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El-Assaad AM, Hamieh T. SARS-CoV-2: Prediction of critical ionic amino acid mutations. Comput Biol Med 2024; 178:108688. [PMID: 38870723 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), that caused coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been studied thoroughly, and several variants are revealed across the world with their corresponding mutations. Studies and vaccines development focus on the genetic mutations of the S protein due to its vital role in allowing the virus attach and fuse with the membrane of a host cell. In this perspective, we study the effects of all ionic amino acid mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 viral spike protein S1 when bound to Antibody CC12.1 within the SARS-CoV-2:CC12.1 complex model. Binding free energy calculations between SARS-CoV-2 and antibody CC12.1 are based on the Analysis of Electrostatic Similarities of Proteins (AESOP) framework, where the electrostatic potentials are calculated using Adaptive Poisson-Boltzmann Solver (APBS). The atomic radii and charges that feed into the APBS calculations are calculated using the PDB2PQR software. Our results are the first to propose in silico potential life-threatening mutations of SARS-CoV-2 beyond the present mutations found in the five common variants worldwide. We find each of the following mutations: K378A, R408A, K424A, R454A, R457A, K458A, and K462A, to play significant roles in the binding to Antibody CC12.1, since they are turned into strong inhibitors on both chains of the S1 protein, whereas the mutations D405A, D420A, and D427A, show to play important roles in this binding, as they are turned into mild inhibitors on both chains of the S1 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atlal M El-Assaad
- Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, University of Toledo (UT), Toledo OH 43606, USA; Department of Computer Science, Lebanese International University (LIU), Bekaa, Lebanon.
| | - Tayssir Hamieh
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Materials, Catalysis, Environment and Analytical Methods (MCEMA), Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon.
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2
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Nguyen VP, Karoukis AJ, Qian W, Chen L, Perera ND, Yang D, Zhang Q, Zhe J, Henry J, Liu B, Zhang W, Fahim AT, Wang X, Paulus YM. Multimodal Imaging-Guided Stem Cell Ocular Treatment. ACS NANO 2024; 18:14893-14906. [PMID: 38801653 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Stem cell therapies are gaining traction as promising treatments for a variety of degenerative conditions. Both clinical and preclinical studies of regenerative medicine are hampered by the lack of technologies that can evaluate the migration and behavior of stem cells post-transplantation. This study proposes an innovative method to longitudinally image in vivo human-induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated to retinal pigment epithelium (hiPSC-RPE) cells by multimodal photoacoustic microscopy, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescence imaging powered by ultraminiature chain-like gold nanoparticle cluster (GNC) nanosensors. The GNC exhibits an optical absorption peak in the near-infrared regime, and the 7-8 nm size in diameter after disassembly enables renal excretion and improved safety as well as biocompatibility. In a clinically relevant rabbit model, GNC-labeled hiPSC-RPE cells migrated to RPE degeneration areas and regenerated damaged tissues. The hiPSC-RPE cells' distribution and migration were noninvasively, longitudinally monitored for 6 months with exceptional sensitivity and spatial resolution. This advanced platform for cellular imaging has the potential to enhance regenerative cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van Phuc Nguyen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Athanasios J Karoukis
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Wei Qian
- IMRA America Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Lisheng Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Nirosha D Perera
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Dongshan Yang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Qitao Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Josh Zhe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Jessica Henry
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Bing Liu
- IMRA America Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Abigail T Fahim
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Xueding Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Yannis M Paulus
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
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3
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Bergandi L, Palladino G, Meduri A, De Luca L, Silvagno F. Vitamin D and Sulforaphane Decrease Inflammatory Oxidative Stress and Restore the Markers of Epithelial Integrity in an In Vitro Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6404. [PMID: 38928111 PMCID: PMC11203625 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is strictly linked to chronic oxidative stress, inflammation, loss of epithelial barrier integrity, and often with abnormal new blood vessel development. In this study, the retinal epithelial cell line ARPE-19 was treated with pro-inflammatory transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) to investigate the activity of vitamin D (VD) and sulforaphane (SF) in abating the consequences of oxidative stress and inflammation. The administration of VD and SF lowered reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and abated the related expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 induced by TGF-β. We evaluated mitochondrial respiration as a source of ROS production, and we discovered that the increased transcription of respiratory elements triggered by TGF-β was prevented by VD and SF. In this model of inflamed epithelium, the treatment with VD and SF also reduced the secretion of VEGF, a key angiogenic factor, and restored the markers of epithelial integrity. Remarkably, all the observed biological effects were potentiated by the co-stimulation with the two compounds and were not mediated by VD receptor expression but rather by the ERK 1/2 pathway. Altogether, the results of this study reveal the powerful synergistic anti-inflammatory activity of SF and VD and lay the foundation for future clinical assessment of their efficacy in AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Bergandi
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy; (L.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Giulia Palladino
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy; (L.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Alessandro Meduri
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (A.M.); (L.D.L.)
| | - Laura De Luca
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (A.M.); (L.D.L.)
| | - Francesca Silvagno
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy; (L.B.); (G.P.)
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Iezzi R, Scruggs BA, Gandhi J, Zenti FN, Shafi N, Berger A, Marmorstein AD. Early Choriocapillaris Loss in a Porcine Model of RPE Cell Debridement Precedes Pathology That Simulates Advanced Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:8. [PMID: 38568620 PMCID: PMC10996981 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.4.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose No large-mammal surgical models exist for geographic atrophy (GA), choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and pachychoroidal vascular remodeling. Our goal was to develop a porcine RPE debridement model of advanced macular degeneration to study photoreceptor cell loss and choroidal remodeling. Methods Seven 2-month-old female domestic pigs were used for this study. After 25G vitrectomy, the area centralis was detached via subretinal bleb. A nitinol wire (Finesse Flex Loop) was used to debride RPE cells across a 3- to 5-mm diameter region. Fluid-air exchange was performed, and 20% SF6 gas injected. Animals underwent fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT-angiography (OCTA) at 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Retinal histology was obtained at euthanasia, 2 months (n = 3), 3 months (n = 2), or 6 months (n = 2) after surgery. Results RPE debridement resulted in GA with rapid loss of choriocapillaris, progressive loss of photoreceptors, and pachychoroidal changes in Sattler's and Haller's layers in all seven eyes undergoing debridement within 2 months. OCT and histological findings included subretinal disciform scar with overlying outer retinal atrophy; outer retinal tubulations and subretinal hyper-reflective material. OCTA revealed type 2 CNV (n = 4) at the edges of the debridement zone by 2 months, but there was no significant exudation noted at any time point. Conclusions Surgical debridement of the RPE results in GA, CNV, and pachychoroid and reproduced all forms of advanced macular degeneration. This surgical model may be useful in examining the role of RPE and other cell replacement in treating advanced macular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Iezzi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Brittni A. Scruggs
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Jarel Gandhi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Francesca N. Zenti
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Noah Shafi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Aubrey Berger
- Regenerative Sciences, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Alan D. Marmorstein
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
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Contemori G, Maniglia M, Guénot J, Soler V, Cherubini M, Cottereau BR, Trotter Y. tRNS boosts visual perceptual learning in participants with bilateral macular degeneration. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1326435. [PMID: 38450381 PMCID: PMC10914974 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1326435] [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: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Perceptual learning (PL) has shown promise in enhancing residual visual functions in patients with age-related macular degeneration (MD), however it requires prolonged training and evidence of generalization to untrained visual functions is limited. Recent studies suggest that combining transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) with perceptual learning produces faster and larger visual improvements in participants with normal vision. Thus, this approach might hold the key to improve PL effects in MD. To test this, we trained two groups of MD participants on a contrast detection task with (n = 5) or without (n = 7) concomitant occipital tRNS. The training consisted of a lateral masking paradigm in which the participant had to detect a central low contrast Gabor target. Transfer tasks, including contrast sensitivity, near and far visual acuity, and visual crowding, were measured at pre-, mid and post-tests. Combining tRNS and perceptual learning led to greater improvements in the trained task, evidenced by a larger increment in contrast sensitivity and reduced inhibition at the shortest target to flankers' distance. The overall amount of transfer was similar between the two groups. These results suggest that coupling tRNS and perceptual learning has promising potential applications as a clinical rehabilitation strategy to improve vision in MD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Contemori
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Marcello Maniglia
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Jade Guénot
- Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Toulouse, France
| | - Vincent Soler
- Service d’Ophtalmologie Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Marta Cherubini
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Toulouse, France
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Benoit R. Cottereau
- Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Toulouse, France
| | - Yves Trotter
- Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Toulouse, France
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Shelton DA, Gefke I, Summers V, Kim YK, Yu H, Getz Y, Ferdous S, Donaldson K, Liao K, Papania JT, Chrenek MA, Boatright JH, Nickerson JM. Age-Related RPE changes in Wildtype C57BL/6J Mice between 2 and 32 Months. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.30.574142. [PMID: 38352604 PMCID: PMC10862734 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.30.574142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Purpose This study provides a systematic evaluation of age-related changes in RPE cell structure and function using a morphometric approach. We aim to better capture nuanced predictive changes in cell heterogeneity that reflect loss of RPE integrity during normal aging. Using C57BL6/J mice ranging from P60-P730, we sought to evaluate how regional changes in RPE shape reflect incremental losses in RPE cell function with advancing age. We hypothesize that tracking global morphological changes in RPE is predictive of functional defects over time. Methods We tested three groups of C57BL/6J mice (young: P60-180; Middle-aged: P365-729; aged: 730+) for function and structural defects using electroretinograms, immunofluorescence, and phagocytosis assays. Results The largest changes in RPE morphology were evident between the young and aged groups, while the middle-aged group exhibited smaller but notable region-specific differences. We observed a 1.9-fold increase in cytoplasmic alpha-catenin expression specifically in the central-medial region of the eye between the young and aged group. There was an 8-fold increase in subretinal, IBA-1-positive immune cell recruitment and a significant decrease in visual function in aged mice compared to young mice. Functional defects in the RPE corroborated by changes in RPE phagocytotic capacity. Conclusions The marked increase of cytoplasmic alpha-catenin expression and subretinal immune cell deposition, and decreased visual output coincide with regional changes in RPE cell morphometrics when stratified by age. These cumulative changes in the RPE morphology showed predictive regional patterns of stress associated with loss of RPE integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debresha A. Shelton
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Isabelle Gefke
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Vivian Summers
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Yong-Kyu Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hanyi Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Department of Computer Science, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Yana Getz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Salma Ferdous
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Kevin Donaldson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Kristie Liao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Jack T. Papania
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Micah A. Chrenek
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Jeffrey H. Boatright
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Atlanta VA Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Decatur, Georgia, United States
| | - John M. Nickerson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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Dalai R, Bedant SS, Rout R, Panda BB. A Prospective Observational Study on Clinical Profile and Visual Outcomes in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Cureus 2024; 16:e52731. [PMID: 38384637 PMCID: PMC10880741 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.52731] [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] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives Over the years, several treatment options have been developed for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most notable being intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs. The rationale for treating neovascular AMD is to preserve and improve central vision, enhance the quality of life for affected individuals, stabilize or improve vision, and prevent further structural damage to the macula. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical course of different disease types of neovascular age-related macular degeneration and their treatment response to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections. Methods This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care referral hospital in Eastern India during October 2019 and September 2021. Patients diagnosed with neovascular AMD attending our Outpatient department and retina clinic were recruited for the study. An experienced ophthalmologist examined all patients, meeting the inclusion criteria. The clinical profile, including initial best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ophthalmoscopic, fluorescein angiographic, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of different patterns of neovascular AMD, were collected and analyzed. Patients were subjected to intravitreal Ranibizumab every month for three months and then on a when-required basis. Visual outcomes were recorded at each follow-up, and a comparison was done between initial and final visual acuity. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis, with p< 0.05 taken as statistically significant. Results A total of 72 patients were included in the study. Fundus fluorescein angiography revealed that 52.78% were classic, 15.28% were minimally classic, and 31.94% were of occult variety. 41.66% of lesions were subfoveal in location, 47.22% were juxtafoveal, and 11.11% lesions were extrafoveal in location. The mean BCVA was Log MAR (Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution) 1.061±0.25. The average number of intravitreal Ranibizumab injections given to each eye was five. BCVA of patients after the third injection was log MAR 0.818±0.296. There was a significant improvement in mean BCVA from baseline 1.061±0.254 to 0.787±0.317 after the study (p-valve: p<0.05). After the first injection, 49 patients (68.05%) experienced an initial improvement of at least one line, 20 patients (27.77%) did not exhibit any improvement, and 3 patients (4.16%) had a decline of one line in Snellen's visual acuity chart. Over the follow-up period,10 showed improvement in 1 line in the Snellen chart after subsequent injection. At the end of the study, six patients showed no change, and four patients showed deterioration after the completion of injections. No adverse events were noted during the study period. Conclusions Intravitreal Ranibizumab is effective in improving visual outcomes in treatment-naïve individuals with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The decision for repeat intravitreal anti-VEGF injection should be based on OCT findings of subretinal fluid, pigment epithelial detachment, and cystoid macular edema as an indicator of disease activity. This can also lessen the number of intravitreal injections and morbidity in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramamani Dalai
- Ophthalmology, Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital, Balasore, IND
| | - Snigdha S Bedant
- Ophthalmology, Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, IND
| | - Rajashree Rout
- Ophthalmology, Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital, Koraput, IND
| | - Bijnya B Panda
- Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, IND
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Finocchio L, Zeppieri M, Gabai A, Toneatto G, Spadea L, Salati C. Recent Developments in Gene Therapy for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Review. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3221. [PMID: 38137442 PMCID: PMC10740940 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123221] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex and multifactorial disease and a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly population. The anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy has revolutionized the management and prognosis of neovascular AMD (nAMD) and is currently the standard of care for this disease. However, patients are required to receive repeated injections, imposing substantial social and economic burdens. The implementation of gene therapy methods to achieve sustained delivery of various therapeutic proteins holds the promise of a single treatment that could ameliorate the treatment challenges associated with chronic intravitreal therapy, and potentially improve visual outcomes. Several early-phase trials are currently underway, evaluating the safety and efficacy of gene therapy for nAMD; however, areas of controversy persist, including the therapeutic target, route of administration, and potential safety issues. In this review, we assess the evolution of gene therapy for nAMD and summarize several preclinical and early-stage clinical trials, exploring challenges and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Finocchio
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Marco Zeppieri
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Andrea Gabai
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Giacomo Toneatto
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Leopoldo Spadea
- Eye Clinic, Policlinico Umberto I, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00142 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Salati
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
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Heljak MK, Swieszkowski W. Investigating bevacizumab and its fragments sustained release from intravitreal administrated PLGA Microspheres: A modeling approach. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2023; 193:285-293. [PMID: 37984593 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2023.11.015] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Intravitreal administrated bevacizumab has emerged as an effective antibody for suppressing VEGF expression in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) therapy. This study discusses certain issues related to the sustained release of bevacizumab from intravitreal poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres. A computational model elucidating the ocular kinetics of bevacizumab is demonstrated, wherein the release of the drug from PLGA microspheres is modeled using the Koizumi approach, complemented by an empirical model that links the kinetics of bevacizumab release to a size-dependent hydrolytic degradation of the drug-loaded polymeric microparticles. The results of the simulation were then rigorously validated against experimental data. The as-developed model proved remarkably accurate in predicting the time-concentration profiles obtained following the intravitreal injection of PLGA microspheres of significantly different sizes. Notably, the time-concentration profiles of bevacizumab in distinct ocular tissues were almost unaffected by the size of the intravitreally administered PLGA microparticles. Furthermore, the model successfully predicted the retinal concentration of bevacizumab and its fragments (e.g., ranibizumab) administrated in the form of a solution. As such, this model for drug sustained release and ocular transport holds tremendous potential for facilitating the reliable evaluation of planned anti-VEGF therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin K Heljak
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, ul. Wołoska 141, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Swieszkowski
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, ul. Wołoska 141, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland
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10
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Pan Y, Fu Y, Baird PN, Guymer RH, Das T, Iwata T. Exploring the contribution of ARMS2 and HTRA1 genetic risk factors in age-related macular degeneration. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 97:101159. [PMID: 36581531 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101159] [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: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe irreversible central vision loss in individuals over 65 years old. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have shown that the region at chromosome 10q26, where the age-related maculopathy susceptibility (ARMS2/LOC387715) and HtrA serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1) genes are located, represents one of the strongest associated loci for AMD. However, the underlying biological mechanism of this genetic association has remained elusive. In this article, we extensively review the literature by us and others regarding the ARMS2/HTRA1 risk alleles and their functional significance. We also review the literature regarding the presumed function of the ARMS2 protein and the molecular processes of the HTRA1 protein in AMD pathogenesis in vitro and in vivo, including those of transgenic mice overexpressing HtrA1/HTRA1 which developed Bruch's membrane (BM) damage, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), similar to human AMD patients. The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of the ARMS2 and HTRA1 susceptibility loci has begun to untangle the complex biological pathways underlying AMD pathophysiology, pointing to new testable paradigms for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Pan
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1, Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8902, Japan
| | - Yingbin Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, NC506, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Paul N Baird
- Department of Surgery, (Ophthalmology), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Robyn H Guymer
- Department of Surgery, (Ophthalmology), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002, Australia
| | - Taraprasad Das
- Anant Bajaj Retina Institute-Srimati Kanuri Santhamma Centre for Vitreoretinal Diseases, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, 500034, India
| | - Takeshi Iwata
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1, Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8902, Japan.
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Soleimani M, Cheraqpour K, Koganti R, Djalilian AR. Cellular senescence and ophthalmic diseases: narrative review. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2023; 261:3067-3082. [PMID: 37079093 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-023-06070-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Cellular senescence is a state of permanent growth arrest whereby a cell reaches its replicative limit. However, senescence can also be triggered prematurely in certain stressors including radiation, oxidative stress, and chemotherapy. This stress-induced senescence has been studied in the context of promoting inflammation, tumor development, and several chronic degenerative diseases of aging. Emerging research has elucidated the role of senescence in various ocular diseases. METHODS The literature search was performed using PubMed with using the query (senescence OR aging) AND (eye disease OR ocular disease OR ophthalmic disease OR cornea OR glaucoma OR cataract OR retina) on October 20th, 2022. No time restriction was proposed. Articles were excluded if they were not referenced in English. RESULTS Overall, 51 articles regarding senescence and ocular diseases were found and summarized in this study. Several signaling pathways have been implicated in the development of senescence. Currently, senescence has been linked to various corneal and retinal pathologies, as well as cataract and glaucoma. Given the number of pathologies, senolytics, which are small molecules with the ability to selective targeting of senescent cells, can be used as therapeutic or prophylactic agents. CONCLUSIONS Senescence has been shown to underlie the pathogenesis of numerous ocular diseases. The overall literature on senescence and ocular disease is growing rapidly. There is an ongoing debate whether or not cellular senescence detected in experiments contributes in a significant way to diseases. Research on understanding the mechanism of senescence from ocular cells and tissues is just beginning. Multiple animal models are required to test potential senolytics. Currently, no studies exist to date which have demonstrated the benefits of senolytic therapies in human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Soleimani
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Cornea Service, Stem Cell Therapy and Corneal Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, 1855 W. Taylor Street, M/C 648, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Kasra Cheraqpour
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Raghuram Koganti
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ali R Djalilian
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Cornea Service, Stem Cell Therapy and Corneal Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, 1855 W. Taylor Street, M/C 648, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
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12
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Vasudevan S, Samuels IS, Park PSH. Gpr75 knockout mice display age-dependent cone photoreceptor cell loss. J Neurochem 2023; 167:538-555. [PMID: 37840219 PMCID: PMC10777681 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15979] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
GPR75 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor for which there is currently limited information and its function in physiology and disease is only recently beginning to emerge. This orphan receptor is expressed in the retina but its function in the eye is unknown. The earliest studies on GPR75 were conducted in the retina, where the receptor was first identified and cloned and mutations in the receptor were identified as a possible contributor to retinal degenerative disease. Despite these sporadic reports, the function of GPR75 in the retina and in retinal disease has yet to be explored. To assess whether GPR75 has a functional role in the retina, the retina of Gpr75 knockout mice was characterized. Knockout mice displayed a mild progressive retinal degeneration, which was accompanied by oxidative stress. The degeneration was because of the loss of both M-cone and S-cone photoreceptor cells. Housing mice under constant dark conditions reduced oxidative stress but did not prevent cone photoreceptor cell loss, indicating that oxidative stress is not a primary cause of the observed retinal degeneration. Studies here demonstrate an important role for GPR75 in maintaining the health of cone photoreceptor cells and that Gpr75 knockout mice can be used as a model to study cone photoreceptor cell loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreelakshmi Vasudevan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ivy S. Samuels
- Research Service, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Paul S.-H. Park
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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13
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Greiner JV, Glonek T. Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and Protein Aggregation in Age-Related Vision-Threatening Ocular Diseases. Metabolites 2023; 13:1100. [PMID: 37887425 PMCID: PMC10609282 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13101100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation is the etiopathogenesis of the three most profound vision-threatening eye diseases: age-related cataract, presbyopia, and age-related macular degeneration. This perspective organizes known information on ATP and protein aggregation with a fundamental unrecognized function of ATP. With recognition that maintenance of protein solubility is related to the high intracellular concentration of ATP in cells, tissues, and organs, we hypothesize that (1) ATP serves a critical molecular function for organismal homeostasis of proteins and (2) the hydrotropic feature of ATP prevents pathological protein aggregation while assisting in the maintenance of protein solubility and cellular, tissue, and organismal function. As such, the metabolite ATP plays an extraordinarily important role in the prevention of protein aggregation in the leading causes of vision loss or blindness worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack V. Greiner
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Clinical Eye Research of Boston, Boston, MA 01890, USA;
| | - Thomas Glonek
- Clinical Eye Research of Boston, Boston, MA 01890, USA;
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14
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Voigt AP, Mullin NK, Navratil EM, Flamme-Wiese MJ, Lin LC, Scheetz TE, Han IC, Stone EM, Tucker BA, Mullins RF. Gene Expression Within a Human Choroidal Neovascular Membrane Using Spatial Transcriptomics. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:40. [PMID: 37878301 PMCID: PMC10615143 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.13.40] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Macular neovascularization is a relatively common and potentially visually devastating complication of age-related macular degeneration. In macular neovascularization, pathologic angiogenesis can originate from either the choroid or the retina, but we have limited understanding of how different cell types become dysregulated in this dynamic process. Methods To study how gene expression is altered in focal areas of pathology, we performed spatial RNA sequencing on a human donor eye with macular neovascularization as well as a healthy control donor. We performed differential expression to identify genes enriched within the area of macular neovascularization and used deconvolution algorithms to predict the originating cell type of these dysregulated genes. Results Within the area of neovascularization, endothelial cells demonstrated increased expression of genes related to Rho family GTPase signaling and integrin signaling. Likewise, VEGF and TGFB1 were identified as potential upstream regulators that could drive the observed gene expression changes produced by endothelial and retinal pigment epithelium cells in the macular neovascularization donor. These spatial gene expression profiles were compared to previous single-cell gene expression experiments in human age-related macular degeneration as well as a model of laser-induced neovascularization in mice. As a secondary aim, we investigated regional gene expression patterns within the macular neural retina and between the macular and peripheral choroid. Conclusions Overall, this study spatially analyzes gene expression across the retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid in health and describes a set of candidate molecules that become dysregulated in macular neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P. Voigt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Nathaniel K. Mullin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Emma M. Navratil
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Miles J. Flamme-Wiese
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Li-Chun Lin
- University of Iowa Neuroscience Institute, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Todd E. Scheetz
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Ian C. Han
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Edwin M. Stone
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Budd A. Tucker
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Robert F. Mullins
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
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15
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Marquina S, Ozgul M, Robertson-Brown K, Kenney MC. A review on PLGA particles as a sustained drug-delivery system and its effect on the retina. Exp Eye Res 2023; 235:109626. [PMID: 37652091 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109626] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
In this review, the designs and recent developments of polymer-based drug delivery of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) will be discussed for the possible treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). PLGA is a versatile co-polymer that consists of synthetic lactic acid and glycolic acid monomers that are constructed to produce nanoparticles, microparticles, and scaffolds for the intraocular delivery of various drugs. As an FDA-approved polymer, PLGA has historically been well-suited for systemic slow-sustained release therapies due to its performance in biodegradability and biocompatibility. This review will examine recent in vitro and in vivo studies that provide evidence for PLGA-based particles as a therapeutic drug carrier for the treatment of AMD. Anti-angiogenic and antiproliferative effects of small peptides, small molecules, RNA molecules, and proteins within PLGA particles are briefly discussed. AMD is a leading cause of central vision loss in people over 55 years and the number of those afflicted will rise as the aging population increases. AMD has two forms that are often sequential. Dry AMD and wet AMD account for 85-90% and 10-15% of cases, respectively. The distinct categories of PLGA-based drug delivery vehicles are important for dispensing novel small molecules, RNA molecules, peptides, and proteins as a long-term effective treatment of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvana Marquina
- School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, 843 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Mustafa Ozgul
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California Irvine, 843 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Kenneth Robertson-Brown
- School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, 843 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - M Cristina Kenney
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, 843 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
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16
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Tsung TH, Tsai YC, Lee HP, Chen YH, Lu DW. Biodegradable Polymer-Based Drug-Delivery Systems for Ocular Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12976. [PMID: 37629157 PMCID: PMC10455181 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612976] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Ocular drug delivery is a challenging field due to the unique anatomical and physiological barriers of the eye. Biodegradable polymers have emerged as promising tools for efficient and controlled drug delivery in ocular diseases. This review provides an overview of biodegradable polymer-based drug-delivery systems for ocular diseases with emphasis on the potential for biodegradable polymers to overcome the limitations of conventional methods, allowing for sustained drug release, improved bioavailability, and targeted therapy. Natural and synthetic polymers are both discussed, highlighting their biodegradability and biocompatibility. Various formulation strategies, such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, and microemulsions, among others, are investigated, detailing preparation methods, drug encapsulation, and clinical applications. The focus is on anterior and posterior segment drug delivery, covering glaucoma, corneal disorders, ocular inflammation, retinal diseases, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Safety considerations, such as biocompatibility evaluations, in vivo toxicity studies, and clinical safety, are addressed. Future perspectives encompass advancements, regulatory considerations, and clinical translation challenges. In conclusion, biodegradable polymers offer potential for efficient and targeted ocular drug delivery, improving therapeutic outcomes while reducing side effects. Further research is needed to optimize formulation strategies and address regulatory requirements for successful clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ta-Hsin Tsung
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (T.-H.T.); (Y.-C.T.); (H.-P.L.); (Y.-H.C.)
| | - Yu-Chien Tsai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (T.-H.T.); (Y.-C.T.); (H.-P.L.); (Y.-H.C.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan 325, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Pei Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (T.-H.T.); (Y.-C.T.); (H.-P.L.); (Y.-H.C.)
| | - Yi-Hao Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (T.-H.T.); (Y.-C.T.); (H.-P.L.); (Y.-H.C.)
| | - Da-Wen Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan; (T.-H.T.); (Y.-C.T.); (H.-P.L.); (Y.-H.C.)
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17
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Blasiak J, Chojnacki J, Szczepanska J, Fila M, Chojnacki C, Kaarniranta K, Pawlowska E. Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate, an Active Green Tea Component to Support Anti-VEGFA Therapy in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Nutrients 2023; 15:3358. [PMID: 37571296 PMCID: PMC10421466 DOI: 10.3390/nu15153358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a largely incurable disease and an emerging problem in aging societies. It occurs in two forms, dry and wet (exudative, neovascular), which may cause legal blindness and sight loss. Currently, there is not any effective treatment for dry AMD. Meanwhile, repeated intravitreal injections with antibodies effective against vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) slow down wet AMD progression but are not free from complications. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is an active compound of green tea, which exerts many beneficial effects in the retinal pigment epithelium and the neural retina. It has been reported to downregulate the VEGFA gene by suppressing its activators. The inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases 1 and 3 (MAPK1 and MAPK3) may lie behind the antiangiogenic action of EGCG mediated by VEGFA. EGCG exerts protective effects against UV-induced damage to retinal cells and improves dysfunctional autophagy. EGCG may also interact with the mechanistic target rapamycin (MTOR) and unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase (ULK1) to modulate the interplay between autophagy and apoptosis. Several other studies report beneficial effects of EGCG on the retina that may be related to wet AMD. Therefore, controlled clinical trials are needed to verify whether diet supplementation with EGCG or green tea consumption may improve the results of anti-VEGFA therapy in wet AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janusz Blasiak
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-236 Lodz, Poland
| | - Jan Chojnacki
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterological Diagnostics, Medical University of Lodz, 90-647 Lodz, Poland; (J.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Joanna Szczepanska
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92-217 Lodz, Poland; (J.S.); (E.P.)
| | - Michal Fila
- Department of Developmental Neurology and Epileptology, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Cezary Chojnacki
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterological Diagnostics, Medical University of Lodz, 90-647 Lodz, Poland; (J.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Elzbieta Pawlowska
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92-217 Lodz, Poland; (J.S.); (E.P.)
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18
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Wang X, Wang T, Lam E, Alvarez D, Sun Y. Ocular Vascular Diseases: From Retinal Immune Privilege to Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12090. [PMID: 37569464 PMCID: PMC10418793 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The eye is an immune privileged tissue that insulates the visual system from local and systemic immune provocation to preserve homeostatic functions of highly specialized retinal neural cells. If immune privilege is breached, immune stimuli will invade the eye and subsequently trigger acute inflammatory responses. Local resident microglia become active and release numerous immunological factors to protect the integrity of retinal neural cells. Although acute inflammatory responses are necessary to control and eradicate insults to the eye, chronic inflammation can cause retinal tissue damage and cell dysfunction, leading to ocular disease and vision loss. In this review, we summarized features of immune privilege in the retina and the key inflammatory responses, factors, and intracellular pathways activated when retinal immune privilege fails, as well as a highlight of the recent clinical and research advances in ocular immunity and ocular vascular diseases including retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (X.W.)
| | - Tianxi Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (X.W.)
| | - Enton Lam
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (X.W.)
| | - David Alvarez
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ye Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (X.W.)
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19
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Bora PS. New Discoveries in Retinal Cell Degeneration and Retinal Diseases. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1121. [PMID: 37509157 PMCID: PMC10377182 DOI: 10.3390/biom13071121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has two phenotypes: dry AMD and wet AMD [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Puran S Bora
- Pat & Willard Walker Eye Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Jones Eye Institute, 4301 West Markham, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
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20
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Riazi Esfahani P, Reddy AJ, Nawathey N, Ghauri MS, Min M, Wagh H, Tak N, Patel R. Deep Learning Classification of Drusen, Choroidal Neovascularization, and Diabetic Macular Edema in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Images. Cureus 2023; 15:e41615. [PMID: 37565126 PMCID: PMC10411652 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.41615] [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] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), drusen, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and diabetic macular edema (DME) are significant causes of visual impairment globally. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging has emerged as a valuable diagnostic tool for these ocular conditions. However, subjective interpretation and inter-observer variability highlight the need for standardized diagnostic approaches. Methods This study aimed to develop a robust deep learning model using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for the automated detection of drusen, CNV, and DME in OCT images. A diverse dataset of 1,528 OCT images from Kaggle.com was used for model training. The performance metrics, including precision, recall, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, and overall accuracy, were assessed to evaluate the model's effectiveness. Results The developed model achieved high precision (0.99), recall (0.962), sensitivity (0.985), specificity (0.987), F1 score (0.971), and overall accuracy (0.987) in classifying diseased and healthy OCT images. These results demonstrate the efficacy and efficiency of the model in distinguishing between retinal pathologies. Conclusion The study concludes that the developed deep learning model using AI techniques is highly effective in the automated detection of drusen, CNV, and DME in OCT images. Further validation studies and research efforts are necessary to evaluate the generalizability and integration of the model into clinical practice. Collaboration between clinicians, policymakers, and researchers is essential for advancing diagnostic tools and management strategies for AMD and DR. Integrating this technology into clinical workflows can positively impact patient care, particularly in settings with limited access to ophthalmologists. Future research should focus on collecting independent datasets, addressing potential biases, and assessing real-world effectiveness. Overall, the use of machine learning algorithms in conjunction with OCT imaging holds great potential for improving the detection and management of drusen, CNV, and DME, leading to enhanced patient outcomes and vision preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Akshay J Reddy
- Medicine, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
| | - Neel Nawathey
- Ophthalmology, California Northstate University, Rancho Cordova, USA
| | - Muhammad S Ghauri
- Neurosurgery, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
| | - Mildred Min
- Dermatology, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, USA
| | - Himanshu Wagh
- Medicine, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, USA
| | - Nathaniel Tak
- Medicine, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, USA
| | - Rakesh Patel
- Internal Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, USA
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21
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Voigt AP, Mullin NK, Navratil EM, Flamme-Wiese MJ, Lin LC, Scheetz TE, Han IC, Stone EM, Tucker BA, Mullins RF. GENE EXPRESSION WITHIN A HUMAN CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULAR MEMBRANE USING SPATIAL TRANSCRIPTOMICS. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.16.544770. [PMID: 37398429 PMCID: PMC10312719 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.16.544770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Macular neovascularization is a relatively common and potentially visually devastating complication of age-related macular degeneration. In macular neovascularization, pathologic angiogenesis can originate from either the choroid or the retina, but we have limited understanding of how different cell types become dysregulated in this dynamic process. In this study, we performed spatial RNA sequencing on a human donor eye with macular neovascularization as well as a healthy control donor. We identified genes enriched within the area of macular neovascularization and used deconvolution algorithms to predict the originating cell type of these dysregulated genes. Within the area of neovascularization, endothelial cells were predicted to increase expression of genes related to Rho family GTPase signaling and integrin signaling. Likewise, VEGF and TGFB1 were identified as potential upstream regulators that could drive the observed gene expression changes produced by endothelial and retinal pigment epithelium cells in the macular neovascularization donor. These spatial gene expression profiles were compared to previous single-cell gene expression experiments in human age-related macular degeneration as well as a model of laser-induced neovascularization in mice. As a secondary aim, we also investigated spatial gene expression patterns within the macular neural retina and between the macular and peripheral choroid. We recapitulated previously described regional-specific gene expression patterns across both tissues. Overall, this study spatially analyzes gene expression across the retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid in health and describes a set of candidate molecules that become dysregulated in macular neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P. Voigt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242
| | - Nathaniel K. Mullin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242
| | - Emma M. Navratil
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242
| | - Miles J. Flamme-Wiese
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242
| | - Li-Chun Lin
- University of Iowa Neuroscience Institute, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242
| | - Todd E. Scheetz
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242
| | - Ian C. Han
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242
| | - Edwin M. Stone
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242
| | - Budd A. Tucker
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242
| | - Robert F. Mullins
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242
- Institute for Vision Research, the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242
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Wang H, Ramshekar A, Cung T, Wallace-Carrete C, Zaugg C, Nguyen J, Stoddard GJ, Hartnett ME. 7-Ketocholesterol Promotes Retinal Pigment Epithelium Senescence and Fibrosis of Choroidal Neovascularization via IQGAP1 Phosphorylation-Dependent Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10276. [PMID: 37373423 PMCID: PMC10299509 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210276] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of 7-ketocholesterol (7KC) occurs in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and was found previously to promote fibrosis, an untreatable cause of vision loss, partly through induction of endothelial-mesenchymal transition. To address the hypothesis that 7KC causes mesenchymal transition of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE), we exposed human primary RPE (hRPE) to 7KC or a control. 7KC-treated hRPE did not manifest increased mesenchymal markers, but instead maintained RPE-specific proteins and exhibited signs of senescence with increased serine phosphorylation of histone H3, serine/threonine phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), p16 and p21, β-galactosidase labeling, and reduced LaminB1, suggesting senescence. The cells also developed senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) determined by increased IL-1β, IL-6, and VEGF through mTOR-mediated NF-κB signaling, and reduced barrier integrity that was restored by the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin. 7KC-induced p21, VEGF, and IL-1β were inhibited by an inhibitor of protein kinase C. The kinase regulates IQGAP1 serine phosphorylation. Furthermore, after 7KC injection and laser-induced injury, mice with an IQGAP1 serine 1441-point mutation had significantly reduced fibrosis compared to littermate control mice. Our results provide evidence that age-related accumulation of 7KC in drusen mediates senescence and SASP in RPE, and IQGAP1 serine phosphorylation is important in causing fibrosis in AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Wang
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; (H.W.); (A.R.); (T.C.); (C.W.-C.); (C.Z.); (J.N.)
- Department of Pathology, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Aniket Ramshekar
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; (H.W.); (A.R.); (T.C.); (C.W.-C.); (C.Z.); (J.N.)
| | - Thaonhi Cung
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; (H.W.); (A.R.); (T.C.); (C.W.-C.); (C.Z.); (J.N.)
| | - Chris Wallace-Carrete
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; (H.W.); (A.R.); (T.C.); (C.W.-C.); (C.Z.); (J.N.)
| | - Chandler Zaugg
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; (H.W.); (A.R.); (T.C.); (C.W.-C.); (C.Z.); (J.N.)
| | - Jasmine Nguyen
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; (H.W.); (A.R.); (T.C.); (C.W.-C.); (C.Z.); (J.N.)
| | - Gregory J. Stoddard
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA;
| | - M. Elizabeth Hartnett
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; (H.W.); (A.R.); (T.C.); (C.W.-C.); (C.Z.); (J.N.)
- Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
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23
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El-Den NN, Naglah A, Elsharkawy M, Ghazal M, Alghamdi NS, Sandhu H, Mahdi H, El-Baz A. Scale-adaptive model for detection and grading of age-related macular degeneration from color retinal fundus images. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9590. [PMID: 37311794 PMCID: PMC10264426 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35197-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), a retinal disease that affects the macula, can be caused by aging abnormalities in number of different cells and tissues in the retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid, leading to vision loss. An advanced form of AMD, called exudative or wet AMD, is characterized by the ingrowth of abnormal blood vessels beneath or into the macula itself. The diagnosis is confirmed by either fundus auto-fluorescence imaging or optical coherence tomography (OCT) supplemented by fluorescein angiography or OCT angiography without dye. Fluorescein angiography, the gold standard diagnostic procedure for AMD, involves invasive injections of fluorescent dye to highlight retinal vasculature. Meanwhile, patients can be exposed to life-threatening allergic reactions and other risks. This study proposes a scale-adaptive auto-encoder-based model integrated with a deep learning model that can detect AMD early by automatically analyzing the texture patterns in color fundus imaging and correlating them to the vasculature activity in the retina. Moreover, the proposed model can automatically distinguish between AMD grades assisting in early diagnosis and thus allowing for earlier treatment of the patient's condition, slowing the disease and minimizing its severity. Our model features two main blocks, the first is an auto-encoder-based network for scale adaption, and the second is a convolutional neural network (CNN) classification network. Based on a conducted set of experiments, the proposed model achieves higher diagnostic accuracy compared to other models with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity that reach 96.2%, 96.2%, and 99%, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niveen Nasr El-Den
- Department of Computer and System Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Naglah
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Mohamed Elsharkawy
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Mohammed Ghazal
- Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Norah Saleh Alghamdi
- Department of Computer Sciences, College of Computer and Information Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Harpal Sandhu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Hani Mahdi
- Department of Computer and System Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ayman El-Baz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
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24
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Chaudhuri M, Hassan Y, Bakka Vemana PPS, Bellary Pattanashetty MS, Abdin ZU, Siddiqui HF. Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Exponentially Emerging Imminent Threat of Visual Impairment and Irreversible Blindness. Cureus 2023; 15:e39624. [PMID: 37388610 PMCID: PMC10300666 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.39624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a significant cause of blindness globally. With the exponential rise in the aging population, AMD is the third leading cause of visual impairment worldwide. Neovascular AMD (nAMD; Wet AMD) and geographical atrophy (GA, late-stage dry AMD) are the advanced AMD accountable for substantial cases of visual deterioration among the elderly. Our review of the literature depicted that notable risk factors include cigarette smoking, nutritional elements, cardiovascular disorders, and genetic markers, including genes regulating complement, lipid, and angiogenic pathways. Some studies have suggested a relative decline in the proportion of AMD cases in the last two decades attributable to novel diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Accurate diagnosis is the result of a combination of clinical examination and imaging techniques, including retinal photography, angiography, and optical coherence tomography. The incorporation of dietary antioxidant supplements, explicitly lutein, slows the progression of the disease in advanced stages. The induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors in the treatment of neovascular AMD, often combined with other modalities, has shown an immensely favorable prognosis. Research to integrate gene therapy and regenerative techniques using stem cells is underway to further mitigate AMD-associated morbidity. It is imperative to establish screening and therapeutic guidelines for AMD to curtail the future social and financial burden and improve the diminishing quality of life among the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhurima Chaudhuri
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, IND
- Ophthalmology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Yusra Hassan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital Lahore, Lahore, PAK
| | | | | | - Zain U Abdin
- Department of Medicine, District Head Quarter Hospital, Faisalabad, PAK
| | - Humza F Siddiqui
- Department of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, PAK
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25
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Ku LC, Sheu ML, Cheng HH, Lee CY, Tsai YC, Tsai CY, Lin KH, Lai LC, Lai DW. Melatonin protects retinal integrity through mediated immune homeostasis in the sodium iodate-induced mouse model of age-related macular degeneration. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 161:114476. [PMID: 36905808 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114476] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual deficiency in older adults worldwide. Melatonin (MT) can potentially reduce retinal deterioration. However, the mechanism by which MT mediates regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the retina is not yet fully understood. METHODS The transcriptome profiles of aged or young human retinal tissues from the GEO database were analyzed for MT-related gene expression. The pathological changes in the retina in the NaIO3-induced mouse model were quantitatively determined by staining with hematoxylin and eosin. Retinal whole-mounting immunofluorescence staining was conducted to determine the expression of the Treg-specific marker FOXP3. The phenotypes of M1/M2 macrophages were representing related gene markers in the retina. The GEO database includes biopsies from patients with retinal detachment for ENPTD1, NT5E, and TET2 gene expression. A pyrosequencing assay was performed for NT5E DNA methylation on human primary Tregs, and siTET2 transfection engineering was used. RESULTS MT synthesis-related genes in retinal tissue may be affected by age. Our study shows that MT can effectively restore NaIO3-induced retinopathy and maintain retinal structural integrity. Importantly, MT may assist the conversion of M1 to M2 macrophages to promote tissue repair, which may be caused by the increased infiltration of Tregs. Moreover, MT treatment may upregulate TET2, and further NT5E demethylation is associated with Treg recruitment in the retinal microenvironment. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that MT can effectively ameliorate retinal degeneration and regulate immune homeostasis via Tregs. Modulation of the immune response may provide a key therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Cheng Ku
- Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Meei-Ling Sheu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - He-Hsiung Cheng
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yi Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ching Tsai
- Department of Immune Medicine, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yun Tsai
- Experimental Animal Center, Department of Molecular Biology and Cell Research, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Keng-Hung Lin
- Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Ophthalmology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Lih-Ching Lai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - De-Wei Lai
- Experimental Animal Center, Department of Molecular Biology and Cell Research, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Pharmacy and Master Program, Tajen University, Pingtung, Taiwan.
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26
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Zhao B, Zhu L, Ye M, Lou X, Mou Q, Hu Y, Zhang H, Zhao Y. Oxidative stress and epigenetics in ocular vascular aging: an updated review. Mol Med 2023; 29:28. [PMID: 36849907 PMCID: PMC9972630 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00624-7] [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: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular aging is an inevitable process with advancing age, which plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and microvascular diseases. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), characterized by microvascular dysfunction, are the common causes of irreversible blindness worldwide, however there is still a lack of effective therapeutic strategies for rescuing the visual function. In order to develop novel treatments, it is essential to illuminate the pathological mechanisms underlying the vascular aging during DR and AMD progression. In this review, we have summarized the recent discoveries of the effects of oxidative stress and epigenetics on microvascular degeneration, which could provide potential therapeutic targets for DR and AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Lijia Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Meng Ye
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaotong Lou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Qianxue Mou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yuanyuan Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Yin Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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27
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Millington-Ward S, Chadderton N, Finnegan LK, Post IJM, Carrigan M, Nixon R, Humphries MM, Humphries P, Kenna PF, Palfi A, Farrar GJ. RPE-Directed Gene Therapy Improves Mitochondrial Function in Murine Dry AMD Models. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043847. [PMID: 36835257 PMCID: PMC9968062 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the aged population. However, to date there is no effective treatment for the dry form of the disease, representing 85-90% of cases. AMD is an immensely complex disease which affects, amongst others, both retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor cells and leads to the progressive loss of central vision. Mitochondrial dysfunction in both RPE and photoreceptor cells is emerging as a key player in the disease. There are indications that during disease progression, the RPE is first impaired and RPE dysfunction in turn leads to subsequent photoreceptor cell degeneration; however, the exact sequence of events has not as yet been fully determined. We recently showed that AAV delivery of an optimised NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (NDI1) gene, a nuclear-encoded complex 1 equivalent from S. cerevisiae, expressed from a general promoter, provided robust benefit in a variety of murine and cellular models of dry AMD; this was the first study employing a gene therapy to directly boost mitochondrial function, providing functional benefit in vivo. However, use of a restricted RPE-specific promoter to drive expression of the gene therapy enables exploration of the optimal target retinal cell type for dry AMD therapies. Furthermore, such restricted transgene expression could reduce potential off-target effects, possibly improving the safety profile of the therapy. Therefore, in the current study, we interrogate whether expression of the gene therapy from the RPE-specific promoter, Vitelliform macular dystrophy 2 (VMD2), might be sufficient to rescue dry AMD models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Millington-Ward
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland
- Correspondence:
| | - Naomi Chadderton
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Laura K. Finnegan
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Iris J. M. Post
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Matthew Carrigan
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rachel Nixon
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marian M. Humphries
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Pete Humphries
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paul F. Kenna
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland
- The Research Foundation, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, D02 XK51 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Arpad Palfi
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland
| | - G. Jane Farrar
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland
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28
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Mody S, Joshi A. Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Its Association With Neurodegenerative Disorders. Cureus 2023; 15:e34920. [PMID: 36938233 PMCID: PMC10015745 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.34920] [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: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a highly prevalent macular condition that primarily affects the older population. It is the primary cause of blindness amongst the elderly population. It is an inflammatory disease that characteristically shows choroidal neovascularization and geographic atrophy. The exact pathomechanism of developing AMD is not known. However, certain factors such as increased age, smoking, genetic factors and certain environmental factors are usually associated with the development of the disease. AMD also involves oxidative stress-mediated destruction of retinal pigment epithelial cells and, consequently, that of retinal photoreceptors. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disorder involving the nervous system that usually affects people aged 65 and over. Both AMD and AD are age-related, degenerative conditions that have several similarities and share many of the same risk factors such as vascular conditions like arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure and obesity. It is believed that the early emergence of the clinical manifestations of AMD and AD may also be significantly influenced by oxidative stress and genetic polymorphism in complement factor H. A common pathogenic pathway between AD and AMD is quite likely. Amyloid-β is an aberrant protein that accumulates within the brains of Alzheimer's patients and appears as plaques on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These plaques are a pathognomonic sign of Alzheimer's disease. Similar to this, amyloid-β deposits are reported to build up beneath the retina of AMD patients, which appear as tiny clusters of protein-lipid substances known as drusen. It has also been found that individuals suffering from AMD exhibit an increased chance of developing AD than those with no AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sankalp Mody
- Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, IND
| | - Abhishek Joshi
- Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, IND
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29
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Kumar VB, Sher I, Rencus-Lazar S, Rotenstreich Y, Gazit E. Functional Carbon Quantum Dots for Ocular Imaging and Therapeutic Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2205754. [PMID: 36461689 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202205754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Carbon quantum dots (CDs) are a class of emerging carbonaceous nanomaterials that have received considerable attention due to their excellent fluorescent properties, extremely small size, ability to penetrate cells and tissues, ease of synthesis, surface modification, low cytotoxicity, and superior water dispersion. In light of these properties, CDs are extensively investigated as candidates for bioimaging probes, efficient drug carriers, and disease diagnostics. Functionalized CDs represent a promising therapeutic candidate for ocular diseases. Here, this work reviews the potential use of functionalized CDs in the diagnosis and treatment of eye-related diseases, including the treatment of macular and anterior segment diseases, as well as targeting Aβ amyloids in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Bhooshan Kumar
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Ifat Sher
- Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
- The Nehemia Rubin Excellence in Biomedical Research, TELEM Program, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621, Israel
| | - Sigal Rencus-Lazar
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Ygal Rotenstreich
- Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Ehud Gazit
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
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30
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Li P, Liang L, Gao Z, Wang X. AMD-Net: Automatic subretinal fluid and hemorrhage segmentation for wet age-related macular degeneration in ocular fundus images. Biomed Signal Process Control 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2022.104262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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31
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Three-Month Safety and Efficacy Outcomes for the Smaller-Incision New-Generation Implantable Miniature Telescope (SING IMT™). J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12020518. [PMID: 36675446 PMCID: PMC9865521 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12020518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The smaller-incision new-generation implantable miniature telescope (SING IMT™) is the second generation of the IMT™, a telescope prosthesis that is indicated for monocular implantation in patients with stable vision impairment caused by bilateral central scotomas associated with end-stage Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This non-comparative retrospective study is the first and largest single-surgeon case series to evaluate the short-term (3 months) safety and efficacy of the device in patients with disciform scars or geographic atrophy at baseline. The main outcome measures included best-corrected distance and near visual acuity (CDVA and CDNVA, respectively), endothelial cell density (ECD) loss, and the incidence of complications. At postoperative month 3 in the study eyes, mean CDVA and CDNVA improved by +14.9 ± 7.1 letters and +7.7 ± 3.2 Jaeger levels, respectively. Importantly, 70.83% of patients gained ≥ 2 lines, 58.33% ≥ 3 lines, and 25.00% ≥ 4 lines of CDVA. From baseline, ECD loss in the study eyes was 10.4 ± 13.3% at 3 months, however, ECD was comparable between the study and fellow eyes at all time points. The most common complication was corneal edema. In all, these short-term outcomes suggest that the SING IMT™ delivers lower ECD loss than the first-generation IMT ™, but similar visual outcomes and safety.
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32
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NLRX1 increases human retinal pigment epithelial autophagy and reduces H 2O 2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by suppressing FUNDC1 phosphorylation and NLRP3 activation. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 2023; 51:177-186. [PMID: 36617838 DOI: 10.15586/aei.v51i1.766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of impaired vision as well as some earlier effects, such as reading and face recognition. Oxidative damage and inflammation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are major causes of AMD. Additionally, autophagy in RPE cells can lead to cellular homeostasis under oxidative stress. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor X1 (NLRX1) is a mysterious modulator of the immune system function which inhibits inflammatory response, attenuates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and regulates autophagy. This study attempted to explore the role of NLRX1 in oxidative stress, inflammation, and autophagy in AMD. METHODS An in vitro model of AMD was built in human retinal pigment epithelial cell line 19 (ARPE-19) treated with H2O2. The cell viability, NLRX1 expressions, levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GHS), and ROS, concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), expressions of NLRX1, p62, LC3-II/LC3-I, FUNDC1, and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome were expounded by cell counting kit-8, colorimetric, enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA), and Western blot assay. RESULTS H2O2 treatment notably reduced the relative protein expression of NLRX1. Meanwhile, H2O2 incubation decreased cell viability, diminished SOD and GSH concentrations, accompanied with the increased level of ROS, enhanced IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 concentrations, and aggrandized the relative protein expression of p62 with reduced LC3-II/LC3-I ratio. Moreover, these results were further promoted with knockdown of NLRX1 and reversed with overexpression. Mechanically, silencing of NLRX1 further observably enhanced the relative levels of -phosphorylated FUNDC1/FUNDC1, and NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins, while overexpression of NLRX1 exhibited inverse results in the H2O2-induced ARPE-19 cells. CONCLUSION NLRX1 suppressed H2O2-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, and facilitated autophagy by suppressing FUNDC1 phosphorylation and NLRP3 activation in ARPE-19 cells.
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33
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Santos FM, Ciordia S, Mesquita J, Cruz C, Sousa JPCE, Passarinha LA, Tomaz CT, Paradela A. Proteomics profiling of vitreous humor reveals complement and coagulation components, adhesion factors, and neurodegeneration markers as discriminatory biomarkers of vitreoretinal eye diseases. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1107295. [PMID: 36875133 PMCID: PMC9978817 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1107295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are leading causes of visual impairment and blindness in people aged 50 years or older in middle-income and industrialized countries. Anti-VEGF therapies have improved the management of neovascular AMD (nAMD) and proliferative DR (PDR), no treatment options exist for the highly prevalent dry form of AMD. Methods To unravel the biological processes underlying these pathologies and to find new potential biomarkers, a label-free quantitative (LFQ) method was applied to analyze the vitreous proteome in PDR (n=4), AMD (n=4) compared to idiopathic epiretinal membranes (ERM) (n=4). Results and discussion Post-hoc tests revealed 96 proteins capable of differentiating among the different groups, whereas 118 proteins were found differentially regulated in PDR compared to ERM and 95 proteins in PDR compared to dry AMD. Pathway analysis indicates that mediators of complement, coagulation cascades and acute phase responses are enriched in PDR vitreous, whilst proteins highly correlated to the extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, platelet degranulation, lysosomal degradation, cell adhesion, and central nervous system development were found underexpressed. According to these results, 35 proteins were selected and monitored by MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) in a larger cohort of patients with ERM (n=21), DR/PDR (n=20), AMD (n=11), and retinal detachment (n=13). Of these, 26 proteins could differentiate between these vitreoretinal diseases. Based on Partial least squares discriminant and multivariate exploratory receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, a panel of 15 discriminatory biomarkers was defined, which includes complement and coagulation components (complement C2 and prothrombin), acute-phase mediators (alpha-1-antichymotrypsin), adhesion molecules (e.g., myocilin, galectin-3-binding protein), ECM components (opticin), and neurodegeneration biomarkers (beta-amyloid, amyloid-like protein 2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima M Santos
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.,Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Ciordia
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joana Mesquita
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Carla Cruz
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.,Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Castro E Sousa
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.,Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar de Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
| | - Luís A Passarinha
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.,Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA, Caparica, Portugal.,UCIBIO-Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Departamento de Química/Departamento Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal.,Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Cândida T Tomaz
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.,Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Alberto Paradela
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
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Pan HY, Valapala M. Role of TFEB in Diseases Associated with Lysosomal Dysfunction. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1415:319-325. [PMID: 37440051 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factor EB (TFEB) plays a very important role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. TFEB is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of several genes in the Coordinated Lysosomal Expression and Regulation (CLEAR) network. The CLEAR network genes are known to regulate many processes associated with the autophagy pathway and lysosome biogenesis. Lysosomes, which are degradative organelles in the cell, are associated with several cellular mechanisms, such as autophagy and phagocytosis. Recent studies have shown that TFEB dysregulation and lysosomal dysfunction are associated with several degenerative diseases. Thus, enhancing TFEB activity and accompanied induction of lysosomal function and autophagy can have tremendous therapeutic potential for the treatment of several degenerative diseases including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this chapter, we briefly illustrate the expression and regulation of TFEB in response to several cellular stressors and discuss the effects of TFEB overexpression to induce cellular clearance functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan-Yeh Pan
- School of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
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35
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Elshelmani H, Keegan D, Rani S. Serum MicroRNAs Profiling in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2595:123-135. [PMID: 36441459 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2823-2_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive, degenerative disease of the retina which ultimately results in the irreversible loss of central vision. AMD is one of the foremost causes of blindness in people over the age of 50. Although the precise pathogenesis of AMD has not yet been elucidated, AMD results from a complex interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental provoking factors. These factors might lead to ocular homeostasis dysfunction resulting in inflammation, oxidative stress, and in some cases neovascularization. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs and are approximately 22 nucleotides long. miRNAs play a central role in several pathophysiological processes such as immune and inflammatory responses, pathological angiogenesis, and the response to oxidative stress, all of which have been suggested to be associated with AMD pathogenesis and progression. Here we discuss methods to isolate miRNAs using serum specimens from AMD patients and miRNA profiling for the better understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Elshelmani
- Mater Vision Institute, The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David Keegan
- Mater Vision Institute, The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sweta Rani
- Department of Science, South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland.
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Promising Role of Silk-Based Biomaterials for Ocular-Based Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14245475. [PMID: 36559842 PMCID: PMC9788421 DOI: 10.3390/polym14245475] [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: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Silk is a wonderful biopolymer that has a long history of medical applications. Surgical cords and medically authorised human analogues made of silk have a long history of use in management. We describe the use of silk in the treatment of eye diseases in this review by looking at the usage of silk fibroin for eye-related drug delivery applications and medication transfer to the eyes. During this ancient art endeavour, a reduced engineering project that employed silk as a platform for medicine delivery or a cell-filled matrix helped reignite interest. With considerable attention, this study explores the present usage of silk in ocular-based drug delivery. This paper also examines emerging developments with the use of silk as a biopolymer for the treatment of eye ailments. As treatment options for glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, and other retinal diseases and degenerations are developed, the trans-scleral route of drug delivery holds great promise for the selective, sustained-release delivery of these novel therapeutic compounds. We should expect a swarm of silk-inspired materials to enter clinical testing and use on the surface as the secrets of silk are unveiled. This article finishes with a discussion on potential silk power, which adds to better ideas and enhanced ocular medicine delivery.
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Tawfik M, Chen F, Goldberg JL, Sabel BA. Nanomedicine and drug delivery to the retina: current status and implications for gene therapy. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 395:1477-1507. [PMID: 36107200 PMCID: PMC9630211 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-022-02287-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Blindness affects more than 60 million people worldwide. Retinal disorders, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and glaucoma, are the leading causes of blindness. Finding means to optimize local and sustained delivery of drugs or genes to the eye and retina is one goal to advance the development of new therapeutics. Despite the ease of accessibility of delivering drugs via the ocular surface, the delivery of drugs to the retina is still challenging due to anatomic and physiologic barriers. Designing a suitable delivery platform to overcome these barriers should enhance drug bioavailability and provide a safe, controlled, and sustained release. Current inventions for posterior segment treatments include intravitreal implants and subretinal viral gene delivery that satisfy these criteria. Several other novel drug delivery technologies, including nanoparticles, micelles, dendrimers, microneedles, liposomes, and nanowires, are now being widely studied for posterior segment drug delivery, and extensive research on gene delivery using siRNA, mRNA, or aptamers is also on the rise. This review discusses the current state of retinal drug/gene delivery and highlights future therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Tawfik
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Fang Chen
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Goldberg
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Bernhard A Sabel
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
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Gelat B, Rathaur P, Malaviya P, Patel B, Trivedi K, Johar K, Gelat R. The intervention of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in homeostasis of human retinal pigment epithelial cells: a review. J Histotechnol 2022; 45:148-160. [DOI: 10.1080/01478885.2022.2137665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brijesh Gelat
- Department of Zoology, BMTC and Human Genetics, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India
| | - Pooja Rathaur
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Iladevi Cataract and IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Pooja Malaviya
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Iladevi Cataract and IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Binita Patel
- Department of Life Science, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India
| | - Krupali Trivedi
- Department of Zoology, BMTC and Human Genetics, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India
| | - Kaid Johar
- Department of Zoology, BMTC and Human Genetics, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India
| | - Rahul Gelat
- Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, India
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Harju N. Regulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Acta Ophthalmol 2022; 100 Suppl 273:3-59. [DOI: 10.1111/aos.15275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Niina Harju
- School of Pharmacy University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
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40
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Ong J, Zaman N, Waisberg E, Kamran SA, Lee AG, Tavakkoli A. Head-mounted digital metamorphopsia suppression as a countermeasure for macular-related visual distortions for prolonged spaceflight missions and terrestrial health. WEARABLE TECHNOLOGIES 2022; 3:e26. [PMID: 38486901 PMCID: PMC10936292 DOI: 10.1017/wtc.2022.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
During long-duration spaceflight, astronauts are exposed to various risks including spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome, which serves as a risk to astronaut vision and a potential physiological barrier to future spaceflight. When considering exploration missions that may expose astronauts to longer periods of microgravity, radiation exposure, and natural aging processes during spaceflight, more severe changes to functional vision may occur. The macula plays a critical role in central vision and disruptions to this key area in the eye may compromise functional vision and mission performance. In this article, we describe the development of a countermeasure technique to digitally suppress monocular central visual distortion with head-mounted display technology. We report early validation studies with this noninvasive countermeasure in individuals with simulated metamorphopsia. When worn by these individuals, this emerging wearable countermeasure technology has demonstrated a suppression of monocular visual distortion. We describe the considerations and further directions of this head-mounted technology for both astronauts and aging individuals on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Ong
- School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nasif Zaman
- Human-Machine Perception Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Ethan Waisberg
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sharif Amit Kamran
- Human-Machine Perception Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Andrew G. Lee
- Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Texas A&M College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Alireza Tavakkoli
- Human-Machine Perception Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
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Increased probability of mood disorders after age-related macular degeneration: a population-based cohort study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15222. [PMID: 36075924 PMCID: PMC9458640 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19429-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
We aim to investigate the association of mood disorders with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This retrospective cohort study used data from 2000 and 2016 from National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan. Patients with AMD diagnosis formed the exposed group, and an age- and sex-matched group without AMD served as the nonexposed group. Main outcomes were the incidence of mood disorders including psychological counseling, behavior therapy, sleep or anxiety-related disorders, and major depressive disorders (MDDs) in the exposed and non-exposed groups. The Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to evaluate the incidence and adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of mood disorders. A total of 5916 and 11,832 individuals with and without AMD were enrolled into the exposed and nonexposed groups. There were 1017 (17.19%) and 1366 (11.54%) episodes of mood disorders occurred in the exposed and nonexposed groups, respectively. The aHRs of any psychological counseling, behavioral therapy, sleep or anxiety-related disorders, and MDD were significantly higher in patients with AMD than in those without AMD (all P < 0.05). Besides, patients with dry-AMD, participants aged 50-70 years, and women with AMD had a higher incidence of mood disorders (all P < 0.05) than did non-AMD individuals, patients > 70 years, and women without AMD. In conclusion, AMD occurrence leads to an increased rate of mood disorders, particularly among those with dry-AMD, middle aged participants (aged 50-70), and women.
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Ren C, Yu J. Potential gene identification and pathway crosstalk analysis of age-related macular degeneration. Front Genet 2022; 13:992328. [PMID: 36147504 PMCID: PMC9486309 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.992328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most prevalent visual disorder among the elderly, is confirmed as a multifactorial disease. Studies demonstrated that genetic factors play an essential role in its pathogenesis. Our study aimed to make a relatively comprehensive study about biological functions of AMD related genes and crosstalk of their enriched pathways. 1691 AMD genetic studies were reviewed, GO enrichment and pathway crosstalk analyses were conducted to elucidate the biological features of these genes and to demonstrate the pathways that these genes participate. Moreover, we identified novel AMD-specific genes using shortest path algorithm in the context of human interactome. We retrieved 176 significantly AMD-related genes. GO results showed that the most significant term in each of these three GO categories was: signaling receptor binding (PBH = 4.835 × 10−7), response to oxygen-containing compound (PBH = 2.764 × 10−21), and extracellular space (PBH = 2.081 × 10−19). The pathway enrichment analysis showed that complement pathway is the most enriched. The pathway crosstalk study showed that the pathways could be divided into two main modules. These two modules were connected by cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway. 42 unique genes potentially participating AMD development were obtained. The aberrant expression of the mRNA of FASN and LRP1 were validated in AMD cell and mouse models. Collectively, our study carried out a comprehensive analysis based on genetic association study of AMD and put forward several evidence-based genes for future study of AMD.
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Logan C, Lyzogubov V, Bora N, Bora P. Role of Adiponectin Peptide I (APNp1) in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12091232. [PMID: 36139070 PMCID: PMC9496372 DOI: 10.3390/biom12091232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that can cause central vision loss, particularly in the elderly population. There are 2 classes of AMD, wet-type and dry-type. Wet-type involves excess angiogenesis around the macula, referred to as choroidal neovascularization (CNV). This can result in leaky vessels, often causing more severe vision loss than dry-type AMD. Adiponectin peptide 1 (APNp1) has been shown to slow the progression of CNV. Here, we used a mouse model and FITC-labeled APNp1 to determine if APNp1 could be delivered effectively as an eye drop. Our experiment revealed that topically applied FITC-APNp1 could reach the macula of the eye, which is crucial for treating wet-type AMD. We also tested delivery of APNp1 via injection of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector in a mouse model of CNV. AAV is a harmless virus easy to manipulate and is very often used for protein or peptide deliveries. Results revealed an increase in the expression of APNp1 in the retina and choroid over a 28-day period. Finally, we investigated the mechanism by which APNp1 affects CNV by examining the expression of adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the retinal and choroidal tissue of the mouse eyes. AdipoR1 and PCNA were overexpressed in these tissues in mice with laser-induced CNV compared to naïve mice. Based on our data shown here, we think it will enhance our understanding of APNp1 as a therapeutic agent for wet-type AMD and possible treatment alternatives that could be more beneficial for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Puran Bora
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(501)-352-7191
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Alshaikh RA, Ryan KB, Waeber C. Sphingosine 1-phosphate, a potential target in neovascular retinal disease. Br J Ophthalmol 2022; 106:1187-1195. [PMID: 33962970 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-319115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Neovascular ocular diseases (such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion) are characterised by common pathological processes that contribute to disease progression. These include angiogenesis, oedema, inflammation, cell death and fibrosis. Currently available therapies target the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the main mediator of pathological angiogenesis. Unfortunately, VEGF blockers are expensive biological therapeutics that necessitate frequent intravitreal administration and are associated with multiple adverse effects. Thus, alternative treatment options associated with fewer side effects are required for disease management. This review introduces sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) as a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of neovascular ocular pathologies. S1P is a sphingolipid mediator that controls cellular growth, differentiation, survival and death. S1P actions are mediated by five G protein-coupled receptors (S1P1-5 receptors) which are abundantly expressed in all retinal and subretinal structures. The action of S1P on S1P1 receptors can reduce angiogenesis, increase endothelium integrity, reduce photoreceptor apoptosis and protect the retina against neurodegeneration. Conversely, S1P2 receptor signalling can increase neovascularisation, disrupt endothelial junctions, stimulate VEGF release, and induce retinal cell apoptosis and degeneration of neural retina. The aim of this review is to thoroughly discuss the role of S1P and its different receptor subtypes in angiogenesis, inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis in order to determine which of these S1P-mediated processes may be targeted therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha A Alshaikh
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Katie B Ryan
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- SSPC The SFI Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Christian Waeber
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Daniele E, Ferrari B, Rassu N, Ben-Nun J, Bosio L, Barbaro V, Ferrari S, Ponzin D. Comparison of human amniotic membrane decellularisation approaches for hESC-derived RPE cells culture. BMJ Open Ophthalmol 2022; 7:bmjophth-2022-000981. [PMID: 36161850 PMCID: PMC9454075 DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2022-000981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Recent clinical studies have shown that the transplantation of functional retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells can prevent the onset of RPE degeneration in age-related macular degeneration. This study aimed to investigate the potential of human amniotic membrane (hAM) as a viable scaffold for the growth and proliferation of pluripotent-derived RPE cells. Methods and analysis Three enzymatic hAM de-epithelialisation methods (thermolysin, trypsin-EDTA and dispase II) were assessed by histological analysis and optical coherence tomography (OCT). We generated RPE cells from a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line subjected to spontaneous differentiation in feeder-free conditions. The hESC-derived RPE cells were seeded over denuded hAM at a density of 2.0×105 cells/cm2 and maintained in culture for up to 4 weeks. Immnofluorescence was carried out to evaluate the development of a confluent monolayer of RPE cells on the top of the hAM. Conditioned medium was collected to measure pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) concentration by ELISA. Results Laminin α5 and collagen IV staining confirmed the efficiency of the de-epithelialisation process. In particular, thermolysin showed good retention of tissue integrity on OCT images and greater preservation of the hAM basement membrane. The hESC-derived RPE cells formed patches of pigmented cells interspersed along the denuded hAM, but failed to form a regular sheet of RPE cells. These cells expressed typical RPE markers, such as PMEL17 and RPE65, but they secreted low levels of PEDF. Conclusion The biological variability of the hAM could influence the adhesion and the expansion of hESC-derived RPE cells. Further studies are required to verify whether a non-confluent monolayer might represent a limit to transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Daniele
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy .,Venice Eye Bank, Venice, Italy
| | | | - Nicolò Rassu
- Ophthalmic Unit, Ospedale dell'Angelo, Venice, Italy
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Wang Z, Huang X, Lv X, Chen C, Qu S, Ma X, Zhang L, Bi Y. Bioinformatic analysis identifies potential key genes in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. Indian J Ophthalmol 2022; 70:3347-3355. [PMID: 36018119 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_3211_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in older individuals. More studies focused on screening the genes, which may be correlated with the development of AMD. With advances in various technologies like multiple microarray datasets, researchers could identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) more accurately. Exploring abnormal gene expression in disease status can help to understand pathophysiological changes in complex diseases. This study aims to identify the key genes and upstream regulators in AMD and reveal factors, especially genetic association, and the prognosis of the development of this disease. Methods Data from expression profile GSE125564 and profile GSE29801 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We analyzed DEGs using R software (version 3.6.3). Functional enrichment and PPI network analysis were performed using the R package and online database STRING (version 11.0). Results We compared AMD with normal and found 68 up-regulated genes (URGs) and 25 down-regulated genes (DRGs). We also compared wet AMD with dry AMD and found 41 DRGs in dry AMD. Further work including PPI network analysis, GO classification, and KEGG analysis was done to find connections with AMD. The URGs were mainly enriched in the biological process such as DNA replication, nucleoplasm, extracellular exosome, and cadherin binding. Besides, DRGs were mainly enriched in these functions such as an integral component of membrane and formation of the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB). Conclusion This study implied that core genes might involve in the process of AMD. Our findings may contribute to revealing the pathogenesis, developing new biomarkers, and raising strategies of treatment for AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyue Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyu Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Lv
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shen Qu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanlong Bi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital Affiliated with Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Markert EK, Klein H, Viollet C, Rust W, Strobel B, Kauschke SG, Makovoz B, Neubauer H, Bakker RA, Blenkinsop TA. Transcriptional comparison of adult human primary Retinal Pigment Epithelium, human pluripotent stem cell-derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium, and ARPE19 cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:910040. [PMID: 36092714 PMCID: PMC9461284 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.910040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of pluripotent stem cells is great as they promise to usher in a new era of medicine where cells or organs may be prescribed to replace dysfunctional tissue. At the forefront are efforts in the eye to develop this technology as it lends itself to in vivo monitoring and sophisticated non-invasive imaging modalities. In the retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the most promising replacement cell as it has a single layer, is relatively simple to transplant, and is associated with several eye diseases. However, after transplantation, the cells may transform and cause complications. This transformation may be partially due to incomplete maturation. With the goal of learning how to mature RPE, we compared induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE (iPSC-RPE) cells with adult human primary RPE (ahRPE) cells and the immortalized human ARPE-19 line. We cultured ARPE-19, iPSC-RPE, and ahRPE cells for one month, and evaluated morphology, RPE marker staining, and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) as quality control indicators. We then isolated RNA for bulk RNA-sequencing and DNA for genotyping. We genotyped ahRPE lines for the top age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) risk allele polymorphisms. Transcriptome data verified that both adult and iPSC-RPE exhibit similar RPE gene expression signatures, significantly higher than ARPE-19. In addition, in iPSC-RPE, genes relating to stem cell maintenance, retina development, and muscle contraction were significantly upregulated compared to ahRPE. We compared ahRPE to iPSC-RPE in a model of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and observed an increased sensitivity of iPSC-RPE to producing contractile aggregates in vitro which resembles incident reports upon transplantation. P38 inhibition was capable of inhibiting iPSC-RPE-derived aggregates. In summary, we find that the transcriptomic signature of iPSC-RPE conveys an immature RPE state which may be ameliorated by targeting "immature" gene regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke K. Markert
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH, Biberach, Germany
| | - Holger Klein
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH, Biberach, Germany
| | - Coralie Viollet
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH, Biberach, Germany
| | - Werner Rust
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH, Biberach, Germany
| | - Benjamin Strobel
- Translational Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH, Biberach, Germany
| | - Stefan G. Kauschke
- CardioMetabolic Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH, Biberach, Germany
| | - Bar Makovoz
- Ophthalmology Cell Development and Regenerative Biology, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Heike Neubauer
- CardioMetabolic Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH, Biberach, Germany
| | - Remko A. Bakker
- CardioMetabolic Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH, Biberach, Germany
| | - Timothy A. Blenkinsop
- Ophthalmology Cell Development and Regenerative Biology, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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Wang K, Chen YS, Chien HW, Chiou HL, Yang SF, Hsieh YH. Melatonin inhibits NaIO3-induced ARPE-19 cell apoptosis via suppression of HIF-1α/BNIP3-LC3B/mitophagy signaling. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:133. [PMID: 35986432 PMCID: PMC9389659 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00879-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) leads to gradual central vision loss and eventual irreversible blindness. Melatonin, an endogenous hormone, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects; however, the role it plays in AMD remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the anti-AMD molecular mechanism of melatonin after sodium iodate (NaIO3) treatment of ARPE-19 cells in vitro and in animal models with the goal of improving the therapeutic effect. Results The in vitro results showed that melatonin protected against NaIO3-induced cell viability decline, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells, and melatonin also alleviated NaIO3-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy activation. Melatonin reduced NaIO3-induced mitophagy activation through HIF-1α-targeted BNIP3/LC3B transcription, whereas ROS inhibition realized with N-acetylcysteine (NAC, a ROS inhibitor) combined with melatonin reduced the effect of NaIO3 on mitophagy. An animal model of AMD was established to confirm the in vitro data. Mouse tail vein injection of NaIO3 and melatonin was associated with enhanced repair of retinal layers within 7 days, as observed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. A reduction in BNIP3 and HIF-1α levels, as determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay, was also observed. Conclusions These results indicate that melatonin attenuated NaIO3-induced mitophagy of ARPE-19 cells via reduction in ROS-mediated HIF-1α targeted BNIP3/LC3B signaling in vitro and in vivo. Melatonin may be a potential therapeutic drug in the treatment of AMD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00879-3.
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Sipatchin A, García García M, Sauer Y, Wahl S. Application of Spatial Cues and Optical Distortions as Augmentations during Virtual Reality (VR) Gaming: The Multifaceted Effects of Assistance for Eccentric Viewing Training. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159571. [PMID: 35954927 PMCID: PMC9368505 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigates the effects of peripheral spatial cues and optically distorting augmentations over eccentric vision mechanisms in normally sighted participants with simulated scotoma. Five different augmentations were tested inside a virtual reality (VR)-gaming environment. Three were monocular spatial cues, and two were binocular optical distortions. Each was divided into three conditions: baseline with normal viewing, augmentation with one of the assistance methods positioned around the scotoma, and one with only the simulated central scotoma. The study found that the gaming scenario induced eccentric viewing for the cued augmentation groups, even when the peripheral assistance was removed, while for the optical distortions group, the eccentric behavior disappeared after the augmentation removal. Additionally, an upwards directionality of gaze relative to target during regular gaming was found. The bias was maintained and implemented during and after the cued augmentations but not after the distorted ones. The results suggest that monocular peripheral cues could be better candidates for implementing eccentric viewing training in patients. At the same time, it showed that optical distortions might disrupt such behavior. Such results are noteworthy since distortions such as zoom are known to help patients with macular degeneration see targets of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yannick Sauer
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Siegfried Wahl
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH, 73430 Aalen, Germany
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Lu Y, Qi H. Evaluate the Protective Effect of Antioxidants on Retinal Pigment Cell Hazard Induced by Blue Light: A Mini-Review. FOOD REVIEWS INTERNATIONAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/87559129.2022.2098317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Lu
- School of Food Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, P. R. China
| | - Hang Qi
- School of Food Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, P. R. China
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