1
|
Li M, Liu Z, Wang D, Ye J, Shi Z, Pan C, Zhang Q, Ju R, Zheng Y, Liu Y. Intraocular mRNA delivery with endogenous MmPEG10-based virus-like particles. Exp Eye Res 2024; 243:109899. [PMID: 38636802 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLP) are a promising tool for intracellular gene delivery, yet their potential in ocular gene therapy remains underexplored. In this study, we bridged this knowledge gap by demonstrating the successful generation and application of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG)-pseudotyped mouse PEG10 (MmPEG10)-VLP for intraocular mRNA delivery. Our findings revealed that PEG10-VLP can efficiently deliver GFP mRNA to adult retinal pigment epithelial cell line-19 (ARPE-19) cells, leading to transient expression. Moreover, we showed that MmPEG10-VLP can transfer SMAD7 to inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in RPE cells effectively. In vivo experiments further substantiated the potential of these vectors, as subretinal delivery into adult mice resulted in efficient transduction of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and GFP reporter gene expression without significant immune response. However, intravitreal injection did not yield efficient ocular expression. We also evaluated the transduction characteristics of MmPEG10-VLP following intracameral delivery, revealing transient GFP protein expression in corneal endothelial cells without significant immunotoxicities. In summary, our study established that VSVG pseudotyped MmPEG10-based VLP can transduce mitotically inactive RPE cells and corneal endothelial cells in vivo without triggering an inflammatory response, underscoring their potential utility in ocular gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengke Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China; Research Unit of Ocular Development and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China
| | - Zhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Dongliang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Jinguo Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Zhuoxing Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Caineng Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Qikai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Rong Ju
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Yingfeng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China; Research Unit of Ocular Development and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China.
| | - Yizhi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China; Research Unit of Ocular Development and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ingusci S, Hall BL, Goins WF, Cohen JB, Glorioso JC. Viral vectors for gene delivery to the central nervous system. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2024; 205:59-81. [PMID: 39341663 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-90120-8.00001-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Brain diseases with a known or suspected genetic basis represent an important frontier for advanced therapeutics. The central nervous system (CNS) is an intricate network in which diverse cell types with multiple functions communicate via complex signaling pathways, making therapeutic intervention in brain-related diseases challenging. Nevertheless, as more information on the molecular genetics of brain-related diseases becomes available, genetic intervention using gene therapeutic strategies should become more feasible. There remain, however, several significant hurdles to overcome that relate to (i) the development of appropriate gene vectors and (ii) methods to achieve local or broad vector delivery. Clearly, gene delivery tools must be engineered for distribution to the correct cell type in a specific brain region and to accomplish therapeutic transgene expression at an appropriate level and duration. They also must avoid all toxicity, including the induction of inflammatory responses. Over the last 40 years, various types of viral vectors have been developed as tools to introduce therapeutic genes into the brain, primarily targeting neurons. This review describes the most prominent vector systems currently approaching clinical application for CNS disorders and highlights both remaining challenges as well as improvements in vector designs that achieve greater safety, defined tropism, and therapeutic gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Selene Ingusci
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Bonnie L Hall
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - William F Goins
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Justus B Cohen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Joseph C Glorioso
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zeng S, Chen Y, Zhou F, Zhang T, Fan X, Chrzanowski W, Gillies MC, Zhu L. Recent advances and prospects for lipid-based nanoparticles as drug carriers in the treatment of human retinal diseases. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114965. [PMID: 37315899 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The delivery of cures for retinal diseases remains problematic. There are four main challenges: passing through multiple barriers of the eye, the delivery to particular retinal cell types, the capability to carry different forms of therapeutic cargo and long-term therapeutic efficacy. Lipid-based nanoparticles (LBNPs) are potent to overcome these challenges due to their unique merits: amphiphilic nanoarchitectures to pass biological barriers, vary modifications with specific affinity to target cell types, flexible capacity for large and mixed types of cargos and slow-release formulations for long-term treatment. We have reviewed the latest research on the applications of LBNPs for treating retinal diseases and categorized them by different payloads. Furthermore, we identified technical barriers and discussed possible future development for LBNPs to expand the therapeutic potential in treating retinal diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaoxue Zeng
- Macula Research Group, Save Sight Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Yingying Chen
- Macula Research Group, Save Sight Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Fanfan Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Ting Zhang
- Macula Research Group, Save Sight Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Xiaohui Fan
- Pharmaceutical Informatics Institute, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | | | - Mark C Gillies
- Macula Research Group, Save Sight Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Ling Zhu
- Macula Research Group, Save Sight Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Han G, Wei P, Han Q. Application of IPSC and Müller glia derivatives in retinal degenerative diseases. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 199:351-362. [PMID: 37678979 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases cause blindness characterized by a progressive decline in the number and function of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), photoreceptor cells, and ganglion cells. Such diseases include retinitis pigmentosa (RP), glaucomatous optic neuropathy, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic optic neuropathy. Recent studies have demonstrated that Müller glial cells (MGCs), an endogenous alternative source of retinal neurons, are important glial cells involved in retinal development, damage, and regeneration, making it an excellent target for retinal nerve regeneration. Although hardly differentiate into neuron cells, transplanted MGCs have been shown to induce partial recovery of visual function in experimental retinal degenerative models. This improvement is possibly attributed to the release of neuroprotective factors that derived from the MGCs. With the development of the therapeutic usage of pluripotent stem cell, application of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or embryonic stem cells (ESCs) originated derivation of MGCs have been widely used in retinal degenerative disease model such as glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa model. This chapter summarized the relevant research and mechanisms and provided a broader application and research prospects for effective treatments in retinal degenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guoge Han
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, P.R. China; Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin, P.R. China; Nankai University Eye Institute, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, P.R. China.
| | - Pinghui Wei
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, P.R. China; Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin, P.R. China; Nankai University Eye Institute, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Quanhong Han
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, P.R. China; Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin, P.R. China; Nankai University Eye Institute, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hakim A, Guido B, Narsineni L, Chen DW, Foldvari M. Gene therapy strategies for glaucoma from IOP reduction to retinal neuroprotection: progress towards non-viral systems. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 196:114781. [PMID: 36940751 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma is the result of the gradual death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) whose axons form the optic nerve. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factors thatcontributes to RGC apoptosis and axonal loss at the lamina cribrosa, resulting in progressive reduction and eventual anterograde-retrograde transport blockade of neurotrophic factors. Current glaucoma management mainly focuses on pharmacological or surgical lowering of IOP, to manage the only modifiable risk factor. Although IOP reduction delays disease progression, it does not address previous and ongoing optic nerve degeneration. Gene therapy is a promising direction to control or modify genes involved in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. Both viral and non-viral gene therapy delivery systems are emerging as promising alternatives or add-on therapies to traditional treatments for improving IOP control and provide neuroprotection. The specific spotlight on non-viral gene delivery systems shows further progress towards improving the safety of gene therapy and implementing neuroprotection by targeting specific tissues and cells in the eye and specifically in the retina.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Hakim
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Benjamin Guido
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Lokesh Narsineni
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Ding-Wen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1; Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology and Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Arsenijevic Y, Berger A, Udry F, Kostic C. Lentiviral Vectors for Ocular Gene Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081605. [PMID: 36015231 PMCID: PMC9414879 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
This review offers the basics of lentiviral vector technologies, their advantages and pitfalls, and an overview of their use in the field of ophthalmology. First, the description of the global challenges encountered to develop safe and efficient lentiviral recombinant vectors for clinical application is provided. The risks and the measures taken to minimize secondary effects as well as new strategies using these vectors are also discussed. This review then focuses on lentiviral vectors specifically designed for ocular therapy and goes over preclinical and clinical studies describing their safety and efficacy. A therapeutic approach using lentiviral vector-mediated gene therapy is currently being developed for many ocular diseases, e.g., aged-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, inherited retinal dystrophies (Leber congenital amaurosis type 2, Stargardt disease, Usher syndrome), glaucoma, and corneal fibrosis or engraftment rejection. In summary, this review shows how lentiviral vectors offer an interesting alternative for gene therapy in all ocular compartments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yvan Arsenijevic
- Unit Retinal Degeneration and Regeneration, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Fondation Asile des Aveugles, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland;
- Correspondence: (Y.A.); (C.K.)
| | - Adeline Berger
- Group Epigenetics of ocular diseases, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Fondation Asile des Aveugles, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Florian Udry
- Unit Retinal Degeneration and Regeneration, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Fondation Asile des Aveugles, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Corinne Kostic
- Group for Retinal Disorder Research, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Fondation Asile des Aveugles, 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Correspondence: (Y.A.); (C.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang T, Lin Q, Zhang Y, Xu Z, Shi D, Cheng Y, Fu Z, Tan H, Cheng D, Shi H. Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel PET tracers [ 18F]AG120 & [ 18F]AG135 for imaging mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 expression. Bioorg Med Chem 2022; 53:116525. [PMID: 34871844 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) are commonly found in various human malignancies. Inhibitors of several mutant IDH1 enzymes have entered clinical trials as target therapeutic drugs for the treatment of patients with IDH1 mutations. Herein, we report the synthesis and evaluation of two 18F-labeled tracers, [18F]AG120 and [18F]AG135 for imaging expression of mutated IDH1 in positron emission tomography (PET). [18F]AG120 and [18F]AG135 were synthesized in decay-corrected radiochemical yield of 1 % and 3 %, respectively, high molar activity (52-66 MBq/nmol and 216-339 MBq/nmol, respectively) and high radiochemical purity (>99%). Both tracers showed good in vitro stability, selective uptake into mutated IDH1-expressing cells and good pharmacokinetic profiles with low uptake in most organs/tissues. Furthermore, [18F]AG120 micro-PET/CT imaging displayed significantly greater uptake in IDH1-mutant than in wild-type tumors, Relatively, uptake of [18F]AG135 was observed neither in IDH1-mutant tumor xenografts nor in wild-type tumors. This study suggests that [18F]AG120 is a promising radiotracer for PET imaging of IDH1 mutation, However, further optimization and investigation are necessary for [18F]AG135 due to the limited uptake in mutated IDH1-expressing tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qingyu Lin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhan Xu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dai Shi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuan Cheng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhequan Fu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hui Tan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dengfeng Cheng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hongcheng Shi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
O'Carroll SJ, Cook WH, Young D. AAV Targeting of Glial Cell Types in the Central and Peripheral Nervous System and Relevance to Human Gene Therapy. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 13:618020. [PMID: 33505247 PMCID: PMC7829478 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.618020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Different glial cell types are found throughout the central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), where they have important functions. These cell types are also involved in nervous system pathology, playing roles in neurodegenerative disease and following trauma in the brain and spinal cord (astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes), nerve degeneration and development of pain in peripheral nerves (Schwann cells, satellite cells), retinal diseases (Müller glia) and gut dysbiosis (enteric glia). These cell type have all been proposed as potential targets for treating these conditions. One approach to target these cell types is the use of gene therapy to modify gene expression. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have been shown to be safe and effective in targeting cells in the nervous system and have been used in a number of clinical trials. To date, a number of studies have tested the use of different AAV serotypes and cell-specific promoters to increase glial cell tropism and expression. However, true glial-cell specific targeting for a particular glial cell type remains elusive. This review provides an overview of research into developing glial specific gene therapy and discusses some of the issues that still need to be addressed to make glial cell gene therapy a clinical reality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon J O'Carroll
- Spinal Cord Injury Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - William H Cook
- Molecular Neurotherapeutics Group, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Deborah Young
- Molecular Neurotherapeutics Group, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Peynshaert K, Devoldere J, Philips F, Vergauwe F, De Smedt S, Remaut K. Influence of pathogenic stimuli on Müller cell transfection by lipoplexes. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2020; 150:87-95. [PMID: 32173604 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Neuroprotection is a mutation-independent therapeutic strategy that seeks to enhance the survival of neuronal cell types through delivery of neuroprotective factors. The Müller cell, a retinal glial cell type appreciated for its unique morphology and neuroprotective functions, could be regarded as an ideal target for this strategy by functioning as a secretion platform within the retina following uptake of a transgene of our choice. In this in vitro study we aimed to investigate the capability of Müller cells to take up a standard liposomal vector (i.e. Lipofectamine 2000) and process its pDNA or mRNA cargo into the reporter GFP protein. By doing so, we found that mRNA outperformed pDNA in Müller cell transfection efficiency. Since neuroprotection is explored as a therapy for diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, we furthermore examined the Müller cell's lipoplex-induced transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity in stressful conditions linked to these diseases - i.e. hypoxia, hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. Interestingly, Müller cells were able of maintaining high GFP expression regardless of these noxious stimuli. In terms of lipoplex-induced toxicity, hyperglycemia seemed to have a protective effect while hypoxia and oxidative stress led to a slightly higher toxicity. In conclusion, our study indicates that mRNA-lipoplexes have potential in transfecting Müller cells in healthy as well as diseased conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Peynshaert
- Lab of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joke Devoldere
- Lab of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Frederik Philips
- Lab of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fauve Vergauwe
- Odisee University College, Technology Campus Ghent, Gebroeders De Smetstraat 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefaan De Smedt
- Lab of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Remaut
- Lab of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Touahri Y, Dixit R, Kofoed RH, Mikloska K, Park E, Raeisossadati R, Markham-Coultes K, David LA, Rijal H, Zhao J, Lynch M, Hynynen K, Aubert I, Schuurmans C. Focused ultrasound as a novel strategy for noninvasive gene delivery to retinal Müller glia. Theranostics 2020; 10:2982-2999. [PMID: 32194850 PMCID: PMC7053200 DOI: 10.7150/thno.42611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Müller glia are specialized retinal cells with stem cell properties in fish and frogs but not in mammals. Current efforts to develop gene therapies to activate mammalian Müller glia for retinal repair will require safe and effective delivery strategies for recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), vectors of choice for clinical translation. Intravitreal and subretinal injections are currently used for AAV gene delivery in the eye, but less invasive methods efficiently targeting Müller glia have yet to be developed. Methods: As gene delivery strategies have been more extensively studied in the brain, to validate our vectors, we initially compared the glial tropism of AAV-PHP.eB, an AAV9 that crosses the blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers, for its ability to drive fluorescent protein expression in glial cells in both the brain and retina. We then tested the glial transduction of AAV2/8-GFAP-mCherry, a virus that does not cross blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers, for its effectiveness in transducing Müller glia in murine retinal explants ex vivo. For in vivo assays we used larger rat eyes, performing invasive intravitreal injections, and non-invasive intravenous delivery using focused ultrasound (FUS) (pressure amplitude: 0.360 - 0.84 MPa) and microbubbles (Definity, 0.2 ml/kg). Results: We showed that AAV-PHP.eB carrying a ubiquitous promoter (CAG) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter, readily crossed the blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers after intravenous delivery in mice. However, murine Müller glia did not express GFP, suggesting that they were not transduced by AAV-PHP.eB. We thus tested an AAV2/8 variant, which was selected based on its safety record in multiple clinical trials, adding a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter and mCherry (red fluorescent protein) reporter. We confirmed the glial specificity of AAV2/8-GFAP-mCherry, showing effective expression of mCherry in astrocytes after intracranial injection in the mouse brain, and of Müller glia in murine retinal explants. For in vivo experiments we switched to rats because of their larger size, injecting AAV2/8-GFAP-mCherry intravitreally, an invasive procedure, demonstrating passage across the inner limiting membrane, leading to Müller glia transduction. We then tested an alternative non-invasive delivery approach targeting a different barrier - the inner blood-retinal-barrier, applying focused ultrasound (FUS) to the retina after intravenous injection of AAV2/8 and microbubbles in rats, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for FUS targeting. FUS permeabilized the rat blood-retinal-barrier and allowed the passage of macromolecules to the retina (Evans blue, IgG, IgM), with minimal extravasation of platelets and red blood cells. Intravenous injection of microbubbles and AAV2/8-GFAP-mCherry followed by FUS resulted in mCherry expression in rat Müller glia. However, systemic delivery of AAV2/8 also had off-target effects, transducing several murine peripheral organs, particularly the liver. Conclusions: Retinal permeabilisation via FUS in the presence of microbubbles is effective for delivering AAV2/8 across the inner blood-retinal-barrier, targeting Müller glia, which is less invasive than intravitreal injections that bypass the inner limiting membrane. However, implementing FUS in the clinic will require a comprehensive consideration of any off-target tropism of the AAV in peripheral organs, combined ideally, with the development of Müller glia-specific promoters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yacine Touahri
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rajiv Dixit
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rikke Hahn Kofoed
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kristina Mikloska
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - EunJee Park
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Reza Raeisossadati
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kelly Markham-Coultes
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luke Ajay David
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hibo Rijal
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jiayi Zhao
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Madelaine Lynch
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Isabelle Aubert
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carol Schuurmans
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Peña JS, Robles D, Zhang S, Vazquez M. A Milled Microdevice to Advance Glia-Mediated Therapies in the Adult Nervous System. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10080513. [PMID: 31370352 PMCID: PMC6723365 DOI: 10.3390/mi10080513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders affect millions of adults worldwide. Neuroglia have become recent therapeutic targets due to their reparative abilities in the recycling of exogenous neurotoxins and production of endogenous growth factors for proper functioning of the adult nervous system (NS). Since neuroglia respond effectively to stimuli within in vivo environments on the micron scale, adult glial physiology has remarkable synergy with microscale systems. While clinical studies have begun to explore the reparative action of Müller glia (MG) of the visual system and Schwann Cells (ShC) of the peripheral NS after neural injury, few platforms enable the study of intrinsic neuroglia responses to changes in the local microenvironment. This project developed a low-cost, benchtop-friendly microfluidic system called the glia line system, or gLL, to advance the cellular study needed for emerging glial-based therapies. The gLL was fabricated using elastomeric kits coupled with a metal mold milled via conventional computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines. Experiments used the gLL to measure the viability, adhesion, proliferation, and migration of MG and ShC within scales similar to their respective in vivo microenvironments. Results illustrate differences in neuroglia adhesion patterns and chemotactic behavior significant to advances in regenerative medicine using implants and biomaterials, as well as cell transplantation techniques. Data showed highest survival and proliferation of MG and ShC upon laminin and illustrated a four-fold and two-fold increase of MG migration to dosage-dependent signaling from vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), respectively, as well as a 20-fold increase of ShC migration toward exogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), compared to media control. The ability to quantify these biological parameters within the gLL offers an effective and reliable alternative to photolithography study neuroglia in a local environment ranging from the tens to hundreds of microns, using a low-cost and easily fabricated system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan S Peña
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Denise Robles
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Stephanie Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Maribel Vazquez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hartnett ME. Discovering Mechanisms in the Changing and Diverse Pathology of Retinopathy of Prematurity: The Weisenfeld Award Lecture. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:1286-1297. [PMID: 30933256 PMCID: PMC6447320 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-25525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M. Elizabeth Hartnett
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Devoldere J, Peynshaert K, De Smedt SC, Remaut K. Müller cells as a target for retinal therapy. Drug Discov Today 2019; 24:1483-1498. [PMID: 30731239 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Müller cells are specialized glial cells that span the entire retina from the vitreous cavity to the subretinal space. Their functional diversity and unique radial morphology render them particularly interesting targets for new therapeutic approaches. In this review, we reflect on various possibilities for selective Müller cell targeting and describe how some of their cellular mechanisms can be used for retinal neuroprotection. Intriguingly, cross-species investigation of their properties has revealed that Müller cells also have an essential role in retinal regeneration. Although many questions regarding this subject remain, it is clear that Müller cells have unique characteristics that make them suitable targets for the prevention and treatment of numerous retinal diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joke Devoldere
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karen Peynshaert
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Remaut
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Becker S, Wang H, Stoddard GJ, Hartnett ME. Effect of subretinal injection on retinal structure and function in a rat oxygen-induced retinopathy model. Mol Vis 2017; 23:832-843. [PMID: 29259390 PMCID: PMC5723151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Subretinal injections are used to deliver agents in experimental studies of retinal diseases, often through viral vectors. However, few studies have investigated the effects of subretinal injections alone on the structure and function of the healthy or diseased retina, particularly in models of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). We report on the effects of subretinal injections in a rat OIR model, which is used to study mechanisms of retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS Within 6 h of birth, neonatal rat pups were exposed to repeated cycles of oxygen between 50% and 10% O2 every 24 h for 14 days and subsequently moved to room air. On postnatal day 8 (P8), animals were treated in both eyes with advancement of the injection needle into the vitreous (pilot-treated) or with a subretinal PBS injection (sPBS-treated) or were left untreated (untreated). Additional control animals were exposed to microscope light after eyelid opening only (light-treated). Retinal fundus images were recorded on P26. Areas of the avascular retina and intravitreal neovascularization were determined in flat mounted retinas stained with isolectin B4 on P32. Retinal function of the respective eyes was assessed with the Ganzfeld electroretinogram (ERG) on P31 or P32 and with focal ERG in the central retina on P28 or P29. The thickness of the retinal layers was measured with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) on P30 and in opsin- and TO-PRO 3-stained retinal cryosections from pups euthanized on P32. Two sections were analyzed in each pup. For each section, three images of three different locations were analyzed accounting for 18 thickness measurements per pup. RESULTS Compared to untreated animals, the avascular area of the retina was greater in the pilot-treated (p<0.05) and sPBS-treated eyes (p<0.01), and the sPBS-treated eyes had a greater avascular retinal area compared to the pilot-treated eyes (p<0.01). The intravitreal neovascular area was larger in the sPBS-treated eyes compared to the untreated eyes (p<0.01). The outer nuclear and outer segment layers were thinner in the pilot- (p<0.01) and sPBS-treated eyes (p<0.05) compared to the untreated eyes as measured with OCT and immunohistochemical staining of the retinal cryosections. Compared to the untreated eyes, the amplitudes of the scotopic a- and b-waves in the Ganzfeld ERG were reduced in the pilot-treated eyes (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively), but only the a-wave was reduced in the sPBS-treated eyes (p<0.001). The a-wave amplitude in the focal ERG was reduced in the pilot- and sPBS-treated eyes, and no difference was seen in the b-wave amplitude between any of the groups. There was no difference between the light-treated and untreated eyes in the areas of the avascular retina or intravitreal neovascularization or Ganzfeld or focal ERG. CONCLUSIONS Pilot injections alone without injection into the subretinal space resulted in an increased avascular retinal area, reduced thickness of the photoreceptors, and reduced ERG function compared to the untreated animals. Although subretinal PBS injections further increased the areas of avascular retina and intravitreal neovascularization and resulted in similar retinal thinning compared to the pilot treatment, inner retinal function was improved, as evidenced by higher Ganzfeld b-wave amplitudes. Differences in the Ganzfeld and focal ERGs may indicate that the peripheral retina is more susceptible to remote beneficial effects from potential protective mechanisms induced by subretinal injection. This study stresses the importance of appropriate controls in experiments with subretinal delivery of agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silke Becker
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Haibo Wang
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Zhao Z, Yang M, Azar SR, Soong L, Weaver SC, Sun J, Chen Y, Rossi SL, Cai J. Viral Retinopathy in Experimental Models of Zika Infection. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017; 58:4355–4365. [PMID: 28810265 PMCID: PMC5558627 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-22016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Emerging evidence has shown that both congenital and adult Zika virus (ZIKV) infection can cause eye diseases. The goals of the current study were to explore mechanisms and pathophysiology of ZIKV-induced eye defects. Methods Wild-type or A129 interferon type I receptor–deficient mice were infected by either FSS13025 or Mex1-7 strain of ZIKV. Retinal histopathology was measured at different time points after infection. The presence of viral RNA and protein in the retina was determined by in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Growth curves of ZIKV in permissive retinal cells were assessed in cultured retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) and Müller glial cells. Results ZIKV-infected mice developed a spectrum of ocular pathologies that affected multiple layers of the retina. A primary target of ZIKV in the eye was Müller glial cells, which displayed decreased neurotrophic function and increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines after infection. ZIKV also infected RPE; and both the RPE and Müller cells expressed viral entry receptors TYRO3 and AXL. Retinitis, focal retinal degeneration, and ganglion cell loss were observed after the clearance of viral particles. Conclusions Our data suggest that ZIKV can infect infant eyes with immature blood–retinal barrier and cause structural damages to the retina. The ocular findings in microcephalic infants may not be solely caused by ZIKV-induced impairment of neurodevelopment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyang Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Matthew Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Sasha R Azar
- Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Lynn Soong
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Scott C Weaver
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States.,Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States.,Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Jiaren Sun
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Shannan L Rossi
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States.,Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States.,Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Jiyang Cai
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Huang Z, Hu Z, Xie P, Liu Q. Tyrosine-mutated AAV2-mediated shRNA silencing of PTEN promotes axon regeneration of adult optic nerve. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174096. [PMID: 28323869 PMCID: PMC5360277 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway via deleting phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) has been confirmed to enhance intrinsic growth capacity of neurons to facilitate the axons regeneration of central nervous system after injury. Considering conditional gene deletion is currently not available in clinical practice, we exploited capsid residue tyrosine 444 to phenylalanine mutated single-stranded adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) as a vector delivering short hairpin RNA to silence PTEN to promote retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) survival and axons regeneration in adult rat optic nerve axotomy paradigm. We found that mutant AAV2 displayed higher infection efficiency to RGCs and Müller cells by intravitreal injection, mediated PTEN suppression, resulted in much more RGCs survival and more robust axons regeneration compared with wild type AAV2, due to the different extent of the mTOR complex-1 activation and glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST) regulation. These results suggest that high efficiency AAV2-mediated PTEN knockdown represents a practicable therapeutic strategy for optic neuropathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- ZhengRu Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Second People´s Hospital of Changshu, Changshu, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - ZiZhong Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ping Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - QingHuai Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wang D, Zhang B, Shi H, Yang W, Bi MC, Song XF, Zhang C, Cheng JH, Hao JL, Song E. Effect of endothelial progenitor cells derived from human umbilical cord blood on oxygen-induced retinopathy in mice by intravitreal transplantation. Int J Ophthalmol 2016; 9:1578-1583. [PMID: 27990359 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2016.11.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate the effect of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) labeled by carboxy fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) on murine oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) by intravitreal transplantation. METHODS After isolated from human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells, EPCs were cultivated and then labeled with CFSE in vitro. C57BL/6J mice were placed to 75% hyperoxia chamber from P7 to P12 to establish OIR model. At P12, OIR mice were intravitreally injected with 1 µL suspension contained 2×105 EPCs (EPCs group) or isometric phosphate buffered saline (PBS group). The contralateral eye of each mice received no injection (OIR group). Evans blue angiography and frozen section were examined to track the labeled cells in OIR group at P15 and P19. Using retina paraffin sections and adenosinediphos phatase staining at P12 and P19, the effect of EPCs on OIR mice was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. RESULTS The retinas from EPCs group with less non-perfusion area and fewer peripheral tufts were observed at P19, comparing with that from PBS or OIR group. The retinopathy in EPCs group receded earlier with less non-ganglion cells and neovascular nuclei, together with relatively regular distribution. The counts of the neovascular nuclei at P19 were reduced by 44% or 45%, compared with those of OIR group or PBS group respectively. Three days after EPCs injection, a large number of EPCs appeared in the vitreous cavity and adhered to the retinal surface. While at one week, the cells gathered between the internal plexiform layer and the inner limiting membrane, and some EPCs appeared in retinal vessels. CONCLUSION EPCs transplantation can participate in the reparative procedure of the neovascularization in OIR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Hui Shi
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ming-Chao Bi
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xiang-Fu Song
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jian-Hui Cheng
- Lixiang Eye Hospital, Soochow University, Soochow 215021, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ji-Long Hao
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - E Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China; Lixiang Eye Hospital, Soochow University, Soochow 215021, Jiangsu Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
El-Shamayleh Y, Ni AM, Horwitz GD. Strategies for targeting primate neural circuits with viral vectors. J Neurophysiol 2016; 116:122-34. [PMID: 27052579 PMCID: PMC4961743 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00087.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how the brain works requires understanding how different types of neurons contribute to circuit function and organism behavior. Progress on this front has been accelerated by optogenetics and chemogenetics, which provide an unprecedented level of control over distinct neuronal types in small animals. In primates, however, targeting specific types of neurons with these tools remains challenging. In this review, we discuss existing and emerging strategies for directing genetic manipulations to targeted neurons in the adult primate central nervous system. We review the literature on viral vectors for gene delivery to neurons, focusing on adeno-associated viral vectors and lentiviral vectors, their tropism for different cell types, and prospects for new variants with improved efficacy and selectivity. We discuss two projection targeting approaches for probing neural circuits: anterograde projection targeting and retrograde transport of viral vectors. We conclude with an analysis of cell type-specific promoters and other nucleotide sequences that can be used in viral vectors to target neuronal types at the transcriptional level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine El-Shamayleh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and
| | - Amy M Ni
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Gregory D Horwitz
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Dalkara D, Goureau O, Marazova K, Sahel JA. Let There Be Light: Gene and Cell Therapy for Blindness. Hum Gene Ther 2016; 27:134-47. [PMID: 26751519 PMCID: PMC4779297 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases are a leading cause of irreversible blindness. Retinal cell death is the main cause of vision loss in genetic disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, and Leber congenital amaurosis, as well as in complex age-related diseases such as age-related macular degeneration. For these blinding conditions, gene and cell therapy approaches offer therapeutic intervention at various disease stages. The present review outlines advances in therapies for retinal degenerative disease, focusing on the progress and challenges in the development and clinical translation of gene and cell therapies. A significant body of preclinical evidence and initial clinical results pave the way for further development of these cutting edge treatments for patients with retinal degenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, France
| | - Olivier Goureau
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, France
| | - Katia Marazova
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, France
- Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, DHU Sight Restore, INSERM-DHOS CIC 1423, France
- Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Nafissi N, Foldvari M. Neuroprotective therapies in glaucoma: I. Neurotrophic factor delivery. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 8:240-54. [PMID: 26306832 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative eye disease that causes permanent blindness at the progressive stage and the number of people affected worldwide is expected to reach over 79 million by 2020. Currently, glaucoma management relies on pharmacological and invasive surgical treatments mainly by reducing the intraocular pressure (IOP), which is the most important risk factor for the progression of the visual field loss. Recent research suggests that neuroprotective or neuroregenerative approaches are necessary to prevent retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) loss and visual impairment over time. Neuroprotection is a new therapeutic strategy that attempts to keep RGCs alive and functional. New gene and cell therapeutics encoding neurotrophic factors (NTFs) are emerging for both neuroprotection and regenerative treatments for retinal diseases. This article briefly reviews the role of NTFs in glaucoma and the potential delivery systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nafiseh Nafissi
- School of Pharmacy and Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy and Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Brockmann C, Brockmann T, Dege S, Busch C, Kociok N, Vater A, Klussmann S, Strauß O, Joussen AM. Intravitreal inhibition of complement C5a reduces choroidal neovascularization in mice. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2015; 253:1695-704. [PMID: 25981118 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-015-3041-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the influence of complement component C5a inhibition on laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice using a C5a specific L-aptamer. METHODS In C57BL/6 J mice CNV was induced by argon-laser, C5a-inhibitor (NOX-D20) was intravitreally injected in three concentrations: 0.3, 3.0, and 30 mg/ml. The unPEGylated derivate (NOX-D20001) was applied at 3.0 mg/ml; the vehicle (5 % glucose) was injected in controls. Vascular leakage was evaluated using fluorescence angiography, CNV area was examined immunohistochemically. Activated immune cells surrounding the CNV lesion and potential cytotoxicity were analyzed. RESULTS Compared to controls, CNV areas were significantly reduced after NOX-D20 injection at a concentration of 0.3 and 3.0 mg/ml (p = 0.042; p = 0.016). NOX-D20001 significantly decreased CNV leakage but not the area (p = 0.007; p = 0.276). At a concentration of 30 mg/ml, NOX-D20 did not reveal significant effects on vascular leakage or CNV area (p = 0.624; p = 0.121). The amount of CD11b positive cells was significantly reduced after treatment with 0.3 and 3.0 mg/ml NOX-D20 (p = 0.027; p = 0.002). No adverse glial cell proliferation or increased apoptosis were observed at effective dosages. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that the targeted inhibition of complement component C5a reduces vascular leakage and neovascular area in laser-induced CNV in mice. NOX-D20 was proven to be an effective and safe agent that might be considered as a therapeutic candidate for CNV treatment. The deficiency of activated immune cells highlights promising new aspects in the pathology of choroidal neovascularization, and warrants further investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Brockmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Tobias Brockmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabrina Dege
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Catharina Busch
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Norbert Kociok
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Axel Vater
- NOXXON Pharma AG, Max-Dohrn-Strasse 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Klussmann
- NOXXON Pharma AG, Max-Dohrn-Strasse 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Olaf Strauß
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antonia M Joussen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Yan Q, Zhu H, Wang FH, Feng JY, Wang WQ, Shi X, Zhou YP, Zhang X, Sun XD. Inhibition of TRB3 Protects Photoreceptors against Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Apoptosis after Experimental Retinal Detachment. Curr Eye Res 2015; 41:240-8. [DOI: 10.3109/02713683.2015.1006371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
|
23
|
Pellissier LP, Quinn PM, Alves CH, Vos RM, Klooster J, Flannery JG, Heimel JA, Wijnholds J. Gene therapy into photoreceptors and Müller glial cells restores retinal structure and function in CRB1 retinitis pigmentosa mouse models. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:3104-18. [PMID: 25701872 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the Crumbs-homologue-1 (CRB1) gene lead to severe recessive inherited retinal dystrophies. Gene transfer therapy is the most promising cure for retinal dystrophies and has primarily been applied for recessive null conditions via a viral gene expression vector transferring a cDNA encoding an enzyme or channel protein, and targeting expression to one cell type. Therapy for the human CRB1 disease will be more complex, as CRB1 is a structural and signaling transmembrane protein present in three cell classes: Müller glia, cone and rod photoreceptors. In this study, we applied CRB1 and CRB2 gene therapy vectors in Crb1-retinitis pigmentosa mouse models at mid-stage disease. We tested if CRB expression restricted to Müller glial cells or photoreceptors or co-expression in both is required to recover retinal function. We show that targeting both Müller glial cells and photoreceptors with CRB2 ameliorated retinal function and structure in Crb1 mouse models. Surprisingly, targeting a single cell type or all cell types with CRB1 reduced retinal function. We show here the first pre-clinical studies for CRB1-related eye disorders using CRB2 vectors and initial elucidation of the cellular mechanisms underlying CRB1 function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - John G Flannery
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA and
| | - J Alexander Heimel
- Department of Cortical Structure & Function, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Trapani I, Puppo A, Auricchio A. Vector platforms for gene therapy of inherited retinopathies. Prog Retin Eye Res 2014; 43:108-28. [PMID: 25124745 PMCID: PMC4241499 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2014.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Revised: 07/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinopathies (IR) are common untreatable blinding conditions. Most of them are inherited as monogenic disorders, due to mutations in genes expressed in retinal photoreceptors (PR) and in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The retina's compatibility with gene transfer has made transduction of different retinal cell layers in small and large animal models via viral and non-viral vectors possible. The ongoing identification of novel viruses as well as modifications of existing ones based either on rational design or directed evolution have generated vector variants with improved transduction properties. Dozens of promising proofs of concept have been obtained in IR animal models with both viral and non-viral vectors, and some of them have been relayed to clinical trials. To date, recombinant vectors based on the adeno-associated virus (AAV) represent the most promising tool for retinal gene therapy, given their ability to efficiently deliver therapeutic genes to both PR and RPE and their excellent safety and efficacy profiles in humans. However, AAVs' limited cargo capacity has prevented application of the viral vector to treatments requiring transfer of genes with a coding sequence larger than 5 kb. Vectors with larger capacity, i.e. nanoparticles, adenoviral and lentiviral vectors are being exploited for gene transfer to the retina in animal models and, more recently, in humans. This review focuses on the available platforms for retinal gene therapy to fight inherited blindness, highlights their main strengths and examines the efforts to overcome some of their limitations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Trapani
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - Agostina Puppo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - Alberto Auricchio
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy; Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Hartnett ME. Pathophysiology and mechanisms of severe retinopathy of prematurity. Ophthalmology 2014; 122:200-10. [PMID: 25444347 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.07.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 241] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Revised: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/29/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) affects only premature infants, but as premature births increase in many areas of the world, ROP has become a leading cause of childhood blindness. Blindness can occur from aberrant developmental angiogenesis that leads to fibrovascular retinal detachment. To treat severe ROP, it is important to study normal developmental angiogenesis and the stresses that activate pathologic signaling events and aberrant angiogenesis in ROP. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is important in both physiologic and pathologic developmental angiogenesis. Based on studies in animal models of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), exogenous factors such as oxygen levels, oxidative stress, inflammation, and nutritional capacity have been linked to severe ROP through dysregulated signaling pathways involving hypoxia-inducible factors and angiogenic factors like VEGF, oxidative species, and neuroprotective growth factors to cause phases of ROP. This translational science review focuses on studies performed in animal models of OIR representative of human ROP and highlights several areas: mechanisms for aberrant growth of blood vessels into the vitreous rather than into the retina through over-activation of VEGF receptor 2 signaling, the importance of targeting different cells in the retina to inhibit aberrant angiogenesis and promote physiologic retinal vascular development, toxicity from broad and targeted inhibition of VEGF bioactivity, and the role of VEGF in neuroprotection in retinal development. Several future translational treatments are discussed, including considerations for targeted inhibition of VEGF signaling instead of broad intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment.
Collapse
|
26
|
Puppo A, Cesi G, Marrocco E, Piccolo P, Jacca S, Shayakhmetov DM, Parks RJ, Davidson BL, Colloca S, Brunetti-Pierri N, Ng P, Donofrio G, Auricchio A. Retinal transduction profiles by high-capacity viral vectors. Gene Ther 2014; 21:855-65. [PMID: 24989814 PMCID: PMC4193889 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2014.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Retinal gene therapy with adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors is safe and effective in humans. However, the limited cargo capacity of AAV prevents their use for therapy of those inherited retinopathies (IRs) due to mutations in large (>5kb) genes. Viral vectors derived from Adenovirus (Ad), Lentivirus (LV) and Herpesvirus (HV) can package large DNA sequences but do not target efficiently retinal photoreceptors (PRs) where the majority of genes responsible for IRs are expressed. Here, we have evaluated the mouse retinal transduction profiles of vectors derived from 16 different Ad serotypes, 7 LV pseudotypes, and from a bovine HV. Most of the vectors tested transduced efficiently the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We found that LV-GP64 tends to transduce more PRs than the canonical LV-VSVG albeit this was restricted to a narrow region. We observed more extensive PR transduction with HdAd1, 2 and 5/F35++ than with LV, although none of them outperformed the canonical HdAd5 or matched the extension of PR transduction achieved with AAV2/8.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Puppo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - G Cesi
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - E Marrocco
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - P Piccolo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - S Jacca
- Department of Medical Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - D M Shayakhmetov
- Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - R J Parks
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - B L Davidson
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Neurology and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | | | - P Ng
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - G Donofrio
- Department of Medical Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - A Auricchio
- 1] Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy [2] Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Pellissier LP, Hoek RM, Vos RM, Aartsen WM, Klimczak RR, Hoyng SA, Flannery JG, Wijnholds J. Specific tools for targeting and expression in Müller glial cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2014; 1:14009. [PMID: 26015954 PMCID: PMC4362388 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2014.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 02/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite their physiological roles, Müller glial cells are involved directly or indirectly in retinal disease pathogenesis and are an interesting target for therapeutic approaches for retinal diseases and regeneration such as CRB1 inherited retinal dystrophies. In this study, we characterized the efficiency of adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid variants and different promoters to drive protein expression in Müller glial cells. ShH10Y and AAV9 were the most powerful capsids to infect mouse Müller glial cells. Retinaldehyde-binding protein 1 (RLBP1) promoter was the most powerful promoter to transduce Müller glial cells. ShH10Y capsids and RLBP1 promoter targeted human Müller glial cells in vitro. We also developed and tested smaller promoters to express the large CRB1 gene via AAV vectors. Minimal cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter allowed expression of full-length CRB1 protein in Müller glial cells. In summary, ShH10Y and AAV9 capsids, and RLBP1 or minimal CMV promoters are of interest as specific tools to target and express in mouse or human Müller glial cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucie P Pellissier
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert M Hoek
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rogier M Vos
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wendy M Aartsen
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ryan R Klimczak
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California , Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Stefan A Hoyng
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John G Flannery
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California , Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wang H, Smith GW, Yang Z, Jiang Y, McCloskey M, Greenberg K, Geisen P, Culp WD, Flannery J, Kafri T, Hammond S, Hartnett ME. Short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of VEGFA in Müller cells reduces intravitreal neovascularization in a rat model of retinopathy of prematurity. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2014; 183:964-74. [PMID: 23972394 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2013.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Revised: 04/29/2013] [Accepted: 05/06/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A is implicated in aberrant angiogenesis and intravitreous neovascularization (IVNV) in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). However, VEGFA also regulates retinal vascular development and functions as a retinal neural survival factor. By using a relevant ROP model, the 50/10 oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model, we previously found that broad inhibition of VEGFA bioactivity using a neutralizing antibody to rat VEGF significantly reduced IVNV area compared with control IgG but also significantly reduced body weight gain in the pups, suggesting an adverse effect. Therefore, we propose that knockdown of up-regulated VEGFA in cells that overexpress it under pathological conditions would reduce IVNV without affecting physiological retinal vascular development or overall pup growth. Herein, we determined first that the VEGFA mRNA signal was located within the inner nuclear layer corresponding to CRALBP-labeled Müller cells of pups in the 50/10 OIR model. We then developed a lentiviral-delivered miR-30eembedded shRNA against VEGFA that targeted Müller cells. Reduction of VEGFA by lentivector VEGFA-shRNAetargeting Müller cells efficiently reduced 50/10 OIR up-regulated VEGFA and IVNV in the model, without adversely affecting physiological retinal vascular development or pup weight gain. Knockdown of VEGFA in rat Müller cells by lentivector VEGFA-shRNA significantly reduced VEGFR2 phosphorylation in retinal vascular endothelial cells. Our results suggest that targeted knockdown of overexpressed VEGFA in Müller cells safely reduces IVNV in a relevant ROP model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Wang
- The John A. Moran Eye Center, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Jiang Y, Wang H, Culp D, Yang Z, Fotheringham L, Flannery J, Hammond S, Kafri T, Hartnett ME. Targeting Müller cell-derived VEGF164 to reduce intravitreal neovascularization in the rat model of retinopathy of prematurity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2014; 55:824-31. [PMID: 24425851 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.13-13755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine whether knockdown of Müller cell-derived VEGFA-splice variant, VEGF164, which is upregulated in the rat retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) model, safely inhibits intravitreal neovascularization (IVNV). METHODS Short hairpin RNAs for VEGF164 (VEGF164.shRNAs) or luciferase.shRNA control were cloned into lentivectors with CD44 promoters that specifically target Müller cells. Knockdown efficiency, off-target effects, and specificity were tested in HEK reporter cell lines that expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged VEGF164 or VEGF120 with flow cytometry or in rat Müller cells (rMC-1) by real-time PCR. In the rat oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) ROP model, pups received 1 μL subretinal lentivector-driven luciferase.shRNA, VEGFA.shRNA, or VEGF164.shRNA at postnatal day 8 (P8). Analyses at P18 and P25 included: IVNV and avascular retina (AVA); retinal and serum VEGF (ELISA); density of phosphorylated VEGFR2 (p-VEGFR2) in lectin-labeled retinal endothelial cells (ECs; immunohistochemistry); TUNEL staining and thickness of inner nuclear (INL) and outer nuclear layers (ONL) in retinal cryosections; and pup weight gain. RESULTS In HEK reporter and in rMC-1 cells and in comparison to lucifferase.shRNA, VEGFA.shRNA reduced both VEGF120 and VEGF164, but VEGF164.shRNA only reduced VEGF164 and not VEGF120. Compared with luciferase.shRNA, VEGFA.shRNA and VEGF164.shRNA reduced retinal VEGF and IVNV without affecting AVA at P18 and P25. At P25, VEGF164.shRNA more effectively maintained IVNV inhibition than VEGFA.shRNA. VEGFA.shRNA and VEGF164.shRNA reduced pVEGFR2 in retinal ECs at P18, but VEGFA.shRNA increased it at P25. VEGFA.shRNA increased TUNEL+ cells at P18 and decreased ONL thickness at P18 and P25. VEGFA.shRNA and VEGF164.shRNA did not affect pup weight gain and serum VEGF. CONCLUSIONS Short hairpin RNA to Müller cell VEGF164 maintained long-term inhibition of IVNV and limited cell death compared with shRNA to VEGFA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanchao Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The John Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Wang H, Yang Z, Jiang Y, Flannery J, Hammond S, Kafri T, Vemuri SK, Jones B, Hartnett ME. Quantitative analyses of retinal vascular area and density after different methods to reduce VEGF in a rat model of retinopathy of prematurity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2014; 55:737-44. [PMID: 24425858 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.13-13429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Targeted inhibition of Müller cell (MC)-produced VEGF or broad inhibition of VEGF with an intravitreal anti-VEGF antibody reduces intravitreal neovascularization in a rat model of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). In this study, we compared the effects of these two approaches on retinal vascular development and capillary density in the inner and deep plexi in the rat ROP model. METHODS In the rat model of ROP, pups received 1 μL of (1) subretinal lentivector-driven short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to knockdown MC-VEGFA (VEGFA.shRNA) or control luciferase shRNA, or (2) intravitreal anti-VEGF antibody (anti-VEGF) or control isotype goat immunoglobulin G (IgG). Analyses of lectin-stained flat mounts at postnatal day 18 (p18) included: vascular/total retinal areas (retinal vascular coverage) and pixels of fluorescence/total retinal area (capillary density) of the inner and deep plexi determined with the Syncroscan microscope, and angles between cleavage planes of mitotic vascular figures labeled with anti-phosphohistone H3 and vessel length. RESULTS Retinal vascular coverage and density increased in both plexi between p8 and p18 in room air (RA) pups. Compared with RA, p18 ROP pups had reduced vascular coverage and density of both plexi. Compared with respective controls, VEGFA.shRNA treatment significantly increased vascular density in the deep plexus, whereas anti-VEGF reduced vascular density in the inner and deep plexi. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A.shRNA caused more cleavage angles predicting vessel elongation and fewer mitotic figures, whereas anti-VEGF treatment led to patterns of pathologic angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Targeted treatment with lentivector-driven VEGFA.shRNA permitted physiologic vascularization of the vascular plexi and restored normal orientation of dividing vascular cells, suggesting that regulation of VEGF signaling by targeted treatment may be beneficial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The John Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Ghanbari JA, Salehi M, Zadeh AK, Zadeh SM, Beigi VB, Ahmad HK, Mahaki B, Beiraghdar M. A preliminary step of a novel strategy in suicide gene therapy with lentiviral vector. Adv Biomed Res 2014; 3:7. [PMID: 24592361 PMCID: PMC3928841 DOI: 10.4103/2277-9175.124634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: One of the challenges in lentiviral vector–based suicide gene therapy by toxin or apoptosis-inducing genes is death of packaging cells. Therefore, the process of production of these lentiviral particles would be stopped in this step. We proposed that insertion of a reverse promoter between R and U5 regions of 5′ long terminal repeat (LTR) in transfer plasmid could be considered as a solution for this problem. But it is not known, whether the insertion of RΔU3 sequence between the promoter and target gene in proviral genome during the life-cycle of lentivirus may interfere whit gene expression in target cells. Materials and Methods: These following methods were performed in this study: insertion of RΔU3 sequence in pEGFP-N1 plasmid, evaluation of the expression of eGFP gene after calcium phosphate co-precipitation transfection of pCMV-RΔU3-GFP construction in 293T cells, and quantitative assay of eGFP gene by flow cytometry technique. Results: Our results from flow cytometry technique analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the expression of eGFP gene in transfected cells with pEGFP-N1 and pCMV-RΔU3-GFP plasmids (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In this step of our strategy, we demonstrated that modification of orientation and location of promoter may overcome some issues in lentiviral suicide gene therapy, especially when toxin or apoptosis-inducing genes are used.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jahan Afrooz Ghanbari
- Department of Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mansoor Salehi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Arezoo Karam Zadeh
- Department of Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Vahid Bahram Beigi
- Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein Khan Ahmad
- Department of Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Behzad Mahaki
- Department of Biostatistics of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mina Beiraghdar
- MS in Botanical Biology, Department of Biology, Payamnoor University, Isfahan, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Han Z, Conley SM, Naash MI. Gene Therapy for Stargardt Disease Associated with ABCA4 Gene. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 801:719-24. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-3209-8_90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
|
33
|
Lipinski DM, Barnard AR, Issa PC, Singh MS, De Silva SR, Trabalza A, Eleftheriadou I, Ellison SM, Mazarakis ND, MacLaren RE. Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Glycoprotein– and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus-Derived Glycoprotein–Pseudotyped Lentivirus Vectors Differentially Transduce Corneal Endothelium, Trabecular Meshwork, and Human Photoreceptors. Hum Gene Ther 2014; 25:50-62. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2013.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. Lipinski
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Alun R. Barnard
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Charbel Issa
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, 35127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Mandeep S. Singh
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Samantha R. De Silva
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Antonio Trabalza
- Gene Therapy, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Centre of Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Ioanna Eleftheriadou
- Gene Therapy, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Centre of Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart M. Ellison
- Gene Therapy, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Centre of Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas D. Mazarakis
- Gene Therapy, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Centre of Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Robert E. MacLaren
- The Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology & Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
- Moorfields Eye Hospital & NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, London EC1V 2PD, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Gottumukkala SNVS, Dwarakanath CD, Sudarsan S. Ribonucleic acid interference induced gene knockdown. J Indian Soc Periodontol 2013; 17:417-22. [PMID: 24174717 PMCID: PMC3800400 DOI: 10.4103/0972-124x.118309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2012] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite major advances in periodontal regeneration over the past three decades, complete regeneration of the lost periodontium on a regular and predictable basis in humans has still remained elusive. The identification of stem cells in the periodontal ligament together with the growing concept of tissue engineering has opened new vistas in periodontal regenerative medicine. In this regard, ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) opens a new gate way for a novel RNA based approach in periodontal management. This paper aims to summarize the current opinion on the mechanisms underlying RNAi, in vitro and in vivo existing applications in the dental research, which could lead to their future use in periodontal regeneration.
Collapse
|
35
|
Semple-Rowland SL, Berry J. Use of lentiviral vectors to deliver and express bicistronic transgenes in developing chicken embryos. Methods 2013; 66:466-73. [PMID: 23816789 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2013.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Revised: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 06/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The abilities of lentiviral vectors to carry large transgenes (∼8kb) and to efficiently infect and integrate these genes into the genomes of both dividing and non-dividing cells make them ideal candidates for transport of genetic material into cells and tissues. Given the properties of these vectors, it is somewhat surprising that they have seen only limited use in studies of developing tissues and in particular of the developing nervous system. Over the past several years, we have taken advantage of the large capacity of these vectors to explore the expression characteristics of several dual promoter and 2A peptide bicistronic transgenes in developing chick neural retina, with the goal of identifying transgene designs that reliably express multiple proteins in infected cells. Here we summarize the activities of several of these transgenes in neural retina and provide detailed methodologies for packaging lentivirus and delivering the virus into the developing neural tubes of chicken embryos in ovo, procedures that have been optimized over the course of several years of use in our laboratory. Conditions to hatch injected embryos are also discussed. The chicken-specific techniques will be of highest interest to investigators using avian embryos, development and packaging of lentiviral vectors that reliably express multiple proteins in infected cells should be of interest to all investigators whose experiments demand manipulation and expression of multiple proteins in developing cells and tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Semple-Rowland
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL 32610 0244, United States.
| | - Jonathan Berry
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL 32610 0244, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Nagabhushan Kalburgi S, Khan NN, Gray SJ. Recent gene therapy advancements for neurological diseases. DISCOVERY MEDICINE 2013; 15:111-9. [PMID: 23449113 PMCID: PMC5554939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The past few years have seen rapid advancements in vector-mediated gene transfer to the nervous system and modest successes in human gene therapy trials. The purpose of this review is to describe commonly-used viral gene transfer vectors and recent advancements towards producing meaningful gene-based treatments for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Gene therapy trials for Canavan disease, Batten disease, adrenoleukodystrophy, and Parkinson's disease are discussed to illustrate the current state of clinical gene transfer to the CNS. Preclinical studies are under way for a number of diseases, primarily lysosomal storage disorders, using a newer generation of vectors and delivery strategies. Relevant studies in animal models are highlighted for Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB and Krabbe disease to provide a prelude for what can be expected in the coming years for human gene transfer trials, using recent advancements in gene transfer technology. In conclusion, recent improvements in CNS gene transfer technology are expected to significantly increase the degree of disease rescue in future CNS-directed clinical trials, exceeding the modest clinical successes that have been observed so far.
Collapse
|
37
|
Bennett J, Maguire AM. Gene Therapy for Retinal Disease. Retina 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-1-4557-0737-9.00034-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
|
38
|
Lentz TB, Gray SJ, Samulski RJ. Viral vectors for gene delivery to the central nervous system. Neurobiol Dis 2012; 48:179-88. [PMID: 22001604 PMCID: PMC3293995 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2011.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2011] [Revised: 08/17/2011] [Accepted: 09/29/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential benefits of gene therapy for neurological diseases such as Parkinson's, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Epilepsy, and Alzheimer's are enormous. Even a delay in the onset of severe symptoms would be invaluable to patients suffering from these and other diseases. Significant effort has been placed in developing vectors capable of delivering therapeutic genes to the CNS in order to treat neurological disorders. At the forefront of potential vectors, viral systems have evolved to efficiently deliver their genetic material to a cell. The biology of different viruses offers unique solutions to the challenges of gene therapy, such as cell targeting, transgene expression and vector production. It is important to consider the natural biology of a vector when deciding whether it will be the most effective for a specific therapeutic function. In this review, we outline desired features of the ideal vector for gene delivery to the CNS and discuss how well available viral vectors compare to this model. Adeno-associated virus, retrovirus, adenovirus and herpesvirus vectors are covered. Focus is placed on features of the natural biology that have made these viruses effective tools for gene delivery with emphasis on their application in the CNS. Our goal is to provide insight into features of the optimal vector and which viral vectors can provide these features.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas B. Lentz
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Steven J. Gray
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - R. Jude Samulski
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Astrocytes regulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis through ephrin-B signaling. Nat Neurosci 2012; 15:1399-406. [PMID: 22983209 PMCID: PMC3458152 DOI: 10.1038/nn.3212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Accepted: 08/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus involves activation of quiescent neural stem cells (NSCs) to yield transiently amplifying NSCs and progenitors, and ultimately neurons that affect learning and memory. This process is tightly controlled by microenvironmental cues, though few endogenous factors are known to regulate neuronal differentiation. While astrocytes have been implicated, their role in juxtacrine (i.e. cell-cell contact-dependent) signaling within NSC niches has not been investigated. We show that ephrin-B2 presented from rodent hippocampal astrocytes regulates neurogenesis in vivo. Furthermore, clonal analysis in NSC fate-mapping studies reveals a novel role for ephrin-B2 in instructing neuronal differentiation. Additionally, ephrin-B2 signaling, transduced by EphB4 receptors on NSCs, activates β-catenin in vitro and in vivo independent of Wnt signaling and upregulates proneural transcription factors. Ephrin-B2+ astrocytes thus promote neuronal differentiation of adult NSCs through juxtacrine signaling, findings that advance our understanding of adult neurogenesis and may have future regenerative medicine implications.
Collapse
|
40
|
Alqawlaq S, Huzil JT, Ivanova MV, Foldvari M. Challenges in neuroprotective nanomedicine development: progress towards noninvasive gene therapy of glaucoma. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2012; 7:1067-83. [PMID: 22846092 DOI: 10.2217/nnm.12.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade the application of gene therapy of retinal diseases such as glaucoma has produced promising results. However, optic nerve regeneration and restoration of vision in patients with glaucoma is still far from reality. Neuroprotective approaches in the form of gene therapy may provide significant advantages, but are still limited by many factors both at the organ and cellular levels. In general, gene delivery systems for eye diseases range from simple eye drops and ointments to more advanced bio- and nanotechnology-based systems such as muco-adhesive systems, polymers, liposomes and ocular inserts. Most of these technologies were developed for front-of-the-eye ophthalmic therapies and are not applicable as back-of-the-eye delivery systems. Currently, only the invasive intravitreal injections are capable of successfully delivering genes to the retina. Here we review the challenges and possible strategies for the noninvasive gene therapy of glaucoma including the barriers in the eye and in neural cells, and present a cross-sectional view of gene delivery as it pertains to the prevention and treatment of glaucoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samih Alqawlaq
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - J Torin Huzil
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Marina V Ivanova
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Marianna Foldvari
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Geng Y, Dubra A, Yin L, Merigan WH, Sharma R, Libby RT, Williams DR. Adaptive optics retinal imaging in the living mouse eye. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2012; 3:715-34. [PMID: 22574260 PMCID: PMC3345801 DOI: 10.1364/boe.3.000715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2012] [Revised: 02/13/2012] [Accepted: 02/14/2012] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Correction of the eye's monochromatic aberrations using adaptive optics (AO) can improve the resolution of in vivo mouse retinal images [Biss et al., Opt. Lett. 32(6), 659 (2007) and Alt et al., Proc. SPIE 7550, 755019 (2010)], but previous attempts have been limited by poor spot quality in the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWS). Recent advances in mouse eye wavefront sensing using an adjustable focus beacon with an annular beam profile have improved the wavefront sensor spot quality [Geng et al., Biomed. Opt. Express 2(4), 717 (2011)], and we have incorporated them into a fluorescence adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO). The performance of the instrument was tested on the living mouse eye, and images of multiple retinal structures, including the photoreceptor mosaic, nerve fiber bundles, fine capillaries and fluorescently labeled ganglion cells were obtained. The in vivo transverse and axial resolutions of the fluorescence channel of the AOSLO were estimated from the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the line and point spread functions (LSF and PSF), and were found to be better than 0.79 μm ± 0.03 μm (STD)(45% wider than the diffraction limit) and 10.8 μm ± 0.7 μm (STD)(two times the diffraction limit), respectively. The axial positional accuracy was estimated to be 0.36 μm. This resolution and positional accuracy has allowed us to classify many ganglion cell types, such as bistratified ganglion cells, in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Geng
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
- The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14620, USA
| | - Alfredo Dubra
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Current address: Eye Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI 53226, USA
| | - Lu Yin
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - William H. Merigan
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Robin Sharma
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
- The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14620, USA
| | - Richard T. Libby
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - David R. Williams
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
- The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14620, USA
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Escors D, Kochan G, Stephenson H, Breckpot K. Cell and Tissue Gene Targeting with Lentiviral Vectors. SPRINGERBRIEFS IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012. [PMCID: PMC7122860 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-0348-0402-8_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
One of the main advantages of using lentivectors is their capacity to transduce a wide range of cell types, independently from the cell cycle stage. However, transgene expression in certain cell types is sometimes not desirable, either because of toxicity, cell transformation, or induction of transgene-specific immune responses. In other cases, specific targeting of only cancerous cells within a tumor is sought after for the delivery of suicide genes. Consequently, great effort has been invested in developing strategies to control transgene delivery/expression in a cell/tissue-specific manner. These strategies can broadly be divided in three; particle pseudotyping (surface targeting), which entails modification of the envelope glycoprotein (ENV); transcriptional targeting, which utilizes cell-specific promoters and/or inducible promoters; and posttranscriptional targeting, recently applied in lentivectors by introducing sequence targets for cell-specific microRNAs. In this chapter we describe each of these strategies providing some illustrative examples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Escors
- University College London, Rayne Building, 5 University Street, London, WC1E 6JF UK
| | - Grazyna Kochan
- Oxford Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building. Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7DQ UK
| | - Holly Stephenson
- Institute of Child Health, University College London, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
Substantial advances in our understanding of lentivirus lifecycles and their various constituent proteins have permitted the bioengineering of lentiviral vectors now considered safe enough for clinical trials for both lethal and non-lethal diseases. They possess distinct properties that make them particularly suitable for gene delivery in ophthalmic diseases, including high expression, consistent targeting of various post-mitotic ocular cells in vivo and a paucity of associated intraocular inflammation, all contributing to their ability to mediate efficient and stable intraocular gene transfer. In this review, the intraocular tropisms and therapeutic applications of both primate and non-primate lentiviral vectors, and how the unique features of the eye influence these, are discussed. The feasibility of therapeutic targeting using these vectors in animal models of both anterior and posterior ophthalmic disorders has been established, and has, in combination with substantial progress in enhancing lentiviral vector bio-safety over the past two decades, paved the way for the first human ophthalmic clinical trials using lentivirus-based gene transfer vectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K S Balaggan
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Calame M, Cachafeiro M, Philippe S, Schouwey K, Tekaya M, Wanner D, Sarkis C, Kostic C, Arsenijevic Y. Retinal degeneration progression changes lentiviral vector cell targeting in the retina. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23782. [PMID: 21901134 PMCID: PMC3161995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2010] [Accepted: 07/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In normal mice, the lentiviral vector (LV) is very efficient to target the RPE cells, but transduces retinal neurons well only during development. In the present study, the tropism of LV has been investigated in the degenerating retina of mice, knowing that the retina structure changes during degeneration. We postulated that the viral transduction would be increased by the alteration of the outer limiting membrane (OLM). Two different LV pseudotypes were tested using the VSVG and the Mokola envelopes, as well as two animal models of retinal degeneration: light-damaged Balb-C and Rhodopsin knockout (Rho-/-) mice. After light damage, the OLM is altered and no significant increase of the number of transduced photoreceptors can be obtained with a LV-VSVG-Rhop-GFP vector. In the Rho-/- mice, an alteration of the OLM was also observed, but the possibility of transducing photoreceptors was decreased, probably by ongoing gliosis. The use of a ubiquitous promoter allows better photoreceptor transduction, suggesting that photoreceptor-specific promoter activity changes during late stages of photoreceptor degeneration. However, the number of targeted photoreceptors remains low. In contrast, LV pseudotyped with the Mokola envelope allows a wide dispersion of the vector into the retina (corresponding to the injection bleb) with preferential targeting of Müller cells, a situation which does not occur in the wild-type retina. Mokola-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors may serve to engineer these glial cells to deliver secreted therapeutic factors to a diseased area of the retina.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maritza Calame
- Unit of Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Biology, Service of Ophthalmology, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maité Cachafeiro
- Unit of Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Biology, Service of Ophthalmology, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stéphanie Philippe
- Unit of Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Biology, Service of Ophthalmology, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Karine Schouwey
- Unit of Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Biology, Service of Ophthalmology, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Meriem Tekaya
- Unit of Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Biology, Service of Ophthalmology, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dana Wanner
- Unit of Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Biology, Service of Ophthalmology, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Chamsy Sarkis
- NewVectys SAS, Paris, France
- Team of Biotherapy and Biotechnology, CRICM, UPMC-Paris6 UMR_S 975, INSERM U975, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France
| | - Corinne Kostic
- Unit of Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Biology, Service of Ophthalmology, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yvan Arsenijevic
- Unit of Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Biology, Service of Ophthalmology, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
AAV mediated GDNF secretion from retinal glia slows down retinal degeneration in a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa. Mol Ther 2011; 19:1602-8. [PMID: 21522134 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2011.62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in over 80 identified genes can induce apoptosis in photoreceptors, resulting in blindness with a prevalence of 1 in 3,000 individuals. This broad genetic heterogeneity of disease impacting a wide range of photoreceptor functions renders the design of gene-specific therapies for photoreceptor degeneration impractical and necessitates the development of mutation-independent treatments to slow photoreceptor cell death. One promising strategy for photoreceptor neuroprotection is neurotrophin secretion from Müller cells, the primary retinal glia. Müller glia are excellent targets for secreting neurotrophins as they span the entire tissue, ensheath all neuronal populations, are numerous, and persist through retinal degeneration. We previously engineered an adeno-associated virus (AAV) variant (ShH10) capable of efficient and selective glial cell transduction through intravitreal injection. ShH10-mediated glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) secretion from glia, generates high GDNF levels in treated retinas, leading to sustained functional rescue for over 5 months. This GDNF secretion from glia following intravitreal vector administration is a safe and effective means to slow the progression of retinal degeneration in a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and shows significant promise as a gene therapy to treat human retinal degenerations. These findings also demonstrate for the first time that glia-mediated secretion of neurotrophins is a promising treatment that may be applicable to other neurodegenerative conditions.
Collapse
|
46
|
Aartsen WM, van Cleef KWR, Pellissier LP, Hoek RM, Vos RM, Blits B, Ehlert EME, Balaggan KS, Ali RR, Verhaagen J, Wijnholds J. GFAP-driven GFP expression in activated mouse Müller glial cells aligning retinal blood vessels following intravitreal injection of AAV2/6 vectors. PLoS One 2010; 5:e12387. [PMID: 20808778 PMCID: PMC2927518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2010] [Accepted: 07/27/2010] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Müller cell gliosis occurs in various retinal pathologies regardless of the underlying cellular defect. Because activated Müller glial cells span the entire retina and align areas of injury, they are ideal targets for therapeutic strategies, including gene therapy. Methodology/Principal Findings We used adeno-associated viral AAV2/6 vectors to transduce mouse retinas. The transduction pattern of AAV2/6 was investigated by studying expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene using scanning-laser ophthalmoscopy and immuno-histochemistry. AAV2/6 vectors transduced mouse Müller glial cells aligning the retinal blood vessels. However, the transduction capacity was hindered by the inner limiting membrane (ILM) and besides Müller glial cells, several other inner retinal cell types were transduced. To obtain Müller glial cell-specific transgene expression, the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter was replaced by the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. Specificity and activation of the GFAP promoter was tested in a mouse model for retinal gliosis. Mice deficient for Crumbs homologue 1 (CRB1) develop gliosis after light exposure. Light exposure of Crb1−/− retinas transduced with AAV2/6-GFAP-GFP induced GFP expression restricted to activated Müller glial cells aligning retinal blood vessels. Conclusions/Significance Our experiments indicate that AAV2 vectors carrying the GFAP promoter are a promising tool for specific expression of transgenes in activated glial cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wendy M. Aartsen
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Koen W. R. van Cleef
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lucie P. Pellissier
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert M. Hoek
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rogier M. Vos
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bas Blits
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erich M. E. Ehlert
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kamaljit S. Balaggan
- Division of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R. Ali
- Division of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Semple-Rowland SL, Coggin WE, Geesey M, Eccles KS, Abraham L, Pachigar K, Ludlow R, Khani SC, Smith WC. Expression characteristics of dual-promoter lentiviral vectors targeting retinal photoreceptors and Müller cells. Mol Vis 2010; 16:916-34. [PMID: 20517486 PMCID: PMC2878367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2010] [Accepted: 05/23/2010] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Growing evidence suggests that successful treatment of many inherited photoreceptor diseases will require multi-protein therapies that not only correct the genetic defects linked to these diseases but also slow or halt the related degenerative phenotypes. To be effective, it is likely that therapeutic protein expression will need to be targeted to specific cell types. The purpose of this study was to develop dual-promoter lentiviral vectors that target expression of two proteins to retinal cones and rods, rods only, or Müller cells. METHODS Dual-promoter lentivectors were constructed using the following promoters: Xenopus opsin promoter (XOPS)1.3, murine opsin promoter (MOPS), interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein promoter (IRBP156), rhodopsin kinase (RK), neural retina leucine zipper (NRLL), vimentin (VIM), cluster differentiation (CD44), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Vectors were packaged and injected into the neural tubes of chicken embryos. The activities of the promoters alone, in duplicate, or when paired with a different promoter were analyzed in transduced, fully-developed retinas, using direct fluorescent and immunofluorescent microscopy. RESULTS IRBP156, NRLL, and RK were active in cones and rods while XOPS1.3 was active only in rods. Of the glial promoters, only GFAP activity was restricted to Müller cells; both VIM and CD44 were active in Müller and neural cells. Dual-promoter vectors carrying IRBP156 and RK or XOPS1.3 and MOPS, in the order listed, exhibited robust expression of both reporter transgenes in cones and rods or rods only, respectively. Expression of the upstream transgene was much lower than the downstream transgene in dual-promoter vectors constructed using two copies of either RK or IRBP156. Analyses of the expression of a dual-promoter vector carrying CD44 and VIM in the order listed showed that the activity of the VIM promoter was more restricted to glial cells when paired with the CD44 promoter, while the activity of the CD44 promoter was inhibited to the extent that no CD44-driven reporter protein was detected in transduced cells. CONCLUSIONS We have identified two dual-promoter vectors, one that targets cones and rods and one that targets rods alone. Both vectors reliably express the two proteins encoded by the transgenes they carry. When two well matched promoters are not available, we found that it is possible to target expression of two proteins to single cells using dual-promoter vectors carrying two copies of the same promoter. These vectors should be useful in studies of retina when co-delivery of a reporter protein with an experimental protein is desired or when expression of two exogenous proteins in targeted cells is required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Semple-Rowland
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida McKnight Brain Institute, 100 Newell Dr., Rm L1-100 Box 100244, Gainesville, FL 32610-0244, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Guo B, Wang Y, Hui Y, Yang X, Fan Q. Effects of anti-VEGF agents on rat retinal Müller glial cells. Mol Vis 2010; 16:793-9. [PMID: 20454698 PMCID: PMC2862245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2010] [Accepted: 04/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of an anti-rat vascular endothelial growth factor antibody (ARVA) and bevacizumab (Avastin) on rat retinal Müller glial cells (RMGCs) in vivo and in vitro. METHODS Rat RMGCs were identified and cultivated, and were then treated with bevacizumab (0.1, 0.25, and 1 mg/ml), ARVA (0.1, 0.5, and 1 microg/ml), or 1 mg/ml of rat immunoglobulin G (IgG) for 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. The numbers of viable RMGCs were determined using a trypan blue dye exclusion assay and a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium colorimetric assay. In the in vivo study, the rats received intravitreal injections of 5 microl bevacizumab (3.75 mg/ml), ARVA (15 microg/ml), and rat IgG (1 mg/ml). The electroretinogram was recorded. Seven days after the injections, histopathologic changes and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression of RMGCs in the retina were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with hematoxylin-eosin and fluorescent staining. RESULTS After exposure to bevacizumab at various concentrations for various periods of time, the stained cell numbers and optical density values of mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity of RMGCs had no significant differences (p>0.05) from those of the control group and IgG medium. In the stained cells, ARVA demonstrated a dose-dependent increase. Compared with those treated for 12 and 24 h, the increase of stained cells treated with 0.5 and 1 microg/ml ARVA at 48 and 72 h was very significant (p<0.01). The optical densities of RMGCs exposed to 0.5 and 1 microg/ml of ARVA at 48 and 72 h were significantly lower than cells exposed to a fresh culture medium (p<0.01). The histology of both treated and control eyes after intravitreal injection was similar and showed no anatomic signs of toxicity. There were no obvious glial fibrillary acidic protein upregulations of RMGCs in all groups. The scotopic electroretinogram responses to flashes of light in the control and treated eyes had similar b-wave amplitudes. CONCLUSIONS Intravitreal bevacizumab and ARVA had no short-term, direct retinal toxicity in rats. Bevacizumab exerts no inhibition on rat RMGCs, while ARVA at higher doses (over 0.5 microg/ml) may be harmful to the growth of RMGCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Guo
- Bayi hospital, Department of ophthalmology, Yang Gongjin, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Escors D, Breckpot K. Lentiviral vectors in gene therapy: their current status and future potential. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2010; 58:107-19. [PMID: 20143172 DOI: 10.1007/s00005-010-0063-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2009] [Accepted: 10/06/2009] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The concept of gene therapy originated in the mid twentieth century and was perceived as a revolutionary technology with the promise to cure almost any disease of which the molecular basis was understood. Since then, several gene vectors have been developed and the feasibility of gene therapy has been shown in many animal models of human disease. However, clinical efficacy could not be demonstrated until the beginning of the new century in a small-scale clinical trial curing an otherwise fatal immunodeficiency disorder in children. This first success, achieved after retroviral therapy, was later overshadowed by the occurrence of vector-related leukemia in a significant number of the treated children, demonstrating that the future success of gene therapy depends on our understanding of vector biology. This has led to the development of later-generation vectors with improved efficiency, specificity, and safety. Amongst these are HIV-1 lentivirus-based vectors (lentivectors), which are being increasingly used in basic and applied research. Human gene therapy clinical trials are currently underway using lentivectors in a wide range of human diseases. The intention of this review is to describe the main scientific steps leading to the engineering of HIV-1 lentiviral vectors and place them in the context of current human gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Escors
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Medical School of the Royal Free and University College London, London W1T 4JF, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Geng Y, Greenberg KP, Wolfe R, Gray DC, Hunter JJ, Dubra A, Flannery JG, Williams DR, Porter J. In vivo imaging of microscopic structures in the rat retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2009; 50:5872-9. [PMID: 19578019 PMCID: PMC2873188 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.09-3675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The ability to resolve single retinal cells in rodents in vivo has applications in rodent models of the visual system and retinal disease. The authors have characterized the performance of a fluorescence adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (fAOSLO) that provides cellular and subcellular imaging of rat retina in vivo. METHODS Enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) was expressed in retinal ganglion cells of normal Sprague-Dawley rats via intravitreal injections of adeno-associated viral vectors. Simultaneous reflectance and fluorescence retinal images were acquired using the fAOSLO. fAOSLO resolution was characterized by comparing in vivo images with subsequent imaging of retinal sections from the same eyes using confocal microscopy. RESULTS Retinal capillaries and eGFP-labeled ganglion cell bodies, dendrites, and axons were clearly resolved in vivo with adaptive optics. Adaptive optics correction reduced the total root mean square wavefront error, on average, from 0.30 microm to 0.05 microm (measured at 904 nm, 1.7-mm pupil). The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the average in vivo line-spread function (LSF) was approximately 1.84 microm, approximately 82% greater than the FWHM of the diffraction-limited LSF. CONCLUSIONS With perfect aberration compensation, the in vivo resolution in the rat eye could be approximately 2x greater than that in the human eye because of its large numerical aperture (approximately 0.43). Although the fAOSLO corrects a substantial fraction of the rat eye's aberrations, direct measurements of retinal image quality reveal some blur beyond that expected from diffraction. Nonetheless, subcellular features can be resolved, offering promise for using adaptive optics to investigate the rodent eye in vivo with high resolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Geng
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|