1
|
Donato L, Scimone C, Alibrandi S, Vadalà M, Castellucci M, Bonfiglio VME, Scalinci SZ, Abate G, D'Angelo R, Sidoti A. The genomic mosaic of mitochondrial dysfunction: Decoding nuclear and mitochondrial epigenetic contributions to maternally inherited diabetes and deafness pathogenesis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34756. [PMID: 39148984 PMCID: PMC11324998 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Aims Maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) is a complex disorder characterized by multiorgan clinical manifestations, including diabetes, hearing loss, and ophthalmic complications. This pilot study aimed to elucidate the intricate interplay between nuclear and mitochondrial genetics, epigenetic modifications, and their potential implications in the pathogenesis of MIDD. Main methods A comprehensive genomic approach was employed to analyze a Sicilian family affected by clinically characterized MIDD, negative to the only known causative m.3243 A > G variant, integrating whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of both nuclear and mitochondrial analyses. Key findings Rare and deleterious variants were identified across multiple nuclear genes involved in retinal homeostasis, mitochondrial function, and epigenetic regulation, while complementary mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed a rich tapestry of genetic diversity across genes encoding components of the electron transport chain and ATP synthesis machinery. Epigenetic analyses uncovered significant differentially methylated regions across the genome and within the mitochondrial genome, suggesting a nuanced landscape of epigenetic modulation. Significance The integration of genetic and epigenetic data highlighted the potential crosstalk between nuclear and mitochondrial regulation, with specific mtDNA variants influencing methylation patterns and potentially impacting the expression and regulation of mitochondrial genes. This pilot study provides valuable insights into the complex molecular mechanisms underlying MIDD, emphasizing the interplay between nucleus and mitochondrion, tracing the way for future research into targeted therapeutic interventions and personalized approaches for disease management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Donato
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, 98125, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics and Cutting-edge Therapies, I.E.ME.S.T., Palermo, 90139, Italy
| | - Concetta Scimone
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, 98125, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics and Cutting-edge Therapies, I.E.ME.S.T., Palermo, 90139, Italy
| | - Simona Alibrandi
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, 98125, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics and Cutting-edge Therapies, I.E.ME.S.T., Palermo, 90139, Italy
| | - Maria Vadalà
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics and Cutting-edge Therapies, I.E.ME.S.T., Palermo, 90139, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), Ophthalmology Institute, University of Palermo, 90143, Palermo, Italy
| | - Massimo Castellucci
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), Ophthalmology Institute, University of Palermo, 90143, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenza Maria Elena Bonfiglio
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), Ophthalmology Institute, University of Palermo, 90143, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Giorgia Abate
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, 98125, Italy
| | - Rosalia D'Angelo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, 98125, Italy
| | - Antonina Sidoti
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, 98125, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Donato L, Mordà D, Scimone C, Alibrandi S, D'Angelo R, Sidoti A. From powerhouse to regulator: The role of mitoepigenetics in mitochondrion-related cellular functions and human diseases. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 218:105-119. [PMID: 38565400 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Beyond their crucial role in energy production, mitochondria harbor a distinct genome subject to epigenetic regulation akin to that of nuclear DNA. This paper delves into the nascent but rapidly evolving fields of mitoepigenetics and mitoepigenomics, exploring the sophisticated regulatory mechanisms governing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). These mechanisms encompass mtDNA methylation, the influence of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), and post-translational modifications of mitochondrial proteins. Together, these epigenetic modifications meticulously coordinate mitochondrial gene transcription, replication, and metabolism, thereby calibrating mitochondrial function in response to the dynamic interplay of intracellular needs and environmental stimuli. Notably, the dysregulation of mitoepigenetic pathways is increasingly implicated in mitochondrial dysfunction and a spectrum of human pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular conditions. This comprehensive review synthesizes the current state of knowledge, emphasizing recent breakthroughs and innovations in the field. It discusses the potential of high-resolution mitochondrial epigenome mapping, the diagnostic and prognostic utility of blood or tissue mtDNA epigenetic markers, and the promising horizon of mitochondrial epigenetic drugs. Furthermore, it explores the transformative potential of mitoepigenetics and mitoepigenomics in precision medicine. Exploiting a theragnostic approach to maintaining mitochondrial allostasis, this paper underscores the pivotal role of mitochondrial epigenetics in charting new frontiers in medical science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Donato
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122, Messina, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.) 90139 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Domenico Mordà
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.) 90139 Palermo, Italy; Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98122, Messina, Italy.
| | - Concetta Scimone
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122, Messina, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.) 90139 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Simona Alibrandi
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122, Messina, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.) 90139 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Rosalia D'Angelo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122, Messina, Italy.
| | - Antonina Sidoti
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122, Messina, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Park SW, Im SH, Hong WT, Yang HK, Jung YK. Lignin-derived carbon quantum dot/PVA films for totally blocking UV and high-energy blue light. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 268:131919. [PMID: 38679248 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131919] [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: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Excessive exposure to UV and high-energy blue light (HEBL) can cause fatal eye and skin injuries. As a result, it is crucial to protect our bodies from UV and HEBL radiation. To achieve complete blocking of UV and HEBL, we developed a lignin-derived carbon quantum dot (L-CQD)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film. L-CQD was synthesized from lignin, a waste woody biomass, and then blended with a PVA matrix to create a flexible L-CQD/PVA film. Thanks to simultaneous UV and HEBL absorption characteristics and bright color of L-CQD, the PVA film with 0.375 wt% L-CQD demonstrated outstanding blocking efficiency: 100 % in UV-C, UV-B, and UV-A, and at least 99.9 % in HEBL. It also exhibited a 44 % increase in lightness and a 12 % enhancement in transparency compared to lignin/PVA film. The film's ability to block UV and HEBL was further demonstrated by reducing >40 % UV-induced ROS formation in both cancerous and normal cell lines (Hs 294T, HeLa, CCD-986sk, and L929), as well as by blocking blue laser diode (LD) and LED. Since the L-CQD/PVA film is simple to produce, environmentally friendly, flexible, and thermally stable, it is suitable for use as a protective coating against sunlight and harmful emissions from IT devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seok Won Park
- Department of Nanoscience and Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of Korea
| | - So Hui Im
- Department of Nanoscience and Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Tae Hong
- Marine-Bionics convergence technology center, Pukyoung National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; Department of Electrical, Electronics and Software Engineering, Pukyoung National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Kyoung Yang
- Marine-Bionics convergence technology center, Pukyoung National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; Department of Electrical, Electronics and Software Engineering, Pukyoung National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Kyung Jung
- Department of Nanoscience and Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of Korea; School of Biomedical Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Velazquez-Soto H, Groman-Lupa S, Cruz-Aguilar M, Salazar AL, Zenteno JC, Jimenez-Martinez MC. Exogenous CFH Modulates Levels of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators to Prevent Oxidative Damage of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells with the At-Risk CFH Y402H Variant. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1540. [PMID: 37627535 PMCID: PMC10451625 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12081540] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex, progressive degenerative retinal disease. Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells play an important role in the immune defense of the eye and their dysfunction leads to the progressive irreversible degeneration of photoreceptors. Genetic factors, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress have been implicated in AMD pathogenesis. Oxidative stress causes RPE injury, resulting in a chronic inflammatory response and cell death. The Y402H polymorphism in the complement factor H (CFH) protein is an important risk factor for AMD. However, the functional significance of CFH Y402H polymorphism remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of CFH in the pro-inflammatory response using an in vitro model of oxidative stress in the RPE with the at-risk CFH Y402H variant. ARPE-19 cells with the at-risk CFH Y402H variant were highly susceptible to damage caused by oxidative stress, with increased levels of inflammatory mediators and pro-apoptotic factors that lead to cell death. Pretreatment of the ARPE-19 cell cultures with exogenous CFH prior to the induction of oxidative stress prevented damage and cell death. This protective effect may be related to the negative regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. CFH contributes to cell homeostasis and is required to modulate the pro-inflammatory cytokine response under oxidative stress in the ARPE-19 cells with the at-risk CFH Y402H variant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henry Velazquez-Soto
- Department of Immunology, Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana Foundation”, Mexico City 06800, Mexico; (H.V.-S.)
| | - Sergio Groman-Lupa
- Department of Immunology, Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana Foundation”, Mexico City 06800, Mexico; (H.V.-S.)
| | - Marisa Cruz-Aguilar
- Department of Immunology, Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana Foundation”, Mexico City 06800, Mexico; (H.V.-S.)
| | - Alberto L. Salazar
- Department of Immunology, Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana Foundation”, Mexico City 06800, Mexico; (H.V.-S.)
| | - Juan C. Zenteno
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana Foundation”, Mexico City 06800, Mexico
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Maria C. Jimenez-Martinez
- Department of Immunology, Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de Valenciana Foundation”, Mexico City 06800, Mexico; (H.V.-S.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Polyunsaturated Lipids in the Light-Exposed and Prooxidant Retinal Environment. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12030617. [PMID: 36978865 PMCID: PMC10044808 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12030617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The retina is an oxidative stress-prone tissue due to high content of polyunsaturated lipids, exposure to visible light stimuli in the 400–480 nm range, and high oxygen availability provided by choroidal capillaries to support oxidative metabolism. Indeed, lipids’ peroxidation and their conversion into reactive species promoting inflammation have been reported and connected to retinal degenerations. Here, we review recent evidence showing how retinal polyunsaturated lipids, in addition to oxidative stress and damage, may counteract the inflammatory response triggered by blue light-activated carotenoid derivatives, enabling long-term retina operation despite its prooxidant environment. These two aspects of retinal polyunsaturated lipids require tight control over their synthesis to avoid overcoming their protective actions by an increase in lipid peroxidation due to oxidative stress. We review emerging evidence on different transcriptional control mechanisms operating in retinal cells to modulate polyunsaturated lipid synthesis over the life span, from the immature to the ageing retina. Finally, we discuss the antioxidant role of food nutrients such as xanthophylls and carotenoids that have been shown to empower retinal cells’ antioxidant responses and counteract the adverse impact of prooxidant stimuli on sight.
Collapse
|
6
|
Shin CY, Jeong KW. Photooxidation of A2E by Blue Light Regulates Heme Oxygenase 1 Expression via NF-κB and Lysine Methyltransferase 2A in ARPE-19 Cells. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:1698. [PMID: 36362853 PMCID: PMC9699413 DOI: 10.3390/life12111698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E) is a component of drusen that accumulates in retinal cells and induces oxidative stress through photooxidation, such as blue light (BL). We found that the heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) gene responds sensitively to photooxidation by the BL of A2E in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, and we sought to identify the transcription factors and coactivators involved in the upregulation of HMOX1 by A2E and BL. Methods: A2E-laden human RPE cells (ARPE-19) were exposed to BL (430 nm). RNA sequencing was performed to identify genes responsive to BL exposure. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and RT-qPCR were performed to determine the regulation of HMOX1 transcription. Clinical transcriptome data were used to evaluate HMOX1 expression in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Results: In ARPE-19 cells, the expression of HMOX1, one of the NF-κB target genes, was significantly increased by A2E and BL. The binding of RELA and RNA polymerase II to the promoter region of HMOX1 was significantly increased by A2E and BL. Lysine methyltransferase 2A (MLL1) plays an important role in H3K4me3 methylation, NF-κB recruitment, chromatin remodeling at the HMOX1 promoter, and, subsequently, HMOX1 expression. The retinal tissues of patients with late-stage AMD showed significantly increased expression of HMOX1 compared to normal retinal tissues. In addition, the expression levels of MLL1 and HMOX1 in retinal tissues were correlated. Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggest that BL induces HMOX1 expression by activating NF-κB and MLL1 in RPE cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kwang Won Jeong
- Gachon Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, 191 Hambakmoero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21936, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bai Y, Li L, Zhang Z. Linc00883 affects colorectal cancer through miR-577/FKBP14 axis: a novel mechanism for regulating colorectal cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Cell Cycle 2022; 21:2403-2416. [PMID: 35833665 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2022.2097824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are relevant to the development of human cancers. Here, we aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of Linc00883 in the proliferation, invasion, and migration of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. CRC cell lines SW480 and LoVo were applied as in vitro models in this study. Quantitative real-time PCR was applied to measure Linc00883, miR-577, and FKBP14 expressions. Cell Counting Kit-8, transwell, and wound-healing assays were carried out to confirm the function of Linc00883. Western blot was applied to detect the protein levels of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins E-cadherin, vimentin, fibronectin, and α-SMA. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down experiments were performed to confirm the relationship between Linc00883 and miR-577. Linc00883 expression was elevated in CRC tissues and cells, and the patients with high expression of Linc00883 were related to a low survival rate and prone to distant metastasis. Moreover, we corroborated that Linc00883 and miR-577, miR-577 and FKBP14 are bound to each other. Linc00883 was negatively correlated with miR-577, and miR-577 was also negatively correlated with FKBP14. Furthermore, interference with Linc00883 restrained the proliferation, invasion, and migration of CRC cells through the miR-577/FKBP14 axis. In vivo studies also clarified that Linc00883 facilitated the growth of CRC tumors and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of CRC. Our results demonstrated that Linc00883 facilitated the proliferation, invasion, and migration of CRC cells by regulating the miR-577/FKBP14 axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Bai
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chen L, Wang N, Lai M, Hou F, He J, Fan X, Yao X, Wang R. Clinical and genetic investigations in Chinese families with retinitis pigmentosa. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2022; 247:1030-1038. [PMID: 35410501 DOI: 10.1177/15353702221085711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
To describe clinical and genetic characteristics in a series of Chinese patients with non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa, a total of 20 unrelated Chinese pedigrees with non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa were evaluated. Complete ophthalmic examinations data including the Humphrey visual field, spectral domain-optical coherence tomography, full-field electroretinography, and fundus fluorescence were collected and analyzed. Targeted exome sequencing was utilized to investigate variations in 260 known genes of inherited retinal disease, including the 90 known causative retinitis pigmentosa genes. We initially identified the potential candidate variants in the pedigrees, then validated the variants using the Sanger sequencing and performed segregation analysis to verify that the variants constituted disease-causing mutations in these pedigrees. We detected three novel (likely) pathogenic and eight previously reported (likely) pathogenic variations in nine genes reported to be related to non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa in nine of the pedigrees. We report clinical characteristics of Chinese patients with retinitis pigmentosa and novel mutations responsible for non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa in Chinese pedigrees, expanding the number of gene mutations associated with this disorder and clarifying its genetic basis in the Chinese population. These data will help with rapid and efficient molecular diagnosis and the study of targeted treatment for retinitis pigmentosa in this population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518040, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Ningli Wang
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Lab, Beijing 100005, P.R. China
| | - Mingying Lai
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518040, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Fei Hou
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518040, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Jing He
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518040, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Xianming Fan
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518040, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Xue Yao
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518040, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Ruijuan Wang
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen 518040, Guangdong, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chen X, Lin Y, Qu Q, Ning B, Chen H, Liao B, Li X. Analyzing Association between Expression Quantitative Trait and CNV for Breast Cancer Based on Gene Interaction Network Clustering and Group Sparse Learning. Curr Bioinform 2022. [DOI: 10.2174/1574893617666220207095117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Aims:
The occurrence and development of tumor is accompanied by the change of pathogenic gene expression. Tumor cells avoid the damage of immune cells by regulating the expression of immune related genes.
Background:
Tracing the causes of gene expression variation is helpful to understand tumor evolution and metastasis.
Objective:
Current gene expression variation explanation methods are confronted with several main challenges: low explanation power, insufficient prediction accuracy, and lack of biological meaning.
Method:
In this study, we propose a novel method to analyze the mRNA expression variations of breast cancers risk genes. Firstly, we collected some high-confidence risk genes related to breast cancer and then designed a rank-based method to preprocess the breast cancers copy number variation (CNV) and mRNA data. Secondly, to elevate the biological meaning and narrow down the combinatorial space, we introduced a prior gene interaction network and applied a network clustering algorithm to generate high density subnetworks. Lastly, to describe the interlinked structure within and between subnetworks and target genes mRNA expression, we proposed a group sparse learning model to identify CNVs for pathogenic genes expression variations.
Result:
The performance of the proposed method is evaluated by both significantly improved predication accuracy and biological meaning of pathway enrichment analysis.
Conclusion:
The experimental results show that our method has practical significance
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xia Chen
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha,
Hunan, China
- School of Basic Education, Changsha Aeronautical Vocational and Technical College,
Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yexiong Lin
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha,
Hunan, China
| | - Qiang Qu
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha,
Hunan, China
| | - Bin Ning
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha,
Hunan, China
| | - Haowen Chen
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha,
Hunan, China
| | - Bo Liao
- Ministry of Education, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China
| | - Xiong Li
- School of Software, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang, 330013, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhang F, Liu P, He Z, Zhang L, He X, Liu F, Qi J. Crocin ameliorates atherosclerosis by promoting the reverse cholesterol transport and inhibiting the foam cell formation via regulating PPARγ/LXR-α. Cell Cycle 2022; 21:202-218. [PMID: 34978526 PMCID: PMC8837240 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2021.2015669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Crocin (CRO) is feasible in alleviating atherosclerosis (AS), the mechanism of which was therefore explored in the study. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-treated macrophages received CRO treatment. Treated macrophage viability was determined via MTT assay. In both murine and macrophage, the lipid level and total Cholesterol/Cholesteryl l Ester (TC/CE) levels were quantified by oil-red-O staining and ELISA, respectively. Lipid droplet, aortic plaque formation and collagen deposition were detected via Oil-red-O staining, hematoxylin–eosin staining and Masson staining, respectively. Liver X Receptor-α (LXR-α), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ), CD68, PCSK9, CD36, ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily A Member 1 (ABCA1), phosphorylated (p)-AKT, and AKT expressions were detected via Western blot, the former three also being detected using Immunohistochemistry and the first being measured by qRT-PCR. CRO decreased HFD-induced weight gain, ameliorated the abnormal serum lipid levels of HFD-treated mice, and inhibited aortic plaque formation and lipid deposition, and increased collagen fibers, with upregulated high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and downregulated TC and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). CRO alleviated the HFD-induced upregulations of CD68, PCSK9 and CD36 as well as downregulations of PPARγ/LXR-α, ABCA1 and AKT phosphorylation. In LPA-treated macrophages, CRO alone exerted no effect on the viability yet inhibited the lipid droplets formation and downregulated TC/CE levels. Silent LXR-α reversed the effect of CRO on the lipid droplets formation and levels of lipid metabolism-related factors. CRO ameliorated AS by inhibiting foam cells formation and promoting reverse cholesterol transport via PPARγ/LXR-α.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China
| | - Zhaopeng He
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China
| | - Like Zhang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xinqi He
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jinsheng Qi
- School of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Chang KC. Influence of Sox protein SUMOylation on neural development and regeneration. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:477-481. [PMID: 34380874 PMCID: PMC8504373 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.320968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
SRY-related HMG-box (Sox) transcription factors are known to regulate central nervous system development and are involved in several neurological diseases. Post-translational modification of Sox proteins is known to alter their functions in the central nervous system. Among the different types of post-translational modification, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification of Sox proteins has been shown to modify their transcriptional activity. Here, we review the mechanisms of three Sox proteins in neuronal development and disease, along with their transcriptional changes under SUMOylation. Across three species, lysine is the conserved residue for SUMOylation. In Drosophila, SUMOylation of SoxN plays a repressive role in transcriptional activity, which impairs central nervous system development. However, deSUMOylation of SoxE and Sox11 plays neuroprotective roles, which promote neural crest precursor formation in Xenopus and retinal ganglion cell differentiation as well as axon regeneration in the rodent. We further discuss a potential translational therapy by SUMO site modification using AAV gene transduction and Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-Cas9 technology. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of Sox SUMOylation, especially in the rodent system, may provide a therapeutic strategy to address issues associated with neuronal development and neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kun-Che Chang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lipofuscin Granule Bisretinoid Oxidation in the Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium forms Cytotoxic Carbonyls. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010222. [PMID: 35008647 PMCID: PMC8745408 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the primary cause of central blindness among the elderly. AMD is associated with progressive accumulation of lipofuscin granules in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Lipofuscin contains bisretinoid fluorophores, which are photosensitizers and are phototoxic to RPE and neuroretinal cells. In the presence of oxygen, bisretinoids are also oxidized, forming various products, consisting primarily of aldehydes and ketones, which are also potentially cytotoxic. In a prior study, we identified that in AMD, bisretinoid oxidation products are increased in RPE lipofuscin granules. The purpose of the present study was to determine if these products were toxic to cellular structures. The physicochemical characteristics of bisretinoid oxidation products in lipofuscin, which were obtained from healthy donor eyes, were studied. Raman spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF–SIMS) analysis identified the presence of free-state aldehydes and ketones within the lipofuscin granules. Together, fluorescence spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry revealed that bisretinoid oxidation products have both hydrophilic and amphiphilic properties, allowing their diffusion through lipofuscin granule membrane into the RPE cell cytoplasm. These products contain cytotoxic carbonyls, which can modify cellular proteins and lipids. Therefore, bisretinoid oxidation products are a likely aggravating factor in the pathogenesis of AMD.
Collapse
|
13
|
Mitochondria dynamics in the aged mice eye and the role in the RPE phagocytosis. Exp Eye Res 2021; 213:108800. [PMID: 34688622 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a predominant risk factor for various eye diseases. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly, and its etiology remains unclear. Fragmented and dysfunctional mitochondria are associated with age-related diseases. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a polarized cell layer that functions in visual pigment recycling and degeneration, is suspected as the primary region site of AMD. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and RPE aging. Compared to young mice, aged pigmented mice (C57BL/6J, 12-month-old) exhibit decreased visual function without retinal thinning. Consistently, the rhodopsin expression level decreased in the outer segment of aged mice. Moreover, the cell volume of the RPE increased in aged animals. Interestingly, the expression of mitochondria dynamics-related proteins, including Drp1, was altered in the RPE-choroid complex but not in the neural retina after aging. Electron microscopy revealed that mitochondrial size decreased and cristae width increased in aged RPE. The photoreceptor outer segment (POS) treatment of ARPE-19 cells causes Drp1 activation. Furthermore, pharmacological suppression of mitochondrial fission improved the phagocytosis of the POS. These findings indicate that mitochondrial dysfunction and fission in RPE impede phagocytosis and cause retardation of the visual cycle, which can be one of the age-related defects in the retina that may contribute to the onset of AMD.
Collapse
|
14
|
Zhang C, Yuan S, Chen Y, Wang B. Neohesperidin promotes the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells by inhibiting the histone modifications of lncRNA SNHG1. Cell Cycle 2021; 20:1953-1966. [PMID: 34455928 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2021.1969202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neohesperidin (NH) was reported to regulate osteoclastic differentiation, while LncRNA SNHG1 could inhibit osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). In this study, we aimed to explore whether SNHG1-mediated osteogenic differentiation could be regulated by NH. Osteonecrosis and adjacent tissues, as well as normal bone marrow samples were gathered. BMSCs were isolated from normal bone marrow samples by Ficoll density gradient and identified by flow cytometry. Histopathological changes of tissues were detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining. After the treatment with NH or transfection, cell viability, osteogenic differentiation, and the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in BMSCs were detected by MTT, alizarin red staining, and microplate method, respectively. The histone modification and expressions of SNHG1 and osteogenic marker genes in tissues or BMSCs were detected by q-PCR and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIp). SNHG1 was highly expressed in osteonecrosis tissues, and typical signs of empty lacunae appeared in the necrotic tissues zone. NH increased viability and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, activity of ALP, and expressions of RUNX2, OCN and ALP. NH decreased both SNHG1 expression and H3K4me3 (activating histone modification) occupancies and increased H3K27me3 (inhibiting histone modification) occupancies of SNHG1. Furthermore, siSNHG1 enhanced osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and expressions of RUNX2, OCN and ALP, while SNHG1 overexpression did the opposite and reversed the effects of NH on the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. In a word, NH promotes the osteogenic differentiation of human BMSCs by inhibiting the histone modifications of lncRNA SNHG1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuanxin Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Mao Y, Ma W, Zhuo R, Ye L, Xu D, Wang W, Ning G, Sun F. COX4I2 is a novel biomarker of blood supply in adrenal tumors. Transl Androl Urol 2021; 10:2899-2909. [PMID: 34430392 PMCID: PMC8350245 DOI: 10.21037/tau-21-229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous study has been reported that COX4I2 expression level demonstrated a positive correlation with microvessel density in pheochromocytomas (PCC) samples, suggesting that the expression of COX4I2 maybe related to blood supply level in other adrenal tumors as well. The aim of this study is to clarify the correlation of COX4I2 expression and blood supply in adrenal tumors. Methods A total of 84 patients were recruited, among which 46 was diagnosed as adrenocortical adenoma (ACA) and 38 was diagnosed as PCC. Contrast-enhanced CT values were used to evaluate the blood supply levels in those patients. The expression of mRNA was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and protein was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results The COX4I2 expression level in PCC group is significantly higher than that in ACA group (P<0.01). The expression of angiogenesis-related genes EPAS1, VEGFA and KDR mRNA in PCC group is higher than that of ACA group (P<0.05). Correlation analysis shows COX4I2 expression level is correlated with CT values (P<0.001), intraoperative blood loss (P<0.05) and operation time (P<0.05), and the expression of COX4I2 mRNA is correlated with EPAS1, VEGFA and KDR mRNA (P<0.01). Conclusions The results displayed a distinct expression level of COX4I2 between ACA and PCC, suggesting that COX4I2 is a novel biomarker of blood supply in adrenal tumors. This research also opens the possibility for further research on COX4I2 as a novel target for anti-tumor angiogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongxin Mao
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenming Ma
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ran Zhuo
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Ye
- Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Danfeng Xu
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiqing Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guang Ning
- Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fukang Sun
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Xu J, Xie G, Yang W, Wang W, Zuo Z, Wang W. Platelet-rich plasma attenuates intervertebral disc degeneration via delivering miR-141-3p-containing exosomes. Cell Cycle 2021; 20:1487-1499. [PMID: 34229586 PMCID: PMC8354670 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2021.1949839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress mediated apoptotic and pyroptotic cell death contributes to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) exerts protective effects to attenuate IVD degeneration. Hence, the present study aimed to validate this issue and uncover the potential underlying mechanisms. The mice and cellular models for IVD degeneration were established by using puncture method and H2O2 exposure, respectively, and we evidenced that NLRP3-mediated cell pyroptosis, apoptosis and inflammatory responses occurred during IVD degeneration progression in vitro and in vivo. Then, the PRP-derived exosomes (PRP-exo) were isolated and purified, and we noticed that both PRP-exo and ROS scavenger (NAC) reversed the detrimental effects of H2O2 treatment on the nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Further results supported that PRP-exo exerted its protective effects on H2O2 treated NP cells by modulating the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Mechanistically, PRP-exo downregulated Keap1, resulting in the release of Nrf2 from the Keap1-Nrf2 complex, which further translocated from cytoplasm to nucleus to achieve its anti-oxidant biological functions, and H2O2 treated NP cells with Nrf2-deficiency did not respond to PRP-exo treatment. In addition, miR-141-3p was enriched in PRP-exo, and miR-141-3p targeted the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of Keap1 mRNA for its degradation, leading to Nrf2 translocation. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-141-3p ameliorated the cytotoxic effects of H2O2 on NP cells, which were abrogated by upregulating Keap1 and silencing Nrf2. Taken together, we concluded that PRP secreted exosomal miR-141-3p to activate the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, which helped to slow down IVD degeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiayuan Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Guangying Xie
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Weiliang Yang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wantao Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhuan Zuo
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wenbo Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Rinaldi C, Donato L, Alibrandi S, Scimone C, D’Angelo R, Sidoti A. Oxidative Stress and the Neurovascular Unit. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:767. [PMID: 34440511 PMCID: PMC8398978 DOI: 10.3390/life11080767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurovascular unit (NVU) is a relatively recent concept that clearly describes the relationship between brain cells and their blood vessels. The components of the NVU, comprising different types of cells, are so interrelated and associated with each other that they are considered as a single functioning unit. For this reason, even slight disturbances in the NVU could severely affect brain homeostasis and health. In this review, we aim to describe the current state of knowledge concerning the role of oxidative stress on the neurovascular unit and the role of a single cell type in the NVU crosstalk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Rinaldi
- Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (C.R.); (L.D.); (S.A.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
| | - Luigi Donato
- Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (C.R.); (L.D.); (S.A.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics and Avant-Garde Therapies, Istituto Euro-Mediterraneo di Scienza e Tecnologia (I.E.ME.S.T.), Via Michele Miraglia, 90139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Simona Alibrandi
- Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (C.R.); (L.D.); (S.A.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Concetta Scimone
- Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (C.R.); (L.D.); (S.A.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics and Avant-Garde Therapies, Istituto Euro-Mediterraneo di Scienza e Tecnologia (I.E.ME.S.T.), Via Michele Miraglia, 90139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosalia D’Angelo
- Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (C.R.); (L.D.); (S.A.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
| | - Antonina Sidoti
- Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy; (C.R.); (L.D.); (S.A.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Acute RhoA/Rho Kinase Inhibition Is Sufficient to Restore Phagocytic Capacity to Retinal Pigment Epithelium Lacking the Engulfment Receptor MerTK. Cells 2021; 10:cells10081927. [PMID: 34440696 PMCID: PMC8394172 DOI: 10.3390/cells10081927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The diurnal phagocytosis of spent photoreceptor outer segment fragments (POS) by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is essential for visual function. POS internalization by RPE cells requires the assembly of F-actin phagocytic cups beneath surface-tethered POS and Mer tyrosine kinase (MerTK) signaling. The activation of the Rho family GTPase Rac1 is necessary for phagocytic cup formation, and Rac1 is activated normally in MerTK-deficient RPE. We show here that mutant RPE lacking MerTK and wild-type RPE deprived of MerTK ligand both fail to form phagocytic cups regardless of Rac1 activation. However, in wild-type RPE in vivo, a decrease in RhoA activity coincides with the daily phagocytosis burst, while RhoA activity in MerTK-deficient RPE is constant. Elevating RhoA activity blocks phagocytic cup formation and phagocytosis by wild-type RPE. Conversely, inhibiting RhoA effector Rho kinases (ROCKs) rescues both F-actin assembly and POS internalization of primary RPE if MerTK or its ligand are lacking. Most strikingly, acute ROCK inhibition is sufficient to induce the formation and acidification of endogenous POS phagosomes by MerTK-deficient RPE ex vivo. Altogether, RhoA pathway inactivation is a necessary and sufficient downstream effect of MerTK phagocytic signaling such that the acute manipulation of cytosolic ROCK activity suffices to restore phagocytic capacity to MerTK-deficient RPE.
Collapse
|
19
|
Oouchi Y, Watanabe M, Ida Y, Ohguro H, Hikage F. Rosiglitasone and ROCK Inhibitors Modulate Fibrogenetic Changes in TGF-β2 Treated Human Conjunctival Fibroblasts (HconF) in Different Manners. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147335. [PMID: 34298955 PMCID: PMC8307967 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The effects of Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK) 1 and 2 inhibitor, ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate (Rip), ROCK2 inhibitor, KD025 or rosiglitazone (Rosi) on two-dimension (2D) and three-dimension (3D) cultured human conjunctival fibroblasts (HconF) treated by transforming growth factor (TGFβ2) were studied. Methods: Two-dimension and three-dimension cultured HconF were examined by transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER, 2D), size and stiffness (3D), and the expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM) including collagen1 (COL1), COL4 and COL6, fibronectin (FN), and α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) by quantitative PCR (2D, 3D) in the presence of Rip, KD025 or Rosi. Results: TGFβ2 caused a significant increase in (1) the TEER values (2D) which were greatly reduced by Rosi, (2) the stiffness of the 3D organoids which were substantially reduced by Rip or KD025, and (3) TGFβ2 induced a significant up-regulation of all ECMs, except for COL6 (2D) or αSMA (3D), and down-regulation of COL6 (2D). Rosi caused a significant up-regulation of COL1, 4 and 6 (3D), and down-regulation of COL6 (2D) and αSMA (3D). Most of these TGFβ2-induced expressions in the 2D and αSMA in the 3D were substantially inhibited by KD025, but COL4 and αSMA in 2D were further enhanced by Rip. Conclusion: The findings reported herein indicate that TGFβ2 induces an increase in fibrogenetic changes on the plane and in the spatial space, and are inhibited by Rosi and ROCK inhibitors, respectively.
Collapse
|
20
|
Rajagopalan L, Ghosn C, Tamhane M, Almazan A, Andrews-Jones L, Kulkarni A, Christie LA, Burke J, López FJ, Engles M. A nonhuman primate model of blue light-induced progressive outer retina degeneration showing brimonidine drug delivery system-mediated cyto- and neuroprotection. Exp Eye Res 2021; 209:108678. [PMID: 34153289 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) characterized by atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), loss of photoreceptors, and disruption of choriocapillaris. Excessive light exposure is toxic to the retina and is a known risk factor for AMD. We first investigated the effects of blue light-induced phototoxicity on RPE and photoreceptors in nonhuman primates (NHPs, a model of progressive retinal degeneration) and then evaluated the potential cyto- and neuroprotective effects of the brimonidine drug delivery system (Brimo DDS). In the first set of experiments related to model development, parafoveal lesions of varying severity were induced using blue light irradiation of the retina of cynomolgus monkeys to evaluate the level of phototoxicity in the RPE and photoreceptors. RPE damage was assessed using fundus autofluorescence imaging to quantify areas of hypofluorescence, while thinning of the outer nuclear layer (ONL, photoreceptor nuclei) was quantified using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Photoreceptor function was assessed using multifocal electroretinography (mfERG). RPE damage progressively increased across all lesion severities from 2 to 12 weeks, as did the extent of ONL thinning. Lesions of high severity continued to show reduction in mfERG amplitude, reaching a statistically significant maximum reduction at 12 weeks. Collectively, the first set of experiments showed that blue light irradiation of the NHP eye resulted in progressive retinal degeneration identified by damage to RPE, ONL thinning, and disrupted photoreceptor function - hallmarks of GA in humans. We then used the model to evaluate the cyto- and neuroprotective effects of Brimo DDS, administered as a therapeutic after allowing the lesions to develop for 5 weeks. Placebo DDS or Brimo DDS were administered intravitreally and a set of untreated animals were used as an additional control. In the placebo DDS group, hypofluorescence area continued to increase from baseline, indicating progressive RPE damage, while progression was significantly slowed in eyes receiving Brimo DDS. Likewise, ONL thinning continued to progress over time in eyes that received the placebo DDS, but was reduced in Brimo DDS-treated eyes. Pharmacologically relevant brimonidine concentrations were sustained in the retina for up to 26 weeks following Brimo DDS administration. In summary, Brimo DDS demonstrated cyto- and neuroprotective effects in a novel NHP GA model of progressive retinal degeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Corine Ghosn
- Allergan (an AbbVie company), 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA
| | - Mitalee Tamhane
- Allergan (an AbbVie company), 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA
| | - Alexandra Almazan
- Allergan (an AbbVie company), 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA
| | | | - Ashutosh Kulkarni
- Allergan (an AbbVie company), 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA
| | - Lori-Ann Christie
- Allergan (an AbbVie company), 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA
| | - James Burke
- Allergan (an AbbVie company), 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA
| | - Francisco J López
- Allergan (an AbbVie company), 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA
| | - Michael Engles
- Allergan (an AbbVie company), 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Barwick SR, Siddiq MS, Wang J, Xiao H, Marshall B, Perry E, Smith SB. Sigma 1 Receptor Co-Localizes with NRF2 in Retinal Photoreceptor Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10060981. [PMID: 34205384 PMCID: PMC8234060 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10060981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sigma 1 receptor (Sig1R), a modulator of cell survival, has emerged as a novel target for retinal degenerative disease. Studies have shown that activation of Sig1R, using the high affinity ligand (+)-pentazocine ((+)-PTZ), improves cone function in a severe retinopathy model. The rescue is accompanied by normalization of levels of NRF2, a key transcription factor that regulates the antioxidant response. The interaction of Sig1R with a number of proteins has been investigated; whether it interacts with NRF2, however, is not known. We used co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP), proximity ligation assay (PLA), and electron microscopy (EM) immunodetection methods to investigate this question in the 661W cone photoreceptor cell line. For co-IP experiments, immune complexes were precipitated by protein A/G agarose beads and immunodetected using anti-NRF2 antibody. For PLA, cells were incubated with anti-Sig1R polyclonal and anti-NRF2 monoclonal antibodies, then subsequently with (−)-mouse and (+)-rabbit PLA probes. For EM analysis, immuno-EM gold labeling was performed using nanogold-enhanced labeling with anti-NRF2 and anti-Sig1R antibodies, and data were confirmed using colloidal gold labeling. The co-IP experiment suggested that NRF2 was bound in a complex with Sig1R. The PLA assays detected abundant orange fluorescence in cones, indicating that Sig1R and NRF2 were within 40 nm of each other. EM immunodetection confirmed co-localization of Sig1R with NRF2 in cells and in mouse retinal tissue. This study is the first to report co-localization of Sig1R-NRF2 and supports earlier studies implicating modulation of NRF2 as a mechanism by which Sig1R mediates retinal neuroprotection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shannon R. Barwick
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (S.R.B.); (M.S.S.); (J.W.); (H.X.); (B.M.); (E.P.)
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Mevish S. Siddiq
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (S.R.B.); (M.S.S.); (J.W.); (H.X.); (B.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (S.R.B.); (M.S.S.); (J.W.); (H.X.); (B.M.); (E.P.)
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Haiyan Xiao
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (S.R.B.); (M.S.S.); (J.W.); (H.X.); (B.M.); (E.P.)
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Brendan Marshall
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (S.R.B.); (M.S.S.); (J.W.); (H.X.); (B.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Elizabeth Perry
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (S.R.B.); (M.S.S.); (J.W.); (H.X.); (B.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Sylvia B. Smith
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (S.R.B.); (M.S.S.); (J.W.); (H.X.); (B.M.); (E.P.)
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-706-721-7392; Fax: +1-706-721-6120
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
New evaluation methods of read mapping by 17 aligners on simulated and empirical NGS data: an updated comparison of DNA- and RNA-Seq data from Illumina and Ion Torrent technologies. Neural Comput Appl 2021; 33:15669-15692. [PMID: 34155424 PMCID: PMC8208613 DOI: 10.1007/s00521-021-06188-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During the last (15) years, improved omics sequencing technologies have expanded the scale and resolution of various biological applications, generating high-throughput datasets that require carefully chosen software tools to be processed. Therefore, following the sequencing development, bioinformatics researchers have been challenged to implement alignment algorithms for next-generation sequencing reads. However, nowadays selection of aligners based on genome characteristics is poorly studied, so our benchmarking study extended the “state of art” comparing 17 different aligners. The chosen tools were assessed on empirical human DNA- and RNA-Seq data, as well as on simulated datasets in human and mouse, evaluating a set of parameters previously not considered in such kind of benchmarks. As expected, we found that each tool was the best in specific conditions. For Ion Torrent single-end RNA-Seq samples, the most suitable aligners were CLC and BWA-MEM, which reached the best results in terms of efficiency, accuracy, duplication rate, saturation profile and running time. About Illumina paired-end osteomyelitis transcriptomics data, instead, the best performer algorithm, together with the already cited CLC, resulted Novoalign, which excelled in accuracy and saturation analyses. Segemehl and DNASTAR performed the best on both DNA-Seq data, with Segemehl particularly suitable for exome data. In conclusion, our study could guide users in the selection of a suitable aligner based on genome and transcriptome characteristics. However, several other aspects, emerged from our work, should be considered in the evolution of alignment research area, such as the involvement of artificial intelligence to support cloud computing and mapping to multiple genomes.
Collapse
|
23
|
Rispoli M, Eandi CM, Di Antonio L, Kilian R, Montesel A, Savastano MC. Biomarkers in Early Response to Brolucizumab on Pigment Epithelium Detachment Associated with Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9060668. [PMID: 34200829 PMCID: PMC8230427 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9060668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to describe early changes in the morphology of pigment epithelium detachments (PED) after an intravitreal injection of Brolucizumab into eyes with macular neovascularization secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration (e-AMD). Method: We included twelve eyes of 12 patients with PED secondary to e-AMD which were not responding to prior anti-VEGF treatments. An ophthalmic examination and an assessment of PED-horizontal maximal diameter (PED-HMD), PED-maximum high (PED-MH) and macular neovascularization (MNV) flow area (MNV-FA) by the means of structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT Angiography (OCT-A) were performed at baseline, as well as 1, 7, 14 and 30 days after the injection. Results: The mean age of the population of study was 78.4 (SD ± 4.8). The mean number of previous Ranibizumab or Aflibercept injections was 13 (SD ± 8). At the last follow-up visit, the PED-HMD did not significantly change (p = 0.16; F(DF:1.94, 20,85) = 1.9), the PED-MH showed a significant reduction [p = 0.01; F(DF:1.31, 14.13) = 6.84.] and the MNV-FA did not significantly differ (p = 0.1; F(1.97, 21.67) = 2.54) from baseline. No signs of ocular inflammation were observed during follow-up. Conclusions: A single Brolucizumab injection was able to determine the short-term effects on PEDs’ anatomical features of eyes with an unresponsive e-AMD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rispoli
- Chorioretinal Vasculopathies Unit, Surgery and Emergency Ophthalmology Department, Eye Hospital, 00136 Rome, Italy;
| | - Chiara M. Eandi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, Fondation Asile des Aveugles, University of Lausanne, 1002 Lausanne, Switzerland;
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-21-626-8880
| | - Luca Di Antonio
- UOC Ophthalmology and Surgery Department, ASL-1 Avezzano-Sulmona, 67051 L’Aquila, Italy;
| | - Raphael Kilian
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Andrea Montesel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, Fondation Asile des Aveugles, University of Lausanne, 1002 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Maria C. Savastano
- Unit of Ophthalmology, Fondazione Policlinico A Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Eshraghi B, Dehghan A, Javadi N, Fazel M. Nonspecific orbital inflammation and thyroid eye disease, a rare comorbidity: report of two cases and review of literature. BMC Ophthalmol 2021; 21:251. [PMID: 34090378 PMCID: PMC8180075 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-021-02008-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To present the very rare comorbidity of developing non-specific orbital inflammation (NSOI) in two patients with histories of definite thyroid eye disease (TED). Case presentation Both patients complained of new-onset progressive proptosis although their thyroid disease was controlled and computed tomography scan revealed an intraorbital inflammatory mass. The pathological assessment indicated that both patients had developed fibrosing NSOI. Therefore, intravenous corticosteroids were administered. The mass regressed and the amount of proptosis was decreased in both patients. Conclusions We reviewed all related cases in the literature and extracted their clinical and radiological characteristics for this paper. Ophthalmologists should consider TED and NSOI in patients with a new-onset complaint of proptosis. Despite rare comorbidity of TED and NSOI, it should be considered especially in patients with refractory proptosis, and lead to its further evaluation and prompt management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bahram Eshraghi
- Isfahan Eye Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Amin Dehghan
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Niloofar Javadi
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Fazel
- Isfahan Eye Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Popescu S, Preda MB, Marinescu CI, Simionescu M, Burlacu A. Dual Stem Cell Therapy Improves the Myocardial Recovery Post-Infarction through Reciprocal Modulation of Cell Functions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115631. [PMID: 34073327 PMCID: PMC8199446 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are promising candidates for regenerative therapy of the infarcted heart. However, poor cell retention within the transplantation site limits their potential. We hypothesized that MSC benefits could be enhanced through a dual-cell approach using jointly endothelial colony forming cells (ECFC) and MSC. To assess this, we comparatively evaluated the effects of the therapy with MSC and ECFC versus MSC-only in a mouse model of myocardial infarction. Heart function was assessed by echocardiography, and the molecular crosstalk between MSC and ECFC was evaluated in vitro through direct or indirect co-culture systems. We found that dual-cell therapy improved cardiac function in terms of ejection fraction and stroke volume. In vitro experiments showed that ECFC augmented MSC effector properties by increasing Connexin 43 and Integrin alpha-5 and the secretion of healing-associated molecules. Moreover, MSC prompted the organization of ECFC into vascular networks. This indicated a reciprocal modulation in the functionality of MSC and ECFC. In conclusion, the crosstalk between MSC and ECFC augments the therapeutic properties of MSC and enhances the angiogenic properties of ECFC. Our data consolidate the dual-cell therapy as a step forward for the development of effective treatments for patients affected by myocardial infarction.
Collapse
|
26
|
Solanki AK, Biswal MR, Walterhouse S, Martin R, Kondkar AA, Knölker HJ, Rahman B, Arif E, Husain S, Montezuma SR, Nihalani D, Lobo GP. Loss of Motor Protein MYO1C Causes Rhodopsin Mislocalization and Results in Impaired Visual Function. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061322. [PMID: 34073294 PMCID: PMC8229726 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Unconventional myosins, linked to deafness, are also proposed to play a role in retinal cell physiology. However, their direct role in photoreceptor function remains unclear. We demonstrate that systemic loss of the unconventional myosin MYO1C in mice, specifically causes rhodopsin mislocalization, leading to impaired visual function. Electroretinogram analysis of Myo1c knockout (Myo1c-KO) mice showed a progressive loss of photoreceptor function. Immunohistochemistry and binding assays demonstrated MYO1C localization to photoreceptor inner and outer segments (OS) and identified a direct interaction of rhodopsin with MYO1C. In Myo1c-KO retinas, rhodopsin mislocalized to rod inner segments (IS) and cell bodies, while cone opsins in OS showed punctate staining. In aged mice, the histological and ultrastructural examination of the phenotype of Myo1c-KO retinas showed progressively shorter photoreceptor OS. These results demonstrate that MYO1C is important for rhodopsin localization to the photoreceptor OS, and for normal visual function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashish K. Solanki
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (S.W.); (B.R.); (E.A.)
| | - Manas R. Biswal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Stephen Walterhouse
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (S.W.); (B.R.); (E.A.)
| | - René Martin
- Faculty of Chemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Bergstraße 66, 01069 Dresden, Germany; (R.M.); (H.-J.K.)
| | - Altaf A. Kondkar
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11411, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Hans-Joachim Knölker
- Faculty of Chemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Bergstraße 66, 01069 Dresden, Germany; (R.M.); (H.-J.K.)
| | - Bushra Rahman
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (S.W.); (B.R.); (E.A.)
| | - Ehtesham Arif
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (S.W.); (B.R.); (E.A.)
| | - Shahid Husain
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
| | - Sandra R. Montezuma
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, 516 Delaware Street S.E., 9th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| | - Deepak Nihalani
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health, Bldg. 2DEM, Room 6085, 6707 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
- Correspondence: (D.N.); (G.P.L.)
| | - Glenn Prazere Lobo
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.K.S.); (S.W.); (B.R.); (E.A.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, Lions Research Building, University of Minnesota, 2001 6th Street S.E., Room 225, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Correspondence: (D.N.); (G.P.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Erythropoietin Gene Therapy Delays Retinal Degeneration Resulting from Oxidative Stress in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10060842. [PMID: 34070383 PMCID: PMC8229633 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10060842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO) plays an important role in erythropoiesis by its action in blocking apoptosis of progenitor cells and protects both photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells from induced or inherited degeneration. A modified form of EPO, EPO-R76E has attenuated erythropoietic activity but is effective in inhibiting apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in several models of retinal degeneration. In this study, we used recombinant Adeno Associated Virus (AAV) to provide long-term sustained delivery of EPO-R76E and demonstrated its effects in a mouse model of dry-AMD in which retinal degeneration is induced by oxidative stress in the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Experimental vector AAV-EPO-R76E and control vector AAV-GFP were packaged into serotype-1 (AAV1) to enable RPE selective expression. RPE oxidative stress-mediated retinal degeneration was induced by exon specific deletion of the protective enzyme MnSOD (encoded by Sod2) by cre/lox mechanism. Experimental mice received subretinal injection of AAV-EPO-R76E in the right eye and AAV-GFP in the left eye. Western blotting of RPE/choroid protein samples from AAV-EPO-R76E injected eyes showed RPE specific EPO expression. Retinal function was monitored by electroretinography (ERG). EPO-R76E over-expression in RPE delayed the retinal degeneration as measured by light microscopy in RPE specific Sod2 knockout mice. Delivery of EPO-R76E vector can be used as a tool to prevent retinal degeneration induced by RPE oxidative stress, which is implicated as a potential cause of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
Collapse
|
28
|
Gu J, Qiu Z, Li L, Qin B, Zhou Y, Liu Y, Liu X, Zhu M, Sang A. Geniposide alleviates choroidal neovascularization by downregulating HB-EGF release from RPE cells by downregulating the miR-145-5p/NF-κB axis. Exp Eye Res 2021; 208:108624. [PMID: 34022175 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), mainly wet AMD, is the major reason for nonreversible vision loss worldwide. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a characteristic pathological manifestation of wet AMD. Stress or injury to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) induces proangiogenic factors that drive CNV. An iridoid glycoside extracted from the fruit of gardenia, geniposide (GEN) plays an antiangiogenic role. In this study, GEN inhibited the transcription and expression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), a proangiogenic factor, in hypoxic RPE cells and a mouse laser-induced CNV model. Inhibition of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), a GEN receptor blocker, eliminated the protective effect of GEN. Additionally, GEN decreased the transcription and expression of HB-EGF in hypoxia-exposed RPE cells by downregulating the miR-145-5p/NF-κB axis. Therefore, our research provides a promising novel strategy for wet AMD therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Gu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhaoxian Qiu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lele Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bai Qin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yamei Zhou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaojuan Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
| | - Manhui Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Aimin Sang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Jadeja RN, Martin PM. Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Retinal Degeneration. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10050790. [PMID: 34067655 PMCID: PMC8156590 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10050790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ravirajsinh N. Jadeja
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
| | - Pamela M. Martin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +70-6721-4220; Fax: +70-6721-6608
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Piñero J, Saüch J, Sanz F, Furlong LI. The DisGeNET cytoscape app: Exploring and visualizing disease genomics data. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:2960-2967. [PMID: 34136095 PMCID: PMC8163863 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 75.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Thanks to the unbiased exploration of genomic variants at large scale, hundreds of thousands of disease-associated loci have been uncovered. In parallel, network-based approaches have proven to be essential to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying human diseases. The use of these approaches has been boosted by the abundance of information about disease associated genes and variants, high quality human interactomics data, and the emergence of new types of omics data. The DisGeNET Cytoscape App combines the capabilities of Cytoscape with those of DisGeNET, a knowledge platform based on a comprehensive catalogue of disease-associated genes and variants. The DisGeNET Cytoscape App contains functions to query, analyze, and visualize different network representations of the gene-disease and variant-disease associations available in DisGeNET. It supports a wide variety of applications through its query and filter functionalities, including the annotation of foreign networks generated by other apps or uploaded by the user. The new release of the DisGeNET Cytoscape App has been designed to support Cytoscape 3.x and incorporates novel distinctive features such as visualization and analysis of variant-disease networks, disease enrichment analysis for genes and variants, and analytic support through Cytoscape Automation. Moreover, the DisGeNET Cytoscape App features an API to access its core functionalities via the REST protocol fostering the development of reproducible and scalable analysis workflows based on DisGeNET data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janet Piñero
- Research Group on Integrative Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- MedBioinformatics Solutions SL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Saüch
- Research Group on Integrative Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ferran Sanz
- Research Group on Integrative Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- MedBioinformatics Solutions SL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura I. Furlong
- Research Group on Integrative Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- MedBioinformatics Solutions SL, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Koh AEH, Alsaeedi HA, Rashid MBA, Lam C, Harun MHN, Ng MH, Mohd Isa H, Then KY, Bastion MLC, Farhana A, Khursheed Alam M, Subbiah SK, Mok PL. Transplanted Erythropoietin-Expressing Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Pro-survival Gene Expression and Protect Photoreceptors From Sodium Iodate-Induced Cytotoxicity in a Retinal Degeneration Model. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:652017. [PMID: 33987180 PMCID: PMC8111290 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.652017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are highly regarded as a potential treatment for retinal degenerative disorders like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. However, donor cell heterogeneity and inconsistent protocols for transplantation have led to varied outcomes in clinical trials. We previously showed that genetically-modifying MSCs to express erythropoietin (MSCEPO) improved its regenerative capabilities in vitro. Hence, in this study, we sought to prove its potential in vivo by transplanting MSCsEPO in a rat retinal degeneration model and analyzing its retinal transcriptome using RNA-Seq. Firstly, MSCsEPO were cultured and expanded before being intravitreally transplanted into the sodium iodate-induced model. After the procedure, electroretinography (ERG) was performed bi-weekly for 30 days. Histological analyses were performed after the ERG assessment. The retina was then harvested for RNA extraction. After mRNA-enrichment and library preparation, paired-end RNA-Seq was performed. Salmon and DESeq2 were used to process the output files. The generated dataset was then analyzed using over-representation (ORA), functional enrichment (GSEA), and pathway topology analysis tools (SPIA) to identify enrichment of key pathways in the experimental groups. The results showed that the MSCEPO-treated group had detectable ERG waves (P <0.05), which were indicative of successful phototransduction. The stem cells were also successfully detected by immunohistochemistry 30 days after intravitreal transplantation. An initial over-representation analysis revealed a snapshot of immune-related pathways in all the groups but was mainly overexpressed in the MSC group. A subsequent GSEA and SPIA analysis later revealed enrichment in a large number of biological processes including phototransduction, regeneration, and cell death (Padj <0.05). Based on these pathways, a set of pro-survival gene expressions were extracted and tabulated. This study provided an in-depth transcriptomic analysis on the MSCEPO-treated retinal degeneration model as well as a profile of pro-survival genes that can be used as candidates for further genetic enhancement studies on stem cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Avin Ee-Hwan Koh
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Hiba Amer Alsaeedi
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Munirah Binti Abd Rashid
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chenshen Lam
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Hairul Nizam Harun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Min Hwei Ng
- Tissue Engineering Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hazlita Mohd Isa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kong Yong Then
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Aisha Farhana
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Suresh Kumar Subbiah
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Department of Biotechnology, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Pooi Ling Mok
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.,Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Department of Biotechnology, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Development of a Fundus Image-Based Deep Learning Diagnostic Tool for Various Retinal Diseases. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11050321. [PMID: 33918998 PMCID: PMC8142986 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11050321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI)-based diagnostic tools have been accepted in ophthalmology. The use of retinal images, such as fundus photographs, is a promising approach for the development of AI-based diagnostic platforms. Retinal pathologies usually occur in a broad spectrum of eye diseases, including neovascular or dry age-related macular degeneration, epiretinal membrane, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, retinitis pigmentosa, macular hole, retinal vein occlusions, and diabetic retinopathy. Here, we report a fundus image-based AI model for differential diagnosis of retinal diseases. We classified retinal images with three convolutional neural network models: ResNet50, VGG19, and Inception v3. Furthermore, the performance of several dense (fully connected) layers was compared. The prediction accuracy for diagnosis of nine classes of eight retinal diseases and normal control was 87.42% in the ResNet50 model, which added a dense layer with 128 nodes. Furthermore, our AI tool augments ophthalmologist's performance in the diagnosis of retinal disease. These results suggested that the fundus image-based AI tool is applicable for the medical diagnosis process of retinal diseases.
Collapse
|
33
|
Yang J, Yang K, Meng X, Liu P, Fu Y, Wang Y. Silenced SNHG1 Inhibited Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Inflammatory Response of ARPE-19 Cells Induced by High Glucose. J Inflamm Res 2021; 14:1563-1573. [PMID: 33907437 PMCID: PMC8068511 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s299010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) is a cerebral infarction-associated gene, its biological role and mechanism in diabetic retinopathy remain to be illuminated. The present study was designed to investigate the role of SNHG1 in high glucose induced human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19). METHODS ARPE-19 cells were cultured and exposed to 60 mM high glucose for 48h, and 5.5mM glucose-exposed ARPE-19 cells were used as the control. The levels of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers E-cadherin, ZO-1, vimentin and α-SMA were measured, and the Cell inflammatory response was evaluated by detecting IL-6 and IL-1β levels. Then, cell migration, proliferation and apoptosis were detected. The expression of the lncRNA SNHG1 in ARPE-19 cells was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. SNHG1 was knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. The effects of SNHG1 inhibition on inflammation, EMT, migration, proliferation and apoptosis were observed. RESULTS The results showed that the expression of SNHG1 was significantly increased in ARPE-19 cells exposed to high glucose. Silencing SNHG1 reduced the expression of vimentin, α-SMA, and the expression of inflammatory chemokines IL-6 and IL-1β, inhibited migration and proliferation, elevated the expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1, and promoted apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells. CONCLUSION The lncRNA SNHG1 is involved in hyperglycemia-induced EMT and the inflammatory response of ARPE-19 cells and provides a new understanding of the pathogenesis of DR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yang
- Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266500, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kun Yang
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266500, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuxia Meng
- Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266500, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Penghui Liu
- Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266500, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yudong Fu
- Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266500, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yibo Wang
- Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266500, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Drusenoid Pigment Epithelial Detachment: Genetic and Clinical Characteristics. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084074. [PMID: 33920794 PMCID: PMC8071110 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Few studies report drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (DPED) in Asians. In this multicenter study, we report the clinical and genetic characteristics of 76 patients with DPED, and, for comparison, 861 patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were included. On the initial presentation, the mean best-corrected visual acuity was 0.087 ± 0.17 (logMAR unit), and mean DPED height and width were 210 ± 132 and 1633 ± 1114 µm, respectively. Fifty-one (67%) patients showed macular neovascularization in the contralateral eye. The risk allele frequency of both ARMS2 A69S and CFH I62V was significantly higher in DPED than in typical AMD and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) (ARMS2 A69S risk allele frequency: DPED 77% vs. typical AMD 66% vs. PCV 57%, CFH I62V risk allele frequency: DPED 87% vs. typical AMD 73% vs. PCV 73%), although the risk allele frequency of both genes was similar between the DPED group and retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) group (ARMS2 A69S: p = 0.32, CFH I62V, p = 0.11). The prevalence of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) was highest in RAP (60%), followed by DPED (22%), typical AMD (20%), and PCV (2%). Although the prevalence of RPD differs between DPED and RAP, these entities share a similar genetic background in terms of ARMS2 and CFH genes.
Collapse
|
35
|
Protective Effect of Quercetin on Sodium Iodate-Induced Retinal Apoptosis through the Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Mitochondrion-Dependent Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084056. [PMID: 33919990 PMCID: PMC8071060 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) leads to gradual central vision loss and is the third leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The underlying mechanisms for this progressive neurodegenerative disease remain unclear and there is currently no preventive treatment for dry AMD. Sodium iodate (NaIO3) has been reported to induce AMD-like retinal pathology in mice. We established a mouse model for AMD to evaluate the effects of quercetin on NaIO3-induced retinal apoptosis, and to investigate the pertinent underlying mechanisms. Our in vitro results indicated that quercetin protected human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) cells from NaIO3-induced apoptosis by inhibiting reactive oxygen species production and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential as detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry. We also evaluated the relative expression of proteins in the apoptosis pathway. Quercetin downregulated the protein expressions of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved PARP and upregulated the expression of Bcl-2 through reduced PI3K and pAKT expressions. Furthermore, our in vivo results indicated that quercetin improved retinal deformation and increased the thickness of both the outer nuclear layer and inner nuclear layer, whereas the expression of caspase-3 was inhibited. Taken together, these results demonstrate that quercetin could protect retinal pigment epithelium and the retina from NaIO3-induced cell apoptosis via reactive oxygen species-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, involving the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This suggests that quercetin has the potential to prevent and delay AMD and other retinal diseases involving NaIO3-mediated apoptosis.
Collapse
|
36
|
Impairments of Photoreceptor Outer Segments Renewal and Phototransduction Due to a Peripherin Rare Haplotype Variant: Insights from Molecular Modeling. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073484. [PMID: 33801777 PMCID: PMC8036374 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinitis pigmentosa punctata albescens (RPA) is a particular form of retinitis pigmentosa characterized by childhood onset night blindness and areas of peripheral retinal atrophy. We investigated the genetic cause of RPA in a family consisting of two affected Egyptian brothers with healthy consanguineous parents. METHODS Mutational analysis of four RPA causative genes was realized by Sanger sequencing on both probands, and detected variants were subsequently genotyped in their parents. Afterwards, found variants were deeply, statistically, and in silico characterized to determine their possible effects and association with RPA. RESULTS Both brothers carry three missense PRPH2 variants in a homozygous condition (c.910C > A, c.929G > A, and c.1013A > C) and two promoter variants in RHO (c.-26A > G) and RLBP1 (c.-70G > A) genes, respectively. Haplotype analyses highlighted a PRPH2 rare haplotype variant (GAG), determining a possible alteration of PRPH2 binding with melanoregulin and other outer segment proteins, followed by photoreceptor outer segment instability. Furthermore, an altered balance of transcription factor binding sites, due to the presence of RHO and RLBP1 promoter variants, might determine a comprehensive downregulation of both genes, possibly altering the PRPH2 shared visual-related pathway. CONCLUSIONS Despite several limitations, the study might be a relevant step towards detection of novel scenarios in RPA etiopathogenesis.
Collapse
|
37
|
Miller JM, Beales JT, Montierth MD, Briggs FB, Frodsham SF, Davis MF. The Impact of Multiple Sclerosis Disease Status and Subtype on Hematological Profile. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:3318. [PMID: 33807004 PMCID: PMC8004915 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18063318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. In this study, an MS cohort and healthy controls were stratified into Caucasian and African American groups. Patient hematological profiles-composed of complete blood count (CBC) and complete metabolic panel (CMP) test values-were analyzed to identify differences between MS cases and controls and between patients with different MS subtypes. Additionally, random forest models were used to determine the aggregate utility of common hematological tests in determining MS disease status and subtype. The most significant and relevant results were increased bilirubin and creatinine in MS cases. The random forest models achieved some success in differentiating between MS cases and controls (AUC values: 0.725 and 0.710, respectively) but were not successful in differentiating between subtypes. However, larger samples that adjust for possible confounding variables, such as treatment status, may reveal the value of these tests in differentiating between MS subtypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob M. Miller
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.M.M.); (J.T.B.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Jeremy T. Beales
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.M.M.); (J.T.B.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Matthew D. Montierth
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.M.M.); (J.T.B.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Farren B. Briggs
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;
| | - Scott F. Frodsham
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;
| | - Mary Feller Davis
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.M.M.); (J.T.B.); (M.D.M.)
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Liu X, Zhang J, Nie D, Zeng K, Hu H, Tie J, Sun L, Peng L, Liu X, Wang J. Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis to Identify the Important Coding and Non-coding RNAs Involved in the Pathogenesis of Pterygium. Front Genet 2021; 12:646550. [PMID: 33790949 PMCID: PMC8005612 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.646550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Pterygium is a common ocular surface disease characterized by abnormal fibrovascular proliferation and invasion, similar to tumorigenesis. The formation of tumors is related to a change in the expression of various RNAs; however, whether they are involved in the formation and development of pterygium remains unclear. In this study, transcriptome analysis of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) of paired pterygium and normal conjunctiva was performed to explore key genes regulating the development of pterygium. In total, 579 mRNAs, 275 lncRNAs, and 21 circRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) in pterygium compared with paired conjunctival tissues. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that DE RNAs were associated with extracellular matrix organization, blood vessel morphogenesis, and focal adhesion. Furthermore, through protein-protein interaction network and mRNA-lncRNA co-expression network analysis, key mRNAs including FN1, VCAM1, and MMP2, and key lncRNAs including MIR4435-2HG and LINC00968 were screened and might be involved in the pathogenesis of pterygium. In addition, several circRNAs including hsa_circ_0007482 and hsa_circ_001730 were considered to be involved in the pterygium development. This study provides a scientific basis for elucidating the pathogenesis of pterygium and will be beneficial for the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Danyao Nie
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kun Zeng
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huiling Hu
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinjun Tie
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Liangnan Sun
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ling Peng
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinhua Liu
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiantao Wang
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Shenzhen Eye Hospital of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Changes in Gene Expression Profiling and Phenotype in Aged Multidrug Resistance Protein 4-Deficient Mouse Retinas. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10030455. [PMID: 33804096 PMCID: PMC7999859 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10030455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) is an energy-dependent membrane transporter responsible for cellular efflux of a broad range of xenobiotics and physiological substrates. In this trial, we aimed to investigate the coeffects of aging and MRP4 deficiency using gene expression microarray and morphological and electrophysiological analyses of mouse retinas. Mrp4-knockout (null) mice and wild-type (WT) mice were reared in the same conditions to 8–12 weeks (young) or 45–55 weeks (aged). Microarray analysis identified 186 differently expressed genes from the retinas of aged Mrp4-null mice as compared to aged WT mice, and subsequent gene ontology and KEGG pathway analyses showed that differently expressed genes were related to lens, eye development, vision and transcellular barrier functions that are involved in metabolic pathways or viral infection pathways. No significant change in thickness was observed for each retinal layer among young/aged WT mice and young/aged Mrp4-null mice. Moreover, immunohistochemical analyses of retinal cell type did not exhibit an overt change in the cellular morphology or distribution among the four age/genotype groups, and the electroretinogram responses showed no significant differences in the amplitude or the latency between aged WT mice and aged Mrp4-null mice. Aging would be an insufficient stress to cause some damage to the retina in the presence of MRP4 deficiency.
Collapse
|
40
|
Leber Congenital Amaurosis Due to GUCY2D Mutations: Longitudinal Analysis of Retinal Structure and Visual Function. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042031. [PMID: 33670772 PMCID: PMC7922686 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene augmentation therapy is being planned for GUCY2D-associated Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). To increase our understanding of the natural history of GUCY2D-LCA, patients were evaluated twice with an interval of 4 to 7 years between visits using safety and efficacy outcome measures previously determined to be useful for monitoring this disorder. In this group of molecularly-identified LCA patients (n = 10; ages 7–37 years at first visit), optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure foveal cone outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness and rod ONL at a superior retinal locus. Full-field stimulus testing (FST) with chromatic stimuli in dark- and light-adapted states was used to assay rod and cone vision. Changes in OCT and FST over the interval were mostly attributable to inter-visit variability. There were no major negative changes in structure or function across the cohort and over the intervals studied. Variation in severity of disease expression between patients occurs; however, despite difficulties in quantifying structure and function in such seriously visually impaired individuals with nystagmus, the present work supports the use of OCT as a safety outcome and FST as an efficacy outcome in a clinical trial of GUCY2D-LCA. A wide age spectrum for therapy was confirmed, and there was relative stability of structure and function during a typical time interval for clinical trials.
Collapse
|
41
|
Liu X, Jiang Z, Zhang G, Ng TK, Wu Z. Association of UCP1 and UCP2 variants with diabetic retinopathy susceptibility in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients: a meta-analysis. BMC Ophthalmol 2021; 21:81. [PMID: 33579234 PMCID: PMC7881628 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-021-01838-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic association of uncoupling proteins (UCPs) variants with the susceptibility of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients has been reported but with controversy. Here we aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to confirm the association of different UCPs variants with DR. METHODS Three databases (Medline Ovid, Embase Ovid and CENTRAL) were applied in the literature search. Five genetic models, including allelic, homozygous, heterozygous, dominant and recessive models, were evaluated. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated under the random or fixed-effects models. Subgroup analyses, publication bias and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. RESULTS Eleven studies on 2 UCPs variants (UCP1 rs1800592 and UCP2 rs659366) were included. Our meta-analysis showed that UCP1 rs1800592 was not associated with DR in type-2 DM patients, and UCP2 rs659366 also showed no association with DR. In the subgroup analyses on the stage of DR, allele G of UCP1 rs1800592 significantly increased the susceptibility of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in type-2 DM patients in the allelic (OR = 1.26, P = 0.03) and homozygous models (OR = 1.60, P = 0.04). Subgroup analysis on ethnicity did not found any significant association of rs1800592 and rs659366 with DR. CONCLUSION Our meta-analysis confirmed the association of UCP1 rs1800592 variant with PDR in patients with type-2 DM, suggesting its potential as a genetic marker for PDR prediction in population screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xujia Liu
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, North Dongxia Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zehua Jiang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, North Dongxia Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guihua Zhang
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, North Dongxia Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tsz Kin Ng
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, North Dongxia Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Zhenggen Wu
- Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, North Dongxia Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China.
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Eye Fixation-Related Potentials during Visual Search on Acquaintance and Newly-Learned Faces. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11020218. [PMID: 33579017 PMCID: PMC7916779 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11020218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Searching familiar faces in the crowd may involve stimulus-driven attention by emotional significance, together with goal-directed attention due to task-relevant needs. The present study investigated the effect of familiarity on attentional processes by exploring eye fixation-related potentials (EFRPs) and eye gazes when humans searched for, among other distracting faces, either an acquaintance’s face or a newly-learned face. Task performance and gaze behavior were indistinguishable for identifying either faces. However, from the EFRP analysis, after a P300 component for successful search of target faces, we found greater deflections of right parietal late positive potentials in response to newly-learned faces than acquaintance’s faces, indicating more involvement of goal-directed attention in processing newly-learned faces. In addition, we found greater occipital negativity elicited by acquaintance’s faces, reflecting emotional responses to significant stimuli. These results may suggest that finding a familiar face in the crowd would involve lower goal-directed attention and elicit more emotional responses.
Collapse
|
43
|
Fan Gaskin JC, Shah MH, Chan EC. Oxidative Stress and the Role of NADPH Oxidase in Glaucoma. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10020238. [PMID: 33557289 PMCID: PMC7914994 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10020238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is characterised by loss of retinal ganglion cells, and their axons and many pathophysiological processes are postulated to be involved. It is increasingly understood that not one pathway underlies glaucoma aetiology, but rather they occur as a continuum that ultimately results in the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells. Oxidative stress is recognised as an important mechanism of cell death in many neurodegenerative diseases, including glaucoma. NADPH oxidase (NOX) are enzymes that are widely expressed in vascular and non-vascular cells, and they are unique in that they primarily produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). There is mounting evidence that NOX are an important source of ROS and oxidative stress in glaucoma and other retinal diseases. This review aims to provide a perspective on the complex role of oxidative stress in glaucoma, in particular how NOX expression may influence glaucoma pathogenesis as illustrated by different experimental models of glaucoma and highlights potential therapeutic targets that may offer a novel treatment option to glaucoma patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Fan Gaskin
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne 3002, Australia
| | - Manisha H Shah
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne 3002, Australia
| | - Elsa C Chan
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne 3002, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
New Omics-Derived Perspectives on Retinal Dystrophies: Could Ion Channels-Encoding or Related Genes Act as Modifier of Pathological Phenotype? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010070. [PMID: 33374679 PMCID: PMC7793472 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ion channels are membrane-spanning integral proteins expressed in multiple organs, including the eye. Here, ion channels play a role in several physiological processes, like signal transmission and visual processing. A wide range of mutations have been reported in the corresponding genes and their interacting subunit coding genes, which contribute significantly to a wide spectrum of ocular diseases collectively called channelopathies, a subgroup of inherited retinal dystrophies. Such mutations result in either a loss or gain-of channel functions affecting the structure, assembly, trafficking and localization of channel proteins. We investigated the probands of seven Italian and Egyptian families affected by not completely defined forms of inherited retinal dystrophies, by whole exome sequencing (WES) experiments, and found interesting variants in already known causative genes probably able to impair retinal functionalities. However, because such variants did not completely explain the phenotype manifested by each patient, we proceed to further investigate possible related genes carrying mutations that might complement previously found data, based on the common aspect linked to neurotransmission impairments. We found 10 mutated genes whose variants might alter important ligand binding sites differently distributed through all considered patients. Such genes encode for ion channels, or their regulatory proteins, and strictly interact with known causative genes, also sharing with them synaptic-related pathways. Taking into account several limitations that will be resolved by further experiments, we believe that our exploratory investigation will help scientists to provide a new promising paradigm for precise diagnosis of retinal dystrophies to facilitate the development of rational treatments.
Collapse
|