1
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Leopold AV, Verkhusha VV. Engineering signalling pathways in mammalian cells. Nat Biomed Eng 2024:10.1038/s41551-024-01237-z. [PMID: 39237709 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-024-01237-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
In mammalian cells, signalling pathways orchestrate cellular growth, differentiation and survival, as well as many other processes that are essential for the proper functioning of cells. Here we describe cutting-edge genetic-engineering technologies for the rewiring of signalling networks in mammalian cells. Specifically, we describe the recombination of native pathway components, cross-kingdom pathway transplantation, and the development of de novo signalling within cells and organelles. We also discuss how, by designing signalling pathways, mammalian cells can acquire new properties, such as the capacity for photosynthesis, the ability to detect cancer and senescent cell markers or to synthesize hormones or metabolites in response to chemical or physical stimuli. We also review the applications of mammalian cells in biocomputing. Technologies for engineering signalling pathways in mammalian cells are advancing basic cellular biology, biomedical research and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Leopold
- Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vladislav V Verkhusha
- Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Genetics and Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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2
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Zhang Q, Song L, Fu M, He J, Yang G, Jiang Z. Optogenetics in oral and craniofacial research. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2024; 25:656-671. [PMID: 39155779 PMCID: PMC11337086 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2300322] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Optogenetics combines optics and genetic engineering to control specific gene expression and biological functions and has the advantages of precise spatiotemporal control, noninvasiveness, and high efficiency. Genetically modified photosensory sensors are engineered into proteins to modulate conformational changes with light stimulation. Therefore, optogenetic techniques can provide new insights into oral biological processes at different levels, ranging from the subcellular and cellular levels to neural circuits and behavioral models. Here, we introduce the origins of optogenetics and highlight the recent progress of optogenetic approaches in oral and craniofacial research, focusing on the ability to apply optogenetics to the study of basic scientific neural mechanisms and to establish different oral behavioral test models in vivo (orofacial movement, licking, eating, and drinking), such as channelrhodopsin (ChR), archaerhodopsin (Arch), and halorhodopsin from Natronomonas pharaonis (NpHR). We also review the synergic and antagonistic effects of optogenetics in preclinical studies of trigeminal neuralgia and maxillofacial cellulitis. In addition, optogenetic tools have been used to control the neurogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells in translational studies. Although the scope of optogenetic tools is increasing, there are limited large animal experiments and clinical studies in dental research. Potential future directions include exploring therapeutic strategies for addressing loss of taste in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), studying oral bacterial biofilms, enhancing craniomaxillofacial and periodontal tissue regeneration, and elucidating the possible pathogenesis of dry sockets, xerostomia, and burning mouth syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinmeng Zhang
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Luyao Song
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Mengdie Fu
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jin He
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Guoli Yang
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China.
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Zhiwei Jiang
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China. ,
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China. ,
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3
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Herrera-Arcos G, Song H, Yeon SH, Ghenand O, Gutierrez-Arango S, Sinha S, Herr H. Closed-loop optogenetic neuromodulation enables high-fidelity fatigue-resistant muscle control. Sci Robot 2024; 9:eadi8995. [PMID: 38776378 DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adi8995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Closed-loop neuroprostheses show promise in restoring motion in individuals with neurological conditions. However, conventional activation strategies based on functional electrical stimulation (FES) fail to accurately modulate muscle force and exhibit rapid fatigue because of their unphysiological recruitment mechanism. Here, we present a closed-loop control framework that leverages physiological force modulation under functional optogenetic stimulation (FOS) to enable high-fidelity muscle control for extended periods of time (>60 minutes) in vivo. We first uncovered the force modulation characteristic of FOS, showing more physiological recruitment and significantly higher modulation ranges (>320%) compared with FES. Second, we developed a neuromuscular model that accurately describes the highly nonlinear dynamics of optogenetically stimulated muscle. Third, on the basis of the optogenetic model, we demonstrated real-time control of muscle force with improved performance and fatigue resistance compared with FES. This work lays the foundation for fatigue-resistant neuroprostheses and optogenetically controlled biohybrid robots with high-fidelity force modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Herrera-Arcos
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Program in Media Arts and Sciences, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hyungeun Song
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST), MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Seong Ho Yeon
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Program in Media Arts and Sciences, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Omkar Ghenand
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samantha Gutierrez-Arango
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Program in Media Arts and Sciences, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sapna Sinha
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hugh Herr
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
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4
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Bryson JB, Kourgiantaki A, Jiang D, Demosthenous A, Greensmith L. An optogenetic cell therapy to restore control of target muscles in an aggressive mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. eLife 2024; 12:RP88250. [PMID: 38236205 PMCID: PMC10945574 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88250] [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: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Breakdown of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) is an early pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that blocks neuromuscular transmission, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis and, ultimately, premature death. Currently, no therapies exist that can prevent progressive motor neuron degeneration, muscle denervation, or paralysis in ALS. Here, we report important advances in the development of an optogenetic, neural replacement strategy that can effectively restore innervation of severely affected skeletal muscles in the aggressive SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS, thus providing an interface to selectively control the function of targeted muscles using optical stimulation. We also identify a specific approach to confer complete survival of allogeneic replacement motor neurons. Furthermore, we demonstrate that an optical stimulation training paradigm can prevent atrophy of reinnervated muscle fibers and results in a tenfold increase in optically evoked contractile force. Together, these advances pave the way for an assistive therapy that could benefit all ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Barney Bryson
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra Kourgiantaki
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dai Jiang
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Demosthenous
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Linda Greensmith
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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5
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Knapman FL, Cohen EM, Kulaga T, Lovell N, Lisowski L, McMullan S, Burke PGR, Bilston LE. Direct optogenetic activation of upper airway muscles in an acute model of upper airway hypotonia mimicking sleep onset. Sleep 2023; 46:zsad226. [PMID: 37651221 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the upper airway collapses repeatedly during sleep due to inadequate dilator muscle tone, is challenging to treat as current therapies are poorly tolerated or have variable and unpredictable efficacy. We propose a novel, optogenetics-based therapy, that stimulates upper airway dilator muscle contractions in response to light. To determine the feasibility of a novel optogenetics-based OSA therapy, we developed a rodent model of human sleep-related upper airway muscle atonia. Using this model, we evaluated intralingual delivery of candidate optogenetic constructs, notably a muscle-targeted approach that will likely have a favorable safety profile. METHODS rAAV serotype 9 viral vectors expressing a channelrhodopsin-2 variant, driven by a muscle-specific or nonspecific promoter were injected into rat tongues to compare strength and specificity of opsin expression. Light-evoked electromyographic responses were recorded in an acute, rodent model of OSA. Airway dilation was captured with ultrasound. RESULTS The muscle-specific promoter produced sufficient opsin expression for light stimulation to restore and/or enhance electromyographic signals (linear mixed model, F = 140.0, p < 0.001) and induce visible tongue contraction and airway dilation. The muscle-specific promoter induced stronger (RM-ANOVA, F(1,8) = 10.0, p = 0.013) and more specific opsin expression than the nonspecific promoter in an otherwise equivalent construct. Viral DNA and RNA were robust in the tongue, but low or absent in all other tissues. CONCLUSIONS Significant functional responses to direct optogenetic muscle activation were achieved following muscle-specific promoter-driven rAAV-mediated transduction, providing proof-of-concept for an optogenetic therapy for patients with inadequate dilator muscle activity during sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona L Knapman
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Tom Kulaga
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nigel Lovell
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Simon McMullan
- Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter G R Burke
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lynne E Bilston
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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6
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Matarazzo JV, Ajay EA, Payne SC, Trang EP, Thompson AC, Marroquin JB, Wise AK, Fallon JB, Richardson RT. Combined optogenetic and electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve for selective control of sensory fibers. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1190662. [PMID: 37360169 PMCID: PMC10285517 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1190662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Electrical stimulation offers a drug-free alternative for the treatment of many neurological conditions, such as chronic pain. However, it is not easy to selectively activate afferent or efferent fibers of mixed nerves, nor their functional subtypes. Optogenetics overcomes these issues by controlling activity selectively in genetically modified fibers, however the reliability of responses to light are poor compared to electrical stimulation and the high intensities of light required present considerable translational challenges. In this study we employed a combined protocol of optical and electrical stimulation to the sciatic nerve in an optogenetic mouse model to allow for better selectivity, efficiency, and safety to overcome fundamental limitations of electrical-only and optical-only stimulation. Methods The sciatic nerve was surgically exposed in anesthetized mice (n = 12) expressing the ChR2-H134R opsin via the parvalbumin promoter. A custom-made peripheral nerve cuff electrode and a 452 nm laser-coupled optical fiber were used to elicit neural activity utilizing optical-only, electrical-only, or combined stimulation. Activation thresholds for the individual and combined responses were measured. Results Optically evoked responses had a conduction velocity of 34.3 m/s, consistent with ChR2-H134R expression in proprioceptive and low-threshold mechanoreceptor (Aα/Aβ) fibers which was also confirmed via immunohistochemical methods. Combined stimulation, utilizing a 1 ms near-threshold light pulse followed by an electrical pulse 0.5 ms later, approximately halved the electrical threshold for activation (p = 0.006, n = 5) and resulted in a 5.5 dB increase in the Aα/Aβ hybrid response amplitude compared to the electrical-only response at equivalent electrical levels (p = 0.003, n = 6). As a result, there was a 3.25 dB increase in the therapeutic stimulation window between the Aα/Aβ fiber and myogenic thresholds (p = 0.008, n = 4). Discussion The results demonstrate that light can be used to prime the optogenetically modified neural population to reside near threshold, thereby selectively reducing the electrical threshold for neural activation in these fibers. This reduces the amount of light needed for activation for increased safety and reduces potential off-target effects by only stimulating the fibers of interest. Since Aα/Aβ fibers are potential targets for neuromodulation in chronic pain conditions, these findings could be used to develop effective strategies to selectively manipulate pain transmission pathways in the periphery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elise A. Ajay
- Bionics Institute, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sophie C. Payne
- Bionics Institute, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Medical Bionics Department, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Ella P. Trang
- Bionics Institute, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Medical Bionics Department, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Alex C. Thompson
- Bionics Institute, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Medical Bionics Department, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Andrew K. Wise
- Bionics Institute, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Medical Bionics Department, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - James B. Fallon
- Bionics Institute, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Medical Bionics Department, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
| | - Rachael T. Richardson
- Bionics Institute, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Medical Bionics Department, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia
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Zerche M, Wrobel C, Kusch K, Moser T, Mager T. Channelrhodopsin fluorescent tag replacement for clinical translation of optogenetic hearing restoration. MOLECULAR THERAPY - METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2023; 29:202-212. [PMID: 37081855 PMCID: PMC10111946 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Sensory restoration by optogenetic neurostimulation provides a promising future alternative to current electrical stimulation approaches. So far, channelrhodopsins (ChRs) typically contain a C-terminal fluorescent protein (FP) tag for visualization that potentially poses an additional risk for clinical translation. Previous work indicated a reduction of optogenetic stimulation efficacy upon FP removal. Here, we further optimized the fast-gating, red-light-activated ChR f-Chrimson to achieve efficient optogenetic stimulation in the absence of the C-terminal FP. Upon FP removal, we observed a massive amplitude reduction of photocurrents in transfected cells in vitro and of optogenetically evoked activity of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-transduced auditory nerve in mice in vivo. Increasing the AAV vector dose restored optogenetically evoked auditory nerve activity but was confounded by neural loss. Of various C-terminal modifications, we found the replacement of the FP by the Kir2.1 trafficking sequence (TSKir2.1) to best restore both photocurrents and optogenetically evoked auditory nerve activity with only mild neural loss few months after dosing. In conclusion, we consider f-Chrimson-TSKir2.1 to be a promising candidate for clinical translation of optogenetic neurostimulation such as by future optical cochlear implants.
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Choi J, Shin E, Lee J, Devarasou S, Kim D, Shin JH, Choi JH, Heo WD, Han YM. Light-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic islet-like organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells. Mol Ther 2023; 31:1480-1495. [PMID: 36932674 PMCID: PMC10188912 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetic techniques permit non-invasive, spatiotemporal, and reversible modulation of cellular activities. Here, we report a novel optogenetic regulatory system for insulin secretion in human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived pancreatic islet-like organoids using monSTIM1 (monster-opto-Stromal interaction molecule 1), an ultra-light-sensitive OptoSTIM1 variant. The monSTIM1 transgene was incorporated at the AAVS1 locus in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing. Not only were we able to elicit light-induced intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) transients from the resulting homozygous monSTIM1+/+-hESCs, but we also successfully differentiated them into pancreatic islet-like organoids (PIOs). Upon light stimulation, the β-cells in these monSTIM1+/+-PIOs displayed reversible and reproducible [Ca2+]i transient dynamics. Furthermore, in response to photoexcitation, they secreted human insulin. Light-responsive insulin secretion was similarly observed in monSTIM1+/+-PIOs produced from neonatal diabetes (ND) patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Under LED illumination, monSTIM1+/+-PIO-transplanted diabetic mice produced human c-peptide. Collectively, we developed a cellular model for the optogenetic control of insulin secretion using hPSCs, with the potential to be applied to the amelioration of hyperglycemic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieun Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunji Shin
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsu Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Dongkyu Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jennifer H Shin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Ho Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Do Heo
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yong-Mahn Han
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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Gao TT, Oh T, Mehta K, Huang YA, Camp T, Fan H, Han JW, Barnes CM, Zhang K. The clinical potential of optogenetic interrogation of pathogenesis. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1243. [PMID: 37132114 PMCID: PMC10154842 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opsin-based optogenetics has emerged as a powerful biomedical tool using light to control protein conformation. Such capacity has been initially demonstrated to control ion flow across the cell membrane, enabling precise control of action potential in excitable cells such as neurons or muscle cells. Further advancement in optogenetics incorporates a greater variety of photoactivatable proteins and results in flexible control of biological processes, such as gene expression and signal transduction, with commonly employed light sources such as LEDs or lasers in optical microscopy. Blessed by the precise genetic targeting specificity and superior spatiotemporal resolution, optogenetics offers new biological insights into physiological and pathological mechanisms underlying health and diseases. Recently, its clinical potential has started to be capitalized, particularly for blindness treatment, due to the convenient light delivery into the eye. AIMS AND METHODS This work summarizes the progress of current clinical trials and provides a brief overview of basic structures and photophysics of commonly used photoactivable proteins. We highlight recent achievements such as optogenetic control of the chimeric antigen receptor, CRISPR-Cas system, gene expression, and organelle dynamics. We discuss conceptual innovation and technical challenges faced by current optogenetic research. CONCLUSION In doing so, we provide a framework that showcases ever-growing applications of optogenetics in biomedical research and may inform novel precise medicine strategies based on this enabling technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Terry Gao
- University of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignDepartment of BiochemistryUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Teak‐Jung Oh
- University of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignDepartment of BiochemistryUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Kritika Mehta
- University of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignDepartment of BiochemistryUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Yu‐En Andrew Huang
- University of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignCenter for Biophysics and Quantitative BiologyUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Tyler Camp
- University of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignDepartment of BiochemistryUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Huaxun Fan
- University of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignDepartment of BiochemistryUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Jeong Won Han
- University of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignDepartment of BiochemistryUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Collin Michael Barnes
- University of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignDepartment of BiochemistryUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Kai Zhang
- University of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignDepartment of BiochemistryUrbanaIllinoisUSA
- University of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignCenter for Biophysics and Quantitative BiologyUrbanaIllinoisUSA
- Cancer Center at IllinoisUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
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Daw TB, El-Nahal HG, Basso MA, Jun EJ, Bautista AR, Samulski RJ, Sommer MA, Bohlen MO. Direct Comparison of Epifluorescence and Immunostaining for Assessing Viral Mediated Gene Expression in the Primate Brain. Hum Gene Ther 2023; 34:228-246. [PMID: 36719771 PMCID: PMC10031143 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2022.194] [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: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral vector technologies are commonly used in neuroscience research to understand and manipulate neural circuits, but successful applications of these technologies in non-human primate models have been inconsistent. An essential component to improve these technologies is an impartial and accurate assessment of the effectiveness of different viral constructs in the primate brain. We tested a diverse array of viral vectors delivered to the brain and extraocular muscles of macaques and compared three methods for histological assessment of viral-mediated fluorescent transgene expression: epifluorescence (Epi), immunofluorescence (IF), and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Importantly, IF and IHC identified a greater number of transduced neurons compared to Epi. Furthermore, IF and IHC reliably provided enhanced visualization of transgene in most cellular compartments (i.e., dendritic, axonal, and terminal fields), whereas the degree of labeling provided by Epi was inconsistent and predominantly restricted to somas and apical dendrites. Because Epi signals are unamplified (in contrast to IF and IHC), Epi may provide a more veridical assessment for the amount of accumulated transgene and, thus, the potential to chemogenetically or optogenetically manipulate neuronal activity. The comparatively weak Epi signals suggest that the current generations of viral constructs, regardless of delivered transgene, are not optimized for primates. This reinforces an emerging viewpoint that viral vectors tailored for the primate brain are necessary for basic research and human gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tierney B. Daw
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hala G. El-Nahal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michele A. Basso
- Fuster Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biological Structure, Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth J. Jun
- Fuster Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alex R. Bautista
- Fuster Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - R. Jude Samulski
- Gene Therapy Center and Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), Research Triangle, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marc A. Sommer
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Martin O. Bohlen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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11
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Maruta T, Hidaka K, Kouroki S, Koshida T, Kurogi M, Kage Y, Mizuno S, Shirasaka T, Yanagita T, Takahashi S, Takeya R, Tsuneyoshi I. Selective optogenetic activation of NaV1.7-expressing afferents in NaV1.7-ChR2 mice induces nocifensive behavior without affecting responses to mechanical and thermal stimuli. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275751. [PMID: 36201719 PMCID: PMC9536842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In small and large spinal dorsal root ganglion neurons, subtypes of voltage-gated sodium channels, such as NaV1.7, NaV1.8, and NaV1.9 are expressed with characteristically localized and may play different roles in pain transmission and intractable pain development. Selective stimulation of each specific subtype in vivo may elucidate its role of each subtype in pain. So far, this has been difficult with current technology. However, Optogenetics, a recently developed technique, has enabled selective activation or inhibition of specific neural circulation in vivo. Moreover, optogenetics had even been used to selectively excite NaV1.8-expressing dorsal root ganglion neurons to induce nocifensive behavior. In recent years, genetic modification technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 have advanced, and various knock-in mice can be easily generated using such technology. We aimed to investigate the effects of selective optogenetic activation of NaV1.7-expressing afferents on mouse behavior. We used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homologous recombination to generate bicistronic NaV1.7-iCre knock-in mice, which express iCre recombinase under the endogenous NaV1.7 gene promoter without disrupting NaV1.7. The Cre-driver mice were crossed with channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) Cre-reporter Ai32 mice to obtain NaV1.7iCre/+;Ai32/+, NaV1.7iCre/iCre;Ai32/+, NaV1.7iCre/+;Ai32/Ai32, and NaV1.7iCre/iCre;Ai32/Ai32 mice. Compared with wild-type mice behavior, no differences were observed in the behaviors associated with mechanical and thermal stimuli exhibited by mice of the aforementioned genotypes, indicating that the endogenous NaV1.7 gene was not affected by the targeted insertion of iCre. Blue light irradiation to the hind paw induced paw withdrawal by mice of all genotypes in a light power-dependent manner. The threshold and incidence of paw withdrawal and aversive behavior in a blue-lit room were dependent on ChR2 expression level; the strongest response was observed in NaV1.7iCre/iCre;Ai32/Ai32 mice. Thus, we developed a non-invasive pain model in which peripheral nociceptors were optically activated in free-moving transgenic NaV1.7-ChR2 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toyoaki Maruta
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Kotaro Hidaka
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kouroki
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Koshida
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Mio Kurogi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Yohko Kage
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Seiya Mizuno
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center in Transborder Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Shirasaka
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Yanagita
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center in Transborder Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ryu Takeya
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Isao Tsuneyoshi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
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12
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Gilhooley MJ, Lindner M, Palumaa T, Hughes S, Peirson SN, Hankins MW. A systematic comparison of optogenetic approaches to visual restoration. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 25:111-123. [PMID: 35402632 PMCID: PMC8956963 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
During inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs), vision is lost due to photoreceptor cell death; however, a range of optogenetic tools have been shown to restore light responses in animal models. Restored response characteristics vary between tools and the neuronal cell population to which they are delivered: the interplay between these is complex, but targeting upstream neurons (such as retinal bipolar cells) may provide functional benefit by retaining intraretinal signal processing. In this study, our aim was to compare two optogenetic tools: mammalian melanopsin (hOPN4) and microbial red-shifted channelrhodopsin (ReaChR) expressed within two subpopulations of surviving cells in a degenerate retina. Intravitreal adeno-associated viral vectors and mouse models utilising the Cre/lox system restricted expression to populations dominated by bipolar cells or retinal ganglion cells and was compared with non-targeted delivery using the chicken beta actin (CBA) promoter. In summary, we found bipolar-targeted optogenetic tools produced faster kinetics and flatter intensity-response relationships compared with non-targeted or retinal-ganglion-cell-targeted hOPN4. Hence, optogenetic tools of both mammalian and microbial origins show advantages when targeted to bipolar cells. This demonstrates the advantage of bipolar-cell-targeted optogenetics for vision restoration in IRDs. We therefore developed a bipolar-cell-specific gene delivery system employing a compressed promoter with the potential for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Gilhooley
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- The Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162, City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Moritz Lindner
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Philipps University, Deutschhausstrasse 1-2, Marburg 35037, Germany
| | - Teele Palumaa
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- East Tallinn Central Hospital Eye Clinic, Ravi 18, 10138 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Steven Hughes
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Stuart N. Peirson
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Mark W. Hankins
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Jules Thorne SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Corresponding author Mark W. Hankins, Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
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13
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Lindner M, Gilhooley MJ, Hughes S, Hankins MW. Optogenetics for visual restoration: From proof of principle to translational challenges. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 91:101089. [PMID: 35691861 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Degenerative retinal disorders are a diverse family of diseases commonly leading to irreversible photoreceptor death, while leaving the inner retina relatively intact. Over recent years, innovative gene replacement therapies aiming to halt the progression of certain inherited retinal disorders have made their way into clinics. By rendering surviving retinal neurons light sensitive optogenetic gene therapy now offers a feasible treatment option that can restore lost vision, even in late disease stages and widely independent of the underlying cause of degeneration. Since proof-of-concept almost fifteen years ago, this field has rapidly evolved and a detailed first report on a treated patient has recently been published. In this article, we provide a review of optogenetic approaches for vision restoration. We discuss the currently available optogenetic tools and their relative advantages and disadvantages. Possible cellular targets will be discussed and we will address the question how retinal remodelling may affect the choice of the target and to what extent it may limit the outcomes of optogenetic vision restoration. Finally, we will analyse the evidence for and against optogenetic tool mediated toxicity and will discuss the challenges associated with clinical translation of this promising therapeutic concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Lindner
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Jules Thorn SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Philipps University, 35037, Marburg, Germany
| | - Michael J Gilhooley
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Jules Thorn SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom; The Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, EC1V 2PD, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Hughes
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Jules Thorn SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Mark W Hankins
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Jules Thorn SCNi, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom.
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14
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Hong S, Kim WS, Han Y, Cherukuri R, Jung H, Campos C, Wu Q, Park SI. Optogenetic Targeting of Mouse Vagal Afferents Using an Organ-specific, Scalable, Wireless Optoelectronic Device. Bio Protoc 2022; 12:e4341. [PMID: 35592610 PMCID: PMC8918220 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4341] [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: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Optogenetics has the potential to transform the study of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), but the complex anatomy of the PNS poses unique challenges for the focused delivery of light to specific tissues. This protocol describes the fabrication of a wireless telemetry system for studying peripheral sensory pathways. Unlike existing wireless approaches, the low-power wireless telemetry offers organ specificity via a sandwiched pre-curved tether, and enables high-throughput analysis of behavioral experiments with a channel isolation strategy. We describe the technical procedures for the construction of these devices, the wireless power transmission (TX) system with antenna coils, and their implementation for in vivo experimental applications. In total, the timeline of the procedure, including device fabrication, implantation, and preparation to begin in vivo experimentation can be completed in ~2-4 weeks. Implementation of these devices allows for chronic (>1 month) wireless optogenetic manipulation of peripheral neural pathways in freely behaving animals navigating homecage environments (up to 8).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungcheol Hong
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, US
| | - Woo Seok Kim
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, US
| | - Yong Han
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, US
| | - Rahul Cherukuri
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, US
| | - Haemin Jung
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, US
| | - Carlos Campos
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, University of Washington, Seattle, US
| | - Qi Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, US
| | - Sung Il Park
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, US
,Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, US
,Center of Remote Health Sciences and Technologies, Texas A&M University, College Station, US
,
*For correspondence:
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15
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Optogenetics for Understanding and Treating Brain Injury: Advances in the Field and Future Prospects. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031800. [PMID: 35163726 PMCID: PMC8836693 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetics is emerging as an ideal method for controlling cellular activity. It overcomes some notable shortcomings of conventional methods in the elucidation of neural circuits, promotion of neuroregeneration, prevention of cell death and treatment of neurological disorders, although it is not without its own limitations. In this review, we narratively review the latest research on the improvement and existing challenges of optogenetics, with a particular focus on the field of brain injury, aiming at advancing optogenetics in the study of brain injury and collating the issues that remain. Finally, we review the most current examples of research, applying photostimulation in clinical treatment, and we explore the future prospects of these technologies.
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16
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Zhou Z, Liao L. Optogenetic Neuromodulation of the Urinary Bladder. Neuromodulation 2021; 24:1229-1236. [PMID: 34375470 DOI: 10.1111/ner.13516] [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: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Nerve stimulation and neuromodulation have become acceptable interventions for bladder dysfunction. However, electrical stimulation indiscriminately affects all types of cells and can lead to treatment failure and off-target effects. In recent years, advancement of knowledge of optogenetics provides a powerful tool to enable precise, minimally invasive neuromodulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this review, we introduce basic knowledge about optogenetics; discuss the progression of engineered opsins, gene-targeting methods, and light-delivery approaches; we also summarize the application of optogenetics in neuromodulation of the bladder and discuss the possible clinical translation in the future. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Optogenetics offers a powerful tool to investigate the neural circuit of bladder storage and voiding and provides a promising approach for manipulating neurons and muscles. It is possible to achieve coordinated modulation of the bladder and its sphincter through a "closed-loop" system. Optogenetics neuromodulation could also be applied in urinary bladder control in the clinic in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghan Zhou
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Department of Urology, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China.,University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Limin Liao
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Department of Urology, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China.,University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China.,School of Rehabilitation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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17
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Wang T, Ulrich H, Semyanov A, Illes P, Tang Y. Optical control of purinergic signaling. Purinergic Signal 2021; 17:385-392. [PMID: 34156578 PMCID: PMC8410941 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-021-09799-2] [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: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purinergic signaling plays a pivotal role in physiological processes and pathological conditions. Over the past decades, conventional pharmacological, biochemical, and molecular biology techniques have been utilized to investigate purinergic signaling cascades. However, none of them is capable of spatially and temporally manipulating purinergic signaling cascades. Currently, optical approaches, including optopharmacology and optogenetic, enable controlling purinergic signaling with low invasiveness and high spatiotemporal precision. In this mini-review, we discuss optical approaches for controlling purinergic signaling and their applications in basic and translational science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- International Collaborative Centre On Big Science Plan for Purinergic Signalling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.,Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Henning Ulrich
- International Collaborative Centre On Big Science Plan for Purinergic Signalling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.,Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexey Semyanov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter Illes
- International Collaborative Centre On Big Science Plan for Purinergic Signalling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China. .,Rudolf Boehm Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Yong Tang
- International Collaborative Centre On Big Science Plan for Purinergic Signalling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China. .,Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China.
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18
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Vogt M, Schulz B, Wagdi A, Lebert J, van Belle GJ, Christoph J, Bruegmann T, Patejdl R. Direct optogenetic stimulation of smooth muscle cells to control gastric contractility. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:5569-5584. [PMID: 33859764 PMCID: PMC8039938 DOI: 10.7150/thno.53883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Antral peristalsis is responsible for gastric emptying. Its failure is called gastroparesis and often caused by dysfunction of enteric neurons and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). Current treatment options, including gastric electrical stimulation, are non-satisfying and may improve symptoms but commonly fail to restore gastric emptying. Herein, we explore direct optogenetic stimulation of smooth muscle cells (SMC) via the light-gated non-selective cation channel Channelrhodopsin2 (ChR2) to control gastric motor function. Methods: We used a transgenic mouse model expressing ChR2 in fusion with eYFP under the control of the chicken-β-actin promoter. We performed patch clamp experiments to quantify light-induced currents in isolated SMC, Ca2+ imaging and isometric force measurements of antral smooth muscle strips as well as pressure recordings of intact stomachs to evaluate contractile responses. Light-induced propulsion of gastric contents from the isolated stomach preparation was quantified in video recordings. We furthermore tested optogenetic stimulation in a gastroparesis model induced by neuronal- and ICC-specific damage through methylene blue photo-toxicity. Results: In the stomachs, eYFP signals were restricted to SMC in which blue light (460 nm) induced inward currents typical for ChR2. These depolarizing currents led to contractions in antral smooth muscle strips that were stronger than those triggered by supramaximal electrical field stimulation and comparable to those evoked by global depolarization with high K+ concentration. In the intact stomach, panoramic illumination efficiently increased intragastric pressure achieving 239±46% (n=6) of the pressure induced by electrical field stimulation and triggered gastric transport. Within the gastroparesis model, electric field stimulation completely failed but light still efficiently generated pressure waves. Conclusions: We demonstrate direct optogenetic stimulation of SMC to control gastric contractility. This completely new approach could allow for the restoration of motility in gastroparesis in the future.
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19
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Lindner M, Gilhooley MJ, Peirson SN, Hughes S, Hankins MW. The functional characteristics of optogenetic gene therapy for vision restoration. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:1597-1613. [PMID: 32728765 PMCID: PMC7904736 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03597-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetic strategies to restore vision in patients blind from end-stage retinal degenerations aim to render remaining retinal neurons light-sensitive. We present an innovative combination of multi-electrode array recordings together with a complex pattern-generating light source as a toolset to determine the extent to which neural retinal responses to complex light stimuli can be restored following viral delivery of red-shifted channelrhodopsin in the retinally degenerated mouse. Our data indicate that retinal output level spatiotemporal response characteristics achieved by optogenetic gene therapy closely parallel those observed for normal mice but equally reveal important limitations, some of which could be mitigated using bipolar-cell targeted gene-delivery approaches. As clinical trials are commencing, these data provide important new information on the capacity and limitations of channelrhodopsin-based gene therapies. The toolset we established enables comparing optogenetic constructs and stem-cell-based techniques, thereby providing an efficient and sensitive starting point to identify future approaches for vision restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Lindner
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Michael J Gilhooley
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Department of Neuroophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Stuart N Peirson
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Steven Hughes
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mark W Hankins
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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20
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Shin H, Jeong S, Lee JH, Sun W, Choi N, Cho IJ. 3D high-density microelectrode array with optical stimulation and drug delivery for investigating neural circuit dynamics. Nat Commun 2021; 12:492. [PMID: 33479237 PMCID: PMC7820464 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20763-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigation of neural circuit dynamics is crucial for deciphering the functional connections among regions of the brain and understanding the mechanism of brain dysfunction. Despite the advancements of neural circuit models in vitro, technologies for both precisely monitoring and modulating neural activities within three-dimensional (3D) neural circuit models have yet to be developed. Specifically, no existing 3D microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have integrated capabilities to stimulate surrounding neurons and to monitor the temporal evolution of the formation of a neural network in real time. Herein, we present a 3D high-density multifunctional MEA with optical stimulation and drug delivery for investigating neural circuit dynamics within engineered 3D neural tissues. We demonstrate precise measurements of synaptic latencies in 3D neural networks. We expect our 3D multifunctional MEA to open up opportunities for studies of neural circuits through precise, in vitro investigations of neural circuit dynamics with 3D brain models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyogeun Shin
- Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohyeon Jeong
- Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Hyun Lee
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woong Sun
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Il-Joo Cho
- Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Yonsei-KIST Convergence Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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21
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Anderson HE, Weir RFF. The future of adenoassociated viral vectors for optogenetic peripheral nerve interfaces. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:1446-1447. [PMID: 33318448 PMCID: PMC8284277 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.301017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hans E Anderson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Richard F Ff Weir
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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22
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Tremblay S, Acker L, Afraz A, Albaugh DL, Amita H, Andrei AR, Angelucci A, Aschner A, Balan PF, Basso MA, Benvenuti G, Bohlen MO, Caiola MJ, Calcedo R, Cavanaugh J, Chen Y, Chen S, Chernov MM, Clark AM, Dai J, Debes SR, Deisseroth K, Desimone R, Dragoi V, Egger SW, Eldridge MAG, El-Nahal HG, Fabbrini F, Federer F, Fetsch CR, Fortuna MG, Friedman RM, Fujii N, Gail A, Galvan A, Ghosh S, Gieselmann MA, Gulli RA, Hikosaka O, Hosseini EA, Hu X, Hüer J, Inoue KI, Janz R, Jazayeri M, Jiang R, Ju N, Kar K, Klein C, Kohn A, Komatsu M, Maeda K, Martinez-Trujillo JC, Matsumoto M, Maunsell JHR, Mendoza-Halliday D, Monosov IE, Muers RS, Nurminen L, Ortiz-Rios M, O'Shea DJ, Palfi S, Petkov CI, Pojoga S, Rajalingham R, Ramakrishnan C, Remington ED, Revsine C, Roe AW, Sabes PN, Saunders RC, Scherberger H, Schmid MC, Schultz W, Seidemann E, Senova YS, Shadlen MN, Sheinberg DL, Siu C, Smith Y, Solomon SS, Sommer MA, Spudich JL, Stauffer WR, Takada M, Tang S, Thiele A, Treue S, Vanduffel W, Vogels R, Whitmire MP, Wichmann T, Wurtz RH, Xu H, Yazdan-Shahmorad A, Shenoy KV, DiCarlo JJ, Platt ML. An Open Resource for Non-human Primate Optogenetics. Neuron 2020; 108:1075-1090.e6. [PMID: 33080229 PMCID: PMC7962465 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics has revolutionized neuroscience in small laboratory animals, but its effect on animal models more closely related to humans, such as non-human primates (NHPs), has been mixed. To make evidence-based decisions in primate optogenetics, the scientific community would benefit from a centralized database listing all attempts, successful and unsuccessful, of using optogenetics in the primate brain. We contacted members of the community to ask for their contributions to an open science initiative. As of this writing, 45 laboratories around the world contributed more than 1,000 injection experiments, including precise details regarding their methods and outcomes. Of those entries, more than half had not been published. The resource is free for everyone to consult and contribute to on the Open Science Framework website. Here we review some of the insights from this initial release of the database and discuss methodological considerations to improve the success of optogenetic experiments in NHPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Tremblay
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Leah Acker
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Arash Afraz
- National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Daniel L Albaugh
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Hidetoshi Amita
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ariana R Andrei
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alessandra Angelucci
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Amir Aschner
- Dominik P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Puiu F Balan
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michele A Basso
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Neurobiology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Giacomo Benvenuti
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Martin O Bohlen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Michael J Caiola
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Roberto Calcedo
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19014, USA
| | - James Cavanaugh
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20982, USA
| | - Yuzhi Chen
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Spencer Chen
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Mykyta M Chernov
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Resource Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Andrew M Clark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Ji Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Samantha R Debes
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- Neuroscience Program, Departments of Bioengineering, Psychiatry, and Behavioral Science, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Robert Desimone
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Valentin Dragoi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Seth W Egger
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Mark A G Eldridge
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hala G El-Nahal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Francesco Fabbrini
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederick Federer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Christopher R Fetsch
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience & Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Michal G Fortuna
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Robert M Friedman
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Resource Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Naotaka Fujii
- Laboratory for Adaptive Intelligence, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Alexander Gail
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen, Germany; Faculty for Biology and Psychology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Leibniz Science Campus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Adriana Galvan
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Supriya Ghosh
- Department of Neurobiology and Grossman Institute for Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Marc Alwin Gieselmann
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Roberto A Gulli
- Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Okihide Hikosaka
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Eghbal A Hosseini
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xing Hu
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Janina Hüer
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ken-Ichi Inoue
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan; PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Roger Janz
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mehrdad Jazayeri
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Rundong Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Niansheng Ju
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Kohitij Kar
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Carsten Klein
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Adam Kohn
- Dominik P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Systems and Computational Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Misako Komatsu
- Laboratory for Adaptive Intelligence, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Maeda
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Julio C Martinez-Trujillo
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Masayuki Matsumoto
- Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan; Transborder Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - John H R Maunsell
- Department of Neurobiology and Grossman Institute for Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Diego Mendoza-Halliday
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ilya E Monosov
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Neurosurgery and Pain Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ross S Muers
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Lauri Nurminen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Michael Ortiz-Rios
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Leibniz Science Campus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany; Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Daniel J O'Shea
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, and Bio-X Institute, and Neuroscience Graduate Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stéphane Palfi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris (APHP), U955 INSERM IMRB eq.15, University of Paris 12 UPEC, Faculté de Médecine, Créteil 94010, France
| | - Christopher I Petkov
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Sorin Pojoga
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rishi Rajalingham
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Charu Ramakrishnan
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Evan D Remington
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Cambria Revsine
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Anna W Roe
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Resource Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA; Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China; Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China
| | - Philip N Sabes
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Richard C Saunders
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hansjörg Scherberger
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen, Germany; Faculty for Biology and Psychology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Leibniz Science Campus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael C Schmid
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK; Department of Neurosciences and Movement Sciences, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Wolfram Schultz
- Department of Physiology, Development of Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0LT, UK
| | - Eyal Seidemann
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Yann-Suhan Senova
- Department of Neurosurgery, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris (APHP), U955 INSERM IMRB eq.15, University of Paris 12 UPEC, Faculté de Médecine, Créteil 94010, France
| | - Michael N Shadlen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, The Kavli Institute for Brain Science & Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, NY 10027, USA
| | - David L Sheinberg
- Department of Neuroscience and Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Caitlin Siu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Yoland Smith
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Selina S Solomon
- Dominik P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Marc A Sommer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - John L Spudich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - William R Stauffer
- Systems Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Masahiko Takada
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan
| | - Shiming Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Alexander Thiele
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Stefan Treue
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen, Germany; Faculty for Biology and Psychology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Leibniz Science Campus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wim Vanduffel
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; MGH Martinos Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02144, USA
| | - Rufin Vogels
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew P Whitmire
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Thomas Wichmann
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Robert H Wurtz
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20982, USA
| | - Haoran Xu
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Azadeh Yazdan-Shahmorad
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Departments of Bioengineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering, Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Krishna V Shenoy
- Departments of Electrical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Neurobiology, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Bio-X Institute, Neuroscience Graduate Program, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - James J DiCarlo
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Michael L Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Marketing, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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23
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Cardiac Optogenetics in Atrial Fibrillation: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:8814092. [PMID: 33195698 PMCID: PMC7641281 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8814092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Although rarely life-threatening on short term, atrial fibrillation leads to increased mortality and decreased quality of life through its complications, including heart failure and stroke. Recent studies highlight the benefits of maintaining sinus rhythm. However, pharmacological long-term rhythm control strategies may be shadowed by associated proarrhythmic effects. At the same time, electrical cardioversion is limited to hospitals, while catheter ablation therapy, although effective, is invasive and is dedicated to specific patients, usually with low amounts of atrial fibrosis (preferably Utah I-II). Cardiac optogenetics allows influencing the heart's electrical activity by applying specific wavelength light pulses to previously engineered cardiomyocytes into expressing microbial derived light-sensitive proteins called opsins. The resulting ion influx may give rise to either hyperpolarizing or depolarizing currents, thus offering a therapeutic potential in cardiac electrophysiology, including pacing, resynchronization, and arrhythmia termination. Optogenetic atrial fibrillation cardioversion might be achieved by inducing a conduction block or filling of the excitable gap. The authors agree that transmural opsin expression and appropriate illumination with an exposure time longer than the arrhythmia cycle length are necessary to achieve successful arrhythmia termination. However, the efficiency and safety of biological cardioversion in humans remain to be seen, as well as side effects such as immune reactions and loss of opsin expression. The possibility of delivering pain-free shocks with out-of-hospital biological cardioversion is tempting; however, there are several issues that need to be addressed first: applicability and safety in humans, long-term behaviour, anticoagulation requirements, and fibrosis interactions.
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24
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Leopold AV, Verkhusha VV. Light control of RTK activity: from technology development to translational research. Chem Sci 2020; 11:10019-10034. [PMID: 33209247 PMCID: PMC7654314 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc03570j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) by small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies is used to treat cancer. Conversely, activation of RTKs with their ligands, including growth factors and insulin, is used to treat diabetes and neurodegeneration. However, conventional therapies that rely on injection of RTK inhibitors or activators do not provide spatiotemporal control over RTK signaling, which results in diminished efficiency and side effects. Recently, a number of optogenetic and optochemical approaches have been developed that allow RTK inhibition or activation in cells and in vivo with light. Light irradiation can control RTK signaling non-invasively, in a dosed manner, with high spatio-temporal precision, and without the side effects of conventional treatments. Here we provide an update on the current state of the art of optogenetic and optochemical RTK technologies and the prospects of their use in translational studies and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Leopold
- Medicum , Faculty of Medicine , University of Helsinki , Helsinki 00290 , Finland
| | - Vladislav V Verkhusha
- Medicum , Faculty of Medicine , University of Helsinki , Helsinki 00290 , Finland
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology and Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx , NY 10461 , USA .
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25
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Shen Y, Campbell RE, Côté DC, Paquet ME. Challenges for Therapeutic Applications of Opsin-Based Optogenetic Tools in Humans. Front Neural Circuits 2020; 14:41. [PMID: 32760252 PMCID: PMC7373823 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2020.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
As the technological hurdles are overcome and optogenetic techniques advance to have more control over neurons, therapies based on these approaches will begin to emerge in the clinic. Here, we consider the technical challenges surrounding the transition of this breakthrough technology from an investigative tool to a true therapeutic avenue. The emerging strategies and remaining tasks surrounding genetically encoded molecules which respond to light as well as the vehicles required to deliver them are discussed.The use of optogenetics in humans would represent a completely new paradigm in medicine and would be associated with unprecedented technical considerations. To be applied for stimulation of neurons in humans, an ideal optogenetic tool would need to be non-immunogenic, highly sensitive, and activatable with red light or near-infrared light (to maximize light penetration while minimizing photodamage). To enable sophisticated levels of neuronal control, the combined use of optogenetic actuators and indicators could enable closed-loop all-optical neuromodulation. Such systems would introduce additional challenges related to spectral orthogonality between actuator and indicator, the need for decision making computational algorithms and requirements for large gene cassettes. As in any gene therapy, the therapeutic efficiency of optogenetics will rely on vector delivery and expression in the appropriate cell type. Although viral vectors such as those based on AAVs are showing great potential in human trials, barriers to their general use remain, including immune responses, delivery/transport, and liver clearance. Limitations associated with the gene cassette size which can be packaged in currently approved vectors also need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Shen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Robert E Campbell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daniel C Côté
- Centre de Recherche CERVO, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Département de Physique et Génie Physique, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Eve Paquet
- Centre de Recherche CERVO, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Département de Biochimie, Microbiologie et Bioinformatique, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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26
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Gong X, Mendoza-Halliday D, Ting JT, Kaiser T, Sun X, Bastos AM, Wimmer RD, Guo B, Chen Q, Zhou Y, Pruner M, Wu CWH, Park D, Deisseroth K, Barak B, Boyden ES, Miller EK, Halassa MM, Fu Z, Bi G, Desimone R, Feng G. An Ultra-Sensitive Step-Function Opsin for Minimally Invasive Optogenetic Stimulation in Mice and Macaques. Neuron 2020; 107:38-51.e8. [PMID: 32353253 PMCID: PMC7351618 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetics is among the most widely employed techniques to manipulate neuronal activity. However, a major drawback is the need for invasive implantation of optical fibers. To develop a minimally invasive optogenetic method that overcomes this challenge, we engineered a new step-function opsin with ultra-high light sensitivity (SOUL). We show that SOUL can activate neurons located in deep mouse brain regions via transcranial optical stimulation and elicit behavioral changes in SOUL knock-in mice. Moreover, SOUL can be used to modulate neuronal spiking and induce oscillations reversibly in macaque cortex via optical stimulation from outside the dura. By enabling external light delivery, our new opsin offers a minimally invasive tool for manipulating neuronal activity in rodent and primate models with fewer limitations on the depth and size of target brain regions and may further facilitate the development of minimally invasive optogenetic tools for the treatment of neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Gong
- Center for Integrative Imaging, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Diego Mendoza-Halliday
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jonathan T Ting
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Human Cell Types, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Tobias Kaiser
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xuyun Sun
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
| | - André M Bastos
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ralf D Wimmer
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Baolin Guo
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Qian Chen
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Maxwell Pruner
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Carolyn W-H Wu
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Demian Park
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Boaz Barak
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Edward S Boyden
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Earl K Miller
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Michael M Halassa
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Zhanyan Fu
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Guoqiang Bi
- Center for Integrative Imaging, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Robert Desimone
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Guoping Feng
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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Gundelach LA, Hüser MA, Beutner D, Ruther P, Bruegmann T. Towards the clinical translation of optogenetic skeletal muscle stimulation. Pflugers Arch 2020; 472:527-545. [PMID: 32415463 PMCID: PMC7239821 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-020-02387-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Paralysis is a frequent phenomenon in many diseases, and to date, only functional electrical stimulation (FES) mediated via the innervating nerve can be employed to restore skeletal muscle function in patients. Despite recent progress, FES has several technical limitations and significant side effects. Optogenetic stimulation has been proposed as an alternative, as it may circumvent some of the disadvantages of FES enabling cell type–specific, spatially and temporally precise stimulation of cells expressing light-gated ion channels, commonly Channelrhodopsin2. Two distinct approaches for the restoration of skeletal muscle function with optogenetics have been demonstrated: indirect optogenetic stimulation through the innervating nerve similar to FES and direct optogenetic stimulation of the skeletal muscle. Although both approaches show great promise, both have their limitations and there are several general hurdles that need to be overcome for their translation into clinics. These include successful gene transfer, sustained optogenetic protein expression, and the creation of optically active implantable devices. Herein, a comprehensive summary of the underlying mechanisms of electrical and optogenetic approaches is provided. With this knowledge in mind, we substantiate a detailed discussion of the advantages and limitations of each method. Furthermore, the obstacles in the way of clinical translation of optogenetic stimulation are discussed, and suggestions on how they could be overcome are provided. Finally, four specific examples of pathologies demanding novel therapeutic measures are discussed with a focus on the likelihood of direct versus indirect optogenetic stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili A Gundelach
- Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marc A Hüser
- Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dirk Beutner
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Ruther
- Microsystem Materials Laboratory, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- BrainLinks-BrainTools Cluster of Excellence at the University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Bruegmann
- Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany.
- DZHK e.V. (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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Xu X, Mee T, Jia X. New era of optogenetics: from the central to peripheral nervous system. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 55:1-16. [PMID: 32070147 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2020.1726279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics has recently gained recognition as a biological technique to control the activity of cells using light stimulation. Many studies have applied optogenetics to cell lines in the central nervous system because it has the potential to elucidate neural circuits, treat neurological diseases and promote nerve regeneration. There have been fewer studies on the application of optogenetics in the peripheral nervous system. This review introduces the basic principles and approaches of optogenetics and summarizes the physiology and mechanism of opsins and how the technology enables bidirectional control of unique cell lines with superior spatial and temporal accuracy. Further, this review explores and discusses the therapeutic potential for the development of optogenetics and its capacity to revolutionize treatment for refractory epilepsy, depression, pain, and other nervous system disorders, with a focus on neural regeneration, especially in the peripheral nervous system. Additionally, this review synthesizes the latest preclinical research on optogenetic stimulation, including studies on non-human primates, summarizes the challenges, and highlights future perspectives. The potential of optogenetic stimulation to optimize therapy for peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) is also highlighted. Optogenetic technology has already generated exciting, preliminary evidence, supporting its role in applications to several neurological diseases, including PNIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas Mee
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Orthopedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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29
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Jan A, Richner M, Vægter CB, Nyengaard JR, Jensen PH. Gene Transfer in Rodent Nervous Tissue Following Hindlimb Intramuscular Delivery of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Serotypes AAV2/6, AAV2/8, and AAV2/9. Neurosci Insights 2019; 14:1179069519889022. [PMID: 32363345 PMCID: PMC7176396 DOI: 10.1177/1179069519889022] [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: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors have emerged as the safe vehicles of choice for long-term gene transfer in mammalian nervous system. Recombinant adeno-associated virus–mediated localized gene transfer in adult nervous system following direct inoculation, that is, intracerebral or intrathecal, is well documented. However, recombinant adeno-associated virus delivery in defined neuronal populations in adult animals using less-invasive methods as well as avoiding ectopic gene expression following systemic inoculation remain challenging. Harnessing the capability of some recombinant adeno-associated virus serotypes for retrograde transduction may potentially address such limitations (Note: The term retrograde transduction in this manuscript refers to the uptake of injected recombinant adeno-associated virus particles at nerve terminals, retrograde transport, and subsequent transduction of nerve cell soma). In some studies, recombinant adeno-associated virus serotypes 2/6, 2/8, and 2/9 have been shown to exhibit transduction of connected neuroanatomical tracts in adult animals following lower limb intramuscular recombinant adeno-associated virus delivery in a pattern suggestive of retrograde transduction. However, an extensive side-by-side comparison of these serotypes following intramuscular delivery regarding tissue viral load, and the effect of promoter on transgene expression, has not been performed. Hence, we delivered recombinant adeno-associated virus serotypes 2/6, 2/8, or 2/9 encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), under the control of either cytomegalovirus (CMV) or human synapsin (hSyn) promoter, via a single unilateral hindlimb intramuscular injection in the bicep femoris of adult C57BL/6J mice. Four weeks post injection, we quantified viral load and transgene (enhanced green fluorescent protein) expression in muscle and related nervous tissues. Our data show that the select recombinant adeno-associated virus serotypes transduce sciatic nerve and groups of neurons in the dorsal root ganglia on the injected side, indicating that the intramuscular recombinant adeno-associated virus delivery is useful for achieving gene transfer in local neuroanatomical tracts. We also observed sparse recombinant adeno-associated virus viral delivery or eGFP transduction in lumbar spinal cord and a noticeable lack thereof in brain. Therefore, further improvements in recombinant adeno-associated virus design are warranted to achieve efficient widespread retrograde transduction following intramuscular and possibly other peripheral routes of delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asad Jan
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies and Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mette Richner
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christian B Vægter
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jens R Nyengaard
- Core Center for Molecular Morphology, Section for Stereology and Microscopy, Department of Clinical Medicine, and Centre for Stochastic Geometry and Advanced Bioimaging, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Poul H Jensen
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Liu K, Wang L. Optogenetics: Therapeutic spark in neuropathic pain. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2019; 19:321-327. [PMID: 30995901 DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2019.4114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetics is an emerging field, which uses light and molecular genetics to manipulate the activity of live cells by expressing light-sensitive proteins. With the discovery of bacteriorhodopsin, a light-sensitive bacterial protein, in 1971 Oesterhelt and Stoeckenius laid the pavement of optogenetics. However, the cross-integration of different disciplines is a little more than a decade old. The toolbox contains fluorescent sensors and optogenetic actuators that enable visualization of signaling events and manipulation of cellular activities, respectively. Neuropathic pain is pain caused either by damage or disease that affects the somatosensory system. The exact mechanism for neuropathic pain is not known, however proposed mechanisms include immune reactions, ion channel expressions, and inflammation. Current regimen for the disease provides about 50% relief for only 40-60% of patients. Recent in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate the potential therapeutic applications of optogenetics by manipulating the activity of neurons. This review summarizes the basic concept, therapeutic applications for neuropathy, and potential of optogenetics to reach from bench to bedside in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
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31
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Leopold AV, Shcherbakova DM, Verkhusha VV. Fluorescent Biosensors for Neurotransmission and Neuromodulation: Engineering and Applications. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:474. [PMID: 31708747 PMCID: PMC6819510 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how neuronal activity patterns in the brain correlate with complex behavior is one of the primary goals of modern neuroscience. Chemical transmission is the major way of communication between neurons, however, traditional methods of detection of neurotransmitter and neuromodulator transients in mammalian brain lack spatiotemporal precision. Modern fluorescent biosensors for neurotransmitters and neuromodulators allow monitoring chemical transmission in vivo with millisecond precision and single cell resolution. Changes in the fluorescent biosensor brightness occur upon neurotransmitter binding and can be detected using fiber photometry, stationary microscopy and miniaturized head-mounted microscopes. Biosensors can be expressed in the animal brain using adeno-associated viral vectors, and their cell-specific expression can be achieved with Cre-recombinase expressing animals. Although initially fluorescent biosensors for chemical transmission were represented by glutamate biosensors, nowadays biosensors for GABA, acetylcholine, glycine, norepinephrine, and dopamine are available as well. In this review, we overview functioning principles of existing intensiometric and ratiometric biosensors and provide brief insight into the variety of neurotransmitter-binding proteins from bacteria, plants, and eukaryotes including G-protein coupled receptors, which may serve as neurotransmitter-binding scaffolds. We next describe a workflow for development of neurotransmitter and neuromodulator biosensors. We then discuss advanced setups for functional imaging of neurotransmitter transients in the brain of awake freely moving animals. We conclude by providing application examples of biosensors for the studies of complex behavior with the single-neuron precision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Leopold
- Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Daria M Shcherbakova
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Vladislav V Verkhusha
- Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
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Bohlen MO, El-Nahal HG, Sommer MA. Transduction of Craniofacial Motoneurons Following Intramuscular Injections of Canine Adenovirus Type-2 (CAV-2) in Rhesus Macaques. Front Neuroanat 2019; 13:84. [PMID: 31619971 PMCID: PMC6759538 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2019.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reliable viral vector-mediated transgene expression in primate motoneurons would improve our ability to anatomically and physiologically interrogate motor systems. We therefore investigated the efficacy of replication defective, early region 1-deleted canine adenovirus type-2 (CAV-2) vectors for mediating transgene expression of fluorescent proteins into brainstem motoneurons following craniofacial intramuscular injections in four rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Vector injections were placed into surgically identified and isolated craniofacial muscles. After a 1- to 2-month survival time, animals were sacrificed and transgene expression was assessed with immunohistochemistry in the corresponding motoneuronal populations. We found that injections of CAV-2 into individual craniofacial muscles at doses in the range of ∼1010 to 1011 physical particles/muscle resulted in robust motoneuronal transduction and expression of immunohistochemically identified fluorescent proteins across multiple animals. By using different titers in separate muscles, with the resulting transduction patterns tracked via fluorophore expression and labeled motoneuron location, we established qualitative dose-response relationships in two animals. In one animal that received an atypically high titer (5.7 × 1011 total CAV-2 physical particles) distributed across numerous injection sites, no transduction was detected, likely due to a retaliatory immune response. We conclude that CAV-2 vectors show promise for genetic modification of primate motoneurons following craniofacial intramuscular injections. Our findings warrant focused attention toward the use of CAV-2 vectors to deliver opsins, DREADDs, and other molecular probes to improve genetics-based methods for primate research. Further work is required to optimize CAV-2 transduction parameters. CAV-2 vectors encoding proteins could provide a new, reliable route for modifying activity in targeted neuronal populations of the primate central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin O Bohlen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Hala G El-Nahal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Marc A Sommer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
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33
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Richter C, Bruegmann T. No light without the dark: Perspectives and hindrances for translation of cardiac optogenetics. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 154:39-50. [PMID: 31515056 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2019.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade, optogenetic stimulation of the heart and its translational potential for rhythm control attracted more and more interest. Optogenetics allows to stimulate cardiomyocytes expressing the light-gated cation channel Channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2) with light and thus high spatio-temporal precision. Therefore this new approach can overcome the technical limitations of electrical stimulation. In regard of translational approaches, the prospect of pain-free stimulation, if ChR2 expression is restricted to cardiomyocytes, is especially intriguing and could be highly beneficial for cardioversion and defibrillation. However, there is no light without shadow and cardiac optogenetics has to surmount critical hurdles, namely "how" to inscribe light-sensitivity by expressing ChR2 in a native heart and how to avoid side effects such as possible immune responses against the gene transfer. Furthermore, implantable light devices have to be developed which ensure sufficient illumination in a highly contractile environment. Therefore this article reviews recent advantages in the field of cardiac optogenetics with a special focus on the hindrances for the potential translation of this new approach into clinics and provides an outlook how these have to be carefully investigated and could be solved step by step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Richter
- RG Biomedical Physics, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics & Self-Organization, Am Fassberg 17, 37077, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center, Robert-Koch-Str. 42a, 37075, Goettingen, Germany; DZHK e.V. (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Goettingen, 37075, Goettingen, Germany.
| | - Tobias Bruegmann
- DZHK e.V. (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Goettingen, 37075, Goettingen, Germany; Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Goettingen, Germany.
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34
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Mayer P, Sivakumar N, Pritz M, Varga M, Mehmann A, Lee S, Salvatore A, Magno M, Pharr M, Johannssen HC, Troester G, Zeilhofer HU, Salvatore GA. Flexible and Lightweight Devices for Wireless Multi-Color Optogenetic Experiments Controllable via Commercial Cell Phones. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:819. [PMID: 31551666 PMCID: PMC6743353 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Optogenetics provide a potential alternative approach to the treatment of chronic pain, in which complex pathology often hampers efficacy of standard pharmacological approaches. Technological advancements in the development of thin, wireless, and mechanically flexible optoelectronic implants offer new routes to control the activity of subsets of neurons and nerve fibers in vivo. This study reports a novel and advanced design of battery-free, flexible, and lightweight devices equipped with one or two miniaturized LEDs, which can be individually controlled in real time. Two proof-of-concept experiments in mice demonstrate the feasibility of these devices. First, we show that blue-light devices implanted on top of the lumbar spinal cord can excite channelrhodopsin expressing nociceptors to induce place aversion. Second, we show that nocifensive withdrawal responses can be suppressed by green-light optogenetic (Archaerhodopsin-mediated) inhibition of action potential propagation along the sciatic nerve. One salient feature of these devices is that they can be operated via modern tablets and smartphones without bulky and complex lab instrumentation. In addition to the optical stimulation, the design enables the simultaneously wireless recording of the temperature in proximity of the stimulation area. As such, these devices are primed for translation to human patients with implications in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions far beyond chronic pain syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Mayer
- Electronics Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute for Integrated Circuits, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nandhini Sivakumar
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Pritz
- Electronics Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matjia Varga
- Electronics Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Seunghyun Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | | | - Michele Magno
- Institute for Integrated Circuits, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matt Pharr
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Helge C Johannssen
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Srinivasan S, Schelhaas B, Maimon B, Song H, Herr H. Retinal supplementation augments optogenetic stimulation efficacy in vivo. J Neural Eng 2019; 16:054002. [PMID: 31039554 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ab1e22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Over the last two decades, optical control of neuronal activity in the central nervous system has seen rapid development, demonstrating the utility of optogenetics as both an experimental and therapeutic tool. Conversely, applications of optogenetics in the peripheral nervous system have been relatively constrained by the challenges of temporally variable opsin expression, light penetration and immune attack of non-native opsins. Whilst opsin expression can be increased significantly through high-concentration viral induction, subsequent attack by the immune system causes temporal decay and high variability in electrophysiological response. APPROACH In this study, we present a method to circumvent the aforementioned challenges by locally supplementing all-trans-retinal (ATR) (via a slow release pellet) to increase tissue photosensitivity in transgenic mice expressing channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2) in nerves. MAIN RESULTS In mice supplemented with ATR, we demonstrate enhanced electrophysiological activation and fatigue tolerance in response to optical stimulation for six weeks. SIGNIFICANCE Local supplementation of ATR enables improved optogenetic stimulation efficacy in peripheral nerves. This method enables greater exploration of neurophysiology and development of clinically-viable optogenetic treatments in the peripheral nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shriya Srinivasan
- Center for Extreme Bionics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America. Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America
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36
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Williams JJ, Watson AM, Vazquez AL, Schwartz AB. Viral-Mediated Optogenetic Stimulation of Peripheral Motor Nerves in Non-human Primates. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:759. [PMID: 31417342 PMCID: PMC6684788 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Reanimation of muscles paralyzed by disease states such as spinal cord injury remains a highly sought therapeutic goal of neuroprosthetic research. Optogenetic stimulation of peripheral motor nerves expressing light-sensitive opsins is a promising approach to muscle reanimation that may overcome several drawbacks of traditional methods such as functional electrical stimulation (FES). However, the utility of these methods has only been demonstrated in rodents to date, while translation to clinical practice will likely first require demonstration and refinement of these gene therapy techniques in non-human primates. Approach: Three rhesus macaques were injected intramuscularly with either one or both of two optogenetic constructs (AAV6-hSyn-ChR2-eYFP and/or AAV6-hSyn-Chronos-eYFP) to transduce opsin expression in the corresponding nerves. Neuromuscular junctions were targeted for virus delivery using an electrical stimulating injection technique. Functional opsin expression was periodically evaluated up to 13 weeks post-injection by optically stimulating targeted nerves with a 472 nm fiber-coupled laser while recording electromyographic (EMG) responses. Main Results: One monkey demonstrated functional expression of ChR2 at 8 weeks post-injection in each of two injected muscles, while the second monkey briefly exhibited contractions coupled to optical stimulation in a muscle injected with the Chronos construct at 10 weeks. A third monkey injected only in one muscle with the ChR2 construct showed strong optically coupled contractions at 5 ½ weeks which then disappeared by 9 weeks. EMG responses to optical stimulation of ChR2-transduced nerves demonstrated graded recruitment relative to both stimulus pulse-width and light intensity, and followed stimulus trains up to 16 Hz. In addition, the EMG response to prolonged stimulation showed delayed fatigue over several minutes. Significance: These results demonstrate the feasibility of viral transduction of peripheral motor nerves for functional optical stimulation of motor activity in non-human primates, a variable timeline of opsin expression in a animal model closer to humans, and fundamental EMG response characteristics to optical nerve stimulation. Together, they represent an important step in translating these optogenetic techniques as a clinically viable gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan J. Williams
- Department of Neurobiology, Systems Neuroscience Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Alan M. Watson
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Alberto L. Vazquez
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Andrew B. Schwartz
- Department of Neurobiology, Systems Neuroscience Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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