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Zhang J, Sheng X, Ding Q, Wang Y, Zhao J, Zhang J. Subretinal fibrosis secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration: mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:378-393. [PMID: 38819041 PMCID: PMC11317958 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Subretinal fibrosis is the end-stage sequelae of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. It causes local damage to photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroidal vessels, which leads to permanent central vision loss of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis is complex, and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Therefore, there are no effective treatment options. A thorough understanding of the pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis and its related mechanisms is important to elucidate its complications and explore potential treatments. The current article reviews several aspects of subretinal fibrosis, including the current understanding on the relationship between neovascular age-related macular degeneration and subretinal fibrosis; multimodal imaging techniques for subretinal fibrosis; animal models for studying subretinal fibrosis; cellular and non-cellular constituents of subretinal fibrosis; pathophysiological mechanisms involved in subretinal fibrosis, such as aging, infiltration of macrophages, different sources of mesenchymal transition to myofibroblast, and activation of complement system and immune cells; and several key molecules and signaling pathways participating in the pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, connective tissue growth factor, fibroblast growth factor 2, platelet-derived growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β, transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and the axis of heat shock protein 70-Toll-like receptors 2/4-interleukin-10. This review will improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis, allow the discovery of molecular targets, and explore potential treatments for the management of subretinal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxiang Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, People’s Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xia Sheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, People’s Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Quanju Ding
- Department of Ophthalmology, People’s Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yujun Wang
- Department of Urology, People’s Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jiwei Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, People’s Hospital of Huangdao District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jingfa Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People’s Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, China
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2
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Hayashi K, Kobayashi M, Mori K, Nakagawa Y, Watanabe B, Ashimori A, Higashijima F, Yoshimoto T, Sunada J, Morita T, Murai T, Kirihara-Kojima S, Kimura K. The benzoylphenylurea derivative BPU17 acts as an inhibitor of prohibitin and exhibits antifibrotic activity. Exp Cell Res 2024; 442:114221. [PMID: 39182665 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114221] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Inflammation-induced choroidal neovascularization followed by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEs) is a cause of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). RPE-derived myofibroblasts overproduce extracellular matrix, leading to subretinal fibrosis. We already have demonstrated that benzylphenylurea (BPU) derivatives inhibit the function of cancer-associated fibroblasts. Here, we investigated the anti-myofibroblast effects of BPU derivatives and examined such BPU activity on subretinal fibrosis. A BPU derivative, BPU17, exhibits the most potent anti-myofibroblast activity among dozens of BPU derivatives and inhibits subretinal fibrosis in a mouse model of retinal degeneration. Investigations with primary cultured RPEs reveal that BPU17 suppresses cell motility and collagen synthesis in RPE-derived myofibroblasts. These effects depend on repressing the serum response factor (SRF)/CArG-box-dependent transcription. BPU17 inhibits the expression of SRF cofactor, cysteine and glycine-rich protein 2 (CRP2), which activates the SRF function. Proteomics analysis reveals that BPU17 binds to prohibitin 1 (PHB1) and inhibits the PHB1-PHB2 interaction, resulting in mild defects in mitochondrial function. This impairment causes a decrease in the expression of CRP2 and suppresses collagen synthesis. Our findings suggest that BPU17 is a promising agent against nAMD and the close relationship between PHB function and EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken'ichiro Hayashi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Minami-Kogushi 1-1-1, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan.
| | - Masaaki Kobayashi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Minami-Kogushi 1-1-1, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Kotaro Mori
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Nakagawa
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Bunta Watanabe
- Chemistry Laboratory, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 8-3-1 Kokuryo, Chofu, Tokyo, 182-8570, Japan
| | - Atsushige Ashimori
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Minami-Kogushi 1-1-1, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Higashijima
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Minami-Kogushi 1-1-1, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoshimoto
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Minami-Kogushi 1-1-1, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Junki Sunada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Minami-Kogushi 1-1-1, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Morita
- Department of Biology, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, 580 Mikazura, Wakayama, 641-0011, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Murai
- Department of RNA Biology and Neuroscience, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Saki Kirihara-Kojima
- Department of RNA Biology and Neuroscience, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Kimura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Minami-Kogushi 1-1-1, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
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3
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Seyed-Razavi Y, Lee SR, Fan J, Shen W, Cornish EE, Gillies MC. JR5558 mice are a reliable model to investigate subretinal fibrosis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18752. [PMID: 39138242 PMCID: PMC11322289 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66068-z] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Subretinal fibrosis is a major untreatable cause of poor outcomes in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Mouse models of subretinal fibrosis all possess a degree of invasiveness and tissue damage not typical of fibrosis progression. This project characterises JR5558 mice as a model to study subretinal fibrosis. Fundus and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging was used to non-invasively track lesions. Lesion number and area were quantified with ImageJ. Retinal sections, wholemounts and Western blots were used to characterise alterations. Subretinal lesions expand between 4 and 8 weeks and become established in size and location around 12 weeks. Subretinal lesions were confirmed to be fibrotic, including various cell populations involved in fibrosis development. Müller cell processes extended from superficial retina into subretinal lesions at 8 weeks. Western blotting revealed increases in fibronectin (4 wk and 8 wk, p < 0.001), CTGF (20 wks, p < 0.001), MMP2 (12 wks and 20 wks p < 0.05), αSMA (12 wks and 20 wks p < 0.05) and GFAP (8 wk and 12 wk, p ≤ 0.01), consistent with our immunofluorescence results. Intravitreal injection of Aflibercept reduced subretinal lesion growth. Our study provides evidence JR5558 mice have subretinal fibrotic lesions that grow between 4 and 8 weeks and confirms this line to be a good model to study subretinal fibrosis development and assess treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashar Seyed-Razavi
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.
- Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney University, Sydney, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.
| | - So-Ra Lee
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Jiawen Fan
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Weiyong Shen
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Elisa E Cornish
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Mark C Gillies
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.
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Chawla P, Gau D, Chen F, Welling N, Boone D, Taboas J, Lee AV, Galson DL, Roy P. Breast cancer cells promote osteoclast differentiation in an MRTF-dependent paracrine manner. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.06.570453. [PMID: 38106226 PMCID: PMC10723471 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.06.570453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Bone is a frequent site for breast cancer metastasis. Conditioning of the local tumor microenvironment (TME) through crosstalk between tumor cells and bone resident cells in the metastatic niche is a major driving force for bone colonization of breast cancer cells. The vast majority of breast cancer-associated metastasis is osteolytic in nature, and RANKL-induced differentiation of bone marrow-derived macrophages to osteoclasts (OCLs) is a key requirement for osteolytic metastatic growth of cancer cells. In this study, we demonstrate that breast cancer cell-secreted factors stimulate RANKL-induced OCL differentiation of BMDMs requiring the function of Myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF) in tumor cells. This is partly attributed to the critical role of MRTF in maintaining the basal cellular expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a pro-osteoclastogenic matricellular factor known to promote bone metastasis in human breast cancer. Supporting these in vitro findings, bioinformatics analyses of multiple human breast cancer transcriptome datasets reveal a strong positive correlation between CTGF expression and MRTF gene signature further establishing the relevance of our findings in a human disease context. By Luminex analyses, we show that MRTF depletion in breast cancer cells has a broad impact on OCL-regulatory cell-secreted factors that extends beyond CTGF. These findings, taken together with demonstration of MRTF-dependence for bone colonization breast cancer cells in vivo, suggest that MRTF inhibition could be an effective strategy to diminish OCL formation and skeletal involvement in breast cancer. In summary, this study highlights a novel tumor-extrinsic function of MRTF relevant to breast cancer metastasis.
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Im S, Song MH, Elangovan M, Woo KM, Park WJ. The matricellular protein CCN5 prevents anti-VEGF drug-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of retinal pigment epithelium. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13920. [PMID: 38886213 PMCID: PMC11183261 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63565-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the major causes of blindness in the elderly worldwide. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs have been widely used to treat the neovascular type of AMD (nAMD). However, VEGF acts not only as a pro-angiogenic factor but also as an anti-apoptotic factor in the eyes. In this study, we found that anti-VEGF drugs, including bevacizumab (Bev), ranibizumab (Ran), and aflibercept (Afl), induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ARPE-19 cells in vitro, accompanied by the induction of CCN2, a potent pro-fibrotic factor. Similarly, intravitreal injection of Afl into mouse eyes resulted in EMT in the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). Co-treatment with CCN5, an anti-fibrotic factor that down-regulates CCN2 expression, significantly attenuated the adverse effects of the anti-VEGF drugs both in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of the VEGF signaling pathway with antagonists of VEGF receptors, SU5416 and ZM323881, induced EMT and up-regulated CCN2 in ARPE-19 cells. Additionally, knock-down of CCN2 with siRNA abolished the adverse effects of the anti-VEGF drugs in ARPE-19 cells. Collectively, these results suggest that anti-VEGF drugs induce EMT in RPE through the induction of CCN2 and that co-treatment with CCN5 attenuates the adverse effects of anti-VEGF drugs in mouse eyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sora Im
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Olives Biotherapeutics, Inc., Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Min Ho Song
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Olives Biotherapeutics, Inc., Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Muthukumar Elangovan
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Olives Biotherapeutics, Inc., Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Kee Min Woo
- Olives Biotherapeutics, Inc., Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Woo Jin Park
- College of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Korea.
- Olives Biotherapeutics, Inc., Gwangju, 61005, Korea.
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Liu D, Zhang C, Zhang J, Xu GT, Zhang J. Molecular pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis in neovascular AMD focusing on epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of retinal pigment epithelium. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 185:106250. [PMID: 37536385 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss among elderly people in developed countries. Neovascular AMD (nAMD) accounts for more than 90% of AMD-related vision loss. At present, intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) is widely used as the first-line therapy to decrease the choroidal and retinal neovascularizations, and thus to improve or maintain the visual acuity of the patients with nAMD. However, about 1/3 patients still progress to irreversible visual impairment due to subretinal fibrosis even with adequate anti-VEGF treatment. Extensive literatures support the critical role of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis in nAMD, but the underlying mechanisms still remain largely unknown. This review summarized the molecular pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis in nAMD, especially focusing on the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced EMT pathways. It was also discussed how these pathways crosstalk and respond to signals from the microenvironment to mediate EMT and contribute to the progression of nAMD-related subretinal fibrosis. Targeting EMT signaling pathways might provide a promising and effective therapeutic strategy to treat subretinal fibrosis secondary to nAMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chaoyang Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingting Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Guo-Tong Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jingfa Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai, China.
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7
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Wang Y, Chen Y, Liang J, Jiang M, Zhang T, Wan X, Wu J, Li X, Chen J, Sun J, Hu Y, Huang P, Feng J, Liu T, Sun X. METTL3-mediated m6A modification of HMGA2 mRNA promotes subretinal fibrosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. J Mol Cell Biol 2023; 15:mjad005. [PMID: 36945110 PMCID: PMC10603769 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Subretinal fibrosis is a major cause of the poor visual prognosis for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Myofibroblasts originated from retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contribute to the fibrosis formation. N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification has been implicated in the EMT process and multiple fibrotic diseases. The role of m6A modification in EMT-related subretinal fibrosis has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we found that during subretinal fibrosis in the mouse model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization, METTL3 was upregulated in RPE cells. Through m6A epitranscriptomic microarray and further verification, high-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) was identified as the key downstream target of METTL3, subsequently activating potent EMT-inducing transcription factor SNAIL. Finally, by subretinal injections of adeno-associated virus vectors, we confirmed that METTL3 deficiency in RPE cells could efficiently attenuate subretinal fibrosis in vivo. In conclusion, our present research identified an epigenetic mechanism of METTL3-m6A-HMGA2 in subretinal fibrosis and EMT of RPE cells, providing a novel therapeutic target for subretinal fibrosis secondary to nAMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Yuhong Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Jian Liang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Mei Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Xiaoling Wan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Jiahui Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Xiaomeng Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Jieqiong Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Junran Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Yifan Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Peirong Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Jingyang Feng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Te Liu
- Shanghai Geriatric Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaodong Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai 200080, China
- Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai 200080, China
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8
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Higashijima F, Hasegawa M, Yoshimoto T, Kobayashi Y, Wakuta M, Kimura K. Molecular mechanisms of TGFβ-mediated EMT of retinal pigment epithelium in subretinal fibrosis of age-related macular degeneration. FRONTIERS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY 2023; 2:1060087. [PMID: 38983569 PMCID: PMC11182173 DOI: 10.3389/fopht.2022.1060087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the elderly, affecting the macula of the retina and resulting in vision loss. There are two types of AMD, wet and dry, both of which cause visual impairment. Wet AMD is called neovascular AMD (nAMD) and is characterized by the formation of choroidal neovascular vessels (CNVs) in the macula. nAMD can be treated with intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, which help improve vision. However, approximately half the patients do not achieve satisfactory results. Subretinal fibrosis often develops late in nAMD, leading to irreversible photoreceptor degeneration and contributing to visual loss. Currently, no treatment exists for subretinal fibrosis, and the molecular mechanisms of fibrous tissue formation following neovascular lesions remain unclear. In this review, we describe the clinical features and molecular mechanisms of macular fibrosis secondary to nAMD. Myofibroblasts play an essential role in the development of fibrosis. This review summarizes the latest findings on the clinical features and cellular and molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis in nAMD and discusses the potential therapeutic strategies to control subretinal fibrosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Kazuhiro Kimura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
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9
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Alshaikh RA, Ryan KB, Waeber C. Sphingosine 1-phosphate, a potential target in neovascular retinal disease. Br J Ophthalmol 2022; 106:1187-1195. [PMID: 33962970 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-319115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Neovascular ocular diseases (such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion) are characterised by common pathological processes that contribute to disease progression. These include angiogenesis, oedema, inflammation, cell death and fibrosis. Currently available therapies target the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the main mediator of pathological angiogenesis. Unfortunately, VEGF blockers are expensive biological therapeutics that necessitate frequent intravitreal administration and are associated with multiple adverse effects. Thus, alternative treatment options associated with fewer side effects are required for disease management. This review introduces sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) as a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of neovascular ocular pathologies. S1P is a sphingolipid mediator that controls cellular growth, differentiation, survival and death. S1P actions are mediated by five G protein-coupled receptors (S1P1-5 receptors) which are abundantly expressed in all retinal and subretinal structures. The action of S1P on S1P1 receptors can reduce angiogenesis, increase endothelium integrity, reduce photoreceptor apoptosis and protect the retina against neurodegeneration. Conversely, S1P2 receptor signalling can increase neovascularisation, disrupt endothelial junctions, stimulate VEGF release, and induce retinal cell apoptosis and degeneration of neural retina. The aim of this review is to thoroughly discuss the role of S1P and its different receptor subtypes in angiogenesis, inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis in order to determine which of these S1P-mediated processes may be targeted therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha A Alshaikh
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Katie B Ryan
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- SSPC The SFI Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Christian Waeber
- School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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10
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Zhang Z, Liu R, Wang Y, Wang Y, Shuai Y, Ke C, Jin R, Wang X, Luo J. Phosphorylation of MICAL2 by ARG promotes head and neck cancer tumorigenesis by regulating skeletal rearrangement. Oncogene 2022; 41:334-346. [PMID: 34750518 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02101-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The actin cytoskeletal architecture provides the structural underpinnings for crucial cellular behaviors. In cancer cells, changes in the actin cytoskeleton may serve as prerequisites for proliferation, invasion, and metastatic dissemination. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we show that MICAL2, which is increased in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and inversely associated with patient survival, promotes HNSCC growth, invasion, and migration. MICAL2 serves as a flavoprotein monooxygenase and directly induces actin filament depolymerization by specifically oxidizing the methionine 44 and 47 residues of F-actin. The kinase ARG interacts with MICAL2 and augments MICAL2-mediated actin disassembly. Direct phosphorylation assay and mass spectrometry confirmed that ARG phosphorylates MICAL2 at Tyr445, Tyr463, and Tyr488. Substitution of the Tyr445 or Tyr463 residue of purified recombinant MICAL2-redox with phenylalanine (generating a non-phosphorylatable mutant) abolishes the enhanced MICAL2-mediated F-actin disassembly induced by ARG. Consistently, ectopic expression of non-phosphorylatable MICAL2 mutants (MICAL2Y445F and MICAL2Y463F, not MICAL2Y488F) failed to ameliorate HNSCC cell growth, whereas expression of wild-type MICAL2 or MICAL2Y488F rescued the impaired proliferation induced by MICAL2 knockdown. Moreover, CCG-1423, an inhibitor of MICAL2, was shown to inhibit HNSCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Taken together, our findings indicate that phosphorylation of MICAL2 at Tyr445 and Tyr463 by ARG mediates F-actin disassembly and promotes HNSCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Zhang
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Ruoyan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yafei Wang
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanjie Shuai
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Chuangwu Ke
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Rui Jin
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Xudong Wang
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingtao Luo
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China. .,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China. .,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.
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11
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Roberts PK, Schranz M, Motschi A, Desissaire S, Hacker V, Pircher M, Sacu S, Buehl W, Hitzenberger CK, Schmidt-Erfurth U. Morphologic and Microvascular Differences Between Macular Neovascularization With and Without Subretinal Fibrosis. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2021; 10:1. [PMID: 34851359 PMCID: PMC8648059 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.10.14.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate morphologic and microvascular differences between eyes with and without subretinal fibrosis (SF) caused by neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods Patients with nAMD with a minimum history of 12 months of anti-VEGF treatment were prospectively included in this cross-sectional study. Patients were imaged using standard imaging, swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography for quantitative microvascular analysis and polarization-sensitive OCT as an ancillary method for automated SF segmentation. The presence of reticular pseudodrusen, hyperreflective foci (HRF), and outer retinal tubulation (ORT) were also evaluated. Results Sixty eyes of 60 participants (37 female) with nAMD and a mean 3.1 (±2.7)-year history of anti-VEGF treatment were included, 20 (33%) of which were diagnosed with SF. Eyes with SF had a higher prevalence of ORT (P < 0.001) and a lower prevalence of HRF (P = 0.004) than eyes without SF. Fifty eyes were analyzed quantitatively for microvascular biomarkers. Eyes with SF had a larger greatest vascular caliber (P = 0.001) and greatest linear diameter (P = 0.042), a larger microvascular neovascularization (MNV) area (P = 0.026), larger vessel area (P = 0.037), higher number of vessel junctions (P = 0.025), longer total vessel length (P = 0.027), higher number of vessel endpoints (P = 0.007), and higher endpoint density (P = 0.047). Conclusions This multimodal imaging approach demonstrated in vivo microvascular and morphological differences in eyes with and without SF. Eyes with SF tend to have larger MNV lesions with thicker vessels and are often associated with the presence of ORT. Translational Relevance This study points out imaging biomarkers in patients with SF, which may help identifying high-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Ken Roberts
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Schranz
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alice Motschi
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sylvia Desissaire
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Valentin Hacker
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Pircher
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Sacu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolf Buehl
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Lyon H, Yin N, Rupenthal ID, Green CR, Mugisho OO. Blocking connexin43 hemichannels prevents TGF-β2 upregulation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Cell Biol Int 2021; 46:323-330. [PMID: 34719065 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs when polarised epithelial cells change to a mesenchymal phenotype. EMT plays a role in several chronic conditions, including ocular diseases with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) EMT associated with retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR). Here, EMT results in breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) leading to sub-retinal fluid deposition and retinal detachment. Previous studies have shown that blocking connexin43 (Cx43) hemichannels can protect against RPE BRB breakdown, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. To determine whether open Cx43 hemichannels may enable EMT of RPE cells and thus result in BRB breakdown, ARPE-19 cells were either challenged with high glucose plus the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α (HG + Cyt) to simulate DR or treated with the Cx43 hemichannel blocker tonabersat alongside the HG + Cyt challenge. HG + Cyt induced a morphological change in RPE cells to a fibroblastic phenotype with a corresponding decrease in epithelial zonular occludens-1 and an increase in the fibroblastic marker α-SMA. The HG + Cyt challenge also induced loss of transepithelial electrical resistance while increasing dye passage between RPE cells. All of these changes were significantly reduced with tonabersat treatment, which also prevented HG + Cyt-induced transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) release. In conclusion, Cx43 hemichannel block with tonabersat attenuated both TGF-β2 release and RPE EMT under disease-mimicking conditions, offering the potential to ameliorate the progression of EMT-associated retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Lyon
- Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Naibo Yin
- Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ilva D Rupenthal
- Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Colin R Green
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Odunayo O Mugisho
- Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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13
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Park SY, Song WC, Kim B, Oh JW, Park G. Nano-Graphene Oxide-Promoted Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells through Regulation of Phospholipase D Signaling. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11102546. [PMID: 34684987 PMCID: PMC8540736 DOI: 10.3390/nano11102546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Nano-graphene oxide (Nano-GO) is an extensively studied multifunctional carbon nanomaterial with attractive applications in biomedicine and biotechnology. However, few studies have been conducted to assess the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We aimed to determine whether Nano-GO induces EMT by regulating phospholipase D (PLD) signaling in human RPE (ARPE-19) cells. The physicochemical characterization of Nano-GO was performed using a Zetasizer, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. RPE cell viability assays were performed, and the migratory effects of RPE cells were evaluated. RPE cell collagen gel contraction was also determined. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis were used to detect EMT-related protein expression. Phospholipase D (PLD) enzymatic activities were also measured. Nano-GO significantly enhanced the scratch-healing ability of RPE cells, indicating that the RPE cell migration ability was increased. Following Nano-GO treatment, the RPE cell penetration of the chamber was significantly promoted, suggesting that the migratory ability was strengthened. We also observed collagen gel contraction and the generation of intracellular ROS in RPE cells. The results showed that Nano-GO induced collagen gel contraction and intracellular ROS production in RPE cells. Moreover, immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis revealed that Nano-GO significantly regulated key molecules of EMT, including epithelial-cadherin, neural-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9). Interestingly, Nano-GO-induced RPE cell migration and intracellular ROS production were abrogated in PLD-knockdown RPE cells, indicating that PLD activation played a crucial role in the Nano-GO-induced RPE EMT process. We demonstrate for the first time that Nano-GO promotes RPE cell migration through PLD-mediated ROS production. We provide preliminary evidence to support the hypothesis that Nano-GO has adverse health effects related to RPE damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Young Park
- Bio-IT Fusion Technology Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea;
- Correspondence: (S.Y.P.); (G.P.); Tel.: +82-51-510-3630 (S.Y.P.); +82-51-510-3740 (G.P.); Fax: +82-51-514-7065 (S.Y.P.); +82-51-518-4113 (G.P.)
| | - Woo Chang Song
- Department of Nanofusion Technology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea; (W.C.S.); (J.-W.O.)
| | - Beomjin Kim
- Bio-IT Fusion Technology Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea;
| | - Jin-Woo Oh
- Department of Nanofusion Technology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea; (W.C.S.); (J.-W.O.)
| | - Geuntae Park
- Department of Nanofusion Technology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea; (W.C.S.); (J.-W.O.)
- Correspondence: (S.Y.P.); (G.P.); Tel.: +82-51-510-3630 (S.Y.P.); +82-51-510-3740 (G.P.); Fax: +82-51-514-7065 (S.Y.P.); +82-51-518-4113 (G.P.)
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14
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Subretinal fibrosis in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: current concepts, therapeutic avenues, and future perspectives. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 387:361-375. [PMID: 34477966 PMCID: PMC8975778 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03514-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive, degenerative disease of the human retina which in its most aggressive form is associated with the formation of macular neovascularization (MNV) and subretinal fibrosis leading to irreversible blindness. MNVs contain blood vessels as well as infiltrating immune cells, myofibroblasts, and excessive amounts of extracellular matrix proteins such as collagens, fibronectin, and laminin which disrupts retinal function and triggers neurodegeneration. In the mammalian retina, damaged neurons cannot be replaced by tissue regeneration, and subretinal MNV and fibrosis persist and thus fuel degeneration and visual loss. This review provides an overview of subretinal fibrosis in neovascular AMD, by summarizing its clinical manifestations, exploring the current understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms and discussing potential therapeutic approaches to inhibit subretinal fibrosis in the future.
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15
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Yamashiro C, Tokuda K, Kobayashi Y, Higashijima F, Yoshimoto T, Ota M, Ogata T, Ashimori A, Kobayashi M, Hatano M, Uchi SH, Wakuta M, Teranishi S, Kimura K. Benzalkonium chloride-induced myofibroblastic transdifferentiation of Tenon's capsule fibroblasts is inhibited by coculture with corneal epithelial cells or by interleukin-10. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16096. [PMID: 34373467 PMCID: PMC8352883 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94852-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is used as a preservative in eyedrops but induces subconjunctival fibrosis that can result in failure of glaucoma surgery. Tenon's capsule fibroblasts in subconjunctival tissue interact with the corneal epithelium through tear fluid. With the use of a coculture system, we have now investigated the effect of human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells on myofibroblastic transdifferentiation of human Tenon fibroblasts (HTFs) induced by BAC (5 × 10-6%). Immunofluorescence and immunoblot analyses revealed that the BAC-induced expression of α smooth muscle actin (αSMA) in HTFs was suppressed by coculture of these cells with HCE cells (p < 0.01). The concentration of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in culture supernatants of BAC-treated HTFs was increased by coculture with HCE cells (17.26-fold, vs. coculure, p < 0.001). Immunofluorescence and immunoblot analyses also showed that exogenous IL-10 (300 pg/ml) suppressed the BAC-induced expression of αSMA by 43.65% (p < 0.05) as well as the nuclear translocation of myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A) by 39.32% (p < 0.01) in HTFs cultured alone. Our findings suggest that corneal epithelial cells may protect against subconjunctival fibrosis by maintaining IL-10 levels and preventing the MRTF-A-dependent transdifferentiation of HTFs into myofibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiemi Yamashiro
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Tokuda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Yuka Kobayashi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Higashijima
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoshimoto
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Manami Ota
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Tadahiko Ogata
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Atsushige Ashimori
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kobayashi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Makoto Hatano
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Sho-Hei Uchi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Makiko Wakuta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Teranishi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Kimura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan.
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16
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Alishahedani ME, Yadav M, McCann KJ, Gough P, Castillo CR, Matriz J, Myles IA. Therapeutic candidates for keloid scars identified by qualitative review of scratch assay research for wound healing. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253669. [PMID: 34143844 PMCID: PMC8213172 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The scratch assay is an in vitro technique used to analyze cell migration, proliferation, and cell-to-cell interaction. In the assay, cells are grown to confluence and then ‘scratched’ with a sterile instrument. For the cells in the leading edge, the resulting polarity induces migration and proliferation in attempt to ‘heal’ the modeled wound. Keloid scars are known to have an accelerated wound closure phenotype in the scratch assay, representing an overactivation of wound healing. We performed a qualitative review of the recent literature searching for inhibitors of scratch assay activity that were already available in topical formulations under the hypothesis that such compounds may offer therapeutic potential in keloid treatment. Although several shortcomings in the scratch assay literature were identified, caffeine and allicin successfully inhibited the scratch assay closure and inflammatory abnormalities in the commercially available keloid fibroblast cell line. Caffeine and allicin also impacted ATP production in keloid cells, most notably with inhibition of non-mitochondrial oxygen consumption. The traditional Chinese medicine, shikonin, was also successful in inhibiting scratch closure but displayed less dramatic impacts on metabolism. Together, our results partially summarize the strengths and limitations of current scratch assay literature and suggest clinical assessment of the therapeutic potential for these identified compounds against keloid scars may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadali E. Alishahedani
- Epithelial Therapeutics Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, North Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Manoj Yadav
- Epithelial Therapeutics Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, North Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Katelyn J. McCann
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Portia Gough
- Epithelial Therapeutics Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, North Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Carlos R. Castillo
- Epithelial Therapeutics Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, North Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jobel Matriz
- Epithelial Therapeutics Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, North Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ian A. Myles
- Epithelial Therapeutics Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, North Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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17
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Inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in retinal pigment epithelial cells by a retinoic acid receptor-α agonist. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11842. [PMID: 34088917 PMCID: PMC8178299 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90618-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells plays a key role in proliferative retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration by contributing to subretinal fibrosis. To investigate the potential role of retinoic acid receptor-α (RAR-α) signaling in this process, we have now examined the effects of the RAR-α agonist Am580 on EMT induced by transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) in primary mouse RPE cells cultured in a three-dimensional type I collagen gel as well as on subretinal fibrosis in a mouse model. We found that Am580 inhibited TGF-β2-induced collagen gel contraction mediated by RPE cells. It also attenuated the TGF-β2-induced expression of the mesenchymal markers α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, and collagen type I; production of pro-matrix metalloproteinase 2 and interleukin-6; expression of the focal adhesion protein paxillin; and phosphorylation of SMAD2 in the cultured RPE cells. Finally, immunofluorescence analysis showed that Am580 suppressed both the TGF-β2-induced translocation of myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A) from the cytoplasm to the nucleus of cultured RPE cells as well as subretinal fibrosis triggered by laser-induced photocoagulation in a mouse model. Our observations thus suggest that RAR-α signaling inhibits EMT in RPE cells and might attenuate the development of fibrosis associated with proliferative retinal diseases.
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18
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Sprenkeler EGG, Guenther C, Faisal I, Kuijpers TW, Fagerholm SC. Molecular Mechanisms of Leukocyte Migration and Its Potential Targeting-Lessons Learned From MKL1/SRF-Related Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases. Front Immunol 2021; 12:615477. [PMID: 33692789 PMCID: PMC7938309 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.615477] [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: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Megakaryoblastic leukemia 1 (MKL1) deficiency is one of the most recently discovered primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) caused by cytoskeletal abnormalities. These immunological “actinopathies” primarily affect hematopoietic cells, resulting in defects in both the innate immune system (phagocyte defects) and adaptive immune system (T-cell and B-cell defects). MKL1 is a transcriptional coactivator that operates together with serum response factor (SRF) to regulate gene transcription. The MKL/SRF pathway has been originally described to have important functions in actin regulation in cells. Recent results indicate that MKL1 also has very important roles in immune cells, and that MKL1 deficiency results in an immunodeficiency affecting the migration and function of primarily myeloid cells such as neutrophils. Interestingly, several actinopathies are caused by mutations in genes which are recognized MKL(1/2)-dependent SRF-target genes, namely ACTB, WIPF1, WDR1, and MSN. Here we summarize these and related (ARPC1B) actinopathies and their effects on immune cell function, especially focusing on their effects on leukocyte adhesion and migration. Furthermore, we summarize recent therapeutic efforts targeting the MKL/SRF pathway in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelien G G Sprenkeler
- Department of Blood Cell Research, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam University Medical Center (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Pediatric Immunology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Center (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carla Guenther
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Imrul Faisal
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Taco W Kuijpers
- Department of Blood Cell Research, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam University Medical Center (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Pediatric Immunology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Center (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Susanna C Fagerholm
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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19
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Li D, Zhang J, Liu Z, Gong Y, Zheng Z. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-27b attenuates subretinal fibrosis via suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting HOXC6. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:24. [PMID: 33413548 PMCID: PMC7792361 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-02064-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Subretinal fibrosis resulting from neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is one of the major causes of serious and irreversible vision loss worldwide, and no definite and effective treatment exists currently. Retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells are crucial in maintaining the visual function of normal eyes and its epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with the pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis. Stem cell-derived exosomes have been reported to play a crucial role in tissue fibrosis by transferring their molecular contents. This study aimed to explore the effects of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (hucMSC-Exo) on subretinal fibrosis in vivo and in vitro and to investigate the anti-fibrotic mechanism of action of hucMSC-Exo. METHODS In this study, human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs) were successfully cultured and identified, and exosomes were isolated from the supernatant by ultracentrifugation. A laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and subretinal fibrosis model indicated that the intravitreal administration of hucMSC-Exo effectively alleviated subretinal fibrosis in vivo. Furthermore, hucMSC-Exo could efficaciously suppress the migration of retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells and promote the mesenchymal-epithelial transition by delivering miR-27b-3p. The latent binding of miR-27b-3p to homeobox protein Hox-C6 (HOXC6) was analyzed by bioinformatics prediction and luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS This study showed that the intravitreal injection of hucMSC-Exo effectively ameliorated laser-induced CNV and subretinal fibrosis via the suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. In addition, hucMSC-Exo containing miR-27b repressed the EMT process in RPE cells induced by transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-β2) via inhibiting HOXC6 expression. CONCLUSIONS The present study showed that HucMSC-derived exosomal miR-27b could reverse the process of EMT induced by TGF-β2 via inhibiting HOXC6, indicating that the exosomal miR-27b/HOXC6 axis might play a vital role in ameliorating subretinal fibrosis. The present study proposed a promising therapeutic agent for treating ocular fibrotic diseases and provided insights into the mechanism of action of hucMSC-Exo on subretinal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongli Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20 080, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China.,Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, NO.100, Haining Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Junxiu Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20 080, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China.,Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, NO.100, Haining Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Zijia Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20 080, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China.,Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, NO.100, Haining Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Yuanyuan Gong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20 080, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China. .,Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, NO.100, Haining Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 200080, China.
| | - Zhi Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20 080, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, 200080, China. .,Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, NO.100, Haining Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, 200080, China.
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Singh RK, Nasonkin IO. Limitations and Promise of Retinal Tissue From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells for Developing Therapies of Blindness. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:179. [PMID: 33132839 PMCID: PMC7513806 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The self-formation of retinal tissue from pluripotent stem cells generated a tremendous promise for developing new therapies of retinal degenerative diseases, which previously seemed unattainable. Together with use of induced pluripotent stem cells or/and CRISPR-based recombineering the retinal organoid technology provided an avenue for developing models of human retinal degenerative diseases "in a dish" for studying the pathology, delineating the mechanisms and also establishing a platform for large-scale drug screening. At the same time, retinal organoids, highly resembling developing human fetal retinal tissue, are viewed as source of multipotential retinal progenitors, young photoreceptors and just the whole retinal tissue, which may be transplanted into the subretinal space with a goal of replacing patient's degenerated retina with a new retinal "patch." Both approaches (transplantation and modeling/drug screening) were projected when Yoshiki Sasai demonstrated the feasibility of deriving mammalian retinal tissue from pluripotent stem cells, and generated a lot of excitement. With further work and testing of both approaches in vitro and in vivo, a major implicit limitation has become apparent pretty quickly: the absence of the uniform layer of Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) cells, which is normally present in mammalian retina, surrounds photoreceptor layer and develops and matures first. The RPE layer polarize into apical and basal sides during development and establish microvilli on the apical side, interacting with photoreceptors, nurturing photoreceptor outer segments and participating in the visual cycle by recycling 11-trans retinal (bleached pigment) back to 11-cis retinal. Retinal organoids, however, either do not have RPE layer or carry patches of RPE mostly on one side, thus directly exposing most photoreceptors in the developing organoids to neural medium. Recreation of the critical retinal niche between the apical RPE and photoreceptors, where many retinal disease mechanisms originate, is so far unattainable, imposes clear limitations on both modeling/drug screening and transplantation approaches and is a focus of investigation in many labs. Here we dissect different retinal degenerative diseases and analyze how and where retinal organoid technology can contribute the most to developing therapies even with a current limitation and absence of long and functional outer segments, supported by RPE.
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21
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Lee JH, Oh JO, Lee CS. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Modeling of Best Disease and Autosomal Recessive Bestrophinopathy. Yonsei Med J 2020; 61:816-825. [PMID: 32882766 PMCID: PMC7471084 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2020.61.9.816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To understand the pathophysiology of Best disease (BD) and autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB) by establishing an in vitro model using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Human iPSC lines were generated from mononuclear cells in peripheral blood of one ARB patient, one autosomal dominant BD patient, and two normal controls. Immunocytochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in iPSC lines were conducted to demonstrate the pluripotent markers. After the differentiation of iPSC into functional retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), morphological characteristics of the RPE were evaluated using confocal microscopy and immunocytochemistry. The rates of fluid flow across iPSC-RPE monolayer were measured to compare apical to basal fluid transports by RPE. RNA sequencing was performed on iPSC-RPE to identify the differences in gene expression profiles, and specific gene sets were tested using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. RESULTS Morphological characteristics, gene expression, and epithelial integrity of ARB iPSC were comparable to those of BD patient or normal control. Fluid transport from apical to basal was significantly decreased in ARB iPSC-RPE compared with BD iPSC-RPE or control iPSC-RPE. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis confirmed that ARB iPSC-RPE exhibited significant enrichments of epithelial-mesenchymal transition gene set and TNF-α signaling via NF-κB gene set compared to control iPSC-RPE or BD iPSC-RPE. CONCLUSION A human iPSC model of ARB showed a functional deficiency rather than anatomical defects. ARB may be caused by RPE dysfunction following BEST1 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hwan Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin Ok Oh
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Christopher Seungkyu Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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22
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Ibrahim AS, Hussein K, Wang F, Wan M, Saad N, Essa M, Kim I, Shakoor A, Owen LA, DeAngelis MM, Al-Shabrawey M. Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP)4 But Not BMP2 Disrupts the Barrier Integrity of Retinal Pigment Epithelia and Induces Their Migration: A Potential Role in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9072293. [PMID: 32707711 PMCID: PMC7408815 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9072293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) barrier integrity and RPE migration are hallmark features in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), but the underlying causes and pathophysiology are not completely well-defined. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the effect of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) on the barrier function and migration of RPE. In particular, we investigated the role of BMP2 and BMP4 in these processes as our analysis of RNA-sequencing (seq) data from human donor eyes demonstrated that they are highly differentially expressed BMP members in macular RPE/choroid versus macular retina. We used electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) system to monitor precisely in real time the barrier integrity and migration of ARPE-19 after treatment with various concentrations of BMP2 or BMP4. Immunofluorescence was also used to assess the changes in the expression and the organization of the key tight junction protein, zona occludens (ZO)-1, in ARPE-19 cells under BMP2 or BMP4 treatment. This was followed by measuring the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Finally, RNA-seq and ELISA were used to determine the local and circulating levels of BMP2 and BMP4 in retinas and serum samples from nAMD donors. Our ECIS results showed that BMP4 but not BMP2 decreased the transcellular electrical resistance (TER) of ARPE-19 and increased their migration in comparison with control (vehicle-treated cells). Furthermore, immunofluorescence showed a disorganization of ZO-1 in BMP4-treated ARPE-19 not in BMP2-treated cells or vehicle-treated controls. This effect of BMP4 was associated with significant increases in the activity of MMPs, specifically MMP2. Lastly, these results were corroborated by additional findings that circulating but not local BMP4 levels were significantly higher in nAMD donor samples compared to controls. Collectively, our results demonstrated unreported effects of BMP4 on inducing RPE dysfunction and suggest that BMP4 but not BMP2 may represent a potential therapeutic target in nAMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed S. Ibrahim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual, and Anatomical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
- Correspondence: (A.S.I.); (M.A.-S.); Tel.: +313-577-7854 or 313-577-7864 (A.S.I.); +1-(706)-721-4278 (M.A.-S.)
| | - Khaled Hussein
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Oral and Dental Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo 12622, Egypt;
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (F.W.); (M.W.); (N.S.); (M.E.)
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (F.W.); (M.W.); (N.S.); (M.E.)
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430199, China
| | - Ming Wan
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (F.W.); (M.W.); (N.S.); (M.E.)
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430199, China
| | - Nancy Saad
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (F.W.); (M.W.); (N.S.); (M.E.)
- Dental school, University of Alberta Canada, Edmonton AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Maamon Essa
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (F.W.); (M.W.); (N.S.); (M.E.)
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Ivana Kim
- Retina Service, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Akbar Shakoor
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (A.S.); (L.A.O.); (M.M.D.)
| | - Leah A. Owen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (A.S.); (L.A.O.); (M.M.D.)
| | - Margaret M. DeAngelis
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (A.S.); (L.A.O.); (M.M.D.)
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine; Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo SUNY, and the VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA
| | - Mohamed Al-Shabrawey
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (F.W.); (M.W.); (N.S.); (M.E.)
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, GA 30912, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University-Egypt, Dakahlia Governorate 35516, Egypt
- Correspondence: (A.S.I.); (M.A.-S.); Tel.: +313-577-7854 or 313-577-7864 (A.S.I.); +1-(706)-721-4278 (M.A.-S.)
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Lee H, Hwang-Bo H, Ji SY, Kim MY, Kim SY, Park C, Hong SH, Kim GY, Song KS, Hyun JW, Choi YH. Diesel particulate matter2.5 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition of human retinal pigment epithelial cells via generation of reactive oxygen species. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 262:114301. [PMID: 32155554 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Although several studies have linked PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 μm) to ocular surface diseases such as keratitis and conjunctivitis, very few studies have previously addressed its effect on the retina. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PM2.5 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process involved in disorders of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) on APRE-19 cells. PM2.5 changed the phenotype of RPE cells from epithelial to fibroblast-like mesenchymal, and increased cell migration. Exposure to PM2.5 markedly increased the expression of mesenchymal markers, but reduced the levels of epithelial markers. Moreover, PM2.5 promoted the phosphorylation of MAPKs and the expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-mediated nuclear transcriptional factors. However, these PM2.5-mediated changes were completely reversed by LY2109761, a small molecule inhibitor of the TGF-β receptor type I/II kinases, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger. Interestingly, NAC, but not LY2109761, effectively restored the PM2.5-induced mitochondrial defects, including increased ROS, decreased mitochondrial activity, and mitochondrial membrane potential disruption. Collectively, our findings indicate that the TGF-β/Smad/ERK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway is activated downstream of cellular ROS during PM2.5-induced EMT. The present study provides the first evidence that EMT of RPE may be one of the mechanisms of PM2.5-induced retinal dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyesook Lee
- Anti-Aging Research Center, Dong-eui University, Busan, 47340, Republic of Korea; Department of Biochemistry, Dong-eui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan, 47227, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Hwang-Bo
- Anti-Aging Research Center, Dong-eui University, Busan, 47340, Republic of Korea; Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon Yeong Ji
- Anti-Aging Research Center, Dong-eui University, Busan, 47340, Republic of Korea; Department of Biochemistry, Dong-eui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan, 47227, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Yeong Kim
- Anti-Aging Research Center, Dong-eui University, Busan, 47340, Republic of Korea; Department of Biochemistry, Dong-eui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan, 47227, Republic of Korea
| | - So Young Kim
- Anti-Aging Research Center, Dong-eui University, Busan, 47340, Republic of Korea; Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol Park
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Dong-eui University, Busan, 47340, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Hyun Hong
- Anti-Aging Research Center, Dong-eui University, Busan, 47340, Republic of Korea; Department of Biochemistry, Dong-eui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan, 47227, Republic of Korea
| | - Gi-Young Kim
- Department of Marine Life Science, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Seob Song
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, 49267, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Won Hyun
- Jeju National University School of Medicine and Jeju Research Center for Natural Medicine, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Yung Hyun Choi
- Anti-Aging Research Center, Dong-eui University, Busan, 47340, Republic of Korea; Department of Biochemistry, Dong-eui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan, 47227, Republic of Korea.
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24
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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: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [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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25
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Zhou M, Geathers JS, Grillo SL, Weber SR, Wang W, Zhao Y, Sundstrom JM. Role of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Dysfunction. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:501. [PMID: 32671066 PMCID: PMC7329994 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells maintain the health and functional integrity of both photoreceptors and the choroidal vasculature. Loss of RPE differentiation has long been known to play a critical role in numerous retinal diseases, including inherited rod-cone degenerations, inherited macular degeneration, age-related macular degeneration, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Recent studies in post-mortem eyes have found upregulation of critical epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) drivers such as TGF-β, Wnt, and Hippo. As RPE cells become less differentiated, they begin to exhibit the defining characteristics of mesenchymal cells, namely, the capacity to migrate and proliferate. A number of preclinical studies, including animal and cell culture experiments, also have shown that RPE cells undergo EMT. Taken together, these data suggest that RPE cells retain the reprogramming capacity to move along a continuum between polarized epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells. We propose that movement along this continuum toward a mesenchymal phenotype be defined as RPE Dysfunction. Potential mechanisms include impaired tight junctions, accumulation of misfolded proteins and dysregulation of several key pathways and molecules, such as TGF-β pathway, Wnt pathway, nicotinamide, microRNA 204/211 and extracellular vesicles. This review synthesizes the evidence implicating EMT of RPE cells in post-mortem eyes, animal studies, primary RPE, iPSC-RPE and ARPE-19 cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Jasmine S Geathers
- Department of Ophthalmology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Stephanie L Grillo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Sarah R Weber
- Department of Ophthalmology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yuanjun Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Jeffrey M Sundstrom
- Department of Ophthalmology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
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26
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Boles NC, Fernandes M, Swigut T, Srinivasan R, Schiff L, Rada-Iglesias A, Wang Q, Saini JS, Kiehl T, Stern JH, Wysocka J, Blenkinsop TA, Temple S. Epigenomic and Transcriptomic Changes During Human RPE EMT in a Stem Cell Model of Epiretinal Membrane Pathogenesis and Prevention by Nicotinamide. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 14:631-647. [PMID: 32243845 PMCID: PMC7160390 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process involved in tissue morphogenesis and disease that causes dramatic changes in cell morphology, migration, proliferation, and gene expression. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which supports the neural retina, can undergo EMT, producing fibrous epiretinal membranes (ERMs) associated with vision-impairing clinical conditions, such as macular pucker and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). We found that co-treatment with TGF-β and TNF-α (TNT) accelerates EMT in adult human RPE stem cell-derived RPE cell cultures. We captured the global epigenomic and transcriptional changes elicited by TNT treatment of RPE and identified putative active enhancers associated with actively transcribed genes, including a set of upregulated transcription factors that are candidate regulators. We found that the vitamin B derivative nicotinamide downregulates these key transcriptional changes, and inhibits and partially reverses RPE EMT, revealing potential therapeutic routes to benefit patients with ERM, macular pucker and PVR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marie Fernandes
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Tomasz Swigut
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Rajini Srinivasan
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lauren Schiff
- Neural Stem Cell Institute, Rensselaer NY 12144, USA
| | | | - Qingjie Wang
- Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | | | - Thomas Kiehl
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Stern
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Joanna Wysocka
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Sally Temple
- Neural Stem Cell Institute, Rensselaer NY 12144, USA.
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Dewing JM, Carare RO, Lotery AJ, Ratnayaka JA. The Diverse Roles of TIMP-3: Insights into Degenerative Diseases of the Senescent Retina and Brain. Cells 2019; 9:cells9010039. [PMID: 31877820 PMCID: PMC7017234 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) is a component of the extracellular environment, where it mediates diverse processes including matrix regulation/turnover, inflammation and angiogenesis. Rare TIMP-3 risk alleles and mutations are directly linked with retinopathies such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Sorsby fundus dystrophy, and potentially, through indirect mechanisms, with Alzheimer's disease. Insights into TIMP-3 activities may be gleaned from studying Sorsby-linked mutations. However, recent findings do not fully support the prevailing hypothesis that a gain of function through the dimerisation of mutated TIMP-3 is responsible for retinopathy. Findings from Alzheimer's patients suggest a hitherto poorly studied relationship between TIMP-3 and the Alzheimer's-linked amyloid-beta (A) proteins that warrant further scrutiny. This may also have implications for understanding AMD as aged/diseased retinae contain high levels of A. Findings from TIMP-3 knockout and mutant knock-in mice have not led to new treatments, particularly as the latter does not satisfactorily recapitulate the Sorsby phenotype. However, recent advances in stem cell and in vitro approaches offer novel insights into understanding TIMP-3 pathology in the retina-brain axis, which has so far not been collectively examined. We propose that TIMP-3 activities could extend beyond its hitherto supposed functions to cause age-related changes and disease in these organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Dewing
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, MP806, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (J.M.D.); (R.O.C.); (A.J.L.)
| | - Roxana O. Carare
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, MP806, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (J.M.D.); (R.O.C.); (A.J.L.)
| | - Andrew J. Lotery
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, MP806, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (J.M.D.); (R.O.C.); (A.J.L.)
- Eye Unit, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - J. Arjuna Ratnayaka
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, MP806, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (J.M.D.); (R.O.C.); (A.J.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-238120-8183
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28
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Hyttinen JMT, Kannan R, Felszeghy S, Niittykoski M, Salminen A, Kaarniranta K. The Regulation of NFE2L2 (NRF2) Signalling and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225800. [PMID: 31752195 PMCID: PMC6888570 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a mounting cause of loss of sight in the elderly in the developed countries, a trend enhanced by the continual ageing of the population. AMD is a multifactorial and only partly understood, malady. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for most AMD patients. It is known that oxidative stress (OS) damages the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and contributes to the progression of AMD. We review here the potential importance of two OS-related cellular systems in relation to AMD. First, the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2; NRF2)-mediated OS response signalling pathway is important in the prevention of oxidative damage and a failure of this system could be critical in the development of AMD. Second, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) represents a change in the cellular phenotype, which ultimately leads to the fibrosis encountered in RPE, a characteristic of AMD. Many of the pathways triggering EMT are promoted by OS. The possible interconnections between these two signalling routes are discussed here. From a broader perspective, the control of NFE2L2 and EMT as ways of preventing OS-derived cellular damage could be potentially valuable in the therapy of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha M. T. Hyttinen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Ram Kannan
- The Stephen J. Ryan Initiative for Macular Research (RIMR), Doheny Eye Institute, DVRC 203, 1355 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Szabolcs Felszeghy
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland;
- Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Minna Niittykoski
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland;
| | - Antero Salminen
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland;
| | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, 70029 KYS Kuopio, Finland
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29
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Waksmunski AR, Igo RP, Song YE, Cooke Bailey JN, Laux R, Fuzzell D, Fuzzell S, Adams LD, Caywood L, Prough M, Stambolian D, Scott WK, Pericak-Vance MA, Haines JL. Rare variants and loci for age-related macular degeneration in the Ohio and Indiana Amish. Hum Genet 2019; 138:1171-1182. [PMID: 31367973 PMCID: PMC6745026 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-019-02050-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the world. While dozens of independent genomic variants are associated with AMD, about one-third of AMD heritability is still unexplained. To identify novel variants and loci for AMD, we analyzed Illumina HumanExome chip data from 87 Amish individuals with early or late AMD, 79 unaffected Amish individuals, and 15 related Amish individuals with unknown AMD affection status. We retained 37,428 polymorphic autosomal variants across 175 samples for association and linkage analyses. After correcting for multiple testing (n = 37,428), we identified four variants significantly associated with AMD: rs200437673 (LCN9, p = 1.50 × 10-11), rs151214675 (RTEL1, p = 3.18 × 10-8), rs140250387 (DLGAP1, p = 4.49 × 10-7), and rs115333865 (CGRRF1, p = 1.05 × 10-6). These variants have not been previously associated with AMD and are not in linkage disequilibrium with the 52 known AMD-associated variants reported by the International AMD Genomics Consortium based on physical distance. Genome-wide significant linkage peaks were observed on chromosomes 8q21.11-q21.13 (maximum recessive HLOD = 4.03) and 18q21.2-21.32 (maximum dominant HLOD = 3.87; maximum recessive HLOD = 4.27). These loci do not overlap with loci previously linked to AMD. Through gene ontology enrichment analysis with ClueGO in Cytoscape, we determined that several genes in the 1-HLOD support interval of the chromosome 8 locus are involved in fatty acid binding and triglyceride catabolic processes, and the 1-HLOD support interval of the linkage region on chromosome 18 is enriched in genes that participate in serine-type endopeptidase inhibitor activity and the positive regulation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition. These results nominate novel variants and loci for AMD that require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea R Waksmunski
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Robert P Igo
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Yeunjoo E Song
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jessica N Cooke Bailey
- Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Renee Laux
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Denise Fuzzell
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Sarada Fuzzell
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Larry D Adams
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Laura Caywood
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Michael Prough
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Dwight Stambolian
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William K Scott
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Margaret A Pericak-Vance
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jonathan L Haines
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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30
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Inhibitory effect of nintedanib on VEGF secretion in retinal pigment epithelial cells induced by exposure to a necrotic cell lysate. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218632. [PMID: 31386668 PMCID: PMC6684070 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrosis is a form of cell death that results in rupture of the plasma membrane and the release of cellular contents, and it can give rise to sterile inflammation in the retina and other tissues. The secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells contributes to retinal homeostasis as well as to pathological angiogenesis. We have now examined the effect of a necrotic cell lysate prepared from human RPE cells (NLR) on the release of VEGF by healthy RPE cells. We found that NLR markedly increased the release of VEGF from RPE cells and that this effect was attenuated by nintedanib, a multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, whereas it was unaffected by inhibitors of NF-κB signaling or of caspase-1. NLR also induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) in a manner sensitive to inhibition by nintedanib, although inhibitors of Erk and Stat3 signaling pathways did not affect NLR-induced VEGF secretion. In addition, nintedanib attenuated the development of choroidal neovascularization in mice. Our results have thus shown that a necrotic lysate of RPE cells induced VEGF secretion from healthy RPE cells and that this effect was mediated by receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. They therefore suggest that VEGF secretion by healthy RPE cells is a potential therapeutic target for retinal diseases associated with sterile inflammation and pathological angiogenesis.
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