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Ahn Y, An JH, Yang HJ, Lee WJ, Lee SH, Park YH, Lee JH, Lee HJ, Lee SH, Kim SU. Blood vessel organoids generated by base editing and harboring single nucleotide variation in Notch3 effectively recapitulate CADASIL-related pathogenesis. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04141-4. [PMID: 38592587 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04141-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Human blood vessel organoids (hBVOs) offer a promising platform for investigating vascular diseases and identifying therapeutic targets. In this study, we focused on in vitro modeling and therapeutic target finding of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), the most common form of hereditary stroke disorder caused by mutations in the NOTCH3 gene. Despite the identification of these mutations, the underlying pathological mechanism is elusive, and effective therapeutic approaches are lacking. CADASIL primarily affects the blood vessels in the brain, leading to ischemic strokes, migraines, and dementia. By employing CRISPR/Cas9 base-editing technology, we generated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) carrying Notch3 mutations. These mutant hiPSCs were differentiated into hBVOs. The NOTCH3 mutated hBVOs exhibited CADASIL-like pathology, characterized by a reduced vessel diameter and degeneration of mural cells. Furthermore, we observed an accumulation of Notch3 extracellular domain (Notch3ECD), increased apoptosis, and cytoskeletal alterations in the NOTCH3 mutant hBVOs. Notably, treatment with ROCK inhibitors partially restored the disconnection between endothelial cells and mural cells in the mutant hBVOs. These findings shed light on the pathogenesis of CADASIL and highlight the potential of hBVOs for studying and developing therapeutic interventions for this debilitating human vascular disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujin Ahn
- Futuristic Animal Resource and Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28116, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34113, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States
| | - Ju-Hyun An
- Futuristic Animal Resource and Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28116, Korea
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34113, Korea
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States
| | - Hae-Jun Yang
- Futuristic Animal Resource and Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28116, Korea
| | - Wi-Jae Lee
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
- National Primate Research Center (NPRC), Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Ochang, 28116, Korea
| | - Sang-Hee Lee
- Center for Research Equipment (104-Dong), Korea Basic Science Institute, Ochang, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ho Park
- Futuristic Animal Resource and Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28116, Korea
| | - Jong-Hee Lee
- National Primate Research Center (NPRC), Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Ochang, 28116, Korea
| | - Hong J Lee
- College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Korea
- Research Institute, huMetaCELL Inc., Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Lee
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Uk Kim
- Futuristic Animal Resource and Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28116, Korea.
- Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34113, Korea.
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Fung M, Armstrong JJ, Zhang R, Vinokurtseva A, Liu H, Hutnik C. Development and Verification of a Novel Three-Dimensional Aqueous Outflow Model for High-Throughput Drug Screening. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:142. [PMID: 38391628 PMCID: PMC10885921 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11020142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Distal outflow bleb-forming procedures in ophthalmic surgery expose subconjunctival tissue to inflammatory cytokines present in the aqueous humor, resulting in impaired outflow and, consequently, increased intraocular pressure. Clinically, this manifests as an increased risk of surgical failure often necessitating revision. This study (1) introduces a novel high-throughput screening platform for testing potential anti-fibrotic compounds and (2) assesses the clinical viability of modulating the transforming growth factor beta-SMAD2/3 pathway as a key contributor to post-operative outflow reduction, using the signal transduction inhibitor verteporfin. Human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTCFs) were cultured within a 3D collagen matrix in a microfluidic system modelling aqueous humor drainage. The perfusate was augmented with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1), and afferent pressure to the tissue-mimetic was continuously monitored to detect treatment-related pressure elevations. Co-treatment with verteporfin was employed to evaluate its capacity to counteract TGFβ1 induced pressure changes. Immunofluorescent studies were conducted on the tissue-mimetic to corroborate the pressure data with cellular changes. Introduction of TGFβ1 induced treatment-related afferent pressure increase in the tissue-mimetic. HTCFs treated with TGFβ1 displayed visibly enlarged cytoskeletons and stress fiber formation, consistent with myofibroblast transformation. Importantly, verteporfin effectively mitigated these changes, reducing both afferent pressure increases and cytoskeletal alterations. In summary, this study models the pathological filtration bleb response to TGFβ1, while demonstrating verteporfin's effectiveness in ameliorating both functional and cellular changes caused by TGFβ1. These demonstrate modulation of the aforementioned pathway as a potential avenue for addressing post-operative changes and reductions in filtration bleb outflow capacity. Furthermore, the establishment of a high-throughput screening platform offers a valuable pre-animal testing tool for investigating potential compounds to facilitate surgical wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Fung
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - James J Armstrong
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Richard Zhang
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Anastasiya Vinokurtseva
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Hong Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Cindy Hutnik
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ivey Eye Institute, St. Joseph's Health Center, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada
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Lin Y, Luo W, Jiang B, Lin Q, Tang M, Li X, Xie L. The effect of GelDex-S58 hydrogel on anti-conjunctival scarring after glaucoma filtration surgery. iScience 2023; 26:107633. [PMID: 37664639 PMCID: PMC10474451 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107633] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive scarring is the main cause of surgical failure in glaucoma filtration surgery. S58 has been shown to have an excellent antifibrotic effect but its duration of action is not sufficient to achieve the desired antiscarring effect. In this study, a light-cured bioadhesive hydrogel composed of GelMA and oxidized dextran (ODex), namely, GelDex, was used to load S58 (GelDex-S58). The microscopic morphology of GelDex-S58 appeared to be a porous structure with good slow-release properties and suitable degradation time. Cell Counting Kit-8, cell scratch and transwell assays showed that GelDex-S58 significantly reduced TGF-β-induced fibroblast proliferation, increased migration and invasion ability. In in vivo studies, GelDex-S58 treatment prolonged follicular retention, reduced mean intraocular pressure, and significantly reduced collagen deposition and α-SMA expression levels in the conjunctival tissue compared to treatment with S58 alone. In conclusion, GelDex-S58 could reduce scar formation after glaucoma filtration surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wangdu Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bingcai Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qianyi Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Min Tang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiangji Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lin Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Perry CH, Mullins NA, Sweileh RB, Shendy NA, Roberto PA, Broadhurst AL, Nelson HA, Miranda-Carboni GA, Abell AN. MAP3K4 promotes fetal and placental growth by controlling the receptor tyrosine kinases IGF1R/IR and Akt signaling pathway†. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102310. [PMID: 35921893 PMCID: PMC9463538 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of fetal growth results in severe consequences to human health, including increased fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, as well as potential lifelong health problems. Molecular mechanisms promoting fetal growth represent potential therapeutic strategies to treat and/or prevent fetal growth restriction (FGR). Here, we identify a previously unknown role for the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 4 (MAP3K4) in promoting fetal and placental growth. We demonstrate that inactivation of MAP3K4 kinase activity causes FGR due in part to placental insufficiency. Significantly, MAP3K4 kinase–inactive mice display highly penetrant lethality prior to weaning and persistent growth reduction of surviving adults. Additionally, we elucidate molecular mechanisms by which MAP3K4 promotes growth through control of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), insulin receptor (IR), and Akt signaling pathway. Specifically, MAP3K4 kinase inactivation in trophoblast stem (TS) cells results in reduced IGF1R and IR expression and decreased Akt activation. We observe these changes in TS cells also occur in differentiated trophoblasts created through in vitro differentiation of cultured TS cells and in vivo in placental tissues formed by TS cells. Furthermore, we show that MAP3K4 controls this pathway by promoting Igf1r transcript expression in TS cells through activation of CREB-binding protein (CBP). In the MAP3K4 kinase–inactive TS cells, Igf1r transcripts are repressed because of reduced CBP activity and increased histone deacetylase 6 expression and activity. Together, these data demonstrate a critical role for MAP3K4 in promoting fetal and placental growth by controlling the activity of the IGF1R/IR and Akt signaling pathway.
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Emerging Evidence of Noncoding RNAs in Bleb Scarring after Glaucoma Filtration Surgery. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081301. [PMID: 35455980 PMCID: PMC9029189 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To conduct a narrative review of research articles on the potential anti- and pro-fibrotic mechanisms of noncoding RNAs following glaucoma filtration surgery. Methods: Keyword searches of PubMed, and Medline databases were conducted for articles discussing post-glaucoma filtration surgeries and noncoding RNA. Additional manual searches of reference lists of primary articles were performed. Results: Fifteen primary research articles were identified. Four of the included papers used microarrays and qRT-PCR to identify up- or down-regulated microRNA (miRNA, miR) profiles and direct further study, with the remainder focusing on miRNAs or long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) based on previous work in other organs or disease processes. The results of the reviewed papers identified miR-26a, -29b, -139, -155, and -200a as having anti-fibrotic effects. In contrast, miRs-200b and -216b may play pro-fibrotic roles in filtration surgery fibrosis. lncRNAs including H19, NR003923, and 00028 have demonstrated pro-fibrotic effects. Conclusions: Noncoding RNAs including miRNAs and lncRNAs are emerging and promising therapeutic targets in the prevention of post-glaucoma filtration surgery fibrosis.
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