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Matynia A, Recio BS, Myers Z, Parikh S, Goit RK, Brecha NC, Pérez de Sevilla Müller L. Preservation of Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells (ipRGCs) in Late Adult Mice: Implications as a Potential Biomarker for Early Onset Ocular Degenerative Diseases. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:28. [PMID: 38224335 PMCID: PMC10793389 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.1.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) play a crucial role in non-image-forming visual functions. Given their significant loss observed in various ocular degenerative diseases at early stages, this study aimed to assess changes in both the morphology and associated behavioral functions of ipRGCs in mice between 6 (mature) and 12 (late adult) months old. The findings contribute to understanding the preservation of ipRGCs in late adults and their potential as a biomarker for early ocular degenerative diseases. Methods Female and male C57BL/6J mice were used to assess the behavioral consequences of aging to mature and old adults, including pupillary light reflex, light aversion, visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity. Immunohistochemistry on retinal wholemounts from these mice was then conducted to evaluate ipRGC dendritic morphology in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner nuclear layer (INL). Results Morphological analysis showed that ipRGC dendritic field complexity was remarkably stable through 12 months old of age. Similarly, the pupillary light reflex, visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity were stable in mature and old adults. Although alterations were observed in ipRGC-independent light aversion distinct from the pupillary light reflex, aged wild-type mice continuously showed enhanced light aversion with dilation. No effect of sex was observed in any tests. Conclusions The preservation of both ipRGC morphology and function highlights the potential of ipRGC-mediated function as a valuable biomarker for ocular diseases characterized by early ipRGC loss. The consistent stability of ipRGCs in mature and old adult mice suggests that detected changes in ipRGC-mediated functions could serve as early indicators or diagnostic tools for early-onset conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and diabetes, where ipRGC loss has been documented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Matynia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Brandy S. Recio
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Zachary Myers
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Sachin Parikh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Rajesh Kumar Goit
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Nicholas C. Brecha
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Luis Pérez de Sevilla Müller
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
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2
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Wong DCS, Harvey JP, Jurkute N, Thomasy SM, Moosajee M, Yu-Wai-Man P, Gilhooley MJ. OPA1 Dominant Optic Atrophy: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Targets. J Neuroophthalmol 2023; 43:464-474. [PMID: 37974363 PMCID: PMC10645107 DOI: 10.1097/wno.0000000000001830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David C. S. Wong
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCSW, PY-W-M), John van Geest Center for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Cambridge Eye Unit (DCSW, PY-W-M), Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science (SMT), School of Medicine, U.C. Davis, Sacramento, California; Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (SMT), School of Veterinary Medicine, U.C. Davis, California; Great Ormond Street Hospital (MM), London, United Kingdom; and The Francis Crick Institute (MM), London, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua P. Harvey
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCSW, PY-W-M), John van Geest Center for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Cambridge Eye Unit (DCSW, PY-W-M), Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science (SMT), School of Medicine, U.C. Davis, Sacramento, California; Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (SMT), School of Veterinary Medicine, U.C. Davis, California; Great Ormond Street Hospital (MM), London, United Kingdom; and The Francis Crick Institute (MM), London, United Kingdom
| | - Neringa Jurkute
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCSW, PY-W-M), John van Geest Center for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Cambridge Eye Unit (DCSW, PY-W-M), Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science (SMT), School of Medicine, U.C. Davis, Sacramento, California; Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (SMT), School of Veterinary Medicine, U.C. Davis, California; Great Ormond Street Hospital (MM), London, United Kingdom; and The Francis Crick Institute (MM), London, United Kingdom
| | - Sara M. Thomasy
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCSW, PY-W-M), John van Geest Center for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Cambridge Eye Unit (DCSW, PY-W-M), Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science (SMT), School of Medicine, U.C. Davis, Sacramento, California; Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (SMT), School of Veterinary Medicine, U.C. Davis, California; Great Ormond Street Hospital (MM), London, United Kingdom; and The Francis Crick Institute (MM), London, United Kingdom
| | - Mariya Moosajee
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCSW, PY-W-M), John van Geest Center for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Cambridge Eye Unit (DCSW, PY-W-M), Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science (SMT), School of Medicine, U.C. Davis, Sacramento, California; Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (SMT), School of Veterinary Medicine, U.C. Davis, California; Great Ormond Street Hospital (MM), London, United Kingdom; and The Francis Crick Institute (MM), London, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Yu-Wai-Man
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCSW, PY-W-M), John van Geest Center for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Cambridge Eye Unit (DCSW, PY-W-M), Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science (SMT), School of Medicine, U.C. Davis, Sacramento, California; Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (SMT), School of Veterinary Medicine, U.C. Davis, California; Great Ormond Street Hospital (MM), London, United Kingdom; and The Francis Crick Institute (MM), London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Gilhooley
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DCSW, PY-W-M), John van Geest Center for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Cambridge Eye Unit (DCSW, PY-W-M), Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (JPH, NJ, MM, PY-W-M, MJG), London, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science (SMT), School of Medicine, U.C. Davis, Sacramento, California; Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (SMT), School of Veterinary Medicine, U.C. Davis, California; Great Ormond Street Hospital (MM), London, United Kingdom; and The Francis Crick Institute (MM), London, United Kingdom
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3
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Soucy JR, Aguzzi EA, Cho J, Gilhooley MJ, Keuthan C, Luo Z, Monavarfeshani A, Saleem MA, Wang XW, Wohlschlegel J, Baranov P, Di Polo A, Fortune B, Gokoffski KK, Goldberg JL, Guido W, Kolodkin AL, Mason CA, Ou Y, Reh TA, Ross AG, Samuels BC, Welsbie D, Zack DJ, Johnson TV. Retinal ganglion cell repopulation for vision restoration in optic neuropathy: a roadmap from the RReSTORe Consortium. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:64. [PMID: 37735444 PMCID: PMC10514988 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00655-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies results in irreversible vision loss due to the mammalian central nervous system's limited regenerative capacity. RGC repopulation is a promising therapeutic approach to reverse vision loss from optic neuropathies if the newly introduced neurons can reestablish functional retinal and thalamic circuits. In theory, RGCs might be repopulated through the transplantation of stem cell-derived neurons or via the induction of endogenous transdifferentiation. The RGC Repopulation, Stem Cell Transplantation, and Optic Nerve Regeneration (RReSTORe) Consortium was established to address the challenges associated with the therapeutic repair of the visual pathway in optic neuropathy. In 2022, the RReSTORe Consortium initiated ongoing international collaborative discussions to advance the RGC repopulation field and has identified five critical areas of focus: (1) RGC development and differentiation, (2) Transplantation methods and models, (3) RGC survival, maturation, and host interactions, (4) Inner retinal wiring, and (5) Eye-to-brain connectivity. Here, we discuss the most pertinent questions and challenges that exist on the path to clinical translation and suggest experimental directions to propel this work going forward. Using these five subtopic discussion groups (SDGs) as a framework, we suggest multidisciplinary approaches to restore the diseased visual pathway by leveraging groundbreaking insights from developmental neuroscience, stem cell biology, molecular biology, optical imaging, animal models of optic neuropathy, immunology & immunotolerance, neuropathology & neuroprotection, materials science & biomedical engineering, and regenerative neuroscience. While significant hurdles remain, the RReSTORe Consortium's efforts provide a comprehensive roadmap for advancing the RGC repopulation field and hold potential for transformative progress in restoring vision in patients suffering from optic neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Soucy
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erika A Aguzzi
- The Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, England, UK
| | - Julie Cho
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Michael James Gilhooley
- The Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, England, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England, UK
| | - Casey Keuthan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ziming Luo
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Aboozar Monavarfeshani
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Meher A Saleem
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Health System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Xue-Wei Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Petr Baranov
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adriana Di Polo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Brad Fortune
- Discoveries in Sight Research Laboratories, Devers Eye Institute and Legacy Research Institute, Legacy Health, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kimberly K Gokoffski
- Department of Ophthalmology, Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Goldberg
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - William Guido
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Alex L Kolodkin
- The Solomon H Snyder, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carol A Mason
- Departments of Pathology and Cell Biology, Neuroscience, and Ophthalmology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yvonne Ou
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ahmara G Ross
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Brian C Samuels
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Callahan Eye Hospital, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Derek Welsbie
- Shiley Eye Institute and Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Donald J Zack
- Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21287 MD, USA
- Departments of Neuroscience, Molecular Biology & Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas V Johnson
- Departments of Neuroscience, Molecular Biology & Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21287 MD, USA.
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4
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Theune WC, Frost MP, Trakhtenberg EF. Transcriptomic profiling of retinal cells reveals a subpopulation of microglia/macrophages expressing Rbpms marker of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that confound identification of RGCs. Brain Res 2023; 1811:148377. [PMID: 37121423 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148377] [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: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by scRNA-seq is emerging as a state-of-the-art method for studying RGC biology and subtypes, as well as for studying the mechanisms of neuroprotection and axon regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS). Rbpms has been established as a pan-RGC marker, and Spp1 has been established as an αRGC type and macrophage marker. Here, we analyzed by scRNA-seq retinal microglia and macrophages, and found Rbpms+ subpopulations of retinal microglia/macrophages, which pose a potential pitfall in scRNA-seq studies involving RGCs. We performed comparative analysis of cellular identity of the presumed RGC cells isolated in recent scRNA-seq studies, and found that Rbpms+ microglia/macrophages confounded identification of RGCs. We also showed using immunohistological analysis that, Rbpms protein localizes to stress granules in a subpopulation of retinal microglia after optic nerve injury, which was further supported by bioinformatics analysis identifying stress granule-associated genes enriched in the Rbpms+ microglia/macrophages. Our findings suggest that the identification of Rbpms+ RGCs by immunostaining after optic nerve injury should exclude cells in which Rbpms signal is restricted to a subcellular granule, and include only those cells in which the Rbpms signal is labeling cell soma diffusely. Finally, we provide solutions for circumventing this potential pitfall of Rbpm-expressing microglia/macrophages in scRNA-seq studies, by including in RGC and αRGC selection criteria other pan-RGC and αRGC markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Theune
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Matthew P Frost
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Ephraim F Trakhtenberg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA.
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5
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Nieuwenhuis B, Laperrousaz E, Tribble JR, Verhaagen J, Fawcett JW, Martin KR, Williams PA, Osborne A. Improving adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated transgene expression in retinal ganglion cells: comparison of five promoters. Gene Ther 2023:10.1038/s41434-022-00380-z. [PMID: 36635457 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-022-00380-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) are an effective system for gene transfer. AAV serotype 2 (AAV2) is commonly used to deliver transgenes to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) via intravitreal injection. The AAV serotype however is not the only factor contributing to the effectiveness of gene therapies. Promoters influence the strength and cell-selectivity of transgene expression. This study compares five promoters designed to maximise AAV2 cargo space for gene delivery: chicken β-actin (CBA), cytomegalovirus (CMV), short CMV early enhancer/chicken β-actin/short β-globulin intron (sCAG), mouse phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), and human synapsin (SYN). The promoters driving enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) were examined in adult C57BL/6J mice eyes and tissues of the visual system. eGFP expression was strongest in the retina, optic nerves and brain when driven by the sCAG and SYN promoters. CBA, CMV, and PGK had moderate expression by comparison. The SYN promoter had almost exclusive transgene expression in RGCs. The PGK promoter had predominant expression in both RGCs and AII amacrine cells. The ubiquitous CBA, CMV, and sCAG promoters expressed eGFP in a variety of cell types across multiple retinal layers including Müller glia and astrocytes. We also found that these promoters could transduce human retina ex vivo, although expression was predominantly in glial cells due to low RGC viability. Taken together, this promoter comparison study contributes to optimising AAV-mediated transduction in the retina, and could be valuable for research in ocular disorders, particularly those with large or complex genetic cargos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Nieuwenhuis
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. .,Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, UK.
| | - Elise Laperrousaz
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James R Tribble
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Laboratory for Regeneration of Sensorimotor Systems, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Centre for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - James W Fawcett
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Centre of Reconstructive Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Keith R Martin
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Pete A Williams
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrew Osborne
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. .,Ikarovec Ltd, The Norwich Research Park Innovation Centre, Norwich, UK.
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6
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Jacobi A, Tran NM. Defining Selective Neuronal Resilience and Identifying Targets for Neuroprotection and Axon Regeneration Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing: Experimental Approaches. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2636:1-18. [PMID: 36881292 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3012-9_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
A prevalent feature among neurodegenerative conditions, including axonal injury, is that certain neuronal types are disproportionately affected, while others are more resilient. Identifying molecular features that separate resilient from susceptible populations could reveal potential targets for neuroprotection and axon regeneration. A powerful approach to resolve molecular differences across cell types is single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). scRNA-seq is a robustly scalable approach that enables the parallel sampling of gene expression across many individual cells. Here we present a systematic framework to apply scRNA-seq to track neuronal survival and gene expression changes following axonal injury. Our methods utilize the mouse retina because it is an experimentally accessible central nervous system tissue and its cell types have been comprehensively characterized by scRNA-seq. This chapter will focus on preparing retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) for scRNA-seq and pre-processing of sequencing results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Jacobi
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas M Tran
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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7
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Lan YQ, Yu MB, Zhan ZY, Huang YR, Zhao LW, Quan YD, Li ZJ, Sun DF, Wu YL, Wu HY, Liu ZT, Wu KL. Use of a tissue clearing technique combined with retrograde trans-synaptic viral tracing to evaluate changes in mouse retinorecipient brain regions following optic nerve crush. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:913-921. [DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.353852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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8
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Au NPB, Kumar G, Asthana P, Gao F, Kawaguchi R, Chang RCC, So KF, Hu Y, Geschwind DH, Coppola G, Ma CHE. Clinically relevant small-molecule promotes nerve repair and visual function recovery. NPJ Regen Med 2022; 7:50. [PMID: 36182946 PMCID: PMC9526721 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-022-00233-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult mammalian injured axons regenerate over short-distance in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) while the axons in the central nervous system (CNS) are unable to regrow after injury. Here, we demonstrated that Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP), purified from Wolfberry, accelerated long-distance axon regeneration after severe peripheral nerve injury (PNI) and optic nerve crush (ONC). LBP not only promoted intrinsic growth capacity of injured neurons and function recovery after severe PNI, but also induced robust retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and axon regeneration after ONC. By using LBP gene expression profile signatures to query a Connectivity map database, we identified a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved small-molecule glycopyrrolate, which promoted PNS axon regeneration, RGC survival and sustained CNS axon regeneration, increased neural firing in the superior colliculus, and enhanced visual target re-innervations by regenerating RGC axons leading to a partial restoration of visual function after ONC. Our study provides insights into repurposing of FDA-approved small molecule for nerve repair and function recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngan Pan Bennett Au
- grid.35030.350000 0004 1792 6846Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Gajendra Kumar
- grid.35030.350000 0004 1792 6846Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Pallavi Asthana
- grid.35030.350000 0004 1792 6846Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Fuying Gao
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Riki Kawaguchi
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Psychiatry, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Raymond Chuen Chung Chang
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR ,grid.194645.b0000000121742757State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Kwok Fai So
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR ,grid.194645.b0000000121742757Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong ,grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Hu
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, USA
| | - Daniel H. Geschwind
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA ,grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA ,grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Chi Him Eddie Ma
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR.
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9
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Gao J, Provencio I, Liu X. Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:992747. [PMID: 36212698 PMCID: PMC9537624 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.992747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases afflicting more than 70 million people worldwide. It is characterized by damage to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that ultimately leads to the death of the cells and vision loss. The diversity of RGC types has been appreciated for decades, and studies, including ours, have shown that RGCs degenerate and die in a type-specific manner in rodent models of glaucoma. The type-specific loss of RGCs results in differential damage to visual and non-visual functions. One type of RGC, the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell (ipRGC), expressing the photopigment melanopsin, serves a broad array of non-visual responses to light. Since its discovery, six subtypes of ipRGC have been described, each contributing to various image-forming and non-image-forming functions such as circadian photoentrainment, the pupillary light reflex, the photic control of mood and sleep, and visual contrast sensitivity. We recently demonstrated a link between type-specific ipRGC survival and behavioral deficits in a mouse model of chronic ocular hypertension. This review focuses on the type-specific ipRGC degeneration and associated behavioral changes in animal models and glaucoma patients. A better understanding of how glaucomatous insult impacts the ipRGC-based circuits will have broad impacts on improving the treatment of glaucoma-associated non-visual disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Gao
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Ignacio Provencio
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Xiaorong Liu
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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10
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Kovács-Öller T, Dedek K, Hillier D. Editorial: Visual code: From the retina to the brain. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1018229. [PMID: 36187292 PMCID: PMC9516390 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1018229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Karin Dedek
- Animal Navigation / Neurosensorics Group, Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Hillier
- Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
- German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
- Daniel Hillier
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11
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Tapia ML, Nascimento-dos-Santos G, Park KK. Subtype-specific survival and regeneration of retinal ganglion cells in response to injury. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:956279. [PMID: 36035999 PMCID: PMC9411869 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.956279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are a heterogeneous population of neurons that function synchronously to convey visual information through the optic nerve to retinorecipient target areas in the brain. Injury or disease to the optic nerve results in RGC degeneration and loss of visual function, as few RGCs survive, and even fewer can be provoked to regenerate their axons. Despite causative insults being broadly shared, regeneration studies demonstrate that RGC types exhibit differential resilience to injury and undergo selective survival and regeneration of their axons. While most early studies have identified these RGC types based their morphological and physiological characteristics, recent advances in transgenic and gene sequencing technologies have further enabled type identification based on unique molecular features. In this review, we provide an overview of the well characterized RGC types and identify those shown to preferentially survive and regenerate in various regeneration models. Furthermore, we discuss cellular characteristics of both the resilient and susceptible RGC types including the combinatorial expression of different molecular markers that identify these specific populations. Lastly, we discuss potential molecular mechanisms and genes found to be selectively expressed by specific types that may contribute to their reparative capacity. Together, we describe the studies that lay the important groundwork for identifying factors that promote neural regeneration and help advance the development of targeted therapy for the treatment of RGC degeneration as well as neurodegenerative diseases in general.
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12
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Wong NA, Bahmani H. A review of the current state of research on artificial blue light safety as it applies to digital devices. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10282. [PMID: 36042717 PMCID: PMC9420367 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Light is necessary for human health and well-being. As we spend more time indoors, we are being increasingly exposed to artificial light. The development of artificial lighting has allowed us to control the brightness, colour, and timing of our light exposure. Yet, the widespread use of artificial light has raised concerns about the impact of altering our light environment on our health. The widespread adoption of personal digital devices over the past decade has exposed us to yet another source of artificial light. We spend a significant amount of time using digital devices with light-emitting screens, including smartphones and tablets, at close range. The light emitted from these devices, while appearing white, has an emission spectrum with a peak in the blue range. Blue light is often characterised as hazardous as its photon energy is higher than that of other wavelengths of visible light. Under certain conditions, visible blue light can cause harm to the retina and other ocular structures. Blue light can also influence the circadian rhythm and processes mediated by melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. While the blue component of sunlight is necessary for various physiological processes, whether the low-illuminance artificial blue light emitted from digital devices presents a risk to our health remains an ongoing area of debate. As technological advancements continue, it is relevant to understand how new devices may influence our well-being. This review examines the existing research on artificial blue light safety and the eye, visual performance, and circadian functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hamed Bahmani
- Dopavision GmbH, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Physiology of Cognitive Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen, Germany
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13
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Gao J, Griner EM, Liu M, Moy J, Provencio I, Liu X. Differential effects of experimental glaucoma on intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in mice. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:1494-1506. [PMID: 34958682 PMCID: PMC9010357 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss and optic nerve damage. Studies, including this study, support that RGCs degenerate and die in a type-specific manner following the disease insult. Here we specifically examined one RGC type, the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell (ipRGC), and its associated functional deficits in a mouse model of experimental glaucoma. We induced chronic ocular hypertension (OHT) by laser photocoagulation and then characterized the survival of ipRGC subtypes. We found that ipRGCs suffer significant loss, similar to the general RGC population, but ipRGC subtypes are differentially affected following chronic OHT. M4 ipRGCs, which are involved in pattern vision, are susceptible to chronic OHT. Correspondingly, mice with chronic OHT experience reduced contrast sensitivity and visual acuity. By comparison, M1 ipRGCs, which project to the suprachiasmatic nuclei to regulate circadian rhythmicity, exhibit almost no cell loss following chronic OHT. Accordingly, we observed that circadian re-entrainment and circadian rhythmicity are largely not disrupted in OHT mice. Our study demonstrates the link between subtype-specific ipRGC survival and behavioral deficits in glaucomatous mice. These findings provide insight into glaucoma-induced visual behavioral deficits and their underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Gao
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Erin M. Griner
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Mingna Liu
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Joanna Moy
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Ignacio Provencio
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Xiaorong Liu
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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14
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Tools and Biomarkers for the Study of Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084287. [PMID: 35457104 PMCID: PMC9025234 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The retina is part of the central nervous system, its analysis may provide an idea of the health and functionality, not only of the retina, but also of the entire central nervous system, as has been shown in Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. Within the retina, the ganglion cells (RGC) are the neurons in charge of processing and sending light information to higher brain centers. Diverse insults and pathological states cause degeneration of RGC, leading to irreversible blindness or impaired vision. RGCs are the measurable endpoints in current research into experimental therapies and diagnosis in multiple ocular pathologies, like glaucoma. RGC subtype classifications are based on morphological, functional, genetical, and immunohistochemical aspects. Although great efforts are being made, there is still no classification accepted by consensus. Moreover, it has been observed that each RGC subtype has a different susceptibility to injury. Characterizing these subtypes together with cell death pathway identification will help to understand the degenerative process in the different injury and pathological models, and therefore prevent it. Here we review the known RGC subtypes, as well as the diagnostic techniques, probes, and biomarkers for programmed and unprogrammed cell death in RGC.
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15
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Abed S, Reilly A, Arnold SJ, Feldheim DA. Adult Expression of Tbr2 Is Required for the Maintenance but Not Survival of Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:826590. [PMID: 35401124 PMCID: PMC8983909 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.826590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells expressing the photopigment melanopsin are intrinsically photosensitive (ipRGCs). ipRGCs regulate subconscious non-image-forming behaviors such as circadian rhythms, pupil dilation, and light-mediated mood. Previously, we and others showed that the transcription factor Tbr2 (EOMES) is required during retinal development for the formation of ipRGCs. Tbr2 is also expressed in the adult retina leading to the hypothesis that it plays a role in adult ipRGC function. To test this, we removed Tbr2 in adult mice. We found that this results in the loss of melanopsin expression in ipRGCs but does not lead to cell death or morphological changes to their dendritic or axonal termination patterns. Additionally, we found ectopic expression of Tbr2 in conventional RGCs does not induce melanopsin expression but can increase melanopsin expression in existing ipRGCs. An interesting feature of ipRGCs is their superior survival relative to conventional RGCs after an optic nerve injury. We find that loss of Tbr2 decreases the survival rate of ipRGCs after optic nerve damage suggesting that Tbr2 plays a role in ipRGC survival after injury. Lastly, we show that the GABAergic amacrine cell marker Meis2, is expressed in the majority of Tbr2-expressing displaced amacrine cells as well as in a subset of Tbr2-expressing RGCs. These findings demonstrate that Tbr2 is necessary but not sufficient for melanopsin expression, that Tbr2 is involved in ipRGC survival after optic nerve injury, and identify a marker for Tbr2-expressing displaced amacrine cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Abed
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Andreea Reilly
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Sebastian J. Arnold
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - David A. Feldheim
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: David A. Feldheim,
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16
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Differential susceptibility of retinal ganglion cell subtypes against neurodegenerative diseases. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2022; 260:1807-1821. [PMID: 35038014 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-022-05556-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are essential to propagate external visual information from the retina to the brain. Death of RGCs is speculated to be closely correlated with blinding retinal diseases, such as glaucoma and traumatic optic neuropathy (TON). Emerging innovative technologies have helped refine and standardize the classification of RGCs; at present, they are classified into more than 40 subpopulations in mammals. These RGC subtypes are identified by a combination of anatomical morphologies, electrophysiological functions, and genetic profiles. Increasing evidence suggests that neurodegenerative diseases do not collectively affect the RGCs. In fact, which RGC subtype exhibits the strongest or weakest susceptibility is hotly debated. Although a consensus has not yet been reached, it is certain that assorted RGCs display differential susceptibility against irreversible degeneration. Interestingly, a single RGC subtype can exhibit various vulnerabilities to optic nerve damage in diverse injury models. Thus, elucidating how susceptible RGC subtypes are to various injuries can protect vulnerable RGCs from damage and improve the possibility of preventing and treating visual impairment caused by neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize in detail the progress and status quo of research on the type-specific susceptibility of RGCs and point out current limitations and the possible directions for future research in this field.
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17
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Varadarajan SG, Hunyara JL, Hamilton NR, Kolodkin AL, Huberman AD. Central nervous system regeneration. Cell 2022; 185:77-94. [PMID: 34995518 PMCID: PMC10896592 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neurons of the mammalian central nervous system fail to regenerate. Substantial progress has been made toward identifying the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie regenerative failure and how altering those pathways can promote cell survival and/or axon regeneration. Here, we summarize those findings while comparing the regenerative process in the central versus the peripheral nervous system. We also highlight studies that advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying neural degeneration in response to injury, as many of these mechanisms represent primary targets for restoring functional neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John L Hunyara
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Natalie R Hamilton
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alex L Kolodkin
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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18
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7,8-Dihydroxiflavone Maintains Retinal Functionality and Protects Various Types of RGCs in Adult Rats with Optic Nerve Transection. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111815. [PMID: 34769247 PMCID: PMC8584116 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To analyze the neuroprotective effects of 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (DHF) in vivo and ex vivo, adult albino Sprague-Dawley rats were given a left intraorbital optic nerve transection (IONT) and were divided in two groups: One was treated daily with intraperitoneal (ip) DHF (5 mg/kg) (n = 24) and the other (n = 18) received ip vehicle (1% DMSO in 0.9% NaCl) from one day before IONT until processing. At 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, and 21 days (d) after IONT, full field electroretinograms (ERG) were recorded from both experimental and one additional naïve-control group (n = 6). Treated rats were analyzed 7 (n = 14), 14 (n = 14) or 21 d (n = 14) after IONT, and the retinas immune stained against Brn3a, Osteopontin (OPN) and the T-box transcription factor T-brain 2 (Tbr2) to identify surviving retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) (Brn3a+), α-like (OPN+), α-OFF like (OPN+Brn3a+) or M4-like/α-ON sustained RGCs (OPN+Tbr+). Naïve and right treated retinas showed normal ERG recordings. Left vehicle-treated retinas showed decreased amplitudes of the scotopic threshold response (pSTR) (as early as 5 d), the rod b-wave, the mixed response and the cone response (as early as 10 d), which did not recover with time. In these retinas, by day 7 the total numbers of Brn3a+RGCs, OPN+RGCs and OPN+Tbr2+RGCs decreased to less than one half and OPN+Brn3a+RGCs decreased to approximately 0.5%, and Brn3a+RGCs showed a progressive loss with time, while OPN+RGCs and OPN+Tbr2+RGCs did not diminish after seven days. Compared to vehicle-treated, the left DHF-treated retinas showed significantly greater amplitudes of the pSTR, normal b-wave values and significantly greater numbers of OPN+RGCs and OPN+Tbr2+RGCs for up to 14 d and of Brn3a+RGCs for up to 21 days. DHF affords significant rescue of Brn3a+RGCs, OPN+RGCs and OPN+Tbr2+RGCs, but not OPN+Brn3a+RGCs, and preserves functional ERG responses after IONT.
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19
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Ayupe AC, Beckedorff F, Levay K, Yon B, Salgueiro Y, Shiekhattar R, Park KK. Identification of long noncoding RNAs in injury-resilient and injury-susceptible mouse retinal ganglion cells. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:741. [PMID: 34649511 PMCID: PMC8518251 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08050-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of various biological processes, and their expression can be altered following certain pathological conditions, including central nervous system injury. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), whose axons form the optic nerve, are a heterogeneous population of neurons with more than 40 molecularly distinct subtypes in mouse. While most RGCs, including the ON-OFF direction-selective RGCs (ooDSGCs), are vulnerable to axonal injury, a small population of RGCs, including the intrinsically photosensitive RGCs (ipRGCs), are more resilient. RESULTS By performing systematic analyses on RNA-sequencing data, here we identify lncRNAs that are expressed in ooDSGCs and ipRGCs with and without axonal injury. Our results reveal a repertoire of different classes of lncRNAs, including long intergenic noncoding RNAs and antisense ncRNAs that are differentially expressed between these RGC types. Strikingly, we also found dozens of lncRNAs whose expressions are altered markedly in response to axonal injury, some of which are expressed exclusively in either one of the types. Moreover, analyses into these lncRNAs unraveled their neighboring coding genes, many of which encode transcription factors and signaling molecules, suggesting that these lncRNAs may act in cis to regulate important biological processes in these neurons. Lastly, guilt-by-association analysis showed that lncRNAs are correlated with apoptosis associated genes, suggesting potential roles for these lncRNAs in RGC survival. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results of this study reveal RGC type-specific expression of lncRNAs and provide a foundation for future investigation of the function of lncRNAs in regulating neuronal type specification and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C Ayupe
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Ter, FL, 33136, Miami, USA.
| | - Felipe Beckedorff
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Human Genetics, Biomedical Research Building, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Room 719, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Konstantin Levay
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Ter, FL, 33136, Miami, USA
| | - Benito Yon
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Ter, FL, 33136, Miami, USA
| | - Yadira Salgueiro
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Ter, FL, 33136, Miami, USA
| | - Ramin Shiekhattar
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Human Genetics, Biomedical Research Building, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Room 719, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Kevin K Park
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Ter, FL, 33136, Miami, USA.
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20
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Mostafa J, Porter J, Queener HM, Ostrin LA. Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell-driven pupil responses in patients with traumatic brain injury. Vision Res 2021; 188:174-183. [PMID: 34352476 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2021.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Previous findings regarding intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell (ipRGC) function after traumatic brain injury (TBI) are conflicting. We examined ipRGC-driven pupil responses in civilian TBI and control participants using two pupillography protocols that assessed transient and adaptive properties: (1) a one second (s) long wavelength "red" stimulus (651 nm, 133 cd/m2) and 10 increasing intensities of 1 s short wavelength "blue" stimuli (456 nm, 0.167 to 167 cd/m2) with a 60 s interstimulus interval, and (2) two minutes of 0.1 Hz red stimuli (33 cd/m2), followed by two minutes of 0.1 Hz blue stimuli (16 cd/m2). For Protocol 1, constriction amplitude and the 6 s post illumination pupil response (PIPR) were calculated. For Protocol 2, amplitudes and peak velocities of pupil constriction and redilation were calculated. For Protocol 1, constriction amplitude and the 6 s PIPR were not significantly different between TBI patients and control subjects for red or blue stimuli. For Protocol 2, pupil constriction amplitude attenuated over time for red stimuli and potentiated over time for blue stimuli across all subjects. Constriction and redilation velocities were similar between groups. Pupil constriction amplitude was significantly less in TBI patients compared to control subjects for red and blue stimuli, which can be attributed to age-related differences in baseline pupil size. While TBI, in addition to age, may have contributed to decreased baseline pupil diameter and constriction amplitude, responses to blue stimulation suggest no selective damage to ipRGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakaria Mostafa
- University of Houston College of Optometry, 4901 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77004, United States
| | - Jason Porter
- University of Houston College of Optometry, 4901 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77004, United States
| | - Hope M Queener
- University of Houston College of Optometry, 4901 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77004, United States
| | - Lisa A Ostrin
- University of Houston College of Optometry, 4901 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77004, United States.
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21
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Abstract
It has been known for over a century that the basic organization of the retina is conserved across vertebrates. It has been equally clear that retinal cells can be classified into numerous types, but only recently have methods been devised to explore this diversity in unbiased, scalable, and comprehensive ways. Advances in high-throughput single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) have played a pivotal role in this effort. In this article, we outline the experimental and computational components of scRNA-seq and review studies that have used them to generate retinal atlases of cell types in several vertebrate species. These atlases have enabled studies of retinal development, responses of retinal cells to injury, expression patterns of genes implicated in retinal disease, and the evolution of cell types. Recently, the inquiry has expanded to include the entire eye and visual centers in the brain. These studies have enhanced our understanding of retinal function and dysfunction and provided tools and insights for exploring neural diversity throughout the brain. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Vision Science, Volume 7 is September 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Shekhar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute; and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, QB3, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA;
| | - Joshua R Sanes
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA;
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22
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Lenaers G, Neutzner A, Le Dantec Y, Jüschke C, Xiao T, Decembrini S, Swirski S, Kieninger S, Agca C, Kim US, Reynier P, Yu-Wai-Man P, Neidhardt J, Wissinger B. Dominant optic atrophy: Culprit mitochondria in the optic nerve. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 83:100935. [PMID: 33340656 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Dominant optic atrophy (DOA) is an inherited mitochondrial disease leading to specific degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), thus compromising transmission of visual information from the retina to the brain. Usually, DOA starts during childhood and evolves to poor vision or legal blindness, affecting the central vision, whilst sparing the peripheral visual field. In 20% of cases, DOA presents as syndromic disorder, with secondary symptoms affecting neuronal and muscular functions. Twenty years ago, we demonstrated that heterozygous mutations in OPA1 are the most frequent molecular cause of DOA. Since then, variants in additional genes, whose functions in many instances converge with those of OPA1, have been identified by next generation sequencing. OPA1 encodes a dynamin-related GTPase imported into mitochondria and located to the inner membrane and intermembrane space. The many OPA1 isoforms, resulting from alternative splicing of three exons, form complex homopolymers that structure mitochondrial cristae, and contribute to fusion of the outer membrane, thus shaping the whole mitochondrial network. Moreover, OPA1 is required for oxidative phosphorylation, maintenance of mitochondrial genome, calcium homeostasis and regulation of apoptosis, thus making OPA1 the Swiss army-knife of mitochondria. Understanding DOA pathophysiology requires the understanding of RGC peculiarities with respect to OPA1 functions. Besides the tremendous energy requirements of RGCs to relay visual information from the eye to the brain, these neurons present unique features related to their differential environments in the retina, and to the anatomical transition occurring at the lamina cribrosa, which parallel major adaptations of mitochondrial physiology and shape, in the pre- and post-laminar segments of the optic nerve. Three DOA mouse models, with different Opa1 mutations, have been generated to study intrinsic mechanisms responsible for RGC degeneration, and these have further revealed secondary symptoms related to mitochondrial dysfunctions, mirroring the more severe syndromic phenotypes seen in a subgroup of patients. Metabolomics analyses of cells, mouse organs and patient plasma mutated for OPA1 revealed new unexpected pathophysiological mechanisms related to mitochondrial dysfunction, and biomarkers correlated quantitatively to the severity of the disease. Here, we review and synthesize these data, and propose different approaches for embracing possible therapies to fulfil the unmet clinical needs of this disease, and provide hope to affected DOA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Lenaers
- MitoLab Team, UMR CNRS 6015 - INSERM U1083, Institut MitoVasc, Angers University and Hospital, Angers, France.
| | - Albert Neutzner
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Ophthalmology University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Yannick Le Dantec
- MitoLab Team, UMR CNRS 6015 - INSERM U1083, Institut MitoVasc, Angers University and Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Christoph Jüschke
- Human Genetics, Faculty VI - School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ting Xiao
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Center for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Decembrini
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Ophthalmology University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Swirski
- Human Genetics, Faculty VI - School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Sinja Kieninger
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Center for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Cavit Agca
- Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering Program, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey; Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ungsoo S Kim
- Kim's Eye Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair and MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Cambridge Eye Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
| | - Pascal Reynier
- MitoLab Team, UMR CNRS 6015 - INSERM U1083, Institut MitoVasc, Angers University and Hospital, Angers, France; Department of Biochemistry, University Hospital of Angers, Angers, France
| | - Patrick Yu-Wai-Man
- Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair and MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Cambridge Eye Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - John Neidhardt
- Human Genetics, Faculty VI - School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany; Research Center Neurosensory Science, University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.
| | - Bernd Wissinger
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Center for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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Phototoxicities Caused by Continuous Light Exposure Were Not Induced in Retinal Ganglion Cells Transduced by an Optogenetic Gene. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136732. [PMID: 34201658 PMCID: PMC8269149 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The death of photoreceptor cells is induced by continuous light exposure. However, it is unclear whether light damage was induced in retinal ganglion cells with photosensitivity by transduction of optogenetic genes. In this study, we evaluated the phototoxicities of continuous light exposure on retinal ganglion cells after transduction of the optogenetic gene mVChR1 using an adeno-associated virus vector. Rats were exposed to continuous light for a week, and visually evoked potentials (VEPs) were recorded. The intensities of continuous light (500, 1000, 3000, and 5000 lx) increased substantially after VEP recordings. After the final recording of VEPs, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were retrogradely labeled with a fluorescein tracer, FluoroGold, and the number of retinal ganglion cells was counted under a fluorescent microscope. There was no significant reduction in the amplitudes of VEPs and the number of RGCs after exposure to any light intensity. These results indicated that RGCs were photosensitive after the transduction of optogenetic genes and did not induce any phototoxicity by continuous light exposure.
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24
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Wang J, Struebing FL, Geisert EE. Commonalities of optic nerve injury and glaucoma-induced neurodegeneration: Insights from transcriptome-wide studies. Exp Eye Res 2021; 207:108571. [PMID: 33844961 PMCID: PMC9890784 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a collection of diseases that lead to an irreversible vision loss due to damage of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Although the underlying events leading to RGC death are not fully understood, recent research efforts are beginning to define the genetic changes that play a critical role in the initiation and progression of glaucomatous injury and RGC death. Several genetic and experimental animal models have been developed to mimic glaucomatous neurodegeneration. These models differ in many respects but all result in the loss of RGCs. Assessing transcriptional changes across different models could provide a more complete perspective on the molecular drivers of RGC degeneration. For the past several decades, changes in the retinal transcriptome during neurodegeneration process were defined using microarray methods, RNA sequencing and now single cell RNA sequencing. It is understood that these methods have strengths and weaknesses due to technical differences and variations in the analytical tools used. In this review, we focus on the use of transcriptome-wide expression profiling of the changes occurring as RGCs are lost across different glaucoma models. Commonalities of optic nerve crush and glaucoma-induced neurodegeneration are identified and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Wang
- Emory Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, 1365B Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Felix L. Struebing
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany,Department for Translational Brain Research, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Eldon E. Geisert
- Emory Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, 1365B Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA,Corresponding author: (E.E. Geisert)
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25
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Davis BM, Guo L, Ravindran N, Shamsher E, Baekelandt V, Mitchell H, Bharath AA, De Groef L, Cordeiro MF. Dynamic changes in cell size and corresponding cell fate after optic nerve injury. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21683. [PMID: 33303775 PMCID: PMC7730151 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77760-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying disease-specific patterns of retinal cell loss in pathological conditions has been highlighted by the emergence of techniques such as Detection of Apoptotic Retinal Cells and Adaptive Optics confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy which have enabled single-cell visualisation in vivo. Cell size has previously been used to stratify Retinal Ganglion Cell (RGC) populations in histological samples of optic neuropathies, and early work in this field suggested that larger RGCs are more susceptible to early loss than smaller RGCs. More recently, however, it has been proposed that RGC soma and axon size may be dynamic and change in response to injury. To address this unresolved controversy, we applied recent advances in maximising information extraction from RGC populations in retinal whole mounts to evaluate the changes in RGC size distribution over time, using three well-established rodent models of optic nerve injury. In contrast to previous studies based on sampling approaches, we examined the whole Brn3a-positive RGC population at multiple time points over the natural history of these models. The morphology of over 4 million RGCs was thus assessed to glean novel insights from this dataset. RGC subpopulations were found to both increase and decrease in size over time, supporting the notion that RGC cell size is dynamic in response to injury. However, this study presents compelling evidence that smaller RGCs are lost more rapidly than larger RGCs despite the dynamism. Finally, using a bootstrap approach, the data strongly suggests that disease-associated changes in RGC spatial distribution and morphology could have potential as novel diagnostic indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Davis
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
- Western Eye Hospital, ICORG, Imperial College London, London, NW1 5QH, UK
| | - Li Guo
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Nivedita Ravindran
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Ehtesham Shamsher
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Veerle Baekelandt
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hannah Mitchell
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Ireland
| | - Anil A Bharath
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Lies De Groef
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 61, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - M Francesca Cordeiro
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK.
- Western Eye Hospital, ICORG, Imperial College London, London, NW1 5QH, UK.
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26
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VanderWall KB, Lu B, Alfaro JS, Allsop AR, Carr AS, Wang S, Meyer JS. Differential susceptibility of retinal ganglion cell subtypes in acute and chronic models of injury and disease. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17359. [PMID: 33060618 PMCID: PMC7566630 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71460-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are a heterogeneous population of neurons, comprised of numerous subtypes that work synchronously to transmit visual information to the brain. In blinding disorders such as glaucoma, RGCs are the main cell type to degenerate and lead to loss of vision. Previous studies have identified and characterized a variety of RGC subtypes in animal models, although only a handful of studies demonstrate the differential loss of these RGC subtypes in response to disease or injury. Thus, efforts of the current study utilized both chronic (bead occlusion) and acute (optic nerve crush, ONC) rat models to characterize disease response and differential loss of RGC subtypes. Bead occlusion and ONC retinas demonstrated significant RGC loss, glial reactivity and apoptosis compared to control retinas. Importantly, bead occlusion and ONC retinas resulted in differential subtype-specific loss of RGCs, with a high susceptibility for alpha- and direction selective-RGCs and preferential survival of ipRGCs. Results of this study serve as an important foundation for future experiments focused on the mechanisms resulting in the loss of RGCs in optic neuropathies, as well as the development of targeted therapeutics for RGC subtype-specific neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin B VanderWall
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Bin Lu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Jorge S Alfaro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Anna R Allsop
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Alexa S Carr
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Shaomei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
| | - Jason S Meyer
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Deparment of Ophthalmology, Glick Eye Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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27
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Ahmadi H, Lund‐Andersen H, Kolko M, Bach‐Holm D, Alberti M, Ba‐Ali S. Melanopsin-mediated pupillary light reflex and sleep quality in patients with normal tension glaucoma. Acta Ophthalmol 2020; 98:65-73. [PMID: 31062491 DOI: 10.1111/aos.14133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) and sleep quality are impaired in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). In this study, we investigated whether ipRGCs and sleep quality were also impaired in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG). METHODS We performed pupillometry and sleep quality assessment in 15 patients with NTG and 17 healthy age-matched controls. Pupillometry protocol consisted of monocular stimulation with high illuminance (100 lux) red (633 nm, 300 cd/m2 or 15.23 log quanta/cm2 /s) and blue light (463 nm, 332 cd/m2 or 15.27 log quanta/cm2 /s) and binocular pupil measurements. Prior to light stimulation, patients were dark-adapted for 5 min. The late postillumination pupillary response (PIPRL ate ) to blue light was used as marker of ipRGC activity. Sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. RESULTS The PIPRL ate to blue light was significantly reduced in patients with NTG compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.001), indicating impairment of the melanopsin-mediated pupillary pathway. There was no significant difference in the response elicited by red light (p = 0.6). Baseline pupil diameter and pupillary constriction amplitude to both red and blue light were reduced in patients with NTG (p < 0.05). The global score in PSQI was not significantly different between healthy controls and patients with NTG, indicating normal sleep quality (p = 0.6). Furthermore, we found no correlation between sleep parameters and pupillary light reflex parameters. CONCLUSION Patients with NTG exhibited reduced ipRGC activity compared to healthy subjects, while no differences were observed in sleep quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Ahmadi
- Department of Ophthalmology Rigshospitalet Glostrup Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Henrik Lund‐Andersen
- Department of Ophthalmology Rigshospitalet Glostrup Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Miriam Kolko
- Department of Ophthalmology Rigshospitalet Glostrup Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Daniella Bach‐Holm
- Department of Ophthalmology Rigshospitalet Glostrup Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Mark Alberti
- Department of Ophthalmology Rigshospitalet Glostrup Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Shakoor Ba‐Ali
- Department of Ophthalmology Rigshospitalet Glostrup Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
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28
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Wang AY, Lee PY, Bui BV, Jobling AI, Greferath U, Brandli A, Dixon MA, Findlay Q, Fletcher EL, Vessey KA. Potential mechanisms of retinal ganglion cell type-specific vulnerability in glaucoma. Clin Exp Optom 2019; 103:562-571. [PMID: 31838755 DOI: 10.1111/cxo.13031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive damage to the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the output neurons of the retina. RGCs are a heterogenous class of retinal neurons which can be classified into multiple types based on morphological, functional and genetic characteristics. This review examines the body of evidence supporting type-specific vulnerability of RGCs in glaucoma and explores potential mechanisms by which this might come about. Studies of donor tissue from glaucoma patients have generally noted greater vulnerability of larger RGC types. Models of glaucoma induced in primates, cats and mice also show selective effects on RGC types - particularly OFF RGCs. Several mechanisms may contribute to type-specific vulnerability, including differences in the expression of calcium-permeable receptors (for example pannexin-1, P2X7, AMPA and transient receptor potential vanilloid receptors), the relative proximity of RGCs and their dendrites to blood supply in the inner plexiform layer, as well as differing metabolic requirements of RGC types. Such differences may make certain RGCs more sensitive to intraocular pressure elevation and its associated biomechanical and vascular stress. A greater understanding of selective RGC vulnerability and its underlying causes will likely reveal a rich area of investigation for potential treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ym Wang
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Pei Ying Lee
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Bang V Bui
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andrew I Jobling
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ursula Greferath
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alice Brandli
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael A Dixon
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Quan Findlay
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Erica L Fletcher
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kirstan A Vessey
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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29
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Duque-Chica GL, Gracitelli CPB, Moura ALA, Nagy BV, Vidal KS, de Melo G, Paranhos A, Cahali MB, Ventura DF. Contributions of the Melanopsin-Expressing Ganglion Cells, Cones, and Rods to the Pupillary Light Response in Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:3002-3012. [PMID: 31310657 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.19-26944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the impact of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on the contribution of inner and outer retinal photoreceptors to the pupillary light response (PLR). Methods Ninety-three eyes from 27 patients with OSA and 25 healthy controls were tested. OSA severity was graded according to the apnea-hypopnea index. PLR was measured monocularly with an eye tracker in a Ganzfeld in response to 1-second blue (470 nm) and red (640 nm) flashes at -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, and 2.4 log cd/m2. Peak pupil constriction amplitude, peak latency, and the postillumination pupil response were measured. The Cambridge Colour Test, standard automatic perimetry, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, polysomnography, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used. Results OSA patients have a significantly decreased peak pupil constriction amplitude for blue stimuli at -3, -2, -1, 1 log cd/m2 and at all red flash luminances (P < 0.050), revealing reduction of outer retina contributions to PLR. OSA patients showed reduced peak latency for blue (-2, 0, 2, 2.4 log cd/m2) and red stimuli (-2, 0 log cd/m2; P < 0.040). No significant difference was found in the melanopsin-mediated PLR. Conclusions This study is the first to evaluate the inner and outer retinal contributions to PLR in OSA patients. The results showed that the outer retinal photoreceptor contributions to PLR were affected in moderate and severe OSA patients. In contrast, the inner retina contributions to PLR are preserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria L Duque-Chica
- Experimental Psychology Department, Institute of Psychology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Psychology, University of Medellin, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Carolina P B Gracitelli
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana L A Moura
- Experimental Psychology Department, Institute of Psychology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Balázs V Nagy
- Experimental Psychology Department, Institute of Psychology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Mechatronics, Optics and Engineering Informatics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kallene S Vidal
- Experimental Psychology Department, Institute of Psychology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Prevent Senior institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Geraldine de Melo
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Augusto Paranhos
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michel B Cahali
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital das Clínicas, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dora F Ventura
- Experimental Psychology Department, Institute of Psychology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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30
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Tran NM, Shekhar K, Whitney IE, Jacobi A, Benhar I, Hong G, Yan W, Adiconis X, Arnold ME, Lee JM, Levin JZ, Lin D, Wang C, Lieber CM, Regev A, He Z, Sanes JR. Single-Cell Profiles of Retinal Ganglion Cells Differing in Resilience to Injury Reveal Neuroprotective Genes. Neuron 2019; 104:1039-1055.e12. [PMID: 31784286 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 322] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal types in the central nervous system differ dramatically in their resilience to injury or other insults. Here we studied the selective resilience of mouse retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) following optic nerve crush (ONC), which severs their axons and leads to death of ∼80% of RGCs within 2 weeks. To identify expression programs associated with differential resilience, we first used single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) to generate a comprehensive molecular atlas of 46 RGC types in adult retina. We then tracked their survival after ONC; characterized transcriptomic, physiological, and morphological changes that preceded degeneration; and identified genes selectively expressed by each type. Finally, using loss- and gain-of-function assays in vivo, we showed that manipulating some of these genes improved neuronal survival and axon regeneration following ONC. This study provides a systematic framework for parsing type-specific responses to injury and demonstrates that differential gene expression can be used to reveal molecular targets for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Tran
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Karthik Shekhar
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Irene E Whitney
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anne Jacobi
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Inbal Benhar
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Guosong Hong
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Material Science and Engineering and Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Wenjun Yan
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Xian Adiconis
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - McKinzie E Arnold
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jung Min Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Joshua Z Levin
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Dingchang Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Chen Wang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Charles M Lieber
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Aviv Regev
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA and Department of Biology and Koch Institute, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Zhigang He
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joshua R Sanes
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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31
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Alarautalahti V, Ragauskas S, Hakkarainen JJ, Uusitalo-Järvinen H, Uusitalo H, Hyttinen J, Kalesnykas G, Nymark S. Viability of Mouse Retinal Explant Cultures Assessed by Preservation of Functionality and Morphology. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:1914-1927. [PMID: 31042799 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-25156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Retinal explant cultures provide simplified systems where the functions of the retina and the effects of ocular therapies can be studied in an isolated environment. The purpose of this study was to provide insight into long-term preservation of retinal tissue in culture conditions, enable a deeper understanding of the interdependence of retinal morphology and function, and ensure the reliability of the explant technique for prolonged experiments. Methods Retinal explants from adult mice were cultured as organotypic culture at the air-medium interface for 14 days in vitro (DIV). Retinal functionality was assessed by multielectrode array technique and morphology by immunohistochemical methods at several time points during culture. Results Retinal explants retained viability for 14 DIV, although with diminishing neuronal activity, progressing neuronal loss, and increasing reactive gliosis. We recorded spontaneous retinal ganglion cell (RGC) activity up to 14 DIV with temporally changing distribution of RGC firing rates. Light responsiveness was measurable from RGCs for 7 DIV and from photoreceptors for 2 DIV. Apoptotic cells were detected beginning at 3 DIV with their density peaking at 7 DIV. The number of RGCs gradually decreased by 70% during 14 DIV. The change was accompanied by the loss of RGC functionality, resulting in 84% loss of electrically active RGCs. Conclusions Retinal explants provide a valuable tool for studies of retinal functions and development of ocular therapies. However, critical for long-term use, retinal functionality was lost before structural loss, emphasizing a need for both functional and morphologic readouts to determine the overall state of the cultured retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virpi Alarautalahti
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | | | | | - Hannele Uusitalo-Järvinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Tays Eye Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Hannu Uusitalo
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Tays Eye Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jari Hyttinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | | | - Soile Nymark
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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32
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Honda S, Namekata K, Kimura A, Guo X, Harada C, Murakami A, Matsuda A, Harada T. Survival of Alpha and Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells in NMDA-Induced Neurotoxicity and a Mouse Model of Normal Tension Glaucoma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 60:3696-3707. [DOI: 10.1167/iovs.19-27145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sari Honda
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Namekata
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsuko Kimura
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Xiaoli Guo
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chikako Harada
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Murakami
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Matsuda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Harada
- Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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33
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Transcriptomic Signatures of Postnatal and Adult Intrinsically Photosensitive Ganglion Cells. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0022-19.2019. [PMID: 31387875 PMCID: PMC6712207 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0022-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are rare mammalian photoreceptors essential for non-image-forming vision functions, such as circadian photoentrainment and the pupillary light reflex. They comprise multiple subtypes distinguishable by morphology, physiology, projections, and levels of expression of melanopsin (Opn4), their photopigment. The molecular programs that distinguish ipRGCs from other ganglion cells and ipRGC subtypes from one another remain elusive. Here, we present comprehensive gene expression profiles of early postnatal and adult mouse ipRGCs purified from two lines of reporter mice that mark different sets of ipRGC subtypes. We find dozens of novel genes highly enriched in ipRGCs. We reveal that Rasgrp1 and Tbx20 are selectively expressed in subsets of ipRGCs, though these molecularly defined groups imperfectly match established ipRGC subtypes. We demonstrate that the ipRGCs regulating circadian photoentrainment are diverse at the molecular level. Our findings reveal unexpected complexity in gene expression patterns across mammalian ipRGC subtypes.
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34
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Agostinone J, Alarcon-Martinez L, Gamlin C, Yu WQ, Wong ROL, Di Polo A. Insulin signalling promotes dendrite and synapse regeneration and restores circuit function after axonal injury. Brain 2019; 141:1963-1980. [PMID: 29931057 PMCID: PMC6022605 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awy142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendrite pathology and synapse disassembly are critical features of chronic neurodegenerative diseases. In spite of this, the capacity of injured neurons to regenerate dendrites has been largely ignored. Here, we show that, upon axonal injury, retinal ganglion cells undergo rapid dendritic retraction and massive synapse loss that preceded neuronal death. Human recombinant insulin, administered as eye drops or systemically after dendritic arbour shrinkage and prior to cell loss, promoted robust regeneration of dendrites and successful reconnection with presynaptic targets. Insulin-mediated regeneration of excitatory postsynaptic sites on retinal ganglion cell dendritic processes increased neuronal survival and rescued light-triggered retinal responses. Further, we show that axotomy-induced dendrite retraction triggered substantial loss of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity exclusively in retinal ganglion cells, and that insulin fully reversed this response. Targeted loss-of-function experiments revealed that insulin-dependent activation of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) is required for new dendritic branching to restore arbour complexity, while complex 2 (mTORC2) drives dendritic process extension thus re-establishing field area. Our findings demonstrate that neurons in the mammalian central nervous system have the intrinsic capacity to regenerate dendrites and synapses after injury, and provide a strong rationale for the use of insulin and/or its analogues as pro-regenerative therapeutics for intractable neurodegenerative diseases including glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Agostinone
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CR-CHUM), University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Luis Alarcon-Martinez
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CR-CHUM), University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Clare Gamlin
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Wan-Qing Yu
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rachel O L Wong
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Adriana Di Polo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CR-CHUM), University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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35
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Berry M, Ahmed Z, Logan A. Return of function after CNS axon regeneration: Lessons from injury-responsive intrinsically photosensitive and alpha retinal ganglion cells. Prog Retin Eye Res 2019; 71:57-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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36
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Photosensitive Melanopsin-Containing Retinal Ganglion Cells in Health and Disease: Implications for Circadian Rhythms. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20133164. [PMID: 31261700 PMCID: PMC6651433 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells (mRGCs) represent a third class of retinal photoreceptors involved in regulating the pupillary light reflex and circadian photoentrainment, among other things. The functional integrity of the circadian system and melanopsin cells is an essential component of well-being and health, being both impaired in aging and disease. Here we review evidence of melanopsin-expressing cell alterations in aging and neurodegenerative diseases and their correlation with the development of circadian rhythm disorders. In healthy humans, the average density of melanopsin-positive cells falls after age 70, accompanied by age-dependent atrophy of dendritic arborization. In addition to aging, inner and outer retinal diseases also involve progressive deterioration and loss of mRGCs that positively correlates with progressive alterations in circadian rhythms. Among others, mRGC number and plexus complexity are impaired in Parkinson's disease patients; changes that may explain sleep and circadian rhythm disorders in this pathology. The key role of mRGCs in circadian photoentrainment and their loss in age and disease endorse the importance of eye care, even if vision is lost, to preserve melanopsin ganglion cells and their essential functions in the maintenance of an adequate quality of life.
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37
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Bray ER, Yungher BJ, Levay K, Ribeiro M, Dvoryanchikov G, Ayupe AC, Thakor K, Marks V, Randolph M, Danzi MC, Schmidt TM, Chaudhari N, Lemmon VP, Hattar S, Park KK. Thrombospondin-1 Mediates Axon Regeneration in Retinal Ganglion Cells. Neuron 2019; 103:642-657.e7. [PMID: 31255486 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.05.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal subtypes show diverse injury responses, but the molecular underpinnings remain elusive. Using transgenic mice that allow reliable visualization of axonal fate, we demonstrate that intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are both resilient to cell death and highly regenerative. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we show genes that are differentially expressed in ipRGCs and that associate with their survival and axon regeneration. Strikingly, thrombospondin-1 (Thbs1) ranked as the most differentially expressed gene, along with the well-documented injury-response genes Atf3 and Jun. THBS1 knockdown in RGCs eliminated axon regeneration. Conversely, RGC overexpression of THBS1 enhanced regeneration in both ipRGCs and non-ipRGCs, an effect that was dependent on syndecan-1, a known THBS1-binding protein. All structural domains of the THBS1 were not equally effective; the trimerization and C-terminal domains promoted regeneration, while the THBS type-1 repeats were dispensable. Our results identify cell-type-specific induction of Thbs1 as a novel gene conferring high regenerative capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Bray
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Benjamin J Yungher
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Konstantin Levay
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Marcio Ribeiro
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Gennady Dvoryanchikov
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ana C Ayupe
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Kinjal Thakor
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Victoria Marks
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Michael Randolph
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Matt C Danzi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Tiffany M Schmidt
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Nirupa Chaudhari
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Vance P Lemmon
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Samer Hattar
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Kevin K Park
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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38
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Melanopsin +RGCs Are fully Resistant to NMDA-Induced Excitotoxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20123012. [PMID: 31226772 PMCID: PMC6627747 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20123012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied short- and long-term effects of intravitreal injection of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) on melanopsin-containing (m+) and non-melanopsin-containing (Brn3a+) retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In adult SD-rats, the left eye received a single intravitreal injection of 5µL of 100nM NMDA. At 3 and 15 months, retinal thickness was measured in vivo using Spectral Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT). Ex vivo analyses were done at 3, 7, or 14 days or 15 months after damage. Whole-mounted retinas were immunolabelled for brain-specific homeobox/POU domain protein 3A (Brn3a) and melanopsin (m), the total number of Brn3a+RGCs and m+RGCs were quantified, and their topography represented. In control retinas, the mean total numbers of Brn3a+RGCs and m+RGCs were 78,903 ± 3572 and 2358 ± 144 (mean ± SD; n = 10), respectively. In the NMDA injected retinas, Brn3a+RGCs numbers diminished to 49%, 28%, 24%, and 19%, at 3, 7, 14 days, and 15 months, respectively. There was no further loss between 7 days and 15 months. The number of immunoidentified m+RGCs decreased significantly at 3 days, recovered between 3 and 7 days, and were back to normal thereafter. OCT measurements revealed a significant thinning of the left retinas at 3 and 15 months. Intravitreal injections of NMDA induced within a week a rapid loss of 72% of Brn3a+RGCs, a transient downregulation of melanopsin expression (but not m+RGC death), and a thinning of the inner retinal layers.
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39
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Fogo GM, Shuboni-Mulligan DD, Gall AJ. Melanopsin-Containing ipRGCs Are Resistant to Excitotoxic Injury and Maintain Functional Non-Image Forming Behaviors After Insult in a Diurnal Rodent Model. Neuroscience 2019; 412:105-115. [PMID: 31176702 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.05.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are critical for the light signaling properties of non-image forming vision. Melanopsin-expressing ipRGCs project to retinorecipient brain regions involved in modulating circadian rhythms. Melanopsin has been shown to play an important role in how animals respond to light, including photoentrainment, masking (i.e., acute behavioral responses to light), and the pupillary light reflex (PLR). Importantly, ipRGCs are resistant to various forms of damage, including ocular hypertension, optic nerve crush, and excitotoxicity via N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) administration. Although these cells are resistant to various forms of injury, the question still remains whether or not these cells remain functional following injury. Here we tested the hypothesis that ipRGCs would be resistant to excitotoxic damage in a diurnal rodent model, the Nile grass rat (Arvicanthis niloticus). In addition, we hypothesized that following insult, grass rats would maintain normal circadian entrainment and masking to light. In order to test these hypotheses, we injected NMDA intraocularly and examined its effect on the survivability of ipRGCs and RGCs, along with testing behavioral and functional consequences. Similar to findings in nocturnal rodents, ipRGCs were spared from significant damage but RGCs were not. Importantly, whereas image-forming vision was significantly impaired, non-image forming vision (i.e, photoentrainment, masking, and PLR) remained functional. The present study aims to characterize the resistance of ipRGCs to excitotoxicity in a diurnal rodent model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett M Fogo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Hope College, Holland, MI, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Andrew J Gall
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Hope College, Holland, MI, USA.
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40
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Masri RA, Lee SCS, Madigan MC, Grünert U. Particle-Mediated Gene Transfection and Organotypic Culture of Postmortem Human Retina. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2019; 8:7. [PMID: 30941264 PMCID: PMC6438245 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.8.2.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Particle-mediated gene transfer has been used in animal models to study the morphology and connectivity of retinal ganglion cells. The aim of the present study was to apply this method to transfect ganglion cells in postmortem human retina. Methods Postmortem human eyes from male and female donors aged 40 to 76 years old were obtained within 15 hours after death. In addition, two marmoset retinas were obtained immediately after death. Ganglion cells were transfected with an expression plasmid for the postsynaptic density 95 protein conjugated to green or yellow fluorescent protein. Retinas were cultured for 3 days, fixed and then processed with immunohistochemical markers to reveal their stratification in the inner plexiform layer. Results The retinas maintained their morphology and immunohistochemical properties for at least 3 days in culture. Bipolar and ganglion cell morphology was comparable to that observed in noncultured tissue. The quality of transfected cells in human retina was similar to that in freshly enucleated marmoset eyes. Based on dendritic field size and stratification, at least 11 morphological types of retinal ganglion cell were distinguished. Conclusions Particle-mediated gene transfer allows efficient targeting of retinal ganglion cells in cultured postmortem human retina. Translational Relevance The translational value of this methodology lies in the provision of an in vitro platform to study structural and connectivity changes in human eye diseases that affect the integrity and organization of cells in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rania A Masri
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Sydney Node, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sammy C S Lee
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Sydney Node, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michele C Madigan
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia.,School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ulrike Grünert
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Save Sight Institute and Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Sydney Node, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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41
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Lakk M, Young D, Baumann JM, Jo AO, Hu H, Križaj D. Polymodal TRPV1 and TRPV4 Sensors Colocalize but Do Not Functionally Interact in a Subpopulation of Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:353. [PMID: 30386208 PMCID: PMC6198093 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are projection neurons that transmit the visual signal from the retina to the brain. Their excitability and survival can be strongly influenced by mechanical stressors, temperature, lipid metabolites, and inflammatory mediators but the transduction mechanisms for these non-synaptic sensory inputs are not well characterized. Here, we investigate the distribution, functional expression, and localization of two polymodal transducers of mechanical, lipid, and inflammatory signals, TRPV1 and TRPV4 cation channels, in mouse RGCs. The most abundant vanilloid mRNA species was Trpv4, followed by Trpv2 and residual expression of Trpv3 and Trpv1. Immunohistochemical and functional analyses showed that TRPV1 and TRPV4 channels are expressed as separate molecular entities, with TRPV1-only (∼10%), TRPV4-only (∼40%), and TRPV1 + TRPV4 (∼10%) expressing RGC subpopulations. The TRPV1 + TRPV4 cohort included SMI-32-immunopositive alpha RGCs, suggesting potential roles for polymodal signal transduction in modulation of fast visual signaling. Arguing against obligatory heteromerization, optical imaging showed that activation and desensitization of TRPV1 and TRPV4 responses evoked by capsaicin and GSK1016790A are independent of each other. Overall, these data predict that RGC subpopulations will be differentially sensitive to mechanical and inflammatory stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Lakk
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Derek Young
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Jackson M Baumann
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Andrew O Jo
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Hongzhen Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - David Križaj
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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42
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Varadarajan SG, Huberman AD. Assembly and repair of eye-to-brain connections. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 53:198-209. [PMID: 30339988 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Vision is the sense humans rely on most to navigate the world and survive. A tremendous amount of research has focused on understanding the neural circuits for vision and the developmental mechanisms that establish them. The eye-to-brain, or 'retinofugal' pathway remains a particularly important model in these contexts because it is essential for sight, its overt anatomical features relate to distinct functional attributes and those features develop in a tractable sequence. Much progress has been made in understanding the growth of retinal axons out of the eye, their selection of targets in the brain, the development of laminar and cell type-specific connectivity within those targets, and also dendritic connectivity within the retina itself. Moreover, because the retinofugal pathway is prone to degeneration in many common blinding diseases, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that establish connectivity early in life stands to provide valuable insights into approaches that re-wire this pathway after damage or loss. Here we review recent progress in understanding the development of retinofugal pathways and how this information is important for improving visual circuit regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supraja G Varadarajan
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Andrew D Huberman
- Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States; Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States; BioX, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States; Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States.
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43
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Rheaume BA, Jereen A, Bolisetty M, Sajid MS, Yang Y, Renna K, Sun L, Robson P, Trakhtenberg EF. Single cell transcriptome profiling of retinal ganglion cells identifies cellular subtypes. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2759. [PMID: 30018341 PMCID: PMC6050223 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05134-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 236] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) convey the major output of information collected from the eye to the brain. Thirty subtypes of RGCs have been identified to date. Here, we analyze 6225 RGCs (average of 5000 genes per cell) from right and left eyes by single-cell RNA-seq and classify them into 40 subtypes using clustering algorithms. We identify additional subtypes and markers, as well as transcription factors predicted to cooperate in specifying RGC subtypes. Zic1, a marker of the right eye-enriched subtype, is validated by immunostaining in situ. Runx1 and Fst, the markers of other subtypes, are validated in purified RGCs by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunostaining. We show the extent of gene expression variability needed for subtype segregation, and we show a hierarchy in diversification from a cell-type population to subtypes. Finally, we present a website for comparing the gene expression of RGC subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce A Rheaume
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Amyeo Jereen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Mohan Bolisetty
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Muhammad S Sajid
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Kathleen Renna
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Lili Sun
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Paul Robson
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics and Department of Genetics & Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Ephraim F Trakhtenberg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA.
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Sánchez-Migallón MC, Valiente-Soriano FJ, Nadal-Nicolás FM, Di Pierdomenico J, Vidal-Sanz M, Agudo-Barriuso M. Survival of melanopsin expressing retinal ganglion cells long term after optic nerve trauma in mice. Exp Eye Res 2018; 174:93-97. [PMID: 29856984 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In this study we have compared the response to optic nerve crush (ONC) and to optic nerve transection (ONT) of the general population of retinal ganglion cells in charge of the image-forming visual functions that express Brn3a (Brn3a+RGCs) with that of the sub-population of non-image forming RGCs that express melanopsin (m+RGCs). Intact animals were used as control. ONT and ONC were performed at 0.5 mm from the optic disk, and retinas dissected 3, 5, 7, 14, 30, 45 or 90 days later (n = 5/injury/time point). In all the retinas, Brn3a+RGCs and m+RGCs were identified and their survival analyzed quantitatively and topographically. There were no differences in the course of RGC loss between lesions. The decrease of RGCs was significant at short time points (3 or 5 days for Brn3a+ or m+ RGCs, respectively) and, up to 14 days, the course of loss of both RGC populations was similar, surviving at this time point between 20 and 22% of their original population. However, while the loss of Brn3a+RGCs continues steadily up to 90 days when only 5-6% of them still remain, the loss of m+RGCs stops at 14 days, and the proportion of surviving m+RGCs remains constant up to 90 days (26-30%). In conclusion, m+RGC do not respond to axotomy in the same way than the rest of RGCs, and so whilst image-forming RGCs die in two exponential phases a quick one and a slow protracted one, non-image forming RGCs die only during the first quick phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Sánchez-Migallón
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - F J Valiente-Soriano
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
| | - F M Nadal-Nicolás
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - J Di Pierdomenico
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - M Vidal-Sanz
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - M Agudo-Barriuso
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
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Ba-Ali S, Jensen RH, Larsen LS, Lund-Andersen H, Hamann S. The Melanopsin-Mediated Pupillary Light Response Is Not Changed in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. Neuroophthalmology 2018; 42:65-72. [PMID: 29563950 DOI: 10.1080/01658107.2017.1344251] [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: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, it has been reported that melanopsin-mediated pupillary light response (PLR), measured with pupillometry, is reduced in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), indicating the clinical utility of the tool in the diagnosis of IIH. In the current study, the authors aimed to measure the PLR in 13 treatment-naive patients with new-onset IIH and 13 healthy controls. In contrast to the previous report, which was based on patients with longstanding IIH (n = 13), the authors found no significant difference in the melanopsin-mediated PLR (p = 0.48).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakoor Ba-Ali
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rigmor Højland Jensen
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Line Sofie Larsen
- Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Henrik Lund-Andersen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Steffen Hamann
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Combinatorial Effects of Alpha- and Gamma-Protocadherins on Neuronal Survival and Dendritic Self-Avoidance. J Neurosci 2018; 38:2713-2729. [PMID: 29439167 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3035-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The clustered protocadherins (Pcdhs) comprise 58 cadherin-related proteins encoded by three tandemly arrayed gene clusters, Pcdh-α, Pcdh-β, and Pcdh-γ (Pcdha, Pcdhb, and Pcdhg, respectively). Pcdh isoforms from different clusters are combinatorially expressed in neurons. They form multimers that interact homophilically and mediate a variety of developmental processes, including neuronal survival, synaptic maintenance, axonal tiling, and dendritic self-avoidance. Most studies have analyzed clusters individually. Here, we assessed functional interactions between Pcdha and Pcdhg clusters. To circumvent neonatal lethality associated with deletion of Pcdhgs, we used Crispr-Cas9 genome editing in mice to combine a constitutive Pcdha mutant allele with a conditional Pcdhg allele. We analyzed roles of Pcdhas and Pcdhgs in the retina and cerebellum from mice (both sexes) lacking one or both clusters. In retina, Pcdhgs are essential for survival of inner retinal neurons and dendritic self-avoidance of starburst amacrine cells, whereas Pcdhas are dispensable for both processes. Deletion of both Pcdha and Pcdhg clusters led to far more dramatic defects in survival and self-avoidance than Pcdhg deletion alone. Comparisons of an allelic series of mutants support the conclusion that Pcdhas and Pcdhgs function together in a dose-dependent and cell-type-specific manner to provide a critical threshold of Pcdh activity. In the cerebellum, Pcdhas and Pcdhgs also cooperate to mediate self-avoidance of Purkinje cell dendrites, with modest but significant defects in either single mutant and dramatic defects in the double mutant. Together, our results demonstrate complex patterns of redundancy between Pcdh clusters and the importance of Pcdh cluster diversity in postnatal CNS development.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The formation of neural circuits requires diversification and combinatorial actions of cell surface proteins. Prominent among them are the clustered protocadherins (Pcdhs), a family of ∼60 neuronal recognition molecules. Pcdhs are encoded by three closely linked gene clusters called Pcdh-α, Pcdh-β, and Pcdh-γ. The Pcdhs mediate a variety of developmental processes, including neuronal survival, synaptic maintenance, and spatial patterning of axons and dendrites. Most studies to date have been limited to single clusters. Here, we used genome editing to assess interactions between Pcdh-α and Pcdh-γ gene clusters. We examined two regions of the CNS, the retina and cerebellum and show that the 14 α-Pcdhs and 22 γ-Pcdhs act synergistically to mediate neuronal survival and dendrite patterning.
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The organization of melanopsin-immunoreactive cells in microbat retina. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190435. [PMID: 29304147 PMCID: PMC5755760 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) respond to light and play roles in non-image forming vision, such as circadian rhythms, pupil responses, and sleep regulation, or image forming vision, such as processing visual information and directing eye movements in response to visual clues. The purpose of the present study was to identify the distribution, types, and proportion of melanopsin-immunoreactive (IR) cells in the retina of a nocturnal animal, i.e., the microbat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). Three types of melanopsin-IR cells were observed in the present study. The M1 type had dendritic arbors that extended into the OFF sublayer of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). M1 soma locations were identified either in the ganglion cell layer (GCL, M1c; 21.00%) or in the inner nuclear layer (INL, M1d; 5.15%). The M2 type had monostratified dendrites in the ON sublayer of the IPL and their cell bodies lay in the GCL (M2; 5.79%). The M3 type was bistratified cells with dendrites in both the ON and OFF sublayers of the IPL. M3 soma locations were either in the GCL (M3c; 26.66%) or INL (M3d; 4.69%). Additionally, some M3c cells had curved dendrites leading up towards the OFF sublayer of the IPL and down to the ON sublayer of the IPL (M3c-crv; 7.67%). Melanopsin-IR cells displayed a medium soma size and medium dendritic field diameters. There were 2-5 primary dendrites and sparsely branched dendrites with varicosities. The total number of the neurons in the GCL was 12,254.17 ± 660.39 and that of the optic nerve axons was 5,179.04 ± 208.00 in the R. ferrumequinum retina. The total number of melanopsin-IR cells was 819.74 ± 52.03. The ipRGCs constituted approximately 15.83% of the total RGC population. This study demonstrated that the nocturnal microbat, R. ferrumequinum, has a much higher density of melanopsin-IR cells than documented in diurnal animals.
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Ba-Ali S, Lund-Andersen H. Pupillometric evaluation of the melanopsin containing retinal ganglion cells in mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial optic neuropathies. Mitochondrion 2017; 36:124-129. [PMID: 28716667 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, chromatic pupillometry is used in humans to evaluate the activity of melanopsin expressing intrinsic photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). Blue light is used to stimulate the ipRGCs and red light activates the rod/cone photoreceptors. The late re-dilation phase of pupillary light reflex is primarily driven by the ipRGCs. Optic neuropathies i.e. Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA), nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), glaucoma, optic neuritis and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) are among the diseases, which have been subject to pupillometric studies. The ipRGCs are differentially affected in these various optic neuropathies. In mitochondrial optic neuropathies, the ipRGCs are protected against degeneration, whereas in glaucoma, NAION, optic neuritis and IIH the ipRGCs are damaged. Here, we will review the results of pupillometric, histopathological and animal studies evaluating the ipRGCs in mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial optic neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakoor Ba-Ali
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Henrik Lund-Andersen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Yungher BJ, Ribeiro M, Park KK. Regenerative Responses and Axon Pathfinding of Retinal Ganglion Cells in Chronically Injured Mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017; 58:1743-1750. [PMID: 28324115 PMCID: PMC5361588 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.16-19873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Enhanced regeneration of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons can be achieved by modification of numerous neuronal-intrinsic factors. However, axon growth initiation and the pathfinding behavior of these axons after traumatic injury remain poorly understood outside of acute injury paradigms, despite the clinical relevance of more chronic settings. We therefore examined RGC axon regeneration following therapeutic delivery that is postponed until 2 months after optic nerve crush injury. Methods Optic nerve regeneration was induced by virally mediated (adeno-associated virus) ciliary neurotrophic factor (AAV-CNTF) administered either immediately or 56 days after optic nerve crush in wild-type or Bax knockout (KO) mice. Retinal ganglion nerve axon regeneration was assessed 21 and 56 days after viral injection. Immunohistochemical analysis of RGC injury signals and extrinsic factors in the optic nerve were also examined at 5 and 56 days post crush. Results In addition to sustained expression of injury response proteins in surviving RGCs, we observe axon regrowth in wild-type and apoptosis-deficient Bax KO mice following AAV-CNTF treatment. Fewer instances of aberrant axon growth are seen, at least in the area near the lesion site, in animals given treatment 56 days after crush injury compared to the animals given treatment immediately after injury. We also find evidence of long distance growth into a visual target in Bax KO mice despite postponed initiation of this regenerative program. Conclusions These studies provide evidence against an intrinsic critical period for RGC axon regeneration or degradation of injury signals. Regeneration results from Bax KO mice imply highly sustained regenerative capacity in RGCs, highlighting the importance of long-lasting neuroprotective strategies as well as of RGC axon guidance research in chronically injured animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Yungher
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Márcio Ribeiro
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Kevin K Park
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
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50
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García-Ayuso D, Galindo-Romero C, Di Pierdomenico J, Vidal-Sanz M, Agudo-Barriuso M, Villegas Pérez MP. Light-induced retinal degeneration causes a transient downregulation of melanopsin in the rat retina. Exp Eye Res 2017; 161:10-16. [PMID: 28552384 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2017.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In this work we study the effects of an acute light-induced retinal degeneration on the population of melanopsin positive retinal ganglion cells (m+RGCs) and the expression of the melanopsin protein in the retina. The m+RGCs may be more resistant than other RGCs to lesion, but the effects of an acute light exposure in this population are unknown. Albino rats were exposed to white light (3000 lux) continuously for 48 h and processed 0, 3, 7 or 30 days after light exposure (ALE). Whole-mounted retinas were immunodetected with antibodies against melanopsin, Brn3a, and rhodopsin to study the populations of m+RGC, Brn3a+RGC and rods (which are the most abundant photoreceptors in the rat retina). Three days ALE there was substantial rod loss in an arciform area of the superior retina and with time this loss expanded in the form of rings all throughout the retina. Light exposure did not affect the number of Brn3a+RGCs but diminished the numbers of m+RGCs. Immediately ALE there was a significant decrease in the mean number of immunodetected m+RGCs that was more marked in the superior retina. Later, the number of m+RGCs increased progressively and reached normal values one month ALE. Western blot analysis showed that melanopsin expression down-regulates shortly ALE and recovers thereafter, in accordance with the anatomical data. This study demonstrates that there is a transient downregulation of melanopsin expression in the RGCs during the first month ALE. Further studies would be needed to clarify the long-term effect of light exposure on the m+RGC population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego García-Ayuso
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), Spain.
| | - Caridad Galindo-Romero
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), Spain
| | - Johnny Di Pierdomenico
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), Spain
| | - Manuel Vidal-Sanz
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), Spain
| | - Marta Agudo-Barriuso
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), Spain
| | - María P Villegas Pérez
- Departamento de Oftalmología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca), Spain.
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