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Swamynathan SK, Swamynathan S. Corneal epithelial development and homeostasis. Differentiation 2023; 132:4-14. [PMID: 36870804 PMCID: PMC10363238 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The corneal epithelium (CE), the most anterior cellular structure of the eye, is a self-renewing stratified squamous tissue that protects the rest of the eye from external elements. Each cell in this exquisite three-dimensional structure needs to have proper polarity and positional awareness for the CE to serve as a transparent, refractive, and protective tissue. Recent studies have begun to elucidate the molecular and cellular events involved in the embryonic development, post-natal maturation, and homeostasis of the CE, and how they are regulated by a well-coordinated network of transcription factors. This review summarizes the status of related knowledge and aims to provide insight into the pathophysiology of disorders caused by disruption of CE development, and/or homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sudha Swamynathan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
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2
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Hotaling S, Desvignes T, Sproul JS, Lins LSF, Kelley JL. Pathways to polar adaptation in fishes revealed by long-read sequencing. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:1381-1397. [PMID: 35561000 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Long-read sequencing is driving a new reality for genome science in which highly contiguous assemblies can be produced efficiently with modest resources. Genome assemblies from long-read sequences are particularly exciting for understanding the evolution of complex genomic regions that are often difficult to assemble. In this study, we utilized long-read sequencing data to generate a high-quality genome assembly for an Antarctic eelpout, Ophthalmolycus amberensis, the first for the globally distributed family Zoarcidae. We used this assembly to understand how O. amberensis has adapted to the harsh Southern Ocean and compared it to another group of Antarctic fishes: the notothenioids. We showed that selection has largely acted on different targets in eelpouts relative to notothenioids. However, we did find some overlap; in both groups, genes involved in membrane structure, thermal tolerance and vision have evidence of positive selection. We found evidence for historical shifts of transposable element activity in O. amberensis and other polar fishes, perhaps reflecting a response to environmental change. We were specifically interested in the evolution of two complex genomic loci known to underlie key adaptations to polar seas: haemoglobin and antifreeze proteins (AFPs). We observed unique evolution of the haemoglobin MN cluster in eelpouts and related fishes in the suborder Zoarcoidei relative to other Perciformes. For AFPs, we identified the first species in the suborder with no evidence of afpIII sequences (Cebidichthys violaceus) in the genomic region where they are found in all other Zoarcoidei, potentially reflecting a lineage-specific loss of this cluster. Beyond polar fishes, our results highlight the power of long-read sequencing to understand genome evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Hotaling
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Thomas Desvignes
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - John S Sproul
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Luana S F Lins
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia
| | - Joanna L Kelley
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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3
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Ibrahim N, Hifny A, Elhanbaly R, El-Desoky SMM, Gaber W. Morphogenetic events influencing corneal maturation, development, and transparency: Light and electron microscopic study. Microsc Res Tech 2023; 86:539-555. [PMID: 36695458 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The development of the cornea is a fascinating process. Its dual origin involves the differentiation of surface ectoderm cells and the migration of mesenchymal cells of neural crest origin. This research aimed to demonstrate the morphogenesis of the rabbit cornea from fetal to postnatal life using light- and electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical analysis. There were 27 rabbit embryos and nine rabbits used. The rabbit cornea begins its prenatal development on the twelfth day of gestation. The surface ectoderm differentiates into the corneal epithelium on day 13. Intriguingly, telocytes were visible within the epithelium. The secondary stroma develops on the sixteenth day of gestation by differentiation of keratocytes. At the age of 2 weeks, the lamellae of collagenous fibers become highly organized, and the stroma becomes avascular, indicating that the cornea has become transparent. Bowman's membrane appears on day 23 of pregnancy and disappears on day 30. The Descemet's membrane appears at this time and continues to thicken postnatally. The corneal endothelium appears on the twentieth gestational day as double layer of flattened cells and becomes a single layer of cuboidal cells on day 30. The spaces between the endothelial cells resemble craters. VEGF immunohistochemical expression increases over the course of development, reaching its peak in the first week after birth before decreasing in all corneal layers and becoming negative in the stroma. In conclusion, numerous morphogenetic events contribute to corneal maturation and transparency, allowing the cornea to perform its vital functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagwa Ibrahim
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Abdalla Hifny
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Ruwaida Elhanbaly
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Sara M M El-Desoky
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Wafaa Gaber
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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4
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Cardozo MJ, Sánchez-Bustamante E, Bovolenta P. Optic cup morphogenesis across species and related inborn human eye defects. Development 2023; 150:dev200399. [PMID: 36714981 PMCID: PMC10110496 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The vertebrate eye is shaped as a cup, a conformation that optimizes vision and is acquired early in development through a process known as optic cup morphogenesis. Imaging living, transparent teleost embryos and mammalian stem cell-derived organoids has provided insights into the rearrangements that eye progenitors undergo to adopt such a shape. Molecular and pharmacological interference with these rearrangements has further identified the underlying molecular machineries and the physical forces involved in this morphogenetic process. In this Review, we summarize the resulting scenarios and proposed models that include common and species-specific events. We further discuss how these studies and those in environmentally adapted blind species may shed light on human inborn eye malformations that result from failures in optic cup morphogenesis, including microphthalmia, anophthalmia and coloboma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos J. Cardozo
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/ Nicolás Cabrera 1, Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), c/ Nicolás Cabrera 1, Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Elena Sánchez-Bustamante
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/ Nicolás Cabrera 1, Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), c/ Nicolás Cabrera 1, Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Paola Bovolenta
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/ Nicolás Cabrera 1, Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), c/ Nicolás Cabrera 1, Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
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5
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Contreras D, Garcia G, Jones MK, Martinez LE, Jayakarunakaran A, Gangalapudi V, Tang J, Wu Y, Zhao JJ, Chen Z, Ramaiah A, Tsui I, Kumar A, Nielsen-Saines K, Wang S, Arumugaswami V. Differential Susceptibility of Fetal Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells, hiPSC- Retinal Stem Cells, and Retinal Organoids to Zika Virus Infection. Viruses 2023; 15:142. [PMID: 36680182 PMCID: PMC9864143 DOI: 10.3390/v15010142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) causes microcephaly and congenital eye disease. The cellular and molecular basis of congenital ZIKV infection are not well understood. Here, we utilized a biologically relevant cell-based system of human fetal retinal pigment epithelial cells (FRPEs), hiPSC-derived retinal stem cells (iRSCs), and retinal organoids to investigate ZIKV-mediated ocular cell injury processes. Our data show that FRPEs were highly susceptible to ZIKV infection exhibiting increased apoptosis, whereas iRSCs showed reduced susceptibility. Detailed transcriptomics and proteomics analyses of infected FRPEs were performed. Nucleoside analogue drug treatment inhibited ZIKV replication. Retinal organoids were susceptible to ZIKV infection. The Asian genotype ZIKV exhibited higher infectivity, induced profound inflammatory response, and dysregulated transcription factors involved in retinal organoid differentiation. Collectively, our study shows that ZIKV affects ocular cells at different developmental stages resulting in cellular injury and death, further providing molecular insight into the pathogenesis of congenital eye disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deisy Contreras
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Gustavo Garcia
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Melissa Kaye Jones
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Laura E. Martinez
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Akshaya Jayakarunakaran
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | | | - Jie Tang
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ying Wu
- Alpine BioTherapeutics Corporation, 11107 Roselle Street, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Jiagang J. Zhao
- Alpine BioTherapeutics Corporation, 11107 Roselle Street, Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Zhaohui Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Arunachalam Ramaiah
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, Center at inStem, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Irena Tsui
- Retina Division, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | | | - Shaomei Wang
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Vaithilingaraja Arumugaswami
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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6
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Quinlan RA, Clark JI. Insights into the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms mediating the longevity of the transparent optics of the eye lens. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102537. [PMID: 36174677 PMCID: PMC9638808 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the human eye, a transparent cornea and lens combine to form the "refracton" to focus images on the retina. This requires the refracton to have a high refractive index "n," mediated largely by extracellular collagen fibrils in the corneal stroma and the highly concentrated crystallin proteins in the cytoplasm of the lens fiber cells. Transparency is a result of short-range order in the spatial arrangement of corneal collagen fibrils and lens crystallins, generated in part by post-translational modifications (PTMs). However, while corneal collagen is remodeled continuously and replaced, lens crystallins are very long-lived and are not replaced and so accumulate PTMs over a lifetime. Eventually, a tipping point is reached when protein aggregation results in increased light scatter, inevitably leading to the iconic protein condensation-based disease, age-related cataract (ARC). Cataracts account for 50% of vision impairment worldwide, affecting far more people than other well-known protein aggregation-based diseases. However, because accumulation of crystallin PTMs begins before birth and long before ARC presents, we postulate that the lens protein PTMs contribute to a "cataractogenic load" that not only increases with age but also has protective effects on optical function by stabilizing lens crystallins until a tipping point is reached. In this review, we highlight decades of experimental findings that support the potential for PTMs to be protective during normal development. We hypothesize that ARC is preventable by protecting the biochemical and biophysical properties of lens proteins needed to maintain transparency, refraction, and optical function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy A Quinlan
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road Science Site, Durham, United Kingdom; Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
| | - John I Clark
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
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Jarwar P, Waryah YM, Rafiq M, Waryah AM. Association of single nucleotide polymorphism variations in CRYAA and CRYAB genes with congenital cataract in Pakistani population. Saudi J Biol Sci 2022; 29:2727-2732. [PMID: 35531184 PMCID: PMC9073017 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.12.063] [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: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The purpose of present study was to analyze the association of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) variant in CRYAA and CRYAB genes with Congenital Cataract. Method Total 196 blood samples of children were collected, out of which 102 samples were congenital cataract (case group) and 94 samples were normal individuals (control group). Genomic DNA was extracted by using optimized inorganic method. Tetra primers for SNPs were designed and TETRA-ARMs assay was performed on both groups. Genotypic, allelic frequency and haplotype analyses were obtained by using SNPstats software. Results The coordination of genotypic and allelic frequencies of CRYAA and CRYAB genes variants and the association between case and control groups showed increased risk of congenital cataract in children who contained rs13053109 G > C variant of CRYAA in all models (all P > 0.05). This depicts the evident difference between the frequencies of case and control groups. The haplotype analysis of SNPs rs3761382, rs7278468 and rs13051039 of CRYAA gene showed weak linkage disequilibrium between the 3 SNPs (r2 < 0.8). The haplotype CTC indicated the high risk of congenital cataract in infants based of its p value (OR = 1.60 95% CI = 0.11-22.64, P > 0.05). Conclusion The variation in CRYAA gene can be the risk factor for congenital cataract in infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Jarwar
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | - Yar Muhammad Waryah
- Scientific Ophthalmic and Research Laboratory, Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Hyderabad 71500, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Rafiq
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | - Ali Muhammad Waryah
- Department of Pathology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
- Department Molecular Biology and Genetics, Medical Research Center, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
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8
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Zug R. Developmental disorders caused by haploinsufficiency of transcriptional regulators: a perspective based on cell fate determination. Biol Open 2022; 11:bio058896. [PMID: 35089335 PMCID: PMC8801891 DOI: 10.1242/bio.058896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Many human birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders are caused by loss-of-function mutations in a single copy of transcription factor (TF) and chromatin regulator genes. Although this dosage sensitivity has long been known, how and why haploinsufficiency (HI) of transcriptional regulators leads to developmental disorders (DDs) is unclear. Here I propose the hypothesis that such DDs result from defects in cell fate determination that are based on disrupted bistability in the underlying gene regulatory network (GRN). Bistability, a crucial systems biology concept to model binary choices such as cell fate decisions, requires both positive feedback and ultrasensitivity, the latter often achieved through TF cooperativity. The hypothesis explains why dosage sensitivity of transcriptional regulators is an inherent property of fate decisions, and why disruption of either positive feedback or cooperativity in the underlying GRN is sufficient to cause disease. I present empirical and theoretical evidence in support of this hypothesis and discuss several issues for which it increases our understanding of disease, such as incomplete penetrance. The proposed framework provides a mechanistic, systems-level explanation of HI of transcriptional regulators, thus unifying existing theories, and offers new insights into outstanding issues of human disease. This article has an associated Future Leader to Watch interview with the author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Zug
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden
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Lineage Contribution of PDGFR α-Expressing Cells in the Developing Mouse Eye. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:4982227. [PMID: 34285913 PMCID: PMC8275403 DOI: 10.1155/2021/4982227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PDGFRα signaling is critically important in ocular development. Previous data on PDGFRα lacks an expression map with high spatial and temporal resolution and lineage information. In this study, we aim to present a detailed PDGFRα expression and lineage map from early embryogenesis to adulthood. PDGFRα-CreER; mT/mG reporter mice were analyzed. mEGFP-positive cells contributed to multiple ocular lineages in a spatiotemporally regulated manner. A dynamic PDGFRα expression was identified in corneal stromal cells, lens epithelial cells, lens fiber cells, and retinal astrocytes during the entire period of eye development, while PDGFRα expression in retinal astrocytes from E17.5 onwards and in Müller glial cells was identified within two weeks after birth. By revealing detailed characterization of gene expression and function, we present a comprehensive map of PDGFRα-expressing cells in the eye for a better understanding of PDGFRα signaling's role during eye development.
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Tătaru CI, Tătaru CP, Costache A, Boruga O, Zemba M, Ciuluvică RC, Sima G. Congenital cataract - clinical and morphological aspects. ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY 2021; 61:105-112. [PMID: 32747900 PMCID: PMC7728133 DOI: 10.47162/rjme.61.1.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Congenital cataract is one of the main causes of blindness in newborns and children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 14 million children suffering from congenital cataract. Our study is based on 82 children, males – 46 (56.1%) and females – 36 (43.9%), with congenital cataract operated in the same ophthalmological centre in Bucharest, Romania. Of the 82 patients, 49 (59.76%) had bilateral cataract and 33 (40.24%) unilateral cataract. Clinically, the most frequent was the total cataract, followed by lamellar, nuclear and cerulean. We employed nine surgical approaches in our patients, depending on the type of intraocular lens (IOL). Morphologically, obvious changes were rendered evident at the level of anterior and posterior capsules, as well as subcapsular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cătălina Ioana Tătaru
- Department of Ophthalmology, Department of Anatomy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; ,
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11
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Chen HY, Lehmann OJ, Swaroop A. Genetics and therapy for pediatric eye diseases. EBioMedicine 2021; 67:103360. [PMID: 33975254 PMCID: PMC8122153 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Ocular morphogenesis in vertebrates is a highly organized process, orchestrated largely by intrinsic genetic programs that exhibit stringent spatiotemporal control. Alternations in these genetic instructions can lead to hereditary or nonhereditary congenital disorders, a major cause of childhood visual impairment, and contribute to common late-onset blinding diseases. Currently, limited treatment options exist for clinical phenotypes involving eye development. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of early-onset ocular disorders and highlights genetic complexities in development and diseases, specifically focusing on coloboma, congenital glaucoma and Leber congenital amaurosis. We also discuss innovative paradigms for potential therapeutic modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Y Chen
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA.
| | - Ordan J Lehmann
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA.
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12
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Sijilmassi O, Del Río Sevilla A, Maldonado Bautista E, Barrio Asensio MDC. Gestational folic acid deficiency alters embryonic eye development: Possible role of basement membrane proteins in eye malformations. Nutrition 2021; 90:111250. [PMID: 33962364 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2021.111250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Folic acid (FA) is crucial before and during early pregnancy. FA deficiency can occur because dietary FA intake is low in mothers at the time of conception. Likewise, various ocular pathologies are related to the alteration of extracellular matrices. The present study aimed to investigate the association between maternal FA deficiency and congenital eye defects. We also investigated whether maternal diet deficient in FA alters the expression of collagen IV and laminin-1 as a possible mechanism responsible for the appearance of ocular malformations. Both proteins are the main components of the basal lamina, and form an interlaced network that creates a relevant scaffold basement membrane. Basal laminae are involved in tissues maintenance and implicated in regulating many cellular processes. METHODS A total of 57 mouse embryos were classified into the following groups: Control group, (mothers were fed a standard rodent diet), and D2 and D8 groups (mothers were fed FA-deficient [FAD] diet for 2 or 8 wk, respectively). Female mice from group D2 were fed a FAD diet (0 mg/kg diet + 1% succinyl sulfathiazole used to block the synthesis of FA) for 2 wk from the day after mating until day 14.5 of gestation (E14.5). On the other hand, female mice from group D8 were fed a FAD diet for 8 wk (6 wk before conception and during the first 2 wk of pregnancy). For the data analysis, we first estimated the incidence of malformations in each group. Then, the statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 25.0. Expression patterns of collagen IV and laminin-1 were examined with the immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS Our results showed that mice born to FA-deficient mothers had several congenital eye abnormalities. Embryos from dams fed a short-term FAD diet were found to have many significant abnormalities in both anterior and posterior segments, as well as choroidal vessel abnormalities. However, embryos from dams fed a long-term FAD diet had a significantly higher incidence of eye defects. Finally, maternal FA deficiency increased the expression of both collagen IV and laminin-1. Likewise, changes in the spatial localization and organization of collagen IV were observed. CONCLUSIONS A maternal FAD diet for a short-term period causes eye developmental defects and induces overexpression of both collagen IV and laminin-1. The malformations observed are probably related to alterations in the expression of basement membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ouafa Sijilmassi
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Aurora Del Río Sevilla
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain; Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain
| | - Estela Maldonado Bautista
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Del Carmen Barrio Asensio
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain; Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Faculty of Medicine, Anatomy and Embryology Department, Madrid, Spain
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13
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Ballios BG, Pierce EA, Huckfeldt RM. Gene editing technology: Towards precision medicine in inherited retinal diseases. Semin Ophthalmol 2021; 36:176-184. [PMID: 33621144 DOI: 10.1080/08820538.2021.1887903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: To review preclinical and clinical advances in gene therapy, with a focus on gene editing technologies, and application to inherited retinal disease.Methods: A narrative overview of the literature, summarizing the state-of-the-art in clinical gene therapy for inherited retinal disease, as well as the science and application of new gene editing technology.Results: The last three years has seen the first FDA approval of an in vivo gene replacement therapy for a hereditary blinding eye disease and, recently, the first clinical application of an in vivo gene editing technique. Limitations and challenges in this evolving field are highlighted, as well as new technologies developed to address the multitude of molecular mechanisms of disease.Conclusion: Genetic therapy for the treatment of inherited retinal disease is a rapidly expanding area of ophthalmology. New technologies have revolutionized the field of genome engineering and rekindled an interest in precision medicines for these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian G Ballios
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eric A Pierce
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel M Huckfeldt
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Arefpour AM, Bahrami M, Haghparast A, Khoshgard K, Aryaei Tabar H, Farshchian N. Evaluating Dose-response of Cataract Induction in Radiotherapy of Head and Neck Cancers Patients. J Biomed Phys Eng 2021; 11:9-16. [PMID: 33564635 PMCID: PMC7859376 DOI: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.834] [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: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Head and neck cancers are currently the most common types of cancers. 3D-conformal radiation therapy is the most common dose delivery technique for head and neck cancers. Eye Lens is a radio sensitive structure and cataract formation as a visual disorder associated with exposure to ionizing radiation which is documented. OBJECTIVE Determining the radiation dose to eye lens during head and neck radiography and estimating the probability of cataract induction are essential. MATERIAL AND METHODS This experimental study was performed on 14 patients with head and neck cancers through experimental study analysis. The maximum opacity of the eyes lens were measured by pentacamTM before radiation therapy. CT data of patients were transmitted to Isogray treatment planning Software, and dose calculations for each patient was performed. At the end of radiation treatment, 3 and 6 months after radiotherapy, the eye lens opacity of the patients was assessed. RESULTS Overall, 28 lenses were studied. Statistical one sample K- S test proved normality of obtained data. Using repeated measures test, the relation before and 3 months after radiotherapy, as well as the relationship before and 6 months after radiotherapy proved a significant relationship. CONCLUSION The opacity caused by radiation in eyes is a non-statistical and linear-quadratic response curve with no threshold. This opacity can also appear within 3 months after completion of radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Arefpour
- MD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - M Bahrami
- MSc, Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - A Haghparast
- PhD, Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - K Khoshgard
- PhD, Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - H Aryaei Tabar
- MD, Departments of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - N Farshchian
- MD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
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15
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Imbalances in the eye lens proteome are linked to cataract formation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2021; 28:143-151. [PMID: 33432246 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-020-00543-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The prevalent model for cataract formation in the eye lens posits that damaged crystallin proteins form light-scattering aggregates. The α-crystallins are thought to counteract this process as chaperones by sequestering misfolded crystallin proteins. In this scenario, chaperone pool depletion would result in lens opacification. Here we analyze lenses from different mouse strains that develop early-onset cataract due to point mutations in α-, β-, or γ-crystallin proteins. We find that these mutant crystallins are unstable in vitro; in the lens, their levels are substantially reduced, and they do not accumulate in the water-insoluble fraction. Instead, all the other crystallin proteins, including the α-crystallins, are found to precipitate. The changes in protein composition and spatial organization of the crystallins observed in the mutant lenses suggest that the imbalance in the lenticular proteome and altered crystallin interactions are the bases for cataract formation, rather than the aggregation propensity of the mutant crystallins.
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16
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Brastrom LK, Scott CA, Wang K, Slusarski DC. Functional Role of the RNA-Binding Protein Rbm24a and Its Target sox2 in Microphthalmia. Biomedicines 2021; 9:100. [PMID: 33494192 PMCID: PMC7909789 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital eye defects represent a large class of disorders affecting roughly 21 million children worldwide. Microphthalmia and anophthalmia are relatively common congenital defects, with approximately 20% of human cases caused by mutations in SOX2. Recently, we identified the RNA-binding motif protein 24a (Rbm24a) which binds to and regulates sox2 in zebrafish and mice. Here we show that morpholino knockdown of rbm24a leads to microphthalmia and visual impairment. By utilizing sequential injections, we demonstrate that addition of exogenous sox2 RNA to rbm24a-deplete embryos is sufficient to suppress morphological and visual defects. This research demonstrates a critical role for understanding the post-transcriptional regulation of genes needed for development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindy K. Brastrom
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52245, USA;
| | | | - Kai Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52245, USA;
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17
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Vimalanathan M, Gupta P, Vardhan SA, Pillai MR, Uduman MS, Krishnadas SR, Ehrlich JR. Long-Term Surgical Outcomes of Primary Congenital Glaucoma in a South Indian Population. Ophthalmol Glaucoma 2020; 4:522-530. [PMID: 33373757 DOI: 10.1016/j.ogla.2020.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the long-term surgical outcomes of children with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) in a South Indian population. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS Children with PCG who underwent primary surgery from 1997 through 2000 at a tertiary eye center in India with minimum of 5 years of follow-up. METHODS This retrospective cohort study included children with PCG who underwent trabeculotomy, trabeculectomy, or combined trabeculotomy and trabeculectomy (CTT) as primary surgery from 1997 through 2000 at a tertiary eye center in India with minimum of 5 years of follow-up. Survival analyses were performed to determine cumulative probability of complete and qualified success. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Intraocular pressure (IOP) control, glaucoma medication use, surgical success rates, and complications. RESULTS The study included 50 eyes of 31 patients. Mean age at initial surgery was 5 months (range, 5 days-48 months) and 19 patients (61.3%) showed bilateral disease. Mean duration of follow-up was 10.9 ± 3.10 years (range, 6-18 years). Mean IOP was reduced from 28.58 ± 9.78 mmHg (range, 10-59 mmHg) before surgery to 17.13 ± 7.62 mmHg after surgery (range, 5-42 mmHg; P < 0.001) at final follow-up. Survival analysis showed that the probability of surgical success with CTT was 77.8% at 1 year, 66.2% at 2 years, 53.0% at 5 years, and 16.6% at 15 years. Visual acuity at last available follow-up correlated with surgical success (P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS Surgical success after long-term follow-up of children with PCG is low. The probability of surgical success declines over time. Children with PCG require life-long follow-up and management, even after initial surgical success, to prevent visual impairment and blindness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menaka Vimalanathan
- Department of Glaucoma, Aravind Eye Hospital Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Prakrati Gupta
- Department of Glaucoma, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S Ashok Vardhan
- Department of Glaucoma, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Manju R Pillai
- Department of Glaucoma, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Mohammed Sithiq Uduman
- Department of Glaucoma, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S R Krishnadas
- Department of Glaucoma, Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Joshua R Ehrlich
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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18
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Yoo YJ, Han SB, Yang HK, Hwang JM. Ocular coloboma combined with cleft lip and palate: a case report. BMC Ophthalmol 2020; 20:418. [PMID: 33076860 PMCID: PMC7574458 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-020-01696-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ocular coloboma is an excavation of ocular structures that occurs due to abnormal fusion of the embryonic optic fissure. Further, cleft lip/palate (CL/P), a congenital midline abnormality, is caused by a defect in the fusion of the frontonasal, maxillary, and mandibular prominences. No study has reported the association between these two phenotypes in the absence of other systemic abnormalities. We present a case of ocular coloboma along with CL/P and without other neurological abnormalities. Case presentation A 5-year-old Asian boy presented with decreased visual acuity in his right eye. Physical examination revealed no abnormal findings except CL/P, which was surgically corrected at the age of 9 months. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/60 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye. Anterior segment examination revealed iris coloboma in the inferior quadrant of his right eye as well as a large inferonasal optic disc and chorioretinal coloboma in the same eye. He was prescribed glasses based on his cycloplegic refractive errors and part-time occlusion of the left eye was recommended. After 3 months, best-corrected visual acuity improved to 20/30 in the right eye. Conclusion The association of ocular coloboma should be kept in mind when encountering a patient with CL/P without other neurological or systemic abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung Ju Yoo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kangwon National University Hospital, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, 156 Baengnyeong-ro, Chuncheon, 24289, South Korea
| | - Sang Beom Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kangwon National University Hospital, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, 156 Baengnyeong-ro, Chuncheon, 24289, South Korea.
| | - Hee Kyung Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Jeong-Min Hwang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
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19
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Cataract-Associated New Mutants S175G/H181Q of βΒ2-Crystallin and P24S/S31G of γD-Crystallin Are Involved in Protein Aggregation by Structural Changes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186504. [PMID: 32899552 PMCID: PMC7555777 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
β/γ-Crystallins, the main structural protein in human lenses, have highly stable structure for keeping the lens transparent. Their mutations have been linked to cataracts. In this study, we identified 10 new mutations of β/γ-crystallins in lens proteomic dataset of cataract patients using bioinformatics tools. Of these, two double mutants, S175G/H181Q of βΒ2-crystallin and P24S/S31G of γD-crystallin, were found mutations occurred in the largest loop linking the distant β-sheets in the Greek key motif. We selected these double mutants for identifying the properties of these mutations, employing biochemical assay, the identification of protein modifications with nanoUPLC-ESI-TOF tandem MS and examining their structural dynamics with hydrogen/deuterium exchange-mass spectrometry (HDX-MS). We found that both double mutations decrease protein stability and induce the aggregation of β/γ-crystallin, possibly causing cataracts. This finding suggests that both the double mutants can serve as biomarkers of cataracts.
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20
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Tang XJ, Ping XY, Luo CQ, Yu XN, Tang YL, Shentu XC. Dystrophia canthorum in Waardenburg syndrome with a novel MITF mutation. Int J Ophthalmol 2020; 13:1054-1059. [PMID: 32685391 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2020.07.06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To reveal a novel MITF gene mutation in Waardenburg syndrome (WS), which is an autosomal dominant inherited neurogenic disorder that consists of various degrees of sensorineural deafness and pigmentary abnormalities in the eyes, hair and skin. METHODS The genetic analysis of the Chinese family was conducted by whole-exome sequencing, then the results were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS WS is classified into type I to IV, which are identified by the W index, clinical characteristics and additional features. The MITF gene mostly accounts for WS type II. In this study, a de novo heterozygous mutation in the MITF gene, c.638A>G in exon 7, was identified in the patient diagnosed with WS type I features, as the W index was 2.17 (over 2.10), with dystrophia canthorum, congenital bilateral profound hearing loss, bilateral heterochromia irides, premature greying of the hair, and excessive freckling on the face at birth. She also underwent refractive errors and esotropia, reduced pigmentation of the choroid and visible choroid vessels. The mutation was not found in previous studies or mutation databases. CONCLUSION The novel mutation in the MITF gene, which altered the protein in amino acids 213 from the glutamic acid to glycine, is the genetic pathological cause for WS features in the patient. Those characteristics of this family revealed a novel genetic heterogeneity of MITF in WS, which expanded the database of MITF mutations and offered a possible in correcting the W index value of WS in distinct ethnicities. Moreover, ocular symptoms should be emphasized in all types of WS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia-Jing Tang
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xi-Yuan Ping
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chen-Qi Luo
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiao-Ning Yu
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ye-Lei Tang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xing-Chao Shentu
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
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21
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Eckert P, Knickmeyer MD, Heermann S. In Vivo Analysis of Optic Fissure Fusion in Zebrafish: Pioneer Cells, Basal Lamina, Hyaloid Vessels, and How Fissure Fusion is Affected by BMP. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082760. [PMID: 32316164 PMCID: PMC7215994 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Colobomata, persistent optic fissures, frequently cause congenital blindness. Here, we focused on optic fissure fusion using in vivo time-lapse imaging in zebrafish. We identified the fusion initiating cells, which we termed “pioneer cells.” Based on morphology, localization, and downregulation of the neuroretinal (NR) precursor marker rx2, these cells could be considered as retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) progenitors. Notably, pioneer cells regain rx2 expression and integrate into the NR after fusion, indicating that they do not belong to the pool of RPE progenitors, supported by the lack of RPE marker expression in pioneer cells. They establish the first cellular contact between the margins in the proximal fissure region and separate the hyaloid artery and vein. After initiation, the fusion site is progressing distally, increasing the distance between the hyaloid artery and vein. A timed BMP (Bone Morphogenetic Protein) induction, resulting in coloboma, did not alter the morphology of the fissure margins, but it did affect the expression of NR and RPE markers within the margins. In addition, it resulted in a persisting basal lamina and persisting remnants of periocular mesenchyme and hyaloid vasculature within the fissure, supporting the necessity of BMP antagonism within the fissure margins. The hampered fissure fusion had severe effects on the vasculature of the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priska Eckert
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; (P.E.); (M.D.K.)
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Max D. Knickmeyer
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; (P.E.); (M.D.K.)
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Heermann
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; (P.E.); (M.D.K.)
- Correspondence:
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22
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Berry V, Georgiou M, Fujinami K, Quinlan R, Moore A, Michaelides M. Inherited cataracts: molecular genetics, clinical features, disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic approaches. Br J Ophthalmol 2020; 104:1331-1337. [PMID: 32217542 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2019-315282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Cataract is the most common cause of blindness in the world; during infancy and early childhood, it frequently results in visual impairment. Congenital cataracts are phenotypically and genotypically heterogeneous and can occur in isolation or in association with other systemic disorders. Significant progress has been made in identifying the molecular genetic basis of cataract; 115 genes to date have been found to be associated with syndromic and non-syndromic cataract and 38 disease-causing genes have been identified to date to be associated with isolated cataract. In this review, we briefly discuss lens development and cataractogenesis, detail the variable cataract phenotypes and molecular mechanisms, including genotype-phenotype correlations, and explore future novel therapeutic avenues including cellular therapies and pharmacological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanita Berry
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michalis Georgiou
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Kaoru Fujinami
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization, Tokyo Medical Centre, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Roy Quinlan
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Biosciences, School of Biological and Medical Sciences, University of Durham, Durham, UK
| | - Anthony Moore
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Ophthalmology Department, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michel Michaelides
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK .,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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23
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Mayer AK, Balousha G, Sharkia R, Mahajnah M, Ayesh S, Schulze M, Buchert R, Zobor D, Azem A, Schöls L, Bauer P, Wissinger B. Unraveling the genetic cause of hereditary ophthalmic disorders in Arab societies from Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Eur J Hum Genet 2020; 28:742-753. [PMID: 31896775 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-019-0566-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual impairment due to inherited ophthalmic disorders is amongst the most common disabilities observed in populations practicing consanguineous marriages. Here we investigated the molecular genetic basis of an unselected broad range of ophthalmic disorders in 20 consanguineous families from Arab villages of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Most patients had little or very poor prior clinical workup and were recruited in a field study. Homozygosity mapping followed by candidate gene sequencing applying conventional Sanger sequencing or targeted next generation sequencing was performed in six families. In the remaining 14 families, one affected subject per family was chosen for whole exome sequencing. We discovered likely disease-causing variants, all homozygous, in 19 of 20 independent families (95%) including a previously reported novel disease gene for congenital nystagmus associated with foveal hypoplasia. Moreover, we found a family in which disease-causing variants for two collagenopathies - Stickler and Knobloch syndrome - segregate within a large sibship. Nine of the 19 distinct variants observed in this study were novel. Our study demonstrated a very high molecular diagnostic yield for a highly diverse spectrum of rare ophthalmic disorders in Arab patients from Israel and the Palestinian Authority, even with very limited prior clinical investigation. We conclude that 'genetic testing first' may be an economic way to direct clinical care and to support proper genetic counseling and risk assessment in these families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja K Mayer
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Tuebingen, Germany.,Praxis fuer Humangenetik Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ghassan Balousha
- Department of Pathology and Histology, Al-Quds University, Eastern Jerusalem, Palestinian Authority, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Rajech Sharkia
- The Triangle Regional Research and Development Center, Kfar Qari', Israel.,Beit-Berl Academic College, Beit-Berl, Israel
| | - Muhammad Mahajnah
- Child Neurology and Development Center, Hillel-Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel.,The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Suhail Ayesh
- Molecular Genetic Laboratory, Al-Makassed Islamic Charitable Society Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Martin Schulze
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,Praxis fuer Humangenetik Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Rebecca Buchert
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ditta Zobor
- University Eye Hospital, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Abdussalam Azem
- The School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, George S. Wise faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ludger Schöls
- Hertie Institute for Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Peter Bauer
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Bernd Wissinger
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Tuebingen, Germany.
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24
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Ansar M, Chung H, Waryah YM, Makrythanasis P, Falconnet E, Rao AR, Guipponi M, Narsani AK, Fingerhut R, Santoni FA, Ranza E, Waryah AM, Bellen HJ, Antonarakis SE. Visual impairment and progressive phthisis bulbi caused by recessive pathogenic variant in MARK3. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:2703-2711. [PMID: 29771303 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental eye defects often severely reduce vision. Despite extensive efforts, for a substantial fraction of these cases the molecular causes are unknown. Recessive eye disorders are frequent in consanguineous populations and such large families with multiple affected individuals provide an opportunity to identify recessive causative genes. We studied a Pakistani consanguineous family with three affected individuals with congenital vision loss and progressive eye degeneration. The family was analyzed by exome sequencing of one affected individual and genotyping of all family members. We have identified a non-synonymous homozygous variant (NM_001128918.2: c.1708C > G: p.Arg570Gly) in the MARK3 gene as the likely cause of the phenotype. Given that MARK3 is highly conserved in flies (I: 55%; S: 67%) we knocked down the MARK3 homologue, par-1, in the eye during development. This leads to a significant reduction in eye size, a severe loss of photoreceptors and loss of vision based on electroretinogram (ERG) recordings. Expression of the par-1 p.Arg792Gly mutation (equivalent to the MARK3 variant found in patients) in developing fly eyes also induces loss of eye tissue and reduces the ERG signals. The data in flies and human indicate that the MARK3 variant corresponds to a loss of function. We conclude that the identified mutation in MARK3 establishes a new gene-disease link, since it likely causes structural abnormalities during eye development and visual impairment in humans, and that the function of MARK3/par-1 is evolutionarily conserved in eye development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ansar
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Hyunglok Chung
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yar M Waryah
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Medical Research Center, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | - Periklis Makrythanasis
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emilie Falconnet
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ali Raza Rao
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Medical Research Center, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | - Michel Guipponi
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland.,Service of Genetic Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ashok K Narsani
- Institute of Ophthalmology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | - Ralph Fingerhut
- Swiss Newborn Screening Laboratory, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Federico A Santoni
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuelle Ranza
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland.,Service of Genetic Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ali M Waryah
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Medical Research Center, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stylianos E Antonarakis
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland.,Service of Genetic Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,iGE3 Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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25
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Kaukonen M, Woods S, Ahonen S, Lemberg S, Hellman M, Hytönen MK, Permi P, Glaser T, Lohi H. Maternal Inheritance of a Recessive RBP4 Defect in Canine Congenital Eye Disease. Cell Rep 2019; 23:2643-2652. [PMID: 29847795 PMCID: PMC6546432 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.04.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternally skewed transmission of traits has been associated with genomic imprinting and oocyte-derived mRNA. We report canine congenital eye malformations, caused by an amino acid deletion (K12del) near the N terminus of retinol-binding protein (RBP4). The disease is only expressed when both dam and offspring are deletion homozygotes. RBP carries vitamin A (retinol) from hepatic stores to peripheral tissues, including the placenta and developing eye, where it is required to synthesize retinoic acid. Gestational vitamin A deficiency is a known risk factor for ocular birth defects. The K12del mutation disrupts RBP folding in vivo, decreasing its secretion from hepatocytes to serum. The maternal penetrance effect arises from an impairment in the sequential transfer of retinol across the placenta, via RBP encoded by maternal and fetal genomes. Our results demonstrate a mode of recessive maternal inheritance, with a physiological basis, and they extend previous observations on dominant-negative RBP4 alleles in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kaukonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; The Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sean Woods
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Saija Ahonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; The Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Seppo Lemberg
- Department of Eye Diseases, Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Finland
| | - Maarit Hellman
- Department of Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Marjo K Hytönen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; The Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Perttu Permi
- Department of Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland; Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tom Glaser
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Hannes Lohi
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; The Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
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26
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Ectopic lens material in an otherwise healthy 5-week-old infant. Int Ophthalmol 2019; 39:1603-1606. [DOI: 10.1007/s10792-018-0960-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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27
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A SIX6 Nonsense Variant in Golden Retrievers with Congenital Eye Malformations. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10060454. [PMID: 31207931 PMCID: PMC6628151 DOI: 10.3390/genes10060454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Causative genetic variants for more than 30 heritable eye disorders in dogs have been reported. For other clinically described eye disorders, the genetic cause is still unclear. We investigated four Golden Retriever litters segregating for highly variable congenital eye malformations. Several affected puppies had unilateral or bilateral retina dysplasia and/or optic nerve hypoplasia. The four litters shared the same father or grandfather suggesting a heritable condition with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. The genome of one affected dog was sequenced and compared to 601 control genomes. A heterozygous private nonsense variant, c.487C>T, was found in the SIX6 gene. This variant is predicted to truncate about a third of the open reading frame, p.(Gln163*). We genotyped all available family members and 464 unrelated Golden Retrievers. All three available cases were heterozygous. Five additional close relatives including the common sire were also heterozygous, but did not show any obvious eye phenotypes. The variant was absent from the 464 unrelated Golden Retrievers and 17 non-affected siblings of the cases. The SIX6 protein is a homeobox transcription factor with a known role in eye development. In humans and other species, SIX6 loss of function variants were reported to cause congenital eye malformations. This strongly suggests that the c.487C>T variant detected contributed to the observed eye malformations. We hypothesize that the residual amount of functional SIX6 protein likely to be expressed in heterozygous dogs is sufficient to explain the observed incomplete penetrance and the varying severity of the eye defects in the affected dogs.
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28
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Wiegering A, Petzsch P, Köhrer K, Rüther U, Gerhardt C. GLI3 repressor but not GLI3 activator is essential for mouse eye patterning and morphogenesis. Dev Biol 2019; 450:141-154. [PMID: 30953627 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Since 1967, it is known that the loss of GLI3 causes very severe defects in murine eye development. GLI3 is able to act as a transcriptional activator (GLI3-A) or as a transcriptional repressor (GLI3-R). Soon after the discovery of these GLI3 isoforms, the question arose which of the different isoforms is involved in eye formation - GLI3-A, GLI3-R or even both. For several years, this question remained elusive. By analysing the eye morphogenesis of Gli3XtJ/XtJ mouse embryos that lack GLI3-A and GLI3-R and of Gli3Δ699/Δ699 mouse embryos in which only GLI3-A is missing, we revealed that GLI3-A is dispensable in vertebrate eye formation. Remarkably, our study shows that GLI3-R is sufficient for the creation of morphologically normal eyes although the molecular setup deviates substantially from normality. In depth-investigations elucidated that GLI3-R controls numerous key players in eye development and governs lens and retina development at least partially via regulating WNT/β-CATENIN signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Wiegering
- Institute for Animal Developmental and Molecular Biology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Patrick Petzsch
- Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ), Genomics and Transcriptomics Laboratory (GTL), Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Karl Köhrer
- Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ), Genomics and Transcriptomics Laboratory (GTL), Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Ulrich Rüther
- Institute for Animal Developmental and Molecular Biology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Christoph Gerhardt
- Institute for Animal Developmental and Molecular Biology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
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29
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Knickmeyer MD, Mateo JL, Eckert P, Roussa E, Rahhal B, Zuniga A, Krieglstein K, Wittbrodt J, Heermann S. TGFβ-facilitated optic fissure fusion and the role of bone morphogenetic protein antagonism. Open Biol 2019; 8:rsob.170134. [PMID: 29593116 PMCID: PMC5881030 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The optic fissure is a transient gap in the developing vertebrate eye, which must be closed as development proceeds. A persisting optic fissure, coloboma, is a major cause for blindness in children. Although many genes have been linked to coloboma, the process of optic fissure fusion is still little appreciated, especially on a molecular level. We identified a coloboma in mice with a targeted inactivation of transforming growth factor β2 (TGFβ2). Notably, here the optic fissure margins must have touched, however failed to fuse. Transcriptomic analyses indicated an effect on remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) as an underlying mechanism. TGFβ signalling is well known for its effect on ECM remodelling, but it is at the same time often inhibited by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling. Notably, we also identified two BMP antagonists among the downregulated genes. For further functional analyses we made use of zebrafish, in which we found TGFβ ligands expressed in the developing eye, and the ligand binding receptor in the optic fissure margins where we also found active TGFβ signalling and, notably, also gremlin 2b (grem2b) and follistatin a (fsta), homologues of the regulated BMP antagonists. We hypothesized that TGFβ is locally inducing expression of BMP antagonists within the margins to relieve the inhibition from its regulatory capacity regarding ECM remodelling. We tested our hypothesis and found that induced BMP expression is sufficient to inhibit optic fissure fusion, resulting in coloboma. Our findings can likely be applied also to other fusion processes, especially when TGFβ signalling or BMP antagonism is involved, as in fusion processes during orofacial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max D Knickmeyer
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg D-79104, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, Freiburg D-79104, Germany
| | - Juan L Mateo
- Departamento de Informática, Universidad de Oviedo, Jesús Arias de Velasco, Oviedo 33005, Spain
| | - Priska Eckert
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg D-79104, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, Freiburg D-79104, Germany
| | - Eleni Roussa
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg D-79104, Germany
| | - Belal Rahhal
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg D-79104, Germany
| | - Aimee Zuniga
- Developmental Genetics, University of Basel Medical School, Basel CH-4058, Switzerland
| | - Kerstin Krieglstein
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg D-79104, Germany
| | | | - Stephan Heermann
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg D-79104, Germany
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30
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Kim J, Kim CY, Oh H, Ryu B, Kim U, Lee JM, Jung CR, Park JH. Trimethyltin chloride induces reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis in retinal cells during zebrafish eye development. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 653:36-44. [PMID: 30399559 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Trimethyltin chloride (TMT), one of the most widely used organotin compounds in industrial and agricultural fields, is widespread in soil, aquatic systems, foodstuffs and household items. TMT reportedly has toxic effects on the nervous system; however, there is limited information about its effects on eye development and no clear associated mechanisms have been identified. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated eye morphology, vison-related behavior, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, histopathology, and gene expression to evaluate the toxicity of TMT during ocular development in zebrafish embryos. Exposure to TMT decreased the axial length and surface area of the eye and impaired the ability of zebrafish to recognize light. 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate and acridine orange assays revealed dose-dependent increases in ROS formation and apoptosis in the eye. Furthermore, pyknosis of retinal cells was confirmed through histopathological analysis. Antioxidative enzyme-related genes were downregulated and apoptosis-inducing genes were upregulated in TMT-treated zebrafish compared to expression in controls. Retinal cell-specific gene expression was suppressed mainly in retinal ganglion cells, bipolar cells, and photoreceptor cells, whereas amacrine cell-, horizontal cell-, and Müller cell-specific gene expression was enhanced. Our results demonstrate for the first time the toxicity of TMT during eye development, which occurs through the induction of ROS-mediated apoptosis in retinal cells during ocular formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Kim
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - C-Yoon Kim
- Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanseul Oh
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bokyeong Ryu
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ukjin Kim
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Min Lee
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cho-Rok Jung
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hak Park
- Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Turner KJ, Hoyle J, Valdivia LE, Cerveny KL, Hart W, Mangoli M, Geisler R, Rees M, Houart C, Poole RJ, Wilson SW, Gestri G. Abrogation of Stem Loop Binding Protein (Slbp) function leads to a failure of cells to transition from proliferation to differentiation, retinal coloboma and midline axon guidance deficits. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211073. [PMID: 30695021 PMCID: PMC6350959 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Through forward genetic screening for mutations affecting visual system development, we identified prominent coloboma and cell-autonomous retinal neuron differentiation, lamination and retinal axon projection defects in eisspalte (ele) mutant zebrafish. Additional axonal deficits were present, most notably at midline axon commissures. Genetic mapping and cloning of the ele mutation showed that the affected gene is slbp, which encodes a conserved RNA stem-loop binding protein involved in replication dependent histone mRNA metabolism. Cells throughout the central nervous system remained in the cell cycle in ele mutant embryos at stages when, and locations where, post-mitotic cells have differentiated in wild-type siblings. Indeed, RNAseq analysis showed down-regulation of many genes associated with neuronal differentiation. This was coincident with changes in the levels and spatial localisation of expression of various genes implicated, for instance, in axon guidance, that likely underlie specific ele phenotypes. These results suggest that many of the cell and tissue specific phenotypes in ele mutant embryos are secondary to altered expression of modules of developmental regulatory genes that characterise, or promote transitions in, cell state and require the correct function of Slbp-dependent histone and chromatin regulatory genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine J. Turner
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline Hoyle
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Leonardo E. Valdivia
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Center for Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Kara L. Cerveny
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wendy Hart
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maryam Mangoli
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Geisler
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Michele Rees
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Corinne Houart
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology and MRC Centre for Developmental Disorders, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Poole
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen W. Wilson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (GG); (SWW)
| | - Gaia Gestri
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (GG); (SWW)
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32
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Bi-allelic Loss-of-Function Variants in DNMBP Cause Infantile Cataracts. Am J Hum Genet 2018; 103:568-578. [PMID: 30290152 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Infantile and childhood-onset cataracts form a heterogeneous group of disorders; among the many genetic causes, numerous pathogenic variants in additional genes associated with autosomal-recessive infantile cataracts remain to be discovered. We identified three consanguineous families affected by bilateral infantile cataracts. Using exome sequencing, we found homozygous loss-of-function variants in DNMBP: nonsense variant c.811C>T (p.Arg271∗) in large family F385 (nine affected individuals; LOD score = 5.18 at θ = 0), frameshift deletion c.2947_2948del (p.Asp983∗) in family F372 (two affected individuals), and frameshift variant c.2852_2855del (p.Thr951Metfs∗41) in family F3 (one affected individual). The phenotypes of all affected individuals include infantile-onset cataracts. RNAi-mediated knockdown of the Drosophila ortholog still life (sif), enriched in lens-secreting cells, affects the development of these cells as well as the localization of E-cadherin, alters the distribution of septate junctions in adjacent cone cells, and leads to a ∼50% reduction in electroretinography amplitudes in young flies. DNMBP regulates the shape of tight junctions, which correspond to the septate junctions in invertebrates, as well as the assembly pattern of E-cadherin in human epithelial cells. E-cadherin has an important role in lens vesicle separation and lens epithelial cell survival in humans. We therefore conclude that DNMBP loss-of-function variants cause infantile-onset cataracts in humans.
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33
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Zhao Y, Zheng D, Cvekl A. A comprehensive spatial-temporal transcriptomic analysis of differentiating nascent mouse lens epithelial and fiber cells. Exp Eye Res 2018; 175:56-72. [PMID: 29883638 PMCID: PMC6167154 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Elucidation of both the molecular composition and organization of the ocular lens is a prerequisite to understand its development, function, pathology, regenerative capacity, as well as to model lens development and disease using in vitro differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. Lens is comprised of the anterior lens epithelium and posterior lens fibers, which form the bulk of the lens. Lens fibers differentiate from lens epithelial cells through cell cycle exit-coupled differentiation that includes cellular elongation, accumulation of crystallins, cytoskeleton and membrane remodeling, and degradation of organelles within the central region of the lens. Here, we profiled spatiotemporal expression dynamics of both mRNAs and non-coding RNAs from microdissected mouse nascent lens epithelium and lens fibers at four developmental time points (embryonic [E] day 14.5, E16.5, E18.5, and P0.5) by RNA-seq. During this critical time window, multiple complex biosynthetic and catabolic processes generate the molecular and structural foundation for lens transparency. Throughout this developmental window, 3544 and 3518 genes show consistently and significantly greater expression in the nascent lens epithelium and fibers, respectively. Comprehensive data analysis confirmed major roles of FGF-MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT, TGF-β, and BMP signaling pathways and revealed significant novel contributions of mTOR, EIF2, EIF4, and p70S6K signaling in lens formation. Unbiased motif analysis within promoter regions of these genes with consistent expression changes between epithelium and fiber cells revealed an enrichment for both established (e.g. E2Fs, Etv5, Hsf4, c-Maf, MafG, MafK, N-Myc, and Pax6) transcription factors and a number of novel regulators of lens formation, such as Arntl2, Dmrta2, Stat5a, Stat5b, and Tulp3. In conclusion, the present RNA-seq data serves as a comprehensive reference resource for deciphering molecular principles of normal mammalian lens differentiation, mapping a full spectrum of signaling pathways and DNA-binding transcription factors operating in both lens compartments, and predicting novel pathways required to establish lens transparency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China.
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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34
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Phenotype–genotype correlations and emerging pathways in ocular anterior segment dysgenesis. Hum Genet 2018; 138:899-915. [DOI: 10.1007/s00439-018-1935-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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35
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Matías-Pérez D, García-Montaño LA, Cruz-Aguilar M, García-Montalvo IA, Nava-Valdéz J, Barragán-Arevalo T, Villanueva-Mendoza C, Villarroel CE, Guadarrama-Vallejo C, la Cruz RVD, Chacón-Camacho O, Zenteno JC. Identification of novel pathogenic variants and novel gene-phenotype correlations in Mexican subjects with microphthalmia and/or anophthalmia by next-generation sequencing. J Hum Genet 2018; 63:1169-1180. [PMID: 30181649 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-018-0504-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Severe congenital eye malformations, particularly microphthalmia and anophthalmia, are one of the main causes of visual handicap worldwide. They can arise from multifactorial, chromosomal, or monogenic factors and can be associated with extensive clinical variability. Genetic analysis of individuals with these defects has allowed the recognition of dozens of genes whose mutations lead to disruption of normal ocular embryonic development. Recent application of next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques for genetic screening of patients with congenital eye defects has greatly improved the recognition of monogenic cases. In this study, we applied clinical exome NGS to a group of 14 Mexican patients (including 7 familial and 7 sporadic cases) with microphthalmia and/or anophthalmia. Causal or likely causal pathogenic variants were demonstrated in ~60% (8 out of 14 patients) individuals. Seven out of 8 different identified mutations occurred in well-known microphthalmia/anophthalmia genes (OTX2, VSX2, MFRP, VSX1) or in genes associated with syndromes that include ocular defects (CHD7, COL4A1) (including two instances of CHD7 pathogenic variants). A single pathogenic variant was identified in PIEZO2, a gene that was not previously associated with isolated ocular defects. NGS efficiently identified the genetic etiology of microphthalmia/anophthalmia in ~60% of cases included in this cohort, the first from Mexican origin analyzed to date. The molecular defects identified through clinical exome sequencing in this study expands the phenotypic spectra of CHD7-associated disorders and implicate PIEZO2 as a candidate gene for major eye developmental defects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leopoldo A García-Montaño
- Department of Genetics-Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology "Conde de Valenciana", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Marisa Cruz-Aguilar
- Department of Genetics-Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology "Conde de Valenciana", Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Jessica Nava-Valdéz
- Department of Genetics-Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology "Conde de Valenciana", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Tania Barragán-Arevalo
- Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Pediatrics of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Cristina Villanueva-Mendoza
- Department of Genetics, Hospital "Dr. Luis Sanchez Bulnes", Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Camilo E Villarroel
- Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Pediatrics of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Clavel Guadarrama-Vallejo
- Department of Genetics-Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology "Conde de Valenciana", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rocío Villafuerte-de la Cruz
- Ciencias Basicas, Escuela de Medicina, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Monterrey, NL, Mexico
| | - Oscar Chacón-Camacho
- Department of Genetics-Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology "Conde de Valenciana", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Juan C Zenteno
- Department of Genetics-Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology "Conde de Valenciana", Mexico City, Mexico. .,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico.
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36
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Modugno AC, Resti AG, Mazzone G, Moretti C, Terreni MR, Albanese G, Savino G, Grimaldi G, Collin R. Long-term outcomes after cosmetic customized prostheses and dermis fat graft in congenital anophthalmia: a retrospective multicentre study. Eye (Lond) 2018; 32:1803-1810. [PMID: 30042409 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-018-0179-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate long-term outcomes of progressively enlarging cosmetic customized prostheses (CCP) early after birth followed by dermis fat graft (DFG), as a strategy of socket rehabilitation in children with clinical congenital anophthalmia (CCA). METHODS Twenty patients with unilateral and two patients with bilateral CCA were enrolled. All patients were treated by inserting a CCP at the time of their first assessment which was then enlarged. Subsequently they underwent DFG. Differences in vertical palpebral aperture (VPA) and horizontal palpebral length (HPL), between affected and unaffected sides, were recorded at the first CCP fitting as well as before and after DFG. Satisfaction with cosmetic results, prosthetic retention, and complications rate were assessed. Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbit was performed in all patients before and after surgery. RESULTS A significant decrease in the difference between the normal and the anophthalmic side of both PA and HPL was found over follow-up. Both VPA and HPL differences decreased by 47.6% (10.5 mm, range 1-28 mm) and by 7.1% (5.8 mm, range 0-18 mm), respectively. Satisfaction in terms of cosmetic outcomes proved to be very positive, being "very satisfied" for families and "satisfied" for physicians. Excellent retention of prostheses was observed in all cases. CONCLUSIONS A rehabilitating strategy combining early CCP and further DFG proved to be a valuable approach in children with CCA, offering significant benefits in terms of socket expansion, prosthetic retention, psychological impact, and cosmetic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Gustavo Savino
- Institute of Ophthalmology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriela Grimaldi
- Institute of Ophthalmology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Bernstein CS, Anderson MT, Gohel C, Slater K, Gross JM, Agarwala S. The cellular bases of choroid fissure formation and closure. Dev Biol 2018; 440:137-151. [PMID: 29803644 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Defects in choroid fissure (CF) formation and closure lead to coloboma, a major cause of childhood blindness. Despite genetic advances, the cellular defects underlying coloboma remain poorly elucidated due to our limited understanding of normal CF morphogenesis. We address this deficit by conducting high-resolution spatio-temporal analyses of CF formation and closure in the chick, mouse and fish. We show that a small ventral midline invagination initiates CF formation in the medial-proximal optic cup, subsequently extending it dorsally toward the lens, and proximally into the optic stalk. Unlike previously supposed, the optic disc does not form solely as a result of this invagination. Morphogenetic events that alter the shape of the proximal optic cup also direct clusters of outer layer and optic stalk cells to form dorsal optic disc. A cross-species comparison suggests that CF closure can be accomplished by breaking down basement membranes (BM) along the CF margins, and by establishing BM continuity along the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the CF. CF closure is subsequently accomplished via two distinct mechanisms: tissue fusion or the intercalation of various tissues into the inter-CF space. We identify several novel cell behaviors that underlie CF fusion, many of which involve remodeling of the retinal epithelium. In addition to BM disruption, these include NCAD downregulation along the SOX2+ retinal CF margin, and the protrusion or movement of partially polarized retinal cells into the inter-CF space to mediate fusion. Proximally, the inter-CF space does not fuse or narrow and is instead loosely packed with migrating SOX2+/PAX2+/Vimentin+ astrocytes until it is closed by the outgoing optic nerve. Taken together, our results highlight distinct proximal-distal differences in CF morphogenesis and closure and establish detailed cellular models that can be utilized for understanding the genetic bases of coloboma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassidy S Bernstein
- Molecular Biosciences Department, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Mitchell T Anderson
- Molecular Biosciences Department, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Chintan Gohel
- Molecular Biosciences Department, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Kayleigh Slater
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Gross
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Seema Agarwala
- Molecular Biosciences Department, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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Rausch RL, Libby RT, Kiernan AE. Ciliary margin-derived BMP4 does not have a major role in ocular development. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197048. [PMID: 29738572 PMCID: PMC5940228 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterozygous Bmp4 mutations in humans and mice cause severe ocular anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD). Abnormalities include pupil displacement, corneal opacity, iridocorneal adhesions, and variable intraocular pressure, as well as some retinal and vascular defects. It is presently not known what source of BMP4 is responsible for these defects, as BMP4 is expressed in several developing ocular and surrounding tissues. In particular, BMP4 is expressed in the ciliary margins of the optic cup which give rise to anterior segment structures such as the ciliary body and iris, making it a good candidate for the required source of BMP4 for anterior segment development. Here, we test whether ciliary margin-derived BMP4 is required for ocular development using two different conditional knockout approaches. In addition, we compared the conditional deletion phenotypes with Bmp4 heterozygous null mice. Morphological, molecular, and functional assays were performed on adult mutant mice, including histology, immunohistochemistry, in vivo imaging, and intraocular pressure measurements. Surprisingly, in contrast to Bmp4 heterozygous mutants, our analyses revealed that the anterior and posterior segments of Bmp4 conditional knockouts developed normally. These results indicate that ciliary margin-derived BMP4 does not have a major role in ocular development, although subtle alterations could not be ruled out. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the anterior and posterior phenotypes observed in Bmp4 heterozygous animals showed a strong propensity to co-occur, suggesting a common, non-cell autonomous source for these defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L. Rausch
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- Center for Visual Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Richard T. Libby
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- Center for Visual Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Amy E. Kiernan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States of America
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Gonçalves MA, Pereira PR, da Cruz RAS, Panziera W, de Andrade DGA, de Oliveira-Filho JP, Borges AS, Sonne L, Driemeier D. Hereditary microphthalmia in Texel lambs in Brazil. Small Rumin Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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40
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Wisely CE, Sayed JA, Tamez H, Zelinka C, Abdel-Rahman MH, Fischer AJ, Cebulla CM. The chick eye in vision research: An excellent model for the study of ocular disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2017; 61:72-97. [PMID: 28668352 PMCID: PMC5653414 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2017.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 06/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The domestic chicken, Gallus gallus, serves as an excellent model for the study of a wide range of ocular diseases and conditions. The purpose of this manuscript is to outline some anatomic, physiologic, and genetic features of this organism as a robust animal model for vision research, particularly for modeling human retinal disease. Advantages include a sequenced genome, a large eye, relative ease of handling and maintenance, and ready availability. Relevant similarities and differences to humans are highlighted for ocular structures as well as for general physiologic processes. Current research applications for various ocular diseases and conditions, including ocular imaging with spectral domain optical coherence tomography, are discussed. Several genetic and non-genetic ocular disease models are outlined, including for pathologic myopia, keratoconus, glaucoma, retinal detachment, retinal degeneration, ocular albinism, and ocular tumors. Finally, the use of stem cell technology to study the repair of damaged tissues in the chick eye is discussed. Overall, the chick model provides opportunities for high-throughput translational studies to more effectively prevent or treat blinding ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Ellis Wisely
- Havener Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 915 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43212, USA
| | - Javed A Sayed
- Havener Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 915 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43212, USA
| | - Heather Tamez
- Havener Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 915 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43212, USA
| | - Chris Zelinka
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 333 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Mohamed H Abdel-Rahman
- Havener Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 915 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43212, USA
| | - Andy J Fischer
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 333 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Colleen M Cebulla
- Havener Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 915 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43212, USA.
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Van Cruchten S, Vrolyk V, Perron Lepage MF, Baudon M, Voute H, Schoofs S, Haruna J, Benoit-Biancamano MO, Ruot B, Allegaert K. Pre- and Postnatal Development of the Eye: A Species Comparison. Birth Defects Res 2017; 109:1540-1567. [PMID: 28941218 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In this review paper, literature data on pre- and postnatal eye development are compared between humans and nonclinical species that are commonly used for human safety assessment, namely, mouse, rat, rabbit, dog, minipig, and nonhuman primates. Some new data on rat and minipig ocular development are also included. This compiled information can be helpful for species selection in juvenile toxicity studies or assist in the interpretation of (non)clinical data during pediatric drug development. Despite some differences in developmental windows and anatomical peculiarities, such as the lack of a fovea centralis in nonprimate species or the presence of a nictitating membrane in some nonclinical species, the functioning and development of the eye is strikingly similar between humans and other mammals. As such, all commonly used nonclinical species appear to be relatively good models for human eye development, although some practical constraints such as size may be a limiting factor. Birth Defects Research 109:1540-1567, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Van Cruchten
- Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Vanessa Vrolyk
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada
| | | | - Marie Baudon
- Charles River, Safety Assessment, Saint-Germain-Nuelles, Lyon, France
| | - Hélène Voute
- Charles River, Safety Assessment, Saint-Germain-Nuelles, Lyon, France
| | | | | | - Marie-Odile Benoit-Biancamano
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada
| | - Benoît Ruot
- Charles River, Safety Assessment, Saint-Germain-Nuelles, Lyon, France
| | - Karel Allegaert
- Intensive Care and Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of development and regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Unraveling the genetic cause of a consanguineous family with unilateral coloboma and retinoschisis: expanding the phenotypic variability of RAX mutations. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9064. [PMID: 28831107 PMCID: PMC5567291 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09276-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ocular coloboma is a common eye malformation arising from incomplete closure of the human optic fissure during development. Multiple genetic mutations contribute to the disease process, showing extensive genetic heterogeneity and complexity of coloboma spectrum diseases. In this study, we aimed to unravel the genetic cause of a consanguineous family with unilateral coloboma and retinoschisis. The subjects were recruited and underwent specialized ophthalmologic clinical examination. A combination of whole exome sequencing (WES), homozygosity mapping, and comprehensive variant analyses was performed to uncover the causative mutation. Only one homozygous mutation (c.113 T > C, p.I38T) in RAX gene survived our strict variant filtering process, consistent with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. This mutation segregated perfectly in the family and is located in a highly conserved functional domain. Crystal structure modeling indicated that I38T affected the protein structure. We describe a patient from a consanguineous Chinese family with unusual coloboma, proven to harbor a novel RAX mutation (c.113 T > C, p.I38T, homozygous), expanding the phenotypic variability of ocular coloboma and RAX mutations.
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43
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Sano Y, Matsukane Y, Watanabe A, Sonoda KH, Kondo H. Lack of FOXE3 coding mutation in a case of congenital aphakia. Ophthalmic Genet 2017; 39:95-98. [PMID: 28805541 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2017.1350722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To report the findings in a patient with congenital primary aphakia, a rare disease known to be caused by mutations in the FOXE3 gene. METHODS The clinical appearances and visual functions of the patient were determined from the medical records. Genetic analyses were performed to search for mutations in the FOXE3 gene by Sanger sequencing and whole exome sequencing. RESULTS The 2-month-old male patient first presented with bilateral congenital aphakia associated with microphthalmia, corneal opacity, and dysplasia of the anterior segment. At the age of 2-years, his visual acuity in the left eye was 20/1000 at 30 cm, he was able to discriminate red, blue, and yellow light stimuli, and a b-wave was recorded by scotopic combined rod-cone electroretinograms. The right eye became blind during the follow-up period. No mutation in the FOXE3 gene was detected. CONCLUSION Although congenital aphakia is known to be caused by mutations in the FOXE3 gene, the results of lack of coding mutation in this patient suggests a possible genetic heterogeneity of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Sano
- a Department of Ophthalmology , University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan.,b Department of Ophthalmology , Kyushu University , Fukuoka , Japan
| | - Yusuke Matsukane
- a Department of Ophthalmology , University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan
| | - Akihisa Watanabe
- a Department of Ophthalmology , University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan
| | - Ko-Hei Sonoda
- b Department of Ophthalmology , Kyushu University , Fukuoka , Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kondo
- a Department of Ophthalmology , University of Occupational and Environmental Health , Kitakyushu , Japan
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Abstract
EGR1 is an early growth response zinc finger transcription factor with broad actions, including in differentiation, mitogenesis, tumor suppression, and neuronal plasticity. Here we demonstrate that Egr1-/- mice on the C57BL/6 background have normal eyelid development, but back-crossing to BALB/c background for four or five generations resulted in defective eyelid development by day E15.5, at which time EGR1 was expressed in eyelids of WT mice. Defective eyelid formation correlated with profound ocular anomalies evident by postnatal days 1-4, including severe cryptophthalmos, microphthalmia or anophthalmia, retinal dysplasia, keratitis, corneal neovascularization, cataracts, and calcification. The BALB/c albino phenotype-associated Tyrc tyrosinase mutation appeared to contribute to the phenotype, because crossing the independent Tyrc-2J allele to Egr1-/- C57BL/6 mice also produced ocular abnormalities, albeit less severe than those in Egr1-/- BALB/c mice. Thus EGR1, in a genetic background-dependent manner, plays a critical role in mammalian eyelid development and closure, with subsequent impact on ocular integrity.
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45
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Hollmann AK, Dammann I, Wemheuer WM, Wemheuer WE, Chilla A, Tipold A, Schulz-Schaeffer WJ, Beck J, Schütz E, Brenig B. Morgagnian cataract resulting from a naturally occurring nonsense mutation elucidates a role of CPAMD8 in mammalian lens development. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180665. [PMID: 28683140 PMCID: PMC5500361 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the genetic basis of hereditary lens opacities we analyzed 31 cases of bilateral congenital cataract in Red Holstein Friesian cattle. A genome-wide association study revealed a significant association on bovine chromosome 7 at positions 6,166,179 and 12,429,691. Whole genome re-sequencing of one case and four relatives showed a nonsense mutation (g.5995966C>T) in the PZP-like, alpha-2-macroglobulin domain containing 8 (CPAMD8) gene leading to a premature stop codon (CPAMD8 p.Gln74*) associated with cataract development in cattle. With immunohistochemistry we confirmed a physiological expression of CPAMD8 in the ciliary body epithelium of the eye in unaffected cattle, while the protein was not detectable in the ciliary body of cattle with cataracts. RNA expression of CPAMD8 was detected in healthy adult, fetal and cataractous lenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne K. Hollmann
- University of Goettingen, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Insa Dammann
- University Medical Center Goettingen, Department of Neuropathology, Prion and Dementia Research Unit, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Wiebke M. Wemheuer
- University of the Saarland, Institute of Neuropathology, Homburg, Germany
| | - Wilhelm E. Wemheuer
- University of Goettingen, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Almuth Chilla
- University of Goettingen, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Tipold
- University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | - Ekkehard Schütz
- University of Goettingen, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Bertram Brenig
- University of Goettingen, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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46
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Cho GY, Abdulla Y, Sengillo JD, Justus S, Schaefer KA, Bassuk AG, Tsang SH, Mahajan VB. CRISPR-mediated Ophthalmic Genome Surgery. CURRENT OPHTHALMOLOGY REPORTS 2017; 5:199-206. [PMID: 28966884 DOI: 10.1007/s40135-017-0144-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is a genome engineering system with great potential for clinical applications due to its versatility and programmability. This review highlights the development and use of CRISPR-mediated ophthalmic genome surgery in recent years. RECENT FINDINGS Diverse CRISPR techniques are in development to target a wide array of ophthalmic conditions, including inherited and acquired conditions. Preclinical disease modeling and recent successes in gene editing suggest potential efficacy of CRISPR as a therapeutic for inherited conditions. In particular, the treatment of Leber congenital amaurosis with CRISPR-mediated genome surgery is expected to reach clinical trials in the near future. SUMMARY Treatment options for inherited retinal dystrophies are currently limited. CRISPR-mediated genome surgery methods may be able to address this unmet need in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galaxy Y Cho
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yazeed Abdulla
- School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Jesse D Sengillo
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.,State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Sally Justus
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.,Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kellie A Schaefer
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Alexander G Bassuk
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.,Jonas Children's Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vinit B Mahajan
- Omics Laboratory, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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47
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Li J, Xia CH, Wang E, Yao K, Gong X. Screening, genetics, risk factors, and treatment of neonatal cataracts. Birth Defects Res 2017; 109:734-743. [PMID: 28544770 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal cataracts remain the most common cause of visual loss in children worldwide and have diverse, often unknown, etiologies. This review summarizes current knowledge about the detection, treatment, genetics, risk factors, and molecular mechanisms of congenital cataracts. We emphasize significant progress and topics requiring further study in both clinical cataract therapy and basic lens research. Advances in genetic screening and surgical technologies have improved the diagnosis, management, and visual outcomes of affected children. For example, mutations in lens crystallins and membrane/cytoskeletal components that commonly underlie genetically inherited cataracts are now known. However, many questions still remain regarding the causes, progression, and pathology of neonatal cataracts. Further investigations are also required to improve diagnostic criteria for determining the timing of appropriate interventions, such as the implantation of intraocular lenses and postoperative management strategies, to ensure safety and predictable visual outcomes for children. Birth Defects Research 109:734-743, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyu Li
- Eye Center, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology of Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chun-Hong Xia
- School of Optometry and Vision Science Program, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Eddie Wang
- School of Optometry and Vision Science Program, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Ke Yao
- Eye Center, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology of Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiaohua Gong
- School of Optometry and Vision Science Program, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
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48
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Cabral T, DiCarlo JE, Justus S, Sengillo JD, Xu Y, Tsang SH. CRISPR applications in ophthalmologic genome surgery. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2017; 28:252-259. [PMID: 28141764 PMCID: PMC5511789 DOI: 10.1097/icu.0000000000000359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The present review seeks to summarize and discuss the application of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated systems (Cas) for genome editing, also called genome surgery, in the field of ophthalmology. RECENT FINDINGS Precision medicine is an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account the variability of an individual's genetic sequence. Various groups have used CRISPR-Cas genome editing to make significant progress in mammalian preclinical models of eye disease, the basic science of eye development in zebrafish, the in vivo modification of ocular tissue, and the correction of stem cells with therapeutic applications. In addition, investigators have creatively used the targeted mutagenic potential of CRISPR-Cas systems to target pathogenic alleles in vitro. SUMMARY Over the past year, CRISPR-Cas genome editing has been used to correct pathogenic mutations in vivo and in transplantable stem cells. Although off-target mutagenesis remains a concern, improvement in CRISPR-Cas technology and careful screening for undesired mutations will likely lead to clinical eye therapeutics employing CRISPR-Cas systems in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Cabral
- Jonas Children’s Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil
- Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - James E DiCarlo
- Jonas Children’s Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sally Justus
- Jonas Children’s Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jesse D Sengillo
- Jonas Children’s Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Yu Xu
- Jonas Children’s Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Jonas Children’s Vision Care, and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Edward S Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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49
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James A, Lee C, Williams AM, Angileri K, Lathrop KL, Gross JM. The hyaloid vasculature facilitates basement membrane breakdown during choroid fissure closure in the zebrafish eye. Dev Biol 2016; 419:262-272. [PMID: 27634568 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A critical aspect of vertebrate eye development is closure of the choroid fissure (CF). Defects in CF closure result in colobomas, which are a significant cause of childhood blindness worldwide. Despite the growing number of mutated loci associated with colobomas, we have a limited understanding of the cell biological underpinnings of CF closure. Here, we utilize the zebrafish embryo to identify key phases of CF closure and regulators of the process. Utilizing Laminin-111 as a marker for the basement membrane (BM) lining the CF, we determine the spatial and temporal patterns of BM breakdown in the CF, a prerequisite for CF closure. Similarly, utilizing a combination of in vivo time-lapse imaging, β-catenin immunohistochemistry and F-actin staining, we determine that tissue fusion, which serves to close the fissure, follows BM breakdown closely. Periocular mesenchyme (POM)-derived endothelial cells, which migrate through the CF to give rise to the hyaloid vasculature, possess distinct actin foci that correlate with regions of BM breakdown. Disruption of talin1, which encodes a regulator of the actin cytoskeleton, results in colobomas and these correlate with structural defects in the hyaloid vasculature and defects in BM breakdown. cloche mutants, which entirely lack a hyaloid vasculature, also possess defects in BM breakdown in the CF. Taken together, these data support a model in which the hyaloid vasculature and/or the POM-derived endothelial cells that give rise to the hyaloid vasculature contribute to BM breakdown during CF closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea James
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX, 78712
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Chanjae Lee
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX, 78712
| | - Andre M Williams
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX, 78712
| | - Krista Angileri
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX, 78712
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Kira L Lathrop
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Jeffrey M Gross
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX, 78712
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
- Department of Developmental Biology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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Cheng MH, Tam CN, Choy KW, Tsang WH, Tsang SL, Pang CP, Song YQ, Sham MH. A γA-Crystallin Mouse Mutant Secc with Small Eye, Cataract and Closed Eyelid. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160691. [PMID: 27513760 PMCID: PMC4981419 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 07/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cataract is the most common cause of visual loss in humans. A spontaneously occurred, autosomal dominant mouse mutant Secc, which displayed combined features of small eye, cataract and closed eyelid was discovered in our laboratory. In this study, we identified the mutation and characterized the cataract phenotype of this novel Secc mutant. The Secc mutant mice have eyelids that remain half-closed throughout their life. The mutant lens has a significant reduction in size and with opaque spots clustered in the centre. Histological analysis showed that in the core region of the mutant lens, the fiber cells were disorganized and clefts and vacuoles were observed. The cataract phenotype was evident from new born stage. We identified the Secc mutation by linkage analysis using whole genome microsatellite markers and SNP markers. The Secc locus was mapped at chromosome 1 flanked by SNPs rs3158129 and rs13475900. Based on the chromosomal position, the candidate cataract locus γ-crystallin gene cluster (Cryg) was investigated by sequencing. A single base deletion (299delG) in exon 3 of Cryga which led to a frame-shift of amino acid sequence from position 91 was identified. As a result of this mutation, the sequences of the 3rd and 4th Greek-key motifs of the γA-crystallin are replaced with an unrelated C-terminal peptide of 75 residues long. Coincidentally, the point mutation generated a HindIII restriction site, allowing the identification of the CrygaSecc mutant allele by RFLP. Western blot analysis of 3-week old lenses showed that the expression of γ-crystallins was reduced in the CrygaSecc mutant. Furthermore, in cell transfection assays using CrygaSecc mutant cDNA expression constructs in 293T, COS-7 and human lens epithelial B3 cell lines, the mutant γA-crystallins were enriched in the insoluble fractions and appeared as insoluble aggregates in the transfected cells. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that the Secc mutation leads to the generation of CrygaSecc proteins with reduced solubility and prone to form aggregates within lens cells. Accumulation of mutant proteins in the lens fibers would lead to cataract formation in the Secc mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Hei Cheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chung Nga Tam
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kwong Wai Choy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wai Hung Tsang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sze Lan Tsang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chi Pui Pang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - You Qiang Song
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Centre for Reproduction Development and Growth, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mai Har Sham
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Centre for Reproduction Development and Growth, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
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