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Molins B, Rodríguez A, Llorenç V, Adán A. Biomaterial engineering strategies for modeling the Bruch's membrane in age-related macular degeneration. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:2626-2636. [PMID: 38595281 PMCID: PMC11168499 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01789] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration, a multifactorial inflammatory degenerative retinal disease, ranks as the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Strikingly, there is a scarcity of curative therapies, especially for the atrophic advanced form of age-related macular degeneration, likely due to the lack of models able to fully recapitulate the native structure of the outer blood retinal barrier, the prime target tissue of age-related macular degeneration. Standard in vitro systems rely on 2D monocultures unable to adequately reproduce the structure and function of the outer blood retinal barrier, integrated by the dynamic interaction of the retinal pigment epithelium, the Bruch's membrane, and the underlying choriocapillaris. The Bruch's membrane provides structural and mechanical support and regulates the molecular trafficking in the outer blood retinal barrier, and therefore adequate Bruch's membrane-mimics are key for the development of physiologically relevant models of the outer blood retinal barrier. In the last years, advances in the field of biomaterial engineering have provided novel approaches to mimic the Bruch's membrane from a variety of materials. This review provides a discussion of the integrated properties and function of outer blood retinal barrier components in healthy and age-related macular degeneration status to understand the requirements to adequately fabricate Bruch's membrane biomimetic systems. Then, we discuss novel materials and techniques to fabricate Bruch's membrane-like scaffolds for age-related macular degeneration in vitro modeling, discussing their advantages and challenges with a special focus on the potential of Bruch's membrane-like mimics based on decellularized tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Molins
- Group of Ocular Inflammation: Clinical and Experimental Studies, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques Agustí Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Rodríguez
- Group of Ocular Inflammation: Clinical and Experimental Studies, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques Agustí Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Víctor Llorenç
- Group of Ocular Inflammation: Clinical and Experimental Studies, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques Agustí Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Clínic d’Oftalmologia (ICOF), Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfredo Adán
- Group of Ocular Inflammation: Clinical and Experimental Studies, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques Agustí Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Clínic d’Oftalmologia (ICOF), Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Spain
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Rajendran Nair DS, Camarillo JCM, Lu G, Thomas BB. Measuring spatial visual loss in rats by retinotopic mapping of the superior colliculus using a novel multi-electrode array technique. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 405:110095. [PMID: 38403001 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110095] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The retinotopic map property of the superior colliculus (SC) is a reliable indicator of visual functional changes in rodents. Electrophysiological mapping of the SC using a single electrode has been employed for measuring visual function in rat and mouse disease models. Single electrode mapping is highly laborious requiring long-term exposure to the SC surface and prolonged anesthetic conditions that can adversely affect the mapping data. NEW METHOD To avoid the above-mentioned issues, we fabricated a fifty-six (56) electrode multi-electrode array (MEA) for rapid and reliable visual functional mapping of the SC. Since SC is a dome-shaped structure, the array was made of electrodes with dissimilar tip lengths to enable simultaneous and uniform penetration of the SC. RESULTS SC mapping using the new MEA was conducted in retinal degenerate (RD) Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats and rats with focal retinal damage induced by green diode laser. For SC mapping, the MEA was advanced into the SC surface and the visual activities were recorded during full-filed light stimulation of the eye. Based on the morphological examination, the MEA electrodes covered most of the exposed SC area and penetrated the SC surface at a relatively uniform depth. MEA mapping in RCS rats (n=9) demonstrated progressive development of a scotoma in the SC that corresponded to the degree of photoreceptor loss. MEA mapping in the laser damaged rats demonstrated the presence of a scotoma in the SC area that corresponded to the location of retinal laser injury. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS AND CONCLUSIONS The use of MEA for SC mapping is advantageous over single electrode recording by enabling faster recordings and reducing anesthesia time. This study establishes the feasibility of the MEA technique for rapid and efficient SC mapping, particularly advantageous for evaluating therapeutic effects in retinal degenerate rat disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepthi S Rajendran Nair
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Juan Carlos-Martinez Camarillo
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States; USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Gengxi Lu
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Biju B Thomas
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States; USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, United States.
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Fan R, Su L, Zhang H, Jiang Y, Yu Z, Zhang X, Li X. Enhanced therapeutic effect of PEDF-loaded mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles against oxygen-induced retinopathy through increased stability and penetrability of PEDF. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:327. [PMID: 37684667 PMCID: PMC10492320 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02066-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several common retinal diseases that cause blindness are characterised by pathological neovascularisation accompanied by inflammation and neurodegeneration, including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). The current treatment strategies for these diseases have limited benefits. Thus, safer and more effective alternative approaches are required. In this study, we loaded small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) with pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), and tested the therapeutic effect of PEDF-loaded sEVs (PEDF-sEVs) using an oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse model, aiming to establish a new therapy strategy for the treatment of retinal pathological angiogenesis. RESULTS We formulated PEDF-loaded sEVs (PEDF-sEVs) containing high concentrations of PEDF and evaluated their effects through in vivo and in vitro experiments. In OIR mice, PEDF-sEVs showed significantly better effects on retinal avascular areas, inflammation, and neuronal degeneration compared with the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug, which may indicate a possible advantage of PEDF-sEVs over anti-VEGF drugs in the treatment of pathological neovascularisation. In vitro, PEDF-sEVs greatly inhibited endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, migration, and tube formation by suppressing the VEGF-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and AKT (also known as Protein Kinase B). All experiments and analyses were performed in triplicate. PEDF-sEVs were more effective than PEDF or sEVs alone, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, to determine the distribution of PEDF-sEVs, we used DiD-labelled sEVs and FITC-labelled PEDF to track the sEVs and PEDF, respectively. We found that PEDF-sEVs effectively reduced the degradation of PEDF. CONCLUSIONS Loading PEDF on sEVs effectively enhanced the anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects of PEDF by increasing the stability and penetrability. These results suggest a potential role for PEDF-sEVs in retinal pathological neovascularisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyan Fan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute, School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Lin Su
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute, School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute, School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Yilin Jiang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute, School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Zihao Yu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute, School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute, School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384, China.
| | - Xiaorong Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute, School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384, China.
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4
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Muniyandi A, Hartman GD, Song Y, Mijit M, Kelley MR, Corson TW. Beyond VEGF: Targeting Inflammation and Other Pathways for Treatment of Retinal Disease. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2023; 386:15-25. [PMID: 37142441 PMCID: PMC10289243 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neovascular eye diseases include conditions such as retinopathy of prematurity, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Together, they are a major cause of vision loss and blindness worldwide. The current therapeutic mainstay for these diseases is intravitreal injections of biologics targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. Lack of universal response to these anti-VEGF agents coupled with the challenging delivery method underscore a need for new therapeutic targets and agents. In particular, proteins that mediate both inflammatory and proangiogenic signaling are appealing targets for new therapeutic development. Here, we review agents currently in clinical trials and highlight some promising targets in preclinical and early clinical development, focusing on the redox-regulatory transcriptional activator APE1/Ref-1, the bioactive lipid modulator soluble epoxide hydrolase, the transcription factor RUNX1, and others. Small molecules targeting each of these proteins show promise for blocking neovascularization and inflammation. The affected signaling pathways illustrate the potential of new antiangiogenic strategies for posterior ocular disease. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Discovery and therapeutic targeting of new angiogenesis mediators is necessary to improve treatment of blinding eye diseases like retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy, and neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Novel targets undergoing evaluation and drug discovery work include proteins important for both angiogenesis and inflammation signaling, including APE1/Ref-1, soluble epoxide hydrolase, RUNX1, and others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anbukkarasi Muniyandi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute (A.M., G.D.H., Y.S., M.R.K., T.W.C.), Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research (M.M., M.R.K.), Stark Neurosciences Research Institute (G.D.H., T.W.C.), Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology (M.R.K., T.W.C.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (M.R.K., T.W.C.), and Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (M.R.K., T.W.C.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Gabriella D Hartman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute (A.M., G.D.H., Y.S., M.R.K., T.W.C.), Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research (M.M., M.R.K.), Stark Neurosciences Research Institute (G.D.H., T.W.C.), Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology (M.R.K., T.W.C.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (M.R.K., T.W.C.), and Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (M.R.K., T.W.C.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Yang Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute (A.M., G.D.H., Y.S., M.R.K., T.W.C.), Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research (M.M., M.R.K.), Stark Neurosciences Research Institute (G.D.H., T.W.C.), Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology (M.R.K., T.W.C.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (M.R.K., T.W.C.), and Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (M.R.K., T.W.C.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Mahmut Mijit
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute (A.M., G.D.H., Y.S., M.R.K., T.W.C.), Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research (M.M., M.R.K.), Stark Neurosciences Research Institute (G.D.H., T.W.C.), Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology (M.R.K., T.W.C.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (M.R.K., T.W.C.), and Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (M.R.K., T.W.C.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Mark R Kelley
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute (A.M., G.D.H., Y.S., M.R.K., T.W.C.), Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research (M.M., M.R.K.), Stark Neurosciences Research Institute (G.D.H., T.W.C.), Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology (M.R.K., T.W.C.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (M.R.K., T.W.C.), and Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (M.R.K., T.W.C.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Timothy W Corson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute (A.M., G.D.H., Y.S., M.R.K., T.W.C.), Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research (M.M., M.R.K.), Stark Neurosciences Research Institute (G.D.H., T.W.C.), Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology (M.R.K., T.W.C.) and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (M.R.K., T.W.C.), and Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (M.R.K., T.W.C.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Choudhary M, Malek G. Potential therapeutic targets for age-related macular degeneration: The nuclear option. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 94:101130. [PMID: 36220751 PMCID: PMC10082136 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The functions and activities of nuclear receptors, the largest family of transcription factors in the human genome, have classically focused on their ability to act as steroid and hormone sensors in endocrine organs. However, they are responsible for a diverse array of physiological functions, including cellular homeostasis and metabolism, during development and aging. Though the eye is not a traditional endocrine organ, recent studies have revealed high expression levels of nuclear receptors in cells throughout the posterior pole. These findings have precipitated an interest in investigating the role of these transcription factors in the eye as a function of age and ocular disease, in particular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As the leading cause of vision impairment in the elderly, identifying signaling pathways that may be targeted for AMD therapy is of great importance, given the lack of therapeutic options for over 85% of patients with this disease. Herein we review this relatively new field and recent findings supporting the hypothesis that the eye is a secondary endocrine organ, in which nuclear receptors serve as the bedrock for biological processes in cells vulnerable in AMD, including retinal pigment epithelial and choroidal endothelial cells, and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting these receptors for AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur Choudhary
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Goldis Malek
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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Landowski M, Grindel S, Hao Y, Ikeda S, Bowes Rickman C, Ikeda A. A Protocol to Evaluate and Quantify Retinal Pigmented Epithelium Pathologies in Mouse Models of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. J Vis Exp 2023:10.3791/64927. [PMID: 36971449 PMCID: PMC10311451 DOI: 10.3791/64927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a debilitating retinal disorder in aging populations. It is widely believed that dysfunction of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) is a key pathobiological event in AMD. To understand the mechanisms that lead to RPE dysfunction, mouse models can be utilized by researchers. It has been established by previous studies that mice can develop RPE pathologies, some of which are observed in the eyes of individuals diagnosed with AMD. Here, we describe a phenotyping protocol to assess RPE pathologies in mice. This protocol includes the preparation and evaluation of retinal cross-sections using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, as well as that of RPE flat mounts by confocal microscopy. We detail the common types of murine RPE pathologies observed by these techniques and ways to quantify them through unbiased methods for statistical testing. As proof of concept, we use this RPE phenotyping protocol to quantify the RPE pathologies observed in mice overexpressing transmembrane protein 135 (Tmem135) and aged wild-type C57BL/6J mice. The main goal of this protocol is to present standard RPE phenotyping methods with unbiased quantitative assessments for scientists using mouse models of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Landowski
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Samuel Grindel
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Ying Hao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University
| | - Sakae Ikeda
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | | | - Akihiro Ikeda
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison;
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7
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Kotajima M, Choi JH, Kondo M, D’Alessandro-Gabazza CN, Toda M, Yasuma T, Gabazza EC, Miwa Y, Shoda C, Lee D, Nakai A, Kurihara T, Wu J, Hirai H, Kawagishi H. Axl, Immune Checkpoint Molecules and HIF Inhibitors from the Culture Broth of Lepista luscina. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27248925. [PMID: 36558053 PMCID: PMC9781456 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27248925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Two compounds 1 and 2 were isolated from the culture broth of Lepista luscina. This is the first time that compound 1 was isolated from a natural source. The structure of compound 1 was identified via 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data. Compounds 1 and 2 along with 8-nitrotryptanthrin (4) were evaluated for their biological activities using the A549 lung cancer cell line. As a result, 1 and 2 inhibited the expression of Axl and immune checkpoint molecules. In addition, compounds 1, 2 and 4 were tested for HIF inhibitory activity. Compound 2 demonstrated statistically significant HIF inhibitory effects on NIH3T3 cells and 1 and 2 against ARPE19 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaya Kotajima
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Jae-Hoon Choi
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- Research Institute for Mushroom Science, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Kondo
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | | | - Masaaki Toda
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Edobashi 2-174, Tsu 524-8507, Japan
| | - Taro Yasuma
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Edobashi 2-174, Tsu 524-8507, Japan
| | - Esteban C. Gabazza
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Edobashi 2-174, Tsu 524-8507, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Miwa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shina-nomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Chiho Shoda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shina-nomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Deokho Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shina-nomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Ayaka Nakai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shina-nomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Toshihide Kurihara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shina-nomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Jing Wu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- Research Institute for Mushroom Science, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Hirai
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- Research Institute for Mushroom Science, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Kawagishi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- Research Institute for Mushroom Science, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- Correspondence:
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RIP140-Mediated NF-κB Inflammatory Pathway Promotes Metabolic Dysregulation in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:5788-5801. [DOI: 10.3390/cimb44110393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysregulation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been implicated in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the molecular regulation of RPE metabolism remains unclear. RIP140 is known to affect oxidative metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis by negatively controlling mitochondrial pathways regulated by PPAR-γ co-activator-1 α(PGC-1α). This study aims to disclose the effect of RIP140 on the RPE metabolic program in vitro and in vivo. RIP140 protein levels were assayed by Western blotting. Gene expression was tested using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), ATP production, and glycogen concentration assays, and the release of inflammatory factors was analyzed by commercial kits. Mice photoreceptor function was measured by electroretinography (ERG). In ARPE-19 cells, RIP140 overexpression changed the expression of the key metabolic genes and lipid processing genes, inhibited mitochondrial ATP production, and enhanced glycogenesis. Moreover, RIP140 overexpression promoted the translocation of NF-κB and increased the expression and production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in ARPE-19 cells. Importantly, we also observed the overexpression of RIP140 through adenovirus delivery in rat retinal cells, which significantly decreased the amplitude of the a-wave and b-wave measured by ERG assay. Therapeutic strategies that modulate the activity of RIP140 could have clinical utility for the treatment of AMD in terms of preventing RPE degeneration.
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Yeo NJY, Wazny V, Nguyen NLU, Ng CY, Wu KX, Fan Q, Cheung CMG, Cheung C. Single-Cell Transcriptome of Wet AMD Patient-Derived Endothelial Cells in Angiogenic Sprouting. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012549. [PMID: 36293401 PMCID: PMC9604336 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a global leading cause of visual impairment in older populations. ‘Wet’ AMD, the most common subtype of this disease, occurs when pathological angiogenesis infiltrates the subretinal space (choroidal neovascularization), causing hemorrhage and retinal damage. Gold standard anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment is an effective therapy, but the long-term prevention of visual decline has not been as successful. This warrants the need to elucidate potential VEGF-independent pathways. We generated blood out-growth endothelial cells (BOECs) from wet AMD and normal control subjects, then induced angiogenic sprouting of BOECs using a fibrin gel bead assay. To deconvolute endothelial heterogeneity, we performed single-cell transcriptomic analysis on the sprouting BOECs, revealing a spectrum of cell states. Our wet AMD BOECs share common pathways with choroidal neovascularization such as extracellular matrix remodeling that promoted proangiogenic phenotype, and our ‘activated’ BOEC subpopulation demonstrated proinflammatory hallmarks, resembling the tip-like cells in vivo. We uncovered new molecular insights that pathological angiogenesis in wet AMD BOECs could also be driven by interleukin signaling and amino acid metabolism. A web-based visualization of the sprouting BOEC single-cell transcriptome has been created to facilitate further discovery research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Jia Ying Yeo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Vanessa Wazny
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Nhi Le Uyen Nguyen
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Chun-Yi Ng
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Kan Xing Wu
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Qiao Fan
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program (Eye ACP), Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Chui Ming Gemmy Cheung
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 169856, Singapore
- Correspondence: (C.M.G.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Christine Cheung
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore 138673, Singapore
- Correspondence: (C.M.G.C.); (C.C.)
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Choudhary M, Tayyari F, Handa JT, Malek G. Characterization and identification of measurable endpoints in a mouse model featuring age-related retinal pathologies: a platform to test therapies. J Transl Med 2022; 102:1132-1142. [PMID: 36775353 PMCID: PMC10041606 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-022-00795-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) is the structural protein of cholesterol carriers including low-density lipoproteins. It is a constituent of sub-retinal pigment epithelial (sub-RPE) deposits and pro-atherogenic plaques, hallmarks of early dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an ocular neurodegenerative blinding disease, and cardiovascular disease, respectively. Herein, we characterized the retinal pathology of transgenic mice expressing mouse apoB100 in order to catalog their functional and morphological ocular phenotypes as a function of age and establish measurable endpoints for their use as a mouse model to test potential therapies. ApoB100 mice were found to exhibit an age-related decline in retinal function, as measured by electroretinogram (ERG) recordings of their scotopic a-wave, scotopic b-wave; and c-wave amplitudes. ApoB100 mice also displayed a buildup of the cholesterol carrier, apolipoprotein E (apoE) within and below the supporting extracellular matrix, Bruch's membrane (BrM), along with BrM thickening, and accumulation of thin diffuse electron-dense sub-RPE deposits, the severity of which increased with age. Moreover, the combination of apoB100 and advanced age were found to be associated with RPE morphological changes and the presence of sub-retinal immune cells as visualized in RPE-choroid flatmounts. Finally, aged apoB100 mice showed higher levels of circulating and ocular pro-inflammatory cytokines, supporting a link between age and increased local and systemic inflammation. Collectively, the data support the use of aged apoB100 mice as a platform to evaluate potential therapies for retinal degeneration, specifically drugs intended to target removal of lipids from Bruch's membrane and/or alleviate ocular inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur Choudhary
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Faryan Tayyari
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - James T Handa
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Goldis Malek
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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11
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Abdelrahman AA, Bunch KL, Sandow PV, Cheng PNM, Caldwell RB, Caldwell RW. Systemic Administration of Pegylated Arginase-1 Attenuates the Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182890. [PMID: 36139465 PMCID: PMC9497170 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious complication of diabetes that results from sustained hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative stress. Under these conditions, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression is upregulated in the macrophages (MΦ) and microglia, resulting in increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to disease progression. Arginase 1 (Arg1) is a ureohydrolase that competes with iNOS for their common substrate, L-arginine. We hypothesized that the administration of a stable form of Arg1 would deplete L-arginine’s availability for iNOS, thus decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress in the retina. Using an obese Type 2 diabetic (T2DM) db/db mouse, this study characterized DR in this model and determined if systemic treatment with pegylated Arg1 (PEG-Arg1) altered the progression of DR. PEG-Arg1 treatment of db/db mice thrice weekly for two weeks improved visual function compared with untreated db/db controls. Retinal expression of inflammatory factors (iNOS, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) was significantly increased in the untreated db/db mice compared with the lean littermate controls. The increased retinal inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in db/db mice were suppressed with PEG-Arg1 treatment. Additionally, PEG-Arg1 treatment restored the blood–retinal barrier (BRB) function, as evidenced by the decreased tissue albumin extravasation and an improved endothelial ZO-1 tight junction integrity compared with untreated db/db mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammar A. Abdelrahman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Katharine L. Bunch
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Porsche V. Sandow
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Paul N-M Cheng
- Bio-Cancer Treatment International, Bioinformatics Building, Hong Kong Science Park, Tai Po, Hong Kong SAR 511513, China
| | - Ruth B. Caldwell
- Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - R. William Caldwell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-706-721-2345
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12
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Fahmideh F, Marchesi N, Campagnoli LIM, Landini L, Caramella C, Barbieri A, Govoni S, Pascale A. Effect of troxerutin in counteracting hyperglycemia-induced VEGF upregulation in endothelial cells: a new option to target early stages of diabetic retinopathy? Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:951833. [PMID: 36046820 PMCID: PMC9420903 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.951833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR), one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus, is characterized by degeneration of retinal neurons and neoangiogenesis. Until today, the pharmacological approaches for DR are limited and focused on counteracting the end-stage of this neurodegenerative disease, therefore efforts should be carried out to discover novel pharmacological targets useful to prevent DR development. Hyperglycemia is a major risk factor for endothelial dysfunction and vascular complication, which subsequently may trigger neurodegeneration. We previously demonstrated that, in the rat retina, hyperglycemia activates a new molecular cascade implicating, up-stream, protein kinase C βII (PKC βII), which in turn leads to a higher expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), via the mRNA-binding Hu-antigen R (HuR) protein. VEGF is a pivotal mediator of neovascularization and a well-known vasopermeability factor. Blocking the increase of VEGF via modulation of this cascade can thus represent a new pharmacological option to prevent DR progression. To this aim, proper in vitro models are crucial for drug discovery, as they allow to better identify promising effective molecules. Considering that endothelial cells are key elements in DR and that hyperglycemia triggers the PKCβII/HuR/VEGF pathway, we set up two distinct in vitro models applying two different stimuli. Namely, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which mimics diacylglycerol whose synthesis is triggered by diabetic hyperglycemia, while human retinal endothelial cells were treated with high glucose for different times. After selecting the optimal experimental conditions able to determine an increased VEGF production, in search of molecules useful to prevent DR development, we investigated the capability of troxerutin, an antioxidant flavonoid, to counteract not only the rise of VEGF but also the activation of the PKCβII/HuR cascade in both in vitro models. The results show the capability of troxerutin to hinder the hyperglycemia-induced increase in VEGF in both models through PKCβII/HuR pathway modulation. Further, these data confirm the key engagement of this cascade as an early event triggered by hyperglycemia to promote VEGF expression. Finally, the present findings also suggest the potential use of troxerutin as a preventive treatment during the early phases of DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Fahmideh
- Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - N. Marchesi
- Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- *Correspondence: N. Marchesi, ; A. Pascale,
| | - L. I. M. Campagnoli
- Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - L. Landini
- Bausch & Lomb—Iom S.p.A, Vimodrone (Milan), Italy
| | - C. Caramella
- Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - A. Barbieri
- Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - S. Govoni
- Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - A. Pascale
- Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- *Correspondence: N. Marchesi, ; A. Pascale,
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Targeting the Complement Cascade for Treatment of Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081884. [PMID: 36009430 PMCID: PMC9405256 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the elderly population. AMD is characterized in its late form by neovascularization (wet type) or geographic atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium cell layer (dry type). Regarding the latter type, there is growing evidence supporting an association between the pathophysiology of dry AMD and key proteins in the complement cascade. The complement cascade works as a central part of the innate immune system by defending against foreign pathogens and modified self-tissues. Through three distinct pathways, a series of plasma and membrane-associated serum proteins are activated upon identification of a foreign entity. Several of these proteins have been implicated in the development and progression of dry AMD. Potential therapeutic targets include C1q, C3, C5, complement factors (B, D, H, I), membrane attack complex, and properdin. In this review, we provide an understanding of the role of the complement system in dry AMD and discuss the emerging therapies in early phase clinical trials. The tentative hope is that these drugs may offer the potential to intervene at earlier stages in dry AMD pathogenesis, thereby preventing progression to late disease.
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14
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Molins B, Mesquida M, Adan A. Bioengineering approaches for modelling retinal pathologies of the outer blood-retinal barrier. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022:101097. [PMID: 35840488 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101097] [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] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Alterations of the junctional complex of the outer blood-retinal barrier (oBRB), which is integrated by the close interaction of the retinal pigment epithelium, the Bruch's membrane, and the choriocapillaris, contribute to the loss of neuronal signalling and subsequent vision impairment in several retinal inflammatory disorders such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Reductionist approaches into the mechanisms that underlie such diseases have been hindered by the absence of adequate in vitro models using human cells to provide the 3D dynamic architecture that enables expression of the in vivo phenotype of the oBRB. Conventional in vitro cell models are based on 2D monolayer cellular cultures, unable to properly recapitulate the complexity of living systems. The main drawbacks of conventional oBRB models also emerge from the cell sourcing, the lack of an appropriate Bruch's membrane analogue, and the lack of choroidal microvasculature with flow. In the last years, the advent of organ-on-a-chip, bioengineering, and stem cell technologies is providing more advanced 3D models with flow, multicellularity, and external control over microenvironmental properties. By incorporating additional biological complexity, organ-on-a-chip devices can mirror physiologically relevant properties of the native tissue while offering additional set ups to model and study disease. In this review we first examine the current understanding of oBRB biology as a functional unit, highlighting the coordinated contribution of the different components to barrier function in health and disease. Then we describe recent advances in the use of pluripotent stem cells-derived retinal cells, Bruch's membrane analogues, and co-culture techniques to recapitulate the oBRB. We finally discuss current advances and challenges of oBRB-on-a-chip technologies for disease modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Molins
- Group of Ocular Inflammation: Clinical and Experimental Studies, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Agustí Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), C/ Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marina Mesquida
- Group of Ocular Inflammation: Clinical and Experimental Studies, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Agustí Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), C/ Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alfredo Adan
- Group of Ocular Inflammation: Clinical and Experimental Studies, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Agustí Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), C/ Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Instituto Clínic de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, C/ Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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15
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Bunch KL, Abdelrahman AA, Caldwell RB, Caldwell RW. Novel Therapeutics for Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema: A Pathophysiologic Perspective. Front Physiol 2022; 13:831616. [PMID: 35250632 PMCID: PMC8894892 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.831616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) are retinal complications of diabetes that can lead to loss of vision and impaired quality of life. The current gold standard therapies for treatment of DR and DME focus on advanced disease, are invasive, expensive, and can trigger adverse side-effects, necessitating the development of more effective, affordable, and accessible therapies that can target early stage disease. The pathogenesis and pathophysiology of DR is complex and multifactorial, involving the interplay between the effects of hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypoxia, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the promotion of neurovascular dysfunction and immune cell polarization to a proinflammatory state. The pathophysiology of DR provides several therapeutic targets that have the potential to attenuate disease progression. Current novel DR and DME therapies under investigation include erythropoietin-derived peptides, inducers of antioxidant gene expression, activators of nitric oxide/cyclic GMP signaling pathways, and manipulation of arginase activity. This review aims to aid understanding of DR and DME pathophysiology and explore novel therapies that capitalize on our knowledge of these diabetic retinal complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine L. Bunch
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Ammar A. Abdelrahman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Ruth B. Caldwell
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - R. William Caldwell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
- *Correspondence: R. William Caldwell,
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16
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Discovering the Potential of Natural Antioxidants in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15010101. [PMID: 35056157 PMCID: PMC8777838 DOI: 10.3390/ph15010101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial disease associated with anatomical changes in the inner retina. Despite tremendous advances in clinical care, there is currently no cure for AMD. This review aims to evaluate the published literature on the therapeutic roles of natural antioxidants in AMD. A literature search of PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed articles published between 1 January 2011 and 31 October 2021 was undertaken. A total of 82 preclinical and 18 clinical studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. We identified active compounds, carotenoids, extracts and polysaccharides, flavonoids, formulations, vitamins and whole foods with potential therapeutic roles in AMD. We evaluated the integral cellular signaling pathways including the activation of antioxidant pathways and angiogenesis pathways orchestrating their mode of action. In conclusion, we examined the therapeutic roles of natural antioxidants in AMD which warrant further study for application in clinical practice. Our current understanding is that natural antioxidants have the potential to improve or halt the progression of AMD, and tailoring therapeutics to the specific disease stages may be the key to preventing irreversible vision loss.
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17
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Sherpa RD, Hui SP. An insight on established retinal injury mechanisms and prevalent retinal stem cell activation pathways in vertebrate models. Animal Model Exp Med 2021; 4:189-203. [PMID: 34557646 PMCID: PMC8446703 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Implementing different tools and injury mechanisms in multiple animal models of retina regeneration, researchers have discovered the existence of retinal stem/progenitor cells. Although they appear to be distributed uniformly across the vertebrate lineage, the reparative potential of the retina is mainly restricted to lower vertebrates. Regenerative repair post-injury requires the creation of a proliferative niche, vital for proper stem cell activation, propagation, and lineage differentiation. This seems to be lacking in mammals. Hence, in this review, we first discuss the many forms of retinal injuries that have been generated using animal models. Next, we discuss how they are utilized to stimulate regeneration and mimic eye disease pathologies. The key to driving stem cell activation in mammals relies on the information we can gather from these models. Lastly, we present a brief update about the genes, growth factors, and signaling pathways that have been brought to light using these models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Subhra Prakash Hui
- S. N. Pradhan Centre for NeurosciencesUniversity of CalcuttaKolkataIndia
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18
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Bao X, Zhang Z, Guo Y, Buser C, Kochounian H, Wu N, Li X, He S, Sun B, Ross-Cisneros FN, Sadun AA, Huang L, Zhao M, Fong HKW. Human RGR Gene and Associated Features of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Models of Retina-Choriocapillaris Atrophy. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2021; 191:1454-1473. [PMID: 34022179 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive eye disease and the most common cause of blindness among the elderly. AMD is characterized by early atrophy of the choriocapillaris and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Although AMD is a multifactorial disease with many environmental and genetic risk factors, a hallmark of the disease is the origination of extracellular deposits, or drusen, between the RPE and Bruch membrane. Human retinal G-protein-coupled receptor (RGR) gene generates an exon-skipping splice variant of RGR-opsin (RGR-d; NP_001012740) that is a persistent component of small and large drusen. Herein, the findings show that abnormal RGR proteins, including RGR-d, are pathogenic in an animal retina with degeneration of the choriocapillaris, RPE, and photoreceptors. A frameshift truncating mutation resulted in severe retinal degeneration with a continuous band of basal deposits along the Bruch membrane. RGR-d produced less severe disease with choriocapillaris and RPE atrophy, including focal accumulation of abnormal RGR-d protein at the basal boundary of the RPE. Degeneration of the choriocapillaris was marked by a decrease in endothelial CD31 protein and choriocapillaris breakdown at the ultrastructural level. Fundus lesions with patchy depigmentation were characteristic of old RGR-d mice. RGR-d was mislocalized in cultured cells and caused a strong cell growth defect. These results uphold the notion of a potential hidden link between AMD and a high-frequency RGR allele.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Bao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California
| | - Zhaoxia Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California; Shanxi Eye Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yanjiang Guo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Nancy Wu
- Norris Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Xiaohua Li
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan, China
| | - Shikun He
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California
| | - Bin Sun
- Shanxi Eye Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | | | - Alfredo A Sadun
- Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California; Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Lvzhen Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mingwei Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Henry K W Fong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California; University of Southern California Roski Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California; Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
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19
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Zhang Q, Presswalla F, Ali RR, Zacks DN, Thompson DA, Miller JML. Pharmacologic activation of autophagy without direct mTOR inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for treating dry macular degeneration. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:10866-10890. [PMID: 33872219 PMCID: PMC8109132 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is marked by the accumulation of extracellular and intracellular lipid-rich deposits within and around the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Inducing autophagy, a conserved, intracellular degradative pathway, is a potential treatment strategy to prevent disease by clearing these deposits. However, mTOR inhibition, the major mechanism for inducing autophagy, disrupts core RPE functions. Here, we screened autophagy inducers that do not directly inhibit mTOR for their potential as an AMD therapeutic in primary human RPE culture. Only two out of more than thirty autophagy inducers tested reliably increased autophagy flux in RPE, emphasizing that autophagy induction mechanistically differs across distinct tissues. In contrast to mTOR inhibitors, these compounds preserved RPE health, and one inducer, the FDA-approved compound flubendazole (FLBZ), reduced the secretion of apolipoprotein that contributes to extracellular deposits termed drusen. Simultaneously, FLBZ increased production of the lipid-degradation product β-hydroxybutyrate, which is used by photoreceptor cells as an energy source. FLBZ also reduced the accumulation of intracellular deposits, termed lipofuscin, and alleviated lipofuscin-induced cellular senescence and tight-junction disruption. FLBZ triggered compaction of lipofuscin-like granules into a potentially less toxic form. Thus, induction of RPE autophagy without direct mTOR inhibition is a promising therapeutic approach for dry AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qitao Zhang
- Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Feriel Presswalla
- Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Robin R. Ali
- Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
- KCL Centre for Cell and Gene Therapy, London, England WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
| | - David N. Zacks
- Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Debra A. Thompson
- Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Jason ML. Miller
- Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
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20
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Zhou HR, Ma XF, Lin WJ, Hao M, Yu XY, Li HX, Xu CY, Kuang HY. Neuroprotective Role of GLP-1 Analog for Retinal Ganglion Cells via PINK1/Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy in Diabetic Retinopathy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:589114. [PMID: 33679385 PMCID: PMC7928389 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.589114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
GLP-1 analogs have been widely used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes in recent years and studies have found that GLP-1 analogs have multiple organ benefits. However, the role of GLP-1 analogs in diabetic retinopathy (DR), a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), remains controversial. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the only afferent neurons responsible for transmitting visual information to the visual center and are vulnerable in the early stage of DR. Protection of RGC is vital for visual function. The incretin glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is secreted by L-cells after food ingestion, could lower blood glucose level through stimulating the release of insulin. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of GLP-1 analog on RGCs both in vitro and in vivo. We established diabetic rat models in vivo and applied an RGC-5 cell line in vitro. The results showed that in high glucose conditions, GLP-1 analog alleviated the damage of RGCs. In addition, GLP-1 analog prevented mitophagy through the PINK1/Parkin pathway. Here we demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of GLP-1 analog, which may be beneficial for retinal function, and we further elucidated a novel mechanism in GLP-1 analog-regulated protection of the retina. These findings may expand the multi-organ benefits of GLP-1 analogs and provide new insights for the prevention of DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Ran Zhou
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xue-Fei Ma
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wen-Jian Lin
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ming Hao
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xin-Yang Yu
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hong-Xue Li
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Cheng-Ye Xu
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hong-Yu Kuang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Hadziahmetovic M, Malek G. Age-Related Macular Degeneration Revisited: From Pathology and Cellular Stress to Potential Therapies. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:612812. [PMID: 33569380 PMCID: PMC7868387 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.612812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a neurodegenerative disease of the aging retina, in which patients experience severe vision loss. Therapies available to patients are limited and are only effective in a sub-population of patients. Future comprehensive clinical care depends on identifying new therapeutic targets and adopting a multi-therapeutic approach. With this goal in mind, this review examines the fundamental concepts underlying the development and progression of AMD and re-evaluates the pathogenic pathways associated with the disease, focusing on the impact of injury at the cellular level, with the understanding that critical assessment of the literature may help pave the way to identifying disease-relevant targets. During this process, we elaborate on responses of AMD vulnerable cells, including photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelial cells, microglia, and choroidal endothelial cells, based on in vitro and in vivo studies, to select stressful agents, and discuss current therapeutic developments in the field, targeting different aspects of AMD pathobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majda Hadziahmetovic
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Goldis Malek
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States.,Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
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22
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Ibuki M, Lee D, Shinojima A, Miwa Y, Tsubota K, Kurihara T. Rice Bran and Vitamin B6 Suppress Pathological Neovascularization in a Murine Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration as Novel HIF Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21238940. [PMID: 33255657 PMCID: PMC7728083 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological neovascularization in the eye is a leading cause of blindness in all age groups from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in children to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the elderly. Inhibiting neovascularization via antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs has been used for the effective treatment. However, anti-VEGF therapies may cause development of chorioretinal atrophy as they affect a physiological amount of VEGF essential for retinal homeostasis. Furthermore, anti-VEGF therapies are still ineffective in some cases, especially in patients with AMD. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a strong regulator of VEGF induction under hypoxic and other stress conditions. Our previous reports have indicated that HIF is associated with pathological retinal neovascularization in murine models of ROP and AMD, and HIF inhibition suppresses neovascularization by reducing an abnormal increase in VEGF expression. Along with this, we attempted to find novel effective HIF inhibitors from natural foods of our daily lives. Food ingredients were screened for prospective HIF inhibitors in ocular cell lines of 661W and ARPE-19, and a murine AMD model was utilized for examining suppressive effects of the ingredients on retinal neovascularization. As a result, rice bran and its component, vitamin B6 showed inhibitory effects on HIF activation and suppressed VEGF mRNA induction under a CoCl2-induced pseudo-hypoxic condition. Dietary supplement of these significantly suppressed retinal neovascularization in the AMD model. These data suggest that rice bran could have promising therapeutic values in the management of pathological ocular neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Ibuki
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (M.I.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (Y.M.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Deokho Lee
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (M.I.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (Y.M.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Ari Shinojima
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (M.I.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (Y.M.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Miwa
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (M.I.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (Y.M.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Animal Eye Care•Tokyo Animal Eye Clinic, Tokyo 158-0093, Japan
| | - Kazuo Tsubota
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Tsubota Laboratory, Inc., Tokyo 160-0016, Japan
- Correspondence: (K.T.); (T.K.); Tel.: +81-3-5636-3269 (K.T.); +81-3-5636-3204 (T.K.)
| | - Toshihide Kurihara
- Laboratory of Photobiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (M.I.); (D.L.); (A.S.); (Y.M.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Correspondence: (K.T.); (T.K.); Tel.: +81-3-5636-3269 (K.T.); +81-3-5636-3204 (T.K.)
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23
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Eyob W, George AK, Homme RP, Stanisic D, Sandhu H, Tyagi SC, Singh M. Regulation of the parental gene GRM4 by circGrm4 RNA transcript and glutamate-mediated neurovascular toxicity in eyes. Mol Cell Biochem 2020; 476:663-673. [PMID: 33074445 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-020-03934-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic memory plays crucial roles in gene regulation. It not only modulates the expression of specific genes but also has ripple effects on transcription as well as translation of other genes. Very often an alteration in expression occurs either via methylation or demethylation. In this context, "1-carbon metabolism" assumes a special significance since its dysregulation by higher levels of homocysteine; Hcy (known as hyperhomocysteinemia; HHcy), a byproduct of "1-Carbon Metabolism" during methionine biosynthesis leads to serious implications in cardiovascular, renal, cerebrovascular systems, and a host of other conditions. Currently, the circular RNAs (circRNAs) generated via non-canonical back-splicing events from the pre-mRNA molecules are at the center stage for their essential roles in diseases via their epigenetic manifestations. We recently identified a circular RNA transcript (circGRM4) that is significantly upregulated in the eye of cystathionine β-synthase-deficient mice. We also discovered a concurrent over-expression of the mGLUR4 receptor in the eyes of these mice. In brief, circGRM4 is selectively transcribed from its parental mGLUR4 receptor gene (GRM4) functions as a "molecular-sponge" for the miRNAs and results into excessive turnover of the mGLUR4 receptor in the eye in response to extremely high circulating glutamate concentration. We opine that this epigenetic manifestation potentially predisposes HHcy people to retinovascular malfunctioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wintana Eyob
- College of Arts and Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Akash K George
- Eye and Vision Science Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Rubens P Homme
- Eye and Vision Science Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Dragana Stanisic
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Harpal Sandhu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Suresh C Tyagi
- Department of Physiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Mahavir Singh
- Eye and Vision Science Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
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24
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A Fairy Chemical Suppresses Retinal Angiogenesis as a HIF Inhibitor. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10101405. [PMID: 33020402 PMCID: PMC7599576 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neovascular retinal degeneration is a leading cause of blindness in advanced countries. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs have been used for neovascular retinal diseases; however, anti-VEGF drugs may cause the development of chorioretinal atrophy in chronic therapy as they affect the physiological amount of VEGF needed for retinal homeostasis. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a transcription factor inducing VEGF expression under hypoxic and other stress conditions. Previously, we demonstrated that HIF was involved with pathological retinal angiogenesis in murine models of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), and pharmacological HIF inhibition prevented retinal neovascularization by reducing an ectopic amount of VEGF. Along with this, we attempted to find novel effective HIF inhibitors. Compounds originally isolated from mushroom-forming fungi were screened for prospective HIF inhibitors utilizing cell lines of 3T3, ARPE-19 and 661W. A murine OIR model was used to examine the anti-angiogenic effects of the compounds. As a result, 2-azahypoxanthine (AHX) showed an inhibitory effect on HIF activation and suppressed Vegf mRNA upregulation under CoCl2-induced pseudo-hypoxic conditions. Oral administration of AHX significantly suppressed retinal neovascular tufts in the OIR model. These data suggest that AHX could be a promising anti-angiogenic agent in retinal neovascularization by inhibiting HIF activation.
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25
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Choudhary M, Malek G. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor: A Mediator and Potential Therapeutic Target for Ocular and Non-Ocular Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186777. [PMID: 32947781 PMCID: PMC7555571 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, which senses environmental, dietary or metabolic signals to mount a transcriptional response, vital in health and disease. As environmental stimuli and metabolic products have been shown to impact the central nervous system (CNS), a burgeoning area of research has been on the role of the AHR in ocular and non-ocular neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we summarize our current knowledge, of AHR-controlled cellular processes and their impact on regulating pathobiology of select ocular and neurodegenerative diseases. We catalogue animal models generated to study the role of the AHR in tissue homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. Finally, we discuss the potential of targeting the AHR pathway as a therapeutic strategy, in the context of the maladies of the eye and brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur Choudhary
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, 2351 Erwin Road, P.O. Box 3802, Durham, NC 27705, USA
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (G.M.)
| | - Goldis Malek
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, 2351 Erwin Road, P.O. Box 3802, Durham, NC 27705, USA
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27705, USA
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (G.M.)
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26
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Yao PL, Peavey J, Malek G. Leveraging Nuclear Receptors as Targets for Pathological Ocular Vascular Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082889. [PMID: 32326149 PMCID: PMC7215709 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vasculogenesis and angiogenesis are physiological mechanisms occurring throughout the body. Any disruption to the precise balance of blood vessel growth necessary to support healthy tissue, and the inhibition of abnormal vessel sprouting has the potential to negatively impact stages of development and/or healing. Therefore, the identification of key regulators of these vascular processes is critical to identifying therapeutic means by which to target vascular-associated compromises and complications. Nuclear receptors are a family of transcription factors that have been shown to be involved in modulating different aspects of vascular biology in many tissues systems. Most recently, the role of nuclear receptors in ocular biology and vasculopathies has garnered interest. Herein, we review studies that have used in vitro assays and in vivo models to investigate nuclear receptor-driven pathways in two ocular vascular diseases associated with blindness, wet or exudative age-related macular degeneration, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The potential therapeutic targeting of nuclear receptors for ocular diseases is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Li Yao
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27503, USA; (P.-L.Y.); (J.P.)
| | - Jeremy Peavey
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27503, USA; (P.-L.Y.); (J.P.)
| | - Goldis Malek
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27503, USA; (P.-L.Y.); (J.P.)
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27503, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +919-684-0820
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27
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Furman BL, Candasamy M, Bhattamisra SK, Veettil SK. Reduction of blood glucose by plant extracts and their use in the treatment of diabetes mellitus; discrepancies in effectiveness between animal and human studies. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2020; 247:112264. [PMID: 31600561 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The global problem of diabetes, together with the limited access of large numbers of patients to conventional antidiabetic medicines, continues to drive the search for new agents. Ancient Asian systems such as traditional Chinese medicine, Japanese Kampo medicine, and Indian Ayurvedic medicine, as well as African traditional medicine and many others have identified numerous plants reported anecdotally to treat diabetes; there are probably more than 800 such plants for which there is scientific evidence for their activity, mostly from studies using various models of diabetes in experimental animals. AIM OF THE REVIEW Rather than a comprehensive coverage of the literature, this article aims to identify discrepancies between findings in animal and human studies, and to highlight some of the problems in developing plant extract-based medicines that lower blood glucose in patients with diabetes, as well as to suggest potential ways forward. METHODS In addition to searching the 2018 PubMed literature using the terms 'extract AND blood glucose, a search of the whole literature was conducted using the terms 'plant extracts' AND 'blood glucose' AND 'diabetes' AND 'double blind' with 'clinical trials' as a filter. A third search using PubMed and Medline was undertaken for systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the effects of plant extracts on blood glucose/glycosylated haemoglobin in patients with relevant metabolic pathologies. FINDINGS Despite numerous animal studies demonstrating the effects of plant extracts on blood glucose, few randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have been conducted to confirm efficacy in treating humans with diabetes; there have been only a small number of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of clinical studies. Qualitative and quantitative discrepancies between animal and human clinical studies in some cases were marked; the factors contributing to this included variations in the products among different studies, the doses used, differences between animal models and the human disease, and the impact of concomitant therapy in patients, as well as differences in the duration of treatment, and the fact that treatment in animals may begin before or very soon after the induction of diabetes. CONCLUSION The potential afforded by natural products has not yet been realised in the context of treating diabetes mellitus. A systematic, coordinated, international effort is required to achieve the goal of providing anti-diabetic treatments derived from medicinal plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian L Furman
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, 161, Cathedral Street Glasgow, G4 ORE, Scotland, UK.
| | - Mayuren Candasamy
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Subrat Kumar Bhattamisra
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Sajesh K Veettil
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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28
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Oliveira AV, Sarmento B. Establishment of a multilayered 3D cellular model of the retinal-blood barrier. Int J Pharm 2019; 572:118811. [PMID: 31678524 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.118811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Retinal disorders are leading causes of blindness. Still, treatment strategies are limited and the challenging anatomical barriers of the eye limit the evaluation and development of new therapeutics. Among these layers of barriers is the blood-retinal barrier, which separates the retina from the choroid by the Bruch's membrane. This work aimed to establish a 3D cellular model that recapitulates barrier properties of the BRB and diffusion through the vitreous, the main barriers encountered upon intravitreal injection. Several parameters were evaluated namely co-culture time of ARPE-19 and HUVECs and different biomaterial compositions of hydrogels to better mimic the human vitreous. The developed vitreous mimic has viscoelastic properties similar to human vitreous. Co-culture of human retinal and endothelial cells showed increased transepithelial resistance with longer co-culture times concomitant with reduced permeability to FITC-dextran 40 kDa. The proposed models lay the foundation of a platform for faster assessment of a large number of samples and without the use of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana V Oliveira
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sarmento
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; CESPU, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde & Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, Rua Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal.
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29
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Yeo NJY, Chan EJJ, Cheung C. Choroidal Neovascularization: Mechanisms of Endothelial Dysfunction. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:1363. [PMID: 31849644 PMCID: PMC6895252 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Many conditions affecting the heart, brain, and even the eyes have their origins in blood vessel pathology, underscoring the role of vascular regulation. In age-related macular degeneration (AMD), there is excessive growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye (choroidal neovascularization), eventually leading to vision loss due to detachment of retinal pigmented epithelium. As the advanced stage of this disease involves loss of retinal pigmented epithelium, much less attention has been given to early vascular events such as endothelial dysfunction. Although current gold standard therapy using inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have achieved initial successes, some drawbacks include the lack of long-term restoration of visual acuity, as well as a subset of the patients being refractory to existing treatment, alluding us and others to hypothesize upon VEGF-independent mechanisms. Against this backdrop, we present here a nonexhaustive review on the vascular underpinnings of AMD, implications with genetic and systemic factors, experimental models for studying choroidal neovascularization, and interestingly, on both endothelial-centric pathways and noncell autonomous mechanisms. We hope to shed light on future research directions in improving vascular function in ocular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Jia Ying Yeo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ebenezer Jia Jun Chan
- Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Christine Cheung
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
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30
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Role of Mitochondrial DNA Damage in ROS-Mediated Pathogenesis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20102374. [PMID: 31091656 PMCID: PMC6566654 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20102374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex eye disease that affects millions of people worldwide and is the main reason for legal blindness and vision loss in the elderly in developed countries. Although the cause of AMD pathogenesis is not known, oxidative stress-related damage to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is considered an early event in AMD induction. However, the precise cause of such damage and of the induction of oxidative stress, including related oxidative effects occurring in RPE and the onset and progression of AMD, are not well understood. Many results point to mitochondria as a source of elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in AMD. This ROS increase can be associated with aging and effects induced by other AMD risk factors and is correlated with damage to mitochondrial DNA. Therefore, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage can be an essential element of AMD pathogenesis. This is supported by many studies that show a greater susceptibility of mtDNA than nuclear DNA to DNA-damaging agents in AMD. Therefore, the mitochondrial DNA damage reaction (mtDDR) is important in AMD prevention and in slowing down its progression as is ROS-targeting AMD therapy. However, we know far less about mtDNA than its nuclear counterparts. Further research should measure DNA damage in order to compare it in mitochondria and the nucleus, as current methods have serious disadvantages.
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31
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Nawaz IM, Rezzola S, Cancarini A, Russo A, Costagliola C, Semeraro F, Presta M. Human vitreous in proliferative diabetic retinopathy: Characterization and translational implications. Prog Retin Eye Res 2019; 72:100756. [PMID: 30951889 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the working-age population. DR is a progressive eye disease caused by long-term accumulation of hyperglycaemia-mediated pathological alterations in the retina of diabetic patients. DR begins with asymptomatic retinal abnormalities and may progress to advanced-stage proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), characterized by neovascularization or preretinal/vitreous haemorrhages. The vitreous, a transparent gel that fills the posterior cavity of the eye, plays a vital role in maintaining ocular function. Structural and molecular alterations of the vitreous, observed during DR progression, are consequences of metabolic and functional modifications of the retinal tissue. Thus, vitreal alterations reflect the pathological events occurring at the vitreoretinal interface. These events are caused by hypoxic, oxidative, inflammatory, neurodegenerative, and leukostatic conditions that occur during diabetes. Conversely, PDR vitreous can exert pathological effects on the diabetic retina, resulting in activation of a vicious cycle that contributes to disease progression. In this review, we recapitulate the major pathological features of DR/PDR, and focus on the structural and molecular changes that characterize the vitreal structure and composition during DR and progression to PDR. In PDR, vitreous represents a reservoir of pathological signalling molecules. Therefore, in this review we discuss how studying the biological activity of the vitreous in different in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experimental models can provide insights into the pathogenesis of PDR. In addition, the vitreous from PDR patients can represent a novel tool to obtain preclinical experimental evidences for the development and characterization of new therapeutic drug candidates for PDR therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imtiaz M Nawaz
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Rezzola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Anna Cancarini
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Russo
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Ciro Costagliola
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | | | - Marco Presta
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy.
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32
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Shah M, Cabrera-Ghayouri S, Christie LA, Held KS, Viswanath V. Translational Preclinical Pharmacologic Disease Models for Ophthalmic Drug Development. Pharm Res 2019; 36:58. [PMID: 30805711 PMCID: PMC6394514 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-019-2588-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical models of human diseases are critical to our understanding of disease etiology, pathology, and progression and enable the development of effective treatments. An ideal model of human disease should capture anatomical features and pathophysiological mechanisms, mimic the progression pattern, and should be amenable to evaluating translational endpoints and treatment approaches. Preclinical animal models have been developed for a variety of human ophthalmological diseases to mirror disease mechanisms, location of the affected region in the eye and severity. These models offer clues to aid in our fundamental understanding of disease pathogenesis and enable progression of new therapies to clinical development by providing an opportunity to gain proof of concept (POC). Here, we review preclinical animal models associated with development of new therapies for diseases of the ocular surface, glaucoma, presbyopia, and retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We have focused on summarizing the models critical to new drug development and described the translational features of the models that contributed to our understanding of disease pathogenesis and establishment of preclinical POC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihir Shah
- Biological Research, Allergan plc, 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, California, 92612, USA
| | - Sara Cabrera-Ghayouri
- Biological Research, Allergan plc, 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, California, 92612, USA
| | - Lori-Ann Christie
- Biological Research, Allergan plc, 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, California, 92612, USA
| | - Katherine S Held
- Biological Research, Allergan plc, 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, California, 92612, USA
| | - Veena Viswanath
- Biological Research, Allergan plc, 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, California, 92612, USA.
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