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Panneels V, Diaz A, Imsand C, Guizar-Sicairos M, Müller E, Bittermann AG, Ishikawa T, Menzel A, Kaech A, Holler M, Grimm C, Schertler G. Imaging of retina cellular and subcellular structures using ptychographic hard X-ray tomography. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:272479. [PMID: 34494099 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.258561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ptychographic hard X-ray computed tomography (PXCT) is a recent method allowing imaging with quantitative electron-density contrast. Here, we imaged, at cryogenic temperature and without sectioning, cellular and subcellular structures of a chemically fixed and stained wild-type mouse retina, including axons and synapses, with complete isotropic 3D information over tens of microns. Comparison with tomograms of degenerative retina from a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa illustrates the potential of this method for analyzing disease processes like neurodegeneration at sub-200 nm resolution. As a non-destructive imaging method, PXCT is very suitable for correlative imaging. Within the outer plexiform layer containing the photoreceptor synapses, we identified somatic synapses. We used a small region inside the X-ray-imaged sample for further high-resolution focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope tomography. The subcellular structures of synapses obtained with the X-ray technique matched the electron microscopy data, demonstrating that PXCT is a powerful scanning method for tissue volumes of more than 60 cells and sensitive enough for identification of regions as small as 200 nm, which remain available for further structural and biochemical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Panneels
- Division of Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Ana Diaz
- Division of Photon Science, Laboratory for Macromolecules and Bioimaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia Imsand
- Laboratory for Retinal Cell Biology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Guizar-Sicairos
- Division of Photon Science, Laboratory for Macromolecules and Bioimaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Elisabeth Müller
- Division of Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Nanoscale Biology, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Anne Greet Bittermann
- ScopeM, Scientific Center for Optical and Electron Microscopy, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Takashi Ishikawa
- Division of Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland.,Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Menzel
- Division of Photon Science, Laboratory for Macromolecules and Bioimaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Andres Kaech
- Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mirko Holler
- Division of Photon Science, Laboratory for Macromolecules and Bioimaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Christian Grimm
- Laboratory for Retinal Cell Biology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Gebhard Schertler
- Division of Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland.,Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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Schmelter C, Fomo KN, Perumal N, Pfeiffer N, Grus FH. Regulation of the HTRA2 Protease Activity by an Inhibitory Antibody-Derived Peptide Ligand and the Influence on HTRA2-Specific Protein Interaction Networks in Retinal Tissues. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9081013. [PMID: 34440217 PMCID: PMC8427973 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial serine protease HTRA2 has many versatile biological functions ranging from being an important regulator of apoptosis to being an essential component for neuronal cell survival and mitochondrial homeostasis. Loss of HTRA2 protease function is known to cause neurodegeneration, whereas overactivation of its proteolytic function is associated with cell death and inflammation. In accordance with this, our group verified in a recent study that the synthetic peptide ASGYTFTNYGLSWVR, encoding the hypervariable sequence part of an antibody, showed a high affinity for the target protein HTRA2 and triggered neuroprotection in an in vitro organ culture model for glaucoma. To unravel this neuroprotective mechanism, the present study showed for the first time that the synthetic CDR1 peptide significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited the proteolytic activity of HTRA2 up to 50% using a specific protease function assay. Furthermore, using state-of-the-art co-immunoprecipitation technologies in combination with high-resolution MS, we identified 50 significant protein interaction partners of HTRA2 in the retina of house swine (p < 0.01; log2 fold change > 1.5). Interestingly, 72% of the HTRA2-specific interactions (23 of 31 binders) were inhibited by additional treatment with UCF-101 (HTRA2 protease inhibitor) or the synthetic CDR peptide. On the other hand, the remaining 19 binders of HTRA2 were exclusively identified in the UCF101 and/or CDR group. However, many of the interactors were involved in the ER to Golgi anterograde transport (e.g., AP3D1), aggrephagy (e.g., PSMC1), and the pyruvate metabolism/citric acid cycle (e.g., SHMT2), and illustrated the complex protein interaction networks of HTRA2 in neurological tissues. In conclusion, the present study provides, for the first time, a comprehensive protein catalogue of HTRA2-specific interaction partners in the retina, and will serve as reference map in the future for studies focusing on HTRA2-mediated neurodegeneration.
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3
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m6A modification promotes miR-133a repression during cardiac development and hypertrophy via IGF2BP2. Cell Death Discov 2021; 7:157. [PMID: 34226535 PMCID: PMC8257704 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00552-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Both N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification and microRNAs (miRNAs) are common regulatory mechanisms for gene post-transcription by modulating mRNA stability and translation. They also share the same 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs) regions for their target gene. However, little is known about their potential interaction in cell development and biology. Here, we aimed to investigate how m6A regulates the specific miRNA repression during cardiac development and hypertrophy. Our multiple lines of bioinformatic and molecular biological evidence have shown that m6A modification on cardiac miR-133a target sequence promotes miR-133a repressive effect via AGO2-IGF2BP2 (Argonaute 2—Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2) complex. Among 139 cardiac miRNAs, only the seed sequence of miR-133a was inversely complement to m6A consensus motif “GGACH” by sequence alignment analysis. Immunofluorescence staining, luciferase reporter, and m6A-RIP (RNA immunoprecipitation) assays revealed that m6A modification facilitated miR-133a binding to and repressing their targets. The inhibition of the miR-133a on cardiac proliferation and hypertrophy could be prevented by silencing of Fto (FTO alpha-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase) which induced m6A modification. IGF2BP2, an m6A binding protein, physically interacted with AGO2 and increased more miR-133a accumulation on its target site, which was modified by m6A. In conclusion, our study revealed a novel and precise regulatory mechanism that the m6A modification promoted the repression of specific miRNA during heart development and hypertrophy. Targeting m6A modification might provide a strategy to repair hypertrophic gene expression induced by miR-133a.
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4
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Kiessling E, Nötzli S, Todorova V, Forny M, Baumgartner MR, Samardzija M, Krijt J, Kožich V, Grimm C, Froese DS. Absence of MMACHC in peripheral retinal cells does not lead to an ocular phenotype in mice. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166201. [PMID: 34147638 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Combined methylmalonic aciduria with homocystinuria (cblC type) is a rare disease caused by mutations in the MMACHC gene. MMACHC encodes an enzyme crucial for intracellular vitamin B12 metabolism, leading to the accumulation of toxic metabolites e.g. methylmalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine (Hcy), and secondary disturbances in folate and one-carbon metabolism when not fully functional. Patients with cblC deficiency often present in the neonatal or early childhood period with a severe multisystem pathology, which comprises a broad spectrum of treatment-resistant ophthalmological phenotypes, including retinal degeneration, impaired vision, and vascular changes. To examine the potential function of MMACHC in the retina and how its loss may impact disease, we performed gene expression studies in human and mouse, which showed that local expression of MMACHC in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium is relatively stable over time. To study whether functional MMACHC is required for retinal function and tissue integrity, we generated a transgenic mouse lacking Mmachc expression in cells of the peripheral retina. Characterization of this mouse revealed accumulation of cblC disease related metabolites, including MMA and the folate-dependent purine synthesis intermediates AICA-riboside and SAICA-riboside in the retina. Nevertheless, fundus appearance, morphology, vasculature, and cellular composition of the retina, as well as ocular function, remained normal in mice up to 6 or 12 months of age. Our data indicates that peripheral retinal neurons do not require intrinsic expression of Mmachc for survival and function and questions whether a local MMACHC deficiency is responsible for the retinal phenotypes in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Kiessling
- Lab for Retinal Cell Biology, Dept. Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Nötzli
- Lab for Retinal Cell Biology, Dept. Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Vyara Todorova
- Lab for Retinal Cell Biology, Dept. Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Merima Forny
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zürich, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias R Baumgartner
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zürich, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marijana Samardzija
- Lab for Retinal Cell Biology, Dept. Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jakub Krijt
- Dept. of Pediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Charles University-First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Viktor Kožich
- Dept. of Pediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Charles University-First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Christian Grimm
- Lab for Retinal Cell Biology, Dept. Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - D Sean Froese
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zürich, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
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5
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Buck TM, Vos RM, Alves CH, Wijnholds J. AAV- CRB2 protects against vision loss in an inducible CRB1 retinitis pigmentosa mouse model. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 20:423-441. [PMID: 33575434 PMCID: PMC7848734 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Loss of Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) or CRB2 proteins in Müller cells or photoreceptors in the mouse retina results in a CRB dose-dependent retinal phenotype. In this study, we present a novel Müller cell-specific Crb1KOCrb2LowMGC retinitis pigmentosa mouse model (complete loss of CRB1 and reduced levels of CRB2 specifically in Müller cells). The Crb double mutant mice showed deficits in electroretinography, optokinetic head tracking, and retinal morphology. Exposure of retinas to low levels of dl-α-aminoadipate acid induced gliosis and retinal disorganization in Crb1KOCrb2LowMGC retinas but not in wild-type or Crb1-deficient retinas. Crb1KOCrb2LowMGC mice showed a substantial decrease in inner/outer photoreceptor segment length and optokinetic head-tracking response. Intravitreal application of rAAV vectors expressing human CRB2 (hCRB2) in Müller cells of Crb1KOCrb2LowMGC mice subsequently exposed to low levels of dl-α-aminoadipate acid prevented loss of vision, whereas recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors expressing human CRB1 (hCRB1) did not. Both rAAV vectors partially protected the morphology of the retina. The results suggest that hCRB expression in Müller cells is vital for control of retinal cell adhesion at the outer limiting membrane, and that the rAAV-cytomegalovirus (CMV)-hCRB2 vector is more potent than rAAV-minimal CMV (CMVmin)-hCRB1 in protection against loss of vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilo M Buck
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Rogier M Vos
- Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - C Henrique Alves
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands.,Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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6
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Rho GTPases Signaling in Zebrafish Development and Disease. Cells 2020; 9:cells9122634. [PMID: 33302361 PMCID: PMC7762611 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells encounter countless external cues and the specificity of their responses is translated through a myriad of tightly regulated intracellular signals. For this, Rho GTPases play a central role and transduce signals that contribute to fundamental cell dynamic and survival events. Here, we review our knowledge on how zebrafish helped us understand the role of some of these proteins in a multitude of in vivo cellular behaviors. Zebrafish studies offer a unique opportunity to explore the role and more specifically the spatial and temporal dynamic of Rho GTPases activities within a complex environment at a level of details unachievable in any other vertebrate organism.
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7
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Cytoglobin deficiency potentiates Crb1-mediated retinal degeneration in rd8 mice. Dev Biol 2019; 458:141-152. [PMID: 31634437 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Cytoglobin (Cygb) deficiency on Crb1-related retinopathy. The Crb1 cell polarity complex is required for photoreceptor function and survival. Crb1-related retinopathies encompass a broad range of phenotypes which are not completely explained by the variability of Crb1 mutations. Genes thought to modify Crb1 function are therefore important targets of research. The biological function of Cygb involves oxygen delivery, scavenging of reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide metabolism. However, the relationship of Cygb to diseases involving the Crb1 cell polarity complex is unknown. METHODS Cygb knockout mice homozygous for the rd8 mutation (Cygb-/-rd8/rd8) were screened for ocular abnormalities and imaged using optical coherence tomography and fundus photography. Electroretinography was performed, as was histology and immunohistochemistry. Quantitative PCR was used to determine the effect of Cygb deficiency on transcription of Crb1 related cell polarity genes. RESULTS Cygb-/-rd8/rd8 mice develop an abnormal retina with severe lamination abnormalities. The retina undergoes progressive degeneration with the ventral retina more severely affected than the dorsal retina. Cygb expression is in neurons of the retinal ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer. Immunohistochemical studies suggest that cell death predominates in the photoreceptors. Electroretinography amplitudes show reduced a- and b-waves, consistent with photoreceptor disease. Cygb deficient retinas had only modest transcriptional perturbations of Crb1-related cell polarity genes. Cygb-/- mice without the rd8 mutation did not exhibit obvious retinal abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS Cygb is necessary for retinal lamination, maintenance of cell polarity, and photoreceptor survival in rd8 mice. These results are consistent with Cygb as a disease modifying gene in Crb1-related retinopathy. Further studies are necessary to investigate the role of Cygb in the human retina.
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8
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Mellough CB, Collin J, Queen R, Hilgen G, Dorgau B, Zerti D, Felemban M, White K, Sernagor E, Lako M. Systematic Comparison of Retinal Organoid Differentiation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Reveals Stage Specific, Cell Line, and Methodological Differences. Stem Cells Transl Med 2019; 8:694-706. [PMID: 30916455 PMCID: PMC6591558 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.18-0267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A major goal in the stem cell field is to generate tissues that can be utilized as a universal tool for in vitro models of development and disease, drug development, or as a resource for patients suffering from disease or injury. Great efforts are being made to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells in vitro toward retinal tissue, which is akin to native human retina in its cytoarchitecture and function, yet the numerous existing retinal induction protocols remain variable in their efficiency and do not routinely produce morphologically or functionally mature photoreceptors. Herein, we determine the impact that the method of embryoid body (EB) formation and maintenance as well as cell line background has on retinal organoid differentiation from human embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells. Our data indicate that cell line-specific differences dominate the variables that underline the differentiation efficiency in the early stages of differentiation. In contrast, the EB generation method and maintenance conditions determine the later differentiation and maturation of retinal organoids. Of the latter, the mechanical method of EB generation under static conditions, accompanied by media supplementation with Y27632 for the first 48 hours of differentiation, results in the most consistent formation of laminated retinal neuroepithelium containing mature and electrophysiologically responsive photoreceptors. Collectively, our data provide substantive evidence for stage-specific differences in the ability to give rise to laminated retinae, which is determined by cell line-specific differences in the early stages of differentiation and EB generation/organoid maintenance methods at later stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla B. Mellough
- Institute of Genetic MedicineNewcastle UniversityNewcastleUnited Kingdom
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual ScienceLions Eye Institute, University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Joseph Collin
- Institute of Genetic MedicineNewcastle UniversityNewcastleUnited Kingdom
| | - Rachel Queen
- Institute of Genetic MedicineNewcastle UniversityNewcastleUnited Kingdom
| | - Gerrit Hilgen
- Institute of NeuroscienceNewcastle UniversityNewcastleUnited Kingdom
| | - Birthe Dorgau
- Institute of Genetic MedicineNewcastle UniversityNewcastleUnited Kingdom
| | - Darin Zerti
- Institute of Genetic MedicineNewcastle UniversityNewcastleUnited Kingdom
| | - Majed Felemban
- Institute of Genetic MedicineNewcastle UniversityNewcastleUnited Kingdom
| | - Kathryn White
- EM Research ServicesNewcastle UniversityNewcastleUnited Kingdom
| | - Evelyne Sernagor
- Institute of NeuroscienceNewcastle UniversityNewcastleUnited Kingdom
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Institute of Genetic MedicineNewcastle UniversityNewcastleUnited Kingdom
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9
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Quinn PM, Mulder AA, Henrique Alves C, Desrosiers M, de Vries SI, Klooster J, Dalkara D, Koster AJ, Jost CR, Wijnholds J. Loss of CRB2 in Müller glial cells modifies a CRB1-associated retinitis pigmentosa phenotype into a Leber congenital amaurosis phenotype. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 28:105-123. [PMID: 30239717 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Variations in the human Crumbs homolog-1 (CRB1) gene lead to an array of retinal dystrophies including early onset of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) in children. To investigate the physiological roles of CRB1 and CRB2 in retinal Müller glial cells (MGCs), we analysed mouse retinas lacking both proteins in MGC. The peripheral retina showed a faster progression of dystrophy than the central retina. The central retina showed retinal folds, disruptions at the outer limiting membrane, protrusion of photoreceptor nuclei into the inner and outer segment layers and ingression of photoreceptor nuclei into the photoreceptor synaptic layer. The peripheral retina showed a complete loss of the photoreceptor synapse layer, intermingling of photoreceptor nuclei within the inner nuclear layer and ectopic photoreceptor cells in the ganglion cell layer. Electroretinography showed severe attenuation of the scotopic a-wave at 1 month of age with responses below detection levels at 3 months of age. The double knockout mouse retinas mimicked a phenotype equivalent to a clinical LCA phenotype due to loss of CRB1. Localization of CRB1 and CRB2 in non-human primate (NHP) retinas was analyzed at the ultrastructural level. We found that NHP CRB1 and CRB2 proteins localized to the subapical region adjacent to adherens junctions at the outer limiting membrane in MGC and photoreceptors. Our data suggest that loss of CRB2 in MGC aggravates the CRB1-associated RP-like phenotype towards an LCA-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Quinn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aat A Mulder
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - C Henrique Alves
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mélissa Desrosiers
- Department of Therapeutics, Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris, UMR_S INSERM, CNRS, UMR, Paris, France
| | - Sharon I de Vries
- Department of Axonal Signaling, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Klooster
- Department of Retina Signal Processing, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Department of Therapeutics, Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris, UMR_S INSERM, CNRS, UMR, Paris, France
| | - Abraham J Koster
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Carolina R Jost
- Department of Cell & Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, RC Leiden, The Netherlands.,The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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10
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Kong Y, Zhao L, Charette JR, Hicks WL, Stone L, Nishina PM, Naggert JK. An FRMD4B variant suppresses dysplastic photoreceptor lesions in models of enhanced S-cone syndrome and of Nrl deficiency. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:3340-3352. [PMID: 29947801 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptor dysplasia, characterized by formation of folds and (pseudo-)rosettes in the outer retina, is associated with loss of functional nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group E member 3 (NR2E3) and neural retina leucine-zipper (NRL) in both humans and mice. A sensitized chemical mutagenesis study to identify genetic modifiers that suppress photoreceptor dysplasia in Nr2e3rd7mutant mice identified line Tvrm222, which exhibits a normal fundus appearance in the presence of the rd7 mutation. The Tvrm222 modifier of Nr2e3rd7/rd7 was localized to Chromosome 6 and identified as a missense mutation in the FERM domain containing 4B (Frmd4b) gene. The variant is predicted to cause the substitution of a serine residue 938 with proline (S938P). The Frmd4bTvrm222 allele was also found to suppress outer nuclear layer (ONL) rosettes in Nrl-/- mice. Fragmentation of the external limiting membrane (ELM), normally observed in rd7 and Nrl-/-mouse retinas, was absent in the presence of the Frmd4bTvrm222 allele. FRMD4B, a binding partner of cytohesin 3, is proposed to participate in cell junction remodeling. Its biological function in photoreceptor dysplasia has not been previously examined. In vitro experiments showed that the FRMD4B938P variant fails to be efficiently recruited to the cell surface upon insulin stimulation. In addition, we found a reduction in protein kinase B phosphorylation and increased levels of cell junction proteins, Catenin beta 1 and tight junction protein 1, associated with the cell membrane in Tvrm222 retinas. Taken together, this study reveals a critical role of FRMD4B in maintaining ELM integrity and in rescuing morphological abnormalities of the ONL in photoreceptor dysplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Kong
- Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
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11
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Lajko M, Cardona HJ, Taylor JM, Farrow KN, Fawzi AA. Photoreceptor oxidative stress in hyperoxia-induced proliferative retinopathy accelerates rd8 degeneration. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180384. [PMID: 28671996 PMCID: PMC5495396 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the impact of photoreceptor oxidative stress on photoreceptor degeneration in mice carrying the rd8 mutation (C57BL/6N). We compared the hyperoxia-induced proliferative retinopathy (HIPR) model in two mouse strains (C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N). Pups were exposed to 75% oxygen, starting at birth and continuing for 14 days (P14). Mice were euthanized at P14, or allowed to recover in room air for one day (P15), seven days (P21), or 14 days (P28). We quantified retinal thickness and the length of residual photoreceptors not affected by rosette formation. In addition we explored differences in retinal immunostaining for NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), Rac1, vascular endothelium, and activated Mϋller cells. We analyzed photoreceptor oxidative stress using DCF staining in cross sections and quantified NOX4 protein levels using western blotting. C57BL/6N mice in HIPR showed increased oxidative stress, NOX4, and Rac1 in the photoreceptors at P14 and P15 compared to C57BL/6J. In addition, we observed significant progression of photoreceptor degeneration, with significantly accelerated rosette formation in C57BL/6N under HIPR, compared to their room air counterparts. Furthermore, C57BL/6N under HIPR had significantly thinner central retinas than C57BL/6J in HIPR. We did not find a difference in vascular disruption or Mϋller cell activation comparing the two strains in hyperoxia. In HIPR, the C57BL/6N strain carrying the rd8 mutation showed significantly accelerated photoreceptor degeneration, mediated via exacerbated photoreceptor oxidative stress, which we believe relates to Rac1-NOX dysregulation in the setting of Crb1 loss-of-function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Lajko
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Herminio J. Cardona
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Joann M. Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Kathryn N. Farrow
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Amani A. Fawzi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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12
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Guadagni V, Cerri C, Piano I, Novelli E, Gargini C, Fiorentini C, Caleo M, Strettoi E. The bacterial toxin CNF1 as a tool to induce retinal degeneration reminiscent of retinitis pigmentosa. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35919. [PMID: 27775019 PMCID: PMC5075935 DOI: 10.1038/srep35919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) comprises a group of inherited pathologies characterized by progressive photoreceptor degeneration. In rodent models of RP, expression of defective genes and retinal degeneration usually manifest during the first weeks of postnatal life, making it difficult to distinguish consequences of primary genetic defects from abnormalities in retinal development. Moreover, mouse eyes are small and not always adequate to test pharmacological and surgical treatments. An inducible paradigm of retinal degeneration potentially extensible to large animals is therefore desirable. Starting from the serendipitous observation that intraocular injections of a Rho GTPase activator, the bacterial toxin Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1 (CNF1), lead to retinal degeneration, we implemented an inducible model recapitulating most of the key features of Retinitis Pigmentosa. The model also unmasks an intrinsic vulnerability of photoreceptors to the mechanism of CNF1 action, indicating still unexplored molecular pathways potentially leading to the death of these cells in inherited forms of retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Guadagni
- Neuroscience Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Chiara Cerri
- Neuroscience Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, 56124, Italy.,Accademia dei Lincei, Rome, 00165, Italy
| | - Ilaria Piano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Elena Novelli
- Neuroscience Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Claudia Gargini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Caleo
- Neuroscience Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Enrica Strettoi
- Neuroscience Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, 56124, Italy
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Hanovice NJ, McMains E, Gross JM. A GAL4-inducible transgenic tool kit for the in vivo modulation of Rho GTPase activity in zebrafish. Dev Dyn 2016; 245:844-53. [PMID: 27105927 PMCID: PMC4946996 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Revised: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rho GTPases are small monomeric G-proteins that play key roles in many cellular processes. Due to Rho GTPases' widespread expression and broad functions, analyses of their function during late development require tissue-specific modulation of activity. The GAL4/UAS system provides an excellent tool for investigating the function of Rho GTPases in vivo. With this in mind, we created a transgenic tool kit enabling spatial and temporal modulation of Rho GTPase activity in zebrafish. RESULTS Transgenic constructs were assembled driving dominant-negative, constitutively active, and wild-type versions of Cdc42, RhoA, and Rac1 under 10XUAS control. The self-cleaving viral peptide F2A was utilized to allow bicistronic expression of a fluorescent reporter and Rho GTPase. Global heat shock of hsp70l:gal4(+) transgenic embryos confirmed GAL4-specific construct expression. Western blot analysis indicated myc-tagged Rho GTPases were expressed only in the presence of GAL4. Construct expression was confined to proper cells when combined with pou4f3:gal4 or ptf1a:gal4. Finally, transgene expression resulted in reproducible defects in lens formation, indicating that the transgenes are functional in vivo. CONCLUSIONS We generated and validated 10 transgenic lines, creating a versatile tool kit for the temporal-spatial modulation of Cdc42, RhoA, and Rac1 activity in vivo. These lines will enable systematic analysis of Rho GTPase function in any tissue of interest. Developmental Dynamics 245:844-853, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Hanovice
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Emily McMains
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Jeffrey M Gross
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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14
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Gene expression changes in the retina following subretinal injection of human neural progenitor cells into a rodent model for retinal degeneration. Mol Vis 2016; 22:472-90. [PMID: 27217715 PMCID: PMC4872275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Retinal degenerative diseases (RDDs) affect millions of people and are the leading cause of vision loss. Although treatment options for RDDs are limited, stem and progenitor cell-based therapies have great potential to halt or slow the progression of vision loss. Our previous studies have shown that a single subretinal injection of human forebrain derived neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) into the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) retinal degenerate rat offers long-term preservation of photoreceptors and visual function. Furthermore, neural progenitor cells are currently in clinical trials for treating age-related macular degeneration; however, the molecular mechanisms of stem cell-based therapies are largely unknown. This is the first study to analyze gene expression changes in the retina of RCS rats following subretinal injection of hNPCs using high-throughput sequencing. METHODS RNA-seq data of retinas from RCS rats injected with hNPCs (RCS(hNPCs)) were compared to sham surgery in RCS (RCS(sham)) and wild-type Long Evans (LE(sham)) rats. Differential gene expression patterns were determined with in silico analysis and confirmed with qRT-PCR. Function, biologic, cellular component, and pathway analyses were performed on differentially expressed genes and investigated with immunofluorescent staining experiments. RESULTS Analysis of the gene expression data sets identified 1,215 genes that were differentially expressed between RCS(sham) and LE(sham) samples. Additionally, 283 genes were differentially expressed between the RCS(hNPCs) and RCS(sham) samples. Comparison of these two gene sets identified 68 genes with inverse expression (termed rescue genes), including Pdc, Rp1, and Cdc42ep5. Functional, biologic, and cellular component analyses indicate that the immune response is enhanced in RCS(sham). Pathway analysis of the differential expression gene sets identified three affected pathways in RCS(hNPCs), which all play roles in phagocytosis signaling. Immunofluorescent staining detected the increased presence of macrophages and microglia in RCS(sham) retinas, which decreased in RCS(hNPCs) retinas similar to the patterns detected in LE(sham). CONCLUSIONS The results from this study provide evidence of the gene expression changes that occur following treatment with hNPCs in the degenerating retina. This information can be used in future studies to potentially enhance or predict responses to hNPC and other stem cell therapies for retinal degenerative diseases.
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Choi SY, Baek JI, Zuo X, Kim SH, Dunaief JL, Lipschutz JH. Cdc42 and sec10 Are Required for Normal Retinal Development in Zebrafish. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2015; 56:3361-70. [PMID: 26024121 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-15692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize the function and mechanisms of cdc42 and sec10 in eye development in zebrafish. METHODS Knockdown of zebrafish cdc42 and sec10 was carried out using antisense morpholino injection. The phenotype of morphants was characterized by histology, immunohistology, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To investigate a synergistic genetic interaction between cdc42 and sec10, we titrated suboptimal doses of cdc42 and sec10 morpholinos, and coinjected both morpholinos. To study trafficking, a melanosome transport assay was performed using epinephrine. RESULTS Cdc42 and sec10 knockdown in zebrafish resulted in both abnormal eye development and increased retinal cell death. Cdc42 morphants had a relatively normal retinal structure, aside from the absence of most connecting cilia and outer segments, whereas in sec10 morphants, much of the outer nuclear layer, which is composed of the photoreceptor nuclei, was missing and RPE cell thickness was markedly irregular. Knockdown of cdc42 and sec10 also resulted in an intracellular transport defect affecting retrograde melanosome transport. Furthermore, there was a synergistic genetic interaction between zebrafish cdc42 and sec10, suggesting that cdc42 and sec10 act in the same pathway in retinal development. CONCLUSIONS We propose a model whereby sec10 and cdc42 play a central role in development of the outer segment of the retinal photoreceptor cell by trafficking proteins necessary for ciliogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Young Choi
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
| | - Jeong-In Baek
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
| | - Xiaofeng Zuo
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
| | - Seok-Hyung Kim
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
| | - Joshua L Dunaief
- F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Joshua H Lipschutz
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States 3Department of Medicine, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
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Abstract
We have identified and characterized a spontaneous Brown Norway from Janvier rat strain (BN-J) presenting a progressive retinal degeneration associated with early retinal telangiectasia, neuronal alterations, and loss of retinal Müller glial cells resembling human macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel 2), which is a retinal disease of unknown cause. Genetic analyses showed that the BN-J phenotype results from an autosomal recessive indel novel mutation in the Crb1 gene, causing dislocalization of the protein from the retinal Müller glia (RMG)/photoreceptor cell junction. The transcriptomic analyses of primary RMG cultures allowed identification of the dysregulated pathways in BN-J rats compared with wild-type BN rats. Among those pathways, TGF-β and Kit Receptor Signaling, MAPK Cascade, Growth Factors and Inflammatory Pathways, G-Protein Signaling Pathways, Regulation of Actin Cytoskeleton, and Cardiovascular Signaling were found. Potential molecular targets linking RMG/photoreceptor interaction with the development of retinal telangiectasia are identified. This model can help us to better understand the physiopathologic mechanisms of MacTel 2 and other retinal diseases associated with telangiectasia.
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Singh S, Solecki DJ. Polarity transitions during neurogenesis and germinal zone exit in the developing central nervous system. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:62. [PMID: 25852469 PMCID: PMC4349153 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During neural development, billions of neurons differentiate, polarize, migrate and form synapses in a precisely choreographed sequence. These precise developmental events are accompanied by discreet transitions in cellular polarity. While radial glial neural stem cells are highly polarized, transiently amplifying neural progenitors are less polarized after delaminating from their parental stem cell. Moreover, preceding their radial migration to a final laminar position neural progenitors re-adopt a polarized morphology before they embarking on their journey along a glial guide to the destination where they will fully mature. In this review, we will compare and contrast the key polarity transitions of cells derived from a neuroepithelium to the well-characterized polarity transitions that occur in true epithelia. We will highlight recent advances in the field that shows that neuronal progenitor delamination from germinal zone (GZ) niche shares similarities to an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Moreover, studies in the cerebellum suggest the acquisition of radial migration and polarity in transiently amplifying neural progenitors share similarities to mesenchymal-epithelial transitions. Where applicable, we will compare and contrast the precise molecular mechanisms used by epithelial cells and neuronal progenitors to control plasticity in cell polarity during their distinct developmental programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Singh
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN, USA
| | - David J Solecki
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN, USA
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18
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Caprara C, Britschgi C, Samardzija M, Grimm C. The erythropoietin receptor is not required for the development, function, and aging of rods and cells in the retinal periphery. Mol Vis 2014; 20:307-24. [PMID: 24644405 PMCID: PMC3955415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Erythropoietin (EPO) was originally described for its antiapoptotic effects on erythroid progenitor cells in bone marrow. In recent years, however, EPO has also been shown to be cytoprotective in several tissues, including the retina. There, exogenous application of EPO was reported to exert neuro- and vasoprotection in several models of retinal injury. EPO and the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) are expressed in the retina, but the role of endogenous EPO-EPOR signaling in this tissue remains elusive. Here, we investigated the consequences for cell physiology and survival when EpoR is ablated in rod photoreceptors or in the peripheral retina. METHODS Two mouse lines were generated harboring a cyclization recombinase (CRE)-mediated knockdown of EpoR in rod photoreceptors (EpoR(flox/flox);Opn-Cre) or in a heterogeneous cell population of the retinal periphery (EpoR(flox/flox);α-Cre). The function of the retina was measured with electroretinography. Retinal morphology was analyzed in tissue sections. The vasculature of the retina was investigated on flatmount preparations, cryosections, and fluorescein angiography. Retinal nuclear layers were isolated by laser capture microdissection to test for EpoR expression. Gene expression analysis was performed with semiquantitative real-time PCR. To test if the absence of EPOR potentially increases retinal susceptibility to hypoxic stress, the knockdown mice were exposed to hypoxia. RESULTS Newborn mice had lower retinal expression levels of EpoR and soluble EpoR (sEpoR) than the adult wild-type mice. In the adult mice, the EpoR transcripts were elevated in the inner retinal layers, while expression in the photoreceptors was low. CRE-mediated deletion in the EpoR(flox/flox);Opn-Cre mice led to a decrease in EpoR mRNA expression in the outer nuclear layer. A significant decrease in EpoR expression was measured in the retina of the EpoR(flox/flox);α-Cre mice, accompanied by a strong and significant decrease in sEpoR expression. Analysis of the retinal morphology in the two knockdown lines did not reveal any developmental defects or signs of accelerated degeneration in the senescent tissue. Similarly, retinal function was not altered under scotopic and photopic conditions. In addition, EpoR knockdown had no influence on cell viability under acute hypoxic conditions. Retinal angiogenesis and vasculature were normal in the absence of EPOR. However, expression of some EPOR-signaling target genes was significantly altered in the retinas of the EpoR(flox/flox);α-Cre mice. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that expression of EPOR in rod photoreceptors, Müller cells, and amacrine, horizontal, and ganglion cells of the peripheral retina is not required for the maturation, function, and survival of these cells in aging tissue. Based on the expression of the EPOR-signaling target genes, we postulate that expression of soluble EPOR in the retina may modulate endogenous EPO-EPOR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Caprara
- Lab for Retinal Cell Biology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Corinne Britschgi
- Lab for Retinal Cell Biology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marijana Samardzija
- Lab for Retinal Cell Biology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Grimm
- Lab for Retinal Cell Biology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Zurich, Switzerland,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Switzerland
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19
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Alves CH, Pellissier LP, Wijnholds J. The CRB1 and adherens junction complex proteins in retinal development and maintenance. Prog Retin Eye Res 2014; 40:35-52. [PMID: 24508727 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2014.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Revised: 01/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The early developing retinal neuroepithelium is composed of multipotent retinal progenitor cells that differentiate in a time specific manner, giving rise to six major types of neuronal and one type of glial cells. These cells migrate and organize in three distinct nuclear layers divided by two plexiform layers. Apical and adherens junction complexes have a crucial role in this process by the establishment of polarity and adhesion. Changes in these complexes disturb the spatiotemporal aspects of retinogenesis, leading to retinal degeneration resulting in mild or severe impairment of retinal function and vision. In this review, we summarize the mouse models for the different members of the apical and adherens junction protein complexes and describe the main features of their retinal phenotypes. The knowledge acquired from the different mutant animals for these proteins corroborate their importance in retina development and maintenance of normal retinal structure and function. More recently, several studies have tried to unravel the connection between the apical proteins, important cellular signaling pathways and their relation in retina development. Still, the mechanisms by which these proteins function remain largely unknown. Here, we hypothesize how the mammalian apical CRB1 complex might control retinogenesis and prevents onset of Leber congenital amaurosis or retinitis pigmentosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celso Henrique Alves
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lucie P Pellissier
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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