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Schloesser L, Klose SM, Mauschitz MM, Abdullah Z, Finger RP. The role of immune modulators in age-related macular degeneration. Surv Ophthalmol 2024:S0039-6257(24)00084-5. [PMID: 39097172 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2024.07.009] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
We provide an overview of the expanding literature on the role of cytokines and immune mediators in pathophysiology of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although many immunological mediators have been linked to AMD pathophysiology, the broader mechanistic picture remains unclear with substantial variations in the levels of evidence supporting these mediators. Therefore, we reviewed the literature considering the varying levels of supporting evidence. A Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) term-based literature research was conducted in September, 2023, consisting of the MeSH terms "cytokine" and "Age-related macular degeneration" connected by the operator "AND". After screening the publications by title, abstract, and full text, a total of 146 publications were included. The proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β (especially in basic research studies), IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, TNF-α, and MCP-1 are the most extensively characterised cytokines/chemokines, highlighting the role of local inflammasome activation and altered macrophage function in the AMD pathophysiology. Among the antiinflammatory mediators IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β were found to be the most extensively characterised, with IL-4 driving and IL-10 and TGF-β suppressing disease progression. Despite the extensive literature on this topic, a profound understanding of AMD pathophysiology has not yet been achieved. Therefore, further studies are needed to identify potential therapeutic targets, followed by clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Schloesser
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Sara M Klose
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Zeinab Abdullah
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Robert P Finger
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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2
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Arrigo A, Aragona E, Bandello F. The Role of Inflammation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Updates and Possible Therapeutic Approaches. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) 2023; 12:158-167. [PMID: 36650098 DOI: 10.1097/apo.0000000000000570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common retinal disease characterized by complex pathogenesis and extremely heterogeneous characteristics. Both in "dry" and "wet" AMD forms, the inflammation has a central role to promote the degenerative process and to stimulate the onset of complications. AMD is characterized by several proinflammatory stimuli, cells and mediators involved, and metabolic pathways. Nowadays, inflammatory biomarkers may be unveiled and analyzed by means of several techniques, including laboratory approaches, histology, immunohistochemistry, and noninvasive multimodal retinal imaging. These methodologies allowed to perform remarkable steps forward for understanding the role of inflammation in AMD pathogenesis, also offering new opportunities to optimize the diagnostic workup of the patients and to develop new treatments. The main goal of the present paper is to provide an updated scenario of the current knowledge regarding the role of inflammation in "dry" and "wet" AMD and to discuss new possible therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Arrigo
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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3
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DeMaio A, Mehrotra S, Sambamurti K, Husain S. The role of the adaptive immune system and T cell dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:251. [PMID: 36209107 PMCID: PMC9548183 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02605-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The adaptive immune system and associated inflammation are vital in surveillance and host protection against internal and external threats, but can secondarily damage host tissues. The central nervous system is immune-privileged and largely protected from the circulating inflammatory pathways. However, T cell involvement and the disruption of the blood-brain barriers have been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Under normal physiological conditions, regulatory T cells (Treg cells) dampen the inflammatory response of effector T cells. In the pathological states of many neurodegenerative disorders, the ability of Treg cells to mitigate inflammation is reduced, and a pro-inflammatory environment persists. This perspective review provides current knowledge on the roles of T cell subsets (e.g., effector T cells, Treg cells) in neurodegenerative and ocular diseases, including uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Many neurodegenerative and ocular diseases have been linked to immune dysregulation, but the cellular events and molecular mechanisms involved in such processes remain largely unknown. Moreover, the role of T cells in ocular pathologies remains poorly defined and limited literature is available in this area of research. Adoptive transfer of Treg cells appears to be a vital immunological approach to control ocular pathologies. Similarities in T cell dysfunction seen among non-ocular neurodegenerative diseases suggest that this area of research has a great potential to develop better therapeutic agents for ocular diseases and warrants further studies. Overall, this perspective review article provides significant information on the roles of T cells in numerous ocular and non-ocular neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa DeMaio
- Department of Ophthalmology, Storm Eye Institute, Room 713, Medical University of South Carolina, 167 Ashley Ave, SC, 29425, Charleston, USA
| | - Shikhar Mehrotra
- Department of Surgery, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, SC, 29425, Charleston, USA
| | - Kumar Sambamurti
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, SC, 29425, Charleston, USA
| | - Shahid Husain
- Department of Ophthalmology, Storm Eye Institute, Room 713, Medical University of South Carolina, 167 Ashley Ave, SC, 29425, Charleston, USA.
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Zacks DN, Kocab AJ, Choi JJ, Gregory-Ksander MS, Cano M, Handa JT. Cell Death in AMD: The Rationale for Targeting Fas. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11030592. [PMID: 35160044 PMCID: PMC8836408 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11030592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the developed world. While great advances have been made in the treatment of the neovascular (“wet”) form of the disease, there is still a significant need for therapies that prevent the vision loss associated with the advanced forms of dry, atrophic AMD. In this atrophic form, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) and photoreceptor cell death is the ultimate cause of vision loss. In this review, we summarize the cell death pathways and their relation to RPE and retinal cell death in AMD. We review the data that support targeting programmed cell death through inhibition of the Fas receptor as a novel approach to preserve these structures and that this effect results from inhibiting both canonical death pathway activation and reducing the associated inflammatory response. These data lay the groundwork for current clinical strategies targeting the Fas pathway in this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David N. Zacks
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-734-936-0871
| | | | - Joanne J. Choi
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA;
| | - Meredith S. Gregory-Ksander
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA;
| | - Marisol Cano
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (M.C.); (J.T.H.)
| | - James T. Handa
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (M.C.); (J.T.H.)
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Immunological Aspects of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1256:143-189. [PMID: 33848001 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-66014-7_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence over the past two decades points to a pivotal role for immune mechanisms in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathobiology. In this chapter, we will explore immunological aspects of AMD, with a specific focus on how immune mechanisms modulate clinical phenotypes of disease and severity and how components of the immune system may serve as triggers for disease progression in both dry and neovascular AMD. We will briefly review the biology of the immune system, defining the role of immune mechanisms in chronic degenerative disease and differentiating from immune responses to acute injury or infection. We will explore current understanding of the roles of innate immunity (especially macrophages), antigen-specific immunity (T cells, B cells, and autoimmunity), immune amplifications systems, especially complement activity and the NLRP3 inflammasome, in the pathogenesis of both dry and neovascular AMD, reviewing data from pathology, experimental animal models, and clinical studies of AMD patients. We will also assess how interactions between the immune system and infectious pathogens could potentially modulate AMD pathobiology via alterations in in immune effector mechanisms. We will conclude by reviewing the paradigm of "response to injury," which provides a means to integrate various immunologic mechanisms along with nonimmune mechanisms of tissue injury and repair as a model to understand the pathobiology of AMD.
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Jabbehdari S, Handa JT. Oxidative stress as a therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of early age-related macular degeneration. Surv Ophthalmol 2020; 66:423-440. [PMID: 32961209 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of irreversible visual loss among older adults in developed countries, is a chronic, multifactorial, and progressive disease with the development of painless, central vision loss. Retinal pigment epithelial cell dysfunction is a core change in age-related macular degeneration that results from aging and the accumulated effects of genetic and environmental factors that, in part, is both caused by and leads to oxidative stress. In this review, we describe the role of oxidative stress, the cytoprotective oxidative stress pathways, and the impact of oxidative stress on critical cellular processes involved in age-related macular degeneration pathobiology. We also offer targeted therapy that may define how antioxidant therapy can either prevent or improve specific stages of age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayena Jabbehdari
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - James T Handa
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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7
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Fragiotta S, Mangino G, Iuliano M, Potenza C, Bernardini N, Skroza N, Vingolo EM, Romeo G. Role of CD 20 + T cells and related cytokines in mediating retinal microvascular changes and ocular complications in chronic-plaque type psoriasis. Cytokine 2020; 136:155253. [PMID: 32858439 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the role of CD3+ CD20+ CD4- CD8- double-negative (DN) or CD3+CD20+ CD4/CD8+ T cells and the related pro-inflammatory cytokines in the humor aqueous, in mediating retinal microvascular changes in patients with chronic plaque-type moderate to severe psoriasis. DESIGN A total of 76 patients (57.6 ± 11.7 years) with chronic plaque-type psoriasis were initially evaluated. Nineteen patients (19 eyes) and 19 healthy volunteers (19 eyes) were subjected to dermatological evaluation with Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and the Dermatology life quality index (DLQI). Retinal images were processed using an automatized software. On the same day, a venous sample was collected and analyzed using multiparametric flow cytometry. Three out of 6 patients who presented cataract, consented to perform surgery with humor aqueous collection. The samples were analyzed using a Multi-Analyte ELISA kit for the simultaneous quantification of IL1α, IL1β, IL2, IL4, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL12, IL17A, IFNγ, TNF-α, GMCSF. RESULTS The CD3+CD4+/CD8+CD20+CD56- T cells expression was greater in the psoriatic patients (+73.9%, P < 0.001) compared to controls, but not the DN T cells (-8.2%, P = 0.30). Ocular complications were diagnosed in 61.1% of patients, microvascular parameters including artero-venous ratio (P = 0.04), subfoveal choriocapillaris/Sattler's layer, and choroidal thickness (CT, both P < 0.001) were significantly altered in psoriasis subgroup. The increased circulating levels of the CD3+CD4+/CD8+CD20+CD56- T cells were associated with thinning of subfoveal CT (P = 0.03) and Haller's layer (P = 0.01). Instead, the DN T cells presented an inverse relationship with disease duration (P = 0.02), DLQI score (P = 0.02), and the use of biological therapy (P = 0.05). The related cytokine patterns possibly modified in this cellular context have been investigated. No significant differences were observed in cytokines levels between psoriasis and controls, the most significant difference was detected on IL-6, without reaching statistical significance (fold change of 1.4, P = 0.13). CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrated that CD20+ T cell subpopulation is highly represented in psoriasis regardless of the use of immunomodulatory therapies, and the diffuse microvascular alterations suggested possible endothelial damage as mainstream for the genesis of psoriatic-mediated complications as further supported by the comparable concentrations of cytokines, at least as humor aqueous content, with respect to healthy eyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Fragiotta
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, U.O.S.D. Ophthalmology, Sapienza University of Rome, A. Fiorini Hospital, Via Firenze 1, 04019 Terracina, Italy
| | - Giorgio Mangino
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, C.so della Repubblica, 79, 04100 Latina, Italy; Center for Biophotonics, Sapienza University of Rome, C.so della Repubblica, 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Marco Iuliano
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, C.so della Repubblica, 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Concetta Potenza
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, C.so della Repubblica, 79, 04100 Latina, Italy; Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Dermatology Unit "Daniele Innocenzi", Sapienza University of Rome, A. Fiorini Hospital, Via Firenze 1, 04019 Terracina, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Bernardini
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Dermatology Unit "Daniele Innocenzi", Sapienza University of Rome, A. Fiorini Hospital, Via Firenze 1, 04019 Terracina, Italy
| | - Nevena Skroza
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, C.so della Repubblica, 79, 04100 Latina, Italy; Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Dermatology Unit "Daniele Innocenzi", Sapienza University of Rome, A. Fiorini Hospital, Via Firenze 1, 04019 Terracina, Italy
| | - Enzo Maria Vingolo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, U.O.S.D. Ophthalmology, Sapienza University of Rome, A. Fiorini Hospital, Via Firenze 1, 04019 Terracina, Italy
| | - Giovanna Romeo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, C.so della Repubblica, 79, 04100 Latina, Italy; Center for Biophotonics, Sapienza University of Rome, C.so della Repubblica, 79, 04100 Latina, Italy.
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8
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Nahavandipour A, Krogh Nielsen M, Sørensen TL, Subhi Y. Systemic levels of interleukin-6 in patients with age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Ophthalmol 2020; 98:434-444. [PMID: 32180348 DOI: 10.1111/aos.14402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most prevalent cause of irreversible vision loss in industrialized countries. Several studies have investigated systemic interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels of patients with AMD. In this study, we systemically reviewed the literature to provide an overview of the field and used meta-analyses to provide a summary estimate of the standardized mean difference (SMD) of systemic IL-6 between patients with AMD and control individuals. We searched the literature databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central on 1 June 2019 for relevant studies on humans. Two authors independently extracted data and evaluated risk of bias. We identified 19 studies for the qualitative review with a total of more than 3586 individuals (1865 controls and 1721 with AMD). We found an overall random-effects SMD in systemic IL-6 levels 0.63 (95% CI: 0.28 to 0.99, p = 0.0005) corresponding to a medium effect size. In a subgroup analysis, we found that early AMD was not strongly associated with elevated IL-6 levels (0.12, 95% CI: -0.01 to 0.24, p = 0.06), which was in contrast to the significantly elevated IL-6 levels in patients with geographic atrophy (1.21, 95% CI: 0.41 to 2.01, p = 0.003) and patients with neovascular AMD (0.99, 95% CI: 0.34 to 1.63, p = 0.003). Our results show that the evidence today suggests an increased systemic IL-6 in patients with AMD, but that this may be a phenomenon more closely related to the late subtypes of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Torben L Sørensen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yousif Subhi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.,Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
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Handa JT, Bowes Rickman C, Dick AD, Gorin MB, Miller JW, Toth CA, Ueffing M, Zarbin M, Farrer LA. A systems biology approach towards understanding and treating non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3347. [PMID: 31350409 PMCID: PMC6659646 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11262-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness among the elderly in the developed world. While treatment is effective for the neovascular or “wet” form of AMD, no therapy is successful for the non-neovascular or “dry” form. Here we discuss the current knowledge on dry AMD pathobiology and propose future research directions that would expedite the development of new treatments. In our view, these should emphasize system biology approaches that integrate omic, pharmacological, and clinical data into mathematical models that can predict disease onset and progression, identify biomarkers, establish disease causing mechanisms, and monitor response to therapy. No effective therapies exist for dry age-related macular degeneration. In this perspective, the authors propose that research should emphasize system biology approaches that integrate various ‘omics’ data into mathematical models to establish pathogenic mechanisms on which to design novel treatments, and identify biomarkers that predict disease progression and therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T Handa
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 21287, MD, USA.
| | - Cathy Bowes Rickman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, 27708, NC, USA
| | - Andrew D Dick
- Translational Health Sciences (Ophthalmology), University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK.,University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology and the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL-Institute of Ophthalmology, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Michael B Gorin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, 90095, CA, USA.,Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, 90095, CA, USA
| | - Joan W Miller
- Retina Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Ophthalmology AMD Center of Excellence, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, MA, USA
| | - Cynthia A Toth
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, 27708, NC, USA
| | - Marius Ueffing
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, D-72076, Germany
| | - Marco Zarbin
- Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, 07103, NJ, USA
| | - Lindsay A Farrer
- Departments of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Neurology, Ophthalmology, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Boston, 02118, MA, USA.
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10
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On phagocytes and macular degeneration. Prog Retin Eye Res 2017; 61:98-128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Zhao Z, Liang Y, Liu Y, Xu P, Flamme-Wiese MJ, Sun D, Sun J, Mullins RF, Chen Y, Cai J. Choroidal γδ T cells in protection against retinal pigment epithelium and retinal injury. FASEB J 2017; 31:4903-4916. [PMID: 28729290 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201700533r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
γδ T cells located near the epithelial barrier are integral components of local inflammatory and innate immune responses. We have previously reported the presence of choroidal γδ T cells in a model of chronic degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The goals of the current study were to further define the functions of choroidal γδ T cells and to explore the underlying mechanisms of their action. Our data demonstrate that choroidal γδ T cells are activated by RPE injury in response to NaIO3 treatment, and that they express genes that encode immunosuppressive cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-10. γδ-T-cell-deficient mice developed profound RPE and retinal damage at doses that caused minimal effects in wild-type mice, and adoptive transfer of γδ T cells prevented sensitization. Intravitreal injection of IL-4 and IL-10 ameliorated RPE toxicity that was induced by NaIO3Ex vivo coculture of γδ T cells with RPE explants activated the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines via an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-dependent mechanism. AhR deficiency abolished the protective effects of γδ T cells after adoptive transfer. Collectively, these findings define important roles for choroid γδ T cells in maintaining tissue homeostasis in the outer retina.-Zhao, Z., Liang, Y., Liu, Y., Xu, P., Flamme-Wiese, M. J., Sun, D., Sun, J., Mullins, R. F., Chen, Y., Cai, J. Choroidal γδ T cells in protection against retinal pigment epithelium and retinal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyang Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Yuejin Liang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Yin Liu
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Pei Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Miles J Flamme-Wiese
- Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Deming Sun
- Doheny Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jiaren Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Robert F Mullins
- Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jiyang Cai
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA;
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