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Kim H, Roh H, Kim SH, Lee K, Im M, Oh SJ. Effective protection of photoreceptors using an inflammation-responsive hydrogel to attenuate outer retinal degeneration. NPJ Regen Med 2023; 8:68. [PMID: 38097595 PMCID: PMC10721838 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-023-00342-y] [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: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an outer retinal degenerative disease that can lead to photoreceptor cell death and profound vision loss. Although effective regulation of intraretinal inflammation can slow down the progression of the disease, an efficient anti-inflammatory treatment strategy is still lacking. This study reports the fabrication of a hyaluronic acid-based inflammation-responsive hydrogel (IRH) and its epigenetic regulation effects on retinal degeneration. The injectable IRH was designed to respond to cathepsin overexpression in an inflammatory environment. The epigenetic drug, the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) inhibitors, was loaded into the hydrogel to attenuate inflammatory factors. On-demand anti-inflammatory effects of microglia cells via the drug-loaded IRH were verified in vitro and in vivo retinal degeneration 10 (rd10) mice model. Therefore, our IRH not only reduced intraretinal inflammation but also protected photoreceptors morphologically and functionally. Our results suggest the IRH reported here can be used to considerably delay vision loss caused by RP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyerim Kim
- Program in Nanoscience and Technology, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Hyeonhee Roh
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, South Korea
- School of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Sang-Heon Kim
- Center for Biomaterials, Biomedical Research Institute, KIST, Seoul, 02792, South Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, 02792, South Korea
| | - Kangwon Lee
- Department of Applied Bioengineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
- Research Institute for Convergence Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
| | - Maesoon Im
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, South Korea.
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, 02792, South Korea.
- KHU-KIST Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, South Korea.
| | - Seung Ja Oh
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 17104, South Korea.
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Peng Y, Bui CH, Zhang XJ, Chen JS, Tham CC, Chu WK, Chen LJ, Pang CP, Yam JC. The role of EZH2 in ocular diseases: a narrative review. Epigenomics 2023; 15:557-570. [PMID: 37458071 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0147] [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] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
EZH2, acting as a catalytic subunit of PRC2 to catalyze lysine 27 in histone H3, induces the suppression of gene expression. EZH2 can regulate cell proliferation and differentiation of retinal progenitors, which are required for physiological retinal development. Meanwhile, an abnormal level of EZH2 has been observed in ocular tumors and other pathological tissues. This review summarizes the current knowledge on EZH2 in retinal development and ocular diseases, including inherited retinal diseases, ocular tumors, corneal injury, cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related retinal degeneration. We highlight the potential of targeting EZH2 as a precision therapeutic target in ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Peng
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Christine Ht Bui
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Xiu J Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Jian S Chen
- Aier School of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410000, China
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410000, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510000, China
| | - Clement C Tham
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, 999077, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Wai K Chu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Li J Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, 999077, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Chi P Pang
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Jason C Yam
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, 999077, Hong Kong
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, 999077, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
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Moore SM, Christoforidis JB. Advances in Ophthalmic Epigenetics and Implications for Epigenetic Therapies: A Review. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:417. [PMID: 36833344 PMCID: PMC9957018 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020417] [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: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The epigenome represents a vast molecular apparatus that writes, reads, and erases chemical modifications to the DNA and histone code without changing the DNA base-pair sequence itself. Recent advances in molecular sequencing technology have revealed that epigenetic chromatin marks directly mediate critical events in retinal development, aging, and degeneration. Epigenetic signaling regulates retinal progenitor (RPC) cell cycle exit during retinal laminar development, giving rise to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), amacrine cells, horizontal cells, bipolar cells, photoreceptors, and Müller glia. Age-related epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation in the retina and optic nerve are accelerated in pathogenic conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, but reversing these epigenetic marks may represent a novel therapeutic target. Epigenetic writers also integrate environmental signals such as hypoxia, inflammation, and hyperglycemia in complex retinal conditions such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors protect against apoptosis and photoreceptor degeneration in animal models of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The epigenome represents an intriguing therapeutic target for age-, genetic-, and neovascular-related retinal diseases, though more work is needed before advancement to clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer M. Moore
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, Tucson, AZ 85711, USA
| | - John B. Christoforidis
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, Tucson, AZ 85711, USA
- Retina Specialists of Southern Arizonam, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
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Zhao L, Hou C, Yan N. Neuroinflammation in retinitis pigmentosa: Therapies targeting the innate immune system. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1059947. [PMID: 36389729 PMCID: PMC9647059 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1059947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an important cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and lacks effective treatment strategies. Although mutations are the primary cause of RP, research over the past decades has shown that neuroinflammation is an important cause of RP progression. Due to the abnormal activation of immunity, continuous sterile inflammation results in neuron loss and structural destruction. Therapies targeting inflammation have shown their potential to attenuate photoreceptor degeneration in preclinical models. Regardless of variations in genetic background, inflammatory modulation is emerging as an important role in the treatment of RP. We summarize the evidence for the role of inflammation in RP and mention therapeutic strategies where available, focusing on the modulation of innate immune signals, including TNFα signaling, TLR signaling, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, chemokine signaling and JAK/STAT signaling. In addition, we describe epigenetic regulation, the gut microbiome and herbal agents as prospective treatment strategies for RP in recent advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zhao
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chen Hou
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Naihong Yan
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,*Correspondence: Naihong Yan,
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