1
|
Tomita R, Rawlyk B, Sharpe GP, Hutchison DM, Shuba LM, Nicolela MT, Chauhan BC. Progressive Changes in the Neuroretinal Rim and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Glaucoma: Impact of Baseline Values and Floor Effects. Ophthalmology 2024; 131:700-707. [PMID: 38176444 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.12.032] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine whether more severe baseline damage impedes measurement of minimum rim width (MRW) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) change in glaucoma patients because of a floor effect. DESIGN Prospective, longitudinal cohort study in a hospital-based setting. PARTICIPANTS The study included patients with open-angle glaucoma and healthy control subjects. Participants had at least 5 years of follow-up with OCT every 6 months. METHODS Baseline global and sectorial MRW and RNFLT values were classified as within normal limits, borderline, or outside normal limits based on reference normative values. Regression analysis was used to determine the magnitude and significance of MRW and RNFLT change. Additionally, the follow-up period for each participant was divided into 2 equal halves (first and second periods) to determine whether there was attenuation of MRW and RNFLT change with follow-up time. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Rates of global and sectoral MRW and RNFLT changes (slopes). RESULTS A total of 97 patients with glaucoma (median age, 70.3 years) and 42 healthy subjects (median age, 64.8 years) were followed for a median of 6.9 years and 7.0 years, respectively. The median mean deviation of the visual field in glaucoma patients was -4.30 decibels (dB) (interquartile range, -7.81 to -2.06 dB; range, -20.68 to 1.37 dB). Statistically significant changes in global and sectoral MRW and RNFLT were detected across all baseline classifications; however, there was a tendency for less change with increasing baseline damage. In glaucoma patients, RNFLT slopes, but not MRW slopes, were significantly more positive (less change) in the second period compared with the first. There were also no differences in MRW or RNFLT slopes in the first and second periods in healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS Significant MRW and RNFLT changes were detected at all levels of baseline damage. However, an attenuation in the rate of RNFLT change compared with MRW indicates an earlier floor effect in RNFLT measurements globally and in equivalent sectors. Because the axonal component of these measurements should be equivalent, our results suggest important differences in tissue remodeling at the level of the optic nerve head and peripapillary retina. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Tomita
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Brooklyn Rawlyk
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Glen P Sharpe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Donna M Hutchison
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Lesya M Shuba
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Marcelo T Nicolela
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Balwantray C Chauhan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lozano DC, Yang YF, Cepurna WO, Smoody BF, Ing E, Morrison JC, Keller KE. Profiling IOP-Responsive Genes in the Trabecular Meshwork and Optic Nerve Head in a Rat Model of Controlled Elevation of Intraocular Pressure. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:41. [PMID: 38809543 PMCID: PMC11146053 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.5.41] [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: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose The rat controlled elevation of intraocular pressure (CEI) model allows study of in vivo responses to short-term exposure to defined intraocular pressures (IOP). In this study, we used NanoString technology to investigate in vivo IOP-related gene responses in the trabecular meshwork (TM) and optic nerve head (ONH) simultaneously from the same animals. Methods Male and female rats (N = 35) were subjected to CEI for 8 hours at pressures simulating mean, daytime normotensive rat IOP (CEI-20), or 2.5× IOP (CEI-50). Naïve animals that received no anesthesia or surgical interventions served as controls. Immediately after CEI, TM and ONH tissues were dissected, RNA was isolated, and samples were analyzed with a NanoString panel containing 770 genes. Postprocessing, raw count data were uploaded to ROSALIND for differential gene expression analyses. Results For the TM, 45 IOP-related genes were significant in the CEI-50 versus CEI-20 and CEI-50 versus naïve comparisons, with 15 genes common to both comparisons. Bioinformatics analysis identified Notch and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathways to be the most up- and downregulated Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, respectively. For ONH, 22 significantly differentially regulated genes were identified in the CEI-50 versus naïve comparison. Pathway analysis identified defense response and immune response as two significantly upregulated biological process pathways. Conclusions This study demonstrated the ability to assay short-term IOP-responsive genes in both TM and ONH tissues simultaneously. In the TM, downregulation of TGFβ pathway genes suggests that TM responses may reduce TGFβ-induced extracellular matrix synthesis. For ONH, the initial response to short-term elevated IOP may be protective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana C. Lozano
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Yong-Feng Yang
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - William O. Cepurna
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Barbara F. Smoody
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Eliesa Ing
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - John C. Morrison
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Kate E. Keller
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lozano DC, Yang YF, Cepurna WO, Smoody BF, Ing E, Morrison JC, Keller KE. Profiling IOP-responsive genes in anterior and posterior ocular tissues in the rat CEI glaucoma model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.11.579818. [PMID: 38370622 PMCID: PMC10871322 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.11.579818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Purpose The rat Controlled Elevation of Intraocular pressure (CEI) model allows study of in vivo responses to defined intraocular pressures (IOP). In this study, we use Nanostring technology to investigate in vivo IOP-related gene responses in the trabecular meshwork (TM) and optic nerve head (ONH) simultaneously from the same animals. Methods Male and female rats (N=35) were subject to CEI for 8-hours at pressures simulating mean, daytime normotensive rat IOP (CEI-20), or 2.5x IOP (CEI-50). Naïve animals, receiving no anesthesia or surgical interventions, served as controls. Immediately after CEI, TM and ONH tissues were dissected, RNA isolated, and samples were analyzed with a Nanostring panel containing 770 genes. Post-processing, raw count data were uploaded to Rosalind® for differential gene expression analyses. Results For the TM, 45 IOP-related genes were significant in the "CEI-50 vs. CEI-20" and "CEI-50 vs. naïve" comparisons, with 15 genes common to both comparisons. Bioinformatics analysis identified Notch and TGFβ pathways to be the most up- and down-regulated KEGG pathways, respectively. For ONH, 22 significantly regulated genes were identified in the "CEI-50 vs. naïve" comparison. Pathway analysis identified 'defense response' and 'immune response' as two significantly upregulated biological process pathways. Conclusions This study demonstrates the ability to assay IOP-responsive genes in both TM and ONH tissues simultaneously. In the TM, downregulation of TGFβ pathway genes suggest that TM responses may prevent TGFβ-induced extracellular matrix synthesis. For ONH, the initial response to elevated IOP may be protective, with astrocytes playing a key role in these gene responses.
Collapse
|
4
|
Cameron EG, Nahmou M, Toth AB, Heo L, Tanasa B, Dalal R, Yan W, Nallagatla P, Xia X, Hay S, Knasel C, Stiles TL, Douglas C, Atkins M, Sun C, Ashouri M, Bian M, Chang KC, Russano K, Shah S, Woodworth MB, Galvao J, Nair RV, Kapiloff MS, Goldberg JL. A molecular switch for neuroprotective astrocyte reactivity. Nature 2024; 626:574-582. [PMID: 38086421 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06935-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The intrinsic mechanisms that regulate neurotoxic versus neuroprotective astrocyte phenotypes and their effects on central nervous system degeneration and repair remain poorly understood. Here we show that injured white matter astrocytes differentiate into two distinct C3-positive and C3-negative reactive populations, previously simplified as neurotoxic (A1) and neuroprotective (A2)1,2, which can be further subdivided into unique subpopulations defined by proliferation and differential gene expression signatures. We find the balance of neurotoxic versus neuroprotective astrocytes is regulated by discrete pools of compartmented cyclic adenosine monophosphate derived from soluble adenylyl cyclase and show that proliferating neuroprotective astrocytes inhibit microglial activation and downstream neurotoxic astrocyte differentiation to promote retinal ganglion cell survival. Finally, we report a new, therapeutically tractable viral vector to specifically target optic nerve head astrocytes and show that raising nuclear or depleting cytoplasmic cyclic AMP in reactive astrocytes inhibits deleterious microglial or macrophage cell activation and promotes retinal ganglion cell survival after optic nerve injury. Thus, soluble adenylyl cyclase and compartmented, nuclear- and cytoplasmic-localized cyclic adenosine monophosphate in reactive astrocytes act as a molecular switch for neuroprotective astrocyte reactivity that can be targeted to inhibit microglial activation and neurotoxic astrocyte differentiation to therapeutic effect. These data expand on and define new reactive astrocyte subtypes and represent a step towards the development of gliotherapeutics for the treatment of glaucoma and other optic neuropathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evan G Cameron
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
| | - Michael Nahmou
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Anna B Toth
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Lyong Heo
- Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Bogdan Tanasa
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Roopa Dalal
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Wenjun Yan
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Pratima Nallagatla
- Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Xin Xia
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Hay
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Cara Knasel
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Melissa Atkins
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Catalina Sun
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Masoumeh Ashouri
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Minjuan Bian
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Kun-Che Chang
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Kristina Russano
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Sahil Shah
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mollie B Woodworth
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Joana Galvao
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Ramesh V Nair
- Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Michael S Kapiloff
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine and Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Goldberg
- Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Choi S, Choi SH, Bastola T, Park Y, Oh J, Kim KY, Hwang S, Miller YI, Ju WK. AIBP: A New Safeguard against Glaucomatous Neuroinflammation. Cells 2024; 13:198. [PMID: 38275823 PMCID: PMC10814024 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020198] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a group of ocular diseases that cause irreversible blindness. It is characterized by multifactorial degeneration of the optic nerve axons and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), resulting in the loss of vision. Major components of glaucoma pathogenesis include glia-driven neuroinflammation and impairment of mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetics, leading to retinal neurodegeneration. In this review article, we summarize current evidence for the emerging role of apolipoprotein A-I binding protein (AIBP) as an important anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective factor in the retina. Due to its association with toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), extracellular AIBP selectively removes excess cholesterol from the plasma membrane of inflammatory and activated cells. This results in the reduced expression of TLR4-associated, cholesterol-rich lipid rafts and the inhibition of downstream inflammatory signaling. Intracellular AIBP is localized to mitochondria and modulates mitophagy through the ubiquitination of mitofusins 1 and 2. Importantly, elevated intraocular pressure induces AIBP deficiency in mouse models and in human glaucomatous retina. AIBP deficiency leads to the activation of TLR4 in Müller glia, triggering mitochondrial dysfunction in both RGCs and Müller glia, and compromising visual function in a mouse model. Conversely, restoring AIBP expression in the retina reduces neuroinflammation, prevents RGCs death, and protects visual function. These results provide new insight into the mechanism of AIBP function in the retina and suggest a therapeutic potential for restoring retinal AIBP expression in the treatment of glaucoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seunghwan Choi
- Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.C.); (T.B.); (Y.P.)
| | - Soo-Ho Choi
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Tonking Bastola
- Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.C.); (T.B.); (Y.P.)
| | - Younggun Park
- Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.C.); (T.B.); (Y.P.)
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghyun Oh
- Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.C.); (T.B.); (Y.P.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Keun-Young Kim
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sinwoo Hwang
- Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.C.); (T.B.); (Y.P.)
| | - Yury I. Miller
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Won-Kyu Ju
- Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.C.); (T.B.); (Y.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhu Y, Wang R, Pappas AC, Seifert P, Savol A, Sadreyev RI, Sun D, Jakobs TC. Astrocytes in the Optic Nerve Are Heterogeneous in Their Reactivity to Glaucomatous Injury. Cells 2023; 12:2131. [PMID: 37681863 PMCID: PMC10486930 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The optic nerve head is thought to be the site of initial injury to retinal ganglion cell injury in glaucoma. In the initial segment of the optic nerve directly behind the globe, the ganglion cell axons are unmyelinated and come into direct contact to astrocytes, suggesting that astrocytes may play a role in the pathology of glaucoma. As in other parts of the CNS, optic nerve head astrocytes respond to injury by characteristic changes in cell morphology and gene expression profile. Using RNA-sequencing of glaucomatous optic nerve heads, single-cell PCR, and an in-vivo assay, we demonstrate that an up-regulation of astrocytic phagocytosis is an early event after the onset of increased intraocular pressure. We also show that astrocytes in the glial lamina of the optic nerve are apparently functionally heterogeneous. At any time, even in naïve nerves, some of the cells show signs of reactivity-process hypertrophy, high phagocytic activity, and expression of genetic markers of reactivity whereas neighboring cells apparently are inactive. A period of increased intraocular pressure moves more astrocytes towards the reactive phenotype; however, some cells remain unreactive even in glaucomatous nerves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, 1651 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi’an 710002, China
| | - Anthony C. Pappas
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Philip Seifert
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Andrej Savol
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ruslan I. Sadreyev
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Daniel Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Tatjana C. Jakobs
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Li J, Zhu Y, Xu M, Li P, Zhou Y, Song Y, Cai Q. Physcion prevents induction of optic nerve injury in rats via inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:381. [PMID: 37456161 PMCID: PMC10347236 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Optic nerve injury is a type of neurodegenerative disease. Physcion is an anthraquinone that exerts a protective role against various diseases. However, its function in regulating optic nerve injury remains largely unknown. An in vitro model of optic nerve injury was established in HAPI cells treated with IFN-β. Functional assays were used to detect HAPI cell viability and apoptosis. The levels of inflammation and the expression levels of oxidative stress-related genes were measured in HAPI cells. In addition, western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/STAT3-linked genes in HAPI cells. Treatment of the cells with physcion prevented cells against IFN-β-induced neuronal injury. Physcion restrained IFN-β-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress in HAPI cells. In addition, it improved IFN-β-induced injury in HAPI cells by suppressing the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. In conclusion, the present study revealed that physcion improved optic nerve injury in vitro by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Physcion may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (Nantong First People's Hospital), Nantong, Jiangsu 226006, P.R. China
| | - Yan Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (Nantong First People's Hospital), Nantong, Jiangsu 226006, P.R. China
| | - Mudong Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (Nantong First People's Hospital), Nantong, Jiangsu 226006, P.R. China
| | - Panpan Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (Nantong First People's Hospital), Nantong, Jiangsu 226006, P.R. China
| | - Yue Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (Nantong First People's Hospital), Nantong, Jiangsu 226006, P.R. China
| | - Yu Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (Nantong First People's Hospital), Nantong, Jiangsu 226006, P.R. China
| | - Qi Cai
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (Nantong First People's Hospital), Nantong, Jiangsu 226006, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chen J, Zhong H, Yu H, Sun J, Shen B, Xu X, Huang S, Huang P, Zhong Y. Interleukin-17A modulates retinal inflammation by regulating microglial activation via the p38 MAPK pathway in experimental glaucoma neuropathy. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22945. [PMID: 37144630 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202202056rr] [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: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
As a prototypical member of the IL-17 family, interleukin-17A (IL-17A) has received increasing attentions for its potent proinflammatory role as well as potential to be a key therapeutic target in human autoimmune inflammatory diseases; however, its roles in other pathological scenarios like neuroinflammations are not fully elucidated yet but appear essentially correlating and promising. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness with complicated pathogenesis still to be understood, where neuroinflammation was reported to be critically involved in its both initiation and progression. Whether IL-17A takes part in the pathogenesis of glaucoma through interfering neuroinflammation due to its potent proinflammatory effect is still unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of IL-17A in the pathological process of glaucoma neuropathy as well as its relationship with the predominant immune inflammation mediator microglia in retina, trying to elucidate the underlying mechanisms from the view of inflammation modulation. In our study, RNA sequencing was performed for the retinas of chronic ocular hypertension (COH) and control mice. Western blot, RT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and ELISA were used to evaluate the microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokines release at conditioned levels of IL-17A, along with assessment of optic nerve integrity including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) counting, axonal neurofilament quantification, and flash visual-evoked potential (F-VEP) examination. And the possibly involved signaling pathways were screened out to go through further validation in scenarios with conditioned IL-17A. Subsequently, IL-17A was found to be significantly upregulated in COH retina. Furthermore, suppression of IL-17A effectively diminished the loss of RGCs, improved axonal quality, and F-VEP performance in COH mice. Mechanistically, IL-17A promoted microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokines release along with enhanced phenotypic conversion of activated microglia to M2-type in early stage and to M1-type in late stage in glaucomatous retinas. Microglia elimination decreased the proinflammatory factors secretion, enhanced the RGCs survival and axonal quality mediated by IL-17A. Furthermore, IL-17A-induced the overactivation of microglia in glaucomatous condition was alleviated after blocking the p38 MAPK pathway. Taken together, IL-17A is involved in the regulation of retinal immune response and RGCs cell death in experimental glaucoma by essentially promoting retinal microglial activation via p38 MAPK signaling pathway. IL-17A dynamically regulates the phenotypic conversion of retinal microglia in experimental glaucoma partly depending on the duration of elevated intraocular pressure. Suppression of IL-17A contributes to alleviate glaucoma neuropathy and exhibits promising potential as an innovative target for therapeutic strategy in glaucoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junjue Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huimin Zhong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingqiao Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xing Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shouyue Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yisheng Zhong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhoushan Branch of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhoushan, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wan Y, Wang H, Fan X, Bao J, Wu S, Liu Q, Yan X, Zhang J, Jin ZB, Xiao B, Wang N. Mechanosensitive channel Piezo1 is an essential regulator in cell cycle progression of optic nerve head astrocytes. Glia 2023; 71:1233-1246. [PMID: 36598105 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Optic nerve head (ONH) astrocytes provide structural and metabolic support to neuronal axons in developmental, physiological, and pathological progression. Mechanosensitive properties of astrocytes allow them to sense and respond to mechanical cues from the local environment. We confirmed that ONH astrocytes express the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 in vivo. By manipulating Piezo1 knockdown or overexpression in vitro, we found that Piezo1 is necessary but insufficient for ONH astrocyte proliferation. Loss of Piezo1 can lead to cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase, a possible mechanism involving decreased yes-associated protein (YAP) nuclear localization and downregulation of YAP-target cell cycle-associated factors, including cyclin D1 and c-Myc. Gene ontology enrichment analysis of differential expression genes from RNA-seq data indicates that the absence of Piezo1 affects biological processes involving cell division. Our results demonstrate that Piezo1 is an essential regulator in cell cycle progression in ONH astrocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wan
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Haiping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaowei Fan
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayu Bao
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shen Wu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuejing Yan
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingxue Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bailong Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ningli Wang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Miao Y, Zhao GL, Cheng S, Wang Z, Yang XL. Activation of retinal glial cells contributes to the degeneration of ganglion cells in experimental glaucoma. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 93:101169. [PMID: 36736070 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2023.101169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor for neurodegeneration in glaucoma. Glial cells, which play an important role in normal functioning of retinal neurons, are well involved into retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration in experimental glaucoma animal models generated by elevated IOP. In response to elevated IOP, mGluR I is first activated and Kir4.1 channels are subsequently inhibited, which leads to the activation of Müller cells. Müller cell activation is followed by a complex process, including proliferation, release of inflammatory and growth factors (gliosis). Gliosis is further regulated by several factors. Activated Müller cells contribute to RGC degeneration through generating glutamate receptor-mediated excitotoxicity, releasing cytotoxic factors and inducing microglia activation. Elevated IOP activates microglia, and following morphological and functional changes, these cells, as resident immune cells in the retina, show adaptive immune responses, including an enhanced release of pro-inflammatory factors (tumor neurosis factor-α, interleukins, etc.). These ATP and Toll-like receptor-mediated responses are further regulated by heat shock proteins, CD200R, chemokine receptors, and metabotropic purinergic receptors, may aggravate RGC loss. In the optic nerve head, astrogliosis is initiated and regulated by a complex reaction process, including purines, transmitters, chemokines, growth factors and cytokines, which contributes to RGC axon injury through releasing pro-inflammatory factors and changing extracellular matrix in glaucoma. The effects of activated glial cells on RGCs are further modified by the interplay among different types of glial cells. This review is concluded by presenting an in-depth discussion of possible research directions in this field in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanying Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Guo-Li Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shuo Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhongfeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Xiong-Li Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhao GL, Zhou H, Guo YH, Zhong SM, Zhou H, Li F, Lei B, Wang Z, Miao Y. Modulation of Rac1/PAK1/connexin43-mediated ATP release from astrocytes contributes to retinal ganglion cell survival in experimental glaucoma. Glia 2023; 71:1502-1521. [PMID: 36794533 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24354] [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: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Connexin43 (Cx43) is a major gap junction protein in glial cells. Mutations have been found in the gap-junction alpha 1 gene encoding Cx43 in glaucomatous human retinas, suggestive of the involvement of Cx43 in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. However, how Cx43 is involved in glaucoma is still unknown. We showed that increased intraocular pressure in a glaucoma mouse model of chronic ocular hypertension (COH) downregulated Cx43, which was mainly expressed in retinal astrocytes. Astrocytes in the optic nerve head where they gather and wrap the axons (optic nerve) of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were activated earlier than neurons in COH retinas and the alterations in astrocytes plasticity in the optic nerve caused a reduction in Cx43 expression. A time course showed that reductions of Cx43 expression were correlated with the activation of Rac1, a member of the Rho family. Co-immunoprecipitation assays showed that active Rac1, or the downstream signaling effector PAK1, negatively regulated Cx43 expression, Cx43 hemichannel opening and astrocyte activation. Pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 stimulated Cx43 hemichannel opening and ATP release, and astrocytes were identified to be one of the main sources of ATP. Furthermore, conditional knockout of Rac1 in astrocytes enhanced Cx43 expression and ATP release, and promoted RGC survival by upregulating the adenosine A3 receptor in RGCs. Our study provides new insight into the relationship between Cx43 and glaucoma, and suggests that regulating the interaction between astrocytes and RGCs via the Rac1/PAK1/Cx43/ATP pathway may be used as part of a therapeutic strategy for managing glaucoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Li Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun-Hui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu-Min Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Han Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Lei
- Institute of Neuroscience and Third Affiliated Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhongfeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanying Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Tian Y, Li M, Zhang S, Hu J, Wu H, Wan M, Xue J, Wang L, Xiao H, Zhou G, Wang K, Liu Q. Microglia activation in the hippocampus mediates retinal degeneration-induced depressive-like behaviors via the NLRP3/IL-1β pathway. Brain Res Bull 2023; 192:70-79. [PMID: 36332880 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.10.021] [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: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have shown that patients with glaucoma are more prone to depression, but the mechanism of comorbid depression in patients with glaucoma remains unknown. Excessive neuroinflammation has been shown to participate in glaucoma-induced retinal degeneration and hippocampal neural apoptosis in depression. However, little research has been conducted to determine whether neuroinflammation contributes to glaucoma-induced depression. Since the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells is a hallmark of glaucoma, we investigated the role of microglia-induced neuroinflammation in retinal degeneration-induced depression and its potential mechanism. An N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced retinal degeneration model was established, and behavioral tests were conducted at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after retinal degeneration. After tissue collection, we used immunohistochemistry to assess the activation of microglia and real-time polymerase chain reaction to measure the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin-domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. The mice exhibited depressive-like behaviors 14 and 21 days after retinal degeneration, based on the open field test, tail suspension test, and forced swimming test. Mice also displayed a lower body weight gain than the control group. In addition, microglial activation was observed in the hippocampus. Microglial proliferation was first observed in the dentate gyrus on day 3, while the number of microglia in cornu ammonis 1 grew the most. Moreover, not only was the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β, interleukin-18, and interleukin-6 promoted, but the messenger ribonucleic acid levels of the NLRP3 inflammasome were also increased. In conclusion, our research shows that NMDA-induced retinal degeneration can induce depressive-like behaviors, which may be attributed to hippocampal neuroinflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Tian
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Meihui Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Juntao Hu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Haoran Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Mitchell Wan
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jingxin Xue
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Leilei Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Honglei Xiao
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Guomin Zhou
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
| | - Kaidi Wang
- Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Qiong Liu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention of Shanghai, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Morphological Changes of Glial Lamina Cribrosa of Rats Suffering from Chronic High Intraocular Pressure. BIOENGINEERING (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:bioengineering9120741. [PMID: 36550947 PMCID: PMC9774533 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9120741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Deformations or remodeling of the lamina cribrosa (LC) induced by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) are associated with optic nerve injury. The quantitative analysis of the morphology changes of the LC will provide the basis for the study of the pathogenesis of glaucoma. After the chronic high-IOP rat model was induced by cauterizing episcleral veins with 5-Fluorouracil subconjunctival injection, the optic nerve head (ONH) cross sections were immunohistochemically stained at 2 w, 4 w, 8 w, and 12 w. Then the sections were imaged by a confocal microscope, and six morphological parameters of the ONH were calculated after the images were processed using Matlab. The results showed that the morphology of the ONH changed with the duration of chronic high IOP. The glial LC pore area fraction, the ratio of glial LC pore area to the glial LC tissue area, first decreased at 2 w and 4 w and then increased to the same level as the control group at 8 w and continued to increase until 12 w. The number and density of nuclei increased significantly at 8 w in the glial LC region. The results might mean the fraction of glial LC beam increased and astrocytes proliferated at the early stage of high IOP. Combined with the images of the ONH, the results showed the glial LC was damaged with the duration of chronic elevated IOP.
Collapse
|
14
|
Tang Y, Chen Y, Chen D. The heterogeneity of astrocytes in glaucoma. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:995369. [PMID: 36466782 PMCID: PMC9714578 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.995369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness with progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. Aging and increased intraocular pressure (IOP) are major risk factors. Lowering IOP does not always stop the disease progression. Alternative ways of protecting the optic nerve are intensively studied in glaucoma. Astrocytes are macroglia residing in the retina, optic nerve head (ONH), and visual brain, which keep neuronal homeostasis, regulate neuronal activities and are part of the immune responses to the retina and brain insults. In this brief review, we discuss the activation and heterogeneity of astrocytes in the retina, optic nerve head, and visual brain of glaucoma patients and animal models. We also discuss some recent transgenic and gene knockout studies using glaucoma mouse models to clarify the role of astrocytes in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Astrocytes are heterogeneous and play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, especially in the process of neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. In astrocytes, overexpression of Stat3 or knockdown of IκKβ/p65, caspase-8, and mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (Ucp2) can reduce ganglion cell loss in glaucoma mouse models. Based on these studies, therapeutic strategies targeting the heterogeneity of reactive astrocytes by enhancing their beneficial reactivity or suppressing their detrimental reactivity are alternative options for glaucoma treatment in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunjing Tang
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongjiang Chen
- The School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Danian Chen
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Chaudhary P, Stowell C, Reynaud J, Gardiner SK, Yang H, Williams G, Williams I, Marsh-Armstrong N, Burgoyne CF. Optic Nerve Head Myelin-Related Protein, GFAP, and Iba1 Alterations in Non-Human Primates With Early to Moderate Experimental Glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:9. [PMID: 36239974 PMCID: PMC9586137 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.11.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to test if optic nerve head (ONH) myelin basic protein (MBP), 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) proteins are altered in non-human primate (NHP) early/moderate experimental glaucoma (EG). Methods Following paraformaldehyde perfusion, control and EG eye ONH tissues from four NHPs were paraffin embedded and serially (5 µm) vertically sectioned. Anti-MBP, CNPase, GFAP, Iba1, and nuclear dye-stained sections were imaged using sub-saturating light intensities. Whole-section images were segmented creating anatomically consistent laminar (L) and retrolaminar (RL) regions/sub-regions. EG versus control eye intensity/pixel-cluster density data within L and two RL regions (RL1 [1-250 µm]/RL2 [251-500 µm] from L) were compared using random effects models within the statistical program “R.” Results EG eye retinal nerve fiber loss ranged from 0% to 20%. EG eyes’ MBP and CNPase intensity were decreased within the RL1 (MBP = 31.4%, P < 0.001; CNPase =62.3%, P < 0.001) and RL2 (MBP = 19.6%, P < 0.001; CNPase = 56.1%, P = 0.0004) regions. EG eye GFAP intensity was decreased in the L (41.6%, P < 0.001) and RL regions (26.7% for RL1, and 28.4% for RL2, both P < 0.001). Iba1+ and NucBlue pixel-cluster density were increased in the laminar (28.2%, P = 0.03 and 16.6%, P = 0.008) and both RL regions (RL1 = 37.3%, P = 0.01 and 23.7%, P = 0.0002; RL2 = 53.7%, P = 0.002 and 33.2%, P < 0.001). Conclusions Retrolaminar myelin disruption occurs early in NHP EG and may be accompanied by laminar and retrolaminar decreases in astrocyte process labeling and increases in microglial/ macrophage density. The mechanistic and therapeutic implications of these findings warrant further study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priya Chaudhary
- Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States.,Discoveries in Sight, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Cheri Stowell
- Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States.,Discoveries in Sight, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Juan Reynaud
- Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States.,Discoveries in Sight, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Stuart K Gardiner
- Discoveries in Sight, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Hongli Yang
- Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States.,Discoveries in Sight, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Galen Williams
- Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States.,Discoveries in Sight, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Imee Williams
- Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States.,Discoveries in Sight, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | | | - Claude F Burgoyne
- Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States.,Discoveries in Sight, Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute, Portland, Oregon, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Li Z, Peng F, Liu Z, Li S, Li L, Qian X. Mechanobiological responses of astrocytes in optic nerve head due to biaxial stretch. BMC Ophthalmol 2022; 22:368. [PMID: 36114477 PMCID: PMC9482189 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-022-02592-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the main risk factor for glaucoma, which might cause the activation of astrocytes in optic nerve head. To determine the effect of mechanical stretch on the astrocytes, we investigated the changes in cell phenotype, proteins of interest and signaling pathways under biaxial stretch. Method The cultured astrocytes in rat optic nerve head were stretched biaxially by 10 and 17% for 24 h, respectively. Then, we detected the morphology, proliferation and apoptosis of the stretched cells, and performed proteomics analysis. Protein expression was analyzed by Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) mass spectrometry. Proteins of interest and signaling pathways were screened using Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and pathway enrichment analysis, and the results were verified by western blot and the gene-chip data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Result The results showed that rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton in response to stimulation by mechanical stress and proliferation rate of astrocytes decreased under 10 and 17% stretch condition, while there was no significant difference on the apoptosis rate of astrocytes in both groups. In the iTRAQ quantitative experiment, there were 141 differential proteins in the 10% stretch group and 140 differential proteins in the 17% stretch group. These proteins include low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP6), caspase recruitment domain family, member 10 (CARD10), thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) and tetraspanin (CD81). The western blot results of LRP6, THBS1 and CD81 were consistent with that of iTRAQ experiment. ANTXR2 and CARD10 were both differentially expressed in the mass spectrometry results and GEO database. We also screened out the signaling pathways associated with astrocyte activation, including Wnt/β–catenin pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Jak-STAT signaling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway. Conclusion Mechanical stimulation can induce changes in cell phenotype, some proteins and signaling pathways, which might be associated with astrocyte activation. These proteins and signaling pathways may help us have a better understanding on the activation of astrocytes and the role astrocyte activation played in glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-022-02592-8.
Collapse
|
17
|
Kimball EC, Quillen S, Pease ME, Keuthan C, Nagalingam A, Zack DJ, Johnson TV, Quigley HA. Aquaporin 4 is not present in normal porcine and human lamina cribrosa. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0268541. [PMID: 35709078 PMCID: PMC9202842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Aquaporin 4 is absent from astrocytes in the rodent optic nerve head, despite high expression in the retina and myelinated optic nerve. The purpose of this study was to quantify regional aquaporin channel expression in astrocytes of the porcine and human mouse optic nerve (ON). Ocular tissue sections were immunolabeled for aquaporins 1(AQP1), 4(AQP4), and 9(AQP9), myelin basic protein (MBP), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and alpha-dystroglycan (αDG) for their presence in retina, lamina, myelin transition zone (MTZ, region just posterior to lamina) and myelinated ON (MON). Semi- quantification of AQP4 labeling & real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) data were analyzed in retina and ON tissue. Porcine and control human eyes had abundant AQP4 in Müller cells, retinal astrocytes, and myelinated ON (MON), but minimal expression in the lamina cribrosa. AQP1 and AQP9 were present in retina, but not in the lamina. Immunolabeling of GFAP and αDG was similar in lamina, myelin transition zone (MTZ) and MON regions. Semi-quantitative AQP4 labeling was at background level in lamina, increasing in the MTZ, and highest in the MON (lamina vs MTZ, MON; p≤0.05, p≤0.01, respectively). Expression of AQP4 mRNA was minimal in lamina and substantial in MTZ and MON, while GFAP mRNA expression was uniform among the lamina, MTZ, and MON regions. Western blot assay showed AQP4 protein expression in the MON samples, but none was detected in the lamina tissue. The minimal presence of AQP4 in the lamina is a specific regional phenotype of astrocytes in the mammalian optic nerve head.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C. Kimball
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sarah Quillen
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mary E. Pease
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Casey Keuthan
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Aru Nagalingam
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Donald J. Zack
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas V. Johnson
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Harry A. Quigley
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Luo J, Lian Q, Zhu D, Zhao M, Mei T, Shang B, Yang Z, Liu C, Xu W, Zhou L, Wu K, Liu X, Lai Y, Mao F, Li W, Zuo C, Zhang K, Lin M, Zhuo Y, Liu Y, Lu L, Zhao L. PLSCR1 Promotes Apoptosis and Clearance of Retinal Ganglion Cells in Glaucoma Pathogenesis. Genes Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
|
19
|
Xu MX, Zhao GL, Hu X, Zhou H, Li SY, Li F, Miao Y, Lei B, Wang Z. P2X7/P2X4 Receptors Mediate Proliferation and Migration of Retinal Microglia in Experimental Glaucoma in Mice. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:901-915. [PMID: 35254644 PMCID: PMC9352844 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00833-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are involved in the inflammatory response and retinal ganglion cell damage in glaucoma. Here, we investigated how microglia proliferate and migrate in a mouse model of chronic ocular hypertension (COH). In COH retinas, the microglial proliferation that occurred was inhibited by the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) blocker BBG or P2X7R knockout, but not by the P2X4R blocker 5-BDBD. Treatment of primary cultured microglia with BzATP, a P2X7R agonist, mimicked the effects of cell proliferation and migration in COH retinas through the intracellular MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Transwell migration assays showed that the P2X4R agonist CTP induced microglial migration, which was completely blocked by 5-BDBD. In vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that ATP, released from activated Müller cells through connexin43 hemichannels, acted on P2X7R to induce microglial proliferation, and acted on P2X4R/P2X7R (mainly P2X4R) to induce microglial migration. Our results suggest that inhibiting the interaction of Müller cells and microglia may attenuate microglial proliferation and migration in glaucoma.
Collapse
|
20
|
Molecular regulation of neuroinflammation in glaucoma: Current knowledge and the ongoing search for new treatment targets. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 87:100998. [PMID: 34348167 PMCID: PMC8803988 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation relying on the inflammatory responses of glial cells has emerged as an impactful component of the multifactorial etiology of neurodegeneration in glaucoma. It has become increasingly evident that despite early adaptive and reparative features of glial responses, prolonged reactivity of the resident glia, along with the peripheral immune cells, create widespread toxicity to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons, somas, and synapses. As much as the synchronized responses of astrocytes and microglia to glaucoma-related stress or neuron injury, their bi-directional interactions are critical to build and amplify neuroinflammation and to dictate the neurodegenerative outcome. Although distinct molecular programs regulate somatic and axonal degeneration in glaucoma, inhibition of neurodegenerative inflammation can provide a broadly beneficial treatment strategy to rescue RGC integrity and function. Since inflammatory toxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction are converging etiological paths that can boost each other and feed into a vicious cycle, anti-inflammatory treatments may also offer a multi-target potential. This review presents an overview of the current knowledge on neuroinflammation in glaucoma with particular emphasis on the cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic factors involved in the reciprocal regulation of glial responses, the interdependence between inflammatory and mitochondrial routes of neurodegeneration, and the research aspects inspiring for prospective immunomodulatory treatments. With the advent of powerful technologies, ongoing research on molecular and functional characteristics of glial responses is expected to accumulate more comprehensive and complementary information and to rapidly move the field forward to safe and effective modulation of the glial pro-inflammatory activities, while restoring or augmenting the glial immune-regulatory and neurosupport functions.
Collapse
|
21
|
Auler N, Tonner H, Pfeiffer N, Grus FH. Antibody and Protein Profiles in Glaucoma: Screening of Biomarkers and Identification of Signaling Pathways. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10121296. [PMID: 34943212 PMCID: PMC8698915 DOI: 10.3390/biology10121296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease that is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Currently, the only therapeutic option is to lower intraocular pressure. The onset of the disease is often delayed because patients do not notice visual impairment until very late, which is why glaucoma is also known as “the silent thief of sight”. Therefore, early detection and definition of specific markers, the so-called biomarkers, are immensely important. For the methodical implementation, high-throughput methods and omic-based methods came more and more into focus. Thus, interesting targets for possible biomarkers were already suggested by clinical research and basic research, respectively. This review article aims to join the findings of the two disciplines by collecting overlaps as well as differences in various clinical studies and to shed light on promising candidates concerning findings from basic research, facilitating conclusions on possible therapy options. Abstract Glaucoma represents a group of chronic neurodegenerative diseases, constituting the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. To date, chronically elevated intraocular pressure has been identified as the main risk factor and the only treatable symptom. However, there is increasing evidence in the recent literature that IOP-independent molecular mechanisms also play an important role in the progression of the disease. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that glaucoma has an autoimmune component. The main focus nowadays is elucidating glaucoma pathogenesis, finding early diagnostic options and new therapeutic approaches. This review article summarizes the impact of different antibodies and proteins associated with glaucoma that can be detected for example by microarray and mass spectrometric analyzes, which (i) provide information about expression profiles and associated molecular signaling pathways, (ii) can possibly be used as a diagnostic tool in future and, (iii) can identify possible targets for therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
|
22
|
Yang J, Zhang M, Song Q, Li S, Zhao X, Kan L, Zhu S. Integrating network pharmacological and experimental models to investigate the therapeutic effects of baicalein in glaucoma. Chin Med 2021; 16:124. [PMID: 34823561 PMCID: PMC8613988 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-021-00537-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of treating glaucoma with remarkable effects, but there is no clear conclusion on its mechanism. Methods Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to analyze the mechanism and targets of TCM in the treatment of glaucoma, and baicalein was used to treat chronic ocular hypertension animal models rats for observation. Results The results of animal experiments showed that baicalein could significantly reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in a rat model of chronic ocular hypertension and protect the structure of the retina and optic nerve, as shown by hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Reducing the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by upregulating the expression of the antiapoptotic protein BCL-2 is basically consistent with the results of molecular docking. In the network pharmacology analysis, many key proteins of biological pathways involved in the herbal therapeutic processes in glaucoma, such as threonine kinase 1 (AKT1, core protein of PI3K/AKT signaling), tumor protein p53 (TP53, a tumor suppressor gene coding tumor protein P53), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3, core protein of JAK/STAT signaling), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 17 (IL-17, proinflammatory factors), were identified. Their interactions built complicated chain reactions in the process of glaucoma. Conclusion By combining the analysis of network pharmacology and animal experimental results, baicalein could effectively improve the symptoms of glaucoma and reduce RGC apoptosis, suggesting that the potential mechanism of TCM in treating glaucoma is related to regulating inflammation and cellular immunity and reducing apoptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Yang
- Eye School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi Er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Mingxu Zhang
- Eye School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi Er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Qiuyi Song
- Eye School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi Er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Siqi Li
- Eye School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi Er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Xiulan Zhao
- Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, China
| | - Liping Kan
- Eye School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi Er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Siquan Zhu
- Eye School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 37 Shi Er Qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Long Non-coding RNA GAS5 Knockdown Attenuates H 2O 2-Induced Human Trabecular Meshwork Cell Apoptosis and Promotes Extracellular Matrix Deposition by Suppressing miR-29b-3p and Upregulating STAT3. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 72:516-526. [PMID: 34657232 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-021-01926-3] [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: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The long non-coding RNA GAS5 (GAS5) is reportedly implicated in glaucoma. However, its significance in human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMCs) remains largely unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of GAS5 on the function of HTMCs and its interaction with miR-29b-3p in HTMCs. We established an H2O2-induced oxidative injury model using HTMCs. RT-qPCR or western blotting was performed to examine the expression of the indicated genes. Luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the interaction between GAS5, miR-29b-3p, miR-29b-3p, and STAT3. CCK8 assay was used to assess the proliferative rate of HTMCs. Exposure to H2O2 increased the expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, accompanied by reduced Bcl-2 expression. These H2O2-induced changes were effectively alleviated by GAS5 knockdown with sh-GAS5. MiR-29b-3p was directly regulated by GAS5. The effect of sh-GAS5 on ECM protein expression was also observed with the miR-29b-3p mimic. STAT3 was directly regulated by miR-29b-3p. MiR-29b-3p silencing alleviated STAT3 inhibition, followed by the restoration of cell vitality, Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3 expression, and ECM deposition. Our study is the first experimental investigation to shed light on a novel molecular mechanism of the GAS5/miR-29b-3p/STAT3 axis in an H2O2-induced oxidative injury model using HTMCs, which may offer a promising therapeutic approach against glaucoma.
Collapse
|
24
|
Zhou T, Liu Y, Yang Z, Ni B, Zhu X, Huang Z, Xu H, Feng Q, Lin X, He C, Liu X. IL-17 signaling induces iNOS+ microglia activation in retinal vascular diseases. Glia 2021; 69:2644-2657. [PMID: 34288126 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Activation of microglia and inflammation-mediated vascular damages are suggested to play a decisive role in the pathogenesis of various retinopathies. The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was required for activated microglia-mediated injuries. However, the induction mechanism of microglia activation during retinal vascular diseases is still elusive. Here we showed that IL-17 induced microglia activation with high expression of iNOS and promoted the development of retinal vascular diseases. IL-17-dependent activation of the STAT3-iNOS pathway was essentially required for microglia activation, which promoted endothelial cell growth and accelerated vascular leakage and leukostasis via IL-6 in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our data provide novel mechanistic insights on microglia activation-mediated retinopathy, unveil the specific role of IL-17 on microglia, and define novel therapeutic targets for treating retinal vascular diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Ziqi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Biyan Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiaowei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zijing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Huiyi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Qiumin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojing Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Chang He
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xialin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Gramlich OW, Godwin CR, Heuss ND, Gregerson DS, Kuehn MH. T and B Lymphocyte Deficiency in Rag1-/- Mice Reduces Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss in Experimental Glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:18. [PMID: 33320171 PMCID: PMC7745626 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.14.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose We previously demonstrated that passive transfer of lymphocytes from glaucomatous mice induces retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage in recipient animals, suggesting a role for immune responses in the multifactorial pathophysiology of glaucoma. Here we evaluate whether absence of an adaptive immune response reduces RGC loss in glaucoma. Methods Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) was induced in one eye of C57BL/6J (B6) or T- and B-cell–deficient Rag1−/− knockout mice. After 16 weeks RGC density was determined in both the induced and the normotensive contralateral eyes. Data were compared to mice having received injections of “empty” vector (controls). The number of extravascular CD3+ cells in the retinas was determined using FACS. Results Retinas of eyes with elevated IOP contain significantly more extravasated CD3+ cells than control retinas (46.0 vs. 27.1, P = 0.025). After 16 weeks of elevated IOP the average RGC density in B6 mice decreased by 20.7% (P = 1.9 × 10−4). In contrast, RGC loss in Rag1−/− eyes with elevated IOP was significantly lower (10.3%, P = 0.006 vs. B6). RGC loss was also observed in the contralateral eyes of B6 mice, despite the absence of elevated IOP in those eyes (10.1%; P = 0.008). In RAG1−/− loss in the contralateral eyes was minimal (3.1%) and significantly below that detected in B6 (P = 0.02). Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that T Rag1−/− mice are significantly protected from glaucomatous RGC loss. In this model, lymphocyte activity contributes to approximately half of all RGC loss in eyes with elevated IOP and to essentially all loss observed in normotensive contralateral eyes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver W Gramlich
- University of Iowa, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.,Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Cheyanne R Godwin
- University of Iowa, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.,Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Neal D Heuss
- University of Minnesota, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Dale S Gregerson
- University of Minnesota, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Markus H Kuehn
- University of Iowa, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.,Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Koh AEH, Alsaeedi HA, Rashid MBA, Lam C, Harun MHN, Ng MH, Mohd Isa H, Then KY, Bastion MLC, Farhana A, Khursheed Alam M, Subbiah SK, Mok PL. Transplanted Erythropoietin-Expressing Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Pro-survival Gene Expression and Protect Photoreceptors From Sodium Iodate-Induced Cytotoxicity in a Retinal Degeneration Model. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:652017. [PMID: 33987180 PMCID: PMC8111290 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.652017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are highly regarded as a potential treatment for retinal degenerative disorders like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. However, donor cell heterogeneity and inconsistent protocols for transplantation have led to varied outcomes in clinical trials. We previously showed that genetically-modifying MSCs to express erythropoietin (MSCEPO) improved its regenerative capabilities in vitro. Hence, in this study, we sought to prove its potential in vivo by transplanting MSCsEPO in a rat retinal degeneration model and analyzing its retinal transcriptome using RNA-Seq. Firstly, MSCsEPO were cultured and expanded before being intravitreally transplanted into the sodium iodate-induced model. After the procedure, electroretinography (ERG) was performed bi-weekly for 30 days. Histological analyses were performed after the ERG assessment. The retina was then harvested for RNA extraction. After mRNA-enrichment and library preparation, paired-end RNA-Seq was performed. Salmon and DESeq2 were used to process the output files. The generated dataset was then analyzed using over-representation (ORA), functional enrichment (GSEA), and pathway topology analysis tools (SPIA) to identify enrichment of key pathways in the experimental groups. The results showed that the MSCEPO-treated group had detectable ERG waves (P <0.05), which were indicative of successful phototransduction. The stem cells were also successfully detected by immunohistochemistry 30 days after intravitreal transplantation. An initial over-representation analysis revealed a snapshot of immune-related pathways in all the groups but was mainly overexpressed in the MSC group. A subsequent GSEA and SPIA analysis later revealed enrichment in a large number of biological processes including phototransduction, regeneration, and cell death (Padj <0.05). Based on these pathways, a set of pro-survival gene expressions were extracted and tabulated. This study provided an in-depth transcriptomic analysis on the MSCEPO-treated retinal degeneration model as well as a profile of pro-survival genes that can be used as candidates for further genetic enhancement studies on stem cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Avin Ee-Hwan Koh
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Hiba Amer Alsaeedi
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Munirah Binti Abd Rashid
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chenshen Lam
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Hairul Nizam Harun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Min Hwei Ng
- Tissue Engineering Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hazlita Mohd Isa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kong Yong Then
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Aisha Farhana
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Suresh Kumar Subbiah
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Department of Biotechnology, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Pooi Ling Mok
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.,Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Department of Biotechnology, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Yu H, Zhong H, Li N, Chen K, Chen J, Sun J, Xu L, Wang J, Zhang M, Liu X, Deng L, Huang P, Huang S, Shen X, Zhong Y. Osteopontin activates retinal microglia causing retinal ganglion cells loss via p38 MAPK signaling pathway in glaucoma. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21405. [PMID: 33559950 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002218r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Microglia activation and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines have been closely linked to glaucoma. However, the mechanisms that initiate these pathways remain unclear. Here, we investigated the role of a pro-inflammatory cytokine--osteopontin (OPN), in retinal microglia activation process along with the underlying mechanisms in glaucoma. A rat chronic ocular hypertension (COH) model was established presenting an increase in retinal OPN level and activation of microglia. Primary microglia cells were isolated and cultured under a pressure culture system showing heightened expressions of microglia-derived OPN with changes in inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6). OPN and OPN neutralizing antibody (Anti-OPN) interventions were both applied systems for comparison, and cross-referenced with OPN knockdown in vitro. JAK/STAT, NF-κB, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK, recognized as the primary signaling pathways related to microglia activation, were then screened on whether they can facilitate OPN to act on microglia and their impact on specific inhibitors. Thereafter, retrograde labeling of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and flash visual evoked potentials (F-VEP) were used to investigate neuron protection in context of each blockade. Results suggest that OPN is able to enhance the proliferation and activation of retinal microglia in experimental glaucoma which may play a role in the glaucomatous optic neuropathy, and contribute to the eventual RGCs loss and vision function impairment. Such effect may be mediated through the regulation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huan Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huimin Zhong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kaizhe Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjue Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lili Xu
- Department of Emergency, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingui Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lianfu Deng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shouyue Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yisheng Zhong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhoushan Branch of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Medical School, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Zhoushan, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Chen N, Wu J, Wang J, Piri N, Chen F, Xiao T, Zhao Y, Sun D, Kaplan HJ, Shao H. Short chain fatty acids inhibit endotoxin-induced uveitis and inflammatory responses of retinal astrocytes. Exp Eye Res 2021; 206:108520. [PMID: 33617852 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced by gut microbiota as fermentation products of digestion-resistant oligosaccharides and fibers. Their primary roles are functioning as major energy sources for colon cells and assisting in gut homeostasis by immunomodulation. Recent evidence suggests that they affect various organs both at cellular and molecular levels, and regulate functions in distance sites including gene expression, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, apoptosis and inflammation. In this study, we examined whether SCFAs are present in the mouse eye and whether SCFAs affect inflammatory responses of the eye and retinal astrocytes (RACs). We observed that intra-peritoneal injected SCFAs were detected in the eye and reduced intraocular inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Moreover, SCFAs displayed two disparate effects on LPS-stimulated RACs - namely, cytokine and chemokine production was reduced, but the ability to activate T cells was enhanced. Our results support the existence of gut-eye cross talk and suggest that SCFAs can cross the blood-eye-barrier via the systemic circulation. If applied at high concentrations, SCFAs may reduce inflammation and impact cellular functions in the intraocular milieu.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nu Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Jingrui Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Niloofar Piri
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Feilan Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Tong Xiao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Huntsville, TX, USA
| | - Deming Sun
- Doheny Eye Institute & Department. Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Henry J Kaplan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Hui Shao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Kimball E, Schaub J, Quillen S, Keuthan C, Pease ME, Korneva A, Quigley H. The role of aquaporin-4 in optic nerve head astrocytes in experimental glaucoma. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0244123. [PMID: 33529207 PMCID: PMC7853498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To study aquaporin channel expression in astrocytes of the mouse optic nerve (ON) and the response to IOP elevation in mice lacking aquaporin 4 (AQP4 null). METHODS C57BL/6 (B6) and AQP4 null mice were exposed to bead-induced IOP elevation for 3 days (3D-IOP), 1 and 6 weeks. Mouse ocular tissue sections were immunolabeled against aquaporins 1(AQP1), 4(AQP4), and 9(AQP9). Ocular tissue was imaged to identify normal AQP distribution, ON changes, and axon loss after IOP elevation. Ultrastructure examination, cell proliferation, gene expression, and transport block were also analyzed. RESULTS B6 mice had abundant AQP4 expression in Müller cells, astrocytes of retina and myelinated ON (MON), but minimal AQP4in prelaminar and unmyelinated ON (UON). MON of AQP4 nulls had smaller ON area, smaller axon diameter, higher axon density, and larger proportionate axon area than B6 (all p≤0.05). Bead-injection led to comparable 3D-IOP elevation (p = 0.42) and axonal transport blockade in both strains. In B6, AQP4 distribution was unchanged after 3D-IOP. At baseline, AQP1 and AQP9 were present in retina, but not in UON and this was unaffected after IOP elevation in both strains. In 3D-IOP mice, ON astrocytes and microglia proliferated, more in B6 than AQP4 null. After 6 week IOP elevation, axon loss occurred equally in the two mouse types (24.6%, AQP4 null vs. 23.3%, B6). CONCLUSION Lack of AQP4 was neither protective nor detrimental to the effects of IOP elevation. The minimal presence of AQP4 in UON may be a vital aspect of the regionally specific phenotype of astrocytes in the mouse optic nerve head.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Kimball
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Julie Schaub
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sarah Quillen
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Casey Keuthan
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mary Ellen Pease
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Arina Korneva
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Harry Quigley
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Baudouin C, Kolko M, Melik-Parsadaniantz S, Messmer EM. Inflammation in Glaucoma: From the back to the front of the eye, and beyond. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 83:100916. [PMID: 33075485 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The pathophysiology of glaucoma is complex, multifactorial and not completely understood. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and/or impaired retinal blood flow may cause initial optic nerve damage. In addition, age-related oxidative stress in the retina concurrently with chronic mechanical and vascular stress is crucial for the initiation of retinal neurodegeneration. Oxidative stress is closely related to cell senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, excitotoxicity, and neuroinflammation, which are involved in glaucoma progression. Accumulating evidence from animal glaucoma models and from human ocular samples suggests a dysfunction of the para-inflammation in the retinal ganglion cell layer and the optic nerve head. Moreover, quite similar mechanisms in the anterior chamber could explain the trabecular meshwork dysfunction and the elevated IOP in primary open-angle glaucoma. On the other hand, ocular surface disease due to topical interventions is the most prominent and visible consequence of inflammation in glaucoma, with a negative impact on filtering surgery failure, topical treatment efficacy, and possibly on inflammation in the anterior segment. Consequently, glaucoma appears as an outstanding eye disease where inflammatory changes may be present to various extents and consequences along the eye structure, from the ocular surface to the posterior segment, and the visual pathway. Here we reviewed the inflammatory processes in all ocular structures in glaucoma from the back to the front of the eye and beyond. Our approach was to explain how para-inflammation is necessary to maintain homoeostasis, and to describe abnormal inflammatory findings observed in glaucomatous patients or in animal glaucoma models, supporting the hypothesis of a dysregulation of the inflammatory balance toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Possible anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches in glaucoma are also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Baudouin
- Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, IHU Foresight, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de La Vision, Paris, France; Department of Ophthalmology, Ambroise Paré Hospital, APHP, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
| | - Miriam Kolko
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Ophthalmology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Ling YTT, Pease ME, Jefferys JL, Kimball EC, Quigley HA, Nguyen TD. Pressure-Induced Changes in Astrocyte GFAP, Actin, and Nuclear Morphology in Mouse Optic Nerve. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2020; 61:14. [PMID: 32910133 PMCID: PMC7488631 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.11.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To conduct quantitative analysis of astrocytic glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), actin and nuclei distribution in mouse optic nerve (ON) and investigate changes in the measured features after 3 days of ocular hypertension (OHT). Method Serial cross-sections of 3-day microbead-induced OHT and control ONs were fluorescently labelled and imaged using confocal microscope. Eighteen structural features were measured from the acquired images, including GFAP coverage, actin area fraction, process thickness, and aspect ratio of cell nucleus. The measured features were analyzed for variations with axial locations along ON and radial zones transverse to ON, as well as for the correlations with degree of intraocular pressure (IOP) change. Results The most significant changes in structural features after 3-day OHT occurred in the unmyelinated ON region (R1), and the changes were greater with greater IOP elevation. Although the GFAP, actin, axonal, and ON areas all increased in 3-day OHT ONs in R1 (P ≤ 0.004 for all), the area fraction of GFAP actually decreased (P = 0.02), the actin area fraction was stable and individual axon compartments were unchanged in size. Within R1, the number of nuclear clusters increased (P < 0.001), but the mean size of nuclear clusters was smaller (P = 0.02) and the clusters became rounder (P < 0.001). In all cross-sections of control ONs, astrocytic processes were thickest in the rim zone compared with the central and peripheral zones (P ≤ 0.002 for both), whereas the overall process width in R1 decreased after 3 days of OHT (P < 0.001). Conclusions The changes in structure elucidated IOP-generated alterations that underlie astrocyte mechanotranslational responses relevant to glaucoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yik Tung Tracy Ling
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Mary E. Pease
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Joan L. Jefferys
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Elizabeth C. Kimball
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Harry A. Quigley
- Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Thao D. Nguyen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Ouyang XL, Chen BY, Xie YF, Wu YD, Guo SJ, Dong XY, Wang GH. Whole transcriptome analysis on blue light-induced eye damage. Int J Ophthalmol 2020; 13:1210-1222. [PMID: 32821674 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2020.08.06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To analyze abnormal gene expressions of mice eyes exposed to blue light using RNA-seq and analyze the related signaling pathways. METHODS Kunming mice were divided into an experimental group that was exposed to blue light and a control group that was exposed to natural light. After 14d, the mice were euthanized and their eyeballs were collected. Whole transcriptome analysis was attempted to analyze the gene expression of the eyeballs using RNA-seq to reconstruct genetic networks. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were used to reveal the related signaling pathways. RESULTS The 737 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 430 up and 307 down regulated genes, by calculating the gene FPKM in each sample and conducting differential gene analysis. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that blue light damage may associated with the visual perception, sensory perception of light stimulus, phototransduction, and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Differential lncRNA, circRNA and miRNA analysis showed that blue light exposure affected pathways for retinal cone cell development and phototransduction, among others. CONCLUSION Exposure to blue light can cause a certain degree of abnormal gene expression and modulate signaling pathways in the eye.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Li Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Biological Medicines in Universities of Shandong Province, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
| | - Bo-Yu Chen
- Shijiazhuang Aier Eye Hospital, Bethune International Peace Hospital of PLA, Shijiazhuang 050082, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yong-Fang Xie
- Key Laboratory of Biological Medicines in Universities of Shandong Province, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yi-De Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biological Medicines in Universities of Shandong Province, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
| | - Shao-Jia Guo
- Key Laboratory of Biological Medicines in Universities of Shandong Province, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiao-Yun Dong
- Key Laboratory of Biological Medicines in Universities of Shandong Province, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
| | - Guo-Hui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biological Medicines in Universities of Shandong Province, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Quillen S, Schaub J, Quigley H, Pease M, Korneva A, Kimball E. Astrocyte responses to experimental glaucoma in mouse optic nerve head. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238104. [PMID: 32822415 PMCID: PMC7442264 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To delineate responses of optic nerve head astrocytes to sustained intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in mice. METHODS We elevated IOP for 1 day to 6 weeks by intracameral microbead injection in 4 strains of mice. Astrocyte alterations were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) including immunogold molecular localization, and by laser scanning microscopy (LSM) with immunofluorescence for integrin β1, α-dystroglycan, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Astrocyte proliferation and apoptosis were quantified by Ki67 and TUNEL labeling, respectively. RESULTS Astrocytes in normal optic nerve head expressed integrin β1 and α-dystroglycan by LSM and TEM immunogold labeling at electron dense junctional complexes that were found only on cell membrane zones bordering their basement membranes (BM) at the peripapillary sclera (PPS) and optic nerve head capillaries. At 1-3 days after IOP elevation, abnormal extracellular spaces appeared between astrocytes near PPS, and axonal vesical and mitochondrial accumulation indicated axonal transport blockade. By 1 week, abnormal spaces increased, new collagen formation occurred, and astrocytes separated from their BM, leaving cell membrane fragments. Electron dense junctional complexes separated or were absent at the BM. Astrocyte proliferation was modest during the first week, while only occasional apoptotic astrocytes were observed by TEM and TUNEL. CONCLUSIONS Astrocytes normally exhibit junctions with their BM which are disrupted by extended IOP elevation. Responses include reorientation of cell processes, new collagen formation, and cell proliferation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Quillen
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Julie Schaub
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Harry Quigley
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mary Pease
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Arina Korneva
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Kimball
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Yazdankhah M, Shang P, Ghosh S, Hose S, Liu H, Weiss J, Fitting CS, Bhutto IA, Zigler JS, Qian J, Sahel JA, Sinha D, Stepicheva NA. Role of glia in optic nerve. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 81:100886. [PMID: 32771538 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Glial cells are critically important for maintenance of neuronal activity in the central nervous system (CNS), including the optic nerve (ON). However, the ON has several unique characteristics, such as an extremely high myelination level of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons throughout the length of the nerve (with virtually all fibers myelinated by 7 months of age in humans), lack of synapses and very narrow geometry. Moreover, the optic nerve head (ONH) - a region where the RGC axons exit the eye - represents an interesting area that is morphologically distinct in different species. In many cases of multiple sclerosis (demyelinating disease of the CNS) vision problems are the first manifestation of the disease, suggesting that RGCs and/or glia in the ON are more sensitive to pathological conditions than cells in other parts of the CNS. Here, we summarize current knowledge on glial organization and function in the ON, focusing on glial support of RGCs. We cover both well-established concepts on the important role of glial cells in ON health and new findings, including novel insights into mechanisms of remyelination, microglia/NG2 cell-cell interaction, astrocyte reactivity and the regulation of reactive astrogliosis by mitochondrial fragmentation in microglia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meysam Yazdankhah
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Peng Shang
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sayan Ghosh
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Stacey Hose
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Haitao Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Joseph Weiss
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Christopher S Fitting
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Imran A Bhutto
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J Samuel Zigler
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jiang Qian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Debasish Sinha
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Nadezda A Stepicheva
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Oikawa K, Ver Hoeve JN, Teixeira LBC, Snyder KC, Kiland JA, Ellinwood NM, McLellan GJ. Sub-region-Specific Optic Nerve Head Glial Activation in Glaucoma. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:2620-2638. [PMID: 32266645 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-01910-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma, a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and their axons in the optic nerve, is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a risk factor for axonal damage, which initially occurs at the optic nerve head (ONH). Complex cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of glaucomatous optic neuropathy remain unclear. Here we define early molecular events in the ONH in an inherited large animal glaucoma model in which ONH structure resembles that of humans. Gene expression profiling of ONH tissues from rigorously phenotyped feline subjects with early-stage glaucoma and precisely age-matched controls was performed by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis and complementary bioinformatic approaches applied to identify molecular processes and pathways of interest. Immunolabeling supported RNA-seq findings while providing cell-, region-, and disease stage-specific context in the ONH in situ. Transcriptomic evidence for cell proliferation and immune/inflammatory responses is identifiable in early glaucoma, soon after IOP elevation and prior to morphologically detectable axon loss, in this large animal model. In particular, proliferation of microglia and oligodendrocyte precursor cells is a prominent feature of early-stage, but not chronic, glaucoma. ONH microgliosis is a consistent hallmark in both early and chronic stages of glaucoma. Molecular pathways and cell type-specific responses strongly implicate toll-like receptor and NF-κB signaling in early glaucoma pathophysiology. The current study provides critical insights into molecular pathways, highly dependent on cell type and sub-region in the ONH even prior to irreversible axon degeneration in glaucoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Oikawa
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, Madison, WI, USA
| | - James N Ver Hoeve
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Leandro B C Teixeira
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kevin C Snyder
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Julie A Kiland
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | | | - Gillian J McLellan
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, Madison, WI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Lee EJ, Han JC, Park DY, Kee C. A neuroglia-based interpretation of glaucomatous neuroretinal rim thinning in the optic nerve head. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 77:100840. [PMID: 31982595 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neuroretinal rim thinning (NRR) is a characteristic glaucomatous optic disc change. However, the precise mechanism of the rim thinning has not been completely elucidated. This review focuses on the structural role of the glioarchitecture in the formation of the glaucomatous NRR thinning. The NRR is a glia-framed structure, with honeycomb geometry and mechanically reinforced astrocyte processes along the transverse plane. When neural damage selectively involves the neuron and spares the glia, the gross structure of the tissue is preserved. The disorganization and loss of the glioarchitecture are the two hallmarks of optic nerve head (ONH) remodeling in glaucoma that leads to the thinning of NRR tissue upon axonal loss. This is in contrast to most non-glaucomatous optic neuropathies with optic disc pallor where hypertrophy of the glioarchitecture is associated with the seemingly absent optic disc cupping. Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is an exception where pan-necrosis of ONH tissue leads to NRR thinning. Milder ischemia indicates selective neuronal loss that spares glia in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The biological reason is the heterogeneous glial response determined by the site, type, and severity of the injury. The neuroglial interpretation explains how the cellular changes underlie the clinical findings. Updated understandings on glial responses illustrate the mechanical, microenvironmental, and microglial modulation of activated astrocytes in glaucoma. Findings relevant to the possible mechanism of the astrocyte death in advanced glaucoma are also emerging. Ultimately, a better understanding of glaucomatous glial response may lead to glia-targeting neuroprotection in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eun Jung Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Jong Chul Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Do Young Park
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Changwon Kee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|