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Sun C, Fan Q, Xie R, Luo C, Hu B, Wang Q. Tetherless Optical Neuromodulation: Wavelength from Orange-red to Mid-infrared. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:1173-1188. [PMID: 38372931 PMCID: PMC11306867 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01179-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Optogenetics, a technique that employs light for neuromodulation, has revolutionized the study of neural mechanisms and the treatment of neurological disorders due to its high spatiotemporal resolution and cell-type specificity. However, visible light, particularly blue and green light, commonly used in conventional optogenetics, has limited penetration in biological tissue. This limitation necessitates the implantation of optical fibers for light delivery, especially in deep brain regions, leading to tissue damage and experimental constraints. To overcome these challenges, the use of orange-red and infrared light with greater tissue penetration has emerged as a promising approach for tetherless optical neuromodulation. In this review, we provide an overview of the development and applications of tetherless optical neuromodulation methods with long wavelengths. We first discuss the exploration of orange-red wavelength-responsive rhodopsins and their performance in tetherless optical neuromodulation. Then, we summarize two novel tetherless neuromodulation methods using near-infrared light: upconversion nanoparticle-mediated optogenetics and photothermal neuromodulation. In addition, we discuss recent advances in mid-infrared optical neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Spectral Imaging Technology, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710119, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Spectroscopy of Xi'an, Key Laboratory of Spectral Imaging Technology, XIOPM, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Qi Fan
- Key Laboratory of Spectral Imaging Technology, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710119, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Spectroscopy of Xi'an, Key Laboratory of Spectral Imaging Technology, XIOPM, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Rougang Xie
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Ceng Luo
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Bingliang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Spectroscopy of Xi'an, Key Laboratory of Spectral Imaging Technology, XIOPM, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Quan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Spectral Imaging Technology, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710119, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Spectroscopy of Xi'an, Key Laboratory of Spectral Imaging Technology, XIOPM, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710119, China.
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Borchert GA, Shamsnajafabadi H, Ng BWJ, Xue K, De Silva SR, Downes SM, MacLaren RE, Cehajic-Kapetanovic J. Age-related macular degeneration: suitability of optogenetic therapy for geographic atrophy. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1415575. [PMID: 39010943 PMCID: PMC11246919 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1415575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a growing public health concern given the aging population and it is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries, affecting individuals over the age of 55 years. AMD affects the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch's membrane in the macula, leading to secondary photoreceptor degeneration and eventual loss of central vision. Late AMD is divided into two forms: neovascular AMD and geographic atrophy (GA). GA accounts for around 60% of late AMD and has been the most challenging subtype to treat. Recent advances include approval of new intravitreally administered therapeutics, pegcetacoplan (Syfovre) and avacincaptad pegol (Iveric Bio), which target complement factors C3 and C5, respectively, which slow down the rate of enlargement of the area of atrophy. However, there is currently no treatment to reverse the central vision loss associated with GA. Optogenetics may provide a strategy for rescuing visual function in GA by imparting light-sensitivity to the surviving inner retina (i.e., retinal ganglion cells or bipolar cells). It takes advantage of residual inner retinal architecture to transmit visual stimuli along the visual pathway, while a wide range of photosensitive proteins are available for consideration. Herein, we review the anatomical changes in GA, discuss the suitability of optogenetic therapeutic sensors in different target cells in pre-clinical models, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of different routes of administration of therapeutic vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace A. Borchert
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Hoda Shamsnajafabadi
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin W. J. Ng
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kanmin Xue
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Samantha R. De Silva
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Susan M. Downes
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert E. MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jasmina Cehajic-Kapetanovic
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
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3
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Mohanty S, Batabyal S, Ayyagari A, Sharif NA. Safety of intravitreally delivered AAV2 vector-mediated multi-characteristic opsin genetic construct in wild type beagle dogs. J Gene Med 2024; 26:e3720. [PMID: 39041639 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A novel adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2)-carried multi-characteristic opsin (MCO) (MCO-010) is undergoing several clinical trials as a novel therapeutic modality for the treatment of degenerative retinal diseases including retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease. The present study aimed to determine the ocular and systemic safety of MCO-010 and the AAV2 vehicle in adult Beagle dogs following intravitreal (IVT) injection. METHODS The current safety/toxicology studies spanning 13 weeks described here utilized well-documented techniques to assess the effects of IVT injection of MCO-010 up to 2.2 × 1011 genome copies (gc) per eye, or the AAV2 capsid (vehicle control) on gross behavioral and immunogenic changes, alterations in body weights, blood biochemistry, hematology, blood coagulation, gross necropsy lesions, organ weight changes and histopathology in the dogs (n = 4 per group; two males and two females per group). Immunohistochemical and functional electroretinogram studies were also conducted to determine MCO expression in the retina and determine any retinal toxicity associated with MCO-010. RESULTS There were no significant deleterious effects of the MCO-010 (or the AAV2 at the tested doses) on any of the examined parameters, including the absence of any severe ocular or systemic adverse events. However, as expected, inflammation after IVT delivery of AAV2 and MCO-010 was observed in the conjunctivae of all groups of animals, although this self-resolved within 1 week post-injection. Quantitative immunohistochemical analyses of MCO-010-associated mCherry revealed successful delivery of the gene therapy within the inner retina. CONCLUSIONS In summary, MCO-010 demonstrated a favorable safety profile when administered to the eyes of adult Beagle dogs of both sexes at dose levels up to 2.2 × 1011 gc per eye, with no adverse effects observed. This dose was identified as the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (i.e. NOAEL) and guided selection of safe doses for human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samarendra Mohanty
- Nanoscope Technologies LLC, Bedford, TX, USA
- Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc., Dallas, TX, USA
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Rodgers J, Wright P, Ballister ER, Hughes RB, Storchi R, Wynne J, Martial FP, Lucas RJ. Modulating signalling lifetime to optimise a prototypical animal opsin for optogenetic applications. Pflugers Arch 2023; 475:1387-1407. [PMID: 38036775 PMCID: PMC10730688 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02879-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Animal opsins are light activated G-protein-coupled receptors, capable of optogenetic control of G-protein signalling for research or therapeutic applications. Animal opsins offer excellent photosensitivity, but their temporal resolution can be limited by long photoresponse duration when expressed outside their native cellular environment. Here, we explore methods for addressing this limitation for a prototypical animal opsin (human rod opsin) in HEK293T cells. We find that the application of the canonical rhodopsin kinase (GRK1)/visual arrestin signal termination mechanism to this problem is complicated by a generalised suppressive effect of GRK1 expression. This attenuation can be overcome using phosphorylation-independent mutants of arrestin, especially when these are tethered to the opsin protein. We further show that point mutations targeting the Schiff base stability of the opsin can also reduce signalling lifetime. Finally, we apply one such mutation (E122Q) to improve the temporal fidelity of restored visual responses following ectopic opsin expression in the inner retina of a mouse model of retinal degeneration (rd1). Our results reveal that these two strategies (targeting either arrestin binding or Schiff-base hydrolysis) can produce more time-delimited opsin signalling under heterologous expression and establish the potential of this approach to improve optogenetic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Rodgers
- Centre for Biological Timing, Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
| | - Phillip Wright
- Centre for Biological Timing, Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Edward R Ballister
- Centre for Biological Timing, Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, 10032, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca B Hughes
- Centre for Biological Timing, Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Riccardo Storchi
- Centre for Biological Timing, Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Jonathan Wynne
- Centre for Biological Timing, Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Franck P Martial
- Centre for Biological Timing, Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Robert J Lucas
- Centre for Biological Timing, Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
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Katada Y, Yoshida K, Serizawa N, Lee D, Kobayashi K, Negishi K, Okano H, Kandori H, Tsubota K, Kurihara T. Highly sensitive visual restoration and protection via ectopic expression of chimeric rhodopsin in mice. iScience 2023; 26:107716. [PMID: 37720108 PMCID: PMC10504486 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Photoreception requires amplification by mammalian rhodopsin through G protein activation, which requires a visual cycle. To achieve this in retinal gene therapy, we incorporated human rhodopsin cytoplasmic loops into Gloeobacter rhodopsin, thereby generating Gloeobacter and human chimeric rhodopsin (GHCR). In a murine model of inherited retinal degeneration, we induced retinal GHCR expression by intravitreal injection of a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector. Retinal explant and visual thalamus electrophysiological recordings, behavioral tests, and histological analysis showed that GHCR restored dim-environment vision and prevented the progression of retinal degeneration. Thus, GHCR may be a potent clinical tool for the treatment of retinal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusaku Katada
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kazuho Yoshida
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-0061, Japan
| | - Naho Serizawa
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Toyo University, Kita-ku, Tokyo 115-8650, Japan
| | - Deokho Lee
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kenta Kobayashi
- Section of Viral Vector Development, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Kazuno Negishi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hideki Kandori
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-0061, Japan
| | - Kazuo Tsubota
- Tsubota Laboratory, Inc., Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0016, Japan
| | - Toshihide Kurihara
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
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6
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Katada Y, Kunimi H, Serizawa N, Lee D, Kobayashi K, Negishi K, Okano H, Tanaka KF, Tsubota K, Kurihara T. Starburst amacrine cells amplify optogenetic visual restoration through gap junctions. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 30:1-13. [PMID: 37324975 PMCID: PMC10265492 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Ectopic induction of optogenetic actuators, such as channelrhodopsin, is a promising approach to restoring vision in the degenerating retina. However, the cell type-specific response of ectopic photoreception has not been well understood. There are limits to obtaining efficient gene expression in a specifically targeted cell population by a transgenic approach. In the present study, we established a murine model with high efficiency of gene induction to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and amacrine cells using an improved tetracycline transactivator-operator bipartite system (KENGE-tet system). To investigate the cell type-specific visual restorative effect, we expressed the channelrhodopsin gene into RGCs and amacrine cells using the KENGE-tet system. As a result, enhancement in the visual restorative effect was observed to RGCs and starburst amacrine cells. In conclusion, a photoresponse from amacrine cells may enhance the maintained response of RGCs and further increase or improve the visual restorative effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusaku Katada
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hiromitsu Kunimi
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Naho Serizawa
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Toyo University, Kita-ku, Tokyo 115-8650, Japan
| | - Deokho Lee
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kenta Kobayashi
- Section of Viral Vector Development, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Kazuno Negishi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kenji F. Tanaka
- Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kazuo Tsubota
- Tsubota Laboratory, Inc, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0016, Japan
| | - Toshihide Kurihara
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
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Wood EH, Kreymerman A, Kowal T, Buickians D, Sun Y, Muscat S, Mercola M, Moshfeghi DM, Goldberg JL. Cellular and subcellular optogenetic approaches towards neuroprotection and vision restoration. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 96:101153. [PMID: 36503723 PMCID: PMC10247900 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101153] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics is defined as the combination of genetic and optical methods to induce or inhibit well-defined events in isolated cells, tissues, or animals. While optogenetics within ophthalmology has been primarily applied towards treating inherited retinal disease, there are a myriad of other applications that hold great promise for a variety of eye diseases including cellular regeneration, modulation of mitochondria and metabolism, regulation of intraocular pressure, and pain control. Supported by primary data from the authors' work with in vitro and in vivo applications, we introduce a novel approach to metabolic regulation, Opsins to Restore Cellular ATP (ORCA). We review the fundamental constructs for ophthalmic optogenetics, present current therapeutic approaches and clinical trials, and discuss the future of subcellular and signaling pathway applications for neuroprotection and vision restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward H Wood
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Alexander Kreymerman
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Tia Kowal
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - David Buickians
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Yang Sun
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie Muscat
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Mark Mercola
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Darius M Moshfeghi
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Goldberg
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
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Parnami K, Bhattacharyya A. Current approaches to vision restoration using optogenetic therapy. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1236826. [PMID: 37663125 PMCID: PMC10469018 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1236826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited progressive degeneration of photoreceptors such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common cause of blindness leading to severe vision impairment affecting ~1 in 5,000 people worldwide. Although the function and morphology of the photoreceptors get disrupted, there is evidence that the inner retinal neurons such as bipolar cells and the retinal ganglion cells are left intact until later stages. Among several innovative therapeutic options aiming to restore vision, optogenetic therapy can bestow light sensitivity to remaining retinal neurons by ectopic expression of light-sensitive proteins. Since the advent of this technique, a diverse class of opsins (microbial and mammalian opsins), chimeric proteins, ligand-gated ion channels, and switchable opsins have been used to study their potential in vision restoration. These proteins differ in their excitation spectra, response kinetics, and signal amplification cascade. Although most of the studies have reported high fidelity of responses in the retina, only a handful of them have achieved functional vision in the visual cortex. This review is a summary of the visuocortical and behavioral responses after optogenetic treatment of the degenerated retina. This clarifies to what extent improved and meaningful vision can be obtained for therapeutic efficacy and continued clinical progress.
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DuBois DW, Murchison DA, Mahnke AH, Bang E, Winzer-Serhan U, Griffith WH, Souza KA. Maintenance of optogenetic channel rhodopsin (ChR2) function in aging mice: Implications for pharmacological studies of inhibitory synaptic transmission, quantal content, and calcium homeostasis. Neuropharmacology 2023:109651. [PMID: 37414332 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Disruption of synaptic function is believed to represent a common pathway contributing to cognitive decline during aging. Optogenetics is a prodigious tool for studying relationships between function and synaptic circuitry but models utilizing viral vectors present limitations. Careful characterization of the functionality of channel rhodopsin in transgenic models is crucial for determining whether they can be used across aging. This includes verifying the light sensitivity of the protein and confirming its ability to generate action potentials in response to light stimulation. We combined in vitro optogenetic methodology and a reduced synaptic preparation of acutely isolated neurons to determine if the ChR2(H134R)-eYFP vGAT mouse model is well-suited for aging studies. We used neurons from young (2-6 mo), middle-aged (10-14 mo) and aged (17-25 mo) bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mouse line with stable expression of the channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) variant H134R in GABAergic cell populations. Cellular physiology and calcium dynamics were assessed in basal forebrain (BF) neurons using patch-clamp recording and fura-2 microfluorimetry, alongside 470 nm light stimulation of the transgenic ChR2 channel to characterize a wide array of physiological functions known to decline with age. We found ChR2 expression is functionally maintained across aging, while spontaneous and optically evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents, and quantal content were decreased. Aged mice also showed an increase in intracellular calcium buffering. These results, which are on par with previous observations, demonstrate that the optogenetic vGAT BAC mouse model is well-suited for investigating age-related changes in calcium signaling and synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin W DuBois
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, USA
| | - David A Murchison
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Amanda H Mahnke
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Eunyoung Bang
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Ursula Winzer-Serhan
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, USA
| | - William H Griffith
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Karienn A Souza
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, USA.
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10
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Yan B, Viswanathan S, Brodie SE, Deng WT, Coleman KE, Hauswirth WW, Nirenberg S. A clinically viable approach to restoring visual function using optogenetic gene therapy. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 29:406-417. [PMID: 37251979 PMCID: PMC10213293 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetic gene therapies offer a promising strategy for restoring vision to patients with retinal degenerative diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Several clinical trials have begun in this area using different vectors and optogenetic proteins (Clinical Identifiers: NCT02556736, NCT03326336, NCT04945772, and NCT04278131). Here we present preclinical efficacy and safety data for the NCT04278131 trial, which uses an AAV2 vector and Chronos as the optogenetic protein. Efficacy was assessed in mice in a dose-dependent manner using electroretinograms (ERGs). Safety was assessed in rats, nonhuman primates, and mice, using several tests, including immunohistochemical analyses and cell counts (rats), electroretinograms (nonhuman primates), and ocular toxicology assays (mice). The results showed that Chronos-expressing vectors were efficacious over a broad range of vector doses and stimulating light intensities, and were well tolerated: no test article-related findings were observed in the anatomical and electrophysiological assays performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyuan Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Bionic Sight, Inc., New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Suresh Viswanathan
- Department of Biological and Vision Sciences, College of Optometry, State University of New York, New York, NY 10036, USA
| | - Scott E. Brodie
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10017, USA
| | - Wen-Tao Deng
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Kirsten E. Coleman
- Powel Gene Therapy Center Toxicology Core, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - William W. Hauswirth
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
- Bionic Sight, Inc., New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sheila Nirenberg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Bionic Sight, Inc., New York, NY 10065, USA
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Idzhilova OS, Kolotova DE, Smirnova GR, Abonakour A, Dolgikh DA, Petrovskaya LE, Kirpichnikov MP, Ostrovsky MA, Malyshev AY. Nonselective Expression of Short-Wavelength Cone Opsin Improves Learning in Mice with Retinal Degeneration in a Visually Guided Task. DOKLADY BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES : PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE USSR, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SECTIONS 2023; 510:167-171. [PMID: 37582993 DOI: 10.1134/s0012496623700369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
The study explored the potential of an animal opsin nonselectively expressed in various neuronal elements of the degenerative retina to restore the impaired visual function. A knockout murine model of inherited retinal dystrophy was used. Mice were injected intravitreally with either a virus carrying the gene of short-wavelength cone opsin associated with a reporter fluorescent protein or a control virus carrying the sequence of a modified fluorescent protein with enhanced membrane tropism. Viral transduction induced pronounced opsin expression in ganglion, bipolar, and horizontal retinal neurons. Behavioral testing included the visually guided task in the trapezoid Morris water maze and showed a partial recovery of the learning ability in the mice whose retinas had been transduced with cone opsin.
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Affiliation(s)
- O S Idzhilova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - D E Kolotova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - G R Smirnova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - A Abonakour
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, Moscow Oblast, Russia
| | - D A Dolgikh
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - L E Petrovskaya
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - M P Kirpichnikov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - M A Ostrovsky
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - A Yu Malyshev
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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12
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Yan B, Nirenberg S. An Engineering Platform for Clinical Application of Optogenetic Therapy in Retinal Degenerative Diseases. IEEE JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL ENGINEERING IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE 2023; 11:296-305. [PMID: 37250684 PMCID: PMC10217532 DOI: 10.1109/jtehm.2023.3275103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetics is a new approach for controlling neural circuits with numerous applications in both basic and clinical science. In retinal degenerative diseases, the photoreceptors die, but inner retinal cells remain largely intact. By expressing light sensitive proteins in the remaining cells, optogenetics has the potential to offer a novel approach to restoring vision. In the past several years, optogenetics has advanced into an early clinical stage, and promising results have been reported. At the current stage, there is an urgent need to develop hardware and software for clinical training, testing, and rehabilitation in optogenetic therapy, which is beyond the capability of existing ophthalmic equipment. In this paper, we present an engineering platform consisting of hardware and software utilities, which allow clinicians to interactively work with patients to explore and assess their vision in optogenetic treatment, providing the basis for prosthetic design, customization, and prescription. This approach is also applicable to other therapies that utilize light activation of neurons, such as photoswitches.Clinical and Translational Impact Statement-The engineering platform allows clinicians to conduct training, testing, and rehabilitation in optogenetic gene therapy for retinal degenerative diseases, providing the basis for prosthetic design, customization, and prescription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyuan Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell MedicineCornell UniversityNew YorkNY10065USA
- Bionic Sight Inc.New YorkNY10065USA
| | - Sheila Nirenberg
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell MedicineCornell UniversityNew YorkNY10065USA
- Bionic Sight Inc.New YorkNY10065USA
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13
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Ding J, Lu J, Zhang Q, Xu Y, Song B, Wu Y, Shi H, Chu B, Wang H, He Y. Camouflage Nanoparticles Enable in Situ Bioluminescence-Driven Optogenetic Therapy of Retinoblastoma. ACS NANO 2023; 17:7750-7764. [PMID: 37022677 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetic therapy has emerged as a promising technique for the treatment of ocular diseases; however, most optogenetic tools rely on external blue light to activate the photoswitch, whose relatively strong phototoxicity may induce retinal damage. Herein, we present the demonstration of camouflage nanoparticle-based vectors for in situ bioluminescence-driven optogenetic therapy of retinoblastoma. In biomimetic vectors, the photoreceptor CRY2 and its interacting partner CIB1 plasmid are camouflaged with folic acid ligands and luciferase NanoLuc-modified macrophage membranes. To conduct proof-of-concept research, this study employs a mouse model of retinoblastoma. In comparison to external blue light irradiation, the developed system enables an in situ bioluminescence-activated apoptotic pathway to inhibit tumor growth with greater therapeutic efficacy, resulting in a significant reduction in ocular tumor size. Furthermore, unlike external blue light irradiation, which causes retinal damage and corneal neovascularization, the camouflage nanoparticle-based optogenetic system maintains retinal structural integrity while avoiding corneal neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Ding
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology (NANO-CIC), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jianping Lu
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology (NANO-CIC), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology (NANO-CIC), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yanan Xu
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology (NANO-CIC), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Bin Song
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology (NANO-CIC), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yuqi Wu
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology (NANO-CIC), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Haoliang Shi
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology (NANO-CIC), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Binbin Chu
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology (NANO-CIC), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Houyu Wang
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology (NANO-CIC), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yao He
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology (NANO-CIC), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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14
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Chew LA, Iannaccone A. Gene-agnostic approaches to treating inherited retinal degenerations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1177838. [PMID: 37123404 PMCID: PMC10133473 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1177838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Most patients with inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) have been waiting for treatments that are "just around the corner" for decades, with only a handful of seminal breakthroughs happening in recent years. Highlighting the difficulties in the quest for curative therapeutics, Luxturna required 16 years of development before finally obtaining United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and its international equivalents. IRDs are both genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous. While this diversity offers many opportunities for gene-by-gene precision medicine-based approaches, it also poses a significant challenge. For this reason, alternative (or parallel) strategies to identify more comprehensive, across-the-board therapeutics for the genetically and phenotypically diverse IRD patient population are very appealing. Even when gene-specific approaches may be available and become approved for use, many patients may have reached a disease stage whereby these approaches may no longer be viable. Thus, alternate visual preservation or restoration therapeutic approaches are needed at these stages. In this review, we underscore several gene-agnostic approaches that are being developed as therapeutics for IRDs. From retinal supplementation to stem cell transplantation, optogenetic therapy and retinal prosthetics, these strategies would bypass at least in part the need for treating every individual gene or mutation or provide an invaluable complement to them. By considering the diverse patient population and treatment strategies suited for different stages and patterns of retinal degeneration, gene agnostic approaches are very well poised to impact favorably outcomes and prognosis for IRD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A. Chew
- Duke Center for Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetic Diseases, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Alessandro Iannaccone
- Duke Center for Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetic Diseases, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
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15
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Cehajic-Kapetanovic J, Singh MS, Zrenner E, MacLaren RE. Bioengineering strategies for restoring vision. Nat Biomed Eng 2023; 7:387-404. [PMID: 35102278 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00836-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Late-stage retinal degenerative disease involving photoreceptor loss can be treated by optogenetic therapy, cell transplantation and retinal prostheses. These approaches aim to restore light sensitivity to the retina as well as visual perception by integrating neuronal responses for transmission to the cortex. In age-related macular degeneration, some cell-based therapies also aim to restore photoreceptor-supporting tissue to prevent complete photoreceptor loss. In the earlier stages of degeneration, gene-replacement therapy could attenuate retinal-disease progression and reverse loss of function. And gene-editing strategies aim to correct the underlying genetic defects. In this Review, we highlight the most promising gene therapies, cell therapies and retinal prostheses for the treatment of retinal disease, discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each treatment strategy and the factors influencing whether functional tissue is reconstructed and repaired or replaced with an electronic device, and summarize upcoming technologies for enhancing the restoration of vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmina Cehajic-Kapetanovic
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
| | | | - Eberhart Zrenner
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Center for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Robert E MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
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16
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Zin EA, Ozturk BE, Dalkara D, Byrne LC. Developing New Vectors for Retinal Gene Therapy. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041291. [PMID: 36987583 PMCID: PMC10691475 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Since their discovery over 55 years ago, adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have become powerful tools for experimental and therapeutic in vivo gene delivery, particularly in the retina. Increasing knowledge of AAV structure and biology has propelled forward the development of engineered AAV vectors with improved abilities for gene delivery. However, major obstacles to safe and efficient therapeutic gene delivery remain, including tropism, inefficient and untargeted gene delivery, and limited carrying capacity. Additional improvements to AAV vectors will be required to achieve therapeutic benefit while avoiding safety issues. In this review, we provide an overview of recent methods for engineering-enhanced AAV capsids, as well as remaining challenges that must be overcome to achieve optimized therapeutic gene delivery in the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia A Zin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Bilge E Ozturk
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Leah C Byrne
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
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17
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Scalabrino ML, Field GD. Neuroscience: Visual restoration with optogenetics. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R110-R112. [PMID: 36750022 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.12.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Treating photoreceptor degenerative diseases is an exciting application of optogenetic technologies. However, there are significant challenges, such as producing normal visual signaling as the retina rewires in response to photoreceptor death. However, a new study shows remarkable functional stability in retinal circuits that can be engaged by optogenetics following photoreceptor loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda L Scalabrino
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Greg D Field
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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18
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Rodgers J, Hughes S, Lindner M, Allen AE, Ebrahimi AS, Storchi R, Peirson SN, Lucas RJ, Hankins MW. Functional integrity of visual coding following advanced photoreceptor degeneration. Curr Biol 2023; 33:474-486.e5. [PMID: 36630957 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Photoreceptor degeneration sufficient to produce severe visual loss often spares the inner retina. This raises hope for vision restoration treatments using optogenetics or electrical stimulation, which generate a replacement light input signal in surviving neurons. The success of these approaches is dependent on the capacity of surviving circuits of the visual system to generate and propagate an appropriate visual code in the face of neuroanatomical remodeling. To determine whether retinally degenerate animals possess this capacity, we generated a transgenic mouse model expressing the optogenetic actuator ReaChR in ON bipolar cells (second-order neurons in the visual projection). After crossing this with the rd1 model of photoreceptor degeneration, we compared ReaChR-derived responses with photoreceptor-driven responses in wild-type (WT) mice at the level of retinal ganglion cells and the visual thalamus. The ReaChR-driven responses in rd1 animals showed low photosensitivity, but in other respects generated a visual code that was very similar to the WT. ReaChR rd1 responses had high trial-to-trial reproducibility and showed sensitivity normalization to code contrast across background intensities. At the single unit level, ReaChR-derived responses exhibited broadly similar variations in response polarity, contrast sensitivity, and temporal frequency tuning as the WT. Units from the WT and ReaChR rd1 mice clustered together when subjected to unsupervised community detection based on stimulus-response properties. Our data reveal an impressive ability for surviving circuitry to recreate a rich visual code following advanced retinal degeneration and are promising for regenerative medicine in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Rodgers
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Steven Hughes
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Moritz Lindner
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Philipps University, Deutschhausstr. 1-2, Marburg 35037, Germany
| | - Annette E Allen
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Aghileh S Ebrahimi
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Riccardo Storchi
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Stuart N Peirson
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Robert J Lucas
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
| | - Mark W Hankins
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK; Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
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19
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John MC, Quinn J, Hu ML, Cehajic-Kapetanovic J, Xue K. Gene-agnostic therapeutic approaches for inherited retinal degenerations. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1068185. [PMID: 36710928 PMCID: PMC9881597 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1068185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are associated with mutations in over 250 genes and represent a major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. While gene augmentation or gene editing therapies could address the underlying genetic mutations in a small subset of patients, their utility remains limited by the great genetic heterogeneity of IRDs and the costs of developing individualised therapies. Gene-agnostic therapeutic approaches target common pathogenic pathways that drive retinal degeneration or provide functional rescue of vision independent of the genetic cause, thus offering potential clinical benefits to all IRD patients. Here, we review the key gene-agnostic approaches, including retinal cell reprogramming and replacement, neurotrophic support, immune modulation and optogenetics. The relative benefits and limitations of these strategies and the timing of clinical interventions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly C. John
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joel Quinn
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Monica L. Hu
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jasmina Cehajic-Kapetanovic
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kanmin Xue
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
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20
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Ghose D, Swain S, Patra CN, Jena BR, Rao MEB. Advancement and Applications of Platelet-inspired Nanoparticles: A Paradigm for Cancer Targeting. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2023; 24:213-237. [PMID: 35352648 DOI: 10.2174/1389201023666220329111920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Platelet-inspired nanoparticles have ignited the possibility of new opportunities for producing similar biological particulates, such as structural cellular and vesicular components, as well as various viral forms, to improve biocompatible features that could improve the nature of biocompatible elements and enhance therapeutic efficacy. The simplicity and more effortless adaptability of such biomimetic techniques uplift the delivery of the carriers laden with cellular structures, which has created varied opportunities and scope of merits like; prolongation in circulation and alleviating immunogenicity improvement of the site-specific active targeting. Platelet-inspired nanoparticles or medicines are the most recent nanotechnology-based drug targeting systems used mainly to treat blood-related disorders, tumors, and cancer. The present review encompasses the current approach of platelet-inspired nanoparticles or medicines that have boosted the scientific community from versatile fields to advance biomedical sciences. Surprisingly, this knowledge has streamlined to development of newer diagnostic methods, imaging techniques, and novel nanocarriers, which might further help in the treatment protocol of the various diseased conditions. The review primarily focuses on the novel advancements and recent patents in nanoscience and nanomedicine that could be streamlined in the future for the management of progressive cancers and tumor targeting. Rigorous technological advancements like biomimetic stem cells, pH-sensitive drug delivery of nanoparticles, DNA origami devices, virosomes, nano cells like exosomes mimicking nanovesicles, DNA nanorobots, microbots, etc., can be implemented effectively for target-specific drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashish Ghose
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Roland Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Berhampur, 760 010, Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha-769015, India
| | - Suryakanta Swain
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, The Assam Kaziranga University, Koraikhowa, NH-37, Jorhat, 785006, Assam, India
| | - Chinam Niranjan Patra
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Roland Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Berhampur, 760 010, Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha-769015, India
| | - Bikash Ranjan Jena
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Jatni, Bhubaneswar, 752050, Odisha, India
| | - Muddana Eswara Bhanoji Rao
- Calcutta Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology and AHS, Banitabla, Uluberia, Howrah, 711316, West Bengal, India
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21
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Cojocaru AE, Corna A, Reh M, Zeck G. High spatial resolution artificial vision inferred from the spiking output of retinal ganglion cells stimulated by optogenetic and electrical means. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1033738. [PMID: 36568888 PMCID: PMC9780279 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1033738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With vision impairment affecting millions of people world-wide, various strategies aiming at vision restoration are being undertaken. Thanks to decades of extensive research, electrical stimulation approaches to vision restoration began to undergo clinical trials. Quite recently, another technique employing optogenetic therapy emerged as a possible alternative. Both artificial vision restoration strategies reported poor spatial resolution so far. In this article, we compared the spatial resolution inferred ex vivo under ideal conditions using a computational model analysis of the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) spiking activity. The RGC spiking was stimulated in epiretinal configuration by either optogenetic or electrical means. RGCs activity was recorded from the ex vivo retina of transgenic late-stage photoreceptor-degenerated mice (rd10) using a high-density Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) based microelectrode array. The majority of retinal samples were stimulated by both, optogenetic and electrical stimuli using a spatial grating stimulus. A population-level analysis of the spiking activity of identified RGCs was performed and the spatial resolution achieved through electrical and optogenetic photo-stimulation was inferred using a support vector machine classifier. The best f1 score of the classifier for the electrical stimulation in epiretinal configuration was 86% for 32 micron wide gratings and increased to 100% for 128 microns. For optogenetically activated cells, we obtained high f1 scores of 82% for 10 microns grid width for a photo-stimulation frequency of 2.5 Hz and 73% for a photo-stimulation frequency of 10 Hz. A subsequent analysis, considering only the RGCs modulated in both electrical and optogenetic stimulation protocols revealed no significant difference in the prediction accuracy between the two stimulation modalities. The results presented here indicate that a high spatial resolution can be achieved for electrical or optogenetic artificial stimulation using the activated retinal ganglion cell output.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Corna
- Institute of Biomedical Electronics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Miriam Reh
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Günther Zeck
- Institute of Biomedical Electronics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
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22
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Optogenetic Therapy for Visual Restoration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315041. [PMID: 36499371 PMCID: PMC9735806 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Optogenetics is a recent breakthrough in neuroscience, and one of the most promising applications is the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases. Multiple clinical trials are currently ongoing, less than a decade after the first attempt at visual restoration using optogenetics. Optogenetic therapy has great value in providing hope for visual restoration in late-stage retinal degeneration, regardless of the genotype. This alternative gene therapy consists of multiple elements including the choice of target retinal cells, optogenetic tools, and gene delivery systems. Currently, there are various options for each element, all of which have been developed as a product of technological success. In particular, the performance of optogenetic tools in terms of light and wavelength sensitivity have been improved by engineering microbial opsins and applying human opsins. To provide better post-treatment vision, the optimal choice of optogenetic tools and effective gene delivery to retinal cells is necessary. In this review, we provide an overview of the advancements in optogenetic therapy for visual restoration, focusing on available options for optogenetic tools and gene delivery methods.
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23
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Rotov AY, Firsov ML. Optogenetic Prosthetization of Retinal Bipolar Cells. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093022060011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Although the experience of optogenetic retinal prosthetics
in animal models dates back to more than 16 years, the first results
obtained on humans have only been reported in the last year. Over this
period, the main challenges of prosthetics became clear and the
approaches to their solution were proposed. In this review, we aim
to present the achievements in the field of optogenetic prosthetization
of retinal bipolar cells with a focus mainly on relatively recent
publications. The review addresses the advantages and disadvantages
of bipolar cell prosthetics as compared to the alternative target,
retinal ganglion cells, and provides a comparative analysis of the
effectiveness of ionotropic light-sensitive proteins (channelrhodopsins)
or metabotropic receptors (rhodopsins) as prosthetic tools.
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24
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De Silva SR, Moore AT. Optogenetic approaches to therapy for inherited retinal degenerations. J Physiol 2022; 600:4623-4632. [PMID: 35908243 DOI: 10.1113/jp282076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal degenerations such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) affect around one in 4000 people and are the leading cause of blindness in working age adults in several countries. In these typically monogenic conditions, there is progressive degeneration of photoreceptors; however, inner retinal neurons such as bipolar cells and ganglion cells remain largely structurally intact, even in end-stage disease. Therapeutic approaches aiming to stimulate these residual cells, independent of the underlying genetic cause, could potentially restore visual function in patients with advanced vision loss, and benefit many more patients than therapies directed at the specific gene implicated in each disorder. One approach investigated for this purpose is that of optogenetics, a method of neuromodulation that utilises light to activate neurons engineered to ectopically express a light-sensitive protein. Using gene therapy via adeno-associated viral vectors, a range of photosensitive proteins have been expressed in remaining retinal cells in advanced retinal degeneration with in vivo studies demonstrating restoration of visual function. Developing an effective optogenetic strategy requires consideration of multiple factors, including the light-sensitive protein that is used, the vector and method for gene delivery, and the target cell for expression because these in turn may affect the quality of vision that can be restored. Currently, at least four clinical trials are ongoing to investigate optogenetic therapies in patients, with the ultimate aim of reversing visual loss in end-stage disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha R De Silva
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford, UK.,UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK.,Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Anthony T Moore
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK.,Ophthalmology Department, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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25
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Spampinato GLB, Ronzitti E, Zampini V, Ferrari U, Trapani F, Khabou H, Agraval A, Dalkara D, Picaud S, Papagiakoumou E, Marre O, Emiliani V. All-optical inter-layers functional connectivity investigation in the mouse retina. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2022; 2:100268. [PMID: 36046629 PMCID: PMC9421538 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We developed a multi-unit microscope for all-optical inter-layers circuits interrogation. The system performs two-photon (2P) functional imaging and 2P multiplexed holographic optogenetics at axially distinct planes. We demonstrated the capability of the system to map, in the mouse retina, the functional connectivity between rod bipolar cells (RBCs) and ganglion cells (GCs) by activating single or defined groups of RBCs while recording the evoked response in the GC layer with cell-type specificity and single-cell resolution. We then used a logistic model to probe the functional connectivity between cell types by deriving the "cellular receptive field" describing how RBCs impact each GC type. With the capability to simultaneously image and control neuronal activity at axially distinct planes, the system enables a precise interrogation of multi-layered circuits. Understanding this information transfer is a promising avenue to dissect complex neural circuits and understand the neural basis of computations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emiliano Ronzitti
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Valeria Zampini
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Ulisse Ferrari
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Francesco Trapani
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Hanen Khabou
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 75012 Paris, France
| | | | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Serge Picaud
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 75012 Paris, France
| | | | - Olivier Marre
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Valentina Emiliani
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 75012 Paris, France
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26
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Berry MH, Holt A, Broichhagen J, Donthamsetti P, Flannery JG, Isacoff EY. Photopharmacology for vision restoration. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2022; 65:102259. [PMID: 35749908 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2022.102259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Blinding diseases that are caused by degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptor cells often spare the rest of the retinal circuit, from bipolar cells, which are directly innervated by photoreceptor cells, to the output ganglion cells that project axons to the brain. A strategy for restoring vision is to introduce light sensitivity to the surviving cells of the retina. One approach is optogenetics, in which surviving cells are virally transfected with a gene encoding a signaling protein that becomes sensitive to light by binding to the biologically available chromophore retinal, the same chromophore that is used by the opsin photo-detectors of rods and cones. A second approach uses photopharmacology, in which a synthetic photoswitch associates with a native or engineered ion channel or receptor. We review these approaches and look ahead to the next generation of advances that could reconstitute core aspects of natural vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H Berry
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Amy Holt
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | - Prashant Donthamsetti
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - John G Flannery
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Vision Science, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ehud Y Isacoff
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; MBIB Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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27
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Gilhooley MJ, Lindner M, Palumaa T, Hughes S, Peirson SN, Hankins MW. A systematic comparison of optogenetic approaches to visual restoration. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 25:111-123. [PMID: 35402632 PMCID: PMC8956963 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
During inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs), vision is lost due to photoreceptor cell death; however, a range of optogenetic tools have been shown to restore light responses in animal models. Restored response characteristics vary between tools and the neuronal cell population to which they are delivered: the interplay between these is complex, but targeting upstream neurons (such as retinal bipolar cells) may provide functional benefit by retaining intraretinal signal processing. In this study, our aim was to compare two optogenetic tools: mammalian melanopsin (hOPN4) and microbial red-shifted channelrhodopsin (ReaChR) expressed within two subpopulations of surviving cells in a degenerate retina. Intravitreal adeno-associated viral vectors and mouse models utilising the Cre/lox system restricted expression to populations dominated by bipolar cells or retinal ganglion cells and was compared with non-targeted delivery using the chicken beta actin (CBA) promoter. In summary, we found bipolar-targeted optogenetic tools produced faster kinetics and flatter intensity-response relationships compared with non-targeted or retinal-ganglion-cell-targeted hOPN4. Hence, optogenetic tools of both mammalian and microbial origins show advantages when targeted to bipolar cells. This demonstrates the advantage of bipolar-cell-targeted optogenetics for vision restoration in IRDs. We therefore developed a bipolar-cell-specific gene delivery system employing a compressed promoter with the potential for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Gilhooley
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- The Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162, City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Moritz Lindner
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Philipps University, Deutschhausstrasse 1-2, Marburg 35037, Germany
| | - Teele Palumaa
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- East Tallinn Central Hospital Eye Clinic, Ravi 18, 10138 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Steven Hughes
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Stuart N. Peirson
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Mark W. Hankins
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Corresponding author Mark W. Hankins, Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
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28
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Lindner M, Gilhooley MJ, Hughes S, Hankins MW. Optogenetics for visual restoration: From proof of principle to translational challenges. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 91:101089. [PMID: 35691861 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Degenerative retinal disorders are a diverse family of diseases commonly leading to irreversible photoreceptor death, while leaving the inner retina relatively intact. Over recent years, innovative gene replacement therapies aiming to halt the progression of certain inherited retinal disorders have made their way into clinics. By rendering surviving retinal neurons light sensitive optogenetic gene therapy now offers a feasible treatment option that can restore lost vision, even in late disease stages and widely independent of the underlying cause of degeneration. Since proof-of-concept almost fifteen years ago, this field has rapidly evolved and a detailed first report on a treated patient has recently been published. In this article, we provide a review of optogenetic approaches for vision restoration. We discuss the currently available optogenetic tools and their relative advantages and disadvantages. Possible cellular targets will be discussed and we will address the question how retinal remodelling may affect the choice of the target and to what extent it may limit the outcomes of optogenetic vision restoration. Finally, we will analyse the evidence for and against optogenetic tool mediated toxicity and will discuss the challenges associated with clinical translation of this promising therapeutic concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Lindner
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Jules Thorn SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Philipps University, 35037, Marburg, Germany
| | - Michael J Gilhooley
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Jules Thorn SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom; The Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, EC1V 2PD, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Hughes
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Jules Thorn SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Mark W Hankins
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Jules Thorn SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom.
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29
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Nikonov S, Aravand P, Lyubarsky A, Nikonov R, Luo AJ, Wei Z, Maguire AM, Phelps NT, Shpylchak I, Willett K, Aleman TS, Huckfeldt RM, Ramachandran PS, Bennett J. Restoration of Vision and Retinal Responses After Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Optogenetic Therapy in Blind Dogs. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2022; 11:24. [PMID: 35604672 PMCID: PMC9145127 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.11.5.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Optogenetic gene therapy to render remaining retinal cells light-sensitive in end-stage retinal degeneration is a promising strategy for treatment of individuals blind because of a variety of different inherited retinal degenerations. The clinical trials currently in progress focus on delivery of optogenetic genes to ganglion cells. Delivery of optogenetic molecules to cells in the outer neural retina is predicted to be even more advantageous because it harnesses more of the retinal circuitry. However, this approach has not yet been tested in large animal models. For this reason, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of optogenetic therapy targeting remaining diseased cone photoreceptors in the Rcd1 dog model of retinitis pigmentosa. Methods Imaging and measures of retinal function and functional vision were carried out, as well as terminal studies evaluating multi-electrode array recordings and histology. Results Animals remained healthy and active throughout the study and showed improved retinal and visual function as assessed by electroretinography and visual-evoked potentials, improved navigational vision, and improved function of cone photoreceptors and the downstream retinal circuitry. Conclusions The findings demonstrate that an optogenetic approach targeting the outer retina in a blind large animal model can partially restore vision. Translational Relevance This work has translational relevance because the approach could potentially be extrapolated to treat humans who are totally blind because of retinal degenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei Nikonov
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Puya Aravand
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Arkady Lyubarsky
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Roman Nikonov
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Angela J. Luo
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zhangyong Wei
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Albert M. Maguire
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nicholas T. Phelps
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ivan Shpylchak
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Keirnan Willett
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tomas S. Aleman
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rachel M. Huckfeldt
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Pavitra S. Ramachandran
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jean Bennett
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION More than 5% of the world's population have a disabling hearing loss which can be managed by hearing aids or implanted electrical devices. However, outcomes are highly variable, and the sound perceived by recipients is far from perfect. Sparked by the discovery of progenitor cells in the cochlea and rapid progress in drug delivery to the cochlea, biological and pharmaceutical therapies are currently in development to improve the function of the cochlear implant or eliminate the need for it altogether. AREAS COVERED This review highlights progress in emerging regenerative strategies to restore hearing and adjunct therapies to augment the cochlear implant. Novel approaches include the reprogramming of progenitor cells to restore the sensory hair cell population in the cochlea, gene therapy and gene editing to treat hereditary and acquired hearing loss. A detailed review of optogenetics is also presented as a technique that could enable optical stimulation of the spiral ganglion neurons, replacing or complementing electrical stimulation. EXPERT OPINION Increasing evidence of substantial reversal of hearing loss in animal models, alongside rapid advances in delivery strategies to the cochlea and learnings from clinical trials will amalgamate into a biological or pharmaceutical therapy to replace or complement the cochlear implant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Ajay
- Bionics Institute, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Department of Engineering
| | | | - Rachael Richardson
- Bionics Institute, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Medical Bionics Department, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Advances in Ophthalmic Optogenetics: Approaches and Applications. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020269. [PMID: 35204770 PMCID: PMC8961521 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in optogenetics hold promise for vision restoration in degenerative eye diseases. Optogenetics refers to techniques that use light to control the cellular activity of targeted cells. Although optogenetics is a relatively new technology, multiple therapeutic options are already being explored in pre-clinical and phase I/II clinical trials with the aim of developing novel, safe, and effective treatments for major blinding eye diseases, such as glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa. Optogenetic approaches to visual restoration are primarily aimed at replacing lost or dysfunctional photoreceptors by inserting light-sensitive proteins into downstream retinal neurons that have no intrinsic light sensitivity. Such approaches are attractive because they are agnostic to the genetic causes of retinal degeneration, which raises hopes that all forms of retinal dystrophic and degenerative diseases could become treatable. Optogenetic strategies can also have a far-reaching impact on translational research by serving as important tools to study the pathogenesis of retinal degeneration and to identify clinically relevant therapeutic targets. For example, the CRY-CIBN optogenetic system has been recently applied to animal models of glaucoma, suggesting a potential role of OCRL in the regulation of intraocular pressure in trabecular meshwork. As optogenetic strategies are being intensely investigated, it appears crucial to consider the opportunities and challenges such therapies may offer. Here, we review the more recent promising optogenetic molecules, vectors, and applications of optogenetics for the treatment of retinal degeneration and glaucoma. We also summarize the preliminary results of ongoing clinical trials for visual restoration.
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32
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Bansal A, Shikha S, Zhang Y. Towards translational optogenetics. Nat Biomed Eng 2022; 7:349-369. [PMID: 35027688 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00829-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetics is widely used to interrogate the neural circuits underlying disease and has most recently been harnessed for therapeutic applications. The optogenetic toolkit consists of light-responsive proteins that modulate specific cellular functions, vectors for the delivery of the transgenes that encode the light-responsive proteins to targeted cellular populations, and devices for the delivery of light of suitable wavelengths at effective fluence rates. A refined toolkit with a focus towards translational uses would include efficient and safer viral and non-viral gene-delivery vectors, increasingly red-shifted photoresponsive proteins, nanomaterials that efficiently transduce near-infrared light deep into tissue, and wireless implantable light-delivery devices that allow for spatiotemporally precise interventions at clinically relevant tissue depths. In this Review, we examine the current optogenetics toolkit and the most notable preclinical and translational uses of optogenetics, and discuss future methodological and translational developments and bottlenecks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshaya Bansal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Swati Shikha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. .,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. .,NUS Suzhou Research Institute, Suzhou, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
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33
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Provansal M, Marazova K, Sahel JA, Picaud S. Vision Restoration by Optogenetic Therapy and Developments Toward Sonogenetic Therapy. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2022; 11:18. [PMID: 35024784 PMCID: PMC8762673 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.11.1.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
After revolutionizing neuroscience, optogenetic therapy has entered successfully in clinical trials for restoring vision to blind people with degenerative eye diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa. These clinical trials still have to evaluate the visual acuity achieved by patients and to determine if it reaches its theoretical limit extrapolated from ex vivo experiments. Different strategies are developed in parallel to reduce required light levels and improve information processing by targeting various cell types. For patients with vision loss due to optic atrophy, as in the case of glaucoma, optogenetic cortical stimulation is hampered by light absorption and scattering by the brain tissue. By contrast, ultrasound waves can diffuse widely through the dura mater and the brain tissue as indicated by ultrasound imaging. Based on our recent results in rodents, we propose the sonogenetic therapy relying on activation of the mechanosensitive channel as a very promising vision restoration strategy with a suitable spatiotemporal resolution. Genomic approaches may thus provide efficient brain machine interfaces for sight restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katia Marazova
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - José Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des XV-XX, Paris, France
| | - Serge Picaud
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
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Agosto MA, Adeosun AAR, Kumar N, Wensel TG. The mGluR6 ligand-binding domain, but not the C-terminal domain, is required for synaptic localization in retinal ON-bipolar cells. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101418. [PMID: 34793838 PMCID: PMC8671642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Signals from retinal photoreceptors are processed in two parallel channels—the ON channel responds to light increments, while the OFF channel responds to light decrements. The ON pathway is mediated by ON type bipolar cells (BCs), which receive glutamatergic synaptic input from photoreceptors via a G-protein-coupled receptor signaling cascade. The metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR6 is located at the dendritic tips of all ON-BCs and is required for synaptic transmission. Thus, it is critically important for delivery of information from photoreceptors into the ON pathway. In addition to detecting glutamate, mGluR6 participates in interactions with other postsynaptic proteins, as well as trans-synaptic interactions with presynaptic ELFN proteins. Mechanisms of mGluR6 synaptic targeting and functional interaction with other synaptic proteins are unknown. Here, we show that multiple regions in the mGluR6 ligand-binding domain are necessary for both synaptic localization in BCs and ELFN1 binding in vitro. However, these regions were not required for plasma membrane localization in heterologous cells, indicating that secretory trafficking and synaptic localization are controlled by different mechanisms. In contrast, the mGluR6 C-terminus was dispensable for synaptic localization. In mGluR6 null mice, localization of the postsynaptic channel protein TRPM1 was compromised. Introducing WT mGluR6 rescued TRPM1 localization, while a C-terminal deletion mutant had significantly reduced rescue ability. We propose a model in which trans-synaptic ELFN1 binding is necessary for mGluR6 postsynaptic localization, whereas the C-terminus has a role in mediating TRPM1 trafficking. These findings reveal different sequence determinants of the multifunctional roles of mGluR6 in ON-BCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina A Agosto
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX, USA.
| | - Abiodun Adefola R Adeosun
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX, USA; Pharmacology and Chemical Biology Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX, USA
| | - Nitin Kumar
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX, USA
| | - Theodore G Wensel
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX, USA; Pharmacology and Chemical Biology Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX, USA
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35
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Van Gelder RN. Gene Therapy Approaches to Slow or Reverse Blindness From Inherited Retinal Degeneration: Growth Factors and Optogenetics. Int Ophthalmol Clin 2021; 61:209-228. [PMID: 34584058 PMCID: PMC8486303 DOI: 10.1097/iio.0000000000000386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
To date, clinical gene therapy efforts for inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) have focused largely on gene replacement. The large number of genes and alleles causing IRD, however, makes this approach practical only for the most common causes. Additionally, gene replacement therapy cannot reverse existing retinal degeneration. Viral-mediated gene therapy can be used for two other approaches to slow or reverse IRD. First, by driving intraocular expression of growth factors or neuroprotective proteins, retinal degeneration can be slowed. Second, by expressing light-sensitive proteins (either microbial channelopsins or mammalian G-protein coupled opsins) in preserved inner retinal neurons, light sensitivity can be restored to the blind retina. Both approaches have advanced substantially in the past decade, and both are nearing clinical tests. This review surveys recent progress in these approaches.
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Huang D, Heath Jeffery RC, Aung-Htut MT, McLenachan S, Fletcher S, Wilton SD, Chen FK. Stargardt disease and progress in therapeutic strategies. Ophthalmic Genet 2021; 43:1-26. [PMID: 34455905 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2021.1966053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Stargardt disease (STGD1) is an autosomal recessive retinal dystrophy due to mutations in ABCA4, characterized by subretinal deposition of lipofuscin-like substances and bilateral centrifugal vision loss. Despite the tremendous progress made in the understanding of STGD1, there are no approved treatments to date. This review examines the challenges in the development of an effective STGD1 therapy.Materials and Methods: A literature review was performed through to June 2021 summarizing the spectrum of retinal phenotypes in STGD1, the molecular biology of ABCA4 protein, the in vivo and in vitro models used to investigate the mechanisms of ABCA4 mutations and current clinical trials.Results: STGD1 phenotypic variability remains an challenge for clinical trial design and patient selection. Pre-clinical development of therapeutic options has been limited by the lack of animal models reflecting the diverse phenotypic spectrum of STDG1. Patient-derived cell lines have facilitated the characterization of splice mutations but the clinical presentation is not always predicted by the effect of specific mutations on retinoid metabolism in cellular models. Current therapies primarily aim to delay vision loss whilst strategies to restore vision are less well developed.Conclusions: STGD1 therapy development can be accelerated by a deeper understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Huang
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.,Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Incorporating Lions Eye Institute), the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science & the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Rachael C Heath Jeffery
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Incorporating Lions Eye Institute), the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - May Thandar Aung-Htut
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science & the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Samuel McLenachan
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Incorporating Lions Eye Institute), the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sue Fletcher
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science & the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Steve D Wilton
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science & the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Fred K Chen
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Incorporating Lions Eye Institute), the University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Australian Inherited Retinal Disease Registry and DNA Bank, Department of Medical Technology and Physics, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Ophthalmology, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
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Cui S, Ganjawala TH, Abrams GW, Pan ZH. Effect of Proteasome Inhibitors on the AAV-Mediated Transduction Efficiency in Retinal Bipolar Cells. Curr Gene Ther 2021; 19:404-412. [PMID: 32072884 DOI: 10.2174/1566523220666200211111326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adeno-associated Virus (AAV) vectors are the most promising vehicles for therapeutic gene delivery to the retina. To develop a practical gene delivery tool, achieving high AAV transduction efficiency in specific cell types is often required. AAV-mediated targeted expression in retinal bipolar cells is needed in certain applications such as optogenetic therapy, however, the transduction efficiency driven by endogenous cell-specific promoters is usually low. Methods that can improve AAV transduction efficiency in bipolar cells need to be developed. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to examine the effect of proteasome inhibitors on AAV-mediated transduction efficiency in retinal bipolar cells. METHODS Quantitative analysis of fluorescent reporter protein expression was performed to assess the effect of two proteasome inhibitors, doxorubicin and MG132, on AAV-mediated transduction efficiency in retinal bipolar cells in mice. RESULTS Our results showed that doxorubicin can increase the AAV transduction efficiency in retinal bipolar cells in a dose-dependent manner. We also observed doxorubicin-mediated cytotoxicity in retinal neurons, but the cytotoxicity could be mitigated by the coapplication of dexrazoxane. Three months after the coapplication of doxorubicin (300 μM) and dexrazoxane, the AAV transduction efficiency in retinal bipolar cells increased by 33.8% and no cytotoxicity was observed in all the layers of the retina. CONCLUSION Doxorubicin could enhance the AAV transduction efficiency in retinal bipolar cells in vivo. The potential long-term cytotoxicity caused by doxorubicin to retinal neurons could be partially mitigated by dexrazoxane. The coapplication of doxorubicin and dexrazoxane may serve as a potential adjuvant regimen for improving AAV transduction efficiency in retinal bipolar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjie Cui
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, United States
| | - Tushar H Ganjawala
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, United States
| | - Gary W Abrams
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, United States
| | - Zhuo-Hua Pan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, United States
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Gilhooley MJ, Hickey DG, Lindner M, Palumaa T, Hughes S, Peirson SN, MacLaren RE, Hankins MW. ON-bipolar cell gene expression during retinal degeneration: Implications for optogenetic visual restoration. Exp Eye Res 2021; 207:108553. [PMID: 33811915 PMCID: PMC8214074 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Retinal bipolar cells survive even in the later stages of inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) and so are attractive targets for optogenetic approaches to vision restoration. However, it is not known to what extent the remodelling that these cells undergo during degeneration affects their function. Specifically, it is unclear if they are free from metabolic stress, receptive to adeno-associated viral vectors, suitable for opsin-based optogenetic tools and able to propagate signals by releasing neurotransmitter. Methods Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) was performed to isolate labelled bipolar cells from dissociated retinae of litter-mates with or without the IRD mutation Pde6brd1/rd1 selectively expressing an enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) as a marker in ON-bipolar cells. Subsequent mRNA extraction allowed Illumina® microarray comparison of gene expression in bipolar cells from degenerate to those of wild type retinae. Changes in four candidate genes were further investigated at the protein level using retinal immunohistochemistry over the course of degeneration. Results A total of sixty differentially expressed transcripts reached statistical significance: these did not include any genes directly associated with native primary bipolar cell signalling, nor changes consistent with metabolic stress. Four significantly altered genes (Srm2, Slf2, Anxa7 & Cntn1), implicated in synaptic remodelling, neurotransmitter release and viral vector entry had immunohistochemical staining colocalising with ON-bipolar cell markers and varying over the course of degeneration. Conclusion Our findings suggest relatively few gene expression changes in the context of degeneration: that despite remodelling, bipolar cells are likely to remain viable targets for optogenetic vision restoration. In addition, several genes where changes were seen could provide a basis for investigations to enhance the efficacy of optogenetic therapies. Bipolar cells are attractive targets for therapeutic optogenetics in IRDs. This is the first cell specific transcriptomic analysis of bipolar cells in an IRD model. Bipolar cells maintain expression of genes essential to act as targets for optogenetics. Protein staining relating to four candidate genes (Anxa7, Cntn1, Srm2, Sulf2) is confirmed using immunohistochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Gilhooley
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, United Kingdom; The Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, EC1V 2PD, United Kingdom
| | - Doron G Hickey
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, United Kingdom; Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, 002, Australia
| | - Moritz Lindner
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, United Kingdom; The Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Philipps University, Deutschhausstrasse 1-2, Marburg, 35037, Germany
| | - Teele Palumaa
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Hughes
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, United Kingdom; Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart N Peirson
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, United Kingdom
| | - Robert E MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, United Kingdom; The Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, EC1V 2PD, United Kingdom
| | - Mark W Hankins
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, United Kingdom; Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, United Kingdom.
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Murenu E, Pavlou M, Richter L, Rapti K, Just S, Cehajic-Kapetanovic J, Tafrishi N, Hayes A, Scholey R, Lucas R, Büning H, Grimm D, Michalakis S. A universal protocol for isolating retinal ON bipolar cells across species via fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 20:587-600. [PMID: 33665228 PMCID: PMC7895692 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are characterized by progressive degeneration and loss of light-sensing photoreceptors. The most promising therapeutic approach for IRDs is gene supplementation therapy using viral vectors, which requires the presence of viable photoreceptors at the time of intervention. At later disease stages, photoreceptors are lost and can no longer be rescued with this approach. For these patients, conferring light-sensing abilities to the remaining interneurons of the ON circuit (i.e., ON bipolar cells) using optogenetic tools poses an alternative treatment strategy. Such treatments, however, are hampered by the lack of efficient gene delivery tools targeting ON bipolar cells, which in turn rely on the effective isolation of these cells to facilitate tool development. Herein, we describe a method to selectively isolate ON bipolar cells via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), based on the expression of two intracellular markers. We show that the method is compatible with highly sensitive downstream analyses and suitable for the isolation of ON bipolar cells from healthy as well as degenerated mouse retinas. Moreover, we demonstrate that this approach works effectively using non-human primate (NHP) retinal tissue, thereby offering a reliable pipeline for universal screening strategies that do not require inter-species adaptations or transgenic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Murenu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Marina Pavlou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Richter
- Core Facility Flow Cytometry, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kleopatra Rapti
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- BioQuant Center, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Just
- Laboratory for Infection Biology and Gene Transfer, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jasmina Cehajic-Kapetanovic
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University and Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Neda Tafrishi
- Core Facility Flow Cytometry, Gene Center, BioSysM, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Andrew Hayes
- Center for Biological Timing & School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Rachel Scholey
- Center for Biological Timing & School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Robert Lucas
- Center for Biological Timing & School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Laboratory for Infection Biology and Gene Transfer, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- BioQuant Center, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stylianos Michalakis
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
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Wei Z, Liu X, Li T, Li X, Zhou Q, Wu J, Zhang C. Transduction of mouse retina by insect cell packaged recombinant adeno-associated viruses and their mutants via intravitreal injection. Future Virol 2021. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2020-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Aim: Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is the most preferred gene therapy vector. The purpose of our research is to compare the infection tropism and gene expression efficiency of vitreous injection of recombinant AAVs (rAAVs) and their capsid mutants in mouse retina. Materials & methods: We packaged wild-type rAAV2/2,6,8,9 and their capsid mutants carrying EGFP expression cassette using insect cells. The gene expression profiles of rAAVs and their mutants in mouse retina were evaluated by optical imaging of retinal tissue flat mount and cryosections. Results & conclusion: The results showed that rAAV2 and rAAV2-Y444F mainly targeted retinal ganglion cell; rAAV8, rAAV8-Y733F, rAAV9 and mutants had obvious EGFP expression in retinal pigment epithelium cells. Compared with the wild-type rAAVs, capsid mutants have an improved transduction efficiency in mouse retina cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wei
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering & Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
- School of Life Science & Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaomei Liu
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering & Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
| | - Taiming Li
- School of Life Science & Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaofang Li
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering & Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
- School of Life Science & Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qungang Zhou
- Department of Blood Collection, Suzhou Red Cross Blood Center, Suzhou, China
| | - Jianxiang Wu
- Department of Blood Collection, Suzhou Red Cross Blood Center, Suzhou, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering & Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
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AAV Induced Expression of Human Rod and Cone Opsin in Bipolar Cells of a Mouse Model of Retinal Degeneration. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:1-8. [PMID: 35465048 PMCID: PMC7612646 DOI: 10.1155/2021/4014797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Vision loss caused by inherited retinal degeneration affects millions of people worldwide, and clinical trials involving gene supplementation strategies are ongoing for select forms of the disease. When early therapeutic intervention is not possible and patients suffer complete loss of their photoreceptor cells, there is an opportunity for vision restoration techniques, including optogenetic therapy. This therapy provides expression of light-sensitive molecules to surviving cell types of the retina, enabling light perception through residual neuronal pathways. To this end, the bipolar cells make an obvious optogenetic target to enable upstream processing of visual signal in the retina. However, while AAV transduction of the bipolar cells has been described, the expression of human opsins in these cell types within a model of retinal degeneration (rd1) has been less successful. In this study, we have expanded the optogenetic toolkit and shown successful expression of human rhodopsin driven by an ON-bipolar cell promoter (Grm6) in the rd1 mouse model using modified AAV capsids (AAV2.4YF, AAV8.BP2, and AAV2.7m8) delivered via intraocular injection. We also show the first presentation of ectopic expression of human cone opsin in the bipolar cells of rd1 mice. These data provide evidence of an expansion of the optogenetic toolkit with the potential to restore useful visual function, setting the stage for future trials in human patients.
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42
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Lindner M, Gilhooley MJ, Peirson SN, Hughes S, Hankins MW. The functional characteristics of optogenetic gene therapy for vision restoration. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:1597-1613. [PMID: 32728765 PMCID: PMC7904736 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03597-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetic strategies to restore vision in patients blind from end-stage retinal degenerations aim to render remaining retinal neurons light-sensitive. We present an innovative combination of multi-electrode array recordings together with a complex pattern-generating light source as a toolset to determine the extent to which neural retinal responses to complex light stimuli can be restored following viral delivery of red-shifted channelrhodopsin in the retinally degenerated mouse. Our data indicate that retinal output level spatiotemporal response characteristics achieved by optogenetic gene therapy closely parallel those observed for normal mice but equally reveal important limitations, some of which could be mitigated using bipolar-cell targeted gene-delivery approaches. As clinical trials are commencing, these data provide important new information on the capacity and limitations of channelrhodopsin-based gene therapies. The toolset we established enables comparing optogenetic constructs and stem-cell-based techniques, thereby providing an efficient and sensitive starting point to identify future approaches for vision restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Lindner
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Michael J Gilhooley
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Department of Neuroophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Stuart N Peirson
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Steven Hughes
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mark W Hankins
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Gauvain G, Akolkar H, Chaffiol A, Arcizet F, Khoei MA, Desrosiers M, Jaillard C, Caplette R, Marre O, Bertin S, Fovet CM, Demilly J, Forster V, Brazhnikova E, Hantraye P, Pouget P, Douar A, Pruneau D, Chavas J, Sahel JA, Dalkara D, Duebel J, Benosman R, Picaud S. Optogenetic therapy: high spatiotemporal resolution and pattern discrimination compatible with vision restoration in non-human primates. Commun Biol 2021; 4:125. [PMID: 33504896 PMCID: PMC7840970 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01594-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vision restoration is an ideal medical application for optogenetics, because the eye provides direct optical access to the retina for stimulation. Optogenetic therapy could be used for diseases involving photoreceptor degeneration, such as retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration. We describe here the selection, in non-human primates, of a specific optogenetic construct currently tested in a clinical trial. We used the microbial opsin ChrimsonR, and showed that the AAV2.7m8 vector had a higher transfection efficiency than AAV2 in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and that ChrimsonR fused to tdTomato (ChR-tdT) was expressed more efficiently than ChrimsonR. Light at 600 nm activated RGCs transfected with AAV2.7m8 ChR-tdT, from an irradiance of 1015 photons.cm−2.s−1. Vector doses of 5 × 1010 and 5 × 1011 vg/eye transfected up to 7000 RGCs/mm2 in the perifovea, with no significant immune reaction. We recorded RGC responses from a stimulus duration of 1 ms upwards. When using the recorded activity to decode stimulus information, we obtained an estimated visual acuity of 20/249, above the level of legal blindness (20/400). These results lay the groundwork for the ongoing clinical trial with the AAV2.7m8 - ChR-tdT vector for vision restoration in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Gauvain et al demonstrate that optogenetic therapy using the AAV2.7m8- ChR-tdT construct can partially restore vision in non-human primates to levels above those considered legally-blind. This study enables the identification of the most suitable construct for ongoing clinical trials attempting vision restoration in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Gauvain
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France.
| | - Himanshu Akolkar
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, University Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Antoine Chaffiol
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Fabrice Arcizet
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Mina A Khoei
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Mélissa Desrosiers
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Céline Jaillard
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Romain Caplette
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Marre
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Bertin
- CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, 28 rue de Charenton, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Claire-Maelle Fovet
- Département des Sciences du Vivant (DSV), MIRcen, Institut d'imagerie Biomédicale (I2BM), Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), 92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Joanna Demilly
- Département des Sciences du Vivant (DSV), MIRcen, Institut d'imagerie Biomédicale (I2BM), Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), 92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Valérie Forster
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Elena Brazhnikova
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Hantraye
- Département des Sciences du Vivant (DSV), MIRcen, Institut d'imagerie Biomédicale (I2BM), Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), 92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Pierre Pouget
- ICM, UMRS 1127 UPMC - U 1127 INSERM - UMR 7225 CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Anne Douar
- Gensight Biologics, 74 rue du faubourg Saint Antoine, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Didier Pruneau
- Gensight Biologics, 74 rue du faubourg Saint Antoine, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Joël Chavas
- Gensight Biologics, 74 rue du faubourg Saint Antoine, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, University Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, 28 rue de Charenton, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Jens Duebel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Ryad Benosman
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, University Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Serge Picaud
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France.
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McClements ME, Staurenghi F, MacLaren RE, Cehajic-Kapetanovic J. Optogenetic Gene Therapy for the Degenerate Retina: Recent Advances. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:570909. [PMID: 33262683 PMCID: PMC7686539 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.570909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The degeneration of light-detecting rod and cone photoreceptors in the human retina leads to severe visual impairment and ultimately legal blindness in millions of people worldwide. Multiple therapeutic options at different stages of degeneration are being explored but the majority of ongoing clinical trials involve adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-based gene supplementation strategies for select forms of inherited retinal disease. Over 300 genes are associated with inherited retinal degenerations and only a small proportion of these will be suitable for gene replacement therapy. However, while the origins of disease may vary, there are considerable similarities in the physiological changes that occur in the retina. When early therapeutic intervention is not possible and patients suffer loss of photoreceptor cells but maintain remaining layers of cells in the neural retina, there is an opportunity for a universal gene therapy approach that can be applied regardless of the genetic origin of disease. Optogenetic therapy offers such a strategy by aiming to restore vision though the provision of light-sensitive molecules to surviving cell types of the retina that enable light perception through the residual neurons. Here we review the recent progress in attempts to restore visual function to the degenerate retina using optogenetic therapy. We focus on multiple pre-clinical models used in optogenetic strategies, discuss their strengths and limitations, and highlight considerations including vector and transgene designs that have advanced the field into two ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E. McClements
- Nuffield Laboratory Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Staurenghi
- Nuffield Laboratory Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert E. MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jasmina Cehajic-Kapetanovic
- Nuffield Laboratory Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Batabyal S, Gajjeraman S, Pradhan S, Bhattacharya S, Wright W, Mohanty S. Sensitization of ON-bipolar cells with ambient light activatable multi-characteristic opsin rescues vision in mice. Gene Ther 2020; 28:162-176. [PMID: 33087861 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-020-00200-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy-based treatment such as optogenetics offers a potentially powerful way to bypass damaged photoreceptors in retinal degenerative diseases and use the remaining retinal cells for functionalization to achieve photosensitivity. However, current approaches of optogenetic treatment rely on opsins that require high intensity light for activation thus adding to the challenge for use as part of a wearable device. Here, we report AAV2 assisted delivery of highly photosensitive multi-characteristic opsin (MCO1) into ON-bipolar cells of mice with retinal degeneration to allow activation by ambient light. Rigorous characterization of delivery efficacy by different doses of AAV2 carrying MCO1 (vMCO1) into targeted cells showed durable expression over 6 months after delivery as measured by reporter expression. The enduring MCO1 expression was correlated with the significantly improved behavioral outcome, that was longitudinally measured by visual water-maze and optomotor assays. The pro/anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in plasma and vitreous humor of the vMCO1-injected group did not change significantly from baseline or control group. Furthermore, biodistribution studies at various time points after injection in animal groups injected with different doses of vMCO1 showed non-detectable vector copies in non-targeted tissues. Immunohistochemistry of vMCO1 transfected retinal tissues showed bipolar specific expression of MCO1 and the absence of immune/inflammatory response. Furthermore, ocular imaging using SD-OCT showed no change in the structural architecture of vMCO1-injected eyes. Induction of ambient light responsiveness to remaining healthy bipolar cells in subjects with retinal degeneration will allow the retinal circuitry to gain visual acuity without requiring an active stimulation device.
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Carrella S, Indrieri A, Franco B, Banfi S. Mutation-Independent Therapies for Retinal Diseases: Focus on Gene-Based Approaches. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:588234. [PMID: 33071752 PMCID: PMC7541846 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.588234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is proving to be an effective approach to treat or prevent ocular diseases ensuring a targeted, stable, and regulated introduction of exogenous genetic material with therapeutic action. Retinal diseases can be broadly categorized into two groups, namely monogenic and complex (multifactorial) forms. The high genetic heterogeneity of monogenic forms represents a significant limitation to the application of gene-specific therapeutic strategies for a significant fraction of patients. Therefore, mutation-independent therapeutic strategies, acting on common pathways that underly retinal damage, are gaining interest as complementary/alternative approaches for retinal diseases. This review will provide an overview of mutation-independent strategies that rely on the modulation in the retina of key genes regulating such crucial degenerative pathways. In particular, we will describe how gene-based approaches explore the use of neurotrophic factors, microRNAs (miRNAs), genome editing and optogenetics in order to restore/prolong visual function in both outer and inner retinal diseases. We predict that the exploitation of gene delivery procedures applied to mutation/gene independent approaches may provide the answer to the unmet therapeutic need of a large fraction of patients with genetically heterogeneous and complex retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Carrella
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy.,Medical Genetics, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Alessia Indrieri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy.,Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Brunella Franco
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy.,Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Sandro Banfi
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy.,Medical Genetics, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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Li Y, Li L, Wu J, Zhu Z, Feng X, Qin L, Zhu Y, Sun L, Liu Y, Qiu Z, Duan S, Yu YQ. Activation of astrocytes in hippocampus decreases fear memory through adenosine A 1 receptors. eLife 2020; 9:57155. [PMID: 32869747 PMCID: PMC7505657 DOI: 10.7554/elife.57155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes respond to and regulate neuronal activity, yet their role in mammalian behavior remains incompletely understood. Especially unclear is whether, and if so how, astrocyte activity regulates contextual fear memory, the dysregulation of which leads to pathological fear-related disorders. We generated GFAP-ChR2-EYFP rats to allow the specific activation of astrocytes in vivo by optogenetics. We found that after memory acquisition within a temporal window, astrocyte activation disrupted memory consolidation and persistently decreased contextual but not cued fear memory accompanied by reduced fear-related anxiety behavior. In vivo microdialysis experiments showed astrocyte photoactivation increased extracellular ATP and adenosine concentrations. Intracerebral blockade of adenosine A1 receptors (A1Rs) reversed the attenuation of fear memory. Furthermore, intracerebral or intraperitoneal injection of A1R agonist mimicked the effects of astrocyte activation. Therefore, our findings provide a deeper understanding of the astrocyte-mediated regulation of fear memory and suggest a new and important therapeutic strategy against pathological fear-related disorders. Memory is the record of what we learn over time and is essential to our survival. But not all memories are helpful. Repeatedly recalling a traumatic event – such as an assault – can be harmful. About 1 in 3 people who experience severe trauma go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in which they re-live the traumatic event in the form of flashbacks and nightmares. Others develop panic disorder, phobias or depression. Preventing this chain of events is challenging because fear memories form rapidly and last a long time. Current treatments involve re-exposing individuals to the traumatic event. This could be real-life exposure in the case of a phobia. Or it could involve visualizing the event, in the case of PTSD. Controlled re-exposure can help individuals learn new coping strategies. But it does not erase the initial fear memory. A better approach might be to take advantage of the fact that new memories are unstable. To form a long-lasting memory trace, newly acquired information must go through a process called consolidation to stabilize it. This process takes place in an area of the brain called the hippocampus. If consolidation does not occur, new memory traces can fade away. Li, Li et al. now show that preventing consolidation in the rat brain stops the animals from forming lasting memories of a stressful event, namely a foot shock. In the study, the rats first learned to associate a foot shock with a tone. This training took place inside a specific chamber. After learning the association, the rats began to freeze – a sign of fear – whenever they entered the chamber. This happened even if the tone was not played. But Li, Li et al. showed that they could reduce this fear response by activating cells in the hippocampus known as astrocytes, shortly after the learning episode. Activating the astrocytes made them release a substance called adenosine. Molecules of adenosine then bound to and activated proteins called adenosine A1 receptors. Administering a drug that activated these receptors directly had the same effect as activating the astrocytes themselves. This suggests that drugs of this type could one day help patients with fear-related disorders such as PTSD and phobias. For this to become a reality, new studies must test different drugs and find the best ways of administering them. After testing in animal models, the next step will be preliminary clinical trials in people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulan Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lixuan Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jintao Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhenggang Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Feng
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liming Qin
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuwei Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yijun Liu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zilong Qiu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shumin Duan
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Research Units for Emotion and Emotion Disorders, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan-Qin Yu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Batabyal S, Gajjeraman S, Bhattacharya S, Wright W, Mohanty S. Nano-enhanced Optical Gene Delivery to Retinal Degenerated Mice. Curr Gene Ther 2020; 19:318-329. [PMID: 31625475 DOI: 10.2174/1566523219666191017114044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The efficient and targeted delivery of genes and other impermeable therapeutic molecules into retinal cells is of immense importance for the therapy of various visual disorders. Traditional methods for gene delivery require viral transfection, or chemical methods that suffer from one or many drawbacks, such as low efficiency, lack of spatially targeted delivery, and can generally have deleterious effects, such as unexpected inflammatory responses and immunological reactions. METHODS We aim to develop a continuous wave near-infrared laser-based Nano-enhanced Optical Delivery (NOD) method for spatially controlled delivery of ambient-light-activatable Muti-Characteristic opsin-encoding genes into retina in-vivo and ex-vivo. In this method, the optical field enhancement by gold nanorods is utilized to transiently permeabilize cell membrane, enabling delivery of exogenous impermeable molecules to nanorod-binding cells in laser-irradiated regions. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION With viral or other non-viral (e.g. electroporation, lipofection) methods, gene is delivered everywhere, causing uncontrolled expression over the whole retina. This will cause complications in the functioning of non-degenerated areas of the retina. In the NOD method, the contrast in temperature rise in laser-irradiated nanorod-attached cells at nano-hotspots is significant enough to allow site-specific delivery of large genes. The in-vitro and in-vivo results using NOD, clearly demonstrate in-vivo gene delivery and functional cellular expression in targeted retinal regions without compromising the structural integrity of the eye or causing immune response. CONCLUSION The successful delivery and expression of MCO in the targeted retina after in-vivo NOD in the mice models of retinal degeneration opens a new vista for re-photosensitizing retina with geographic atrophies, such as in dry age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subrata Batabyal
- Nanoscope Technologies LLC, 1312 Brown Trail, Bedford, TX, 76022, United States
| | | | | | - Weldon Wright
- Nanoscope Technologies LLC, 1312 Brown Trail, Bedford, TX, 76022, United States
| | - Samarendra Mohanty
- Nanoscope Technologies LLC, 1312 Brown Trail, Bedford, TX, 76022, United States
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Morizur L, Herardot E, Monville C, Ben M'Barek K. Human pluripotent stem cells: A toolbox to understand and treat retinal degeneration. Mol Cell Neurosci 2020; 107:103523. [PMID: 32634576 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) are retinal degenerative disorders that dramatically damage the retina. As there is no therapeutic option for the majority of patients, vision is progressively and irremediably lost. Owing to their unlimited renewal and potency to give rise to any cell type of the human adult body, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have been extensively studied in recent years to develop more physiologically relevant in vitro cellular models. Such models open new perspectives to investigate the pathological molecular mechanisms of AMD and RP but also in drug screening. Moreover, proof-of-concept of hPSC-derived retinal cell therapy in animal models have led to first clinical trials. This review outlines the recent advances in the use of hPSCs in pathological modeling of retinal degeneration and their use in regenerative medicine. We also address the associated limitations and challenges that need to be overcome when using hPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Morizur
- INSERM U861, I-Stem, AFM, Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic Diseases, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France; Université Paris-Saclay, Université d'Evry, U861, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France; Centre d'Etude des Cellules Souches, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Elise Herardot
- INSERM U861, I-Stem, AFM, Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic Diseases, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France; Université Paris-Saclay, Université d'Evry, U861, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Christelle Monville
- INSERM U861, I-Stem, AFM, Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic Diseases, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France; Université Paris-Saclay, Université d'Evry, U861, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France.
| | - Karim Ben M'Barek
- INSERM U861, I-Stem, AFM, Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic Diseases, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France; Université Paris-Saclay, Université d'Evry, U861, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France; Centre d'Etude des Cellules Souches, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France.
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50
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Richardson RT, Ibbotson MR, Thompson AC, Wise AK, Fallon JB. Optical stimulation of neural tissue. Healthc Technol Lett 2020; 7:58-65. [PMID: 32754339 PMCID: PMC7353819 DOI: 10.1049/htl.2019.0114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical stimulation has been used for decades in devices such as pacemakers, cochlear implants and more recently for deep brain and retinal stimulation and electroceutical treatment of disease. However, current spread from the electrodes limits the precision of neural activation, leading to a low quality therapeutic outcome or undesired side-effects. Alternative methods of neural stimulation such as optical stimulation offer the potential to deliver higher spatial resolution of neural activation. Direct optical stimulation is possible with infrared light, while visible light can be used to activate neurons if the neural tissue is genetically modified with a light sensitive ion channel. Experimentally, both methods have resulted in highly precise stimulation with little spread of activation at least in the cochlea, each with advantages and disadvantages. Infrared neural stimulation does not require modification of the neural tissue, but has very high power requirements. Optogenetics can achieve precision of activation with lower power, but only in conjunction with targeted insertion of a light sensitive ion channel into the nervous system via gene therapy. This review will examine the advantages and limitations of optical stimulation of neural tissue, using the cochlea as an exemplary model and recent developments for retinal and deep brain stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Theresa Richardson
- Bionics Institute, Melbourne 3002, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Medical Bionics Department, Melbourne, 3002, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Melbourne, 3002, Australia
| | - Michael R Ibbotson
- National Vision Research Institute, Australian College of Optometry, and Department of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Andrew K Wise
- Bionics Institute, Melbourne 3002, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Medical Bionics Department, Melbourne, 3002, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Melbourne, 3002, Australia
| | - James B Fallon
- Bionics Institute, Melbourne 3002, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Medical Bionics Department, Melbourne, 3002, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Melbourne, 3002, Australia
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