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Majander A, Jurkute N, Burté F, Brock K, João C, Huang H, Neveu MM, Chan CM, Duncan HJ, Kelly S, Burkitt-Wright E, Khoyratty F, Lai YT, Subash M, Chinnery PF, Bitner-Glindzicz M, Arno G, Webster AR, Moore AT, Michaelides M, Stockman A, Robson AG, Yu-Wai-Man P. WFS1-Associated Optic Neuropathy: Genotype-Phenotype Correlations and Disease Progression. Am J Ophthalmol 2022; 241:9-27. [PMID: 35469785 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the pattern of vision loss and genotype-phenotype correlations in WFS1-associated optic neuropathy (WON). DESIGN Multicenter cohort study. METHODS The study involved 37 patients with WON carrying pathogenic or candidate pathogenic WFS1 variants. Genetic and clinical data were retrieved from the medical records. Thirteen patients underwent additional comprehensive ophthalmologic assessment. Deep phenotyping involved visual electrophysiology and advanced psychophysical testing with a complementary metabolomic study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES WFS1 variants, functional and structural optic nerve and retinal parameters, and metabolomic profile. RESULTS Twenty-two recessive and 5 dominant WFS1 variants were identified. Four variants were novel. All WFS1 variants caused loss of macular retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual electrophysiology. Advanced psychophysical testing indicated involvement of the major RGC subpopulations. Modeling of vision loss showed an accelerated rate of deterioration with increasing age. Dominant WFS1 variants were associated with abnormal reflectivity of the outer plexiform layer (OPL) on OCT imaging. The dominant variants tended to cause less severe vision loss compared with recessive WFS1 variants, which resulted in more variable phenotypes ranging from isolated WON to severe multisystem disease depending on the WFS1 alleles. The metabolomic profile included markers seen in other neurodegenerative diseases and type 1 diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS WFS1 variants result in heterogenous phenotypes influenced by the mode of inheritance and the disease-causing alleles. Biallelic WFS1 variants cause more variable, but generally more severe, vision and RGC loss compared with heterozygous variants. Abnormal cleftlike lamination of the OPL is a distinctive OCT feature that strongly points toward dominant WON.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Majander
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital (A.M., N.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki (A.M.), Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Neringa Jurkute
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital (A.M., N.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom
| | - Florence Burté
- Biosciences Institute, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University (F.B.), Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Kristian Brock
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, University of Birmingham (K.B.), Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Catarina João
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom
| | - Houbin Huang
- Hainan Hospital of the General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army (H.H.), Sanya, China
| | - Magella M Neveu
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital (A.M., N.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom
| | - Choi Mun Chan
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital (A.M., N.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom
| | - Holly J Duncan
- Newcastle Eye Centre, Royal Victoria Infirmary (H.J.D.), Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Kelly
- Bolton NHS Foundation Trust (S.K., F.K., Y.T.L.), Bolton, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Burkitt-Wright
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (E.B.-W.), Manchester, United Kingdom; Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre (E.B.-W.), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Fadil Khoyratty
- Bolton NHS Foundation Trust (S.K., F.K., Y.T.L.), Bolton, United Kingdom
| | - Yoon Tse Lai
- Bolton NHS Foundation Trust (S.K., F.K., Y.T.L.), Bolton, United Kingdom
| | - Mala Subash
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick F Chinnery
- MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge (P.F.C.), Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gavin Arno
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital (A.M., N.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew R Webster
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital (A.M., N.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony T Moore
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital (A.M., N.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology, UCSF School of Medicine (A.T.M.), San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michel Michaelides
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital (A.M., N.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Stockman
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony G Robson
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital (A.M., N.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Yu-Wai-Man
- From the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (A.M., N.J., C.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., M.S., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.S., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital (A.M., N.J., M.M.N., C.M.C., G.A., A.R.W., A.T.M., M.M., A.G.R., P.Y.-W.-M.), London, United Kingdom; John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair and MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge (P.Y.-W.-M.), Cambridge, United Kingdom; and Cambridge Eye Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals (P.Y.-W.-M.), Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Boccuni I, Fairless R. Retinal Glutamate Neurotransmission: From Physiology to Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:638. [PMID: 35629305 PMCID: PMC9147752 DOI: 10.3390/life12050638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate neurotransmission and metabolism are finely modulated by the retinal network, where the efficient processing of visual information is shaped by the differential distribution and composition of glutamate receptors and transporters. However, disturbances in glutamate homeostasis can result in glutamate excitotoxicity, a major initiating factor of common neurodegenerative diseases. Within the retina, glutamate excitotoxicity can impair visual transmission by initiating degeneration of neuronal populations, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The vulnerability of RGCs is observed not just as a result of retinal diseases but has also been ascribed to other common neurodegenerative and peripheral diseases. In this review, we describe the vulnerability of RGCs to glutamate excitotoxicity and the contribution of different glutamate receptors and transporters to this. In particular, we focus on the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor as the major effector of glutamate-induced mechanisms of neurodegeneration, including impairment of calcium homeostasis, changes in gene expression and signalling, and mitochondrial dysfunction, as well as the role of endoplasmic reticular stress. Due to recent developments in the search for modulators of NMDA receptor signalling, novel neuroprotective strategies may be on the horizon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Boccuni
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Richard Fairless
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Clinical Cooperation Unit (CCU) Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Levin LA, Sengupta M, Balcer LJ, Kupersmith MJ, Miller NR. Report From the National Eye Institute Workshop on Neuro-Ophthalmic Disease Clinical Trial Endpoints: Optic Neuropathies. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:30. [PMID: 34846515 PMCID: PMC8648055 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.14.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Leonard A Levin
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mohor Sengupta
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Laura J Balcer
- Departments of Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
| | - Mark J Kupersmith
- Departments of Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, New York, United States
| | - Neil R Miller
- Neuro-Ophthalmology Division, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
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Rider AT, Henning GB, Stockman A. A reinterpretation of critical flicker-frequency (CFF) data reveals key details about light adaptation and normal and abnormal visual processing. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 87:101001. [PMID: 34506951 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.101001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Our ability to see flicker has an upper frequency limit above which flicker is invisible, known as the "critical flicker frequency" (CFF), that typically grows with light intensity (I). The relation between CFF and I, the focus of nearly 200 years of research, is roughly logarithmic, i.e., CFF ∝ log(I)-a relation called the Ferry-Porter law. However, why this law should occur, and how it relates to the underlying physiology, have never been adequately explained. Over the past two decades we have measured CFF in normal observers and in patients with retinal gene defects. Here, we reanalyse and model our data and historical CFF data. Remarkably, CFF-versus-I functions measured under a wide range of conditions in patients and in normal observers all have broadly similar shapes when plotted in double-logarithmic coordinates, i.e., log (CFF)-versus-log(I). Thus, the entire dataset can be characterised by horizontal and vertical logarithmic shifts of a fixed-shape template. Shape invariance can be predicted by a simple model of visual processing built from a sequence of low-pass filters, subtractive feedforward stages and gain adjustment (Rider, Henning & Stockman, 2019). It depends primarily on the numbers of visual processing stages that approach their power-law region at a given intensity and a frequency-independent gain reduction at higher light levels. Counter-intuitively, the CFF-versus-I relation depends primarily on the gain of the visual response rather than its speed-a conclusion that changes our understanding and interpretation of human flicker perception. The Ferry-Porter "law" is merely an approximation of the shape-invariant template.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T Rider
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, England, UK
| | - G Bruce Henning
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, England, UK
| | - Andrew Stockman
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, England, UK.
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5
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Jurkute N, Bertacchi M, Arno G, Tocco C, Kim US, Kruszewski AM, Avery RA, Bedoukian EC, Han J, Ahn SJ, Pontikos N, Acheson J, Davagnanam I, Bowman R, Kaliakatsos M, Gardham A, Wakeling E, Oluonye N, Reddy MA, Clark E, Rosser E, Amati-Bonneau P, Charif M, Lenaers G, Meunier I, Defoort S, Vincent-Delorme C, Robson AG, Holder GE, Jeanjean L, Martinez-Monseny A, Vidal-Santacana M, Dominici C, Gaggioli C, Giordano N, Caleo M, Liu GT, Webster AR, Studer M, Yu-Wai-Man P. Pathogenic NR2F1 variants cause a developmental ocular phenotype recapitulated in a mutant mouse model. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab162. [PMID: 34466801 PMCID: PMC8397830 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic NR2F1 variants cause a rare autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorder referred to as the Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf Optic Atrophy Syndrome. Although visual loss is a prominent feature seen in affected individuals, the molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to visual impairment are still poorly characterized. We conducted a deep phenotyping study on a cohort of 22 individuals carrying pathogenic NR2F1 variants to document the neurodevelopmental and ophthalmological manifestations, in particular the structural and functional changes within the retina and the optic nerve, which have not been detailed previously. The visual impairment became apparent in early childhood with small and/or tilted hypoplastic optic nerves observed in 10 cases. High-resolution optical coherence tomography imaging confirmed significant loss of retinal ganglion cells with thinning of the ganglion cell layer, consistent with electrophysiological evidence of retinal ganglion cells dysfunction. Interestingly, for those individuals with available longitudinal ophthalmological data, there was no significant deterioration in visual function during the period of follow-up. Diffusion tensor imaging tractography studies showed defective connections and disorganization of the extracortical visual pathways. To further investigate how pathogenic NR2F1 variants impact on retinal and optic nerve development, we took advantage of an Nr2f1 mutant mouse disease model. Abnormal retinogenesis in early stages of development was observed in Nr2f1 mutant mice with decreased retinal ganglion cell density and disruption of retinal ganglion cell axonal guidance from the neural retina into the optic stalk, accounting for the development of optic nerve hypoplasia. The mutant mice showed significantly reduced visual acuity based on electrophysiological parameters with marked conduction delay and decreased amplitude of the recordings in the superficial layers of the visual cortex. The clinical observations in our study cohort, supported by the mouse data, suggest an early neurodevelopmental origin for the retinal and optic nerve head defects caused by NR2F1 pathogenic variants, resulting in congenital vision loss that seems to be non-progressive. We propose NR2F1 as a major gene that orchestrates early retinal and optic nerve head development, playing a key role in the maturation of the visual system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neringa Jurkute
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Gavin Arno
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Chiara Tocco
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Inserm, iBV, Nice, France
| | - Ungsoo Samuel Kim
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Kim's Eye Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Adam M Kruszewski
- Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert A Avery
- Division of Ophthalmology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emma C Bedoukian
- Roberts Individualized Medical Genetics Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jinu Han
- Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sung Jun Ahn
- Department of Radiology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Nikolas Pontikos
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - James Acheson
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Indran Davagnanam
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department of Brain Repair & Rehabilitation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Richard Bowman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Marios Kaliakatsos
- Paediatric Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Alice Gardham
- North West Thames Regional Genetics Service, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, UK
| | - Emma Wakeling
- North East Thames Regional Genetics Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ngozi Oluonye
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Wolfson Neurodisability Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Maddy Ashwin Reddy
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Elaine Clark
- Department of Neuroscience, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Elisabeth Rosser
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Patrizia Amati-Bonneau
- MitoLab Team, UMR CNRS 6015 - INSERM U1083, Institut MitoVasc, Angers University and Hospital, Angers, France
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University Hospital Angers, Angers, France
- Genetics and Immuno-cell Therapy Team, Mohammed First University, Oujda, Morocco
| | - Majida Charif
- MitoLab Team, UMR CNRS 6015 - INSERM U1083, Institut MitoVasc, Angers University and Hospital, Angers, France
- National Center for Rare Diseases, Inherited Sensory Disorders, Gui de Chauliac Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Guy Lenaers
- MitoLab Team, UMR CNRS 6015 - INSERM U1083, Institut MitoVasc, Angers University and Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Isabelle Meunier
- Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, INSERM INSERM U1051, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Sabine Defoort
- Service d'exploration de la vision et neuro-ophtalmologie, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France
| | | | - Anthony G Robson
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Graham E Holder
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Luc Jeanjean
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Nimes, Nimes, France
| | | | | | - Chloé Dominici
- University Côte d'Azur, CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice, France
| | - Cedric Gaggioli
- University Côte d'Azur, CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice, France
| | | | | | - Grant T Liu
- Division of Ophthalmology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Andrew R Webster
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Patrick Yu-Wai-Man
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Cambridge Eye Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair and MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Kim US, Mahroo OA, Mollon JD, Yu-Wai-Man P. Retinal Ganglion Cells-Diversity of Cell Types and Clinical Relevance. Front Neurol 2021; 12:661938. [PMID: 34093409 PMCID: PMC8175861 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.661938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the bridging neurons that connect the retinal input to the visual processing centres within the central nervous system. There is a remarkable diversity of RGCs and the various subtypes have unique morphological features, distinct functions, and characteristic pathways linking the inner retina to the relevant brain areas. A number of psychophysical and electrophysiological tests have been refined to investigate this large and varied population of RGCs. Technological advances, such as high-resolution optical coherence tomography imaging, have provided additional tools to define the pattern of RGC involvement and the chronological sequence of events in both inherited and acquired optic neuropathies. The mechanistic insights gained from these studies, in particular the selective vulnerability and relative resilience of particular RGC subtypes, are of fundamental importance as they are directly relevant to the development of targeted therapies for these invariably progressive blinding diseases. This review provides a comprehensive description of the various types of RGCs, the developments in proposed methods of classification, and the current gaps in our knowledge of how these RGCs are differentially affected depending on the underlying aetiology. The synthesis of the current body of knowledge on the diversity of RGCs and the pathways that are potentially amenable to therapeutic modulation will hopefully lead to much needed effective treatments for patients with optic neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ungsoo Samuel Kim
- Kim's Eye Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair and MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cambridge Eye Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Ungsoo Samuel Kim
| | - Omar A. Mahroo
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Section of Ophthalmology, King's College London, St. Thomas' Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - John D. Mollon
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Yu-Wai-Man
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair and MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cambridge Eye Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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7
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Stockman A, Henning GB, Rider AT. Clinical vision and molecular loss: Integrating visual psychophysics with molecular genetics reveals key details of normal and abnormal visual processing. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 83:100937. [PMID: 33388434 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the past two decades we have developed techniques and models to investigate the ways in which known molecular defects affect visual performance. Because molecular defects in retinal signalling invariably alter the speed of visual processing, our strategy has been to measure the resulting changes in flicker sensitivity. Flicker measurements provide not only straightforward clinical assessments of visual performance but also reveal fundamental details about the functioning of both abnormal and normal visual systems. Here, we bring together our past measurements of patients with pathogenic variants in the GNAT2, RGS9, GUCA1A, RPE65, OPA1, KCNV2 and NR2E3 genes and analyse the results using a standard model of visual processing. The model treats flicker sensitivity as the result of the actions of a sequence of simple processing steps, one or more of which is altered by the genetic defect. Our analyses show that most defects slow down the visual response directly, but some speed it up. Crucially, however, other steps in the processing sequence can make compensatory adjustments to offset the abnormality. For example, if the abnormal step slows down the visual response, another step is likely to speed up or attenuate the response to rebalance system performance. Such compensatory adjustments are probably made by steps in the sequence that usually adapt to changing light levels. Our techniques and modelling also allow us to tease apart stationary and progressive effects, and the localised molecular losses help us to unravel and characterise individual steps in the normal and abnormal processing sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Stockman
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, England, UK.
| | - G Bruce Henning
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, England, UK
| | - Andrew T Rider
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, England, UK
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8
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VanderWall KB, Lu B, Alfaro JS, Allsop AR, Carr AS, Wang S, Meyer JS. Differential susceptibility of retinal ganglion cell subtypes in acute and chronic models of injury and disease. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17359. [PMID: 33060618 PMCID: PMC7566630 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71460-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are a heterogeneous population of neurons, comprised of numerous subtypes that work synchronously to transmit visual information to the brain. In blinding disorders such as glaucoma, RGCs are the main cell type to degenerate and lead to loss of vision. Previous studies have identified and characterized a variety of RGC subtypes in animal models, although only a handful of studies demonstrate the differential loss of these RGC subtypes in response to disease or injury. Thus, efforts of the current study utilized both chronic (bead occlusion) and acute (optic nerve crush, ONC) rat models to characterize disease response and differential loss of RGC subtypes. Bead occlusion and ONC retinas demonstrated significant RGC loss, glial reactivity and apoptosis compared to control retinas. Importantly, bead occlusion and ONC retinas resulted in differential subtype-specific loss of RGCs, with a high susceptibility for alpha- and direction selective-RGCs and preferential survival of ipRGCs. Results of this study serve as an important foundation for future experiments focused on the mechanisms resulting in the loss of RGCs in optic neuropathies, as well as the development of targeted therapeutics for RGC subtype-specific neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin B VanderWall
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Bin Lu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Jorge S Alfaro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Anna R Allsop
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Alexa S Carr
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Shaomei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
| | - Jason S Meyer
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Deparment of Ophthalmology, Glick Eye Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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9
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Ohlemacher SK, Langer KB, Fligor CM, Feder EM, Edler MC, Meyer JS. Advances in the Differentiation of Retinal Ganglion Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1186:121-140. [PMID: 31654388 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-28471-8_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technology has revolutionized the field of biology through the unprecedented ability to study the differentiation of human cells in vitro. In the past decade, hPSCs have been applied to study development, model disease, develop drugs, and devise cell replacement therapies for numerous biological systems. Of particular interest is the application of this technology to study and treat optic neuropathies such as glaucoma. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the primary cell type affected in these diseases, and once lost, they are unable to regenerate in adulthood. This necessitates the development of strategies to study the mechanisms of degeneration as well as develop translational therapeutic approaches to treat early- and late-stage disease progression. Numerous protocols have been established to derive RGCs from hPSCs, with the ability to generate large populations of human RGCs for translational applications. In this review, the key applications of hPSCs within the retinal field are described, including the use of these cells as developmental models, disease models, drug development, and finally, cell replacement therapies. In greater detail, the current report focuses on the differentiation of hPSC-derived RGCs and the many unique characteristics associated with these cells in vitro including their genetic identifiers, their electrophysiological activity, and their morphological maturation. Also described is the current progress in the use of patient-specific hPSCs to study optic neuropathies affecting RGCs, with emphasis on the use of these RGCs for studying disease mechanisms and pathogenesis, drug screening, and cell replacement therapies in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Ohlemacher
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kirstin B Langer
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Clarisse M Fligor
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Elyse M Feder
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Michael C Edler
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jason S Meyer
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA. .,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA. .,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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Langer KB, Ohlemacher SK, Phillips MJ, Fligor CM, Jiang P, Gamm DM, Meyer JS. Retinal Ganglion Cell Diversity and Subtype Specification from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 10:1282-1293. [PMID: 29576537 PMCID: PMC5998302 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the projection neurons of the retina and transmit visual information to postsynaptic targets in the brain. While this function is shared among nearly all RGCs, this class of cell is remarkably diverse, comprised of multiple subtypes. Previous efforts have identified numerous RGC subtypes in animal models, but less attention has been paid to human RGCs. Thus, efforts of this study examined the diversity of RGCs differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and characterized defined subtypes through the expression of subtype-specific markers. Further investigation of these subtypes was achieved using single-cell transcriptomics, confirming the combinatorial expression of molecular markers associated with these subtypes, and also provided insight into more subtype-specific markers. Thus, the results of this study describe the derivation of RGC subtypes from hPSCs and will support the future exploration of phenotypic and functional diversity within human RGCs. Unique transcriptional profiles demonstrate diversity among hPSC-derived RGCs Numerous RGC subtypes characterized from hPSC-derived RGCs Molecular markers identified for RGC subtypes through single-cell RNA-seq analysis
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin B Langer
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Sarah K Ohlemacher
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - M Joseph Phillips
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Clarisse M Fligor
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Peng Jiang
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - David M Gamm
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jason S Meyer
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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Hong IH, Park SP. Quantitative physiological measurements to evaluate the response of antivascular endothelial growth factor treatment in patients with neovascular diseases. Indian J Ophthalmol 2017; 65:559-568. [PMID: 28724811 PMCID: PMC5549406 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_278_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment is still used intravitreally worldwide for various neovascular diseases, despite other available, approved treatments. We performed a systematic search of the literature focused on visual physiology studies. We used the online biomedical search engine PubMed and searched key words including “M-chart,” “Preferential Hyperacuity Perimetry,” “microperimetry,” (MP) “electroretinography,” and “contrast sensitivity” to estimate treatment efficacy of anti-VEGF treatments in a quantitative manner. Many studies were identified which used a variety of methodologies, disease entities, injected agents, and patient populations, making it difficult to obtain a direct comparison of their results. However, favorable functional outcomes achieved using current quantitative methods would lend further confidence to the effectiveness of a treat-and-extend protocol using intravitreal anti-VEGF for the management of patients with neovascular diseases. Despite anti-VEGF's wide use, a well-designed longitudinal multicenter study to systematically evaluate and compare different physiological methods or parameters in patients with neovascular diseases is still lacking, though it would benefit therapeutic decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- In Hwan Hong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University Medical Center, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sung Pyo Park
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University Medical Center, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
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