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Tian A, Baidouri H, Kim S, Li J, Cheng X, Li Y, Chen R, Raghunathan V. To be or not to be - Decoding the Trabecular Meshwork Cell Identity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.26.591346. [PMID: 38746421 PMCID: PMC11092480 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.26.591346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The trabecular meshwork within the conventional outflow apparatus is critical in maintaining intraocular pressure homeostasis. In vitro studies employing primary cell cultures of the human trabecular meshwork (hTM) have conventionally served as surrogates for investigating the pathobiology of TM dysfunction. Despite its abundant use, translation of outcomes from in vitro studies to ex vivo and/or in vivo studies remains a challenge. Given the cell heterogeneity, performing single-cell RNA sequencing comparing primary hTM cell cultures to hTM tissue may provide important insights on cellular identity and translatability, as such an approach has not been reported before. In this study, we assembled a total of 14 primary hTM in vitro samples across passages 1-4, including 4 samples from individuals diagnosed with glaucoma. This dataset offers a comprehensive transcriptomic resource of primary hTM in vitro scRNA-seq data to study global changes in gene expression in comparison to cells in tissue in situ. We have performed extensive preprocessing and quality control, allowing the research community to access and utilize this public resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Tian
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Hasna Baidouri
- University of Houston, College of Optomtery, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Sangbae Kim
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jin Li
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Xuesen Cheng
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yumei Li
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Li H, Kuhn M, Kelly RA, Singh A, Palanivel KK, Salama I, De Ieso ML, Stamer WD, Ganapathy PS, Herberg S. Targeting YAP/TAZ mechanosignaling to ameliorate stiffness-induced Schlemm's canal cell pathobiology. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2024; 326:C513-C528. [PMID: 38105758 PMCID: PMC11192480 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00438.2023] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Pathological alterations in the biomechanical properties of the Schlemm's canal (SC) inner wall endothelium and its immediate vicinity are strongly associated with ocular hypertension in glaucoma due to decreased outflow facility. Specifically, the underlying trabecular meshwork is substantially stiffer in glaucomatous eyes compared with that from normal eyes. This raises the possibility of a critical involvement of mechanotransduction processes in driving SC cell dysfunction. Yes-associated protein (YAP) has emerged as a key contributor to glaucoma pathogenesis. However, the molecular underpinnings of SC cell mechanosignaling via YAP and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in response to glaucomatous extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening are not well understood. Using a novel biopolymer hydrogel that facilitates dynamic and reversible stiffness tuning, we investigated how ECM stiffening modulates YAP/TAZ activity in primary human SC cells, and whether disruption of YAP/TAZ mechanosignaling attenuates SC cell pathobiology and increases ex vivo outflow facility. We demonstrated that ECM stiffening drives pathologic YAP/TAZ activation and cytoskeletal reorganization in SC cells, which was fully reversible by matrix softening in a distinct time-dependent manner. Furthermore, we showed that pharmacologic or genetic disruption of YAP/TAZ mechanosignaling abrogates stiffness-induced SC cell dysfunction involving altered cytoskeletal and ECM remodeling. Finally, we found that perfusion of the clinically used, small molecule YAP/TAZ inhibitor verteporfin (without light activation) increases ex vivo outflow facility in normal mouse eyes. Collectively, our data provide new evidence for a pathologic role of aberrant YAP/TAZ mechanosignaling in SC cell dysfunction and suggest that YAP/TAZ inhibition has therapeutic value for treating ocular hypertension in glaucoma.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Pathologically altered biomechanical properties of the Schlemm's canal (SC) inner wall microenvironment were recently validated as the cause for increased outflow resistance in ocular hypertensive glaucoma. However, the involvement of specific mechanotransduction pathways in these disease processes is largely unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are central regulators of glaucoma-like SC cell dysfunction in response to extracellular matrix stiffening and that targeted disruption of YAP/TAZ mechanosignaling attenuates SC cell pathobiology and enhances outflow function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Li
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States
| | - Megan Kuhn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
| | - Ruth A Kelly
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
| | - Ayushi Singh
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States
| | - Kavipriya Kovai Palanivel
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
| | - Izzy Salama
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
| | - Michael L De Ieso
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
| | - W Daniel Stamer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
| | - Preethi S Ganapathy
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
| | - Samuel Herberg
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, United States
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States
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Bikuna-Izagirre M, Aldazabal J, Extramiana L, Moreno-Montañés J, Carnero E, Paredes J. Nanofibrous PCL-Based Human Trabecular Meshwork for Aqueous Humor Outflow Studies. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:6333-6344. [PMID: 37725561 PMCID: PMC10646841 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01071] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Primary open-angle glaucoma is characterized by the progressive degeneration of the optic nerve, with the high intraocular pressure (IOP) being one of the main risk factors. The human trabecular meshwork (HTM), specifically the juxtacanalicular tissue (JCT), is responsible for placing resistance to the aqueous humor (AH) outflow and the resulting IOP control. Currently, the lack of a proper in vitro JCT model and the complexity of three-dimensional models impede advances in understanding the relationship between AH outflow and HTM degeneration. Therefore, we design an in vitro JCT model using a polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous scaffold, which supports cells to recapitulate the functional JCT morphology and allow the study of outflow physiology. Mechanical and morphological characterizations of the electrospun membranes were performed, and human trabecular meshwork cells were seeded over the scaffolds. The engineered JCT was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunochemistry assays staining HTM cell markers and proteins. A pressure-sensitive perfusion system was constructed and used for the investigation of the outflow facility of the polymeric scaffold treated with dexamethasone (a glucocorticoid) and netarsudil (a novel IOP lowering the rho inhibitor). Cells in the in vitro model exhibited an HTM-like morphology, expression of myocilin, fibronectin, and collagen IV, genetic expression, outflow characteristics, and drug responsiveness. Altogether, the present work develops an in vitro JCT model to better understand HTM cell biology and the relationship between the AH outflow and the HTM and allow further drug screening of pharmacological agents that affect the trabecular outflow facility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bikuna-Izagirre
- University
of Navarra, TECNUN School of Engineering, Manuel Lardizabal 13, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- University
of Navarra, Biomedical Engineering Center, Campus Universitario, 31080 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Javier Aldazabal
- University
of Navarra, TECNUN School of Engineering, Manuel Lardizabal 13, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- University
of Navarra, Biomedical Engineering Center, Campus Universitario, 31080 Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra
Institute for Health Research, IdiSNA, C/Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Leire Extramiana
- Departamento
de Oftalmología Clínica, Clínica
Universidad de Navarra, Avenida Pio XII, 31080 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Javier Moreno-Montañés
- Departamento
de Oftalmología Clínica, Clínica
Universidad de Navarra, Avenida Pio XII, 31080 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Elena Carnero
- Departamento
de Oftalmología Clínica, Clínica
Universidad de Navarra, Avenida Pio XII, 31080 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jacobo Paredes
- University
of Navarra, TECNUN School of Engineering, Manuel Lardizabal 13, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- University
of Navarra, Biomedical Engineering Center, Campus Universitario, 31080 Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra
Institute for Health Research, IdiSNA, C/Irunlarrea 3, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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Li H, Kuhn M, Kelly RA, Singh A, Palanivel KK, Salama I, De Ieso ML, Stamer WD, Ganapathy PS, Herberg S. Targeting YAP mechanosignaling to ameliorate stiffness-induced Schlemm's canal cell pathobiology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.08.556840. [PMID: 37781615 PMCID: PMC10541092 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.08.556840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Pathologic alterations in the biomechanical properties of the Schlemm's canal (SC) inner wall endothelium and its immediate vicinity are strongly associated with ocular hypertension in glaucoma due to decreased outflow facility. Specifically, the underlying trabecular meshwork is substantially stiffer in glaucomatous eyes compared to that from normal eyes. This raises the possibility of a critical involvement of mechanotransduction processes in driving SC cell dysfunction. Yes-associated protein (YAP) has emerged as a key contributor to glaucoma pathogenesis. However, the molecular underpinnings of SC cell YAP mechanosignaling in response to glaucomatous extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening are not well understood. Using a novel biopolymer hydrogel that facilitates dynamic and reversible stiffness tuning, we investigated how ECM stiffening modulates YAP activity in primary human SC cells, and whether disruption of YAP mechanosignaling attenuates SC cell pathobiology and increases ex vivo outflow facility. We demonstrated that ECM stiffening drives pathologic YAP activation and cytoskeletal reorganization in SC cells, which was fully reversible by matrix softening in a distinct time-dependent manner. Furthermore, we showed that pharmacologic or genetic disruption of YAP mechanosignaling abrogates stiffness-induced SC cell dysfunction involving altered cytoskeletal and ECM remodeling. Lastly, we found that perfusion of the clinically-used, small molecule YAP inhibitor verteporfin (without light activation) increases ex vivo outflow facility in normal mouse eyes. Collectively, our data provide new evidence for a pathologic role of aberrant YAP mechanosignaling in SC cell dysfunction and suggest that YAP inhibition has therapeutic value for treating ocular hypertension in glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Li
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Megan Kuhn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ruth A. Kelly
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ayushi Singh
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Kavipriya Kovai Palanivel
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Izzy Salama
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Michael L. De Ieso
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - W. Daniel Stamer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Preethi S. Ganapathy
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Samuel Herberg
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
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Yoo H, Singh A, Li H, Strat AN, Bagué T, Ganapathy PS, Herberg S. Simvastatin Attenuates Glucocorticoid-Induced Human Trabecular Meshwork Cell Dysfunction via YAP/TAZ Inactivation. Curr Eye Res 2023; 48:736-749. [PMID: 37083467 PMCID: PMC10524554 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2023.2206067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Impairment of the trabecular meshwork (TM) is the principal cause of increased outflow resistance in the glaucomatous eye. Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ binding motif (TAZ) are emerging as potential mediators of TM cell/tissue dysfunction. Furthermore, YAP/TAZ activity was recently found to be controlled by the mevalonate pathway in non-ocular cells. Clinically used statins block the mevalonate cascade and were shown to improve TM cell pathobiology; yet, the link to YAP/TAZ signaling was not investigated. In this study, we hypothesized that simvastatin attenuates glucocorticoid-induced human TM (HTM) cell dysfunction via YAP/TAZ inactivation. METHODS Primary HTM cells were seeded atop or encapsulated within bioengineered extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels. Dexamethasone was used to induce a pathologic phenotype in HTM cells in the absence or presence of simvastatin. Changes in YAP/TAZ activity, actin cytoskeletal organization, phospho-myosin light chain levels, hydrogel contraction/stiffness, and fibronectin deposition were assessed. RESULTS Simvastatin potently blocked pathologic YAP/TAZ nuclear localization/activity, actin stress fiber formation, and myosin light chain phosphorylation in HTM cells. Importantly, simvastatin co-treatment significantly attenuated dexamethasone-induced ECM contraction/stiffening and fibronectin mRNA and protein levels. Sequential treatment was similarly effective but did not match clinically-used Rho kinase inhibition. CONCLUSIONS YAP/TAZ inactivation with simvastatin attenuates HTM cell pathobiology in a tissue-mimetic ECM microenvironment. Our data may help explain the association of statin use with a reduced risk of developing glaucoma via indirect YAP/TAZ inhibition as a proposed regulatory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Yoo
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Ayushi Singh
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Haiyan Li
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Ana N. Strat
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Tyler Bagué
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Preethi S. Ganapathy
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Samuel Herberg
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
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