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Stehle IF, Imventarza JA, Woerz F, Hoffmann F, Boldt K, Beyer T, Quinn PM, Ueffing M. Human CRB1 and CRB2 form homo- and heteromeric protein complexes in the retina. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302440. [PMID: 38570189 PMCID: PMC10992996 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) is one of the key genes linked to retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis, which are characterized by a high clinical heterogeneity. The Crumbs family member CRB2 has a similar protein structure to CRB1, and in zebrafish, Crb2 has been shown to interact through the extracellular domain. Here, we show that CRB1 and CRB2 co-localize in the human retina and human iPSC-derived retinal organoids. In retina-specific pull-downs, CRB1 was enriched in CRB2 samples, supporting a CRB1-CRB2 interaction. Furthermore, novel interactors of the crumbs complex were identified, representing a retina-derived protein interaction network. Using co-immunoprecipitation, we further demonstrate that human canonical CRB1 interacts with CRB1 and CRB2, but not with CRB3, which lacks an extracellular domain. Next, we explored how missense mutations in the extracellular domain affect CRB1-CRB2 interactions. We observed no or a mild loss of CRB1-CRB2 interaction, when interrogating various CRB1 or CRB2 missense mutants in vitro. Taken together, our results show a stable interaction of human canonical CRB2 and CRB1 in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel F Stehle
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Joel A Imventarza
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY, USA
| | - Franziska Woerz
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Felix Hoffmann
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Karsten Boldt
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tina Beyer
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Mj Quinn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY, USA
| | - Marius Ueffing
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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2
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Bora K, Kushwah N, Maurya M, Pavlovich MC, Wang Z, Chen J. Assessment of Inner Blood-Retinal Barrier: Animal Models and Methods. Cells 2023; 12:2443. [PMID: 37887287 PMCID: PMC10605292 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Proper functioning of the neural retina relies on the unique retinal environment regulated by the blood-retinal barrier (BRB), which restricts the passage of solutes, fluids, and toxic substances. BRB impairment occurs in many retinal vascular diseases and the breakdown of BRB significantly contributes to disease pathology. Understanding the different molecular constituents and signaling pathways involved in BRB development and maintenance is therefore crucial in developing treatment modalities. This review summarizes the major molecular signaling pathways involved in inner BRB (iBRB) formation and maintenance, and representative animal models of eye diseases with retinal vascular leakage. Studies on Wnt/β-catenin signaling are highlighted, which is critical for retinal and brain vascular angiogenesis and barriergenesis. Moreover, multiple in vivo and in vitro methods for the detection and analysis of vascular leakage are described, along with their advantages and limitations. These pre-clinical animal models and methods for assessing iBRB provide valuable experimental tools in delineating the molecular mechanisms of retinal vascular diseases and evaluating therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jing Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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3
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Navneet S, Brandon C, Simpson K, Rohrer B. Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Elastase Inhibition in Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Mouse and Human. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091308. [PMID: 37174708 PMCID: PMC10177483 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091308] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal turnover of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein elastin has been linked to AMD pathology. Elastin is a critical component of Bruch's membrane (BrM), an ECM layer that separates the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from the underlying choriocapillaris. Reduced integrity of BrM's elastin layer corresponds to areas of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in wet AMD. Serum levels of elastin-derived peptides and anti-elastin antibodies are significantly elevated in AMD patients along with the prevalence of polymorphisms of genes regulating elastin turnover. Despite these results indicating significant associations between abnormal elastin turnover and AMD, very little is known about its exact role in AMD pathogenesis. Here we report on results that suggest that elastase enzymes could play a direct role in the pathogenesis of AMD. We found significantly increased elastase activity in the retinas and RPE cells of AMD mouse models, and AMD patient-iPSC-derived RPE cells. A1AT, a protease inhibitor that inactivates elastase, reduced CNV lesion sizes in mouse models. A1AT completely inhibited elastase-induced VEGFA expression and secretion, and restored RPE monolayer integrity in ARPE-19 monolayers. A1AT also mitigated RPE thickening, an early AMD phenotype, in HTRA1 overexpressing mice, HTRA1 being a serine protease with elastase activity. Finally, in an exploratory study, examining archival records from large patient data sets, we identified an association between A1AT use, age and AMD risk. Our results suggest that repurposing A1AT may have therapeutic potential in modifying the progression to AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Navneet
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Carlene Brandon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Kit Simpson
- Department of Healthcare Leadership and Management, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Bärbel Rohrer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Division of Research, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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4
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Weatherly SM, Collin GB, Charette JR, Stone L, Damkham N, Hyde LF, Peterson JG, Hicks W, Carter GW, Naggert JK, Krebs MP, Nishina PM. Identification of Arhgef12 and Prkci as genetic modifiers of retinal dysplasia in the Crb1rd8 mouse model. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009798. [PMID: 35675330 PMCID: PMC9212170 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the apicobasal polarity gene CRB1 lead to diverse retinal diseases, such as Leber congenital amaurosis, cone-rod dystrophy, retinitis pigmentosa (with and without Coats-like vasculopathy), foveal retinoschisis, macular dystrophy, and pigmented paravenous chorioretinal atrophy. Limited correlation between disease phenotypes and CRB1 alleles, and evidence that patients sharing the same alleles often present with different disease features, suggest that genetic modifiers contribute to clinical variation. Similarly, the retinal phenotype of mice bearing the Crb1 retinal degeneration 8 (rd8) allele varies with genetic background. Here, we initiated a sensitized chemical mutagenesis screen in B6.Cg-Crb1rd8/Pjn, a strain with a mild clinical presentation, to identify genetic modifiers that cause a more severe disease phenotype. Two models from this screen, Tvrm266 and Tvrm323, exhibited increased retinal dysplasia. Genetic mapping with high-throughput exome and candidate-gene sequencing identified causative mutations in Arhgef12 and Prkci, respectively. Epistasis analysis of both strains indicated that the increased dysplastic phenotype required homozygosity of the Crb1rd8 allele. Retinal dysplastic lesions in Tvrm266 mice were smaller and caused less photoreceptor degeneration than those in Tvrm323 mice, which developed an early, large diffuse lesion phenotype. At one month of age, Müller glia and microglia mislocalization at dysplastic lesions in both modifier strains was similar to that in B6.Cg-Crb1rd8/Pjn mice but photoreceptor cell mislocalization was more extensive. External limiting membrane disruption was comparable in Tvrm266 and B6.Cg-Crb1rd8/Pjn mice but milder in Tvrm323 mice. Immunohistological analysis of mice at postnatal day 0 indicated a normal distribution of mitotic cells in Tvrm266 and Tvrm323 mice, suggesting normal early development. Aberrant electroretinography responses were observed in both models but functional decline was significant only in Tvrm323 mice. These results identify Arhgef12 and Prkci as modifier genes that differentially shape Crb1-associated retinal disease, which may be relevant to understanding clinical variability and underlying disease mechanisms in humans. Inherited eye diseases affect roughly 1:1,000 individuals worldwide. Although these diseases are often linked to variants of a single gene, it is increasingly recognized that a second variant in other genes may modify disease characteristics, including age of onset, severity, and lesion appearance. Identifying such modifier genes in humans is difficult. In this study, two modifiers of a gene associated with retinal damage leading to childhood blindness in humans (CRB1) were identified in mice. Retinal damage caused by Crb1 mutation alone was less severe than in the presence of Arhgef12 or Prkci mutations. Furthermore, the modifier gene mutations caused retinal damage only in the presence of the Crb1 mutation. Our results point to a role of mouse Crb1 and the modifying effects of Arhgef12 and Prkci in a biological network that controls adhesive interactions between cells. The variation in disease severity, lesion appearance, and visual responses in these mice provide a dramatic example of modifier gene influence. This work may lead to an improved understanding of the molecular basis of CRB1-associated retinal disease, with possible relevance to diagnostic and therapeutic intervention in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gayle B. Collin
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | - Lisa Stone
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Nattaya Damkham
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Immunology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Lillian F. Hyde
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | - Wanda Hicks
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | | | - Mark P. Krebs
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MPK); (PMN)
| | - Patsy M. Nishina
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MPK); (PMN)
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5
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Compartmentalized citrullination in Muller glial endfeet during retinal degeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2121875119. [PMID: 35197297 PMCID: PMC8917347 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2121875119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Muller glia (MG) play a central role in reactive gliosis, a stress response associated with rare and common retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The posttranslational modification citrullination targeting glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in MG was initially discovered in a panocular chemical injury model. Here, we report in the paradigms of retinal laser injury, a genetic model of spontaneous retinal degeneration (JR5558 mice) and human wet-AMD tissues that MG citrullination is broadly conserved. After laser injury, GFAP polymers that accumulate in reactive MG are citrullinated in MG endfeet and glial cell processes. The enzyme responsible for citrullination, peptidyl arginine deiminase-4 (PAD4), localizes to endfeet and associates with GFAP polymers. Glial cell–specific PAD4 deficiency attenuates retinal hypercitrullination in injured retinas, indicating PAD4 requirement for MG citrullination. In retinas of 1-mo-old JR5558 mice, hypercitrullinated GFAP and PAD4 accumulate in MG endfeet/cell processes in a lesion-specific manner. Finally, we show that human donor maculae from patients with wet-AMD also feature the canonical endfeet localization of hypercitrullinated GFAP. Thus, we propose that endfeet are a “citrullination bunker” that initiates and sustains citrullination in retinal degeneration.
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6
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Collin GB, Shi L, Yu M, Akturk N, Charette JR, Hyde LF, Weatherly SM, Pera MF, Naggert JK, Peachey NS, Nishina PM, Krebs MP. A Splicing Mutation in Slc4a5 Results in Retinal Detachment and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2220. [PMID: 35216333 PMCID: PMC8875008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluid and solute transporters of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) are core components of the outer blood-retinal barrier. Characterizing these transporters and their role in retinal homeostasis may provide insights into ocular function and disease. Here, we describe RPE defects in tvrm77 mice, which exhibit hypopigmented patches in the central retina. Mapping and nucleotide sequencing of tvrm77 mice revealed a disrupted 5' splice donor sequence in Slc4a5, a sodium bicarbonate cotransporter gene. Slc4a5 expression was reduced 19.7-fold in tvrm77 RPE relative to controls, and alternative splice variants were detected. SLC4A5 was localized to the Golgi apparatus of cultured human RPE cells and in apical and basal membranes. Fundus imaging, optical coherence tomography, microscopy, and electroretinography (ERG) of tvrm77 mice revealed retinal detachment, hypopigmented patches corresponding to neovascular lesions, and retinal folds. Detachment worsened and outer nuclear layer thickness decreased with age. ERG a- and b-wave response amplitudes were initially normal but declined in older mice. The direct current ERG fast oscillation and light peak were reduced in amplitude at all ages, whereas other RPE-associated responses were unaffected. These results link a new Slc4a5 mutation to subretinal fluid accumulation and altered light-evoked RPE electrophysiological responses, suggesting that SLC4A5 functions at the outer blood-retinal barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayle B. Collin
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Lanying Shi
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Minzhong Yu
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (M.Y.); (N.S.P.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Nurten Akturk
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Jeremy R. Charette
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Lillian F. Hyde
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Sonia M. Weatherly
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Martin F. Pera
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Jürgen K. Naggert
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Neal S. Peachey
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (M.Y.); (N.S.P.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Patsy M. Nishina
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Mark P. Krebs
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
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7
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Qiang W, Wei R, Chen Y, Chen D. Clinical Pathological Features and Current Animal Models of Type 3 Macular Neovascularization. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:734860. [PMID: 34512255 PMCID: PMC8427186 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.734860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 3 macular neovascularization (MNV3), or retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP), is a distinct type of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is a leading cause of vision loss in older persons. During the past decade, systematic investigation into the clinical, multimodal imaging, and histopathological features and therapeutic outcomes has provided important new insight into this disease. These studies favor the retinal origin of MNV3 and suggest the involvement of retinal hypoxia, inflammation, von Hippel–Lindau (VHL)–hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, and multiple cell types in the development and progression of MNV3. Several mouse models, including the recently built Rb/p107/Vhl triple knockout mouse model by our group, have induced many of the histological features of MNV3 and provided much insight into the underlying pathological mechanisms. These models have revealed the roles of retinal hypoxia, inflammation, lipid metabolism, VHL/HIF pathway, and retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (Rb)–E2F cell cycle pathway in the development of MNV3. This article will summarize the clinical, multimodal imaging, and pathological features of MNV3 and the diversity of animal models that exist for MNV3, as well as their strengths and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Qiang
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ran Wei
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongjiang Chen
- The School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Danian Chen
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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8
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Ramezankhani R, Minaei N, Haddadi M, Torabi S, Hesaraki M, Mirzaei H, Vosough M, Verfaillie CM. Gene editing technology for improving life quality: A dream coming true? Clin Genet 2020; 99:67-83. [PMID: 32506418 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The fact that monogenic diseases are related to mutations in one specific gene, make gene correction one of the promising strategies in the future to treat genetic diseases or alleviate their symptoms. From this perspective, and along with recent advances in technology, genome editing tools have gained momentum and developed fast. In fact, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) are regarded as novel technologies which are able to correct a number of genetic aberrations in vitro and in vivo. The number of ongoing clinical trials employing these tools has been increased showing the encouraging outcomes of these tools. However, there are still some major challenges with respect to the safety profile and directed delivery of them. In this paper, we provided updated information regarding the history, nature, methods of delivery, and application of the above-mentioned gene editing tools along with the meganucleases (an older similar tool) based on published in vitro and in vivo studies and introduced clinical trials which employed these technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roya Ramezankhani
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Neda Minaei
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahnaz Haddadi
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shukoofeh Torabi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Hesaraki
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Catherine M Verfaillie
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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9
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Fan J, Shen W, Lee SR, Mathai AE, Zhang R, Xu G, Gillies MC. Targeting the Notch and TGF-β signaling pathways to prevent retinal fibrosis in vitro and in vivo. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:7956-7973. [PMID: 32724452 PMCID: PMC7381727 DOI: 10.7150/thno.45192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: The Notch and transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling pathways are two intracellular mechanisms that control fibrosis in general but whether they play a major role in retinal fibrosis is less clear. Here we study how these two signaling pathways regulate Müller cell-dominated retinal fibrosis in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Human MIO-M1 Müller cells were treated with Notch ligands and TGFβ1, either alone or in combination. Western blots were performed to study changes in γ-secretase proteases, Notch downstream effectors, endogenous TGFβ1, phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3) and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. We also studied the effects of RO4929097, a selective γ-secretase inhibitor, on expression of ECM proteins after ligand stimulation. Müller cell viability was studied by AlamarBlue and cytotoxicity by lactate cytotoxicity assays. Finally, we studied changes in Notch and TGFβ signaling and tested the effect of intravitreal injections of the Notch pathway inhibitor RO4929097 on retinal fibrosis resulted from Sodium iodate (NaIO3)-induced retinal injury in mice. We also studied the safety of intravitreal injections of RO4929097 in normal mice. Results: Treatment of Müller cells with Notch ligands upregulated γ-secretase proteases and Notch downstream effectors, with increased expression of endogenous TGFβ1, TGFβ receptors and p-Smad3. TGFβ1 upregulated the expression of proteins associated with both signaling pathways in a similar manner. Notch ligands and TGFβ1 had additive effects on overexpression of ECM proteins in Müller cells which were inhibited by RO4929097. Notch and TGFβ ligands stimulated Müller cell proliferation which was inhibited by RO4929097 without damaging the cells. NaIO3-induced retinal injury activated both Notch and TGFβ signaling pathways in vivo. Intravitreal injection of RO4929097 prevented Müller cell gliosis and inhibited overexpression of ECM proteins in this murine model. We found no safety concerns for up to 17 days after an intravitreal injection of RO4929097. Conclusions: Inhibiting Notch signaling might be an effective way to prevent retinal fibrosis. This study is of clinical significance in developing a treatment for preventing fibrosis in proliferative vitreoretinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy and wet age-related macular degeneration.
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10
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Wright CB, Uehara H, Kim Y, Yasuma T, Yasuma R, Hirahara S, Makin RD, Apicella I, Pereira F, Nagasaka Y, Narendran S, Fukuda S, Albuquerque R, Fowler BJ, Bastos-Carvalho A, Georgel P, Hatada I, Chang B, Kerur N, Ambati BK, Ambati J, Gelfand BD. Chronic Dicer1 deficiency promotes atrophic and neovascular outer retinal pathologies in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:2579-2587. [PMID: 31964819 PMCID: PMC7007521 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1909761117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Degeneration of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and aberrant blood vessel growth in the eye are advanced-stage processes in blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Loss of the RNase DICER1, an essential factor in micro-RNA biogenesis, is implicated in RPE atrophy. However, the functional implications of DICER1 loss in choroidal and retinal neovascularization are unknown. Here, we report that two independent hypomorphic mouse strains, as well as a separate model of postnatal RPE-specific DICER1 ablation, all presented with spontaneous RPE degeneration and choroidal and retinal neovascularization. DICER1 hypomorphic mice lacking critical inflammasome components or the innate immune adaptor MyD88 developed less severe RPE atrophy and pathological neovascularization. DICER1 abundance was also reduced in retinas of the JR5558 mouse model of spontaneous choroidal neovascularization. Finally, adenoassociated vector-mediated gene delivery of a truncated DICER1 variant (OptiDicer) reduced spontaneous choroidal neovascularization in JR5558 mice. Collectively, these findings significantly expand the repertoire of DICER1 in preserving retinal homeostasis by preventing both RPE degeneration and pathological neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles B Wright
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Hironori Uehara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350
| | - Younghee Kim
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Tetsuhiro Yasuma
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Reo Yasuma
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Shuichiro Hirahara
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Ryan D Makin
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Molecular and Cellular Basis of Disease Graduate Program, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Ivana Apicella
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Felipe Pereira
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Departamento de Oftalmologia e Ciências Visuais, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Yosuke Nagasaka
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Siddharth Narendran
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625020, India
| | - Shinichi Fukuda
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Romulo Albuquerque
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Benjamin J Fowler
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Ana Bastos-Carvalho
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Philippe Georgel
- Laboratoire d'ImmunoRhumatologie Moléculaire, INSERM UMR-S1109, LabEx Transplantex, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, 67085 Strasbourg, France
- Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire OMICARE, Université de Strasbourg, 67085 Strasbourg, France
| | - Izuho Hatada
- Laboratory of Genome Science, Biosignal Genome Resource Center, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8512, Japan
| | - Bo Chang
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
| | - Nagaraj Kerur
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | | | - Jayakrishna Ambati
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Bradley D Gelfand
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903;
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia School of Engineering, Charlottesville, VA 22904
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