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Su CC, Liu C, Adi V, Chan KC, Tseng HC. Age-related effects of optineurin deficiency in the mouse eye. Vision Res 2024; 224:108463. [PMID: 39208752 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2024.108463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Optineurin (OPTN) is a gene associated with familial normal tension glaucoma (NTG). While NTG involves intraocular pressure (IOP)-independent neurodegeneration of the visual pathway that progresses with age, how OPTN dysfunction leads to NTG remains unclear. Here, we generated an OPTN knockout mouse (Optn-/-) model to test the hypothesis that a loss-of-function mechanism induces structural and functional eye deterioration with aging. Eye anatomy, visual function, IOP, retinal histology, and retinal ganglion cell survival were compared to littermate wild-type (WT) control mice. Consistent with OPTN's role in NTG, loss of OPTN did not increase IOP or alter gross eye anatomy in young (2-3 months) or aged (12 months) mice. When retinal layers were quantitated, young Optn-/- mice had thinner retina in the peripheral regions than young WT mice, primarily due to thinner ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers. Despite this, visual function in Optn-/- mice was not severely impaired, even with aging. We also assessed relative abundance of retinal cell subtypes, including amacrine cells, bipolar cells, cone photoreceptors, microglia, and astrocytes. While many of these cellular subtypes were unaffected by Optn deletion, more dopaminergic amacrine cells were observed in aged Optn-/- mice. Taken together, our findings showed that complete loss of Optn resulted in mild retinal changes and less visual function impairment, supporting the possibility that OPTN-associated glaucoma does not result from a loss-of-function disease mechanism. Further research using these Optn mice will elucidate detailed molecular pathways involved in NTG and identify clinical or environmental risk factors that can be targeted for glaucoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Chia Su
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Crystal Liu
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Radiology, Neuroscience Institute, and Tech4Health Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10017, USA
| | - Vishnu Adi
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Radiology, Neuroscience Institute, and Tech4Health Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10017, USA
| | - Kevin C Chan
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Radiology, Neuroscience Institute, and Tech4Health Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10017, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, NY 11201, USA
| | - Henry C Tseng
- Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Jaroszynska N, Salzinger A, Tsarouchas TM, Becker CG, Becker T, Lyons DA, MacDonald RB, Keatinge M. C9ORF72 Deficiency Results in Neurodegeneration in the Zebrafish Retina. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2128232024. [PMID: 38658168 PMCID: PMC11209673 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2128-23.2024] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Hexanucleotide repeat expansions within the gene C9ORF72 are the most common cause of the neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This disease-causing expansion leads to a reduction in C9ORF72 expression levels in patients, suggesting loss of C9ORF72 function could contribute to disease. To further understand the consequences of C9ORF72 deficiency in vivo, we generated a c9orf72 mutant zebrafish line. Analysis of the adult female spinal cords revealed no appreciable neurodegenerative pathology such as loss of motor neurons or increased levels of neuroinflammation. However, detailed examination of adult female c9orf72-/- retinas showed prominent neurodegenerative features, including a decrease in retinal thickness, gliosis, and an overall reduction in neurons of all subtypes. Analysis of rod and cone cells within the photoreceptor layer showed a disturbance in their outer segment structure and rhodopsin mislocalization from rod outer segments to their cell bodies and synaptic terminals. Thus, C9ORF72 may play a previously unappreciated role in retinal homeostasis and suggests C9ORF72 deficiency can induce tissue specific neuronal loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Jaroszynska
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1Y 0AD, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Salzinger
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
| | - Themistoklis M Tsarouchas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California 94305
| | - Catherina G Becker
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden 01307, Germany
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Becker
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden 01307, Germany
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
| | - David A Lyons
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan B MacDonald
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1Y 0AD, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus Keatinge
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
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3
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Taufik SA, Ramli N, Tan AH, Lim SY, Ghani MTA, Shahrizaila N. Longitudinal Changes in the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease. J Clin Neurol 2024; 20:285-292. [PMID: 38627230 PMCID: PMC11076187 DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2023.0353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is increasing evidence that the anterior visual pathways are involved in neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease (PD). This study investigated longitudinal changes in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with ALS and PD with the aim of better understanding their roles as biomarkers of disease progression. METHODS This study recruited 21 ALS patients, 19 age-matched PD patients, and 21 agematched healthy controls. Patient demographics and clinical scores relating to the respective diseases were documented. The RNFL thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography at baseline and after 6 months. RESULTS At baseline, the RNFL in the superior quadrant was significantly thinner in the patients with ALS than in healthy controls (109.90±22.41 µm vs. 127.81±17.05 µm [mean±standard deviation], p=0.008). The RNFL thickness did not differ significantly between the ALS and PD patients or between the PD patients and healthy controls. At 6 months, there was further significant RNFL thinning in patients with ALS, for both the overall thickness (baseline: median=94.5 µm, range=83.0-106.0 µm; follow-up: median=93.5 µm, range=82.5-104.5 µm, p=0.043) and the thickness in the inferior quadrant (median=126 µm, range=109.5-142.5 µm; and median=117.5 µm, range=98.5-136.5 µm; respectively, p=0.032). However, these changes were not correlated with the ALS functional scores. In contrast, the patients with PD did not demonstrate a significant change in RNFL thickness between the two time points. CONCLUSIONS The RNFL thickness is a promising biomarker of disease progression in patients with ALS but not in those with PD, which has a slower disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharifah Azira Taufik
- UM Eye Research Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Norlina Ramli
- UM Eye Research Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Ai Huey Tan
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shen-Yang Lim
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Taufiq Abdul Ghani
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nortina Shahrizaila
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Miscioscia A, Puthenparampil M, Blasi L, Rinaldi F, Perini P, Sorarù G, Gallo P. Neurodegeneration in the retina of motoneuron diseases: a longitudinal study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Kennedy's disease. J Neurol 2023; 270:4478-4486. [PMID: 37289322 PMCID: PMC10421755 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11802-2] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To what extent retinal atrophy in neurodegenerative diseases reflects the severity and/or the chronicity of brain pathology or is a local independent phenomenon remains to be clarified. Moreover, whether retinal atrophy has a clinical (diagnostic and prognostic) value in these diseases remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To add light on the pathological significance and clinical value of retinal atrophy in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Kennedy's disease (KD). METHODS Thirty-five ALS, thirty-seven KD, and forty-nine age-matched healthy controls (HC) were included in a one-year longitudinal study. Spectrum-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed at study entry (T0) and after 12 months (T1). Disease duration and functional rating scale (FRS) for ALS and KD patients were correlated to retinal thicknesses. RESULTS Compared to HC, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness was significantly thinner in both ALS (p = 0.034) and KD (p = 0.003). pRNFL was thinner in KD compared to ALS, but the difference was not significant. In KD, pRNFL atrophy significantly correlated with both disease severity (r = 0.296, p = 0.035) and disease duration (r = - 0.308, p = 0.013) while no significant correlation was found in ALS (disease severity: r = 0.147, p = 0.238; disease duration: r = - 0.093, p = 0.459). During the follow-up, pRNFL thickness remained stable in KD while significantly decreased in ALS (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence of retinal atrophy in both ALS and KD and suggests that retinal thinning is a primary local phenomenon in motoneuron diseases. The clinical value of pRNFL atrophy in KD is worthy of further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Miscioscia
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy.
| | - Marco Puthenparampil
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Blasi
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Neuromuscular Center, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Rinaldi
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Paola Perini
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Neuromuscular Center, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Gallo
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
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5
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Pamphlett R, Bishop DP. The toxic metal hypothesis for neurological disorders. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1173779. [PMID: 37426441 PMCID: PMC10328356 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1173779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis and the major sporadic neurogenerative disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer disease are considered to have both genetic and environmental components. Advances have been made in finding genetic predispositions to these disorders, but it has been difficult to pin down environmental agents that trigger them. Environmental toxic metals have been implicated in neurological disorders, since human exposure to toxic metals is common from anthropogenic and natural sources, and toxic metals have damaging properties that are suspected to underlie many of these disorders. Questions remain, however, as to how toxic metals enter the nervous system, if one or combinations of metals are sufficient to precipitate disease, and how toxic metal exposure results in different patterns of neuronal and white matter loss. The hypothesis presented here is that damage to selective locus ceruleus neurons from toxic metals causes dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier. This allows circulating toxicants to enter astrocytes, from where they are transferred to, and damage, oligodendrocytes, and neurons. The type of neurological disorder that arises depends on (i) which locus ceruleus neurons are damaged, (ii) genetic variants that give rise to susceptibility to toxic metal uptake, cytotoxicity, or clearance, (iii) the age, frequency, and duration of toxicant exposure, and (iv) the uptake of various mixtures of toxic metals. Evidence supporting this hypothesis is presented, concentrating on studies that have examined the distribution of toxic metals in the human nervous system. Clinicopathological features shared between neurological disorders are listed that can be linked to toxic metals. Details are provided on how the hypothesis applies to multiple sclerosis and the major neurodegenerative disorders. Further avenues to explore the toxic metal hypothesis for neurological disorders are suggested. In conclusion, environmental toxic metals may play a part in several common neurological disorders. While further evidence to support this hypothesis is needed, to protect the nervous system it would be prudent to take steps to reduce environmental toxic metal pollution from industrial, mining, and manufacturing sources, and from the burning of fossil fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Pamphlett
- Department of Pathology, Brain and Mind Centre, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Hyphenated Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - David P. Bishop
- Hyphenated Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Vautier A, Lebreton AL, Codron P, Awada Z, Gohier P, Cassereau J. Retinal vessels as a window on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathophysiology: A systematic review. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2023; 179:548-562. [PMID: 36842953 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2022.11.010] [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: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare fatal motor neuron disease. Although many potential mechanisms have been proposed, the pathophysiology of the disease remains unknown. Currently available treatments can only delay the progression of the disease and prolong life expectancy by a few months. There is still no definitive cure for ALS, and the development of new treatments is limited by a lack of understanding of the underlying biological processes that trigger and promote neurodegeneration. Several scientific results suggest a neurovascular impairment in ALS providing perspectives for the development of new biomarkers and treatments. In this article, we performed a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines including PubMed, EmBase, GoogleScholar, and Web of Science Core Collection to analyze the scientific literature published between 2000 and 2021 discussing the neurocardiovascular involvement and ophthalmologic abnormalities in ALS. In total, 122 articles were included to establish this systematic review. Indeed, microvascular pathology seems to be involved in ALS, affecting all the neurovascular unit components. Retinal changes have also been recently highlighted without significant alteration of the visual pathways. Despite the peripheral location of the retina, it is considered as an extension of the central nervous system (CNS) as it displays similarities to the brain, the inner blood-retinal barrier, and the blood-brain barrier. This suggests that the eye could be considered as a 'window' into the brain in many CNS disorders. Thus, studying ocular manifestations of brain pathologies seems very promising in understanding neurodegenerative disorders, mainly ALS. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) could therefore be a powerful approach for exploration of retinal microvascularization allowing to obtain new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vautier
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France.
| | - A L Lebreton
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - P Codron
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Center, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Angers, France; Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology, University Hospital, Angers, France; University of Angers, Inserm, CNRS, MITOVASC, SFR ICAT, Angers, France
| | - Z Awada
- Department of neuroscience, LHH-SIUH, New York, USA
| | - P Gohier
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - J Cassereau
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Center, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Angers, France; University of Angers, Inserm, CNRS, MITOVASC, SFR ICAT, Angers, France.
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7
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Sensory Involvement in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415521. [PMID: 36555161 PMCID: PMC9779879 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is pre-eminently a motor disease, the existence of non-motor manifestations, including sensory involvement, has been described in the last few years. Although from a clinical perspective, sensory symptoms are overshadowed by their motor manifestations, this does not mean that their pathological significance is not relevant. In this review, we have made an extensive description of the involvement of sensory and autonomic systems described to date in ALS, from clinical, neurophysiological, neuroimaging, neuropathological, functional, and molecular perspectives.
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Wong BM, Hudson C, Snook E, Tayyari F, Jung H, Binns MA, Samet S, Cheng RW, Balian C, Mandelcorn ED, Margolin E, Finger E, Black SE, Tang-Wai DF, Zinman L, Tan B, Lou W, Masellis M, Abrahao A, Frank A, Beaton D, Sunderland KM, Arnott SR, Tartaglia MC, Hatch WV. Retinal nerve fiber layer in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:964715. [PMID: 36278002 PMCID: PMC9583385 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.964715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Tauopathy and transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) proteinopathy are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. These proteinopathies are difficult to detect in vivo. This study examined if spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) can differentiate in vivo the difference in peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness and macular retinal thickness between participants with presumed tauopathy (progressive supranuclear palsy) and those with presumed TDP-43 proteinopathy (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and semantic variant primary progressive aphasia). Study design Prospective, multi-centre, observational study. Materials and methods pRNFL and macular SD-OCT images were acquired in both eyes of each participant using Heidelberg Spectralis SD-OCT. Global and pRNFL thickness in 6 sectors were analyzed, as well as macular thickness in a central 1 mm diameter zone and 4 surrounding sectors. Linear mixed model methods adjusting for baseline differences between groups were used to compare the two groups with respect to pRNFL and macular thickness. Results A significant difference was found in mean pRNFL thickness between groups, with the TDP-43 group (n = 28 eyes) having a significantly thinner pRNFL in the temporal sector than the tauopathy group (n = 9 eyes; mean difference = 15.46 μm, SE = 6.98, p = 0.046), which was not significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. No other significant differences were found between groups for pRNFL or macular thickness. Conclusion The finding that the temporal pRNFL in the TDP-43 group was on average 15.46 μm thinner could potentially have clinical significance. Future work with larger sample sizes, longitudinal studies, and at the level of retinal sublayers will help to determine the utility of SD-OCT to differentiate between these two proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan M. Wong
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Bryan M. Wong,
| | - Christopher Hudson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Emily Snook
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Faryan Tayyari
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hyejung Jung
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Malcolm A. Binns
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Saba Samet
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Carmen Balian
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Efrem D. Mandelcorn
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Edward Margolin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Sandra E. Black
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David F. Tang-Wai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network Memory Clinic, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brian Tan
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wendy Lou
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mario Masellis
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Agessandro Abrahao
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew Frank
- Bruyere Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Derek Beaton
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Stephen R. Arnott
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Maria Carmela Tartaglia
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network Memory Clinic, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wendy V. Hatch
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
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9
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Correlation between Retinal Vascularization and Disease Aggressiveness in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102390. [PMID: 36289652 PMCID: PMC9598742 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormalities in retinal vascularization and neural density have been found in many neurodegenerative diseases; however, conflicting results are described in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The aim of the present study was, therefore, to systematically analyze retinal layers and vascularization by means of spectral-domain (SD-OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in ALS patients. We enrolled 48 ALS patients and 45 healthy controls. ALS patients were divided into three groups: slow progressors (n = 10), intermediate progressors (n = 24) and fast progressors (n = 14), according to the disease progression rate. For SD-OCT, we evaluated the Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), ganglion cell complex (GCC) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). Regarding the OCT-A, we assessed the vessel density (VD) in superficial and deep capillary plexuses, radial peripapillary capillary plexus, choriocapillary and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area. SD-OCT exam did not show any significant differences in GCC and RNFL thickness between patients and controls and among the three ALS groups. The SFCT was statistically greater in patients compared with controls (357.95 ± 55.15 µm vs. 301.3 ± 55.80 µm, p < 0.001); interestingly, the SFCT was thicker in patients with slow and intermediate disease progression than in those with fast disease progression (394.45 ± 53.73 µm vs. 393.09 ± 42.17 µm vs. 267.71 ± 56.24 µm, p < 0.001). OCT-A did not reveal any significant results. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-r) and disease duration did not correlate with any of the OCT parameters, except for SFCT with ALSFRS-r (r = 0.753, p = 0.024). This study demonstrated the possible association between choroidal thickness and disease activity in ALS. OCT could be a useful biomarker in the management of the disease.
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10
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Patil AD, Biousse V, Newman NJ. Artificial intelligence in ophthalmology: an insight into neurodegenerative disease. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2022; 33:432-439. [PMID: 35819902 DOI: 10.1097/icu.0000000000000877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aging world population accounts for the increasing prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's which carry a significant health and economic burden. There is therefore a need for sensitive and specific noninvasive biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring. Advances in retinal and optic nerve multimodal imaging as well as the development of artificial intelligence deep learning systems (AI-DLS) have heralded a number of promising advances of which ophthalmologists are at the forefront. RECENT FINDINGS The association among retinal vascular, nerve fiber layer, and macular findings in neurodegenerative disease is well established. In order to optimize the use of these ophthalmic parameters as biomarkers, validated AI-DLS are required to ensure clinical efficacy and reliability. Varied image acquisition methods and protocols as well as variability in neurogenerative disease diagnosis compromise the robustness of ground truths that are paramount to developing high-quality training datasets. SUMMARY In order to produce effective AI-DLS for the diagnosis and monitoring of neurodegenerative disease, multicenter international collaboration is required to prospectively produce large inclusive datasets, acquired through standardized methods and protocols. With a uniform approach, the efficacy of resultant clinical applications will be maximized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nancy J Newman
- Department of Ophthalmology
- Department of Neurology
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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11
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Zhang Y, Liu X, Fu J, Zhang Y, Yang X, Zhang S, Fan D. Selective and Inverse U-Shaped Curve Alteration of the Retinal Nerve in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Potential Mirror of the Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:783431. [PMID: 35069179 PMCID: PMC8770270 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.783431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Alterations in the visual pathway involving the retina have been reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but they lack consistency and subgroup analysis. We aimed to assess the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) alterations in different stages of ALS patients and their association with ALS progression parameters. Methods: The study population consisted of 70 clinically diagnosed ALS patients and 55 age, sex matched controls. All of them underwent ophthalmic assessments and optical coherence tomography imaging. Four quadrants of the peripapillary RNFL and ganglion cell/inner plexiform complex (GCIP) were observed and automatically measured. Early-stage distal motor neuron axon dysfunction in ALS was detected by compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the distal limbs within 12 months. The ALS disease parameters included the ALSFRS-R score and the disease progression rate (ΔFS). Results: Generally compared with controls, the nasal (p = 0.016) quadrant of the RNFL was thicker in ALS patients. When controlling for age and ΔFS, the RNFL(r = 0.37, p = 0.034) and GCIP(r = 0.40, p = 0.021) were significantly thickened as disease progressed within 12 months, while the RNFL declined with time after one year (r = −0.41, p = 0.037). ALS patients was subclassified into thickened RNFL (T-RNFL, >95th percentile of normal), impaired RNFL (I-RNFL, <5th percentile of normal) and normal RNFL. There were significant differences in the GCIP among the three groups (p < 0.001). In the T-RNFL group (n = 18), the RNFL was negatively correlated with the abductor pollicis brevis-CMAP amplitude within 12 months (r = −0.56, p = 0.01). Patients within 12 months in this group progressed faster than others (p = 0.039). In the normal RNFL group (n = 22), 13 patients were diagnosed beyond 12 months, whose ΔFS was remarkably lower (p = 0.007). In I-RNFL group (n = 30), the early stage patients (<12 months) had significant higher ΔFS (p = 0.006). One patient was with SOD1 pathogenic variant (p.A5V). Conclusion: Alterations of retinal nerve were not consistent in ALS patients with diverse phenotypes and progression rates. Generally speaking, the RNFL thickened during the first year and then gradually declined, which is related to but preceding the thickness change of the RGCs. Patients with a significant RNFL thinning in the early stage may have a faster progression rate. The inverse U-shaped curve transformation might be in accordance with early-stage motor neuron axonopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyi Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayu Fu
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Fan
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Dongsheng Fan
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12
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Sarkar B, Siddiqui Z, Kim KK, Nguyen PK, Reyes X, McGill TJ, Kumar VA. Implantable anti-angiogenic scaffolds for treatment of neovascular ocular pathologies. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2020; 10:1191-1202. [PMID: 32232681 PMCID: PMC7483832 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-020-00753-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The retinal physiology can accrue oxidative damage and inflammatory insults due to age and metabolic irregularities. Two notable diseases that involve retinal and choroidal neovascularization are proliferative diabetic retinopathy and wet age-related macular degeneration. Currently, these diseases are mainly treated with anti-VEGF drugs (VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor), generally on a monthly dosage scheme. We discuss recent developments for the treatment of these diseases, including bioactive tissue-engineered materials, which may reduce frequency of dosage and propose a path forward for improving patient outcomes. Graphical abstract Development of materials for long-term intravitreal delivery for management of posterior segment diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biplab Sarkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 138 Warren St. LSEB 316, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA
| | - Zain Siddiqui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 138 Warren St. LSEB 316, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA
| | - Ka Kyung Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 138 Warren St. LSEB 316, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA
| | - Peter K Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 138 Warren St. LSEB 316, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA
| | - Xavier Reyes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 138 Warren St. LSEB 316, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA
| | - Trevor J McGill
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Vivek A Kumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 138 Warren St. LSEB 316, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA.
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, NJ, USA.
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13
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Rojas P, Ramírez AI, Fernández-Albarral JA, López-Cuenca I, Salobrar-García E, Cadena M, Elvira-Hurtado L, Salazar JJ, de Hoz R, Ramírez JM. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Neurodegenerative Motor Neuron Disease With Ocular Involvement. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:566858. [PMID: 33071739 PMCID: PMC7544921 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.566858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes degeneration of the lower and upper motor neurons and is the most prevalent motor neuron disease. This disease is characterized by muscle weakness, stiffness, and hyperreflexia. Patients survive for a short period from the onset of the disease. Most cases are sporadic, with only 10% of the cases being genetic. Many genes are now known to be involved in familial ALS cases, including some of the sporadic cases. It has also been observed that, in addition to genetic factors, there are numerous molecular mechanisms involved in these pathologies, such as excitotoxicity, mitochondrial disorders, alterations in axonal transport, oxidative stress, accumulation of misfolded proteins, and neuroinflammation. This pathology affects the motor neurons, the spinal cord, the cerebellum, and the brain, but recently, it has been shown that it also affects the visual system. This impact occurs not only at the level of the oculomotor system but also at the retinal level, which is why the retina is being proposed as a possible biomarker of this pathology. The current review discusses the main aspects mentioned above related to ALS, such as the main genes involved, the most important molecular mechanisms that affect this pathology, its ocular involvement, and the possible usefulness of the retina as a biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Rojas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana I Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Fernández-Albarral
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés López-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Salobrar-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Cadena
- Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto Oftálmico de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Elvira-Hurtado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J Salazar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Ramírez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,OFTARED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Inmunología Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Tsokolas G, Tsaousis KT, Diakonis VF, Matsou A, Tyradellis S. Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review. Eye Brain 2020; 12:73-87. [PMID: 32765149 PMCID: PMC7368556 DOI: 10.2147/eb.s193026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) has emerged as a novel, fast, safe and non-invasive imaging technique of analyzing the retinal and choroidal microvasculature in vivo. OCT-A captures multiple sequential B-scans performed repeatedly over a specific retinal area at high speed, thus enabling the composition of a vascular map with areas of contrast change (high flow zones) and areas of steady contrast (slow or no flow zones). It therefore provides unique insight into the exact retinal or choroidal layer and location at which abnormal blood flow develops. OCTA has evolved into a useful tool for understanding a number of retinal pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, central serous chorioretinopathy, vascular occlusions, macular telangiectasia and choroidal neovascular membranes of other causes. OCT-A technology is also increasingly being used in the evaluation of optic disc perfusion and has been suggested as a valuable tool in the early detection of glaucomatous damage and monitoring progression. Objective To review the existing literature on the applications of optical coherence tomography angiography in neurodegenerative diseases. Summary A meticulous literature was performed until the present day. Google Scholar, PubMed, Mendeley search engines were used for this purpose. We used 123 published manuscripts as our references. OCT-A has been utilized so far to describe abnormalities in multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease, arteritic and non-arteritic optic neuropathy (AION and NAION), Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) papilloedema, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Wolfram syndrome, migraines, lesions of the visual pathway and cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). It appears that OCT-A findings correlate quite well with the severity of the aforementioned diseases. However, OCT-A has its own limitations, namely its lack of wide-field view of the peripheral retina and the inaccurate interpretation due to motion artifacts in uncooperative groups of patients (e.g. children). Larger prospective longitudinal studies will need to be conducted in order to eliminate the aforementioned limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Tsokolas
- Ophthalmology Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Konstantinos T Tsaousis
- Ophthalmology Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - Artemis Matsou
- Ophthalmology Department, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK
| | - Straton Tyradellis
- Ophthalmology Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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15
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Fieß A, Nickels S, Urschitz MS, Münzel T, Wild PS, Beutel ME, Lackner KJ, Hoffmann EM, Pfeiffer N, Schuster AK. Association of Birth Weight with Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Adulthood—Results from a Population-Based Study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 61:4. [PMID: 35917383 PMCID: PMC7425698 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.8.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Low birth weight is associated with altered retinal development in childhood, including reduced peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness. However, to the best of our knowledge, no population-based study has analyzed the relationship of low birth weight to pRNFL thickness in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether birth weight has a long-term effect on pRNFL thickness in adulthood. Methods In the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS), participants were examined with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography using a peripapillary scan and automated measurement of pRNFL thickness as a global parameter and in six sectors. The association between self-reported birth weight and the different pRNFL sectors were analyzed with multivariable linear regression, adjusted for potential confounders including sex, age, axial length, self-reported age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Results In 3,028 participants, self-reported birth weight was documented and pRNFL measurements were successfully performed (1632 females, ages 54.9 ± 10.0 years). After adjustment for several confounders in the multivariable model, a positive association was observed between birth weight and pRNFL thickness in the global sector (β = 0.13 µm/100 g; 95% CI, 0.08–0.18; P < 0.001; R2 = 0.007) and especially in the inferotemporal sector (β = 0.22 µm/100 g; 95% CI, 0.15–0.29; P < 0.001; R2 = 0.008) and inferonasal sector (β = 0.28 µm/100 g; 95% CI, 0.17–0.39; P < 0.001; R2 = 0.005). Conclusions Our data show that there is a weak relationship between birth weight and pRNFL thickness in adulthood. This weak association is particularly present in the inferior part of the optic nerve head. Therefore, low birth weight may have an impact on optic nerve head development and potentially on ocular disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achim Fieß
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Nickels
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael S. Urschitz
- Division of Pediatric Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Münzel
- Center for Cardiology–Cardiology I, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Philipp S. Wild
- Preventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine/Center for Cardiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Rhine-Main, Mainz, Germany
| | - Manfred E. Beutel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Karl J. Lackner
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Esther M. Hoffmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Norbert Pfeiffer
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Alexander K. Schuster
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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16
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Umunakwe O, Gupta D, Tseng H. Association of Open-Angle Glaucoma with Non-Alzheimer's Dementia and Cognitive Impairment. Ophthalmol Glaucoma 2020; 3:460-465. [PMID: 32830102 DOI: 10.1016/j.ogla.2020.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the odds of central neurodegenerative diseases in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) with the odds in patients without glaucoma (control patients). DESIGN Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS Patients 18 years of age or older who visited Duke University Health System between January 1, 2000, and July 31, 2015. METHODS An electronic query of patient records at Duke University Health System was performed to identify patients with and without diagnoses of OAG, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), vascular dementia (VD), senile dementia (SD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and other neurodegenerative diseases. Univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate unadjusted odds ratios (OR). Age group, race, and gender were included as covariates in multiple logistic regression analyses to calculate adjusted ORs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Odds ratios comparing the odds of each neurodegenerative disease in OAG patients with the odds in control patients. RESULTS A total of 1 511 602 patients were included in this study: 24 892 OAG patients and 1 484 790 control patients. Mean age was 58.9 ± 14.0 years for OAG patients and 44.9 ± 14.1 years for control patients. After adjusting for age, race, and gender, the OR comparing the odds of each neurodegenerative disease in OAG patients with the odds in control patients were as follows: for AD: adjusted OR, 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.77-0.93; for ALS: adjusted OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.14-0.49); for PD: adjusted OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.89-1.13; for VD: adjusted OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.99-1.25; for SD: adjusted OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.19-1.41; for MCI: adjusted OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.79-2.22; and for other neurodegenerative disease: adjusted OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.51-2.10. CONCLUSIONS Open-angle glaucoma patients may have increased odds of SD, MCI, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Further work is necessary to identify potential causal relationships. A negative correlation exists between OAG and ALS diagnosis that is likely related to limited life expectancy and physical limitations in ALS patients. A weak negative correlation exists between OAG and AD diagnosis. No correlation exists between OAG and PD or VD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obinna Umunakwe
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
| | - Divakar Gupta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Henry Tseng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
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17
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Artero-Castro A, Rodriguez-Jimenez FJ, Jendelova P, VanderWall KB, Meyer JS, Erceg S. Glaucoma as a Neurodegenerative Disease Caused by Intrinsic Vulnerability Factors. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 193:101817. [PMID: 32360241 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma, one of the most common causes of blindness in developing countries today, involves a progressive loss of neural cells in the optic nerve that leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss. Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) presents as a major risk factor for glaucoma, although there exist cases of glaucoma patients with normal IOP that exhibit damage to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the optic nerve. However, treatment approaches have maintained their focus on modifying IOP due to a lack of other modifiable risks factors. Traditional concepts in glaucoma involve the neuronal environment and external effects as a source of causative factors; however, studies have yet to investigate whether the molecular profile of RGCs in glaucoma patients makes them more vulnerable and/or susceptible to external damage. Our hypothesis states that molecular changes at the whole cell, gene expression, and electrophysiological level of the neurons can contribute to their degeneration. Herein, we briefly describe different types of glaucoma and any similarities to different molecular and cellular features of neurodegeneration. To test our hypothesis, we describe human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) as a reliable cellular tool to model neurodegenerative aspects of glaucoma to reveal the multiple pathological molecular mechanisms underlying disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Artero-Castro
- Stem Cells Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Research Center "Principe Felipe", Valencia, Spain.
| | | | - Pavla Jendelova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Department of Neuroregeneration, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Kirstin B VanderWall
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Jason S Meyer
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Slaven Erceg
- Stem Cells Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Research Center "Principe Felipe", Valencia, Spain; National Stem Cell Bank-Valencia Node, Platform for Proteomics, Genotyping and Cell Lines, PRB3,ISCIII, Research Center "Principe Felipe", Valencia, Spain; Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Department of Neuroregeneration, Prague, Czech Republic.
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18
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Lenahan C, Sanghavi R, Huang L, Zhang JH. Rhodopsin: A Potential Biomarker for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:326. [PMID: 32351353 PMCID: PMC7175229 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal alterations have recently been associated with numerous neurodegenerative diseases. Rhodopsin is a G-protein coupled receptor found in the rod cells of the retina. As a biomarker associated with retinal thinning and degeneration, it bears potential in the early detection and monitoring of several neurodegenerative diseases. In this review article, we summarize the findings of correlations between rhodopsin and several neurodegenerative disorders as well as the potential of a novel technique, cSLO, in the quantification of rhodopsin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Lenahan
- Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Cruces, NM, United States.,Center for Neuroscience Research, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Rajvee Sanghavi
- Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Lei Huang
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - John H Zhang
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
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19
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Yap TE, Balendra SI, Almonte MT, Cordeiro MF. Retinal correlates of neurological disorders. Ther Adv Chronic Dis 2019; 10:2040622319882205. [PMID: 31832125 PMCID: PMC6887800 DOI: 10.1177/2040622319882205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Considering the retina as an extension of the brain provides a platform from which to study diseases of the nervous system. Taking advantage of the clear optical media of the eye and ever-increasing resolution of modern imaging techniques, retinal morphology can now be visualized at a cellular level in vivo. This has provided a multitude of possible biomarkers and investigative surrogates that may be used to identify, monitor and study diseases until now limited to the brain. In many neurodegenerative conditions, early diagnosis is often very challenging due to the lack of tests with high sensitivity and specificity, but, once made, opens the door to patients accessing the correct treatment that can potentially improve functional outcomes. Using retinal biomarkers in vivo as an additional diagnostic tool may help overcome the need for invasive tests and histological specimens, and offers the opportunity to longitudinally monitor individuals over time. This review aims to summarise retinal biomarkers associated with a range of neurological conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and prion diseases from a clinical perspective. By comparing their similarities and differences according to primary pathological processes, we hope to show how retinal correlates can aid clinical decisions, and accelerate the study of this rapidly developing area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy E. Yap
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London, UK
- The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, UK
| | - Shiama I. Balendra
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Group, Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Melanie T. Almonte
- The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College London, UK
| | - M. Francesca Cordeiro
- The Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT), London, NW1 5QH, UK
- The Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG), Imperial College, London, NW1 5QH, UK
- Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Group, Department of Visual Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11–43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
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20
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Cerveró A, Casado A, Riancho J. Retinal changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: looking at the disease through a new window. J Neurol 2019; 268:2083-2089. [PMID: 31792674 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-019-09654-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most frequent degenerative disease affecting motor neurons (MN). ALS has been traditionally considered as a pure motor system disease; however, there are currently sufficient evidences supporting the involvement of other non-motor systems. Recently, the development and the implementation of the optical coherence tomography (OCT) have provided new data regarding the ocular involvement in the disease. In this sense, alterations in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL), other retinal layers thicknesses such as outer nuclear layer (ONL) and inner nuclear layer (INL) and changes in the retinal blood vessels have been described in ALS patients. Interestingly, the study of ocular alterations in ALS appears not only as new biomarker tool, but also as a new opportunity to deep into the pathogenesis of the disease. In this article we will review and standardize published studies regarding OCT and ALS, emphasizing both their strengths and weaknesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cerveró
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla-IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
| | - Alfonso Casado
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla-IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
| | - Javier Riancho
- Service of Neurology, Hospital Sierrallana-IDIVAL, Barrio Ganzo, s/n, 39300, Torrelavega, Cantabria, Spain. .,CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain.
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Rojas P, de Hoz R, Ramírez AI, Ferreras A, Salobrar-Garcia E, Muñoz-Blanco JL, Urcelay-Segura JL, Salazar JJ, Ramírez JM. Changes in Retinal OCT and Their Correlations with Neurological Disability in Early ALS Patients, a Follow-Up Study. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9120337. [PMID: 31771268 PMCID: PMC6955774 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9120337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To compare early visual changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with healthy controls in a baseline exploration, to follow-up the patients after 6 months, and to correlate these visual changes with neurological disability. METHODS All patients underwent a comprehensive neurological and ophthalmological examination. A linear mixed analysis and Bonferroni p-value correction were performed, testing four comparisons as follows: Control baseline vs. control follow-up, control baseline vs. ALS baseline, control follow-up vs. ALS follow-up, and ALS baseline vs. ALS follow-up. RESULTS The mean time from the diagnosis was 10.80 ± 5.5 months. The analysis of the optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed: (1) In ALS baseline vs. control baseline, a macular significantly increased thickness of the inner macular ring temporal and inferior areas; (2) in ALS follow-up vs. ALS baseline, a significant macular thinning in the inner and outer macular ring inferior areas; (3) in ALS follow-up vs. ALS baseline, a significant peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thinning in the superior and inferior quadrants; and (4) ALS patients showed a moderate correlation between some OCT pRNFL parameters and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score. CONCLUSION The OCT showed retinal changes in patients with motoneuron disease and could serve as a complementary tool for studying ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Rojas
- General University Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Ophthalmic Institute of Madrid, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (J.L.U.-S.)
- Ramón Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (R.d.H.); (A.I.R.); (E.S.-G.)
| | - Rosa de Hoz
- Ramón Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (R.d.H.); (A.I.R.); (E.S.-G.)
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, School of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana I. Ramírez
- Ramón Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (R.d.H.); (A.I.R.); (E.S.-G.)
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, School of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Ferreras
- Miguel Servet University Hospital, Aragonese Institute of Health Sciences, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain;
| | - Elena Salobrar-Garcia
- Ramón Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (R.d.H.); (A.I.R.); (E.S.-G.)
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José L. Muñoz-Blanco
- Department of Neurology, ALS-Neuromuscular Unit, Gregorio Marañón Health Research Institute, 28007 Madrid, Spain;
| | - José L. Urcelay-Segura
- General University Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Ophthalmic Institute of Madrid, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (P.R.); (J.L.U.-S.)
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J. Salazar
- Ramón Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (R.d.H.); (A.I.R.); (E.S.-G.)
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, School of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.J.S.); (J.M.R.)
| | - José M. Ramírez
- Ramón Castroviejo Ophthalmological Research Institute, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (R.d.H.); (A.I.R.); (E.S.-G.)
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.J.S.); (J.M.R.)
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22
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Optical coherence tomography shows neuroretinal thinning in myelopathy of adrenoleukodystrophy. J Neurol 2019; 267:679-687. [PMID: 31720823 PMCID: PMC7035302 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-019-09627-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Progressive myelopathy is the main cause of disability in adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). Development of therapies is hampered by a lack of quantitative outcome measures. In this study, we investigated whether myelopathy in ALD is associated with retinal neurodegeneration on optical coherence tomography (OCT), which could serve as a surrogate outcome measure. Methods Sixty-two patients (29 men and 33 women) and 70 age-matched and sex-matched controls (33 men and 37 women) were included in this cross-sectional study. We compared retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness between ALD patients and controls. In addition, we correlated these OCT measurements with clinical parameters of severity of myelopathy. Results Patients had significantly thinner RNFL (male group, p < 0.05) and pRNFL superior and temporal quadrant [both male (p < 0.005) and female (p < 0.05) groups] compared to controls. Comparing three groups (symptomatic patients, asymptomatic patients and controls), there were significant differences in RNFL thickness (total grid and peripheral ring) in the male group (p ≤ 0.002) and in pRNFL thickness (superior and temporal quadrant) in both male (p ≤ 0.02) and the female (p ≤ 0.02) groups. Neuroretinal layer thickness correlated moderately with severity of myelopathy in men (correlation coefficients between 0.29–0.55, p < 0.02), but not in women. Conclusions These results suggest that neurodegeneration of the spinal cord in ALD is reflected in the retina of patients with ALD. Therefore, OCT could be valuable as an outcome measure for the myelopathy of ALD. Additional longitudinal studies are ongoing. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00415-019-09627-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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23
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Mercury in the retina and optic nerve following prenatal exposure to mercury vapor. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220859. [PMID: 31390377 PMCID: PMC6685637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Damage to the retina and optic nerve is found in some neurodegenerative disorders, but it is unclear whether the optic pathway and central nervous system (CNS) are affected by the same injurious agent, or whether optic pathway damage is due to retrograde degeneration following the CNS damage. Finding an environmental agent that could be responsible for the optic pathway damage would support the hypothesis that this environmental toxicant also triggers the CNS lesions. Toxic metals have been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, and mercury has been found in the retina and optic nerve of experimentally-exposed animals. Therefore, to see if mercury exposure in the prenatal period could be one link between optic pathway damage and human CNS disorders of later life, we examined the retina and optic nerve of neonatal mice that had been exposed prenatally to mercury vapor, using a technique, autometallography, that detects the presence of mercury within cells. Pregnant mice were exposed to a non-toxic dose of mercury vapor for four hours a day for five days in late gestation, when the mouse placenta most closely resembles the human placenta. The neonatal offspring were sacrificed one day after birth and gapless serial sections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks containing the eyes were stained with silver nitrate autometallography to detect inorganic mercury. Mercury was seen in the nuclear membranes of retinal ganglion cells and endothelial cells. A smaller amount of mercury was present in the retinal inner plexiform and inner nuclear layers. Mercury was conspicuous in the peripapillary retinal pigment epithelium. In the optic nerve, mercury was seen in the nuclear membranes and processes of glia and in endothelial cells. Optic pathway and CNS endothelial cells contained mercury. In conclusion, mercury is taken up preferentially by fetal retinal ganglion cells, optic nerve glial cells, the retinal pigment epithelium, and endothelial cells. Mercury induces free radical formation, autoimmunity, and genetic and epigenetic changes, so these findings raise the possibility that mercury plays a part in the pathogenesis of degenerative CNS disorders that also affect the retina and optic nerve.
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24
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Popa-Cherechenau A, Schmidl D, Garhöfer G, Schmetterer L. [Structural endpoints for glaucoma studies]. Ophthalmologe 2018; 116:5-13. [PMID: 29511811 DOI: 10.1007/s00347-018-0670-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural endpoints have been discussed as surrogate endpoints for the approval of neuroprotective drugs in glaucoma. OBJECTIVE Is the evidence strong enough to establish structural endpoints as surrogate endpoints? MATERIAL AND METHODS Review of current understanding between structure and function in glaucoma. RESULTS The introduction of optical coherence tomography has revolutionized imaging in glaucoma patients. Clinically either the nerve fiber layer thickness can be measured along a circle centered in the optic nerve head or the ganglion cell layer thickness can be assessed in the macular region, the latter being quantified in combination with other inner retinal layers. On a microscopic level there is a strong correlation between structural and functional loss but this relation can only partially be described with currently available clinical methods. This is particularly true for longitudinal course of the disease in glaucoma patients. Novel imaging techniques that are not yet used clinically may have the potential to increase our understanding between structure and function in glaucoma but further research in this field is required. CONCLUSION The current evidence does not allow the establishment of structural endpoints as surrogate endpoints for phase 3 studies in glaucoma. Neuroprotective drugs have to be approved on the basis of visual field data because this is the patient-relevant endpoint. Structural endpoints can, however, play an important role in phase 2 and proof of concept studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Popa-Cherechenau
- Universitätsklinik für Klinische Pharmakologie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Wien, Österreich.,Medizinische und Pharmazeutische Universität Carol Davila, Bukarest, Rumänien.,Abteilung für Ophthalmologie, Notfallzentrum der Universitätsklinik Bukarest, Bukarest, Rumänien
| | - D Schmidl
- Universitätsklinik für Klinische Pharmakologie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Wien, Österreich
| | - G Garhöfer
- Universitätsklinik für Klinische Pharmakologie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Wien, Österreich
| | - L Schmetterer
- Universitätsklinik für Klinische Pharmakologie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Wien, Österreich. .,Singapore Eye Research Institute, SERI (Augenforschungszentrum Singapur), College Str. 20, Discovery Tower Ebene 6, 169856, Singapur, Singapur. .,Lee Kong Chian Medical Schools, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapur, Singapur. .,Klinisches Fortbildungszentrum Ophthalmologie und Visual Sciences, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapur, Singapur. .,Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapur, Singapur.
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