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Müller PL, Treis T, Tufail A, Holz FG. Progression, reliability, predicting parameters and sample size calculations for quantitative fundus autofluorescence measures in ABCA4-related retinopathy. Br J Ophthalmol 2024; 108:760-769. [PMID: 37286357 DOI: 10.1136/bjo-2022-322829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS To investigate the progression of quantitative autofluorescence (qAF) measures and the potential as clinical trial endpoint in ABCA4-related retinopathy. METHODS In this longitudinal monocentre study, 64 patients with ABCA4-related retinopathy (age (mean±SD), 34.84±16.36 years) underwent serial retinal imaging, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and qAF (488 nm excitation) imaging using a modified confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope with a mean (±SD) review period of 20.32±10.90 months. A group of 110 healthy subjects served as controls. Retest variability, changes of qAF measures over time and its association with genotype and phenotype were analysed. Furthermore, individual prognostic feature importance was assessed, and sample size calculations for future interventional trials were performed. RESULTS Compared with controls, qAF levels of patients were significantly elevated. The test-retest reliability revealed a 95% coefficient of repeatability of 20.37. During the observation time, young patients, patients with a mild phenotype (morphological and functional) and patients with mild mutations showed an absolute and relative increase in qAF values, while patients with advanced disease manifestation (morphological and functional), and homozygous mutations at adulthood revealed a decrease in qAF. Considering these parameters, required sample size and study duration could significantly be reduced. CONCLUSION Under standardised settings with elaborated conditions towards operators and analysis to counterbalance variability, qAF imaging might be reliable, suitable for quantifying disease progression and constitutes a potential clinical surrogate marker in ABCA4-related retinopathy. Trial design based on patients' baseline characteristics and genotype has the potential to provide benefits regarding required cohort size and absolute number of visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp L Müller
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Makula Center, Südblick Eye Centers, Augsburg, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tim Treis
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Adnan Tufail
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Frank G Holz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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2
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Sajovic J, Meglič A, Fakin A, Brecelj J, Šuštar Habjan M, Hawlina M, Jarc Vidmar M. Natural History of Stargardt Disease: The Longest Follow-Up Cohort Study. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1394. [PMID: 37510299 PMCID: PMC10379489 DOI: 10.3390/genes14071394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-term natural history studies are important in rare disease research. This study aimed to assess electrophysiological and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) progression rate in 18 genetically confirmed Stargardt disease (STGD1) patients with a minimum follow-up of 10 years. Age at the first and last exams, age at onset, Snellen decimal visual acuity (VA), electroretinography (ERG), and FAF images were evaluated. Patients were classified into four Fishman stages and three electroretinography groups, and areas of definitely decreased autofluorescence (DDAF) were measured. Patients were further substratified based on genotype, and phenotype-genotype correlations were performed. The median follow-up was 18 (range 10-26) years. The median yearly VA loss was 0.009 (range 0.002-0.071), while the median progression rate of the DDAF area was 0.354 (range 0.002-4.359) mm2 per year. Patients harbouring p.(Gly1961Glu) or p.(Asn1868Ile) allele had significantly slower DDAF area progression when compared to patients with other genotypes (0.07 mm2 vs. 1.03 mm2, respectively), as well as significantly later age at onset (20 years vs. 13 years, respectively). Results showed that structural and functional parameters, together with genotype, should be considered when counselling patients regarding prognosis and monitoring disease progression. Patients harbouring hypomorphic variants p.(Gly1961Glu) or p.(Asn1868Ile) presented with overall milder disease than patients with other genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Sajovic
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva ulica 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrej Meglič
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva ulica 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ana Fakin
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva ulica 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jelka Brecelj
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva ulica 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maja Šuštar Habjan
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva ulica 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marko Hawlina
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva ulica 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martina Jarc Vidmar
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva ulica 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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3
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Pfau M, Zein WM, Huryn LA, Cukras CA, Jeffrey BG, Hufnagel RB, Brooks BP. Genotype-Phenotype Association in ABCA4-Associated Retinopathy. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1415:289-295. [PMID: 37440047 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Stargardt disease (STGD1) is the most common inherited retina degeneration. It is caused by biallelic ABCA4 variants, and no treatment is available to date. STGD1 shows marked phenotypic variability, especially regarding the age of onset. The underlying genotype can partially explain this variability. Notably, a subset of ABCA4 variants was previously associated with an earlier disease onset than truncating ABCA4 variants, pointing toward pathogenic mechanisms beyond the loss of gene function in these patients. On the other end of the spectrum, variants such as p.Gly1961Glu were associated with markedly slower extrafoveal disease progression. Given that these drastic differences in phenotype are based on genotype (resulting in important prognostic implications for patients), this chapter reviews previous approaches to genotype-phenotype correlation analyses in STGD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Pfau
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Wadih M Zein
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Laryssa A Huryn
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Catherine A Cukras
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Brett G Jeffrey
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Robert B Hufnagel
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Brian P Brooks
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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4
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Wang Y, Sun W, Zhou J, Li X, Jiang Y, Li S, Jia X, Xiao X, Ouyang J, Wang Y, Zhou L, Long Y, Liu M, Li Y, Yi Z, Wang P, Zhang Q. Different Phenotypes Represent Advancing Stages of ABCA4-Associated Retinopathy: A Longitudinal Study of 212 Chinese Families From a Tertiary Center. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:28. [PMID: 35608843 PMCID: PMC9150840 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.5.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the nature and association of different phenotypes associated with ABCA4 mutations in Chinese. Methods All patients were recruited from our pediatric and genetic eye clinic. Detailed ocular phenotypes were characterized. The disease course was evaluated by long-term follow-up observation, with a focus on fundus changes. Cox regression was used to identify the factors associated with disease progression. Results A systematic review of genetic and clinical data for 228 patients and follow-up data for 42 patients indicated specific features in patients with two ABCA4 variants. Of 185 patients with available fundus images, 107 (57.8%) showed focal lesions restricted to the central macula without flecks. Among these 107 patients, 30 patients (28.0%) initially presented with relatively preserved visual acuity and inconspicuous performance on routine fundus screening. A pigmentary change in the posterior pole was observed in 22 of 185 patients (11.9%), and this change mimicked retinitis pigmentosa in 10 cases (45.5%). Follow-up visits and sibling comparisons demonstrated disease progression from cone-rod dystrophy, Stargardt disease, to retinitis pigmentosa. An earlier age of onset was associated with a more rapid decrease in visual acuity (P = 0.03). Patients with two truncation variants had an earlier age of onset. Conclusion Phenotypic variation in ABCA4-associated retinopathy may represent sequential changes in a single disease: early-stage Stargardt disease may resemble cone-rod dystrophy, whereas the presence of diffuse pigmentation in the late stage may mimic retinitis pigmentosa. Recognizing the natural progression of fundus changes, especially those visualized by wide-field fundus autofluorescence, is valuable for diagnostics and therapeutic decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenmin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xueqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiqiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyun Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xueshan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiamin Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yueye Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuxi Long
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengchu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhen Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Panfeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingjiong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
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Pfau M, Cukras CA, Huryn LA, Zein WM, Ullah E, Boyle MP, Turriff A, Chen MA, Hinduja AS, Siebel HE, Hufnagel RB, Jeffrey BG, Brooks BP. Photoreceptor degeneration in ABCA4-associated retinopathy and its genetic correlates. JCI Insight 2022; 7:155373. [PMID: 35076026 PMCID: PMC8855828 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.155373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outcome measures sensitive to disease progression are needed for ATP-binding cassette, sub-family A, member 4–associated (ABCA4-associated) retinopathy. We aimed to quantify ellipsoid zone (EZ) loss and photoreceptor degeneration beyond EZ-loss in ABCA4-associated retinopathy and investigate associations between photoreceptor degeneration, genotype, and age. METHODS We analyzed 132 eyes from 66 patients (of 67 enrolled) with molecularly confirmed ABCA4-associated retinopathy from a prospective natural history study with a median [IQR] follow-up of 4.2 years [3.1, 5.1]. Longitudinal spectral-domain optical coherence tomography volume scans (37 B-scans, 30° × 15°) were segmented using a deep learning (DL) approach. For genotype-phenotype analysis, a model of ABCA4 variants was applied with the age of criterion EZ-loss (6.25 mm2) as the dependent variable. RESULTS Patients exhibited an average (square-root-transformed) EZ-loss progression rate of [95% CI] 0.09 mm/y [0.06, 0.11]. Outer nuclear layer (ONL) thinning extended beyond the area of EZ-loss. The average distance from the EZ-loss boundary to normalization of ONL thickness (to ±2 z score units) was 3.20° [2.53, 3.87]. Inner segment (IS) and outer segment (OS) thinning was less pronounced, with an average distance from the EZ-loss boundary to layer thickness normalization of 1.20° [0.91, 1.48] for the IS and 0.60° [0.49, 0.72] for the OS. An additive model of allele severity explained 52.7% of variability in the age of criterion EZ-loss. CONCLUSION Patients with ABCA4-associated retinopathy exhibited significant alterations of photoreceptors outside of EZ-loss. DL-based analysis of photoreceptor laminae may help monitor disease progression and estimate the severity of ABCA4 variants. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01736293. FUNDING National Eye Institute Intramural Research Program and German Research Foundation grant PF950/1-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Pfau
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Catherine A. Cukras
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Laryssa A. Huryn
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Wadih M. Zein
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ehsan Ullah
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Marisa P. Boyle
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Amy Turriff
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michelle A. Chen
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Aarti S. Hinduja
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Hermann E.A. Siebel
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert B. Hufnagel
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Brett G. Jeffrey
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian P. Brooks
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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6
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Cideciyan AV, Krishnan AK, Roman AJ, Sumaroka A, Swider M, Jacobson SG. Measures of Function and Structure to Determine Phenotypic Features, Natural History, and Treatment Outcomes in Inherited Retinal Diseases. Annu Rev Vis Sci 2021; 7:747-772. [PMID: 34255540 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-vision-032321-091738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are at the forefront of innovative gene-specific treatments because of the causation by single genes, the availability of microsurgical access for treatment delivery, and the relative ease of quantitative imaging and vision measurement. However, it is not always easy to choose a priori, from scores of potential measures, an appropriate subset to evaluate efficacy outcomes considering the wide range of disease stages with different phenotypic features. This article reviews measurements of visual function and retinal structure that our group has used over the past three decades to understand the natural history of IRDs. We include measures of light sensitivity, retinal structure, mapping of natural fluorophores, evaluation of pupillary light reflex, and oculomotor control. We provide historical context and examples of applicability. We also review treatment trial outcomes using these measures of function and structure. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Vision Science, Volume 7 is September 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur V Cideciyan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA;
| | - Arun K Krishnan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA;
| | - Alejandro J Roman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA;
| | - Alexander Sumaroka
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA;
| | - Malgorzata Swider
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA;
| | - Samuel G Jacobson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA;
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7
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Müller PL, Gliem M, McGuinnes M, Birtel J, Holz FG, Charbel Issa P. Quantitative Fundus Autofluorescence in ABCA4-Related Retinopathy -Functional Relevance and Genotype-Phenotype Correlation. Am J Ophthalmol 2021; 222:340-350. [PMID: 32891696 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2020.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate lipofuscin-related quantitative autofluorescence measures and their association with demographic characteristics, retinal structure, retinal function and genotype in ABCA4-related retinopathy (Stargardt disease 1). DESIGN Cross-sectional study with age-matched healthy control subjects. METHODS A total of 77 patients with ABCA4-related retinopathy and 110 control subjects underwent quantitative fundus autofluorescence (qAF) imaging using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope equipped with an internal fluorescent reference to measure qAF as surrogate for lipofuscin accumulation. Measures of qAF were correlated with demographic characteristics, structural alterations on optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence imaging, retinal function assessed by full-field electroretinography (ERG) and fundus-controlled perimetry, and genotype. RESULTS Most patients (76.6%) had qAF levels >95% prediction interval of the age-related control group, with best discrimination between cases and control subjects in younger patients. Reduced discrimination based on qAF measures was associated with mild disease, more advanced disease with dark flecks, or older age because of the physiological age-related increase in qAF and a ceiling effect in patients. Nullizygous patients presented with high qAF levels earlier in life compared with those with at least 1 milder ABCA4 variant. Within the sectors of qAF measurements, at approximately 7-9° eccentricity, increased qAF without flecks or with only bright flecks was associated with topographically related preserved retinal thickness and fundus-controlled perimetry results, and with normal full-field ERG recordings. All 3 parameters were increasingly abnormal with the development of dark flecks and decreasing qAF. CONCLUSIONS The accumulation of lipofuscin depends on the severity of ABCA4 variants, precedes other structural changes, and may remain without clinically relevant effect on retinal function.
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8
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Garafalo AV, Sheplock R, Sumaroka A, Roman AJ, Cideciyan AV, Jacobson SG. Childhood-onset genetic cone-rod photoreceptor diseases and underlying pathobiology. EBioMedicine 2021; 63:103200. [PMID: 33421946 PMCID: PMC7806809 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.103200] [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: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) were first classified clinically by history, ophthalmoscopic appearance, type of visual field defects, and electroretinography (ERG). ERGs isolating the two major photoreceptor types (rods and cones) showed some IRDs with greater cone than rod retinal dysfunction; others were the opposite. Within the cone-rod diseases, there can be phenotypic variability, which can be attributed to genetic heterogeneity and the variety of visual function mechanisms that are disrupted. Most cause symptoms from childhood or adolescence, although others can manifest later in life. Among the causative genes for cone-rod dystrophy (CORD) are those encoding molecules in phototransduction cascade activation and recovery processes, photoreceptor outer segment structure, the visual cycle and photoreceptor development. We review 11 genes known to cause cone-rod disease in the context of their roles in normal visual function and retinal structure. Knowledge of the pathobiology of these genetic diseases is beginning to pave paths to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra V Garafalo
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca Sheplock
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alexander Sumaroka
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alejandro J Roman
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Artur V Cideciyan
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Samuel G Jacobson
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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9
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Müller PL, Pfau M, Treis T, Pascual-Camps I, Birtel J, Lindner M, Herrmann P, Holz FG. PROGRESSION OF ABCA4-RELATED RETINOPATHY: Prognostic value of demographic, functional, genetic, and imaging parameters. Retina 2020; 40:2343-2356. [PMID: 33214501 DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000002747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the prognostic value of demographic, functional, genetic, and imaging parameters on retinal pigment epithelium atrophy progression secondary to ABCA4-related retinopathy. METHODS Patients with retinal pigment epithelium atrophy secondary to ABCA4-related retinopathy were examined longitudinally with fundus autofluorescence imaging. Lesion area, perimeter, circularity, caliper diameters, and focality of areas with definitely decreased autofluorescence were determined. A model was used to predict the lesion enlargement rate based on baseline variables. Sample size calculations were performed to model the power in a simulated interventional study. RESULTS Sixty-eight eyes of 37 patients (age range, 14-78 years) with a follow-up time of 10 to 100 months were included. The mean annual progression of retinal pigment epithelium atrophy was 0.89 mm. The number of atrophic areas, the retina-wide functional impairment, and the age-of-onset category constituted significant predictors for future retinal pigment epithelium atrophy growth, explaining 25.7% of the variability. By extension of a simulated study length and/or specific patient preselection based on these baseline characteristics, the required sample size could significantly be reduced. CONCLUSION Trial design based on specific shape-descriptive factors and patients' baseline characteristics and the adaption of the trial duration may provide potential benefits in required cohort size and absolute number of visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp L Müller
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maximilian Pfau
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tim Treis
- BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Birtel
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Moritz Lindner
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philipp Herrmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Frank G Holz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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10
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Julien‐Schraermeyer S, Illing B, Tschulakow A, Taubitz T, Guezguez J, Burnet M, Schraermeyer U. Penetration, distribution, and elimination of remofuscin/soraprazan in Stargardt mouse eyes following a single intravitreal injection using pharmacokinetics and transmission electron microscopic autoradiography: Implication for the local treatment of Stargardt's disease and dry age-related macular degeneration. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2020; 8:e00683. [PMID: 33164337 PMCID: PMC7649431 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in older people in the developed world while Stargardt's disease (SD) is a juvenile macular degeneration and an orphan disease. Both diseases are untreatable and are marked by accumulation of lipofuscin advancing to progressive deterioration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retina and subsequent vision loss till blindness. We discovered that a small molecule belonging to the tetrahydropyridoether class of compounds, soraprazan renamed remofuscin, is able to remove existing lipofuscin from the RPE. This study investigated the drug penetration, distribution, and elimination into the eyes of a mouse model for increased lipofuscinogenesis, following a single intravitreal injection. We measured the time course of concentrations of remofuscin in different eye tissues using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS). We also visualized the penetration and distribution of 3 H-remofuscin in eye sections up to 20 weeks post-injection using transmission electron microscopic (TEM) autoradiography. The distribution of silver grains revealed that remofuscin accumulated specifically in the RPE by binding to the RPE pigments (melanin, lipofuscin and melanolipofuscin) and that it was still detected after 20 weeks. Importantly, the melanosomes in choroidal melanocytes only rarely bind remofuscin emphasizing its potential to serve as an active ingredient in the RPE for the treatment of SD and dry AMD. In addition, our study highlights the importance of electron microscopic autoradiography as it is the only method able to show drug binding with a high intracellular resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Julien‐Schraermeyer
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal SurgeryCentre for OphthalmologyUniversity of TuebingenTübingenGermany
- STZ Ocutox ‐ Preclinical Drug AssessmentHechingenGermany
| | - Barbara Illing
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal SurgeryCentre for OphthalmologyUniversity of TuebingenTübingenGermany
| | - Alexander Tschulakow
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal SurgeryCentre for OphthalmologyUniversity of TuebingenTübingenGermany
- STZ Ocutox ‐ Preclinical Drug AssessmentHechingenGermany
| | - Tatjana Taubitz
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal SurgeryCentre for OphthalmologyUniversity of TuebingenTübingenGermany
| | | | | | - Ulrich Schraermeyer
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal SurgeryCentre for OphthalmologyUniversity of TuebingenTübingenGermany
- STZ Ocutox ‐ Preclinical Drug AssessmentHechingenGermany
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11
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Sung YC, Yang CH, Yang CM, Lin CW, Huang DS, Huang YS, Hu FR, Chen PL, Chen TC. Genotypes Predispose Phenotypes-Clinical Features and Genetic Spectrum of ABCA4-Associated Retinal Dystrophies. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11121421. [PMID: 33261146 PMCID: PMC7759801 DOI: 10.3390/genes11121421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The ABCA4 gene is one of the most common disease-causing genes of inherited retinal degeneration. In this study, we report different phenotypes of ABCA4-associated retinal dystrophies in the Taiwanese population, its clinical progression, and its relationship with genetic characteristics. Thirty-seven subjects were recruited and all patients underwent serial ophthalmic examinations at a single medical center. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images were quantified for clinical evaluation, and panel-based next-generation sequencing testing was performed for genetic diagnosis. Visual preservation, disease progression, and genotype–phenotype correlation were analyzed. In this cohort, ABCA4-associated retinal degeneration presented as Stargardt disease 1 (STGD1, 62.16%), retinitis pigmentosa (32.43%), and cone-rod dystrophy (5.41%). STGD1 could be further divided into central and dispersed types. In each phenotype, the lesion areas quantified by FAF increased with age (p < 0.01) and correlated with poorer visual acuity. However, three patients had the foveal sparing phenotype and had relatively preserved visual acuity. Forty-two ABCA4 variants were identified as disease-causing, with c.1804C>T (p.Arg602Trp) the most frequent (37.84%). Patients with a combination of severe/null variants could have more extensive phenotypes, such as arRP and dispersed STGD1. This is the first cohort study of ABCA4-associated retinal degeneration in Taiwan with wide spectrums of both genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. An extremely high prevalence of c.1804C>T, which has not been reported in East Asia before, was noted. The extensiveness of retinal involvement might be regarded as a spectrum of ABCA4-associated retinal dystrophies. Different types of genetic variations could lead to distinctive phenotypes, according to the coding impact of variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chi Sung
- Department of Medical Education, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan;
| | - Chang-Hao Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; (C.-H.Y.); (C.-M.Y.); (C.-W.L.); (D.-S.H.); (Y.-S.H.); (F.-R.H.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Chung-May Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; (C.-H.Y.); (C.-M.Y.); (C.-W.L.); (D.-S.H.); (Y.-S.H.); (F.-R.H.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Wen Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; (C.-H.Y.); (C.-M.Y.); (C.-W.L.); (D.-S.H.); (Y.-S.H.); (F.-R.H.)
| | - Ding-Siang Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; (C.-H.Y.); (C.-M.Y.); (C.-W.L.); (D.-S.H.); (Y.-S.H.); (F.-R.H.)
| | - Yu-Shu Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; (C.-H.Y.); (C.-M.Y.); (C.-W.L.); (D.-S.H.); (Y.-S.H.); (F.-R.H.)
| | - Fung-Rong Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; (C.-H.Y.); (C.-M.Y.); (C.-W.L.); (D.-S.H.); (Y.-S.H.); (F.-R.H.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Lung Chen
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Genetics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (P.-L.C.); (T.-C.C.); Tel.: +886-2-23123456 (ext. 71942) (P.-L.C.); +886-2-23123456 (ext. 63783) (T.-C.C.); Fax: +886-2-23934420 (T.-C.C.)
| | - Ta-Ching Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; (C.-H.Y.); (C.-M.Y.); (C.-W.L.); (D.-S.H.); (Y.-S.H.); (F.-R.H.)
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (P.-L.C.); (T.-C.C.); Tel.: +886-2-23123456 (ext. 71942) (P.-L.C.); +886-2-23123456 (ext. 63783) (T.-C.C.); Fax: +886-2-23934420 (T.-C.C.)
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12
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Birtel J, Hildebrand GD, Charbel Issa P. Laser Pointer: A Possible Risk for the Retina. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2020; 237:1187-1193. [DOI: 10.1055/a-1250-8471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
AbstractIn recent years, an increasing incidence of laser pointer-associated retinal injuries has been observed, likely due to easy access to incorrectly classified laser pointers, their labelling as toys, and lack of awareness concerning the associated risk. Laser pointer exposure can lead to irreversible retinal damage and associated vision loss, depending on the wavelength, radiation power, duration of exposure, localization, and spot size. Pronounced retinal laser damage is especially seen in children and teenagers. The structural appearance of retinal laser pointer damage varies and, in some cases, may be a diagnostic challenge. Besides often subtle findings on optical coherence tomography examination, characteristic alterations on near-infrared autofluorescence imaging may be valuable for the diagnosis of retinal laser pointer injuries and for differentiating other retinal lesions with similar appearance. The increase in laser pointer injuries indicates that regulatory
actions and increased public awareness are required regarding the dangers of laser pointers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Birtel
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - G. Darius Hildebrand
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Charbel Issa
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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13
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Structural Features Associated With the Development and Progression of RORA Secondary to Maternally Inherited Diabetes and Deafness. Am J Ophthalmol 2020; 218:136-147. [PMID: 32446735 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2020.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the development and progression of retinal pigment epithelial and outer retinal atrophy (RORA) secondary to maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD). DESIGN Retrospective observational case series. METHODS Thirty-six eyes of 18 patients (age range, 22.4-71.6 years) with genetically proven MIDD and serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were included. As proposed reference standard to diagnose and stage atrophy, OCT images were longitudinally evaluated and analyzed for presence and precursors of RORA. RORA was defined as an area of (1) hypertransmission, (2) disruption of the retinal pigment epithelium, (3) photoreceptor degeneration, and (4) absence of other signs of a retinal pigment epithelial tear. RESULTS The majority of patients revealed areas of RORA in a circular area around the fovea of between 5° and 15° eccentricity. Over the observation time (range, 0.5-8.5 years), evidence for a consistent sequence of OCT features from earlier disease stages to the end stage of RORA could be found, starting with loss of ellipsoid zone and subretinal deposits, followed by loss of external limiting membrane and loss of retinal pigment epithelium with hypertransmission of OCT signal into the choroid, and leading to loss of the outer nuclear layer bordered by hyporeflective wedges. Outer retinal tabulations seemed to develop in regions of coalescent areas of RORA. CONCLUSIONS The development and progression of RORA could be tracked in MIDD patients using OCT images, allowing potential definition of novel surrogate markers. Similarities to OCT features in age-related macular degeneration, where mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis, support wide-ranging benefits from proof-of-concept studies in MIDD.
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14
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Rod function deficit in retained photoreceptors of patients with class B Rhodopsin mutations. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12552. [PMID: 32724127 PMCID: PMC7387454 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69456-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A common inherited retinal disease is caused by mutations in RHO expressed in rod photoreceptors that provide vision in dim ambient light. Approximately half of all RHO mutations result in a Class B phenotype where mutant rods are retained in some retinal regions but show severe degeneration in other regions. We determined the natural history of dysfunction and degeneration of retained rods by serially evaluating patients. Even when followed for more than 20 years, rod function and structure at some retinal locations could remain unchanged. Other locations showed loss of both vision and photoreceptors but the rate of rod vision loss was greater than the rate of photoreceptor degeneration. This unexpected divergence in rates with disease progression implied the development of a rod function deficit beyond loss of cells. The divergence of progression rates was also detectable over a short interval of 2 years near the health-disease transition in the superior retina. A model of structure–function relationship supported the existence of a large rod function deficit which was also most prominent near regions of health-disease transition. Our studies support the realistic therapeutic goal of improved night vision for retinal regions specifically preselected for rod function deficit in patients.
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15
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Garafalo AV, Cideciyan AV, Héon E, Sheplock R, Pearson A, WeiYang Yu C, Sumaroka A, Aguirre GD, Jacobson SG. Progress in treating inherited retinal diseases: Early subretinal gene therapy clinical trials and candidates for future initiatives. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 77:100827. [PMID: 31899291 PMCID: PMC8714059 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2019.100827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Due to improved phenotyping and genetic characterization, the field of 'incurable' and 'blinding' inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) has moved substantially forward. Decades of ascertainment of IRD patient data from Philadelphia and Toronto centers illustrate the progress from Mendelian genetic types to molecular diagnoses. Molecular genetics have been used not only to clarify diagnoses and to direct counseling but also to enable the first clinical trials of gene-based treatment in these diseases. An overview of the recent reports of gene augmentation clinical trials by subretinal injections is used to reflect on the reasons why there has been limited success in this early venture into therapy. These first-in human experiences have taught that there is a need for advancing the techniques of delivery of the gene products - not only for refining further subretinal trials, but also for evaluating intravitreal delivery. Candidate IRDs for intravitreal gene delivery are then suggested to illustrate some of the disorders that may be amenable to improvement of remaining central vision with the least photoreceptor trauma. A more detailed understanding of the human IRDs to be considered for therapy and the calculated potential for efficacy should be among the routine prerequisites for initiating a clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra V Garafalo
- Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Artur V Cideciyan
- Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Elise Héon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rebecca Sheplock
- Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Alexander Pearson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Caberry WeiYang Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alexander Sumaroka
- Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Gustavo D Aguirre
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Samuel G Jacobson
- Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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16
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Thompson DA, Iannaccone A, Ali RR, Arshavsky VY, Audo I, Bainbridge JWB, Besirli CG, Birch DG, Branham KE, Cideciyan AV, Daiger SP, Dalkara D, Duncan JL, Fahim AT, Flannery JG, Gattegna R, Heckenlively JR, Heon E, Jayasundera KT, Khan NW, Klassen H, Leroy BP, Molday RS, Musch DC, Pennesi ME, Petersen-Jones SM, Pierce EA, Rao RC, Reh TA, Sahel JA, Sharon D, Sieving PA, Strettoi E, Yang P, Zacks DN. Advancing Clinical Trials for Inherited Retinal Diseases: Recommendations from the Second Monaciano Symposium. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2020; 9:2. [PMID: 32832209 PMCID: PMC7414644 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.7.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Major advances in the study of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) have placed efforts to develop treatments for these blinding conditions at the forefront of the emerging field of precision medicine. As a result, the growth of clinical trials for IRDs has increased rapidly over the past decade and is expected to further accelerate as more therapeutic possibilities emerge and qualified participants are identified. Although guided by established principles, these specialized trials, requiring analysis of novel outcome measures and endpoints in small patient populations, present multiple challenges relative to study design and ethical considerations. This position paper reviews recent accomplishments and existing challenges in clinical trials for IRDs and presents a set of recommendations aimed at rapidly advancing future progress. The goal is to stimulate discussions among researchers, funding agencies, industry, and policy makers that will further the design, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials needed to accelerate the approval of effective treatments for IRDs, while promoting advocacy and ensuring patient safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra A Thompson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Alessandro Iannaccone
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Vadim Y Arshavsky
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Isabelle Audo
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France
| | | | - Cagri G Besirli
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Kari E Branham
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Artur V Cideciyan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Steven P Daiger
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Jacque L Duncan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Abigail T Fahim
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - John G Flannery
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - John R Heckenlively
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Elise Heon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - K Thiran Jayasundera
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Naheed W Khan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Henry Klassen
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Stem Cell Research Center, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Bart P Leroy
- Department of Ophthalmology and Center Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital and University, Ghent, Belgium.,Division of Ophthalmology and Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert S Molday
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David C Musch
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mark E Pennesi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Simon M Petersen-Jones
- Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Eric A Pierce
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rajesh C Rao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jose A Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France.,Fondation Ophtalmologique Rothschild, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dror Sharon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Paul A Sieving
- Department of Ophthalmology and Center for Ocular Regenerative Therapy, University of California-Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA.,National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Enrica Strettoi
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Paul Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - David N Zacks
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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17
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Cremers FPM, Lee W, Collin RWJ, Allikmets R. Clinical spectrum, genetic complexity and therapeutic approaches for retinal disease caused by ABCA4 mutations. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 79:100861. [PMID: 32278709 PMCID: PMC7544654 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The ABCA4 protein (then called a “rim protein”) was first
identified in 1978 in the rims and incisures of rod photoreceptors. The
corresponding gene, ABCA4, was cloned in 1997, and variants
were identified as the cause of autosomal recessive Stargardt disease (STGD1).
Over the next two decades, variation in ABCA4 has been
attributed to phenotypes other than the classically defined STGD1 or fundus
flavimaculatus, ranging from early onset and fast progressing cone-rod dystrophy
and retinitis pigmentosa-like phenotypes to very late onset cases of mostly mild
disease sometimes resembling, and confused with, age-related macular
degeneration. Similarly, analysis of the ABCA4 locus uncovered
a trove of genetic information, including >1200 disease-causing mutations
of varying severity, and of all types – missense, nonsense, small
deletions/insertions, and splicing affecting variants, of which many are located
deep-intronic. Altogether, this has greatly expanded our understanding of
complexity not only of the diseases caused by ABCA4 mutations,
but of all Mendelian diseases in general. This review provides an in depth
assessment of the cumulative knowledge of ABCA4-associated retinopathy –
clinical manifestations, genetic complexity, pathophysiology as well as current
and proposed therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frans P M Cremers
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Winston Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Rob W J Collin
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Rando Allikmets
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA; Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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18
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Sunness JS, Ifrah A, Wolf R, Applegate CA, Sparrow JR. Abnormal Visual Function Outside the Area of Atrophy Defined by Short-Wavelength Fundus Autofluorescence in Stargardt Disease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2020; 61:36. [PMID: 32334431 PMCID: PMC7401975 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.4.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To examine the extent of visual function abnormality outside the dark lesion on short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence (SW-AF), and its correlation with background SW-AF features and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in recessive Stargardt disease (STGD1). Methods Forty-nine eyes of 25 participants in the ProgStar (the Natural History of the Progression of Atrophy Secondary to Stargardt Disease) study at our center were included. Patients underwent microperimetry (both threshold and dense scotoma mapping), OCT, SW-AF, and visual acuity testing. The Fisher's exact test, the χ2 test, and unpaired t-tests were used to analyze the data. Results Of 40 eyes without central fixation, 33 (82%) placed fixation remote (most ≥5°) from the dense scotoma edge, despite good intervening retinal sensitivity. OCT findings accounted for the remote fixation in 75%. Eighteen (37%) of all 49 eyes had dense scotoma extending past the dark lesion border. OCT was not adequate to define the edge of the scotoma. Of the 49 eyes, 28 (57%) had the mottled background pattern, 10 (20%) had the uniform pattern, and 11 (22%) had the other pattern, with >75% of eyes in each pattern having remote fixation. The dense scotoma exceeded the dark lesion primarily in the mottled pattern. The two eyes of each patient were concordant in all features. Conclusions Functional abnormalities in STGD1 extend past the SW-AF dark lesion. The disruption of the ellipsoid zone shows that photoreceptor abnormality extends peripheral to the dark lesion, and it explains in part the remote fixation pattern and the dense scotoma exceeding the dark lesion. This has implications for clinical trials for STGD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet S. Sunness
- Richard E. Hoover Low Vision Rehabilitation Services and Department of Ophthalmology, GreaterBaltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Abraham Ifrah
- Richard E. Hoover Low Vision Rehabilitation Services and Department of Ophthalmology, GreaterBaltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Robert Wolf
- Richard E. Hoover Low Vision Rehabilitation Services and Department of Ophthalmology, GreaterBaltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School/Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Carol A. Applegate
- Richard E. Hoover Low Vision Rehabilitation Services and Department of Ophthalmology, GreaterBaltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Janet R. Sparrow
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York,New York,United States
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19
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Fang Y, Tschulakow A, Taubitz T, Illing B, Biesemeier A, Julien-Schraermeyer S, Radu RA, Jiang Z, Schraermeyer U. Fundus autofluorescence, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and histology correlations in a Stargardt disease mouse model. FASEB J 2020; 34:3693-3714. [PMID: 31989709 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901784rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Stargardt disease (STGD1), known as inherited retinal dystrophy, is caused by ABCA4 mutations. The pigmented Abca4-/- mouse strain only reflects the early stage of STGD1 since it is devoid of retinal degeneration. This blue light-illuminated pigmented Abca4-/- mouse model presented retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor degeneration which was similar to the advanced STGD1 phenotype. In contrast, wild-type mice showed no RPE degeneration after blue light illumination. In Abca4-/- mice, the acute blue light diminished the mean autofluorescence (AF) intensity in both fundus short-wavelength autofluorescence (SW-AF) and near-infrared autofluorescence (NIR-AF) modalities correlating with reduced levels of bisretinoid-fluorophores. Blue light-induced RPE cellular damage preceded the photoreceptors loss. In late-stage STGD1-like patient and blue light-illuminated Abca4-/- mice, lipofuscin and melanolipofuscin granules were found to contribute to NIR-AF, indicated by the colocalization of lipofuscin-AF and NIR-AF under the fluorescence microscope. In this mouse model, the correlation between in vivo and ex vivo assessments revealed histological characteristics of fundus AF abnormalities. The flecks which are hyper AF in both SW-AF and NIR-AF corresponded to the subretinal macrophages fully packed with pigment granules (lipofuscin, melanin, and melanolipofuscin). This mouse model, which has the phenotype of advanced STGD1, is important to understand the histopathology of Stargardt disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Fang
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Center for Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Tschulakow
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Center for Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Preclinical Drug Assessment, STZ Ocutox, Hechingen, Germany
| | - Tatjana Taubitz
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Center for Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Barbara Illing
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Center for Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Antje Biesemeier
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Center for Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sylvie Julien-Schraermeyer
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Center for Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Preclinical Drug Assessment, STZ Ocutox, Hechingen, Germany
| | - Roxana A Radu
- UCLA Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Zhichun Jiang
- UCLA Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ulrich Schraermeyer
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Center for Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Preclinical Drug Assessment, STZ Ocutox, Hechingen, Germany
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Song H, Rossi EA, Yang Q, Granger CE, Latchney LR, Chung MM. High-Resolution Adaptive Optics in Vivo Autofluorescence Imaging in Stargardt Disease. JAMA Ophthalmol 2020; 137:603-609. [PMID: 30896765 DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.0299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Importance Targeting the early pathogenic steps in Stargardt disease type 1 (STGD1) is critical to advance our understanding of this condition and to develop potential therapies. Lipofuscin precursors may accumulate within photoreceptors, leading to photoreceptor damage and preceding retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell death. Fluorescence adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy can provide autofluorescence (AF) images in vivo with microscopic resolution to elucidate the cellular origin of AF abnormalities in STGD1. Objective To study the spatial distribution of photoreceptor, RPE, and AF abnormalities in patients with STGD1 at a cellular level. Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional study using fluorescence adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy to compare the cones, rods, and RPE cells between 3 patients with STGD1 and 1 control individual. Imaging sessions were conducted at the University of Rochester. Further image analyses were performed at Beijing Tongren Eye Center and the University of Pittsburgh. Data were collected from August 2015 to February 2016, and analysis began in March 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures Structural appearance of cones, rods, and AF structures at different retinal locations. Results Two women and 1 man with macular atrophy phenotype of STGD1 and visual acuity loss ranging from 20/30 to 20/150 and 1 woman without STGD1 with 20/20 visual acuity were analyzed. Cone and rod spacing was increased in all 3 patients at all locations where photoreceptors were detectable; most cones had a dark appearance. Autofluorescence was low contrast but contained structures consistent with RPE cells in the periphery. In the transition zone peripheral to the foveal atrophic lesion, the structural pattern of AF was more consistent with photoreceptors than RPE cells. The microscopic AF was disrupted within areas of clinically detectable atrophy. Conclusions and Relevance Adaptive optics high-resolution images of cones, rods, and RPE cells at the leading disease front of STGD1 macular atrophy show an AF pattern that appears to colocalize with photoreceptors or may result from a combination of AF signals from both RPE cells and photoreceptors. This in vivo observation is consistent with histologic reports of fluorescence arising from photoreceptors in STGD1. The detection of bisretinoid accumulation in the photoreceptors may represent an early pathologic step in STGD1 and can provide an in vivo imaging tool to act as a biomarker of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxin Song
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Institute Of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory Of Ophthalmology And Visual Sciences, National Engineering Research Center For Ophthalmology, Beijing, China.,Center For Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - Ethan A Rossi
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Qiang Yang
- Center For Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - Charles E Granger
- Center For Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.,Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - Lisa R Latchney
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - Mina M Chung
- Center For Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.,Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
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Müller PL, Birtel J, Herrmann P, Holz FG, Charbel Issa P, Gliem M. Functional Relevance and Structural Correlates of Near Infrared and Short Wavelength Fundus Autofluorescence Imaging in ABCA4-Related Retinopathy. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2019; 8:46. [PMID: 31879568 PMCID: PMC6927733 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.8.6.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the functional relevance and structural correlates of autofluorescence (AF) alterations under short-wavelength (SW) and near-infrared (NIR) excitation light in ABCA4-related retinopathy. Methods In this prospective, cross-sectional case series, 88 eyes of 44 patients with ABCA4-related retinopathy (mean age, 37.6 years; range, 9-77 years) underwent SW-AF and NIR-AF imaging. The AF images were graded for disease characteristic patterns by two independent readers and correlated with alterations in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and impairment of retinal sensitivity along a foveo-papillary line assessed by fundus-controlled microperimetry. Results A centrifugal sequence of AF patterns from atrophic lesions to homogeneous background was found for both AF modalities. The eccentricity of each AF pattern in NIR-AF was larger compared to those in SW-AF (P < 0.001). Increasing eccentricity of each pattern correlated with increasing retinal sensitivity. The distant border of the zone of hyperfluorescent flecks in SW-AF and hypoautofluorescent flecks in NIR-AF correlated with the margins of the ellipsoid zone loss in OCT (r = 0.979 and r = 0.971, P < 0.001). The expansion of hypofluorescent flecks in SW-AF was associated with the boundaries of external limiting membrane loss (r = 0.933, P < 0.001). Conclusions SW-AF and NIR-AF revealed a characteristic sequence of AF patterns that correlated with functional and structural alterations, suggesting different stages in disease progression. Translational Relevance Alterations in NIR-AF exceeded those in SW-AF images, substantiating the hypothesis of different AF origins and suggesting NIR-AF as surrogate marker for early disease-related changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp L Müller
- University of Bonn, Department of Ophthalmology, Bonn, Germany.,University of Bonn, Center for Rare Diseases Bonn (ZSEB), Bonn, Germany.,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Johannes Birtel
- University of Bonn, Department of Ophthalmology, Bonn, Germany.,University of Bonn, Center for Rare Diseases Bonn (ZSEB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Philipp Herrmann
- University of Bonn, Department of Ophthalmology, Bonn, Germany.,University of Bonn, Center for Rare Diseases Bonn (ZSEB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Frank G Holz
- University of Bonn, Department of Ophthalmology, Bonn, Germany.,University of Bonn, Center for Rare Diseases Bonn (ZSEB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter Charbel Issa
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.,University of Oxford, Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford, UK
| | - Martin Gliem
- University of Bonn, Department of Ophthalmology, Bonn, Germany.,University of Bonn, Center for Rare Diseases Bonn (ZSEB), Bonn, Germany.,Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.,University of Oxford, Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford, UK
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Improved Diagnosis of Retinal Laser Injuries Using Near-Infrared Autofluorescence. Am J Ophthalmol 2019; 208:87-93. [PMID: 31199894 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess whether near infrared autofluorescence (NIR-AF) imaging is a useful imaging modality in the diagnosis of handheld laser retinal injuries. DESIGN Retrospective observational case series. METHODS Twelve patients identified to have handheld laser retinal injuries were included at 2 academic centers. Patients underwent ophthalmic assessment and retinal imaging including fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), conventional blue autofluorescence (B-AF), and NIR-AF imaging. RESULTS In all cases, lesions consistent with retinal laser injury were detected by NIR-AF imaging. The lesions showed a characteristic appearance with central hyperfluorescence and surrounding hypofluorescence, although the number and extent of lesions varied between patients. Findings using other imaging modalities were variable: on color fundus photography these included localized pigmentary changes and on OCT imaging an ellipsoid zone interruption or outer nuclear layer changes. Only subtle changes were evident on B-AF imaging. Other macular conditions, such as poppers retinopathy or solar maculopathy, which may have similar findings on OCT imaging as laser damage, can be differentiated using NIR-AF imaging. CONCLUSION An increased incidence of retinal injuries secondary to handheld lasers has been reported in recent years. We show that the diagnosis and full extent of retinal laser injuries is best demonstrated by NIR-AF, as other modalities give variable results. We propose that NIR-AF should be included when investigating patients suspected of macular injury secondary to exposure to handheld lasers.
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Joo K, Seong MW, Park KH, Park SS, Woo SJ. Genotypic profile and phenotype correlations of ABCA4-associated retinopathy in Koreans. Mol Vis 2019; 25:679-690. [PMID: 31814693 PMCID: PMC6857773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study was conducted to analyze the clinical features associated with the pathogenic variants of ABCA4 in Korean patients with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs). METHODS We enrolled patients with IRDs who visited a tertiary referral hospital and identified the pathogenic variants of ABCA4 through targeted gene panel sequencing and whole exome sequencing. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and phenotypic spectrum according to genotype. RESULTS Eleven patients (from nine families) with IRDs and pathogenic variants in ABCA4 were included. Eight patients (from seven families) with Stargardt disease (STGD), two (from one family) with cone-rod dystrophy (CRD), and one with early-onset retinitis pigmentosa (RP) were included. Two heterozygous mutations were identified in eight families, and one variant was found in a patient with fundus flavimaculatus. Two variants, p.Gln294Ter and p.Gln636Lys, were associated with severe phenotypes, such as early-onset RP and CRD. Four novel pathogenic variants, p.Gln636Lys, p.Ile1114del, p.Thr1117Ala, and p.Asn1588Tyr, were identified. p.Gln294Ter, p.Leu1157Ter, and p.Lys2049ArgfsTer12 were repeatedly detected in Koreans with ABCA4-associated retinal diseases (ABCA4-RD). CONCLUSIONS Various pathogenic variants of ABCA4, including four novel variants, were identified, and ABCA4-RD exhibited various phenotypes and disease severities in a Korean IRD cohort. These findings will be useful for understanding the clinical features of ABCA4-RD and ethnicity-specific variants in East Asians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwangsic Joo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Moon-Woo Seong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu Hyung Park
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Sup Park
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Joon Woo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
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Taubitz T, Fang Y, Biesemeier A, Julien-Schraermeyer S, Schraermeyer U. Age, lipofuscin and melanin oxidation affect fundus near-infrared autofluorescence. EBioMedicine 2019; 48:592-604. [PMID: 31648994 PMCID: PMC6838394 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.09.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fundus autofluorescence is a non-invasive imaging technique in ophthalmology. Conventionally, short-wavelength autofluorescence (SW-AF) is used for detection of lipofuscin, a byproduct of the visual cycle which accumulates with age or disease in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Furthermore, near-infrared autofluorescence (NIR-AF) is used as a marker for RPE and choroidal melanin, but contribution of lipofuscin to the NIR-AF signal is unclear. Methods We employed fluorescence microscopy to investigate NIR-AF properties of melanosomes, lipofuscin and melanolipofuscin granules in histologic sections of wildtype and Abca4−/− mouse eyes, the latter having increased lipofuscin, as well as aged human donor eyes. Differentiation between these pigments was verified by analytical electron microscopy. To investigate the influence of oxidative and photic stress we used an in vitro model with isolated ocular melanosomes and an in vivo phototoxicity mouse model. Findings We show that NIR-AF is not an intrinsic property of melanin, but rather increases with age and after photic or oxidative stress in mice and isolated melanosomes. Furthermore, when lipofuscin levels are high, lipofuscin granules also show NIR-AF, as confirmed by correlative fluorescence and electron microscopy in human tissue. However, lipofuscin in albino Abca4−/− mice lacks NIR-AF signals. Interpretation We suggest that NIR-AF is derived from melanin degradation products that accumulate with time in lipofuscin granules. These findings can help to improve the interpretation of patient fundus autofluorescence data. Funding This work was supported by Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and Chinese Scholarship Council. Major instrumentation used in this work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the European Fund for Regional Development and the state of Baden-Württemberg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Taubitz
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Schleichstrasse 12/1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Yuan Fang
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Schleichstrasse 12/1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Antje Biesemeier
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Schleichstrasse 12/1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Sylvie Julien-Schraermeyer
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Schleichstrasse 12/1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schraermeyer
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Schleichstrasse 12/1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; STZ OcuTox Preclinical Drug Assessment, Hechingen, Germany
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Taubitz T, Tschulakow AV, Tikhonovich M, Illing B, Fang Y, Biesemeier A, Julien-Schraermeyer S, Schraermeyer U. Ultrastructural alterations in the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors of a Stargardt patient and three Stargardt mouse models: indication for the central role of RPE melanin in oxidative stress. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5215. [PMID: 30038866 PMCID: PMC6054867 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Stargardt disease (SD) is characterized by the accumulation of the age-pigment lipofuscin in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and subsequent neuroretinal degeneration. The disease leads to vision loss early in life. Here, we investigate age-dependent ultrastructural changes in three SD mouse models: albino Abca4-/- and pigmented Abca4-/- and Abca4-/-.Rdh8-/- mice. Since we found indications for oxidative stress primarily in albino SD mice, we tested RPE melanin for its antioxidative capabilities. Methods SD mouse eyes were investigated by light, fluorescence and electron microscopy and were compared to the respective albino and pigmented wild type mice and to a human donor SD eye. To confirm the role of RPE melanin in scavenging oxidative stress, melanin from S. officinalis as a standard and porcine RPE were tested for their capability to quench superoxide anions. Results Histological alterations indicative of oxidative stress and/or lysosomal dysfunction were present in albino Abca4-/- and Abca4-/-.Rdh8-/- mice. Retinal damage, such as inner segment rupture and pyknotic or free photoreceptor nuclei in the subretinal space and RPE vacuolization were exclusively found in albino Abca4-/- mice. Shortened and disorganized photoreceptor outer segments and dead RPE cells were found in albino Abca4-/- and Abca4-/-.Rdh8-/- mice, with earlier onset in albino Abca4-/- mice. Undegraded phagosomes and lipofuscin accumulation were present in the RPE of all three SD strains, but numbers were highest in Abca4-/-.Rdh8-/- mice. Lipofuscin morphology differed between SD strains: (melano-)lipofuscin granules in pigmented Abca4-/- mice had a homogenous electron density and sharp demarcations, while lipofuscin in albino Abca4-/- mice had a flocculent electron density and often lacked a surrounding membrane, indicating loss of lysosomal integrity. Young Abca4-/-.Rdh8-/- mice showed (melano-)lipofuscin granules with homogenous electron density, while in aged animals granules with flocculent electron density predominated. Both strains of pigmented SD mice had melanolipofuscin clusters as found in the human SD eye. Like melanin from S. officinalis, porcine RPE melanin can also quench superoxide anions. Discussion The presented pathologies in albino Abca4-/- and Abca4-/-.Rdh8-/- mice suggest oxidative stress and/or lysosomal dysfunction within the RPE. Since albino Abca4-/- mice have the earliest onset and severest damage and as absence of melanin and also melanin turnover with age are known to diminish RPEs anti-oxidative properties, we assume that RPE melanin plays a role in SD related damages. A lack of pathology in pigmented Abca4-/- mice due to lower stress levels as compared to the Abca4-/-.Rdh8-/- mice underlines this hypothesis. It is also supported by the finding that RPE melanin can quench superoxide anions. We therefore suppose that RPE melanin is important in retinal health and we discuss its role as an oxidative stress scavenger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Taubitz
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Alexander V Tschulakow
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Marina Tikhonovich
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Barbara Illing
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Yuan Fang
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Antje Biesemeier
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sylvie Julien-Schraermeyer
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schraermeyer
- Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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López-Rubio S, Chacon-Camacho OF, Matsui R, Guadarrama-Vallejo D, Astiazarán MC, Zenteno JC. Retinal phenotypic characterization of patients with ABCA4 retinopathydue to the homozygous p.Ala1773Val mutation. Mol Vis 2018; 24:105-114. [PMID: 29422768 PMCID: PMC5800431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe the retinal clinical features of a group of Mexican patients with Stargardt disease carrying the uncommon p.Ala1773Val founder mutation in ABCA4. METHODS Ten patients carrying the p.Ala1773Val mutation, nine of them homozygously, were included. Visual function studies included best-corrected visual acuity, electroretinography, Goldmann kinetic visual fields, and full-field electroretinography (ERG). In addition, imaging studies, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), short-wave autofluorescence imaging, and quantitative analyses of hypofluorescence, were performed in each patient. RESULTS Best-corrected visual acuities ranged from 20/200 to 4/200. The median age of the patients at diagnosis was 23.3 years. The majority of the patients had photophobia and nyctalopia, and were classified as Fishman stage 4 (widespread choriocapillaris atrophy, resorption of flecks, and greatly reduced ERG amplitudes). An atypical retinal pigmentation pattern was observed in the patients, and the majority showed cone-rod dystrophy on full-field ERG. In vivo retinal microstructure assessment with OCT demonstrated central retinal thinning, variable loss of photoreceptors, and three different patterns of structural retinal degeneration. Two dissimilar patterns of abnormal autofluorescence were observed. No apparent age-related differences in the pattern of retinal degeneration were observed. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that this particular mutation in ABCA4 is associated with a severe retinal phenotype and thus, could be classified as null. Careful phenotyping of patients carrying specific mutations in ABCA4 is essential to enhance our understanding of disease expression linked to particular mutations and the resulting genotype-phenotype correlations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvador López-Rubio
- Department of Retina, Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana,” Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Oscar F. Chacon-Camacho
- Department of Genetics-Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana,” Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo Matsui
- Department of Retina, Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana,” Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Mirena C. Astiazarán
- Department of Genetics-Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana,” Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Juan C. Zenteno
- Department of Genetics-Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana,” Mexico City, Mexico,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
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Abalem MF, Otte B, Andrews C, Joltikov KA, Branham K, Fahim AT, Schlegel D, Qian CX, Heckenlively JR, Jayasundera T. Peripheral Visual Fields in ABCA4 Stargardt Disease and Correlation With Disease Extent on Ultra-widefield Fundus Autofluorescence. Am J Ophthalmol 2017; 184:181-188. [PMID: 29038010 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the disease extent on ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence (UWF-FAF) in patients with ABCA4 Stargardt disease (STGD) and correlate these data with functional outcome measures. DESIGN Retrospective cross-sectional study. METHODS Setting: Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan. STUDY POPULATION Sixty-five patients with clinical diagnosis and proven pathogenic variants in the ABCA4 gene. Observational Procedures: The UWF-FAF images were obtained using Optos (200 degrees) and classified into 3 types. Functional testing included kinetic widefield perimetry, full-field electroretinogram (ffERG), and visual acuity (VA). All results were evaluated with respect to UWF-FAF classification. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Classification of UWF-FAF; area comprising the I4e, III4e, and IV4e isopters; ffERG patterns; and VA. RESULTS For UWF-FAF, 27 subjects (41.5%) were classified as type I, 17 (26.2%) as type II, and 21 (32.4%) as type III. The area of each isopter correlated inversely with the extent of the disease and all isopters were able to detect differences among UWF-FAF types (IV4e, P = .0013; III4e, P = .0003; I4e, P < .0001 = 3.93e-8). ffERG patterns and VA were also different among the 3 UWF-FAF types (P < .001 = 6.61e-6 and P < .001 = 7.3e-5, respectively). CONCLUSION Patients with widespread disease presented with more constriction of peripheral visual fields and had more dysfunction on ffERG and worse VA compared to patients with disease confined to the macula. UWF-FAF images may provide information for estimating peripheral and central visual function in STGD.
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Kong X, West SK, Strauss RW, Munoz B, Cideciyan AV, Michaelides M, Ho A, Ahmed M, Schönbach EM, Cheetham JK, Ervin AM, Scholl HP. Progression of Visual Acuity and Fundus Autofluorescence in Recent-Onset Stargardt Disease: ProgStar Study Report #4. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 1:514-523. [DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Sears AE, Bernstein PS, Cideciyan AV, Hoyng C, Charbel Issa P, Palczewski K, Rosenfeld PJ, Sadda S, Schraermeyer U, Sparrow JR, Washington I, Scholl HPN. Towards Treatment of Stargardt Disease: Workshop Organized and Sponsored by the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2017; 6:6. [PMID: 28920007 PMCID: PMC5599228 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.6.5.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of fluorescent metabolic byproducts of the visual (retinoid) cycle is associated with photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelial cell death in both Stargardt disease and atrophic (nonneovascular) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As a consequence of this observation, small molecular inhibitors of enzymes in the visual cycle were recently tested in clinical trials as a strategy to protect the retina and retinal pigment epithelium in patients with atrophic AMD. To address the clinical translational needs for therapies aimed at both diseases, a workshop organized by the Foundation Fighting Blindness was hosted by the Department of Pharmacology at Case Western Reserve University on February 17, 2017, at the Tinkham Veale University Center, Cleveland, OH, USA. Invited speakers highlighted recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of Stargardt disease, in terms of its clinical characterization and the development of endpoints for clinical trials, and discussed the comparability of therapeutic strategies between atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease. Investigators speculated that reducing the concentrations of visual cycle precursor substances and/or their byproducts may provide valid therapeutic options for the treatment of Stargardt disease. Here we review the workshop's presentations in the context of published literature to help shape the aims of ongoing research endeavors and aid the development of therapies for Stargardt disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avery E Sears
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Artur V Cideciyan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Carel Hoyng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Peter Charbel Issa
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Philip J Rosenfeld
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - SriniVas Sadda
- Doheny Image Reading Center, Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ulrich Schraermeyer
- Institute of Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Janet R Sparrow
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ilyas Washington
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hendrik P N Scholl
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Qi YH, Gao FJ, Hu FY, Zhang SH, Chen JY, Huang WJ, Tian GH, Wang M, Gan DK, Wu JH, Xu GZ. Next-Generation Sequencing-Aided Rapid Molecular Diagnosis of Occult Macular Dystrophy in a Chinese Family. Front Genet 2017; 8:107. [PMID: 28890726 PMCID: PMC5574873 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2017.00107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To show early, rapid and accurate molecular diagnosis of occult macular dystrophy (OMD) in a four-generation Chinese family with inherited macular dystrophy. Methods: In the current study, we comprehensively screened 130 genes involved in common inherited non-syndromic eye diseases with next-generation sequencing-based target capture sequencing of the proband of a four-generation Chinese family that has suffered from maculopathy without a definitive diagnosis for over 10 years. Variants were filtered and analyzed to identify possible disease-causing variants before validation by Sanger sequencing. Results: Two heterozygous mutations—RP1L1 c.133 C > T (p.Arg45Trp), which is a hot spot for OMD, and ABCA4 c.6119 G > A (p.Arg2040Gln), which was identified in Stargardt’s disease were found in three patients, but neither of the mutations was found in the unaffected individuals in the same family, who are phenotypically normal or in the normal control volunteers. Conclusion: These results cannot only confirm the diagnosis of OMD in the proband, but also provide presymptomatic diagnosis of the proband’s children before the onset of visual acuity impairment and guidance regarding the prognosis and management of these patients. Heterozygous mutations of RP1L1 c.133 C > T (p.Arg45Trp) and ABCA4 c.6119 G > A (p.Arg2040Gln) are likely responsible for OMD. Our results further extend our current understanding of the genetic basis of OMD, and emphasize the importance of molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling for OMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-He Qi
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Feng-Juan Gao
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Fang-Yuan Hu
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Sheng-Hai Zhang
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai MunicipalityShanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia, Ministry of HealthShanghai, China
| | - Jun-Yi Chen
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Wan-Jing Huang
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Guo-Hong Tian
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Min Wang
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - De-Kang Gan
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Ji-Hong Wu
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai MunicipalityShanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia, Ministry of HealthShanghai, China
| | - Ge-Zhi Xu
- Eye Institute, Eye and ENT Hospital, College of Medicine, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai MunicipalityShanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Myopia, Ministry of HealthShanghai, China
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Altschwager P, Ambrosio L, Swanson EA, Moskowitz A, Fulton AB. Juvenile Macular Degenerations. Semin Pediatr Neurol 2017; 24:104-109. [PMID: 28941524 PMCID: PMC5709045 DOI: 10.1016/j.spen.2017.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In this article, we review the following 3 common juvenile macular degenerations: Stargardt disease, X-linked retinoschisis, and Best vitelliform macular dystrophy. These are inherited disorders that typically present during childhood, when vision is still developing. They are sufficiently common that they should be included in the differential diagnosis of visual loss in pediatric patients. Diagnosis is secured by a combination of clinical findings, optical coherence tomography imaging, and genetic testing. Early diagnosis promotes optimal management. Although there is currently no definitive cure for these conditions, therapeutic modalities under investigation include pharmacologic treatment, gene therapy, and stem cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Altschwager
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia, Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Lucia Ambrosio
- Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA,Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Emily A. Swanson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Anne Moskowitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA,Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Anne B. Fulton
- Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115 USA,Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA
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Lambertus S, Bax NM, Fakin A, Groenewoud JMM, Klevering BJ, Moore AT, Michaelides M, Webster AR, van der Wilt GJ, Hoyng CB. Highly sensitive measurements of disease progression in rare disorders: Developing and validating a multimodal model of retinal degeneration in Stargardt disease. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174020. [PMID: 28355279 PMCID: PMC5371327 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Each inherited retinal disorder is rare, but together, they affect millions of people worldwide. No treatment is currently available for these blinding diseases, but promising new options—including gene therapy—are emerging. Arguably, the most prevalent retinal dystrophy is Stargardt disease. In each case, the specific combination of ABCA4 variants (> 900 identified to date) and modifying factors is virtually unique. It accounts for the vast phenotypic heterogeneity including variable rates of functional and structural progression, thereby potentially limiting the ability of phase I/II clinical trials to assess efficacy of novel therapies with few patients. To accommodate this problem, we developed and validated a sensitive and reliable composite clinical trial endpoint for disease progression based on structural measurements of retinal degeneration. Methods and findings We used longitudinal data from early-onset Stargardt patients from the Netherlands (development cohort, n = 14) and the United Kingdom (external validation cohort, n = 18). The composite endpoint was derived from best-corrected visual acuity, fundus autofluorescence, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Weighting optimization techniques excluded visual acuity from the composite endpoint. After optimization, the endpoint outperformed each univariable outcome, and showed an average progression of 0.41° retinal eccentricity per year (95% confidence interval, 0.30–0.52). Comparing with actual longitudinal values, the model accurately predicted progression (R2, 0.904). These properties were largely preserved in the validation cohort (0.43°/year [0.33–0.53]; prediction: R2, 0.872). We subsequently ran a two-year trial simulation with the composite endpoint, which detected a 25% decrease in disease progression with 80% statistical power using only 14 patients. Conclusions These results suggest that a multimodal endpoint, reflecting structural macular changes, provides a sensitive measurement of disease progression in Stargardt disease. It can be very useful in the evaluation of novel therapeutic modalities in rare disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Lambertus
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nathalie M. Bax
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ana Fakin
- Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joannes M. M. Groenewoud
- Department for Health Evidence, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - B. Jeroen Klevering
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anthony T. Moore
- Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michel Michaelides
- Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew R. Webster
- Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gert Jan van der Wilt
- Department for Health Evidence, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Carel B. Hoyng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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34
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Charng J, Cideciyan AV, Jacobson SG, Sumaroka A, Schwartz SB, Swider M, Roman AJ, Sheplock R, Anand M, Peden MC, Khanna H, Heon E, Wright AF, Swaroop A. Variegated yet non-random rod and cone photoreceptor disease patterns in RPGR-ORF15-associated retinal degeneration. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:5444-5459. [PMID: 27798110 PMCID: PMC6078602 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 10/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the ORF15 exon of the RPGR gene cause a common form of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, which often results in severe loss of vision. In dogs and mice, gene augmentation therapy has been shown to arrest the progressive degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors. However, the distribution of potentially treatable photoreceptors across the human retinas and the rate of degeneration are not known. Here, we have defined structural and functional features of the disease in 70 individuals with ORF15 mutations. We also correlated the features observed in patients with those of three Rpgr-mutant (Rpgr-ko, Rd9, and Rpgr-cko) mice. In patients, there was pronounced macular disease. Across the retina, rod and cone dysfunction showed a range of patterns and a spectrum of severity between individuals, but a high symmetry was observed between eyes of each individual. Genotype was not related to disease expression. In the Rpgr-ko mice, there were intra-retinal differences in rhodopsin and cone opsin trafficking. In Rd9 and Rpgr-cko mice, retinal degeneration showed inter-ocular symmetry. Longitudinal results in patients revealed localized rod and cone dysfunction with progression rates of 0.8 to 1.3 log per decade in sensitivity loss. Relatively retained rod and cone photoreceptors in mid- and far-peripheral temporal-inferior and nasal-inferior visual field regions should be good targets for future localized gene therapies in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Charng
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Artur V. Cideciyan
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Samuel G. Jacobson
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Alexander Sumaroka
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Sharon B. Schwartz
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Malgorzata Swider
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Alejandro J. Roman
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca Sheplock
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Manisha Anand
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, MA, USA
| | - Marc C. Peden
- Retina Associates of Florida, Tampa, Florida, FL, USA
| | - Hemant Khanna
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, MA, USA
| | - Elise Heon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Alan F. Wright
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, MD, USA
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35
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The Natural History of the Progression of Atrophy Secondary to Stargardt Disease (ProgStar) Studies. Ophthalmology 2016; 123:817-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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