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Pan D, Zhang X, Jin K, Jin ZB. CRX haploinsufficiency compromises photoreceptor precursor translocation and differentiation in human retinal organoids. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:346. [PMID: 38049871 PMCID: PMC10696917 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03590-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The CRX-associated autosomal dominant retinopathies suggest a possible pathogenic mechanism of gene haploinsufficiency. However, based on reported human patient cases and studies with mouse models, it is hard to confirm the specific weight of haploinsufficiency in pathogenesis due to the interspecies gaps between gene expression and function. METHODS We created monoallelic CRX by replacing one allele with tdTomato in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and subsequently dissect pathogenesis in hESCs-derived retinal organoids. We used transcriptome and immunofluorescence analyses to dissect phenotypic differences between CRX-monoallelic knockout and control wildtype organoids. For location analysis of CRX+ cells, a CRX-expression-tracing system was constructed in control hESCs. We implemented long-term live-cell imaging to describe the translocation of CRX+ cells between two groups in early organoid differentiation. The expression pattern of these dynamic differences was validated using RNA-seq and immunofluorescence assays. RESULTS We identified delayed differentiation of outer nuclear layer (ONL) stratification along with thinner ONL, serious loss of photoreceptor outer segments, as well as downregulated expression of gene for phototransduction and inner/outer segment formation. By live-cell imaging and immunostaining, we observed the overtension of actomyosin network and the arrested translocation of monoallelic CRX+ cells in the early stage of retinal differentiation. CONCLUSIONS We confirmed that gene haploinsufficiency is the mechanism for the dominant pathogenicity of CRX and discovered that CRX regulated postmitotic photoreceptor precursor translocation in addition to its specification of photoreceptor cell fates during human retinal development. These findings revealed a new underlying mechanism of CRX dominant pathogenesis and provided a new clue for the treatment of CRX-associated human retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng Pan
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Kangxin Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
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Liang X, Brooks MJ, Swaroop A. Developmental genome-wide occupancy analysis of bZIP transcription factor NRL uncovers the role of c-Jun in early differentiation of rod photoreceptors in the mammalian retina. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:3914-3933. [PMID: 35776116 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The basic motif-leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor NRL determines rod photoreceptor cell fate during retinal development, and its loss leads to cone-only retina in mice. NRL works synergistically with homeodomain protein CRX and other regulatory factors to control the transcription of most genes associated with rod morphogenesis and functional maturation, which span over a period of several weeks in the mammalian retina. We predicted that NRL gradually establishes rod cell identity and function by temporal and dynamic regulation of stage-specific transcriptional targets. Therefore, we mapped the genomic occupancy of NRL at four stages of mouse photoreceptor differentiation by CUT&RUN analysis. Dynamics of NRL-binding revealed concordance with the corresponding changes in transcriptome of the developing rods. Notably, we identified c-Jun proto-oncogene as one of the targets of NRL, which could bind to specific cis-elements in the c-Jun promoter and modulate its activity in HEK293 cells. Coimmunoprecipitation studies showed association of NRL with c-Jun, also a bZIP protein, in transfected cells as well as in developing mouse retina. Additionally, shRNA-mediated knockdown of c-Jun in the mouse retina in vivo resulted in altered expression of almost 1000 genes, with reduced expression of phototransduction genes and many direct targets of NRL in rod photoreceptors. We propose that c-Jun-NRL heterodimers prime the NRL-directed transcriptional program in neonatal rod photoreceptors before high NRL expression suppresses c-Jun at later stages. Our study highlights a broader cooperation among cell-type restricted and widely expressed bZIP proteins, such as c-Jun, in specific spatiotemporal contexts during cellular differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xulong Liang
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Drive, MSC0610, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Matthew J Brooks
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Drive, MSC0610, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6 Center Drive, MSC0610, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Guan Y, Wang Y, Zheng D, Xie B, Xu P, Gao G, Zhong X. Generation of an RCVRN-eGFP Reporter hiPSC Line by CRISPR/Cas9 to Monitor Photoreceptor Cell Development and Facilitate the Cell Enrichment for Transplantation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:870441. [PMID: 35573687 PMCID: PMC9096726 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.870441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell-based cell therapies are considered to be promising treatments for retinal disorders with dysfunction or death of photoreceptors. However, the enrichment of human photoreceptors suitable for transplantation has been highly challenging so far. This study aimed to generate a photoreceptor-specific reporter human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) line using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, which harbored an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) sequence at the endogenous locus of the pan photoreceptor marker recoverin (RCVRN). After confirmation of successful targeting and gene stability, three-dimensional retinal organoids were induced from this reporter line. The RCVRN-eGFP reporter faithfully replicated endogenous protein expression of recoverin and revealed the developmental characteristics of photoreceptors during retinal differentiation. The RCVRN-eGFP specifically and steadily labeled photoreceptor cells from photoreceptor precursors to mature rods and cones. Additionally, abundant eGFP-positive photoreceptors were enriched by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and their transcriptome signatures were revealed by RNA sequencing and data analysis. Moreover, potential clusters of differentiation (CD) biomarkers were extracted for the enrichment of photoreceptors for clinical applications, such as CD133 for the positive selection of photoreceptors. Altogether, the RCVRN-eGFP reporter hiPSC line was successfully established and the first global expression database of recoverin-positive photoreceptors was constructed. These achievements will provide a powerful tool for dynamically monitoring photoreceptor cell development and purification of human photoreceptors, thus facilitating photoreceptor cell therapy for advanced retinal disorders.
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Gage E, Agarwal D, Chenault C, Washington-Brown K, Szvetecz S, Jahan N, Wang Z, Jones MK, Zack DJ, Enke RA, Wahlin KJ. Temporal and Isoform-Specific Expression of CTBP2 Is Evolutionarily Conserved Between the Developing Chick and Human Retina. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:773356. [PMID: 35095414 PMCID: PMC8793361 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.773356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Complex transcriptional gene regulation allows for multifaceted isoform production during retinogenesis, and novel isoforms transcribed from a single locus can have unlimited potential to code for diverse proteins with different functions. In this study, we explored the CTBP2/RIBEYE gene locus and its unique repertoire of transcripts that are conserved among vertebrates. We studied the transcriptional coregulator (CTBP2) and ribbon synapse-specific structural protein (RIBEYE) in the chicken retina by performing comprehensive histochemical and sequencing analyses to pinpoint cell and developmental stage-specific expression of CTBP2/RIBEYE in the developing chicken retina. We demonstrated that CTBP2 is widely expressed in retinal progenitors beginning in early retinogenesis but becomes limited to GABAergic amacrine cells in the mature retina. Inversely, RIBEYE is initially epigenetically silenced in progenitors and later expressed in photoreceptor and bipolar cells where they localize to ribbon synapses. Finally, we compared CTBP2/RIBEYE regulation in the developing human retina using a pluripotent stem cell derived retinal organoid culture system. These analyses demonstrate that similar regulation of the CTBP2/RIBEYE locus during chick and human retinal development is regulated by different members of the K50 homeodomain transcription factor family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Gage
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, United States
| | - Devansh Agarwal
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Calvin Chenault
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, United States
| | | | - Sarah Szvetecz
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, United States
| | - Nusrat Jahan
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, United States
- The Center for Genome & Metagenome Studies, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, United States
| | - Zixiao Wang
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Melissa K. Jones
- Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Donald J. Zack
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ray A. Enke
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, United States
- The Center for Genome & Metagenome Studies, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, United States
| | - Karl J. Wahlin
- Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Chirco KR, Chew S, Moore AT, Duncan JL, Lamba DA. Allele-specific gene editing to rescue dominant CRX-associated LCA7 phenotypes in a retinal organoid model. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2690-2702. [PMID: 34653402 PMCID: PMC8580887 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cases of Leber congenital amaurosis caused by mutations in CRX (LCA7) exhibit an early form of the disease and show signs of significant photoreceptor dysfunction and eventual loss. To establish a translational in vitro model system to study gene-editing-based therapies, we generated LCA7 retinal organoids harboring a dominant disease-causing mutation in CRX. Our LCA7 retinal organoids develop signs of immature and dysfunctional photoreceptor cells, providing us with a reliable in vitro model to recapitulate LCA7. Furthermore, we performed a proof-of-concept study in which we utilize allele-specific CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing to knock out mutant CRX and saw moderate rescue of photoreceptor phenotypes in our organoids. This work provides early evidence for an effective approach to treat LCA7, which can be applied more broadly to other dominant genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen R Chirco
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Divison of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA; Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Shereen Chew
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anthony T Moore
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jacque L Duncan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Deepak A Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Features of Retinal Neurogenesis as a Key Factor of Age-Related Neurodegeneration: Myth or Reality? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147373. [PMID: 34298993 PMCID: PMC8303671 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that constitutes the most common cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly in the developed countries. Incomplete knowledge about its pathogenesis prevents the search for effective methods of prevention and treatment of AMD, primarily of its "dry" type which is by far the most common (90% of all AMD cases). In the recent years, AMD has become "younger": late stages of the disease are now detected in relatively young people. It is known that AMD pathogenesis-according to the age-related structural and functional changes in the retina-is linked with inflammation, hypoxia, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and an impairment of neurotrophic support, but the mechanisms that trigger the conversion of normal age-related changes to the pathological process as well as the reason for early AMD development remain unclear. In the adult mammalian retina, de novo neurogenesis is very limited. Therefore, the structural and functional features that arise during its maturation and formation can exert long-term effects on further ontogenesis of this tissue. The aim of this review was to discuss possible contributions of the changes/disturbances in retinal neurogenesis to the early development of AMD.
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Jiang K, Fairless E, Kanda A, Gotoh N, Cogliati T, Li T, Swaroop A. Divergent Effects of HSP70 Overexpression in Photoreceptors During Inherited Retinal Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:25. [PMID: 33107904 PMCID: PMC7594617 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.12.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Disruption of proteostasis is a key event in many neurodegenerative diseases. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) participate in multiple functions associated with intracellular transport and proteostasis. We evaluated the effect of augmented HSP70 expression in mutant photoreceptors of mouse retinal degeneration models to test the hypothesis that failure to sustain HSP70 expression contributes to photoreceptor cell death. Methods We examined HSP70 expression in retinas of wild-type and mutant mice by RNA and protein analysis. A transgenic mouse line, TgCrx-Hspa1a-Flag, was generated to express FLAG-tagged full-length HSP70 protein under control of a 2.3 kb mouse Crx promoter. This line was crossed to three distinct retinal degeneration mouse models. Retinal structure and function were evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry, and electroretinography. Results In seven different mouse models of retinal degeneration, we detected transient elevation of endogenous HSP70 expression at early stages, followed by a dramatic reduction as cell death ensues, suggesting an initial adaptive response to cellular stress. Augmented expression of HSP70 in RHOT17M mice, in which mutant rhodopsin is misfolded, marginally improved photoreceptor survival, whereas elevated HSP70 led to more severe retinal degeneration in rd10 mutants that produce a partially functional PDE6B. In Rpgrip1−/− mice that display a ciliary defect, higher HSP70 had no impact on photoreceptor survival or function. Conclusions HSP70 overexpression has divergent effects in photoreceptors determined, at least in part, by the nature of the mutant protein each model carries. Additional investigations on HSP pathways and associated chaperone networks in photoreceptors are needed before designing therapeutic strategies targeting proteostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Jiang
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory (NNRL), National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Elizabeth Fairless
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory (NNRL), National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Atsuhiro Kanda
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory (NNRL), National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Norimoto Gotoh
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory (NNRL), National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Tiziana Cogliati
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory (NNRL), National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Tiansen Li
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory (NNRL), National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, and Repair Laboratory (NNRL), National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
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Ding RF, Yu Q, Liu K, Du J, Yin HJ, Ji ZL. Gene network analyses unveil possible molecular basis underlying drug-induced glaucoma. BMC Med Genomics 2021; 14:109. [PMID: 33874942 PMCID: PMC8056654 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-021-00960-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Drug-induced glaucoma (DIG) is a kind of serious adverse drug reaction that can cause irreversible blindness. Up-to-date, the molecular mechanism of DIG largely remains unclear yet due to the medical complexity of glaucoma onset. Methods In this study, we conducted data mining of tremendous historical adverse drug events and genome-wide drug-regulated gene signatures to identify glaucoma-associated drugs. Upon these drugs, we carried out serial network analyses, including the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), to illustrate the gene interaction network underlying DIG. Furthermore, we applied pathogenic risk assessment to discover potential biomarker genes for DIG. Results As the results, we discovered 13 highly glaucoma-associated drugs, a glaucoma-related gene network, and 55 glaucoma-susceptible genes. These genes likely played central roles in triggering DIGs via an integrative mechanism of phototransduction dysfunction, intracellular calcium homeostasis disruption, and retinal ganglion cell death. Further pathogenic risk analysis manifested that a panel of nine genes, particularly OTOF gene, could serve as potential biomarkers for early-onset DIG prognosis. Conclusions This study elucidates the possible molecular basis underlying DIGs systematically for the first time. It also provides prognosis clues for early-onset glaucoma and thus assists in designing better therapeutic regimens. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-021-00960-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo-Fan Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Stress Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Stress Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stress Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Du
- State Key Laboratory of Stress Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Hua-Jun Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Stress Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Liang Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Stress Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
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Kruczek K, Qu Z, Gentry J, Fadl BR, Gieser L, Hiriyanna S, Batz Z, Samant M, Samanta A, Chu CJ, Campello L, Brooks BP, Wu Z, Swaroop A. Gene Therapy of Dominant CRX-Leber Congenital Amaurosis using Patient Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Organoids. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:252-263. [PMID: 33513359 PMCID: PMC7878833 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the photoreceptor transcription factor gene cone-rod homeobox (CRX) lead to distinct retinopathy phenotypes, including early-onset vision impairment in dominant Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient with CRX-I138fs48 mutation, we established an in vitro model of CRX-LCA in retinal organoids that showed defective photoreceptor maturation by histology and gene profiling, with diminished expression of visual opsins. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated CRX gene augmentation therapy partially restored photoreceptor phenotype and expression of phototransduction-related genes as determined by single-cell RNA-sequencing. Retinal organoids derived from iPSCs of a second dominant CRX-LCA patient carrying K88N mutation revealed the loss of opsin expression as a common phenotype, which was alleviated by AAV-mediated augmentation of CRX. Our studies provide a proof-of-concept for developing gene therapy of dominant CRX-LCA and other CRX retinopathies. Leber congenital amaurosis caused by CRX mutations is modeled in retinal organoids Patient iPSCs-derived organoids show impaired expression of visual opsins AAV-mediated CRX delivery partially restores expression of phototransduction genes Gene therapy is applicable to mutations in DNA-binding and transactivation domains
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Kruczek
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zepeng Qu
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - James Gentry
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Benjamin R Fadl
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Linn Gieser
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Suja Hiriyanna
- Ocular Gene Therapy Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zachary Batz
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mugdha Samant
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ananya Samanta
- Ocular Gene Therapy Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Colin J Chu
- Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Laura Campello
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brian P Brooks
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zhijian Wu
- Ocular Gene Therapy Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, MSC0610, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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10
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Campla CK, Mast H, Dong L, Lei J, Halford S, Sekaran S, Swaroop A. Targeted deletion of an NRL- and CRX-regulated alternative promoter specifically silences FERM and PDZ domain containing 1 (Frmpd1) in rod photoreceptors. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:804-817. [PMID: 30445545 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulation of cell type-specific gene expression is critical for generating neuronal diversity. Transcriptome analyses have unraveled extensive heterogeneity of transcribed sequences in retinal photoreceptors because of alternate splicing and/or promoter usage. Here we show that Frmpd1 (FERM and PDZ domain containing 1) is transcribed from an alternative promoter specifically in the retina. Electroporation of Frmpd1 promoter region, -505 to +382 bp, activated reporter gene expression in mouse retina in vivo. A proximal promoter sequence (-8 to +33 bp) of Frmpd1 binds to neural retina leucine zipper (NRL) and cone-rod homeobox protein (CRX), two rod-specific differentiation factors, and is necessary for activating reporter gene expression in vitro and in vivo. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9-mediated deletion of the genomic region, including NRL and CRX binding sites, in vivo completely eliminated Frmpd1 expression in rods and dramatically reduced expression in rod bipolar cells, thereby overcoming embryonic lethality caused by germline Frmpd1 deletion. Our studies demonstrate that a cell type-specific regulatory control region is a credible target for creating loss-of-function alleles of widely expressed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christie K Campla
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Hannah Mast
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lijin Dong
- Genetic Engineering Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jingqi Lei
- Genetic Engineering Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stephanie Halford
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Sumathi Sekaran
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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11
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Markitantova Y, Simirskii V. Inherited Eye Diseases with Retinal Manifestations through the Eyes of Homeobox Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1602. [PMID: 32111086 PMCID: PMC7084737 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051602] [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: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal development is under the coordinated control of overlapping networks of signaling pathways and transcription factors. The paper was conceived as a review of the data and ideas that have been formed to date on homeobox genes mutations that lead to the disruption of eye organogenesis and result in inherited eye/retinal diseases. Many of these diseases are part of the same clinical spectrum and have high genetic heterogeneity with already identified associated genes. We summarize the known key regulators of eye development, with a focus on the homeobox genes associated with monogenic eye diseases showing retinal manifestations. Recent advances in the field of genetics and high-throughput next-generation sequencing technologies, including single-cell transcriptome analysis have allowed for deepening of knowledge of the genetic basis of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), as well as improve their diagnostics. We highlight some promising avenues of research involving molecular-genetic and cell-technology approaches that can be effective for IRDs therapy. The most promising neuroprotective strategies are aimed at mobilizing the endogenous cellular reserve of the retina.
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Zhao Q, Zhang R, Xiao Y, Niu Y, Shao F, Li Y, Peng Z. Comparative Transcriptome Profiling of the Loaches Triplophysa bleekeri and Triplophysa rosa Reveals Potential Mechanisms of Eye Degeneration. Front Genet 2020; 10:1334. [PMID: 32010191 PMCID: PMC6977438 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Eye degeneration is one of the most obvious characteristics of organisms restricted to subterranean habitats. In cavefish, eye degeneration has evolved independently numerous times and each process is associated with different genetic mechanisms. To gain a better understanding of these mechanisms, we compared the eyes of adult individuals of the cave loach Triplophysa rosa and surface loach Triplophysa bleekeri. Compared with the normal eyes of the surface loach, those of the cave loach were found to possess a small abnormal lens and a defective retina containing photoreceptor cells that lack outer segments. Sequencing of the transcriptomes of both species to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and genes under positive selection revealed 4,802 DEGs and 50 genes under positive selection (dN/dS > 1, FDR < 0.1). For cave loaches, we identified one Gene Ontology category related to vision that was significantly enriched in downregulated genes. Specifically, we found that many of the downregulated genes, including pitx3, lim2, crx, gnat2, rx1, rho, prph2, and β|γ-crystallin are associated with lens/retinal development and maintenance. However, compared with those in the surface loach, the lower dS rates but higher dN rates of the protein-coding sequences in T. rosa indicate that changes in amino acid sequences might be involved in the adaptation and visual degeneration of cave loaches. We also found that genes associated with light perception and light-stimulated vision have evolved at higher rates (some genes dN/dS > 1 but FDR > 0.1). Collectively, the findings of this study indicate that the degradation of cavefish vision is probably associated with both gene expression and amino acid changes and provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the degeneration of cavefish eyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Southwest University School of Life Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Renyi Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yingqi Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Southwest University School of Life Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Yabing Niu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Southwest University School of Life Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Shao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Southwest University School of Life Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanping Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Southwest University School of Life Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Zuogang Peng
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Southwest University School of Life Sciences, Chongqing, China
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Shimizu J, Suzuki T, Hirotsu C, Ueno H, Takada E, Arimitsu N, Ueda Y, Wakisaka S, Suzuki N. Interaction between SDF1 and CXCR4 Promotes Photoreceptor Differentiation via Upregulation of NFκB Pathway Signaling Activity in Pax6 Gene-Transfected Photoreceptor Precursors. Ophthalmic Res 2020; 63:392-403. [PMID: 31935734 DOI: 10.1159/000503929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CCL2 (also known as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1) and CX3CR1 (also known as Fractalkine receptor)-deficient mice have damaged photoreceptors. OBJECTIVES We examined the interaction of SDF1 and CXCR4 on the differentiation of retinal progenitors into rhodopsin-positive photoreceptors. METHODS Cloned retinal progenitors were obtained by Pax6 gene transfection of mouse iPS cells followed by serial dilution. Clones were selected by expression of nestin, Musashi1, Six3, and Chx10 mRNA. Cell surface protein expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of mRNA and intracellular protein were examined by real-time PCR and immunochemistry, respectively. Transient transfection experiments of retinal progenitors were conducted using a human rhodopsin promoter luciferase plasmid. RESULTS We selected 10 clones that expressed Six3, Chx10, Crx, Rx1, Nrl, CD73, and rhodopsin mRNA, which, except for rhodopsin, are photoreceptor precursor markers. Clones expressed both CD73 and CXCR4 on the cell surface and differentiated into rhodopsin-positive photoreceptors, which was reinforced by the addition of exogenous SDF1. A CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100 blocked SDF1-mediated differentiation of progenitors into photoreceptors. SDF1 enhanced human rhodopsin promoter transcription activity, possibly via the NFκB pathway. Addition of SDF1 to the cell culture induced nuclear translocation of NFκB on retinal progenitor cell clones. Neonatal and newborn mouse retinas expressed SDF1 and CXCR4. Cells in the outer nuclear layer where photoreceptors are located expressed CXCR4 at P14 and P56. Cells in the inner nuclear layer expressed SDF1. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that retinal progenitor cell differentiation was at least partly regulated by SDF1 and CXCR4 via upregulation of NFκB activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Shimizu
- Departments of Immunology and Medicine, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Tomoko Suzuki
- Departments of Immunology and Medicine, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Chieko Hirotsu
- Departments of Immunology and Medicine, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ueno
- Departments of Immunology and Medicine, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Erika Takada
- Departments of Immunology and Medicine, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Nagisa Arimitsu
- Departments of Immunology and Medicine, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Yuji Ueda
- Departments of Immunology and Medicine, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Sueshige Wakisaka
- Departments of Immunology and Medicine, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Noboru Suzuki
- Departments of Immunology and Medicine, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan, .,Department of Regenerative Medicine, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan,
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Tsai ELS, Ortin-Martinez A, Gurdita A, Comanita L, Yan N, Smiley S, Delplace V, Shoichet MS, Nickerson PEB, Wallace VA. Modeling of Photoreceptor Donor-Host Interaction Following Transplantation Reveals a Role for Crx, Müller Glia, and Rho/ROCK Signaling in Neurite Outgrowth. Stem Cells 2019; 37:529-541. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.2985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- En L. S. Tsai
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Arturo Ortin-Martinez
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Akshay Gurdita
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Lacrimioara Comanita
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Nicole Yan
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Sheila Smiley
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Vianney Delplace
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Molly S. Shoichet
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Philip E. B. Nickerson
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Valerie A. Wallace
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute; University Health Network; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario Canada
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