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Cupini S, Di Marco S, Boselli L, Cavalli A, Tarricone G, Mastronardi V, Castagnola V, Colombo E, Pompa PP, Benfenati F. Platinum Nanozymes Counteract Photoreceptor Degeneration and Retina Inflammation in a Light-Damage Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. ACS NANO 2023; 17:22800-22820. [PMID: 37934489 PMCID: PMC10690844 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c07517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Degeneration of photoreceptors in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with oxidative stress due to the intense aerobic metabolism of rods and cones that if not properly counterbalanced by endogenous antioxidant mechanisms can precipitate photoreceptor degeneration. In spite of being a priority eye disease for its high incidence in the elderly, no effective treatments for AMD exist. While systemic administration of antioxidants has been unsuccessful in slowing down degeneration, locally administered rare-earth nanoparticles were shown to be effective in preventing retinal photo-oxidative damage. However, because of inherent problems of dispersion in biological media, limited antioxidant power, and short lifetimes, these NPs are still confined to the preclinical stage. Here we propose platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs), potent antioxidant nanozymes, as a therapeutic tool for AMD. PtNPs exhibit high catalytic activity at minimal concentrations and protect primary neurons against oxidative insults and the ensuing apoptosis. We tested the efficacy of intravitreally injected PtNPs in preventing or mitigating light damage produced in dark-reared albino Sprague-Dawley rats by in vivo electroretinography (ERG) and ex vivo retina morphology and electrophysiology. We found that both preventive and postlesional treatments with PtNPs increased the amplitude of ERG responses to light stimuli. Ex vivo recordings demonstrated the selective preservation of ON retinal ganglion cell responses to light stimulation in lesioned retinas treated with PtNPs. PtNPs administered after light damage significantly preserved the number of photoreceptors and inhibited the inflammatory response to degeneration, while the preventive treatment had a milder effect. The data indicate that PtNPs can effectively break the vicious cycle linking oxidative stress, degeneration, and inflammation by exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. The increased photoreceptor survival and visual performances in degenerated retinas, together with their high biocompatibility, make PtNPs a potential strategy to cure AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Cupini
- Center
for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Department
of Experimental Medicine, University of
Genova, Viale Benedetto
XV 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Marco
- Center
for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
- IRCCS
Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rossana Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Luca Boselli
- Nanobiointeractions
& Nanodiagnostics, Istituto Italiano
di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Alessio Cavalli
- Center
for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Department
of Experimental Medicine, University of
Genova, Viale Benedetto
XV 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Giulia Tarricone
- Nanobiointeractions
& Nanodiagnostics, Istituto Italiano
di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Valentina Mastronardi
- Nanobiointeractions
& Nanodiagnostics, Istituto Italiano
di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Valentina Castagnola
- Center
for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
- IRCCS
Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rossana Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Colombo
- Center
for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
- IRCCS
Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rossana Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Pier Paolo Pompa
- Nanobiointeractions
& Nanodiagnostics, Istituto Italiano
di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center
for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
- IRCCS
Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rossana Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
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2
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Liu TYA, Ling C, Hahn L, Jones CK, Boon CJ, Singh MS. Prediction of visual impairment in retinitis pigmentosa using deep learning and multimodal fundus images. Br J Ophthalmol 2023; 107:1484-1489. [PMID: 35896367 PMCID: PMC10579177 DOI: 10.1136/bjo-2021-320897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The efficiency of clinical trials for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) treatment is limited by the screening burden and lack of reliable surrogate markers for functional end points. Automated methods to determine visual acuity (VA) may help address these challenges. We aimed to determine if VA could be estimated using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) imaging and deep learning (DL). METHODS Snellen corrected VA and cSLO imaging were obtained retrospectively. The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) dataset was used for 10-fold cross-validations and internal testing. The Amsterdam University Medical Centers (AUMC) dataset was used for external independent testing. Both datasets had the same exclusion criteria: visually significant media opacities and images not centred on the central macula. The JHU dataset included patients with RP with and without molecular confirmation. The AUMC dataset only included molecularly confirmed patients with RP. Using transfer learning, three versions of the ResNet-152 neural network were trained: infrared (IR), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and combined image (CI). RESULTS In internal testing (JHU dataset, 2569 images, 462 eyes, 231 patients), the area under the curve (AUC) for the binary classification task of distinguishing between Snellen VA 20/40 or better and worse than Snellen VA 20/40 was 0.83, 0.87 and 0.85 for IR, OCT and CI, respectively. In external testing (AUMC dataset, 349 images, 166 eyes, 83 patients), the AUC was 0.78, 0.87 and 0.85 for IR, OCT and CI, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our algorithm showed robust performance in predicting visual impairment in patients with RP, thus providing proof-of-concept for predicting structure-function correlation based solely on cSLO imaging in patients with RP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tin Yan Alvin Liu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carlthan Ling
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Leo Hahn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC Locatie AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Craig K Jones
- Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Camiel Jf Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC Locatie AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mandeep S Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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3
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Maeda T, Takahashi M. iPSC-RPE in Retinal Degeneration: Recent Advancements and Future Perspectives. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041308. [PMID: 36690464 PMCID: PMC10411862 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041308] [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: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Regenerative medicine is a great hope for patients suffering from diseases for which no effective treatment is available. With the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in 2006, research and development has accelerated expeditiously, reaching a practical stage worldwide. The iPSC-regenerative medicine in ophthalmology is one of the pioneers, which has kicked off clinical application ahead of other fields owing to its advantages. The clinical safety issues of iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelial (iPSC-RPE) transplantation for exudative age-related macular degeneration have been addressed to a certain extent. Preparations are being made for the next clinical study based on the improvement of its therapeutic effects and expansion of indications globally. Steady progress toward the practical applications of regenerative medicine for the treatment of retinal disorders is expected in the future while strengthening global cooperation amid various research areas, clinical fields, and regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadao Maeda
- Research Center, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Vision Care Cell Therapy, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- Research Center, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe 6500-047, Japan
- Vision Care Cell Therapy, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
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4
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Francia S, Shmal D, Di Marco S, Chiaravalli G, Maya-Vetencourt JF, Mantero G, Michetti C, Cupini S, Manfredi G, DiFrancesco ML, Rocchi A, Perotto S, Attanasio M, Sacco R, Bisti S, Mete M, Pertile G, Lanzani G, Colombo E, Benfenati F. Light-induced charge generation in polymeric nanoparticles restores vision in advanced-stage retinitis pigmentosa rats. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3677. [PMID: 35760799 PMCID: PMC9237035 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31368-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal dystrophies such as Retinitis pigmentosa are among the most prevalent causes of inherited legal blindness, for which treatments are in demand. Retinal prostheses have been developed to stimulate the inner retinal network that, initially spared by degeneration, deteriorates in the late stages of the disease. We recently reported that conjugated polymer nanoparticles persistently rescue visual activities after a single subretinal injection in the Royal College of Surgeons rat model of Retinitis pigmentosa. Here we demonstrate that conjugated polymer nanoparticles can reinstate physiological signals at the cortical level and visually driven activities when microinjected in 10-months-old Royal College of Surgeons rats bearing fully light-insensitive retinas. The extent of visual restoration positively correlates with the nanoparticle density and hybrid contacts with second-order retinal neurons. The results establish the functional role of organic photovoltaic nanoparticles in restoring visual activities in fully degenerate retinas with intense inner retina rewiring, a stage of the disease in which patients are subjected to prosthetic interventions. Retinal dystrophies such as Retinitis pigmentosa are among the most prevalent causes of inherited incurable legal blindness. Here the authors demonstrate that conjugated polymer nanoparticles reinstate visual functions in aged rats with fully degenerated and rewired retinas.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Francia
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - D Shmal
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - S Di Marco
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - G Chiaravalli
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy
| | - J F Maya-Vetencourt
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - G Mantero
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - C Michetti
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - S Cupini
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - G Manfredi
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy.,Novavido s.r.l., Bologna, Italy
| | - M L DiFrancesco
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - A Rocchi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - S Perotto
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy
| | - M Attanasio
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS Sacrocuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - R Sacco
- Department of Mathematics, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - S Bisti
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - M Mete
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS Sacrocuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - G Pertile
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS Sacrocuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - G Lanzani
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy. .,Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - E Colombo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - F Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy. .,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
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5
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Maeda T, Mandai M, Sugita S, Kime C, Takahashi M. Strategies of pluripotent stem cell-based therapy for retinal degeneration: update and challenges. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:388-404. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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6
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Retinal Organoids and Retinal Prostheses: An Overview. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23062922. [PMID: 35328339 PMCID: PMC8953078 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23062922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the progress of modern medicine in the last decades, millions of people diagnosed with retinal dystrophies (RDs), such as retinitis pigmentosa, or age-related diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, are suffering from severe visual impairment or even legal blindness. On the one hand, the reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and the progress of three-dimensional (3D) retinal organoids (ROs) technology provide a great opportunity to study, understand, and even treat retinal diseases. On the other hand, research advances in the field of electronic retinal prosthesis using inorganic photovoltaic polymers and the emergence of organic semiconductors represent an encouraging therapeutical strategy to restore vision to patients at the late onset of the disease. This review will provide an overview of the latest advancement in both fields. We first describe the retina and the photoreceptors, briefly mention the most used RD animal models, then focus on the latest RO differentiation protocols, carry out an overview of the current technology on inorganic and organic retinal prostheses to restore vision, and finally summarize the potential utility and applications of ROs.
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7
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Inaba A, Yoshida A, Maeda A, Kawai K, Kosugi S, Takahashi M. Perception of genetic testing among patients with inherited retinal disease: Benefits and challenges in a Japanese population. J Genet Couns 2022; 31:860-867. [PMID: 35106875 DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal disease (IRD) is clinically and genetically heterogeneous. Awareness of the importance of genetic testing for IRD in the clinical setting is increasing with the recent development of new therapeutic strategies, such as gene therapy. Here, the perception of genetic testing, including its benefits and potential challenges, among patients with IRD was investigated to establish strategies for IRD genetic testing and counseling practices that can meet the requirements of the patients in Japan. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 275 patients with IRD who underwent genetic testing after clinical consultation and genetic counseling to investigate the motivations for genetic testing, benefits, challenges, status of communication of results to family, and attitude to timing of genetic testing. In total, 228 (82.9%) responses were analyzed. Several major motivations for genetic testing were identified, including gaining information on future treatment options and clarification of the inheritance pattern, among others. No association was found between the sharing of results with family members and the results of genetic testing. Moreover, according to patients who received positive results, the benefits of genetic testing included information on the inheritance pattern, additional information on the diagnosis, and mental preparation for the future. Even patients who received negative or inconclusive (variant of uncertain significance) results reported certain informative and psychological benefits. Altogether, these findings suggest that provisions for genetic testing and genetic counseling are necessary within a certain period after clinical diagnosis and it is necessary to facilitate appropriate family communication about genetic testing results while paying attention to the background of family relationships. Moreover, the benefits of genetic testing can be influenced by the careful interpretation and information provided on the test results during genetic counseling and consultation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Inaba
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Japan.,Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan.,Department of Medical Ethics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akiko Yoshida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Japan.,Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akiko Maeda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Japan.,Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
| | - Kanako Kawai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Japan.,Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
| | - Shinji Kosugi
- Department of Medical Ethics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kobe City Eye Hospital, Kobe, Japan.,Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
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8
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Fenner BJ, Tan TE, Barathi AV, Tun SBB, Yeo SW, Tsai ASH, Lee SY, Cheung CMG, Chan CM, Mehta JS, Teo KYC. Gene-Based Therapeutics for Inherited Retinal Diseases. Front Genet 2022; 12:794805. [PMID: 35069693 PMCID: PMC8782148 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.794805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a heterogenous group of orphan eye diseases that typically result from monogenic mutations and are considered attractive targets for gene-based therapeutics. Following the approval of an IRD gene replacement therapy for Leber's congenital amaurosis due to RPE65 mutations, there has been an intensive international research effort to identify the optimal gene therapy approaches for a range of IRDs and many are now undergoing clinical trials. In this review we explore therapeutic challenges posed by IRDs and review current and future approaches that may be applicable to different subsets of IRD mutations. Emphasis is placed on five distinct approaches to gene-based therapy that have potential to treat the full spectrum of IRDs: 1) gene replacement using adeno-associated virus (AAV) and nonviral delivery vectors, 2) genome editing via the CRISPR/Cas9 system, 3) RNA editing by endogenous and exogenous ADAR, 4) mRNA targeting with antisense oligonucleotides for gene knockdown and splicing modification, and 5) optogenetic approaches that aim to replace the function of native retinal photoreceptors by engineering other retinal cell types to become capable of phototransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beau J Fenner
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tien-En Tan
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Sai Bo Bo Tun
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sia Wey Yeo
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrew S H Tsai
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shu Yen Lee
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chui Ming Gemmy Cheung
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Choi Mun Chan
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jodhbir S Mehta
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore.,School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kelvin Y C Teo
- Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme, Singapore, Singapore
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9
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Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and Gene Therapy: A New Era for the Treatment of Neurological Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413674. [PMID: 34948465 PMCID: PMC8706293 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, gene therapy has employed viral vectors to deliver therapeutic genes. However, recent progress in molecular and cell biology has revolutionized the field of stem cells and gene therapy. A few years ago, clinical trials started using stem cell replacement therapy, and the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology combined with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing has launched a new era in gene therapy for the treatment of neurological disorders. Here, we summarize the latest findings in this research field and discuss their clinical applications, emphasizing the relevance of recent studies in the development of innovative stem cell and gene editing therapeutic approaches. Even though tumorigenicity and immunogenicity are existing hurdles, we report how recent progress has tackled them, making engineered stem cell transplantation therapy a realistic option.
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10
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Ong SS, Liu TYA, Li X, Singh MS. Choriocapillaris flow loss in center-involving retinitis pigmentosa: a quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography study using a novel classification system. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2021; 259:3235-3242. [PMID: 34057549 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-021-05223-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: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Choriocapillaris insufficiency may play a role in centripetal retinitis pigmentosa (RP) progression involving the fovea. However, the relationship between choriocapillaris integrity and foveal damage in RP is unclear. We examined the relationship between choriocapillaris flow and the presence of foveal photoreceptor involvement in RP. METHODS We categorized the severity of central involvement in RP by the occurrence of foveal ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption: present (severe RP) or absent (mild RP). Using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA, AngioVue, Optovue) in cases and unaffected age-matched controls, we compared vessel density (VD) between the groups using the generalized linear mixed model, controlling for age, gender, and scan quality. RESULTS Fifty-seven eyes (20 severe RP, 18 mild RP, and 19 controls) were included. Foveal and parafoveal mean outer retinal thickness (µm) were lower in severe RP (fovea: 101.3 ± 14.5; parafovea: 68.4 ± 11.7) than controls (fovea: 161.2 ± 8.9; parafovea: 142.1 ± 11.8; p ≤ 0.001) and mild RP (fovea: 162.0 ± 14.7; parafovea: 116.8 ± 29.4; p ≤ 0.0001). Foveal choriocapillaris VD (%) was lower in severe RP (56.7 ± 6.8) than controls (69.9 ± 4.6; p = 0.008) and mild RP (65.3 ± 5.3; p = 0.01). The parafoveal choriocapillaris VD was lower in severe RP than controls (64.4 ± 5.9 vs. 68.3 ± 4.1; p = 0.04) but no different than in mild RP (p = 0.4). CONCLUSION Choriocapillaris flow loss was associated with fovea-involving photoreceptor damage in RP. Further research is warranted to validate this putative association and clarify causation. Choriocapillaris imaging using OCTA may provide information to supplement structural OCT findings when evaluating subjects with RP in neuroprotective or regenerative clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally S Ong
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - T Y Alvin Liu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Ximin Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Wilmer Biostatistics Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mandeep S Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
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11
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Thomas BB, Lin B, Martinez-Camarillo JC, Zhu D, McLelland BT, Nistor G, Keirstead HS, Humayun MS, Seiler MJ. Co-grafts of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Retina Organoids and Retinal Pigment Epithelium for Retinal Reconstruction in Immunodeficient Retinal Degenerate Royal College of Surgeons Rats. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:752958. [PMID: 34764853 PMCID: PMC8576198 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.752958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
End-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are two major retinal degenerative (RD) conditions that result in irreversible vision loss. Permanent eye damage can also occur in battlefields or due to accidents. This suggests there is an unmet need for developing effective strategies for treating permanent retinal damages. In previous studies, co-grafted sheets of fetal retina with its retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) have demonstrated vision improvement in rat retinal disease models and in patients, but this has not yet been attempted with stem-cell derived tissue. Here we demonstrate a cellular therapy for irreversible retinal eye injuries using a "total retina patch" consisting of retinal photoreceptor progenitor sheets and healthy RPE cells on an artificial Bruch's membrane (BM). For this, retina organoids (ROs) (cultured in suspension) and polarized RPE sheets (cultured on an ultrathin parylene substrate) were made into a co-graft using bio-adhesives [gelatin, growth factor-reduced matrigel, and medium viscosity (MVG) alginate]. In vivo transplantation experiments were conducted in immunodeficient Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats at advanced stages of retinal degeneration. Structural reconstruction of the severely damaged retina was observed based on histological assessments and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. Visual functional assessments were conducted by optokinetic behavioral testing and superior colliculus electrophysiology. Long-term survival of the co-graft in the rat subretinal space and improvement in visual function were observed. Immunohistochemistry showed that co-grafts grew, generated new photoreceptors and developed neuronal processes that were integrated into the host retina. This novel approach can be considered as a new therapy for complete replacement of a degenerated retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biju B. Thomas
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bin Lin
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Juan Carlos Martinez-Camarillo
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Danhong Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bryce T. McLelland
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Mark S. Humayun
- Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Magdalene J. Seiler
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Kojima K. [Biophysical and Biochemical Research of Animal Rhodopsins]. YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 2021; 141:1155-1160. [PMID: 34602512 DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.21-00144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Opsins (also called animal rhodopsins) are universal photoreceptive proteins that provide the molecular basis of visual and nonvisual photoreception in animals, including humans. Opsins consist of seven helical α-transmembrane domains and use retinal, a derivative of vitamin A, as a chromophore. In many opsins, light absorption triggers photo-isomerization from 11-cis retinal to all-trans retinal, resulting in activation via dynamic structural changes in the protein moiety. Activated opsins stimulate cognate trimeric G proteins to induce signal transduction cascades in cells. Recently, molecular and physiological analyses of diverse opsins have progressively advanced. This review introduces the molecular basis and physiological functions of opsins. Based on the functions of opsins, I will discuss the potential of opsins as target molecules to treat and prevent visual and nonvisual diseases such as sleep disorder and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichi Kojima
- Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University
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Kim SJ, Lee S, Kim C, Shin H. One-step harvest and delivery of micropatterned cell sheets mimicking the multi-cellular microenvironment of vascularized tissue. Acta Biomater 2021; 132:176-187. [PMID: 33571713 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Techniques for harvest and delivery of cell sheets have been improving for decades. However, cell sheets with complicated patterns closely related to natural tissue architecture were hardly achieved. Here, we developed an efficient method to culture and harvest cell sheets with complex shape (noted as microtissues) using temperature-responsive hydrogel consisting of expandable polyethylene oxide polymer at low temperature. Firstly, a temperature-responsive hydrogel surface with honeycomb patterns (50 and 100 µm in width) were developed through microcontact printing of polydopamine (PD). The human dermal fibroblasts (HDFBs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) spontaneously formed honeycomb-shaped microtissues on the patterned hydrogel surface. The microtissues on the hydrogel were able to be harvested and directly delivered to the desired target through thermal expansion of the hydrogel at 4 °C with an efficiency close to 80% within 10 min which is faster than conventional method based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). The microtissues maintained their original honeycomb network and intact structures. Honeycomb-patterned cell sheets also were fabricated through serial seeding of various cell lines, including HDFBs, HUVECs, and human adipose-derived stem cells, in which cells were attached along the honeycomb pattern. The underlying honeycomb patterns in the cell sheets were successfully maintained for 3 days, even after delivery. In addition, patterned cell sheets were successfully delivered in vivo while maintaining an intact structure for 7 days. Together, our findings demonstrate that micropatterned temperature-responsive hydrogel is an efficient method of one-step culturing and delivery of complex microtissues and should prove useful in various tissue engineering applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Scaffold-free cell delivery techniques, including cell sheet engineering, have been developed for decades. However, there is limited research regarding culture and delivery of microtissues with complex architecture mimicking natural tissue. Herein, we developed a micro-patterned hydrogel platform for the culture and delivery of honeycomb-shaped microtissues. Honeycomb patterns were chemically engineered on the temperature-responsive hydrogel through microcontact printing of polydopamine to selectively allow for human dermal fibroblast or human umbilical vein endothelial cell adhesion. They spontaneously formed honeycomb-shaped microtissues within 24 hr upon cell seeding and directly delivered to various target area including in vivo via thermal expansion of the hydrogel at 4 °C, suggesting that the micro-patterned hydrogel can be an efficient tool for culture and delivery of complex microtissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se-Jeong Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimri-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; BK21 FOUR, Education and Research Group for Biopharmaceutical Innovation Leader, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimri-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangmin Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimri-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; BK21 FOUR, Education and Research Group for Biopharmaceutical Innovation Leader, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimri-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Chunggoo Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimri-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; BK21 FOUR, Education and Research Group for Biopharmaceutical Innovation Leader, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimri-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Heungsoo Shin
- Department of Bioengineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimri-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; BK21 FOUR, Education and Research Group for Biopharmaceutical Innovation Leader, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimri-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea; Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimri-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
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Ptito M, Paré S, Dricot L, Cavaliere C, Tomaiuolo F, Kupers R. A quantitative analysis of the retinofugal projections in congenital and late-onset blindness. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2021; 32:102809. [PMID: 34509923 PMCID: PMC8435915 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Congenital (CB) and late blind (LB) affects the integrity brain visual structures. We measured the integrity of the retino-fugal system using structural MRI images. Optic nerve, optic tract, optic chiasm and LGN were reduced by 50 to 60% in CB and LB. There were no differences between CB and LB. In LB, optic nerve volume correlated negatively with blindness duration.
Vision loss early in life has dramatic consequences on the organization of the visual system and hence on structural plasticity of its remnant components. Most of the studies on the anatomical changes in the brain following visual deprivation have focused on the re-organization of the visual cortex and its afferent and efferent projections. In this study, we performed a quantitative analysis of the volume and size of the optic chiasm, optic nerve, optic tract and the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), the retino recipient thalamic nucleus. Analysis was carried out on structural T1-weighted MRIs from 22 congenitally blind (CB), 14 late blind (LB) and 29 age -and sex-matched sighted control (SC) subjects. We manually segmented the optic nerve, optic chiasm and optic tract, while LGN volumes were extracted using in-house software. We also measured voxel intensity of optic nerve, optic chiasm and optic tract. Mean volumes of the optic nerve, optic tract and optic chiasm were reduced by 50 to 60% in both CB and LB participants. No significant differences were found between the congenitally and late-onset blind participants for any of the measures. Our data further revealed reduced white matter voxel intensities in optic nerve, optic chiasm and optic tract in blind compared to sighted participants, suggesting decreased myelin content in the atrophied white matter. The LGN was reduced by 50% and 44% in CB and LB, respectively. In LB, optic nerve volume correlated negatively with the blindness duration index; no such correlation was found for optic chiasm, optic tract and LGN. The observation that despite the absence of visual input about half of the subcortical retinofugal projections are structurally preserved raises the question of their functional role. One possibility is that the surviving fibers play a role in the maintenance of circadian rhythms in the blind through the intrinsically photosensitive melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurice Ptito
- School of Optometry, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; BRAINlab, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR), Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Samuel Paré
- School of Optometry, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Laurence Dricot
- Institute of NeuroScience (IoNS), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Belgium
| | - Carlo Cavaliere
- IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy; Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Center and Neurology Department, University and University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Francesco Tomaiuolo
- Univesità degli Studi di Messina, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale
| | - Ron Kupers
- School of Optometry, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; BRAINlab, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of NeuroScience (IoNS), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Belgium.
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15
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Xie YH, Tang CQ, Huang ZZ, Zhou SC, Yang YW, Yin Z, Heng BC, Chen WS, Chen X, Shen WL. ECM remodeling in stem cell culture: a potential target for regulating stem cell function. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART B-REVIEWS 2021; 28:542-554. [PMID: 34082581 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2021.0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Stem cells (SCs) hold great potential for regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and cell therapy. The clinical applications of SCs require both high quality and quantity of transplantable cells. However, during conventional in vitro expansion, SCs tend to lose properties that make them amenable for cell therapies. Extracellular matrix (ECM) serves an essential regulatory part in the growth, differentiation and homeostasis of all cells in vivo. when signals transmitted to cells, they do not respond passively. Many cell types can remodel pericellular matrix to meet their specific needs. This reciprocal cell-ECM interaction is crucial for the conservation of cell and tissue functions and homeostasis. In vitro ECM remodeling also plays a key role in regulating the lineage fate of SCs. A deeper understanding of in vitro ECM remodeling may provide new perspectives for the maintenance of SC function. In this review, we critically examined three ways that cells can be used to influence the pericellular matrix: (i) exerting tensile force on the ECM, (ii) secreting a variety of ECM proteins, and (iii) degrading the surrounding matrix, and its impact on SC lineage fate. Finally, we describe the deficiencies of current studies and what needs to be done next to further understand the role of ECM remodeling in ex vivo SC cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Hao Xie
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, 89681, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Chen-Qi Tang
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, 89681, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Zi-Zhan Huang
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, 89681, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Si-Cheng Zhou
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, 89681, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Yu-Wei Yang
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 26441, Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Zi Yin
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 26441, Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Boon Chin Heng
- Peking University School of Stomatology, 159460, Beijing, Beijing, China;
| | - Wei-Shan Chen
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, 89681, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Xiao Chen
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 26441, Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Wei-Liang Shen
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, 89681, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
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16
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Trends of Stem Cell Therapies in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10081785. [PMID: 33923985 PMCID: PMC8074076 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10081785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a highly prevalent irreversible impairment in the elderly population worldwide. Stem cell therapies have been considered potentially viable for treating AMD through the direct replacement of degenerated cells or secretion of trophic factors that facilitate the survival of existing cells. Among them, the safety of pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell transplantation against AMD, and some hereditary retinal degenerative diseases, has been discussed to a certain extent in clinical studies of RPE cell transplantation. Preparations are in progress for its clinical application. On the other hand, clinical trials using somatic stem cells are also being conducted, though these had controversial outcomes. Retinal regenerative medicine using stem cells is expected to make steady progress toward practical use while new technologies are incorporated from various fields, thereby making the role of ophthalmologists in this field increasingly important.
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Yamasaki S, Sugita S, Horiuchi M, Masuda T, Fujii S, Makabe K, Kawasaki A, Hayashi T, Kuwahara A, Kishino A, Kimura T, Takahashi M, Mandai M. Low Immunogenicity and Immunosuppressive Properties of Human ESC- and iPSC-Derived Retinas. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:851-867. [PMID: 33770500 PMCID: PMC8072071 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
ESC- and iPSC-derived retinal transplantation is a promising therapeutic approach for disease with end-stage retinal degeneration, such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. We previously showed medium- to long-term survival, maturation, and light response of transplanted human ESC- and iPSC-retina in mouse, rat, and monkey models of end-stage retinal degeneration. Because the use of patient hiPSC-derived retina with a disease-causing gene mutation is not appropriate for therapeutic use, allogeneic transplantation using retinal tissue/cells differentiated from a stocked hESC and iPSC line would be most practical. Here, we characterize the immunological properties of hESC- and iPSC-retina and present their three major advantages: (1) hESC- and iPSC-retina expressed low levels of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and little HLA class II in vitro, (2) hESC- and iPSC-retina greatly suppressed immune activation of lymphocytes in co-culture, and (3) hESC- and iPSC-retina suppressed activated immune cells partially via transforming growth factor β signaling. These results support the use of allogeneic hESC- and iPSC-retina in future clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suguru Yamasaki
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan; Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Sunao Sugita
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.
| | - Matsuri Horiuchi
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan; Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Masuda
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Shota Fujii
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Kenichi Makabe
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Akihiro Kawasaki
- Laboratory for Brain Connectomics Imaging, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Takuya Hayashi
- Laboratory for Brain Connectomics Imaging, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kuwahara
- Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kishino
- Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Toru Kimura
- Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Michiko Mandai
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan; RIKEN Program for Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms (DMP), RIKEN Cluster for Science, Technology and Innovation Hub, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
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18
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Crane R, Conley SM, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Gene Therapy to the Retina and the Cochlea. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:652215. [PMID: 33815052 PMCID: PMC8010260 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.652215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Vision and hearing disorders comprise the most common sensory disorders found in people. Many forms of vision and hearing loss are inherited and current treatments only provide patients with temporary or partial relief. As a result, developing genetic therapies for any of the several hundred known causative genes underlying inherited retinal and cochlear disorders has been of great interest. Recent exciting advances in gene therapy have shown promise for the clinical treatment of inherited retinal diseases, and while clinical gene therapies for cochlear disease are not yet available, research in the last several years has resulted in significant advancement in preclinical development for gene delivery to the cochlea. Furthermore, the development of somatic targeted genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 has brought new possibilities for the treatment of dominant or gain-of-function disease. Here we discuss the current state of gene therapy for inherited diseases of the retina and cochlea with an eye toward areas that still need additional development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Crane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Shannon M. Conley
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Oklahoma Center for Neurosciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Muayyad R. Al-Ubaidi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- Depatment of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Muna I. Naash
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- Depatment of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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Formica ML, Awde Alfonso HG, Palma SD. Biological drug therapy for ocular angiogenesis: Anti-VEGF agents and novel strategies based on nanotechnology. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00723. [PMID: 33694304 PMCID: PMC7947217 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, biological drug therapy for ocular angiogenesis treatment is based on the administration of anti‐VEGF agents via intravitreal route. The molecules approved with this purpose for ocular use include pegaptanib, ranibizumab, and aflibercept, whereas bevacizumab is commonly off‐label used in the clinical practice. The schedule dosage involves repeated intravitreal injections of anti‐VEGF agents to achieve and maintain effective concentrations in retina and choroids, which are administrated as solutions form. In this review article, we describe the features of different anti‐VEGF agents, major challenges for their ocular delivery and the nanoparticles in development as delivery system of them. In this way, several polymeric and lipid nanoparticles are explored to load anti‐VEGF agents with the aim of achieving sustained drug release and thus, minimize the number of intravitreal injections required. The main challenges were focused in the loading the molecules that maintain their bioactivity after their release from nanoparticulate system, followed the evaluation of them through studies of formulation stability, pharmacokinetic, and efficacy in in vitro and in vivo models. The analysis was based on the information published in peer‐reviewed published papers relevant to anti‐VEGF treatments and nanoparticles developed as ocular anti‐VEGF delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- María L Formica
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET and Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, 5000, Argentina
| | - Hamoudi G Awde Alfonso
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET and Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, 5000, Argentina
| | - Santiago D Palma
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET and Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, 5000, Argentina
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20
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Frasson LT, Dalmaso B, Akamine PS, Kimura ET, Hamassaki DE, Del Debbio CB. Let-7, Lin28 and Hmga2 Expression in Ciliary Epithelium and Retinal Progenitor Cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:31. [PMID: 33749722 PMCID: PMC7991968 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.3.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Ciliary epithelium (CE) of adult mammalian eyes contains quiescent retinal progenitor/stem cells that generate neurospheres in vitro and differentiate into retinal neurons. This ability doesn't evolve efficiently probably because of regulatory mechanisms, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) that control pluripotent, progenitor, and differentiation genes. Here we investigate the presence of Let-7 miRNAs and its regulator and target, Lin28 and Hmga2, in CE cells from neurospheres, newborns, and adult tissues. Methods Newborn and adult rats CE cells were dissected into pigmented and nonpigmented epithelium (PE and NPE). Newborn PE cells were cultured with growth factors to form neurospheres and we analyzed Let-7, Lin28a, and Hmga2 expression. During the neurospheres formation, we added chemically modified single-stranded oligonucleotides designed to bind and inhibit or mimic endogenous mature Let-7b and Let-7c. After seven days in culture, we analyzed neurospheres size, number and expression of Let-7, Lin28, and Hmga2. Results Let-7 miRNAs were expressed at low rates in newborn CE cells with significant increase in adult tissues, with higher levels on NPE cells, that does not present the stem cells reprogramming ability. The Lin28a and Hmga2 protein and transcripts were more expressed in newborns than adults cells, opposed to Let-7. Neurospheres presented higher Lin28 and Hmga2 expression than newborn and adult, but similar Let-7 than newborns. Let-7b inhibitor upregulated Hmga2 expression, whereas Let-7c mimics upregulated Lin28 and downregulated Hmga2. Conclusions This study shows the dynamic of Lin28-Let-7-Hmga regulatory axis in CE cells. These components may develop different roles during neurospheres formation and postnatal CE cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Teixeira Frasson
- Department of Cell Biology and Development, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Barbara Dalmaso
- Department of Cell Biology and Development, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Priscilla Sayami Akamine
- Department of Cell Biology and Development, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edna Teruko Kimura
- Department of Cell Biology and Development, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dânia Emi Hamassaki
- Department of Cell Biology and Development, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina Beltrame Del Debbio
- Department of Cell Biology and Development, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Harding P, Cunha DL, Moosajee M. Animal and cellular models of microphthalmia. THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN RARE DISEASE 2021; 2:2633004021997447. [PMID: 37181112 PMCID: PMC10032472 DOI: 10.1177/2633004021997447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Microphthalmia is a rare developmental eye disorder affecting 1 in 7000 births. It is defined as a small (axial length ⩾2 standard deviations below the age-adjusted mean) underdeveloped eye, caused by disruption of ocular development through genetic or environmental factors in the first trimester of pregnancy. Clinical phenotypic heterogeneity exists amongst patients with varying levels of severity, and associated ocular and systemic features. Up to 11% of blind children are reported to have microphthalmia, yet currently no treatments are available. By identifying the aetiology of microphthalmia and understanding how the mechanisms of eye development are disrupted, we can gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis. Animal models, mainly mouse, zebrafish and Xenopus, have provided extensive information on the genetic regulation of oculogenesis, and how perturbation of these pathways leads to microphthalmia. However, differences exist between species, hence cellular models, such as patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) optic vesicles, are now being used to provide greater insights into the human disease process. Progress in 3D cellular modelling techniques has enhanced the ability of researchers to study interactions of different cell types during eye development. Through improved molecular knowledge of microphthalmia, preventative or postnatal therapies may be developed, together with establishing genotype-phenotype correlations in order to provide patients with the appropriate prognosis, multidisciplinary care and informed genetic counselling. This review summarises some key discoveries from animal and cellular models of microphthalmia and discusses how innovative new models can be used to further our understanding in the future. Plain language summary Animal and Cellular Models of the Eye Disorder, Microphthalmia (Small Eye) Microphthalmia, meaning a small, underdeveloped eye, is a rare disorder that children are born with. Genetic changes or variations in the environment during the first 3 months of pregnancy can disrupt early development of the eye, resulting in microphthalmia. Up to 11% of blind children have microphthalmia, yet currently no treatments are available. By understanding the genes necessary for eye development, we can determine how disruption by genetic changes or environmental factors can cause this condition. This helps us understand why microphthalmia occurs, and ensure patients are provided with the appropriate clinical care and genetic counselling advice. Additionally, by understanding the causes of microphthalmia, researchers can develop treatments to prevent or reduce the severity of this condition. Animal models, particularly mice, zebrafish and frogs, which can also develop small eyes due to the same genetic/environmental changes, have helped us understand the genes which are important for eye development and can cause birth eye defects when disrupted. Studying a patient's own cells grown in the laboratory can further help researchers understand how changes in genes affect their function. Both animal and cellular models can be used to develop and test new drugs, which could provide treatment options for patients living with microphthalmia. This review summarises the key discoveries from animal and cellular models of microphthalmia and discusses how innovative new models can be used to further our understanding in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mariya Moosajee
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath
Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,
London, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS
Foundation Trust, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
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22
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Maya-Vetencourt JF, Di Marco S, Mete M, Di Paolo M, Ventrella D, Barone F, Elmi A, Manfredi G, Desii A, Sannita WG, Bisti S, Lanzani G, Pertile G, Bacci ML, Benfenati F. Biocompatibility of a Conjugated Polymer Retinal Prosthesis in the Domestic Pig. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:579141. [PMID: 33195139 PMCID: PMC7605258 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.579141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The progressive degeneration of retinal photoreceptors is one of the most significant causes of blindness in humans. Conjugated polymers represent an attractive solution to the field of retinal prostheses, and a multi-layer fully organic prosthesis implanted subretinally in dystrophic Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats was able to rescue visual functions. As a step toward human translation, we report here the fabrication and in vivo testing of a similar device engineered to adapt to the human-like size of the eye of the domestic pig, an excellent animal paradigm to test therapeutic strategies for photoreceptors degeneration. The active conjugated polymers were layered onto two distinct passive substrates, namely electro-spun silk fibroin (ESF) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Naive pigs were implanted subretinally with the active device in one eye, while the contralateral eye was sham implanted with substrate only. Retinal morphology and functionality were assessed before and after surgery by means of in vivo optical coherence tomography and full-field electroretinogram (ff-ERG) analysis. After the sacrifice, the retina morphology and inflammatory markers were analyzed by immunohistochemistry of the excised retinas. Surprisingly, ESF-based prostheses caused a proliferative vitreoretinopathy with disappearance of the ff-ERG b-wave in the implanted eyes. In contrast, PET-based active devices did not evoke significant inflammatory responses. As expected, the subretinal implantation of both PET only and the PET-based prosthesis locally decreased the thickness of the outer nuclear layer due to local photoreceptor loss. However, while the implantation of the PET only substrate decreased the ff-ERG b-wave amplitude with respect to the pre-implant ERG, the eyes implanted with the active device fully preserved the ERG responses, indicating an active compensation of the surgery-induced photoreceptor loss. Our findings highlight the possibility of developing a new generation of conjugated polymer/PET-based prosthetic devices that are highly biocompatible and potentially suitable for subretinal implantation in patients suffering from degenerative blindness.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, San Martino Hospital, Genova, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Marco
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, San Martino Hospital, Genova, Italy.,Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maurizio Mete
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy
| | - Mattia Di Paolo
- Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Domenico Ventrella
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Barone
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto Elmi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Manfredi
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Desii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Walter G Sannita
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Silvia Bisti
- Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.,Consorzio Interuniversitario INBB, Rome, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Grazia Pertile
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Bacci
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, San Martino Hospital, Genova, Italy
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23
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Bone Marrow-Derived Mononuclear Cell Transplants Decrease Retinal Gliosis in Two Animal Models of Inherited Photoreceptor Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197252. [PMID: 33008136 PMCID: PMC7583887 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited photoreceptor degenerations are not treatable diseases and a frequent cause of blindness in working ages. In this study we investigate the safety, integration and possible rescue effects of intravitreal and subretinal transplantation of adult human bone-marrow-derived mononuclear stem cells (hBM-MSCs) in two animal models of inherited photoreceptor degeneration, the P23H-1 and the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat. Immunosuppression was started one day before the injection and continued through the study. The hBM-MSCs were injected in the left eyes and the animals were processed 7, 15, 30 or 60 days later. The retinas were cross-sectioned, and L- and S- cones, microglia, astrocytes and Müller cells were immunodetected. Transplantations had no local adverse effects and the CD45+ cells remained for up to 15 days forming clusters in the vitreous and/or a 2–3-cells-thick layer in the subretinal space after intravitreal or subretinal injections, respectively. We did not observe increased photoreceptor survival nor decreased microglial cell numbers in the injected left eyes. However, the injected eyes showed decreased GFAP immunoreactivity. We conclude that intravitreal or subretinal injection of hBM-MSCs in dystrophic P23H-1 and RCS rats causes a decrease in retinal gliosis but does not have photoreceptor neuroprotective effects, at least in the short term. However, this treatment may have a potential therapeutic effect that merits further investigation.
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24
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Lin B, McLelland BT, Aramant RB, Thomas BB, Nistor G, Keirstead HS, Seiler MJ. Retina Organoid Transplants Develop Photoreceptors and Improve Visual Function in RCS Rats With RPE Dysfunction. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2020; 61:34. [PMID: 32945842 PMCID: PMC7509771 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.11.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To study if human embryonic stem cell-derived photoreceptors could survive and function without the support of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) after transplantation into Royal College of Surgeons rats, a rat model of retinal degeneration caused by RPE dysfunction. Methods CSC14 human embryonic stem cells were differentiated into primordial eye structures called retinal organoids. Retinal organoids were analyzed by quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence and compared with human fetal retina. Retinal organoid sheets (30-70 day of differentiation) were transplanted into immunodeficient RCS rats, aged 44 to 56 days. The development of transplant organoids in vivo in relation to the host was examined by optical coherence tomography. Visual function was assessed by optokinetic testing, electroretinogram, and superior colliculus electrophysiologic recording. Cryostat sections were analyzed for various retinal, synaptic, and donor markers. Results Retinal organoids showed similar gene expression to human fetal retina transplanted rats demonstrated significant improvement in visual function compared with RCS nonsurgery and sham surgery controls by ERGs at 2 months after surgery (but not later), optokinetic testing (up to 6 months after surgery) and electrophysiologic superior colliculus recordings (6-8 months after surgery). The transplanted organoids survived more than 7 months; developed photoreceptors with inner and outer segments, and other retinal cells; and were well-integrated within the host. Conclusions This study, to our knowledge, is the first to show that transplanted photoreceptors survive and function even with host's dysfunctional RPE. Our findings suggest that transplantation of organoid sheets from stem cells may be a promising approach/therapeutic for blinding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lin
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California at Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Bryce T. McLelland
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California at Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Robert B. Aramant
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California at Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States
| | - Biju B. Thomas
- USC Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Gabriel Nistor
- AIVITA Biomedical Inc., Irvine, California, United States
| | | | - Magdalene J. Seiler
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California at Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States
- Ophthalmology, University of California at Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States
- Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, California, United States
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25
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Maya-Vetencourt JF, Manfredi G, Mete M, Colombo E, Bramini M, Di Marco S, Shmal D, Mantero G, Dipalo M, Rocchi A, DiFrancesco ML, Papaleo ED, Russo A, Barsotti J, Eleftheriou C, Di Maria F, Cossu V, Piazza F, Emionite L, Ticconi F, Marini C, Sambuceti G, Pertile G, Lanzani G, Benfenati F. Subretinally injected semiconducting polymer nanoparticles rescue vision in a rat model of retinal dystrophy. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 15:698-708. [PMID: 32601447 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-020-0696-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Inherited retinal dystrophies and late-stage age-related macular degeneration, for which treatments remain limited, are among the most prevalent causes of legal blindness. Retinal prostheses have been developed to stimulate the inner retinal network; however, lack of sensitivity and resolution, and the need for wiring or external cameras, have limited their application. Here we show that conjugated polymer nanoparticles (P3HT NPs) mediate light-evoked stimulation of retinal neurons and persistently rescue visual functions when subretinally injected in a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa. P3HT NPs spread out over the entire subretinal space and promote light-dependent activation of spared inner retinal neurons, recovering subcortical, cortical and behavioural visual responses in the absence of trophic effects or retinal inflammation. By conferring sustained light sensitivity to degenerate retinas after a single injection, and with the potential for high spatial resolution, P3HT NPs provide a new avenue in retinal prosthetics with potential applications not only in retinitis pigmentosa, but also in age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Manfredi
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Mete
- Ophthalmology Department, IRCCS Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Colombo
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mattia Bramini
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Stefano Di Marco
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Dmytro Shmal
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giulia Mantero
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Michele Dipalo
- Plasmon Nanotechnologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Anna Rocchi
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mattia L DiFrancesco
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ermanno D Papaleo
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Angela Russo
- Ophthalmology Department, IRCCS Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - Jonathan Barsotti
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Cyril Eleftheriou
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, Weil Medical College of Cornell University, White Plains, NY, USA
| | - Francesca Di Maria
- CNR Institute of Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF), Bologna, Italy
| | - Vanessa Cossu
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Science, Nuclear Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | - Flavia Ticconi
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Science, Nuclear Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Oncohematology, Nuclear Medicine Unit, Faenza Hospital, Faenza, Italy
| | - Cecilia Marini
- CNR Institute of Bioimages and Molecular Physiology, Milan (Genoa Section), Genoa, Italy
| | - Gianmario Sambuceti
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Science, Nuclear Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Grazia Pertile
- Ophthalmology Department, IRCCS Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
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26
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Targeting of the NRL Pathway as a Therapeutic Strategy to Treat Retinitis Pigmentosa. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9072224. [PMID: 32668775 PMCID: PMC7408925 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9072224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD) with a prevalence of 1:4000, characterized by initial rod photoreceptor loss and subsequent cone photoreceptor loss with accompanying nyctalopia, visual field deficits, and visual acuity loss. A diversity of causative mutations have been described with autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked inheritance and sporadic mutations. The diversity of mutations makes gene therapy challenging, highlighting the need for mutation-agnostic treatments. Neural leucine zipper (NRL) and NR2E3 are factors important for rod photoreceptor cell differentiation and homeostasis. Germline mutations in NRL or NR2E3 leads to a loss of rods and an increased number of cones with short wavelength opsin in both rodents and humans. Multiple groups have demonstrated that inhibition of NRL or NR2E3 activity in the mature retina could endow rods with certain properties of cones, which prevents cell death in multiple rodent RP models with diverse mutations. In this review, we summarize the literature on NRL and NR2E3, therapeutic strategies of NRL/NR2E3 modulation in preclinical RP models, as well as future directions of research. In summary, inhibition of the NRL/NR2E3 pathway represents an intriguing mutation agnostic and disease-modifying target for the treatment of RP.
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27
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Liu X, Feng B, Vats A, Tang H, Seibel W, Swaroop M, Tawa G, Zheng W, Byrne L, Schurdak M, Chen Y. Pharmacological clearance of misfolded rhodopsin for the treatment of RHO-associated retinitis pigmentosa. FASEB J 2020; 34:10146-10167. [PMID: 32536017 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202000282r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Rhodopsin mutation and misfolding is a common cause of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Using a luciferase reporter assay, we undertook a small-molecule high-throughput screening (HTS) of 68, 979 compounds and identified nine compounds that selectively reduced the misfolded P23H rhodopsin without an effect on the wild type (WT) rhodopsin protein. Further, we found five of these compounds, including methotrexate (MTX), promoted P23H rhodopsin degradation that also cleared out other misfolded rhodopsin mutant proteins. We showed MTX increased P23H rhodopsin degradation via the lysosomal but not the proteasomal pathway. Importantly, one intravitreal injection (IVI) of 25 pmol MTX increased electroretinogram (ERG) response and rhodopsin level in the retinae of RhoP23H/+ knock-in mice at 1 month of age. Additionally, four weekly IVIs increased the photoreceptor cell number in the retinae of RhoP23H/+ mice compared to vehicle control. Our study indicates a therapeutic potential of repurposing MTX for the treatment of rhodopsin-associated RP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xujie Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Bing Feng
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Abhishek Vats
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hong Tang
- Drug Discovery Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - William Seibel
- Drug Discovery Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Oncology Department, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Manju Swaroop
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Gregory Tawa
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Wei Zheng
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Leah Byrne
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mark Schurdak
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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28
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Minami S, Nagai N, Suzuki M, Kurihara T, Sonobe H, Watanabe K, Shinoda H, Takagi H, Tsubota K, Ozawa Y. Spatial-sweep steady-state pattern electroretinography can detect subtle differences in visual function among healthy adults. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18119. [PMID: 31792280 PMCID: PMC6889279 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54606-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to establish a highly sensitive method for measuring visual function using spatial-sweep steady-state pattern electroretinography (swpPERG). Overall, 35 eyes of 35 healthy adults (18 men; mean age, 32.3 years) were examined using swpPERG, and the data were recorded using spatial-patterned and contrast-reversed stimuli of size 1 (thickest) to 6. Data were converted into frequency-domain using a Fourier transform and expressed by signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The number of participants who showed SNR ≥ 1 was significantly lesser at stimulus sizes 5 and 6 compared with those at greater stimulus sizes. Among the data with SNR ≥ 1, SNRs were negatively correlated with age at stimulus size 5 (r = −0.500, P = 0.029), and positively correlated with macular volume evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) within a 6-mm circle diameter from the fovea of the retinal nerve fibre layer at size 4 (r = 0.409, P = 0.025) and of the ganglion cell layer at size 5 (r = 0.567, P = 0.011). We found that SNRs of swpPERG, recorded using the EvokeDx system, were correlated with age and macular morphology in participants without diagnosed eye diseases. The system detected subtle differences in retinal function, which may help in early disease diagnosis and visual evaluation in neuroprotective interventions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakiko Minami
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Ophthalmology, Inagi Municipal Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Ophthalmology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Norihiro Nagai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology, Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Misa Suzuki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Toshihide Kurihara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideki Sonobe
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Watanabe
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hajime Shinoda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Takagi
- Department of Ophthalmology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Kazuo Tsubota
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoko Ozawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. .,Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology, Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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