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Gaire BP, Koronyo Y, Fuchs DT, Shi H, Rentsendorj A, Danziger R, Vit JP, Mirzaei N, Doustar J, Sheyn J, Hampel H, Vergallo A, Davis MR, Jallow O, Baldacci F, Verdooner SR, Barron E, Mirzaei M, Gupta VK, Graham SL, Tayebi M, Carare RO, Sadun AA, Miller CA, Dumitrascu OM, Lahiri S, Gao L, Black KL, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology in the Retina. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 101:101273. [PMID: 38759947 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101273] [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: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The retina is an emerging CNS target for potential noninvasive diagnosis and tracking of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies have identified the pathological hallmarks of AD, including amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposits and abnormal tau protein isoforms, in the retinas of AD patients and animal models. Moreover, structural and functional vascular abnormalities such as reduced blood flow, vascular Aβ deposition, and blood-retinal barrier damage, along with inflammation and neurodegeneration, have been described in retinas of patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD dementia. Histological, biochemical, and clinical studies have demonstrated that the nature and severity of AD pathologies in the retina and brain correspond. Proteomics analysis revealed a similar pattern of dysregulated proteins and biological pathways in the retina and brain of AD patients, with enhanced inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes, impaired oxidative-phosphorylation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Notably, investigational imaging technologies can now detect AD-specific amyloid deposits, as well as vasculopathy and neurodegeneration in the retina of living AD patients, suggesting alterations at different disease stages and links to brain pathology. Current and exploratory ophthalmic imaging modalities, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT-angiography, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and hyperspectral imaging, may offer promise in the clinical assessment of AD. However, further research is needed to deepen our understanding of AD's impact on the retina and its progression. To advance this field, future studies require replication in larger and diverse cohorts with confirmed AD biomarkers and standardized retinal imaging techniques. This will validate potential retinal biomarkers for AD, aiding in early screening and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhakta Prasad Gaire
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Haoshen Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Altan Rentsendorj
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ron Danziger
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Vit
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jonah Doustar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Julia Sheyn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Harald Hampel
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Andrea Vergallo
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Miyah R Davis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ousman Jallow
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Filippo Baldacci
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Ernesto Barron
- Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vivek K Gupta
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart L Graham
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mourad Tayebi
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Roxana O Carare
- Department of Clinical Neuroanatomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Alfredo A Sadun
- Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carol A Miller
- Department of Pathology Program in Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Shouri Lahiri
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Liang Gao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Rodrigo MJ, Bravo-Osuna I, Subias M, Montolío A, Cegoñino J, Martinez-Rincón T, Mendez-Martinez S, Aragón-Navas A, Garcia-Herranz D, Pablo LE, Herrero-Vanrell R, del Palomar AP, Garcia-Martin E. Tunable degrees of neurodegeneration in rats based on microsphere-induced models of chronic glaucoma. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20622. [PMID: 36450772 PMCID: PMC9712621 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24954-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This study compares four different animal models of chronic glaucoma against normal aging over 6 months. Chronic glaucoma was induced in 138 Long-Evans rats and compared against 43 aged-matched healthy rats. Twenty-five rats received episcleral vein sclerosis injections (EPIm cohort) while the rest were injected in the eye anterior chamber with a suspension of biodegradable microspheres: 25 rats received non-loaded microspheres (N-L Ms cohort), 45 rats received microspheres loaded with dexamethasone (MsDexa cohort), and 43 rats received microspheres co-loaded with dexamethasone and fibronectin (MsDexaFibro cohort). Intraocular pressure, neuroretinal function, structure and vitreous interface were evaluated. Each model caused different trends in intraocular pressure, produced specific retinal damage and vitreous signals. The steepest and strongest increase in intraocular pressure was seen in the EPIm cohort and microspheres models were more progressive. The EPIm cohort presented the highest vitreous intensity and percentage loss in the ganglion cell layer, the MsDexa cohort presented the greatest loss in the retinal nerve fiber layer, and the MsDexaFibro cohort presented the greatest loss in total retinal thickness. Function decreased differently among cohorts. Using biodegradable microspheres models it is possible to generate tuned neurodegeneration. These results support the multifactorial nature of glaucoma based on several noxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Jesús Rodrigo
- grid.411106.30000 0000 9854 2756Department of Ophthalmology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain ,grid.417198.20000 0000 8497 6529Thematic Research Network in Ophthalmology (Oftared), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain ,grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Miguel Servet Ophthalmology Research Group (GIMSO), Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Irene Bravo-Osuna
- grid.4795.f0000 0001 2157 7667Innovation, Therapy and Pharmaceutical Development in Ophthalmology (InnOftal) Research Group UCM 920415, Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain ,grid.417198.20000 0000 8497 6529Thematic Research Network in Ophthalmology (Oftared), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain ,Health Research Institute of the San Carlos Clinical Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Subias
- grid.411106.30000 0000 9854 2756Department of Ophthalmology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain ,grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Miguel Servet Ophthalmology Research Group (GIMSO), Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alberto Montolío
- grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Biomaterials Group, Aragon Engineering Research Institute (I3a), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain ,grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Cegoñino
- grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Biomaterials Group, Aragon Engineering Research Institute (I3a), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain ,grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Teresa Martinez-Rincón
- grid.411106.30000 0000 9854 2756Department of Ophthalmology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain ,grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Miguel Servet Ophthalmology Research Group (GIMSO), Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Silvia Mendez-Martinez
- grid.411106.30000 0000 9854 2756Department of Ophthalmology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain ,grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Miguel Servet Ophthalmology Research Group (GIMSO), Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alba Aragón-Navas
- grid.4795.f0000 0001 2157 7667Innovation, Therapy and Pharmaceutical Development in Ophthalmology (InnOftal) Research Group UCM 920415, Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain ,grid.417198.20000 0000 8497 6529Thematic Research Network in Ophthalmology (Oftared), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain ,Health Research Institute of the San Carlos Clinical Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Garcia-Herranz
- grid.4795.f0000 0001 2157 7667Innovation, Therapy and Pharmaceutical Development in Ophthalmology (InnOftal) Research Group UCM 920415, Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain ,grid.417198.20000 0000 8497 6529Thematic Research Network in Ophthalmology (Oftared), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain ,Health Research Institute of the San Carlos Clinical Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Emilio Pablo
- grid.411106.30000 0000 9854 2756Department of Ophthalmology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain ,grid.417198.20000 0000 8497 6529Thematic Research Network in Ophthalmology (Oftared), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain ,grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Miguel Servet Ophthalmology Research Group (GIMSO), Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rocío Herrero-Vanrell
- grid.4795.f0000 0001 2157 7667Innovation, Therapy and Pharmaceutical Development in Ophthalmology (InnOftal) Research Group UCM 920415, Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain ,grid.417198.20000 0000 8497 6529Thematic Research Network in Ophthalmology (Oftared), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain ,Health Research Institute of the San Carlos Clinical Hospital (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Amaya Pérez del Palomar
- grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Biomaterials Group, Aragon Engineering Research Institute (I3a), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain ,grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Elena Garcia-Martin
- grid.411106.30000 0000 9854 2756Department of Ophthalmology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain ,grid.417198.20000 0000 8497 6529Thematic Research Network in Ophthalmology (Oftared), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain ,grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Miguel Servet Ophthalmology Research Group (GIMSO), Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain ,C/Padre Arrupe, Servicio de Oftalmología, Edificio de Consultas Externas, Planta 1, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
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Balzamino BO, Esposito G, Marino R, Calissano P, Latina V, Amadoro G, Keller F, Cacciamani A, Micera A. Morphological and biomolecular targets in retina and vitreous from Reelin-deficient mice (Reeler): Potential implications for age-related macular degeneration in Alzheimer’s dementia. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1015359. [DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1015359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurosensory retina is an outgrowth of the Central Nervous System (CNS), and the eye is considered “a window to the brain.” Reelin glycoprotein is directly involved in neurodevelopment, in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. Consequently, abnormal Reelin signaling has been associated with brain neurodegeneration but its contributing role in ocular degeneration is still poorly explored. To this aim, experimental procedures were assayed on vitreous or retinas obtained from Reeler mice (knockout for Reelin protein) at different postnatal days (p) p14, p21 and p28. At p28, a significant increase in the expression of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and its amyloidogenic peptide (Aβ1-42 along with truncated tau fragment (i.e., NH2htau)- three pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-were found in Reeler mice when compared to their age-matched wild-type controls. Likewise, several inflammatory mediators, such as Interleukins, or crucial biomarkers of oxidative stress were also found to be upregulated in Reeler mice by using different techniques such as ELLA assay, microchip array or real-time PCR. Taken together, these findings suggest that a dysfunctional Reelin signaling enables the expression of key pathological features which are classically associated with AD neurodegenerative processes. Thus, this work suggests that Reeler mouse might be a suitable animal model to study not only the pathophysiology of developmental processes but also several neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), characterized by accumulation of APP and/or Aβ1-42, NH2htau and inflammatory markers.
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Teli P, Kale V, Vaidya A. Mesenchymal stromal cells-derived secretome protects Neuro-2a cells from oxidative stress-induced loss of neurogenesis. Exp Neurol 2022; 354:114107. [PMID: 35551901 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114107] [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: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are characterized by debilitating medical conditions that principally affect the neuronal cells in the human brain. One of the major reasons that there are no effective drugs for the treatment of ND is because researchers face technical challenges while conducting studies to understand the molecular mechanism behind ND. Although various studies have established in vitro neurodegenerative model systems, we feel that these model systems are not physiologically relevant, as they do not mimic the in vivo situation of chronic insult. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to establish an in vitro neurodegenerative model system by inducing oxidative stress in such a way that the neuronal cells remain viable, but lose their structural and functional characteristics. Using a murine neuroblastoma cell line, Neuro-2a, we demonstrate that induction of oxidative stress significantly affects various neurite outgrowth parameters and reduces the expression of neuronal and autophagy markers without causing apoptosis in them. Previously, we have discussed the possible therapeutic applications of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and their secretome in the treatment of ND. Here, using two distinct approaches, we show that when Neuro-2a cells subjected to oxidative stress are exposed to MSC-derived conditioned medium (secretome), they exhibit a significant improvement in various neuronal parameters and in the expression of neuronal markers. Overall, our findings support the salutary role of MSC-derived secretome in rescuing the oxidative stress-induced loss of neurogenesis using a physiologically relevant in vitro model system. Our data underscore the propensity of the MSC-secretome in reversing ND.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prajakta Teli
- Symbiosis Centre for Stem Cell Research, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune 412115, India; Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune 412115, India
| | - Vaijayanti Kale
- Symbiosis Centre for Stem Cell Research, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune 412115, India; Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune 412115, India
| | - Anuradha Vaidya
- Symbiosis Centre for Stem Cell Research, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune 412115, India; Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune 412115, India.
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5
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Tools and Biomarkers for the Study of Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084287. [PMID: 35457104 PMCID: PMC9025234 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The retina is part of the central nervous system, its analysis may provide an idea of the health and functionality, not only of the retina, but also of the entire central nervous system, as has been shown in Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. Within the retina, the ganglion cells (RGC) are the neurons in charge of processing and sending light information to higher brain centers. Diverse insults and pathological states cause degeneration of RGC, leading to irreversible blindness or impaired vision. RGCs are the measurable endpoints in current research into experimental therapies and diagnosis in multiple ocular pathologies, like glaucoma. RGC subtype classifications are based on morphological, functional, genetical, and immunohistochemical aspects. Although great efforts are being made, there is still no classification accepted by consensus. Moreover, it has been observed that each RGC subtype has a different susceptibility to injury. Characterizing these subtypes together with cell death pathway identification will help to understand the degenerative process in the different injury and pathological models, and therefore prevent it. Here we review the known RGC subtypes, as well as the diagnostic techniques, probes, and biomarkers for programmed and unprogrammed cell death in RGC.
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Burgaletto C, Platania CBM, Di Benedetto G, Munafò A, Giurdanella G, Federico C, Caltabiano R, Saccone S, Conti F, Bernardini R, Bucolo C, Cantarella G. Targeting the miRNA-155/TNFSF10 network restrains inflammatory response in the retina in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:905. [PMID: 34611142 PMCID: PMC8492692 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04165-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Age-related disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) share common features such as amyloid-β (Aβ) protein accumulation. Retinal deposition of Aβ aggregates in AMD patients has suggested a potential link between AMD and AD. In the present study, we analyzed the expression pattern of a focused set of miRNAs, previously found to be involved in both AD and AMD, in the retina of a triple transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTg-AD) at different time-points. Several miRNAs were differentially expressed in the retina of 3xTg-AD mice, compared to the retina of age-matched wild-type (WT) mice. In particular, bioinformatic analysis revealed that miR-155 had a central role in miRNA-gene network stability, regulating several pathways, including apoptotic and inflammatory signaling pathways modulated by TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TNFSF10). We showed that chronic treatment of 3xTg-AD mice with an anti-TNFSF10 monoclonal antibody was able to inhibit the retinal expression of miR-155, which inversely correlated with the expression of its molecular target SOCS-1. Moreover, the fine-tuned mechanism related to TNFSF10 immunoneutralization was tightly linked to modulation of TNFSF10 itself and its death receptor TNFRSF10B, along with cytokine production by microglia, reactive gliosis, and specific AD-related neuropathological hallmarks (i.e., Aβ deposition and Tau phosphorylation) in the retina of 3xTg-AD mice. In conclusion, immunoneutralization of TNFSF10 significantly preserved the retinal tissue in 3xTg-AD mice, suggesting its potential therapeutic application in retinal degenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Burgaletto
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania School of Medicine, Catania, Italy
| | - Chiara Bianca Maria Platania
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania School of Medicine, Catania, Italy
| | - Giulia Di Benedetto
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania School of Medicine, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Munafò
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania School of Medicine, Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanni Giurdanella
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Catania School of Medicine, Catania, Italy
| | - Concetta Federico
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Rosario Caltabiano
- Department Gian Filippo Ingrassia, Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Salvatore Saccone
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Federica Conti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania School of Medicine, Catania, Italy
| | - Renato Bernardini
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania School of Medicine, Catania, Italy. .,Clinical Toxicology Unit, University Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
| | - Claudio Bucolo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania School of Medicine, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Cantarella
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania School of Medicine, Catania, Italy
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Liao C, Xu J, Chen Y, Ip NY. Retinal Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease and Implications for Biomarkers. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11081215. [PMID: 34439882 PMCID: PMC8394950 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that manifests as cognitive deficits and memory decline, especially in old age. Several biomarkers have been developed to monitor AD progression. Given that the retina and brain share some similarities including features related to anatomical composition and neurological functions, the retina is closely associated with the progression of AD. Herein, we review the evidence of retinal dysfunction in AD, particularly at the early stage, together with the underlying molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, we compared the retinal pathologies of AD and other ophthalmological diseases and summarized potential retinal biomarkers measurable by existing technologies for detecting AD, providing insights for the future development of diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Liao
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science—Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China; (C.L.); (J.X.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Jinying Xu
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science—Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China; (C.L.); (J.X.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science—Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China; (C.L.); (J.X.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Correspondence: (Y.C.); (N.Y.I.); Tel.: +86-755-2692-5498 (Y.C.); +852-2358-6161 (N.Y.I.)
| | - Nancy Y. Ip
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
- Division of Life Science, Molecular Neuroscience Center, and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Correspondence: (Y.C.); (N.Y.I.); Tel.: +86-755-2692-5498 (Y.C.); +852-2358-6161 (N.Y.I.)
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Detecting retinal cell stress and apoptosis with DARC: Progression from lab to clinic. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 86:100976. [PMID: 34102318 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
DARC (Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells) is a retinal imaging technology that has been developed within the last 2 decades from basic laboratory science to Phase 2 clinical trials. It uses ANX776 (fluorescently labelled Annexin A5) to identify stressed and apoptotic cells in the living eye. During its development, DARC has undergone biochemistry optimisation, scale-up and GMP manufacture and extensive preclinical evaluation. Initially tested in preclinical glaucoma and optic neuropathy models, it has also been investigated in Alzheimer, Parkinson's and Diabetic models, and used to assess efficacy of therapies. Progression to clinical trials has not been speedy. Intravenous ANX776 has to date been found to be safe and well-tolerated in 129 patients, including 16 from Phase 1 and 113 from Phase 2. Results on glaucoma and AMD patients have been recently published, and suggest DARC with an AI-aided algorithm can be used to predict disease activity. New analyses of DARC in GA prediction are reported here. Although further studies are needed to validate these findings, it appears there is potential of the technology to be used as a biomarker. Much larger clinical studies will be needed before it can be considered as a diagnostic, although the relatively non-invasive nature of the nasal as opposed to intravenous administration would widen its acceptability in the future as a screening tool. This review describes DARC development and its progression into Phase 2 clinical trials from lab-based research. It discusses hypotheses, potential challenges, and regulatory hurdles in translating technology.
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Guo L, Ravindran N, Shamsher E, Hill D, Cordeiro MF. Retinal Changes in Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2021; 18:89-102. [PMID: 33855942 DOI: 10.2174/1567205018666210414113634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, the most common form of dementia. AD is characterised by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the brain, in association with neuronal loss and synaptic failure, causing cognitive deficits. Accurate and early diagnosis is currently unavailable in lifespan, hampering early intervention of potential new treatments. Visual deficits have been well documented in AD patients, and the pathological changes identified in the brain are also believed to be found in the retina, an integral part of the central nervous system. Retinal changes can be detected by real-time non-invasive imaging, due to the transparent nature of the ocular media, potentially allowing an earlier diagnosis as well as monitoring disease progression and treatment outcome. Animal models are essential for AD research, and this review has a focus on retinal changes in various transgenic AD mouse models with retinal imaging and immunohistochemical analysis as well as therapeutic effects in those models. We also discuss the limitations of transgenic AD models in clinical translations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Guo
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nivedita Ravindran
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ehtesham Shamsher
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Hill
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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10
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Abdulhussein D, Kanda M, Aamir A, Manzar H, Yap TE, Cordeiro MF. Apoptosis in health and diseases of the eye and brain. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2021; 126:279-306. [PMID: 34090617 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2021.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death (PCD) and enables the immunologically silent disposal of senescent or unwanted cells, causing minimal damage to the surrounding environment. Apoptosis can occur via intrinsic or extrinsic pathways that initiate a series of intracellular and extracellular signaling events. This ultimately leads to the clearance of the cell by phagocytes. This normal physiological mechanism may be accelerated in several diseases including those involving the eyes and brain, leading to loss of structure and function. This review presents the role of PCD in the health of the eyes and brain, and the evidence presented for its aberrant role in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Abdulhussein
- The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mumta Kanda
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London, United Kingdom
| | - Abdullah Aamir
- Whipps Cross Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Haider Manzar
- The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy E Yap
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London, United Kingdom; The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London, United Kingdom; The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Group, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom.
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11
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Belhadj S, Rentsch A, Schwede F, Paquet-Durand F. Fluorescent detection of PARP activity in unfixed tissue. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245369. [PMID: 33481867 PMCID: PMC7822349 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase (PARP) relates to a family of enzymes that can detect DNA breaks and initiate DNA repair. While this activity is generally seen as promoting cell survival, PARP enzymes are also known to be involved in cell death in numerous pathologies, including in inherited retinal degeneration. This ambiguous role of PARP makes it attractive to have a simple and fast enzyme activity assay, that allows resolving its enzymatic activity in situ, in individual cells, within complex tissues. A previously published two-step PARP activity assay uses biotinylated NAD+ and streptavidin labelling for this purpose. Here, we used the fluorescent NAD+ analogues ε-NAD+ and 6-Fluo-10-NAD+ to assess PARP activity directly on unfixed tissue sections obtained from wild-type and retinal degeneration-1 (rd1) mutant retina. In standard UV microscopy ε-NAD+ incubation did not reveal PARP specific signal. In contrast, 6-Fluo-10-NAD+ resulted in reliable detection of in situ PARP activity in rd1 retina, especially in the degenerating photoreceptor cells. When the 6-Fluo-10-NAD+ based PARP activity assay was performed in the presence of the PARP specific inhibitor olaparib, the activity signal was completely abolished, attesting to the specificity of the assay. The incubation of live organotypic retinal explant cultures with 6-Fluo-10-NAD+, did not produce PARP specific signal, indicating that the fluorescent marker may not be sufficiently membrane-permeable to label living cells. In summary, we present a new, rapid, and simple to use fluorescence assay for the cellular resolution of PARP activity on unfixed tissue, for instance in complex neuronal tissues such as the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumaya Belhadj
- Cell Death Mechanism Group, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Rentsch
- Biolog Life Science Institute GmbH & Co. KG, Bremen, Germany
| | - Frank Schwede
- Biolog Life Science Institute GmbH & Co. KG, Bremen, Germany
| | - François Paquet-Durand
- Cell Death Mechanism Group, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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12
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Zollet P, E.Yap T, Cordeiro MF. Detecting apoptosis as a clinical endpoint for proof of a clinical principle. Ophthalmologica 2020; 244:408-417. [DOI: 10.1159/000513584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The transparent eye media represent a window through which to observe changes occurring in the retina during pathological processes. In contrast to visualising the extent of neurodegenerative damage that has already occurred, imaging an active process such as apoptosis has the potential to report on disease progression and therefore the threat of irreversible functional loss in various eye and brain diseases. Early diagnosis in these conditions is an important unmet clinical need to avoid or delay irreversible sight loss. In this setting, apoptosis detection is a promising strategy with which to diagnose, provide prognosis, and monitor therapeutic response. Additionally, monitoring apoptosis in vitro and in vivo has been shown to be valuable for drug development in order to assess the efficacy of novel therapeutic strategies both in the pre-clinical and clinical setting. Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells (DARC) technology is to date the only tool of its kind to have been tested in clinical trials, with other new imaging techniques under investigation in the fields of neuroscience, ophthalmology and drug development. We summarize the transitioning of techniques detecting apoptosis from bench to bedside, along with the future possibilities they encase.
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13
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Gupta VB, Chitranshi N, den Haan J, Mirzaei M, You Y, Lim JK, Basavarajappa D, Godinez A, Di Angelantonio S, Sachdev P, Salekdeh GH, Bouwman F, Graham S, Gupta V. Retinal changes in Alzheimer's disease- integrated prospects of imaging, functional and molecular advances. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 82:100899. [PMID: 32890742 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder of the brain, clinically characterised by cognitive deficits that gradually worsen over time. There is, at present, no established cure, or disease-modifying treatments for AD. As life expectancy increases globally, the number of individuals suffering from the disease is projected to increase substantially. Cumulative evidence indicates that AD neuropathological process is initiated several years, if not decades, before clinical signs are evident in patients, and diagnosis made. While several imaging, cognitive, CSF and blood-based biomarkers have been proposed for the early detection of AD; their sensitivity and specificity in the symptomatic stages is highly variable and it is difficult to justify their use in even earlier, pre-clinical stages of the disease. Research has identified potentially measurable functional, structural, metabolic and vascular changes in the retina during early stages of AD. Retina offers a distinctively accessible insight into brain pathology and current and developing ophthalmic technologies have provided us with the possibility of detecting and characterising subtle, disease-related changes. Recent human and animal model studies have further provided mechanistic insights into the biochemical pathways that are altered in the retina in disease, including amyloid and tau deposition. This information coupled with advances in molecular imaging has allowed attempts to monitor biochemical changes and protein aggregation pathology in the retina in AD. This review summarises the existing knowledge that informs our understanding of the impact of AD on the retina and highlights some of the gaps that need to be addressed. Future research will integrate molecular imaging innovation with functional and structural changes to enhance our knowledge of the AD pathophysiological mechanisms and establish the utility of monitoring retinal changes as a potential biomarker for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veer B Gupta
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, VIC, Australia
| | - Nitin Chitranshi
- Faculty of Medicine Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Jurre den Haan
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, the Netherlands
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Faculty of Medicine Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Yuyi You
- Faculty of Medicine Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Jeremiah Kh Lim
- Optometry and Vision Science, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia
| | - Devaraj Basavarajappa
- Faculty of Medicine Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Angela Godinez
- Faculty of Medicine Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Perminder Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain and Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ghasem H Salekdeh
- Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Femke Bouwman
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, the Netherlands
| | - Stuart Graham
- Faculty of Medicine Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia; Save Sight Institute, Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.
| | - Vivek Gupta
- Faculty of Medicine Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.
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14
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Serrano-Heras G, Díaz-Maroto I, Castro-Robles B, Carrión B, Perona-Moratalla AB, Gracia J, Arteaga S, Hernández-Fernández F, García-García J, Ayo-Martín O, Segura T. Isolation and Quantification of Blood Apoptotic Bodies, a Non-invasive Tool to Evaluate Apoptosis in Patients with Ischemic Stroke and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biol Proced Online 2020; 22:17. [PMID: 32765191 PMCID: PMC7395395 DOI: 10.1186/s12575-020-00130-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Improper regulation of apoptosis has been postulated as one of the main factors that contributes to the etiology and/or progression of several prevalent diseases, including ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative pathologies. Consequently, in the last few years, there has been an ever-growing interest in the in vivo study of apoptosis. The clinical application of the tissue sampling and imaging approaches to analyze apoptosis in neurological diseases is, however, limited. Since apoptotic bodies are membrane vesicles that are released from fragmented apoptotic cells, it follows that the presence of these vesicles in the bloodstream is likely due to the apoptotic death of cells in tissues. We therefore propose to use circulating apoptotic bodies as biomarkers for measuring apoptotic death in patients with ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. Results Since there is no scientific literature establishing the most appropriate method for collecting and enumerating apoptotic bodies from human blood samples. Authors, here, describe a reproducible centrifugation-based method combined with flow cytometry analysis to isolate and quantify plasma apoptotic bodies of patients with ischemic stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and also in healthy controls. Electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and proteomic characterization in combination with flow cytometry studies revealed that our isolation method achieves notable recovery rates of highly-purified intact apoptotic bodies. Conclusions This easy, minimally time consuming and effective procedure for isolating and quantifying plasma apoptotic bodies could help physicians to implement the use of such vesicles as a non-invasive tool to monitor apoptosis in patients with cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases for prognostic purposes and for monitoring disease activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Serrano-Heras
- Research Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Laurel, s/n, CP: 02008, Albacete, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Díaz-Maroto
- Department of Neurology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain
| | - Beatriz Castro-Robles
- Research Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Laurel, s/n, CP: 02008, Albacete, Spain
| | - Blanca Carrión
- Research Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Laurel, s/n, CP: 02008, Albacete, Spain
| | - Ana B Perona-Moratalla
- Department of Neurology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain
| | - Julia Gracia
- Department of Neurology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain
| | - Sandra Arteaga
- Research Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Laurel, s/n, CP: 02008, Albacete, Spain
| | | | - Jorge García-García
- Department of Neurology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain
| | - Oscar Ayo-Martín
- Department of Neurology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain
| | - Tomás Segura
- Department of Neurology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
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15
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Gardner MR, Baruah V, Vargas G, Motamedi M, Milner TE, Rylander HG. Scattering Angle Resolved Optical Coherence Tomography Detects Early Changes in 3xTg Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2020; 9:18. [PMID: 32821490 PMCID: PMC7401921 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.5.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Clinical intensity-based optical coherence tomographic retinal imaging is unable to resolve some of the earliest changes to Alzheimer's disease (AD) neurons. The aim of this pilot study was to demonstrate that scattering-angle-resolved optical coherence tomography (SAR-OCT), which is sensitive to changes in light scattering angle, is a candidate retinal imaging modality for early AD detection. SAR-OCT signal data may be sensitive to changes in intracellular constituent morphology that are not detectable with conventional OCT. Methods In this cross-sectional study, retinas of a triple transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTg-AD) were imaged alongside age-matched control mice (C57BL/6J) using SAR-OCT. A total of 32 mice (12 control, 20 3xTg-Ad) at four ages (10, 20, 30, and 45 weeks) were included in this cross-sectional study, and three retinal feature sets (scattering, thickness, and angiography) were examined between the disease and control groups. Results AD mice had significantly increased scattering diversity (lower SAR-OCT C parameter) at the earliest imaging time (10 weeks). Differences in the C parameter between AD and control mice were diminished at later times when both groups showed increased scattering diversity. AD mice have reduced retinal thickness compared to controls, particularly in central regions and superficial layers. No differences in vascular density or fractional blood volume between groups were detected. Conclusions SAR-OCT is sensitive to scattering angle changes in a 3xTg-AD mouse model and could provide early-stage biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. Translational Relevance Clinical OCT systems may be modified to record SAR-OCT images for non-invasive retinal diagnostic imaging of patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Gardner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, King Faisal University, Al-Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Vikram Baruah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Gracie Vargas
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Massoud Motamedi
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Thomas E Milner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Henry G Rylander
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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16
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Does retina play a role in Parkinson's Disease? Acta Neurol Belg 2020; 120:257-265. [PMID: 31965540 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-020-01274-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Visual disorder is one of the non-motor symptoms found in Parkinson's disease (PD). It can be easily identified in the early stages even before the spread of pathological conditions to the brain parts. Studies have revealed that loss of dopamine (DA) cells in retinal layers is a prime cause for both retinal disturbance and pathological conditions of PD. This reduction of DA in retina is due to the aggregation of phosphorylated α-synuclein (aSyn) in the intra-retinal region, which eventually results in visual impairment in PD. Until now, very limited studies have been focused on the mechanism of aSyn influence and DA depletion as a cause for both retinal layer dysfunction and PD. Thus, more research is warranted to provide the missing connection between the exact role of DA and aSyn as a risk factor for visual problems in PD. Hence, the current review's focus is on the function and effects of DA degeneration in retinal cells of PD. Further, we suggest that iron plays a major role in regulating the aggregation of aSyn in the DA cells of retina and brain in PD. The study finds that the unidentified pathophysiological role of retinal degeneration in PD is an essential biomarker that needs further investigation to use it as a novel therapy in treating retinal dysfunctions in PD.
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17
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Jia H, Song Y, Huang B, Ge W, Luo KQ. Engineered Sensor Zebrafish for Fast Detection and Real-Time Tracking of Apoptosis at Single-Cell Resolution in Live Animals. ACS Sens 2020; 5:823-830. [PMID: 32090557 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.9b02489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Apoptosis plays crucial roles during development and in disease conditions. While there are some methods to detect apoptosis in vitro, most of them are end-point assays that cannot be used to detect apoptosis in the physiological context of live animals. In this study, transgenic sensor zebrafish were generated that specifically produce a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensor in the zebrafish skin. Under normal conditions, the skin cells of the sensor zebrafish emit green fluorescence; when caspase-3 is activated during apoptosis, the skin cells of the sensor zebrafish switch to emitting blue fluorescence. Through time-lapse FRET imaging with the sensor zebrafish, we observed that caspase-3 can be activated within 5 min and apoptosis can be completed in around 30 min in live zebrafish, no matter the apoptosis occurs several hours after UV irradiation or during the normal development. Using the sensor zebrafish, we found that apoptosis can occur in different parts of the zebrafish skin including the skin covering the trunk, eye, yolk sac, and head during development. Interestingly, we observed that the yolk sac diameter of the zebrafish reduced from 723.8 ± 25.1 μm at 24 h postfertilization (hpf) to 346.1 ± 24.6 μm at 120 hpf. To accommodate this dramatic reduction of the yolk sac size, we found that some excess skin cells on the surface of the yolk sac were removed by apoptosis during this process. The sensor zebrafish provide a powerful and convenient tool for the noninvasive and real-time detection of apoptosis at the single-cell resolution in live zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Jia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Yanlong Song
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Bin Huang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Wei Ge
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Kathy Qian Luo
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
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18
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Guo L, Davis BM, Ravindran N, Galvao J, Kapoor N, Haamedi N, Shamsher E, Luong V, Fico E, Cordeiro MF. Topical recombinant human Nerve growth factor (rh-NGF) is neuroprotective to retinal ganglion cells by targeting secondary degeneration. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3375. [PMID: 32099056 PMCID: PMC7042238 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60427-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Optic neuropathy is a major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, and no effective treatment is currently available. Secondary degeneration is believed to be the major contributor to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, the endpoint of optic neuropathy. Partial optic nerve transection (pONT) is an established model of optic neuropathy. Although the mechanisms of primary and secondary degeneration have been delineated in this model, until now how this is influenced by therapy is not well-understood. In this article, we describe a clinically translatable topical, neuroprotective treatment (recombinant human nerve growth factor, rh-NGF) predominantly targeting secondary degeneration in a pONT rat model. Topical application of rh-NGF twice daily for 3 weeks significantly improves RGC survival as shown by reduced RGC apoptosis in vivo and increased RGC population in the inferior retina, which is predominantly affected in this model by secondary degeneration. Topical rh-NGF also promotes greater axonal survival and inhibits astrocyte activity in the optic nerve. Collectively, these results suggest that topical rh-NGF exhibits neuroprotective effects on retinal neurons via influencing secondary degeneration process. As topical rh-NGF is already involved in early clinical trials, this highlights its potential in multiple indications in patients, including those affected by glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Guo
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Benjamin M Davis
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nivedita Ravindran
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joana Galvao
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Neel Kapoor
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nasrin Haamedi
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ehtesham Shamsher
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vy Luong
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Fico
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom. .,Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
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19
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Yap T, Shamsher E, Guo L, Cordeiro M. Ophthalmic Research Lecture 2018: DARC as a Potential Surrogate Marker. Ophthalmic Res 2019; 63:1-7. [DOI: 10.1159/000500527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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20
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Power M, Das S, Schütze K, Marigo V, Ekström P, Paquet-Durand F. Cellular mechanisms of hereditary photoreceptor degeneration - Focus on cGMP. Prog Retin Eye Res 2019; 74:100772. [PMID: 31374251 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The cellular mechanisms underlying hereditary photoreceptor degeneration are still poorly understood, a problem that is exacerbated by the enormous genetic heterogeneity of this disease group. However, the last decade has yielded a wealth of new knowledge on degenerative pathways and their diversity. Notably, a central role of cGMP-signalling has surfaced for photoreceptor cell death triggered by a subset of disease-causing mutations. In this review, we examine key aspects relevant for photoreceptor degeneration of hereditary origin. The topics covered include energy metabolism, epigenetics, protein quality control, as well as cGMP- and Ca2+-signalling, and how the related molecular and metabolic processes may trigger photoreceptor demise. We compare and integrate evidence on different cell death mechanisms that have been associated with photoreceptor degeneration, including apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis, and PARthanatos. A special focus is then put on the mechanisms of cGMP-dependent cell death and how exceedingly high photoreceptor cGMP levels may cause activation of Ca2+-dependent calpain-type proteases, histone deacetylases and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase. An evaluation of the available literature reveals that a large group of patients suffering from hereditary photoreceptor degeneration carry mutations that are likely to trigger cGMP-dependent cell death, making this pathway a prime target for future therapy development. Finally, an outlook is given into technological and methodological developments that will with time likely contribute to a comprehensive overview over the entire metabolic complexity of photoreceptor cell death. Building on such developments, new imaging technology and novel biomarkers may be used to develop clinical test strategies, that fully consider the genetic heterogeneity of hereditary retinal degenerations, in order to facilitate clinical testing of novel treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Power
- Cell Death Mechanism Group, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Germany; Centre for Integrative Neurosciences (CIN), University of Tübingen, Germany; Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience (GTC), University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Soumyaparna Das
- Cell Death Mechanism Group, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Germany; Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience (GTC), University of Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Valeria Marigo
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Per Ekström
- Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
| | - François Paquet-Durand
- Cell Death Mechanism Group, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Germany.
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21
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Tolone A, Belhadj S, Rentsch A, Schwede F, Paquet-Durand F. The cGMP Pathway and Inherited Photoreceptor Degeneration: Targets, Compounds, and Biomarkers. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10060453. [PMID: 31207907 PMCID: PMC6627777 DOI: 10.3390/genes10060453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptor physiology and pathophysiology is intricately linked to guanosine-3’,5’-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP)-signaling. Here, we discuss the importance of cGMP-signaling for the pathogenesis of hereditary retinal degeneration. Excessive accumulation of cGMP in photoreceptors is a common denominator in cell death caused by a variety of different gene mutations. The cGMP-dependent cell death pathway may be targeted for the treatment of inherited photoreceptor degeneration, using specifically designed and formulated inhibitory cGMP analogues. Moreover, cGMP-signaling and its down-stream targets may be exploited for the development of novel biomarkers that could facilitate monitoring of disease progression and reveal the response to treatment in future clinical trials. We then briefly present the importance of appropriate formulations for delivery to the retina, both for drug and biomarker applications. Finally, the review touches on important aspects of future clinical translation, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary cooperation of researchers from a diverse range of fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Tolone
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 5-7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Soumaya Belhadj
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 5-7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | | | - Frank Schwede
- Biolog Life Science Institute, 28199 Bremen, Germany.
| | - François Paquet-Durand
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 5-7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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22
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23
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Guo L, Normando EM, Shah PA, De Groef L, Cordeiro MF. Oculo-visual abnormalities in Parkinson's disease: Possible value as biomarkers. Mov Disord 2018; 33:1390-1406. [DOI: 10.1002/mds.27454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Li Guo
- Glaucoma and Retinal Degenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology; University College London; London UK
| | - Eduardo M. Normando
- Glaucoma and Retinal Degenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology; University College London; London UK
- Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service Trust; London UK
- Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London; London UK
| | - Parth Arvind Shah
- Glaucoma and Retinal Degenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology; University College London; London UK
| | - Lies De Groef
- Glaucoma and Retinal Degenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology; University College London; London UK
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology; University of Leuven; Leuven Belgium
| | - M. Francesca Cordeiro
- Glaucoma and Retinal Degenerative Disease Research Group, Institute of Ophthalmology; University College London; London UK
- Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service Trust; London UK
- Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London; London UK
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24
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Liao H, Zhu Z, Peng Y. Potential Utility of Retinal Imaging for Alzheimer's Disease: A Review. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:188. [PMID: 29988470 PMCID: PMC6024140 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The ensuing upward shift in demographic distribution due to the increase in life expectancy has resulted in a rising prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The heavy public burden of AD, along with the urgent to prevent and treat the disease before the irreversible damage to the brain, calls for a sensitive and specific screening technology to identify high-risk individuals before cognitive symptoms arise. Even though current modalities, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker, showed their potential clinical uses in early detection of AD, the high cost, narrow isotope availability of PET probes and invasive characteristics of CSF biomarker limited their broad utility. Therefore, additional tools for detection of AD are needed. As a projection of the central nervous system (CNS), the retina has been described as a "window to the brain" and a novel marker for AD. Low cost, easy accessibility and non-invasive features make retina tests suitable for large-scale population screening and investigations of preclinical AD. Furthermore, a number of novel approaches in retina imaging, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), have been developed and made it possible to visualize changes in the retina at a very fine resolution. In this review, we outline the background for AD to accelerate the adoption of retina imaging for the diagnosis and management of AD in clinical practice. Then, we focus on recent findings on the application of retina imaging to investigate AD and provide suggestions for future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liao
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhuoting Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Peng
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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25
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Yap TE, Donna P, Almonte MT, Cordeiro MF. Real-Time Imaging of Retinal Ganglion Cell Apoptosis. Cells 2018; 7:E60. [PMID: 29914056 PMCID: PMC6025611 DOI: 10.3390/cells7060060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Monitoring real-time apoptosis in-vivo is an unmet need of neurodegeneration science, both in clinical and research settings. For patients, earlier diagnosis before the onset of symptoms provides a window of time in which to instigate treatment. For researchers, being able to objectively monitor the rates of underlying degenerative processes at a cellular level provides a biomarker with which to test novel therapeutics. The DARC (Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells) project has developed a minimally invasive method using fluorescent annexin A5 to detect rates of apoptosis in retinal ganglion cells, the key pathological process in glaucoma. Numerous animal studies have used DARC to show efficacy of novel, pressure-independent treatment strategies in models of glaucoma and other conditions where retinal apoptosis is reported, including Alzheimer’s disease. This may forge exciting new links in the clinical science of treating both cognitive and visual decline. Human trials are now underway, successfully demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the technique to differentiate patients with progressive neurodegeneration from healthy individuals. We review the current perspectives on retinal ganglion cell apoptosis, the way in which this can be imaged, and the exciting advantages that these future methods hold in store.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy E Yap
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London NW1 5QH, UK.
- The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, London NW1 5QH, UK.
| | - Piero Donna
- The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, London NW1 5QH, UK.
| | - Melanie T Almonte
- The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, London NW1 5QH, UK.
| | - Maria Francesca Cordeiro
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London NW1 5QH, UK.
- The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, London NW1 5QH, UK.
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Group, Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK.
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26
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Yang E, Al-Mugheiry TS, Normando EM, Cordeiro MF. Real-Time Imaging of Retinal Cell Apoptosis by Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy and Its Role in Glaucoma. Front Neurol 2018; 9:338. [PMID: 29867744 PMCID: PMC5962659 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the world. It is characterized by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), mainly through the process of apoptosis. Glaucoma patients often come to clinical attention when irreversible loss of visual function has been already established; therefore, early recognition of RGC apoptosis is inordinately important in disease prevention. The novel technology called Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells (DARC) allows real-time in vivo quantification of apoptosing cells through the use of a fluorescent biomarker and a confocal scanning ophthalmoscope. A recent Phase I clinical trial has evaluated the safety of DARC and its ability to detect retinal apoptosis in glaucoma patients and healthy volunteers. Results suggest that DARC may have potential in the early detection of glaucoma, which could help alleviate the medical, social, and economic burden associated with this blinding condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Yang
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.,The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Toby S Al-Mugheiry
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk, United Kingdom
| | - Eduardo M Normando
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.,The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,Insitute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria F Cordeiro
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.,The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,Insitute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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27
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Abstract
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible visual loss, which has been estimated to affect 3.5% of those over 40 years old and projected to affect a total of 112 million people by 2040. Such a dramatic increase in affected patients demonstrates the need for continual improvement in the way we diagnose and treat this condition. Annexin A5 is a 36 kDa protein that is ubiquitously expressed in humans and is studied as an indicator of apoptosis in several fields. This molecule has a high calcium-dependent affinity for phosphatidylserine, a cell membrane phospholipid externalized to the outer cell membrane in early apoptosis. The DARC (Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells) project uses fluorescently-labelled annexin A5 to assess glaucomatous degeneration, the inherent process of which is the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells. Furthermore, this project has conducted investigation of the retinal apoptosis in the neurodegenerative conditions of the eye and brain. In this present study, we summarized the use of annexin A5 as a marker of apoptosis in the eye. We also relayed the progress of the DARC project, developing real-time imaging of retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in vivo from the experimental models of disease and identifying mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and its treatments, which has been applied to the first human clinical trials. DARC has potential as a biomarker in neurodegeneration, especially in the research of novel treatments, and could be a useful tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma.
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28
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Lad EM, Mukherjee D, Stinnett SS, Cousins SW, Potter GG, Burke JR, Farsiu S, Whitson HE. Evaluation of inner retinal layers as biomarkers in mild cognitive impairment to moderate Alzheimer's disease. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0192646. [PMID: 29420642 PMCID: PMC5805310 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inner retina in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) may experience neuroinflammation resulting in atrophy. The objective of our study was to determine whether retinal GCIPL (ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer) or nerve fiber layer (NFL) thickness may serve as noninvasive biomarkers to diagnose AD. This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled 15 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, 15 mild-moderate AD patients, and 18 cognitively normal adults. NFL and GCIPL thicknesses on optical coherence tomography (OCT) were measured using Duke Optical Coherence Tomography Retinal Analysis Program (DOCTRAP) and Spectralis software. We demonstrated that regional thicknesses of NFL or GCIPL on macular or nerve OCTs did not differ between groups. However, a multi-variate regression analysis identified macular areas with a significant thickening or thinning in NFL and GCIPL in MCI and AD patients. Our primary findings controvert previous reports of thinner NFL in moderate-to-severe AD. The areas of thickening of GCIPL and NFL in the macula adjacent to areas of thinning, as revealed by a more complex statistical model, suggest that NFL and GCIPL may undergo dynamic changes during AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora M. Lad
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Dibyendu Mukherjee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Sandra S. Stinnett
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Scott W. Cousins
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Guy G. Potter
- Joseph and Kathleen Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - James R. Burke
- Joseph and Kathleen Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Sina Farsiu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Heather E. Whitson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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29
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Sharif NA. iDrugs and iDevices Discovery Research: Preclinical Assays, Techniques, and Animal Model Studies for Ocular Hypotensives and Neuroprotectants. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2018; 34:7-39. [PMID: 29323613 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2017.0125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Discovery ophthalmic research is centered around delineating the molecular and cellular basis of ocular diseases and finding and exploiting molecular and genetic pathways associated with them. From such studies it is possible to determine suitable intervention points to address the disease process and hopefully to discover therapeutics to treat them. An investigational new drug (IND) filing for a new small-molecule drug, peptide, antibody, genetic treatment, or a device with global health authorities requires a number of preclinical studies to provide necessary safety and efficacy data. Specific regulatory elements needed for such IND-enabling studies are beyond the scope of this article. However, to enhance the overall data packages for such entities and permit high-quality foundation-building publications for medical affairs, additional research and development studies are always desirable. This review aims to provide examples of some target localization/verification, ocular drug discovery processes, and mechanistic and portfolio-enhancing exploratory investigations for candidate drugs and devices for the treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucomatous optic neuropathy (neurodegeneration of retinal ganglion cells and their axons). Examples of compound screening assays, use of various technologies and techniques, deployment of animal models, and data obtained from such studies are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najam A Sharif
- 1 Global Alliances & External Research , Santen Incorporated, Emeryville, California.,2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Southern University , Houston, Texas.,3 Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center , Fort Worth, Texas
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30
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Shanmuganathan B, Suryanarayanan V, Sathya S, Narenkumar M, Singh SK, Ruckmani K, Pandima Devi K. Anti-amyloidogenic and anti-apoptotic effect of α-bisabolol against Aβ induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 143:1196-1207. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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31
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadali Almasieh
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, McGill University, Montreal H4A 3S5, Canada
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Montreal, Montreal H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Leonard A. Levin
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, McGill University, Montreal H4A 3S5, Canada
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Montreal, Montreal H1T 2M4, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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32
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Koronyo Y, Biggs D, Barron E, Boyer DS, Pearlman JA, Au WJ, Kile SJ, Blanco A, Fuchs DT, Ashfaq A, Frautschy S, Cole GM, Miller CA, Hinton DR, Verdooner SR, Black KL, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Retinal amyloid pathology and proof-of-concept imaging trial in Alzheimer's disease. JCI Insight 2017; 2:93621. [PMID: 28814675 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.93621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 307] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noninvasive detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with high specificity and sensitivity can greatly facilitate identification of at-risk populations for earlier, more effective intervention. AD patients exhibit a myriad of retinal pathologies, including hallmark amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposits. METHODS Burden, distribution, cellular layer, and structure of retinal Aβ plaques were analyzed in flat mounts and cross sections of definite AD patients and controls (n = 37). In a proof-of-concept retinal imaging trial (n = 16), amyloid probe curcumin formulation was determined and protocol was established for retinal amyloid imaging in live patients. RESULTS Histological examination uncovered classical and neuritic-like Aβ deposits with increased retinal Aβ42 plaques (4.7-fold; P = 0.0063) and neuronal loss (P = 0.0023) in AD patients versus matched controls. Retinal Aβ plaque mirrored brain pathology, especially in the primary visual cortex (P = 0.0097 to P = 0.0018; Pearson's r = 0.84-0.91). Retinal deposits often associated with blood vessels and occurred in hot spot peripheral regions of the superior quadrant and innermost retinal layers. Transmission electron microscopy revealed retinal Aβ assembled into protofibrils and fibrils. Moreover, the ability to image retinal amyloid deposits with solid-lipid curcumin and a modified scanning laser ophthalmoscope was demonstrated in live patients. A fully automated calculation of the retinal amyloid index (RAI), a quantitative measure of increased curcumin fluorescence, was constructed. Analysis of RAI scores showed a 2.1-fold increase in AD patients versus controls (P = 0.0031). CONCLUSION The geometric distribution and increased burden of retinal amyloid pathology in AD, together with the feasibility to noninvasively detect discrete retinal amyloid deposits in living patients, may lead to a practical approach for large-scale AD diagnosis and monitoring. FUNDING National Institute on Aging award (AG044897) and The Saban and The Marciano Family Foundations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David Biggs
- NeuroVision Imaging LLC, Sacramento, California, USA
| | | | - David S Boyer
- Retina Vitreous Associates Medical Group, Beverly Hills, California, USA
| | - Joel A Pearlman
- Retinal Consultants Medical Group, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - William J Au
- Sutter Neuroscience Institute, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Shawn J Kile
- Sutter Neuroscience Institute, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Austin Blanco
- NeuroVision Imaging LLC, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Adeel Ashfaq
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sally Frautschy
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA; Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA; and Veterans Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Gregory M Cole
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA; Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA; and Veterans Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Carol A Miller
- Department of Pathology Program in Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, and
| | - David R Hinton
- Departments of Pathology and Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
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33
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Cordeiro MF, Normando EM, Cardoso MJ, Miodragovic S, Jeylani S, Davis BM, Guo L, Ourselin S, A'Hern R, Bloom PA. Real-time imaging of single neuronal cell apoptosis in patients with glaucoma. Brain 2017; 140:1757-1767. [PMID: 28449038 PMCID: PMC5445254 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awx088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
See Herms and Schön (doi10.1093/brain/awx100) for a scientific commentary on this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria F Cordeiro
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Group, Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK.,The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London NW1 5QH, UK.,The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London NW1 5QH, UK
| | - Eduardo M Normando
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London NW1 5QH, UK.,The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London NW1 5QH, UK
| | - M Jorge Cardoso
- Translational Imaging Group, Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, Wolfson House, Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HE London, UK
| | - Serge Miodragovic
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London NW1 5QH, UK
| | - Seham Jeylani
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London NW1 5QH, UK
| | - Benjamin M Davis
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Group, Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Li Guo
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Group, Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Sebastien Ourselin
- Translational Imaging Group, Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, Wolfson House, Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HE London, UK
| | | | - Philip A Bloom
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London NW1 5QH, UK.,The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London NW1 5QH, UK
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34
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Davis BM, Tian K, Pahlitzsch M, Brenton J, Ravindran N, Butt G, Malaguarnera G, Normando EM, Guo L, Cordeiro MF. Topical Coenzyme Q10 demonstrates mitochondrial-mediated neuroprotection in a rodent model of ocular hypertension. Mitochondrion 2017; 36:114-123. [PMID: 28549843 PMCID: PMC5645575 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2017.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant with known neuroprotective activity. Its ocular effects when co-solubilised with α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) were evaluated. In vitro studies confirmed that CoQ10 was significantly protective in different retinal ganglion cell (RGC) models. In vivo studies in Adult Dark Agouti (DA) rats with unilateral surgically-induced ocular hypertension (OHT) treated with either CoQ10/TPGS micelles or TPGS vehicle twice daily for three weeks were performed, following which retinal cell health was assessed in vivo using DARC (Detection of Apoptotic Retinal Cells) and post-mortem with Brn3a histological assessment on whole retinal mounts. CoQ10/TPGS showed a significant neuroprotective effect compared to control with DARC (p<0.05) and Brn3 (p<0.01). Topical CoQ10 appears an effective therapy preventing RGC apoptosis and loss in glaucoma-related models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Michael Davis
- Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom
| | - Kailin Tian
- Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom
| | - Milena Pahlitzsch
- Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Brenton
- Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom
| | - Nivedita Ravindran
- Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom
| | - Gibran Butt
- Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Malaguarnera
- Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom
| | - Eduardo M Normando
- Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom; Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Li Guo
- Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom
| | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom; Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
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35
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Dao P, Ye F, Liu Y, Du ZY, Zhang K, Dong CZ, Meunier B, Chen H. Development of Phenothiazine-Based Theranostic Compounds That Act Both as Inhibitors of β-Amyloid Aggregation and as Imaging Probes for Amyloid Plaques in Alzheimer's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:798-806. [PMID: 28097868 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.6b00380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is imperative in enabling the understanding and clinical treatment of this disorder, as well as in preventing its progression. Imaging agents specifically targeting Aβ plaques in the brain and the retina may lead to the early diagnosis of AD. Among them, near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) imaging has emerged as an attractive tool to noninvasively identify and monitor diseases during the preclinical and early stages. In the present study, we report the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a series of new near-infrared fluorescent probes. Most of these probes displayed maximum emission in PBS (>650 nm), which falls in the good range for NIRF probes. Among them, 4a1 showed the highest affinity toward Aβ aggregates (Kd = 7.5 nM) and an excellent targeting ability for Aβ plaques in slices of brain and retina tissue from double transgenic mice. These compounds are also found to effectively prevent Aβ fibril formation and disaggregate preformed Aβ fibrils, showing a promising potential as theranostic agents for the diagnosis and therapy of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Dao
- Faculty
of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Guang Dong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guang Dong 510006, China
| | - Feifei Ye
- Faculty
of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Guang Dong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guang Dong 510006, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Faculty
of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Guang Dong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guang Dong 510006, China
| | - Zhi Yun Du
- Faculty
of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Guang Dong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guang Dong 510006, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Faculty
of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Guang Dong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guang Dong 510006, China
| | - Chang Zhi Dong
- Faculty
of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Guang Dong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guang Dong 510006, China
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, ITODYS, UMR 7086 CNRS, 15 rue J-A de Baïf, 75205 Cedex
13 Paris, France
| | - Bernard Meunier
- Faculty
of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Guang Dong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guang Dong 510006, China
- Laboratoire,
de Chimie de Coordination du CNRS, 205 Route de Narbonne, 31077 Cedex Toulouse, France
| | - Huixiong Chen
- Faculty
of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Guang Dong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guang Dong 510006, China
- CNRS,
UMR8601, Laboratoire de Chimie et Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologiques,
CBNIT, Université Paris Descartes PRES Sorbonne Paris Cité, UFR Biomédicale, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75270 Cedex 06 Paris, France
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36
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van Wijngaarden P, Hadoux X, Alwan M, Keel S, Dirani M. Emerging ocular biomarkers of Alzheimer disease. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2016; 45:54-61. [PMID: 28147442 DOI: 10.1111/ceo.12872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Revised: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Interest in reliable biomarkers of Alzheimer disease, the leading cause of dementia, has been fuelled by challenges in diagnosing the disease and monitoring disease progression as well as the response to therapy. A range of ocular manifestations of Alzheimer disease, including retinal and lens amyloid-beta accumulation, retinal nerve fiber layer loss, and retinal vascular changes, have been proposed as potential biomarkers of the disease. Herein, we examine the evidence regarding the potential value of these ocular biomarkers of Alzheimer disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter van Wijngaarden
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Australia.,Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery, Australia
| | - Xavier Hadoux
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Australia.,Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery, Australia
| | - Mostafa Alwan
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Australia.,Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery, Australia
| | - Stuart Keel
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Australia.,Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery, Australia
| | - Mohamed Dirani
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Australia.,Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery, Australia
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37
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Hart NJ, Koronyo Y, Black KL, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Ocular indicators of Alzheimer's: exploring disease in the retina. Acta Neuropathol 2016; 132:767-787. [PMID: 27645291 PMCID: PMC5106496 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-016-1613-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although historically perceived as a disorder confined to the brain, our understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has expanded to include extra-cerebral manifestation, with mounting evidence of abnormalities in the eye. Among ocular tissues, the retina, a developmental outgrowth of the brain, is marked by an array of pathologies in patients suffering from AD, including nerve fiber layer thinning, degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, and changes to vascular parameters. While the hallmark pathological signs of AD, amyloid β-protein (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) comprising hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau) protein, have long been described in the brain, identification of these characteristic biomarkers in the retina has only recently been reported. In particular, Aβ deposits were discovered in post-mortem retinas of advanced and early stage cases of AD, in stark contrast to non-AD controls. Subsequent studies have reported elevated Aβ42/40 peptides, morphologically diverse Aβ plaques, and pTau in the retina. In line with the above findings, animal model studies have reported retinal Aβ deposits and tauopathy, often correlated with local inflammation, retinal ganglion cell degeneration, and functional deficits. This review highlights the converging evidence that AD manifests in the eye, especially in the retina, which can be imaged directly and non-invasively. Visual dysfunction in AD patients, traditionally attributed to well-documented cerebral pathology, can now be reexamined as a direct outcome of retinal abnormalities. As we continue to study the disease in the brain, the emerging field of ocular AD warrants further investigation of how the retina may faithfully reflect the neurological disease. Indeed, detection of retinal AD pathology, particularly the early presenting amyloid biomarkers, using advanced high-resolution imaging techniques may allow large-scale screening and monitoring of at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadav J Hart
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, 90048, CA, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, 90048, CA, USA
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, 90048, CA, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, 90048, CA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 110 George Burns Rd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
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38
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Davis BM, Crawley L, Pahlitzsch M, Javaid F, Cordeiro MF. Glaucoma: the retina and beyond. Acta Neuropathol 2016; 132:807-826. [PMID: 27544758 PMCID: PMC5106492 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-016-1609-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Revised: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Over 60 million people worldwide are diagnosed with glaucomatous optic neuropathy, which is estimated to be responsible for 8.4 million cases of irreversible blindness globally. Glaucoma is associated with characteristic damage to the optic nerve and patterns of visual field loss which principally involves the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). At present, intraocular pressure (IOP) presents the only modifiable risk factor for glaucoma, although RGC and vision loss can continue in patients despite well-controlled IOP. This, coupled with the present inability to diagnose glaucoma until relatively late in the disease process, has led to intense investigations towards the development of novel techniques for the early diagnosis of disease. This review outlines our current understanding of the potential mechanisms underlying RGC and axonal loss in glaucoma. Similarities between glaucoma and other neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system are drawn before an overview of recent developments in techniques for monitoring RGC health is provided, including recent progress towards the development of RGC specific contrast agents. The review concludes by discussing techniques to assess glaucomatous changes in the brain using MRI and the clinical relevance of glaucomatous-associated changes in the visual centres of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Crawley
- Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, 153-173 Marylebone Road, London, UK
| | | | - Fatimah Javaid
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, UK
| | - Maria Francesca Cordeiro
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, UK.
- Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, 153-173 Marylebone Road, London, UK.
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39
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Mao Y, Chen X, Xu M, Fujita K, Motoki K, Sasabe T, Homma H, Murata M, Tagawa K, Tamura T, Kaye J, Finkbeiner S, Blandino G, Sudol M, Okazawa H. Targeting TEAD/YAP-transcription-dependent necrosis, TRIAD, ameliorates Huntington’s disease pathology. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:4749-4770. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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40
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de Bruin DM, Broekgaarden M, van Gemert MJC, Heger M, de la Rosette JJ, Van Leeuwen TG, Faber DJ. Assesment of apoptosis induced changes in scattering using optical coherence tomography. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2016; 9:913-923. [PMID: 26564260 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201500198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to identify changes in scattering with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and relate these measurements with mitochondrial changes during the initiation of apoptosis. Human retinal pigment epithelial cells were cultured and apoptosis was induced using 10% alcohol. Using the attenuation coefficient and backscattering, changes were measured during cell death in a cell-pellet and monolayer respectively. To confirm apoptosis, fluorescent activated cell sorting was used. Mitochondrial activity during apoptosis was assessed using an oxidative stress assay and fluorescent confocal microscopy. Pelleted apoptotic cells measured with OCT showed a clear rise while untreated cells showed a very small increase in attenuation coefficient. Monolayered apoptotic cells displayed a distinct increase, while untreated cells showed a small increase in the backscattering. Apoptosis was confirmed by FACS experiments. Mitochondrial changes during the onset of apoptosis were also measured. The results demonstrate that apoptotic cell death could be monitored in real-time by OCT. Changes in the scattering after induction of apoptosis are likely to be related to changes in the intracellular morphology. Oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial swelling could be responsible for the initial increase, while cell blebbing and secondary necrosis subsequently for the observed decrease in scattering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M de Bruin
- Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Mans Broekgaarden
- Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Martin J C van Gemert
- Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Michal Heger
- Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jean J de la Rosette
- Urology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ton G Van Leeuwen
- Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dirk J Faber
- Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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41
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Ahmad SS. An introduction to DARC technology. Saudi J Ophthalmol 2016; 31:38-41. [PMID: 28337061 PMCID: PMC5352956 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjopt.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a multi-factorial neurodegenerative disorder. The common denominator in all types of glaucomas is retinal ganglion cell death through apoptosis. However, this cellular demise in glaucoma is detected late by structural or functional analyses. There can be a 10-year delay prior to the appearance of visual field defects and pre-perimetric glaucoma is an issue still being addressed. However, a new cutting-edge technology called detection of apoptosing retinal cells (DARC) is being developed. This technique is capable of non-invasive, real-time visualization of apoptotic changes at the cellular level. It can detect glaucomatous cell damage at a very early stage, at the moment apoptosis starts, and thus management can be initiated even prior to development of visual field changes. In future, this technique will also be able to provide conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of treatment protocol and the need for any modifications which may be required. This article aims to provide a concise review of DARC technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Shoeb Ahmad
- Department of Ophthalmology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
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42
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Javaid FZ, Brenton J, Guo L, Cordeiro MF. Visual and Ocular Manifestations of Alzheimer's Disease and Their Use as Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Progression. Front Neurol 2016; 7:55. [PMID: 27148157 PMCID: PMC4836138 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2016.00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia affecting the growing aging population today, with prevalence expected to rise over the next 35 years. Clinically, patients exhibit a progressive decline in cognition, memory, and social functioning due to deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) protein and intracellular hyperphosphorylated tau protein. These pathological hallmarks of AD are measured either through neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, or diagnosed post-mortem. Importantly, neuropathological progression occurs in the eye as well as the brain, and multiple visual changes have been noted in both human and animal models of AD. The eye offers itself as a transparent medium to cerebral pathology and has thus potentiated the development of ocular biomarkers for AD. The use of non-invasive screening, such as retinal imaging and visual testing, may enable earlier diagnosis in the clinical setting, minimizing invasive and expensive investigations. It also potentially improves disease management and quality of life for AD patients, as an earlier diagnosis allows initiation of medication and treatment. In this review, we explore the evidence surrounding ocular changes in AD and consider the biomarkers currently in development for early diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatimah Zara Javaid
- Glaucoma and Retinal Degeneration Research Group, Visual Neurosciences, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Jonathan Brenton
- Glaucoma and Retinal Degeneration Research Group, Visual Neurosciences, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Li Guo
- Glaucoma and Retinal Degeneration Research Group, Visual Neurosciences, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Maria F. Cordeiro
- Glaucoma and Retinal Degeneration Research Group, Visual Neurosciences, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
- Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
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43
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Shi H, Williams JAE, Guo L, Stampoulis D, Francesca Cordeiro M, Moss SE. Exposure to the complement C5b-9 complex sensitizes 661W photoreceptor cells to both apoptosis and necroptosis. Apoptosis 2016; 20:433-43. [PMID: 25735751 PMCID: PMC4348505 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-015-1091-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The loss of photoreceptors is the defining characteristic of many retinal degenerative diseases, but the mechanisms that regulate photoreceptor cell death are not fully understood. Here we have used the 661W cone photoreceptor cell line to ask whether exposure to the terminal complement complex C5b-9 induces cell death and/or modulates the sensitivity of these cells to other cellular stressors. 661W cone photoreceptors were exposed to complete normal human serum following antibody blockade of CD59. Apoptosis induction was assessed morphologically, by flow cytometry, and on western blotting by probing for cleaved PARP and activated caspase-3. Necroptosis was assessed by flow cytometry and Sirtuin 2 inhibition using 2-cyano-3-[5-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-furyl]-N-5-quinolinylacrylamide (AGK2). The sensitivity of 661W cells to ionomycin, staurosporine, peroxide and chelerythrine was also investigated, with or without prior formation of C5b-9. 661W cells underwent apoptotic cell death following exposure to C5b-9, as judged by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 cleavage and activation of caspase-3. We also observed apoptotic cell death in response to staurosporine, but 661W cells were resistant to both ionomycin and peroxide. Interestingly, C5b-9 significantly increased 661W sensitivity to staurosporine-induced apoptosis and necroptosis. These studies show that low levels of C5b-9 on 661W cells can induce apoptosis, and that C5b-9 specifically sensitizes 661W cells to certain apoptotic and necroptotic pathways. Our observations provide new insight into the potential role of the complement system in photoreceptor loss, with implications for the molecular aetiology of retinal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Shi
- Department of Cell Biology, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
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44
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Tian K, Shibata-Germanos S, Pahlitzsch M, Cordeiro MF. Current perspective of neuroprotection and glaucoma. Clin Ophthalmol 2015; 9:2109-18. [PMID: 26635467 PMCID: PMC4646599 DOI: 10.2147/opth.s80445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide and is most notably characterized by progressive optic nerve atrophy and advancing loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The main concomitant factor is the elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Existing treatments are focused generally on lowering IOP. However, both RGC loss and optic nerve atrophy can independently occur with IOP at normal levels. In recent years, there has been substantial progress in the development of neuroprotective therapies for glaucoma in order to restore vital visual function. The present review intends to offer a brief insight into conventional glaucoma treatments and discuss exciting current developments of mostly preclinical data in novel neuroprotective strategies for glaucoma that include recent advances in noninvasive diagnostics going beyond IOP maintenance for an enhanced global view. Such strategies now target RGC loss and optic nerve damage, opening a critical therapeutic window for preventative monitoring and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kailin Tian
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK ; Eye Centre, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shannon Shibata-Germanos
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Milena Pahlitzsch
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK ; Western Eye Hospital, ICORG, Imperial College NHS Trust, London, UK
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45
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Advances in retinal ganglion cell imaging. Eye (Lond) 2015; 29:1260-9. [PMID: 26293138 DOI: 10.1038/eye.2015.154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide and will affect 79.6 million people worldwide by 2020. It is caused by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), predominantly via apoptosis, within the retinal nerve fibre layer and the corresponding loss of axons of the optic nerve head. One of its most devastating features is its late diagnosis and the resulting irreversible visual loss that is often predictable. Current diagnostic tools require significant RGC or functional visual field loss before the threshold for detection of glaucoma may be reached. To propel the efficacy of therapeutics in glaucoma, an earlier diagnostic tool is required. Recent advances in retinal imaging, including optical coherence tomography, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and adaptive optics, have propelled both glaucoma research and clinical diagnostics and therapeutics. However, an ideal imaging technique to diagnose and monitor glaucoma would image RGCs non-invasively with high specificity and sensitivity in vivo. It may confirm the presence of healthy RGCs, such as in transgenic models or retrograde labelling, or detect subtle changes in the number of unhealthy or apoptotic RGCs, such as detection of apoptosing retinal cells (DARC). Although many of these advances have not yet been introduced to the clinical arena, their successes in animal studies are enthralling. This review will illustrate the challenges of imaging RGCs, the main retinal imaging modalities, the in vivo techniques to augment these as specific RGC-imaging tools and their potential for translation to the glaucoma clinic.
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46
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Dehabadi MH, Davis BM, Wong TK, Cordeiro MF. Retinal manifestations of Alzheimer's disease. Neurodegener Dis Manag 2015; 4:241-52. [PMID: 25095818 DOI: 10.2217/nmt.14.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is neurodegenerative condition and most common cause of dementia worldwide. Current criteria for its diagnosis and monitoring rely on subjective, expensive or invasive methods that lack sufficient sensitivity, such that a concrete diagnosis of AD can only be made postmortem. Given the structural similarities of the neuro-retina and central nervous system, researchers have shown many manifestations of AD to be detectible in the retinae of humans and transgenic models of AD. Due to the eye's unique optical properties allowing noninvasive in vivo imaging, the retina could provide a window for the early diagnosis and monitoring of AD long before symptom manifestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H Dehabadi
- Glaucoma & Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group, Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
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47
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Normando EM, Dehabadi MH, Guo L, Turner LA, Pollorsi G, Cordeiro MF. Real-time imaging of retinal cell apoptosis by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1254:227-237. [PMID: 25431069 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2152-2_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Retinal cell apoptosis occurs in many eye conditions, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and Alzheimer's disease. Real-time detection of retinal cell apoptosis has potential clinical value in early disease detection, as well as evaluating disease progression and treatment efficacy. Here, we describe our novel imaging technology DARC (Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells), which can be used to visualize single retinal neurons undergoing apoptosis in real time, by using fluorescently labeled Annexin A5 and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO ). Clinical trials of DARC in glaucoma patients are due to start shortly, but in this chapter, we describe this technique in experimental animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo M Normando
- Glaucoma & Retinal Degeneration Research Group, Visual Neurosciences, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
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48
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Direct optic nerve sheath (DONS) application of Schwann cells prolongs retinal ganglion cell survival in vivo. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1460. [PMID: 25321467 PMCID: PMC4237238 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Revised: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based therapies are increasingly recognized as a potential strategy to treat retinal neurodegenerative disease. Their administration, however, is normally indirect and complex, often with an inability to assess in real time their effects on cell death and their migration/integration into the host retina. In the present study, using a partial optic nerve transection (pONT) rat model, we describe a new method of Schwann cell (SC) delivery (direct application to injured optic nerve sheath, SC/DONS), which was compared with intravitreal SC delivery (SC/IVT). Both SC/DONS and SC/IVT were able to be assessed in vivo using imaging to visualize retinal ganglion cell (RGC) apoptosis and SC retinal integration. RGC death in the pONT model was best fitted to the one-phase exponential decay model. Although both SC/DONS and SC/IVT altered the temporal course of RGC degeneration in pONT, SC/DONS resulted in delayed but long-lasting effects on RGC protection, compared with SC/IVT treatment. In addition, their effects on primary and secondary degeneration, and axonal regeneration, were also investigated, by histology, whole retinal counting, and modelling of RGC loss. SC/DONS was found to significantly reduce RGC apoptosis in vivo and significantly increase RGC survival by targeting secondary rather than primary degeneration. Both SC/DONS and SC/IVT were found to promote RGC axonal regrowth after optic nerve injury, with evidence of GAP-43 expression in RGC somas and axons. SC/DONS may have the potential in the treatment of optic neuropathies, such as glaucoma. We show that SC transplantation can be monitored in real time and that the protective effects of SCs are associated with targeting secondary degeneration, with implications for translating cell-based therapies to the clinic.
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49
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Effect of the Aβ Aggregation Modulator MRZ-99030 on Retinal Damage in an Animal Model of Glaucoma. Neurotox Res 2014; 26:440-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s12640-014-9488-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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50
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Bizrah M, Dakin SC, Guo L, Rahman F, Parnell M, Normando E, Nizari S, Davis B, Younis A, Cordeiro MF. A semi-automated technique for labeling and counting of apoptosing retinal cells. BMC Bioinformatics 2014; 15:169. [PMID: 24902592 PMCID: PMC4063694 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-15-169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss is one of the earliest and most important cellular changes in glaucoma. The DARC (Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells) technology enables in vivo real-time non-invasive imaging of single apoptosing retinal cells in animal models of glaucoma and Alzheimer's disease. To date, apoptosing RGCs imaged using DARC have been counted manually. This is time-consuming, labour-intensive, vulnerable to bias, and has considerable inter- and intra-operator variability. RESULTS A semi-automated algorithm was developed which enabled automated identification of apoptosing RGCs labeled with fluorescent Annexin-5 on DARC images. Automated analysis included a pre-processing stage involving local-luminance and local-contrast "gain control", a "blob analysis" step to differentiate between cells, vessels and noise, and a method to exclude non-cell structures using specific combined 'size' and 'aspect' ratio criteria. Apoptosing retinal cells were counted by 3 masked operators, generating 'Gold-standard' mean manual cell counts, and were also counted using the newly developed automated algorithm. Comparison between automated cell counts and the mean manual cell counts on 66 DARC images showed significant correlation between the two methods (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.978 (p < 0.001), R Squared = 0.956. The Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.986 (95% CI 0.977-0.991, p < 0.001), and Cronbach's alpha measure of consistency = 0.986, confirming excellent correlation and consistency. No significant difference (p = 0.922, 95% CI: -5.53 to 6.10) was detected between the cell counts of the two methods. CONCLUSIONS The novel automated algorithm enabled accurate quantification of apoptosing RGCs that is highly comparable to manual counting, and appears to minimise operator-bias, whilst being both fast and reproducible. This may prove to be a valuable method of quantifying apoptosing retinal cells, with particular relevance to translation in the clinic, where a Phase I clinical trial of DARC in glaucoma patients is due to start shortly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Group, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK.
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