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Cheng L, Kuehn MH. Human Retinal Organoids in Therapeutic Discovery: A Review of Applications. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2023; 281:157-187. [PMID: 37608005 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_691] [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: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)- and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived retinal organoids (ROs) are three-dimensional laminar structures that recapitulate the developmental trajectory of the human retina. The ROs provide a fascinating tool for basic science research, eye disease modeling, treatment development, and biobanking for tissue/cell replacement. Here we review the previous studies that paved the way for RO technology, the two most widely accepted, standardized protocols to generate ROs, and the utilization of ROs in medical discovery. This review is conducted from the perspective of basic science research, transplantation for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and therapeutic development for drug screening and gene therapy. ROs have opened avenues for new technologies such as assembloids, coculture with other organoids, vasculature or immune cells, microfluidic devices (organ-on-chip), extracellular vesicles for drug delivery, biomaterial engineering, advanced imaging techniques, and artificial intelligence (AI). Nevertheless, some shortcomings of ROs currently limit their translation for medical applications and pose a challenge for future research. Despite these limitations, ROs are a powerful tool for functional studies and therapeutic strategies for retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.
- Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| | - Markus H Kuehn
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
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2
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Svare F, Åkerström B, Ghosh F. It's About Time: Time-Dependent Tissue Damage in the Adult Porcine Retina After Enucleation. Cells Tissues Organs 2021; 210:58-65. [PMID: 34038912 DOI: 10.1159/000514795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The ex vivo large animal retina is extensively used in research ranging from discovery of disease mechanisms to future treatment paradigms. Due to limited standardization when harvesting the tissue, the time after enucleation is often extended for several hours, a factor that so far has not yet been fully characterized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between time after enucleation and retinal tissue damage. Adult, porcine retinal explants were dissected and fixed 90 or 240 min after enucleation. In a separate experiment, explants were cultured for 48 h, following dissection either 90 or 240 min after enucleation. Retinas were analyzed morphologically using hematoxylin and eosin for overall tissue damage, TUNEL staining for detection of apoptosis, and RBPMS immunohistochemistry for evaluation of ganglion cell survival. In addition, medium from the cultured explants was sampled after 2, 24, and 48 h of culture and assessed for the cell damage marker lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Retinas examined 240 min after enucleation displayed a significant increase in overall tissue damage, increased apoptosis, and decreased ganglion cell survival compared with 90-min counterparts. In the culture experiment, no significant difference in overall tissue damage was found between the 2 groups, however, apoptosis was significantly increased, and ganglion cell survival decreased in the cultured 240-min group. In addition, a significantly increased LDH medium activity was found in the 240-min group compared with the 90-min counterpart at all time points. The adult porcine retina is relatively resistant to tissue damage 90 min after enucleation but displays distinct signs of injury after 240 min. The importance of these time points is further highlighted when retinal explants are cultured. Our results strongly suggest that time after enucleation is a crucial factor that should be considered in experiments involving the ex vivo adult porcine retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frida Svare
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Bo Åkerström
- Section for Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Ghosh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Bergwik J, Kristiansson A, Allhorn M, Gram M, Åkerström B. Structure, Functions, and Physiological Roles of the Lipocalin α 1-Microglobulin (A1M). Front Physiol 2021; 12:645650. [PMID: 33746781 PMCID: PMC7965949 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.645650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
α1-microglobulin (A1M) is found in all vertebrates including humans. A1M was, together with retinol-binding protein and β-lactoglobulin, one of the three original lipocalins when the family first was proposed in 1985. A1M is described as an antioxidant and tissue cleaning protein with reductase, heme- and radical-binding activities. These biochemical properties are driven by a strongly electronegative surface-exposed thiol group, C34, on loop 1 of the open end of the lipocalin barrel. A1M has been shown to have protective effects in vitro and in vivo in cell-, organ-, and animal models of oxidative stress-related medical conditions. The gene coding for A1M is unique among lipocalins since it is flanked downstream by four exons coding for another non-lipocalin protein, bikunin, and is consequently named α1-microglobulin-bikunin precursor gene (AMBP). The precursor is cleaved in the Golgi, and A1M and bikunin are secreted from the cell separately. Recent publications have suggested novel physiological roles of A1M in regulation of endoplasmic reticulum activities and erythrocyte homeostasis. This review summarizes the present knowledge of the structure and functions of the lipocalin A1M and presents a current model of its biological role(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper Bergwik
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section for Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Amanda Kristiansson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section for Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Division of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria Allhorn
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section for Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Magnus Gram
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Bo Åkerström
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section for Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Hurst J, Fietz A, Tsai T, Joachim SC, Schnichels S. Organ Cultures for Retinal Diseases. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:583392. [PMID: 33324149 PMCID: PMC7724035 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.583392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The successful development of novel therapies is closely linked with understanding the underlying pathomechanisms of a disease. To do so, model systems that reflect human diseases and allow for the evaluation of new therapeutic approaches are needed. Yet, preclinical animal studies often have limited success in predicting human physiology, pathology, and therapeutic responses. Moreover, animal testing is facing increasing ethical and bureaucratic hurdles, while human cell cultures are limited in their ability to represent in vivo situations due to the lack of the tissue microenvironment, which may alter cellular responses. To overcome these struggles, organ cultures, especially those of complex organs such as the retina, can be used to study physiological reactions to substances or stressors. Human and animal organ cultures are now well established and recognized. This mini-review discusses how retinal organ cultures can be used to preserve tissue architecture more realistically and therefore better represent disease-related changes. It also shows how molecular biological, biochemical, and histological techniques can be combined to investigate how anatomical localization may alter cellular responses. Examples for the use of retinal organ cultures, including models to study age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), central artery occlusion (CRAO), and glaucoma are presented, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. We conclude that organ cultures significantly improve our understanding of complex retinal diseases and may advance treatment testing without the need for animal testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Hurst
- Center for Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Agnes Fietz
- Center for Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Teresa Tsai
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stephanie C Joachim
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sven Schnichels
- Center for Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Bergwik J, Åkerström B. α 1-Microglobulin Binds Illuminated Flavins and Has a Protective Effect Against Sublethal Riboflavin-Induced Damage in Retinal Epithelial Cells. Front Physiol 2020; 11:295. [PMID: 32300309 PMCID: PMC7142231 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is an important constituent of the prosthetic groups flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN), which are utilized as electron-carriers in energy metabolism. Excitation by UV-light leads to the generation of riboflavin radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can oxidize a wide range of biomolecules. The human protein α1-microglobulin (A1M) is a reductase and a radical scavenger, which can protect cells and matrix against oxidative damage. Here, we provide evidence of a molecular interaction between illuminated riboflavin and A1M, similar to the radical scavenging reactions previously seen between A1M and other organic radicals. Binding between riboflavin and A1M was demonstrated by gel migration shift, UV-absorbance and fluorescence spectrum analysis. The reaction between A1M and UV-light illuminated riboflavin involved covalent modification of A1M and proteolytic release of an N-terminal part of the protein. Furthermore, A1M also inhibited the ROS-induced photoreduction reaction of riboflavin, in a reaction involving the free thiol group in position C34. Finally, the results show a protective effect of A1M, analyzed by gene expression rates of stress genes, against sublethal damage in retinal epithelial cells in culture. Together, our results suggest a new role of A1M as a scavenger of riboflavin radicals and ROS produced during illumination of riboflavin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper Bergwik
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Bo Åkerström
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Erlandsson L, Ducat A, Castille J, Zia I, Kalapotharakos G, Hedström E, Vilotte JL, Vaiman D, Hansson SR. Alpha-1 microglobulin as a potential therapeutic candidate for treatment of hypertension and oxidative stress in the STOX1 preeclampsia mouse model. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8561. [PMID: 31189914 PMCID: PMC6561956 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44639-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a human placental disorder affecting 2–8% of pregnancies worldwide annually, with hypertension and proteinuria appearing after 20 weeks of gestation. The underlying cause is believed to be incomplete trophoblast invasion of the maternal spiral arteries during placentation in the first trimester, resulting in oxidative and nitrative stress as well as maternal inflammation and organ alterations. In the Storkhead box 1 (STOX1) preeclampsia mouse model, pregnant females develop severe and early onset manifestations as seen in human preeclampsia e.g. gestational hypertension, proteinuria, and organ alterations. Here we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of human recombinant alpha-1 microglobulin (rA1M) to alleviate the manifestations observed. Human rA1M significantly reduced the hypertension during gestation and significantly reduced the level of hypoxia and nitrative stress in the placenta. In addition, rA1M treatment reduced cellular damage in both placenta and kidneys, thereby protecting the tissue and improving their function. This study confirms that rA1M has the potential as a therapeutic drug in preeclampsia, and likely also in other pathological conditions associated with oxidative stress, by preserving normal organ function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Erlandsson
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Aurélien Ducat
- INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Faculté de Médecine, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Johann Castille
- INRA-AgroParisTech, UMR1313 Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Isac Zia
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Erik Hedström
- Clinical Physiology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Diagnostic Radiology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jean-Luc Vilotte
- INRA-AgroParisTech, UMR1313 Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Daniel Vaiman
- INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Faculté de Médecine, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Stefan R Hansson
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Charkoftaki G, Wang Y, McAndrews M, Bruford EA, Thompson DC, Vasiliou V, Nebert DW. Update on the human and mouse lipocalin (LCN) gene family, including evidence the mouse Mup cluster is result of an "evolutionary bloom". Hum Genomics 2019; 13:11. [PMID: 30782214 PMCID: PMC6381713 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-019-0191-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipocalins (LCNs) are members of a family of evolutionarily conserved genes present in all kingdoms of life. There are 19 LCN-like genes in the human genome, and 45 Lcn-like genes in the mouse genome, which include 22 major urinary protein (Mup) genes. The Mup genes, plus 29 of 30 Mup-ps pseudogenes, are all located together on chromosome (Chr) 4; evidence points to an “evolutionary bloom” that resulted in this Mup cluster in mouse, syntenic to the human Chr 9q32 locus at which a single MUPP pseudogene is located. LCNs play important roles in physiological processes by binding and transporting small hydrophobic molecules —such as steroid hormones, odorants, retinoids, and lipids—in plasma and other body fluids. LCNs are extensively used in clinical practice as biochemical markers. LCN-like proteins (18–40 kDa) have the characteristic eight β-strands creating a barrel structure that houses the binding-site; LCNs are synthesized in the liver as well as various secretory tissues. In rodents, MUPs are involved in communication of information in urine-derived scent marks, serving as signatures of individual identity, or as kairomones (to elicit fear behavior). MUPs also participate in regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism via a mechanism not well understood. Although much has been learned about LCNs and MUPs in recent years, more research is necessary to allow better understanding of their physiological functions, as well as their involvement in clinical disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Charkoftaki
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034, USA
| | - Yewei Wang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034, USA
| | - Monica McAndrews
- Mouse Genome Informatics, The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA
| | - Elspeth A Bruford
- HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - David C Thompson
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Vasilis Vasiliou
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034, USA.
| | - Daniel W Nebert
- Department of Environmental Health and Center for Environmental Genetics; Department of Pediatrics and Molecular and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Research Center, University Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
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Retinal organotypic culture – A candidate for research on retinas. Tissue Cell 2018; 51:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2018.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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