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Cvekl A, Vijg J. Aging of the eye: Lessons from cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 99:102407. [PMID: 38977082 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102407] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Aging is the greatest risk factor for chronic human diseases, including many eye diseases. Geroscience aims to understand the effects of the aging process on these diseases, including the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms that underlie the increased risk of disease over the lifetime. Understanding of the aging eye increases general knowledge of the cellular physiology impacted by aging processes at various biological extremes. Two major diseases, age-related cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are caused by dysfunction of the lens and retina, respectively. Lens transparency and light refraction are mediated by lens fiber cells lacking nuclei and other organelles, which provides a unique opportunity to study a single aging hallmark, i.e., loss of proteostasis, within an environment of limited metabolism. In AMD, local dysfunction of the photoreceptors/retinal pigmented epithelium/Bruch's membrane/choriocapillaris complex in the macula leads to the loss of photoreceptors and eventually loss of central vision, and is driven by nearly all the hallmarks of aging and shares features with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The aging eye can function as a model for studying basic mechanisms of aging and, vice versa, well-defined hallmarks of aging can be used as tools to understand age-related eye disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ales Cvekl
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Jan Vijg
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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2
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Wu Y, Wang J, Pan T, Lei J, Fan Y, Wang J, Xu C, Gu Q, Wang X, Xiao T, Liu Q, Xie P, Hu Z. Human lens epithelial-secreted exosomes attenuate ocular angiogenesis via inhibiting microglial activation. Exp Eye Res 2024; 241:109837. [PMID: 38382576 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109837] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
The lens is an avascular tissue, where epithelial cells (LECs) are the primary living cells. The role of LECs-derived exosomes (LEC-exos) is largely unknown. In our study, we determined the anti-angiogenic role of LEC-exos, manifested as regressed retinal neovascularization (NV) using the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), and reduced choroidal NV size and pathological vascular leakage using the laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (laser-induced CNV). Furthermore, the activation and accumulation of microglia were also restricted by LEC-exos. Based on Luminex multiplex assays, the expressions of chemokines such as SCYB16/CXCL16, MCP-1/CCL2, I-TAC/CXCL11, and MIP 3beta/CCL19 were decreased after treatment with LEC-exos. Transwell assays showed that LEC-exos restricted the migration of the mouse microglia cell line (BV2 cells). After incubation with LEC-exos-treated BV2 cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (hUVECs) were collected for further evaluation using tube formation, Transwell assays, and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU) assays. Using in vitro experiments, the pro-angiogenic effect of microglia was restricted by LEC-exos. Hence, it was investigated that LEC-exos attenuated ocular NV, which might attribute to the inhibition of microglial activation and accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiagui Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Luhe People's Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing, 211599, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ting Pan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Lei
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanyuan Fan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingfan Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Changlin Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qinyuan Gu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xingxing Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tianhao Xiao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qinghuai Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ping Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zizhong Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China.
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Coroneo MT, Graterol-Nisi G, Maver E, Gillies RM. Aqueous Humor Circulation in the Era of Minimally Invasive Surgery for Glaucoma. Ann Biomed Eng 2024; 52:898-907. [PMID: 38155316 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-023-03427-3] [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: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma surgery with implantation of aqueous humor draining microstents may compromise long-term corneal health by disrupting aqueous humor circulation. The effect of stent numbers on this circulation was interrogated to determine the number of stents associated with minimal circulation disruption. An in vitro anterior eye model perfusion system was constructed with multiple exit ports. A 3-D model of the anterior eye was imported into ABAQUS CFD, analyzes were carried out for unsteady laminar flow and solved using Navier-Stokes equations. DT Vision Foundry was used to analyze velocity contour plot images. The field variable results output for the CFD model were fluid wall shear, fluid pressure and fluid velocity. In vitro, "aqueous" fluid flow is high through a single stent and "aqueous" stagnation is greatest in the quadrants 180° away. Increasing stent port numbers, results in an exponential decrease in the stagnant flow locations. High wall shear stress was seen in the single stent model and is markedly reduced after a second and subsequent stents are introduced. We identify two factors potentially contributing to corneal compromise post glaucoma drainage surgery: aqueous humor stagnation, remote to the stent site and higher exit flows imparting increased stent exit shear stress (particularly with a single stent). With 4 stents, there is minimal disruption of anterior chamber circulation (mimicking physiological conditions). Furthermore we propose that aqueous humor circulation disruption via the usual single-exit port approach disrupts aqueous humor circulation with long-term consequences for corneal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minas T Coroneo
- Ophthalmic Surgeons, 2 St Pauls St, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Prince of Wales Hospital/University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | | | - Eric Maver
- Ophthalmic Surgeons, 2 St Pauls St, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - R Mark Gillies
- Medical Device Research Australia Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia
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Wong KY, Phan CM, Chan YT, Yuen ACY, Zhang H, Zhao D, Chan KY, Do CW, Lam TC, Qiao JH, Wulff D, Hui A, Jones L, Wong MS. A review of using Traditional Chinese Medicine in the management of glaucoma and cataract. Clin Exp Optom 2024; 107:156-170. [PMID: 37879342 DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2023.2246480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long history in ophthalmology in China. Over 250 kinds of Traditional Chinese Medicine have been recorded in ancient books for the management of eye diseases, which may provide an alternative or supplement to current ocular therapies. However, the core holistic philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine that makes it attractive can also hinder its understanding from a scientific perspective - in particular, determining true cause and effect. This review focused on how Traditional Chinese Medicine could be applied to two prevalent ocular diseases, glaucoma, and cataract. The literature on preclinical and clinical studies in both English and Chinese on the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat these two diseases was reviewed. The pharmacological effects, safety profile, and drug-herb interaction of selected herbal formulas were also investigated. Finally, key considerations for conducting future Traditional Chinese Medicine studies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka-Ying Wong
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
- Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Chau-Minh Phan
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Yat-Tin Chan
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
| | - Ailsa Chui-Ying Yuen
- Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Huan Zhang
- Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Danyue Zhao
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Ka-Yin Chan
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi-Wai Do
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Thomas Chuen Lam
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Joanne Han Qiao
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - David Wulff
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Alex Hui
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Lyndon Jones
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Man-Sau Wong
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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5
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Wang X, Wang P. Effect of a protein kinase B (Akt) inhibitor on the angiogenesis of HUVECs and corneal neovascularization. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2024; 136:154-162. [PMID: 37261487 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-023-02208-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is a vision-threatening disease and an increasing public health concern. It was found that administering an Akt inhibitor in the second phase of retinopathy significantly decreased retinal neovascularization. METHODS This study investigated the effect of an Akt inhibitor on the angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and its impacts on the degree of CNV and corneal opacity in a rat keratoplasty model. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays, tube formation assays, cell scratch experiments, and a fully allogeneic corneal transplant model were performed. RESULTS It was found that an Akt inhibitor inhibited the proliferation, angiogenesis, and migration of HUVECs induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The results showed that both CNV and corneal opacity were decreased in rats after Akt inhibitor administration. CONCLUSION The research illustrates the vital role of Akt inhibitors in mediating CNV. The analysis shows that the Akt inhibitor may provide a novel and feasible therapeutic approach to prevent CNV, but its mechanism needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Chongqing Eye Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1, Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, 400016, Chongqing, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Chongqing Eye Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1, Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong District, 400016, Chongqing, China.
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6
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Ghosh D, Agarwal M, Radhakrishna M. Molecular Insights into the Inhibitory Role of α-Crystallin against γD-Crystallin Aggregation. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:1740-1752. [PMID: 38078935 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Cataracts, a major cause of global blindness, contribute significantly to the overall prevalence of blindness. The opacification of the lens, resulting in cataract formation, primarily occurs due to the aggregation of crystallin proteins within the eye lens. Despite the high concentration of these crystallins, they remarkably maintain the lens transparency and refractive index. α-Crystallins (α-crys), acting as chaperones, play a crucial role in preventing crystallin aggregation, although the exact molecular mechanism remains uncertain. In this study, we employed a combination of molecular docking, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, and advanced free energy calculations to investigate the interaction between γD-crystallin (γD-crys), a major structural protein of the eye lens, and α-crystallin proteins. Our findings demonstrate that α-crys exhibits an enhanced affinity for the NTD2 and CTD4 regions of γD-crys. The NTD2 and CTD4 regions form the interface between the N-terminal domain (NTD) and the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the γD-crys protein. By binding to the interface region between the NTD and CTD of the protein, α-crys effectively inhibits the formation of domain-swapped aggregates and mitigates protein aggregation. Analysis of the Markov state models using molecular dynamics trajectories confirms that minimum free energy conformations correspond to the binding of the α-crystallin domain (ACD) of α-crys to NTD2 and CTD4 that form the interdomain interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepshikha Ghosh
- Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat 382355, India
| | - Manish Agarwal
- Computer Services Centre, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, Delhi 110016, India
| | - Mithun Radhakrishna
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat 382355, India
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat 382355, India
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Chan J, Lim G, Lee R, Tong L. A Systematic Review of Tear Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and External Eye Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1369. [PMID: 38338647 PMCID: PMC10855337 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
We aim to summarize the current evidence of Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)s in external eye diseases and determine whether serum and plasma VEGF levels are associated with tear and ocular surface tissues. A systematic search of PUBMED and EMBASE was conducted using PRISMA guidelines between October 2022 and November 2023, with no restriction on language or publication date. Search terms included relevant MESH terms. These studies were evaluated for quality, and an assessment of the risk of bias was also carried out. Extracted data were then visually represented through relevant tables or figures. The initial literature search yielded 777 studies from PUBMED, 944 studies from EMBASE, and 10 studies from manual searches. Fourteen eligible studies were identified from 289 articles published from 2000 to 2023 in the English language or with English translations, including rabbit models, murine models, and human-derived samples. Most studies were retrospective in nature and case-control studies. Various common external eye diseases, such as dry eye disease (DED) and allergic eye disease were investigated. Despite limitations and small sample sizes, researchers have found elevated tissue levels of the VEGF in the vascularized cornea, especially in animal models, but there is no evidence of clear changes in the tear concentrations of VEGF in DED and allergic eye disease. Tear VEGF is associated with corneal vascularization. Anti-VEGF therapies may have the potential to manage such conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn Chan
- Edinburgh Surgery Online, The University of Edinburgh, Room G10/G11, Simon Laurie House, 196 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ, UK
| | - Gavril Lim
- Training and Education Department, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore 168751, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Ryan Lee
- Training and Education Department, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore 168751, Singapore
| | - Louis Tong
- Corneal and External Diseases Department, Singapore National Eye Centre, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, SNEC, Building, Singapore 168751, Singapore
- Ocular Surface Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 169856, Singapore
- Eye Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
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8
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Awad R, Ghaith AA, Awad K, Mamdouh Saad M, Elmassry AA. Fungal Keratitis: Diagnosis, Management, and Recent Advances. Clin Ophthalmol 2024; 18:85-106. [PMID: 38223815 PMCID: PMC10788054 DOI: 10.2147/opth.s447138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungal keratitis is one of the major causes of microbial keratitis that may lead to corneal blindness. Many problems related to diagnosis and therapy are encountered in fungal keratitis, including difficulty in obtaining laboratory diagnoses and the availability and efficacy of antifungal medications. Intensive and prolonged use of antifungal topical preparations may not be enough. The use of antifungal medications is considered the main treatment for fungal keratitis. It is recommended to start antifungal therapy after confirmation of the clinical diagnosis with a smear or positive cultures. Topical application of antifungal medications is a mainstay for the treatment of fungal keratitis; however, systemic, intra-stromal, or intra-cameral routes may be used. Therapeutic keratoplasty is the main surgical procedure approved for the management of fungal keratitis with good success rate. Intrastromal corneal injection of antifungal medications may result in steady-state drug levels within the corneal tissue and prevent intervals of decreased antifungal drug concentration below its therapeutic level. In cases of severe fungal keratitis with deep stromal infiltration not responding to treatment, intracameral injection of antifungal agents may be effective. Collagen cross-linking has been proposed to be beneficial for cases of fungal keratitis as a stand-alone therapy or as an adjunct to antifungal medications. Although collagen cross-linking has been extensively studied in the past few years, its protocol still needs many modifications to optimize UV fluence levels, irradiation time, and concentration of riboflavin to achieve 100% microbial killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramy Awad
- Department of Ophthalmology, Alexandria General Ophthalmology Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Alaa Atef Ghaith
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Khaled Awad
- Department of Ophthalmology, Alexandria General Ophthalmology Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Marina Mamdouh Saad
- Department of Ophthalmology, Alexandria General Ophthalmology Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Ak Elmassry
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
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Ghosh D, Sojitra KA, Biswas A, Agarwal M, Radhakrishna M. Effect of mutations on the folding and stability of γD-crystallin protein. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-15. [PMID: 37830785 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2266768] [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: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Interprotein interactions between the partially unfolded states of γD-crystallin (γD-crys) protein are known to cause cataracts. Therefore, understanding the unfolding pathways of native γD-crys is extremely crucial to delineate their aggregation mechanism. In this study, we have performed extensive all-atom Molecular Dynamics simulations with explicit solvent to understand the role of the critical residues that drive the stability of the motifs and domains of γD-crys in its wild type and mutant forms. Our findings show that while the individual motifs of wild type are not stable in the native form, the individual domains remain structurally stable at 425K. This enhanced stability of the domain was attributed to the hydrophobic interactions between the motifs. Single and double point mutations of the domains with negatively charged aspartic and glutamic acid amino acid residues (I3E, W42D, W42E, I3D/W42D, I3E/W42E, and L92D/W157D) decreases the structural stability, leading to unfolding of individual domains of γD-crys. We believe that our study sheds light on the weakest links of γD-crys, along with the role of interactions stabilizing the domains. Further, this study bolsters and provides a better understanding of the domain swapping mechanism of aggregation of γD-crys.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepshikha Ghosh
- Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
| | - Kandarp Ashokbhai Sojitra
- Replace with:Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
| | - Anushka Biswas
- Replace with:Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
| | - Manish Agarwal
- Computer Services Centre, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, Delhi
| | - Mithun Radhakrishna
- Replace with:Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, India
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10
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Du L, Sun J, Liu J, Xu N, Liu M, Wu X. Effect of Conbercept on Corneal Neovascularization in a Rabbit Model. Semin Ophthalmol 2023; 38:670-678. [PMID: 37058000 DOI: 10.1080/08820538.2023.2201652] [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: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the efficacy of Conbercept for the treatment of corneal neovascularization (NV) in a rabbit model. METHODS NV was induced by placing sutures. Eight rabbits were used as a control. The other 136 rabbits were randomly divided into two equal groups, and 68 rabbits in each group were divided into four subgroups and given different treatments. Time-course photographs, histological examination, and enzyme-linked immunoassay ELISA analysis for vascular endothelial growth factor were performed at weeks 1, 2, and 3 after injection placement. RESULTS At weeks 1, 2, and 3 after injection placement, there was less expression of corneal NV and VEGF in the conbercept-treated groups than in the saline-treated control groups and less corneal NV and VEGF were expressed in the early treatment group than in the late treatment group. At weeks 2 and 3 after injection, there were fewer corneal NV (length and area) in the early intrastromal injection group with conbercept than in the early subconjunctival injection group with conbercept and a smaller diameter of corneal NV than in the late intrastromal injection group treated with conbercept. Histological examination showed a smaller diameter of corneal NV in all eyes in conbercept-treated groups 1 w after injection than before injection. Treatment with subconjunctival injection with conbercept led to a larger diameter at weeks 2 and 3 than at week 1. CONCLUSIONS Subconjunctival and intrastromal administrations of conbercept effectively inhibit corneal NV in rabbits, and the latter has the better effect. The effect is the best in the group with cornea intrastromal injection of conbercept 1 w after suture. Early administration of conbercept may successfully inhibit corneal NV in an animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Du
- Dept. Of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jiazhang Sun
- Dept. Of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Dept. of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Na Xu
- Dept. Of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Mei Liu
- Dept. Of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xinyi Wu
- Dept. Of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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Chu X, Wang X, Zhang C, Liu H, Li F, Li G, Zhao S. A deep learning-based model for automatic segmentation and evaluation of corneal neovascularization using slit-lamp anterior segment images. Quant Imaging Med Surg 2023; 13:6778-6788. [PMID: 37869308 PMCID: PMC10585580 DOI: 10.21037/qims-23-99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Background Corneal neovascularization (CoNV) is a common sign in anterior segment eye diseases, the level of which can indicate condition changes. Current CoNV evaluation methods are time-consuming and some of them rely on equipment which is not widely available in hospitals. Thus, a fast and efficient evaluation method is now urgently required. In this study, a deep learning (DL)-based model was developed to automatically segment and evaluate CoNV using anterior segment images from a slit-lamp microscope. Methods A total of 80 cornea slit-lamp photographs (from 80 patients) with clinically manifested CoNV were collected from December 2021 to July 2022 at Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital. Of these, 60 images were manually labelled by ophthalmologists using ImageJ software to train the vessel segmentation network IterNet. To evaluate the performance of this automated model, evaluation metrics including accuracy, precision, area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), and F1 score were calculated between the manually labelled ground truth and the automatic segmentations of CoNV of 20 anterior segment images. Furthermore, the vessels pixel count was automatically calculated and compared with the manually labelled results to evaluate clinical usability of the automated segmentation network. Results The IterNet model achieved an AUC of 0.989, accuracy of 0.988, sensitivity of 0.879, specificity of 0.993, area under precision-recall of 0.921, and F1 score of 0.879. The Bland-Altman plot between manually labelled ground truth and automated segmentation results produced a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.989, 95% limits of agreement between 865.4 and -562.4, and the vessels pixel count's Pearson coefficient of correlation was 0.981 (P<0.01). Conclusions The fully automated network model IterNet provides a time-saving and efficient method to make a quantitative evaluation of CoNV using slit-lamp anterior segment images. This method demonstrates great value and clinical application potential for patient care and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoran Chu
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Wang
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Fei Li
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Guangxu Li
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Optoelectronic Detection Technology and System Laboratory, Tianjin, China
| | - Shaozhen Zhao
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
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12
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van Velthoven AJH, Utheim TP, Notara M, Bremond-Gignac D, Figueiredo FC, Skottman H, Aberdam D, Daniels JT, Ferrari G, Grupcheva C, Koppen C, Parekh M, Ritter T, Romano V, Ferrari S, Cursiefen C, Lagali N, LaPointe VLS, Dickman MM. Future directions in managing aniridia-associated keratopathy. Surv Ophthalmol 2023; 68:940-956. [PMID: 37146692 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Congenital aniridia is a panocular disorder that is typically characterized by iris hypoplasia and aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK). AAK results in the progressive loss of corneal transparency and thereby loss of vision. Currently, there is no approved therapy to delay or prevent its progression, and clinical management is challenging because of phenotypic variability and high risk of complications after interventions; however, new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of AAK may help improve its management. Here, we review the current understanding about the pathogenesis and management of AAK. We highlight the biological mechanisms involved in AAK development with the aim to develop future treatment options, including surgical, pharmacological, cell therapies, and gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianne J H van Velthoven
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Tor P Utheim
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maria Notara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dominique Bremond-Gignac
- Ophthalmology Department, University Hospital Necker-Enfants Malades, APHP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Francisco C Figueiredo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Heli Skottman
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Daniel Aberdam
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | | | - Giulio Ferrari
- Cornea and Ocular Surface Unit, Eye Repair Lab, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Christina Grupcheva
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Carina Koppen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Mohit Parekh
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas Ritter
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Vito Romano
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Claus Cursiefen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Neil Lagali
- Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Vanessa L S LaPointe
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Mor M Dickman
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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13
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Huang Y, Ping X, Cui Y, Yang H, Bao J, Yin Q, Ailifeire H, Shentu X. Glycolysis Aids in Human Lens Epithelial Cells' Adaptation to Hypoxia. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1304. [PMID: 37372033 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12061304] [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: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxic environments are known to trigger pathological damage in multiple cellular subtypes. Interestingly, the lens is a naturally hypoxic tissue, with glycolysis serving as its main source of energy. Hypoxia is essential for maintaining the long-term transparency of the lens in addition to avoiding nuclear cataracts. Herein, we explore the complex mechanisms by which lens epithelial cells adapt to hypoxic conditions while maintaining their normal growth and metabolic activity. Our data show that the glycolysis pathway is significantly upregulated during human lens epithelial (HLE) cells exposure to hypoxia. The inhibition of glycolysis under hypoxic conditions incited endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HLE cells, leading to cellular apoptosis. After ATP was replenished, the damage to the cells was not completely recovered, and ER stress, ROS production, and cell apoptosis still occurred. These results suggest that glycolysis not only performs energy metabolism in the process of HLE cells adapting to hypoxia, but also helps them continuously resist cell apoptosis caused by ER stress and ROS production. Furthermore, our proteomic atlas provides possible rescue mechanisms for cellular damage caused by hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Huang
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Xiyuan Ping
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Yilei Cui
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Jing Bao
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Qichuan Yin
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Hailaiti Ailifeire
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Xingchao Shentu
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou 310009, China
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14
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Disatham J, Brennan L, Cvekl A, Kantorow M. Multiomics Analysis Reveals Novel Genetic Determinants for Lens Differentiation, Structure, and Transparency. Biomolecules 2023; 13:693. [PMID: 37189439 PMCID: PMC10136076 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in next-generation sequencing and data analysis have provided new gateways for identification of novel genome-wide genetic determinants governing tissue development and disease. These advances have revolutionized our understanding of cellular differentiation, homeostasis, and specialized function in multiple tissues. Bioinformatic and functional analysis of these genetic determinants and the pathways they regulate have provided a novel basis for the design of functional experiments to answer a wide range of long-sought biological questions. A well-characterized model for the application of these emerging technologies is the development and differentiation of the ocular lens and how individual pathways regulate lens morphogenesis, gene expression, transparency, and refraction. Recent applications of next-generation sequencing analysis on well-characterized chicken and mouse lens differentiation models using a variety of omics techniques including RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), chip-seq, and CUT&RUN have revealed a wide range of essential biological pathways and chromatin features governing lens structure and function. Multiomics integration of these data has established new gene functions and cellular processes essential for lens formation, homeostasis, and transparency including the identification of novel transcription control pathways, autophagy remodeling pathways, and signal transduction pathways, among others. This review summarizes recent omics technologies applied to the lens, methods for integrating multiomics data, and how these recent technologies have advanced our understanding ocular biology and function. The approach and analysis are relevant to identifying the features and functional requirements of more complex tissues and disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Disatham
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA; (J.D.); (L.B.)
| | - Lisa Brennan
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA; (J.D.); (L.B.)
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
| | - Marc Kantorow
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA; (J.D.); (L.B.)
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15
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Özkaya D, Karaca U, Usta Sofu G, Savran M, Özgöçmen M, Ertuğrul A. Effect of adalimumab on experimental corneal neovascularization model. Int Ophthalmol 2023; 43:2119-2128. [PMID: 37012439 DOI: 10.1007/s10792-023-02695-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy of adalimumab (ADA) on inhibition of experimental corneal neovascularization (CNV) and compare the outcomes with bevacizumab (BEVA). METHODS Twenty-four female Winstar rats (48 eyes) were used. Silver/Potassium Nitrate sticks were used for creating CNV. Forty-eight eyes of the rats were separated into 6 groups. The eyes which only NaCl was injected subconjunctivally (SC) formed Group-1. The eyes which CNV was created and NaCl, BEVA (2.5 mg/0.05 mL), ADA (2.5 mg/0.05 mL), respectively, were injected SC formed group-2, 3 and 4. The eyes which only BEVA and ADA, respectively, were injected SC formed group-5 and 6. Five days later the animals were sacrificed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson trichrome staining, Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) antibodies were performed. RESULTS Histochemical results showed that there was no histopathological finding in group-1, 5, and 6. Collagen fiber irregularity was observed in group-2 and there was a significant improvement in collagen fiber irregularity in group-3 and 4. Collagen fiber proliferation was higher in group-2 than in group-3 and 4. VEGF and PDGF stainings were not observed in group-1, 5, and 6. VEGF and PDGF stainings were observed in group-2 and significantly decreased in group-3 and 4 compared to group-2. ADA was found to be superior to BEVA in terms of decreasing VEGF staining. CONCLUSION Both BEVA and ADA were effective in inhibiting CNV. Subconjunctival ADA seems to be more effective than BEVA in terms of inhibiting VEGF expression. Further experimental studies about ADA and BEVA are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilek Özkaya
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, 32260, Isparta, Turkey.
| | - Umut Karaca
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, 32260, Isparta, Turkey
| | - Gülşah Usta Sofu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, 32260, Isparta, Turkey
| | - Mehtap Savran
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey
| | - Meltem Özgöçmen
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey
| | - Alper Ertuğrul
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, 32260, Isparta, Turkey
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16
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Dong Q, Qi B, Zhang B, Zhuang X, Chen S, Zhou Q, Zhang BN, Li S. Overactivation of Norepinephrine-β2-Adrenergic Receptor Axis Promotes Corneal Neovascularization. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:20. [PMID: 36897151 PMCID: PMC10010442 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.3.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the role of the sympathetic nervous system in corneal neovascularization (CNV) and to identify the downstream pathway involved in this regulation. Methods Three types of CNV models were constructed with C57BL/6J mice, including the alkali burn model, suture model, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) corneal micropocket model. Subconjunctival injection of the sympathetic neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) was administered in these three models. Control mice received injections of water of the same volume. The corneal CNV was detected using slit-lamp microscopy and immunostaining with CD31, and the results were quantified by ImageJ. The expression of β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) was stained with mouse corneas and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, the anti-CNV effects of β2-AR antagonist ICI-118,551 (ICI) were examined with HUVEC tube formation assay and with a bFGF micropocket model. Additionally, partial β2-AR knockdown mice (Adrb2+/-) were used to establish the bFGF micropocket model, and the corneal CNV size was quantified based on the slit-lamp images and vessel staining. Results Sympathetic nerves invaded the cornea in the suture CNV model. The NE receptor β2-AR was highly expressed in corneal epithelium and blood vessels. The addition of NE significantly promoted corneal angiogenesis, whereas ICI effectively inhibited CNV invasion and HUVEC tube formation. Adrb2 knockdown significantly reduced the cornea area occupied by CNV. Conclusions Our study found that sympathetic nerves grow into the cornea in conjunction with newly formed vessels. The addition of the sympathetic neurotransmitter NE and activation of its downstream receptor β2-AR promoted CNV. Targeting β2-AR could potentially be used as an anti-CNV strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoqiao Dong
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), Jinan, China.,School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,Aier Eye Hospital of Wuhan University (Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital), Wuhan, China
| | - Benxiang Qi
- School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Qingdao, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoyun Zhuang
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), Jinan, China.,School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Shijiu Chen
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), Jinan, China.,School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,Department of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qingjun Zhou
- School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Qingdao, China
| | - Bi Ning Zhang
- School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Qingdao, China
| | - Suxia Li
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), Jinan, China.,School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Qingdao, China
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17
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Local and Systemic Injections of Human Cord Blood Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells to Prevent Graft Rejection in Corneal Transplantation. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123223. [PMID: 36551981 PMCID: PMC9776015 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are therapeutic agents to prevent graft rejection in organ transplants by modulating inflammation. Herein, the immunosuppressive effect of human cord blood MDSCs on corneal allograft models was confirmed. CB-MDSCs were locally (subconjuctival, 5 × 105) or systemically (intravenous, 1 × 106) injected twice on days 0 and 7. A corneal transplantation model was established using C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, and corneal graft opacity was measured to evaluate graft rejection up to 6 weeks. Results showed that graft survival in the MDSCs groups increased compared to vehicle groups after 42 days. Systemic and local MDSC administration inhibited the maturation (MHC-IIhi CD11c+) of dendritic cells (DCs) and the differentiation of interferon γ+ CD4+ Th1 in draining lymph nodes (LNs). However, vehicle groups increased the infiltration of CD3+ T cells and F4/80+ macrophages and produced prominent neovascular and lymphatic vessels into the graft site with increased mRNA expression of VEGF-A/C and VEGFR-1/R-3. Local MDSCs administration showed prominent anti-angiogenic/anti-lymphangiogenic effects even at lower MDSCs doses. Thus, CB-MDSCs could relatively suppress the infiltration of pathological T cells/macrophages into the corneas and the migration of mature DCs into draining LNs Therefore, ocular and systemic MDSCs administration showed therapeutic potential for preventing corneal allograft rejection.
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18
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DeDreu J, Le PM, Menko AS. The ciliary zonules provide a pathway for immune cells to populate the avascular lens during eye development. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2022; 247:2251-2273. [PMID: 36633170 PMCID: PMC9899985 DOI: 10.1177/15353702221140411] [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: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The eye is an immune-privileged site, with both vasculature and lymphatics absent from the central light path. Unique adaptations have made it possible for immune cells to be recruited to this region of the eye in response to ocular injuries and pathogenic insults. The induction of such immune responses is typically activated by tissue resident immune cells, considered the sentinels of the immune system. We discovered that, despite the absence of an embedded vasculature, the embryonic lens becomes populated by resident immune cells. The paths by which they travel to the lens during development were not known. However, our previous studies show that in response to corneal wounding immune cells travel to the lens from the vascular-rich ciliary body across the zonules that link these two tissues. We now examined whether the zonule fibers provide a path for immune cells to the embryonic lens, and the zonule-associated matrix molecules that could promote immune cell migration. The vitreous also was examined as a potential source of lens resident immune cells. This matrix-rich site in the posterior of the eye harbors hyalocytes, an immune cell type with macrophage-like properties. We found that both the zonules and the vitreous of the embryonic eye contained fibrillin-2-based networks and that migration-promoting matrix proteins like fibronectin and tenascin-C were linked to these fibrils. Immune cells were seen emerging from the ciliary body, migrating along the ciliary zonules to the lens, and invading through the lens capsule at its equator. This is just adjacent to where immune cells take up residence in the embryonic lens. In contrast, the immune cells of the vitreous were not detected in the region of the lens. These results strongly suggest that the ciliary zonules are a primary path of immune cell delivery to the developing lens.
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Affiliation(s)
- JodiRae DeDreu
- Department of Pathology and Genomic
Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia,
PA 19107, USA
| | - Phuong M Le
- Department of Pathology and Genomic
Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia,
PA 19107, USA
| | - A. Sue Menko
- Department of Pathology and Genomic
Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia,
PA 19107, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sidney
Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107,
USA
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19
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Cvekl A, Camerino MJ. Generation of Lens Progenitor Cells and Lentoid Bodies from Pluripotent Stem Cells: Novel Tools for Human Lens Development and Ocular Disease Etiology. Cells 2022; 11:cells11213516. [PMID: 36359912 PMCID: PMC9658148 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into specialized tissues and organs represents a powerful approach to gain insight into those cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating human development. Although normal embryonic eye development is a complex process, generation of ocular organoids and specific ocular tissues from pluripotent stem cells has provided invaluable insights into the formation of lineage-committed progenitor cell populations, signal transduction pathways, and self-organization principles. This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent advances in generation of adenohypophyseal, olfactory, and lens placodes, lens progenitor cells and three-dimensional (3D) primitive lenses, "lentoid bodies", and "micro-lenses". These cells are produced alone or "community-grown" with other ocular tissues. Lentoid bodies/micro-lenses generated from human patients carrying mutations in crystallin genes demonstrate proof-of-principle that these cells are suitable for mechanistic studies of cataractogenesis. Taken together, current and emerging advanced in vitro differentiation methods pave the road to understand molecular mechanisms of cataract formation caused by the entire spectrum of mutations in DNA-binding regulatory genes, such as PAX6, SOX2, FOXE3, MAF, PITX3, and HSF4, individual crystallins, and other genes such as BFSP1, BFSP2, EPHA2, GJA3, GJA8, LIM2, MIP, and TDRD7 represented in human cataract patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleš Cvekl
- Departments Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-718-430-3217; Fax: +1-718-430-8778
| | - Michael John Camerino
- Departments Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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20
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Zhang C, Yin Y, Zhao J, Li Y, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Niu L, Zheng Y. An Update on Novel Ocular Nanosystems with Possible Benefits in the Treatment of Corneal Neovascularization. Int J Nanomedicine 2022; 17:4911-4931. [PMID: 36267540 PMCID: PMC9578304 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s375570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is an ocular pathological change that results from an imbalance between angiogenic factors and antiangiogenic factors as a result of various ocular insults, including infection, inflammation, hypoxia, trauma, corneal degeneration, and corneal transplantation. Current clinical strategies for the treatment of CNV include pharmacological treatment and surgical intervention. Despite some degree of success, the current treatment strategies are restricted by limited efficacy, adverse effects, and a short duration of action. Recently, gene-based antiangiogenic therapy has become an emerging strategy that has attracted considerable interest. However, potential complications with the use of viral vectors, such as potential genotoxicity resulting from long-term expression and nonspecific targeting, cannot be ignored. The use of ocular nanosystems (ONS) based on nanotechnology has emerged as a great advantage in ocular disease treatment during the last two decades. The potential functions of ONS range from nanocarriers, which deliver drugs and genes to target sites in the eye, to therapeutic agents themselves. Various preclinical studies conducted to date have demonstrated promising results of the use of ONS in the treatment of CNV. In this review, we provide an overview of CNV and its current therapeutic strategies and summarize the properties and applications of various ONS related to the treatment of CNV reported to date. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive review of these considerable advances in ONS in the field of CNV therapy over the past two decades to fill the gaps in previous related reports. Finally, we discuss existing challenges and future perspectives of the use of ONS in CNV therapy, with the goal of providing a theoretical contribution to facilitate future practical growth in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan Yin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanxia Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuanping Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhaoying Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lingzhi Niu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yajuan Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Yajuan Zheng, Email
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21
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Huang W, Wang L, Yang R, Hu R, Zheng Q, Zan X. Combined delivery of small molecule and protein drugs as synergistic therapeutics for treating corneal neovascularization by a one-pot coassembly strategy. Mater Today Bio 2022; 17:100456. [PMID: 36281304 PMCID: PMC9587374 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100456] [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: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Combined drug administration is a potential strategy to increase efficacy through therapeutic synergy. Small molecule drugs and protein drugs are the two most popular kinds of drugs in medicine. However, efficiently encapsulating these two drugs still have key challenges due to their distinct properties (molecular weight, hydrophilicity, chemical groups, etc.), weak ability to penetrate through various biobarriers (cell membrane, endosome escape, tissue barriers dependent on the method of administration, etc.) and the easy deactivation of protein drugs during the construction of carrier and delivery process. Here, we utilize the hexahistidine-metal assembly (HmA), which can encapsulate a wide spectrum of drugs with high loading efficiency, to coencapsulate Dexp (a small molecule drug) and BVZ (protein drug) by a one-pot coassembly strategy. Our data demonstrated that Dexp and BVZ were coloaded into Dexp&BVZ@HmA with high efficiency, while the bioactivity of BVZ was well-maintained. Most importantly, when evaluating the therapeutic outcomes of drugs@HmA in a corneal neovascularization (CNV) model in vitro and in vivo, the combination group presented overwhelming efficacy compared to the monotherapy group. This strategy offers a platform to codeliver protein and small drugs and has the potential for treating anterior segment diseases as well as other diseases that need combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Huang
- Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China,School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Liwen Wang
- Huzhou Central Hospital, Affliated Central Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ruhui Yang
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ronggui Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Perioperative Medicine,the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinxiang Zheng
- The Affiliated Ningbo Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, China,Corresponding author. The Affiliated Ningbo Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Xingjie Zan
- Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China,School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China,Department of Anesthesiology, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Perioperative Medicine,the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China,Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou China,Corresponding author. Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China.
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22
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Qian J, Yu J, Zhu X, Liang S. MiR-335 promotes corneal neovascularization by Targeting EGFR. BMC Ophthalmol 2022; 22:267. [PMID: 35701740 PMCID: PMC9199176 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-022-02481-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Corneal neovascularization (CRNV) is a severe threat to the vision of people. MicroRNA-335 (miR-335) has the function of facilitating angiogenesis. However, whether miR-335 regulates the progression of CRNV remains unclear. Methods The miR-335 expressions in CRNV rats induced by corneal suture and HUVECs induced by b-FGF were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. For the miR-335 function, wound healing and tube formation assays were performed. For the miR-335 mechanism, a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted. Besides, for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) function, Cell Counting Kit-8 and wound healing assays were performed. Meanwhile, the rescue assay was used to assess the miR-335/EGFR function in the migration and angiogenesis of b-FGF-treated HUVECs. Results Functionally, the miR-335 knockdown weakened the migration and angiogenesis of b-FGF-treated HUVECs, while the miR-335 overexpression showed an opposite trend. Mechanistically, miR-335 interacted with EGFR and negatively regulated the expression of EGFR. The rescue assay illustrated that miR-335 regulated the migration and angiogenesis of b-FGF-treated HUVECs through EGFR. Conclusions In general, our data confirmed that miR-335 facilitated the process of CRNV by targeting EGFR. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-022-02481-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Qian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, No. 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Junbo Yu
- Department of Trauma Center, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, No. 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xi Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, No. 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Shu Liang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, No. 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China.
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23
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Plastino F, Pesce NA, André H. MicroRNAs and the HIF/VEGF axis in ocular neovascular diseases. Acta Ophthalmol 2021; 99:e1255-e1262. [PMID: 33729690 DOI: 10.1111/aos.14845] [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] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ocular neovascular diseases, such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and neovascular age-related macular degeneration, are the leading causes of visual impairment worldwide. The hypoxia-inducible factors and vascular endothelial growth factors are key molecular promoters of ocular neovascularization. Moreover, the role of microRNAs as regulators of angiogenesis has been expanding, particularly hypoxia-associated microRNA; hypoxamiRs. This review provides a summary of hypoxamiRs that directly and specifically target HIF1A and VEGF mRNAs, thus critically involved in the regulation of ocular neovascular pathologies. The discussed microRNAs highlight putative diagnostic markers and therapeutic agents in choroidal and retinal angiogenic diseases, including proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Plastino
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences Division of Eye and Vision St. Erik Eye Hospital Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
| | - Noemi Anna Pesce
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences Division of Eye and Vision St. Erik Eye Hospital Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
| | - Helder André
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences Division of Eye and Vision St. Erik Eye Hospital Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
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24
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Menko AS, DeDreu J, Logan CM, Paulson H, Levin AV, Walker JL. Resident immune cells of the avascular lens: Mediators of the injury and fibrotic response of the lens. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21341. [PMID: 33710665 PMCID: PMC8200928 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002200r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tissues typically harbor subpopulations of resident immune cells that function as rapid responders to injury and whose activation leads to induction of an adaptive immune response, playing important roles in repair and protection. Since the lens is an avascular tissue, it was presumed that it was absent of resident immune cells. Our studies now show that resident immune cells are a shared feature of the human, mouse, and chicken lens epithelium. These resident immune cells function as immediate responders to injury and rapidly populate the wound edge following mock cataract surgery to function as leader cells. Many of these resident immune cells also express MHCII providing them with antigen presenting ability to engage an adaptive immune response. We provide evidence that during development immune cells migrate on the ciliary zonules and localize among the equatorial epithelial cells of the lens adjacent to where the ciliary zonules associate with the lens capsule. These findings suggest that the vasculature‐rich ciliary body is a source of lens resident immune cells. We identified a major role for these cells as rapid responders to wounding, quickly populating each wound were they can function as leaders of lens tissue repair. Our findings also show that lens resident immune cells are progenitors of myofibroblasts, which characteristically appear in response to lens cataract surgery injury, and therefore, are likely agents of lens pathologies to impair vision like fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sue Menko
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - JodiRae DeDreu
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Caitlin M Logan
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Heather Paulson
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alex V Levin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Janice L Walker
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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25
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Walker JL, Menko AS. Immune cells in lens injury repair and fibrosis. Exp Eye Res 2021; 209:108664. [PMID: 34126081 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Immune cells, both tissue resident immune cells and those immune cells recruited in response to wounding or degenerative conditions, are essential to both the maintenance and restoration of homeostasis in most tissues. These cells are typically provided to tissues by their closely associated vasculatures. However, the lens, like many of the tissues in the eye, are considered immune privileged sites because they have no associated vasculature. Such absence of immune cells was thought to protect the lens from inflammatory responses that would bring with them the danger of causing vision impairing opacities. However, it has now been shown, as occurs in other immune privileged sites in the eye, that novel pathways exist by which immune cells come to associate with the lens to protect it, maintain its homeostasis, and function in its regenerative repair. Here we review the discoveries that have revealed there are both innate and adaptive immune system responses to lens, and that, like most other tissues, the lens harbors a population of resident immune cells, which are the sentinels of danger or injury to a tissue. While resident and recruited immune cells are essential elements of lens homeostasis and repair, they also become the agents of disease, particularly as progenitors of pro-fibrogenic myofibroblasts. There still remains much to learn about the function of lens-associated immune cells in protection, repair and disease, the knowledge of which will provide new tools for maintaining the core functions of the lens in the visual system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice L Walker
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - A Sue Menko
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
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26
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Kumar D, Lim JC, Donaldson PJ. A link between maternal malnutrition and depletion of glutathione in the developing lens: a possible explanation for idiopathic childhood cataract? Clin Exp Optom 2021; 96:523-8. [DOI: 10.1111/cxo.12076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2012] [Revised: 11/21/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Kumar
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand,
- New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand,
| | - Julie C Lim
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand,
- New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand,
| | - Paul J Donaldson
- New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand,
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand,
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27
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Lužnik Z, Anchouche S, Dana R, Yin J. Regulatory T Cells in Angiogenesis. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 205:2557-2565. [PMID: 33168598 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial mediators of immune homeostasis. They regulate immune response by suppressing inflammation and promoting self-tolerance. In addition to their immunoregulatory role, a growing body of evidence highlights the dynamic role of Tregs in angiogenesis, the process of forming new blood vessels. Although angiogenesis is critically important for normal tissue regeneration, it is also a hallmark of pathological processes, including malignancy and chronic inflammation. Interestingly, the role of Tregs in angiogenesis has been shown to be highly tissue- and context-specific and as a result can yield either pro- or antiangiogenic effects. For these reasons, there is considerable interest in determining the molecular underpinnings of Treg-mediated modulation of angiogenesis in different disease states. The present review summarizes the role of Tregs in angiogenesis and mechanisms by which Tregs regulate angiogenesis and discusses how these mechanisms differ in homeostatic and pathological settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zala Lužnik
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114.,Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; and
| | - Sonia Anchouche
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114.,Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 2M1, Canada
| | - Reza Dana
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114;
| | - Jia Yin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114;
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28
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Di Zazzo A, Gaudenzi D, Yin J, Coassin M, Fernandes M, Dana R, Bonini S. Corneal angiogenic privilege and its failure. Exp Eye Res 2021; 204:108457. [PMID: 33493471 PMCID: PMC10760381 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The cornea actively maintains its own avascular status to preserve its ultimate optical function. This corneal avascular state is also defined as "corneal angiogenic privilege", which results from a critical and sensitive balance between anti-angiogenic and pro-angiogenic mechanisms. In our review, we aim to explore the complex equilibrium among multiple mediators which prevents neovascularization in the resting cornea, as well as to unveil the evolutive process which leads to corneal angiogenesis in response to different injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Di Zazzo
- Ophthalmology Operative Complex Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
| | - Daniele Gaudenzi
- Ophthalmology Operative Complex Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Jia Yin
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marco Coassin
- Ophthalmology Operative Complex Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Merle Fernandes
- Cornea and Anterior Segment Services, LV Prasad Eye Institute, GMR Varalakshmi Campus, Visakhapatnam, India
| | - Reza Dana
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stefano Bonini
- Ophthalmology Operative Complex Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
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29
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PRODUCTION AND APPLICATION OF ANGIOSTATINS FOR THE TREATMENT OF OCULAR NEOVASCULAR DISEASES. BIOTECHNOLOGIA ACTA 2021. [DOI: 10.15407/biotech14.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiostatins comprise a group of kringle-containing proteolytically-derived fragments of plasminogen/plasmin, which act as potent inhibitory mediators of endothelial cells proliferation and migration. Angiostatins are involved in modulation of vessel growth in healthy tissues and various pathological conditions associated with aberrant neovascularization. The aim of the present paper was to summarize available information, including our own experimental data, on prospects of angiostatin application for treatment of ocular neovascular diseases (OND), focusing on retinal pathologies and corneal injury. In particular, literature data on prospective and retrospective studies, clinical trials and animal models relating to the pathophysiology, investigation and management of OND are described. Special emphasis was made on the laboratory approaches of production of different angiostatin isoforms, as well as comparison of antiangiogenic capacities of native and recombinant angiostatin polypeptides. Several studies reported that angiostatins may completely abolish pathologic angiogenesis in diabetic proliferative retinopathy without affecting normal retinal vessel development and without exhibiting adverse side effects. Angiostatins have been tested as a tool for corneal antiangiogenesis target therapy in order to manage diverse ocular surface pathological conditions induced by traumas, chemical burns, previous surgery, chronic contact lens wear, autoimmune diseases, keratitis and viral infections (herpes, COVID-19), corneal graft rejection, etc. Among all known angiostatin species, isolated K5 plasminogen fragment was shown to display the most potent inhibitory activity against proliferation of endothelial cells via triggering multiple signaling pathways, which lead to cell death and resulting angiogenesis suppression. Application of adenoviral genetic construct encoding angiostatin K5 as a promising tool for OND treatment illustrates a vivid example of upcoming revolution in local gene therapy. Further comprehensive studies are necessary to elucidate the clinical potential and optimal regimes of angiostatinbased intervention modalities for treating ocular neovascularization.
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30
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Gupta A, Ruminski D, Jimenez Villar A, Duarte Toledo R, Manzanera S, Panezai S, Mompean J, Artal P, Grulkowski I. In vivo SS-OCT imaging of crystalline lens sutures. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:5388-5400. [PMID: 33149958 PMCID: PMC7587285 DOI: 10.1364/boe.401254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate in vivo three-dimensional (3-D) visualization of crystalline lens sutures in healthy eyes using swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Volumetric data sets of the crystalline lenses were acquired and processed to obtain enhanced contrast projection images and to extract suture patterns in both anterior and posterior lens. The results presented different types of the sutures including Y-sutures, simple and complex star sutures. Age-related changes in suture arrangement were characterized quantitatively. Crystalline lens suture imaging with SS-OCT might be a useful tool in fundamental studies on development and ageing of human lens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Gupta
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Daniel Ruminski
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Alfonso Jimenez Villar
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Raúl Duarte Toledo
- Laboratorio de Óptica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Silvestre Manzanera
- Laboratorio de Óptica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Spozmai Panezai
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Juan Mompean
- Laboratorio de Óptica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pablo Artal
- Laboratorio de Óptica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, E-30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Ireneusz Grulkowski
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
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31
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Malakouti-Nejad M, Bardania H, Aliakbari F, Baradaran-Rafii A, Elahi E, Monti D, Morshedi D. Formulation of nanoliposome-encapsulated bevacizumab (Avastin): Statistical optimization for enhanced drug encapsulation and properties evaluation. Int J Pharm 2020; 590:119895. [PMID: 32956821 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Bevacizumab (Avastin®), an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, is one of the most effective drugs widely used to inhibit ocular angiogenesis. Nanoliposomes were recruited to improve the accessibility of bevacizumab (BVZ) during treatment. To optimize drug entrapment efficiency (DEE %), the effect of some independent variables was evaluated utilizing response surface methodology. The optimized formulation containing BVZ (NLP-BVZ) was characterized, and its safety was assessed. Employingarising retinalpigment epithelial (ARPE) cells, the permeability of the nanoliposome was analyzed. Structural stability and integrity of NLP-BVZ were also estimated with different methods. Optimal condition for the maximum DEE (39.9%) was obtained with cholesterol/DPPC (1,2-Dipalimitoyl-Sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) (%w/w) 13.64, BVZ/DPPC (%w/w) 83.78 and 9 freeze-thaw cycles. Neutral fabricated NLP-BVZ with an average size of 141.5 ± 45.8 nm showed a smooth spherical structure and released the drug in a slow and sustained fashion. The formulation exhibited no obvious effect against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and ARPEs. Additionally, the pattern of the circular dichroism (CD) and intrinsic fluorescence spectra confirmed the structural integrity of protein remained conserved after encapsulation. Taken together, the analysis indicated that the process of entrapment into nanoliposome meaningfully made the drug safer, more stable, and, therefore, appropriate for treating ocular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Malakouti-Nejad
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Bardania
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; Clinical Research Development Unit, Imamsajad Hospital, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Farhang Aliakbari
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Baradaran-Rafii
- Ocular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, No 23, Paydarfard-9th Boostan St., Pasdaran Ave, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Elahi
- School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Daniela Monti
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno 33, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Dina Morshedi
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.
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32
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Liu H, Zhang XR, Xu HC, Ma Y, Huang LY, Zhai LY, Zhao Y. Effects of VEGF Inhibitor Conbercept on Corneal Neovascularization Following Penetrating Keratoplasty in Rabbit Model. Clin Ophthalmol 2020; 14:2185-2193. [PMID: 32801629 PMCID: PMC7410491 DOI: 10.2147/opth.s260302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the effects of the vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor conbercept (KH902) on corneal neovascularization and wound healing following penetrating keratoplasty in rabbits. Methods Conbercept was administered to New Zealand white rabbits through topical and subconjunctival routes. Corneal neovascularization and wound healing were examined by slit-lamp photography and histological analyses. The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor, α-smooth muscle actin, and keratocan in the corneal grafts were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results The anterior segment photographs demonstrated that corneal neovascularization started in the 2nd week. In the 4th week, histologically, the superficial corneal stroma layer showed disordered arrangement, and there were large numbers of dense inflammatory cells and blood vessels in the stroma layer. Vascular endothelial growth factor in the experimental groups was significantly decreased at all time points compared with the control group (both P = 0.001). Expression of α-smooth muscle actin in corneal grafts demonstrated an increase in time even it was lower in experimental groups, but the difference was not statistically significant (P equaled to 0.507 and 0.723, respectively). There were no significant differences with the expression of keratocan in all groups except that it significantly declined at the 4th week as to the second week in all groups and P values were 0.022, 0.020 and 0.014 in control (C), topical (E1), and subconjunctival (E2) group, respectively. Conclusion The study found that conbercept inhibited the formation of corneal neovascularization without affecting keratocan-mediated corneal wound healing and there were no significant differences between topical administration of different doses of conbercept on the rabbit corneal neovascularization after penetrating keratoplasty in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- Division of Ocular Injuries, Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China.,Hebei OPO Eye Bank, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Rong Zhang
- Division of Ocular Injuries, Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China.,Hebei OPO Eye Bank, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Chang Xu
- Division of Ocular Injuries, Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Ma
- Division of Ocular Injuries, Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Ying Huang
- Division of Ocular Injuries, Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Ying Zhai
- Division of Ocular Injuries, Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Zhao
- Hebei OPO Eye Bank, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
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In vivo imaging of the hyaloid vascular regression and retinal and choroidal vascular development in rat eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12901. [PMID: 32733052 PMCID: PMC7393149 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69765-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the hyaloid vascular regression and its relationship to the retinal and choroidal vascular developments using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Normal and oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) rat eyes at postnatal day 15, 18, 21, and 24 were longitudinally imaged using OCTA. At each day, two consecutive imaging for visualizing the hyaloid vasculature and the retinal and choroidal vasculatures were conducted. The hyaloid vessel volume and the retinal and choroidal vessel densities were measured. The hyaloid vessel volumes gradually decreased during the regression, although the OIR eyes exhibited large vessel volumes at all time points. A spatial relationship between persistent hyaloid vasculature and retardation of underlying retinal vascular development was observed in the OIR eyes. Furthermore, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was administered intravitreally to additional OIR eyes to observe its effect on the vascular regression and development. The VEGF injection to OIR eyes showed reduced persistent hyaloid vessels in the injected eyes as well as in the non-injected fellow eyes. This study presents longitudinal imaging of intraocular vasculatures in the developing eye and shows the utility of OCTA that can be widely used in studies of vascular development and regression and preclinical evaluation of new anti-angiogenic drugs.
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Wang L, Luo S, Xu H, Wu X, Hao P, Zhang Y, Huang W, Zan X. Evaluation of His 6-Metal Assemblies as a Drug Delivery Vehicle in the Treatment of Anterior Segment Disease Using a Corneal Inflammation Model. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:4012-4023. [PMID: 33463356 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Keratitis is a common ophthalmological disease and also a common cause of blindness (second only to cataracts). This disease is routinely treated by topical administration of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (Dexp). However, due to the presence of anatomical and physiological barriers, frequent administration is needed, often resulting in poor patient compliance and diverse side effects. In this work, Dexp was in situ encapsulated into a His6-metal assembly (HmA) to generate Dexp@HmA, which was utilized in the ocular delivery of Dexp. The physicochemical properties of HmA and Dexp@HmA particles were characterized in detail using various techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-vis spectroscopy. Compared to commercial Eudragi and reported PLGA nanoparticles, HmA showed higher encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and higher loading capacity (LC wt %) of Dexp. Dexp@HmA displayed pH-dependent release; after 33 days at pH 5.8, 6.5, and 7.2, 100%, 65%, and 42% of Dexp, respectively, had been released. In addition, HmA and Dexp@HmA showed low cytotoxicity to macrophages and to all common ocular cell types tested. The effect of Dexp@HmA on corneal inflammation was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo models. Our results demonstrate that Dexp@HmA is much superior to free Dexp in both in vitro and in vivo models. These positive results suggest that HmA may represent a promising candidate nanocarrier for the treatment of various diseases of the anterior segment of the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Wang
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, P. R. China
| | - Shan Luo
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, P. R. China
| | - Hongyan Xu
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wu
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, P. R. China
| | - Pengyan Hao
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, P. R. China
| | - Yagang Zhang
- School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, P. R. China
| | - Wenjuan Huang
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, P. R. China
| | - Xingjie Zan
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325035, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou Institute, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province 325011, P. R. China
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Brash JT, Denti L, Ruhrberg C, Bucher F. VEGF188 promotes corneal reinnervation after injury. JCI Insight 2019; 4:130979. [PMID: 31672940 PMCID: PMC6948769 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.130979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) induces angiogenesis and vascular hyperpermeability in ocular tissues and is therefore a key therapeutic target for eye conditions in which these processes are dysregulated. In contrast, the therapeutic potential of VEGF's neurotrophic roles in the eye has remained unexploited. In particular, it is not known whether modulating levels of any of the 3 major alternatively spliced VEGF isoforms might provide a therapeutic approach to promote neural health in the eye without inducing vascular pathology. Here, we have used a variety of mouse models to demonstrate differences in overall VEGF levels and VEGF isoform ratios across tissues in the healthy eye. We further show that VEGF isoform expression was differentially regulated in retinal versus corneal disease models. Among the 3 major isoforms - termed VEGF120, VEGF164, and VEGF188 - VEGF188 was upregulated to the greatest extent in injured cornea, where it was both necessary and sufficient for corneal nerve regeneration. Moreover, topical VEGF188 application further promoted corneal nerve regeneration without inducing pathological neovascularization. VEGF isoform modulation should therefore be explored further for its potential in promoting neural health in the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T Brash
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Denti
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Franziska Bucher
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Dewi CU, O'Connor MD. Use of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Define Initiating Molecular Mechanisms of Cataract for Anti-Cataract Drug Discovery. Cells 2019; 8:E1269. [PMID: 31627438 PMCID: PMC6830331 DOI: 10.3390/cells8101269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cataract is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Currently, restoration of vision in cataract patients requires surgical removal of the cataract. Due to the large and increasing number of cataract patients, the annual cost of surgical cataract treatment amounts to billions of dollars. Limited access to functional human lens tissue during the early stages of cataract formation has hampered efforts to develop effective anti-cataract drugs. The ability of human pluripotent stem (PS) cells to make large numbers of normal or diseased human cell types raises the possibility that human PS cells may provide a new avenue for defining the molecular mechanisms responsible for different types of human cataract. Towards this end, methods have been established to differentiate human PS cells into both lens cells and transparent, light-focusing human micro-lenses. Sensitive and quantitative assays to measure light transmittance and focusing ability of human PS cell-derived micro-lenses have also been developed. This review will, therefore, examine how human PS cell-derived lens cells and micro-lenses might provide a new avenue for development of much-needed drugs to treat human cataract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitra Umala Dewi
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia.
| | - Michael D O'Connor
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia.
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Molter Y, Milioti G, Langenbucher A, Seitz B. Zeitpunkt, Rezidive und Prognose der immunologischen Abstoßungsreaktion nach Keratoplastik. Ophthalmologe 2019; 117:548-556. [DOI: 10.1007/s00347-019-00975-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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38
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Yoshitomi Y, Osada H, Satake H, Kojima M, Saito-Takatsuji H, Ikeda T, Yoshitake Y, Ishigaki Y, Kubo E, Sasaki H, Yonekura H. Ultraviolet B-induced Otx2 expression in lens epithelial cells promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.035691. [PMID: 30718229 PMCID: PMC6398467 DOI: 10.1242/bio.035691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation of eyes is a major risk factor for cataractogenesis, although the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain poorly understood and genes that are affected by UV radiation have not been fully identified. In this study, we examined the UV-related gene regulation in lens epithelial cells (LECs) of mouse eyes and investigated the molecular mechanisms of UV-triggered cataractogenesis. Forty-one genes were significantly upregulated in LECs following UVB exposure in vivo in two independent experiments. Among these, Otx2 was strongly upregulated in LECs, suggesting that it may act as an upstream regulator of UVB-induced changes in gene expression. Accordingly, Otx2 overexpression in LECs in vitro induced morphological changes in cell shapes. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related molecules, such as TGFβ2, αSMA and fibronectin were upregulated in Otx2-overexpressing LECs, concomitant with suppression of lens fiber cell marker genes, such as CRYAA and DNASEIIB. In vitro experiments suggested that UVB upregulated Otx2 through hydrogen peroxide generation. Aberrant upregulation of Otx2 in LECs following UV irradiation induces the EMT and alteration of the lens cell characteristics, likely contributing to cataractogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuo Yoshitomi
- Department of Biochemistry, Kanazawa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Hiromi Osada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Haruka Satake
- Department of Biochemistry, Kanazawa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Masami Kojima
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Science, Kanazawa Medical University School of Nursing, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Hidehito Saito-Takatsuji
- Department of Biochemistry, Kanazawa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Takayuki Ikeda
- Department of Biochemistry, Kanazawa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Yoshino Yoshitake
- Department of Biochemistry, Kanazawa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Ishigaki
- Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Eri Kubo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sasaki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
| | - Hideto Yonekura
- Department of Biochemistry, Kanazawa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
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New Insights Into Corneal Endothelial Regeneration. CURRENT OPHTHALMOLOGY REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40135-019-00197-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Sharif Z, Sharif W. Corneal neovascularization: updates on pathophysiology, investigations & management. Rom J Ophthalmol 2019; 63:15-22. [PMID: 31198893 PMCID: PMC6531773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective. Corneal neovascularization is a sight-threatening condition affecting more than 1.4 million people per year. Left untreated, it can lead to tissue scarring, oedema, lipid deposition, and persistent inflammation that may significantly affect visual prognosis and quality of life. The aim was to review the recent evidence relating to the pathophysiology, investigations and management of corneal neovascularization. Methods. Literature review of prospective and retrospective studies, clinical trials and animal models relating to the pathophysiology, investigation and management of corneal neovascularization. Results. Corneal neovascularization is characterized by the invasion of new blood vessels into the cornea caused by an imbalance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors that preserve corneal transparency as a result of various ocular insults and hypoxic injuries. Risk factors that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease include contact lens wear, ocular surface disease, trauma, previous surgery and herpes. The results highlighted the current and future management modalities of corneal neovascularization, which includes corneal transplantation, laser - phototherapy, injections and topical treatment. Conclusion. The future of corneal neovascularization is promising and this paper discusses the upcoming revolution in local gene therapy. Abbreviations. HSK = herpes stromal keratitis, VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGFR-1 = VEGF Receptor-1, FGF = Fibroblast growth factor, PDGF = Platelet-derived growth factor, IL-6 = interleukin-6, IL-7 = interleukin-7, IL-8 = interleukin-8, IRS-1 = insulin receptor substrate-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuhair Sharif
- Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - Walid Sharif
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Jordan Hospital, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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Wang Z, Liu CH, Huang S, Chen J. Wnt Signaling in vascular eye diseases. Prog Retin Eye Res 2018; 70:110-133. [PMID: 30513356 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in vascular morphogenesis in various organs including the eye. Wnt ligands and receptors are key regulators of ocular angiogenesis both during the eye development and in vascular eye diseases. Wnt signaling participates in regulating multiple vascular beds in the eye including regression of the hyaloid vessels, and development of structured layers of vasculature in the retina. Loss-of-function mutations in Wnt signaling components cause rare genetic eye diseases in humans such as Norrie disease, and familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) with defective ocular vasculature. On the other hand, experimental studies in more prevalent vascular eye diseases, such as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and corneal neovascularization, suggest that aberrantly increased Wnt signaling is one of the causations for pathological ocular neovascularization, indicating the potential of modulating Wnt signaling to ameliorate pathological angiogenesis in eye diseases. This review recapitulates the key roles of the Wnt signaling pathway during ocular vascular development and in vascular eye diseases, and pharmaceutical approaches targeting the Wnt signaling as potential treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongxiao Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - Chi-Hsiu Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - Shuo Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, United States.
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42
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Karaman S, Leppänen VM, Alitalo K. Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in development and disease. Development 2018; 145:145/14/dev151019. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.151019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are best known for their involvement in orchestrating the development and maintenance of the blood and lymphatic vascular systems. VEGFs are secreted by a variety of cells and they bind to their cognate tyrosine kinase VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) in endothelial cells to elicit various downstream effects. In recent years, there has been tremendous progress in elucidating different VEGF/VEGFR signaling functions in both the blood and lymphatic vascular systems. Here, and in the accompanying poster, we present key elements of the VEGF/VEGFR pathway and highlight the classical and newly discovered functions of VEGF signaling in blood and lymphatic vessel development and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinem Karaman
- Wihuri Research Institute and Translational Cancer Biology Program, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00290, Finland
| | - Veli-Matti Leppänen
- Wihuri Research Institute and Translational Cancer Biology Program, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00290, Finland
| | - Kari Alitalo
- Wihuri Research Institute and Translational Cancer Biology Program, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00290, Finland
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Wu Y, Xue C, Lu Y, Huang Z. The inhibitory effect of different concentrations of KH902 eye drops on corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn. Indian J Ophthalmol 2017; 65:1127-1132. [PMID: 29133637 PMCID: PMC5700579 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_339_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of different concentrations of KH902 eye drops on rabbit corneal neovascularization (CNV) induced by alkali burn. METHODS Forty-eight adult rabbits were randomized into four groups after alkali burning: Group A (2.5 mg/ml), Group B (5 mg/ml), and Group C (10 mg/ml) by different concentrations of KH902 eye drops and Group D by saline solution as control with three times a day for 2 weeks. At days 7, 14, and 28, the anterior segment photographs, confocal microscopy, and histopathology were performed to evaluate corneal opacity, neovascularization, inflammatory cell density, vessel size, and edema. Immunohistochemistry was applied to analyze the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level. RESULTS (1) The CNV in the medicine-treated groups showed a reduction without obvious corneal side effects histologically. (2) Compared to the control group, the three medicine-treated groups showed a reduction in the VEGF levels and CNV areas on days 7, 14, and 28 and in the inflammatory cell density on days 14 and 28 (P < 0.01). The difference of inflammatory cell density between the three medicine-treated groups existed on day 14 (P < 0.01). There were differences in the VEGF levels between Groups A, B, and C on days 7, 14, and 28 (P < 0.01), not for Groups B and C on day 28 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION KH902 eye drops in lower concentration showed an obvious reduction of the CNV growing for rabbit corneal alkali burn without side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinling Medical School of Nanjing Medical University; Department of Ophthalmology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, PR China
| | - Chunyan Xue
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, PR China
| | - Yan Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, PR China
| | - Zhenping Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinling Medical School of Nanjing Medical University; Department of Ophthalmology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, PR China
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Cvekl A, Zhang X. Signaling and Gene Regulatory Networks in Mammalian Lens Development. Trends Genet 2017; 33:677-702. [PMID: 28867048 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ocular lens development represents an advantageous system in which to study regulatory mechanisms governing cell fate decisions, extracellular signaling, cell and tissue organization, and the underlying gene regulatory networks. Spatiotemporally regulated domains of BMP, FGF, and other signaling molecules in late gastrula-early neurula stage embryos generate the border region between the neural plate and non-neural ectoderm from which multiple cell types, including lens progenitor cells, emerge and undergo initial tissue formation. Extracellular signaling and DNA-binding transcription factors govern lens and optic cup morphogenesis. Pax6, c-Maf, Hsf4, Prox1, Sox1, and a few additional factors regulate the expression of the lens structural proteins, the crystallins. Extensive crosstalk between a diverse array of signaling pathways controls the complexity and order of lens morphogenetic processes and lens transparency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ales Cvekl
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Walkden A, Tan SZ, Au L, Mercieca K. Vascularisation of the anterior lens capsule in an eye with excellent visual acuity. BMJ Case Rep 2017; 2017:bcr-2017-220163. [PMID: 28687691 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-220163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
A 53-year-old phakic female with a history of nanophthalmos and hyperopia was incidentally found to have unilateral neovascularisation on the left inferoanterior lens surface on routine review for ocular hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Leon Au
- Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, UK
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46
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Cholesterol Bilayer Domains in the Eye Lens Health: A Review. Cell Biochem Biophys 2017; 75:387-398. [PMID: 28660427 PMCID: PMC5691107 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-017-0812-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The most unique biochemical characteristic of the eye lens fiber cell plasma membrane is its extremely high cholesterol content, the need for which is still unclear. It is evident, however, that the disturbance of Chol homeostasis may result in damages associated with cataracts. Electron paramagnetic resonance methods allow discrimination of two types of lipid domains in model membranes overloaded with Chol, namely, phospholipid-cholesterol domains and pure Chol bilayer domains. These domains are also detected in human lens lipid membranes prepared from the total lipids extracted from lens cortices and nuclei of donors from different age groups. Independent of the age-related changes in phospholipid composition, the physical properties of phospholipid-Chol domains remain the same for all age groups and are practically identical for cortical and nuclear membranes. The presence of Chol bilayer domains in these membranes provides a buffering capacity for cholesterol concentration in the surrounding phospholipid-Chol domains, keeping it at a constant saturating level and thus keeping the physical properties of the membrane consistent with and independent of changes in phospholipid composition. It seems that the presence of Chol bilayer domains plays an integral role in the regulation of cholesterol-dependent processes in fiber cell plasm membranes and in the maintenance of fiber cell membrane homeostasis.
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47
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Mechanisms Underlying the Absence of Cancers of the Human Crystalline Lens. Int Ophthalmol Clin 2016; 57:49-56. [PMID: 27898613 DOI: 10.1097/iio.0000000000000159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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48
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Kubota M, Shui YB, Liu M, Bai F, Huang AJ, Ma N, Beebe DC, Siegfried CJ. Mitochondrial oxygen metabolism in primary human lens epithelial cells: Association with age, diabetes and glaucoma. Free Radic Biol Med 2016; 97:513-519. [PMID: 27445101 PMCID: PMC4996752 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2015] [Revised: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The hypoxic environment around the lens is important for maintaining lens transparency. Lens epithelial cells (LECs) play a key role in lens metabolism. We measured oxygen consumption to assess the role of human LECs in maintaining hypoxia around the lens, as well as the impact of systemic and ocular diagnosis on these cells. METHODS Baseline cellular respiration was measured in rabbit LECs (NN1003A), canine kidney epithelial cells (MDCK), trabecular meshwork cells (TM-5), and bovine corneal endothelial cells (CCEE) using a XF96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer (Seahorse Bioscience, North Billerica, MA), which measures oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) in vitro. Following informed written consent, lens capsule epithelial cells were obtained from patients during cataract surgery and were divided into small explants in 96-well plates. Capsules were removed when LECs became confluent. OCR was normalized to the number of cells per well using rabbit LECs as a standard. The effect of patient age, sex, race, and presence of diabetes or glaucoma on oxygen consumption was assessed by using the Mann-Whitney U test and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS Primary LECs were obtained from 69 patients. The OCR from donors aged 70 and over was lower than that of those under 70 years (2.21±1.037 vs. 2.86±1.383 fmol/min/cell; p<0.05). Diabetic patients had lower OCR than non-diabetic patients (2.02±0.911 vs. 2.79±1.332fmol/min/cell; p<0.05), and glaucoma patients had lower OCR than non-glaucoma patients (2.27±1.19 vs. 2.83±1.286 fmol/min/cell; p<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that donors aged 70 and over (p<0.05), diabetic patients (p<0.01), and glaucoma patients (p<0.05) had significantly lower OCR, independent of other variables. Gender and race had no significant effect on OCR. CONCLUSIONS The lower oxygen consumption rate of human LECs in older donors and patients with diabetes or glaucoma could contribute to cataract development. Diabetes and glaucoma are particularly important factors associated with decreased OCR, independent of age. Ongoing studies are examining pO2 at the anterior surface of the lens in vivo and oxygen consumption in the patient's LECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kubota
- Departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Departments of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Y B Shui
- Departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.
| | - M Liu
- Departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.
| | - F Bai
- Departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.
| | - A J Huang
- Departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.
| | - N Ma
- Departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Departments of Ophthalmology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - D C Beebe
- Departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States; Departments of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - C J Siegfried
- Departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.
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Fan X, Monnier VM, Whitson J. Lens glutathione homeostasis: Discrepancies and gaps in knowledge standing in the way of novel therapeutic approaches. Exp Eye Res 2016; 156:103-111. [PMID: 27373973 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2016.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Cataract is the major cause of blindness worldwide. The WHO has estimated around 20 million people have bilateral blindness from cataract, and that number is expected to reach 50 million in 2050. The cataract surgery is currently the main treatment approach, though often associated with complications, such as Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO)-also known as secondary cataract. The lens is an avascular ocular structure equipped with an unusually high level of glutathione (GSH), which plays a vital role in maintaining lens transparency by regulating lenticular redox state. The lens epithelium and outer cortex are thought to be responsible for providing the majority of lens GSH via GSH de novo synthesis, assisted by a continuous supply of constituent amino acids from the aqueous humor, as well as extracellular GSH recycling from the gamma-glutamyl cycle. However, when de novo synthesis is impaired, in the presence of low GSH levels, as in the aging human lens, compensatory mechanisms exist, suggesting that the lens is able to uptake GSH from the surrounding ocular tissues. However, these uptake mechanisms, and the GSH source and its origin, are largely unknown. The lens nucleus does not have the ability to synthesize its own GSH and fully relies on transport from the outer cortex by yet unknown mechanisms. Understanding how aging reduces GSH levels, particularly in the lens nucleus, how it is associated with age-related nuclear cataract (ARNC), and how the lens compensates for GSH loss via external uptake should be a major research priority. The intent of this review, which is dedicated to the memory of David C. Beebe, is to summarize our current understanding of lens GSH homeostasis and highlight discrepancies and gaps in knowledge that stand in the way of pharmacologically minimizing the impact of declining GSH content in the prevention of age-related cataract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingjun Fan
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, USA.
| | - Vincent M Monnier
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University, USA
| | - Jeremy Whitson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, USA
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Subczynski WK, Mainali L, Raguz M, O'Brien WJ. Organization of lipids in fiber-cell plasma membranes of the eye lens. Exp Eye Res 2016; 156:79-86. [PMID: 26988627 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The plasma membrane together with the cytoskeleton forms the only supramolecular structure of the matured fiber cell which accounts for mostly all fiber cell lipids. The purpose of this review is to inform researchers about the importance of the lipid bilayer portion of the lens fiber cell plasma membranes in the maintaining lens homeostasis, and thus protecting against cataract development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Witold K Subczynski
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Laxman Mainali
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Marija Raguz
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia
| | - William J O'Brien
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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