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Hakim A, Guido B, Narsineni L, Chen DW, Foldvari M. Gene therapy strategies for glaucoma from IOP reduction to retinal neuroprotection: progress towards non-viral systems. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 196:114781. [PMID: 36940751 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma is the result of the gradual death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) whose axons form the optic nerve. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factors thatcontributes to RGC apoptosis and axonal loss at the lamina cribrosa, resulting in progressive reduction and eventual anterograde-retrograde transport blockade of neurotrophic factors. Current glaucoma management mainly focuses on pharmacological or surgical lowering of IOP, to manage the only modifiable risk factor. Although IOP reduction delays disease progression, it does not address previous and ongoing optic nerve degeneration. Gene therapy is a promising direction to control or modify genes involved in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. Both viral and non-viral gene therapy delivery systems are emerging as promising alternatives or add-on therapies to traditional treatments for improving IOP control and provide neuroprotection. The specific spotlight on non-viral gene delivery systems shows further progress towards improving the safety of gene therapy and implementing neuroprotection by targeting specific tissues and cells in the eye and specifically in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Hakim
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Benjamin Guido
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Lokesh Narsineni
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Ding-Wen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1; Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology and Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1.
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2
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van Mechelen RJS, Wolters JE, Bertens CJF, Webers CAB, van den Biggelaar FJHM, Gorgels TGMF, Beckers HJM. Animal models and drug candidates for use in glaucoma filtration surgery: A systematic review. Exp Eye Res 2022; 217:108972. [PMID: 35114212 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.108972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma, a degenerative disease of the optic nerve, is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Currently, there is no curative treatment. The only proven treatment is lowering intraocular pressure (IOP), the most important risk factor. Glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) can effectively lower IOP. However, approximately 10% of all surgeries fail yearly due to excessive wound healing, leading to fibrosis. GFS animal models are commonly used for the development of novel treatment modalities. The aim of the present review was to provide an overview of available animal models and anti-fibrotic drug candidates. MEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched. Manuscripts until September 1st, 2021 were included. Studies that used animal models of GFS were included in this review. Additionally, the snowball method was used to identify other publications which had not been identified through the systematic search. Two hundred articles were included in this manuscript. Small rodents (e.g. mice and rats) are often used to study the fibrotic response after GFS and to test drug candidates. Due to their larger eyes, rabbits are better suited to develop medical devices. Novel drugs aim to inhibit specific pathways, e.g. through the use of modulators, monoclonal antibodies, aqueous suppressants or gene therapy. Although most newly studied drugs offer a higher safety profile compared to antimetabolites, their efficacy is in most cases lower when compared to MMC. Current literature on animal models and potential drug candidates for GFS were summarized in this review. Future research should focus on refining current animal models (for example through the induction of glaucoma prior to undertaking GFS) and standardizing animal research to ensure a higher reproducibility and reliability across different research groups. Lastly, novel therapies need to be further optimized, e.g. by conducting more research on the dosage, administration route, application frequency, the option of creating combination therapies, or the development of drug delivery systems for sustained release of anti-fibrotic medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J S van Mechelen
- University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), 6202 AZ, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Chemelot Institute for Science and Technology (InSciTe), 6229 GS, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Jarno Ej Wolters
- University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), 6202 AZ, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Chemelot Institute for Science and Technology (InSciTe), 6229 GS, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Christian J F Bertens
- University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), 6202 AZ, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Chemelot Institute for Science and Technology (InSciTe), 6229 GS, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Carroll A B Webers
- University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), 6202 AZ, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Frank J H M van den Biggelaar
- University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), 6202 AZ, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Theo G M F Gorgels
- University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), 6202 AZ, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Henny J M Beckers
- University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), 6202 AZ, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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Amador C, Shah R, Ghiam S, Kramerov AA, Ljubimov AV. Gene therapy in the anterior eye segment. Curr Gene Ther 2021; 22:104-131. [PMID: 33902406 DOI: 10.2174/1566523221666210423084233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This review provides comprehensive information about the advances in gene therapy in the anterior segment of the eye including cornea, conjunctiva, lacrimal gland, and trabecular meshwork. We discuss gene delivery systems including viral and non-viral vectors as well as gene editing techniques, mainly CRISPR-Cas9, and epigenetic treatments including antisense and siRNA therapeutics. We also provide a detailed analysis of various anterior segment diseases where gene therapy has been tested with corresponding outcomes. Disease conditions include corneal and conjunctival fibrosis and scarring, corneal epithelial wound healing, corneal graft survival, corneal neovascularization, genetic corneal dystrophies, herpetic keratitis, glaucoma, dry eye disease, and other ocular surface diseases. Although most of the analyzed results on the use and validity of gene therapy at the ocular surface have been obtained in vitro or using animal models, we also discuss the available human studies. Gene therapy approaches are currently considered very promising as emerging future treatments of various diseases, and this field is rapidly expanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Amador
- Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ruchi Shah
- Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sean Ghiam
- Sackler School of Medicine, New York State/American Program of Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Andrei A Kramerov
- Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Alexander V Ljubimov
- Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Lu XX, Zhao SZ. Gene-based Therapeutic Tools in the Treatment of Cornea Disease. Curr Gene Ther 2020; 19:7-19. [PMID: 30543166 DOI: 10.2174/1566523219666181213120634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As one of the main blinding ocular diseases, corneal blindness resulted from neovascularization that disrupts the angiogenic privilege of corneal avascularity. Following neovascularization, inflammatory cells are infiltrating into cornea to strengthen corneal injury. How to maintain corneal angiogenic privilege to treat corneal disease has been investigated for decades. METHODOLOGY Local administration of viral and non-viral-mediated anti-angiogenic factors reduces angiogenic protein expression in situ with limited or free of off-target effects upon gene delivery. Recently, Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have been studied to treat corneal diseases. Once MSCs are manipulated to express certain genes of interest, they could achieve superior therapeutic efficacy after transplantation. DISCUSSION In the text, we first introduce the pathological development of corneal disease in the aspects of neovascularization and inflammation. We summarize how MSCs become an ideal candidate in cell therapy for treating injured cornea, focusing on cell biology, property and features. We provide an updated review of gene-based therapies in animals and preclinical studies in the aspects of controlling target gene expression, safety and efficacy. Gene transfer vectors are potent to induce candidate protein expression. Delivered by vectors, MSCs are equipped with certain characters by expressing a protein of interest, which facilitates better for MSC-mediated therapeutic intervention for the treatment of corneal disease. CONCLUSION As the core of this review, we discuss how MSCs could be engineered to be vector system to achieve enhanced therapeutic efficiency after injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xiao Lu
- Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital and Institute, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Shao-Zhen Zhao
- Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital and Institute, Tianjin 300384, China
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Bee YS, Tu L, Sheu SJ, Lin HC, Tang JH, Wang JH, Prea SM, Dusting GJ, Wu DC, Zhong J, Bui BV, Tai MH, Liu GS. Gene Delivery of Calreticulin Anti-Angiogenic Domain Attenuates the Development of Choroidal Neovascularization in Rats. Hum Gene Ther 2017; 28:403-414. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2016.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Youn-Shen Bee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Yuh-Ing Junior College of Health Care and Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Leilei Tu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shwu-Jiuan Sheu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Chen Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Hua Tang
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jiang-Hui Wang
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Selwyn M. Prea
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gregory J. Dusting
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Deng-Chyang Wu
- Center for Stem Cell Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jingxiang Zhong
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bang V. Bui
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ming-Hong Tai
- Center for Stem Cell Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Center for Neuroscience, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Guei-Sheung Liu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
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Liu GS, Wang JH, Lee JH, Tsai PJ, Tsai HE, Sheu SJ, Lin HC, Dusting GJ, Tai MH, Bee YS. Gene Delivery by Subconjunctival Injection of Adenovirus in Rats: A Study of Local Distribution, Transgene Duration and Safety. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143956. [PMID: 26642208 PMCID: PMC4671571 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Subconjunctival injection is a minimally invasive route for gene delivery to ocular tissues, but has traditionally been limited to use in the cornea. The accurate ocular distribution of virus has not, however, been previously investigated. Adenovirus is an attractive gene vector as it can deliver large genes and allow for short-term gene expression, but how safe it is when delivered via subconjunctival injection remains to be established. We have characterized the bio-distribution and safety of subconjunctivally administered adenovirus in Brown Norway rats. The bio-distribution and transgene duration of adenovirus carrying luciferase gene (Ad-Luci) at various time intervals were evaluated via bioluminescence imaging after subconjunctival injection. Adenovirus carrying a reporter gene, β-galactosidase (Ad-LacZ) or hrGFP (Ad-hrGFP) was administered subconjunctivally and the viral distribution in various ocular tissues was assessed by histological analysis and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Hepatic damage was assessed by biochemical and immunohistological analysis with TUNEL stain. Systemic immunogenicity was assessed by measuring serum level of TNF-α via ELISA, 2 hours and 14 days after administration of adenovirus. Retinal function was examined by electroretinography. Subconjunctival injection of Ad-Luci induced luciferase expression in the injected eyes within 24 hours, for at least 64 days. Histological analysis showed adenovirus distributed across anterior and posterior ocular tissues. qPCR demonstrated different amounts of adenovirus in different ocular tissues, with the highest amounts closest to the injection site Unlike the intravenous route, subconjunctivally delivered adenovirus did not elicit any detectable hepatic injury or systemic immunogenicity. Retinal function was unaffected by adenovirus irrespective of administration route. In conclusion, an adenoviral vector administered subconjunctivally can infiltrate into different ocular tissues and lead to short-term ocular transgene expression, without causing hepatic injury and immune activation. Therefore, subconjunctivally administered adenovirus may be a promising gene delivery approach for managing anterior and posterior segment eye diseases requiring short-term therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guei-Sheung Liu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jiang-Hui Wang
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jia Hui Lee
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pei-Jhen Tsai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Han-En Tsai
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shwu-Jiuan Sheu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Chen Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Gregory J. Dusting
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ming-Hong Tai
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Youn-Shen Bee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Yuh-Ing Junior College of Health Care & Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Lim DH, Kim TE, Kee C. Evaluation of Adenovirus-Mediated Down-Regulation of Connective Tissue Growth Factor on Postoperative Wound Healing After Experimental Glaucoma Surgery. Curr Eye Res 2015; 41:951-6. [PMID: 26554857 DOI: 10.3109/02713683.2015.1082184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study was aimed to determine whether adenovirus-mediated down-regulation of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) can modulate postoperative scarring in a rabbit receiving simplified glaucoma surgery. METHODS In vitro studies were performed using a replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus that transcribes a small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific to the CTGF gene under the control of the modified CMV promoter. Primary tenon cells from a New Zealand White rabbit were transduced with 10-100 plaque-forming units (pfu) per cell of the viral vector. Seventy-two hours later, CTGF expression was analyzed by Western blot analysis. In vivo studies were conducted using 10 New Zealand White rabbits, which underwent simplified glaucoma surgery and received a postoperative subconjunctival injection of 5 µl suspension of adenovirus carrying shRNA for CTGF (2 × 10(11) pfu/ml) in the right eye, and the same amount of null virus in the left eye. Eyes were enucleated 5 d after the surgery, and immunohistochemical and histological examinations of the surgical outcome were performed. RESULTS Western blot analysis showed that CTGF was depleted to less than 10% of its original level in cells transduced with the adenovirus expressing CTGF-specific siRNA. This demonstrates RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated CTGF inactivation in vitro. Immunohistochemical analysis also showed that CTGF was significantly depleted in eyes transduced with the adenovirus expressing CTGF siRNA. This demonstrates RNAi-mediated CTGF inactivation in vivo. In addition, less scar tissue was observed on histological evaluation in the transduced eyes, demonstrating that inhibition of CTGF expression can modulate the wound healing process after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Down-regulation of CTGF is effective in inhibiting postoperative scarring in vivo. This suggests that RNAi with CTGF siRNA may potentially pave the road for a novel therapeutic strategy to improve glaucoma surgery results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Hui Lim
- a Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center , Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine , Seoul
| | - Tae Eun Kim
- b Center for Clinical Research , Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center , Seoul , Korea
| | - Changwon Kee
- a Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center , Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine , Seoul.,b Center for Clinical Research , Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center , Seoul , Korea
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Abstract
Hypertrophic scars (HTSs) occur in 30 to 72% patients after thermal injury. Risk factors include skin color, female sex, young age, burn site, and burn severity. Recent correlations between genetic variations and clinical conditions suggest that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may be associated with HTS formation. The authors hypothesized that an SNP in the p27 gene (rs36228499) previously associated with decreased restenosis after coronary stenting would be associated with lower Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) measurements and decreased itching. Patient and injury characteristics were collected from adults with thermal burns. VSS scores were calculated at 4 to 9 months after injury. Genotyping was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for HTS as measured by a VSS score >7. Three hundred subjects had a median age of 39 years (range, 18-91); 69% were male and median burn size was 7% TBSA (range, 0.25-80). Consistent with literature, the p27 variant SNP had an allele frequency of 40%, but was not associated with reduced HTS formation or lower itch scores in any genetic model. HTS formation was associated with American Indian/Alaskan Native race (odds ratio [OR], 12.2; P = .02), facial burns (OR, 9.4; P = .04), and burn size ≥20% TBSA (OR, 1.99; P = .03). Although the p27 SNP may protect against vascular fibroproliferation, the effect cannot be generalized to cutaneous scars. This study suggests that American Indian/Alaskan Native race, facial burns, and higher %TBSA are independent risk factors for HTS. The American Indian/Alaskan Native association suggests that there are potentially yet-to-be-identified genetic variants.
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Bargagna-Mohan P, Deokule SP, Thompson K, Wizeman J, Srinivasan C, Vooturi S, Kompella UB, Mohan R. Withaferin A effectively targets soluble vimentin in the glaucoma filtration surgical model of fibrosis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63881. [PMID: 23667686 PMCID: PMC3648549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2012] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Withaferin A (WFA) is a natural product that binds to soluble forms of the type III intermediate filament (IF) vimentin. Currently, it is unknown under what pathophysiological contexts vimentin is druggable, as cytoskeltal vimentin-IFs are abundantly expressed. To investigate druggability of vimentin, we exploited rabbit Tenon's capsule fibroblast (RbTCF) cell cultures and the rabbit glaucoma filtration surgical (GFS) model of fibrosis. WFA potently caused G₀/G₁ cell cycle inhibition (IC₅₀ 25 nM) in RbTCFs, downregulating ubiquitin E3 ligase skp2 and inducing p27(Kip1) expression. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß-induced myofibroblast transformation caused development of cell spheroids with numerous elongated invadopodia, which WFA blocked potently by downregulating soluble vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression. In the pilot proof-of-concept study using the GFS model, subconjunctival injections of a low WFA dose reduced skp2 expression in Tenon's capsule and increased p27(Kip1) expression without significant alteration to vimentin-IFs. This treatment maintains significant nanomolar WFA concentrations in anterior segment tissues that correspond to WFA's cell cycle targeting activity. A ten-fold higher WFA dose caused potent downregulation of soluble vimentin and skp2 expression, but as found in cell cultures, no further increase in p27(Kip1) expression was observed. Instead, this high WFA dose potently induced vimentin-IF disruption and downregulated α-SMA expression that mimicked WFA activity in TGF-ß-treated RbTCFs that blocked cell contractile activity at submicromolar concentrations. These findings illuminate that localized WFA injection to ocular tissues exerts pharmacological control over the skp2-p27(Kip1) pathway by targeting of soluble vimentin in a model of surgical fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Bargagna-Mohan
- Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Sunil P. Deokule
- Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Kyle Thompson
- Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - John Wizeman
- Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Cidambi Srinivasan
- Statistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Sunil Vooturi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Uday B. Kompella
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Royce Mohan
- Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, United States of America
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Nanomedicine for the treatment of retinal and optic nerve diseases. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2013; 13:134-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2012.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2012] [Revised: 10/04/2012] [Accepted: 10/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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