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Huang W, Xu Z, Li S, Zhou J, Zhao B. Living Biobanks of Organoids: Valuable Resource for Translational Research. Biopreserv Biobank 2024. [PMID: 38959173 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2023.0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of organoids is considered a revolutionary model, changing the landscape of traditional translational research. These three-dimensional miniatures of human organs or tissues, cultivated from stem cells or biospecimens obtained from patients, faithfully replicate the structural and functional characteristics of specific target organs or tissues. In this extensive review, we explore the profound impact of organoids and assess the current state of living organoid biobanks, which are essential repositories for cryopreserving organoids derived from a variety of diseases. These resources hold significant value for translational research. We delve into the diverse origins of organoids, the underlying technologies, and their roles in recapitulating human development, disease modeling, as well as their potential applications in the pharmaceutical field. With a particular emphasis on biobanking organoids for prospective applications, we discuss how these advancements expedite the transition from bench to bedside translational research, thereby fostering personalized medicine and enriching our comprehension of human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqing Huang
- Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, Republic of China
| | - Zhaoting Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, Republic of China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, Republic of China
| | - Junmei Zhou
- Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, Republic of China
| | - Bing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, Republic of China
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2
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Kurzawa-Akanbi M, Tzoumas N, Corral-Serrano JC, Guarascio R, Steel DH, Cheetham ME, Armstrong L, Lako M. Pluripotent stem cell-derived models of retinal disease: Elucidating pathogenesis, evaluating novel treatments, and estimating toxicity. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 100:101248. [PMID: 38369182 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Blindness poses a growing global challenge, with approximately 26% of cases attributed to degenerative retinal diseases. While gene therapy, optogenetic tools, photosensitive switches, and retinal prostheses offer hope for vision restoration, these high-cost therapies will benefit few patients. Understanding retinal diseases is therefore key to advance effective treatments, requiring in vitro models replicating pathology and allowing quantitative assessments for drug discovery. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) provide a unique solution given their limitless supply and ability to differentiate into light-responsive retinal tissues encompassing all cell types. This review focuses on the history and current state of photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell generation from PSCs. We explore the applications of this technology in disease modelling, experimental therapy testing, biomarker identification, and toxicity studies. We consider challenges in scalability, standardisation, and reproducibility, and stress the importance of incorporating vasculature and immune cells into retinal organoids. We advocate for high-throughput automation in data acquisition and analyses and underscore the value of advanced micro-physiological systems that fully capture the interactions between the neural retina, RPE, and choriocapillaris.
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Kandoi S, Martinez C, Chen KX, Mehine M, Reddy LVK, Mansfield BC, Duncan JL, Lamba DA. Disease modeling and pharmacological rescue of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa associated with RHO copy number variation. eLife 2024; 12:RP90575. [PMID: 38661530 PMCID: PMC11045220 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a heterogenous group of inherited retinal disorder, causes slow progressive vision loss with no effective treatments available. Mutations in the rhodopsin gene (RHO) account for ~25% cases of autosomal dominant RP (adRP). In this study, we describe the disease characteristics of the first-ever reported mono-allelic copy number variation (CNV) in RHO as a novel cause of adRP. We (a) show advanced retinal degeneration in a male patient (68 years of age) harboring four transcriptionally active intact copies of rhodopsin, (b) recapitulated the clinical phenotypes using retinal organoids, and (c) assessed the utilization of a small molecule, Photoregulin3 (PR3), as a clinically viable strategy to target and modify disease progression in RP patients associated with RHO-CNV. Patient retinal organoids showed photoreceptors dysgenesis, with rod photoreceptors displaying stunted outer segments with occasional elongated cilia-like projections (microscopy); increased RHO mRNA expression (quantitative real-time PCR [qRT-PCR] and bulk RNA sequencing); and elevated levels and mislocalization of rhodopsin protein (RHO) within the cell body of rod photoreceptors (western blotting and immunohistochemistry) over the extended (300 days) culture time period when compared against control organoids. Lastly, we utilized PR3 to target NR2E3, an upstream regulator of RHO, to alter RHO expression and observed a partial rescue of RHO protein localization from the cell body to the inner/outer segments of rod photoreceptors in patient organoids. These results provide a proof-of-principle for personalized medicine and suggest that RHO expression requires precise control. Taken together, this study supports the clinical data indicating that RHO-CNV associated adRPdevelops as a result of protein overexpression, thereby overloading the photoreceptor post-translational modification machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeetha Kandoi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine & Stem Cell Research University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Cassandra Martinez
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine & Stem Cell Research University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Kevin Xu Chen
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine & Stem Cell Research University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | | | - L Vinod K Reddy
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine & Stem Cell Research University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Brian C Mansfield
- Section on Cellular Differentiation, Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Jacque L Duncan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Deepak A Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine & Stem Cell Research University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Immunology and Regenerative Medicine, GenentechSouth San FranciscoUnited States
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Zheng Y, Stormo GD, Chen S. Aberrant homeodomain-DNA cooperative dimerization underlies distinct developmental defects in two dominant CRX retinopathy models. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.12.584677. [PMID: 38559186 PMCID: PMC10979960 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.12.584677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Paired-class homeodomain transcription factors (HD TFs) play essential roles in vertebrate development, and their mutations are linked to human diseases. One unique feature of paired-class HD is cooperative dimerization on specific palindrome DNA sequences. Yet, the functional significance of HD cooperative dimerization in animal development and its dysregulation in diseases remain elusive. Using the retinal TF Cone-rod Homeobox (CRX) as a model, we have studied how blindness-causing mutations in the paired HD, p.E80A and p.K88N, alter CRX's cooperative dimerization, lead to gene misexpression and photoreceptor developmental deficits in dominant manners. CRXE80A maintains binding at monomeric WT CRX motifs but is deficient in cooperative binding at dimeric motifs. CRXE80A's cooperativity defect impacts the exponential increase of photoreceptor gene expression in terminal differentiation and produces immature, non-functional photoreceptors in the CrxE80A retinas. CRXK88N is highly cooperative and localizes to ectopic genomic sites with strong enrichment of dimeric HD motifs. CRXK88N's altered biochemical properties disrupt CRX's ability to direct dynamic chromatin remodeling during development to activate photoreceptor differentiation programs and silence progenitor programs. Our study here provides in vitro and in vivo molecular evidence that paired-class HD cooperative dimerization regulates neuronal development and dysregulation of cooperative binding contributes to severe dominant blinding retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiao Zheng
- Molecular Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program, Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA
| | - Gary D. Stormo
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA
| | - Shiming Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in St Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA
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Spirig SE, Renner M. Toward Retinal Organoids in High-Throughput. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041275. [PMID: 37217280 PMCID: PMC10910359 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Human retinal organoids recapitulate the cellular diversity, arrangement, gene expression, and functional aspects of the human retina. Protocols to generate human retinal organoids from pluripotent stem cells are typically labor intensive, include many manual handling steps, and the organoids need to be maintained for several months until they mature. To generate large numbers of human retinal organoids for therapy development and screening purposes, scaling up retinal organoid production, maintenance, and analysis is of utmost importance. In this review, we discuss strategies to increase the number of high-quality retinal organoids while reducing manual handling steps. We further review different approaches to analyze thousands of retinal organoids with currently available technologies and point to challenges that still await to be overcome both in culture and analysis of retinal organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Erich Spirig
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Magdalena Renner
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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McDonald A, Wijnholds J. Retinal Ciliopathies and Potential Gene Therapies: A Focus on Human iPSC-Derived Organoid Models. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2887. [PMID: 38474133 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052887] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The human photoreceptor function is dependent on a highly specialised cilium. Perturbation of cilial function can often lead to death of the photoreceptor and loss of vision. Retinal ciliopathies are a genetically diverse range of inherited retinal disorders affecting aspects of the photoreceptor cilium. Despite advances in the understanding of retinal ciliopathies utilising animal disease models, they can often lack the ability to accurately mimic the observed patient phenotype, possibly due to structural and functional deviations from the human retina. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can be utilised to generate an alternative disease model, the 3D retinal organoid, which contains all major retinal cell types including photoreceptors complete with cilial structures. These retinal organoids facilitate the study of disease mechanisms and potential therapies in a human-derived system. Three-dimensional retinal organoids are still a developing technology, and despite impressive progress, several limitations remain. This review will discuss the state of hiPSC-derived retinal organoid technology for accurately modelling prominent retinal ciliopathies related to genes, including RPGR, CEP290, MYO7A, and USH2A. Additionally, we will discuss the development of novel gene therapy approaches targeting retinal ciliopathies, including the delivery of large genes and gene-editing techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew McDonald
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Zheng Y, Chen S. Transcriptional precision in photoreceptor development and diseases - Lessons from 25 years of CRX research. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1347436. [PMID: 38414750 PMCID: PMC10896975 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1347436] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate retina is made up of six specialized neuronal cell types and one glia that are generated from a common retinal progenitor. The development of these distinct cell types is programmed by transcription factors that regulate the expression of specific genes essential for cell fate specification and differentiation. Because of the complex nature of transcriptional regulation, understanding transcription factor functions in development and disease is challenging. Research on the Cone-rod homeobox transcription factor CRX provides an excellent model to address these challenges. In this review, we reflect on 25 years of mammalian CRX research and discuss recent progress in elucidating the distinct pathogenic mechanisms of four CRX coding variant classes. We highlight how in vitro biochemical studies of CRX protein functions facilitate understanding CRX regulatory principles in animal models. We conclude with a brief discussion of the emerging systems biology approaches that could accelerate precision medicine for CRX-linked diseases and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiao Zheng
- Molecular Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program, Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Shiming Chen
- Molecular Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program, Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, United States
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Qu Z, Batz Z, Singh N, Marchal C, Swaroop A. Stage-specific dynamic reorganization of genome topology shapes transcriptional neighborhoods in developing human retinal organoids. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113543. [PMID: 38048222 PMCID: PMC10790351 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113543] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We have generated a high-resolution Hi-C map of developing human retinal organoids to elucidate spatiotemporal dynamics of genomic architecture and its relationship with gene expression patterns. We demonstrate progressive stage-specific alterations in DNA topology and correlate these changes with transcription of cell-type-restricted gene markers during retinal differentiation. Temporal Hi-C reveals a shift toward A compartment for protein-coding genes and B compartment for non-coding RNAs, displaying high and low expression, respectively. Notably, retina-enriched genes are clustered near lost boundaries of topologically associated domains (TADs), and higher-order assemblages (i.e., TAD cliques) localize in active chromatin regions with binding sites for eye-field transcription factors. These genes gain chromatin contacts at their transcription start site as organoid differentiation proceeds. Our study provides a global view of chromatin architecture dynamics associated with diversification of cell types during retinal development and serves as a foundational resource for in-depth functional investigations of retinal developmental traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zepeng Qu
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zachary Batz
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nivedita Singh
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Claire Marchal
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; In silichrom Ltd, 15 Digby Road, Newbury RG14 1TS, UK
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Pan D, Zhang X, Jin K, Jin ZB. CRX haploinsufficiency compromises photoreceptor precursor translocation and differentiation in human retinal organoids. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:346. [PMID: 38049871 PMCID: PMC10696917 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03590-3] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The CRX-associated autosomal dominant retinopathies suggest a possible pathogenic mechanism of gene haploinsufficiency. However, based on reported human patient cases and studies with mouse models, it is hard to confirm the specific weight of haploinsufficiency in pathogenesis due to the interspecies gaps between gene expression and function. METHODS We created monoallelic CRX by replacing one allele with tdTomato in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and subsequently dissect pathogenesis in hESCs-derived retinal organoids. We used transcriptome and immunofluorescence analyses to dissect phenotypic differences between CRX-monoallelic knockout and control wildtype organoids. For location analysis of CRX+ cells, a CRX-expression-tracing system was constructed in control hESCs. We implemented long-term live-cell imaging to describe the translocation of CRX+ cells between two groups in early organoid differentiation. The expression pattern of these dynamic differences was validated using RNA-seq and immunofluorescence assays. RESULTS We identified delayed differentiation of outer nuclear layer (ONL) stratification along with thinner ONL, serious loss of photoreceptor outer segments, as well as downregulated expression of gene for phototransduction and inner/outer segment formation. By live-cell imaging and immunostaining, we observed the overtension of actomyosin network and the arrested translocation of monoallelic CRX+ cells in the early stage of retinal differentiation. CONCLUSIONS We confirmed that gene haploinsufficiency is the mechanism for the dominant pathogenicity of CRX and discovered that CRX regulated postmitotic photoreceptor precursor translocation in addition to its specification of photoreceptor cell fates during human retinal development. These findings revealed a new underlying mechanism of CRX dominant pathogenesis and provided a new clue for the treatment of CRX-associated human retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng Pan
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Kangxin Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
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Santiago CP, Gimmen MY, Lu Y, McNally MM, Duncan LH, Creamer TJ, Orzolek LD, Blackshaw S, Singh MS. Comparative Analysis of Single-cell and Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing in a Rabbit Model of Retinal Detachment-related Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy. OPHTHALMOLOGY SCIENCE 2023; 3:100335. [PMID: 37496518 PMCID: PMC10365955 DOI: 10.1016/j.xops.2023.100335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the most common cause of failure of retinal reattachment surgery, and the molecular changes leading to this aberrant wound healing process are currently unknown. Our ultimate goal is to study PVR pathogenesis by employing single-cell transcriptomics to dissect cellular heterogeneity. Design Here we aimed to compare single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) of retinal PVR samples in the rabbit model. Participants Unilateral induction of PVR lesions in rabbit eyes with contralateral eyes serving as controls. Methods Proliferative vitreoretinopathy was induced unilaterally in Dutch Belted rabbits. At different timepoints after PVR induction, retinas were dissociated into either cells or nuclei suspension and processed for scRNA-seq or snRNA-seq. Main Outcome Measures Single cell and nuclei transcriptomic profiles of retinas after PVR induction. Results Single-cell RNA sequencing and snRNA-seq were conducted on retinas at 4 hours and 14 days after disease induction. Although the capture rate of unique molecular identifiers and genes were greater in scRNA-seq samples, overall gene expression profiles of individual cell types were highly correlated between scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq. A major disparity between the 2 sequencing modalities was the cell type capture rate, however, with glial cell types overrepresented in scRNA-seq, and inner retinal neurons were enriched by snRNA-seq. Furthermore, fibrotic Müller glia were overrepresented in snRNA-seq samples, whereas reactive Müller glia were overrepresented in scRNA-seq samples. Trajectory analyses were similar between the 2 methods, allowing for the combined analysis of the scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq data sets. Conclusions These findings highlight limitations of both scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq analysis and imply that use of both techniques together can more accurately identify transcriptional networks critical for aberrant fibrogenesis in PVR than using either in isolation. Financial Disclosures Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clayton P. Santiago
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Megan Y. Gimmen
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yuchen Lu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Minda M. McNally
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Leighton H. Duncan
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Tyler J. Creamer
- Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Linda D. Orzolek
- Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mandeep S. Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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11
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Wahle P, Brancati G, Harmel C, He Z, Gut G, Del Castillo JS, Xavier da Silveira Dos Santos A, Yu Q, Noser P, Fleck JS, Gjeta B, Pavlinić D, Picelli S, Hess M, Schmidt GW, Lummen TTA, Hou Y, Galliker P, Goldblum D, Balogh M, Cowan CS, Scholl HPN, Roska B, Renner M, Pelkmans L, Treutlein B, Camp JG. Multimodal spatiotemporal phenotyping of human retinal organoid development. Nat Biotechnol 2023; 41:1765-1775. [PMID: 37156914 PMCID: PMC10713453 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01747-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Organoids generated from human pluripotent stem cells provide experimental systems to study development and disease, but quantitative measurements across different spatial scales and molecular modalities are lacking. In this study, we generated multiplexed protein maps over a retinal organoid time course and primary adult human retinal tissue. We developed a toolkit to visualize progenitor and neuron location, the spatial arrangements of extracellular and subcellular components and global patterning in each organoid and primary tissue. In addition, we generated a single-cell transcriptome and chromatin accessibility timecourse dataset and inferred a gene regulatory network underlying organoid development. We integrated genomic data with spatially segmented nuclei into a multimodal atlas to explore organoid patterning and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) spatial neighborhoods, highlighting pathways involved in RGC cell death and showing that mosaic genetic perturbations in retinal organoids provide insight into cell fate regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Wahle
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Giovanna Brancati
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Harmel
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zhisong He
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gabriele Gut
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Aline Xavier da Silveira Dos Santos
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Qianhui Yu
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Noser
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Simon Fleck
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Gjeta
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dinko Pavlinić
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Simone Picelli
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Max Hess
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gregor W Schmidt
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tom T A Lummen
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yanyan Hou
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Patricia Galliker
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Goldblum
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marton Balogh
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cameron S Cowan
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hendrik P N Scholl
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Botond Roska
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Magdalena Renner
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lucas Pelkmans
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Barbara Treutlein
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - J Gray Camp
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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12
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Liang Y, Sun X, Duan C, Tang S, Chen J. Application of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and organoids in inherited retinal diseases. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:340. [PMID: 38012786 PMCID: PMC10683306 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03564-5] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) can induce severe sight-threatening retinal degeneration and impose a considerable economic burden on patients and society, making efforts to cure blindness imperative. Transgenic animals mimicking human genetic diseases have long been used as a primary research tool to decipher the underlying pathogenesis, but there are still some obvious limitations. As an alternative strategy, patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), particularly three-dimensional (3D) organoid technology, are considered a promising platform for modeling different forms of IRDs, including retinitis pigmentosa, Leber congenital amaurosis, X-linked recessive retinoschisis, Batten disease, achromatopsia, and best vitelliform macular dystrophy. Here, this paper focuses on the status of patient-derived iPSCs and organoids in IRDs in recent years concerning disease modeling and therapeutic exploration, along with potential challenges for translating laboratory research to clinical application. Finally, the importance of human iPSCs and organoids in combination with emerging technologies such as multi-omics integration analysis, 3D bioprinting, or microfluidic chip platform are highlighted. Patient-derived retinal organoids may be a preferred choice for more accurately uncovering the mechanisms of human retinal diseases and will contribute to clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqin Liang
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China
- Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Xihao Sun
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China
- Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Chunwen Duan
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China
- Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha, 410015, China
| | - Shibo Tang
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China.
- Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha, 410015, China.
| | - Jiansu Chen
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China.
- Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha, 410015, China.
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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13
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Wadkin LE, Makarenko I, Parker NG, Shukurov A, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. Human Stem Cells for Ophthalmology: Recent Advances in Diagnostic Image Analysis and Computational Modelling. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2023; 9:57-66. [PMID: 38145008 PMCID: PMC10739444 DOI: 10.1007/s40778-023-00229-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review To explore the advances and future research directions in image analysis and computational modelling of human stem cells (hSCs) for ophthalmological applications. Recent Findings hSCs hold great potential in ocular regenerative medicine due to their application in cell-based therapies and in disease modelling and drug discovery using state-of-the-art 2D and 3D organoid models. However, a deeper characterisation of their complex, multi-scale properties is required to optimise their translation to clinical practice. Image analysis combined with computational modelling is a powerful tool to explore mechanisms of hSC behaviour and aid clinical diagnosis and therapy. Summary Many computational models draw on a variety of techniques, often blending continuum and discrete approaches, and have been used to describe cell differentiation and self-organisation. Machine learning tools are having a significant impact in model development and improving image classification processes for clinical diagnosis and treatment and will be the focus of much future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. E. Wadkin
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - I. Makarenko
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - N. G. Parker
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - A. Shukurov
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - F. C. Figueiredo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - M. Lako
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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14
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Kandoi S, Martinez C, Chen KX, Reddy LVK, Mehine M, Mansfield BC, Duncan JL, Lamba DA. Disease modeling and pharmacological rescue of autosomal dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa associated with RHO copy number variation. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.02.27.23286248. [PMID: 36909455 PMCID: PMC10002783 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.27.23286248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a heterogenous group of inherited retinal disorder causes slow progressive vision loss with no effective treatments available. Mutations in the rhodopsin gene (RHO), account for ~25% cases of autosomal dominant RP (adRP). In this study, we describe the disease characteristics of the first ever reported mono-allelic copy number variation (CNV) in RHO as a novel cause of adRP. We (1) show advanced retinal degeneration in a male patient (60-70 year old) harboring four transcriptionally active intact copies of rhodopsin, (2) recapitulated the clinical phenotypes using retinal organoids, and (3) assessed the utilization of a small molecule, Photoregulin3 (PR3), as a clinically viable strategy to target and modify disease progression in RP patients associated with RHO-CNV. Patient retinal organoids showed photoreceptors dysgenesis, with rod photoreceptors displaying stunted outer segments with occasional elongated cilia-like projections (microscopy); increased RHO mRNA expression (qRT-PCR and bulk RNA-sequencing); and elevated levels and mislocalization of rhodopsin protein (RHO) within the cell body of rod photoreceptors (western blotting and immunohistochemistry) over the extended (300-days) culture time period when compared against control organoids. Lastly, we utilized PR3 to target NR2E3, an upstream regulator of RHO, to alter RHO expression and observed a partial rescue of RHO protein localization from the cell body to the inner/outer segments of rod photoreceptors in patient organoids. These results provide a proof-of-principle for personalized medicine and suggest that RHO expression requires precise control. Taken together, this study supports the clinical data indicating that adRP due to RHO-CNV develops due protein overexpression overloading the photoreceptor post-translational modification machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeetha Kandoi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine & Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Cassandra Martinez
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine & Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kevin Xu Chen
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine & Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - L Vinod K. Reddy
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine & Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Brian C. Mansfield
- Section on Cellular Differentiation, Division of Translational Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Jacque L. Duncan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Deepak A. Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine & Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
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15
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Kruczek K, Swaroop A. Patient stem cell-derived in vitro disease models for developing novel therapies of retinal ciliopathies. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 155:127-163. [PMID: 38043950 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Primary cilia are specialized organelles on the surface of almost all cells in vertebrate tissues and are primarily involved in the detection of extracellular stimuli. In retinal photoreceptors, cilia are uniquely modified to form outer segments containing components required for the detection of light in stacks of membrane discs. Not surprisingly, vision impairment is a frequent phenotype associated with ciliopathies, a heterogeneous class of conditions caused by mutations in proteins required for formation, maintenance and/or function of primary cilia. Traditionally, immortalized cell lines and model organisms have been used to provide insights into the biology of ciliopathies. The advent of methods for reprogramming human somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells has enabled the generation of in vitro disease models directly from patients suffering from ciliopathies. Such models help us in investigating pathological mechanisms specific to human physiology and in developing novel therapeutic approaches. In this article, we review current protocols to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into retinal cell types, and discuss how these cellular and/or organoid models can be utilized to interrogate pathobiology of ciliopathies affecting the retina and for testing prospective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Kruczek
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
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16
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Sanjurjo-Soriano C, Jimenez-Medina C, Erkilic N, Cappellino L, Lefevre A, Nagel-Wolfrum K, Wolfrum U, Van Wijk E, Roux AF, Meunier I, Kalatzis V. USH2A variants causing retinitis pigmentosa or Usher syndrome provoke differential retinal phenotypes in disease-specific organoids. HGG ADVANCES 2023; 4:100229. [PMID: 37654703 PMCID: PMC10465966 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2023.100229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an emblematic clinical and genetic heterogeneity associated with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). The most common form is retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a rod-cone dystrophy caused by pathogenic variants in over 80 different genes. Further complexifying diagnosis, different variants in individual RP genes can also alter the clinical phenotype. USH2A is the most prevalent gene for autosomal-recessive RP and one of the most challenging because of its large size and, hence, large number of variants. Moreover, USH2A variants give rise to non-syndromic and syndromic RP, known as Usher syndrome (USH) type 2, which is associated with vision and hearing loss. The lack of a clear genotype-phenotype correlation or prognostic models renders diagnosis highly challenging. We report here a long-awaited differential non-syndromic RP and USH phenotype in three human disease-specific models: fibroblasts, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and mature iPSC-derived retinal organoids. Moreover, we identified distinct retinal phenotypes in organoids from multiple RP and USH individuals, which were validated by isogenic-corrected controls. Non-syndromic RP organoids showed compromised photoreceptor differentiation, whereas USH organoids showed a striking and unexpected cone phenotype. Furthermore, complementary clinical investigations identified macular atrophy in a high proportion of USH compared with RP individuals, further validating our observations that USH2A variants differentially affect cones. Overall, identification of distinct non-syndromic RP and USH phenotypes in multiple models provides valuable and robust readouts for testing the pathogenicity of USH2A variants as well as the efficacy of therapeutic approaches in complementary cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Sanjurjo-Soriano
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Carla Jimenez-Medina
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Nejla Erkilic
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Luisina Cappellino
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Arnaud Lefevre
- National Reference Centre for Inherited Sensory Diseases, University of Montpellier, CHU, Montpellier, France
| | - Kerstin Nagel-Wolfrum
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Molecular Cell Biology, and Photoreceptor Cell Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Uwe Wolfrum
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Molecular Cell Biology, and Photoreceptor Cell Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Erwin Van Wijk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hearing, & Genes, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Anne-Françoise Roux
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, University of Montpellier, CHU, Montpellier, France
| | - Isabelle Meunier
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
- National Reference Centre for Inherited Sensory Diseases, University of Montpellier, CHU, Montpellier, France
| | - Vasiliki Kalatzis
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
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17
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Kelley RA, Wu Z. Utilization of the retinal organoid model to evaluate the feasibility of genetic strategies to ameliorate retinal disease(s). Vision Res 2023; 210:108269. [PMID: 37295270 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2023.108269] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Organoid models have quickly become a popular research tool to evaluate novel therapeutics on 3-D recapitulated tissue. This has enabled researchers to use physiologically relevant human tissue in vitro to augment the standard use of immortalized cells and animal models. Organoids can also provide a model when an engineered animal cannot recreate a specific disease phenotype. In particular, the retinal research field has taken advantage of this burgeoning technology to provide insight into inherited retinal disease(s) mechanisms and therapeutic intervention to ameliorate their effects. In this review we will discuss the use of both wild-type and patient-specific retinal organoids to further gene therapy research that could potentially prevent retinal disease(s) progression. Furthermore, we will discuss the pitfalls of current retinal organoid technology and present potential solutions that could overcome these hurdles in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A Kelley
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Ct #2400, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA.
| | - Zhijian Wu
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Ct #2400, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
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18
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Jones MK, Orozco LD, Qin H, Truong T, Caplazi P, Elstrott J, Modrusan Z, Chaney SY, Jeanne M. Integration of human stem cell-derived in vitro systems and mouse preclinical models identifies complex pathophysiologic mechanisms in retinal dystrophy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1252547. [PMID: 37691820 PMCID: PMC10483287 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1252547] [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: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare DRAM2 coding variants cause retinal dystrophy with early macular involvement via unknown mechanisms. We found that DRAM2 is ubiquitously expressed in the human eye and expression changes were observed in eyes with more common maculopathy such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). To gain insights into pathogenicity of DRAM2-related retinopathy, we used a combination of in vitro and in vivo models. We found that DRAM2 loss in human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived retinal organoids caused the presence of additional mesenchymal cells. Interestingly, Dram2 loss in mice also caused increased proliferation of cells from the choroid in vitro and exacerbated choroidal neovascular lesions in vivo. Furthermore, we observed that DRAM2 loss in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells resulted in increased susceptibility to stress-induced cell death in vitro and that Dram2 loss in mice caused age-related photoreceptor degeneration. This highlights the complexity of DRAM2 function, as its loss in choroidal cells provided a proliferative advantage, whereas its loss in post-mitotic cells, such as photoreceptor and RPE cells, increased degeneration susceptibility. Different models such as human pluripotent stem cell-derived systems and mice can be leveraged to study and model human retinal dystrophies; however, cell type and species-specific expression must be taken into account when selecting relevant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa K. Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
- Product Development Clinical Science Ophthalmology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Luz D. Orozco
- Department of Bioinformatics, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Han Qin
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Tom Truong
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Patrick Caplazi
- Department of Research Pathology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Justin Elstrott
- Department of Translational Imaging, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Zora Modrusan
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, Lipidomics and Next-Generation Sequencing, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Shawnta Y. Chaney
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Marion Jeanne
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
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19
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Xia J, Gu L, Pan Q. The landscape of basic gene therapy approaches in inherited retinal dystrophies. FRONTIERS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY 2023; 3:1193595. [PMID: 38983091 PMCID: PMC11182181 DOI: 10.3389/fopht.2023.1193595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
The study of gene therapies has been of particular interest in recent decades due to their promising potential to slow or even rescue the degeneration of the retina in inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs). Here, we review the current approaches to gene therapy trials on IRDs, including the selection of animal models, therapeutic window, vectors and dosages. Mice are typically the first choice of animal models and recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) of serotype 8 is the most common vector for loss-of-function IRDs. Furthermore, the therapeutic window should be considered to ensure efficacy before retinal degeneration occurs if possible, and dosages must be tailored to each approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Qing Pan
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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20
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Kang J, Gong J, Yang C, Lin X, Yan L, Gong Y, Xu H. Application of Human Stem Cell Derived Retinal Organoids in the Exploration of the Mechanisms of Early Retinal Development. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2023:10.1007/s12015-023-10553-x. [PMID: 37269529 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10553-x] [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] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The intricate neural circuit of retina extracts salient features of the natural world and forms bioelectric impulse as the origin of vision. The early development of retina is a highly complex and coordinated process in morphogenesis and neurogenesis. Increasing evidence indicates that stem cells derived human retinal organoids (hROs) in vitro faithfully recapitulates the embryonic developmental process of human retina no matter in the transcriptome, cellular biology and histomorphology. The emergence of hROs greatly deepens on the understanding of early development of human retina. Here, we reviewed the events of early retinal development both in animal embryos and hROs studies, which mainly comprises the formation of optic vesicle and optic cup shape, differentiation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), photoreceptor cells (PRs) and its supportive retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE). We also discussed the classic and frontier molecular pathways up to date to decipher the underlying mechanisms of early development of human retina and hROs. Finally, we summarized the application prospect, challenges and cutting-edge techniques of hROs for uncovering the principles and mechanisms of retinal development and related developmental disorder. hROs is a priori selection for studying human retinal development and function and may be a fundamental tool for unlocking the unknown insight into retinal development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Kang
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jing Gong
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Cao Yang
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xi Lin
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Lijuan Yan
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yu Gong
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Sciences Research Center, University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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21
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Yang S, Hu H, Kung H, Zou R, Dai Y, Hu Y, Wang T, Lv T, Yu J, Li F. Organoids: The current status and biomedical applications. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e274. [PMID: 37215622 PMCID: PMC10192887 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) miniaturized versions of organs or tissues that are derived from cells with stem potential and can self-organize and differentiate into 3D cell masses, recapitulating the morphology and functions of their in vivo counterparts. Organoid culture is an emerging 3D culture technology, and organoids derived from various organs and tissues, such as the brain, lung, heart, liver, and kidney, have been generated. Compared with traditional bidimensional culture, organoid culture systems have the unique advantage of conserving parental gene expression and mutation characteristics, as well as long-term maintenance of the function and biological characteristics of the parental cells in vitro. All these features of organoids open up new opportunities for drug discovery, large-scale drug screening, and precision medicine. Another major application of organoids is disease modeling, and especially various hereditary diseases that are difficult to model in vitro have been modeled with organoids by combining genome editing technologies. Herein, we introduce the development and current advances in the organoid technology field. We focus on the applications of organoids in basic biology and clinical research, and also highlight their limitations and future perspectives. We hope that this review can provide a valuable reference for the developments and applications of organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Yang
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Haijie Hu
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Hengchung Kung
- Krieger School of Arts and SciencesJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Ruiqi Zou
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Yushi Dai
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Yafei Hu
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Tiantian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan ProvinceWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Tianrun Lv
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
| | - Jun Yu
- Departments of MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Departments of OncologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Fuyu Li
- Division of Biliary Tract SurgeryDepartment of General SurgeryWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan ProvinceChina
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22
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Boon N, Lu X, Andriessen CA, Moustakas I, Buck TM, Freund C, Arendzen CH, Böhringer S, Mei H, Wijnholds J. AAV-mediated gene augmentation therapy of CRB1 patient-derived retinal organoids restores the histological and transcriptional retinal phenotype. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1123-1137. [PMID: 37084726 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis are inherited retinal dystrophies that can be caused by mutations in the Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) gene. CRB1 is required for organizing apical-basal polarity and adhesion between photoreceptors and Müller glial cells. CRB1 patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells were differentiated into CRB1 retinal organoids that showed diminished expression of variant CRB1 protein observed by immunohistochemical analysis. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed impact on, among others, the endosomal pathway and cell adhesion and migration in CRB1 patient-derived retinal organoids compared with isogenic controls. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated hCRB2 or hCRB1 gene augmentation in Müller glial and photoreceptor cells partially restored the histological phenotype and transcriptomic profile of CRB1 patient-derived retinal organoids. Altogether, we show proof-of-concept that AAV.hCRB1 or AAV.hCRB2 treatment improved the phenotype of CRB1 patient-derived retinal organoids, providing essential information for future gene therapy approaches for patients with mutations in the CRB1 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanda Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Xuefei Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte A Andriessen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ioannis Moustakas
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Thilo M Buck
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Christian Freund
- hiPSC Hotel, Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Christiaan H Arendzen
- hiPSC Hotel, Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan Böhringer
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands; Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Völkner M, Wagner F, Kurth T, Sykes AM, Del Toro Runzer C, Ebner LJA, Kavak C, Alexaki VI, Cimalla P, Mehner M, Koch E, Karl MO. Modeling inducible neuropathologies of the retina with differential phenotypes in organoids. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1106287. [PMID: 37213216 PMCID: PMC10196395 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1106287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases remain incompletely understood and therapies are needed. Stem cell-derived organoid models facilitate fundamental and translational medicine research. However, to which extent differential neuronal and glial pathologic processes can be reproduced in current systems is still unclear. Here, we tested 16 different chemical, physical, and cell functional manipulations in mouse retina organoids to further explore this. Some of the treatments induce differential phenotypes, indicating that organoids are competent to reproduce distinct pathologic processes. Notably, mouse retina organoids even reproduce a complex pathology phenotype with combined photoreceptor neurodegeneration and glial pathologies upon combined (not single) application of HBEGF and TNF, two factors previously associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Pharmacological inhibitors for MAPK signaling completely prevent photoreceptor and glial pathologies, while inhibitors for Rho/ROCK, NFkB, and CDK4 differentially affect them. In conclusion, mouse retina organoids facilitate reproduction of distinct and complex pathologies, mechanistic access, insights for further organoid optimization, and modeling of differential phenotypes for future applications in fundamental and translational medicine research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Völkner
- Technische Universität Dresden, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Felix Wagner
- Technische Universität Dresden, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- Technische Universität Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technology Platform Core Facility Electron Microscopy and Histology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alex M. Sykes
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Lynn J. A. Ebner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Cagri Kavak
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Vasileia Ismini Alexaki
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter Cimalla
- Technische Universität Dresden, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mirko Mehner
- Technische Universität Dresden, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Dresden, Germany
| | - Edmund Koch
- Technische Universität Dresden, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mike O. Karl
- Technische Universität Dresden, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
- *Correspondence: Mike O. Karl, ,
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24
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Cheng L, Kuehn MH. Human Retinal Organoids in Therapeutic Discovery: A Review of Applications. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2023; 281:157-187. [PMID: 37608005 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)- and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived retinal organoids (ROs) are three-dimensional laminar structures that recapitulate the developmental trajectory of the human retina. The ROs provide a fascinating tool for basic science research, eye disease modeling, treatment development, and biobanking for tissue/cell replacement. Here we review the previous studies that paved the way for RO technology, the two most widely accepted, standardized protocols to generate ROs, and the utilization of ROs in medical discovery. This review is conducted from the perspective of basic science research, transplantation for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and therapeutic development for drug screening and gene therapy. ROs have opened avenues for new technologies such as assembloids, coculture with other organoids, vasculature or immune cells, microfluidic devices (organ-on-chip), extracellular vesicles for drug delivery, biomaterial engineering, advanced imaging techniques, and artificial intelligence (AI). Nevertheless, some shortcomings of ROs currently limit their translation for medical applications and pose a challenge for future research. Despite these limitations, ROs are a powerful tool for functional studies and therapeutic strategies for retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.
- Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| | - Markus H Kuehn
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
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25
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Shen W, Shao A, Zhou W, Lou L, Grzybowski A, Jin K, Ye J. Retinogenesis in a Dish: Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of Retinal Organoids From 2011 to 2022. Cell Transplant 2023; 32:9636897231214321. [PMID: 38044501 PMCID: PMC10695087 DOI: 10.1177/09636897231214321] [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: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal organoid (RO) is the three-dimensional (3D) retinal culture derived from pluripotent or embryonic stem cells which recapitulates organ functions, which was a revolutionary milestone in stem cell technology. The purpose of this study is to explore the hotspots and future directions on ROs, as well as to better understand the fields of greatest research opportunities. Eligible publications related to RO from 2011 to 2022 were acquired from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database. Bibliometric analysis was performed by using software including VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and ArcGIS. A total of 520 articles were included, and the number of annual publications showed a rapid increase with an average rate of 40.86%. The United States published the most articles (241/520, 46.35%) with highest total citation frequencies (5,344). University College London (UK) contributed the largest publication output (40/520, 7.69%) and received highest total citation frequencies. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science was the most productive journal with 129 articles. Majlinda Lako contributed the most research with 32 articles, while Olivier Goureau has the strongest collaboration work. Research could be subdivided into four keyword clusters: "culture and differentiation," "morphogenesis and modeling," "gene therapy," and "transplantation and visual restoration," and evolution of keywords was identified. Last decade has witnessed the huge progress in the field of RO, which is a young and promising research area with extensive and in-depth studies. More attention should be paid to RO-related models and therapies based on specific retinal diseases, especially inherited retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyue Shen
- 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, China
| | - An Shao
- 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, China
| | - Wuyuan Zhou
- Zhejiang Academy of Science and Technology Information, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lixia Lou
- 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, China
| | - Andrzej Grzybowski
- Institute for Research in Ophthalmology, Foundation for Ophthalmology Development, Poznan, Poland
| | - Kai Jin
- 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, China
| | - Juan Ye
- 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, China
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26
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Kandoi S, Lamba DA. Retinal Organoids: A Human Model System for Development, Diseases, and Therapies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1415:549-554. [PMID: 37440085 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) encompasses a group of heterogeneous disorders causing debilitating visual diseases and blindness, affecting more than two million people worldwide, in all age groups. The inheritance patterns vary from autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked, and sporadic with mutations in over 260 genes identified to date. Despite the significant advances in clinical diagnosis, there is no effective treatment available. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) derived in vitro 3D retinal organoids offer a powerful preclinical tool to investigate the molecular mechanism(s) of inherited diseases. Organoids have the potential for the development of personalized therapies by modeling the disease-specific and patient-specific IRD. This mini-review will elaborate on the utility of the advanced culture model system by focusing on staging the in vitro human retinogenesis, modeling retinal diseases, and as a tool for testing potential therapeutic approaches to restore or prevent vision loss in affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeetha Kandoi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Deepak A Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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27
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Sun C, Chen S. Disease-causing mutations in genes encoding transcription factors critical for photoreceptor development. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1134839. [PMID: 37181651 PMCID: PMC10172487 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1134839] [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: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptor development of the vertebrate visual system is controlled by a complex transcription regulatory network. OTX2 is expressed in the mitotic retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) and controls photoreceptor genesis. CRX that is activated by OTX2 is expressed in photoreceptor precursors after cell cycle exit. NEUROD1 is also present in photoreceptor precursors that are ready to specify into rod and cone photoreceptor subtypes. NRL is required for the rod fate and regulates downstream rod-specific genes including the orphan nuclear receptor NR2E3 which further activates rod-specific genes and simultaneously represses cone-specific genes. Cone subtype specification is also regulated by the interplay of several transcription factors such as THRB and RXRG. Mutations in these key transcription factors are responsible for ocular defects at birth such as microphthalmia and inherited photoreceptor diseases such as Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and allied dystrophies. In particular, many mutations are inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, including the majority of missense mutations in CRX and NRL. In this review, we describe the spectrum of photoreceptor defects that are associated with mutations in the above-mentioned transcription factors, and summarize the current knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenic mutations. At last, we deliberate the outstanding gaps in our understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlations and outline avenues for future research of the treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Chi Sun,
| | - Shiming Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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28
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Ng L, Liu H, Liu Y, Forrest D. Biphasic expression of thyroid hormone receptor TRβ1 in mammalian retina and anterior ocular tissues. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1174600. [PMID: 37033230 PMCID: PMC10076699 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1174600] [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: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The retina is increasingly recognized as a target of thyroid hormone. We previously reported critical functions for thyroid hormone receptor TRβ2, encoded by Thrb, in cones, the photoreceptors that mediate color vision. TRβ1, another Thrb receptor isoform, is widely expressed in other tissues but little studied in the retina. Here, we investigate these N-terminal isoforms by RNA-sequencing analysis and reveal a striking biphasic profile for TRβ1 in mouse and human retina. In contrast to the early TRβ2 peak, TRβ1 peaks later during retinal maturation or later differentiation of human retinal organoids. This switch in receptor expression profiles was confirmed using lacZ reporter mice. TRβ1 localized in cones, amacrine cells and ganglion cells in contrast to the restricted expression of TRβ2 in cones. Intriguingly, TRβ1 was also detected in the retinal pigmented epithelium and in anterior structures in the ciliary margin zone, ciliary body and iris, suggesting novel functions in non-retinal eye tissues. Although TRβ1 was detected in cones, TRβ1-knockout mice displayed only minor changes in opsin photopigment expression and normal electroretinogram responses. Our results suggest that strikingly different temporal and cell-specific controls over TRβ1 and TRβ2 expression may underlie thyroid hormone actions in a range of ocular cell types. The TRβ1 expression pattern suggests novel functions in retinal and non-neural ocular tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily Ng
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Laboratory of Endocrinology and Receptor Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Hong Liu
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Laboratory of Endocrinology and Receptor Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ye Liu
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Laboratory of Endocrinology and Receptor Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Douglas Forrest
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Laboratory of Endocrinology and Receptor Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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29
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Connolly K, Gonzalez-Cordero A. Modelling inner ear development and disease using pluripotent stem cells - a pathway to new therapeutic strategies. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049593. [PMID: 36331565 PMCID: PMC10621662 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The sensory epithelia of the mammalian inner ear enable sound and movement to be perceived. Damage to these epithelia can cause irreversible sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction because they lack regenerative capacity. The human inner ear cannot be biopsied without causing permanent damage, significantly limiting the tissue samples available for research. Investigating disease pathology and therapeutic developments have therefore traditionally relied on animal models, which often cannot completely recapitulate the human otic systems. These challenges are now being partly addressed using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cultures, which generate the sensory epithelial-like tissues of the inner ear. Here, we review how pluripotent stem cells have been used to produce two-dimensional and three-dimensional otic cultures, the strengths and limitations of these new approaches, and how they have been employed to investigate genetic and acquired forms of audiovestibular dysfunction. This Review provides an overview of the progress in pluripotent stem cell-derived otic cultures thus far, focusing on their applications in disease modelling and therapeutic trials. We survey their current limitations and future directions, highlighting their prospective utility for high-throughput drug screening and developing personalised medicine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keeva Connolly
- Stem Cell Medicine Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, 2145 NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, 2145 NSW, Australia
| | - Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- Stem Cell Medicine Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, 2145 NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, 2145 NSW, Australia
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30
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Kruczek K, Qu Z, Welby E, Shimada H, Hiriyanna S, English MA, Zein WM, Brooks BP, Swaroop A. In vitro modeling and rescue of ciliopathy associated with IQCB1/NPHP5 mutations using patient-derived cells. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:2172-2186. [PMID: 36084637 PMCID: PMC9561628 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the IQ calmodulin-binding motif containing B1 (IQCB1)/NPHP5 gene encoding the ciliary protein nephrocystin 5 cause early-onset blinding disease Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), together with kidney dysfunction in Senior-Løken syndrome. For in vitro disease modeling, we obtained dermal fibroblasts from patients with NPHP5-LCA that were reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and differentiated into retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retinal organoids. Patient fibroblasts and RPE demonstrated aberrantly elongated ciliary axonemes. Organoids revealed impaired development of outer segment structures, which are modified primary cilia, and mislocalization of visual pigments to photoreceptor cell soma. All patient-derived cells showed reduced levels of CEP290 protein, a critical cilia transition zone component interacting with NPHP5, providing a plausible mechanism for aberrant ciliary gating and cargo transport. Disease phenotype in NPHP5-LCA retinal organoids could be rescued by adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated IQCB1/NPHP5 gene augmentation therapy. Our studies thus establish a human disease model and a path for treatment of NPHP5-LCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Kruczek
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zepeng Qu
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Emily Welby
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hiroko Shimada
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Suja Hiriyanna
- Ocular Gene Therapy Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Milton A English
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Wadih M Zein
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brian P Brooks
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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31
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Mustafi D, Bharathan SP, Calderon R, Nagiel A. HUMAN CELLULAR MODELS FOR RETINAL DISEASE: From Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Organoids. Retina 2022; 42:1829-1835. [PMID: 35858274 PMCID: PMC10119785 DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000003571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To provide a concise review of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and retinal organoids as models for human retinal diseases and their role in gene discovery and treatment of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). METHODS A PubMed literature review was performed for models of human retinal disease, including animal models and human pluripotent stem cell-derived models. RESULTS There is a growing body of research on retinal disease using human pluripotent stem cells. This is a significant change from just a decade ago when most research was performed on animal models. The advent of induced pluripotent stem cells has permitted not only the generation of two-dimensional human cell cultures such as RPE but also more recently the generation of three-dimensional retinal organoids that better reflect the multicellular laminar architecture of the human retina. CONCLUSION Modern stem cell techniques are improving our ability to model human retinal disease in vitro, especially with the use of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. In the future, a personalized approach may be used in which the individual's unique genotype can be modeled in two-dimensional culture or three-dimensional organoids and then rescued with an optimized therapy before treating the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debarshi Mustafi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Karalis Johnson Retina Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Sumitha P Bharathan
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Rosanna Calderon
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Development, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; and
| | - Aaron Nagiel
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Ophthalmology, Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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32
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Ramamurthy RM, Atala A, Porada CD, Almeida-Porada G. Organoids and microphysiological systems: Promising models for accelerating AAV gene therapy studies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1011143. [PMID: 36225917 PMCID: PMC9549755 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1011143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The FDA has predicted that at least 10-20 gene therapy products will be approved by 2025. The surge in the development of such therapies can be attributed to the advent of safe and effective gene delivery vectors such as adeno-associated virus (AAV). The enormous potential of AAV has been demonstrated by its use in over 100 clinical trials and the FDA’s approval of two AAV-based gene therapy products. Despite its demonstrated success in some clinical settings, AAV-based gene therapy is still plagued by issues related to host immunity, and recent studies have suggested that AAV vectors may actually integrate into the host cell genome, raising concerns over the potential for genotoxicity. To better understand these issues and develop means to overcome them, preclinical model systems that accurately recapitulate human physiology are needed. The objective of this review is to provide a brief overview of AAV gene therapy and its current hurdles, to discuss how 3D organoids, microphysiological systems, and body-on-a-chip platforms could serve as powerful models that could be adopted in the preclinical stage, and to provide some examples of the successful application of these models to answer critical questions regarding AAV biology and toxicity that could not have been answered using current animal models. Finally, technical considerations while adopting these models to study AAV gene therapy are also discussed.
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Xue Y, Lin B, Chen JT, Tang WC, Browne AW, Seiler MJ. The Prospects for Retinal Organoids in Treatment of Retinal Diseases. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) 2022; 11:314-327. [PMID: 36041146 PMCID: PMC9966053 DOI: 10.1097/apo.0000000000000538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degeneration (RD) is a significant cause of incurable blindness worldwide. Photoreceptors and retinal pigmented epithelium are irreversibly damaged in advanced RD. Functional replacement of photoreceptors and/or retinal pigmented epithelium cells is a promising approach to restoring vision. This paper reviews the current status and explores future prospects of the transplantation therapy provided by pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids (ROs). This review summarizes the status of rodent RD disease models and discusses RO culture and analytical tools to evaluate RO quality and function. Finally, we review and discuss the studies in which RO-derived cells or sheets were transplanted. In conclusion, methods to derive ROs from pluripotent stem cells have significantly improved and become more efficient in recent years. Meanwhile, more novel technologies are applied to characterize and validate RO quality. However, opportunity remains to optimize tissue differentiation protocols and achieve better RO reproducibility. In order to screen high-quality ROs for downstream applications, approaches such as noninvasive and label-free imaging and electrophysiological functional testing are promising and worth further investigation. Lastly, transplanted RO-derived tissues have allowed improvements in visual function in several RD models, showing promises for clinical applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuntian Xue
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Bin Lin
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Jacqueline T. Chen
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - William C. Tang
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Andrew W. Browne
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Magdalene J. Seiler
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA
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McClements ME, Steward H, Atkin W, Goode EA, Gándara C, Chichagova V, MacLaren RE. Tropism of AAV Vectors in Photoreceptor-Like Cells of Human iPSC-Derived Retinal Organoids. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2022; 11:3. [PMID: 35377942 PMCID: PMC8994202 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.11.4.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To expand the use of human retinal organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as an in vitro model of the retina for assessing gene therapy treatments, it is essential to establish efficient transduction. To date, targeted transduction of the photoreceptor-like cells of retinal organoids with adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors has had varied degrees of success, which we have looked to improve in this study. Methods Retinal organoids were differentiated from iPSCs of healthy donors and transduced with reporter AAV containing a CAG.GFP, CAG.RFP, GRK1.GFP, or EFS.GFP transgene. Capsid variants assessed were AAV5, AAV2 7m8, AAV2 quad mutant, AAV2 Y444F, and AAV8 Y733F. At 27 days post-transduction, retinal organoids were assessed for reporter expression and viability. Results The short intron-less elongation factor 1 alpha (EFS) promoter provided minimal reporter expression, whereas vectors containing the CAG promoter enabled transduction in 1% to 37% of cells depending on the AAV serotype; the AAV2 quad mutant (average 19.4%) and AAV2 7m8 (16.4%) outperformed AAV5 (12%) and AAV8 Y733F (2.1%). Reporter expression from rhodopsin kinase (GRK1) promoter transgenes occurred in ∼5% of cells regardless of the serotype. Positive co-localization with recoverin-expressing cells was achieved from all GRK1 vectors and the CAG AAV2 quad mutant variant. Treatment with the AAV vectors did not influence retinal organoid viability. Conclusions Reliable transduction of the photoreceptor-like cells of retinal organoids can be readily achieved. When using a CAG-driven transgene, transduction of a broad range of cell types is observed, and GRK1 transgenes provide a more restricted expression profile locating to the outer layer of photoreceptor-like cells of retinal organoids. Translational Relevance This study expands the AAV capsid and transgene options for preclinical testing of gene therapy in iPSC-derived human retinal organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E McClements
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Robert E MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
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Bucher K, Rodriguez-Bocanegra E, Fischer MD. Benefits and Shortcomings of Laboratory Model Systems in the Development of Genetic Therapies. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2022; 239:263-269. [PMID: 35316853 DOI: 10.1055/a-1757-9879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapeutic approaches promise treatment or even a cure of diseases that were previously untreatable. Retinal gene therapies tested in clinical trials comprise a wide range of different strategies, including gene supplementation therapies, in vivo gene editing, modulation of splicing mechanisms, or the suppression of gene expression. To guarantee efficient transfer of genetic material into the respective target cells while avoiding major adverse effects, the development of genetic therapies requires appropriate in vitro model systems that allow tests of efficacy and safety of the gene therapeutic approach. In this review, we introduce various in vitro models of different levels of complexity used in the development of genetic therapies and discuss their respective benefits and shortcomings using the example of adeno-associated virus-based retinal gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Bucher
- University Eye Hospital, University Hospital Tübingen Clinic of Ophthalmology, Tubingen, Germany.,Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University Hospital Tübingen Clinic of Ophthalmology, Tubingen, Germany
| | | | - M Dominik Fischer
- University Eye Hospital, University Hospital Tübingen Clinic of Ophthalmology, Tubingen, Germany.,Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University Hospital Tübingen Clinic of Ophthalmology, Tubingen, Germany.,Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Oxford, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Pollara L, Sottile V, Valente EM. Patient-derived cellular models of primary ciliopathies. J Med Genet 2022; 59:517-527. [DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2021-108315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Primary ciliopathies are rare inherited disorders caused by structural or functional defects in the primary cilium, a subcellular organelle present on the surface of most cells. Primary ciliopathies show considerable clinical and genetic heterogeneity, with disruption of over 100 genes causing the variable involvement of several organs, including the central nervous system, kidneys, retina, skeleton and liver. Pathogenic variants in one and the same gene may associate with a wide range of ciliopathy phenotypes, supporting the hypothesis that the individual genetic background, with potential additional variants in other ciliary genes, may contribute to a mutational load eventually determining the phenotypic manifestations of each patient. Functional studies in animal models have uncovered some of the pathophysiological mechanisms linking ciliary gene mutations to the observed phenotypes; yet, the lack of reliable human cell models has previously limited preclinical research and the development of new therapeutic strategies for primary ciliopathies. Recent technical advances in the generation of patient-derived two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cellular models give a new spur to this research, allowing the study of pathomechanisms while maintaining the complexity of the genetic background of each patient, and enabling the development of innovative treatments to target specific pathways. This review provides an overview of available models for primary ciliopathies, from existing in vivo models to more recent patient-derived 2D and 3D in vitro models. We highlight the advantages of each model in understanding the functional basis of primary ciliopathies and facilitating novel regenerative medicine, gene therapy and drug testing strategies for these disorders.
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37
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Lin Y, Wei Y, Jiang M, Tang X, Huang F, Yang X. Organoid culture of mouse fallopian tube epithelial stem cells with a thermo-reversible gelation polymer. Tissue Cell 2021; 73:101622. [PMID: 34454367 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) thermo-reversible gelation polymer (TGP) culture system was established for organoid culture of mouse fallopian tube (FT) epithelial stem cells (FTESCs) without cell isolation. FT tissues from 6- to 8-week-old ICR mice were digested with collagenase, and whole FT cells (FTCs) were inoculated into the TGP. After 6 days of culture, many spheres in the TGP formed. Some cells in the spheres were positive for 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), a marker of cell proliferation. Furthermore, all the spheres that formed in the TGP were also labelled for EpCAM and LGR5. Some cells in the spheres were stained for PAX8, a secretory cell marker, and fewer cells were labelled with TUBB4, a ciliated cell marker. These results indicate that the 3D TGP culture system is a useful tool for organoid culture of FTESCs in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- YunXiu Lin
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Fujian Medical University, PR China.
| | - YuZhen Wei
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Fujian Medical University, PR China.
| | - MingZhu Jiang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, PR China.
| | - Xuan Tang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, PR China.
| | - Feng Huang
- Laboratory of Clinical Applied Anatomy, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Fujian Medical University, PR China.
| | - XinZhi Yang
- Laboratory of Clinical Applied Anatomy, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Fujian Medical University, PR China.
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38
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Chirco KR, Chew S, Moore AT, Duncan JL, Lamba DA. Allele-specific gene editing to rescue dominant CRX-associated LCA7 phenotypes in a retinal organoid model. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2690-2702. [PMID: 34653402 PMCID: PMC8580887 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cases of Leber congenital amaurosis caused by mutations in CRX (LCA7) exhibit an early form of the disease and show signs of significant photoreceptor dysfunction and eventual loss. To establish a translational in vitro model system to study gene-editing-based therapies, we generated LCA7 retinal organoids harboring a dominant disease-causing mutation in CRX. Our LCA7 retinal organoids develop signs of immature and dysfunctional photoreceptor cells, providing us with a reliable in vitro model to recapitulate LCA7. Furthermore, we performed a proof-of-concept study in which we utilize allele-specific CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing to knock out mutant CRX and saw moderate rescue of photoreceptor phenotypes in our organoids. This work provides early evidence for an effective approach to treat LCA7, which can be applied more broadly to other dominant genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen R Chirco
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Divison of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA; Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Shereen Chew
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anthony T Moore
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jacque L Duncan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Deepak A Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Bharathan SP, Ferrario A, Stepanian K, Fernandez GE, Reid MW, Kim JS, Hutchens C, Harutyunyan N, Marks C, Thornton ME, Grubbs BH, Cobrinik D, Aparicio JG, Nagiel A. Characterization and staging of outer plexiform layer development in human retina and retinal organoids. Development 2021; 148:272710. [PMID: 34738615 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The development of the first synapse of the visual system between photoreceptors and bipolar cells in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) of the human retina is critical for visual processing but poorly understood. By studying the maturation state and spatial organization of photoreceptors, depolarizing bipolar cells, and horizontal cells in the human fetal retina, we establish a pseudo-temporal staging system for OPL development that we term OPL-Stages 0 to 4. This was validated through quantification of increasingly precise subcellular localization of Bassoon to the OPL with each stage (p<0.0001). By applying these OPL staging criteria to human retinal organoids (HROs) derived from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, we observed comparable maturation from OPL-Stage 0 at day 100 in culture up to OPL-Stage 3 by day 160. Quantification of presynaptic protein localization confirmed progression from OPL-Stage 0 to 3 (p<0.0001). Overall, this study defines stages of human OPL development through mid-gestation and establishes HROs as a model system that recapitulates key aspects of human photoreceptor-bipolar cell synaptogenesis in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumitha Prameela Bharathan
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Angela Ferrario
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kayla Stepanian
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - G Esteban Fernandez
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mark W Reid
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Justin S Kim
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chloe Hutchens
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Narine Harutyunyan
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carolyn Marks
- Core Center of Excellence in Nano Imaging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Matthew E Thornton
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brendan H Grubbs
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David Cobrinik
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer G Aparicio
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Aaron Nagiel
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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40
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Zhang X, Wang W, Jin ZB. Retinal organoids as models for development and diseases. CELL REGENERATION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 10:33. [PMID: 34719743 PMCID: PMC8557999 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-021-00097-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids (ROs) has brought remarkable opportunities for developmental studies while also presenting new therapeutic avenues for retinal diseases. With a clear understanding of how well these models mimic native retinas, such preclinical models may be crucial tools that are widely used for the more efficient translation of studies into novel treatment strategies for retinal diseases. Genetic modifications or patient-derived ROs can allow these models to simulate the physical microenvironments of the actual disease process. However, we are currently at the beginning of the three-dimensional (3D) RO era, and a general quantitative technology for analyzing ROs derived from numerous differentiation protocols is still missing. Continued efforts to improve the efficiency and stability of differentiation, as well as understanding the disparity between the artificial retina and the native retina and advancing the current treatment strategies, will be essential in ensuring that these scientific advances can benefit patients with retinal disease. Herein, we briefly discuss RO differentiation protocols, the current applications of RO as a disease model and the treatments for retinal diseases by using RO modeling, to have a clear view of the role of current ROs in retinal development and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wen Wang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China.
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41
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Eldred KC, Reh TA. Human retinal model systems: Strengths, weaknesses, and future directions. Dev Biol 2021; 480:114-122. [PMID: 34529997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The retina is a complex neuronal structure that converts light energy into visual perception. Many specialized aspects of the primate retina, including a cone rich macula for high acuity vision, ocular size, and cell type diversity are not found in other animal models. In addition, the unique morphologies and distinct laminar positions of cell types found in the retina make this model system ideal for the study of neuronal cell fate specification. Many key early events of human retinal development are inaccessible to investigation as they occur during gestation. For these reasons, it has been necessary to develop retinal model systems to gain insight into human-specific retinal development and disease. Recent advances in culturing retinal tissue have generated new systems for retinal research and have moved us closer to generating effective regenerative therapies for vision loss. Here, we describe the strengths, weaknesses, and future directions for different human retinal model systems including dissociated primary tissue, explanted primary tissue, retinospheres, and stem cell-derived retinal organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiara C Eldred
- Department of Biological Structure, Institute for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, Institute for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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42
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Achberger K, Cipriano M, Düchs MJ, Schön C, Michelfelder S, Stierstorfer B, Lamla T, Kauschke SG, Chuchuy J, Roosz J, Mesch L, Cora V, Pars S, Pashkovskaia N, Corti S, Hartmann SM, Kleger A, Kreuz S, Maier U, Liebau S, Loskill P. Human stem cell-based retina on chip as new translational model for validation of AAV retinal gene therapy vectors. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2242-2256. [PMID: 34525384 PMCID: PMC8452599 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapies using adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are among the most promising strategies to treat or even cure hereditary and acquired retinal diseases. However, the development of new efficient AAV vectors is slow and costly, largely because of the lack of suitable non-clinical models. By faithfully recreating structure and function of human tissues, human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived retinal organoids could become an essential part of the test cascade addressing translational aspects. Organ-on-chip (OoC) technology further provides the capability to recapitulate microphysiological tissue environments as well as a precise control over structural and temporal parameters. By employing our recently developed retina on chip that merges organoid and OoC technology, we analyzed the efficacy, kinetics, and cell tropism of seven first- and second-generation AAV vectors. The presented data demonstrate the potential of iPSC-based OoC models as the next generation of screening platforms for future gene therapeutic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Achberger
- Institute of Neuroanatomy & Developmental Biology (INDB), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Madalena Cipriano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthias J Düchs
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Christian Schön
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | | | | | - Thorsten Lamla
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Stefan G Kauschke
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Johanna Chuchuy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia Roosz
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Lena Mesch
- Institute of Neuroanatomy & Developmental Biology (INDB), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Virginia Cora
- Institute of Neuroanatomy & Developmental Biology (INDB), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Selin Pars
- Institute of Neuroanatomy & Developmental Biology (INDB), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Natalia Pashkovskaia
- Institute of Neuroanatomy & Developmental Biology (INDB), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Serena Corti
- Institute of Neuroanatomy & Developmental Biology (INDB), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sophia-Marie Hartmann
- Institute of Neuroanatomy & Developmental Biology (INDB), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Kleger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kreuz
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Udo Maier
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Stefan Liebau
- Institute of Neuroanatomy & Developmental Biology (INDB), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Loskill
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany; 3R-Center for In vitro Models and Alternatives to Animal Testing, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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Ratnapriya R, Jacobson SG, Cideciyan AV, English MA, Roman AJ, Sumaroka A, Sheplock R, Swaroop A. A Novel ARL3 Gene Mutation Associated With Autosomal Dominant Retinal Degeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:720782. [PMID: 34485303 PMCID: PMC8416110 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.720782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite major progress in the discovery of causative genes, many individuals and families with inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) remain without a molecular diagnosis. We applied whole exome sequencing to identify the genetic cause in a family with an autosomal dominant IRD. Eye examinations were performed and affected patients were studied with electroretinography and kinetic and chromatic static perimetry. Sequence variants were analyzed in genes (n = 271) associated with IRDs listed on the RetNet database. We applied a stepwise filtering process involving the allele frequency in the control population, in silico prediction tools for pathogenicity, and evolutionary conservation to prioritize the potential causal variant(s). Sanger sequencing and segregation analysis were performed on the proband and other family members. The IRD in this family is expressed as a widespread progressive retinal degeneration with maculopathy. A novel heterozygous variant (c.200A > T) was identified in the ARL3 gene, leading to the substitution of aspartic acid to valine at position 67. The Asp67 residue is evolutionary conserved, and the change p.Asp67Val is predicted to be pathogenic. This variant was segregated in affected members of the family and was absent from an unaffected individual. Two previous reports of a de novo missense mutation in the ARL3 gene, each describing a family with two affected generations, are the only examples to date of autosomal dominant IRD associated with this photoreceptor gene. Our results, identifying a novel pathogenic variant in ARL3 in a four-generation family with a dominant IRD, augment the evidence that the ARL3 gene is another cause of non-syndromic retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinki Ratnapriya
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Samuel G Jacobson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Artur V Cideciyan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Milton A English
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Alejandro J Roman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Alexander Sumaroka
- Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Rebecca Sheplock
- Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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44
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Piotter E, McClements ME, MacLaren RE. Therapy Approaches for Stargardt Disease. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1179. [PMID: 34439845 PMCID: PMC8393614 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being the most prevalent cause of inherited blindness in children, Stargardt disease is yet to achieve the same clinical trial success as has been achieved for other inherited retinal diseases. With an early age of onset and continual progression of disease over the life course of an individual, Stargardt disease appears to lend itself to therapeutic intervention. However, the aetiology provides issues not encountered with the likes of choroideremia and X-linked retinitis pigmentosa and this has led to a spectrum of treatment strategies that approach the problem from different aspects. These include therapeutics ranging from small molecules and anti-sense oligonucleotides to viral gene supplementation and cell replacement. The advancing development of CRISPR-based molecular tools is also likely to contribute to future therapies by way of genome editing. In this we review, we consider the most recent pre-clinical and clinical trial data relating to the different strategies being applied to the problem of generating a treatment for the large cohort of Stargardt disease patients worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Piotter
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (E.P.); (M.E.M.)
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Michelle E McClements
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (E.P.); (M.E.M.)
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Robert E MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; (E.P.); (M.E.M.)
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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45
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Spotlight on Three Rs Progress. Altern Lab Anim 2021; 49:63-65. [PMID: 34225459 DOI: 10.1177/02611929211029118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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46
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Wagstaff EL, Heredero Berzal A, Boon CJF, Quinn PMJ, ten Asbroek ALMA, Bergen AA. The Role of Small Molecules and Their Effect on the Molecular Mechanisms of Early Retinal Organoid Development. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7081. [PMID: 34209272 PMCID: PMC8268497 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Early in vivo embryonic retinal development is a well-documented and evolutionary conserved process. The specification towards eye development is temporally controlled by consecutive activation or inhibition of multiple key signaling pathways, such as the Wnt and hedgehog signaling pathways. Recently, with the use of retinal organoids, researchers aim to manipulate these pathways to achieve better human representative models for retinal development and disease. To achieve this, a plethora of different small molecules and signaling factors have been used at various time points and concentrations in retinal organoid differentiations, with varying success. Additions differ from protocol to protocol, but their usefulness or efficiency has not yet been systematically reviewed. Interestingly, many of these small molecules affect the same and/or multiple pathways, leading to reduced reproducibility and high variability between studies. In this review, we make an inventory of the key signaling pathways involved in early retinogenesis and their effect on the development of the early retina in vitro. Further, we provide a comprehensive overview of the small molecules and signaling factors that are added to retinal organoid differentiation protocols, documenting the molecular and functional effects of these additions. Lastly, we comparatively evaluate several of these factors using our established retinal organoid methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie L. Wagstaff
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Andrea Heredero Berzal
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.H.B.); (C.J.F.B.)
| | - Camiel J. F. Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.H.B.); (C.J.F.B.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter M. J. Quinn
- Jonas Children’s Vision Care and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Departments of Ophthalmology, Pathology & Cell Biology, Institute of Human Nutrition, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center—New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | | | - Arthur A. Bergen
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.H.B.); (C.J.F.B.)
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN-KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Völkner M, Pavlou M, Büning H, Michalakis S, Karl MO. Optimized Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors for Efficient Transduction of Human Retinal Organoids. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:694-706. [PMID: 33752467 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The most widely used vectors for gene delivery in the retina are recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors. They have proven to be safe and effective in retinal gene therapy studies aimed to treat inherited retinal dystrophies, although with various limitations in transduction efficiency. Novel variants with modified capsid sequences have been engineered to improve transduction and overcome limitations of naturally occurring variants. Although preclinical evaluation of rAAV vectors based on such novel capsids is mostly done in animal models, the use of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived organoids offers an accessible and abundant human testing platform for rAAV evaluation. In this study, we tested the novel capsids, AAV9.GL and AAV9.NN, for their tropism and transduction efficiency in hiPSC-derived human retinal organoids (HROs) with all major neuronal and glial cell types in a laminated structure. These variants are based on the AAV9 capsid and were engineered to display specific surface-exposed peptide sequences, previously shown to improve the retinal transduction properties in the context of AAV2. To this end, HROs were transduced with increasing concentrations of rAAV9, rAAV9.GL, or rAAV9.NN carrying a self-complementary genome with a cytomegalovirus-enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) cassette and were monitored for eGFP expression. The rAAV vectors transduced HROs in a dose-dependent manner, with rAAV9.NN achieving the highest efficiency and fastest onset kinetics, leading to detectable eGFP signals in photoreceptors, some interneurons, and Müller glia already at 2 days post-transduction. The potency-enhancing effect of the NN peptide insert was replicated when using the corresponding AAV2-based version (rAAV2.NN). Taken together, we report the application of an HRO system for screening novel AAV vectors and introduce novel vector candidates with enhanced transduction efficiency for human retinal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Völkner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Marina Pavlou
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy-Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stylianos Michalakis
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy-Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mike O Karl
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.,CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,TU Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
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