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Honnell V, Sweeney S, Norrie J, Parks M, Ramirez C, Jannu AJ, Xu B, Teubner B, Lee AY, Bell C, Dyer MA. Evolutionary conservation of VSX2 super-enhancer modules in retinal development. Development 2024; 151:dev202435. [PMID: 38994775 PMCID: PMC11266796 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Super-enhancers (SEs) are expansive regions of genomic DNA that regulate the expression of genes involved in cell identity and cell fate. We recently identified developmental stage- and cell type-specific modules within the murine Vsx2 SE. Here, we show that the human VSX2 SE modules have similar developmental stage- and cell type-specific activity in reporter gene assays. By inserting the human sequence of one VSX2 SE module into a mouse with microphthalmia, eye size was rescued. To understand the function of these SE modules during human retinal development, we deleted individual modules in human embryonic stem cells and generated retinal organoids. Deleting one module results in small organoids, recapitulating the small-eyed phenotype of mice with microphthalmia, while deletion of the other module led to disruptions in bipolar neuron development. This prototypical SE serves as a model for understanding developmental stage- and cell type-specific effects of neurogenic transcription factors with complex expression patterns. Moreover, by elucidating the gene regulatory mechanisms, we can begin to examine how dysregulation of these mechanisms contributes to phenotypic diversity and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Honnell
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shannon Sweeney
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jackie Norrie
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Madison Parks
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Cody Ramirez
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Asha Jacob Jannu
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Beisi Xu
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brett Teubner
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ah Young Lee
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Claire Bell
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Michael A. Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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2
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Napoli FR, Li X, Hurtado AA, Levine EM. Microphthalmia and disrupted retinal development due to a LacZ knock-in/knock-out allele at the Vsx2 locus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.08.597937. [PMID: 38895315 PMCID: PMC11185793 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.08.597937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Visual System Homeobox 2 (Vsx2) is a transcription factor expressed in the developing retina that regulates tissue identity, growth, and fate determination. Several mutations in the Vsx2 gene exist in mice, including a spontaneous nonsense mutation and two targeted missense mutations originally identified in humans. Here, we expand the genetic repertoire to include a LacZ reporter allele (Vsx2 LacZ ) designed to express beta-Galactosidase (b-GAL) and simultaneously disrupt Vsx2 function (knock-in/knock-out). The retinal expression pattern of b-GAL is concordant with VSX2, and the mutant allele is recessive. Vsx2 LacZ homozygous mice have congenital bilateral microphthalmia accompanied by defects in retinal development including ectopic expression of non-retinal genes, reduced proliferation, delayed neurogenesis, aberrant tissue morphology, and an absence of bipolar interneurons - all hallmarks of Vsx2 loss-of-function. Unexpectedly, the mutant VSX2 protein is stably expressed, and there are subtle differences in eye size and early retinal neurogenesis when compared to the null mutant, ocular retardation J. We propose that b-GAL expression from the Vsx2 LacZ allele is a reliable reporter of VSX2 expression and that the allele exhibits loss-of-function characteristics. However, the perdurance of the mutant VSX2 protein combined with subtle deviations from the null phenotype leaves open the possibility that Vsx2 LacZ allele is not a complete knock-out. The Vsx2 LacZ allele adds to the genetic toolkit for understanding Vsx2 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca R. Napoli
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN 37232
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN 37232
| | - Alan A. Hurtado
- Program in Chemical and Physical Biology Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN 37232
| | - Edward M. Levine
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN 37232
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN 37232
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3
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Getz TE, Chrenek MA, Papania JT, Shelton DA, Markand S, Iuvone PM, Kozmik Z, Boatright JH, Nickerson JM. Conditional Knockouts of Interphotoreceptor Retinoid Binding Protein Suggest Two Independent Mechanisms for Retinal Degeneration and Myopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:32. [PMID: 38904640 PMCID: PMC11193143 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.6.32] [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: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein's (IRBP) role in eye growth and its involvement in cell homeostasis remain poorly understood. One hypothesis proposes early conditional deletion of the IRBP gene could lead to a myopic response with retinal degeneration, whereas late conditional deletion (after eye size is determined) could cause retinal degeneration without myopia. Here, we sought to understand if prior myopia was required for subsequent retinal degeneration in the absence of IRBP. This study investigates if any cell type or developmental stage is more important in myopia or retinal degeneration. Methods IBRPfl/fl mice were bred with 5 Cre-driver lines: HRGP-Cre, Chx10-Cre, Rho-iCre75, HRGP-Cre Rho-iCre75, and Rx-Cre. Mice were analyzed for IRBP gene expression through digital droplet PCR (ddPCR). Young adult (P30) mice were tested for retinal degeneration and morphology using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Function was analyzed using electroretinograms (ERGs). Eye sizes and axial lengths were compared through external eye measurements and whole eye biometry. Results Across all outcome measures, when bred to IRBPfl/fl, HRGP-Cre and Chx10-Cre lines showed no differences from IRBPfl/fl alone. With the Rho-iCre75 line, small but significant reductions were seen in retinal thickness with SD-OCT imaging and postmortem H&E staining without increased axial length. Both the HRGP-Cre+Rho-iCre75 and the Rx-Cre lines showed significant decreases in retinal thickness and outer nuclear layer cell counts. Using external eye measurements and SD-OCT imaging, both lines showed an increase in eye size. Finally, function in both lines was roughly halved across scotopic, photopic, and flicker ERGs. Conclusions Our studies support hypotheses that for both eye size determination and retinal homeostasis, there are two critical timing windows when IRBP must be expressed in rods or cones to prevent myopia (P7-P12) and degeneration (P21 and later). The rod-specific IRBP knockout (Rho-iCre75) showed significant retinal functional losses without myopia, indicating that the two phenotypes are independent. IRBP is needed for early development of photoreceptors and eye size, whereas Rho-iCre75 IRBPfl/fl knockout results in retinal degeneration without myopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana E. Getz
- Emory University, Department of Ophthalmology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Micah A. Chrenek
- Emory University, Department of Ophthalmology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Jack T. Papania
- Emory University, Department of Ophthalmology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Debresha A. Shelton
- Emory University, Department of Ophthalmology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Shanu Markand
- Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, Missouri, United States
| | - P. Michael Iuvone
- Emory University, Department of Ophthalmology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Zbynek Kozmik
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jeffrey H. Boatright
- Emory University, Department of Ophthalmology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Atlanta Veterans Administration Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Decatur, Georgia, United States
| | - John M. Nickerson
- Emory University, Department of Ophthalmology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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Zhou X, Zhao L, Wang C, Sun W, Jia B, Li D, Fu J. Diverse functions and pathogenetic role of Crumbs in retinopathy. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:290. [PMID: 38802833 PMCID: PMC11129452 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01673-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The Crumbs protein (CRB) family plays a crucial role in maintaining the apical-basal polarity and integrity of embryonic epithelia. The family comprises different isoforms in different animals and possesses diverse structural, localization, and functional characteristics. Mutations in the human CRB1 or CRB2 gene may lead to a broad spectrum of retinal dystrophies. Various CRB-associated experimental models have recently provided mechanistic insights into human CRB-associated retinopathies. The knowledge obtained from these models corroborates the importance of CRB in retinal development and maintenance. Therefore, complete elucidation of these models can provide excellent therapeutic prospects for human CRB-associated retinopathies. In this review, we summarize the current animal models and human-derived models of different CRB family members and describe the main characteristics of their retinal phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuebin Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Liangliang Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Chenguang Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Wei Sun
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Bo Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Jinling Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China.
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5
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Pereiro X, Ruzafa N, Azkargorta M, Elortza F, Acera A, Ambrósio AF, Santiago AR, Vecino E. Müller glial cells located in the peripheral retina are more susceptible to high pressure: implications for glaucoma. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:5. [PMID: 38183095 PMCID: PMC10770903 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01186-1] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glaucoma, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide. This study aims to elucidate the critical role of Müller glia (MG) in the context of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, particularly focusing on the influence of peripheral MG sensitivity to high pressure (HP). METHODS Co-cultures of porcine RGCs with MG were isolated from both the central and peripheral regions of pig retinas and subjected to both normal and HP conditions. Mass spectrometry analysis of the MG-conditioned medium was conducted to identify the proteins released by MG under all conditions. RESULTS Peripheral MG were found to secrete a higher quantity of neuroprotective factors, effectively promoting RGC survival under normal physiological conditions. However, under HP conditions, co-cultures with peripheral MG exhibited impaired RGC survival. Moreover, under HP conditions, peripheral MG significantly upregulated the secretion of proteins associated with apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS This study provides robust evidence suggesting the involvement of MG in RGC death in glaucoma, thus paving the way for future therapeutic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xandra Pereiro
- Experimental Ophthalmo-Biology Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940, Leioa, Spain.
- Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Noelia Ruzafa
- Experimental Ophthalmo-Biology Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940, Leioa, Spain
| | - Mikel Azkargorta
- Proteomics Platform, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), CIBERehdProteoRed-ISCIII, Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Spain
| | - Félix Elortza
- Proteomics Platform, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), CIBERehdProteoRed-ISCIII, Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Spain
| | - Arantxa Acera
- Experimental Ophthalmo-Biology Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940, Leioa, Spain
| | - António Francisco Ambrósio
- Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Raquel Santiago
- Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Elena Vecino
- Experimental Ophthalmo-Biology Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940, Leioa, Spain.
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Honnell V, Sweeney S, Norrie J, Ramirez C, Xu B, Teubner B, Lee AY, Bell C, Dyer MA. Identification of Evolutionarily Conserved VSX2 Enhancers in Retinal Development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.17.562742. [PMID: 37905144 PMCID: PMC10614883 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.17.562742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Super-enhancers (SEs) are expansive regions of genomic DNA that regulate the expression of genes involved in cell identity and cell fate. Recently, we found that distinct modules within a murine SE regulate gene expression of master regulatory transcription factor Vsx2 in a developmental stage- and cell-type specific manner. Vsx2 is expressed in retinal progenitor cells as well as differentiated bipolar neurons and Müller glia. Mutations in VSX2 in humans and mice lead to microphthalmia due to a defect in retinal progenitor cell proliferation. Deletion of a single module within the Vsx2 SE leads to microphthalmia. Deletion of a separate module within the SE leads to a complete loss of bipolar neurons, yet the remainder of the retina develops normally. Furthermore, the Vsx2 SE is evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates, suggesting that these modules are important for retinal development across species. In the present study, we examine the ability of these modules to drive retinal development between species. By inserting the human build of one Vsx2 SE module into a mouse with microphthalmia, eye size was rescued. To understand the implications of these SE modules in a model of human development, we generated human retinal organoids. Deleting one module results in small organoids, recapitulating the small-eyed phenotype of mice with microphthalmia, while deletion of the other module leads to a complete loss of ON cone bipolar neurons. This prototypical SE serves as a model for uncoupling developmental stage- and cell-type specific effects of neurogenic transcription factors with complex expression patterns. Moreover, by elucidating the gene regulatory mechanisms, we can begin to examine how dysregulation of these mechanisms contributes to phenotypic diversity and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Honnell
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Shannon Sweeney
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Jackie Norrie
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Cody Ramirez
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Beisi Xu
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Brett Teubner
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Ah Young Lee
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Claire Bell
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Michael A. Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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7
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Dissing-Olesen L, Walker AJ, Feng Q, Barr HJ, Walker AC, Xie L, Wilton DK, Das I, Benowitz LI, Stevens B. FEAST: A flow cytometry-based toolkit for interrogating microglial engulfment of synaptic and myelin proteins. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6015. [PMID: 37758703 PMCID: PMC10533836 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41448-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Although engulfment is a hallmark of microglia function, fully validated platforms that facilitate high-throughput quantification of this process are lacking. Here, we present FEAST (Flow cytometric Engulfment Assay for Specific Target proteins), which enables interrogation of in vivo engulfment of synaptic material by brain resident macrophages at single-cell resolution. We optimize FEAST for two different analyses: quantification of fluorescent material inside live cells and of engulfed endogenous proteins within fixed cells. To overcome false-positive engulfment signals, we introduce an approach suitable for interrogating engulfment in microglia from perfusion-fixed tissue. As a proof-of-concept for the specificity and versatility of FEAST, we examine the engulfment of synaptic proteins after optic nerve crush and of myelin in two mouse models of demyelination (treatment with cuprizone and injections of lysolecithin). We find that microglia, but not brain-border associated macrophages, engulf in these contexts. Our work underscores how FEAST can be utilized to gain critical insight into functional neuro-immune interactions that shape development, homeostasis, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lasse Dissing-Olesen
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Alec J Walker
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Qian Feng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Helena J Barr
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Alicia C Walker
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Lili Xie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Daniel K Wilton
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Indrani Das
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Larry I Benowitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Beth Stevens
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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8
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Wong NK, Yip SP, Huang CL. Establishing Functional Retina in a Dish: Progress and Promises of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Retinal Neuron Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13652. [PMID: 37686457 PMCID: PMC10487913 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713652] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The human eye plays a critical role in vision perception, but various retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can lead to vision loss or blindness. Although progress has been made in understanding retinal development and in clinical research, current treatments remain inadequate for curing or reversing these degenerative conditions. Animal models have limited relevance to humans, and obtaining human eye tissue samples is challenging due to ethical and legal considerations. Consequently, researchers have turned to stem cell-based approaches, specifically induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to generate distinct retinal cell populations and develop cell replacement therapies. iPSCs offer a novel platform for studying the key stages of human retinogenesis and disease-specific mechanisms. Stem cell technology has facilitated the production of diverse retinal cell types, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and photoreceptors, and the development of retinal organoids has emerged as a valuable in vitro tool for investigating retinal neuron differentiation and modeling retinal diseases. This review focuses on the protocols, culture conditions, and techniques employed in differentiating retinal neurons from iPSCs. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significance of molecular and functional validation of the differentiated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonthaphat Kent Wong
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shea Ping Yip
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chien-Ling Huang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
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9
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Bosze B, Suarez-Navarro J, Cajias I, Brzezinski IV JA, Brown NL. Notch pathway mutants do not equivalently perturb mouse embryonic retinal development. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010928. [PMID: 37751417 PMCID: PMC10522021 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In the vertebrate eye, Notch ligands, receptors, and ternary complex components determine the destiny of retinal progenitor cells in part by regulating Hes effector gene activity. There are multiple paralogues for nearly every node in this pathway, which results in numerous instances of redundancy and compensation during development. To dissect such complexity at the earliest stages of eye development, we used seven germline or conditional mutant mice and two spatiotemporally distinct Cre drivers. We perturbed the Notch ternary complex and multiple Hes genes to understand if Notch regulates optic stalk/nerve head development; and to test intracellular pathway components for their Notch-dependent versus -independent roles during retinal ganglion cell and cone photoreceptor competence and fate acquisition. We confirmed that disrupting Notch signaling universally blocks progenitor cell growth, but delineated specific pathway components that can act independently, such as sustained Hes1 expression in the optic stalk/nerve head. In retinal progenitor cells, we found that among the genes tested, they do not uniformly suppress retinal ganglion cell or cone differentiation; which is not due differences in developmental timing. We discovered that shifts in the earliest cell fates correlate with expression changes for the early photoreceptor factor Otx2, but not with Atoh7, a factor required for retinal ganglion cell formation. During photoreceptor genesis we also better defined multiple and simultaneous activities for Rbpj and Hes1 and identify redundant activities that occur downstream of Notch. Given its unique roles at the retina-optic stalk boundary and cone photoreceptor genesis, our data suggest Hes1 as a hub where Notch-dependent and -independent inputs converge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernadett Bosze
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Julissa Suarez-Navarro
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Illiana Cajias
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Joseph A. Brzezinski IV
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Nadean L. Brown
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
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10
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Choi J, Li J, Ferdous S, Liang Q, Moffitt JR, Chen R. Spatial organization of the mouse retina at single cell resolution by MERFISH. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4929. [PMID: 37582959 PMCID: PMC10427710 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40674-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The visual signal processing in the retina requires the precise organization of diverse neuronal types working in concert. While single-cell omics studies have identified more than 120 different neuronal subtypes in the mouse retina, little is known about their spatial organization. Here, we generated the single-cell spatial atlas of the mouse retina using multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH). We profiled over 390,000 cells and identified all major cell types and nearly all subtypes through the integration with reference single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. Our spatial atlas allowed simultaneous examination of nearly all cell subtypes in the retina, revealing 8 previously unknown displaced amacrine cell subtypes and establishing the connection between the molecular classification of many cell subtypes and their spatial arrangement. Furthermore, we identified spatially dependent differential gene expression between subtypes, suggesting the possibility of functional tuning of neuronal types based on location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongsu Choi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Salma Ferdous
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Qingnan Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Moffitt
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital; Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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11
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Guo L, Xie X, Wang J, Xiao H, Li S, Xu M, Quainoo E, Koppaka R, Zhuo J, Smith SB, Gan L. Inducible Rbpms-CreER T2 Mouse Line for Studying Gene Function in Retinal Ganglion Cell Physiology and Disease. Cells 2023; 12:1951. [PMID: 37566030 PMCID: PMC10416940 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the sole output neurons conveying visual stimuli from the retina to the brain, and dysfunction or loss of RGCs is the primary determinant of visual loss in traumatic and degenerative ocular conditions. Currently, there is a lack of RGC-specific Cre mouse lines that serve as invaluable tools for manipulating genes in RGCs and studying the genetic basis of RGC diseases. The RNA-binding protein with multiple splicing (RBPMS) is identified as the specific marker of all RGCs. Here, we report the generation and characterization of a knock-in mouse line in which a P2A-CreERT2 coding sequence is fused in-frame to the C-terminus of endogenous RBPMS, allowing for the co-expression of RBPMS and CreERT2. The inducible Rbpms-CreERT2 mice exhibited a high recombination efficiency in activating the expression of the tdTomato reporter gene in nearly all adult RGCs as well as in differentiated RGCs starting at E13.5. Additionally, both heterozygous and homozygous Rbpms-CreERT2 knock-in mice showed no detectable defect in the retinal structure, visual function, and transcriptome. Together, these results demonstrated that the Rbpms-CreERT2 knock-in mouse can serve as a powerful and highly desired genetic tool for lineage tracing, genetic manipulation, retinal physiology study, and ocular disease modeling in RGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luming Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Xiaoling Xie
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Haiyan Xiao
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Shuchun Li
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Mei Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Ebenezer Quainoo
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Rithwik Koppaka
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Jiaping Zhuo
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Sylvia B. Smith
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Lin Gan
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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12
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Goswami-Sewell D, Bagnetto C, Gomez CC, Anderson JT, Maheshwari A, Zuniga-Sanchez E. βII-Spectrin Is Required for Synaptic Positioning during Retinal Development. J Neurosci 2023; 43:5277-5289. [PMID: 37369589 PMCID: PMC10359034 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0063-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural circuit assembly is a multistep process where synaptic partners are often born at distinct developmental stages, and yet they must find each other and form precise synaptic connections with one another. This developmental process often relies on late-born neurons extending their processes to the appropriate layer to find and make synaptic connections to their early-born targets. The molecular mechanism responsible for the integration of late-born neurons into an emerging neural circuit remains unclear. Here, we uncovered a new role for the cytoskeletal protein βII-spectrin in properly positioning presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons to the developing synaptic layer. Loss of βII-spectrin disrupts retinal lamination, leads to synaptic connectivity defects, and results in impaired visual function in both male and female mice. Together, these findings highlight a new function of βII-spectrin in assembling neural circuits in the mouse outer retina.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neurons that assemble into a functional circuit are often integrated at different developmental time points. However, the molecular mechanism that guides the precise positioning of neuronal processes to the correct layer for synapse formation is relatively unknown. Here, we show a new role for the cytoskeletal scaffolding protein, βII-spectrin in the developing retina. βII-spectrin is required to position presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons to the nascent synaptic layer in the mouse outer retina. Loss of βII-spectrin disrupts positioning of neuronal processes, alters synaptic connectivity, and impairs visual function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin Bagnetto
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Cesiah C Gomez
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Joseph T Anderson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Akash Maheshwari
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Elizabeth Zuniga-Sanchez
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
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13
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Wang Y, Snell A, Dyka FM, Colvin ER, Ildefonso C, Ash JD, Lobanova ES. Overexpression of Nfe2l1 increases proteasome activity and delays vision loss in a preclinical model of human blindness. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd5479. [PMID: 37450596 PMCID: PMC10348684 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add5479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Proteasomes are the central proteolytic machines that are critical for breaking down most of the damaged and abnormal proteins in human cells. Although universally applicable drugs are not yet available, the stimulation of proteasomal activity is being analyzed as a proof-of-principle strategy to increase cellular resistance to a broad range of proteotoxic stressors. These approaches have included the stimulation of proteasomes through the overexpression of individual proteasome subunits, phosphorylation, or conformational changes induced by small molecules or peptides. In contrast to these approaches, we evaluated a transcription-driven increase in the total proteasome pool to enhance the proteolytic capacity of degenerating retinal neurons. We show that overexpression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-like 1 (Nfe2l1) transcription factor stimulated proteasome biogenesis and activity, improved the clearance of the ubiquitin-proteasomal reporter, and delayed photoreceptor neuron loss in a preclinical mouse model of human blindness caused by misfolded proteins. The findings highlight Nfe2l1 as an emerging therapeutic target to treat neurodegenerative diseases linked to protein misfolding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiao Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Aaron Snell
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Frank M. Dyka
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Elizabeth R. Colvin
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Cristhian Ildefonso
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - John D. Ash
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Ekaterina S. Lobanova
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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14
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Li L, Sun Y, Davis AE, Shah SH, Hamed LK, Wu MR, Lin CH, Ding JB, Wang S. Mettl14-mediated m 6A modification ensures the cell-cycle progression of late-born retinal progenitor cells. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112596. [PMID: 37269288 PMCID: PMC10543643 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural progenitor cells lengthen their cell cycle to prime themselves for differentiation as development proceeds. It is currently not clear how they counter this lengthening and avoid being halted in the cell cycle. We show that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation of cell-cycle-related mRNAs ensures the proper cell-cycle progression of late-born retinal progenitor cells (RPCs), which are born toward the end of retinogenesis and have long cell-cycle length. Conditional deletion of Mettl14, which is required for depositing m6A, led to delayed cell-cycle exit of late-born RPCs but has no effect on retinal development prior to birth. m6A sequencing and single-cell transcriptomics revealed that mRNAs involved in elongating the cell cycle were highly enriched for m6A, which could target them for degradation and guarantee proper cell-cycle progression. In addition, we identified Zfp292 as a target of m6A and potent inhibitor of RPC cell-cycle progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Yue Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alexander E Davis
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Sahil H Shah
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Lobna K Hamed
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Man-Ru Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Cheng-Hui Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Jun B Ding
- Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sui Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA.
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15
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McLaughlin T, Wang J, Jia L, Wu F, Wang Y, Wang JJ, Mu X, Zhang SX. Neuronal p58 IPK Protects Retinal Ganglion Cells Independently of Macrophage/Microglia Activation in Ocular Hypertension. Cells 2023; 12:1558. [PMID: 37371028 PMCID: PMC10297187 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
p58IPK is a multifaceted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone and a regulator of eIF2α kinases involved in a wide range of cellular processes including protein synthesis, ER stress response, and macrophage-mediated inflammation. Systemic deletion of p58IPK leads to age-related loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and exacerbates RGC damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion and increased intraocular pressure (IOP), suggesting a protective role of p58IPK in the retina. However, the mechanisms remain elusive. Herein, we investigated the cellular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotection action of p58IPK using conditional knockout (cKO) mouse lines where p58IPK is deleted in retinal neurons (Chx10-p58IPK cKO) or in myeloid cells (Lyz2-p58IPK cKO). In addition, we overexpressed p58IPK by adeno-associated virus (AAV) in the retina to examine the effect of p58IPK on RGC survival after ocular hypertension (OHT) in wild type (WT) mice. Our results show that overexpression of p58IPK by AAV significantly improved RGC survival after OHT in WT mice, suggesting a protective effect of p58IPK on reducing RGC injury. Conditional knockout of p58IPK in retinal neurons or in myeloid cells did not alter retinal structure or cellular composition. However, a significant reduction in the b wave of light-adapted electroretinogram (ERG) was observed in Chx10-p58IPK cKO mice. Deletion of p58IPK in retinal neurons exacerbates RGC loss at 14 days after OHT. In contrast, deficiency of p58IPK in myeloid cells increased the microglia/macrophage activation but had no effect on RGC loss. We conclude that deletion of p58IPK in macrophages increases their activation, but does not influence RGC survival. These results suggest that the neuroprotective action of p58IPK is mediated by its expression in retinal neurons, but not in macrophages. Therefore, targeting p58IPK specifically in retinal neurons is a promising approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative retinal diseases including glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd McLaughlin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Jinli Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Liyun Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Fuguo Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Yaqin Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442005, China
| | - Joshua J. Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Xiuqian Mu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Sarah X. Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
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16
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Reggiani JDS, Jiang Q, Barbini M, Lutas A, Liang L, Fernando J, Deng F, Wan J, Li Y, Chen C, Andermann ML. Brainstem serotonin neurons selectively gate retinal information flow to thalamus. Neuron 2023; 111:711-726.e11. [PMID: 36584680 PMCID: PMC10131437 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types relay parallel streams of visual feature information. We hypothesized that neuromodulators might efficiently control which visual information streams reach the cortex by selectively gating transmission from specific RGC axons in the thalamus. Using fiber photometry recordings, we found that optogenetic stimulation of serotonergic axons in primary visual thalamus of awake mice suppressed ongoing and visually evoked calcium activity and glutamate release from RGC boutons. Two-photon calcium imaging revealed that serotonin axon stimulation suppressed RGC boutons that responded strongly to global changes in luminance more than those responding only to local visual stimuli, while the converse was true for suppression induced by increases in arousal. Converging evidence suggests that differential expression of the 5-HT1B receptor on RGC presynaptic terminals, but not differential density of nearby serotonin axons, may contribute to the selective serotonergic gating of specific visual information streams before they can activate thalamocortical neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine D S Reggiani
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Qiufen Jiang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Melanie Barbini
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Andrew Lutas
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Liang Liang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jesseba Fernando
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jinxia Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Chinfei Chen
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Mark L Andermann
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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17
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Ferdous S, Shelton DA, Getz TE, Chrenek MA, L’Hernault N, Sellers JT, Summers VR, Iuvone PM, Boss JM, Boatright JH, Nickerson JM. Deletion of histone demethylase Lsd1 (Kdm1a) during retinal development leads to defects in retinal function and structure. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1104592. [PMID: 36846208 PMCID: PMC9950115 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1104592] [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: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Lysine specific demethylase 1 (Lsd1) in murine retinal development. LSD1 is a histone demethylase that can demethylate mono- and di-methyl groups on H3K4 and H3K9. Using Chx10-Cre and Rho-iCre75 driver lines, we generated novel transgenic mouse lines to delete Lsd1 in most retinal progenitor cells or specifically in rod photoreceptors. We hypothesize that Lsd1 deletion will cause global morphological and functional defects due to its importance in neuronal development. Methods We tested the retinal function of young adult mice by electroretinogram (ERG) and assessed retinal morphology by in vivo imaging by fundus photography and SD-OCT. Afterward, eyes were enucleated, fixed, and sectioned for subsequent hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) or immunofluorescence staining. Other eyes were plastic fixed and sectioned for electron microscopy. Results In adult Chx10-Cre Lsd1fl/fl mice, we observed a marked reduction in a-, b-, and c-wave amplitudes in scotopic conditions compared to age-matched control mice. Photopic and flicker ERG waveforms were even more sharply reduced. Modest reductions in total retinal thickness and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness were observed in SD-OCT and H&E images. Lastly, electron microscopy revealed significantly shorter inner and outer segments and immunofluorescence showed modest reductions in specific cell type populations. We did not observe any obvious functional or morphological defects in the adult Rho-iCre75 Lsd1fl/fl animals. Conclusion Lsd1 is necessary for neuronal development in the retina. Adult Chx10-Cre Lsd1fl/fl mice show impaired retinal function and morphology. These effects were fully manifested in young adults (P30), suggesting that Lsd1 affects early retinal development in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Ferdous
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Tatiana E. Getz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Micah A. Chrenek
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Nancy L’Hernault
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jana T. Sellers
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Vivian R. Summers
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - P. Michael Iuvone
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jeremy M. Boss
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jeffrey H. Boatright
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Atlanta Veterans Administration Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Decatur, GA, United States
| | - John M. Nickerson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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18
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Bosze B, Suarez-Navarro J, Cajias I, Brzezinski JA, Brown NL. Not all Notch pathway mutations are equal in the embryonic mouse retina. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.11.523641. [PMID: 36711950 PMCID: PMC9882158 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.11.523641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
In the vertebrate retina, combinations of Notch ligands, receptors, and ternary complex components determine the destiny of retinal progenitor cells by regulating Hes effector gene activity. Owing to reiterated Notch signaling in numerous tissues throughout development, there are multiple vertebrate paralogues for nearly every node in this pathway. These Notch signaling components can act redundantly or in a compensatory fashion during development. To dissect the complexity of this pathway during retinal development, we used seven germline or conditional mutant mice and two spatiotemporally distinct Cre drivers. We perturbed the Notch ternary complex and multiple Hes genes with two overt goals in mind. First, we wished to determine if Notch signaling is required in the optic stalk/nerve head for Hes1 sustained expression and activity. Second, we aimed to test if Hes1, 3 and 5 genes are functionally redundant during early retinal histogenesis. With our allelic series, we found that disrupting Notch signaling consistently blocked mitotic growth and overproduced ganglion cells, but we also identified two significant branchpoints for this pathway. In the optic stalk/nerve head, sustained Hes1 is regulated independent of Notch signaling, whereas during photoreceptor genesis both Notch-dependent and -independent roles for Rbpj and Hes1 impact photoreceptor genesis in opposing manners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernadett Bosze
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | | | - Illiana Cajias
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Joseph A. Brzezinski
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Nadean L Brown
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
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19
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Keeley PW, Patel PS, Ryu MS, Reese BE. Neurog2 regulates Isl1 to modulate horizontal cell number. Development 2023; 150:dev201315. [PMID: 36537573 PMCID: PMC10108602 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The population sizes of different retinal cell types vary between different strains of mice, and that variation can be mapped to genomic loci in order to identify its polygenic origin. In some cases, controlling genes act independently, whereas in other instances, they exhibit epistasis. Here, we identify an epistatic interaction revealed through the mapping of quantitative trait loci from a panel of recombinant inbred strains of mice. The population of retinal horizontal cells exhibits a twofold variation in number, mapping to quantitative trait loci on chromosomes 3 and 13, where these loci are shown to interact epistatically. We identify a prospective genetic interaction underlying this, mediated by the bHLH transcription factor Neurog2, at the chromosome 3 locus, functioning to repress the LIM homeodomain transcription factor Isl1, at the chromosome 13 locus. Using single and double conditional knockout mice, we confirm the countervailing actions of each gene, and validate in vitro a crucial role for two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 5'UTR of Isl1, one of which yields a novel E-box, mediating the repressive action of Neurog2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W. Keeley
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5060, USA
| | - Pooja S. Patel
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5060, USA
| | - Matthew S. Ryu
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5060, USA
| | - Benjamin E. Reese
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5060, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5060, USA
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20
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Van Hook MJ. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a regulator of synaptic transmission in the adult visual thalamus. J Neurophysiol 2022; 128:1267-1277. [PMID: 36224192 PMCID: PMC9662800 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00540.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important regulator of circuit development, neuronal survival, and plasticity throughout the nervous system. In the visual system, BDNF is produced by retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and transported along their axons to central targets. Within the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), a key RGC projection target for conscious vision, the BDNF receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) is present on RGC axon terminals and postsynaptic thalamocortical (TC) relay neuron dendrites. Based on this, the goal of this study was to determine how BDNF modulates the conveyance of signals through the retinogeniculate (RG) pathway of adult mice. Application of BDNF to dLGN brain slices increased TC neuron spiking evoked by optogenetic stimulation of RGC axons. There was a modest contribution to this effect from a BDNF-dependent enhancement of TC neuron intrinsic excitability including increased input resistance and membrane depolarization. BDNF also increased evoked vesicle release from RGC axon terminals, as evidenced by increased amplitude of evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs), which was blocked by inhibition of TrkB or phospholipase C. High-frequency stimulation revealed that BDNF increased synaptic vesicle pool size, release probability, and replenishment rate. There was no effect of BDNF on EPSC amplitude or short-term plasticity of corticothalamic feedback synapses. Thus, BDNF regulates RG synapses by both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms. These findings suggest that BNDF influences the flow of visual information through the retinogeniculate pathway.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important regulator of neuronal development and plasticity. In the visual system, BDNF is transported along retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons to the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), although it is not known how it influences mature dLGN function. Here, BDNF enhanced thalamocortical relay neuron responses to signals arising from RGC axons in the dLGN, pointing toward an important role for BDNF in processing signals en route to the visual cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Van Hook
- Truhlsen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
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21
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Petridou E, Godinho L. Cellular and Molecular Determinants of Retinal Cell Fate. Annu Rev Vis Sci 2022; 8:79-99. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-vision-100820-103154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The vertebrate retina is regarded as a simple part of the central nervous system (CNS) and thus amenable to investigations of the determinants of cell fate. Its five neuronal cell classes and one glial cell class all derive from a common pool of progenitors. Here we review how each cell class is generated. Retinal progenitors progress through different competence states, in each of which they generate only a small repertoire of cell classes. The intrinsic state of the progenitor is determined by the complement of transcription factors it expresses. Thus, although progenitors are multipotent, there is a bias in the types of fates they generate during any particular time window. Overlying these competence states are stochastic mechanisms that influence fate decisions. These mechanisms are determined by a weighted set of probabilities based on the abundance of a cell class in the retina. Deterministic mechanisms also operate, especially late in development, when preprogrammed progenitors solely generate specific fates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Petridou
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany;,
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Leanne Godinho
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany;,
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22
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Bian F, Daghsni M, Lu F, Liu S, Gross JM, Aldiri I. Functional analysis of the Vsx2 super-enhancer uncovers distinct cis-regulatory circuits controlling Vsx2 expression during retinogenesis. Development 2022; 149:dev200642. [PMID: 35831950 PMCID: PMC9440754 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Vsx2 is a transcription factor essential for retinal proliferation and bipolar cell differentiation, but the molecular mechanisms underlying its developmental roles are unclear. Here, we have profiled VSX2 genomic occupancy during mouse retinogenesis, revealing extensive retinal genetic programs associated with VSX2 during development. VSX2 binds and transactivates its enhancer in association with the transcription factor PAX6. Mice harboring deletions in the Vsx2 regulatory landscape exhibit specific abnormalities in retinal proliferation and in bipolar cell differentiation. In one of those deletions, a complete loss of bipolar cells is associated with a bias towards photoreceptor production. VSX2 occupies cis-regulatory elements nearby genes associated with photoreceptor differentiation and homeostasis in the adult mouse and human retina, including a conserved region nearby Prdm1, a factor implicated in the specification of rod photoreceptors and suppression of bipolar cell fate. VSX2 interacts with the transcription factor OTX2 and can act to suppress OTX2-dependent enhancer transactivation of the Prdm1 enhancer. Taken together, our analyses indicate that Vsx2 expression can be temporally and spatially uncoupled at the enhancer level, and they illuminate important mechanistic insights into how VSX2 is engaged with gene regulatory networks that are essential for retinal proliferation and cell fate acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyun Bian
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Marwa Daghsni
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Fangfang Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Silvia Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Gross
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Issam Aldiri
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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23
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Jiang Q, Litvina EY, Acarón Ledesma H, Shu G, Sonoda T, Wei W, Chen C. Functional convergence of on-off direction-selective ganglion cells in the visual thalamus. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3110-3120.e6. [PMID: 35793680 PMCID: PMC9438454 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
In the mouse visual system, multiple types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) each encode distinct features of the visual space. A clear understanding of how this information is parsed in their downstream target, the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), remains elusive. Here, we characterized retinogeniculate connectivity in Cart-IRES2-Cre-D and BD-CreER2 mice, which labels subsets of on-off direction-selective ganglion cells (ooDSGCs) tuned to the vertical directions and to only ventral motion, respectively. Our immunohistochemical, electrophysiological, and optogenetic experiments reveal that only a small fraction (<15%) of thalamocortical (TC) neurons in the dLGN receives primary retinal drive from these subtypes of ooDSGCs. The majority of the functionally identifiable ooDSGC inputs in the dLGN are weak and converge together with inputs from other RGC types. Yet our modeling indicates that this mixing is not random: BD-CreER+ ooDSGC inputs converge less frequently with ooDSGCs tuned to the opposite direction than with non-CART-Cre+ RGC types. Taken together, these results indicate that convergence of distinct information lines in dLGN follows specific rules of organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiufen Jiang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Elizabeth Y Litvina
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 6001 Executive Boulevard Suite 3309, Bethesda, MD 20824, USA
| | - Héctor Acarón Ledesma
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Guanhua Shu
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Takuma Sonoda
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, 947 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Chinfei Chen
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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24
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Nahar A, Cho SH. Current perspectives in Leber congenital amaurosis type 8 mouse modeling. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:1094-1106. [PMID: 35150033 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the CRB1 (Crumbs homolog 1) cause rare retinal diseases like retinitis pigmentosa type 12 (RP12) and Leber congenital amaurosis type 8 (LCA8). RP12 results in progressively worsening peripheral vision, whereas LCA8 causes severe visual impairment at birth or in early life. While several mouse models have been proposed for RP12, few replicate the full spectrum of human LCA8 pathology, such as disorganized retinal layering, abnormal retinal thickening, pigmentary defects, hyperreflective lesions, and severely attenuated electroretinogram responses at birth. Six models have been proposed utilizing the Cre-loxP system to delete candidate genes in specific retinal cell types and developmental stages. The model ablating Crb1 and its homolog Crb2 (using mRx-Cre) from the beginning of the eye development is the most complete as it shows blindness during the eye-opening stage, pigmentary defects in the RPE, ganglion cell layer heterotopia, disruption of retinal lamination, and acellular patches. LCA8 represents a unique type of retinal dystrophy among LCA subtypes, driven by dysfunctional retinal progenitor cells during eye development. In contrast, other LCA types and RP12 are caused by photoreceptor defects. Therefore, the most accurate LCA8-like mouse model must target both alleles of the Crb1 and Crb2 genes in the optic vesicle or earlier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Nahar
- Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Seo-Hee Cho
- Department of Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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25
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Yang Y, Jiang X, Li X, Sun K, Zhu X, Zhou B. Specific ablation of Hippo signalling component Yap1 in retinal progenitors and Müller cells results in late onset retinal degeneration. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:2673-2689. [PMID: 35533255 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a major component of the Hippo pathway involved in development, growth, repair and homeostasis. Nonsense YAP1 mutations in humans result in autosomal dominant coloboma. Here, we generated a conditional knockout mouse model in which Yap1 was specifically deleted in embryonic retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) and in mature Müller cells using a Chx10-Cre driver. Our data demonstrated that the conditional ablation of Yap1 in embryonic RPCs does not prevent normal retinal development and caused no gross changes in retinal structure during embryonic and early postnatal life. Nevertheless, Yap1 deficient in retinal Müller cells in adult mice leads to impaired visual responses and extensive late-onset retinal degeneration, characterized by reduced cell number in all retinal layers. Immunofluorescence data further revealed the degeneration and death of rod and cone photoreceptors, bipolar cells, horizontal cells, amacrine cells and ganglion cells to varying degrees in aged knockout mice. Moreover, alteration of glial homeostasis and reactive gliosis were also observed. Finally, cell proliferation and TUNEL assay revealed that the broad retinal degeneration is mainly caused by enhanced apoptosis in late period. Together, this work uncovers that YAP is essential for the normal vision and retinal maintenance, highlighting the crucial role of YAP in retinal function and homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeming Yang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Center for Medical Genetics, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Jiang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Center for Medical Genetics, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Center for Medical Genetics, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Kuanxiang Sun
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Center for Medical Genetics, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xianjun Zhu
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Center for Medical Genetics, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Xining, Qinghai, China.,Research Unit for Blindness Prevention of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Departemnt of Ophthalmology, First People's Hospital of Shangqiu, Shangqiu, Henan, China
| | - Bo Zhou
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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26
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Wang X, Sarver AL, Han Q, Seiler CL, Xie C, Lu H, Forster CL, Tretyakova NY, Hallstrom TC. UHRF2 regulates cell cycle, epigenetics and gene expression to control the timing of retinal progenitor and ganglion cell differentiation. Development 2022; 149:274710. [PMID: 35285483 PMCID: PMC8984156 DOI: 10.1242/dev.195644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-like, containing PHD and RING finger domains 2 (UHRF2) regulates cell cycle and binds 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) to promote completion of DNA demethylation. Uhrf2-/- mice are without gross phenotypic defects; however, the cell cycle and epigenetic regulatory functions of Uhrf2 during retinal tissue development are unclear. Retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) produce all retinal neurons and Müller glia in a predictable sequence controlled by the complex interplay between extrinsic signaling, cell cycle, epigenetic changes and cell-specific transcription factor activation. In this study, we find that UHRF2 accumulates in RPCs, and its conditional deletion from mouse RPCs reduced 5hmC, altered gene expressions and disrupted retinal cell proliferation and differentiation. Retinal ganglion cells were overproduced in Uhrf2-deficient retinae at the expense of VSX2+ RPCs. Most other cell types were transiently delayed in differentiation. Expression of each member of the Tet3/Uhrf2/Tdg active demethylation pathway was reduced in Uhrf2-deficient retinae, consistent with locally reduced 5hmC in their gene bodies. This study highlights a novel role of UHRF2 in controlling the transition from RPCs to differentiated cell by regulating cell cycle, epigenetic and gene expression decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 420 Delaware Street S.E., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Aaron L Sarver
- Institute for Health Informatics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Qiyuan Han
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Christopher L Seiler
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Chencheng Xie
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 420 Delaware Street S.E., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Huarui Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 420 Delaware Street S.E., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Colleen L Forster
- BioNet, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Natalia Y Tretyakova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Timothy C Hallstrom
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 420 Delaware Street S.E., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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27
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Sun C, Zhang X, Ruzycki PA, Chen S. Essential Functions of MLL1 and MLL2 in Retinal Development and Cone Cell Maintenance. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:829536. [PMID: 35223853 PMCID: PMC8864151 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.829536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
MLL1 (KMT2A) and MLL2 (KMT2B) are homologous members of the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) family of histone methyltransferases involved in epigenomic transcriptional regulation. Their sequence variants have been associated with neurological and psychological disorders, but little is known about their roles and mechanism of action in CNS development. Using mouse retina as a model, we previously reported MLL1’s role in retinal neurogenesis and horizontal cell maintenance. Here we determine roles of MLL2 and MLL1/MLL2 together in retinal development using conditional knockout (CKO) mice. Deleting Mll2 from Chx10+ retinal progenitors resulted in a similar phenotype as Mll1 CKO, but removal of both alleles produced much more severe deficits than each single CKO: 1-month double CKO mutants displayed null light responses in electroretinogram; thin retinal layers, including shorter photoreceptor outer segments with impaired phototransduction gene expression; and reduced numbers of M-cones, horizontal and amacrine neurons, followed by fast retinal degeneration. Despite moderately reduced progenitor cell proliferation at P0, the neurogenic capacity was largely maintained in double CKO mutants. However, upregulated apoptosis and reactive gliosis were detected during postnatal retinal development. Finally, the removal of both MLLs in fated rods produced a normal phenotype, but the CKO in M-cones impaired M-cone function and survival, indicating both cell non-autonomous and autonomous mechanisms. Altogether, our results suggest that MLL1/MLL2 play redundant roles in maintaining specific retinal neurons after cell fate specification and are essential for establishing functional neural networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Philip A. Ruzycki
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Shiming Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Shiming Chen,
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28
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Bhandari A, Ward TW, Smith J, Van Hook MJ. Structural and functional plasticity in the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus of mice following bilateral enucleation. Neuroscience 2022; 488:44-59. [PMID: 35131394 PMCID: PMC8960354 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Within the nervous system, plasticity mechanisms attempt to stabilize network activity following disruption by injury, disease, or degeneration. Optic nerve injury and age-related diseases can induce homeostatic-like responses in adulthood. We tested this possibility in the thalamocortical (TC) neurons in the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) using patch-clamp electrophysiology, optogenetics, immunostaining, and single-cell dendritic analysis following loss of visual input via bilateral enucleation. We observed progressive loss of vGlut2-positive retinal terminals in the dLGN indicating degeneration post-enucleation that was coincident with changes in microglial morphology indicative of microglial activation. Consistent with the decline of vGlut2 puncta, we also observed loss of retinogeniculate (RG) synaptic function assessed using optogenetic activation of RG axons while performing whole-cell voltage clamp recordings from TC neurons in brain slices. Surprisingly, we did not detect any significant changes in the frequency of miniature post-synaptic currents (mEPSCs) or corticothalamic feedback synapses. Analysis of TC neuron dendritic structure from single-cell dye fills revealed a gradual loss of dendrites proximal to the soma, where TC neurons receive the bulk of RG inputs. Finally, analysis of action potential firing demonstrated that TC neurons have increased excitability following enucleation, firing more action potentials in response to depolarizing current injections. Our findings show that degeneration of the retinal axons/optic nerve and loss of RG synaptic inputs induces structural and functional changes in TC neurons, consistent with neuronal attempts at compensatory plasticity in the dLGN.
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29
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Honnell V, Norrie JL, Patel AG, Ramirez C, Zhang J, Lai YH, Wan S, Dyer MA. Identification of a modular super-enhancer in murine retinal development. Nat Commun 2022; 13:253. [PMID: 35017532 PMCID: PMC8752785 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27924-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Super-enhancers are expansive regions of genomic DNA comprised of multiple putative enhancers that contribute to the dynamic gene expression patterns during development. This is particularly important in neurogenesis because many essential transcription factors have complex developmental stage- and cell-type specific expression patterns across the central nervous system. In the developing retina, Vsx2 is expressed in retinal progenitor cells and is maintained in differentiated bipolar neurons and Müller glia. A single super-enhancer controls this complex and dynamic pattern of expression. Here we show that deletion of one region disrupts retinal progenitor cell proliferation but does not affect cell fate specification. The deletion of another region has no effect on retinal progenitor cell proliferation but instead leads to a complete loss of bipolar neurons. This prototypical super-enhancer may serve as a model for dissecting the complex gene expression patterns for neurogenic transcription factors during development. Moreover, it provides a unique opportunity to alter expression of individual transcription factors in particular cell types at specific stages of development. This provides a deeper understanding of function that cannot be achieved with traditional knockout mouse approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Honnell
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Jackie L Norrie
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Anand G Patel
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Cody Ramirez
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Jiakun Zhang
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Yu-Hsuan Lai
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Shibiao Wan
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Michael A Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
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30
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Abstract
The retina was historically considered as an “approachable part of the brain”; advantageous, for its simplicity, to use as a model organ for deciphering cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying physiology and pathology of the nervous system. However, the most relevant discoveries arise precisely from unveiling the complexity of the retina. A complexity that partially relies on the layered organization of an extended variety of specialized neuronal and glial cellular types and subtypes. Based on functional, morphological or transcriptome data, over 40 subtypes of retinal ganglion cells or 60 subtypes of retinal amacrine cells have been described. A high degree of specialization, that may lead to segregation into functionally diverse subtypes, is also conceivable for Müller cells, a pleiotropic glial component of all vertebrate retinas. The essential role of Müller glia in retinal homeostasis maintenance involves participation in structural, metabolic and intercellular communication processes. Additionally, they are the only retinal cells that possess regenerative potential in response to injury or disease, and thus may be considered as therapeutic tools. In the assumption that functional heterogeneity might be driven by molecular heterogeneity this review aims to compile emerging evidence that could broaden our understanding of Müller cell biology and retinal physiology. Summary statement Müller glial cells exert multiple essential functions in retinal physiology and retinopathies reflecting perhaps the existence of distinct Müller cellular subpopulations. Harnessing Müller cell heterogeneity may serve to enhance new therapeutic approaches for retinal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Lamas
- Departamento de Farmacobiología. CINVESTAV-Sede Sur. México D.F. México
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31
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mTORC1 Activation in Chx10-Specific Tsc1 Knockout Mice Accelerates Retina Aging and Degeneration. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:6715758. [PMID: 34777691 PMCID: PMC8589503 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6715758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Age-associated decline in retina function is largely responsible for the irreversible vision deterioration in the elderly population. It is also an important risk factor for the development of degenerative and angiogenic diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the process of aging in the retina remain largely elusive. This study investigated the role of mTORC1 signaling in aging of the retina. We showed that mTORC1 was activated in old-aged retina, particularly in the ganglion cells. The role of mTORC1 activation was further investigated in Chx10-Cre;Tsc1fx/fx mouse (Tsc1-cKO). Activation of mTORC1 was found in bipolar and some of the ganglion and amacrine cells in the adult Tsc1-cKO retina. Bipolar cell hypertrophy and Müller gliosis were observed in Tsc1-cKO since 6 weeks of age. The abnormal endings of bipolar cell dendritic tips at the outer nuclear layer resembled that of the old-aged mice. Microglial cell activation became evident in 6-week-old Tsc1-cKO. At 5 months, the Tsc1-cKO mice exhibited advanced features of old-aged retina, including the expression of p16Ink4a and p21, expression of SA-β-gal in ganglion cells, decreased photoreceptor cell numbers, decreased electroretinogram responses, increased oxidative stress, microglial cell activation, and increased expression of immune and inflammatory genes. Inhibition of microglial cells by minocycline partially prevented photoreceptor cell loss and restored the electroretinogram responses. Collectively, our study showed that the activation of mTORC1 signaling accelerated aging of the retina by both cell autonomous and nonautonomous mechanisms. Our study also highlighted the role of microglia cells in driving the decline in retina function.
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32
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Lyu P, Hoang T, Santiago CP, Thomas ED, Timms AE, Appel H, Gimmen M, Le N, Jiang L, Kim DW, Chen S, Espinoza DF, Telger AE, Weir K, Clark BS, Cherry TJ, Qian J, Blackshaw S. Gene regulatory networks controlling temporal patterning, neurogenesis, and cell-fate specification in mammalian retina. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109994. [PMID: 34788628 PMCID: PMC8642835 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene regulatory networks (GRNs), consisting of transcription factors and their target sites, control neurogenesis and cell-fate specification in the developing central nervous system. In this study, we use integrated single-cell RNA and single-cell ATAC sequencing (scATAC-seq) analysis in developing mouse and human retina to identify multiple interconnected, evolutionarily conserved GRNs composed of cell-type-specific transcription factors that both activate genes within their own network and inhibit genes in other networks. These GRNs control temporal patterning in primary progenitors, regulate transition from primary to neurogenic progenitors, and drive specification of each major retinal cell type. We confirm that NFI transcription factors selectively activate expression of genes promoting late-stage temporal identity in primary retinal progenitors and identify other transcription factors that regulate rod photoreceptor specification in postnatal retina. This study inventories cis- and trans-acting factors that control retinal development and can guide cell-based therapies aimed at replacing retinal neurons lost to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pin Lyu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Thanh Hoang
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Clayton P Santiago
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Eric D Thomas
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Andrew E Timms
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Haley Appel
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Megan Gimmen
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Nguyet Le
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Lizhi Jiang
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Dong Won Kim
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Siqi Chen
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - David F Espinoza
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ariel E Telger
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Brotman Baty Institute, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Kurt Weir
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Brian S Clark
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Brotman Baty Institute, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Brotman Baty Institute, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Timothy J Cherry
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA; Brotman Baty Institute, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jiang Qian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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33
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Daghsni M, Aldiri I. Building a Mammalian Retina: An Eye on Chromatin Structure. Front Genet 2021; 12:775205. [PMID: 34764989 PMCID: PMC8576187 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.775205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation of gene expression by chromatin structure has been under intensive investigation, establishing nuclear organization and genome architecture as a potent and effective means of regulating developmental processes. The substantial growth in our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying retinogenesis has been powered by several genome-wide based tools that mapped chromatin organization at multiple cellular and biochemical levels. Studies profiling the retinal epigenome and transcriptome have allowed the systematic annotation of putative cis-regulatory elements associated with transcriptional programs that drive retinal neural differentiation, laying the groundwork to understand spatiotemporal retinal gene regulation at a mechanistic level. In this review, we outline recent advances in our understanding of the chromatin architecture in the mammalian retina during development and disease. We focus on the emerging roles of non-coding regulatory elements in controlling retinal cell-type specific transcriptional programs, and discuss potential implications in untangling the etiology of eye-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Daghsni
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Issam Aldiri
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Department of Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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34
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Peng WH, Liao ML, Huang WC, Liu PK, Levi SR, Tseng YJ, Lee CY, Yeh LK, Chen KJ, Chien CL, Wang NK. Conditional Deletion of Activating Rearranged During Transfection Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Leads to Impairment of Photoreceptor Ribbon Synapses and Disrupted Visual Function in Mice. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:728905. [PMID: 34803580 PMCID: PMC8602685 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.728905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The rearranged during transfection (RET) receptor tyrosine kinase plays a key role in transducing signals related to cell growth and differentiation. Ret mutant mice show abnormal retinal activity and abnormal levels and morphology of bipolar cells, yet die on the 21st day after birth as a result of renal underdevelopment. To extend the observation period, we generated the Ret conditional knockout Chx10-Cre;C-Ret lx/lx mouse model and analyzed the retinal function and morphological changes in mature and aging Chx10-Cre;C-Ret lx/lx mice. Methods: Retina-specific depletion of Ret was achieved using mice with floxed alleles of the Ret gene with CHX10-driven Cre recombinase; floxed mice without Cre expression were used as controls. Retinal function was examined using electroretinography (ERG), and 2-, 4-, 12-, and 24-month-old mice were analyzed by hematoxylin staining and immunohistochemistry to evaluate retinal morphological alterations. The ultrastructure of photoreceptor synapses was evaluated using electron microscopy. Results: The results of the ERG testing showed that b-wave amplitudes were reduced in Chx10-Cre;C-Ret lx/lx mice, whereas a-waves were not affected. A histopathological analysis revealed a thinner and disorganized outer plexiform layer at the ages of 12 and 24 months in Chx10-Cre;C-Ret lx/lx mice. Moreover, the data provided by immunohistochemistry showed defects in the synapses of photoreceptor cells. This result was confirmed at the ultrastructural level, thus supporting the participation of Ret in the morphological changes of the synaptic ribbon. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence of the role of Ret in maintaining the function of the retina, which was essential for preserving the structure of the synaptic ribbon and supporting the integrity of the outer plexiform layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Hao Peng
- School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Lin Liao
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Chun Huang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Kang Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sarah R. Levi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yun-Ju Tseng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Chia-Ying Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Lung-Kun Yeh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Jen Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Liang Chien
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nan-Kai Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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35
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Lim S, Kim YJ, Park S, Choi JH, Sung YH, Nishimori K, Kozmik Z, Lee HW, Kim JW. mTORC1-induced retinal progenitor cell overproliferation leads to accelerated mitotic aging and degeneration of descendent Müller glia. eLife 2021; 10:70079. [PMID: 34677125 PMCID: PMC8577849 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) divide in limited numbers to generate the cells comprising vertebrate retina. The molecular mechanism that leads RPC to the division limit, however, remains elusive. Here, we find that the hyperactivation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in an RPC subset by deletion of tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (Tsc1) makes the RPCs arrive at the division limit precociously and produce Müller glia (MG) that degenerate from senescence-associated cell death. We further show the hyperproliferation of Tsc1-deficient RPCs and the degeneration of MG in the mouse retina disappear by concomitant deletion of hypoxia-induced factor 1-alpha (Hif1a), which induces glycolytic gene expression to support mTORC1-induced RPC proliferation. Collectively, our results suggest that, by having mTORC1 constitutively active, an RPC divides and exhausts mitotic capacity faster than neighboring RPCs, and thus produces retinal cells that degenerate with aging-related changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyeon Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - You-Joung Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sooyeon Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Heon Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Hoon Sung
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Yonsei, Republic of Korea.,Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Katsuhiko Nishimori
- Department of Obesity and Internal Inflammation; Bioregulation and Pharmacological Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Zbynek Kozmik
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Han-Woong Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Yonsei, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Woo Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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36
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Shiau F, Ruzycki PA, Clark BS. A single-cell guide to retinal development: Cell fate decisions of multipotent retinal progenitors in scRNA-seq. Dev Biol 2021; 478:41-58. [PMID: 34146533 PMCID: PMC8386138 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in high throughput single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology have enabled the simultaneous transcriptomic profiling of thousands of individual cells in a single experiment. To investigate the intrinsic process of retinal development, researchers have leveraged this technology to quantify gene expression in retinal cells across development, in multiple species, and from numerous important models of human disease. In this review, we summarize recent applications of scRNA-seq and discuss how these datasets have complemented and advanced our understanding of retinal progenitor cell competence, cell fate specification, and differentiation. Finally, we also highlight the outstanding questions in the field that advances in single-cell data generation and analysis will soon be able to answer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fion Shiau
- John F Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Philip A Ruzycki
- John F Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Brian S Clark
- John F Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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37
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West ER, Cepko CL. Development and diversification of bipolar interneurons in the mammalian retina. Dev Biol 2021; 481:30-42. [PMID: 34534525 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The bipolar interneurons of the mammalian retina have evolved as a diverse set of cells with distinct subtype characteristics, which reflect specialized contributions to visual circuitry. Fifteen subtypes of bipolar interneurons have been identified in the mouse retina, each with characteristic gene expression, morphology, and light responses. This review provides an overview of the developmental events that underlie the generation of the diverse bipolar cell class, summarizing the current knowledge of genetic programs that establish and maintain bipolar subtype fates, as well as the events that shape the final distribution of bipolar subtypes. With much left to be discovered, bipolar interneurons present an ideal model system for studying the interplay between cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms that influence neuronal subtype development within the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma R West
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Constance L Cepko
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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38
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Gurley JM, Gmyrek GB, Hargis EA, Bishop GA, Carr DJJ, Elliott MH. The Chx10-Traf3 Knockout Mouse as a Viable Model to Study Neuronal Immune Regulation. Cells 2021; 10:cells10082068. [PMID: 34440839 PMCID: PMC8391412 DOI: 10.3390/cells10082068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Uncontrolled inflammation is associated with neurodegenerative conditions in central nervous system tissues, including the retina and brain. We previously found that the neural retina (NR) plays an important role in retinal immunity. Tumor necrosis factor Receptor-Associated Factor 3 (TRAF3) is a known immune regulator expressed in the retina; however, whether TRAF3 regulates retinal immunity is unknown. We have generated the first conditional NR-Traf3 knockout mouse model (Chx10-Cre/Traf3f/f) to enable studies of neuronal TRAF3 function. Here, we evaluated NR-Traf3 depletion effects on whole retinal TRAF3 protein expression, visual acuity, and retinal structure and function. Additionally, to determine if NR-Traf3 plays a role in retinal immune regulation, we used flow cytometry to assess immune cell infiltration following acute local lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. Our results show that TRAF3 protein is highly expressed in the NR and establish that NR-Traf3 depletion does not affect basal retinal structure or function. Importantly, NR-Traf3 promoted LPS-stimulated retinal immune infiltration. Thus, our findings propose NR-Traf3 as a positive regulator of retinal immunity. Further, the NR-Traf3 mouse provides a tool for investigations of neuronal TRAF3 as a novel potential target for therapeutic interventions aimed at suppressing retinal inflammatory disease and may also inform treatment approaches for inflammatory neurodegenerative brain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jami M. Gurley
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (G.B.G.); (E.A.H.); (D.J.J.C.); (M.H.E.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Grzegorz B. Gmyrek
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (G.B.G.); (E.A.H.); (D.J.J.C.); (M.H.E.)
| | - Elizabeth A. Hargis
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (G.B.G.); (E.A.H.); (D.J.J.C.); (M.H.E.)
| | - Gail A. Bishop
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa and VAMC, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
| | - Daniel J. J. Carr
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (G.B.G.); (E.A.H.); (D.J.J.C.); (M.H.E.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Michael H. Elliott
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (G.B.G.); (E.A.H.); (D.J.J.C.); (M.H.E.)
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39
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Sarver AL, Xie C, Riddle MJ, Forster CL, Wang X, Lu H, Wagner W, Tolar J, Hallstrom TC. Retinoblastoma tumor cell proliferation is negatively associated with an immune gene expression signature and increased immune cells. J Transl Med 2021; 101:701-718. [PMID: 33658609 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-021-00573-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This study focuses on gene expression differences between early retinal states that ultimately lead to normal development, late onset retinoblastoma, or rapid bilateral retinoblastoma tumors. The late-onset and early-onset retinoblastoma tumor cells are remarkably similar to normally proliferating retinal progenitor cells, but they fail to properly express differentiation markers associated with normal development. Further, early-onset retinoblastoma tumor cells express a robust immune gene expression signature followed by accumulation of dendritic, monocyte, macrophage, and T-lymphocyte cells in the retinoblastoma tumors. This characteristic was not shared by either normal retinae or late-onset retinoblastomas. Comparison of our data with other human and mouse retinoblastoma tumor gene expression significantly confirmed, that the immune signature is present in tumors from each species. Strikingly, we observed that the immune signature in both mouse and human tumors was most highly evident in those with the lowest proliferative capacity. We directly assessed this relationship in human retinoblastoma tumors by co-analyzing proliferation and immune cell recruitment by immunohistochemistry, uncovering a significant inverse relationship between increased immune-cell infiltration in tumors and reduced tumor cell proliferation. Directly inhibiting proliferation with a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor significantly increased the number of CD45+ immune cells in the retina. This work establishes an in vivo model for the rapid recruitment of immune cells to tumorigenic neural tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron L Sarver
- Institute for Health Informatics, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Chencheng Xie
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Megan J Riddle
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Colleen L Forster
- BioNet, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Huarui Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Wyatt Wagner
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jakub Tolar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Timothy C Hallstrom
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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40
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Abstract
The increasing prevalence of myopia is a significant public health concern. Unfortunately, the mechanisms driving myopia remain elusive, limiting effective treatment options. This report identifies a refractive development pathway that requires Opn5-expressing retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Stimulation of Opn5 RGCs with short-wavelength violet light prevented experimental myopia in mice. Furthermore, this effect was dependent on the time of day, with evening exposure being sufficient to protect against experimental myopia. Thus, these studies suggest Opn5 RGCs may contribute to the mechanisms of emmetropization and identify the OPN5 pathway as a potential target for the treatment of myopia. Myopia has become a major public health concern, particularly across much of Asia. It has been shown in multiple studies that outdoor activity has a protective effect on myopia. Recent reports have shown that short-wavelength visible violet light is the component of sunlight that appears to play an important role in preventing myopia progression in mice, chicks, and humans. The mechanism underlying this effect has not been understood. Here, we show that violet light prevents lens defocus–induced myopia in mice. This violet light effect was dependent on both time of day and retinal expression of the violet light sensitive atypical opsin, neuropsin (OPN5). These findings identify Opn5-expressing retinal ganglion cells as crucial for emmetropization in mice and suggest a strategy for myopia prevention in humans.
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41
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Gurley JM, Gmyrek GB, McClellan ME, Hargis EA, Hauck SM, Dozmorov MG, Wren JD, Carr DJJ, Elliott MH. Neuroretinal-Derived Caveolin-1 Promotes Endotoxin-Induced Inflammation in the Murine Retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:19. [PMID: 33079993 PMCID: PMC7585394 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.12.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The immune-privileged environment and complex organization of retinal tissue support the retina's essential role in visual function, yet confound inquiries into cell-specific inflammatory effects that lead to dysfunction and degeneration. Caveolin-1 (Cav1) is an integral membrane protein expressed in several retinal cell types and is implicated in immune regulation. However, whether Cav1 promotes or inhibits inflammatory processes in the retina (as well as in other tissues) remains unclear. Previously, we showed that global-Cav1 depletion resulted in reduced retinal inflammatory cytokine production but paradoxically elevated retinal immune cell infiltration. We hypothesized that these disparate responses are the result of differential cell-specific Cav1 functions in the retina. Methods We used Cre/lox technology to deplete Cav1 specifically in the neural retinal (NR) compartment to clarify the role NR-specific Cav1 (NR-Cav1) in the retinal immune response to intravitreal inflammatory challenge induced by activation of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4). We used multiplex protein suspension array and flow cytometry to evaluate innate immune activation. Additionally, we used bioinformatics assessment of differentially expressed membrane-associated proteins to infer relationships between NR-Cav1 and immune response pathways. Results NR-Cav1 depletion, which primarily affects Müller glia Cav1 expression, significantly altered immune response pathway regulators, decreased retinal inflammatory cytokine production, and reduced retinal immune cell infiltration in response to LPS-stimulated inflammatory induction. Conclusions Cav1 expression in the NR compartment promotes the innate TLR4-mediated retinal tissue immune response. Additionally, we have identified novel potential immune modulators differentially expressed with NR-Cav1 depletion. This study further clarifies the role of NR-Cav1 in retinal inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jami M Gurley
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
| | - Grzegorz B Gmyrek
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
| | - Mark E McClellan
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Hargis
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
| | - Stefanie M Hauck
- Research Unit Protein Science, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Munich, Germany
| | - Mikhail G Dozmorov
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Richmond, Virginia, United States
| | - Jonathan D Wren
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program, Division of Genomics and Data Sciences, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
| | - Daniel J J Carr
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
| | - Michael H Elliott
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
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42
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Goel M, Dhingra NK. bFGF and insulin lead to migration of Müller glia to photoreceptor layer in rd1 mouse retina. Neurosci Lett 2021; 755:135936. [PMID: 33910061 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Müller glia can act as endogenous stem cells and regenerate the missing neurons in the injured or degenerating retina in lower vertebrates. However, mammalian Müller glia, although can sometimes express stem cell markers and specific neuronal proteins in response to injury or degeneration, do not differentiate into functional neurons. We asked whether bFGF and insulin would stimulate the Müller glia to migrate, proliferate and differentiate into photoreceptors in rd1 mouse. We administered single or repeated (two or three) intravitreal injections of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF;200 μg) and insulin (2 μg) in 2-week-old rd1 mice. Müller glia were checked for proliferation, migration and differentiation using immunostaining. A single injection resulted within 5 days in a decrease in the numbers of Müller glia in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and a corresponding increase in the outer nuclear layer (ONL). The total number of Müller glia in the INL and ONL was unaltered, suggesting that they did not proliferate, but migrated from INL to ONL. However, maintaining the Müller cells in the ONL for two weeks or longer required repeated injections of bFGF and insulin. Interestingly, all Müller cells in the ONL expressed chx10, a stem cell marker. We did not find any immunolabeling for rhodopsin, m-opsin or s-opsin in the Müller glia in the ONL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manvi Goel
- National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Gurgaon, Haryana 122051, India.
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Cuevas E, Holder DL, Alshehri AH, Tréguier J, Lakowski J, Sowden JC. NRL -/- gene edited human embryonic stem cells generate rod-deficient retinal organoids enriched in S-cone-like photoreceptors. Stem Cells 2021; 39:414-428. [PMID: 33400844 PMCID: PMC8438615 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Organoid cultures represent a unique tool to investigate the developmental complexity of tissues like the human retina. NRL is a transcription factor required for the specification and homeostasis of mammalian rod photoreceptors. In Nrl-deficient mice, photoreceptor precursor cells do not differentiate into rods, and instead follow a default photoreceptor specification pathway to generate S-cone-like cells. To investigate whether this genetic switch mechanism is conserved in humans, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to engineer an NRL-deficient embryonic stem cell (ESC) line (NRL-/- ), and differentiated it into retinal organoids. Retinal organoids self-organize and resemble embryonic optic vesicles (OVs) that recapitulate the natural histogenesis of rods and cone photoreceptors. NRL-/- OVs develop comparably to controls, and exhibit a laminated, organized retinal structure with markers of photoreceptor synaptogenesis. Using immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), we observed that NRL-/- OVs do not express NRL, or other rod photoreceptor markers directly or indirectly regulated by NRL. On the contrary, they show an abnormal number of photoreceptors positive for S-OPSIN, which define a primordial subtype of cone, and overexpress other cone genes indicating a conserved molecular switch in mammals. This study represents the first evidence in a human in vitro ESC-derived organoid system that NRL is required to define rod identity, and that in its absence S-cone-like cells develop as the default photoreceptor cell type. It shows how gene edited retinal organoids provide a useful system to investigate human photoreceptor specification, relevant for efforts to generate cells for transplantation in retinal degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Cuevas
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Daniel L. Holder
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Ashwak H. Alshehri
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Julie Tréguier
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Jörn Lakowski
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
- Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and RegenerationUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Jane C. Sowden
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
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Le D, Lim S, Min KW, Park JW, Kim Y, Ha T, Moon KH, Wagner KU, Kim JW. Tsg101 Is Necessary for the Establishment and Maintenance of Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Polarity. Mol Cells 2021; 44:168-178. [PMID: 33795534 PMCID: PMC8019596 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2021.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) forms a monolayer sheet separating the retina and choroid in vertebrate eyes. The polarized nature of RPE is maintained by distributing membrane proteins differentially along apico-basal axis. We found the distributions of these proteins differ in embryonic, post-natal, and mature mouse RPE, suggesting developmental regulation of protein trafficking. Thus, we deleted tumor susceptibility gene 101 (Tsg101), a key component of endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT), in embryonic and mature RPE to determine whether ESCRT-mediated endocytic protein trafficking correlated with the establishment and maintenance of RPE polarity. Loss of Tsg101 severely disturbed the polarity of RPE, which forms irregular aggregates exhibiting non-polarized distribution of cell adhesion proteins and activation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. These findings suggest that ESCRT-mediated protein trafficking is essential for the development and maintenance of RPE cell polarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai Le
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Soyeon Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Kwang Wook Min
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Joon Woo Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Youjoung Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Taejeong Ha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Kyeong Hwan Moon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Kay-Uwe Wagner
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Jin Woo Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
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Murenu E, Pavlou M, Richter L, Rapti K, Just S, Cehajic-Kapetanovic J, Tafrishi N, Hayes A, Scholey R, Lucas R, Büning H, Grimm D, Michalakis S. A universal protocol for isolating retinal ON bipolar cells across species via fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 20:587-600. [PMID: 33665228 PMCID: PMC7895692 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are characterized by progressive degeneration and loss of light-sensing photoreceptors. The most promising therapeutic approach for IRDs is gene supplementation therapy using viral vectors, which requires the presence of viable photoreceptors at the time of intervention. At later disease stages, photoreceptors are lost and can no longer be rescued with this approach. For these patients, conferring light-sensing abilities to the remaining interneurons of the ON circuit (i.e., ON bipolar cells) using optogenetic tools poses an alternative treatment strategy. Such treatments, however, are hampered by the lack of efficient gene delivery tools targeting ON bipolar cells, which in turn rely on the effective isolation of these cells to facilitate tool development. Herein, we describe a method to selectively isolate ON bipolar cells via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), based on the expression of two intracellular markers. We show that the method is compatible with highly sensitive downstream analyses and suitable for the isolation of ON bipolar cells from healthy as well as degenerated mouse retinas. Moreover, we demonstrate that this approach works effectively using non-human primate (NHP) retinal tissue, thereby offering a reliable pipeline for universal screening strategies that do not require inter-species adaptations or transgenic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Murenu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Marina Pavlou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Richter
- Core Facility Flow Cytometry, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kleopatra Rapti
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- BioQuant Center, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Just
- Laboratory for Infection Biology and Gene Transfer, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jasmina Cehajic-Kapetanovic
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University and Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Neda Tafrishi
- Core Facility Flow Cytometry, Gene Center, BioSysM, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Andrew Hayes
- Center for Biological Timing & School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Rachel Scholey
- Center for Biological Timing & School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Robert Lucas
- Center for Biological Timing & School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Laboratory for Infection Biology and Gene Transfer, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- BioQuant Center, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stylianos Michalakis
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
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Brodie-Kommit J, Clark BS, Shi Q, Shiau F, Kim DW, Langel J, Sheely C, Ruzycki PA, Fries M, Javed A, Cayouette M, Schmidt T, Badea T, Glaser T, Zhao H, Singer J, Blackshaw S, Hattar S. Atoh7-independent specification of retinal ganglion cell identity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/11/eabe4983. [PMID: 33712461 PMCID: PMC7954457 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe4983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) relay visual information from the eye to the brain. RGCs are the first cell type generated during retinal neurogenesis. Loss of function of the transcription factor Atoh7, expressed in multipotent early neurogenic retinal progenitors leads to a selective and essentially complete loss of RGCs. Therefore, Atoh7 is considered essential for conferring competence on progenitors to generate RGCs. Despite the importance of Atoh7 in RGC specification, we find that inhibiting apoptosis in Atoh7-deficient mice by loss of function of Bax only modestly reduces RGC numbers. Single-cell RNA sequencing of Atoh7;Bax-deficient retinas shows that RGC differentiation is delayed but that the gene expression profile of RGC precursors is grossly normal. Atoh7;Bax-deficient RGCs eventually mature, fire action potentials, and incorporate into retinal circuitry but exhibit severe axonal guidance defects. This study reveals an essential role for Atoh7 in RGC survival and demonstrates Atoh7-dependent and Atoh7-independent mechanisms for RGC specification.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian S Clark
- John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Qing Shi
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Fion Shiau
- John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Dong Won Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jennifer Langel
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Catherine Sheely
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Philip A Ruzycki
- John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michel Fries
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
- Molecular Biology Programs, Université de Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Awais Javed
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
- Molecular Biology Programs, Université de Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Michel Cayouette
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
- Molecular Biology Programs, Université de Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Tiffany Schmidt
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Tudor Badea
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Research and Development Institute, Transylvania University of Brasov, School of Medicine, Brasov, Romania
| | - Tom Glaser
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Haiqing Zhao
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joshua Singer
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Samer Hattar
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Pourhoseini S, Goswami-Sewell D, Zuniga-Sanchez E. Neurofascin Is a Novel Component of Rod Photoreceptor Synapses in the Outer Retina. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:635849. [PMID: 33643000 PMCID: PMC7902911 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.635849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural circuit formation is an intricate and complex process where multiple neuron types must come together to form synaptic connections at a precise location and time. How this process is orchestrated during development remains poorly understood. Cell adhesion molecules are known to play a pivotal role in assembling neural circuits. They serve as recognition molecules between corresponding synaptic partners. In this study, we identified a new player in assembling neural circuits in the outer retina, the L1-family cell adhesion molecule Neurofascin (Nfasc). Our data reveals Nfasc is expressed in the synaptic layer where photoreceptors make synaptic connections to their respective partners. A closer examination of Nfasc expression shows high levels of expression in rod bipolars but not in cone bipolars. Disruption of Nfasc using a conditional knockout allele results in selective loss of pre- and post-synaptic proteins in the rod synaptic layer but not in the cone synaptic layer. Electron microscopic analysis confirms that indeed there are abnormal synaptic structures with less dendrites of rod bipolars innervating rod terminals in loss of Nfasc animals. Consistent with these findings, we also observe a decrease in rod-driven retinal responses with disruption of Nfasc function but not in cone-driven responses. Taken together, our data suggest a new role of Nfasc in rod synapses within the mouse outer retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Pourhoseini
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | - Elizabeth Zuniga-Sanchez
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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48
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Burger CA, Albrecht NE, Jiang D, Liang JH, Poché RA, Samuel MA. LKB1 and AMPK instruct cone nuclear position to modify visual function. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108698. [PMID: 33535040 PMCID: PMC7906279 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cone photoreceptors detect light and are responsible for color vision. These cells display a distinct polarized morphology where nuclei are precisely aligned in the apical retina. However, little is known about the mechanisms involved in cone nuclear positioning or the impact of this organization on retina function. We show that the serine/threonine kinase LKB1 and one of its substrates, AMPK, regulate cone nuclear positioning. In the absence of either molecule, cone nuclei are misplaced along the axon, resulting in altered nuclear lamination. LKB1 is required specifically in cones to mediate this process, and disruptions in nuclear alignment result in reduced cone function. Together, these results identify molecular determinants of cone nuclear position and indicate that cone nuclear position alignment enables proper visual function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney A Burger
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nicholas E Albrecht
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Danye Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Justine H Liang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ross A Poché
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Melanie A Samuel
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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49
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Xia X, Yu CY, Bian M, Sun CB, Tanasa B, Chang KC, Bruffett DM, Thakur H, Shah SH, Knasel C, Cameron EG, Kapiloff MS, Goldberg JL. MEF2 transcription factors differentially contribute to retinal ganglion cell loss after optic nerve injury. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242884. [PMID: 33315889 PMCID: PMC7735573 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in optic neuropathies results in permanent partial or complete blindness. Myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) transcription factors have been shown to play a pivotal role in neuronal systems, and in particular MEF2A knockout was shown to enhance RGC survival after optic nerve crush injury. Here we expanded these prior data to study bi-allelic, tri-allelic and heterozygous allele deletion. We observed that deletion of all MEF2A, MEF2C, and MEF2D alleles had no effect on RGC survival during development. Our extended experiments suggest that the majority of the neuroprotective effect was conferred by complete deletion of MEF2A but that MEF2D knockout, although not sufficient to increase RGC survival on its own, increased the positive effect of MEF2A knockout. Conversely, MEF2A over-expression in wildtype mice worsened RGC survival after optic nerve crush. Interestingly, MEF2 transcription factors are regulated by post-translational modification, including by calcineurin-catalyzed dephosphorylation of MEF2A Ser-408 known to increase MEF2A-dependent transactivation in neurons. However, neither phospho-mimetic nor phospho-ablative mutation of MEF2A Ser-408 affected the ability of MEF2A to promote RGC death in vivo after optic nerve injury. Together these findings demonstrate that MEF2 gene expression opposes RGC survival following axon injury in a complex hierarchy, and further support the hypothesis that loss of or interference with MEF2A expression might be beneficial for RGC neuroprotection in diseases such as glaucoma and other optic neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xia
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Caroline Y. Yu
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Minjuan Bian
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Catalina B. Sun
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Bogdan Tanasa
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Kun-Che Chang
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Dawn M. Bruffett
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Hrishikesh Thakur
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Sahil H. Shah
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Cara Knasel
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Evan G. Cameron
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Michael S. Kapiloff
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
- Department of Medicine and Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MSK); (JLG)
| | - Jeffrey L. Goldberg
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MSK); (JLG)
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50
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Lagali PS, Zhao BYH, Yan K, Baker AN, Coupland SG, Tsilfidis C, Picketts DJ. Sensory Experience Modulates Atrx-mediated Neuronal Integrity in the Mouse Retina. Neuroscience 2020; 452:169-180. [PMID: 33197500 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Mutation of the α-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked protein, ATRX, causes intellectual disability and is associated with pleiotropic defects including ophthalmological abnormalities. We have previously demonstrated that Atrx deficiency in the mouse retina leads to the selective loss of inhibitory interneurons and inner retinal dysfunction. Onset of the amacrine cell neurodegenerative phenotype in Atrx-deficient retinas occurs postnatally after neuronal specification, and coincides with eye opening. Given this timing, we sought to interrogate the influence of light-dependent visual signaling on Atrx-mediated neuronal survival and function in the mouse retina. Retina-specific Atrx conditional knockout (cKO) mice were subjected to light deprivation using two different paradigms: (1) a dark-rearing regime, and (2) genetic deficiency of metabotropic glutamate receptor 6 (mGluR6) to block the ON retinal signaling pathway. Scotopic electroretinography was performed for adult dark-reared Atrx cKO mice and controls to measure retinal neuron function in vivo. Retinal immunohistochemistry and enumeration of amacrine cells were performed for both light deprivation paradigms. We observed milder normalized a-wave, b-wave and oscillatory potential (OP) deficits in electroretinograms of dark-reared Atrx cKO mice compared to light-exposed counterparts. In addition, amacrine cell loss was partially limited by genetic restriction of retinal signaling through the ON pathway. Our results suggest that the temporal features of the Atrx cKO phenotype are likely due to a combined effect of light exposure upon eye opening and coincident developmental processes impacting the retinal circuitry. In addition, this study reveals a novel activity-dependent role for Atrx in mediating post-replicative neuronal integrity in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela S Lagali
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada; Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Brandon Y H Zhao
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Keqin Yan
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Adam N Baker
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Stuart G Coupland
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Catherine Tsilfidis
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - David J Picketts
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada.
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