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Sela TC, Zahavi A, Friedman-Gohas M, Weiss S, Sternfeld A, Ilguisonis A, Badash D, Geffen N, Ofri R, BarKana Y, Goldenberg-Cohen N. Azithromycin and Sildenafil May Have Protective Effects on Retinal Ganglion Cells via Different Pathways: Study in a Rodent Microbead Model. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16040486. [PMID: 37111243 PMCID: PMC10142588 DOI: 10.3390/ph16040486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Decreased blood flow to the optic nerve (ON) and neuroinflammation are suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. This study investigated the potential neuroprotective effect of azithromycin, an anti-inflammatory macrolide, and sildenafil, a selective phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, on retinal ganglion cell survival in a glaucoma model, which was induced by microbead injection into the right anterior chamber of 50 wild-type (WT) and 30 transgenic toll-like receptor 4 knockout (TLR4KO) mice. Treatment groups included intraperitoneal azithromycin 0.1 mL (1 mg/0.1 mL), intravitreal sildenafil 3 µL, or intraperitoneal sildenafil 0.1 mL (0.24 μg/3 µL). Left eyes served as controls. Microbead injection increased intraocular pressure (IOP), which peaked on day 7 in all groups and on day 14 in azithromycin-treated mice. Furthermore, the retinas and ON of microbead-injected eyes showed a trend of increased expression of inflammatory- and apoptosis-related genes, mainly in WT and to a lesser extent in TLR4KO mice. Azithromycin reduced the BAX/BCL2 ratio, TGFβ, and TNFα levels in the ON and CD45 expression in WT retina. Sildenafil activated TNFα-mediated pathways. Both azithromycin and sildenafil exerted a neuroprotective effect in WT and TLR4KO mice with microbead-induced glaucoma, albeit via different pathways, without affecting IOP. The relatively low apoptotic effect observed in microbead-injected TLR4KO mice suggests a role of inflammation in glaucomatous damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Corina Sela
- Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv 6209804, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Alon Zahavi
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
- Laboratory of Eye Research, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
| | - Moran Friedman-Gohas
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Shirel Weiss
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Amir Sternfeld
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
- Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Astrid Ilguisonis
- Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Danielle Badash
- Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Noa Geffen
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
| | - Ron Ofri
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yaniv BarKana
- The Glaucoma Innovations and Research Laboratory, The Sam Rothberg Glaucoma Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 5262000, Israel
| | - Nitza Goldenberg-Cohen
- Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa 3339419, Israel
- Bruce and Ruth Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
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7,8-Dihydroxiflavone protects retinal ganglion cells and promotes axonal regeneration through TrkB signaling pathway followed by AKT and ERK activation. Neurosci Res 2023:S0168-0102(23)00050-0. [PMID: 36854354 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.02.008] [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: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) in protecting retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and promoting axonal regeneration, and to explore its potential molecular mechanisms. We used three-dimensional retinal culture system and optic nerve crush (ONC) rat models in this study. The pro-axonal regenerative effect of 7,8-DHF was determined with light microscopy observation and immunofluorescence staining of Thy1.1 and GAP43. The RGC protective function of 7,8-DHF was detected by RBPMS immunofluorescent staining and TUNEL staining. The inhibition effect of 7,8-DHF on astrocyte activation was measured using GFAP immunofluorescence and Western blotting. The protein levels of p-TrkB, p-AKT and p-ERK was examined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Our results revealed that 7,8-DHF significantly promoted the average density and length of regenerated neurites and suppressed the apoptosis of GCL cells in three-dimensional culture system and significantly increased the number of RBPMS-positive cells and inhibited the GFAP expression and apoptosis of GCL cells in ONC rats. Our results also revealed that 7,8-DHF activates TrkB, AKT and ERK proteins in vivo, however, these activations can be inhibited byANA-12. In conclusion, 7,8-DHF protects RGCs and promotes axonal regeneration through the TrkB signaling pathway followed by AKT and ERK activation.
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Shayan M, Eslami F, Khosravi A, Rashidian A, Jafari RM, Maroufi SF, Golroudbari HT, Dehpour AR. The Possible Protective Effects of Ondansetron and Tropisetron on Optic Nerve Crush Injury in Rats. Drug Res (Stuttg) 2023; 73:88-94. [PMID: 36423625 DOI: 10.1055/a-1969-4600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the potential neuroprotective effect of cyclosporine - a calcineurin inhibitor-, ondansetron, and tropisetron-5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 3 receptor (5-HT3R) antagonists-, on optic nerve crush (ONC) injury in rats. Moreover, underlying signaling activities of their beneficial neuroprotective effects were studied. METHODS Adult male rats were treated with the intravitreal administration of cyclosporine (1.6 mM), ondansetron (100 nM), and tropisetron (100 nM) immediately after the induction of ONC. Subsequently, on 7th day after surgery, the rats' retinas were extracted, and the expression of apoptotic regulators (Bax and Bcl-2) and calcineurin were studied by western blot analysis. RESULTS The induction of ONC injury was associated to higher expression of Bax and calcineurin, while Bcl-2 expression was considerably decreased in these animals. Intravitreal treatment with cyclosporine (1.6 mM), ondansetron (100 nM), and tropisetron (100 nM) significantly attenuated the increased expression of Bax and calcineurin. Moreover, the treatment with these agents resulted in an elevated expression of Bcl-2 in the retina. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that cyclosporine, ondansetron, and tropisetron protect against ONC injury in rats, possibly via the suppression of apoptosis and modulation of calcineurin activity directly and via 5-HT3 receptors. Moreover, immunoblotting showed that tropisetron was more effective as opposed to ondansetron. Further studies are needed to evaluate the precise mechanism behind cyclosporine, ondansetron, and tropisetron activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Shayan
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Eslami
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ayda Khosravi
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Rashidian
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Razie Mohammad Jafari
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Farzad Maroufi
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hasti Tashak Golroudbari
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Reza Dehpour
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Azrad-Leibovich T, Zahavi A, Gohas MF, Brookman M, Barinfeld O, Muhsinoglu O, Michowiz S, Fixler D, Goldenberg-Cohen N. Characterization of Diabetic Retinopathy in Two Mouse Models and Response to a Single Injection of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010324. [PMID: 36613769 PMCID: PMC9820807 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we characterized diabetic retinopathy in two mouse models and the response to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection. The study was conducted in 58 transgenic, non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice with spontaneous type 1 diabetes (n = 30, DMT1-NOD) or chemically induced (n = 28, streptozotocin, STZ-NOD) type 1 diabetes and 20 transgenic db/db mice with type 2 diabetes (DMT2-db/db); 30 NOD and 8 wild-type mice served as controls. Mice were examined at 21 days for vasculopathy, retinal thickness, and expression of genes involved in oxidative stress, angiogenesis, gliosis, and diabetes. The right eye was histologically examined one week after injection of bevacizumab, ranibizumab, saline, or no treatment. Flat mounts revealed microaneurysms and one apparent area of tufts of neovascularization in the diabetic retina. Immunostaining revealed activation of Müller glia and prominent Müller cells. Mean retinal thickness was greater in diabetic mice. RAGE increased and GFAP decreased in DMT1-NOD mice; GFAP and SOX-9 mildly increased in db/db mice. Anti-VEGF treatment led to reduced retinal thickness. Retinas showed vasculopathy and edema in DMT1-NOD and DMT2-db/db mice and activation of Müller glia in DMT1-NOD mice, with some response to anti-VEGF treatment. Given the similarity of diabetic retinopathy in mice and humans, comparisons of type 1 and type 2 diabetic mouse models may assist in the development of new treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Azrad-Leibovich
- Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Alon Zahavi
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center—Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
- Laboratory of Eye Research, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
| | - Moran Friedman Gohas
- Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Myles Brookman
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Orit Barinfeld
- Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Orkun Muhsinoglu
- Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
| | - Shalom Michowiz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Rabin Medical Center—Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
| | - Dror Fixler
- Faculty of Engineering and Institute of Nanotechonology and Advanced Materials, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5200100, Israel
| | - Nitza Goldenberg-Cohen
- Krieger Eye Research Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva 4941492, Israel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bnai Zion Medical Center of Israel, Haifa 3339419, Israel
- Bruce and Ruth Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Israel Institute of Technology—Technion, Haifa 3200003, Israel
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +97-(24)-8359554
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Retinal Toxicity Induced by Chemical Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158182. [PMID: 35897758 PMCID: PMC9331776 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vision is an important sense for humans, and visual impairment/blindness has a huge impact in daily life. The retina is a nervous tissue that is essential for visual processing since it possesses light sensors (photoreceptors) and performs a pre-processing of visual information. Thus, retinal cell dysfunction or degeneration affects visual ability and several general aspects of the day-to-day of a person's lives. The retina has a blood-retinal barrier, which protects the tissue from a wide range of molecules or microorganisms. However, several agents, coming from systemic pathways, reach the retina and influence its function and survival. Pesticides are still used worldwide for agriculture, contaminating food with substances that could reach the retina. Natural products have also been used for therapeutic purposes and are another group of substances that can get to the retina. Finally, a wide number of medicines administered for different diseases can also affect the retina. The present review aimed to gather recent information about the hazard of these products to the retina, which could be used to encourage the search for more healthy, suitable, or less risky agents.
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Intravitreal Injection of Liposomes Loaded with a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Promotes Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival in a Mouse Model of Optic Nerve Crush. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239297. [PMID: 33291226 PMCID: PMC7730870 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Various neuroprotective agents have been studied for the treatment of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) diseases, but issues concerning the side effects of systemically administered drugs and the short retention time of intravitreally injected drugs limit their clinical applications. The current study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of intravitreally injected trichostatin A (TSA)-loaded liposomes in a mouse model of optic nerve crush (ONC) and determine whether TSA-loaded liposomes have therapeutic potential in RGC diseases. The histone deacetylase inhibitor, TSA, was incorporated into polyethylene glycolylated liposomes. C57BL/6J mice were treated with an intravitreal injection of TSA-loaded liposomes and liposomes loaded with a lipophilic fluorescent dye for tracking, immediately after ONC injury. The expression of macroglial and microglial cell markers (glial fibrillary acidic protein and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1), RGC survival, and apoptosis were assessed. We found that the liposomes reached the inner retina. Their fluorescence was detected for up to 10 days after the intravitreal injection, with peak intensity at 3 days postinjection. Intravitreally administered TSA-loaded liposomes significantly decreased reactive gliosis and RGC apoptosis and increased RGC survival in a mouse model of ONC. Our results suggest that TSA-loaded liposomes may help in the treatment of various RGC diseases.
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Ala M, Mohammad Jafari R, Dehpour AR. Sildenafil beyond erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension: Thinking about new indications. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2020; 35:235-259. [PMID: 33226665 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sildenafil, approved two decades ago, is the inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5). First of all, it was designated for angina pectoris, but soon it showed a wonderful efficacy in erectile dysfunction (ED) and then pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Due to the distribution of phosphodiesterase (PDE) in almost all organs, maybe it effects other diseases. Hence, a great number of investigations began to understand the role of PDEi in different organs. Preliminary research on sildenafil in cell culture and animal models has yielded promising results. Soon, a greater number of animal researches and clinical trials joined them. The results disclosed sildenafil can have beneficial effects in each organ such as heart, liver, kidney, brain, and intestines. Furthermore, it has significantly improved the prognosis of organ ischemia in various animal models. Clinical trials in several diseases, such as recurrent spontaneous miscarriage, fatty liver disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), heart failure, and premature ejaculation (PE) brought promising results. Although some clinical trials are available on the effects of sildenafil on various diseases, further studies on humans are needed to consolidate the ultimate effects of sildenafil. The aim of this review was to describe the effects of sildenafil on each organ and explain its mechanisms of action. Further, other PDE inhibitors such as tadalafil and vardenafil have been briefly discussed in parts of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moein Ala
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 13145-784, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 13145-784, Iran
| | - Razieh Mohammad Jafari
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 13145-784, Iran
| | - Ahmad Reza Dehpour
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 13145-784, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 13145-784, Iran
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Karaarslan C. Ocular Side Effects of Sildenafil That Persist Beyond 24 h-A Case Series. Front Neurol 2020; 11:67. [PMID: 32117027 PMCID: PMC7019110 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute secondary effects of sildenafil, a first-line pharmacotherapy for erectile dysfunction (ED), include headache, heartburn, skin flush, and vision changes. Generally, these effects subside within 5 h. This is a retrospective report of 17 cases in which patients experienced visual disturbances following 100-mg sildenafil use that persisted for more than 24 h. All 17 patients were healthy men taking sildenafil for the first time without prescriptions who sought consultation at our clinic within 48 h of taking the drug. Diagnostic tests indicated that out of the 17 patients, nine had photophobia, 13 had disrupted color perception, nine had impaired visual acuity, three had deficiencies in stereopsis, six had disrupted contrast sensitivity, and eight had abnormally dilated pupils. These disturbances resolved within 21 days in all 17 cases. There was near-full case overlap between photophobia and color vision impairment. In conclusion, because some individuals have heightened sensitivity to sildenafil, perhaps due to metabolic variance, patients should be started on a modest trial dose.
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