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Yang YT, Ji MR, Lin ZJ, Li P, Wu RZ, Liu XD, Liu L. Bile duct ligation impairs visual acuity in rats by ammonia- and bilirubin-induced retinal degeneration. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024:10.1038/s41401-024-01388-4. [PMID: 39294446 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01388-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with hepatic failure are often accompanied by hepatic retinopathy, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the hepatic retinopathy remain unclear. In this study, we investigated how liver failure leads to hepatic retinopathy using bile duct ligation (BDL) rats as a cholestasis animal model. Light-dark box test was used to assess sensitivity to light, indexed as visual acuity. On D28 post-BDL, rats were subjected to light-dark box test and blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses. The rats then were euthanized. Liver, spleen and both side of eye were quickly harvested. We showed that BDL impaired rat sensitivity to light, significantly decreased the thickness of inner nuclear layer (INL), outer nuclear layer (ONL) and total retina, as well as the retinal cell numbers in ONL and ganglion cell layer (GCL). The expression of rhodopsin (RHO), brn-3a and GPX4 was significantly decreased in retina of BDL rats, whereas the expression of cleaved caspase 3, 8, 9, bax/bcl-2, RIP1, GFAP, and iba-1, as well as TUNEL-positive cells were significantly increased. In cultured retinal explant, we found that NH4Cl (0.2, 1, 5 mM) concentration-dependently impaired activity of retinal explant, decreased thickness of INL and ONL, downregulated expression of brn-3a, RHO and GFAP, increased expression of cl-caspase 3 and TUNEL-positive cell numbers, with NH4Cl (5 mM) almost completely disrupting the structure of the cultured retina; bilirubin (1 μM) significantly upregulated GFAP expression, whereas high level (10 μM) of bilirubin downregulated expression of GFAP. We further demonstrated in vivo that hyperammonemia impaired rat sensitivity to light, decreased thickness of INL and ONL, downregulated expression of RHO, brn-3a, GFAP and increased expression of cl-caspase 3; hyperbilirubinemia impaired rat sensitivity to light, upregulated expression of GFAP and iba-1. In conclusion, BDL impaired rat visual acuity due to the elevated levels of ammonia and bilirubin. Ammonia induced loss of retinal ganglion cells and rod photoreceptor cells via apoptosis-mediated cell death. Bilirubin impaired retinal function via activating microglia and Müller cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ting Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, China
| | - Ming-Rui Ji
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zi-Jin Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Run-Ze Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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2
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Hong JD, Salom D, Choi EH, Du SW, Tworak A, Smidak R, Gao F, Solano YJ, Zhang J, Kiser PD, Palczewski K. Retinylidene chromophore hydrolysis from mammalian visual and non-visual opsins. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105678. [PMID: 38272218 PMCID: PMC10877631 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105678] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Rhodopsin (Rho) and cone opsins are essential for detection of light. They respond via photoisomerization, converting their Schiff-base-adducted 11-cis-retinylidene chromophores to the all-trans configuration, eliciting conformational changes to activate opsin signaling. Subsequent Schiff-base hydrolysis releases all-trans-retinal, initiating two important cycles that maintain continuous vision-the Rho photocycle and visual cycle pathway. Schiff-base hydrolysis has been thoroughly studied with photoactivated Rho but not with cone opsins. Using established methodology, we directly measured the formation of Schiff-base between retinal chromophores with mammalian visual and nonvisual opsins of the eye. Next, we determined the rate of light-induced chromophore hydrolysis. We found that retinal hydrolysis from photoactivated cone opsins was markedly faster than from photoactivated Rho. Bovine retinal G protein-coupled receptor (bRGR) displayed rapid hydrolysis of its 11-cis-retinylidene photoproduct to quickly supply 11-cis-retinal and re-bind all-trans-retinal. Hydrolysis within bRGR in native retinal pigment epithelium microsomal membranes was >6-times faster than that of bRGR purified in detergent micelles. N-terminal-targeted antibodies significantly slowed bRGR hydrolysis, while C-terminal antibodies had no effect. Our study highlights the much faster photocycle of cone opsins relative to Rho and the crucial role of RGR in chromophore recycling in daylight. By contrast, in our experimental conditions, bovine peropsin did not form pigment in the presence of all-trans-retinal nor with any mono-cis retinal isomers, leaving uncertain the role of this opsin as a light sensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Hong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - David Salom
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.
| | - Elliot H Choi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Samuel W Du
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Aleksander Tworak
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Roman Smidak
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Fangyuan Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Yasmeen J Solano
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Jianye Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Philip D Kiser
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Research Service, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.
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3
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de Grip WJ, Ganapathy S. Rhodopsins: An Excitingly Versatile Protein Species for Research, Development and Creative Engineering. Front Chem 2022; 10:879609. [PMID: 35815212 PMCID: PMC9257189 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.879609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The first member and eponym of the rhodopsin family was identified in the 1930s as the visual pigment of the rod photoreceptor cell in the animal retina. It was found to be a membrane protein, owing its photosensitivity to the presence of a covalently bound chromophoric group. This group, derived from vitamin A, was appropriately dubbed retinal. In the 1970s a microbial counterpart of this species was discovered in an archaeon, being a membrane protein also harbouring retinal as a chromophore, and named bacteriorhodopsin. Since their discovery a photogenic panorama unfolded, where up to date new members and subspecies with a variety of light-driven functionality have been added to this family. The animal branch, meanwhile categorized as type-2 rhodopsins, turned out to form a large subclass in the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors and are essential to multiple elements of light-dependent animal sensory physiology. The microbial branch, the type-1 rhodopsins, largely function as light-driven ion pumps or channels, but also contain sensory-active and enzyme-sustaining subspecies. In this review we will follow the development of this exciting membrane protein panorama in a representative number of highlights and will present a prospect of their extraordinary future potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem J. de Grip
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Department of Biophysical Organic Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Srividya Ganapathy
- Department of Imaging Physics, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
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4
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Trifonov L, Rothstein A, Korshin EE, Viskind O, Afri M, Leitus G, Palczewski K, Gruzman A. Straightforward Access to Terminally Disubstituted Electron‐Deficient Alkylidene Cyclopent‐2‐en‐4‐ones through Olefination with α‐Carbonyl and α‐Cyano Secondary Alkyl Sulfones. European J Org Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.202101258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lena Trifonov
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University Max and Anna Webb St. Ramat-Gan 5290002 Israel
| | - Ayelet Rothstein
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University Max and Anna Webb St. Ramat-Gan 5290002 Israel
| | - Edward E. Korshin
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University Max and Anna Webb St. Ramat-Gan 5290002 Israel
| | - Olga Viskind
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University Max and Anna Webb St. Ramat-Gan 5290002 Israel
| | - Michal Afri
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University Max and Anna Webb St. Ramat-Gan 5290002 Israel
| | - Gregory Leitus
- Department of Chemical Research Support the Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot 76100 Israel
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Department of Ophthalmology and Departments of Physiology and Biophysics and Chemistry and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
| | - Arie Gruzman
- Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University Max and Anna Webb St. Ramat-Gan 5290002 Israel
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5
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Niu Z, Shi Y, Li J, Qiao S, Du S, Chen L, Tian H, Wei L, Cao H, Wang J, Gao L. Protective effect of rapamycin in models of retinal degeneration. Exp Eye Res 2021; 210:108700. [PMID: 34245755 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex retinal disease with no viable treatment strategy. The causative mechanistic pathway for this disease is not yet clear. Therefore, it is highly warranted to screen effective drugs to treat AMD. Rapamycin are known to inhibit inflammation and has been widely used in the clinic as an immunosuppressant. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of rapamycin on the AMD retinal degeneration model. The AMD models were established by injection of 35 mg/kg sodium iodate (NaIO3) into the tail vein. Then the treated mice intraperitoneally received rapamycin (2 mg/kg) once a day. The histomorphological analysis showed that rapamycin could inhibit retinal structure damage and apoptosis. Experiments revealed that rapamycin significantly attenuated inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Our experimental results demonstrated that rapamycin has protected the retinal against degeneration induced by NaIO3. The therapeutic effect was more significant after 7 days of treatment. Therefore, our study potentially provides a powerful experimental support for the treatment of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanyu Niu
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Yongpeng Shi
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Jiande Li
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Shufan Qiao
- Colloge of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Shaobo Du
- School of Stomatology of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Linchi Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Huanbing Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Li Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Hanwen Cao
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Ji Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Lan Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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6
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Salom D, Jin H, Gerken TA, Yu C, Huang L, Palczewski K. Human red and green cone opsins are O-glycosylated at an N-terminal Ser/Thr-rich domain conserved in vertebrates. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:8123-8133. [PMID: 30948514 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
There are fundamental differences in the structures of outer segments between rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the vertebrate retina. Visual pigments are the only essential membrane proteins that differ between rod and cone outer segments, making it likely that they contribute to these structural differences. Human rhodopsin is N-glycosylated on Asn2 and Asn15, whereas human (h) red and green cone opsins (hOPSR and hOPSG, respectively) are N-glycosylated at Asn34 Here, utilizing a monoclonal antibody (7G8 mAB), we demonstrate that hOPSR and hOPSG from human retina also are O-glycosylated with full occupancy. We determined that 7G8 mAB recognizes the N-terminal sequence 21DSTQSSIF28 of hOPSR and hOPSG from extracts of human retina, but only after their O-glycans have been removed with O-glycosidase treatment, thus revealing this post-translational modification of red and green cone opsins. In addition, we show that hOPSR and hOPSG from human retina are recognized by jacalin, a lectin that binds to O-glycans, preferentially to Gal-GalNAc. Next, we confirmed the presence of O-glycans on OPSR and OPSG from several vertebrate species, including mammals, birds, and amphibians. Finally, the analysis of bovine OPSR by MS identified an O-glycan on Ser22, a residue that is semi-conserved (Ser or Thr) among vertebrate OPSR and OPSG. These results suggest that O-glycosylation is a fundamental feature of red and green cone opsins, which may be relevant to their function or to cone cell development, and that differences in this post-translational modification also could contribute to the different morphologies of rod and cone photoreceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Salom
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697; Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
| | - Hui Jin
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Thomas A Gerken
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Clinton Yu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Lan Huang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697; Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
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7
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Srinivasan S, Guixà-González R, Cordomí A, Garriga P. Ligand Binding Mechanisms in Human Cone Visual Pigments. Trends Biochem Sci 2019; 44:629-639. [PMID: 30853245 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Vertebrate vision starts with light absorption by visual pigments in rod and cone photoreceptor cells of the retina. Rhodopsin, in rod cells, responds to dim light, whereas three types of cone opsins (red, green, and blue) function under bright light and mediate color vision. Cone opsins regenerate with retinal much faster than rhodopsin, but the molecular mechanism of regeneration is still unclear. Recent advances in the area pinpoint transient intermediate opsin conformations, and a possible secondary retinal-binding site, as determinant factors for regeneration. In this Review, we compile previous and recent findings to discuss possible mechanisms of ligand entry in cone opsins, involving a secondary binding site, which may have relevant functional and evolutionary implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundaramoorthy Srinivasan
- Grup de Biotecnologia Molecular i Industrial, Centre de Biotecnologia Molecular, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech, Rambla de Sant Nebridi 22, 08222 Terrassa, Spain
| | - Ramon Guixà-González
- Laboratori de Medicina Computational, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arnau Cordomí
- Laboratori de Medicina Computational, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere Garriga
- Grup de Biotecnologia Molecular i Industrial, Centre de Biotecnologia Molecular, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech, Rambla de Sant Nebridi 22, 08222 Terrassa, Spain.
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8
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Katayama K, Gulati S, Ortega JT, Alexander NS, Sun W, Shenouda MM, Palczewski K, Jastrzebska B. Specificity of the chromophore-binding site in human cone opsins. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:6082-6093. [PMID: 30770468 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.007587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The variable composition of the chromophore-binding pocket in visual receptors is essential for vision. The visual phototransduction starts with the cis-trans isomerization of the retinal chromophore upon absorption of photons. Despite sharing the common 11-cis-retinal chromophore, rod and cone photoreceptors possess distinct photochemical properties. Thus, a detailed molecular characterization of the chromophore-binding pocket of these receptors is critical to understanding the differences in the photochemistry of vision between rods and cones. Unlike for rhodopsin (Rh), the crystal structures of cone opsins remain to be determined. To obtain insights into the specific chromophore-protein interactions that govern spectral tuning in human visual pigments, here we harnessed the unique binding properties of 11-cis-6-membered-ring-retinal (11-cis-6mr-retinal) with human blue, green, and red cone opsins. To unravel the specificity of the chromophore-binding pocket of cone opsins, we applied 11-cis-6mr-retinal analog-binding analyses to human blue, green, and red cone opsins. Our results revealed that among the three cone opsins, only blue cone opsin can accommodate the 11-cis-6mr-retinal in its chromophore-binding pocket, resulting in the formation of a synthetic blue pigment (B6mr) that absorbs visible light. A combination of primary sequence alignment, molecular modeling, and mutagenesis experiments revealed the specific amino acid residue 6.48 (Tyr-262 in blue cone opsins and Trp-281 in green and red cone opsins) as a selectivity filter in human cone opsins. Altogether, the results of our study uncover the molecular basis underlying the binding selectivity of 11-cis-6mr-retinal to the cone opsins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kota Katayama
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106; Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan; OptoBio Technology Research Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan
| | - Sahil Gulati
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Joseph T Ortega
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Nathan S Alexander
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Wenyu Sun
- Polgenix Inc., Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Marina M Shenouda
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697; Polgenix Inc., Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
| | - Beata Jastrzebska
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
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9
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Gao S, Parmar T, Palczewska G, Dong Z, Golczak M, Palczewski K, Jastrzebska B. Protective Effect of a Locked Retinal Chromophore Analog against Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration. Mol Pharmacol 2018; 94:1132-1144. [PMID: 30018116 DOI: 10.1124/mol.118.112581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Continuous regeneration of the 11-cis-retinal visual chromophore from all-trans-retinal is critical for vision. Insufficiency of 11-cis-retinal arising from the dysfunction of key proteins involved in its regeneration can impair retinal health, ultimately leading to loss of human sight. Delayed recovery of visual sensitivity and night blindness caused by inadequate regeneration of the visual pigment rhodopsin are typical early signs of this condition. Excessive concentrations of unliganded, constitutively active opsin and increased levels of all-trans-retinal and its byproducts in photoreceptors also accelerate retinal degeneration after light exposure. Exogenous 9-cis-retinal iso-chromophore can reduce the toxicity of ligand-free opsin but fails to prevent the buildup of retinoid photoproducts when their clearance is defective in human retinopathies, such as Stargardt disease or age-related macular degeneration. Here we evaluated the effect of a locked chromophore analog, 11-cis-6-membered ring-retinal against bright light-induced retinal degeneration in Abca4-/-Rdh8-/- mice. Using in vivo imaging techniques, optical coherence tomography, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and two-photon microscopy, along with in vitro histologic analysis of retinal morphology, we found that treatment with 11-cis-6-membered ring-retinal before light stimulation prevented rod and cone photoreceptor degradation and preserved functional acuity in these mice. Moreover, additive accumulation of 11-cis-6-membered ring-retinal measured in the eyes of these mice by quantitative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated stable binding of this retinoid to opsin. Together, these results suggest that eliminating excess of unliganded opsin can prevent light-induced retinal degeneration in Abca4-/-Rdh8-/- mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songqi Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine (S.G., T.P., M.G., K.P., B.J.) and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology (M.G., K.P., B.J.), Case Western Reserve University, and Polgenix Inc., Department of Medical Devices (G.P., Z.D.), Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Tanu Parmar
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine (S.G., T.P., M.G., K.P., B.J.) and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology (M.G., K.P., B.J.), Case Western Reserve University, and Polgenix Inc., Department of Medical Devices (G.P., Z.D.), Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Grazyna Palczewska
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine (S.G., T.P., M.G., K.P., B.J.) and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology (M.G., K.P., B.J.), Case Western Reserve University, and Polgenix Inc., Department of Medical Devices (G.P., Z.D.), Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Zhiqian Dong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine (S.G., T.P., M.G., K.P., B.J.) and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology (M.G., K.P., B.J.), Case Western Reserve University, and Polgenix Inc., Department of Medical Devices (G.P., Z.D.), Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Marcin Golczak
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine (S.G., T.P., M.G., K.P., B.J.) and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology (M.G., K.P., B.J.), Case Western Reserve University, and Polgenix Inc., Department of Medical Devices (G.P., Z.D.), Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine (S.G., T.P., M.G., K.P., B.J.) and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology (M.G., K.P., B.J.), Case Western Reserve University, and Polgenix Inc., Department of Medical Devices (G.P., Z.D.), Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Beata Jastrzebska
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine (S.G., T.P., M.G., K.P., B.J.) and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology (M.G., K.P., B.J.), Case Western Reserve University, and Polgenix Inc., Department of Medical Devices (G.P., Z.D.), Cleveland, Ohio
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10
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Chen Y, Chen Y, Jastrzebska B, Golczak M, Gulati S, Tang H, Seibel W, Li X, Jin H, Han Y, Gao S, Zhang J, Liu X, Heidari-Torkabadi H, Stewart PL, Harte WE, Tochtrop GP, Palczewski K. A novel small molecule chaperone of rod opsin and its potential therapy for retinal degeneration. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1976. [PMID: 29773803 PMCID: PMC5958115 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04261-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhodopsin homeostasis is tightly coupled to rod photoreceptor cell survival and vision. Mutations resulting in the misfolding of rhodopsin can lead to autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP), a progressive retinal degeneration that currently is untreatable. Using a cell-based high-throughput screen (HTS) to identify small molecules that can stabilize the P23H-opsin mutant, which causes most cases of adRP, we identified a novel pharmacological chaperone of rod photoreceptor opsin, YC-001. As a non-retinoid molecule, YC-001 demonstrates micromolar potency and efficacy greater than 9-cis-retinal with lower cytotoxicity. YC-001 binds to bovine rod opsin with an EC50 similar to 9-cis-retinal. The chaperone activity of YC-001 is evidenced by its ability to rescue the transport of multiple rod opsin mutants in mammalian cells. YC-001 is also an inverse agonist that non-competitively antagonizes rod opsin signaling. Significantly, a single dose of YC-001 protects Abca4 -/- Rdh8 -/- mice from bright light-induced retinal degeneration, suggesting its broad therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
- The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 450 Technology Drive Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA.
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Yueyang Hospital and Clinical Research Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 200437, Shanghai, China
| | - Beata Jastrzebska
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 1819 E. 101st Street, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Marcin Golczak
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 1819 E. 101st Street, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Sahil Gulati
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 1819 E. 101st Street, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Hong Tang
- Drug Discovery Center, University of Cincinnati, 2180 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH, 45237, USA
| | - William Seibel
- Drug Discovery Center, University of Cincinnati, 2180 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH, 45237, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Hui Jin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Yong Han
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Songqi Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Jianye Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Xujie Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Hossein Heidari-Torkabadi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Phoebe L Stewart
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 1819 E. 101st Street, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - William E Harte
- Office of Translation and Innovation, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Gregory P Tochtrop
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
- Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 1819 E. 101st Street, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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11
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Gao S, Kahremany S, Zhang J, Jastrzebska B, Querubin J, Petersen-Jones SM, Palczewski K. Retinal-chitosan Conjugates Effectively Deliver Active Chromophores to Retinal Photoreceptor Cells in Blind Mice and Dogs. Mol Pharmacol 2018; 93:438-452. [PMID: 29453250 DOI: 10.1124/mol.117.111294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The retinoid (visual) cycle consists of a series of biochemical reactions needed to regenerate the visual chromophore 11-cis-retinal and sustain vision. Genetic or environmental factors affecting chromophore production can lead to blindness. Using animal models that mimic human retinal diseases, we previously demonstrated that mechanism-based pharmacological interventions can maintain vision in otherwise incurable genetic diseases of the retina. Here, we report that after 9-cis-retinal administration to lecithin:retinol acyltransferase-deficient (Lrat-/- ) mice, the drug was rapidly absorbed and then cleared within 1 to 2 hours. However, when conjugated to form chitosan-9-cis-retinal, this prodrug was slowly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in sustainable plasma levels of 9-cis-retinol and recovery of visual function without causing elevated levels, as occurs with unconjugated drug treatment. Administration of chitosan-9-cis-retinal conjugate intravitreally in retinal pigment epithelium-specific 65 retinoid isomerase (RPE65)-deficient dogs improved photoreceptor function as assessed by electroretinography. Functional rescue was dose dependent and maintained for several weeks. Dosing via the gastrointestinal tract in canines was found ineffective, most likely due to peculiarities of vitamin A blood transport in canines. Use of the chitosan conjugate in combination with 11-cis-6-ring-retinal, a locked ring analog of 11-cis-retinal that selectively blocks rod opsin consumption of chromophore while largely sparing cone opsins, was found to prolong cone vision in Lrat-/- mice. Development of such combination low-dose regimens to selectively prolong useful cone vision could not only expand retinal disease treatments to include Leber congenital amaurosis but also the age-related decline in human dark adaptation from progressive retinoid cycle deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songqi Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (S.G., S.K., J.Z., B.J., K.P.) and Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (J.Q., S.M.P.-J.)
| | - Shirin Kahremany
- Department of Pharmacology and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (S.G., S.K., J.Z., B.J., K.P.) and Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (J.Q., S.M.P.-J.)
| | - Jianye Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (S.G., S.K., J.Z., B.J., K.P.) and Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (J.Q., S.M.P.-J.)
| | - Beata Jastrzebska
- Department of Pharmacology and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (S.G., S.K., J.Z., B.J., K.P.) and Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (J.Q., S.M.P.-J.)
| | - Janice Querubin
- Department of Pharmacology and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (S.G., S.K., J.Z., B.J., K.P.) and Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (J.Q., S.M.P.-J.)
| | - Simon M Petersen-Jones
- Department of Pharmacology and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (S.G., S.K., J.Z., B.J., K.P.) and Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (J.Q., S.M.P.-J.)
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Department of Pharmacology and Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (S.G., S.K., J.Z., B.J., K.P.) and Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (J.Q., S.M.P.-J.)
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