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Sazhnyev Y, Sin TN, Ma A, Chang E, Huynh L, Roszak K, Park S, Choy K, Farsiu S, Moshiri A, Thomasy SM, Yiu G. Choroidal Changes in Rhesus Macaques in Aging and Age-Related Drusen. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:44. [PMID: 37773500 PMCID: PMC10547013 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.12.44] [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: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Choroidal vascular changes occur with normal aging and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here, we evaluate choroidal thickness and vascularity in aged rhesus macaques to better understand the choroid's role in this nonhuman primate model of AMD. Methods We analyzed optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of 244 eyes from 122 rhesus macaques (aged 4-32 years) to measure choroidal thickness (CT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI). Drusen number, size, and volume were measured by semiautomated annotation and segmentation of OCT images. We performed regression analyses to determine any association of CT or CVI with age, sex, and axial length and to determine if the presence and volume of soft drusen impacted these choroidal parameters. Results In rhesus macaques, subfoveal CT decreased with age at 3.2 µm/y (R2 = 0.481, P < 0.001), while CVI decreased at 0.66% per year (R2 = 0.257, P < 0.001). Eyes with soft drusen exhibited thicker choroid (179.9 ± 17.5 µm vs. 162.0 ± 27.9 µm, P < 0.001) and higher CVI (0.612 ± 0.051 vs. 0.577 ± 0.093, P = 0.005) than age-matched control animals. Neither CT or CVI appeared to be associated with drusen number, size, or volume in this cohort. However, some drusen in macaques were associated with underlying choroidal vessel enlargement resembling pachydrusen in human patients with AMD. Conclusions Changes in the choroidal vasculature in rhesus macaques resemble choroidal changes in human aging, but eyes with drusen exhibit choroidal thickening, increased vascularity, and phenotypic characteristics of pachydrusen observed in some patients with AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yevgeniy Sazhnyev
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, California Northstate University, College of Medicine, Elk Grove, California, United States
| | - Tzu-Ni Sin
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, United States
| | - Anthony Ma
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, California Northstate University, College of Medicine, Elk Grove, California, United States
| | - Ellie Chang
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, United States
| | - Leon Huynh
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, United States
| | - Karolina Roszak
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, United States
| | - Sangwan Park
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, United States
| | - Kevin Choy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
| | - Sina Farsiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States
| | - Ala Moshiri
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, United States
| | - Sara M. Thomasy
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, United States
| | - Glenn Yiu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, United States
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Zhang X, Li M, Li B, Liao N, Wei Z, Gao J, Sun Y, Chen J, Rao J, Wen F. Ageing fundus degenerations of Macaca fascicularis on multi-modal imaging and histopathology: Similarities and differences compared to human. Exp Eye Res 2022; 220:109126. [PMID: 35618041 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
To characterize the ageing fundus degenerations in Macaca fascicularis, we used multimodal imaging including color fundus photograph, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, fundus fluorescence angiography, and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) to survey and track fundus changes of 84 Macaca fascicularis, ranging from 5 to 24 years old over 2 years, and followed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The Macaca fascicularis in our cohort showed ageing characteristics different from human, including the more common yellow dot maculopathy, the unique appearance of patchy hyperautoflurescence, and the absence of subretinal drusenoid deposit, basal laminar deposit, geographic atrophy or choroidal neovascularization. Same with human, hard drusen, soft drusen, atherosclerosis, tessellated retina, staining of vessels in peripheral choroid on late-phase ICGA, and peripheral hard drusen were detected. HE and IF staining suggested the patchy hyperautoflurescence to be drusenoid deposits. BMI were significantly higher in the Macaca fascicularis with yellow dot maculopathy and hard drusen, compared to the ones without (p < 0.05). Our study reveals fundus degenerations that develop with ageing in the nonhuman primate of Macaca fascicularis. Their differences and similarities compared to human worth notice by future translational research in degenerative fundus diseases, especially age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongze Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Miaoling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bihai Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nanying Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyuan Wei
- Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jiangmei Gao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunxiao Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianhuan Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
| | - Junhua Rao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Feng Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China.
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Liu YV, Konar G, Aziz K, Tun SBB, Hua CHE, Tan B, Tian J, Luu CD, Barathi VA, Singh MS. Localized Structural and Functional Deficits in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Outer Retinal Atrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 62:8. [PMID: 34643661 PMCID: PMC8525844 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.62.13.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Cell-based therapy development for geographic atrophy (GA) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is hampered by the paucity of models of localized photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration. We aimed to characterize the structural and functional deficits in a laser-induced nonhuman primate model, including an analysis of the choroid. Methods Macular laser photocoagulation was applied in four macaques. Fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), dye angiography, and OCT-angiography were conducted over 4.5 months, with histological correlation. Longitudinal changes in spatially resolved macular dysfunction were measured using multifocal electroretinography (MFERG). Results Lesion features, depending on laser settings, included photoreceptor layer degeneration, inner retinal sparing, skip lesions, RPE elevation, and neovascularization. The intralesional choroid was degenerated. The normalized mean MFERG amplitude within lesions was consistently lower than control regions (0.94 ± 0.35 vs. 1.10 ± 0.27, P = 0.032 at month 1, 0.67 ± 0.22 vs. 0.83 ± 0.15, P = 0.0002 at month 2, and 0.97 ± 0.31 vs. 1.20 ± 0.21, P < 0.0001 at month 3.5). The intertest variation of mean MFERG amplitudes in rings 1 to 5 ranged from 13.0% to 26.0% in normal eyes. Conclusions Laser application in this model caused localized outer retinal, RPE, and choriocapillaris loss. Localized dysfunction was apparent by MFERG in the first month after lesion induction. Correlative structure-function testing may be useful for research on the functional effects of stem cell-based therapy for GA. MFERG amplitude data should be interpreted in the context of relatively high intertest variability of the rings that correspond to the central macula. Sustained choroidal insufficiency may limit long-term subretinal graft viability in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying V Liu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Gregory Konar
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Kanza Aziz
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Sai Bo Bo Tun
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Candice Ho Ee Hua
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bingyao Tan
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore.,SERI-NTU Advanced Ocular Engineering (STANCE), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jing Tian
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Chi D Luu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Victoria, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Veluchamy A Barathi
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore.,Academic Clinical Program in Ophthalmology, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mandeep S Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
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Chen L, Messinger JD, Ferrara D, Freund KB, Curcio CA. Stages of Drusen-Associated Atrophy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Visible via Histologically Validated Fundus Autofluorescence. Ophthalmol Retina 2021; 5:730-742. [PMID: 33217617 PMCID: PMC9749404 DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2020.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine histologic correlates for stages of drusen-associated atrophy observed with fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and color fundus photography (CFP), of eyes with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN Case study and clinicopathologic correlation. PARTICIPANT A white woman with AMD findings of inactive subretinal fibrosis (right eye) and untreated nonexudative type 1 macular neovascularization (left eye) was followed for 9 years before death at 90 years of age. METHODS Eyes preserved 6.25 hours after death were postfixed in osmium tannic acid paraphenylenediamine and were prepared for submicrometer epoxy resin sections (115 and 90 from the right and left eye, respectively), with 19 aligned to clinical B-scans. Drusen visible by CFP at the last visit were assigned to 4 stages of FAF: stage 1, isoautofluorescence; stage 2, mildly uniform hyperautofluorescence; stage 3, a ring of hyperautofluorescence around a center of the hypoautofluorescence; and stage 4, uniform hypoautofluorescence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Light microscopic morphologic features at known FAF stages, including druse size, druse contents, and changes in overlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), photoreceptors, and external limiting membrane (ELM). RESULTS Histologic examination of 166 drusen demonstrated that stage 1 isoautofluorescent drusen were visible on CFP. Hyperautofluorescence in stage 2 corresponded to short photoreceptors and complete coverage by RPE. Hypoautofluorescence in stages 3 and 4 corresponded to different extents of RPE atrophy (RPE gap and no RPE, respectively). Of stage 4 drusen, 67% showed no outer nuclear layer (ONL) and an undetectable ELM. Stage 4 included a high proportion of refractile drusen (82%) with many calcific nodules, visible on CFP. CONCLUSIONS We present the first direct clinicopathologic correlation for FAF imaging of drusen-associated atrophy. Our data support 4 FAF stages of drusen-associated atrophy. Stage 2 is the earliest detected stage in which loss of screening by photoreceptor photopigment contributes to uniform hyperautofluorescence. Stages 3 and 4 comport with incomplete RPE and outer retinal atrophy as defined by the Classification of Atrophy Meetings group. Loss of RPE, ONL, and ELM in stage 4 indicates that atrophy can begin over individual drusen. Findings will help the identification of new therapeutic approaches and clinical study end points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham Alabama, USA,The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, and Chongqing Eye Institute, Chongqing, China
| | - Jeffrey D. Messinger
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham Alabama, USA
| | | | - K. Bailey Freund
- Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, NY, USA,LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, NY, USA,Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA,Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Harkness Eye Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christine A. Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham Alabama, USA,Corresponding Address: Christine A. Curcio, PhD; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; EyeSight Foundation of Alabama Vision Research Laboratories; 1670 University Boulevard Room 360; University of Alabama School of Medicine; Birmingham AL 35294-0099;
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Lin KH, Tran T, Kim S, Park S, Stout JT, Chen R, Rogers J, Yiu G, Thomasy S, Moshiri A. Advanced Retinal Imaging and Ocular Parameters of the Rhesus Macaque Eye. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2021; 10:7. [PMID: 34111251 PMCID: PMC8107642 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.10.6.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To determine the range of normal ocular biometry and perform advanced retinal imaging and functional assessment of the rhesus macaque eye. Methods We performed ocular phenotyping on rhesus macaques at the California National Primate Research Center. This process consisted of anterior and posterior segment eye examination by ophthalmologists, advanced retinal imaging, and functional retinal electrophysiology. Results Full eye examinations were performed on 142 animals, consisting of pupillary light reflex, tonometry, external examination and photography, anterior slit lamp examination, and posterior segment examination by indirect ophthalmoscopy. Ages of the rhesus macaques ranged from 0.7 to 29 years (mean, 16.4 ± 7.5 years). Anterior segment measurements such as intraocular pressure (n = 142), corneal thickness (n = 84), lens thickness (n = 114), and axial length (n = 114) were acquired. Advanced retinal imaging in the form of fundus photography (n = 78), optical coherence tomography (n = 60), and quantitative autofluorescence (n = 44) was obtained. Electroretinography (n = 75) was used to assay retinal function. Quantitative analyses of the macular structure, retinal layer segmentation, and rod and cone photoreceptor electrical responses are reported. Quantitative assessments were made and variations between sexes were analyzed to compare with established sex changes in human eyes. Conclusions The rhesus macaque has an ocular structure and function very similar to that of the human eye. In particular macular structure and retinal function is very similar to humans, making this species particularly useful for the study of macular biology and development of therapies for cone photoreceptor disorders. Translational Relevance Rhesus macaques are an ideal model for future vision science studies of human eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira H Lin
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Tu Tran
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Soohyun Kim
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sangwan Park
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - J Timothy Stout
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey Rogers
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Glenn Yiu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Sara Thomasy
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.,Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ala Moshiri
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
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Yiu G, Thomasy SM, Casanova MI, Rusakevich A, Keesler RI, Watanabe J, Usachenko J, Singapuri A, Ball EE, Bliss-Moreau E, Guo W, Webster H, Singh T, Permar S, Ardeshir A, Coffey LL, Van Rompay KK. Evolution of ocular defects in infant macaques following in utero Zika virus infection. JCI Insight 2020; 5:143947. [PMID: 33180748 PMCID: PMC7819741 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.143947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) is associated with microcephaly and various neurological, musculoskeletal, and ocular abnormalities, but the long-term pathogenesis and postnatal progression of ocular defects in infants are not well characterized. Rhesus macaques are superior to rodents as models of CZS because they are natural hosts of the virus and share similar immune and ocular characteristics, including blood–retinal barrier characteristics and the unique presence of a macula. Using a previously described model of CZS, we infected pregnant rhesus macaques with Zika virus (ZIKV) during the late first trimester and characterized postnatal ocular development and evolution of ocular defects in 2 infant macaques over 2 years. We found that one of them exhibited colobomatous chorioretinal atrophic lesions with macular and vascular dragging as well as retinal thinning caused by loss of retinal ganglion neuron and photoreceptor layers. Despite these congenital ocular malformations, axial elongation and retinal development in these infants progressed at normal rates compared with healthy animals. The ZIKV-exposed infants displayed a rapid loss of ZIKV-specific antibodies, suggesting the absence of viral replication after birth, and did not show any behavioral or neurological defects postnatally. Our findings suggest that ZIKV infection during early pregnancy can impact fetal retinal development and cause congenital ocular anomalies but does not appear to affect postnatal ocular growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenn Yiu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, and
| | - Sara M Thomasy
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - M Isabel Casanova
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jodie Usachenko
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California, USA
| | - Anil Singapuri
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, and
| | - Erin E Ball
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, and
| | - Eliza Bliss-Moreau
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Wendi Guo
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Helen Webster
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tulika Singh
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sallie Permar
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amir Ardeshir
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California, USA
| | - Lark L Coffey
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, and
| | - Koen Ka Van Rompay
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California, USA.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, and
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