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Tom WA, Chandel DS, Jiang C, Krzyzanowski G, Fernando N, Olou A, Fernando MR. Genotype Characterization and MiRNA Expression Profiling in Usher Syndrome Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9993. [PMID: 39337481 PMCID: PMC11432263 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25189993] [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: 08/05/2024] [Revised: 09/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is an inherited disorder characterized by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), retinitis pigmentosa (RP)-related vision loss, and vestibular dysfunction. USH presents itself as three distinct clinical types, 1, 2, and 3, with no biomarker for early detection. This study aimed to explore whether microRNA (miRNA) expression in USH cell lines is dysregulated compared to the miRNA expression pattern in a cell line derived from a healthy human subject. Lymphocytes from USH patients and healthy individuals were isolated and transformed into stable cell lines using Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). DNA from these cell lines was sequenced using a targeted panel to identify gene variants associated with USH types 1, 2, and 3. Microarray analysis was performed on RNA from both USH and control cell lines using NanoString miRNA microarray technology. Dysregulated miRNAs identified by the microarray were validated using droplet digital PCR technology. DNA sequencing revealed that two USH patients had USH type 1 with gene variants in USH1B (MYO7A) and USH1D (CDH23), while the other two patients were classified as USH type 2 (USH2A) and USH type 3 (CLRN-1), respectively. The NanoString miRNA microarray detected 92 differentially expressed miRNAs in USH cell lines compared to controls. Significantly altered miRNAs exhibited at least a twofold increase or decrease with a p value below 0.05. Among these miRNAs, 20 were specific to USH1, 14 to USH2, and 5 to USH3. Three miRNAs that are known as miRNA-183 family which are crucial for inner ear and retina development, have been significantly downregulated as compared to control cells. Subsequently, droplet digital PCR assays confirmed the dysregulation of the 12 most prominent miRNAs in USH cell lines. This study identifies several miRNA signatures in USH cell lines which may have potential utility in Usher syndrome identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley A Tom
- Molecular Diagnostic Research Laboratory, Center for Sensory Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA
| | - Dinesh S Chandel
- Molecular Diagnostic Research Laboratory, Center for Sensory Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA
| | - Chao Jiang
- Molecular Diagnostic Research Laboratory, Center for Sensory Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA
| | - Gary Krzyzanowski
- Molecular Diagnostic Research Laboratory, Center for Sensory Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA
| | - Nirmalee Fernando
- Molecular Diagnostic Research Laboratory, Center for Sensory Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA
| | - Appolinaire Olou
- Molecular Diagnostic Research Laboratory, Center for Sensory Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA
| | - M Rohan Fernando
- Molecular Diagnostic Research Laboratory, Center for Sensory Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA
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Ruan K, Bai G, Fang Y, Li D, Li T, Liu X, Lu B, Lu Q, Songyang Z, Sun S, Wang Z, Zhang X, Zhou W, Zhang H. Biomolecular condensates and disease pathogenesis. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1792-1832. [PMID: 39037698 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-024-2661-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates or membraneless organelles (MLOs) formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) divide intracellular spaces into discrete compartments for specific functions. Dysregulation of LLPS or aberrant phase transition that disturbs the formation or material states of MLOs is closely correlated with neurodegeneration, tumorigenesis, and many other pathological processes. Herein, we summarize the recent progress in development of methods to monitor phase separation and we discuss the biogenesis and function of MLOs formed through phase separation. We then present emerging proof-of-concept examples regarding the disruption of phase separation homeostasis in a diverse array of clinical conditions including neurodegenerative disorders, hearing loss, cancers, and immunological diseases. Finally, we describe the emerging discovery of chemical modulators of phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Ruan
- The First Affiliated Hospital & School of Life Sciences, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membrane-less Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
| | - Ge Bai
- Nanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou, 311100, China.
- Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Yanshan Fang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Dan Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Xingguo Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
- Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
| | - Boxun Lu
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Qing Lu
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Zhou Songyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
| | - Shuguo Sun
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Zheng Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
| | - Wen Zhou
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Hong Zhang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Serra R, Rallo V, Steri M, Olla S, Piras MG, Marongiu M, Gorospe M, Schlessinger D, Pinna A, Fiorillo E, Cucca F, Angius A. A large-scale screening identified in USH2A gene the P3272L founder pathogenic variant explaining familial Usher syndrome in Sardinia, Italy. BMC Ophthalmol 2024; 24:306. [PMID: 39044131 PMCID: PMC11265335 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-024-03578-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Usher syndrome (USH) encompasses a group of disorders characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We described the clinical findings, natural history, and molecular analyses of USH patients identified during a large-scale screening to identify quantitative traits related to ocular disorders in the SardiNIA project cohort. METHODS We identified 3 USH-affected families out of a cohort of 6,148 healthy subjects. 9 subjects presented a pathological phenotype, with SNHL and RP. All patients and their family members underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundoscopy, fundus autofluorescence, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and electrophysiological testing. Audiological evaluation was performed with a clinical audiometer. Genotyping was performed using several arrays integrated with whole genome sequence data providing approximately 22 million markers equally distributed for each subject analyzed. Molecular diagnostics focused on analysis of the following candidate genes: MYO7A, USH1C, CDH23, PCDH15, USH1G, CIB2, USH2A, GPR98, DFNB31, CLRN1, and PDZD7. RESULTS A single missense causal variant in USH2A gene was identified in homozygous status in all patients and in heterozygous status in unaffected parents. The presence of multiple homozygous patients with the same phenotypic severity of the syndromic form suggests that the Sardinian USH phenotype is the result of a founder effect on a specific pathogenic variant related haplotype. The frequency of heterozygotes in general Sardinian population is 1.89. Additionally, to provide new insights into the structure of usherin and the pathological mechanisms caused by small pathogenic in-frame variants, like p.Pro3272Leu, molecular dynamics simulations of native and mutant protein-protein and protein-ligand complexes were performed that predicted a destabilization of the protein with a decrease in the free energy change. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that our approach is effective for the genetic diagnosis of USH. Based on the heterozygous frequency, targeted screening of this variant in the general population and in families at risk or with familial USH can be suggested. This can lead to more accurate molecular diagnosis, better genetic counseling, and improved molecular epidemiology data that are critical for future intervention plans. TRIAL REGISTRATION We did not perform any health-related interventions for the participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Serra
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria Di Cagliari, C/O S.S 554 Bivio Per Sestu Km 4, 500, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Rallo
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria Di Cagliari, C/O S.S 554 Bivio Per Sestu Km 4, 500, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Maristella Steri
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria Di Cagliari, C/O S.S 554 Bivio Per Sestu Km 4, 500, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Stefania Olla
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria Di Cagliari, C/O S.S 554 Bivio Per Sestu Km 4, 500, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Piras
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria Di Cagliari, C/O S.S 554 Bivio Per Sestu Km 4, 500, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Michele Marongiu
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria Di Cagliari, C/O S.S 554 Bivio Per Sestu Km 4, 500, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Myriam Gorospe
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute On Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David Schlessinger
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute On Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Antonio Pinna
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy Ophthalmology Unit, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Edoardo Fiorillo
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria Di Cagliari, C/O S.S 554 Bivio Per Sestu Km 4, 500, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Francesco Cucca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Andrea Angius
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council (CNR), Cittadella Universitaria Di Cagliari, C/O S.S 554 Bivio Per Sestu Km 4, 500, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy.
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Audo I, Nassisi M, Zeitz C, Sahel JA. The Extraordinary Phenotypic and Genetic Variability of Retinal and Macular Degenerations: The Relevance to Therapeutic Developments. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041652. [PMID: 37604589 PMCID: PMC11146306 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of rare conditions leading to various degrees of visual handicap and to progressive blindness in more severe cases. Besides visual rehabilitation, educational, and socio-professional support, there are currently limited therapeutic options, but the approval of the first gene therapy product for RPE65-related IRDs raised hope for therapeutic innovations. Such developments are facing obstacles intrinsic to the disease and the affected tissue including the extreme phenotypic and genetic variability of IRDs and the fine tuning of visual processing through the complex architecture of the postmitotic neural retina. A precise phenotypic characterization is required prior to genetic testing, which now relies on high-throughput sequencing. Their challenges will be discussed within this article as well as their implications in clinical trial design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Audo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris 75012, France
- Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, National Rare Disease Center REFERET and INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris F-75012, France
| | - Marco Nassisi
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris 75012, France
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan 20122, Italy
- Ophthalmology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan 20122, Italy
| | - Christina Zeitz
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris 75012, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris 75012, France
- Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, National Rare Disease Center REFERET and INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris F-75012, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
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Holanda IP, Rim PHH, Guaragna MS, Gil-da-Silva-Lopes VL, Steiner CE. Syndromic Retinitis Pigmentosa: A 15-Patient Study. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:516. [PMID: 38674450 PMCID: PMC11050127 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of genetically determined retinal dystrophies characterized by primary photoreceptor apoptosis and can occur in isolated or syndromic conditions. This study reviewed the clinical data of 15 patients with syndromic retinitis pigmentosa from a Rare Disease Reference Center in Brazil and the results of their next-generation sequencing tests. Five males and ten females participated, with the mean ages for ocular disease onset, fundoscopic diagnosis, and molecular evaluation being 9, 19, and 29 years, respectively. Bardet-Biedl syndrome (n = 5) and Usher syndrome (n = 3) were the most frequent diagnoses, followed by other rare conditions. Among the patients, fourteen completed molecular studies, with three negative results and eleven revealing findings in known genes, including novel variants in MKKS (c.432_435del, p.Phe144Leufs*14), USH2A (c.(7301+1_7302-1)_(9369+1_9370-1)del), and CEP250 (c.5383dup, p.Glu1795Glyfs*13, and c.5050del, p.Asp1684Thrfs*9). Except for Kearn-Sayre, all presented an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern with 64% homozygosity results. The long gap between symptom onset and diagnosis highlights the diagnostic challenges faced by the patients. This study reaffirms the clinical heterogeneity of syndromic retinitis pigmentosa and underscores the pivotal role of molecular analysis in advancing our understanding of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ianne Pessoa Holanda
- Genética Médica e Medicina Genômica, Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-888, SP, Brazil; (I.P.H.); (M.S.G.); (V.L.G.-d.-S.-L.)
| | - Priscila Hae Hyun Rim
- Ambulatório de Genética Ocular, Departamento de Oftalmologia e Otorrinolaringologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-888, SP, Brazil;
| | - Rare Genomes Project Consortium
- Serviço de Genética Molecular, Departamento de Medicina Laboratorial, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE), São Paulo 05652-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Mara Sanches Guaragna
- Genética Médica e Medicina Genômica, Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-888, SP, Brazil; (I.P.H.); (M.S.G.); (V.L.G.-d.-S.-L.)
| | - Vera Lúcia Gil-da-Silva-Lopes
- Genética Médica e Medicina Genômica, Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-888, SP, Brazil; (I.P.H.); (M.S.G.); (V.L.G.-d.-S.-L.)
| | - Carlos Eduardo Steiner
- Genética Médica e Medicina Genômica, Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-888, SP, Brazil; (I.P.H.); (M.S.G.); (V.L.G.-d.-S.-L.)
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Logan DR, Hall J, Bianchi L. A helping hand: roles for accessory cells in the sense of touch across species. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1367476. [PMID: 38433863 PMCID: PMC10904576 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1367476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
During touch, mechanical forces are converted into electrochemical signals by tactile organs made of neurons, accessory cells, and their shared extracellular spaces. Accessory cells, including Merkel cells, keratinocytes, lamellar cells, and glia, play an important role in the sensation of touch. In some cases, these cells are intrinsically mechanosensitive; however, other roles include the release of chemical messengers, the chemical modification of spaces that are shared with neurons, and the tuning of neural sensitivity by direct physical contact. Despite great progress in the last decade, the precise roles of these cells in the sense of touch remains unclear. Here we review the known and hypothesized contributions of several accessory cells to touch by incorporating research from multiple organisms including C. elegans, D. melanogaster, mammals, avian models, and plants. Several broad parallels are identified including the regulation of extracellular ions and the release of neuromodulators by accessory cells, as well as the emerging potential physical contact between accessory cells and sensory neurons via tethers. Our broader perspective incorporates the importance of accessory cells to the understanding of human touch and pain, as well as to animal touch and its molecular underpinnings, which are underrepresented among the animal welfare literature. A greater understanding of touch, which must include a role for accessory cells, is also relevant to emergent technical applications including prosthetics, virtual reality, and robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Bianchi
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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Daich Varela M, Wong SW, Kiray G, Schlottmann PG, Arno G, Shams ANA, Mahroo OA, Webster AR, AlTalbishi A, Michaelides M. Detailed Clinical, Ophthalmic, and Genetic Characterization of ADGRV1-Associated Usher Syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 2023; 256:186-195. [PMID: 37422204 PMCID: PMC11139646 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2023.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To present the clinical characteristics, retinal features, natural history, and genetics of ADGRV1-Usher syndrome (USH). DESIGN Multicenter international retrospective cohort study. METHODS Clinical notes, hearing loss history, multimodal retinal imaging, and molecular diagnosis were reviewed. Thirty patients (28 families) with USH type 2 and disease-causing variants in ADGRV1 were identified. Visual function, retinal imaging, and genetics were evaluated and correlated, with retinal features also compared with those of the commonest cause of USH type 2, USH2A-USH. RESULTS The mean age at the first visit was 38.6 ± 12.0 years (range: 19-74 years), and the mean follow-up time was 9.0 ± 7.7 years. Hearing loss was reported in the first decade of life by all patients, 3 (10%) described progressive loss, and 93% had moderate-severe impairment. Visual symptom onset was at 17.0 ± 7.7 years of age (range: 6-32 years), with 13 patients noticing problems before the age of 16. At baseline, 90% of patients had no or mild visual impairment. The most frequent retinal features were a hyperautofluorescent ring at the posterior pole (70%), perimacular patches of decreased autofluorescence (59%), and mild-moderate peripheral bone-spicule-like deposits (63%). Twenty-six (53%) variants were previously unreported, 19 families (68%) had double-null genotypes, and 9 were not-double-null. Longitudinal analysis showed significant differences between baseline and follow-up central macular thickness (-1.25 µm/y), outer nuclear layer thickness (-1.19 µm/y), and ellipsoid zone width (-40.9 µm/y). The rate of visual acuity decline was 0.02 LogMAR (1 letter)/y, and the rate of constriction of the hyperautofluorescent ring was 0.23 mm2/y. CONCLUSIONS ADGRV1-USH is characterized by early-onset, usually non-progressive, mild-to-severe hearing loss and generally good central vision until late adulthood. Perimacular atrophic patches and relatively retained ellipsoid zone and central macular thickness in later adulthood are more often seen in ADGRV1-USH than in USH2A-USH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malena Daich Varela
- From the Moorfields Eye Hospital (M.D.V., S.W.W., G.K., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London (M.D.V., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK
| | - Shiao Wei Wong
- From the Moorfields Eye Hospital (M.D.V., S.W.W., G.K., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK
| | - Gulunay Kiray
- From the Moorfields Eye Hospital (M.D.V., S.W.W., G.K., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK
| | | | - Gavin Arno
- From the Moorfields Eye Hospital (M.D.V., S.W.W., G.K., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London (M.D.V., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK
| | - Amjaad N Abu Shams
- St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, Jerusalem, Palestine (A.N.A.S., A.A.T.)
| | - Omar A Mahroo
- From the Moorfields Eye Hospital (M.D.V., S.W.W., G.K., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London (M.D.V., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK
| | - Andrew R Webster
- From the Moorfields Eye Hospital (M.D.V., S.W.W., G.K., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London (M.D.V., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK
| | - Alaa AlTalbishi
- St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, Jerusalem, Palestine (A.N.A.S., A.A.T.)
| | - Michel Michaelides
- From the Moorfields Eye Hospital (M.D.V., S.W.W., G.K., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London (M.D.V., G.A., O.A.M., A.R.W., M.M.), London, UK.
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Boussaty EC, Tedeschi N, Novotny M, Ninoyu Y, Du E, Draf C, Zhang Y, Manor U, Scheuermann RH, Friedman R. Cochlear transcriptome analysis of an outbred mouse population (CFW). Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1256619. [PMID: 38094513 PMCID: PMC10716316 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1256619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the most common cause of hearing loss and one of the most prevalent conditions affecting the elderly worldwide. Despite evidence from our lab and others about its polygenic nature, little is known about the specific genes, cell types, and pathways involved in ARHL, impeding the development of therapeutic interventions. In this manuscript, we describe, for the first time, the complete cell-type specific transcriptome of the aging mouse cochlea using snRNA-seq in an outbred mouse model in relation to auditory threshold variation. Cochlear cell types were identified using unsupervised clustering and annotated via a three-tiered approach-first by linking to expression of known marker genes, then using the NSForest algorithm to select minimum cluster-specific marker genes and reduce dimensional feature space for statistical comparison of our clusters with existing publicly-available data sets on the gEAR website, and finally, by validating and refining the annotations using Multiplexed Error Robust Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (MERFISH) and the cluster-specific marker genes as probes. We report on 60 unique cell-types expanding the number of defined cochlear cell types by more than two times. Importantly, we show significant specific cell type increases and decreases associated with loss of hearing acuity implicating specific subsets of hair cell subtypes, ganglion cell subtypes, and cell subtypes within the stria vascularis in this model of ARHL. These results provide a view into the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for age-related hearing loss and pathways for therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ely Cheikh Boussaty
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Neil Tedeschi
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Mark Novotny
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Yuzuru Ninoyu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Eric Du
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Clara Draf
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Yun Zhang
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Uri Manor
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Richard H. Scheuermann
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Rick Friedman
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Guimaraes TACD, Arram E, Shakarchi AF, Georgiou M, Michaelides M. Inherited causes of combined vision and hearing loss: clinical features and molecular genetics. Br J Ophthalmol 2023; 107:1403-1414. [PMID: 36162969 DOI: 10.1136/bjo-2022-321790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Combined vision and hearing loss, also known as dual sensory impairment, can occur in several genetic conditions, including ciliopathies such as Usher and Bardet-Biedl syndrome, mitochondrial DNA disorders and systemic diseases, such as CHARGE, Stickler, Waardenburg, Alport and Alstrom syndrome. The retinal phenotype may point to the diagnosis of such disorders. Herein, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the molecular genetics and clinical features of the most common non-chromosomal inherited disorders to cause dual sensory impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth Arram
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ahmed F Shakarchi
- Jones Eye Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Michalis Georgiou
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Jones Eye Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Michel Michaelides
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
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10
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Toms M, Toualbi L, Almeida PV, Harbottle R, Moosajee M. Successful large gene augmentation of USH2A with non-viral episomal vectors. Mol Ther 2023; 31:2755-2766. [PMID: 37337429 PMCID: PMC10491995 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.06.012] [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: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
USH2A mutations are a common cause of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Usher syndrome, for which there are currently no approved treatments. Gene augmentation is a valuable therapeutic strategy for treating many inherited retinal diseases; however, conventional adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy cannot accommodate cDNAs exceeding 4.7 kb, such as the 15.6-kb-long USH2A coding sequence. In the present study, we adopted an alternative strategy to successfully generate scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR) DNA plasmid vectors containing the full-length human USH2A coding sequence, a GFP reporter gene, and a ubiquitous promoter (CMV or CAG), reaching a size of approximately 23 kb. We assessed the vectors in transfected HEK293 cells and USH2A patient-derived dermal fibroblasts in addition to ush2au507 zebrafish microinjected with the vector at the one-cell stage. pS/MAR-USH2A vectors drove persistent transgene expression in patient fibroblasts with restoration of usherin. Twelve months of GFP expression was detected in the photoreceptor cells, with rescue of Usher 2 complex localization in the photoreceptors of ush2au507 zebrafish retinas injected with pS/MAR-USH2A. To our knowledge, this is the first reported vector that can be used to express full-length usherin with functional rescue. S/MAR DNA vectors have shown promise as a novel non-viral retinal gene therapy, warranting further translational development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Toms
- Development, Ageing, and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Lyes Toualbi
- Development, Ageing, and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Patrick V Almeida
- DNA Vector Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard Harbottle
- DNA Vector Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mariya Moosajee
- Development, Ageing, and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Genetics, Moorfields Eye Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
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11
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Boussaty EC, Tedeschi N, Novotny M, Ninoyu Y, Du E, Draf C, Zhang Y, Manor U, Scheuermann RH, Friedman R. Cochlear transcriptome analysis of an outbred mouse population (CFW). BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.15.528661. [PMID: 36824745 PMCID: PMC9948975 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.15.528661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the most common cause of hearing loss and one of the most prevalent conditions affecting the elderly worldwide. Despite evidence from our lab and others about its polygenic nature, little is known about the specific genes, cell types and pathways involved in ARHL, impeding the development of therapeutic interventions. In this manuscript, we describe, for the first time, the complete cell-type specific transcriptome of the aging mouse cochlea using snRNA-seq in an outbred mouse model in relation to auditory threshold variation. Cochlear cell types were identified using unsupervised clustering and annotated via a three-tiered approach - first by linking to expression of known marker genes, then using the NS-Forest algorithm to select minimum cluster-specific marker genes and reduce dimensional feature space for statistical comparison of our clusters with existing publicly-available data sets on the gEAR website (https://umgear.org/), and finally, by validating and refining the annotations using Multiplexed Error Robust Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (MERFISH) and the cluster-specific marker genes as probes. We report on 60 unique cell-types expanding the number of defined cochlear cell types by more than two times. Importantly, we show significant specific cell type increases and decreases associated with loss of hearing acuity implicating specific subsets of hair cell subtypes, ganglion cell subtypes, and cell subtypes withing the stria vascularis in this model of ARHL. These results provide a view into the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for age-related hearing loss and pathways for therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yuzuru Ninoyu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Eric Du
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Clara Draf
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Yun Zhang
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Uri Manor
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Richard H. Scheuermann
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Rick Friedman
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, CA
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12
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Guan Y, Du HB, Yang Z, Wang YZ, Ren R, Liu WW, Zhang C, Zhang JH, An WT, Li NN, Zeng XX, Li J, Sun YX, Wang YF, Yang F, Yang J, Xiong W, Yu X, Chai RJ, Tu XM, Sun JP, Xu ZG. Deafness-Associated ADGRV1 Mutation Impairs USH2A Stability through Improper Phosphorylation of WHRN and WDSUB1 Recruitment. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2205993. [PMID: 37066759 PMCID: PMC10238197 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The ankle-link complex (ALC) consists of USH2A, WHRN, PDZD7, and ADGRV1 and plays an important role in hair cell development. At present, its architectural organization and signaling role remain unclear. By establishing Adgrv1 Y6236fsX1 mutant mice as a model of the deafness-associated human Y6244fsX1 mutation, the authors show here that the Y6236fsX1 mutation disrupts the interaction between adhesion G protein-coupled receptor V subfamily member 1 (ADGRV1) and other ALC components, resulting in stereocilia disorganization and mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) deficits. Importantly, ADGRV1 inhibits WHRN phosphorylation through regional cAMP-PKA signaling, which in turn regulates the ubiquitination and stability of USH2A via local signaling compartmentalization, whereas ADGRV1 Y6236fsX1 does not. Yeast two-hybrid screening identified the E3 ligase WDSUB1 that binds to WHRN and regulates the ubiquitination of USH2A in a WHRN phosphorylation-dependent manner. Further FlAsH-BRET assay, NMR spectrometry, and mutagenesis analysis provided insights into the architectural organization of ALC and interaction motifs at single-residue resolution. In conclusion, the present data suggest that ALC organization and accompanying local signal transduction play important roles in regulating the stability of the ALC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Guan
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University , Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Hai-Bo Du
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, Shandong University School of Life Sciences, Qingdao, 266237, China
- Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Zhao Yang
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University , Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Yu-Zhu Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Rui Ren
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, Shandong University School of Life Sciences, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Wen-Wen Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University , Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Jia-Hai Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Wen-Tao An
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Na-Na Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, Shandong University School of Life Sciences, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xiao-Xue Zeng
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University , Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Jie Li
- School of Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yi-Xiao Sun
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, Shandong University School of Life Sciences, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Yan-Fei Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, Shandong University School of Life Sciences, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University , Jinan, 250012, China
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Wei Xiong
- School of Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Ren-Jie Chai
- MOE Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Tu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Research Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Jin-Peng Sun
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University , Jinan, 250012, China
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Xu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, Shandong University School of Life Sciences, Qingdao, 266237, China
- Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
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13
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Mathur PD, Zou J, Neiswanger G, Zhu D, Wang Y, Almishaal AA, Vashist D, Hammond HK, Park AH, Yang J. Adenylyl cyclase 6 plays a minor role in the mouse inner ear and retina. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7075. [PMID: 37127773 PMCID: PMC10151359 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34361-y] [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: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Adenylyl cyclase 6 (AC6) synthesizes second messenger cAMP in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. In cochlear hair cells, AC6 distribution relies on an adhesion GPCR, ADGRV1, which is associated with Usher syndrome (USH), a condition of combined hearing and vision loss. ADGRV1 is a component of the USH type 2 (USH2) protein complex in hair cells and photoreceptors. However, the role of AC6 in the inner ear and retina has not been explored. Here, we found that AC6 distribution in hair cells depends on the USH2 protein complex integrity. Several known AC6 regulators and effectors, which were previously reported to participate in ADGRV1 signaling in vitro, are localized to the stereociliary compartments that overlap with AC6 distribution in hair cells. In young AC6 knockout (Adcy6-/-) mice, the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, but not Akt kinase, is altered in cochleas, while both kinases are normal in vestibular organs. Adult Adcy6-/- mice however exhibit normal hearing function. AC6 is expressed in mouse retinas but rarely in photoreceptors. Adcy6-/- mice have slightly enhanced photopic but normal scotopic vision. Therefore, AC6 may participate in the ADGRV1 signaling in hair cells but AC6 is not essential for cochlear and retinal development and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranav Dinesh Mathur
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- Vecprobio Inc., San Diego, CA, 92126, USA
| | - Junhuang Zou
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Grace Neiswanger
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Daniel Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Yong Wang
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Ali A Almishaal
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Hail, 81451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deepti Vashist
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - H Kirk Hammond
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA
| | - Albert H Park
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
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14
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Wang H, Du H, Ren R, Du T, Lin L, Feng Z, Zhao D, Wei X, Zhai X, Wang H, Dong T, Sun JP, Wu H, Xu Z, Lu Q. Temporal and spatial assembly of inner ear hair cell ankle link condensate through phase separation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1657. [PMID: 36964137 PMCID: PMC10039067 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37267-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Stereocilia are actin-based cell protrusions of inner ear hair cells and are indispensable for mechanotransduction. Ankle links connect the ankle region of developing stereocilia, playing an essential role in stereocilia development. WHRN, PDZD7, ADGRV1 and USH2A have been identified to form the so-called ankle link complex (ALC); however, the detailed mechanism underlying the temporal emergence and degeneration of ankle links remains elusive. Here we show that WHRN and PDZD7 orchestrate ADGRV1 and USH2A to assemble the ALC through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Disruption of the ALC multivalency for LLPS largely abolishes the distribution of WHRN at the ankle region of stereocilia. Interestingly, high concentration of ADGRV1 inhibits LLPS, providing a potential mechanism for ALC disassembly. Moreover, certain deafness mutations of ALC genes weaken the multivalent interactions of ALC and impair LLPS. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that LLPS mediates ALC formation, providing essential clues for understanding the pathogenesis of deafness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huang Wang
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Haibo Du
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China
- Air Force Medical Center, PLA, Beijing, 100074, China
| | - Rui Ren
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China
| | - Tingting Du
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Lin
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Zhe Feng
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Dange Zhao
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xiaoxi Wei
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhai
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- College of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Audiology and Vestibular Medicine, Chinese PLA Institute of Otolaryngology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Medical School of Chinese PLA, 28 Fuxing Road, 100853, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Medical School of Chinese PLA, 28 Fuxing Road, 100853, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Dong
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin-Peng Sun
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhigang Xu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China.
- Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China.
| | - Qing Lu
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China.
- Bio-X-Renji Hospital Research Center, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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15
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Tebbe L, Mwoyosvi ML, Crane R, Makia MS, Kakakhel M, Cosgrove D, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. The usherin mutation c.2299delG leads to its mislocalization and disrupts interactions with whirlin and VLGR1. Nat Commun 2023; 14:972. [PMID: 36810733 PMCID: PMC9944904 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36431-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is the leading cause of combined deafness-blindness with type 2 A (USH2A) being the most common form. Knockout models of USH proteins, like the Ush2a-/- model that develops a late-onset retinal phenotype, failed to mimic the retinal phenotype observed in patients. Since patient's mutations result in the expression of a mutant protein and to determine the mechanism of USH2A, we generated and evaluated an usherin (USH2A) knock-in mouse expressing the common human disease-mutation, c.2299delG. This mouse exhibits retinal degeneration and expresses a truncated, glycosylated protein which is mislocalized to the photoreceptor inner segment. The degeneration is associated with a decline in retinal function, structural abnormalities in connecting cilium and outer segment and mislocaliztion of the usherin interactors very long G-protein receptor 1 and whirlin. The onset of symptoms is significantly earlier compared to Ush2a-/-, proving expression of mutated protein is required to recapitulate the patients' retinal phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Tebbe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Maggie L Mwoyosvi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Ryan Crane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Mustafa S Makia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Mashal Kakakhel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | | | - Muayyad R Al-Ubaidi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA.
| | - Muna I Naash
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA.
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16
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Towards a Cure for HARS Disease. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14020254. [PMID: 36833180 PMCID: PMC9956352 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HARS) ligates histidine to its cognate transfer RNA (tRNAHis). Mutations in HARS cause the human genetic disorders Usher syndrome type 3B (USH3B) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome type 2W (CMT2W). Treatment for these diseases remains symptomatic, and no disease specific treatments are currently available. Mutations in HARS can lead to destabilization of the enzyme, reduced aminoacylation, and decreased histidine incorporation into the proteome. Other mutations lead to a toxic gain-of-function and mistranslation of non-cognate amino acids in response to histidine codons, which can be rescued by histidine supplementation in vitro. We discuss recent advances in characterizing HARS mutations and potential applications of amino acid and tRNA therapy for future gene and allele specific therapy.
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17
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Huang Y, Yuan L, He G, Cao Y, Deng X, Deng H. Novel compound heterozygous variants in the USH2A gene associated with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa without hearing loss. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1129862. [PMID: 36875754 PMCID: PMC9974670 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1129862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of progressive inherited retinal dystrophies characterized by the primary degeneration of rod photoreceptors and the subsequent loss of cone photoreceptors because of cell death. It is caused by different mechanisms, including inflammation, apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and autophagy. Variants in the usherin gene (USH2A) have been reported in autosomal recessive RP with or without hearing loss. In the present study, we aimed to identify causative variants in a Han-Chinese pedigree with autosomal recessive RP. Methods: A six-member, three-generation Han-Chinese family with autosomal recessive RP was recruited. A full clinical examination, whole exome sequencing, and Sanger sequencing, as well as co-segregation analysis were performed. Results: Three heterozygous variants in the USH2A gene, c.3304C>T (p.Q1102*), c.4745T>C (p.L1582P), and c.14740G>A (p.E4914K), were identified in the proband, which were inherited from parents and transmitted to the daughters. Bioinformatics analysis supported the pathogenicity of the c.3304C>T (p.Q1102*) and c.4745T>C (p.L1582P) variants. Conclusions: Novel compound heterozygous variants in the USH2A gene, c.3304C>T (p.Q1102*) and c.4745T>C (p.L1582P), were identified as the genetic causes of autosomal recessive RP. The findings may enhance the current knowledge of the pathogenesis of USH2A-associated phenotypes, expand the spectrum of the USH2A gene variants, and contribute to improved genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis, and disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Huang
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Disease Genome Research Center, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lamei Yuan
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Disease Genome Research Center, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guiyun He
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Yanna Cao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiong Deng
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Disease Genome Research Center, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hao Deng
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Disease Genome Research Center, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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18
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Lad EM, Duncan JL, Liang W, Maguire MG, Ayala AR, Audo I, Birch DG, Carroll J, Cheetham JK, Durham TA, Fahim AT, Loo J, Deng Z, Mukherjee D, Heon E, Hufnagel RB, Guan B, Iannaccone A, Jaffe GJ, Kay CN, Michaelides M, Pennesi ME, Vincent A, Weng CY, Farsiu S. Baseline Microperimetry and OCT in the RUSH2A Study: Structure-Function Association and Correlation With Disease Severity. Am J Ophthalmol 2022; 244:98-116. [PMID: 36007554 PMCID: PMC9712171 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2022.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate baseline mesopic microperimetry (MP) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the Rate of Progression in USH2A-related Retinal Degeneration (RUSH2A) study. DESIGN Natural history study METHODS: Setting: 16 clinical sites in Europe and North AmericaStudy Population: Participants with Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2) (N = 80) or autosomal recessive nonsyndromic RP (ARRP) (N = 47) associated with biallelic disease-causing sequence variants in USH2AObservation Procedures: General linear models were used to assess characteristics including disease duration, MP mean sensitivity and OCT intact ellipsoid zone (EZ) area. The associations between mean sensitivity and EZ area with other measures, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central subfield thickness (CST) within the central 1 mm, were assessed using Spearman correlation coefficients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mean sensitivity on MP; EZ area and CST on OCT. RESULTS All participants (N = 127) had OCT, while MP was obtained at selected sites (N = 93). Participants with Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2, N = 80) and nonsyndromic autosomal recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa (ARRP, N = 47) had the following similar measurements: EZ area (median (interquartile range [IQR]): 1.4 (0.4, 3.1) mm2 vs 2.3 (0.7, 5.7) mm2) and CST (median (IQR): 247 (223, 280) µm vs 261 (246, 288), and mean sensitivity (median (IQR): 3.5 (2.1, 8.4) dB vs 5.1 (2.9, 9.0) dB). Longer disease duration was associated with smaller EZ area (P < 0.001) and lower mean sensitivity (P = 0.01). Better BCVA, larger EZ area, and larger CST were correlated with greater mean sensitivity (r > 0.3 and P < 0.01). Better BCVA and larger CST were associated with larger EZ area (r > 0.6 and P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Longer disease duration correlated with more severe retinal structure and function abnormalities, and there were associations between MP and OCT metrics. Monitoring changes in retinal structure-function relationships during disease progression will provide important insights into disease mechanism in USH2A-related retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora M Lad
- From the Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jacque L Duncan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Wendi Liang
- Jaeb Center for Health Research, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | | | | | - Isabelle Audo
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France; Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC1423, Paris, France
| | - David G Birch
- Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | | | | | - Todd A Durham
- Foundation Fighting Blindness, Columbia, Maryland, USA
| | - Abigail T Fahim
- Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jessica Loo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Zengtian Deng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dibyendu Mukherjee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elise Heon
- University of Toronto and Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Bin Guan
- National Eye Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alessandro Iannaccone
- From the Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Glenn J Jaffe
- From the Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Michel Michaelides
- Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (M.M.), London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark E Pennesi
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Ajoy Vincent
- University of Toronto and Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Sina Farsiu
- From the Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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19
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Zebrafish and inherited photoreceptor disease: Models and insights. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 91:101096. [PMID: 35811244 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Photoreceptor dysfunctions and degenerative diseases are significant causes of vision loss in patients, with few effective treatments available. Targeted interventions to prevent or reverse photoreceptor-related vision loss are not possible without a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanism leading to disease, which is exceedingly difficult to accomplish in the human system. Cone diseases are particularly challenging to model, as some popular genetically modifiable model animals are nocturnal with a rod-dominant visual system and cones that have dissimilarities to human cones. As a result, cone diseases, which affect visual acuity, colour perception, and central vision in patients, are generally poorly understood in terms of pathology and mechanism. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) provide the opportunity to model photoreceptor diseases in a diurnal vertebrate with a cone-rich retina which develops many macular degeneration-like pathologies. Zebrafish undergo external development, allowing early-onset retinal diseases to be detected and studied, and many ophthalmic tools are available for zebrafish visual assessment during development and adulthood. There are numerous zebrafish models of photoreceptor disease, spanning the various types of photoreceptor disease (developmental, rod, cone, and mixed photoreceptor diseases) and genetic/molecular cause. In this review, we explore the features of zebrafish that make them uniquely poised to model cone diseases, summarize the established zebrafish models of inherited photoreceptor disease, and discuss how disease in these models compares to the human presentation, where applicable. Further, we highlight the contributions of these zebrafish models to our understanding of photoreceptor biology and disease, and discuss future directions for utilising and investigating these diverse models.
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20
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Loo J, Jaffe GJ, Duncan JL, Birch DG, Farsiu S. VALIDATION OF A DEEP LEARNING-BASED ALGORITHM FOR SEGMENTATION OF THE ELLIPSOID ZONE ON OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGES OF AN USH2A-RELATED RETINAL DEGENERATION CLINICAL TRIAL. Retina 2022; 42:1347-1355. [PMID: 35174801 PMCID: PMC9232868 DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000003448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the generalizability of a deep learning-based algorithm to segment the ellipsoid zone (EZ). METHODS The dataset consisted of 127 spectral-domain optical coherence tomography volumes from eyes of participants with USH2A-related retinal degeneration enrolled in the RUSH2A clinical trial (NCT03146078). The EZ was segmented manually by trained readers and automatically by deep OCT atrophy detection, a deep learning-based algorithm originally developed for macular telangiectasia Type 2. Performance was evaluated using the Dice similarity coefficient between the segmentations, and the absolute difference and Pearson's correlation of measurements of interest obtained from the segmentations. RESULTS With deep OCT atrophy detection, the average (mean ± SD, median) Dice similarity coefficient was 0.79 ± 0.27, 0.90. The average absolute difference in total EZ area was 0.62 ± 1.41, 0.22 mm2 with a correlation of 0.97. The average absolute difference in the maximum EZ length was 222 ± 288, 126 µm with a correlation of 0.97. CONCLUSION Deep OCT atrophy detection segmented EZ in USH2A-related retinal degeneration with good performance. The algorithm is potentially generalizable to other diseases and other biomarkers of interest as well, which is an important aspect of clinical applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Loo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Glenn J Jaffe
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jacque L Duncan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; and
| | | | - Sina Farsiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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21
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Zaw K, Carvalho LS, Aung-Htut MT, Fletcher S, Wilton SD, Chen FK, McLenachan S. Pathogenesis and Treatment of Usher Syndrome Type IIA. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) 2022; 11:369-379. [PMID: 36041150 DOI: 10.1097/apo.0000000000000546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common form of deaf-blindness, with an estimated prevalence of 4.4 to 16.6 per 100,000 people worldwide. The most common form of USH is type IIA (USH2A), which is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the USH2A gene and accounts for around half of all USH cases. USH2A patients show moderate to severe hearing loss from birth, with diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa in the second decade of life and variable vestibular involvement. Although hearing aids or cochlear implants can provide some mitigation of hearing deficits, there are currently no treatments aimed at preventing or restoring vision loss in USH2A patients. In this review, we first provide an overview of the molecular biology of the USH2A gene and its protein isoforms, which include a transmembrane protein (TM usherin) and an extracellular protein (EC usherin). The role of these proteins in the inner ear and retina and their impact on the pathogenesis of USH2A is discussed. We review animal cell-derived and patient cell-derived models currently used in USH2A research and conclude with an overview of potential treatment strategies currently in preclinical development and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khine Zaw
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Livia S Carvalho
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - May T Aung-Htut
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sue Fletcher
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Steve D Wilton
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Fred K Chen
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Samuel McLenachan
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
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22
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Ziolkowski LH, Gracheva EO, Bagriantsev SN. Tactile sensation in birds: Physiological insights from avian mechanoreceptors. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 74:102548. [PMID: 35489134 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The sense of touch is ubiquitous in vertebrates and relies upon the detection of mechanical forces in the skin by the tactile end-organs of low-threshold mechanoreceptors. Significant progress has been made in understanding the mechanism of tactile end-organ function using mammalian models, but the detailed mechanics of touch sensation in Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles, the principal detectors of transient touch and vibration, remain obscure. The avian homologs of these corpuscles present an opportunity for functional study of mechanosensation in these structures, due to their relative accessibility and high abundance in the bill skin of tactile-foraging waterfowl. Here, we review the current knowledge of mechanosensory end-organs in birds and highlight the utility of the avian model to understand general principles of touch detection in the glabrous skin of vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke H Ziolkowski
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Elena O Gracheva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Sviatoslav N Bagriantsev
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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23
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Smirnov VM, Nassisi M, Mohand-Saïd S, Bonnet C, Aubois A, Devisme C, Dib T, Zeitz C, Loundon N, Marlin S, Petit C, Bodaghi B, Sahel JA, Audo I. Retinal Phenotype of Patients with CLRN1-Associated Usher 3A Syndrome in French Light4Deaf Cohort. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:25. [PMID: 35481838 PMCID: PMC9055553 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.4.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Biallelic variants in CLRN1 are responsible for Usher syndrome 3A and non-syndromic rod–cone dystrophy (RCD). Retinal findings in Usher syndrome 3A have not been well defined. We report the detailed phenotypic description of RCD associated with CLRN1 variants in a prospective cohort. Methods Patients were clinically investigated at the National Reference Center for rare ocular diseases at the Quinze-Vingts Hospital, Paris, France. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) tests, Goldmann perimetry, full-field electroretinography (ffERG), retinal photography, near-infrared reflectance, short-wavelength and near-infrared autofluorescence, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed for all patients. Results Four patients from four unrelated families were recruited. Mean follow-up was 11 years for three patients, and only baseline data were available for one subject. Median BCVA at baseline was 0.2 logMAR (range, 0.3–0). ffERG responses were undetectable in all subjects. The III4e isopter of the Goldmann visual field was constricted to 10°. The retinal phenotype was consistent in all patients: small whitish granular atrophic areas were organized in a network pattern around the macula and in the midperiphery. OCT showed intraretinal microcysts in all patients. Upon follow-up, all patients experienced a progressive BCVA loss and further visual field constriction. Four distinct pathogenic variants were identified in our patients: two missense (c.144T>G, p.(Asn48Lys) and c.368C>A, p.(Ala123Asp)) and two frameshift variants (c.176del, p.(Gly59Valfs*13) and c.230dup, p.(Ala78Serfs*52)). Conclusions RCD in Usher 3A syndrome has some distinctive features. It is a severe photoreceptor dystrophy with whitish granular posterior pole appearance and cystic maculopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily M Smirnov
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,Université de Lille, Faculté de Médecine, Lille, France
| | - Marco Nassisi
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Saddek Mohand-Saïd
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares REFERET and DHU Sight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC1423, Paris, France
| | - Crystel Bonnet
- Unité de Génétique et Physiologie de l'Audition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche en Santé 1120, INSERM, Paris, France.,Institut de l'Audition, Paris, France
| | - Anne Aubois
- CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares REFERET and DHU Sight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC1423, Paris, France
| | - Céline Devisme
- CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares REFERET and DHU Sight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC1423, Paris, France
| | - Thilissa Dib
- CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares REFERET and DHU Sight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC1423, Paris, France
| | - Christina Zeitz
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Natalie Loundon
- Otorhinolaryngologie Pédiatrique, APHP Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.,Centre de référence des Surdités Génétiques, Service de Génétique, APHP Hôpital Necker, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Marlin
- Centre de référence des Surdités Génétiques, Service de Génétique, APHP Hôpital Necker, Paris, France
| | - Christine Petit
- Unité de Génétique et Physiologie de l'Audition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche en Santé 1120, INSERM, Paris, France.,Institut de l'Audition, Paris, France.,Collège de France, Paris, France
| | | | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares REFERET and DHU Sight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC1423, Paris, France.,Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.,Académie des Sciences-Institut de France, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Audo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares REFERET and DHU Sight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC1423, Paris, France.,Institute of Ophthalmology, University College of London, London, United Kingdom
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24
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Velde HM, Reurink J, Held S, Li CHZ, Yzer S, Oostrik J, Weeda J, Haer-Wigman L, Yntema HG, Roosing S, Pauleikhoff L, Lange C, Whelan L, Dockery A, Zhu J, Keegan DJ, Farrar GJ, Kremer H, Lanting CP, Damme M, Pennings RJE. Usher syndrome type IV: clinically and molecularly confirmed by novel ARSG variants. Hum Genet 2022; 141:1723-1738. [PMID: 35226187 PMCID: PMC9556359 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-022-02441-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
AbstractUsher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessively inherited disease characterized by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) with or without vestibular dysfunction. It is highly heterogeneous both clinically and genetically. Recently, variants in the arylsulfatase G (ARSG) gene have been reported to underlie USH type IV. This distinct type of USH is characterized by late-onset RP with predominantly pericentral and macular changes, and late onset SNHL without vestibular dysfunction. In this study, we describe the USH type IV phenotype in three unrelated subjects. We identified three novel pathogenic variants, two novel likely pathogenic variants, and one previously described pathogenic variant in ARSG. Functional experiments indicated a loss of sulfatase activity of the mutant proteins. Our findings confirm that ARSG variants cause the newly defined USH type IV and support the proposed extension of the phenotypic USH classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedwig M. Velde
- Hearing and Genes, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Janine Reurink
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Held
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Catherina H. Z. Li
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Suzanne Yzer
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap Oostrik
- Hearing and Genes, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jack Weeda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lonneke Haer-Wigman
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Helger G. Yntema
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Susanne Roosing
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Laurenz Pauleikhoff
- Eye Center, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laura Whelan
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Adrian Dockery
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Next Generation Sequencing Laboratory, Pathology Department, The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Julia Zhu
- Mater Clinical Ophthalmic Genetics Unit, The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David J. Keegan
- Mater Clinical Ophthalmic Genetics Unit, The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - G. Jane Farrar
- The School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Hannie Kremer
- Hearing and Genes, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis P. Lanting
- Hearing and Genes, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Markus Damme
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Ronald J. E. Pennings
- Hearing and Genes, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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25
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Igelman AD, Ku C, da Palma MM, Georgiou M, Schiff ER, Lam BL, Sankila EM, Ahn J, Pyers L, Vincent A, Ferraz Sallum JM, Zein WM, Oh JK, Maldonado RS, Ryu J, Tsang SH, Gorin MB, Webster AR, Michaelides M, Yang P, Pennesi ME. Expanding the clinical phenotype in patients with disease causing variants associated with atypical Usher syndrome. Ophthalmic Genet 2021; 42:664-673. [PMID: 34223797 PMCID: PMC9233901 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2021.1946704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Atypical Usher syndrome (USH) is poorly defined with a broad clinical spectrum. Here, we characterize the clinical phenotype of disease caused by variants in CEP78, CEP250, ARSG, and ABHD12.Chart review evaluating demographic, clinical, imaging, and genetic findings of 19 patients from 18 families with a clinical diagnosis of retinal disease and confirmed disease-causing variants in CEP78, CEP250, ARSG, or ABHD12.CEP78-related disease included sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in 6/7 patients and demonstrated a broad phenotypic spectrum including: vascular attenuation, pallor of the optic disc, intraretinal pigment, retinal pigment epithelium mottling, areas of mid-peripheral hypo-autofluorescence, outer retinal atrophy, mild pigmentary changes in the macula, foveal hypo-autofluorescence, and granularity of the ellipsoid zone. Nonsense and frameshift variants in CEP250 showed mild retinal disease with progressive, non-congenital SNHL. ARSG variants resulted in a characteristic pericentral pattern of hypo-autofluorescence with one patient reporting non-congenital SNHL. ABHD12-related disease showed rod-cone dystrophy with macular involvement, early and severe decreased best corrected visual acuity, and non-congenital SNHL ranging from unreported to severe.This study serves to expand the clinical phenotypes of atypical USH. Given the variable findings, atypical USH should be considered in patients with peripheral and macular retinal disease even without the typical RP phenotype especially when SNHL is noted. Additionally, genetic screening may be useful in patients who have clinical symptoms and retinal findings even in the absence of known SNHL given the variability of atypical USH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin D Igelman
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Cristy Ku
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Mariana Matioli da Palma
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Michalis Georgiou
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Elena R Schiff
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Byron L Lam
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Eeva-Marja Sankila
- Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Eye Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jeeyun Ahn
- UCLA Stein Eye Institute, Division of Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Lindsey Pyers
- UCLA Stein Eye Institute, Division of Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ajoy Vincent
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Juliana Maria Ferraz Sallum
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Wadih M Zein
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jin Kyun Oh
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, Departments of Ophthalmology, Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, New York, USA
- College of Medicine, State University of New York at Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Ramiro S Maldonado
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Joseph Ryu
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, Departments of Ophthalmology, Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, New York, USA
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, Departments of Ophthalmology, Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, New York, USA
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael B Gorin
- UCLA Stein Eye Institute, Division of Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Andrew R Webster
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Michel Michaelides
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Paul Yang
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Mark E Pennesi
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Schneider N, Sundaresan Y, Gopalakrishnan P, Beryozkin A, Hanany M, Levanon EY, Banin E, Ben-Aroya S, Sharon D. Inherited retinal diseases: Linking genes, disease-causing variants, and relevant therapeutic modalities. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 89:101029. [PMID: 34839010 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.101029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a clinically complex and heterogenous group of visual impairment phenotypes caused by pathogenic variants in at least 277 nuclear and mitochondrial genes, affecting different retinal regions, and depleting the vision of affected individuals. Genes that cause IRDs when mutated are unique by possessing differing genotype-phenotype correlations, varying inheritance patterns, hypomorphic alleles, and modifier genes thus complicating genetic interpretation. Next-generation sequencing has greatly advanced the identification of novel IRD-related genes and pathogenic variants in the last decade. For this review, we performed an in-depth literature search which allowed for compilation of the Global Retinal Inherited Disease (GRID) dataset containing 4,798 discrete variants and 17,299 alleles published in 31 papers, showing a wide range of frequencies and complexities among the 194 genes reported in GRID, with 65% of pathogenic variants being unique to a single individual. A better understanding of IRD-related gene distribution, gene complexity, and variant types allow for improved genetic testing and therapies. Current genetic therapeutic methods are also quite diverse and rely on variant identification, and range from whole gene replacement to single nucleotide editing at the DNA or RNA levels. IRDs and their suitable therapies thus require a range of effective disease modelling in human cells, granting insight into disease mechanisms and testing of possible treatments. This review summarizes genetic and therapeutic modalities of IRDs, provides new analyses of IRD-related genes (GRID and complexity scores), and provides information to match genetic-based therapies such as gene-specific and variant-specific therapies to the appropriate individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Schneider
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Yogapriya Sundaresan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Prakadeeswari Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Avigail Beryozkin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Mor Hanany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Erez Y Levanon
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Eyal Banin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Shay Ben-Aroya
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Dror Sharon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
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27
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Amato A, Arrigo A, Aragona E, Manitto MP, Saladino A, Bandello F, Battaglia Parodi M. Gene Therapy in Inherited Retinal Diseases: An Update on Current State of the Art. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:750586. [PMID: 34722588 PMCID: PMC8553993 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.750586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Gene therapy cannot be yet considered a far perspective, but a tangible therapeutic option in the field of retinal diseases. Although still confined in experimental settings, the preliminary results are promising and provide an overall scenario suggesting that we are not so far from the application of gene therapy in clinical settings. The main aim of this review is to provide a complete and updated overview of the current state of the art and of the future perspectives of gene therapy applied on retinal diseases. Methods: We carefully revised the entire literature to report all the relevant findings related to the experimental procedures and the future scenarios of gene therapy applied in retinal diseases. A clinical background and a detailed description of the genetic features of each retinal disease included are also reported. Results: The current literature strongly support the hope of gene therapy options developed for retinal diseases. Although being considered in advanced stages of investigation for some retinal diseases, such as choroideremia (CHM), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA), gene therapy is still quite far from a tangible application in clinical practice for other retinal diseases. Conclusions: Gene therapy is an extremely promising therapeutic tool for retinal diseases. The experimental data reported in this review offer a strong hope that gene therapy will be effectively available in clinical practice in the next years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Amato
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Arrigo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Aragona
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Manitto
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Saladino
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Bandello
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
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Wang H, Huo L, Wang Y, Sun W, Gu W. Usher syndrome type 2A complicated with glycogen storage disease type 3 due to paternal uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 1 in a sporadic patient. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2021; 9:e1779. [PMID: 34405590 PMCID: PMC8580083 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The condition of uniparental disomy (UPD) occurs when an individual inherits two copies of a chromosome, or part of a chromosome, from one parent. Most cases of uniparental heterodisomy (UPhD) do not cause diseases, whereas cases of uniparental isodisomy (UPiD), while rare, may be pathogenic. Theoretically, UPiD may cause rare genetic diseases in a homozygous recessive manner. METHODS A 4-year-old girl presented with congenital hearing loss, developmental delay, hepatomegaly, and other clinical features. She and her parents were genetically tested using trio whole exome sequencing (Trio-WES) and copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq). In addition, we built a structural model to further examine the pathogenicity of the UPiD variants. RESULTS Trio-WES identified a paternal UPiD in chromosome 1, and two homozygous pathogenic variants AGL c.4284T>G/p.Tyr1428* and USH2A c.6528T>A/p.Tyr2176* in the UPiD region. We further analyzed the pathogenicity of these two variations. The patient was diagnosed with Usher syndrome type 2A (USH2A) and glycogen storage disease type III (GSD3). CONCLUSIONS Our study reports a rare case of a patient carrying two pathogenic variants of different genes caused by paternal UPiD, supporting the potential application of Trio-WES in detecting and facilitating the diagnosis of UPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Wang
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Liang Huo
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Yajian Wang
- Chigene (Beijing) Translational Medical Research Center Co., Ltd., Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Weiwei Sun
- Chigene (Beijing) Translational Medical Research Center Co., Ltd., Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Weiyue Gu
- Chigene (Beijing) Translational Medical Research Center Co., Ltd., Beijing, P.R. China
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29
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Genetics, pathogenesis and therapeutic developments for Usher syndrome type 2. Hum Genet 2021; 141:737-758. [PMID: 34331125 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-021-02324-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is a rare, autosomal recessively inherited disorder resulting in a combination of sensorineural hearing loss and a progressive loss of vision resulting from retinitis pigmentosa (RP), occasionally accompanied by an altered vestibular function. More and more evidence is building up indicating that also sleep deprivation, olfactory dysfunction, deficits in tactile perception and reduced sperm motility are part of the disease etiology. USH can be clinically classified into three different types, of which Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2) is the most prevalent. In this review, we, therefore, assess the genetic and clinical aspects, available models and therapeutic developments for USH2. Mutations in USH2A, ADGRV1 and WHRN have been described to be responsible for USH2, with USH2A being the most frequently mutated USH-associated gene, explaining 50% of all cases. The proteins encoded by the USH2 genes together function in a dynamic protein complex that, among others, is found at the photoreceptor periciliary membrane and at the base of the hair bundles of inner ear hair cells. To unravel the pathogenic mechanisms underlying USH2, patient-derived cellular models and animal models including mouse, zebrafish and drosophila, have been generated that all in part mimic the USH phenotype. Multiple cellular and genetic therapeutic approaches are currently under development for USH2, mainly focused on preserving or partially restoring the visual function of which one is already in the clinical phase. These developments are opening a new gate towards a possible treatment for USH2 patients.
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Iannaccone A, Brewer CC, Cheng P, Duncan JL, Maguire MG, Audo I, Ayala AR, Bernstein PS, Bidelman GM, Cheetham JK, Doty RL, Durham TA, Hufnagel RB, Myers MH, Stingl K, Zein WM. Auditory and olfactory findings in patients with USH2A-related retinal degeneration-Findings at baseline from the rate of progression in USH2A-related retinal degeneration natural history study (RUSH2A). Am J Med Genet A 2021; 185:3717-3727. [PMID: 34331386 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62437] [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: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is characteristic of Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2), but less is known about SNHL in nonsyndromic autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (ARRP) and olfaction in USH2A-associated retinal degeneration. The Rate of Progression of USH2A-related Retinal Degeneration (RUSH2A) is a natural history study that enrolled 127 participants, 80 with USH2 and 47 with ARRP. Hearing was measured by pure-tone thresholds and word recognition scores, and olfaction by the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). SNHL was moderate in 72% of USH2 participants and severe or profound in 25%, while 9% of ARRP participants had moderate adult-onset SNHL. Pure-tone thresholds worsened with age in ARRP but not in USH2 participants. The degree of SNHL was not associated with other participant characteristics in either USH2 or ARRP. Median pure-tone thresholds in ARRP participants were significantly higher than the normative population (p < 0.001). Among 14 USH2 participants reporting newborn hearing screening results, 7 reported passing. Among RUSH2A participants, 7% had mild microsmia and 5% had moderate or severe microsmia. Their mean (±SD) UPSIT score was 35 (±3), similar to healthy controls (34 [±3]; p = 0.39). Olfaction differed by country (p = 0.02), but was not significantly associated with clinical diagnosis, age, gender, race/ethnicity, smoking status, visual measures, or hearing. Hearing loss in USH2A-related USH2 did not progress with age. ARRP patients had higher pure-tone thresholds than normal. Newborn hearing screening did not identify all USH2A-related hearing loss. Olfaction was not significantly worse than normal in participants with USH2A-related retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Iannaccone
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carmen C Brewer
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Peiyao Cheng
- Jaeb Center for Health Research, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jacque L Duncan
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Isabelle Audo
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France.,Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC1423, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Richard L Doty
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Todd A Durham
- Foundation Fighting Blindness, Columbia, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Mark H Myers
- University of Tennessee Health and Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Katarina Stingl
- University Eye Hospital, Center for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Center for Rare Eye Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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31
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Colombo L, Maltese PE, Castori M, El Shamieh S, Zeitz C, Audo I, Zulian A, Marinelli C, Benedetti S, Costantini A, Bressan S, Percio M, Ferri P, Abeshi A, Bertelli M, Rossetti L. Molecular Epidemiology in 591 Italian Probands With Nonsyndromic Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:13. [PMID: 33576794 PMCID: PMC7884295 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.2.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To describe the molecular epidemiology of nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Usher syndrome (US) in Italian patients. Methods A total of 591 probands (315 with family history and 276 sporadics) were analyzed. For 155 of them, we performed a family segregation study, considering a total of 382 relatives. Probands were analyzed by a customized multigene panel approach. Sanger sequencing was used to validate all genetic variants and to perform family segregation studies. Copy number variants of selected genes were analyzed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Four patients who tested negative to targeted next-generation sequencing analysis underwent clinical exome sequencing. Results The mean diagnostic yield of molecular testing among patients with a family history of retinal disorders was 55.2% while the diagnostic yield including sporadic cases was 37.4%. We found 468 potentially pathogenic variants, 147 of which were unpublished, in 308 probands and 66 relatives. Mean ages of onset of the different classes of RP were autosomal dominant RP, 19.3 ± 12.6 years; autosomal recessive RP, 23.2 ± 16.6 years; X-linked RP, 13.9 ± 9.9 years; and Usher syndrome, 18.9 ± 9.5 years. We reported potential new genotype-phenotype correlations in three probands, two revealed by TruSight One testing. All three probands showed isolated RP caused by biallelic variants in genes usually associated with syndromes such as PERCHING and Senior-Loken or with retinal dystrophy, iris coloboma, and comedogenic acne syndrome. Conclusions This is the largest molecular study of Italian patients with RP in the literature, thus reflecting the epidemiology of the disease in Italy with reasonable accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Colombo
- Department of Ophthalmology, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Marco Castori
- Division of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS-Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Said El Shamieh
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon.,Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Christina Zeitz
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, DHUSight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC1423, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Audo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, DHUSight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC1423, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Paolo Ferri
- Department of Ophthalmology, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Andi Abeshi
- MAGI's Lab s.r.l., Rovereto, Italy.,Department of Otolaryngology, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Luca Rossetti
- Department of Ophthalmology, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Partial recovery of visual function in a blind patient after optogenetic therapy. Nat Med 2021; 27:1223-1229. [PMID: 34031601 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01351-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 308] [Impact Index Per Article: 102.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetics may enable mutation-independent, circuit-specific restoration of neuronal function in neurological diseases. Retinitis pigmentosa is a neurodegenerative eye disease where loss of photoreceptors can lead to complete blindness. In a blind patient, we combined intraocular injection of an adeno-associated viral vector encoding ChrimsonR with light stimulation via engineered goggles. The goggles detect local changes in light intensity and project corresponding light pulses onto the retina in real time to activate optogenetically transduced retinal ganglion cells. The patient perceived, located, counted and touched different objects using the vector-treated eye alone while wearing the goggles. During visual perception, multichannel electroencephalographic recordings revealed object-related activity above the visual cortex. The patient could not visually detect any objects before injection with or without the goggles or after injection without the goggles. This is the first reported case of partial functional recovery in a neurodegenerative disease after optogenetic therapy.
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Fuster-García C, García-Bohórquez B, Rodríguez-Muñoz A, Aller E, Jaijo T, Millán JM, García-García G. Usher Syndrome: Genetics of a Human Ciliopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6723. [PMID: 34201633 PMCID: PMC8268283 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessive syndromic ciliopathy characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, retinitis pigmentosa and, sometimes, vestibular dysfunction. There are three clinical types depending on the severity and age of onset of the symptoms; in addition, ten genes are reported to be causative of USH, and six more related to the disease. These genes encode proteins of a diverse nature, which interact and form a dynamic protein network called the "Usher interactome". In the organ of Corti, the USH proteins are essential for the correct development and maintenance of the structure and cohesion of the stereocilia. In the retina, the USH protein network is principally located in the periciliary region of the photoreceptors, and plays an important role in the maintenance of the periciliary structure and the trafficking of molecules between the inner and the outer segments of photoreceptors. Even though some genes are clearly involved in the syndrome, others are controversial. Moreover, expression of some USH genes has been detected in other tissues, which could explain their involvement in additional mild comorbidities. In this paper, we review the genetics of Usher syndrome and the spectrum of mutations in USH genes. The aim is to identify possible mutation associations with the disease and provide an updated genotype-phenotype correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Fuster-García
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network for Rare Diseases, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Belén García-Bohórquez
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Rodríguez-Muñoz
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Elena Aller
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network for Rare Diseases, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Genetics Unit, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Teresa Jaijo
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network for Rare Diseases, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Genetics Unit, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - José M. Millán
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network for Rare Diseases, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Gema García-García
- Molecular, Cellular and Genomics Biomedicine Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain; (C.F.-G.); (B.G.-B.); (A.R.-M.); (E.A.); (T.J.); (G.G.-G.)
- Unidad Mixta de Enfermedades Raras IIS La Fe-Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network for Rare Diseases, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
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Unraveling the genetic complexities of combined retinal dystrophy and hearing impairment. Hum Genet 2021; 141:785-803. [PMID: 34148116 PMCID: PMC9035000 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-021-02303-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Usher syndrome, the most prevalent cause of combined hereditary vision and hearing impairment, is clinically and genetically heterogeneous. Moreover, several conditions with phenotypes overlapping Usher syndrome have been described. This makes the molecular diagnosis of hereditary deaf–blindness challenging. Here, we performed exome sequencing and analysis on 7 Mexican and 52 Iranian probands with combined retinal degeneration and hearing impairment (without intellectual disability). Clinical assessment involved ophthalmological examination and hearing loss questionnaire. Usher syndrome, most frequently due to biallelic variants in MYO7A (USH1B in 16 probands), USH2A (17 probands), and ADGRV1 (USH2C in 7 probands), was diagnosed in 44 of 59 (75%) unrelated probands. Almost half of the identified variants were novel. Nine of 59 (15%) probands displayed other genetic entities with dual sensory impairment, including Alström syndrome (3 patients), cone-rod dystrophy and hearing loss 1 (2 probands), and Heimler syndrome (1 patient). Unexpected findings included one proband each with Scheie syndrome, coenzyme Q10 deficiency, and pseudoxanthoma elasticum. In four probands, including three Usher cases, dual sensory impairment was either modified/aggravated or caused by variants in distinct genes associated with retinal degeneration and/or hearing loss. The overall diagnostic yield of whole exome analysis in our deaf–blind cohort was 92%. Two (3%) probands were partially solved and only 3 (5%) remained without any molecular diagnosis. In many cases, the molecular diagnosis is important to guide genetic counseling, to support prognostic outcomes and decisions with currently available and evolving treatment modalities.
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PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ROD-CONE DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATED WITH MYO7A MUTATIONS IN A LARGE FRENCH COHORT. Retina 2021; 40:1603-1615. [PMID: 31479088 DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000002636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To document the rod-cone dystrophy phenotype of patients with Usher syndrome type 1 (USH1) harboring MYO7A mutations. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of 53 patients (42 families) with biallelic MYO7A mutations who underwent comprehensive examination, including functional visual tests and multimodal retinal imaging. Genetic analysis was performed either using a multiplex amplicon panel or through direct sequencing. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics software v. 21.0. RESULTS Fifty different genetic variations including 4 novel were identified. Most patients showed a typical rod-cone dystrophy phenotype, with best-corrected visual acuity and central visual field deteriorating linearly with age. At age 29, binocular visual field demonstrated an average preservation of 50 central degrees, constricting by 50% within 5 years. Structural changes based on spectral domain optical coherence tomography, short wavelength autofluorescence, and near-infrared autofluorescence measurements did not however correlate with age. Our study revealed a higher percentage of epiretinal membranes and cystoid macular edema in patients with MYO7A mutations compared with rod-cone dystrophy patients with other mutations. Subgroup analyses did not reveal substantial genotype-phenotype correlations. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest French cohort of patients with MYO7A mutations reported to date. Functional visual characteristics of this subset of patients followed a linear decline as in other typical rod-cone dystrophy, but structural changes were variable indicating the need for a case-by-case evaluation for prognostic prediction and choice of potential therapies.
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Reurink J, Dockery A, Oziębło D, Farrar GJ, Ołdak M, ten Brink JB, Bergen AA, Rinne T, Yntema HG, Pennings RJE, van den Born LI, Aben M, Oostrik J, Venselaar H, Plomp AS, Khan MI, van Wijk E, Cremers FPM, Roosing S, Kremer H. Molecular Inversion Probe-Based Sequencing of USH2A Exons and Splice Sites as a Cost-Effective Screening Tool in USH2 and arRP Cases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126419. [PMID: 34203967 PMCID: PMC8232728 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A substantial proportion of subjects with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP) or Usher syndrome type II (USH2) lacks a genetic diagnosis due to incomplete USH2A screening in the early days of genetic testing. These cases lack eligibility for optimal genetic counseling and future therapy. USH2A defects are the most frequent cause of USH2 and are also causative in individuals with arRP. Therefore, USH2A is an important target for genetic screening. The aim of this study was to assess unscreened or incompletely screened and unexplained USH2 and arRP cases for (likely) pathogenic USH2A variants. Molecular inversion probe (MIP)-based sequencing was performed for the USH2A exons and their flanking regions, as well as published deep-intronic variants. This was done to identify single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy number variants (CNVs) in 29 unscreened or partially pre-screened USH2 and 11 partially pre-screened arRP subjects. In 29 out of these 40 cases, two (likely) pathogenic variants were successfully identified. Four of the identified SNVs and one CNV were novel. One previously identified synonymous variant was demonstrated to affect pre-mRNA splicing. In conclusion, genetic diagnoses were obtained for a majority of cases, which confirms that MIP-based sequencing is an effective screening tool for USH2A. Seven unexplained cases were selected for future analysis with whole genome sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Reurink
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
| | - Adrian Dockery
- The School of Genetics & Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland; (A.D.); (G.J.F.)
| | - Dominika Oziębło
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, 02-042 Warsaw/Kajetany, Poland; (D.O.); (M.O.)
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - G. Jane Farrar
- The School of Genetics & Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, D02 VF25 Dublin, Ireland; (A.D.); (G.J.F.)
| | - Monika Ołdak
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, 02-042 Warsaw/Kajetany, Poland; (D.O.); (M.O.)
| | - Jacoline B. ten Brink
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (J.B.t.B.); (A.A.B.); (A.S.P.)
| | - Arthur A. Bergen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (J.B.t.B.); (A.A.B.); (A.S.P.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tuula Rinne
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
| | - Helger G. Yntema
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
| | - Ronald J. E. Pennings
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | | | - Marco Aben
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
| | - Jaap Oostrik
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Hanka Venselaar
- Centre for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Astrid S. Plomp
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (J.B.t.B.); (A.A.B.); (A.S.P.)
| | - M. Imran Khan
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
| | - Erwin van Wijk
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Frans P. M. Cremers
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
| | - Susanne Roosing
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
| | - Hannie Kremer
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (T.R.); (H.G.Y.); (M.A.); (M.I.K.); (F.P.M.C.); (S.R.)
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (R.J.E.P.); (E.v.W.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence:
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Meng X, Liu X, Li Y, Guo T, Yang L. Correlation between Genotype and Phenotype in 69 Chinese Patients with USH2A Mutations: A comparative study of the patients with Usher Syndrome and Nonsyndromic Retinitis Pigmentosa. Acta Ophthalmol 2021; 99:e447-e460. [PMID: 33124170 DOI: 10.1111/aos.14626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to analyse 69 Chinese patients with USH2A mutations and to assess the genotype-phenotype correlation. METHODS All 36 Usher syndrome type IIA patients and 33 nonsyndromic RP (retinitis pigmentosa) patients underwent clinical examinations. Eye examinations included best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundus examination with dilated pupils, fundus fluorescent angiography, visual field test, full-field electroretinography and optic coherence tomography; audiological assessment included pure tone audiometry and hearing thresholds. The molecular diagnosis of genotype combined the single-gene Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing. This study is a retrospective study. RESULTS The mean age of first symptoms with Usher syndrome type IIa and nonsyndromic RP patients was 13.7 versus 29.8 years (ocular phenotypes, p < 0.001); 17.7 versus 29.9 years (nyctalopia, p < 0.001); 44.7 versus 54.8 years (low vision based on VF, p < 0.001); 41.7 versus 54.7 years (low vision based on VA, p < 0.001); and 46.0 versus 56.7 years (legal blindness based on VF, p < 0.001). There was significant difference in variants in the two groups (p < 0.05). Among patients with mutation c.2802T > G (p.Cys934Trp), more (66.7%) presented with normal hearing. All patients (3/3, 100%) with the variant c.8232G > C (p.Trp2744Cys) had hearing loss. Furthermore, we identified 23 novel variants in USH2A. CONCLUSIONS Patients with Usher syndrome type IIa had an earlier onset of the disease, inferior visual function and presented with more truncating variants, compared with the nonsyndromic RP patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Meng
- Department of Ophthalmology Peking University Third Hospital Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve Beijing China
| | - XiaoZhen Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology Peking University Third Hospital Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve Beijing China
| | - YingYing Li
- Department of Ophthalmology Peking University Third Hospital Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve Beijing China
| | - Tong Guo
- Department of Ophthalmology Peking University Third Hospital Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve Beijing China
| | - Liping Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology Peking University Third Hospital Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve Beijing China
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Ahmed AN, Tahir R, Khan N, Ahmad M, Dawood M, Basit A, Yasin M, Nowshid M, Marwan M, Sultan K, Saleha S. USH2A gene variants cause Keratoconus and Usher syndrome phenotypes in Pakistani families. BMC Ophthalmol 2021; 21:191. [PMID: 33926394 PMCID: PMC8086330 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-021-01957-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common inherited retinal dystrophy, affecting approximately 1 in 4000 individuals worldwide. The most common form of syndromic RP is Usher syndrome (USH) accounting for approximately 20–30 % of RP cases. Mutations in the USH2A gene cause a significant proportion of recessive non-syndromic RP and USH type II (USH2). This study aimed to determine the causative role of the USH2A gene in autosomal recessive inherited ocular diseases and to establish genotype-phenotype correlation associated with USH2A variants. Methods We performed direct Sanger sequencing and co-segregation analysis of the USH2A gene to identify disease causing variants in a non-syndromic RP family, two USH2 families and two Keratoconus (KC) families. Results Disease causing variants in the USH2A gene were identified in two families displayed KC and USH2 phenotypes. A novel variant c.4029T > G, p.Asn1343Lys in the USH2A gene was detected in a Pakistani family with KC phenotype. In addition, a missense variant (c.7334 C > T, p. Ser2445Phe) in the USH2A gene was found segregating in another Pakistani family with USH2 phenotype. Homozygosity of identified missense USH2A variants was found associated with autosomal recessive inherited KC and USH2 phenotypes in investigated families. These variants were not detected in ethnically matched healthy controls. Moreover, the USH2A variants were predicted to be deleterious or potentially disease causing by PolyPhen-2, PROVEAN and SIFT. Conclusions This study provided first evidence for association of a novel USH2A variant with KC phenotype in a Pakistani family as well as established the phenotype-genotype correlation of a USH2A variant (c.7334 C > T, p. Ser2445Phe) with USH2 phenotype in another Pakistani family. The phenotype-genotype correlations established in present study may improve clinical diagnosis of affected individuals for better management and counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asif Naveed Ahmed
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Raheel Tahir
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Niamat Khan
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Mushtaq Ahmad
- Medical Teaching Institution, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, 25000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Dawood
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Basit
- Medical Teaching Institution, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, 25000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Yasin
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Maha Nowshid
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Marwan
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Komal Sultan
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Shamim Saleha
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kohat, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
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Eckert MA, Harris KC, Lang H, Lewis MA, Schmiedt RA, Schulte BA, Steel KP, Vaden KI, Dubno JR. Translational and interdisciplinary insights into presbyacusis: A multidimensional disease. Hear Res 2021; 402:108109. [PMID: 33189490 PMCID: PMC7927149 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2020.108109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
There are multiple etiologies and phenotypes of age-related hearing loss or presbyacusis. In this review we summarize findings from animal and human studies of presbyacusis, including those that provide the theoretical framework for distinct metabolic, sensory, and neural presbyacusis phenotypes. A key finding in quiet-aged animals is a decline in the endocochlear potential (EP) that results in elevated pure-tone thresholds across frequencies with greater losses at higher frequencies. In contrast, sensory presbyacusis appears to derive, in part, from acute and cumulative effects on hair cells of a lifetime of environmental exposures (e.g., noise), which often result in pronounced high frequency hearing loss. These patterns of hearing loss in animals are recognizable in the human audiogram and can be classified into metabolic and sensory presbyacusis phenotypes, as well as a mixed metabolic+sensory phenotype. However, the audiogram does not fully characterize age-related changes in auditory function. Along with the effects of peripheral auditory system declines on the auditory nerve, primary degeneration in the spiral ganglion also appears to contribute to central auditory system aging. These inner ear alterations often correlate with structural and functional changes throughout the central nervous system and may explain suprathreshold speech communication difficulties in older adults with hearing loss. Throughout this review we highlight potential methods and research directions, with the goal of advancing our understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of presbyacusis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Eckert
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Kelly C Harris
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Hainan Lang
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Morag A Lewis
- King's College London, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Richard A Schmiedt
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Bradley A Schulte
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Karen P Steel
- King's College London, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Kenneth I Vaden
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Judy R Dubno
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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Mei C, Dong H, Nisenbaum E, Thielhelm T, Nourbakhsh A, Yan D, Smeal M, Lundberg Y, Hoffer ME, Angeli S, Telischi F, Nie G, Blanton SH, Liu X. Genetics and the Individualized Therapy of Vestibular Disorders. Front Neurol 2021; 12:633207. [PMID: 33613440 PMCID: PMC7892966 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.633207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Vestibular disorders (VDs) are a clinically divergent group of conditions that stem from pathology at the level of the inner ear, vestibulocochlear nerve, or central vestibular pathway. No etiology can be identified in the majority of patients with VDs. Relatively few families have been reported with VD, and so far, no causative genes have been identified despite the fact that more than 100 genes have been identified for inherited hearing loss. Inherited VDs, similar to deafness, are genetically heterogeneous and follow Mendelian inheritance patterns with all modes of transmission, as well as multifactorial inheritance. With advances in genetic sequencing, evidence of familial clustering in VD has begun to highlight the genetic causes of these disorders, potentially opening up new avenues of treatment, particularly in Meniere's disease and disorders with comorbid hearing loss, such as Usher syndrome. In this review, we aim to present recent findings on the genetics of VDs, review the role of genetic sequencing tools, and explore the potential for individualized medicine in the treatment of these disorders. Methods: A search of the PubMed database was performed for English language studies relevant to the genetic basis of and therapies for vestibular disorders, using search terms including but not limited to: “genetics,” “genomics,” “vestibular disorders,” “hearing loss with vestibular dysfunction,” “individualized medicine,” “genome-wide association studies,” “precision medicine,” and “Meniere's syndrome.” Results: Increasing numbers of studies on vestibular disorder genetics have been published in recent years. Next-generation sequencing and new genetic tools are being utilized to unearth the significance of the genomic findings in terms of understanding disease etiology and clinical utility, with growing research interest being shown for individualized gene therapy for some disorders. Conclusions: The genetic knowledge base for vestibular disorders is still in its infancy. Identifying the genetic causes of balance problems is imperative in our understanding of the biology of normal function of the vestibule and the disease etiology and process. There is an increasing effort to use new and efficient genetic sequencing tools to discover the genetic causes for these diseases, leading to the hope for precise and personalized treatment for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Mei
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Hongsong Dong
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States.,Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Eric Nisenbaum
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Torin Thielhelm
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Aida Nourbakhsh
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Denise Yan
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Molly Smeal
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Yesha Lundberg
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Michael E Hoffer
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Simon Angeli
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Fred Telischi
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Guohui Nie
- Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Susan H Blanton
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Xuezhong Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
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Gupta A, Kafetzis KN, Tagalakis AD, Yu-Wai-Man C. RNA therapeutics in ophthalmology - translation to clinical trials. Exp Eye Res 2021; 205:108482. [PMID: 33548256 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The use of RNA interference technology has proven to inhibit the expression of many target genes involved in the underlying pathogenesis of several diseases affecting various systems. First established in in vitro and later in animal studies, small interfering RNA (siRNA) and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutics are now entering clinical trials with the potential of clinical translation to patients. Gene-silencing therapies have demonstrated promising responses in ocular disorders, predominantly due to the structure of the eye being a closed and compartmentalised organ. However, although the efficacy of such treatments has been observed in both preclinical studies and clinical trials, there are issues pertaining to the use of these drugs which require more extensive research with regards to the delivery and stability of siRNAs and ASOs. This would improve their use for long-term treatment regimens and alleviate the difficulties experienced by patients with ocular diseases. This review provides a detailed insight into the recent developments and clinical trials that have been conducted for several gene-silencing therapies, including ISTH0036, SYL040012, SYL1001, PF-04523655, Sirna-027, QR-110, QR-1123, QR-421a and IONIS-FB-LRX in glaucoma, dry eye disease, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular oedema and various inherited retinal diseases. Our aim is to explore the potential of these drugs whilst evaluating their associated advantages and disadvantages, and to discuss the future translation of RNA therapeutics in ophthalmology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aanchal Gupta
- King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Cynthia Yu-Wai-Man
- King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom.
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Peripheral Anomalies in USH2A Cause Central Auditory Anomalies in a Mouse Model of Usher Syndrome and CAPD. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020151. [PMID: 33498833 PMCID: PMC7910880 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) is associated with difficulties hearing and processing acoustic information, as well as subsequent impacts on the development of higher-order cognitive processes (i.e., attention and language). Yet CAPD also lacks clear and consistent diagnostic criteria, with widespread clinical disagreement on this matter. As such, identification of biological markers for CAPD would be useful. A recent genome association study identified a potential CAPD risk gene, USH2A. In a homozygous state, this gene is associated with Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2), a recessive disorder resulting in bilateral, high-frequency hearing loss due to atypical cochlear hair cell development. However, children with heterozygous USH2A mutations have also been found to show unexpected low-frequency hearing loss and reduced early vocabulary, contradicting assumptions that the heterozygous (carrier) state is "phenotype free". Parallel evidence has confirmed that heterozygous Ush2a mutations in a transgenic mouse model also cause low-frequency hearing loss (Perrino et al., 2020). Importantly, these auditory processing anomalies were still evident after covariance for hearing loss, suggesting a CAPD profile. Since usherin anomalies occur in the peripheral cochlea and not central auditory structures, these findings point to upstream developmental feedback effects of peripheral sensory loss on high-level processing characteristic of CAPD. In this study, we aimed to expand upon the mouse behavioral battery used in Perrino et al. (2020) by evaluating central auditory brain structures, including the superior olivary complex (SOC) and medial geniculate nucleus (MGN), in heterozygous and homozygous Ush2a mice. We found that heterozygous Ush2a mice had significantly larger SOC volumes while homozygous Ush2a had significantly smaller SOC volumes. Heterozygous mutations did not affect the MGN; however, homozygous Ush2a mutations resulted in a significant shift towards more smaller neurons. These findings suggest that alterations in cochlear development due to USH2A variation can secondarily impact the development of brain regions important for auditory processing ability.
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Noel NCL, MacDonald IM, Allison WT. Zebrafish Models of Photoreceptor Dysfunction and Degeneration. Biomolecules 2021; 11:78. [PMID: 33435268 PMCID: PMC7828047 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010078] [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: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish are an instrumental system for the generation of photoreceptor degeneration models, which can be utilized to determine underlying causes of photoreceptor dysfunction and death, and for the analysis of potential therapeutic compounds, as well as the characterization of regenerative responses. We review the wealth of information from existing zebrafish models of photoreceptor disease, specifically as they relate to currently accepted taxonomic classes of human rod and cone disease. We also highlight that rich, detailed information can be derived from studying photoreceptor development, structure, and function, including behavioural assessments and in vivo imaging of zebrafish. Zebrafish models are available for a diversity of photoreceptor diseases, including cone dystrophies, which are challenging to recapitulate in nocturnal mammalian systems. Newly discovered models of photoreceptor disease and drusenoid deposit formation may not only provide important insights into pathogenesis of disease, but also potential therapeutic approaches. Zebrafish have already shown their use in providing pre-clinical data prior to testing genetic therapies in clinical trials, such as antisense oligonucleotide therapy for Usher syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C. L. Noel
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada; (I.M.M.); (W.T.A.)
| | - Ian M. MacDonald
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada; (I.M.M.); (W.T.A.)
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada
| | - W. Ted Allison
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada; (I.M.M.); (W.T.A.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
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Schwaller F, Bégay V, García-García G, Taberner FJ, Moshourab R, McDonald B, Docter T, Kühnemund J, Ojeda-Alonso J, Paricio-Montesinos R, Lechner SG, Poulet JFA, Millan JM, Lewin GR. USH2A is a Meissner's corpuscle protein necessary for normal vibration sensing in mice and humans. Nat Neurosci 2021. [PMID: 33288907 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.01.180919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Fingertip mechanoreceptors comprise sensory neuron endings together with specialized skin cells that form the end-organ. Exquisitely sensitive, vibration-sensing neurons are associated with Meissner's corpuscles in the skin. In the present study, we found that USH2A, a transmembrane protein with a very large extracellular domain, was found in terminal Schwann cells within Meissner's corpuscles. Pathogenic USH2A mutations cause Usher's syndrome, associated with hearing loss and visual impairment. We show that patients with biallelic pathogenic USH2A mutations also have clear and specific impairments in vibrotactile touch perception, as do mutant mice lacking USH2A. Forepaw rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors innervating Meissner's corpuscles, recorded from Ush2a-/- mice, showed large reductions in vibration sensitivity. However, the USH2A protein was not found in sensory neurons. Thus, loss of USH2A in corpuscular end-organs reduced mechanoreceptor sensitivity as well as vibration perception. Thus, a tether-like protein is required to facilitate detection of small-amplitude vibrations essential for the perception of fine-grained tactile surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Schwaller
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Valérie Bégay
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gema García-García
- Research Group on Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine Health Research, Institute La Fe and Joint Unit for Rare Diseases CIPF-IIS La Fe, Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco J Taberner
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain
| | - Rabih Moshourab
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Mitte, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Anesthesiology, Helios Klinikum Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
| | - Brennan McDonald
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Trevor Docter
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Life Sciences Addition, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Johannes Kühnemund
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Ojeda-Alonso
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ricardo Paricio-Montesinos
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan G Lechner
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - James F A Poulet
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jose M Millan
- Research Group on Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine Health Research, Institute La Fe and Joint Unit for Rare Diseases CIPF-IIS La Fe, Valencia, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gary R Lewin
- Department of Neuroscience, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
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Martín-Sánchez M, Bravo-Gil N, González-del Pozo M, Méndez-Vidal C, Fernández-Suárez E, Rodríguez-de la Rúa E, Borrego S, Antiñolo G. A Multi-Strategy Sequencing Workflow in Inherited Retinal Dystrophies: Routine Diagnosis, Addressing Unsolved Cases and Candidate Genes Identification. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9355. [PMID: 33302505 PMCID: PMC7763277 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The management of unsolved inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD) cases is challenging since no standard pipelines have been established. This study aimed to define a diagnostic algorithm useful for the diagnostic routine and to address unsolved cases. Here, we applied a Next-Generation Sequencing-based workflow, including a first step of panel sequencing (PS) followed by clinical-exome sequencing (CES) and whole-exome sequencing (WES), in 46 IRD patients belonging to 42 families. Twenty-six likely causal variants in retinal genes were found by PS and CES. CES and WES allowed proposing two novel candidate loci (WDFY3 and a X-linked region including CITED1), both abundantly expressed in human retina according to RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. After comparison studies, PS showed the best quality and cost values, CES and WES involved similar analytical efforts and WES presented the highest diagnostic yield. These results reinforce the relevance of panels as a first step in the diagnostic routine and suggest WES as the next strategy for unsolved cases, reserving CES for the simultaneous study of multiple conditions. Standardizing this algorithm would enhance the efficiency and equity of clinical genetics practice. Furthermore, the identified candidate genes could contribute to increase the diagnostic yield and expand the mutational spectrum in these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Martín-Sánchez
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (M.M.-S.); (N.B.-G.); (M.G.-d.P.); (C.M.-V.); (E.F.-S.); (S.B.)
| | - Nereida Bravo-Gil
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (M.M.-S.); (N.B.-G.); (M.G.-d.P.); (C.M.-V.); (E.F.-S.); (S.B.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - María González-del Pozo
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (M.M.-S.); (N.B.-G.); (M.G.-d.P.); (C.M.-V.); (E.F.-S.); (S.B.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Cristina Méndez-Vidal
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (M.M.-S.); (N.B.-G.); (M.G.-d.P.); (C.M.-V.); (E.F.-S.); (S.B.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Elena Fernández-Suárez
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (M.M.-S.); (N.B.-G.); (M.G.-d.P.); (C.M.-V.); (E.F.-S.); (S.B.)
| | - Enrique Rodríguez-de la Rúa
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, 41013 Seville, Spain;
- Retics Patologia Ocular, OFTARED, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Salud Borrego
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (M.M.-S.); (N.B.-G.); (M.G.-d.P.); (C.M.-V.); (E.F.-S.); (S.B.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Guillermo Antiñolo
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (M.M.-S.); (N.B.-G.); (M.G.-d.P.); (C.M.-V.); (E.F.-S.); (S.B.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
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Schwaller F, Bégay V, García-García G, Taberner FJ, Moshourab R, McDonald B, Docter T, Kühnemund J, Ojeda-Alonso J, Paricio-Montesinos R, Lechner SG, Poulet JFA, Millan JM, Lewin GR. USH2A is a Meissner’s corpuscle protein necessary for normal vibration sensing in mice and humans. Nat Neurosci 2020; 24:74-81. [DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-00751-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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47
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Toualbi L, Toms M, Moosajee M. USH2A-retinopathy: From genetics to therapeutics. Exp Eye Res 2020; 201:108330. [PMID: 33121974 PMCID: PMC8417766 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Bilallelic variants in the USH2A gene can cause Usher syndrome type 2 and non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa. In both disorders, the retinal phenotype involves progressive rod photoreceptor loss resulting in nyctalopia and a constricted visual field, followed by subsequent cone degeneration, leading to the loss of central vision and severe visual impairment. The USH2A gene raises many challenges for researchers and clinicians due to a broad spectrum of mutations, a large gene size hampering gene therapy development and limited knowledge on its pathogenicity. Patients with Usher type 2 may benefit from hearing aids or cochlear implants to correct their hearing defects, but there are currently no approved treatments available for the USH2A-retinopathy. Several treatment strategies, including antisense oligonucleotides and translational readthrough inducing drugs, have shown therapeutic promise in preclinical studies. Further understanding of the pathogenesis and natural history of USH2A-related disorders is required to develop innovative treatments and design clinical trials based on reliable outcome measures. The present review will discuss the current knowledge about USH2A, the emerging therapeutics and existing challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyes Toualbi
- Development, Ageing and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Maria Toms
- Development, Ageing and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Mariya Moosajee
- Development, Ageing and Disease, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK; Ocular Genomics and Therapeutics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Genetics, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, EC1V 2PD, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH, UK.
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48
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Inaba A, Maeda A, Yoshida A, Kawai K, Hirami Y, Kurimoto Y, Kosugi S, Takahashi M. Truncating Variants Contribute to Hearing Loss and Severe Retinopathy in USH2A-Associated Retinitis Pigmentosa in Japanese Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21217817. [PMID: 33105608 PMCID: PMC7659936 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
USH2A is a common causal gene of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a progressive blinding disease due to retinal degeneration. Genetic alterations in USH2A can lead to two types of RP, non-syndromic and syndromic RP, which is called Usher syndrome, with impairments of vision and hearing. The complexity of the genotype–phenotype correlation in USH2A-associated RP (USH2A-RP) has been reported. Genetic and clinical characterization of USH2A-RP has not been performed in Japanese patients. In this study, genetic analyses were performed using targeted panel sequencing in 525 Japanese RP patients. Pathogenic variants of USH2A were identified in 36 of 525 (6.9%) patients and genetic features of USH2A-RP were characterized. Among 36 patients with USH2A-RP, 11 patients had syndromic RP with congenital hearing problems. Amino acid changes due to USH2A alterations were similarly located throughout entire regions of the USH2A protein structure in non-syndromic and syndromic RP cases. Notably, truncating variants were detected in all syndromic patients with a more severe retinal phenotype as compared to non-syndromic RP cases. Taken together, truncating variants could contribute to more serious functional and tissue damages in Japanese patients, suggesting important roles for truncating mutations in the pathogenesis of syndromic USH2A-RP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Inaba
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; (A.I.); (A.Y.); (K.K.); (Y.H.); (Y.K.); (M.T.)
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
- Department of Medical Ethics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;
| | - Akiko Maeda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; (A.I.); (A.Y.); (K.K.); (Y.H.); (Y.K.); (M.T.)
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-(0)78-306-3305
| | - Akiko Yoshida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; (A.I.); (A.Y.); (K.K.); (Y.H.); (Y.K.); (M.T.)
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Kanako Kawai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; (A.I.); (A.Y.); (K.K.); (Y.H.); (Y.K.); (M.T.)
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Hirami
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; (A.I.); (A.Y.); (K.K.); (Y.H.); (Y.K.); (M.T.)
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Yasuo Kurimoto
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; (A.I.); (A.Y.); (K.K.); (Y.H.); (Y.K.); (M.T.)
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Shinji Kosugi
- Department of Medical Ethics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; (A.I.); (A.Y.); (K.K.); (Y.H.); (Y.K.); (M.T.)
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
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Whatley M, Francis A, Ng ZY, Khoh XE, Atlas MD, Dilley RJ, Wong EYM. Usher Syndrome: Genetics and Molecular Links of Hearing Loss and Directions for Therapy. Front Genet 2020; 11:565216. [PMID: 33193648 PMCID: PMC7642844 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.565216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessive (AR) disorder that permanently and severely affects the senses of hearing, vision, and balance. Three clinically distinct types of USH have been identified, decreasing in severity from Type 1 to 3, with symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and vestibular dysfunction. There are currently nine confirmed and two suspected USH-causative genes, and a further three candidate loci have been mapped. The proteins encoded by these genes form complexes that play critical roles in the development and maintenance of cellular structures within the inner ear and retina, which have minimal capacity for repair or regeneration. In the cochlea, stereocilia are located on the apical surface of inner ear hair cells (HC) and are responsible for transducing mechanical stimuli from sound pressure waves into chemical signals. These signals are then detected by the auditory nerve fibers, transmitted to the brain and interpreted as sound. Disease-causing mutations in USH genes can destabilize the tip links that bind the stereocilia to each other, and cause defects in protein trafficking and stereocilia bundle morphology, thereby inhibiting mechanosensory transduction. This review summarizes the current knowledge on Usher syndrome with a particular emphasis on mutations in USH genes, USH protein structures, and functional analyses in animal models. Currently, there is no cure for USH. However, the genetic therapies that are rapidly developing will benefit from this compilation of detailed genetic information to identify the most effective strategies for restoring functional USH proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meg Whatley
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Abbie Francis
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Emergency Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Zi Ying Ng
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Xin Ee Khoh
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Marcus D. Atlas
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Rodney J. Dilley
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Elaine Y. M. Wong
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
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50
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Wonkam A, Manyisa N, Bope CD, Dandara C, Chimusa ER. Whole exome sequencing reveals pathogenic variants in MYO3A, MYO15A and COL9A3 and differential frequencies in ancestral alleles in hearing impairment genes among individuals from Cameroon. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:3729-3743. [PMID: 33078831 PMCID: PMC7861016 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
There is scarcity of known gene variants of hearing impairment (HI) in African populations. This knowledge deficit is ultimately affecting the development of genetic diagnoses. We used whole exome sequencing to investigate gene variants, pathways of interactive genes and the fractions of ancestral overderived alleles for 159 HI genes among 18 Cameroonian patients with non-syndromic HI (NSHI) and 129 ethnically matched controls. Pathogenic and likely pathogenic (PLP) variants were found in MYO3A, MYO15A and COL9A3, with a resolution rate of 50% (9/18 patients). The study identified significant genetic differentiation in novel population-specific gene variants at FOXD4L2, DHRS2L6, RPL3L and VTN between HI patients and controls. These gene variants are found in functional/co-expressed interactive networks with other known HI-associated genes and in the same pathways with VTN being a hub protein, that is, focal adhesion pathway and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton (P-values <0.05). The results suggest that these novel population-specific gene variants are possible modifiers of the HI phenotypes. We found a high proportion of ancestral allele versus derived at low HI patients-specific minor allele frequency in the range of 0.0–0.1. The results showed a relatively low pickup rate of PLP variants in known genes in this group of Cameroonian patients with NSHI. In addition, findings may signal an evolutionary enrichment of some variants of HI genes in patients, as the result of polygenic adaptation, and suggest the possibility of multigenic influence on the phenotype of congenital HI, which deserves further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Noluthando Manyisa
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Christian D Bope
- Department of Mathematics and Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Collet Dandara
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Emile R Chimusa
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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