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Stehle IF, Imventarza JA, Woerz F, Hoffmann F, Boldt K, Beyer T, Quinn PM, Ueffing M. Human CRB1 and CRB2 form homo- and heteromeric protein complexes in the retina. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302440. [PMID: 38570189 PMCID: PMC10992996 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302440] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) is one of the key genes linked to retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis, which are characterized by a high clinical heterogeneity. The Crumbs family member CRB2 has a similar protein structure to CRB1, and in zebrafish, Crb2 has been shown to interact through the extracellular domain. Here, we show that CRB1 and CRB2 co-localize in the human retina and human iPSC-derived retinal organoids. In retina-specific pull-downs, CRB1 was enriched in CRB2 samples, supporting a CRB1-CRB2 interaction. Furthermore, novel interactors of the crumbs complex were identified, representing a retina-derived protein interaction network. Using co-immunoprecipitation, we further demonstrate that human canonical CRB1 interacts with CRB1 and CRB2, but not with CRB3, which lacks an extracellular domain. Next, we explored how missense mutations in the extracellular domain affect CRB1-CRB2 interactions. We observed no or a mild loss of CRB1-CRB2 interaction, when interrogating various CRB1 or CRB2 missense mutants in vitro. Taken together, our results show a stable interaction of human canonical CRB2 and CRB1 in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel F Stehle
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Joel A Imventarza
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY, USA
| | - Franziska Woerz
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Felix Hoffmann
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Karsten Boldt
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tina Beyer
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Mj Quinn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University; New York, NY, USA
| | - Marius Ueffing
- https://ror.org/03a1kwz48 Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Cristante E, Liyanage SE, Smith AJ, Ali RR, Bainbridge JWB. Role of HIF1α and HIF2α in Cre Recombinase-Induced Retinal Pigment Epithelium Pathology and Its Secondary Effect on Choroidal Neovascularization. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2023; 193:1694-1705. [PMID: 37330004 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
CreTrp1 mice are widely used for conditional retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) gene function studies. Like other Cre/LoxP models, phenotypes in CreTrp1 mice can be affected by Cre-mediated cellular toxicity, leading to RPE dysfunction, altered morphology and atrophy, activation of innate immunity, and consequent impairment of photoreceptor function. These effects are common among the age-related alterations of RPE that feature in early/intermediate forms of age-related macular degeneration. This article characterizes Cre-mediated pathology in the CreTrp1 line to elucidate the impact of RPE degeneration on both developmental and pathologic choroidal neovascularization. Nonredundant roles of the two major components of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) family of transcription regulators, HIF1α and HIF2α, were identified. Genetic ablation of Hif1a protected against Cre-induced degeneration of RPE and choroid, whereas ablation of Hif2a exacerbated this degeneration. Furthermore, HIF1α deficiency protected CreTrp1 mice against laser-induced choroidal neovascularization, whereas HIF2α deficiency exacerbated the phenotype. Cre-mediated degeneration of the RPE in CreTrp1 mice offers an opportunity to investigate the impact of hypoxia signaling in the context of RPE degeneration. These findings indicate that HIF1α promotes Cre recombinase-mediated RPE degeneration and laser-induced choroidal neovascularization, whereas HIF2α is protective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alexander J Smith
- Centre for Cell and Gene Therapy, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R Ali
- Centre for Cell and Gene Therapy, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - James W B Bainbridge
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology London, United Kingdom; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
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3
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Weatherly SM, Collin GB, Charette JR, Stone L, Damkham N, Hyde LF, Peterson JG, Hicks W, Carter GW, Naggert JK, Krebs MP, Nishina PM. Identification of Arhgef12 and Prkci as genetic modifiers of retinal dysplasia in the Crb1rd8 mouse model. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009798. [PMID: 35675330 PMCID: PMC9212170 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the apicobasal polarity gene CRB1 lead to diverse retinal diseases, such as Leber congenital amaurosis, cone-rod dystrophy, retinitis pigmentosa (with and without Coats-like vasculopathy), foveal retinoschisis, macular dystrophy, and pigmented paravenous chorioretinal atrophy. Limited correlation between disease phenotypes and CRB1 alleles, and evidence that patients sharing the same alleles often present with different disease features, suggest that genetic modifiers contribute to clinical variation. Similarly, the retinal phenotype of mice bearing the Crb1 retinal degeneration 8 (rd8) allele varies with genetic background. Here, we initiated a sensitized chemical mutagenesis screen in B6.Cg-Crb1rd8/Pjn, a strain with a mild clinical presentation, to identify genetic modifiers that cause a more severe disease phenotype. Two models from this screen, Tvrm266 and Tvrm323, exhibited increased retinal dysplasia. Genetic mapping with high-throughput exome and candidate-gene sequencing identified causative mutations in Arhgef12 and Prkci, respectively. Epistasis analysis of both strains indicated that the increased dysplastic phenotype required homozygosity of the Crb1rd8 allele. Retinal dysplastic lesions in Tvrm266 mice were smaller and caused less photoreceptor degeneration than those in Tvrm323 mice, which developed an early, large diffuse lesion phenotype. At one month of age, Müller glia and microglia mislocalization at dysplastic lesions in both modifier strains was similar to that in B6.Cg-Crb1rd8/Pjn mice but photoreceptor cell mislocalization was more extensive. External limiting membrane disruption was comparable in Tvrm266 and B6.Cg-Crb1rd8/Pjn mice but milder in Tvrm323 mice. Immunohistological analysis of mice at postnatal day 0 indicated a normal distribution of mitotic cells in Tvrm266 and Tvrm323 mice, suggesting normal early development. Aberrant electroretinography responses were observed in both models but functional decline was significant only in Tvrm323 mice. These results identify Arhgef12 and Prkci as modifier genes that differentially shape Crb1-associated retinal disease, which may be relevant to understanding clinical variability and underlying disease mechanisms in humans. Inherited eye diseases affect roughly 1:1,000 individuals worldwide. Although these diseases are often linked to variants of a single gene, it is increasingly recognized that a second variant in other genes may modify disease characteristics, including age of onset, severity, and lesion appearance. Identifying such modifier genes in humans is difficult. In this study, two modifiers of a gene associated with retinal damage leading to childhood blindness in humans (CRB1) were identified in mice. Retinal damage caused by Crb1 mutation alone was less severe than in the presence of Arhgef12 or Prkci mutations. Furthermore, the modifier gene mutations caused retinal damage only in the presence of the Crb1 mutation. Our results point to a role of mouse Crb1 and the modifying effects of Arhgef12 and Prkci in a biological network that controls adhesive interactions between cells. The variation in disease severity, lesion appearance, and visual responses in these mice provide a dramatic example of modifier gene influence. This work may lead to an improved understanding of the molecular basis of CRB1-associated retinal disease, with possible relevance to diagnostic and therapeutic intervention in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gayle B. Collin
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | - Lisa Stone
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Nattaya Damkham
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Immunology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Lillian F. Hyde
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | - Wanda Hicks
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | | | - Mark P. Krebs
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MPK); (PMN)
| | - Patsy M. Nishina
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MPK); (PMN)
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Retinal Degeneration in a Murine Model of Retinal Ischemia by Unilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2021:7727648. [PMID: 35005021 PMCID: PMC8741345 DOI: 10.1155/2021/7727648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Retinal degeneration is a progressive retinal damage in ocular vascular diseases. There are several reasons for this, such as occlusion of arteries or veins, diabetic retinopathy, or hereditary retinal diseases. To study pathological mechanisms of retinal degeneration, it is required to develop experimentally reproducible and clinically relevant models. In our previous studies, we developed a murine model of retinal hypoperfusion by unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (UCCAO) which mimics the pathophysiology of ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS) in humans, and described broad pathological mechanisms in the retina after UCCAO. However, there still remain missing pieces of the ocular pathologic process by UCCAO. In this study, we examined those unfound mechanisms. UCCAO was performed on adult mice. Ocular dysfunctions, histological deficits, and inflammation were examined after UCCAO, compared with sham-operated mice. Evaluation values were analyzed by electrophysiological, histological, and molecular biological methods. Eyelid drooping was permanently seen after UCCAO. Induction time point of acute reversible cataract under anesthesia was shortened. Retinal/visual dysfunctions were detected 2-4 weeks after UCCAO. Specifically, scotopic b-wave was more affected than a-wave, with the dysfunction of photopic b-wave. Impaired oscillatory potentials and visual evoked potential were constantly observed. Pathological Müller gliosis/inflammation was featured with NeuN-positive cell loss in the ganglion cell layer. Axial length, intraocular pressure, pupillary light reflex, and retinal pigment epithelium/choroidal thickness were not changed by UCCAO. A murine model of retinal ischemia by UCCAO can be useful for studying a series of degenerative process in the ischemic retina.
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Moriuchi Y, Iwagawa T, Tsuhako A, Koso H, Fujita Y, Watanabe S. RasV12 Expression in Microglia Initiates Retinal Inflammation and Induces Photoreceptor Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2020; 61:34. [PMID: 33231622 PMCID: PMC7691791 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.13.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The role of activated retinal microglia in driving retinal degeneration has been implicated in a number of in vivo disease models. Here, we investigated the primary consequences of microglial activation by the specific expression of constitutively active Ras in microglia in a transgenic mouse model before the onset of any degenerative changes in the retina. Methods The double transgenic lines CAG-LSL-RasV12-IRES-EGFP; Cx3cr1CreER/+ (Cx3cr1-RasV12 mice) and CAG-LSL-EGFP; Cx3cr1CreER_+ (control mice) were generated. The expression of RasV12 was induced in microglia by tamoxifen administration, and the retinas were examined by immunohistochemistry of frozen sections, RT-qPCR, and live imaging. Results RasV12 expression in retinal microglial cells promoted cell proliferation, cytokine expression, and phagocytosis. RasV12-expressing microglia migrated toward the inner and outer layers of the retina. Examination of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression revealed activation of Müller glia in the retina. We also observed loss of the photoreceptors in the outer nuclear layer in close proximity to microglial cells. However, no significant neurodegeneration was detected in the inner nuclear layer (INL) or ganglion cell layer (GCL). The morphology of RasV12-expressing microglia in the GCL and INL retained more ramified features compared with the predominantly-ameboid morphology found in outer retinal microglia. Conclusions The expression of RasV12 is sufficient to activate microglia and lead to photoreceptor degeneration. Neurons in the inner side of the retina were not damaged by the RasV12-activated microglia, suggesting that microenvironment cues may modulate the microglial phenotypic features and effects of microglial activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Moriuchi
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiro Iwagawa
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Asano Tsuhako
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideto Koso
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Fujita
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Sumiko Watanabe
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Schnichels S, Paquet-Durand F, Löscher M, Tsai T, Hurst J, Joachim SC, Klettner A. Retina in a dish: Cell cultures, retinal explants and animal models for common diseases of the retina. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 81:100880. [PMID: 32721458 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
For many retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy (DR), the exact pathogenesis is still unclear. Moreover, the currently available therapeutic options are often unsatisfactory. Research designed to remedy this situation heavily relies on experimental animals. However, animal models often do not faithfully reproduce human disease and, currently, there is strong pressure from society to reduce animal research. Overall, this creates a need for improved disease models to understand pathologies and develop treatment options that, at the same time, require fewer or no experimental animals. Here, we review recent advances in the field of in vitro and ex vivo models for AMD, glaucoma, and DR. We highlight the difficulties associated with studies on complex diseases, in which both the initial trigger and the ensuing pathomechanisms are unclear, and then delineate which model systems are optimal for disease modelling. To this end, we present a variety of model systems, ranging from primary cell cultures, over organotypic cultures and whole eye cultures, to animal models. Specific advantages and disadvantages of such models are discussed, with a special focus on their relevance to putative in vivo disease mechanisms. In many cases, a replacement of in vivo research will mean that several different in vitro models are used in conjunction, for instance to analyze and validate causative molecular pathways. Finally, we argue that the analytical decomposition into appropriate cell and tissue model systems will allow making significant progress in our understanding of complex retinal diseases and may furthermore advance the treatment testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Schnichels
- University Eye Hospital, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Germany.
| | - François Paquet-Durand
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marina Löscher
- University Eye Hospital, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Teresa Tsai
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - José Hurst
- University Eye Hospital, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephanie C Joachim
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
| | - Alexa Klettner
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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7
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ERG Alteration Due to the rd8 Mutation of the Crb1 Gene in Cln3 +/+ rd8-/rd8- Mice. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020. [PMID: 31884644 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-27378-1_65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Mattapallil et al. described that vendor lines for C57BL/6 N mice may carry the rd8 mutation that leads to an ocular phenotype, which could be mistaken for an induced retinal degeneration. This mouse strain is widely used in ophthalmic research as a background for modeling retinal degeneration. In the process of studying Cln3Δex7/8 knock-in mice on a C57BL/6 N background, we became aware of this issue. The aim of this study thus was to use electroretinography to investigate the age-dependent functional loss in Cln3+/+ rd8-/rd8- mice and compare it to C57BL/6 J mice.The scotopic and photopic amplitudes of the a-wave and b-wave decrease significantly in mutant mice with increasing age, and the implicit time is prolonged. Especially the oscillatory potentials arising from inner retinal interaction seem to be notably affected by the rd8 mutation. Surprisingly, the amplitudes in young C57BL/6 J mice were lower than those measured in C57BL/6 N at any time point.Our results indicate that the rd8 mutation present in C57BL/6 N mice affects the function of the inner and outer retina. This is surprising given that the major retinal morphological alterations due to the rd8 mutation are found in the outer retina.We conclude that the rd8 mutation does affect the retinal function in Cln3+/+ rd8-/rd8- mice in a variable manner. Epigenetic factors and modifying genes lead to a phenotype shift in these mice. Interpreting the results of previous studies in mutant mice on C57BL/6 N background is challenging as comparing results obtained in independent studies or on other mouse backgrounds may be misleading. Using littermates as controls remains the only valid option.
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Chen B, Aredo B, Zhu Y, Ding Y, Xin-Zhao C, Ufret-Vincenty RL. A Mouse Model of Retinal Recovery From Photo-Oxidative/Photo-Inflammatory Injury: Nrf2, SOD1, DJ-1, and Parkin Are Not Essential to Recovery. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:1165-1174. [PMID: 30908580 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-25751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To determine if there is structural and functional recovery of the retina from light induced retinal degeneration, and to evaluate the role of the oxidative stress response elements Nrf2, SOD1, DJ-1, and Parkin in such a recovery process. Methods Eyes from C57BL/6J (B6J) mice and from oxidative stress response-deficient strains of mice were treated with intense light using the fundus camera-delivered light-induced retinal degeneration (FCD-LIRD) model. Fundus photographs, optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, and electroretinography (ERG) responses were obtained before the injury, during the "maximal injury phase" (days 4-7) and during the "recovery phase" (days 14-16) post light exposure and were evaluated for retinal damage and assessed for evidence of recovery from the injury. Results We demonstrate that mice treated with a sub-lethal FCD-LIRD protocol show an initial acute retina injury phase peaking between days 4 to 7 followed by a recovery phase in which the outer retinal thickness/volume and retinal function partially recover. These observations are reproduced in B6J mice and in mice lacking oxidative stress response enzymes (SOD1, DJ-1, and Parkin) or the oxidative stress response master regulator Nrf2. Conclusions Our data indicate that retinal recovery from injury can proceed via pathways that are independent from the common oxidative stress response elements Nrf2, SOD1, DJ-1, and Parkin. Furthermore, the model of retinal recovery from injury that we describe here mimics changes seen in a variety of clinical entities and may provide an excellent platform for dissecting general pathways of retinal recovery from sub-lethal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States.,Permanent Address: Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Bogale Aredo
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Yuanfei Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Yi Ding
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Cynthia Xin-Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
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Yang L, Meng H, Luo D, Deng T, Miao L, Zou B, Ge X, Hu X, Liu Y, Li X, Deng X, Guo S, Liang J, Chen T, Wen X, Li JJ, Wei L, Jin M. Inhibition of Experimental Age-Related Macular Degeneration by ZQMT in Mice. Curr Mol Med 2019; 19:434-442. [PMID: 31288713 DOI: 10.2174/1566524019666190425195706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive and irreversible eye disease. The anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of neovascular AMD. However, the expense for such treatment is quite high. METHODS We used a traditional Chinese medicine ZQMT as an alternative therapeutic regimen for AMD. We employed two in vivo animal models mimicking dry and wet AMD respectively to assess the therapeutic efficacy of ZQMT on treating AMD-related retinopathy. AMD-related retinopathy in Crb1rd8 mice was evaluated from week 1 to 8 by fundus photography. Laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was evaluated by fluorescein angiography and histopathology. RESULTS ZQMT increased CX3CR1 expression in murine CD4+ T cells either cultured in vitro or directly isolated from animals treated with ZQMT. We also performed both in vitro and in vivo studies to confirm that ZQMT has no apparent toxic effects. ZQMT alleviated AMD-related retinopathy in both Crb1rd8 and CNV models. Depletion of CCL2 and CX3CR1 in Crb1rd8 mice abolished the efficacy of ZQMT, suggesting that CCL2 and/or CX3CR1 may underlie the mechanisms of ZQMT in treating AMD-related retinopathy in mice. CONCLUSION In summary, our study supports the protective roles of a traditional Chinese medicine ZQMT in AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Huan Meng
- Department of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Tingting Deng
- Department of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Li Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Bin Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Xiaofei Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Xiao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Yu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Xifang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Xiuli Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Shixin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Juanran Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Tingting Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Jing Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Lai Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Ming Jin
- Department of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China
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10
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Telegina DV, Kozhevnikova OS, Kolosova NG. Changes in Retinal Glial Cells with Age and during Development of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2018; 83:1009-1017. [PMID: 30472939 DOI: 10.1134/s000629791809002x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Age is the major risk factor in the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which is a complex multifactor neurodegenerative disease of the retina and the main cause of irreversible vision loss in people over 60 years old. The major role in AMD pathogenesis belongs to structure-functional changes in the retinal pigment epithelium cells, while the onset and progression of AMD are commonly believed to be caused by the immune system dysfunctions. The role of retinal glial cells (Muller cells, astrocytes, and microglia) in AMD pathogenesis is studied much less. These cells maintain neurons and retinal vessels through the synthesis of neurotrophic and angiogenic factors, as well as perform supporting, separating, trophic, secretory, and immune functions. It is known that retinal glia experiences morphological and functional changes with age. Age-related impairments in the functional activity of glial cells are closely related to the changes in the expression of trophic factors that affect the status of all cell types in the retina. In this review, we summarized available literature data on the role of retinal macro- and microglia and on the contribution of these cells to AMD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D V Telegina
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - O S Kozhevnikova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - N G Kolosova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
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11
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Copland DA, Theodoropoulou S, Liu J, Dick AD. A Perspective of AMD Through the Eyes of Immunology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 59:AMD83-AMD92. [DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-23893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Copland
- Translational Health Sciences (Ophthalmology), University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London-Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Theodoropoulou
- Translational Health Sciences (Ophthalmology), University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Bristol Eye Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jian Liu
- Translational Health Sciences (Ophthalmology), University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Dick
- Translational Health Sciences (Ophthalmology), University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London-Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- Bristol Eye Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom
- University College London–Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
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12
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The Role of the Microglial Cx3cr1 Pathway in the Postnatal Maturation of Retinal Photoreceptors. J Neurosci 2018; 38:4708-4723. [PMID: 29669747 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2368-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the resident immune cells of the CNS, and their response to infection, injury and disease is well documented. More recently, microglia have been shown to play a role in normal CNS development, with the fractalkine-Cx3cr1 signaling pathway of particular importance. This work describes the interaction between the light-sensitive photoreceptors and microglia during eye opening, a time of postnatal photoreceptor maturation. Genetic removal of Cx3cr1 (Cx3cr1GFP/GFP ) led to an early retinal dysfunction soon after eye opening [postnatal day 17 (P17)] and cone photoreceptor loss (P30 onward) in mice of either sex. This dysfunction occurred at a time when fractalkine expression was predominantly outer retinal, when there was an increased microglial presence near the photoreceptor layer and increased microglial-cone photoreceptor contacts. Photoreceptor maturation and outer segment elongation was coincident with increased opsin photopigment expression in wild-type retina, while this was aberrant in the Cx3cr1GFP/GFP retina and outer segment length was reduced. A beadchip array highlighted Cx3cr1 regulation of genes involved in the photoreceptor cilium, a key structure that is important for outer segment elongation. This was confirmed with quantitative PCR with specific cilium-related genes, Rpgr and Rpgrip1, downregulated at eye opening (P14). While the overall cilium structure was unaffected, expression of Rpgr, Rpgrip1, and centrin were restricted to more proximal regions of the transitional zone. This study highlighted a novel role for microglia in postnatal neuronal development within the retina, with loss of fractalkine-Cx3cr1 signaling leading to an altered distribution of cilium proteins, failure of outer segment elongation and ultimately cone photoreceptor loss.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Microglia are involved in CNS development and disease. This work highlights the role of microglia in postnatal development of the light-detecting photoreceptor neurons within the mouse retina. Loss of the microglial Cx3cr1 signaling pathway resulted in specific alterations in the cilium, a key structure in photoreceptor outer segment elongation. The distribution of key components of the cilium transitional zone, Rpgr, Rpgrip1, and centrin, were altered in retinae lacking Cx3cr1 with reduced outer segment length and cone photoreceptor death observed at later postnatal ages. This work identifies a novel role for microglia in the postnatal maturation of retinal photoreceptors.
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13
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Epps SJ, Boldison J, Stimpson ML, Khera TK, Lait PJP, Copland DA, Dick AD, Nicholson LB. Re-programming immunosurveillance in persistent non-infectious ocular inflammation. Prog Retin Eye Res 2018. [PMID: 29530739 PMCID: PMC6563519 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Ocular function depends on a high level of anatomical integrity. This is threatened by inflammation, which alters the local tissue over short and long time-scales. Uveitis due to autoimmune disease, especially when it involves the retina, leads to persistent changes in how the eye interacts with the immune system. The normal pattern of immune surveillance, which for immune privileged tissues is limited, is re-programmed. Many cell types, that are not usually present in the eye, become detectable. There are changes in the tissue homeostasis and integrity. In both human disease and mouse models, in the most extreme cases, immunopathological findings consistent with development of ectopic lymphoid-like structures and disrupted angiogenesis accompany severely impaired eye function. Understanding how the ocular environment is shaped by persistent inflammation is crucial to developing novel approaches to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J Epps
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Joanne Boldison
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Madeleine L Stimpson
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Tarnjit K Khera
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK; School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Philippa J P Lait
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - David A Copland
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Andrew D Dick
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK; School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK; UCL-Institute of Ophthalmology and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Lindsay B Nicholson
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK; School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.
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14
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Meyer KJ, Anderson MG. Genetic modifiers as relevant biological variables of eye disorders. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:R58-R67. [PMID: 28482014 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
From early in the study of mammalian genetics, it was clear that modifiers can have a striking influence on phenotypes. Today, several modifiers have now been studied in enough detail to allow a glimpse of how they function and influence our perspective of disease. With respect to diseases of the eye, some modifiers are an important source of phenotypic variation that can elucidate how genes function in networks to collectively shape ocular anatomy and physiology, thus influencing our understanding of basic biology. Other modifiers represent an opportunity for new therapeutic targets, whose manipulation could be used to mitigate ophthalmic disease. Here, we review progress in the study of genetic modifiers of eye disorders, with examples from mice and humans that together illustrate the ubiquitous nature of genetic modifiers and why they are relevant biological variables in experimental design. Special emphasis is given to ophthalmic modifiers in mice, especially those relevant to selection of genetic background and those that might inadvertently be a source of experimental variability. These modifiers are capable of influencing interpretations of many experiments using targeted genome manipulations such as knockouts or transgenics. Whereas there are fewer examples of modifiers of eye disorders in humans with a molecular identification, there is ample evidence that they exist and should be considered as a relevant biological variable in human genetic studies as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacie J Meyer
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics.,Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Michael G Anderson
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics.,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.,Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.,Center for Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City Veterans Administration Medical Center, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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15
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Krebs MP. Using Vascular Landmarks to Orient 3D Optical Coherence Tomography Images of the Mouse Eye. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 7:176-190. [PMID: 28884793 DOI: 10.1002/cpmo.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Comparing 3D structural information obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) requires accurate alignment of images acquired from individual subjects. Despite the widespread use of OCT to image the anterior and posterior mouse eye, few approaches to align the resulting image data have been described, in part due to a lack of well-characterized landmarks that are suitable for alignment. Here, we provide an OCT acquisition and analysis protocol that incorporates the use of the long posterior ciliary arteries as landmarks. In mammals, these two large choroidal vessels lie in a plane approximately parallel to the horizon. Our OCT imaging approach resolves these vessels in the mouse eye and suggests that their location is reproducible. The protocol may be useful for preparing 3D OCT data to compare experimental cohorts of mice and for standardizing results from independent research laboratories. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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16
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Krebs MP, Collin GB, Hicks WL, Yu M, Charette JR, Shi LY, Wang J, Naggert JK, Peachey NS, Nishina PM. Mouse models of human ocular disease for translational research. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183837. [PMID: 28859131 PMCID: PMC5578669 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mouse models provide a valuable tool for exploring pathogenic mechanisms underlying inherited human disease. Here, we describe seven mouse models identified through the Translational Vision Research Models (TVRM) program, each carrying a new allele of a gene previously linked to retinal developmental and/or degenerative disease. The mutations include four alleles of three genes linked to human nonsyndromic ocular diseases (Aipl1tvrm119, Aipl1tvrm127, Rpgrip1tvrm111, RhoTvrm334) and three alleles of genes associated with human syndromic diseases that exhibit ocular phentoypes (Alms1tvrm102, Clcn2nmf289, Fkrptvrm53). Phenotypic characterization of each model is provided in the context of existing literature, in some cases refining our current understanding of specific disease attributes. These murine models, on fixed genetic backgrounds, are available for distribution upon request and may be useful for understanding the function of the gene in the retina, the pathological mechanisms induced by its disruption, and for testing experimental approaches to treat the corresponding human ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P. Krebs
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Gayle B. Collin
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Wanda L. Hicks
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Minzhong Yu
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | | | - Lan Ying Shi
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Jieping Wang
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | - Neal S. Peachey
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Patsy M. Nishina
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
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17
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Telegina DV, Kozhevnikova OS, Bayborodin SI, Kolosova NG. Contributions of age-related alterations of the retinal pigment epithelium and of glia to the AMD-like pathology in OXYS rats. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41533. [PMID: 28134357 PMCID: PMC5278403 DOI: 10.1038/srep41533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness in developed countries, and the molecular pathogenesis of early events of AMD is poorly understood. It is known that age-related alterations of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and of glial reactivity are early hallmarks of AMD. Here we evaluated contributions of the age-related alterations of the RPE and of glia to the development of AMD-like retinopathy in OXYS rats. We showed that destructive alterations in RPE cells are a primary change during the development of retinopathy in OXYS rats. Furthermore, a defect of retinal maturation and decreased immune function at the preclinical stage of retinopathy were observed in OXYS rats in addition to the impairment of RPE cell proliferation and of their capacity for division. At the active stage of the disease, the atrophic alterations increased, and reactive gliosis was observed when disease progressed, but immune function stayed weakened. Unexpectedly, we did not observe migration of microglia and macrophages into the photoreceptor layer. These results and the wide spectrum of age-related retinal alterations in humans as well as individual differences in the risk of AMD may be attributed to genetic factors and to differences in the underlying molecular events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darya V Telegina
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | | | | | - Nataliya G Kolosova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.,Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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18
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Liyanage SE, Gardner PJ, Ribeiro J, Cristante E, Sampson RD, Luhmann UFO, Ali RR, Bainbridge JW. Flow cytometric analysis of inflammatory and resident myeloid populations in mouse ocular inflammatory models. Exp Eye Res 2016; 151:160-70. [PMID: 27544307 PMCID: PMC5053376 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 08/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Myeloid cells make a pivotal contribution to tissue homeostasis during inflammation. Both tissue-specific resident populations and infiltrating myeloid cells can cause tissue injury through aberrant activation and/or dysregulated activity. Reliable identification and quantification of myeloid cells within diseased tissues is important to understand pathological inflammatory processes. Flow cytometry is a valuable technique for leukocyte analysis, but a standardized flow cytometric method for myeloid cell populations in the eye is lacking. Here, we validate a reproducible flow cytometry gating approach to characterize myeloid cells in several commonly used models of ocular inflammation. We profile and quantify myeloid subsets across these models, and highlight the value of this strategy in identifying phenotypic differences using Ccr2-deficient mice. This method will aid standardization in the field and facilitate future investigations into the roles of myeloid cells during ocular inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidath E Liyanage
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Peter J Gardner
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Joana Ribeiro
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Enrico Cristante
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Robert D Sampson
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | - Robin R Ali
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, City Road, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - James W Bainbridge
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, City Road, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
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19
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Zabel MK, Zhao L, Zhang Y, Gonzalez SR, Ma W, Wang X, Fariss RN, Wong WT. Microglial phagocytosis and activation underlying photoreceptor degeneration is regulated by CX3CL1-CX3CR1 signaling in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. Glia 2016; 64:1479-91. [PMID: 27314452 PMCID: PMC4958518 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of mutation‐bearing photoreceptors, is a significant cause of incurable blindness in the young worldwide. Recent studies have found that activated retinal microglia contribute to photoreceptor demise via phagocytosis and proinflammatory factor production, however mechanisms regulating these contributions are not well‐defined. In this study, we investigate the role of CX3CR1, a microglia‐specific receptor, in regulating microglia‐mediated degeneration using the well‐established rd10 mouse model of RP. We found that in CX3CR1‐deficient (CX3CR1GFP/GFP) rd10 mice microglial infiltration into the photoreceptor layer was significantly augmented and associated with accelerated photoreceptor apoptosis and atrophy compared with CX3CR1‐sufficient (CX3CR1GFP/+) rd10 littermates. CX3CR1‐deficient microglia demonstrated increased phagocytosis as evidenced by (1) having increased numbers of phagosomes in vivo, (2) an increased rate of phagocytosis of fluorescent beads and photoreceptor cellular debris in vitro, and (3) increased photoreceptor phagocytosis dynamics on live cell imaging in retinal explants, indicating that CX3CR1 signaling in microglia regulates the phagocytic clearance of at‐risk photoreceptors. We also found that CX3CR1 deficiency in retinal microglia was associated with increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and microglial activation markers. Significantly, increasing CX3CL1‐CX3CR1 signaling in the rd10 retina via exogenous intravitreal delivery of recombinant CX3CL1 was effective in (1) decreasing microglial infiltration, phagocytosis and activation, and (2) improving structural and functional features of photoreceptor degeneration. These results indicate that CX3CL1‐CX3CR1 signaling is a molecular mechanism capable of modulating microglial‐mediated degeneration and represents a potential molecular target in therapeutic approaches to RP. GLIA 2016;64:1479–1491
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew K Zabel
- Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lian Zhao
- Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yikui Zhang
- Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Shaimar R Gonzalez
- Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wenxin Ma
- Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Xu Wang
- Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Robert N Fariss
- Biological Imaging Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wai T Wong
- Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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20
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Kauppinen A, Paterno JJ, Blasiak J, Salminen A, Kaarniranta K. Inflammation and its role in age-related macular degeneration. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:1765-86. [PMID: 26852158 PMCID: PMC4819943 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2147-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 450] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Revised: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation is a cellular response to factors that challenge the homeostasis of cells and tissues. Cell-associated and soluble pattern-recognition receptors, e.g. Toll-like receptors, inflammasome receptors, and complement components initiate complex cellular cascades by recognizing or sensing different pathogen and damage-associated molecular patterns, respectively. Cytokines and chemokines represent alarm messages for leukocytes and once activated, these cells travel long distances to targeted inflamed tissues. Although it is a crucial survival mechanism, prolonged inflammation is detrimental and participates in numerous chronic age-related diseases. This article will review the onset of inflammation and link its functions to the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of severe vision loss in aged individuals in the developed countries. In this progressive disease, degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) results in the death of photoreceptors, leading to a loss of central vision. The RPE is prone to oxidative stress, a factor that together with deteriorating functionality, e.g. decreased intracellular recycling and degradation due to attenuated heterophagy/autophagy, induces inflammation. In the early phases, accumulation of intracellular lipofuscin in the RPE and extracellular drusen between RPE cells and Bruch's membrane can be clinically detected. Subsequently, in dry (atrophic) AMD there is geographic atrophy with discrete areas of RPE loss whereas in the wet (exudative) form there is neovascularization penetrating from the choroid to retinal layers. Elevations in levels of local and systemic biomarkers indicate that chronic inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of both disease forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Kauppinen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Jussi J Paterno
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Janusz Blasiak
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Antero Salminen
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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21
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Chu CJ, Gardner PJ, Copland DA, Liyanage SE, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Kleine Holthaus SM, Luhmann UFO, Smith AJ, Ali RR, Dick AD. Multimodal analysis of ocular inflammation using the endotoxin-induced uveitis mouse model. Dis Model Mech 2016; 9:473-81. [PMID: 26794131 PMCID: PMC4852501 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.022475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rodents is a model of acute Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated organ inflammation, and has been used to model human anterior uveitis, examine leukocyte trafficking and test novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics. Wider adoption has been limited by the requirement for manual, non-specific, cell-count scoring of histological sections from each eye as a measure of disease severity. Here, we describe a comprehensive and efficient technique that uses ocular dissection and multimodal tissue analysis. This allows matched disease scoring by multicolour flow cytometric analysis of the inflammatory infiltrate, protein analysis on ocular supernatants and qPCR on remnant tissues of the same eye. Dynamic changes in cell populations could be identified and mapped to chemokine and cytokine changes over the course of the model. To validate the technique, dose-responsive suppression of leukocyte infiltration by recombinant interleukin-10 was demonstrated, as well as selective suppression of the monocyte (CD11b+Ly6C+) infiltrate, in mice deficient for eitherCcl2orCcr2 Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used for the first time in this model to allowin vivoimaging of infiltrating vitreous cells, and correlated with CD11b+Ly6G+ counts to provide another unique measure of cell populations in the ocular tissue. Multimodal tissue analysis of EIU is proposed as a new standard to improve and broaden the application of this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J Chu
- School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Peter J Gardner
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - David A Copland
- School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Sidath E Liyanage
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | | | - Ulrich F O Luhmann
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Ophthalmology Discovery & Biomarkers, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, Basel 4070, Switzerland
| | - Alexander J Smith
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Andrew D Dick
- School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK
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22
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Hagbi-Levi S, Grunin M, Elbaz-Hayoun S, Tal D, Obolensky A, Hanhart J, Banin E, Burstyn-Cohen T, Chowers I. Retinal Phenotype following Combined Deletion of the Chemokine Receptor CCR2 and the Chemokine CX3CL1 in Mice. Ophthalmic Res 2015; 55:126-34. [PMID: 26670885 DOI: 10.1159/000441794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Conflicting data were reported with respect to the retinal phenotype of mice with dual perturbation of the CCL2 and CX3CR1 genes. We report the generation and retinal phenotype of mice with a reverse CCR2/CX3CL1 gene deficiency as a suggested model for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS Crossing of single-deficient mice generated CCR2/CX3CL1 DKO mice. DKO mice were compared with age-matched C57BL6J mice. Evaluation included color fundus photographs, electroretinography (ERG), histology and morphometric analysis. Immunohistochemistry for CD11b in retinal cross-sections and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid flat mounts was performed to assess microglia and macrophage recruitment. RESULTS A minority of DKO mice showed yellowish subretinal deposits at 10 months. ERG recordings showed reduced cone sensitivity in young, but not older DKO mice. Compared to wild-type mice, DKO mice exhibited 11% reduction in the number of outer nuclear layer nuclei. Old DKO mice had an increased number of CD11b-positive cells across the retina, and on RPE-choroid flat mounts. CONCLUSIONS In the absence of the rd8 allele, deficiency of CCR2 and CX3CL1 in mice leads to a mild form of retinal degeneration which is associated with the recruitment of macrophages, particularly to the subretinal space. This model enables to assess consequences of perturbed chemokine signaling, but it does not recapitulate cardinal AMD features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shira Hagbi-Levi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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23
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Aredo B, Li T, Chen X, Zhang K, Wang CXZ, Gou D, Zhao B, He Y, Ufret-Vincenty RL. A chimeric Cfh transgene leads to increased retinal oxidative stress, inflammation, and accumulation of activated subretinal microglia in mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2015; 56:3427-40. [PMID: 26030099 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-16089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Variants of complement factor H (Cfh) affecting short consensus repeats (SCRs) 6 to 8 increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Our aim was to explore the effect of expressing a Cfh variant on the in vivo susceptibility of the retina and RPE to oxidative stress and inflammation, using chimeric Cfh transgenic mice (chCfhTg). METHODS The chCfhTg and age-matched C57BL/6J (B6) mice were subjected to oxidative stress by either normal aging, or by exposure to a combination of oral hydroquinone (0.8% HQ) and increased light. Eyes were collected for immunohistochemistry of RPE-choroid flat mounts and of retinal sections, ELISA, electron microscopy, and RPE/microglia gene expression analysis. RESULTS Aging mice to 2 years led to an increased accumulation of basal laminar deposits, subretinal microglia/macrophages (MG/MΦ) staining for CD16 and for malondialdehyde (MDA), and MDA-modified proteins in the retina in chCfhTg compared to B6 mice. The chCfhTg mice maintained on HQ diet and increased light showed greater deposition of basal laminar deposits, more accumulation of fundus spots suggestive of MG/MΦ, and increased deposition of C3d in the sub-RPE space, compared to controls. In addition, chCfhTg mice demonstrated upregulation of NLRP3, IP-10, CD68, and TREM-2 in the RNA isolates from RPE/MG/MΦ. CONCLUSIONS Expression of a Cfh transgene introducing a variant in SCRs 6 to 8 was sufficient to lead to increased retinal/RPE susceptibility to oxidative stress, a proinflammatory MG/MΦ phenotype, and a proinflammatory RPE/MG/MΦ gene expression profile in a transgenic mouse model. Our data suggest that altered interactions of Cfh with MDA-modified proteins may be relevant in explaining the effects of the Cfh variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogale Aredo
- Department of Ophthalmology UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Ophthalmology UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States 2Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Kaiyan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Cynthia Xin-Zhao Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Darlene Gou
- Department of Ophthalmology UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Biren Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Yuguang He
- Department of Ophthalmology UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
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Levy O, Calippe B, Lavalette S, Hu SJ, Raoul W, Dominguez E, Housset M, Paques M, Sahel JA, Bemelmans AP, Combadiere C, Guillonneau X, Sennlaub F. Apolipoprotein E promotes subretinal mononuclear phagocyte survival and chronic inflammation in age-related macular degeneration. EMBO Mol Med 2015; 7:211-26. [PMID: 25604058 PMCID: PMC4328649 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201404524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Physiologically, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) expresses immunosuppressive signals such as FAS ligand (FASL), which prevents the accumulation of leukocytes in the subretinal space. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with a breakdown of the subretinal immunosuppressive environment and chronic accumulation of mononuclear phagocytes (MPs). We show that subretinal MPs in AMD patients accumulate on the RPE and express high levels of APOE. MPs of Cx3cr1(-/-) mice that develop MP accumulation on the RPE, photoreceptor degeneration, and increased choroidal neovascularization similarly express high levels of APOE. ApoE deletion in Cx3cr1(-/-) mice prevents pathogenic age- and stress-induced subretinal MP accumulation. We demonstrate that increased APOE levels induce IL-6 in MPs via the activation of the TLR2-CD14-dependent innate immunity receptor cluster. IL-6 in turn represses RPE FasL expression and prolongs subretinal MP survival. This mechanism may account, in part, for the MP accumulation observed in Cx3cr1(-/-) mice. Our results underline the inflammatory role of APOE in sterile inflammation in the immunosuppressive subretinal space. They provide rationale for the implication of IL-6 in AMD and open avenues toward therapies inhibiting pathogenic chronic inflammation in late AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Levy
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France
| | - Bertrand Calippe
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Lavalette
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France
| | - Shulong J Hu
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France
| | - William Raoul
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France
| | - Elisa Dominguez
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France
| | - Michael Housset
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France
| | - Michel Paques
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France
| | - Alexis-Pierre Bemelmans
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France CEA DSV I²BM Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France CNRS CEA URA 2210, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Christophe Combadiere
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 CR7 Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France INSERM U1135 CIMI-Paris, Paris, France CNRS ERL 8255 CIMI-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Guillonneau
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France
| | - Florian Sennlaub
- INSERM, Paris, France UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR_S 968 Institut de la Vision, Paris, France Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France
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Herrmann P, Cowing JA, Cristante E, Liyanage SE, Ribeiro J, Duran Y, Abelleira Hervas L, Carvalho LS, Bainbridge JWB, Luhmann UFO, Ali RR. Cd59a deficiency in mice leads to preferential innate immune activation in the retinal pigment epithelium-choroid with age. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:2637-48. [PMID: 26234657 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Revised: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the complement system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. To investigate consequences of altered complement regulation in the eye with age, we examined Cd59a complement regulator deficient (Cd59a(-/-)) mice between 4 and 15 months. In vivo imaging revealed an increased age-related accumulation of autofluorescent spots in Cd59a(-/-) mice, a feature that reflects accumulation of subretinal macrophages and/or microglia. Despite this activation of myeloid cells in the eye, Cd59a(-/-) mice showed normal retinal histology and function as well as normal choroidal microvasculature. With age, they revealed increased expression of activators of the alternative complement pathway (C3, Cfb, Cfd), in particular in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid but less in the retina. This molecular response was not altered by moderately-enhanced light exposure. Cd59a deficiency therefore leads to a preferential age-related dysregulation of the complement system in the RPE-choroid, that alone or in combination with light as a trigger, is not sufficient to cause choroidal vascular changes or retinal degeneration and dysfunction. This data emphasizes the particular vulnerability of the RPE-choroidal complex to dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Herrmann
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Jill A Cowing
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Enrico Cristante
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | | | - Joana Ribeiro
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Yanai Duran
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | | | - Livia S Carvalho
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - James W B Bainbridge
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
| | | | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
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Deletion of myosin VI causes slow retinal optic neuropathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-relevant retinal phenotype. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:3953-69. [PMID: 25939269 PMCID: PMC4575690 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1913-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Revised: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The unconventional myosin VI, a member of the actin-based motor protein family of myosins, is expressed in the retina. Its deletion was previously shown to reduce amplitudes of the a- and b-waves of the electroretinogram. Analyzing wild-type and myosin VI-deficient Snell’s Waltzer mice in more detail, the expression pattern of myosin VI in retinal pigment epithelium, outer limiting membrane, and outer plexiform layer could be linked with differential progressing ocular deficits. These encompassed reduced a-waves and b-waves and disturbed oscillatory potentials in the electroretinogram, photoreceptor cell death, retinal microglia infiltration, and formation of basal laminar deposits. A phenotype comprising features of glaucoma (neurodegeneration) and age-related macular degeneration could thus be uncovered that suggests dysfunction of myosin VI and its variable cargo adaptor proteins for membrane sorting and autophagy, as possible candidate mediators for both disease forms.
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Sahu B, Chavali VR, Alapati A, Suk J, Bartsch DU, Jablonski MM, Ayyagari R. Presence of rd8 mutation does not alter the ocular phenotype of late-onset retinal degeneration mouse model. Mol Vis 2015; 21:273-84. [PMID: 25814825 PMCID: PMC4360165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE A spontaneous frameshift mutation, c.3481delC, in the Crb1 gene is the underlying cause of dysplasia and retinal degeneration in rd8 mice. The rd8 mutation is found in C57BL/6N but not in C57BL/6J mouse sub-strains. The development of ocular pathology in single knockout Ccl2-/-, Cx3cr1-/- and in double knockout Ccl2-/-, Cx3cr1-/- mice raised on a C57BL/6 background has been reported to depend on the presence of a rd8 mutation. In this study, we investigated the influence of the rd8 mutation on the retinal pathology that we previously described in the late-onset retinal degeneration (L-ORD) mouse model with a heterozygous S163R mutation in the C1q-tumor necrosis factor-related protein-5Ctrp5+/- gene that was generated on a C57BL/6J background. METHODS Mouse lines carrying the Ctrp5 S163R and rd8 mutations (Ctrp5+/-;rd8/rd8), corresponding controls without the rd8 mutation (Ctrp5+/-;wt/wt), and wild-type mice with and without the rd8 mutation (Wtrd8/rd8 and Wtwt/wt, respectively) were generated by systematic breeding of mice in our L-ORD mouse colony. Genotyping the mice for the rd8 (del C at nt3481 in Crb1) and Ctrp5 S163R mutations was performed with allelic PCR or sequencing. Retinal morphology was studied with fundus imaging, histology, light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Genotype analysis of the mice in L-ORD mouse colony detected the rd8 mutation in the homozygous and heterozygous state. Fundus imaging of wild-type mice without the rd8 mutation (Wtwt/wt) revealed no autofluorescence (AF) spots up to 6-8 months and few AF spots at 21 months. However, the accumulation of AF lesions accelerated with age in the Ctrp5+/- mice that lack the rd8 mutation (Ctrp5+/-;wt/wt). The number of AF lesions was significantly increased (p<0.001), and they were small and uniformly distributed throughout the retina in the 21-month-old Ctrp5+/-;wt/wt mice when compared to the age-matched controls. Wild-type and Ctrp5+/- mice with the rd8 mutation (Wtrd8/rd8 and Ctrp5+/-;rd8/rd8, respectively) revealed an integrated retinal architecture with well-defined outer segments/inner segments (OS/IS), outer nuclear layer (ONL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), and inner nuclear layer (INL). The presence of pseudorosette structures reported in the rd8 mice between the ONL and the INL in the ventral quadrant of the retina was not observed in all genotypes studied. Further, the external limiting membrane was continuous in the Ctrp5+/-;rd8/rd8 and Wtrd8/rd8 mice. Evaluation of the retinal phenotype revealed that the Ctrp5+/-;wt/wt mice developed characteristic L-ORD pathology including age-dependent accumulation of AF spots, development of sub-retinal, sub-RPE, and basal laminar deposits, and Bruch's membrane abnormalities at older age, while these changes were not observed in the age-matched littermate WTwt/wt mice. CONCLUSIONS The Wtrd8/rd8 and Ctrp5+/-;rd8/rd8 mice raised on C57BL/6J did not develop early onset retinal changes that are characteristic of the rd8 phenotype, supporting the hypothesis that manifestation of rd8-associated pathology depends on the genetic background. The retinal pathology observed in mice with the Ctrp5+/-;wt/wt genotype is consistent with the L-ORD phenotype observed in patients and with the phenotype we described previously. The lack of rd8-associated retinal pathology in the Ctrp5+/-;wt/wt mouse model raised on the C57BL/6J background and the development of the L-ORD phenotype in these mice in the presence and absence of the rd8 mutation suggests that the pathology observed in the Ctrp5+/-;wt/wt mice is primarily associated with the S163R mutation in the Ctrp5 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhubanananda Sahu
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | | | - Akhila Alapati
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - John Suk
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Dirk-Uwe Bartsch
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Monica M. Jablonski
- Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Radha Ayyagari
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
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Gene therapy restores vision in rd1 mice after removal of a confounding mutation in Gpr179. Nat Commun 2015; 6:6006. [PMID: 25613321 PMCID: PMC4354202 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The rd1 mouse with a mutation in the Pde6b gene was the first strain of mice identified with a retinal degeneration. However, AAV-mediated gene supplementation of rd1 mice only results in structural preservation of photoreceptors, and restoration of the photoreceptor-mediated a-wave, but not in restoration of the bipolar cell-mediated b-wave. Here we show that a mutation in Gpr179 prevents the full restoration of vision in rd1 mice. Backcrossing rd1 with C57BL6 mice reveals the complete lack of b-wave in a subset of mice, consistent with an autosomal recessive Mendelian inheritance pattern. We identify a mutation in the Gpr179 gene, which encodes for a G-protein coupled receptor localized to the dendrites of ON-bipolar cells. Gene replacement in rd1 mice that are devoid of the mutation in Gpr179 successfully restores the function of both photoreceptors and bipolar cells, which is maintained for up to 13 months. Our discovery may explain the failure of previous gene therapy attempts in rd1 mice, and we propose that Grp179 mutation status should be taken into account in future studies involving rd1 mice.
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Aredo B, Zhang K, Chen X, Wang CXZ, Li T, Ufret-Vincenty RL. Differences in the distribution, phenotype and gene expression of subretinal microglia/macrophages in C57BL/6N (Crb1 rd8/rd8) versus C57BL6/J (Crb1 wt/wt) mice. J Neuroinflammation 2015; 12:6. [PMID: 25588310 PMCID: PMC4305240 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-014-0221-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Microglia/macrophages (MG/MΦ) are found in the subretinal space in both mice and humans. Our goal was to study the spatial and temporal distribution, the phenotype, and gene expression of subretinal MG/MΦ in mice with normal retinas and compare them to mice with known retinal pathology. Methods We studied C57BL/6 mice with (C57BL/6N), or without (C57BL/6J) the rd8 mutation in the Crb1 gene (which, in the presence of yet unidentified permissive/modifying genes, leads to a retinal degeneration), and documented their fundus appearance and the change with aging. Immunostaining of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) flat mounts was done for 1) Ionized calcium binding adaptor (Iba)-1, 2) FcγIII/II Receptor (CD16/CD32, abbreviated as CD16), and 3) Macrophage mannose receptor (MMR). Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was done for genes involved in oxidative stress, complement activation and inflammation. Results The number of yellow fundus spots correlated highly with subretinal Iba-1+ cells. The total number of subretinal MG/MΦ increased with age in the rd8 mutant mice, but not in the wild-type (WT) mice. There was a centripetal shift in the distribution of the subretinal MG/MΦ with age. Old rd8 mutant mice had a greater number of CD16+ MG/MΦ. CD16+ cells had morphological signs of activation, and this was most prominent in old rd8 mutant mice (P <1×10−8 versus old WT mice). Subretinal MG/MΦ in rd8 mutant mice also expressed iNOS and MHC-II, and had ultrastructural signs of activation. Finally, rd8 mutant mouse RPE/ MG/MΦ RNA isolates showed an upregulation of Ccl2, CFB, C3, NF-kβ, CD200R and TNF-alpha. The retinas of rd8 mutant mice showed upregulation of HO-1, C1q, C4, and Nrf-2. Conclusions When compared to C57BL/6J mice, C57BL/6N mice demonstrate increased accumulation of subretinal MG/MΦ, displaying phenotypical, morphological, and gene-expression characteristics consistent with a pro-inflammatory shift. These changes become more prominent with aging and are likely due to the combination of the rd8 mutation and yet unidentified permissive/modulatory genes in the C57BL/6N mice. In contrast, aging leads to a scavenging phenotype in the C57BL/6J subretinal microglia/macrophages. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-014-0221-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogale Aredo
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-9057, USA.
| | - Kaiyan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-9057, USA. .,Current address: Department of Ophthalmology, Hainan Provincial People's Hospital, Haikou, Hainan, 570203, PR China.
| | - Xiao Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-9057, USA. .,Current address: Department of Ophthalmology, Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Wuhan, 430070, PR China.
| | - Cynthia Xin-Zhao Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-9057, USA.
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-9057, USA.
| | - Rafael L Ufret-Vincenty
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-9057, USA.
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Baek DSH, Liang H, Zhao X, Pankova N, Wang H, Boyd S. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) non-invasively identifies chorioretinal toxicity in a rat model of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damage. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2015; 71:77-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2014.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2014] [Revised: 08/31/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Karlstetter M, Scholz R, Rutar M, Wong WT, Provis JM, Langmann T. Retinal microglia: just bystander or target for therapy? Prog Retin Eye Res 2014; 45:30-57. [PMID: 25476242 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2014.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 372] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Revised: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Resident microglial cells can be regarded as the immunological watchdogs of the brain and the retina. They are active sensors of their neuronal microenvironment and rapidly respond to various insults with a morphological and functional transformation into reactive phagocytes. There is strong evidence from animal models and in situ analyses of human tissue that microglial reactivity is a common hallmark of various retinal degenerative and inflammatory diseases. These include rare hereditary retinopathies such as retinitis pigmentosa and X-linked juvenile retinoschisis but also comprise more common multifactorial retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and uveitis as well as neurological disorders with ocular manifestation. In this review, we describe how microglial function is kept in balance under normal conditions by cross-talk with other retinal cells and summarize how microglia respond to different forms of retinal injury. In addition, we present the concept that microglia play a key role in local regulation of complement in the retina and specify aspects of microglial aging relevant for chronic inflammatory processes in the retina. We conclude that this resident immune cell of the retina cannot be simply regarded as bystander of disease but may instead be a potential therapeutic target to be modulated in the treatment of degenerative and inflammatory diseases of the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Karlstetter
- Laboratory for Experimental Immunology of the Eye, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Rebecca Scholz
- Laboratory for Experimental Immunology of the Eye, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Matt Rutar
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Wai T Wong
- Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jan M Provis
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Thomas Langmann
- Laboratory for Experimental Immunology of the Eye, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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Schnabolk G, Stauffer K, O'Quinn E, Coughlin B, Kunchithapautham K, Rohrer B. A comparative analysis of C57BL/6J and 6N substrains; chemokine/cytokine expression and susceptibility to laser-induced choroidal neovascularization. Exp Eye Res 2014; 129:18-23. [PMID: 25305577 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2014.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Revised: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most prevalent cause of blindness in the elderly. To study potential underlying mechanisms of AMD, animal models are utilized, focusing mostly on mice. Recently, genomic and phenotypic differences between the so-called control substrains, C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N, have been described in models of ocular and non-ocular diseases. In particular, the rd8 mutation of the Crb1 gene present in the C57BL/6N has been shown to impact certain ocular phenotypes and appears to augment phenotypes generally associated with inflammation. Here, we investigated angiogenic factor and cytokine expression using pathway arrays as well as the susceptibility to laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV), a model of wet AMD, in the two substrains. Age-matched 3-month-old C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N animals differed in gene expression levels for angiogenic factors and cytokines, with 6N animals expressing higher levels of inflammatory markers than 6Js. Yet laser-induced CNV was comparable in size between the two substrains. This lack of difference in CNV size was correlated with a gene expression profile that was comparable between the two substrains, due to the fact that the degree of change in gene expression of inflammatory markers after CNV was blunted in 6N mice. In summary, significant gene expression differences exist between C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N animals, reinforcing the notion that appropriate litter-mate controls or genetic background controls need to be used. Contrary to our expectation, CNV was not augmented in 6N animals, suggesting that low chronic inflammation in the RPE might provide a level of pre-conditioning and protection against stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloriane Schnabolk
- Research Service, Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
| | - Kimberly Stauffer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Elizabeth O'Quinn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Beth Coughlin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Kannan Kunchithapautham
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Bärbel Rohrer
- Research Service, Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29401, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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Fletcher EL, Jobling AI, Greferath U, Mills SA, Waugh M, Ho T, de Iongh RU, Phipps JA, Vessey KA. Studying age-related macular degeneration using animal models. Optom Vis Sci 2014; 91:878-86. [PMID: 24978866 PMCID: PMC4186726 DOI: 10.1097/opx.0000000000000322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the recent years, there have been tremendous advances in our understanding of the genetic and environmental factors associated with the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Examination of retinal changes in various animals has aided our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease. Notably, mouse strains, carrying genetic anomalies similar to those affecting humans, have provided a foundation for understanding how various genetic risk factors affect retinal integrity. However, to date, no single mouse strain that develops all the features of AMD in a progressive age-related manner has been identified. In addition, a mutation present in some background strains has clouded the interpretation of retinal phenotypes in many mouse strains. The aim of this perspective was to describe how animals can be used to understand the significance of each sign of AMD, as well as key genetic risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica L Fletcher
- *MScOptom, PhD †PhD ‡BSc(Hons) §MOptom, PhD Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (all authors)
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Balasubramanian SA, Krishna Kumar K, Baird PN. The role of proteases and inflammatory molecules in triggering neovascular age-related macular degeneration: basic science to clinical relevance. Transl Res 2014; 164:179-92. [PMID: 24794954 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2014.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes severe vision impairment in aged individuals. The health impact and cost of the disease will dramatically increase over the years, with the increase in the aging population. Currently, antivascular endothelial growth factor agents are routinely used for managing late-stage AMD, and recent data have shown that up to 15%-33% of patients do not respond to this treatment. Henceforth, there is a need to develop better treatment options. One avenue is to investigate the role proteases and inflammatory molecules might have in regulating and being regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor. Moreover, emerging data indicate that proteases and inflammatory molecules might be critical in the development and progression of AMD. This article reviews recent literature that investigates proteases and inflammatory molecules involved in the development of AMD. Gaining insights into the proteolytic and inflammatory pathways associated with the pathophysiology of AMD could enable the development of additional or alternative drug strategies for the treatment of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivaraman A Balasubramanian
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Kaavya Krishna Kumar
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul N Baird
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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35
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Luhmann UFO, Carvalho LS, Holthaus SMK, Cowing JA, Greenaway S, Chu CJ, Herrmann P, Smith AJ, Munro PMG, Potter P, Bainbridge JWB, Ali RR. The severity of retinal pathology in homozygous Crb1rd8/rd8 mice is dependent on additional genetic factors. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:128-41. [PMID: 25147295 PMCID: PMC4262495 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding phenotype–genotype correlations in retinal degeneration is a major challenge. Mutations in CRB1 lead to a spectrum of autosomal recessive retinal dystrophies with variable phenotypes suggesting the influence of modifying factors. To establish the contribution of the genetic background to phenotypic variability associated with the Crb1rd8/rd8 mutation, we compared the retinal pathology of Crb1rd8/rd8/J inbred mice with that of two Crb1rd8/rd8 lines backcrossed with C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice. Topical endoscopic fundal imaging and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy fundus images of all three Crb1rd8/rd8 lines showed a significant increase in the number of inferior retinal lesions that was strikingly variable between the lines. Optical coherence tomography, semithin, ultrastructural morphology and assessment of inflammatory and vascular marker by immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction revealed that the lesions were associated with photoreceptor death, Müller and microglia activation and telangiectasia-like vascular remodelling—features that were stable in the inbred, variable in the second, but virtually absent in the third Crb1rd8/rd8 line, even at 12 months of age. This suggests that the Crb1rd8/rd8 mutation is necessary, but not sufficient for the development of these degenerative features. By whole-genome SNP analysis of the genotype–phenotype correlation, a candidate region on chromosome 15 was identified. This may carry one or more genetic modifiers for the manifestation of the retinal pathology associated with mutations in Crb1. This study also provides insight into the nature of the retinal vascular lesions that likely represent a clinical correlate for the formation of retinal telangiectasia or Coats-like vasculopathy in patients with CRB1 mutations that are thought to depend on such genetic modifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sophia-Martha Kleine Holthaus
- Department of Genetics and MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | | | - Simon Greenaway
- Imaging Unit, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | | | | | - Peter M G Munro
- Imaging Unit, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Paul Potter
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 ORD, UK and
| | - James W B Bainbridge
- Department of Genetics and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 2PD, UK
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36
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Nagai N, Lundh von Leithner P, Izumi-Nagai K, Hosking B, Chang B, Hurd R, Adamson P, Adamis AP, Foxton RH, Ng YS, Shima DT. Spontaneous CNV in a novel mutant mouse is associated with early VEGF-A-driven angiogenesis and late-stage focal edema, neural cell loss, and dysfunction. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2014; 55:3709-19. [PMID: 24845632 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-13989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Characterization of a mouse model of spontaneous choroidal neovascularization (sCNV) and its effect on retinal architecture and function. METHODS The sCNV mouse phenotype was characterized by using fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), optical coherence tomography (OCT), ERG, immunostaining, biochemistry, and electron microscopy. A role for VEGF-A signaling in sCNV was investigated by using neutralizing antibodies and a role for macrophages explored by cell-depletion studies. RESULTS The sCNV starts between postnatal day 10 and 15 (P10-P15), increasing in number and severity causing RPE disruption and dysfunction. Various morphological methods confirmed the choroidal origin and subretinal position of the angiogenic vessels. At approximately P25, vessels were present in the outer retina with instances of anastomosis of some sCNV lesions with the retinal vasculature. The number of CNV lesions was significantly decreased by systemic blockade of the VEGF-A pathway. Choroidal neovascularization size also was significantly modulated by reducing the number of lesion-associated macrophages. Later stages of sCNV were associated with edema, neuronal loss, and dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS The sCNV mouse is a new model for the study of both early and late events associated with choroidal neovascularization. Pharmacological reduction in sCNV with VEGF-A antagonists and an anti-inflammatory strategy suggests the model may be useful for investigating novel targets for treating human ocular neovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihiro Nagai
- Department of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pete Lundh von Leithner
- Department of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kanako Izumi-Nagai
- Department of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Brett Hosking
- Department of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bo Chang
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States
| | - Ron Hurd
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States
| | - Peter Adamson
- GSK Ophthalmology, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | | | - Richard H Foxton
- Department of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yin Shan Ng
- Department of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - David T Shima
- Department of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
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37
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Chen M, Glenn JV, Dasari S, McVicar C, Ward M, Colhoun L, Quinn M, Bierhaus A, Xu H, Stitt AW. RAGE regulates immune cell infiltration and angiogenesis in choroidal neovascularization. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89548. [PMID: 24586862 PMCID: PMC3935881 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose RAGE regulates pro-inflammatory responses in diverse cells and tissues. This study has investigated if RAGE plays a role in immune cell mobilization and choroidal neovascular pathology that is associated with the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD). Methods RAGE null (RAGE−/−) mice and age-matched wild type (WT) control mice underwent laser photocoagulation to generate choroidal neovascularization (CNV) lesions which were then analyzed for morphology, S100B immunoreactivity and inflammatory cell infiltration. The chemotactic ability of bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) towards S100B was investigated. Results RAGE expression was significantly increased in the retina during CNV of WT mice (p<0.001). RAGE−/− mice exhibited significantly reduced CNV lesion size when compared to WT controls (p<0.05). S100B mRNA was upregulated in the lasered WT retina but not RAGE−/− retina and S100B immunoreactivity was present within CNV lesions although levels were less when RAGE−/− mice were compared to WT controls. Activated microglia in lesions were considerably less abundant in RAGE−/− mice when compared to WT counterparts (p<0.001). A dose dependent chemotactic migration was observed in BMDMs from WT mice (p<0.05–0.01) but this was not apparent in cells isolated from RAGE−/− mice. Conclusions RAGE-S100B interactions appear to play an important role in CNV lesion formation by regulating pro-inflammatory and angiogenic responses. This study highlights the role of RAGE in inflammation-mediated outer retinal pathology.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Blotting, Western
- Cells, Cultured
- Chemotaxis
- Choroidal Neovascularization/immunology
- Choroidal Neovascularization/metabolism
- Choroidal Neovascularization/pathology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Macrophages/immunology
- Macrophages/metabolism
- Macrophages/pathology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/immunology
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/pathology
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products
- Receptors, Immunologic/physiology
- Retina/immunology
- Retina/metabolism
- Retina/pathology
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit/genetics
- S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Chen
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Josephine V. Glenn
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Shilpa Dasari
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Carmel McVicar
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Ward
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Liza Colhoun
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Quinn
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Angelika Bierhaus
- Department of Medicine and Clinical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Heping Xu
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Alan W. Stitt
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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38
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Luhmann UF, Robbie SJ, Bainbridge JW, Ali RR. The relevance of chemokine signalling in modulating inherited and age-related retinal degenerations. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 801:427-33. [PMID: 24664727 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-3209-8_54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Systemic monocytes, tissue resident macrophages, dendritic cells and microglia have specific roles in immune surveillance and maintenance of tissue homeostasis and are key regulator and effector cells of the local immune response to acute and chronic tissue injury.Two major signalling pathways that differentially define trafficking behaviour and activation of systemic and local myeloid cell populations in response to exogenous and endogenous inflammatory stimuli are the Ccl2-Ccr2 and the Cx3cl1-Cx3cr1 chemokine pathways.Alterations in these pathways have been implicated in controlling myeloid cell activation during normal ageing and in age-related retinal degenerations, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD).We review the evidence for how altered chemokine signalling in acute and chronic inflammatory conditions regulate local and systemic myeloid cell responses in the retina and how this may contribute to or attenuate pathology in inherited and age-related retinal diseases. We discuss the role of environmental factors (e.g. light exposure) and the influence of genetic factors on the manifestation of pathology in experimental models and in human patients and how we envisage harnessing this knowledge for the development of targeted, more broadly applicable anti-inflammatory treatment strategies for a wide range of retinal degenerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Fo Luhmann
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, EC1V 9EL, London, UK,
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39
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Grunin M, Hagbi-Levi S, Chowers I. The role of monocytes and macrophages in age-related macular degeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 801:199-205. [PMID: 24664699 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-3209-8_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
White blood cells, particularly monocytes and their descendants, macrophages, have been implicated in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathology. In this minireview, we describe the current knowledge of monocyte and macrophage involvement in AMD. Chemokine receptors present on these cells such as CCR1, CCR2, and CX3CR1, and their roles in monocyte/macrophage recruitment to sites of injury and inflammation in the context of AMD will be reviewed. Mice models for perturbation of chemokine receptors that recapitulate some of the features of AMD are also described. The body of evidence from human and rodent studies at this point in time suggests that monocyte and macrophages may modulate the course of AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Grunin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel,
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40
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Inflammation in age-related macular degeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 801:229-35. [PMID: 24664703 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-3209-8_30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of legal blindness in elderly individuals in the developed world, affecting 30-50 million people worldwide. AMD primarily affects the macular region of the retina that is responsible for the majority of central, color and daytime vision. The presence of drusen, extracellular protein aggregates that accumulate under the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), is a major pathological hallmark in the early stages of the disease. The end stage 'dry' and 'wet' forms of the disease culminate in vision loss and are characterized by focal degeneration of the RPE and cone photoreceptors, and choroidal neovascularization (CNV), respectively. Being a multifactorial and genetically heterogeneous disease, the pathophysiology of AMD remains unclear, yet, there is ample evidence supporting immunological and inflammatory processes. Here, we review the recent literature implicating some of these immune processes in human AMD and in animal models.
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41
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Sennlaub F, Auvynet C, Calippe B, Lavalette S, Poupel L, Hu SJ, Dominguez E, Camelo S, Levy O, Guyon E, Saederup N, Charo IF, Rooijen NV, Nandrot E, Bourges JL, Behar-Cohen F, Sahel JA, Guillonneau X, Raoul W, Combadiere C. CCR2(+) monocytes infiltrate atrophic lesions in age-related macular disease and mediate photoreceptor degeneration in experimental subretinal inflammation in Cx3cr1 deficient mice. EMBO Mol Med 2013; 5:1775-93. [PMID: 24142887 PMCID: PMC3840491 DOI: 10.1002/emmm.201302692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Revised: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with the subretinal accumulation of mononuclear phagocytes (MPs). Their role in promoting or inhibiting retinal degeneration is unknown. We here show that atrophic AMD is associated with increased intraocular CCL2 levels and subretinal CCR2+ inflammatory monocyte infiltration in patients. Using age- and light-induced subretinal inflammation and photoreceptor degeneration in Cx3cr1 knockout mice, we show that subretinal Cx3cr1 deficient MPs overexpress CCL2 and that both the genetic deletion of CCL2 or CCR2 and the pharmacological inhibition of CCR2 prevent inflammatory monocyte recruitment, MP accumulation and photoreceptor degeneration in vivo. Our study shows that contrary to CCR2 and CCL2, CX3CR1 is constitutively expressed in the retina where it represses the expression of CCL2 and the recruitment of neurotoxic inflammatory CCR2+ monocytes. CCL2/CCR2 inhibition might represent a powerful tool for controlling inflammation and neurodegeneration in AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Sennlaub
- Inserm, U 968, Paris, France; UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR_S 968, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France; Hôtel Dieu, Service d'Ophtalmologie, Centre de Recherche Ophtalmologique, Paris, France
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42
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Cachafeiro M, Bemelmans AP, Samardzija M, Afanasieva T, Pournaras JA, Grimm C, Kostic C, Philippe S, Wenzel A, Arsenijevic Y. Hyperactivation of retina by light in mice leads to photoreceptor cell death mediated by VEGF and retinal pigment epithelium permeability. Cell Death Dis 2013; 4:e781. [PMID: 23990021 PMCID: PMC3763463 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2013.303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2013] [Revised: 05/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Light toxicity is suspected to enhance certain retinal degenerative processes such as age-related macular degeneration. Death of photoreceptors can be induced by their exposure to the visible light, and although cellular processes within photoreceptors have been characterized extensively, the role of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in this model is less well understood. We demonstrate that exposition to intense light causes the immediate breakdown of the outer blood–retinal barrier (BRB). In a molecular level, we observed the slackening of adherens junctions tying up the RPE and massive leakage of albumin into the neural retina. Retinal pigment epithelial cells normally secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at their basolateral side; light damage in contrast leads to VEGF increase on the apical side – that is, in the neuroretina. Blocking VEGF, by means of lentiviral gene transfer to express an anti-VEGF antibody in RPE cells, inhibits outer BRB breakdown and retinal degeneration, as illustrated by functional, behavioral and morphometric analysis. Our data show that exposure to high levels of visible light induces hyperpermeability of the RPE, likely involving VEGF signaling. The resulting retinal edema contributes to irreversible damage to photoreceptors. These data suggest that anti-VEGF compounds are of therapeutic interest when the outer BRB is altered by retinal stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cachafeiro
- Unit of Gene Therapy & Stem Cell Biology, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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43
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Gonzalez-Cordero A, West EL, Pearson RA, Duran Y, Carvalho LS, Chu CJ, Naeem A, Blackford SJI, Georgiadis A, Lakowski J, Hubank M, Smith AJ, Bainbridge JWB, Sowden JC, Ali RR. Photoreceptor precursors derived from three-dimensional embryonic stem cell cultures integrate and mature within adult degenerate retina. Nat Biotechnol 2013; 31:741-7. [PMID: 23873086 PMCID: PMC3826328 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 276] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Accepted: 06/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Irreversible blindness caused by loss of photoreceptors may be amenable to cell therapy. We previously demonstrated retinal repair and restoration of vision through transplantation of photoreceptor precursors obtained from postnatal retinas into visually impaired adult mice. Considerable progress has been made in differentiating embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro toward photoreceptor lineages. However, the capability of ESC-derived photoreceptors to integrate after transplantation has not been demonstrated unequivocally. Here, to isolate photoreceptor precursors fit for transplantation, we adapted a recently reported three-dimensional (3D) differentiation protocol that generates neuroretina from mouse ESCs. We show that rod precursors derived by this protocol and selected via a GFP reporter under the control of a Rhodopsin promoter integrate within degenerate retinas of adult mice and mature into outer segment-bearing photoreceptors. Notably, ESC-derived precursors at a developmental stage similar to postnatal days 4-8 integrate more efficiently compared with cells at other stages. This study shows conclusively that ESCs can provide a source of photoreceptors for retinal cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Emma L. West
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Rachael A. Pearson
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Yanai Duran
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Livia S. Carvalho
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Colin J. Chu
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Arifa Naeem
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Samuel J. I. Blackford
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Anastasios Georgiadis
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Jorn Lakowski
- Developmental Biology Unit, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Mike Hubank
- UCL Genomics, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Alexander J. Smith
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - James W. B. Bainbridge
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Jane C. Sowden
- Developmental Biology Unit, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Robin R. Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
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44
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Gonzalez-Cordero A, West EL, Pearson RA, Duran Y, Carvalho LS, Chu CJ, Naeem A, Blackford SJI, Georgiadis A, Lakowski J, Hubank M, Smith AJ, Bainbridge JWB, Sowden JC, Ali RR. Photoreceptor precursors derived from three-dimensional embryonic stem cell cultures integrate and mature within adult degenerate retina. Nat Biotechnol 2013. [PMID: 23873086 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2643]] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Irreversible blindness caused by loss of photoreceptors may be amenable to cell therapy. We previously demonstrated retinal repair and restoration of vision through transplantation of photoreceptor precursors obtained from postnatal retinas into visually impaired adult mice. Considerable progress has been made in differentiating embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro toward photoreceptor lineages. However, the capability of ESC-derived photoreceptors to integrate after transplantation has not been demonstrated unequivocally. Here, to isolate photoreceptor precursors fit for transplantation, we adapted a recently reported three-dimensional (3D) differentiation protocol that generates neuroretina from mouse ESCs. We show that rod precursors derived by this protocol and selected via a GFP reporter under the control of a Rhodopsin promoter integrate within degenerate retinas of adult mice and mature into outer segment-bearing photoreceptors. Notably, ESC-derived precursors at a developmental stage similar to postnatal days 4-8 integrate more efficiently compared with cells at other stages. This study shows conclusively that ESCs can provide a source of photoreceptors for retinal cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Emma L West
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Rachael A Pearson
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Yanai Duran
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Livia S Carvalho
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Colin J Chu
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Arifa Naeem
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Samuel J I Blackford
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Anastasios Georgiadis
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Jorn Lakowski
- Developmental Biology Unit, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Mike Hubank
- UCL Genomics, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Alexander J Smith
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - James W B Bainbridge
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Developmental Biology Unit, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK.,Molecular Immunology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
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45
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Gonzalez-Cordero A, West EL, Pearson RA, Duran Y, Carvalho LS, Chu CJ, Naeem A, Blackford SJI, Georgiadis A, Lakowski J, Hubank M, Smith AJ, Bainbridge JWB, Sowden JC, Ali RR. Photoreceptor precursors derived from three-dimensional embryonic stem cell cultures integrate and mature within adult degenerate retina. Nat Biotechnol 2013. [PMID: 23873086 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2643].] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Irreversible blindness caused by loss of photoreceptors may be amenable to cell therapy. We previously demonstrated retinal repair and restoration of vision through transplantation of photoreceptor precursors obtained from postnatal retinas into visually impaired adult mice. Considerable progress has been made in differentiating embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro toward photoreceptor lineages. However, the capability of ESC-derived photoreceptors to integrate after transplantation has not been demonstrated unequivocally. Here, to isolate photoreceptor precursors fit for transplantation, we adapted a recently reported three-dimensional (3D) differentiation protocol that generates neuroretina from mouse ESCs. We show that rod precursors derived by this protocol and selected via a GFP reporter under the control of a Rhodopsin promoter integrate within degenerate retinas of adult mice and mature into outer segment-bearing photoreceptors. Notably, ESC-derived precursors at a developmental stage similar to postnatal days 4-8 integrate more efficiently compared with cells at other stages. This study shows conclusively that ESCs can provide a source of photoreceptors for retinal cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Emma L West
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Rachael A Pearson
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Yanai Duran
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Livia S Carvalho
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Colin J Chu
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Arifa Naeem
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Samuel J I Blackford
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Anastasios Georgiadis
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Jorn Lakowski
- Developmental Biology Unit, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Mike Hubank
- UCL Genomics, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Alexander J Smith
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - James W B Bainbridge
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Developmental Biology Unit, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK.,Molecular Immunology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
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46
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Ramkumar HL, Tuo J, Shen DF, Zhang J, Cao X, Chew EY, Chan CC. Nutrient supplementation with n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, lutein, and zeaxanthin decrease A2E accumulation and VEGF expression in the retinas of Ccl2/Cx3cr1-deficient mice on Crb1rd8 background. J Nutr 2013; 143:1129-35. [PMID: 23677863 PMCID: PMC3681547 DOI: 10.3945/jn.112.169649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Age-Related Eye Diseases Study 2 (AREDS2) clinical trial is assessing the effects of higher dietary xanthophyll (lutein and zeaxanthin) and long-chain n3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) intake on progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study's purpose was to examine the retinal effects of the AREDS2 formulation on Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (Ccl2(-/-))/CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (Cx3cr1(-/-)) mice on Crumbs homolog 1 retinal degeneration phenotype 8 (Crb1(rd8)) background (DKO), which develop focal retinal lesions with certain features similar to AMD. DKO and C57BL/6N rd8 background mice (WT) were bred and randomized into 4 groups. Two groups, WT mice on AREDS2 diet (A-WT) and DKO mice on AREDS2 diet (A-DKO), were supplemented daily with 1.76 μmol of lutein, 35.1 μmol of zeaxanthin, 215 μmol EPA, and 107 μmol of DHA, and 2 control groups, WT mice on control diet (C-WT) and DKO mice on control diet (C-DKO), were fed an isocaloric diet. All mice had monthly fundus photos and were killed after 3 mo for biochemical and histologic analyses. After 3 mo, 81% of A-DKO mice had lesion regression compared with 25% of C-DKO mice (P < 0.05). Toxic retinal 2-[2,6-dimethyl-8-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1E,3E,5E,7E-octatetra-enyl]-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-[4-methyl-6(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl) 1E,3E,5E,7E-hexatrienyl]-pyridinium (A2E) concentrations were significantly lower in A-DKO compared with C-DKO mice. The outer nuclear layer thickness in A-DKO mice was significantly greater than that in C-DKO mice. Retinal expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNos) tumor necrosis factor-α (Tnf-α), Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), interleukin1beta (IL-1β), and vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegf) was significantly lower in A-DKO compared with C-DKO mice. Xanthophylls and LCPUFAs have antiinflammatory, neuroprotective, and antiangiogenic properties. Our data provide potential mechanisms by which the AREDS2 formula has a protective effect on retinal lesions in DKO mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hema L. Ramkumar
- Laboratory of Immunology,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD,Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Center, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | | | | | | | - Xiaoguang Cao
- Laboratory of Immunology,Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Emily Y. Chew
- Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Chi-Chao Chan
- Laboratory of Immunology,Histology Core, and,To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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47
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McLenachan S, Chen X, McMenamin PG, Rakoczy EP. Absence of clinical correlates of diabetic retinopathy in theIns2Akitaretina. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2013; 41:582-92. [DOI: 10.1111/ceo.12084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 12/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiangting Chen
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology; School of Biomedical Sciences; Monash University; Melbourne; Victoria; Australia
| | - Paul G McMenamin
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology; School of Biomedical Sciences; Monash University; Melbourne; Victoria; Australia
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48
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Chu CJ, Herrmann P, Carvalho LS, Liyanage SE, Bainbridge JWB, Ali RR, Dick AD, Luhmann UFO. Assessment and in vivo scoring of murine experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis using optical coherence tomography. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63002. [PMID: 23690973 PMCID: PMC3653962 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in clinical imaging and grading our understanding of retinal immune responses and their morphological correlates in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU), has been hindered by the requirement for post-mortem histology. To date, monitoring changes occurring during EAU disease progression and evaluating the effect of therapeutic intervention in real time has not been possible. We wanted to establish whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) could detect intraretinal changes during inflammation and to determine its utility as a tool for accurate scoring of EAU. EAU was induced in C57BL/6J mice and animals evaluated after 15, 26, 36 and 60 days. At each time-point, contemporaneous Spectralis-OCT scanning, topical endoscopic fundal imaging (TEFI), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and CD45-immunolabelled histology were performed. OCT features were further characterised on retinal flat-mounts using immunohistochemistry and 3D reconstruction. Optic disc swelling and vitreous opacities detected by OCT corresponded to CD45+ cell infiltration on histology. Vasculitis identified by FFA and OCT matched perivascular myeloid and T-cell infiltrates and could be differentiated from unaffected vessels. Evolution of these changes could be followed over time in the same eye. Retinal folds were visible and found to encapsulate mixed populations of activated myeloid cells, T-cells and microglia. Using these features, an OCT-based EAU scoring system was developed, with significant correlation to validated histological (Pearson r2 = 0.6392, P<0.0001, n = 31 eyes) and TEFI based scoring systems (r2 = 0.6784, P<0.0001). OCT distinguishes the fundamental features of murine EAU in vivo, permits dynamic assessment of intraretinal changes and can be used to score disease severity. As a result, it allows tissue synchronisation with subsequent cellular and functional assessment and greater efficiency of animal usage. By relating OCT signals with immunohistochemistry in EAU, our findings offer the opportunity to inform the interpretation of OCT changes in human uveitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J. Chu
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Philipp Herrmann
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Livia S. Carvalho
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sidath E. Liyanage
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - James W. B. Bainbridge
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R. Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Dick
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Unit of Ophthalmology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (UFL); (ADD)
| | - Ulrich F. O. Luhmann
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (UFL); (ADD)
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49
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Chen M, Hombrebueno JR, Luo C, Penalva R, Zhao J, Colhoun L, Pandi SPS, Forrester JV, Xu H. Age- and light-dependent development of localised retinal atrophy in CCL2(-/-)CX3CR1(GFP/GFP) mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61381. [PMID: 23637822 PMCID: PMC3630229 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2012] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that CCL2/CX3CR1 deficient mice on C57BL/6N background (with rd8 mutation) have an early onset (6 weeks) of spontaneous retinal degeneration. In this study, we generated CCL2−/−CX3CR1GFP/GFP mice on the C57BL/6J background. Retinal degeneration was not detected in CCL2−/−CX3CR1GFP/GFP mice younger than 6 months. Patches of whitish/yellowish fundus lesions were observed in 17∼60% of 12-month, and 30∼100% of 18-month CCL2−/−CX3CR1GFP/GFP mice. Fluorescein angiography revealed no choroidal neovascularisation in these mice. Patches of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor damage were detected in 30% and 50% of 12- and 18-month CCL2−/−CX3CR1GFP/GFP mice respectively, but not in wild-type mice. All CCL2−/−CX3CR1GFP/GFP mice exposed to extra-light (∼800lux, 6 h/day, 6 months) developed patches of retinal atrophy, and only 20–25% of WT mice which underwent the same light treatment developed atrophic lesions. In addition, synaptophysin expression was detected in the outer nucler layer (ONL) of area related to photoreceptor loss in CCL2−/−CX3CR1GFP/GFP mice. Markedly increased rhodopsin but reduced cone arrestin expression was observed in retinal outer layers in aged CCL2−/−CX3CR1GFP/GFP mice. GABA expression was reduced in the inner retina of aged CCL2−/−CX3CR1GFP/GFP mice. Significantly increased Müller glial and microglial activation was observed in CCL2−/−CX3CR1GFP/GFP mice compared to age-matched WT mice. Macrophages from CCL2−/−CX3CR1GFP/GFP mice were less phagocytic, but expressed higher levels of iNOS, IL-1β, IL-12 and TNF-α under hypoxia conditions. Our results suggest that the deletions of CCL2 and CX3CR1 predispose mice to age- and light-mediated retinal damage. The CCL2/CX3CR1 deficient mouse may thus serve as a model for age-related atrophic degeneration of the RPE, including the dry type of macular degeneration, geographic atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Chen
- Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Jose R. Hombrebueno
- Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Chang Luo
- Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Rosana Penalva
- Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Jiawu Zhao
- Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Liza Colhoun
- Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Sudha Pirya Soundara Pandi
- Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - John V. Forrester
- Ocular Immunology Group, Section of Immunology and Infection, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Heping Xu
- Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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50
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Infiltration of proinflammatory m1 macrophages into the outer retina precedes damage in a mouse model of age-related macular degeneration. Int J Inflam 2013; 2013:503725. [PMID: 23533946 PMCID: PMC3606733 DOI: 10.1155/2013/503725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Revised: 12/20/2012] [Accepted: 01/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness in the developed world. Oxidative stress and inflammation are implicated in AMD, but precise mechanisms remain poorly defined. Carboxyethylpyrrole (CEP) is an AMD-associated lipid peroxidation product. We previously demonstrated that mice immunized with CEP-modified albumin developed AMD-like degenerative changes in the outer retina. Here, we examined the kinetics of lesion development in immunized mice and the presence of macrophages within the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM), between the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor outer segments. We observed a significant and time-dependent increase in the number of macrophages in immunized mice relative to young age-matched controls prior to overt pathology. These changes were more pronounced in BALB/c mice than in C57BL/6 mice. Importantly, IPM-infiltrating macrophages were polarized toward the M1 phenotype but only in immunized mice. Moreover, when Ccr2-deficient mice were immunized, macrophages were not present in the IPM and no retinal lesions were observed, suggesting a deleterious role for these cells in our model. This work provides mechanistic evidence linking immune responses against oxidative damage with the presence of proinflammatory macrophages at sites of future AMD and experimentally demonstrates that manipulating immunity may be a target for modulating the development of AMD.
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