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Beryozkin A, Byrne LC. In Vivo Imaging of Rodent Retina in Retinal Disease. Methods Mol Biol 2025; 2848:151-167. [PMID: 39240522 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4087-6_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
High-quality imaging of the retina is crucial to the diagnosis and monitoring of disease, as well as for evaluating the success of therapeutics in human patients and in preclinical animal models. Here, we describe the basic principles and methods for in vivo retinal imaging in rodents, including fundus imaging, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, and infrared imaging. After providing a concise overview of each method and detailing the retinal diseases and conditions that can be visualized through them, we will proceed to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. These protocols will facilitate the acquisition of optimal images for subsequent quantification and analysis. Additionally, a brief explanation will be given regarding the potential results and the clinical significance of the detected abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avigail Beryozkin
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Leah C Byrne
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Seyed-Razavi Y, Lee SR, Fan J, Shen W, Cornish EE, Gillies MC. JR5558 mice are a reliable model to investigate subretinal fibrosis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18752. [PMID: 39138242 PMCID: PMC11322289 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66068-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Subretinal fibrosis is a major untreatable cause of poor outcomes in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Mouse models of subretinal fibrosis all possess a degree of invasiveness and tissue damage not typical of fibrosis progression. This project characterises JR5558 mice as a model to study subretinal fibrosis. Fundus and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging was used to non-invasively track lesions. Lesion number and area were quantified with ImageJ. Retinal sections, wholemounts and Western blots were used to characterise alterations. Subretinal lesions expand between 4 and 8 weeks and become established in size and location around 12 weeks. Subretinal lesions were confirmed to be fibrotic, including various cell populations involved in fibrosis development. Müller cell processes extended from superficial retina into subretinal lesions at 8 weeks. Western blotting revealed increases in fibronectin (4 wk and 8 wk, p < 0.001), CTGF (20 wks, p < 0.001), MMP2 (12 wks and 20 wks p < 0.05), αSMA (12 wks and 20 wks p < 0.05) and GFAP (8 wk and 12 wk, p ≤ 0.01), consistent with our immunofluorescence results. Intravitreal injection of Aflibercept reduced subretinal lesion growth. Our study provides evidence JR5558 mice have subretinal fibrotic lesions that grow between 4 and 8 weeks and confirms this line to be a good model to study subretinal fibrosis development and assess treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashar Seyed-Razavi
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.
- Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney University, Sydney, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.
| | - So-Ra Lee
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Jiawen Fan
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Weiyong Shen
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Elisa E Cornish
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
| | - Mark C Gillies
- Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.
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Bora K, Kushwah N, Maurya M, Pavlovich MC, Wang Z, Chen J. Assessment of Inner Blood-Retinal Barrier: Animal Models and Methods. Cells 2023; 12:2443. [PMID: 37887287 PMCID: PMC10605292 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Proper functioning of the neural retina relies on the unique retinal environment regulated by the blood-retinal barrier (BRB), which restricts the passage of solutes, fluids, and toxic substances. BRB impairment occurs in many retinal vascular diseases and the breakdown of BRB significantly contributes to disease pathology. Understanding the different molecular constituents and signaling pathways involved in BRB development and maintenance is therefore crucial in developing treatment modalities. This review summarizes the major molecular signaling pathways involved in inner BRB (iBRB) formation and maintenance, and representative animal models of eye diseases with retinal vascular leakage. Studies on Wnt/β-catenin signaling are highlighted, which is critical for retinal and brain vascular angiogenesis and barriergenesis. Moreover, multiple in vivo and in vitro methods for the detection and analysis of vascular leakage are described, along with their advantages and limitations. These pre-clinical animal models and methods for assessing iBRB provide valuable experimental tools in delineating the molecular mechanisms of retinal vascular diseases and evaluating therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jing Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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4
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Chandran K, Giridhar A, Gopalakrishnan M, Sivaprasad S. Relation of interdigitation zone changes and right-angle vessels in Macular Telangiectasia Type-2 (MacTel). Eye (Lond) 2023; 37:2977-2986. [PMID: 36841866 PMCID: PMC10516857 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-023-02453-8] [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: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To study the relation between interdigitation zone (IDZ) and right-angle vessel (RAV) in Macular Telangiectasia Type-2 (MacTel). METHODS A total of 43 eyes of 38 patients with presence of definite RAV on colour fundus photograph (Gass and Blodi-only stage-3) were confirmed on multimodal imaging. The relation of IDZ changes and associated ellipsoid zone (EZ) alterations on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) with RAV were studied at baseline and these OCT changes were followed up in 15 eyes over a mean of 3.86 years. RESULTS A total of 58 RAVs were found in the 43 eyes and 53/58 (91.3%) RAVs were associated with IDZ alterations in 39 eyes. On follow-up, IDZ attenuation progressed to IDZ loss and subsequent EZ attenuation and loss. A pre-existing IDZ loss was associated with subsequent EZ defect (P = 0.002). In 36 eyes that had OCT angiography, eyes with RAV showed deep capillary plexus telangiectasia in all 36 (100%) eyes and 32/36 (89%) eyes showed IDZ changes with or without EZ loss. CONCLUSIONS IDZ attenuation and/or loss are associated with RAV and may serve as predictor of EZ loss in MacTel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Chandran
- Department of Vitreoretinal Services, Giridhar Eye Institute, Cochin, Kerala, India
- SSM Eye Research Foundation, Giridhar Eye Institute, Cochin, Kerala, India
| | - Anantharaman Giridhar
- Department of Vitreoretinal Services, Giridhar Eye Institute, Cochin, Kerala, India.
- SSM Eye Research Foundation, Giridhar Eye Institute, Cochin, Kerala, India.
| | | | - Sobha Sivaprasad
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Canonica J, Foxton R, Garrido MG, Lin CM, Uhles S, Shanmugam S, Antonetti DA, Abcouwer SF, Westenskow PD. Delineating effects of angiopoietin-2 inhibition on vascular permeability and inflammation in models of retinal neovascularization and ischemia/reperfusion. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1192464. [PMID: 37377777 PMCID: PMC10291265 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1192464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Clinical trials demonstrated that co-targeting angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) with faricimab controls anatomic outcomes and maintains vision improvements, with strong durability, through 2 years in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. The mechanism(s) underlying these findings is incompletely understood and the specific role that Ang-2 inhibition plays requires further investigation. Methods We examined the effects of single and dual Ang-2/VEGF-A inhibition in diseased vasculatures of JR5558 mice with spontaneous choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and in mice with retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries. Results In JR5558 mice, Ang-2, VEGF-A, and dual Ang-2/VEGF-A inhibition reduced CNV area after 1 week; only dual Ang-2/VEGF-A inhibition decreased neovascular leakage. Only Ang-2 and dual Ang-2/VEGF-A inhibition maintained reductions after 5 weeks. Dual Ang-2/VEGF-A inhibition reduced macrophage/microglia accumulation around lesions after 1 week. Both Ang-2 and dual Ang-2/VEGF-A inhibition reduced macrophage/microglia accumulation around lesions after 5 weeks. In the retinal I/R injury model, dual Ang-2/VEGF-A inhibition was statistically significantly more effective than Ang-2 or VEGF-A inhibition alone in preventing retinal vascular leakage and neurodegeneration. Discussion These data highlight the role of Ang-2 in dual Ang-2/VEGF-A inhibition and indicate that dual inhibition has complementary anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, suggesting a mechanism for the durability and efficacy of faricimab in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémie Canonica
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Richard Foxton
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marina Garcia Garrido
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cheng-Mao Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sabine Uhles
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sumathi Shanmugam
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - David A. Antonetti
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Steven F. Abcouwer
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Peter D. Westenskow
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
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Navneet S, Brandon C, Simpson K, Rohrer B. Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Elastase Inhibition in Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Mouse and Human. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091308. [PMID: 37174708 PMCID: PMC10177483 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal turnover of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein elastin has been linked to AMD pathology. Elastin is a critical component of Bruch's membrane (BrM), an ECM layer that separates the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from the underlying choriocapillaris. Reduced integrity of BrM's elastin layer corresponds to areas of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in wet AMD. Serum levels of elastin-derived peptides and anti-elastin antibodies are significantly elevated in AMD patients along with the prevalence of polymorphisms of genes regulating elastin turnover. Despite these results indicating significant associations between abnormal elastin turnover and AMD, very little is known about its exact role in AMD pathogenesis. Here we report on results that suggest that elastase enzymes could play a direct role in the pathogenesis of AMD. We found significantly increased elastase activity in the retinas and RPE cells of AMD mouse models, and AMD patient-iPSC-derived RPE cells. A1AT, a protease inhibitor that inactivates elastase, reduced CNV lesion sizes in mouse models. A1AT completely inhibited elastase-induced VEGFA expression and secretion, and restored RPE monolayer integrity in ARPE-19 monolayers. A1AT also mitigated RPE thickening, an early AMD phenotype, in HTRA1 overexpressing mice, HTRA1 being a serine protease with elastase activity. Finally, in an exploratory study, examining archival records from large patient data sets, we identified an association between A1AT use, age and AMD risk. Our results suggest that repurposing A1AT may have therapeutic potential in modifying the progression to AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Navneet
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Carlene Brandon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Kit Simpson
- Department of Healthcare Leadership and Management, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Bärbel Rohrer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Division of Research, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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7
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Shin CS, Veettil RA, Sakthivel TS, Adumbumkulath A, Lee R, Zaheer M, Kolanthai E, Seal S, Acharya G. Noninvasive Delivery of Self-Regenerating Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles to Modulate Oxidative Stress in the Retina. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:5816-5825. [PMID: 36441967 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Diseases affecting the retina, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, and retinal vein occlusions, are currently treated by the intravitreal injection of drug formulations. These disease pathologies are driven by oxidative damage due to chronic high concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the retina. Intravitreal injections often induce retinal detachment, intraocular hemorrhage, and endophthalmitis. Furthermore, the severe eye pain associated with these injections lead to patient noncompliance and treatment discontinuation. Hence, there is a critical need for the development of a noninvasive therapy that is effective for a prolonged period for treating retinal diseases. In this study, we developed a noninvasive cerium oxide nanoparticle (CNP) delivery wafer (Cerawafer) for the modulation of ROS in the retina. We fabricated Cerawafer loaded with CNP and determined its SOD-like enzyme-mimetic activity and ability to neutralize ROS generated in vitro. We demonstrated Cerawafer's ability to deliver CNP in a noninvasive fashion to the retina in healthy mouse eyes and the CNP retention in the retina for more than a week. Our studies have demonstrated the in vivo efficacy of the Cerawafer to modulate ROS and associated down-regulation of VEGF expression in the retinas of very-low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (vldlr-/-) mouse model. The development of a Cerawafer nanotherapeutic will fulfill a hitherto unmet need. Currently, there is no such therapeutic available, and the development of a Cerawafer nanotherapeutic will be a major advancement in the treatment of retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal S Shin
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Remya Ammassam Veettil
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Tamil S Sakthivel
- Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanoscience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, United States
| | - Aparna Adumbumkulath
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Richard Lee
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Mahira Zaheer
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Elayaraja Kolanthai
- Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanoscience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, United States
| | - Sudipta Seal
- Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanoscience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, United States.,College of Medicine, Biionix Cluster, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32827, United States
| | - Ghanashyam Acharya
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
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8
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Collin GB, Shi L, Yu M, Akturk N, Charette JR, Hyde LF, Weatherly SM, Pera MF, Naggert JK, Peachey NS, Nishina PM, Krebs MP. A Splicing Mutation in Slc4a5 Results in Retinal Detachment and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2220. [PMID: 35216333 PMCID: PMC8875008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluid and solute transporters of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) are core components of the outer blood-retinal barrier. Characterizing these transporters and their role in retinal homeostasis may provide insights into ocular function and disease. Here, we describe RPE defects in tvrm77 mice, which exhibit hypopigmented patches in the central retina. Mapping and nucleotide sequencing of tvrm77 mice revealed a disrupted 5' splice donor sequence in Slc4a5, a sodium bicarbonate cotransporter gene. Slc4a5 expression was reduced 19.7-fold in tvrm77 RPE relative to controls, and alternative splice variants were detected. SLC4A5 was localized to the Golgi apparatus of cultured human RPE cells and in apical and basal membranes. Fundus imaging, optical coherence tomography, microscopy, and electroretinography (ERG) of tvrm77 mice revealed retinal detachment, hypopigmented patches corresponding to neovascular lesions, and retinal folds. Detachment worsened and outer nuclear layer thickness decreased with age. ERG a- and b-wave response amplitudes were initially normal but declined in older mice. The direct current ERG fast oscillation and light peak were reduced in amplitude at all ages, whereas other RPE-associated responses were unaffected. These results link a new Slc4a5 mutation to subretinal fluid accumulation and altered light-evoked RPE electrophysiological responses, suggesting that SLC4A5 functions at the outer blood-retinal barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayle B. Collin
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Lanying Shi
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Minzhong Yu
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (M.Y.); (N.S.P.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Nurten Akturk
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Jeremy R. Charette
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Lillian F. Hyde
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Sonia M. Weatherly
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Martin F. Pera
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Jürgen K. Naggert
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Neal S. Peachey
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (M.Y.); (N.S.P.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Patsy M. Nishina
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
| | - Mark P. Krebs
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA; (G.B.C.); (L.S.); (N.A.); (J.R.C.); (L.F.H.); (S.M.W.); (M.F.P.); (J.K.N.)
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Qiang W, Wei R, Chen Y, Chen D. Clinical Pathological Features and Current Animal Models of Type 3 Macular Neovascularization. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:734860. [PMID: 34512255 PMCID: PMC8427186 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.734860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 3 macular neovascularization (MNV3), or retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP), is a distinct type of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is a leading cause of vision loss in older persons. During the past decade, systematic investigation into the clinical, multimodal imaging, and histopathological features and therapeutic outcomes has provided important new insight into this disease. These studies favor the retinal origin of MNV3 and suggest the involvement of retinal hypoxia, inflammation, von Hippel–Lindau (VHL)–hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, and multiple cell types in the development and progression of MNV3. Several mouse models, including the recently built Rb/p107/Vhl triple knockout mouse model by our group, have induced many of the histological features of MNV3 and provided much insight into the underlying pathological mechanisms. These models have revealed the roles of retinal hypoxia, inflammation, lipid metabolism, VHL/HIF pathway, and retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (Rb)–E2F cell cycle pathway in the development of MNV3. This article will summarize the clinical, multimodal imaging, and pathological features of MNV3 and the diversity of animal models that exist for MNV3, as well as their strengths and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Qiang
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ran Wei
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongjiang Chen
- The School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Danian Chen
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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10
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Krivosic V, Lavia C, Aubineau A, Tadayoni R, Gaudric A. OCT of Outer Retinal Hyperreflectivity, Neovascularization, and Pigment in Macular Telangiectasia Type 2. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 5:562-570. [DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2020.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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11
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Saito M, Itagaki K, Sekiryu T. Fundus autofluorescence of retinal angiomatous proliferation. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243458. [PMID: 33296421 PMCID: PMC7725377 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The present study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of fundus autofluorescence in Japanese patients with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). Methods We retrospectively reviewed 100 eyes from 76 patients (male, n = 45; female, n = 31; age range, 50–94 years; mean ± standard deviation, 81.4 ± 6.4 years) with treatment-naïve RAP, which was diagnosed based on the identification of retinal–retinal anastomosis on early-phase fluorescein angiography or indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and the identification of a hot spot on late-phase ICGA. RAP was classified into the following three stages: stage 1, proliferation of intraretinal capillaries originating from the deep retinal complex (intraretinal neovascularization); stage 2, growth of the retinal vessels into the subretinal space (subretinal neovascularization); and stage 3, clinically or angiographically observed choroidal neovascularization. In all cases, short-wavelength and near-infrared autofluorescence (SW-AF, NIR-AF) was evaluated using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Results The conditions of the 100 eyes were as follows: stage 1 RAP, n = 6 (6%); stage 2 RAP without retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED), n = 40 (40%); stage 2 RAP with PED, n = 44 (44%); and stage 3 RAP, 10 (10%). On NIR-AF imaging, the number of abnormalities that were observed to correspond to the RAP lesions on ICGA (87 eyes, 87%) was significantly greater in comparison to SW-AF imaging (27 eyes, 27%). The mean follow-up period in all 76 patients was 39.2 months. In the 76 patients with unilateral disease, 21 (21%) eyes developed RAP in the fellow eye during the follow-up period. Among 18 eyes that were examined by both SW-AF and NIR-AF imaging before the onset of RAP lesions, NIR-AF imaging showed hypoautofluorescence in 15 (83%) eyes before the onset of RAP lesions. Conclusions SW-AF and NIR-AF abnormalities may be related to the dysfunction of the photoreceptor/retinal pigment epithelium complex. Hypoautofluorescence on NIR-AF imaging may accurately indicate the presence or onset of RAP lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaaki Saito
- Department of Ophthalmology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Kanako Itagaki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tetsuju Sekiryu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
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12
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Borrelli E, Zerbini G, Maestroni S, Sacconi R, Querques L, Zucchiatti I, Bandello F, Querques G. Multimodal Imaging to Detect in vivo Responses to Aflibercept Therapy in a Mouse Model of Type 3 Neovascularization. Ophthalmologica 2020; 244:193-199. [PMID: 33197922 DOI: 10.1159/000513051] [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: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to characterize the response to aflibercept in a mouse model of type 3 neovascularization, the neoretinal vascularization (NRV) 2 mouse line. METHODS Twelve NRV2 mice were assigned to one of the following groups: (1) 6 mice were injected with aflibercept 3 µg/g at postnatal day (P) 15 ("aflibercept" group), and (2) the remaining 6 mice did not receive any treatment ("placebo" group). The mice were examined at P30 and P44. RESULTS The NRV mice's retinas were characterized by regions of depigmentation that were topographically associated with hyperfluorescent lesions seen on fluorescein angiography (FA) images. On optical coherence tomography images, intraretinal neovascularizations were visualized as hyperreflective lesions mainly localized within the outer plexiform and outer nuclear layers. The average number of intraretinal neovascular lesions visualized on FA at P30 was 5.0 ± 2.2 in the aflibercept group and 20.7 ± 2.4 in the placebo group (p < 0.0001). At P44, the average number of intraretinal lesions was still lower in the aflibercept group, although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.088). CONCLUSION Aflibercept therapy was effective in inhibiting pathologic angiogenesis in the NRV2 mouse model. However, the successive treatment washout resulted in an increase in the number of lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Borrelli
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianpaolo Zerbini
- Complications of Diabetes Unit, Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Maestroni
- Complications of Diabetes Unit, Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Sacconi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Lea Querques
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Zucchiatti
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Bandello
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Querques
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy,
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13
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Liu S, Biesemeier AK, Tschulakow AV, Thakkar HV, Julien-Schraermeyer S, Schraermeyer U. A new rat model of treatment-naive quiescent choroidal neovascularization induced by human VEGF165 overexpression. Biol Open 2020; 9:bio048736. [PMID: 32086250 PMCID: PMC7295592 DOI: 10.1242/bio.048736] [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: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a crucial stimulator for choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Our aim was to develop a reproducible and valid treatment-naive quiescent CNV (i.e. without signs of exudation and with normal visual acuity) rat model by subretinal injection of an adeno-associated virus (AAV)-VEGFA165 vector. The CNV development was longitudinally followed up in vivo by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy/optical coherence tomography, fluorescein and Indocyanine Green angiographies and ex vivo by electron microscopy (EM) and immunohistochemistry. In total, 57 eyes were analysed. In vivo, a quiescent CNV was observed in 93% of the eyes 6 weeks post-transduction. In EM, CNV vessels with few fenestrations, multi-layered basement membranes and bifurcation of endothelial cells were observed sharing the human CNV features. Human VEGF overexpression, multi-layered retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) (RPE65) and macrophages/activated microglia (Iba1) were also detected. In addition, 19 CNV eyes were treated for up to 3 weeks with bevacizumab. The retinal and CNV lesion thickness decreased significantly in bevacizumab-treated CNV eyes compared with untreated CNV eyes 1 week after the treatment. In conclusion, our experimental CNV resembles those seen in patients suffering from treatment-naive quiescent CNV in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and responds to short-term treatment with bevacizumab. Our new model can, therefore, be used to test the long-term effect of new drugs targeting CNV under precisely-defined conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Liu
- Center for Ophthalmology, Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Antje K Biesemeier
- Center for Ophthalmology, Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- Natural and Medical Institute at the University of Tübingen, Applied Material Science and Electron Microscopy, Reutlingen 72770, Germany
| | - Alexander V Tschulakow
- Center for Ophthalmology, Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- STZ OcuTox Preclinical Drug Assessment, Hechingen 72379, Germany
| | - Harsh V Thakkar
- Center for Ophthalmology, Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- STZ OcuTox Preclinical Drug Assessment, Hechingen 72379, Germany
| | - Sylvie Julien-Schraermeyer
- Center for Ophthalmology, Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- STZ OcuTox Preclinical Drug Assessment, Hechingen 72379, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schraermeyer
- Center for Ophthalmology, Division of Experimental Vitreoretinal Surgery, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- STZ OcuTox Preclinical Drug Assessment, Hechingen 72379, Germany
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14
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Foxton RH, Uhles S, Grüner S, Revelant F, Ullmer C. Efficacy of simultaneous VEGF-A/ANG-2 neutralization in suppressing spontaneous choroidal neovascularization. EMBO Mol Med 2020; 11:emmm.201810204. [PMID: 31040126 PMCID: PMC6505683 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201810204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Richard H Foxton
- Ophthalmology Discovery, Pharma Research& Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Uhles
- Ophthalmology Discovery, Pharma Research& Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Grüner
- Ophthalmology Discovery, Pharma Research& Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Franco Revelant
- Ophthalmology Discovery, Pharma Research& Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Ullmer
- Ophthalmology Discovery, Pharma Research& Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
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15
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Dudiki T, Meller J, Mahajan G, Liu H, Zhevlakova I, Stefl S, Witherow C, Podrez E, Kothapalli CR, Byzova TV. Microglia control vascular architecture via a TGFβ1 dependent paracrine mechanism linked to tissue mechanics. Nat Commun 2020; 11:986. [PMID: 32080187 PMCID: PMC7033106 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14787-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue microarchitecture and mechanics are important in development and pathologies of the Central Nervous System (CNS); however, their coordinating mechanisms are unclear. Here, we report that during colonization of the retina, microglia contacts the deep layer of high stiffness, which coincides with microglial bipolarization, reduction in TGFβ1 signaling and termination of vascular growth. Likewise, stiff substrates induce microglial bipolarization and diminish TGFβ1 expression in hydrogels. Both microglial bipolarization in vivo and the responses to stiff substrates in vitro require intracellular adaptor Kindlin3 but not microglial integrins. Lack of Kindlin3 causes high microglial contractility, dysregulation of ERK signaling, excessive TGFβ1 expression and abnormally-patterned vasculature with severe malformations in the area of photoreceptors. Both excessive TGFβ1 signaling and vascular defects caused by Kindlin3-deficient microglia are rescued by either microglial depletion or microglial knockout of TGFβ1 in vivo. This mechanism underlies an interplay between microglia, vascular patterning and tissue mechanics within the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejasvi Dudiki
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Julia Meller
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Gautam Mahajan
- Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Department, Washkewicz College of Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Irina Zhevlakova
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Samantha Stefl
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Conner Witherow
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Eugene Podrez
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Chandrasekhar R Kothapalli
- Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Department, Washkewicz College of Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Tatiana V Byzova
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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16
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Wright CB, Uehara H, Kim Y, Yasuma T, Yasuma R, Hirahara S, Makin RD, Apicella I, Pereira F, Nagasaka Y, Narendran S, Fukuda S, Albuquerque R, Fowler BJ, Bastos-Carvalho A, Georgel P, Hatada I, Chang B, Kerur N, Ambati BK, Ambati J, Gelfand BD. Chronic Dicer1 deficiency promotes atrophic and neovascular outer retinal pathologies in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:2579-2587. [PMID: 31964819 PMCID: PMC7007521 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1909761117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Degeneration of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and aberrant blood vessel growth in the eye are advanced-stage processes in blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Loss of the RNase DICER1, an essential factor in micro-RNA biogenesis, is implicated in RPE atrophy. However, the functional implications of DICER1 loss in choroidal and retinal neovascularization are unknown. Here, we report that two independent hypomorphic mouse strains, as well as a separate model of postnatal RPE-specific DICER1 ablation, all presented with spontaneous RPE degeneration and choroidal and retinal neovascularization. DICER1 hypomorphic mice lacking critical inflammasome components or the innate immune adaptor MyD88 developed less severe RPE atrophy and pathological neovascularization. DICER1 abundance was also reduced in retinas of the JR5558 mouse model of spontaneous choroidal neovascularization. Finally, adenoassociated vector-mediated gene delivery of a truncated DICER1 variant (OptiDicer) reduced spontaneous choroidal neovascularization in JR5558 mice. Collectively, these findings significantly expand the repertoire of DICER1 in preserving retinal homeostasis by preventing both RPE degeneration and pathological neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles B Wright
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Hironori Uehara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350
| | - Younghee Kim
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Tetsuhiro Yasuma
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Reo Yasuma
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Shuichiro Hirahara
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Ryan D Makin
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Molecular and Cellular Basis of Disease Graduate Program, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Ivana Apicella
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Felipe Pereira
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Departamento de Oftalmologia e Ciências Visuais, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Yosuke Nagasaka
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Siddharth Narendran
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625020, India
| | - Shinichi Fukuda
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Romulo Albuquerque
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Benjamin J Fowler
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Ana Bastos-Carvalho
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
| | - Philippe Georgel
- Laboratoire d'ImmunoRhumatologie Moléculaire, INSERM UMR-S1109, LabEx Transplantex, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, 67085 Strasbourg, France
- Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire OMICARE, Université de Strasbourg, 67085 Strasbourg, France
| | - Izuho Hatada
- Laboratory of Genome Science, Biosignal Genome Resource Center, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8512, Japan
| | - Bo Chang
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
| | - Nagaraj Kerur
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | | | - Jayakrishna Ambati
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Bradley D Gelfand
- Center for Advanced Vision Science, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903;
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia School of Engineering, Charlottesville, VA 22904
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17
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Cuenca N, Ortuño-Lizarán I, Sánchez-Sáez X, Kutsyr O, Albertos-Arranz H, Fernández-Sánchez L, Martínez-Gil N, Noailles A, López-Garrido JA, López-Gálvez M, Lax P, Maneu V, Pinilla I. Interpretation of OCT and OCTA images from a histological approach: Clinical and experimental implications. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 77:100828. [PMID: 31911236 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2019.100828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) have been a technological breakthrough in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of many retinal diseases, thanks to its resolution and its ability to inform of the retinal state in seconds, which gives relevant information about retinal degeneration. In this review, we present an immunohistochemical description of the human and mice retina and we correlate it with the OCT bands in health and pathological conditions. Here, we propose an interpretation of the four outer hyperreflective OCT bands with a correspondence to retinal histology: the first and innermost band as the external limiting membrane (ELM), the second band as the cone ellipsoid zone (EZ), the third band as the outer segment tips phagocytosed by the pigment epithelium (PhaZ), and the fourth band as the mitochondria in the basal portion of the RPE (RPEmitZ). The integrity of these bands would reflect the health of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium. Moreover, we describe how the vascular plexuses vary in different regions of the healthy human and mice retina, using OCTA and immunohistochemistry. In humans, four, three, two or one plexuses can be observed depending on the distance from the fovea. Also, specific structures such as vascular loops in the intermediate capillary plexus, or spider-like structures of interconnected capillaries in the deep capillary plexus are found. In mice, three vascular plexuses occupy the whole retina, except in the most peripheral retina where only two plexuses are found. These morphological issues should be considered when assessing a pathology, as some retinal diseases are associated with structural changes in blood vessels. Therefore, the analysis of OCT bands and OCTA vascular plexuses may be complementary for the diagnosis and prognosis of retinal degenerative processes, useful to assess therapeutic approaches, and it is usually correlated to visual acuity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Cuenca
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Spain; Institute Ramón Margalef, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
| | | | - Xavier Sánchez-Sáez
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Spain
| | - Oksana Kutsyr
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Spain
| | | | | | - Natalia Martínez-Gil
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Spain
| | - Agustina Noailles
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Spain
| | | | | | - Pedro Lax
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Spain
| | - Victoria Maneu
- Department of Optics, Pharmacology and Anatomy, University of Alicante, Spain
| | - Isabel Pinilla
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lozano Blesa, University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain
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18
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Wei R, Ren X, Kong H, Lv Z, Chen Y, Tang Y, Wang Y, Xiao L, Yu T, Hacibekiroglu S, Liang C, Nagy A, Bremner R, Chen D. Rb1/Rbl1/Vhl loss induces mouse subretinal angiomatous proliferation and hemangioblastoma. JCI Insight 2019; 4:127889. [PMID: 31613797 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.127889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Von Hippel-Lindau (Vhl) protein inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor (Hif), yet its deletion in murine retina does not cause the extensive angiogenesis expected with Hif induction. The mechanism is unclear. Here we show that retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (Rb1) constrains expression of Hif target genes in the Vhl-/- retina. Deleting Rb1 induced extensive retinal neovascularization and autophagic ablation of photoreceptors in the Vhl-/- retina. RNA-sequencing, ChIP, and reporter assays showed Rb1 recruitment to and repression of certain Hif target genes. Activating Rb1 by deleting cyclin D1 induced a partial defect in the retinal superficial vascular plexus. Unexpectedly, removing Vhl suppressed retinoblastoma formation in murine Rb1/Rbl1-deficient retina but generated subretinal vascular growths resembling retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) and retinal capillary hemangioblastoma (RCH). Most stromal cells in the RAP/RCH-like lesions were Sox9+, suggesting a Müller glia origin, and expressed Lgals3, a marker of human brain hemangioblastoma. Thus, the Rb family limit Hif target gene expression in the Vhl-/- retina, and removing this inhibitory signal generates new models for RAP and RCH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Wei
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Ren
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongyu Kong
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhongping Lv
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongjiang Chen
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, and Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, and Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yunjing Tang
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yujiao Wang
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lirong Xiao
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and
| | - Tao Yu
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sabiha Hacibekiroglu
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chen Liang
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and
| | - Andras Nagy
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rod Bremner
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, and Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, and Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Danian Chen
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and.,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, and Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, and Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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19
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Overlap between telangiectasia and photoreceptor loss increases with progression of macular telangiectasia type 2. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224393. [PMID: 31658282 PMCID: PMC6816569 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the topographical correlation between ellipsoid zone loss and telangiectasia in the deep capillary plexus in patients with macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel). METHODS 38 eyes (20 subjects) diagnosed with MacTel were imaged with OCTA between March 2016 and June 2019 in this single center, cross-sectional observational study. The en face OCTA and OCT were evaluated for areas of deep capillary plexus telangiectasia and ellipsoid zone loss, respectively, and their outlines were superimposed to study their overlap (mm2). The primary outcome was percentage of overlap and its relationship to MacTel stage. Secondary outcomes included the relationship between neovascularization and hyperreflective foci as well as correlations between ellipsoid zone loss, deep capillary plexus telangiectasia and visual acuity. RESULTS In nonproliferative MacTel stage, ellipsoid zone loss was localized to margins of telangiectatic areas (mean overlap = 15.2%). In proliferative stages, ellipsoid zone loss showed a higher degree of overlap with telangiectatic areas (mean overlap = 62.8%). Overlap increased with advancing MacTel stages, with an overall average of 45.3%. Overlap correlated highly with ellipsoid zone loss (r = 0.831; p<0.0001). Telangiectasia was present in all 38 eyes (range: 0.08mm2-0.99mm2), while ellipsoid zone loss was absent in 6 (range: 0.00-3.32mm2). Visual acuity correlated most strongly with ellipsoid zone loss (r = 0.569; p = 0.0002), followed by overlap (r = 0.544; p = 0.0004), and finally, telangiectasia (r = 0.404; p<0.0118). Presence of hyperreflective foci on OCT correlated with the presence and intraretinal location of neovascularization. CONCLUSIONS Ellipsoid zone loss occurs at the margins of deep capillary plexus telangiectasia in nonproliferative MacTel, with progressively increasing overlap as MacTel advances, peaking in proliferative disease. Deep capillary plexus telangiectasia and its overlap with ellipsoid zone loss are two promising markers of nonproliferative MacTel, while hyper-reflective foci are markers for proliferative MacTel.
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20
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Niaudet C, Petkova M, Jung B, Lu S, Laviña B, Offermanns S, Brakebusch C, Betsholtz C. Adgrf5 contributes to patterning of the endothelial deep layer in retina. Angiogenesis 2019; 22:491-505. [PMID: 31256320 PMCID: PMC6863953 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-019-09674-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Neovascularization of the inner retinal space is a major cause of vision loss. In retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) syndrome, newly formed vessels originate from the retinal plexus and invade the inner retinal space. However, the molecular pathways preventing subretinal vascularization remain largely unknown. In most murine models of RAP, pathological neovascularization occurs concomitantly with the development of the retinal vasculature. Here, we demonstrate that disturbing the sequence of morphogenetic events that shape the three-layered retinal vascular network leads to subretinal vascularization. Sprouts emerging from the perivenous region after the first postnatal week extended toward the retinal space where they merged into the deep layer. The small GTPase Rac1 was required for the formation of these vascular extensions and the vascular inner plexus is formed coaxially to the overarching veins. The adhesion receptor Adgrf5 was highly expressed in the endothelium of the central nervous system, where it regulates blood–brain barrier formation. The vascular superficial plexus of Adgrf5 mutant mouse retinae exhibited an increased vascular density in the perivenous areas with increased projections toward the inner plexus where they subsequently created hyper-dense endothelial cells (EC) clusters. Disturbing the perivenous pool of EC thus significantly altered the inner plexus formation. These abnormalities culminated in transient vascular protrusions in the inner retinal space. Taken together, these results reveal a previously unobserved vascular morphogenetic defect in Adgrf5 knockout mice, implicating a role for ADGRF5 in the initiation of subretinal vascularization. Our findings also illustrate how vein-derived EC shape the inner retinal layer formation and could control the appearance of angiomatous malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Niaudet
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - M Petkova
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - B Jung
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - S Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, 61231, Germany
| | - B Laviña
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - S Offermanns
- Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, 61231, Germany
| | - C Brakebusch
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - C Betsholtz
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
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Abstract
The retina is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the body, consuming high levels of oxygen and nutrients. A well-organized ocular vascular system adapts to meet the metabolic requirements of the retina to ensure visual function. Pathological conditions affect growth of the blood vessels in the eye. Understanding the neuronal biological processes that govern retinal vascular development is of interest for translational researchers and clinicians to develop preventive and interventional therapeutics for vascular eye diseases that address early drivers of abnormal vascular growth. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the cellular and molecular processes governing both physiological and pathological retinal vascular development, which is dependent on the interaction among retinal cell populations, including neurons, glia, immune cells, and vascular endothelial cells. We also review animal models currently used for studying retinal vascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;
| | - Lois E H Smith
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;
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Chang B, FitzMaurice B, Wang J, Low BE, Wiles MV, Nishina PM. Spontaneous Posterior Segment Vascular Disease Phenotype of a Mouse Model, rnv3, Is Dependent on the Crb1rd8 Allele. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 59:5127-5139. [PMID: 30372741 PMCID: PMC6203173 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-25046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To determine the molecular basis of lesion development in a murine model of spontaneous retinal vascularization, rnv3 (retinal vascularization 3, aka JR5558). Methods Disease progression of rnv3 was examined in longitudinal studies by clinical evaluation, electroretinography (ERG) and light microscopy analyses. The chromosomal position for the recessive rnv3 mutation was determined by DNA pooling and genome-wide linkage analysis. The causative mutation was discovered by comparison of whole exome sequences of rnv3 mutant and wild-type (WT) controls. In order to confirm the causative mutation, transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN)-mediated oligonucleotide directed repair (ODR) was utilized to correct the mutant allele. Phenotypic correction was assessed by fundus imaging and optical coherence tomography of live mice. Results rnv3 exhibits early-onset, multifocal depigmented retinal lesions observable by fundus examination starting at 18 days of age. The retinal lesions are associated with fluorescein leakage around 25 days of age, with peak leakage at about 4 weeks of age. ERG responses deteriorate as rnv3 mutants age, concomitant with progressive photoreceptor disruption and loss that is observable by histology. Genetic analysis localized rnv3 to mouse chromosome (Chr) 1. By high throughput sequencing of a whole exome capture library of a rnv3/rnv3 mutant and subsequent sequence analysis, a single base deletion (del) in the Crb1 [crumbs family member 1] gene, which was previously reported to cause retinal degeneration 8, was identified. The TALEN-mediated ODR rescued the posterior segment vascularization phenotype; heterozygous Crb1rd8+em1Boc/Crb1rd8 and homozygous Crb1rd8+em1Boc/Crb1rd8+em1Boc mice showed a normal retinal phenotype. Additionally, six novel disruptions of Crb1 that were generated through aberrant non-homologous end joining induced by TALEN exhibited variable levels of vascularization, suggesting allelic effects. Conclusions The rnv3 model and the models of six novel disruptions of Crb1 are all reliable, novel mouse models for the study of both early and late events associated with posterior segment vascularization and can also be used to test the effects of pharmacological targets for treating human ocular vascular disorders. Further study of these models may provide a greater understanding about how different Crb1 alleles result in aberrant angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chang
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States
| | | | - Jieping Wang
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States
| | - Benjamin E Low
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States
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Fernandez-Bueno I, Alonso-Alonso ML, Garcia-Gutierrez MT, Diebold Y. Reliability and reproducibility of a rodent model of choroidal neovascularization based on the subretinal injection of polyethylene glycol. Mol Vis 2019; 25:194-203. [PMID: 30996588 PMCID: PMC6441359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of a rodent choroidal neovascularization (CNV) model by subretinal injection of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Methods C57BL/6 mice were injected subretinally with 2 μl PBS (Gibco, Invitrogen, Paisley, UK; n=14) or PEG (1 mg; n=18). Animals were sacrificed at either 0, 5, 14 or 21 days. Eyes were embedded in paraffin wax and serial sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin or Fontana-Masson or immunostained for cytokeratin 8/18, isolectin B4 (IB4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and von Willebrand factor (vWF). Results Both the PBS and PEG groups had retinal degeneration and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid modifications at 5 and 14 days. Pigment clumps and cell vacuolization at the RPE/choroid were identified as melanin-containing RPE cells. In PEG-injected eyes, CK8/18-positive cellular elements were present at the subretinal space, IB4 immunoreactivity was significantly increased and choroidal vessels appeared diffusely thickened. However, neither VEGF nor vWF (angiogenesis/neovascularization markers) were detected in either group. At 21 days, the retina/choroid of PBS-injected animals was normal in appearance, while retina/choroid changes remained in some PEG-injected mice. Conclusions Subretinal injection of PEG induced retina/choroid degenerative modifications that mimic the initial steps of human CNV. However, ocular changes were heterogeneous among animals from PBS and PEG groups and did not follow a consistent pattern while most PBS-injected animals showed similar degenerative changes. Abnormal growth of new vessels originating from the choroidal vasculature was not observed. Therefore, we consider that this model does not consistently reproduce CNV and that researchers should choose other rodent models of CNV to avoid misinterpreting their results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Fernandez-Bueno
- Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain,Centro en Red de Medicina Regenerativa y Terapia Celular de Castilla y León, Valladolid, Spain,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), OftaRed, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Maria-Luz Alonso-Alonso
- Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | | | - Yolanda Diebold
- Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain,Biomedical Research Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Valladolid, Spain
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Microglia inhibit photoreceptor cell death and regulate immune cell infiltration in response to retinal detachment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E6264-E6273. [PMID: 29915052 PMCID: PMC6142210 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1719601115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptor cell death resulting from retinal detachment (RD) causes significant visual loss. While the immune system is activated during RD, its role is still unclear. Microglia are resident immune cells in the retina and are thought to be either protective or deleterious in response to neuronal injury, suggesting context-dependent effects. Here, we demonstrate that microglia limit retinal damage during acute injury, since microglial ablation led to increased photoreceptor death. Microglial morphological–activation changes triggered their migration into injured tissue where they formed intimate connections with infiltrating immune cells and phagocytized injured photoreceptors. These findings provide insight into the microglial response and function during RD, indicating microglia promote photoreceptor survival during acute phase injury by removing potentially damaging cell debris. Retinal detachment (RD) is a sight-threatening complication common in many highly prevalent retinal disorders. RD rapidly leads to photoreceptor cell death beginning within 12 h following detachment. In patients with sustained RD, progressive visual decline due to photoreceptor cell death is common, leading to significant and permanent loss of vision. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, including the retina, and function in the homeostatic maintenance of the neuro-retinal microenvironment. It is known that microglia become activated and change their morphology in retinal diseases. However, the function of activated microglia in RD is incompletely understood, in part because of the lack of microglia-specific markers. Here, using the newly identified microglia marker P2ry12 and microglial depletion strategies, we demonstrate that retinal microglia are rapidly activated in response to RD and migrate into the injured area within 24 h post-RD, where they closely associate with infiltrating macrophages, a population distinct from microglia. Once in the injured photoreceptor layer, activated microglia can be observed to contain autofluorescence within their cell bodies, suggesting they function to phagocytose injured or dying photoreceptors. Depletion of retinal microglia results in increased disease severity and inhibition of macrophage infiltration, suggesting that microglia are involved in regulating neuroinflammation in the retina. Our work identifies that microglia mediate photoreceptor survival in RD and suggests that this effect may be due to microglial regulation of immune cells and photoreceptor phagocytosis.
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Mishra M, Duraisamy AJ, Kowluru RA. Sirt1: A Guardian of the Development of Diabetic Retinopathy. Diabetes 2018; 67:745-754. [PMID: 29311218 PMCID: PMC5860853 DOI: 10.2337/db17-0996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy is a multifactorial disease, and the exact mechanism of its pathogenesis remains obscure. Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), a multifunctional deacetylase, is implicated in the regulation of many cellular functions and in gene transcription, and retinal Sirt1 is inhibited in diabetes. Our aim was to determine the role of Sirt1 in the development of diabetic retinopathy and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of its downregulation. Using Sirt1-overexpressing mice that were diabetic for 8 months, structural, functional, and metabolic abnormalities were investigated in vascular and neuronal retina. The role of epigenetics in Sirt1 transcriptional suppression was investigated in retinal microvessels. Compared with diabetic wild-type mice, retinal vasculature from diabetic Sirt1 mice did not present any increase in the number of apoptotic cells or degenerative capillaries or decrease in vascular density. Diabetic Sirt1 mice were also protected from mitochondrial damage and had normal electroretinography responses and ganglion cell layer thickness. Diabetic wild-type mice had hypermethylated Sirt1 promoter DNA, which was alleviated in diabetic Sirt1 mice, suggesting a role for epigenetics in its transcriptional suppression. Thus strategies targeted to ameliorate Sirt1 inhibition have the potential to maintain retinal vascular and neuronal homeostasis, providing opportunities to retard the development of diabetic retinopathy in its early stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Mishra
- Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | | | - Renu A Kowluru
- Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
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DeAngelis MM, Owen LA, Morrison MA, Morgan DJ, Li M, Shakoor A, Vitale A, Iyengar S, Stambolian D, Kim IK, Farrer LA. Genetics of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:R45-R50. [PMID: 28854576 PMCID: PMC5886461 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive blinding disease and represents the leading cause of visual impairment in the aging population. AMD affects central vision which impairs one's ability to drive, read and recognize faces. There is no cure for this disease and current treatment modalities for the exudative form of the disease require repeated intravitreal injections which may be painful, are incompletely efficacious, and represent a significant treatment burden for both the patient and physician. As such, AMD represents a significant and important clinical problem.It is anticipated that in three years' time, 196 million individuals will be affected with AMD. Over 250 billion dollars per year are spent on care for AMD patients in the US. Over half of the heritability is explained by two major loci, thus AMD is considered the most well genetically defined of the complex disorders. A recent GWAS on 43,566 subjects identified novel loci and pathways associated with AMD risk, which has provided an excellent platform for additional functional studies. Genetic variants have been investigated, particularly with respect to anti-VEGF treatment, however to date, no pharmacogenomic associations have been consistently identified across these studies. It may be that if the goal of personalized medicine is to be realized and biomarkers are to have predictive value for determining the magnitude of risk for AMD at the genetic level, one will need to examine the relationships between these pathways across disease state and relative to modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, body mass index, and hypercholesterolemia. Further studies investigating protective alleles in populations with low AMD prevalence may lead to this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M. DeAngelis
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah, College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Leah A. Owen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Margaux A. Morrison
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Denise J. Morgan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Mingyao Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Akbar Shakoor
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Albert Vitale
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Sudha Iyengar
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Dwight Stambolian
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ivana K. Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Lindsay A. Farrer
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics)
- Department of Neurology
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University Schools of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Biostatistics
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University Schools of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Liu CH, Wang Z, Sun Y, Chen J. Animal models of ocular angiogenesis: from development to pathologies. FASEB J 2017; 31:4665-4681. [PMID: 28739642 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201700336r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pathological angiogenesis in the eye is an important feature in the pathophysiology of many vision-threatening diseases, including retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, as well as corneal diseases with abnormal angiogenesis. Development of reproducible and reliable animal models of ocular angiogenesis has advanced our understanding of both the normal development and the pathobiology of ocular neovascularization. These models have also proven to be valuable experimental tools with which to easily evaluate potential antiangiogenic therapies beyond eye research. This review summarizes the current available animal models of ocular angiogenesis. Models of retinal and choroidal angiogenesis, including oxygen-induced retinopathy, laser-induced choroidal neovascularization, and transgenic mouse models with deficient or spontaneous retinal/choroidal neovascularization, as well as models with induced corneal angiogenesis, are widely used to investigate the molecular and cellular basis of angiogenic mechanisms. Theoretical concepts and experimental protocols of these models are outlined, as well as their advantages and potential limitations, which may help researchers choose the most suitable models for their investigative work.-Liu, C.-H., Wang, Z., Sun, Y., Chen, J. Animal models of ocular angiogenesis: from development to pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Hsiu Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zhongxiao Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ye Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Liszewski MK, Java A, Schramm EC, Atkinson JP. Complement Dysregulation and Disease: Insights from Contemporary Genetics. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY 2017; 12:25-52. [PMID: 27959629 PMCID: PMC6020056 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-012615-044145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The vertebrate complement system consists of sequentially interacting proteins that provide for a rapid and powerful host defense. Nearly 60 proteins comprise three activation pathways (classical, alternative, and lectin) and a terminal cytolytic pathway common to all. Attesting to its potency, nearly half of the system's components are engaged in its regulation. An emerging theme over the past decade is that variations in these inhibitors predispose to two scourges of modern humans. One, occurring most often in childhood, is a rare but deadly thrombomicroangiopathy called atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. The other, age-related macular degeneration, is the most common form of blindness in the elderly. Their seemingly unrelated clinical presentations and pathologies share the common theme of overactivity of the complement system's alternative pathway. This review summarizes insights gained from contemporary genetics for understanding how dysregulation of this powerful innate immune system leads to these human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kathryn Liszewski
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110;
| | - Anuja Java
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | | | - John P Atkinson
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110;
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Butler MC, Sullivan JM. A Novel, Real-Time, In Vivo Mouse Retinal Imaging System. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2016; 56:7159-68. [PMID: 26551329 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-16370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop an efficient, low-cost instrument for robust real-time imaging of the mouse retina in vivo, and assess system capabilities by evaluating various animal models. METHODS Following multiple disappointing attempts to visualize the mouse retina during a subretinal injection using commercially available systems, we identified the key limitation to be inadequate illumination due to off axis illumination and poor optical train optimization. Therefore, we designed a paraxial illumination system for Greenough-type stereo dissecting microscope incorporating an optimized optical launch and an efficiently coupled fiber optic delivery system. Excitation and emission filters control spectral bandwidth. A color coupled-charged device (CCD) camera is coupled to the microscope for image capture. Although, field of view (FOV) is constrained by the small pupil aperture, the high optical power of the mouse eye, and the long working distance (needed for surgical manipulations), these limitations can be compensated by eye positioning in order to observe the entire retina. RESULTS The retinal imaging system delivers an adjustable narrow beam to the dilated pupil with minimal vignetting. The optic nerve, vasculature, and posterior pole are crisply visualized and the entire retina can be observed through eye positioning. Normal and degenerative retinal phenotypes can be followed over time. Subretinal or intraocular injection procedures are followed in real time. Real-time, intravenous fluorescein angiography for the live mouse has been achieved. CONCLUSIONS A novel device is established for real-time viewing and image capture of the small animal retina during subretinal injections for preclinical gene therapy studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Butler
- Research Service, VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, New York, United States 2Department of Ophthalmology, Ross Eye Institute, University at Buffalo-SUNY, Buffalo, New York, United States
| | - Jack M Sullivan
- Research Service, VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, New York, United States 2Department of Ophthalmology, Ross Eye Institute, University at Buffalo-SUNY, Buffalo, New York, United States 3Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, University at
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Col4a1 mutations cause progressive retinal neovascular defects and retinopathy. Sci Rep 2016; 6:18602. [PMID: 26813606 PMCID: PMC4728690 DOI: 10.1038/srep18602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in collagen, type IV, alpha 1 (COL4A1), a major component of basement membranes, cause multisystem disorders in humans and mice. In the eye, these include anterior segment dysgenesis, optic nerve hypoplasia and retinal vascular tortuosity. Here we investigate the retinal pathology in mice carrying dominant-negative Col4a1 mutations. To this end, we examined retinas longitudinally in vivo using fluorescein angiography, funduscopy and optical coherence tomography. We assessed retinal function by electroretinography and studied the retinal ultrastructural pathology. Retinal examinations revealed serous chorioretinopathy, retinal hemorrhages, fibrosis or signs of pathogenic angiogenesis with chorioretinal anastomosis in up to approximately 90% of Col4a1 mutant eyes depending on age and the specific mutation. To identify the cell-type responsible for pathogenesis we generated a conditional Col4a1 mutation and determined that primary vascular defects underlie Col4a1-associated retinopathy. We also found focal activation of Müller cells and increased expression of pro-angiogenic factors in retinas from Col4a1(+/Δex41)mice. Together, our findings suggest that patients with COL4A1 and COL4A2 mutations may be at elevated risk of retinal hemorrhages and that retinal examinations may be useful for identifying patients with COL4A1 and COL4A2 mutations who are also at elevated risk of hemorrhagic strokes.
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OUTER RETINA CAPILLARY INVASION AND ELLIPSOID ZONE LOSS IN MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA TYPE 2 IMAGED BY OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY. Retina 2015; 35:2300-6. [DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000000799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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