1
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D'haene E, López-Soriano V, Martínez-García PM, Kalayanamontri S, Rey AD, Sousa-Ortega A, Naranjo S, Van de Sompele S, Vantomme L, Mahieu Q, Vergult S, Neto A, Gómez-Skarmeta JL, Martínez-Morales JR, Bauwens M, Tena JJ, De Baere E. Comparative 3D genome analysis between neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium reveals differential cis-regulatory interactions at retinal disease loci. Genome Biol 2024; 25:123. [PMID: 38760655 PMCID: PMC11100165 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03250-6] [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: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vision depends on the interplay between photoreceptor cells of the neural retina and the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Most genes involved in inherited retinal diseases display specific spatiotemporal expression within these interconnected retinal components through the local recruitment of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) in 3D nuclear space. RESULTS To understand the role of differential chromatin architecture in establishing tissue-specific expression at inherited retinal disease loci, we mapped genome-wide chromatin interactions using in situ Hi-C and H3K4me3 HiChIP on neural retina and RPE/choroid from human adult donor eyes. We observed chromatin looping between active promoters and 32,425 and 8060 candidate CREs in the neural retina and RPE/choroid, respectively. A comparative 3D genome analysis between these two retinal tissues revealed that 56% of 290 known inherited retinal disease genes were marked by differential chromatin interactions. One of these was ABCA4, which is implicated in the most common autosomal recessive inherited retinal disease. We zoomed in on retina- and RPE-specific cis-regulatory interactions at the ABCA4 locus using high-resolution UMI-4C. Integration with bulk and single-cell epigenomic datasets and in vivo enhancer assays in zebrafish revealed tissue-specific CREs interacting with ABCA4. CONCLUSIONS Through comparative 3D genome mapping, based on genome-wide, promoter-centric, and locus-specific assays of human neural retina and RPE, we have shown that gene regulation at key inherited retinal disease loci is likely mediated by tissue-specific chromatin interactions. These findings do not only provide insight into tissue-specific regulatory landscapes at retinal disease loci, but also delineate the search space for non-coding genomic variation underlying unsolved inherited retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva D'haene
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Víctor López-Soriano
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pedro Manuel Martínez-García
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Soraya Kalayanamontri
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alfredo Dueñas Rey
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ana Sousa-Ortega
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Silvia Naranjo
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Stijn Van de Sompele
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lies Vantomme
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Quinten Mahieu
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Vergult
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ana Neto
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José Luis Gómez-Skarmeta
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Juan Ramón Martínez-Morales
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Miriam Bauwens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Juan Jesús Tena
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Elfride De Baere
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
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2
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Xia Z, Yang X, Bi X, Tong X, Min J, Wang F. Zinc transporter Slc30a1 regulates melanocyte development by interacting with mt2 in zebrafish. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151272. [PMID: 36063588 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151272] [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: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The essential trace element zinc is involved in multiple biological processes including development and metabolism, while its role in melanocyte formation is still unclear. Slc30a1a and Slc30a1b are zinc exporters in zebrafish. Here, we found that melanocytes were increased in slc30a1a and slc30a1b double mutant zebrafish. SMART-seq data revealed that genes involved in the melanoma pathway and the gene mt2, which encodes zinc-binding protein, were significantly upregulated in the mutants. In addition, the expression of mt2 was specifically increased in mutant melanocytes, as detected by in situ hybridization, suggesting an essential role of this gene in the tissue. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that elevated zinc levels resulting from Slc30a1 deficiency promoted melanocyte proliferation and that mt2 played a protective role in the process of Slc30a1/zinc-mediated melanocyte hyperplasia. This study uncovered the critical function of Slc30a1-mediated zinc homeostasis in melanocyte development and suggests that accumulated zinc in melanocytes would be a risk for inducing melanoma and that mt2 is a potential target for controlling diseases related to abnormal melanocyte development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhidan Xia
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiu Yang
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinying Bi
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiujuan Tong
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Junxia Min
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Fudi Wang
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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3
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Moreno-Mármol T, Ledesma-Terrón M, Tabanera N, Martin-Bermejo MJ, Cardozo MJ, Cavodeassi F, Bovolenta P. Stretching of the retinal pigment epithelium contributes to zebrafish optic cup morphogenesis. eLife 2021; 10:63396. [PMID: 34545806 PMCID: PMC8530511 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate eye primordium consists of a pseudostratified neuroepithelium, the optic vesicle (OV), in which cells acquire neural retina or retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) fates. As these fates arise, the OV assumes a cup shape, influenced by mechanical forces generated within the neural retina. Whether the RPE passively adapts to retinal changes or actively contributes to OV morphogenesis remains unexplored. We generated a zebrafish Tg(E1-bhlhe40:GFP) line to track RPE morphogenesis and interrogate its participation in OV folding. We show that, in virtual absence of proliferation, RPE cells stretch and flatten, thereby matching the retinal curvature and promoting OV folding. Localized interference with the RPE cytoskeleton disrupts tissue stretching and OV folding. Thus, extreme RPE flattening and accelerated differentiation are efficient solutions adopted by fast-developing species to enable timely optic cup formation. This mechanism differs in amniotes, in which proliferation drives RPE expansion with a much-reduced need of cell flattening. Rounded eyeballs help to optimize vision – but how do they acquire their distinctive shape? In animals with backbones, including humans, the eye begins to form early in development. A single layer of embryonic tissue called the optic vesicle reorganizes itself into a two-layered structure: a thin outer layer of cells, known as the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE for short), and a thicker inner layer called the neural retina. If this process fails, the animal may be born blind or visually impaired. How this flat two-layered structure becomes round is still being investigated. In fish, studies have shown that the inner cell layer – the neural retina – generates mechanical forces that cause the developing tissue to curve inwards to form a cup-like shape. But it was unclear whether the outer layer of cells (the RPE) also contributed to this process. Moreno-Marmol et al. were able to investigate this question by genetically modifying zebrafish to make all new RPE cells fluoresce. Following the early development of the zebrafish eye under a microscope revealed that RPE cells flattened themselves into long thin structures that stretched to cover the entire neural retina. This change was made possible by the cell’s internal skeleton reorganizing. In fact, preventing this reorganization stopped the RPE cells from flattening, and precluded the optic cup from acquiring its curved shape. The results thus confirmed a direct role for the RPE in generating curvature. The entire process did not require the RPE to produce new cells, allowing the curved shape to emerge in just a few hours. This is a major advantage for fast-developing species such as zebrafish. In species whose embryos develop more slowly, such as mice and humans, the RPE instead grows by producing additional cells – a process that takes many days. The development of the eye thus shows how various species use different evolutionary approaches to achieve a common goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Moreno-Mármol
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, c/ Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mario Ledesma-Terrón
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, c/ Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemi Tabanera
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, c/ Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Jesús Martin-Bermejo
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, c/ Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcos J Cardozo
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, c/ Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Florencia Cavodeassi
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, c/ Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paola Bovolenta
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, c/ Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
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4
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Buono L, Corbacho J, Naranjo S, Almuedo-Castillo M, Moreno-Marmol T, de la Cerda B, Sanabria-Reinoso E, Polvillo R, Díaz-Corrales FJ, Bogdanovic O, Bovolenta P, Martínez-Morales JR. Analysis of gene network bifurcation during optic cup morphogenesis in zebrafish. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3866. [PMID: 34162866 PMCID: PMC8222258 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24169-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sight depends on the tight cooperation between photoreceptors and pigmented cells, which derive from common progenitors through the bifurcation of a single gene regulatory network into the neural retina (NR) and retinal-pigmented epithelium (RPE) programs. Although genetic studies have identified upstream nodes controlling these networks, their regulatory logic remains poorly investigated. Here, we characterize transcriptome dynamics and chromatin accessibility in segregating NR/RPE populations in zebrafish. We analyze cis-regulatory modules and enriched transcription factor motives to show extensive network redundancy and context-dependent activity. We identify downstream targets, highlighting an early recruitment of desmosomal genes in the flattening RPE and revealing Tead factors as upstream regulators. We investigate the RPE specification network dynamics to uncover an unexpected sequence of transcription factors recruitment, which is conserved in humans. This systematic interrogation of the NR/RPE bifurcation should improve both genetic counseling for eye disorders and hiPSCs-to-RPE differentiation protocols for cell-replacement therapies in degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Buono
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo-CABD (CSIC/UPO/JA), Seville, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC/UAM), Seville, Spain
| | - Jorge Corbacho
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo-CABD (CSIC/UPO/JA), Seville, Spain
| | - Silvia Naranjo
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo-CABD (CSIC/UPO/JA), Seville, Spain
| | | | | | - Berta de la Cerda
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa-CABIMER (CSIC/US/UPO/JA), Seville, Spain
| | | | - Rocío Polvillo
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo-CABD (CSIC/UPO/JA), Seville, Spain
| | | | - Ozren Bogdanovic
- Genomics and Epigenetics Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Paola Bovolenta
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC/UAM), Seville, Spain.
- CIBERER, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
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5
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Cisneros E, di Marco F, Rueda-Carrasco J, Lillo C, Pereyra G, Martín-Bermejo MJ, Vargas A, Sanchez R, Sandonís Á, Esteve P, Bovolenta P. Sfrp1 deficiency makes retinal photoreceptors prone to degeneration. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5115. [PMID: 32198470 PMCID: PMC7083943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61970-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from impaired vision, a condition with multiple origins that often impinge upon the light sensing cells of the retina, the photoreceptors, affecting their integrity. The molecular components contributing to this integrity are however not yet fully understood. Here we have asked whether Secreted Frizzled Related Protein 1 (SFRP1) may be one of such factors. SFRP1 has a context-dependent function as modulator of Wnt signalling or of the proteolytic activity of A Disintegrin And Metalloproteases (ADAM) 10, a main regulator of neural cell-cell communication. We report that in Sfrp1−/− mice, the outer limiting membrane (OLM) is discontinuous and the photoreceptors disorganized and more prone to light-induced damage. Sfrp1 loss significantly enhances the effect of the Rpe65Leu450Leu genetic variant -present in the mouse genetic background- which confers sensitivity to light-induced stress. These alterations worsen with age, affect visual function and are associated to an increased proteolysis of Protocadherin 21 (PCDH21), localized at the photoreceptor outer segment, and N-cadherin, an OLM component. We thus propose that SFRP1 contributes to photoreceptor fitness with a mechanism that involves the maintenance of OLM integrity. These conclusions are discussed in view of the broader implication of SFRP1 in neurodegeneration and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Cisneros
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León and IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro Universitario Internacional de Madrid (CUNIMAD), Dept. de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabiana di Marco
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Concepción Lillo
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Patología, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León and IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | | | - Alba Vargas
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocío Sanchez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - África Sandonís
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Esteve
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paola Bovolenta
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain.
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6
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CFH exerts anti-oxidant effects on retinal pigment epithelial cells independently from protecting against membrane attack complex. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13873. [PMID: 31554875 PMCID: PMC6761137 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50420-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the first cause of social blindness in people aged over 65 leading to atrophy of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE), photoreceptors and choroids, eventually associated with choroidal neovascularization. Accumulation of undigested cellular debris within RPE cells or under the RPE (Drusen), oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators contribute to the RPE cell death. The major risk to develop AMD is the Y402H polymorphism of complement factor H (CFH). CFH interacting with oxidized phospholipids on the RPE membrane modulates the functions of these cells, but the exact role of CFH in RPE cell death and survival remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential protective mechanism of CFH on RPE cells submitted to oxidative stress. Upon exposure to oxidized lipids 4-HNE (4-hydroxy-2-nonenal) derived from photoreceptors, both the human RPE cell line ARPE-19 and RPE cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells were protected from death only in the presence of the full length human recombinant CFH in the culture medium. This protective effect was independent from the membrane attack complex (MAC) formation. CFH maintained RPE cells tight junctions’ structure and regulated the caspase dependent apoptosis process. These results demonstrated the CFH anti-oxidative stress functions independently of its capacity to inhibit MAC formation.
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7
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Moreno-Marmol T, Cavodeassi F, Bovolenta P. Setting Eyes on the Retinal Pigment Epithelium. Front Cell Dev Biol 2018; 6:145. [PMID: 30406103 PMCID: PMC6207792 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2018.00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural component of the zebrafish eye derives from a small group of cells known as the eye/retinal field. These cells, positioned in the anterior neural plate, rearrange extensively and generate the optic vesicles (OVs). Each vesicle subsequently folds over itself to form the double-layered optic cup, from which the mature eye derives. During this transition, cells of the OV are progressively specified toward three different fates: the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), the neural retina, and the optic stalk. Recent studies have shown that folding of the zebrafish OV into a cup is in part driven by basal constriction of the cells of the future neural retina. During folding, however, RPE cells undergo an even more dramatic shape conversion that seems to entail the acquisition of unique properties. How these changes occur and whether they contribute to optic cup formation is still poorly understood. Here we will review present knowledge on RPE morphogenesis and discuss potential mechanisms that may explain such transformation using examples taken from embryonic Drosophila tissues that undergo similar shape changes. We will also put forward a hypothesis for optic cup folding that considers an active contribution from the RPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Moreno-Marmol
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Florencia Cavodeassi
- Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paola Bovolenta
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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8
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Bovolenta P, Martinez-Morales JR. Genetics of congenital eye malformations: insights from chick experimental embryology. Hum Genet 2018; 138:1001-1006. [PMID: 29980841 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-018-1900-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Embryological manipulations in chick embryos have been pivotal in our understanding of many aspects of vertebrate eye formation. This research was particularly important in uncovering the role of tissue interactions as drivers of eye morphogenesis and to dissect the function of critical genes. Here, we have highlighted a few of these past experiments to endorse their value in searching for hitherto unknown causes of rare congenital eye anomalies, such as microphthalmia, anophthalmia and coloboma. We have also highlighted a number of similarities between the chicken and human eye, which might be exploited to address other eye pathologies, including degenerative ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Bovolenta
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa," (CSIC/UAM), 28049, Madrid, Spain.
- CIBERER, ISCIII, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
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9
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Martinez-Morales JR, Cavodeassi F, Bovolenta P. Coordinated Morphogenetic Mechanisms Shape the Vertebrate Eye. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:721. [PMID: 29326547 PMCID: PMC5742352 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular bases of vertebrate eye formation have been extensively investigated during the past 20 years. This has resulted in the definition of the backbone of the gene regulatory networks controlling the different steps of eye development and has further highlighted a substantial conservation of these networks among vertebrates. Yet, the precise morphogenetic events allowing the formation of the optic cup from a small group of cells within the anterior neural plate are still poorly understood. It is also unclear if the morphogenetic events leading to eyes of very similar shape are indeed comparable among all vertebrates or if there are any species-specific peculiarities. Improved imaging techniques have enabled to follow how the eye forms in living embryos of a few vertebrate models, whereas the development of organoid cultures has provided fascinating tools to recapitulate tissue morphogenesis of other less accessible species. Here, we will discuss what these advances have taught us about eye morphogenesis, underscoring possible similarities and differences among vertebrates. We will also discuss the contribution of cell shape changes to this process and how morphogenetic and patterning mechanisms integrate to assemble the final architecture of the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Florencia Cavodeassi
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, (CSIC/UAM), Madrid, Spain.,CIBERER, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paola Bovolenta
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, (CSIC/UAM), Madrid, Spain.,CIBERER, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
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10
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Ferrús A. Neurogenetics in Spain. J Neurogenet 2017; 31:179-180. [PMID: 29125005 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2017.1396331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Ferrús
- a Cajal Institute (CSIC) , Department of Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology , Madrid , Spain
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