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Shi H, Mirzaei N, Koronyo Y, Davis MR, Robinson E, Braun GM, Jallow O, Rentsendorj A, Ramanujan VK, Fert-Bober J, Kramerov AA, Ljubimov AV, Schneider LS, Tourtellotte WG, Hawes D, Schneider JA, Black KL, Kayed R, Selenica MLB, Lee DC, Fuchs DT, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Identification of retinal oligomeric, citrullinated, and other tau isoforms in early and advanced AD and relations to disease status. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:3. [PMID: 38980423 PMCID: PMC11233395 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02760-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates various pathological tau isoforms in the retina of individuals with early and advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD), exploring their connection with disease status. Retinal cross-sections from predefined superior-temporal and inferior-temporal subregions and corresponding brains from neuropathologically confirmed AD patients with a clinical diagnosis of either mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia (n = 45) were compared with retinas from age- and sex-matched individuals with normal cognition (n = 30) and non-AD dementia (n = 4). Retinal tau isoforms, including tau tangles, paired helical filament of tau (PHF-tau), oligomeric-tau (Oligo-tau), hyperphosphorylated-tau (p-tau), and citrullinated-tau (Cit-tau), were stereologically analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Nanostring GeoMx digital spatial profiling, and correlated with clinical and neuropathological outcomes. Our data indicated significant increases in various AD-related pretangle tau isoforms, especially p-tau (AT8, 2.9-fold, pS396-tau, 2.6-fold), Cit-tau at arginine residue 209 (CitR209-tau; 4.1-fold), and Oligo-tau (T22+, 9.2-fold), as well as pretangle and mature tau tangle forms like MC-1-positive (1.8-fold) and PHF-tau (2.3-fold), in AD compared to control retinas. MCI retinas also exhibited substantial increases in Oligo-tau (5.2-fold), CitR209-tau (3.5-fold), and pS396-tau (2.2-fold). Nanostring GeoMx analysis confirmed elevated retinal p-tau at epitopes: Ser214 (2.3-fold), Ser396 (2.6-fold), Ser404 (2.4-fold), and Thr231 (1.8-fold), particularly in MCI patients. Strong associations were found between retinal tau isoforms versus brain pathology and cognitive status: a) retinal Oligo-tau vs. Braak stage, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and CDR cognitive scores (ρ = 0.63-0.71), b) retinal PHF-tau vs. neuropil threads (NTs) and ABC scores (ρ = 0.69-0.71), and c) retinal pS396-tau vs. NTs, NFTs, and ABC scores (ρ = 0.67-0.74). Notably, retinal Oligo-tau strongly correlated with retinal Aβ42 and arterial Aβ40 forms (r = 0.76-0.86). Overall, this study identifies and quantifies diverse retinal tau isoforms in MCI and AD patients, underscoring their link to brain pathology and cognition. These findings advocate for further exploration of retinal tauopathy biomarkers to facilitate AD detection and monitoring via noninvasive retinal imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoshen Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Miyah R Davis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Edward Robinson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Gila M Braun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Ousman Jallow
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Altan Rentsendorj
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - V Krishnan Ramanujan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Justyna Fert-Bober
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Andrei A Kramerov
- Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alexander V Ljubimov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lon S Schneider
- Departments of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences and Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Warren G Tourtellotte
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Debra Hawes
- Department of Pathology Program in Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Julie A Schneider
- Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience, and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Maj-Linda B Selenica
- Sanders-Brown Center On Aging, Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Daniel C Lee
- Sanders-Brown Center On Aging, Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., A6212, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
- Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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2
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Gaire BP, Koronyo Y, Fuchs DT, Shi H, Rentsendorj A, Danziger R, Vit JP, Mirzaei N, Doustar J, Sheyn J, Hampel H, Vergallo A, Davis MR, Jallow O, Baldacci F, Verdooner SR, Barron E, Mirzaei M, Gupta VK, Graham SL, Tayebi M, Carare RO, Sadun AA, Miller CA, Dumitrascu OM, Lahiri S, Gao L, Black KL, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology in the Retina. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 101:101273. [PMID: 38759947 PMCID: PMC11285518 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101273] [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: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The retina is an emerging CNS target for potential noninvasive diagnosis and tracking of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies have identified the pathological hallmarks of AD, including amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposits and abnormal tau protein isoforms, in the retinas of AD patients and animal models. Moreover, structural and functional vascular abnormalities such as reduced blood flow, vascular Aβ deposition, and blood-retinal barrier damage, along with inflammation and neurodegeneration, have been described in retinas of patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD dementia. Histological, biochemical, and clinical studies have demonstrated that the nature and severity of AD pathologies in the retina and brain correspond. Proteomics analysis revealed a similar pattern of dysregulated proteins and biological pathways in the retina and brain of AD patients, with enhanced inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes, impaired oxidative-phosphorylation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Notably, investigational imaging technologies can now detect AD-specific amyloid deposits, as well as vasculopathy and neurodegeneration in the retina of living AD patients, suggesting alterations at different disease stages and links to brain pathology. Current and exploratory ophthalmic imaging modalities, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT-angiography, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and hyperspectral imaging, may offer promise in the clinical assessment of AD. However, further research is needed to deepen our understanding of AD's impact on the retina and its progression. To advance this field, future studies require replication in larger and diverse cohorts with confirmed AD biomarkers and standardized retinal imaging techniques. This will validate potential retinal biomarkers for AD, aiding in early screening and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhakta Prasad Gaire
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Haoshen Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Altan Rentsendorj
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ron Danziger
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Vit
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jonah Doustar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Julia Sheyn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Harald Hampel
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Andrea Vergallo
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Miyah R Davis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ousman Jallow
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Filippo Baldacci
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Ernesto Barron
- Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vivek K Gupta
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart L Graham
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mourad Tayebi
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Roxana O Carare
- Department of Clinical Neuroanatomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Alfredo A Sadun
- Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carol A Miller
- Department of Pathology Program in Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Shouri Lahiri
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Liang Gao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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3
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Casciano F, Zauli E, Celeghini C, Caruso L, Gonelli A, Zauli G, Pignatelli A. Retinal Alterations Predict Early Prodromal Signs of Neurodegenerative Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1689. [PMID: 38338966 PMCID: PMC10855697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031689] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are an increasingly common group of diseases that occur late in life with a significant impact on personal, family, and economic life. Among these, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the major disorders that lead to mild to severe cognitive and physical impairment and dementia. Interestingly, those diseases may show onset of prodromal symptoms early after middle age. Commonly, the evaluation of these neurodegenerative diseases is based on the detection of biomarkers, where functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have shown a central role in revealing early or prodromal phases, although it can be expensive, time-consuming, and not always available. The aforementioned diseases have a common impact on the visual system due to the pathophysiological mechanisms shared between the eye and the brain. In Parkinson's disease, α-synuclein deposition in the retinal cells, as well as in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, alters the visual cortex and retinal function, resulting in modifications to the visual field. Similarly, the visual cortex is modified by the neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic amyloid β plaques typically seen in the Alzheimer's disease brain, and this may reflect the accumulation of these biomarkers in the retina during the early stages of the disease, as seen in postmortem retinas of AD patients. In this light, the ophthalmic evaluation of retinal neurodegeneration could become a cost-effective method for the early diagnosis of those diseases, overcoming the limitations of functional and structural imaging of the deep brain. This analysis is commonly used in ophthalmic practice, and interest in it has risen in recent years. This review will discuss the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease with retinal degeneration, highlighting how retinal analysis may represent a noninvasive and straightforward method for the early diagnosis of these neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Casciano
- Department of Translational Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Enrico Zauli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Claudio Celeghini
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Caruso
- Department of Environment and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Arianna Gonelli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgio Zauli
- Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialistic Hospital, Riyadh 12329, Saudi Arabia
| | - Angela Pignatelli
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
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Alber J, Bouwman F, den Haan J, Rissman RA, De Groef L, Koronyo‐Hamaoui M, Lengyel I, Thal DR. Retina pathology as a target for biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease: Current status, ophthalmopathological background, challenges, and future directions. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:728-740. [PMID: 37917365 PMCID: PMC10917008 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13529] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
There is emerging evidence that amyloid beta protein (Aβ) and tau-related lesions in the retina are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ and hyperphosphorylated (p)-tau deposits have been described in the retina and were associated with small amyloid spots visualized by in vivo imaging techniques as well as degeneration of the retina. These changes correlate with brain amyloid deposition as determined by histological quantification, positron emission tomography (PET) or clinical diagnosis of AD. However, the literature is not coherent on these histopathological and in vivo imaging findings. One important reason for this is the variability in the methods and the interpretation of findings across different studies. In this perspective, we indicate the critical methodological deviations among different groups and suggest a roadmap moving forward on how to harmonize (i) histopathologic examination of retinal tissue; (ii) in vivo imaging among different methods, devices, and interpretation algorithms; and (iii) inclusion/exclusion criteria for studies aiming at retinal biomarker validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Alber
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Rhode IslandKingstonRhode IslandUSA
- Butler Hospital Memory & Aging ProgramProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Femke Bouwman
- Amsterdam UMC, location VUmcAlzheimer Center, Department of NeurologyAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Jurre den Haan
- Amsterdam UMC, location VUmcAlzheimer Center, Department of NeurologyAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Robert A. Rissman
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research InstituteKeck School of Medicine of the University of Southern CaliforniaSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lies De Groef
- Cellular Communication and Neurodegeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of BiologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Maya Koronyo‐Hamaoui
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Biomedical SciencesMaxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars‐Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Imre Lengyel
- The Wellcome‐Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical ScienceQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and Pathology, and Leuven Brain Institute, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of PathologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
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5
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Walkiewicz G, Ronisz A, Van Ginderdeuren R, Lemmens S, Bouwman FH, Hoozemans JJM, Morrema THJ, Rozemuller AJ, Hart de Ruyter FJ, De Groef L, Stalmans I, Thal DR. Primary retinal tauopathy: A tauopathy with a distinct molecular pattern. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:330-340. [PMID: 37615275 PMCID: PMC10916964 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phosphorylated tau (p-tau) accumulation, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), can also be found in the retina. However, it is uncertain whether it is linked to AD or another tauopathy. METHODS Retinas from 164 individuals, with and without AD, were analyzed for p-tau accumulation and its relationship with age, dementia, and vision impairment. RESULTS Retinal p-tau pathology showed a consistent pattern with four stages and a molecular composition distinct from that of cerebral tauopathies. The stage of retinal p-tau pathology correlated with age (r = 0.176, P = 0.024) and was associated with AD (odds ratio [OR] 3.193; P = 0.001), and inflammation (OR = 2.605; P = 0.001). Vision impairment was associated with underlying eye diseases (β = 0.292; P = 0.001) and the stage of retinal p-tau pathology (β = 0.192; P = 0.030) in a linear regression model. CONCLUSIONS The results show the presence of a primary retinal tauopathy that is distinct from cerebral tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Walkiewicz
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and PathologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Alicja Ronisz
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and PathologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Rita Van Ginderdeuren
- Department of PathologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of OphthalmologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | | | | | | | - Tjado H. J. Morrema
- Amsterdam UMCDepartment of PathologyAmsterdam NeuroscienceAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | | | - Frederique J. Hart de Ruyter
- Amsterdam UMCAlzheimer CenterNeurologyAmsterdamthe Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMCDepartment of PathologyAmsterdam NeuroscienceAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Lies De Groef
- Cellular Communication and Neurodegeneration Research GroupDepartment of BiologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Ingeborg Stalmans
- Department of OphthalmologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Research Group OphthalmologyDepartment of NeuroscienceLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- Laboratory of NeuropathologyDepartment of Imaging and PathologyLeuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of PathologyUZ LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
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6
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Catalani E, Brunetti K, Del Quondam S, Cervia D. Targeting Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress to Prevent the Neurodegeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:2011. [PMID: 38001864 PMCID: PMC10669517 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12112011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The imbalance of redox homeostasis contributes to neurodegeneration, including that related to the visual system. Mitochondria, essential in providing energy and responsible for several cell functions, are a significant source of reactive oxygen and/or nitrogen species, and they are, in turn, sensitive to free radical imbalance. Dysfunctional mitochondria are implicated in the development and progression of retinal pathologies and are directly involved in retinal neuronal degeneration. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are higher energy consumers susceptible to mitochondrial dysfunctions that ultimately cause RGC loss. Proper redox balance and mitochondrial homeostasis are essential for maintaining healthy retinal conditions and inducing neuroprotection. In this respect, the antioxidant treatment approach is effective against neuronal oxidative damage and represents a challenge for retinal diseases. Here, we highlighted the latest findings about mitochondrial dysfunction in retinal pathologies linked to RGC degeneration and discussed redox-related strategies with potential neuroprotective properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Catalani
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (K.B.); (S.D.Q.)
| | | | | | - Davide Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (K.B.); (S.D.Q.)
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7
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García-Bermúdez MY, Vohra R, Freude K, van Wijngaarden P, Martin K, Thomsen MS, Aldana BI, Kolko M. Potential Retinal Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15834. [PMID: 37958816 PMCID: PMC10649108 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents a major diagnostic challenge, as early detection is crucial for effective intervention. This review examines the diagnostic challenges facing current AD evaluations and explores the emerging field of retinal alterations as early indicators. Recognizing the potential of the retina as a noninvasive window to the brain, we emphasize the importance of identifying retinal biomarkers in the early stages of AD. However, the examination of AD is not without its challenges, as the similarities shared with other retinal diseases introduce complexity in the search for AD-specific markers. In this review, we address the relevance of using the retina for the early diagnosis of AD and the complex challenges associated with the search for AD-specific retinal biomarkers. We provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and highlight avenues for progress in AD diagnosis by retinal examination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rupali Vohra
- Eye Translational Research Unit, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Kristine Freude
- Group of Stem Cell Models and Embryology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Peter van Wijngaarden
- Center for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Keith Martin
- Center for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Maj Schneider Thomsen
- Neurobiology Research and Drug Delivery, Department of Health, Science and Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Blanca Irene Aldana
- Neurometabolism Research Group, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Miriam Kolko
- Eye Translational Research Unit, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
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8
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Delavari P, Ozturan G, Yuan L, Yilmaz Ö, Oruc I. Artificial intelligence, explainability, and the scientific method: A proof-of-concept study on novel retinal biomarker discovery. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad290. [PMID: 37746328 PMCID: PMC10517742 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
We present a structured approach to combine explainability of artificial intelligence (AI) with the scientific method for scientific discovery. We demonstrate the utility of this approach in a proof-of-concept study where we uncover biomarkers from a convolutional neural network (CNN) model trained to classify patient sex in retinal images. This is a trait that is not currently recognized by diagnosticians in retinal images, yet, one successfully classified by CNNs. Our methodology consists of four phases: In Phase 1, CNN development, we train a visual geometry group (VGG) model to recognize patient sex in retinal images. In Phase 2, Inspiration, we review visualizations obtained from post hoc interpretability tools to make observations, and articulate exploratory hypotheses. Here, we listed 14 hypotheses retinal sex differences. In Phase 3, Exploration, we test all exploratory hypotheses on an independent dataset. Out of 14 exploratory hypotheses, nine revealed significant differences. In Phase 4, Verification, we re-tested the nine flagged hypotheses on a new dataset. Five were verified, revealing (i) significantly greater length, (ii) more nodes, and (iii) more branches of retinal vasculature, (iv) greater retinal area covered by the vessels in the superior temporal quadrant, and (v) darker peripapillary region in male eyes. Finally, we trained a group of ophthalmologists (N = 26 ) to recognize the novel retinal features for sex classification. While their pretraining performance was not different from chance level or the performance of a nonexpert group (N = 31 ), after training, their performance increased significantly (p < 0.001 , d = 2.63 ). These findings showcase the potential for retinal biomarker discovery through CNN applications, with the added utility of empowering medical practitioners with new diagnostic capabilities to enhance their clinical toolkit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parsa Delavari
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V5Z 0A6 BC, Canada
- Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3 BC, Canada
| | - Gulcenur Ozturan
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V5Z 0A6 BC, Canada
| | - Lei Yuan
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V5Z 0A6 BC, Canada
| | - Özgür Yilmaz
- Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z2 BC, Canada
| | - Ipek Oruc
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V5Z 0A6 BC, Canada
- Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3 BC, Canada
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Wolf A, Tripanpitak K, Umeda S, Otake-Matsuura M. Eye-tracking paradigms for the assessment of mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1197567. [PMID: 37546488 PMCID: PMC10399700 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1197567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), representing the 'transitional zone' between normal cognition and dementia, has become a novel topic in clinical research. Although early detection is crucial, it remains logistically challenging at the same time. While traditional pen-and-paper tests require in-depth training to ensure standardized administration and accurate interpretation of findings, significant technological advancements are leading to the development of procedures for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and facilitating the diagnostic process. Some of the diagnostic protocols, however, show significant limitations that hamper their widespread adoption. Concerns about the social and economic implications of the increasing incidence of AD underline the need for reliable, non-invasive, cost-effective, and timely cognitive scoring methodologies. For instance, modern clinical studies report significant oculomotor impairments among patients with MCI, who perform poorly in visual paired-comparison tasks by ascribing less attentional resources to novel stimuli. To accelerate the Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025, this work provides an overview of research on saccadic and exploratory eye-movement deficits among older adults with MCI. The review protocol was drafted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Electronic databases were systematically searched to identify peer-reviewed articles published between 2017 and 2022 that examined visual processing in older adults with MCI and reported gaze parameters as potential biomarkers. Moreover, following the contemporary trend for remote healthcare technologies, we reviewed studies that implemented non-commercial eye-tracking instrumentation in order to detect information processing impairments among the MCI population. Based on the gathered literature, eye-tracking-based paradigms may ameliorate the screening limitations of traditional cognitive assessments and contribute to early AD detection. However, in order to translate the findings pertaining to abnormal gaze behavior into clinical applications, it is imperative to conduct longitudinal investigations in both laboratory-based and ecologically valid settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Wolf
- Cognitive Behavioral Assistive Technology (CBAT), Goal-Oriented Technology Group, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kornkanok Tripanpitak
- Cognitive Behavioral Assistive Technology (CBAT), Goal-Oriented Technology Group, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Umeda
- Department of Psychology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mihoko Otake-Matsuura
- Cognitive Behavioral Assistive Technology (CBAT), Goal-Oriented Technology Group, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), Tokyo, Japan
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Wijesinghe P, Xi J, Cui J, Campbell M, Pham W, Matsubara JA. MicroRNAs in tear fluids predict underlying molecular changes associated with Alzheimer's disease. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201757. [PMID: 36941055 PMCID: PMC10027899 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been discussed as potential biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis. As the retina is a part of the CNS, we hypothesize that miRNAs expression levels in the brain, particularly neocortex-hippocampus, eye tissues, and tear fluids are similar at different stages of AD progression. Ten miRNA candidates were systematically investigated in transgenic APP-PS1 mice, noncarrier siblings, and C57BL/6J wild-type controls at young and old ages. Relative expression levels of tested miRNAs revealed a similar pattern in both APP-PS1 mice and noncarrier siblings when compared with age- and sex-matched wild-type controls. However, the differences seen in expression levels between APP-PS1 mice and noncarrier siblings could possibly have resulted from underlying molecular etiology of AD. Importantly, miRNAs associated with amyloid beta (Aβ) production (-101a, -15a, and -342) and proinflammation (-125b, -146a, and -34a) showed significant up-regulations in the tear fluids with disease progression, as tracked by cortical Aβ load and reactive astrogliosis. Overall, for the first time, the translational potential of up-regulated tear fluid miRNAs associated with AD pathogenesis was comprehensively demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Printha Wijesinghe
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Eye Care Centre, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jeanne Xi
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Eye Care Centre, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jing Cui
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Eye Care Centre, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Matthew Campbell
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Eye Care Centre, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Wellington Pham
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Joanne A Matsubara
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Eye Care Centre, Vancouver, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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11
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Tang M, Blazes M, Lee CS. Imaging Amyloid and Tau in the Retina: Current Research and Future Directions. J Neuroophthalmol 2023; 43:168-179. [PMID: 36705970 PMCID: PMC10191872 DOI: 10.1097/wno.0000000000001786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The retina is a key focus in the search for biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) because of its accessibility and shared development with the brain. The pathological hallmarks of AD, amyloid beta (Aβ), and hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau) have been identified in the retina, although histopathologic findings have been mixed. Several imaging-based approaches have been developed to detect retinal AD pathology in vivo. Here, we review the research related to imaging AD-related pathology in the retina and implications for future biomarker research. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Electronic searches of published literature were conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. RESULTS Curcumin fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging are both promising methods for detecting retinal Aβ, although both require validation in larger cohorts. Challenges remain in distinguishing curcumin-labeled Aβ from background fluorescence and standardization of dosing and quantification methods. Hyperspectral imaging is limited by confounding signals from other retinal features and variability in reflectance spectra between individuals. To date, evidence of tau aggregation in the retina is limited to histopathologic studies. New avenues of research are on the horizon, including near-infrared fluorescence imaging, novel Aβ labeling techniques, and small molecule retinal tau tracers. Artificial intelligence (AI) approaches, including machine learning models and deep learning-based image analysis, are active areas of investigation. CONCLUSIONS Although the histopathological evidence seems promising, methods for imaging retinal Aβ require further validation, and in vivo imaging of retinal tau remains elusive. AI approaches may hold the greatest promise for the discovery of a characteristic retinal imaging profile of AD. Elucidating the role of Aβ and pTau in the retina will provide key insights into the complex processes involved in aging and in neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira Tang
- Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Marian Blazes
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Cecilia S. Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
- Roger and Angie Karalis Johnson Retina Center, Seattle, Washington, United States
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12
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Maran JJ, Adesina MM, Green CR, Kwakowsky A, Mugisho OO. Retinal inner nuclear layer thickness in the diagnosis of cognitive impairment explored using a C57BL/6J mouse model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8150. [PMID: 37208533 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35229-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Major neurocognitive disorder (NCD) affects over 55 million people worldwide and is characterized by cognitive impairment (CI). This study aimed to develop a non-invasive diagnostic test for CI based upon retinal thickness measurements explored in a mouse model. Discrimination indices and retinal layer thickness of healthy C57BL/6J mice were quantified through a novel object recognition test (NORT) and ocular coherence tomography (OCT), respectively. Based on criteria from the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5th ed. (DSM-V), a diagnostic test was generated by transforming data into rolling monthly averages and categorizing mice into those with and without CI and those with a high or low decline in retinal layer thickness. Only inner nuclear layer thickness had a statistically significant relationship with discrimination indices. Furthermore, our diagnostic test was 85.71% sensitive and 100% specific for diagnosing CI, with a positive predictive value of 100%. These findings have potential clinical implications for the early diagnosis of CI in NCD. However, further investigation in comorbid mice and humans is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack J Maran
- Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit, Department of Ophthalmology and The New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Moradeke M Adesina
- Department of Ophthalmology and The New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Colin R Green
- Department of Ophthalmology and The New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrea Kwakowsky
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Odunayo O Mugisho
- Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit, Department of Ophthalmology and The New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
- Department of Ophthalmology and The New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Koronyo Y, Rentsendorj A, Mirzaei N, Regis GC, Sheyn J, Shi H, Barron E, Cook-Wiens G, Rodriguez AR, Medeiros R, Paulo JA, Gupta VB, Kramerov AA, Ljubimov AV, Van Eyk JE, Graham SL, Gupta VK, Ringman JM, Hinton DR, Miller CA, Black KL, Cattaneo A, Meli G, Mirzaei M, Fuchs DT, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Retinal pathological features and proteome signatures of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 145:409-438. [PMID: 36773106 PMCID: PMC10020290 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02548-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathologies were discovered in the accessible neurosensory retina. However, their exact nature and topographical distribution, particularly in the early stages of functional impairment, and how they relate to disease progression in the brain remain largely unknown. To better understand the pathological features of AD in the retina, we conducted an extensive histopathological and biochemical investigation of postmortem retina and brain tissues from 86 human donors. Quantitative examination of superior and inferior temporal retinas from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD patients compared to those with normal cognition (NC) revealed significant increases in amyloid β-protein (Aβ42) forms and novel intraneuronal Aβ oligomers (AβOi), which were closely associated with exacerbated retinal macrogliosis, microgliosis, and tissue atrophy. These pathologies were unevenly distributed across retinal layers and geometrical areas, with the inner layers and peripheral subregions exhibiting most pronounced accumulations in the MCI and AD versus NC retinas. While microgliosis was increased in the retina of these patients, the proportion of microglial cells engaging in Aβ uptake was reduced. Female AD patients exhibited higher levels of retinal microgliosis than males. Notably, retinal Aβ42, S100 calcium-binding protein B+ macrogliosis, and atrophy correlated with severity of brain Aβ pathology, tauopathy, and atrophy, and most retinal pathologies reflected Braak staging. All retinal biomarkers correlated with the cognitive scores, with retinal Aβ42, far-peripheral AβOi and microgliosis displaying the strongest correlations. Proteomic analysis of AD retinas revealed activation of specific inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes and inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation/mitochondrial, and photoreceptor-related pathways. This study identifies and maps retinopathy in MCI and AD patients, demonstrating the quantitative relationship with brain pathology and cognition, and may lead to reliable retinal biomarkers for noninvasive retinal screening and monitoring of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Altan Rentsendorj
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Giovanna C Regis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Julia Sheyn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Haoshen Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Ernesto Barron
- Doheny Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Galen Cook-Wiens
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Anthony R Rodriguez
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rodrigo Medeiros
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Veer B Gupta
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrei A Kramerov
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alexander V Ljubimov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Eye Program, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Biomedical Sciences, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer E Van Eyk
- Departments of Neurology and Biomedical Sciences, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stuart L Graham
- Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vivek K Gupta
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John M Ringman
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David R Hinton
- Departments of Pathology and Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carol A Miller
- Department of Pathology Program in Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Meli
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena, Rome, Italy
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
- Departments of Neurology and Biomedical Sciences, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Wijesinghe P, Whitmore CA, Campbell M, Li C, Tsuyuki M, To E, Haynes J, Pham W, Matsubara JA. Ergothioneine, a dietary antioxidant improves amyloid beta clearance in the neuroretina of a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1107436. [PMID: 36998724 PMCID: PMC10043244 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1107436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionErgothioneine (Ergo) is a naturally occurring dietary antioxidant. Ergo uptake is dependent on the transporter, organic cation transporter novel-type 1 (OCTN1) distribution. OCTN1 is highly expressed in blood cells (myeloid lineage cells), brain and ocular tissues that are likely predisposed to oxidative stress. Ergo may protect the brain and eye against oxidative damage and inflammation, however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Amyloid beta (Aβ) clearance is a complex process mediated by various systems and cell types including vascular transport across the blood–brain barrier, glymphatic drainage, and engulfment and degradation by resident microglia and infiltrating innate immune cells. Impaired Aβ clearance is a major cause for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here we investigated neuroretinas to explore the neuroprotective effect of Ergo in a transgenic AD mouse model.MethodsAge-matched groups of Ergo-treated 5XFAD, non-treated 5XFAD, and C57BL/6J wildtype (WT controls) were used to assess Ergo transporter OCTN1 expression and Aβ load along with microglia/macrophage (IBA1) and astrocyte (GFAP) markers in wholemount neuroretinas (n = 26) and eye cross-sections (n = 18). Immunoreactivity was quantified by fluorescence or by semi-quantitative assessments.Results and discussionOCTN1 immunoreactivity was significantly low in the eye cross-sections of Ergo-treated and non-treated 5XFAD vs. WT controls. Strong Aβ labeling, detected in the superficial layers in the wholemounts of Ergo-treated 5XFAD vs. non-treated 5XFAD reflects the existence of an effective Aβ clearance system. This was supported by imaging of cross-sections where Aβ immunoreactivity was significantly low in the neuroretina of Ergo-treated 5XFAD vs. non-treated 5XFAD. Moreover, semi-quantitative analysis in wholemounts identified a significantly reduced number of large Aβ deposits or plaques, and a significantly increased number of IBA1(+)ve blood-derived phagocytic macrophages in Ergo-treated 5XFAD vs. non-treated 5XFAD. In sum, enhanced Aβ clearance in Ergo-treated 5XFAD suggests that Ergo uptake may promote Aβ clearance possibly by blood-derived phagocytic macrophages and via perivascular drainage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Printha Wijesinghe
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Clayton A. Whitmore
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Matthew Campbell
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Charles Li
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Miranda Tsuyuki
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eleanor To
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Justin Haynes
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Wellington Pham
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Joanne A. Matsubara
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Eye Care Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Joanne A. Matsubara,
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Hussain A, Sheikh Z, Subramanian M. The Eye as a Diagnostic Tool for Alzheimer’s Disease. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030726. [PMID: 36983883 PMCID: PMC10052959 DOI: 10.3390/life13030726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder impacting cognition, function, and behavior in the elderly population. While there are currently no disease-modifying agents capable of curing AD, early diagnosis and management in the preclinical stage can significantly improve patient morbidity and life expectancy. Currently, the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is a clinical one, often supplemented by invasive and expensive biomarker testing. Over the last decade, significant advancements have been made in our understanding of AD and the role of ocular tissue as a potential biomarker. Ocular biomarkers hold the potential to provide noninvasive and easily accessible diagnostic and monitoring capabilities. This review summarizes current research for detecting biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in ocular tissue.
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16
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Ryan AK, Rich W, Reilly MA. Oxidative stress in the brain and retina after traumatic injury. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1021152. [PMID: 36816125 PMCID: PMC9935939 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1021152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain and the retina share many physiological similarities, which allows the retina to serve as a model of CNS disease and disorder. In instances of trauma, the eye can even indicate damage to the brain via abnormalities observed such as irregularities in pupillary reflexes in suspected traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been observed in neurodegenerative disorders and in both traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) and in TBI. In a healthy system, ROS play a pivotal role in cellular communication, but in neurodegenerative diseases and post-trauma instances, ROS elevation can exacerbate neurodegeneration in both the brain and the retina. Increased ROS can overwhelm the inherent antioxidant systems which are regulated via mitochondrial processes. The overabundance of ROS can lead to protein, DNA, and other forms of cellular damage which ultimately result in apoptosis. Even though elevated ROS have been observed to be a major cause in the neurodegeneration observed after TON and TBI, many antioxidants therapeutic strategies fail. In order to understand why these therapeutic approaches fail further research into the direct injury cascades must be conducted. Additional therapeutic approaches such as therapeutics capable of anti-inflammatory properties and suppression of other neurodegenerative processes may be needed for the treatment of TON, TBI, and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie K. Ryan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Wade Rich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Matthew A. Reilly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,*Correspondence: Matthew A. Reilly,
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Cardoen B, Wong T, Alan P, Lee S, Matsubara JA, Nabi IR, Hamarneh G. SPECHT: Self-tuning Plausibility based object detection Enables quantification of Conflict in Heterogeneous multi-scale microscopy. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276726. [PMID: 36580473 PMCID: PMC9799313 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification of small objects in fluorescence microscopy is a non-trivial task burdened by parameter-sensitive algorithms, for which there is a clear need for an approach that adapts dynamically to changing imaging conditions. Here, we introduce an adaptive object detection method that, given a microscopy image and an image level label, uses kurtosis-based matching of the distribution of the image differential to express operator intent in terms of recall or precision. We show how a theoretical upper bound of the statistical distance in feature space enables application of belief theory to obtain statistical support for each detected object, capturing those aspects of the image that support the label, and to what extent. We validate our method on 2 datasets: distinguishing sub-diffraction limit caveolae and scaffold by stimulated emission depletion (STED) super-resolution microscopy; and detecting amyloid-β deposits in confocal microscopy retinal cross-sections of neuropathologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease donor tissue. Our results are consistent with biological ground truth and with previous subcellular object classification results, and add insight into more nuanced class transition dynamics. We illustrate the novel application of belief theory to object detection in heterogeneous microscopy datasets and the quantification of conflict of evidence in a joint belief function. By applying our method successfully to diffraction-limited confocal imaging of tissue sections and super-resolution microscopy of subcellular structures, we demonstrate multi-scale applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Cardoen
- Medical Image Analysis Laboratory, School of Computing Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail: (BC); (IRN); (GH)
| | - Timothy Wong
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Parsa Alan
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sieun Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Eye Care Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne Aiko Matsubara
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Eye Care Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ivan Robert Nabi
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail: (BC); (IRN); (GH)
| | - Ghassan Hamarneh
- Medical Image Analysis Laboratory, School of Computing Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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Hohberger B, Prüss H, Mardin C, Lämmer R, Müller J, Wallukat G. Glaucoma and Alzheimer: Neurodegenerative disorders show an adrenergic dysbalance. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272811. [PMID: 36201426 PMCID: PMC9536590 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma disease is characterized by an increased intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucomatous alterations of the optic disc and corresponding visual field defects. Even lowering the main risk factor IOP until an individual target level does not prevent this neurodegenerative disorder from proceeding. Several autoimmune mechanisms were discovered, partly showing a functionality. One of these autoimmune phenomena targets the ß2-adrenergic receptor (ß2-AR; i.e. agonistic autoantibodies; ß2-agAAb) and is linked to an elevated IOP and an impaired retinal microcirculation. As neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is postulated to share a common molecular mechanism with glaucoma. In the present study we investigated autoimmune phenomena targeting the ß2-AR in patients with AD. Sera of the patients were analyzed in a rat cardiomyocyte bioassay for the presence of functional autoantibodies against ß2-AR. In addition, different species of amyloid beta (Aß) monomers were tested (Aß1-14, Aß10-25, Aβ10-37 Aß1-40, Aß1-42, Aβ28-40, and Aß-[Pyr]3-43). Our results demonstrate that none of the short-chain Aß (Aß1-14, Aß10-25, or Aβ28-40) showed any agonistic or inhibitory effect on ß2-AR. Contrary, long-chain Aß-[Pyr]3-43, representing a major neurogenic plaque component, exerted an activation that after blocking by the ß2-AR antagonist ICI118.551, could be identified as that the effect was realized via the ß2-AR. Moreover, the long chain Aß1-40, Aβ1-42, and Aβ10-37, yet not the short-chain Aß peptides prevented the clenbuterol induced desensitization of the ß2-AR. In addition, we identified functional autoantibodies in the sera of AD patients, activating the ß2-AR, like the ß2-agAAb found in patients with glaucoma. As autoimmune mechanisms were reportedly involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma and Alzheimer's Disease, we postulate that overstimulation of the ß2-AR pathway can induce an adrenergic overdrive, that may play an important role in the multifactorial interplay of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Hohberger
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universität of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Harald Prüss
- Department of Neurology, Charite´-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Mardin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universität of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Robert Lämmer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universität of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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19
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Du X, Koronyo Y, Mirzaei N, Yang C, Fuchs DT, Black KL, Koronyo-Hamaoui M, Gao L. Label-free hyperspectral imaging and deep-learning prediction of retinal amyloid β-protein and phosphorylated tau. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac164. [PMID: 36157597 PMCID: PMC9491695 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major risk for the aging population. The pathological hallmarks of AD-an abnormal deposition of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau (pTau)-have been demonstrated in the retinas of AD patients, including in prodromal patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Aβ pathology, especially the accumulation of the amyloidogenic 42-residue long alloform (Aβ42), is considered an early and specific sign of AD, and together with tauopathy, confirms AD diagnosis. To visualize retinal Aβ and pTau, state-of-the-art methods use fluorescence. However, administering contrast agents complicates the imaging procedure. To address this problem from fundamentals, ex-vivo studies were performed to develop a label-free hyperspectral imaging method to detect the spectral signatures of Aβ42 and pS396-Tau, and predicted their abundance in retinal cross-sections. For the first time, we reported the spectral signature of pTau and demonstrated an accurate prediction of Aβ and pTau distribution powered by deep learning. We expect our finding will lay the groundwork for label-free detection of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxi Du
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Chengshuai Yang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Liang Gao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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20
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Frame G, Schuller A, Smith MA, Crish SD, Dengler-Crish CM. Alterations in Retinal Signaling Across Age and Sex in 3xTg Alzheimer’s Disease Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 88:471-492. [PMID: 35599482 PMCID: PMC9398084 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background: Visual disturbances often precede cognitive dysfunction in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and may coincide with early accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein in the retina. These findings have inspired critical research on in vivo ophthalmic Aβ imaging for disease biomarker detection but have not fully answered mechanistic questions on how retinal pathology affects visual signaling between the eye and brain. Objective: The goal of this study was to provide a functional and structural assessment of eye-brain communication between retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their primary projection target, the superior colliculus, in female and male 3xTg-AD mice across disease stages. Methods: Retinal electrophysiology, axonal transport, and immunofluorescence were used to determine RGC projection integrity, and retinal and collicular Aβ levels were assessed with advanced protein quantitation techniques. Results: 3xTg mice exhibited nuanced deficits in RGC electrical signaling, axonal transport, and synaptic integrity that exceeded normal age-related decrements in RGC function in age- and sex-matched healthy control mice. These deficits presented in sex-specific patterns among 3xTg mice, differing in the timing and severity of changes. Conclusion: These data support the premise that retinal Aβ is not just a benign biomarker in the eye, but may contribute to subtle, nuanced visual processing deficits. Such disruptions might enhance the biomarker potential of ocular amyloid and differentiate patients with incipient AD from patients experiencing normal age-related decrements in visual function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Frame
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Adam Schuller
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - Matthew A. Smith
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
- Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute, Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron, OH, USA
| | - Samuel D. Crish
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
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21
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Zhang J, Shi L, Shen Y. The retina: A window in which to view the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2022; 77:101590. [PMID: 35192959 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most familiar type of dementia affecting elderly populations worldwide. Studies of AD patients and AD transgenic mice have revealed alterations in the retina similar to alterations which occur in the AD brain. Moreover, AD retinal pathology occurs even earlier than AD brain pathology. Importantly, non-invasive imaging techniques can be utilized for retinal observation due to the unique optical transparency of the eye, which acts as a convenient window in which preclinical pathology in the AD brain can be monitored. In this review, we overview the existing literature covering different forms of AD retinal pathology and propose a basis for the clinical application of using the retina as a window to view AD during preclinical and clinical stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, School of Life Science, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Lei Shi
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, School of Life Science, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yong Shen
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, School of Life Science, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Center for Excellence in Brain Sciences and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
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22
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López-de-Eguileta A, López-García S, Lage C, Pozueta A, García-Martínez M, Kazimierczak M, Bravo M, Irure J, López-Hoyos M, Muñoz-Cacho P, Rodríguez-Perez N, Tordesillas-Gutiérrez D, Goikoetxea A, Nebot C, Rodríguez-Rodríguez E, Casado A, Sánchez-Juan P. The retinal ganglion cell layer reflects neurodegenerative changes in cognitively unimpaired individuals. Alzheimers Res Ther 2022; 14:57. [PMID: 35449033 PMCID: PMC9022357 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-022-00998-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background To evaluate a wide range of optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters for possible application as a screening tool for cognitively healthy individuals at risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), assessing the potential relationship with established cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) core AD biomarkers and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods We studied 99 participants from the Valdecilla Study for Memory and Brain Aging. This is a prospective cohort for multimodal biomarker discovery and validation that includes participants older than 55 years without dementia. Participants received a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and underwent structural 3-T brain MRI, lumbar puncture for CSF biomarkers (phosphorylated-181-Tau (pTau), total Tau (tTau), beta-amyloid 1–42 (Aβ 1–42), and beta-amyloid 1–40 (Aβ 1–40)). All individuals underwent OCT to measure the retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL), the retinal nerve fiber layer (RFNL), the Bruch’s membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW), and choroidal thickness (CT). In the first stage, we performed a univariate analysis, using Student’s t-test. In the second stage, we performed a multivariate analysis including only those OCT parameters that discriminated at a nominal level, between positive/negative biomarkers in stage 1. Results We found significant differences between the OCT measurements of pTau- and tTau-positive individuals compared with those who were negative for these markers, most notably that the GCL and the RNFL were thinner in the former. In stage 2, our dependent variables were the quantitative values of CSF markers and the hippocampal volume. The Aβ 1–42/40 ratio did not show a significant correlation with OCT measurements while the associations between pTau and tTau with GCL were statistically significant, especially in the temporal region of the macula. Besides, the multivariate analysis showed a significant correlation between hippocampal volume with GCL and RNFL. However, after false discovery rate correction, only the associations with hippocampal volume remained significant. Conclusions We found a significant correlation between Tau (pTau) and neurodegeneration biomarkers (tTau and hippocampus volume) with GCL degeneration and, to a lesser degree, with damage in RFNL. OCT analysis constitutes a non-invasive and unexpensive biomarker that allows the detection of neurodegeneration in cognitively asymptomatic individuals. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13195-022-00998-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia López-de-Eguileta
- Department of Ophthalmology, 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla' Santander, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
| | - Sara López-García
- Cognitive Impairment Unit, Neurology Service and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla' (IDIVAL), University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Carmen Lage
- Cognitive Impairment Unit, Neurology Service and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla' (IDIVAL), University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Ana Pozueta
- Cognitive Impairment Unit, Neurology Service and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla' (IDIVAL), University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - María García-Martínez
- Cognitive Impairment Unit, Neurology Service and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla' (IDIVAL), University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Martha Kazimierczak
- Cognitive Impairment Unit, Neurology Service and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla' (IDIVAL), University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - María Bravo
- Cognitive Impairment Unit, Neurology Service and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla' (IDIVAL), University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Juan Irure
- Department of Immunology, 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital of Cantabria, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla', Santander, Spain
| | - Marcos López-Hoyos
- Department of Immunology, 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital of Cantabria, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla', Santander, Spain
| | - Pedro Muñoz-Cacho
- Department of Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Claudia Nebot
- Department of Ophthalmology, 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla' Santander, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Eloy Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Cognitive Impairment Unit, Neurology Service and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla' (IDIVAL), University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Alfonso Casado
- Department of Ophthalmology, 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla' Santander, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Pascual Sánchez-Juan
- Cognitive Impairment Unit, Neurology Service and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 'Marqués de Valdecilla' University Hospital, Institute for Research 'Marqués de Valdecilla' (IDIVAL), University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
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23
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Ma JP, Robbins CB, Lee JM, Soundararajan S, Stinnett SS, Agrawal R, Plassman BL, Lad EM, Whitson H, Grewal DS, Fekrat S. Longitudinal analysis of the retina and choroid in cognitively normal individuals at higher genetic risk for Alzheimer disease. Ophthalmol Retina 2022; 6:607-619. [PMID: 35283324 DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess baseline differences and longitudinal rate of change in retinal and choroidal imaging parameters between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers with normal cognition. DESIGN Prospective study. SUBJECTS 413 eyes of 218 individuals with normal cognition aged ≥55 years with known APOE status (98 ε4 carriers, 120 non-carriers). Exclusion criteria included diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension, glaucoma, and vitreoretinal or neurodegenerative disease. METHODS Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) was performed at baseline and at 2 years [Zeiss Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 with AngioPlex (Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA)]. Groups were compared using sex- and age-adjusted generalized estimating equations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES OCT: retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness, central subfield thickness (CST), choroidal vascularity index. OCTA: foveal avascular zone area, perfusion density (PD), vessel density, peripapillary capillary perfusion density and capillary flux index (CFI). Rate of change per year was calculated. RESULTS At baseline, ε4 carriers demonstrated decreased CST (p=0.018), PD in the 6mm Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) circle (p=0.049), and temporal CFI (p=0.047). Seventy-one ε4 carriers and 78 non-carriers returned at 2 years; at follow-up, the 6mm ETDRS circle (p=0.05) and outer ring (p=0.049) showed decreased PD in ε4 carriers, with no differences in rates of change between groups (all p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS There were measured differences in CST, PD, and peripapillary CFI between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers with normal cognition. Larger and longer-term studies may further elucidate the potential prognostic value of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin P Ma
- iMIND Research Group, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Cason B Robbins
- iMIND Research Group, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jia Min Lee
- National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | - Srinath Soundararajan
- iMIND Research Group, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sandra S Stinnett
- iMIND Research Group, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Rupesh Agrawal
- National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Duke NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Brenda L Plassman
- iMIND Research Group, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Eleonora M Lad
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Heather Whitson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dilraj S Grewal
- iMIND Research Group, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sharon Fekrat
- iMIND Research Group, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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Alzheimer's Disease Seen through the Eye: Ocular Alterations and Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052486. [PMID: 35269629 PMCID: PMC8910735 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is one of the main neurodegenerative diseases worldwide. Unfortunately, AD shares many similarities with other dementias at early stages, which impedes an accurate premortem diagnosis. Therefore, it is urgent to find biomarkers to allow for early diagnosis of the disease. There is increasing scientific evidence highlighting the similarities between the eye and other structures of the CNS, suggesting that knowledge acquired in eye research could be useful for research and diagnosis of AD. For example, the retina and optic nerve are considered part of the central nervous system, and their damage can result in retrograde and anterograde axon degeneration, as well as abnormal protein aggregation. In the anterior eye segment, the aqueous humor and tear film may be comparable to the cerebrospinal fluid. Both fluids are enriched with molecules that can be potential neurodegenerative biomarkers. Indeed, the pathophysiology of AD, characterized by cerebral deposits of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau protein, is also present in the eyes of AD patients, besides numerous structural and functional changes observed in the structure of the eyes. Therefore, all this evidence suggests that ocular changes have the potential to be used as either predictive values for AD assessment or as diagnostic tools.
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25
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Aguilar-Calvo P, Sevillano AM, Rasool S, Cao KJ, Randolph LM, Rissman RA, Sarraf ST, Yang J, Sigurdson CJ. Noninvasive Antemortem Detection of Retinal Prions by a Fluorescent Tracer. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 88:1137-1145. [PMID: 35754278 PMCID: PMC10080909 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegenerative diseases are widespread yet challenging to diagnose and stage antemortem. As an extension of the central nervous system, the eye harbors retina ganglion cells vulnerable to degeneration, and visual symptoms are often an early manifestation of neurodegenerative disease. OBJECTIVE Here we test whether prion protein aggregates could be detected in the eyes of live mice using an amyloid-binding fluorescent probe and high-resolution retinal microscopy. METHODS We performed retinal imaging on an experimental mouse model of prion-associated cerebral amyloid angiopathy in a longitudinal study. An amyloid-binding fluorophore was intravenously administered, and retinal imaging was performed at timepoints corresponding to early, mid-, and terminal prion disease. Retinal amyloid deposits were quantified and compared to the amyloid load in the brain. RESULTS We report that by early prion disease (50% timepoint), discrete fluorescent foci appeared adjacent to the optic disc. By later timepoints, the fluorescent foci surrounded the optic disc and tracked along retinal vasculature. CONCLUSION The progression of perivascular amyloid can be directly monitored in the eye by live imaging, illustrating the utility of this technology for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of cerebral amyloid angiopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kevin J. Cao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jerry Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Christina J. Sigurdson
- Department of Pathology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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26
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Bogolepova A, Makhnovich E, Kovalenko E, Osinovskaya N. Potential biomarkers of early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2022; 122:7-14. [DOI: 10.17116/jnevro20221220917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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27
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Vit JP, Fuchs DT, Angel A, Levy A, Lamensdorf I, Black KL, Koronyo Y, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Visual-stimuli Four-arm Maze test to Assess Cognition and Vision in Mice. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e4234. [PMID: 34909455 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4234] [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: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual impairments, notably loss of contrast sensitivity and color vision, were documented in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients yet are critically understudied. This protocol describes a novel visual-stimuli four-arm maze (ViS4M; also called visual x-maze), which is a versatile x-shaped maze equipped with spectrum- and intensity-controlled light-emitting diode (LED) sources and dynamic grayscale objects. The ViS4M is designed to allow the assessment of color and contrast vision along with locomotor and cognitive functions in mice. In the color testing mode, the spectral distributions of the LED lights create four homogenous spaces that differ in chromaticity and luminance, corresponding to the mouse visual system. In the contrast sensitivity test, the four grayscale objects are placed in the middle of each arm, contrasting against the black walls and the white floors of the maze. Upon entering the maze, healthy wild-type (WT) mice tend to spontaneously alternate between arms, even under equiluminant conditions of illumination, suggesting that cognitively and visually intact mice use both color and brightness as cues to navigate the maze. Evaluation of the double-transgenic APPSWE/PS1ΔE9 mouse model of AD (AD+ mice) reveals substantial deficits to alternate in both color and contrast modes at an early age, when hippocampal-based memory and learning is still intact. Profiling of timespan, entries, and transition patterns between the different arms uncovers variable aging and AD-associated impairments in color discrimination and contrast sensitivity. The analysis of arm sequences of alternation reveals different pathways of exploration in young WT, old WT, and AD+ mice, which can be used as color and contrast imprints of functionally intact versus impaired mice. Overall, we describe the utility of a novel visual x-maze test to identify behavioral changes in mice related to cognition, as well as color and contrast vision, with high precision and reproducibility. Graphic abstract: Exploratory behavior of AD+ mice versus age- and sex-matched WT mice is tracked (top left: trajectory from a 5-min video file) in a novel visual-stimuli four-arm maze (ViS4M; also named visual x-maze) equipped with spectrum- and intensity-controlled LED sources or grayscale objects. Consecutive arm entries reveal that APPSWE/PS1ΔE9 (AD+) mice alternate less between arms, as opposed to WT mice. Sequence analysis, according to the three alternation pathways (depicted by white, yellow, and brown arrows) under different conditions of illumination, uncovers specific deficits linked to color vision in AD+ mice, evidenced by a color imprint chart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Philippe Vit
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | | | | | | | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Dumitrascu OM, Rosenberry R, Sherman DS, Khansari MM, Sheyn J, Torbati T, Sherzai A, Sherzai D, Johnson KO, Czeszynski AD, Verdooner S, Black KL, Frautschy S, Lyden PD, Shi Y, Cheng S, Koronyo Y, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Retinal Venular Tortuosity Jointly with Retinal Amyloid Burden Correlates with Verbal Memory Loss: A Pilot Study. Cells 2021; 10:cells10112926. [PMID: 34831149 PMCID: PMC8616417 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Retinal imaging is a non-invasive tool to study both retinal vasculature and neurodegeneration. In this exploratory retinal curcumin-fluorescence imaging (RFI) study, we sought to determine whether retinal vascular features combined with retinal amyloid burden correlate with the neurocognitive status. Methods: We used quantitative RFI in a cohort of patients with cognitive impairment to automatically compute retinal amyloid burden. Retinal blood vessels were segmented, and the vessel tortuosity index (VTI), inflection index, and branching angle were quantified. We assessed the correlations between retinal vascular and amyloid parameters, and cognitive domain Z-scores using linear regression models. Results: Thirty-four subjects were enrolled and twenty-nine (55% female, mean age 64 ± 6 years) were included in the combined retinal amyloid and vascular analysis. Eleven subjects had normal cognition and 18 had impaired cognition. Retinal VTI was discriminated among cognitive scores. The combined proximal mid-periphery amyloid count and venous VTI index exhibited significant differences between cognitively impaired and cognitively normal subjects (0.49 ± 1.1 vs. 0.91 ± 1.4, p = 0.006), and correlated with both the Wechsler Memory Scale-IV and SF-36 mental component score Z-scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This pilot study showed that retinal venular VTI combined with the proximal mid-periphery amyloid count could predict verbal memory loss. Future research is needed to finesse the clinical application of this retinal imaging-based technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oana M. Dumitrascu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA
- Correspondence: (O.M.D.); (M.K.-H.); Tel.: +480-301-8100 (O.M.D.); Fax: +480-301-9494 (O.M.D.)
| | - Ryan Rosenberry
- Department of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (R.R.); (S.C.)
| | - Dale S. Sherman
- Department of Neuropsychology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA;
| | - Maziyar M. Khansari
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA; (M.M.K.); (Y.S.)
| | - Julia Sheyn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (J.S.); (T.T.); (K.L.B.); (Y.K.)
| | - Tania Torbati
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (J.S.); (T.T.); (K.L.B.); (Y.K.)
| | - Ayesha Sherzai
- Department of Neurology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (A.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Dean Sherzai
- Department of Neurology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; (A.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Kenneth O. Johnson
- NeuroVision Imaging Inc., Sacramento, CA 95833, USA; (K.O.J.); (A.D.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Alan D. Czeszynski
- NeuroVision Imaging Inc., Sacramento, CA 95833, USA; (K.O.J.); (A.D.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Steven Verdooner
- NeuroVision Imaging Inc., Sacramento, CA 95833, USA; (K.O.J.); (A.D.C.); (S.V.)
| | - Keith L. Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (J.S.); (T.T.); (K.L.B.); (Y.K.)
| | - Sally Frautschy
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
| | - Patrick D. Lyden
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA;
| | - Yonggang Shi
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA; (M.M.K.); (Y.S.)
| | - Susan Cheng
- Department of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (R.R.); (S.C.)
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (J.S.); (T.T.); (K.L.B.); (Y.K.)
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; (J.S.); (T.T.); (K.L.B.); (Y.K.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Correspondence: (O.M.D.); (M.K.-H.); Tel.: +480-301-8100 (O.M.D.); Fax: +480-301-9494 (O.M.D.)
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Shi H, Koronyo Y, Rentsendorj A, Fuchs DT, Sheyn J, Black KL, Mirzaei N, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Retinal Vasculopathy in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:731614. [PMID: 34630020 PMCID: PMC8493243 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.731614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The retina has been increasingly investigated as a site of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) manifestation for over a decade. Early reports documented degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and their axonal projections. Our group provided the first evidence of the key pathological hallmarks of AD, amyloid β-protein (Aβ) plaques including vascular Aβ deposits, in the retina of AD and mild cognitively impaired (MCI) patients. Subsequent studies validated these findings and further identified electroretinography and vision deficits, retinal (p)tau and inflammation, intracellular Aβ accumulation, and retinal ganglion cell-subtype degeneration surrounding Aβ plaques in these patients. Our data suggest that the brain and retina follow a similar trajectory during AD progression, probably due to their common embryonic origin and anatomical proximity. However, the retina is the only CNS organ feasible for direct, repeated, and non-invasive ophthalmic examination with ultra-high spatial resolution and sensitivity. Neurovascular unit integrity is key to maintaining normal CNS function and cerebral vascular abnormalities are increasingly recognized as early and pivotal factors driving cognitive impairment in AD. Likewise, retinal vascular abnormalities such as changes in vessel density and fractal dimensions, blood flow, foveal avascular zone, curvature tortuosity, and arteriole-to-venule ratio were described in AD patients including early-stage cases. A rapidly growing number of reports have suggested that cerebral and retinal vasculopathy are tightly associated with cognitive deficits in AD patients and animal models. Importantly, we recently identified early and progressive deficiency in retinal vascular platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRβ) expression and pericyte loss that were associated with retinal vascular amyloidosis and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in MCI and AD patients. Other studies utilizing optical coherence tomography (OCT), retinal amyloid-fluorescence imaging and retinal hyperspectral imaging have made significant progress in visualizing and quantifying AD pathology through the retina. With new advances in OCT angiography, OCT leakage, scanning laser microscopy, fluorescein angiography and adaptive optics imaging, future studies focusing on retinal vascular AD pathologies could transform non-invasive pre-clinical AD diagnosis and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoshen Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Altan Rentsendorj
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Julia Sheyn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nazanin Mirzaei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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30
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Tadokoro K, Yamashita T, Kimura S, Nomura E, Ohta Y, Omote Y, Takemoto M, Hishikawa N, Morihara R, Morizane Y, Abe K. Retinal Amyloid Imaging for Screening Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 83:927-934. [PMID: 34366344 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cost-effective and noninvasive methods for in vivo imaging of amyloid deposition are needed to screen Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although retinal amyloid is a possible diagnostic marker of AD, there are very few studies on in vivo retinal amyloid imaging. OBJECTIVE To examine the usefulness of in vivo imaging of retinal amyloid in AD patients. METHODS To examine amyloid deposition, 30 Japanese subjects (10 normal control (NC), 7 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 13 with AD) underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including fundus imaging by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy before and after oral curcumin intake. RESULTS Retinal amyloid deposition was greater in AD than in NC subjects (*p < 0.05) while MCI showed a slight but insignificant increase of retinal amyloid deposition relative to NC subjects. Retinal amyloid deposition was correlated with whole gray matter atrophy (r = 0.51, *p < 0.05) but not with the cognitive score of the Mini-Mental State Examination, nor with medial temporal lobe atrophy. CONCLUSION The present noninvasive in vivo detection of retinal amyloid deposition is useful for screening AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koh Tadokoro
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
| | - Toru Yamashita
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
| | - Shuhei Kimura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
| | - Emi Nomura
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Ohta
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yoshio Omote
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
| | - Mami Takemoto
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
| | - Nozomi Hishikawa
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
| | - Ryuta Morihara
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yuki Morizane
- Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
| | - Koji Abe
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
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31
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Ge YJ, Xu W, Ou YN, Qu Y, Ma YH, Huang YY, Shen XN, Chen SD, Tan L, Zhao QH, Yu JT. Retinal biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 69:101361. [PMID: 34000463 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal changes may reflect the pathophysiological processes in the central nervous system and can be assessed by imaging modalities non-invasively. We aim to localize candidate retinal biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and preclinical AD. METHODS We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to January 2021 for observational studies that investigated retinal imaging and electrophysiological markers in AD, MCI, and preclinical AD. Between-groups standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95 % confidence intervals were computed using random-effects models. RESULTS Of 19,727 citations identified, 126 articles were eligible for inclusion. Compared with healthy controls, the thickness of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL; SMD = -0.723, p < 0.001), total macular (SMD = -0.612, p < 0.001), and subfoveal choroid (SMD = -0.888, p < 0.001) were significantly reduced in patients with AD. Compared with healthy controls, patients with MCI also had lower thickness of pRNFL (SMD = -0.324, p < 0.001), total macular (SMD = -0.302, p < 0.001), and subfoveal choroid (SMD = -0.462, p = 0.020). Other candidate biomarkers included the optic nerve head morphology, retinal amyloid deposition, microvascular morphology and densities, blood flow, and electrophysiological markers. CONCLUSIONS Retinal structural, vascular, and electrophysiological biomarkers hold great potential for the diagnosis, prognosis and risk assessment of AD and MCI. These biomarkers warrant further development in the future, especially in diagnostic test accuracy and longitudinal studies.
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32
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Cao KJ, Kim JH, Kroeger H, Gaffney PM, Lin JH, Sigurdson CJ, Yang J. ARCAM-1 Facilitates Fluorescence Detection of Amyloid-Containing Deposits in the Retina. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2021; 10:5. [PMID: 34096989 PMCID: PMC8185402 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.10.7.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the use of an amyloid-targeting fluorescent probe, ARCAM-1, to identify amyloid-containing deposits in the retina of a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in human postmortem AD patients. Methods Aged APP/PS1 transgenic AD and wild-type (WT) mice were given an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of ARCAM-1 and their retinas imaged in vivo using a fluorescence ophthalmoscope. Eyes were enucleated and dissected for ex vivo inspection of retinal amyloid deposits. Additionally, formalin-fixed eyes from human AD and control patients were dissected, and the retinas were stained using ARCAM-1 or with an anti-amyloid-β antibody. Confocal microscopy was used to image amyloid-containing deposits stained with ARCAM-1 or with immunostaining. Results Four out of eight APP/PS1 mice showed the presence of amyloid aggregates in the retina during antemortem imaging. Retinas from three human AD patients stained with ARCAM-1 showed an apparent increased density of fluorescently labeled amyloid-containing deposits compared to the retinas from two healthy, cognitively normal (CN) patients. Immunolabeling confirmed the presence of amyloid deposits in both the retinal neuronal layers and in retinal vasculature. Conclusions ARCAM-1 facilitates antemortem detection of amyloid aggregates in the retina of a mouse model for AD, and postmortem detection of amyloid-containing deposits in human retinal tissues from AD patients. These results support the hypothesis of AD pathology manifesting in the eye and highlight a novel area for fluorophore development for the optical detection of retinal amyloid in AD patients. Translational Relevance This paper represents an initial examination for potential translation of an amyloid-targeting fluorescent probe to a retinal imaging agent for aiding in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Cao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - John H Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Heike Kroeger
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Cellular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Patricia M Gaffney
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Disease Investigations, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan H Lin
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Departments of Pathology and Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Christina J Sigurdson
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jerry Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Habiba U, Descallar J, Kreilaus F, Adhikari UK, Kumar S, Morley JW, Bui BV, Hamaoui MK, Tayebi M. Detection of retinal and blood Aβ oligomers with nanobodies. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA: DIAGNOSIS, ASSESSMENT & DISEASE MONITORING 2021; 13:e12193. [PMID: 33977118 PMCID: PMC8101010 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Abnormal retinal changes are increasingly recognized as an early pathological change in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although amyloid beta oligomers (Aβo) have been shown to accumulate in the blood and retina of AD patients and animals, it is not known whether the early Aβo deposition precedes their accumulation in brain. Methods and results Using nanobodies targeting Aβ1‐40 and Aβ1‐42 oligomers we were able to detect Aβ oligomers in the retina and blood but not in the brain of 3‐month‐old APP/PS1 mice. Furthermore, Aβ plaques were detected in the brain but not the retina of 3‐month‐old APP/PS1 mice. Conclusion These results suggest that retinal accumulation of Aβo originates from peripheral blood and precedes cognitive decline and Aβo deposition in the brain. This provides a very strong basis to develop and implement an “eye test” for early detection of AD using nanobodies targeting retinal Aβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umma Habiba
- School of Medicine Western Sydney University Campbelltown New South Wales Australia
| | - Joseph Descallar
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine UNSW, Liverpool Hospital Liverpool New South Wales Australia.,Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research Liverpool New South Wales Australia
| | - Fabian Kreilaus
- School of Medicine Western Sydney University Campbelltown New South Wales Australia
| | - Utpal K Adhikari
- School of Medicine Western Sydney University Campbelltown New South Wales Australia
| | - Sachin Kumar
- School of Medicine Western Sydney University Campbelltown New South Wales Australia
| | - John W Morley
- School of Medicine Western Sydney University Campbelltown New South Wales Australia
| | - Bang V Bui
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Maya K Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles California USA
| | - Mourad Tayebi
- School of Medicine Western Sydney University Campbelltown New South Wales Australia
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Araya-Arriagada J, Bello F, Shivashankar G, Neira D, Durán-Aniotz C, Acosta ML, Escobar MJ, Hetz C, Chacón M, Palacios AG. Retinal Ganglion Cells Functional Changes in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease Are Linked with Neurotransmitter Alterations. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 82:S5-S18. [PMID: 33749647 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia worldwide. This neurodegenerative syndrome affects cognition, memory, behavior, and the visual system, particularly the retina. OBJECTIVE This work aims to determine whether the 5xFAD mouse, a transgenic model of AD, displays changes in the function of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and if those alterations are correlated with changes in the expression of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitters. METHODS In young (2-3-month-old) and adult (6-7-month-old) 5xFAD and WT mice, we have studied the physiological response, firing rate, and burst of RGCs to various types of visual stimuli using a multielectrode array system. RESULTS The firing rate and burst response in 5xFAD RGCs showed hyperactivity at the early stage of AD in young mice, whereas hypoactivity was seen at the later stage of AD in adults. The physiological alterations observed in 5xFAD correlate well with an increase in the expression of glutamate in the ganglion cell layer in young and adults. GABA staining increased in the inner nuclear and plexiform layer, which was more pronounced in the adult than the young 5xFAD retina, altering the excitation/inhibition balance, which could explain the observed early hyperactivity and later hypoactivity in RGC physiology. CONCLUSION These findings indicate functional changes may be caused by neurochemical alterations of the retina starting at an early stage of the AD disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Araya-Arriagada
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.,Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile
| | - Felipe Bello
- Department of Engineering Informatics, Universidad de Santiago, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gaganashree Shivashankar
- School of Optometry and Vision Science; Centre for Brain Research; Brain Research New Zealand; The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - David Neira
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Claudia Durán-Aniotz
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Mónica L Acosta
- School of Optometry and Vision Science; Centre for Brain Research; Brain Research New Zealand; The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - María José Escobar
- Departamento de Electrónica, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Claudio Hetz
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Max Chacón
- Department of Engineering Informatics, Universidad de Santiago, Santiago, Chile
| | - Adrián G Palacios
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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Csincsik L, Nelson R, Walpert MJ, Peto T, Holland A, Lengyel I. Increased choroidal thickness in adults with Down syndrome. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 13:e12170. [PMID: 33748396 PMCID: PMC7967920 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION People with Down syndrome (DS) are particularly susceptible to Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to the triplication of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene. In this cross-sectional study, we hypothesized that choroidal thinning reported in sporadic AD (sAD) is mirrored in adults with DS. METHODS The posterior pole of the eye for 24 adults with DS and 16 age-matched controls (Ctrl) were imaged with optical coherence tomography. Choroidal thickness (ChT) was measured and analyzed in relation to cognitive status and cerebral amyloid beta (Aβ) load. RESULTS ChT was increased in people with DS (pwDS) compared to Ctrl. This increase was associated with gender differences and positively correlated with cerebral Aβ load in a small subset. There was no significant correlation detected between ChT and age or cognitive status. DISCUSSION In contrast to sAD this study found a significantly thicker choroid in pwDS. Whether these changes are related to Aβ pathology in DS needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lajos Csincsik
- Wellcome‐Wolfson Institute for Experimental MedicineQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | - Rachel Nelson
- Wellcome‐Wolfson Institute for Experimental MedicineQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | - Madeleine J. Walpert
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Cambridge, Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research GroupCambridgeUK
| | - Tunde Peto
- Wellcome‐Wolfson Institute for Experimental MedicineQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | - Anthony Holland
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Cambridge, Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research GroupCambridgeUK
| | - Imre Lengyel
- Wellcome‐Wolfson Institute for Experimental MedicineQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
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36
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Wang L, Mao X. Role of Retinal Amyloid-β in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Overlapping Mechanisms and Emerging Clinical Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2360. [PMID: 33653000 PMCID: PMC7956232 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulations have been identified in the retina for neurodegeneration-associated disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD), glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Elevated retinal Aβ levels were associated with progressive retinal neurodegeneration, elevated cerebral Aβ accumulation, and increased disease severity with a decline in cognition and vision. Retinal Aβ accumulation and its pathological effects were demonstrated to occur prior to irreversible neurodegeneration, which highlights its potential in early disease detection and intervention. Using the retina as a model of the brain, recent studies have focused on characterizing retinal Aβ to determine its applicability for population-based screening of AD, which warrants a further understanding of how Aβ manifests between these disorders. While current treatments directly targeting Aβ accumulations have had limited results, continued exploration of Aβ-associated pathological pathways may yield new therapeutic targets for preserving cognition and vision. Here, we provide a review on the role of retinal Aβ manifestations in these distinct neurodegeneration-associated disorders. We also discuss the recent applications of retinal Aβ for AD screening and current clinical trial outcomes for Aβ-associated treatment approaches. Lastly, we explore potential future therapeutic targets based on overlapping mechanisms of pathophysiology in AD, glaucoma, and AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Wang
- Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Xiaobo Mao
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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37
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Vit JP, Fuchs DT, Angel A, Levy A, Lamensdorf I, Black KL, Koronyo Y, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Color and contrast vision in mouse models of aging and Alzheimer's disease using a novel visual-stimuli four-arm maze. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1255. [PMID: 33441984 PMCID: PMC7806734 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-80988-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We introduce a novel visual-stimuli four-arm maze (ViS4M) equipped with spectrally- and intensity-controlled LED emitters and dynamic grayscale objects that relies on innate exploratory behavior to assess color and contrast vision in mice. Its application to detect visual impairments during normal aging and over the course of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is evaluated in wild-type (WT) and transgenic APPSWE/PS1∆E9 murine models of AD (AD+) across an array of irradiance, chromaticity, and contrast conditions. Substantial color and contrast-mode alternation deficits appear in AD+ mice at an age when hippocampal-based memory and learning is still intact. Profiling of timespan, entries and transition patterns between the different arms uncovers variable AD-associated impairments in contrast sensitivity and color discrimination, reminiscent of tritanomalous defects documented in AD patients. Transition deficits are found in aged WT mice in the absence of alternation decline. Overall, ViS4M is a versatile, controlled device to measure color and contrast-related vision in aged and diseased mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Philippe Vit
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.,Biobehavioral Research Core, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ariel Angel
- Pharmaseed Ltd., 9 Hamazmera St., 74047, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Aharon Levy
- Pharmaseed Ltd., 9 Hamazmera St., 74047, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | | | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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38
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Retinal capillary degeneration and blood-retinal barrier disruption in murine models of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:202. [PMID: 33228786 PMCID: PMC7686701 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-01076-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive effort has been made studying retinal pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to improve early noninvasive diagnosis and treatment. Particularly relevant are vascular changes, which appear prominent in early brain pathogenesis and could predict cognitive decline. Recently, we identified platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) deficiency and pericyte loss associated with vascular Aβ deposition in the neurosensory retina of mild cognitively impaired (MCI) and AD patients. However, the pathological mechanisms of retinal vascular changes and their possible relationships with vascular amyloidosis, pericyte loss, and blood-retinal barrier (BRB) integrity remain unknown. Here, we evaluated the retinas of transgenic APPSWE/PS1ΔE9 mouse models of AD (ADtg mice) and wild-type mice at different ages for capillary degeneration, PDGFRβ expression, vascular amyloidosis, permeability and inner BRB tight-junction molecules. Using a retinal vascular isolation technique followed by periodic acid-Schiff or immunofluorescent staining, we discovered significant retinal capillary degeneration in ADtg mice compared to age- and sex-matched wild-type mice (P < 0.0001). This small vessel degeneration reached significance in 8-month-old mice (P = 0.0035), with males more susceptible than females. Degeneration of retinal capillaries also progressively increased with age in healthy mice (P = 0.0145); however, the phenomenon was significantly worse during AD-like progression (P = 0.0001). A substantial vascular PDGFRβ deficiency (~ 50% reduction, P = 0.0017) along with prominent vascular Aβ deposition was further detected in the retina of ADtg mice, which inversely correlated with the extent of degenerated capillaries (Pearson’s r = − 0.8, P = 0.0016). Importantly, tight-junction alterations such as claudin-1 downregulation and increased BRB permeability, demonstrated in vivo by retinal fluorescein imaging and ex vivo following injection of FITC-dextran (2000 kD) and Texas Red-dextran (3 kD), were found in ADtg mice. Overall, the identification of age- and Alzheimer’s-dependent retinal capillary degeneration and compromised BRB integrity starting at early disease stages in ADtg mice could contribute to the development of novel targets for AD diagnosis and therapy.
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