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Xuan M, Wang W, Bulloch G, Zhang J, Ha J, Wang Q, Wang J, Lin X, He M. Impact of Acute Ocular Hypertension on Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss in Mice. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2024; 13:17. [PMID: 38506800 PMCID: PMC10959197 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.13.3.17] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose To assess the correlation between intraocular pressure (IOP) levels and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss across different fixed-duration episodes of acute ocular hypertension (AOH). Methods AOH was induced in Thy1-YFP-H transgenic mice by inserting a needle connected to a saline solution container into the anterior chamber. Thirty-one groups were tested, each comprising three to five mice exposed to IOP levels ranging from 50 to 110 mm Hg in 5/10 mm Hg increments for 60/90/120 minutes and a sham control group. The YFP-expressing RGCs were quantified by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, whereas peripapillary ganglion cell complex thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Changes in RGC count and GCCT were determined from values measured 30 days after AOH relative to baseline (before AOH). Results In the 60-minute AOH groups, RGC loss varied even when IOP was increased up to 110 mm Hg (36.8%-68.2%). However, for longer durations (90 and 120 minutes), a narrow range of IOP levels (60-70 mm Hg for 90-minute duration; 55-65 mm Hg for 120-minute duration) produced a significant difference in RGC loss, ranging from <25% to >90%. Additionally, loss of YFP-expressing RGCs was comparable to that of total RGCs in the same retinas. Conclusions Reproducible RGC loss during AOH depends on precise durations and IOP thresholds. In the current study, the optimal choice is an AOH protocol set at 70 mm Hg for a duration of 90 minutes. Translational Relevance This study can assist in determining the optimal duration and intensity of IOP for the effective utilization of AOH models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Xuan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Gabriella Bulloch
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jason Ha
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Qilin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Juanjuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xingyan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingguang He
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong, China
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Murenu E, Gerhardt MJ, Biel M, Michalakis S. More than meets the eye: The role of microglia in healthy and diseased retina. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1006897. [PMID: 36524119 PMCID: PMC9745050 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1006897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the main resident immune cells of the nervous system and as such they are involved in multiple roles ranging from tissue homeostasis to response to insults and circuit refinement. While most knowledge about microglia comes from brain studies, some mechanisms have been confirmed for microglia cells in the retina, the light-sensing compartment of the eye responsible for initial processing of visual information. However, several key pieces of this puzzle are still unaccounted for, as the characterization of retinal microglia has long been hindered by the reduced population size within the retina as well as the previous lack of technologies enabling single-cell analyses. Accumulating evidence indicates that the same cell type may harbor a high degree of transcriptional, morphological and functional differences depending on its location within the central nervous system. Thus, studying the roles and signatures adopted specifically by microglia in the retina has become increasingly important. Here, we review the current understanding of retinal microglia cells in physiology and in disease, with particular emphasis on newly discovered mechanisms and future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Murenu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany,*Correspondence: Elisa Murenu, ; ; Stylianos Michalakis,
| | | | - Martin Biel
- Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Stylianos Michalakis
- Department of Ophthalmology, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany,*Correspondence: Elisa Murenu, ; ; Stylianos Michalakis,
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Retinal Ganglion Cells: Global Number, Density and Vulnerability to Glaucomatous Injury in Common Laboratory Mice. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172689. [PMID: 36078097 PMCID: PMC9454702 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
How many RBPMS+ retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) does a standard C57BL/6 laboratory mouse have on average and is this number substrain- or sex-dependent? Do RGCs of (European) C57BL/6J and -N mice show a different intrinsic vulnerability upon glaucomatous injury? Global RGC numbers and densities of common laboratory mice were previously determined via axon counts, retrograde tracing or BRN3A immunohistochemistry. Here, we report the global RGC number and density by exploiting the freely available tool RGCode to automatically count RGC numbers and densities on entire retinal wholemounts immunostained for the pan-RGC marker RBPMS. The intrinsic vulnerability of RGCs from different substrains to glaucomatous injury was evaluated upon introduction of the microbead occlusion model, followed by RBPMS counts, retrograde tracing and electroretinography five weeks post-injury. We demonstrate that the global RGC number and density varies between substrains, yet is not sex-dependent. C57BL/6J mice have on average 46K ± 2K RBPMS+ RGCs per retina, representing a global RGC density of 3268 ± 177 RGCs/mm2. C57BL/6N mice, on the other hand, have on average less RBPMS+ RGCs (41K ± 3K RGCs) and a lower density (3018 ± 189 RGCs/mm2). The vulnerability of the RGC population of the two C57BL/6 substrains to glaucomatous injury did, however, not differ in any of the interrogated parameters.
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Schulz K, Trendelenburg M. C1q as a target molecule to treat human disease: What do mouse studies teach us? Front Immunol 2022; 13:958273. [PMID: 35990646 PMCID: PMC9385197 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.958273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The complement system is a field of growing interest for pharmacological intervention. Complement protein C1q, the pattern recognition molecule at the start of the classical pathway of the complement cascade, is a versatile molecule with additional non-canonical actions affecting numerous cellular processes. Based on observations made in patients with hereditary C1q deficiency, C1q is protective against systemic autoimmunity and bacterial infections. Accordingly, C1q deficient mice reproduce this phenotype with susceptibility to autoimmunity and infections. At the same time, beneficial effects of C1q deficiency on disease entities such as neurodegenerative diseases have also been described in murine disease models. This systematic review provides an overview of all currently available literature on the C1q knockout mouse in disease models to identify potential target diseases for treatment strategies focusing on C1q, and discusses potential side-effects when depleting and/or inhibiting C1q.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Schulz
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Kristina Schulz,
| | - Marten Trendelenburg
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Ou K, Li Y, Liu L, Li H, Cox K, Wu J, Liu J, Dick AD. Recent developments of neuroprotective agents for degenerative retinal disorders. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:1919-1928. [PMID: 35142668 PMCID: PMC8848613 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.335140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degeneration is a debilitating ocular complication characterized by the progressive loss of photoreceptors and other retinal neurons, which are caused by a group of retinal diseases affecting various age groups, and increasingly prevalent in the elderly. Age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma are among the most common complex degenerative retinal disorders, posing significant public health problems worldwide largely due to the aging society and the lack of effective therapeutics. Whilst pathoetiologies vary, if left untreated, loss of retinal neurons can result in an acquired degeneration and ultimately severe visual impairment. Irrespective of underlined etiology, loss of neurons and supporting cells including retinal pigment epithelium, microvascular endothelium, and glia, converges as the common endpoint of retinal degeneration and therefore discovery or repurposing of therapies to protect retinal neurons directly or indirectly are under intensive investigation. This review overviews recent developments of potential neuroprotectants including neuropeptides, exosomes, mitochondrial-derived peptides, complement inhibitors, senolytics, autophagy enhancers and antioxidants either still experimentally or in clinical trials. Effective treatments that possess direct or indirect neuroprotective properties would significantly lift the burden of visual handicap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kepeng Ou
- College of Pharmacy, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Targeted and Innovative Therapeutics, IATTI, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, China; Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Youjian Li
- College of Pharmacy, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Targeted and Innovative Therapeutics, IATTI, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, China; Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ling Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hua Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Katherine Cox
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jiahui Wu
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Andrew D Dick
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol; Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London; National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
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6
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Wang J, Struebing FL, Geisert EE. Commonalities of optic nerve injury and glaucoma-induced neurodegeneration: Insights from transcriptome-wide studies. Exp Eye Res 2021; 207:108571. [PMID: 33844961 PMCID: PMC9890784 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a collection of diseases that lead to an irreversible vision loss due to damage of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Although the underlying events leading to RGC death are not fully understood, recent research efforts are beginning to define the genetic changes that play a critical role in the initiation and progression of glaucomatous injury and RGC death. Several genetic and experimental animal models have been developed to mimic glaucomatous neurodegeneration. These models differ in many respects but all result in the loss of RGCs. Assessing transcriptional changes across different models could provide a more complete perspective on the molecular drivers of RGC degeneration. For the past several decades, changes in the retinal transcriptome during neurodegeneration process were defined using microarray methods, RNA sequencing and now single cell RNA sequencing. It is understood that these methods have strengths and weaknesses due to technical differences and variations in the analytical tools used. In this review, we focus on the use of transcriptome-wide expression profiling of the changes occurring as RGCs are lost across different glaucoma models. Commonalities of optic nerve crush and glaucoma-induced neurodegeneration are identified and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Wang
- Emory Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, 1365B Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Felix L. Struebing
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany,Department for Translational Brain Research, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Eldon E. Geisert
- Emory Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, 1365B Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA,Corresponding author: (E.E. Geisert)
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Li S, Li D, Shao M, Cao W, Sun X. Decreased Serum Levels of Complement C3 Reflect Complement System Dysregulation in Patients With Primary Open-angle Glaucoma: Results From a Pilot Study. J Glaucoma 2019; 27:761-768. [PMID: 30036292 DOI: 10.1097/ijg.0000000000001014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the serum complement component (C)3 concentration in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and to investigate the association between C3 levels and POAG severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study enrolled 190 consecutive POAG patients and 204 normal control subjects. A detailed eye and systematic examination, including intraocular pressure, gonioscopy, fundus photography, A-scan ultrasound, visual field testing, electrocardiograms, x-rays, liver function, renal function, infectious disease, etc., and measurement of serum C3 concentration by immunoturbidimetry, was performed. The subgroups were classified according to age (17 to 29, 30 to 49, 50 to 69, 70+ y), sex, and visual field: mild (MD≤6 dB), moderate (6 dB<MD≤12 dB), and severe (MD>12 dB) glaucoma. RESULTS The serum C3 level of the POAG (95.63±17.71 mg/dL) was ∼20.93% lower than that of the control group (115.65±22.19 mg/dL) (P<0.001). A similar result was observed when serum levels of C3 were compared between the POAG and control groups with respect to age and sex. The mean serum C3 level was lowest in the severe POAG group (85.18±19.62 mg/dL), followed by the moderate POAG group (96.62±12.63 mg/dL) and the mild POAG group (110.44±14.89 mg/dL) (P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed a significant correlation between the C3 levels and the vertical cup-disc ratio (B=-0.373, P=0.026), C3 levels and MD (B=-0.546, P=0.001). Logistic regression analyses revealed that serum C3 levels were associated (odds ratio=0.939, 95% CI=0.901-0.979, P=0.003) with severity of POAG. CONCLUSIONS The POAG patients had decreased C3 levels, which were further negatively associated with POAG severity, suggesting the involvement of C3 in the pathomechanisms of POAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjie Li
- Departments of Clinical Laboratory.,Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University
| | - Danhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | | | - Wenjun Cao
- Departments of Clinical Laboratory.,Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University
| | - Xinghuai Sun
- Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University.,State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University.,Key Laboratory of Myopia, Ministry of Health, Fudan University.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Fudan University, Shanghai
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Reinhard J, Wiemann S, Joachim SC, Palmhof M, Woestmann J, Denecke B, Wang Y, Downey GP, Faissner A. Heterozygous Meg2 Ablation Causes Intraocular Pressure Elevation and Progressive Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:4322-4345. [PMID: 30315478 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1376-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Glaucomatous neurodegeneration represents one of the major causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. Yet, the detailed molecular mechanisms that initiate optic nerve damage and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss are not fully understood. Members of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) superfamily are key players in numerous neurodegenerative diseases. In order to investigate the potential functional relevance of the PTP megakaryocyte 2 (Meg2) in retinal neurodegeneration, we analyzed Meg2 knockout (KO) and heterozygous (HET)-synonym protein-tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 9 (Ptpn9)-mice. Interestingly, via global microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses of Meg2 KO and HET retinae, we observed a dysregulation of several candidate genes that are highly associated with retinal degeneration and intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation, the main risk factor for glaucoma. Subsequent IOP measurements in Meg2 HET mice verified progressive age-dependent IOP elevation. Ultrastructural analyses and immunohistochemistry showed severe optic nerve degeneration accompanied by a dramatic loss of RGCs. Additionally, HET mice displayed reactive micro-/macrogliosis and early activation of the classical complement cascade with pronounced deposition of the membrane attack complex (MAC) in the retina and optic nerve. When treated with latanoprost, significant IOP lowering prevented RGC loss and microglial invasion in HET mice. Finally, electroretinogram (ERG) recordings revealed reduced a- and b-wave amplitudes, indicating impaired retinal functionality in Meg2 HET mice. Collectively, our findings indicate that the heterozygous loss of Meg2 in mice is sufficient to cause IOP elevation and glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Thus, Meg2 HET mice may serve as a novel animal model to study the pathomechanism involved in the onset and progression of glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Reinhard
- Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, NDEF 05/594, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Susanne Wiemann
- Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, NDEF 05/594, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stephanie C Joachim
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, In der Schornau 23-25, 44892, Bochum, Germany
| | - Marina Palmhof
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, In der Schornau 23-25, 44892, Bochum, Germany
| | - Julia Woestmann
- Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, NDEF 05/594, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Bernd Denecke
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yingchun Wang
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital Research Institute of the University Health Network, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Gregory P Downey
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Departments of Medicine and Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics and Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
| | - Andreas Faissner
- Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, NDEF 05/594, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
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Bosco A, Anderson SR, Breen KT, Romero CO, Steele MR, Chiodo VA, Boye SL, Hauswirth WW, Tomlinson S, Vetter ML. Complement C3-Targeted Gene Therapy Restricts Onset and Progression of Neurodegeneration in Chronic Mouse Glaucoma. Mol Ther 2018; 26:2379-2396. [PMID: 30217731 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the complement system is implicated in neurodegeneration, including human and animal glaucoma. Optic nerve and retinal damage in glaucoma is preceded by local complement upregulation and activation, but whether targeting this early innate immune response could have therapeutic benefit remains undefined. Because complement signals through three pathways that intersect at complement C3 activation, here we targeted this step to restore complement balance in the glaucomatous retina and to determine its contribution to degeneration onset and/or progression. To achieve this, we combined adeno-associated virus retinal gene therapy with the targeted C3 inhibitor CR2-Crry. We show that intravitreal injection of AAV2.CR2-Crry produced sustained Crry overexpression in the retina and reduced deposition of the activation product complement C3d on retinal ganglion cells and the inner retina of DBA/2J mice. This resulted in neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cell axons and somata despite continued intraocular pressure elevation, suggesting a direct restriction of neurodegeneration onset and progression and significant delay to terminal disease stages. Our study uncovers a damaging effect of complement C3 or downstream complement activation in glaucoma, and it establishes AAV2.CR2-Crry as a viable therapeutic strategy to target pathogenic C3-mediated complement activation in the glaucomatous retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Bosco
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | - Sarah R Anderson
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kevin T Breen
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Cesar O Romero
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Michael R Steele
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Vince A Chiodo
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sanford L Boye
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Stephen Tomlinson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Monica L Vetter
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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10
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Du M, Mangold CA, Bixler GV, Brucklacher RM, Masser DR, Stout MB, Elliott MH, Freeman WM. Retinal gene expression responses to aging are sexually divergent. Mol Vis 2017; 23:707-717. [PMID: 29062222 PMCID: PMC5640516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Sex and age are critical factors in a variety of retinal diseases but have garnered little attention in preclinical models. The current lack of knowledge impairs informed decision making regarding inclusion and design of studies that incorporate both sexes and/or the effects of aging. The goal of this study was to examine normative mouse retina gene expression in both sexes and with advancing age. METHODS Retinal gene expression in female and male C57BL/6JN mice at 3 months and 24 months of age were compared for sex differences and aging responses through whole transcriptome microarray analysis. Sex differences and age-related changes were examined in the context of cellular pathways and processes, regulatory patterns, and cellular origin, as well as for overlap with described changes in retinal disease models. Selected age and sex differences were confirmed with quantitative PCR. RESULTS Age-related gene expression changes demonstrated commonalities and sexually divergent responses. Several cellular pathways and processes, especially inflammation-related, are affected and were over-represented in fibroblast, microglial, and ganglion cell-specific genes. Lifelong, and age-dependent, sex differences were observed and were over-represented in fibroblast-specific genes. Age and sex differences were also observed to be regulated in models of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other diseases. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that most age-related changes in retinal gene expression are sexually divergent and that there are significant sex differences in gene expression throughout the lifespan. These data serve as a resource for vision researchers seeking to include sex and age as factors in their preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Du
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Colleen A. Mangold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
| | - Georgina V. Bixler
- Genome Sciences Facility, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - Robert M. Brucklacher
- Genome Sciences Facility, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - Dustin R. Masser
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK,Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging & Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Biology of Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Michael B. Stout
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging & Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Biology of Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK,Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
| | - Michael H. Elliott
- Dean McGee Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
| | - Willard M. Freeman
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK,Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging & Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Biology of Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK,Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
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11
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Harder JM, Braine CE, Williams PA, Zhu X, MacNicoll KH, Sousa GL, Buchanan RA, Smith RS, Libby RT, Howell GR, John SWM. Early immune responses are independent of RGC dysfunction in glaucoma with complement component C3 being protective. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E3839-E3848. [PMID: 28446616 PMCID: PMC5441748 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1608769114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Various immune response pathways are altered during early, predegenerative stages of glaucoma; however, whether the early immune responses occur secondarily to or independently of neuronal dysfunction is unclear. To investigate this relationship, we used the Wlds allele, which protects from axon dysfunction. We demonstrate that DBA/2J.Wlds mice develop high intraocular pressure (IOP) but are protected from retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dysfunction and neuroglial changes that otherwise occur early in DBA/2J glaucoma. Despite this, immune pathways are still altered in DBA/2J.Wlds mice. This suggests that immune changes are not secondary to RGC dysfunction or altered neuroglial interactions, but may be directly induced by the increased strain imposed by high IOP. One early immune response following IOP elevation is up-regulation of complement C3 in astrocytes of DBA/2J and DBA/2J.Wlds mice. Unexpectedly, because the disruption of other complement components, such as C1Q, is protective in glaucoma, C3 deficiency significantly increased the number of DBA/2J eyes with nerve damage and RGC loss at an early time point after IOP elevation. Transcriptional profiling of C3-deficient cultured astrocytes implicated EGFR signaling as a hub in C3-dependent responses. Treatment with AG1478, an EGFR inhibitor, also significantly increased the number of DBA/2J eyes with glaucoma at the same early time point. These findings suggest that C3 protects from early glaucomatous damage, a process that may involve EGFR signaling and other immune responses in the optic nerve head. Therefore, therapies that target specific components of the complement cascade, rather than global inhibition, may be more applicable for treating human glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Xianjun Zhu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
| | | | | | | | | | - Richard T Libby
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642
| | | | - Simon W M John
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
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