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Zloh M, Kutilek P, Hejda J, Fiserova I, Kubovciak J, Murakami M, Stofkova A. Visual stimulation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have protective effects in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis. Life Sci 2024; 355:122996. [PMID: 39173995 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122996] [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: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
AIMS To investigate the therapeutic potential of visual stimulation (VS) and BDNF in murine experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU). MAIN METHODS Mice were immunized by subcutaneous injection of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein in Freund's complete adjuvant and intravenous injection of pertussis toxin, and were then exposed to high-contrast VS 12 h/day (days 1-14 post-immunization). EAU severity was assessed by examining clinical score, visual acuity, inflammatory markers, and immune cells in the retina. The transcriptome of activated retinal cells was determined by RNA-seq using RNA immunoprecipitated in complex with phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6. The retinal levels of protein products of relevant upregulated genes were quantified. The effect of BDNF on EAU was tested in unstimulated mice by its daily topical ocular administration (days 8-14 post-immunization). KEY FINDINGS VS attenuated EAU development and decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and numbers of immune cells in the retina (n = 10-20 eyes/group for each analysis). In activated retinal cells of control mice (n = 30 eyes/group), VS upregulated genes encoding immunomodulatory neuropeptides, of which BDNF and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) also showed increased mRNA and protein levels in the retina of VS-treated EAU mice (n = 6-10 eyes/group for each analysis). In unstimulated EAU mice, BDNF treatment mimicked the protective effects of VS by modulating the inflammatory and stem cell properties of Müller cells (n = 5 eyes/group for each analysis). SIGNIFICANCE VS effectively suppresses EAU, at least through enhancing retinal levels of anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective factors, VIP and BDNF. Our findings also suggest BDNF as a promising therapeutic agent for uveitis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloslav Zloh
- Department of Physiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Patrik Kutilek
- Department of Health Care and Population Protection, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Kladno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Hejda
- Department of Health Care and Population Protection, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Kladno, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Fiserova
- Department of Physiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kubovciak
- Laboratory of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Masaaki Murakami
- Division of Molecular Psychoimmunology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Group of Quantum Immunology, Institute for Quantum Life Science, National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Chiba, Japan; Division of Molecular Neuroimmunology, Department of Homeostatic Regulation, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Aichi, Japan; Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (HU-IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Andrea Stofkova
- Department of Physiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Akabane K, Murakami K, Murakami M. Gateway reflexes are neural circuits that establish the gateway of immune cells to regulate tissue specific inflammation. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:469-477. [PMID: 37318003 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2225215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tissue-specific inflammatory diseases are regulated by several mechanisms. The gateway reflex and IL-6 amplifier are two mechanisms involved in diseases that depend on the inflammatory cytokine IL-6. The gateway reflex activates specific neural pathways that cause autoreactive CD4+ T cells to pass through gateways in blood vessels toward specific tissues in tissue-specific inflammatory diseases. These gateways are mediated by the IL-6 amplifier, which describes enhanced NF-κB activation in nonimmune cells including endothelial cells at specific sites. In total, we have reported six gateway reflexes defined by their triggering stimulus: gravity, pain, electric stimulation, stress, light, and joint inflammation. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes the gateway reflex and IL-6 amplifier for the development of tissue-specific inflammatory diseases. EXPERT OPINION We expect that the IL-6 amplifier and gateway reflex will lead to novel therapeutic and diagnostic methods for inflammatory diseases, particularly tissue-specific ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichiroh Akabane
- Molecular Psychoimmunology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kaoru Murakami
- Molecular Psychoimmunology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Group of Quantum Immunology, Institute for Quantum Life Science, National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Chiba, Japan
| | - Masaaki Murakami
- Molecular Psychoimmunology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Group of Quantum Immunology, Institute for Quantum Life Science, National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Chiba, Japan
- Division of Molecular Neuroimmunology, Department of Homeostatic Regulation, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development(HU-IVRed), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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Berkowitz BA, Podolsky RH, Childers KL, Roberts R, Katz R, Waseem R, Robbings BM, Hass DT, Hurley JB, Sweet IR, Goodman C, Qian H, Alvisio B, Heaps S. Transducin-Deficient Rod Photoreceptors Evaluated With Optical Coherence Tomography and Oxygen Consumption Rate Energy Biomarkers. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:22. [PMID: 36576748 PMCID: PMC9804021 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.13.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To test the hypothesis that rod energy biomarkers in light and dark are similar in mice without functional rod transducin (Gnat1rd17). Methods Gnat1rd17 and wildtype (WT) mice were studied in canonically low energy demand (light) and high energy demand (dark) conditions. We measured rod inner segment ellipsoid zone (ISez) profile shape, external limiting membrane-retinal pigment epithelium (ELM-RPE) thickness, and magnitude of a hyporeflective band (HB) intensity dip located between photoreceptor tips and apical RPE; antioxidants were given in a subset of mice. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and visual performance indexes were also measured. Results The lower energy demand expected in light-adapted wildtype retinas was associated with an elongated ISez, thicker ELM-RPE, and higher HB magnitude, and lower OCR compared to high energy demand conditions in the dark. Gnat1rd17 mice showed a wildtype-like ISez profile shape at 20 minutes of light that became rounder at 60 minutes; at both times, ELM-RPE was smaller than wildtype values, and the HB magnitude was unmeasurable. OCR was higher than in the dark. Light-adapted Gnat1rd17 mice biomarkers were unaffected by anti-oxidants. Gnat1rd17 mice showed modest outer nuclear layer thinning and no reduction in visual performance indexes. Conclusions Light-stimulated changes in all biomarkers in WT mice are consistent with the established light-induced decrease in net energy demand. In contrast, biomarker changes in Gnat1rd17 mice raise the possibility that light increases net energy demand in the absence of rod phototransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce A Berkowitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Robert H Podolsky
- Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Children's National Hospital, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - Karen Lins Childers
- Beaumont Research Institute, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
| | - Robin Roberts
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Ryan Katz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Rida Waseem
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Brian M Robbings
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States.,Department of Medicine, UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Daniel T Hass
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - James B Hurley
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Ian R Sweet
- Department of Medicine, UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Cole Goodman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
| | - Haohua Qian
- Visual Function Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Bruno Alvisio
- OSIO Bioinformatics Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Sam Heaps
- OSIO Bioinformatics Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
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Molecular Mechanisms of Neural Plasticity: From Basic Research to Implications for Visual Functional Rescue. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113183. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual system plasticity, the capability of visual connections to modify their structure and function in response to experience, is an essential property underlying the maturation of visual functions during development, behavioral flexibility in response to subtle environmental changes, and adaptive repair in conditions of disease or trauma [...]
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High-Contrast Stimulation Potentiates the Neurotrophic Properties of Müller Cells and Suppresses Their Pro-Inflammatory Phenotype. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158615. [PMID: 35955747 PMCID: PMC9369166 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
High-contrast visual stimulation promotes retinal regeneration and visual function, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we hypothesized that Müller cells (MCs), which express neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), could be key players in this retinal plasticity process. This hypothesis was tested by conducting in vivo and in vitro high-contrast stimulation of adult mice and MCs. Following stimulation, we examined the expression of BDNF and its inducible factor, VGF, in the retina and MCs. We also investigated the alterations in the expression of VGF, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and pro-inflammatory mediators in MCs, as well as their capacity to proliferate and develop a neurogenic or reactive gliosis phenotype after high-contrast stimulation and treatment with BDNF. Our results showed that high-contrast stimulation upregulated BDNF levels in MCs in vivo and in vitro. The additional BDNF treatment significantly augmented VGF production in MCs and their neuroprotective features, as evidenced by increased MC proliferation, neurodifferentiation, and decreased expression of the pro-inflammatory factors and the reactive gliosis marker GFAP. These results demonstrate that high-contrast stimulation activates the neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties of MCs, suggesting their possible direct involvement in retinal neuronal survival and improved functional outcomes in response to visual stimulation.
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