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Ma D, Deng W, Khera Z, Sajitha TA, Wang X, Wollstein G, Schuman JS, Lee S, Shi H, Ju MJ, Matsubara J, Beg MF, Sarunic M, Sappington RM, Chan KC. Early inner plexiform layer thinning and retinal nerve fiber layer thickening in excitotoxic retinal injury using deep learning-assisted optical coherence tomography. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:19. [PMID: 38303097 PMCID: PMC10835918 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01732-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Excitotoxicity from the impairment of glutamate uptake constitutes an important mechanism in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. Within the eye, excitotoxicity is thought to play a critical role in retinal ganglion cell death in glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinal ischemia, and optic nerve injury, yet how excitotoxic injury impacts different retinal layers is not well understood. Here, we investigated the longitudinal effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced excitotoxic retinal injury in a rat model using deep learning-assisted retinal layer thickness estimation. Before and after unilateral intravitreal NMDA injection in nine adult Long Evans rats, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to acquire volumetric retinal images in both eyes over 4 weeks. Ten retinal layers were automatically segmented from the OCT data using our deep learning-based algorithm. Retinal degeneration was evaluated using layer-specific retinal thickness changes at each time point (before, and at 3, 7, and 28 days after NMDA injection). Within the inner retina, our OCT results showed that retinal thinning occurred first in the inner plexiform layer at 3 days after NMDA injection, followed by the inner nuclear layer at 7 days post-injury. In contrast, the retinal nerve fiber layer exhibited an initial thickening 3 days after NMDA injection, followed by normalization and thinning up to 4 weeks post-injury. Our results demonstrated the pathological cascades of NMDA-induced neurotoxicity across different layers of the retina. The early inner plexiform layer thinning suggests early dendritic shrinkage, whereas the initial retinal nerve fiber layer thickening before subsequent normalization and thinning indicates early inflammation before axonal loss and cell death. These findings implicate the inner plexiform layer as an early imaging biomarker of excitotoxic retinal degeneration, whereas caution is warranted when interpreting the ganglion cell complex combining retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and inner plexiform layer thicknesses in conventional OCT measures. Deep learning-assisted retinal layer segmentation and longitudinal OCT monitoring can help evaluate the different phases of retinal layer damage upon excitotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Ma
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
- Translational Eye and Vision Research Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
- School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
| | - Wenyu Deng
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Zain Khera
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thajunnisa A Sajitha
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xinlei Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gadi Wollstein
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neural Science, College of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Joel S Schuman
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Neural Science, College of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sieun Lee
- School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Haolun Shi
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Myeong Jin Ju
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Joanne Matsubara
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mirza Faisal Beg
- School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Marinko Sarunic
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca M Sappington
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Translational Eye and Vision Research Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Kevin C Chan
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
- Center for Neural Science, College of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Radiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
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Wang S, Jiang X, Peng W, Yang S, Pi R, Zhou S. Acrolein Induces Retinal Abnormalities of Alzheimer's Disease in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13576. [PMID: 37686379 PMCID: PMC10487815 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
It is reported that retinal abnormities are related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients and animal models. However, it is unclear whether the retinal abnormities appear in the mouse model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD) induced by acrolein. We investigated the alterations of retinal function and structure, the levels of β-amyloid (Aβ) and phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) in the retina, and the changes in the retinal vascular system in this mouse model. We demonstrated that the levels of Aβ and p-Tau were increased in the retinas of mice from the acrolein groups. Subsequently, a decreased amplitudes of b-waves in the scotopic and photopic electroretinogram (ERG), decreased thicknesses of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in the retina, and slight retinal venous beading were found in the mice induced by acrolein. We propose that sAD mice induced by acrolein showed abnormalities in the retina, which may provide a valuable reference for the study of the retina in sAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xiuying Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Foshan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Weijia Peng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuangjian Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Institute for Vision and Eye Research, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Rongbiao Pi
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 528406, China
| | - Shiyou Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
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Kang M, Yadav MK, Mbanefo EC, Yu CR, Egwuagu CE. IL-27-containing exosomes secreted by innate B-1a cells suppress and ameliorate uveitis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1071162. [PMID: 37334383 PMCID: PMC10272713 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1071162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction IL-27 is a heterodimeric cytokine composed of Ebi3 and IL-27p28 and can exert proinflammatory or immune suppressive effects depending on the physiological context. Ebi3 does not contain membrane-anchoring motifs, suggesting that it is a secreted protein while IL-27p28 is poorly secreted. How IL-27p28 and Ebi3 dimerize in-vivo to form biologically active IL-27 is unknown. Major impediment to clinical use of IL-27 derives from difficulty of determining exact amount of bioavailable heterodimeric IL-27 needed for therapy. Methods To understand how IL-27 mediates immune suppression, we characterized an innate IL-27-producing B-1a regulatory B cell population (i27-Breg) and mechanisms i27-Bregs utilize to suppress neuroinflammation in mouse model of uveitis. We also investigated biosynthesis of IL-27 and i27-Breg immunobiology by FACS, immunohistochemical and confocal microscopy. Results Contrary to prevailing view that IL-27 is a soluble cytokine, we show that i27-Bregs express membrane-bound IL-27. Immunohistochemical and confocal analyses co-localized expression of IL-27p28 at the plasma membrane in association with CD81 tetraspanin, a BCR-coreceptor protein and revealed that IL-27p28 is a transmembrane protein in B cells. Most surprising, we found that i27-Bregs secrete IL-27-containing exosomes (i27-exosomes) and adoptive transfer of i27-exosomes suppressed uveitis by antagonizing Th1/Th17 cells, up-regulating inhibitory-receptors associated with T-cell exhaustion while inducing Treg expansion. Discussion Use of i27-exosomes thus obviates the IL-27 dosing problem, making it possible to determine bioavailable heterodimeric IL-27 needed for therapy. Moreover, as exosomes readily cross the blood-retina-barrier and no adverse effects were observed in mice treated with i27-exosome, results of this study suggest that i27-exosomes might be a promising therapeutic approach for CNS autoimmune diseases.
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Ahmed Z. Optic Nerve Crush Injury in Rodents to Study Retinal Ganglion Cell Neuroprotection and Regeneration. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2708:99-106. [PMID: 37558963 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3409-7_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Optic nerve crush injury is a useful model for studying the response of central nervous system neurons (CNS) to injury. A particular focus of this model has been to elucidate therapeutic factors in promoting neuroprotection and axon regeneration after injury. Here we describe a step-by-step protocol in accessing the optic nerve and creating a crush injury. This can be used to create a reproducible model to study the response of retinal ganglion cells (RGC), the main projection neurons of the eye, to injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubair Ahmed
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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Mbanefo EC, Yan M, Kang M, Alhakeem SA, Jittayasothorn Y, Yu CR, Parihar A, Singh S, Egwuagu CE. STAT3-Specific Single Domain Nanobody Inhibits Expansion of Pathogenic Th17 Responses and Suppresses Uveitis in Mice. Front Immunol 2021; 12:724609. [PMID: 34603297 PMCID: PMC8479182 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.724609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
STAT3 activates transcription of genes that regulate cell growth, differentiation, and survival of mammalian cells. Genetic deletion of Stat3 in T cells has been shown to abrogate Th17 differentiation, suggesting that STAT3 is a potential therapeutic target for Th17-mediated diseases. However, a major impediment to therapeutic targeting of intracellular proteins such as STAT3 is the lack of efficient methods for delivering STAT3 inhibitors into cells. In this study, we developed a novel antibody (SBT-100) comprised of the variable (V) region of a STAT3-specific heavy chain molecule and demonstrate that this 15 kDa STAT3-specific nanobody enters human and mouse cells, and induced suppression of STAT3 activation and lymphocyte proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. To investigate whether SBT-100 would be effective in suppressing inflammation in vivo, we induced experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) in C57BL/6J mice by active immunization with peptide from the ocular autoantigen, interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP651-670). Analysis of the retina by fundoscopy, histological examination, or optical coherence tomography showed that treatment of the mice with SBT-100 suppressed uveitis by inhibiting expansion of pathogenic Th17 cells that mediate EAU. Electroretinographic (ERG) recordings of dark and light adapted a- and b-waves showed that SBT-100 treatment rescued mice from developing significant visual impairment observed in untreated EAU mice. Adoptive transfer of activated IRBP-specific T cells from untreated EAU mice induced EAU, while EAU was significantly attenuated in mice that received IRBP-specific T cells from SBT-100 treated mice. Taken together, these results demonstrate efficacy of SBT-100 in mice and suggests its therapeutic potential for human autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evaristus C Mbanefo
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ming Yan
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Minkyung Kang
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Sahar A Alhakeem
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yingyos Jittayasothorn
- Immunoregulation Section, Laboratory of Immunology, NEI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Cheng-Rong Yu
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | | | | | - Charles E Egwuagu
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
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Zhu J, Sainulabdeen A, Akers K, Adi V, Sims JR, Yarsky E, Yan Y, Yu Y, Ishikawa H, Leung CK, Wollstein G, Schuman JS, Wei W, Chan KC. Oral Scutellarin Treatment Ameliorates Retinal Thinning and Visual Deficits in Experimental Glaucoma. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:681169. [PMID: 34414202 PMCID: PMC8369066 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.681169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Intraocular pressure (IOP) is currently the only modifiable risk factor for glaucoma, yet glaucoma can continue to progress despite controlled IOP. Thus, development of glaucoma neurotherapeutics remains an unmet need. Scutellarin is a flavonoid that can exert neuroprotective effects in the eye and brain. Here, we investigated the neurobehavioral effects of scutellarin treatment in a chronic IOP elevation model. Methods: Ten adult C57BL/6J mice were unilaterally injected with an optically clear hydrogel into the anterior chamber to obstruct aqueous outflow and induce chronic IOP elevation. Eight other mice received unilateral intracameral injection of phosphate-buffered saline only. Another eight mice with hydrogel-induced unilateral chronic IOP elevation also received daily oral gavage of 300 mg/kg scutellarin. Tonometry, optical coherence tomography, and optokinetics were performed longitudinally for 4 weeks to monitor the IOP, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, total retinal thickness, visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity of both eyes in all three groups. Results: Intracameral hydrogel injection resulted in unilateral chronic IOP elevation with no significant inter-eye IOP difference between scutellarin treatment and untreated groups. Upon scutellarin treatment, the hydrogel-injected eyes showed less retinal thinning and reduced visual behavioral deficits when compared to the untreated, hydrogel-injected eyes. No significant difference in retinal thickness or optokinetic measures was found in the contralateral, non-treated eyes over time or between all groups. Conclusion: Using the non-invasive measuring platform, oral scutellarin treatment appeared to preserve retinal structure and visual function upon chronic IOP elevation in mice. Scutellarin may be a novel neurotherapeutic agent for glaucoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyuan Zhu
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Anoop Sainulabdeen
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States,Department of Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Thrissur, India
| | - Krystal Akers
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Vishnu Adi
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jeffrey R. Sims
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eva Yarsky
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yi Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yu Yu
- Pleryon Therapeutics Limited, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hiroshi Ishikawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christopher K. Leung
- Hong Kong Eye Hospital, University Eye Center, Hong Kong, China,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China,Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gadi Wollstein
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Joel S. Schuman
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, United States,Center for Neural Science, College of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, NY, United States,Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Wenbin Wei
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,Wenbin Wei
| | - Kevin C. Chan
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, United States,Center for Neural Science, College of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, NY, United States,Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States,Department of Radiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States,*Correspondence: Kevin C. Chan
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Kang M, Lee HS, Choi JK, Yu CR, Egwuagu CE. Deletion of Irf4 in T Cells Suppressed Autoimmune Uveitis and Dysregulated Transcriptional Programs Linked to CD4 + T Cell Differentiation and Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052775. [PMID: 33803441 PMCID: PMC7967141 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon regulatory factor-4 (IRF4) and IRF8 regulate differentiation, growth and functions of lymphoid and myeloid cells. Targeted deletion of irf8 in T cells (CD4-IRF8KO) has been shown to exacerbate colitis and experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), a mouse model of human uveitis. We therefore generated mice lacking irf4 in T cells (CD4-IRF4KO) and investigated whether expression of IRF4 by T cells is also required for regulating T cells that suppress autoimmune diseases. Surprisingly, we found that CD4-IRF4KO mice are resistant to EAU. Suppression of EAU derived in part from inhibiting pathogenic responses of Th17 cells while inducing expansion of regulatory lymphocytes that secrete IL-10 and/or IL-35 in the eye and peripheral lymphoid tissues. Furthermore, CD4-IRF4KO T cells exhibit alterations in cell metabolism and are defective in the expression of two Ikaros zinc-finger (IKZF) transcription factors (Ikaros, Aiolos) that are required for lymphocyte differentiation, metabolism and cell-fate decisions. Thus, synergistic effects of IRF4 and IkZFs might induce metabolic reprogramming of differentiating lymphocytes and thereby dynamically regulate relative abundance of T and B lymphocyte subsets that mediate immunopathogenic mechanisms during uveitis. Moreover, the diametrically opposite effects of IRF4 and IRF8 during EAU suggests that intrinsic function of IRF4 in T cells might be activating proinflammatory responses while IRF8 promotes expansion of immune-suppressive mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minkyung Kang
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.K.); (H.-S.L.); (J.K.C.); (C.-R.Y.)
| | - Hyun-Su Lee
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.K.); (H.-S.L.); (J.K.C.); (C.-R.Y.)
| | - Jin Kyeong Choi
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.K.); (H.-S.L.); (J.K.C.); (C.-R.Y.)
- Department of Immunology, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 54907, Korea
| | - Cheng-Rong Yu
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.K.); (H.-S.L.); (J.K.C.); (C.-R.Y.)
| | - Charles E. Egwuagu
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.K.); (H.-S.L.); (J.K.C.); (C.-R.Y.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +301-496-0049; Fax: +301-480-3914
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Dietrich M, Hecker C, Nasiri M, Samsam S, Issberner A, Kohne Z, Hartung HP, Albrecht P. Neuroprotective Properties of Dimethyl Fumarate Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography in Non-inflammatory Animal Models. Front Neurol 2021; 11:601628. [PMID: 33519681 PMCID: PMC7838501 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.601628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
While great advances have been made in the immunomodulatory treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), there is still an unmet need for drugs with neuroprotective potential. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has been suggested to exert both immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects in MS. To investigate if DMF has neuroprotective effects independent of immunomodulation we evaluated its effects in the non-inflammatory animal models of light-induced photoreceptor loss and optic nerve crush. This might also reveal applications for DMF besides MS, such as age related macular degeneration. Retinal neurodegeneration was longitudinally assessed by in vivo retinal imaging using optical coherence tomography (OCT), and glutathione (GSH) measurements as well as histological investigations were performed to clarify the mode of action. For light-induced photoreceptor loss, one eye of C57BL/6J mice was irradiated with a LED cold light lamp while for optic nerve crush the optic nerve was clamped behind the eye bulb. The other eye served as control. GSH was measured in the optic nerve, choroid and retina and immunohistological staining of retinal microglia (Iba1) was performed. Mice were treated with 15 or 30 mg DMF/kg bodyweight or vehicle. While no protective effects were observed in optic nerve crush, in the light-induced retinal degeneration model DMF treatment significantly reduced retinal degeneration. In these mice, GSH levels in the retina and surrounding choroid were increased and histological investigations revealed less microglial activation in the outer retinal layers, suggesting both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Dietrich
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christina Hecker
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Milad Nasiri
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sogol Samsam
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andrea Issberner
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Zippora Kohne
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Hartung
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp Albrecht
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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9
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Zhan Z, Wu Y, Liu Z, Quan Y, Li D, Huang Y, Yang S, Wu K, Huang L, Yu M. Reduced Dendritic Spines in the Visual Cortex Contralateral to the Optic Nerve Crush Eye in Adult Mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:55. [PMID: 32866269 PMCID: PMC7463183 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.10.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To determine alteration of dendritic spines and associated changes in the primary visual cortex (V1 region) related to unilateral optic nerve crush (ONC) in adult mice. Methods Adult unilateral ONC mice were established. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Visual function was estimated by flash visual evoked potentials (FVEPs). Dendritic spines were observed in the V1 region contralateral to the ONC eye by two-photon imaging in vivo. The neurons, reactive astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and activated microglia were assessed by NeuN, glial fibrillary acidic protein, CNPase, and CD68 in immunohistochemistry, respectively. Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and the markers in TrkB trafficking were estimated using western blotting and co-immunoprecipitation. Transmission electron microscopy and western blotting were used to evaluate autophagy. Results The amplitude and latency of FVEPs were decreased and delayed at 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after ONC, and RNFL thickness was decreased at 2 and 4 weeks after ONC. Dendritic spines were reduced in the V1 region contralateral to the ONC eye at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after ONC, with an unchanged number of neurons. Reactive astrocyte staining was increased at 2 and 4 weeks after ONC, but oligodendrocyte and activated microglia staining remained unchanged. TrkB was reduced with changes in the major trafficking proteins, and enhanced autophagy was observed in the V1 region contralateral to the ONC eye. Conclusions Dendritic spines were reduced in the V1 region contralateral to the ONC eye in adult mice. Reactive astrocytes and decreased TrkB may be associated with the reduced dendritic spines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongyi Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yali Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zitian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yadan Quan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Deling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yiru Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shana Yang
- Department of Physiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Kaili Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lianyan Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Minbin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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10
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Intravitreal Injection of Liposomes Loaded with a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Promotes Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival in a Mouse Model of Optic Nerve Crush. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239297. [PMID: 33291226 PMCID: PMC7730870 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Various neuroprotective agents have been studied for the treatment of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) diseases, but issues concerning the side effects of systemically administered drugs and the short retention time of intravitreally injected drugs limit their clinical applications. The current study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of intravitreally injected trichostatin A (TSA)-loaded liposomes in a mouse model of optic nerve crush (ONC) and determine whether TSA-loaded liposomes have therapeutic potential in RGC diseases. The histone deacetylase inhibitor, TSA, was incorporated into polyethylene glycolylated liposomes. C57BL/6J mice were treated with an intravitreal injection of TSA-loaded liposomes and liposomes loaded with a lipophilic fluorescent dye for tracking, immediately after ONC injury. The expression of macroglial and microglial cell markers (glial fibrillary acidic protein and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1), RGC survival, and apoptosis were assessed. We found that the liposomes reached the inner retina. Their fluorescence was detected for up to 10 days after the intravitreal injection, with peak intensity at 3 days postinjection. Intravitreally administered TSA-loaded liposomes significantly decreased reactive gliosis and RGC apoptosis and increased RGC survival in a mouse model of ONC. Our results suggest that TSA-loaded liposomes may help in the treatment of various RGC diseases.
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11
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Allen RS, Douglass A, Vo H, Feola AJ. Ovariectomy worsens visual function after mild optic nerve crush in rodents. Exp Eye Res 2020; 202:108333. [PMID: 33129829 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, and women represent roughly 60% of the affected population. Early menopause and estrogen signaling defects are risk factors for glaucoma. Recently, we found that surgical menopause exacerbated visual dysfunction in an ocular hypertension model of glaucoma. Here, we investigated if surgical menopause exacerbated visual dysfunction in a model of direct retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage via optic nerve crush (ONC). Female Long Evans rats (n = 12) underwent ovariectomy (OVX) to induce surgical menopause or Sham surgery. Eight weeks post-surgery, baseline visual function was assessed via optomotor response. Afterwards, rats underwent monocular ONC. Visual function was assessed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-ONC. At 12 weeks, retinal function via electroretinography and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness via optical coherence tomography were measured. Visual acuity was reduced after ONC (p < 0.001), with surgical menopausal animals having 31.7% lower visual acuity than Sham animals at 12 weeks (p = 0.01). RNFL thinning (p < 0.0001) and decreased RGC function (p = 0.0016) occurred at 12 weeks in ONC groups. Surgical menopause worsens visual acuity after direct RGC damage using an ONC model. This demonstrates that surgical menopause plays a role in visual function after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael S Allen
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Atlanta, GA, USA; Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Amber Douglass
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Harrison Vo
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Andrew J Feola
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Atlanta, GA, USA; Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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12
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Jnawali A, Lin X, Patel NB, Frishman LJ, Ostrin LA. Retinal ganglion cell ablation in guinea pigs. Exp Eye Res 2020; 202:108339. [PMID: 33127343 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Guinea pigs are a common model of human ocular conditions; however, their visual function has not been fully characterized. The purpose of this study was to determine the contributions of retinal ganglion cells to structural and functional measures in guinea pigs. Healthy adult guinea pigs (n = 12) underwent unilateral optic nerve crush. Retinal structure was assessed with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), and thickness of the ganglion cell/nerve fiber layer (GC/NFL) was determined. Visual function was assessed with optomotor tracking of a drifting grating and light adapted electroretinograms (ERGs). From flash ERGs, a-wave, b-wave, oscillatory potentials (OPs), and photopic negative response (PhNR) were analyzed. From pattern ERGs, N1P1 and P1N2 were analyzed. Histological studies were done at various time points for ganglion cell quantification. Optomotor tracking was absent in optic nerve crush eyes following optic nerve crush. Significant thinning of the GC/NFL was evident four weeks following the crush. Flash ERGs revealed a significant reduction in the OP1 amplitude two weeks following crush (P < 0.01) and in the PhNR amplitude six weeks following crush (P < 0.01). There were no significant changes in a-wave, b-wave, or pattern ERG responses (P > 0.05 for all). In vivo OCT imaging showed progressive thinning of inner retinal layers. Ganglion cell density, quantified histologically, was significantly reduced by 75% in the optic nerve crush eye compared to the control eye at four weeks following crush. These findings indicate that retinal ganglion cells contribute to the PhNR and OP1 components of the full field flash ERG, but not significantly to the pattern ERG in guinea pigs. This study demonstrates that OCT imaging and full field flash ERGs are valuable in assessing retinal ganglion cell loss in vivo in guinea pigs and will help to further establish the guinea pig as a model of human ocular pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh Jnawali
- College of Optometry University of Houston, 4901 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX, 77096, USA.
| | - Xiao Lin
- College of Optometry University of Houston, 4901 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX, 77096, USA.
| | - Nimesh B Patel
- College of Optometry University of Houston, 4901 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX, 77096, USA.
| | - Laura J Frishman
- College of Optometry University of Houston, 4901 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX, 77096, USA.
| | - Lisa A Ostrin
- College of Optometry University of Houston, 4901 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX, 77096, USA.
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13
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Oladipupo FO, Yu CR, Olumuyide E, Jittaysothorn Y, Choi JK, Egwuagu CE. STAT3 deficiency in B cells exacerbates uveitis by promoting expansion of pathogenic lymphocytes and suppressing regulatory B cells (Bregs) and Tregs. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16188. [PMID: 33004854 PMCID: PMC7529787 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73093-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
STAT3 transcription factor induces differentiation of naïve T cells into Th17 cells and loss of STAT3 in T cell prevents development of CNS autoimmune diseases. However, function of STAT3 in the B lymphocyte subset is not well understood. In this study, we have generated mice lacking STAT3 in CD19+ B cells (CD19-STAT3KO) and investigated intrinsic and extrinsic functions of STAT3 in B cells and its potential role in resistance or pathogenesis of organ-specific autoimmune diseases. We show that STAT3 regulates metabolic mechanisms in B cells with implications for bioenergetic and metabolic pathways that control cellular homeostasis in B cells. Thus, loss of STAT3 in CD19-STAT3KO cells perturbed growth and apoptosis by inducing rapid entry of B cells into the S-phase of the cell cycle, decreasing expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and upregulating pro-apoptotic proteins. We further show that the CD19-STAT3KO mice develop severe experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), an animal model of human uveitis. Exacerbated uveitis in CD19-STAT3KO mice derived in part from enhanced expression of costimulatory molecules on B cells, marked increase of Th17 responses and increased recruitment of granulocytes into the neuroretina. The enhanced autoimmunity upon deletion of STAT3 in B cells is also recapitulated in experimental autoimmune encephalitis, a mouse model of multiple sclerosis and thus support our conclusion that STAT3 deletion in B cells enhanced inflammation and the effects observed are not model specific. Our data further indicate that STAT3 pathway modulates interactions between B and T cells during EAU resulting in alteration of lymphocyte repertoire by increasing levels of autoreactive pathogenic T cells while suppressing development and/or expansion of immune-suppressive lymphocytes (Bregs and Tregs). Taken together, STAT3 exerts diametrically opposite effects in lymphocytes, with loss of STAT3 in B cells exacerbating uveitis whereas Stat3 deletion in T cells confers protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Favour O Oladipupo
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Building 10, Room 10N248G, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1857, USA
| | - Cheng-Rong Yu
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Building 10, Room 10N248G, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1857, USA
| | - Ezekiel Olumuyide
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Building 10, Room 10N248G, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1857, USA
| | | | - Jin Kyeong Choi
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Building 10, Room 10N248G, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1857, USA.,Department of Immunology, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Charles E Egwuagu
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Building 10, Room 10N248G, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1857, USA.
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14
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Kang M, Choi JK, Jittayasothorn Y, Egwuagu CE. Interleukin 35-Producing Exosomes Suppress Neuroinflammation and Autoimmune Uveitis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1051. [PMID: 32547555 PMCID: PMC7272665 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticosteroids are effective therapy for autoimmune diseases but serious adverse effects preclude their prolonged use. However, immune-suppressive biologics that inhibit lymphoid proliferation are now in use as corticosteroid sparing-agents but with variable success; thus, the need to develop alternative immune-suppressive approaches including cell-based therapies. Efficacy of ex-vivo-generated IL-35-producing regulatory B-cells (i35-Bregs) in suppressing/ameliorating encephalomyelitis or uveitis in mouse models of multiple sclerosis or uveitis, respectively, is therefore a promising therapeutic approach for CNS autoimmune diseases. However, i35-Breg therapy in human uveitis would require producing autologous Bregs from each patient to avoid immune-rejection. Because exosomes exhibit minimal toxicity and immunogenicity, we investigated whether i35-Bregs release exosomes that can be exploited therapeutically. Here, we demonstrate that i35-Bregs release exosomes that contain IL-35 (i35-Exosomes). In this proof-of-concept study, we induced experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), monitored EAU progression by fundoscopy, histology, optical coherence tomography and electroretinography, and investigated whether i35-Exosomes treatment would suppress uveitis. Mice treated with i35-Exosomes developed mild EAU with low EAU scores and disease protection correlated with expansion of IL-10 and IL-35 secreting Treg cells with concomitant suppression of Th17 responses. In contrast, significant increase of Th17 cells in vitreous and retina of control mouse eyes was accompanied by severe choroiditis, massive retinal-folds, and photoreceptor cell damage. These hallmark features of severe uveitis were absent in exosome-treated mice and visual impairment detected by ERG was modest compared to control mice. Absence of toxicity or alloreactivity associated with exosomes thus makes i35-Exosomes attractive therapeutic option for delivering IL-35 into CNS tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minkyung Kang
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jin Kyeong Choi
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Department of Immunology, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, South Korea
| | - Yingyos Jittayasothorn
- Immunoregulation Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Charles E Egwuagu
- Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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15
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Liu YF, Huang S, Ng TK, Liang JJ, Xu Y, Chen SL, Xu C, Zhang M, Pang CP, Cen LP. Longitudinal evaluation of immediate inflammatory responses after intravitreal AAV2 injection in rats by optical coherence tomography. Exp Eye Res 2020; 193:107955. [PMID: 32017940 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.107955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy has been proposed as a feasible strategy for RGC survival and optic nerve regeneration. Some preclinical and clinical studies revealed intraocular inflammation after intravitreal injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) by slit-lamp or indirect ophthalmoscope. Here we evaluate the longitudinal profile of immediate inflammatory responses after AAV2 injection in rat retina and vitreous body by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Adult Fischer F344 rats were intravitreally injected once with saline, AAV2 or zymosan. Retinal thickness and cell infiltration were recorded by OCT longitudinally for 2 months and verified by histological analysis. The transduction rate of single intravitreal AAV2 injection was 21.3 ± 4.9% of whole retina, and the transduction efficiency on RGCs was 91.5 ± 2.5% in the transduced area. Significant increase in cell infiltration was observed from Day 1-3 after AAV2 injection, compared to very few infiltrating cells observed in the saline-injected group. The infiltrating cells ceased at Day 5 after intravitreal injection and remained absent at 2 months. The thicknesses of total and inner retina were increased along Day 1-3 after AAV2 injection, but reverted to normal afterwards. The surviving RGCs in the AAV2-injected groups at Day 14 showed no significant difference compared to saline-injected group. In summary, this study revealed the immediate inflammatory responses and retinal edema after intravitreal AAV2 injection in normal rats, without influencing long-term retinal thickness and RGC survival. OCT can be implemented for the time-lapse in vivo evaluation of inflammatory response after AAV-mediated gene therapy through intravitreal injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Fen Liu
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China; Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shaofen Huang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tsz Kin Ng
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China; Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jia-Jian Liang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanxuan Xu
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shao-Lang Chen
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ciyan Xu
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chi Pui Pang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ling-Ping Cen
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
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16
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Ha Y, Liu W, Liu H, Zhu S, Xia F, Gerson JE, Azhar NA, Tilton RG, Motamedi M, Kayed R, Zhang W. AAV2-mediated GRP78 Transfer Alleviates Retinal Neuronal Injury by Downregulating ER Stress and Tau Oligomer Formation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 59:4670-4682. [PMID: 30267089 PMCID: PMC6155472 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-24427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death following axonal injury occurring in traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) causes irreversible vision loss. GRP78 is a molecular chaperone that enhances protein folding and controls activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways. This study determined whether adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer of GRP78 protected RGCs from death in a mouse model of TON induced by optic nerve crush (ONC). Methods ONC was induced by a transient crush of optic nerve behind the eye globe. AAV was used to deliver genes into retina. Molecules in the ER stress branches, tau oligomers, and RGC injury were determined by immunohistochemistry or Western blot. Results Among tested AAV serotypes, AAV2 was the most efficient for delivering genes to RGCs. Intravitreal delivery of AAV2-GRP78 markedly attenuated ER stress and RGC death 3 days after ONC, and significantly improved RGC survival and function 7 days after ONC. Protein aggregation is increased during ER stress and aggregated proteins such as tau oligomers are key players in neurodegenerative diseases. AAV2-GRP78 alleviated ONC-induced increases in tau phosphorylation and oligomerization. Furthermore, tau oligomers directly induced RGC death, and blocking tau oligomers with tau oligomer monoclonal antibody (TOMA) attenuated ONC-induced RGC loss. Conclusion These data indicate that the beneficial effect of AAV2-GRP78 is partially mediated by the reduction of misfolded tau, and provide compelling evidence that gene therapy with AAV2-GRP78 or immunotherapy with TOMA offers novel therapeutic approaches to alleviate RGC loss in TON.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonju Ha
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hua Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States.,Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Shuang Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Fan Xia
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Julia E Gerson
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Nisha A Azhar
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Ronald G Tilton
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States.,Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Massoud Motamedi
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States.,Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States.,Departments of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States
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17
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Antony BJ, Carass A, Lang A, Kim BJ, Zack DJ, Prince JL. Longitudinal Analysis of Mouse SDOCT Volumes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 10137. [PMID: 29138527 DOI: 10.1117/12.2257432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT), in addition to its routine clinical use in the diagnosis of ocular diseases, has begun to find increasing use in animal studies. Animal models are frequently used to study disease mechanisms as well as to test drug efficacy. In particular, SDOCT provides the ability to study animals longitudinally and non-invasively over long periods of time. However, the lack of anatomical landmarks makes the longitudinal scan acquisition prone to inconsistencies in orientation. Here, we propose a method for the automated registration of mouse SDOCT volumes. The method begins by accurately segmenting the blood vessels and the optic nerve head region in the scans using a pixel classification approach. The segmented vessel maps from follow-up scans were registered using an iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm to the baseline scan to allow for the accurate longitudinal tracking of thickness changes. Eighteen SDOCT volumes from a light damage model study were used to train a random forest utilized in the pixel classification step. The area under the curve (AUC) in a leave-one-out study for the retinal blood vessels and the optic nerve head (ONH) was found to be 0.93 and 0.98, respectively. The complete proposed framework, the retinal vasculature segmentation and the ICP registration, was applied to a secondary set of scans obtained from a light damage model. A qualitative assessment of the registration showed no registration failures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavna J Antony
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Aaron Carass
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Andrew Lang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Byung-Jin Kim
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
| | - Donald J Zack
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
| | - Jerry L Prince
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
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18
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Ostrin LA, Choh V, Wildsoet CF. The pattern ERG in chicks - Stimulus dependence and optic nerve section. Vision Res 2016; 128:45-52. [PMID: 27668989 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2016.09.009] [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: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The chick is widely used in studies of eye growth regulation and myopia. The aim of this study was to explore the utility of pattern (p)ERG as a tool to assess retinal function in such studies. Effects of optical defocus and diffusing blur, manipulations used to alter eye growth experimentally, were evaluated. PERGs were recorded from White-Leghorn chickens, using a checkerboard pattern, including 8 spatial frequencies (0.05-2.2c/d SF), 13 contrast levels (1-100%), and 8 temporal reversal frequencies (0.5-20Hz). The acute effects of defocus and diffusing blur were examined. Flash- and pERGs were also recorded from chicks that underwent monocular optic nerve section (ONS), to explore the contribution of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Measurements were made up to 6weeks post-ONS, complemented with SD-OCT imaging. In normal chicks, the response to 1Hz, 100% contrast stimuli showed positive- and negative-going waveforms at 43ms (P1) and 75ms (N95), respectively, with 0.06-0.1c/d SF eliciting the largest P1 amplitudes of 21.9±2.5μV. Contrast levels above 5% yielded measurable P1 responses. Responses were transient and monophasic for 0.5-5Hzreversal rates, with higher temporal frequencies yielding steady state responses. Defocus and diffusing blur decreased pERG amplitude across all SFs. pERG responses remained normal after ONS, despite the loss of RGCs. In conclusion, chicks show robust pERG responses, which are attenuated by defocus and diffusing blur. The pERG response is not affected by ONS, suggesting that RGCs do not contribute to the chick pERG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Ostrin
- University of Houston College of Optometry, 4901 Calhoun, Houston, TX 77004, USA.
| | - Vivian Choh
- University of Waterloo, 200 University West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Christine F Wildsoet
- University of California Berkeley, School of Optometry, 588 Minor Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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19
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Ho LC, Wang B, Conner IP, van der Merwe Y, Bilonick RA, Kim SG, Wu EX, Sigal IA, Wollstein G, Schuman JS, Chan KC. In Vivo Evaluation of White Matter Integrity and Anterograde Transport in Visual System After Excitotoxic Retinal Injury With Multimodal MRI and OCT. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2015; 56:3788-800. [PMID: 26066747 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-15552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Excitotoxicity has been linked to the pathogenesis of ocular diseases and injuries and may involve early degeneration of both anterior and posterior visual pathways. However, their spatiotemporal relationships remain unclear. We hypothesized that the effects of excitotoxic retinal injury (ERI) on the visual system can be revealed in vivo by diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imagining (DTI), manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imagining (MRI), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS Diffusion tensor MRI was performed at 9.4 Tesla to monitor white matter integrity changes after unilateral N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced ERI in six Sprague-Dawley rats and six C57BL/6J mice. Additionally, four rats and four mice were intravitreally injected with saline to compare with NMDA-injected animals. Optical coherence tomography of the retina and manganese-enhanced MRI of anterograde transport were evaluated and correlated with DTI parameters. RESULTS In the rat optic nerve, the largest axial diffusivity decrease and radial diffusivity increase occurred within the first 3 and 7 days post ERI, respectively, suggestive of early axonal degeneration and delayed demyelination. The optic tract showed smaller directional diffusivity changes and weaker DTI correlations with retinal thickness compared with optic nerve, indicative of anterograde degeneration. The splenium of corpus callosum was also reorganized at 4 weeks post ERI. The DTI profiles appeared comparable between rat and mouse models. Furthermore, the NMDA-injured visual pathway showed reduced anterograde manganese transport, which correlated with diffusivity changes along but not perpendicular to optic nerve. CONCLUSIONS Diffusion tensor MRI, manganese-enhanced MRI, and OCT provided an in vivo model system for characterizing the spatiotemporal changes in white matter integrity, the eye-brain relationships and structural-physiological relationships in the visual system after ERI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon C Ho
- NeuroImaging Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States 2UPMC Eye Center, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylva
| | - Bo Wang
- UPMC Eye Center, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States 4Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University
| | - Ian P Conner
- UPMC Eye Center, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States 4Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University
| | - Yolandi van der Merwe
- NeuroImaging Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States 2UPMC Eye Center, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylva
| | - Richard A Bilonick
- UPMC Eye Center, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States 4Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University
| | - Seong-Gi Kim
- NeuroImaging Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States 4Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States 6McGowan Institute for Regenerative
| | - Ed X Wu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ian A Sigal
- UPMC Eye Center, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States 4Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University
| | - Gadi Wollstein
- UPMC Eye Center, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States 5Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh, Pi
| | - Joel S Schuman
- UPMC Eye Center, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States 4Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University
| | - Kevin C Chan
- NeuroImaging Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States 2UPMC Eye Center, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylva
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Caspase-7: a critical mediator of optic nerve injury-induced retinal ganglion cell death. Mol Neurodegener 2015; 10:40. [PMID: 26306916 PMCID: PMC4550044 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-015-0039-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Axonal injury of the optic nerve (ON) is involved in various ocular diseases, such as glaucoma and traumatic optic neuropathy, which leads to apoptotic death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and loss of vision. Caspases have been implicated in RGC pathogenesis. However, the role of caspase-7, a functionally unique caspase, in ON injury and RGC apoptosis has not been reported previously. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of caspase-7 in ON injury-induced RGC apoptosis. Results C57BL/6 (wildtype, WT) and caspase-7 knockout (Casp7−/−) mice were used. We show that ON crush activated caspase-7 and calpain-1, an upstream activator of caspase-7, in mouse RGCs, as well as hydrolysis of kinectin and co-chaperone P23, specific substrates of caspase-7. ON crush caused a progressive loss of RGCs to 28 days after injury. Knockout of caspase-7 partially and significantly protected against the ON injury-induced RGC loss; RGC density at 28 days post ON crush in Casp7−/− mice was approximately twice of that in WT ON injured retinas. Consistent with changes in RGC counts, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography analysis revealed that ON crush significantly reduced the in vivo thickness of the ganglion cell complex layer (including ganglion cell layer, nerve fiber layer, and inner plexiform layer) in the retina. The ON crush-induced thinning of retinal layer was significantly ameliorated in Casp7−/− mice when compared to WT mice. Moreover, electroretinography analysis demonstrated a decline in the positive component of scotopic threshold response amplitude in ON crushed eyes of the WT mice, whereas this RGC functional response was significantly higher in Casp7−/− mice at 28 days post injury. Conclusion Altogether, our findings indicate that caspase-7 plays a critical role in ON injury-induced RGC death, and inhibition of caspase-7 activity may be a novel therapeutic strategy for glaucoma and other neurodegenerative diseases of the retina. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13024-015-0039-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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21
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Fortune B. In vivo imaging methods to assess glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Exp Eye Res 2015; 141:139-53. [PMID: 26048475 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2015.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The goal of this review is to summarize the most common imaging methods currently applied for in vivo assessment of ocular structure in animal models of experimental glaucoma with an emphasis on translational relevance to clinical studies of the human disease. The most common techniques in current use include optical coherence tomography and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. In reviewing the application of these and other imaging modalities to study glaucomatous optic neuropathy, this article is organized into three major sections: 1) imaging the optic nerve head, 2) imaging the retinal nerve fiber layer and 3) imaging retinal ganglion cell soma and dendrites. The article concludes with a brief section on possible future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad Fortune
- Discoveries in Sight Research Laboratories, Devers Eye Institute and Legacy Research Institute, Legacy Health, 1225 NE Second Avenue, Portland, OR 97232, USA.
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Choe TE, Abbott CJ, Piper C, Wang L, Fortune B. Comparison of longitudinal in vivo measurements of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and retinal ganglion cell density after optic nerve transection in rat. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113011. [PMID: 25393294 PMCID: PMC4231142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To determine the relationship between longitudinal in vivo measurements of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) density after unilateral optic nerve transection (ONT). Methods Nineteen adult Brown-Norway rats were studied; N = 10 ONT plus RGC label, N = 3 ONT plus vehicle only (sans label), N = 6 sham ONT plus RGC label. RNFLT was measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) at baseline then weekly for 1 month. RGCs were labeled by retrograde transport of fluorescently conjugated cholera toxin B (CTB) from the superior colliculus 48 hours prior to ONT or sham surgery. RGC density measurements were obtained by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (CSLO) at baseline and weekly for 1 month. RGC density and reactivity of microglia (anti-Iba1) and astrocytes (anti-GFAP) were determined from post mortem fluorescence microscopy of whole-mount retinae. Results RNFLT decreased after ONT by 17% (p<0.05), 30% (p<0.0001) and 36% (p<0.0001) at weeks 2, 3 and 4. RGC density decreased after ONT by 18%, 69%, 85% and 92% at weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 (p<0.0001 each). RGC density measured in vivo at week 4 and post mortem by microscopy were strongly correlated (R = 0.91, p<0.0001). In vivo measures of RNFLT and RGC density were strongly correlated (R = 0.81, p<0.0001). In ONT- CTB labeled fellow eyes, RNFLT increased by 18%, 52% and 36% at weeks 2, 3 and 4 (p<0.0001), but did not change in fellow ONT-eyes sans CTB. Microgliosis was evident in the RNFL of the ONT-CTB fellow eyes, exceeding that observed in other fellow eyes. Conclusions In vivo measurements of RNFLT and RGC density are strongly correlated and can be used to monitor longitudinal changes after optic nerve injury. The strong fellow eye effect observed in eyes contralateral to ONT, only in the presence of CTB label, consisted of a dramatic increase in RNFLT associated with retinal microgliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany E. Choe
- Discoveries in Sight Research Laboratories, Devers Eye Institute and Legacy Research Institute, Legacy Health, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Carla J. Abbott
- Discoveries in Sight Research Laboratories, Devers Eye Institute and Legacy Research Institute, Legacy Health, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Chelsea Piper
- Discoveries in Sight Research Laboratories, Devers Eye Institute and Legacy Research Institute, Legacy Health, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Lin Wang
- Discoveries in Sight Research Laboratories, Devers Eye Institute and Legacy Research Institute, Legacy Health, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Brad Fortune
- Discoveries in Sight Research Laboratories, Devers Eye Institute and Legacy Research Institute, Legacy Health, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Yun H, Lathrop KL, Yang E, Sun M, Kagemann L, Fu V, Stolz DB, Schuman JS, Du Y. A laser-induced mouse model with long-term intraocular pressure elevation. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107446. [PMID: 25216052 PMCID: PMC4162591 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To develop and characterize a mouse model with intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation after laser photocoagulation on the trabecular meshwork (TM), which may serve as a model to investigate the potential of stem cell-based therapies for glaucoma. Methods IOP was measured in 281 adult C57BL/6 mice to determine normal IOP range. IOP elevation was induced unilaterally in 50 adult mice, by targeting the TM through the limbus with a 532-nm diode laser. IOP was measured up to 24 weeks post-treatment. The optic nerve damage was detected by electroretinography and assessed by semiautomatic counting of optic nerve axons. Effects of laser treatment on the TM were evaluated by histology, immunofluorescence staining, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results The average IOP of C57BL/6 mice was 14.5±2.6 mmHg (Mean ±SD). After laser treatment, IOP averaged above 20 mmHg throughout the follow-up period of 24 weeks. At 24 weeks, 57% of treated eyes had elevated IOP with the mean IOP of 22.5±2.5 mmHg (Mean ±SED). The difference of average axon count (59.0%) between laser treated and untreated eyes was statistically significant. Photopic negative response (PhNR) by electroretinography was significantly decreased. CD45+ inflammatory cells invaded the TM within 1 week. The expression of SPARC was increased in the TM from 1 to 12 weeks. Histology showed the anterior chamber angle open after laser treatment. OCT indicated that most of the eyes with laser treatment had no synechia in the anterior chamber angles. TEM demonstrated disorganized and compacted extracellular matrix in the TM. Conclusions An experimental murine ocular hypertension model with an open angle and optic nerve axon loss was produced with laser photocoagulation, which could be used to investigate stem cell-based therapies for restoration of the outflow pathway integrity for ocular hypertension or glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmin Yun
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kira L. Lathrop
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Enzhi Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ming Sun
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Larry Kagemann
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Valeria Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Donna B. Stolz
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Joel S. Schuman
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Yiqin Du
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Ho JK, Stanford MP, Shariati MA, Dalal R, Liao YJ. Optical coherence tomography study of experimental anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and histologic confirmation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2013; 54:5981-8. [PMID: 23887804 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.13-12419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The optic nerve is part of the central nervous system, and interruption of this pathway due to ischemia typically results in optic atrophy and loss of retinal ganglion cells. In this study, we assessed in vivo retinal changes following murine anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) by using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and compared these anatomic measurements to that of histology. METHODS We induced ischemia at the optic disc via laser-activated photochemical thrombosis, performed serial SD-OCT and manual segmentation of the retinal layers to measure the ganglion cell complex (GCC) and total retinal thickness, and correlated these measurements with that of histology. RESULTS There was impaired perfusion and leakage at the optic disc on fluorescein angiography immediately after AION and severe swelling and distortion of the peripapillary retina on day-1. We used SD-OCT to quantify the changes in retinal thickness following experimental AION, which revealed significant thickening of the GCC on day-1 after ischemia followed by gradual thinning that plateaued by week-3. Thickness of the peripapillary sensory retina was also increased on day-1 and thinned chronically. This pattern of acute retinal swelling and chronic thinning on SD-OCT correlated well with changes seen in histology and corresponded to loss of retinal ganglion layer cells after ischemia. CONCLUSIONS This was a serial SD-OCT quantification of acute and chronic changes following experimental AION, which revealed changes in the GCC similar to that of human AION, but over a time frame of weeks rather than months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce K Ho
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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Kim BJ, Braun TA, Wordinger RJ, Clark AF. Progressive morphological changes and impaired retinal function associated with temporal regulation of gene expression after retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice. Mol Neurodegener 2013; 8:21. [PMID: 23800383 PMCID: PMC3695831 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-8-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is an important cause of visual impairment. However, questions remain on the overall I/R mechanisms responsible for progressive damage to the retina. In this study, we used a mouse model of I/R and characterized the pathogenesis by analyzing temporal changes of retinal morphology and function associated with changes in retinal gene expression. Transient ischemia was induced in one eye of C57BL/6 mice by raising intraocular pressure to 120 mmHg for 60 min followed by retinal reperfusion by restoring normal pressure. At various time points post I/R, retinal changes were monitored by histological assessment with H&E staining and by SD-OCT scanning. Retinal function was also measured by scotopic ERG. Temporal changes in retinal gene expression were analyzed using cDNA microarrays and real-time RT-PCR. In addition, retinal ganglion cells and gliosis were observed by immunohistochemistry. H&E staining and SD-OCT scanning showed an initial increase followed by a significant reduction of retinal thickness in I/R eyes accompanied with cell loss compared to contralateral control eyes. The greatest reduction in thickness was in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and inner nuclear layer (INL). Retinal detachment was observed at days 3 and 7 post- I/R injury. Scotopic ERG a- and b-wave amplitudes and implicit times were significantly impaired in I/R eyes compared to contralateral control eyes. Microarray data showed temporal changes in gene expression involving various gene clusters such as molecular chaperones and inflammation. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining confirmed Müller cell gliosis in the damaged retinas. The time-dependent changes in retinal morphology were significantly associated with functional impairment and altered retinal gene expression. We demonstrated that I/R-mediated morphological changes the retina closely associated with functional impairment as well as temporal changes in retinal gene expression. Our findings will provide further understanding of molecular pathogenesis associated with ischemic injury to the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung-Jin Kim
- The North Texas Eye Research Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
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Ohno Y, Makita S, Shimazawa M, Tsuruma K, Yasuno Y, Hara H. Thickness mapping of the inner retina by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in an N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced retinal damage model. Exp Eye Res 2013; 113:19-25. [PMID: 23707241 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2013.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Revised: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is an interferometric optical tomography technique and provides high resolution and noninvasive visualization of retinal morphology. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of thickness maps and quantitative thickness measurements of the ganglion cell complex (GCC: retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and inner plexiform layer) obtained by SD-OCT of a mouse model of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced retinal damage. SD-OCT imaging was performed in ddY mice at 1, 3, and 7 days and 1 month after intravitreal injection of NMDA. GCC thickness maps and circle cross-sectional OCT images were made from volumetric OCT images. The GCC thickness was measured on a cross-sectional OCT image on a circle with a radius 300 μm from the center of the optic nerve disc. Histological analysis was conducted by measuring the GCC thickness at the same time intervals. The thickness maps and the quantitative thickness values of GCC showed thickness changes at each time point in the NMDA-treated mice when compared with normal and vehicle-treated mice. Both the OCT sectional images and the histological images revealed increases in GCC thickness at 1 day, followed by decreases from 3 days to 1 month after NMDA injection. The GCC thickness measured using OCT sectional images correlated with the thickness measured using histological images. In conclusion, GCC thickness mapping is a useful method for evaluating NMDA-induced retinal degeneration in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Ohno
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4 Daigaku-nishi, Gifu 501-1196, Japan
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Deng X, Yang Z, Liu R, Yi M, Lei D, Wang Z, Zhao H. The Maximum Tolerated Dose of Gamma Radiation to the Optic Nerve during Gamma Knife Radiosurgery in an Animal Study. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 2013; 91:79-91. [DOI: 10.1159/000343212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2011] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Abstract
Optical coherence tomography captures a major role in clinical assessment in eye care. Innovative hardware and software improvements in the technology would further enhance its usefulness. In this review, we present several promising initiatives currently in development or early phase of assessment that we expect to have a future impact on optical coherence tomography.
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Chauhan BC, Stevens KT, Levesque JM, Nuschke AC, Sharpe GP, O'Leary N, Archibald ML, Wang X. Longitudinal in vivo imaging of retinal ganglion cells and retinal thickness changes following optic nerve injury in mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40352. [PMID: 22768284 PMCID: PMC3386976 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2011] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) die in sight-threatening eye diseases. Imaging RGCs in humans is not currently possible and proof of principle in experimental models is fundamental for future development. Our objective was to quantify RGC density and retinal thickness following optic nerve transection in transgenic mice expressing cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) under control of the Thy1 promoter, expressed by RGCs and other neurons. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A modified confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (CSLO)/spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) camera was used to image and quantify CFP+ cells in mice from the B6.Cg-Tg(Thy1-CFP)23Jrs/J line. SD-OCT circle (1 B-scan), raster (37 B-scans) and radial (24 B-scans) scans of the retina were also obtained. CSLO was performed at baseline (n = 11) and 3 (n = 11), 5 (n = 4), 7 (n = 10), 10 (n = 6), 14 (n = 7) and 21 (n = 5) days post-transection, while SD-OCT was performed at baseline and 7, 14 and 35 days (n = 9) post-transection. Longitudinal change in CFP+ cell density and retinal thickness were computed. Compared to baseline, the mean (SD) percentage CFP+ cells remaining at 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days post-transection was 86 (9)%, 63 (11)%, 45 (11)%, 31 (9)%, 20 (9)% and 8 (4)%, respectively. Compared to baseline, the mean (SD) retinal thickness at 7 days post-transection was 97 (3)%, 98 (2)% and 97 (4)% for the circle, raster and radial scans, respectively. The corresponding figures at 14 and 35 days post-transection were 96 (3)%, 97 (2)% and 95 (3)%; and 93 (3)%, 94 (3)% and 92 (3)%. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Longitudinal imaging showed an exponential decline in CFP+ cell density and a small (≤8%) reduction in SD-OCT measured retinal thickness post-transection. SD-OCT is a promising tool for detecting structural changes in experimental optic neuropathy. These results represent an important step towards translation for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balwantray C Chauhan
- Retina and Optic Nerve Research Laboratory, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Oglesby E, Quigley HA, Zack DJ, Cone FE, Steinhart MR, Tian J, Pease ME, Kalesnykas G. Semi-automated, quantitative analysis of retinal ganglion cell morphology in mice selectively expressing yellow fluorescent protein. Exp Eye Res 2011; 96:107-15. [PMID: 22210127 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2011.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2011] [Revised: 11/21/2011] [Accepted: 12/12/2011] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The development of transgenic mouse lines that selectively label a subset of neurons provides unique opportunities to study detailed neuronal morphology and morphological changes under experimental conditions. In the present study, a mouse line in which a small number of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) express yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) under control of the Thy-1 promoter was used (Feng et al., 2000). We characterized the number, distribution by retinal region and eccentricity of YFP-labeled RGCs using fluorescence microscopy and Stereo Investigator software (MicroBrightField, VT, USA). Then, we captured images of 4-6 YFP-expressing RGCs from each of 8 retinal regions by confocal microscopy, producing 3-dimensional and flattened data sets. A new semi-automated method to quantify the soma size, dendritic length and dendritic arbor complexity was developed using MetaMorph software (Molecular Devices, PA, USA). Our results show that YFP is expressed in 0.2% of all RGCs. Expression of YFP was not significantly different in central versus peripheral retina, but there were higher number of YFP-expressing RGCs in the temporal quadrant than in the nasal. By confocal-based analysis, 58% of RGCs expressing YFP did so at a high level, with the remainder distributed in decreasing levels of brightness. Variability in detailed morphometric parameters was as great between two fellow retinas as in retinas from different mice. The analytic methods developed for this selective YFP-expressing RGC model permit quantitative comparisons of parameters relevant to neuronal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ericka Oglesby
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287-9205, USA.
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