retinal degenerative diseases that cause poor vision and blindness. Recently, safety data have emerged from several Phase I/II clinical trials of retinal stem cell transplantation. These clinical trials, usually run in partnership with academic institutions, are based on sound preclinical studies and are focused on patient safety. However, reports of serious adverse events arising from cell therapy in other poorly regulated centers have now emerged in the lay and scientific press. While progress in stem cell research for blindness has been greeted with great enthusiasm by patients, scientists, doctors and industry alike, these adverse events have raised concerns about the safety of retinal stem cell transplantation and whether patients are truly protected from undue harm. The aim of this review is to summarize and appraise the safety of human retinal stem cell transplantation in the context of its potential to be developed into an effective treatment for retinal degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandeep S Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
| | - Susanna S Park
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California-Davis Eye Center, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Thomas A Albini
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - M Valeria Canto-Soler
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Henry Klassen
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and Stem Cell Research Center, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Robert E MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford and Oxford University Eye Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Aaron Nagiel
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA; USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, USA
| | - Steven D Schwartz
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Edythe and Eli Broad Stem Cell Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Kapil Bharti
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 90892, USA
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Voigt AP, Binkley E, Flamme-Wiese MJ, Zeng S, DeLuca AP, Scheetz TE, Tucker BA, Mullins RF, Stone EM. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing in Human Retinal Degeneration Reveals Distinct Glial Cell Populations. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020438. [PMID: 32069977 PMCID: PMC7072666 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Degenerative diseases affecting retinal photoreceptor cells have numerous etiologies and clinical presentations. We clinically and molecularly studied the retina of a 70-year-old patient with retinal degeneration attributed to autoimmune retinopathy. The patient was followed for 19 years for progressive peripheral visual field loss and pigmentary changes. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on foveal and peripheral retina from this patient and four control patients, and cell-specific gene expression differences were identified between healthy and degenerating retina. Distinct populations of glial cells, including astrocytes and Müller cells, were identified in the tissue from the retinal degeneration patient. The glial cell populations demonstrated an expression profile consistent with reactive gliosis. This report provides evidence that glial cells have a distinct transcriptome in the setting of human retinal degeneration and represents a complementary clinical and molecular investigation of a case of progressive retinal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P. Voigt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Elaine Binkley
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Miles J. Flamme-Wiese
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Shemin Zeng
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Adam P. DeLuca
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Todd E. Scheetz
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Budd A. Tucker
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Robert F. Mullins
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Edwin M. Stone
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Correspondence:
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47
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Rosenberg JB, Chen A, Kaminsky SM, Crystal RG, Sondhi D. Advances in the Treatment of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2019; 7:473-500. [PMID: 33365208 PMCID: PMC7755158 DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2019.1684258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL) represent a class of neurodegenerative disorders involving defective lysosomal processing enzymes or receptors, leading to lysosomal storage disorders, typically characterized by observation of cognitive and visual impairments, epileptic seizures, ataxia, and deterioration of motor skills. Recent success of a biologic (Brineura®) for the treatment of neurologic manifestations of the central nervous system (CNS) has led to renewed interest in therapeutics for NCL, with the goal of ablating or reversing the impact of these devastating disorders. Despite complex challenges associated with CNS therapy, many treatment modalities have been evaluated, including enzyme replacement therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and small molecule pharmacotherapy. Because the clinical endpoints for the evaluation of candidate therapies are complex and often reliant on subjective clinical scales, the development of quantitative biomarkers for NCLs has become an apparent necessity for the validation of potential treatments. We will discuss the latest findings in the search for relevant biomarkers for assessing disease progression. For this review, we will focus primarily on recent pre-clinical and clinical developments for treatments to halt or cure these NCL diseases. Continued development of current therapies and discovery of newer modalities will be essential for successful therapeutics for NCL. AREAS COVERED The reader will be introduced to the NCL subtypes, natural histories, experimental animal models, and biomarkers for NCL progression; challenges and different therapeutic approaches, and the latest pre-clinical and clinical research for therapeutic development for the various NCLs. This review corresponds to the literatures covering the years from 1968 to mid-2019, but primarily addresses pre-clinical and clinical developments for the treatment of NCL disease in the last decade and as a follow-up to our 2013 review of the same topic in this journal. EXPERT OPINION Much progress has been made in the treatment of neurologic diseases, such as the NCLs, including better animal models and improved therapeutics with better survival outcomes. Encouraging results are being reported at symposiums and in the literature, with multiple therapeutics reaching the clinical trial stage for the NCLs. The potential for a cure could be at hand after many years of trial and error in the preclinical studies. The clinical development of enzyme replacement therapy (Brineura® for CLN2), immunosuppression (CellCept® for CLN3), and gene therapy vectors (for CLN1, CLN2, CLN3, and CLN6) are providing encouragement to families that have a child afflicted with NCL. We believe that successful therapies in the future may involve the combination of two or more therapeutic modalities to provide therapeutic benefit especially as the patients grow older.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Rosenberg
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Alvin Chen
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Stephen M Kaminsky
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Ronald G Crystal
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Dolan Sondhi
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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48
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Shrestha A, Allen BN, Wiley LA, Tucker BA, Worthington KS. Development of High-Resolution Three-Dimensional-Printed Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds and Their Compatibility with Pluripotent Stem Cells and Early Retinal Cells. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2019; 36:42-55. [PMID: 31414943 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2018.0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Widely used approaches for retinal disease modeling and in vitro therapeutic testing can be augmented by using tissue-engineered scaffolds with a precise 3-dimensional structure. However, the materials currently used for these scaffolds are poorly matched to the biochemical and mechanical properties of the in vivo retina. Here, we create biopolymer-based scaffolds with a structure that is amenable to retinal tissue engineering and modeling. Methods: Optimal two-photon polymerization (TPP) settings, including laser power and scanning speed, are identified for 4 methacrylated biopolymer formulations: collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid (HA), and a 50/50 mixture of gelatin/HA, each with methylene blue as a photoinitiator. For select formulations, fabrication accuracy and swelling are determined and biocompatibility is evaluated by using human induced pluripotent stem cells and rat postnatal retinal cells. Results: TPP is feasible for each biopolymer formulation, but it is the most reliable for mixtures containing gelatin and the least reliable for HA alone. The mean size of microscaffold pores is within several microns of the intended value but the overall structure size is several times greater than the modeled volume. The addition of HA to gelatin scaffolds increases cell viability and promotes neuronal phenotype, including Tuj-1 expression and characteristic morphology. Conclusion: We successfully determined a useful range of TPP settings for 4 methacrylated biopolymer formulations. When crosslinked, these extracellular matrix-derived molecules support the growth and attachment of retinal cells. We anticipate that when combined with existing patient-specific approaches, this technique will enable more efficient and accurate retinal disease modeling and therapeutic testing in vitro than current techniques allow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arwin Shrestha
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.,Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Roy J. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Brittany N Allen
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Luke A Wiley
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Roy J. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Budd A Tucker
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Roy J. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Kristan S Worthington
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.,Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Roy J. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
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49
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Thompson JR, Worthington KS, Green BJ, Mullin NK, Jiao C, Kaalberg EE, Wiley LA, Han IC, Russell SR, Sohn EH, Guymon CA, Mullins RF, Stone EM, Tucker BA. Two-photon polymerized poly(caprolactone) retinal cell delivery scaffolds and their systemic and retinal biocompatibility. Acta Biomater 2019; 94:204-218. [PMID: 31055121 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.04.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cell replacement therapies are often enhanced by utilizing polymer scaffolds to improve retention or direct cell orientation and migration. Obstacles to refinement of such polymer scaffolds often include challenges in controlling the microstructure of biocompatible molecules in three dimensions at cellular scales. Two-photon polymerization of acrylated poly(caprolactone) (PCL) could offer a means of achieving precise microstructural control of a material in a biocompatible platform. In this work, we studied the effect of various formulation and two-photon polymerization parameters on minimum laser power needed to achieve polymerization, resolution, and fidelity to a target 3D model designed to be used for retinal cell replacement. Overall, we found that increasing the concentration of crosslink-able groups decreased polymerization threshold and the size of resolvable features while increasing fidelity of the scaffold to the 3D model. In general, this improvement was achieved by increasing the number of acrylate groups per prepolymer molecule, increasing the acrylated PCL concentration, or decreasing its molecular weight. Resulting two-photon polymerized PCL scaffolds successfully supported human iPSC derived retinal progenitor cells in vitro. Sub-retinal implantation of cell free scaffolds in a porcine model of retinitis pigmentosa did not cause inflammation, infection or local or systemic toxicity after one month. In addition, comprehensive ISO 10993 testing of photopolymerized scaffolds revealed a favorable biocompatibility profile. These results represent an important step towards understanding how two-photon polymerization can be applied to a wide range of biologically compatible chemistries for various biomedical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Inherited retinal degenerative blindness results from the death of light sensing photoreceptor cells. To restore high-acuity vision a photoreceptor cell replacement strategy will likely be necessary. Unfortunately, single cell injection typically results in poor cell survival and integration post-transplantation. Polymeric biomaterial cell delivery scaffolds can be used to promote donor cell viability, control cellular polarity and increase packing density. A challenge faced in this endeavor has been developing methods suitable for generating scaffolds that can be used to deliver stem cell derived photoreceptors in an ordered columnar orientation (i.e., similar to that of the native retina). In this study we combined the biomaterial poly(caprolactone) with two-photon lithography to generate a biocompatible, clinically relevant scaffold suitable for retina cell delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R Thompson
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Iowa, 5601 Seamans Center, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kristan S Worthington
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Iowa, 5601 Seamans Center, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Brian J Green
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Iowa, 4133 Seamans Center, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Nathaniel K Mullin
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Chunhua Jiao
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Emily E Kaalberg
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Luke A Wiley
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Ian C Han
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Stephen R Russell
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Elliott H Sohn
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - C Allan Guymon
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Iowa, 4133 Seamans Center, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Robert F Mullins
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Edwin M Stone
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Budd A Tucker
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, 4111 Medical Education and Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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50
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Voigt AP, Whitmore SS, Flamme-Wiese MJ, Riker MJ, Wiley LA, Tucker BA, Stone EM, Mullins RF, Scheetz TE. Molecular characterization of foveal versus peripheral human retina by single-cell RNA sequencing. Exp Eye Res 2019; 184:234-242. [PMID: 31075224 PMCID: PMC6596422 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The human retina is a complex tissue responsible for detecting photons of light and converting information from these photons into the neurochemical signals interpreted as vision. Such visual signaling not only requires sophisticated interactions between multiple classes of neurons, but also spatially-dependent molecular specialization of individual cell types. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on neural retina isolated from both the fovea and peripheral retina in three human donors. We recovered a total of 8,217 cells, with 3,578 cells originating from the fovea and 4,639 cells originating from the periphery. Expression profiles for all major retinal cell types were compiled, and differential expression analysis was performed between cells of foveal versus peripheral origin. Globally, mRNA for the serum iron binding protein transferrin (TF), which has been associated with age-related macular degeneration pathogenesis, was enriched in peripheral samples. Cone photoreceptor cells were of particular interest and formed two predominant clusters based on gene expression. One cone cluster had 96% of cells originating from foveal samples, while the second cone cluster consisted exclusively of peripherally isolated cells. A total of 148 genes were differentially expressed between cones from the fovea versus periphery. Interestingly, peripheral cones were enriched for the gene encoding Beta-Carotene Oxygenase 2 (BCO2). A relative deficiency of this enzyme may account for the accumulation of carotenoids responsible for yellow pigment deposition within the macula. Overall, this data set provides rich expression profiles of the major human retinal cell types and highlights transcriptomic features that distinguish foveal and peripheral cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Voigt
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - S S Whitmore
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - M J Flamme-Wiese
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - M J Riker
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - L A Wiley
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - B A Tucker
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - E M Stone
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - R F Mullins
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - T E Scheetz
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
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