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Yang M, Chen T, Chen X, Pan H, Zhao G, Chen Z, Zhao N, Ye Q, Chen M, Zhang S, Gao R, Meek KM, Hayes S, Ma X, Li X, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Kong N, Tao W, Zhou X, Huang J. Development of graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots-based oxygen self-sufficient platforms for enhanced corneal crosslinking. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5508. [PMID: 38951161 PMCID: PMC11217369 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49645-8] [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: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Keratoconus, a disorder characterized by corneal thinning and weakening, results in vision loss. Corneal crosslinking (CXL) can halt the progression of keratoconus. The development of accelerated corneal crosslinking (A-CXL) protocols to shorten the treatment time has been hampered by the rapid depletion of stromal oxygen when higher UVA intensities are used, resulting in a reduced cross-linking effect. It is therefore imperative to develop better methods to increase the oxygen concentration within the corneal stroma during the A-CXL process. Photocatalytic oxygen-generating nanomaterials are promising candidates to solve the hypoxia problem during A-CXL. Biocompatible graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) quantum dots (QDs)-based oxygen self-sufficient platforms including g-C3N4 QDs and riboflavin/g-C3N4 QDs composites (RF@g-C3N4 QDs) have been developed in this study. Both display excellent photocatalytic oxygen generation ability, high reactive oxygen species (ROS) yield, and excellent biosafety. More importantly, the A-CXL effect of the g-C3N4 QDs or RF@g-C3N4 QDs composite on male New Zealand white rabbits is better than that of the riboflavin 5'-phosphate sodium (RF) A-CXL protocol under the same conditions, indicating excellent strengthening of the cornea after A-CXL treatments. These lead us to suggest the potential application of g-C3N4 QDs in A-CXL for corneal ectasias and other corneal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Yang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases; Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China.
| | - Tingting Chen
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases; Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Hongxian Pan
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases; Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Guoli Zhao
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases; Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Zhongxing Chen
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases; Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Nan Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering, Northeast Electric Power University, Jilin, 132000, China
| | - Qianfang Ye
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Ming Chen
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases; Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Shenrong Zhang
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Rongrong Gao
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Keith M Meek
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University; Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Sally Hayes
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University; Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Xiaowei Ma
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases; Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Na Kong
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Wei Tao
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Xingtao Zhou
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases; Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Jinhai Huang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases; Key Laboratory of Myopia and Related Eye Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, 200030, China.
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Karamichos D, Escandon P, Vasini B, Nicholas SE, Van L, Dang DH, Cunningham RL, Riaz KM. Anterior pituitary, sex hormones, and keratoconus: Beyond traditional targets. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 88:101016. [PMID: 34740824 PMCID: PMC9058044 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.101016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
"The Diseases of the Horny-coat of The Eye", known today as keratoconus, is a progressive, multifactorial, non-inflammatory ectatic corneal disorder that is characterized by steepening (bulging) and thinning of the cornea, irregular astigmatism, myopia, and scarring that can cause devastating vision loss. The significant socioeconomic impact of the disease is immeasurable, as patients with keratoconus can have difficulties securing certain jobs or even joining the military. Despite the introduction of corneal crosslinking and improvements in scleral contact lens designs, corneal transplants remain the main surgical intervention for treating keratoconus refractory to medical therapy and visual rehabilitation. To-date, the etiology and pathogenesis of keratoconus remains unclear. Research studies have increased exponentially over the years, highlighting the clinical significance and international interest in this disease. Hormonal imbalances have been linked to keratoconus, both clinically and experimentally, with both sexes affected. However, it is unclear how (molecular/cellular signaling) or when (age/disease stage(s)) those hormones affect the keratoconic cornea. Previous studies have categorized the human cornea as an extragonadal tissue, showing modulation of the gonadotropins, specifically luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Studies herein provide new data (both in vitro and in vivo) to further delineate the role of hormones/gonadotropins in the keratoconus pathobiology, and propose the existence of a new axis named the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal-Corneal (HPAC) axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Karamichos
- North Texas Eye Research Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3430 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA.
| | - Paulina Escandon
- North Texas Eye Research Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3430 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Brenda Vasini
- North Texas Eye Research Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3430 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Sarah E Nicholas
- North Texas Eye Research Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3430 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Lyly Van
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L Young, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Deanna H Dang
- College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L Young, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Rebecca L Cunningham
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Kamran M Riaz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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Understanding Drivers of Ocular Fibrosis: Current and Future Therapeutic Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111748. [PMID: 34769176 PMCID: PMC8584003 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ocular fibrosis leads to severe visual impairment and blindness worldwide, being a major area of unmet need in ophthalmology and medicine. To date, the only available treatments are antimetabolite drugs that have significant potentially blinding side effects, such as tissue damage and infection. There is thus an urgent need to identify novel targets to prevent/treat scarring and postsurgical fibrosis in the eye. In this review, the latest progress in biological mechanisms underlying ocular fibrosis are discussed. We also summarize the current knowledge on preclinical studies based on viral and non-viral gene therapy, as well as chemical inhibitors, for targeting TGFβ or downstream effectors in fibrotic disorders of the eye. Moreover, the role of angiogenetic and biomechanical factors in ocular fibrosis is discussed, focusing on related preclinical treatment approaches. Moreover, we describe available evidence on clinical studies investigating the use of therapies targeting TGFβ-dependent pathways, angiogenetic factors, and biomechanical factors, alone or in combination with other strategies, in ocular tissue fibrosis. Finally, the recent progress in cell-based therapies for treating fibrotic eye disorders is discussed. The increasing knowledge of these disorders in the eye and the promising results from testing of novel targeted therapies could offer viable perspectives for translation into clinical use.
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Chameettachal S, Puranik CJ, Veluthedathu MN, Chalil NB, John R, Pati F. Thickening of Ectatic Cornea through Regeneration Using Decellularized Corneal Matrix Injectable Hydrogel: A Strategic Advancement to Mitigate Corneal Ectasia. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021; 4:7300-7313. [PMID: 35006959 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Ectatic corneal diseases are a group of eye disorders characterized by progressive thinning and outward bulging of the cornea, resulting in vision impairment. A few attempts have been made to use cornea-derived extracellular matrix hydrogels for corneal tissue engineering; however, no studies have investigated its application in corneal ectasia. In this study, we have first developed an animal surgical model that mimics a few specific phenotypes of ectatic cornea. Later, we investigated the potential of decellularized cornea matrix hydrogels (dCMH) from both human and bovine sources in increasing the thickness of the cornea in the developed surgical model. Our data advocate that surgical stromal depletion can be followed to establish ectatic models and can also provide information on the biocompatibility of materials, its integration with native stroma, degradation over time, and tissue remodeling. We observed that dCMH from both sources could integrate with ectatic thin corneal stroma and helps in regaining the thickness by regenerating a reasonably functional and transparent stroma; however, no significant difference was spotted between the dCMH made from human and bovine corneal tissue sources. Hence, this study is a promising step toward developing a non-invasive technique for the treatment of corneal ectasia by using dCMH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibu Chameettachal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 502284, India
| | - Charuta J Puranik
- Oculus Regenerus Eye Care and Research Center, Nanalnagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500008, India
| | - Mohamed Nijas Veluthedathu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 502284, India
| | - Najathulla Bhagavathi Chalil
- Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy , Hyderabad, Telangana 502284, India
| | - Renu John
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 502284, India
| | - Falguni Pati
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 502284, India
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Al-Timemy AH, Ghaeb NH, Mosa ZM, Escudero J. Deep Transfer Learning for Improved Detection of Keratoconus using Corneal Topographic Maps. Cognit Comput 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12559-021-09880-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Clinical keratoconus (KCN) detection is a challenging and time-consuming task. In the diagnosis process, ophthalmologists must revise demographic and clinical ophthalmic examinations. The latter include slit-lamb, corneal topographic maps, and Pentacam indices (PI). We propose an Ensemble of Deep Transfer Learning (EDTL) based on corneal topographic maps. We consider four pretrained networks, SqueezeNet (SqN), AlexNet (AN), ShuffleNet (SfN), and MobileNet-v2 (MN), and fine-tune them on a dataset of KCN and normal cases, each including four topographic maps. We also consider a PI classifier. Then, our EDTL method combines the output probabilities of each of the five classifiers to obtain a decision based on the fusion of probabilities. Individually, the classifier based on PI achieved 93.1% accuracy, whereas the deep classifiers reached classification accuracies over 90% only in isolated cases. Overall, the average accuracy of the deep networks over the four corneal maps ranged from 86% (SfN) to 89.9% (AN). The classifier ensemble increased the accuracy of the deep classifiers based on corneal maps to values ranging (92.2% to 93.1%) for SqN and (93.1% to 94.8%) for AN. Including in the ensemble-specific combinations of corneal maps’ classifiers and PI increased the accuracy to 98.3%. Moreover, visualization of first learner filters in the networks and Grad-CAMs confirmed that the networks had learned relevant clinical features. This study shows the potential of creating ensembles of deep classifiers fine-tuned with a transfer learning strategy as it resulted in an improved accuracy while showing learnable filters and Grad-CAMs that agree with clinical knowledge. This is a step further towards the potential clinical deployment of an improved computer-assisted diagnosis system for KCN detection to help ophthalmologists to confirm the clinical decision and to perform fast and accurate KCN treatment.
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Loukovitis E, Sfakianakis K, Syrmakesi P, Tsotridou E, Orfanidou M, Bakaloudi DR, Stoila M, Kozei A, Koronis S, Zachariadis Z, Tranos P, Kozeis N, Balidis M, Gatzioufas Z, Fiska A, Anogeianakis G. Genetic Aspects of Keratoconus: A Literature Review Exploring Potential Genetic Contributions and Possible Genetic Relationships with Comorbidities. Ophthalmol Ther 2018; 7:263-292. [PMID: 30191404 PMCID: PMC6258591 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-018-0144-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Keratoconus (KC) is a complex, genetically heterogeneous, multifactorial degenerative disorder that is accompanied by corneal ectasia which usually progresses asymmetrically. With an incidence of approximately 1 per 2000 and 2 cases per 100,000 population presenting annually, KC follows an autosomal recessive or dominant pattern of inheritance and is, apparently, associated with genes that interact with environmental, genetic, and/or other factors. This is an important consideration in refractive surgery in the case of familial KC, given the association of KC with other genetic disorders and the imbalance between dizygotic twins. The present review attempts to identify the genetic loci contributing to the different KC clinical presentations and relate them to the common genetically determined comorbidities associated with KC. Methods The PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and GeneCards databases were screened for KC-related articles published in English between January 2006 and November 2017. Keyword combinations of “keratoconus,” “risk factor(s),” “genetics,” “genes,” “genetic association(s),” and “cornea” were used. In total, 217 articles were retrieved and analyzed, with greater weight placed on the more recent literature. Further bibliographic research based on the 217 articles revealed another 124 relevant articles that were included in this review. Using the reviewed literature, an attempt was made to correlate genes and genetic risk factors with KC characteristics and genetically related comorbidities associated with KC based on genome-wide association studies, family-based linkage analysis, and candidate-gene approaches. Results An association matrix between known KC-related genes and KC symptoms and/or clinical signs together with an association matrix between identified KC genes and genetically related KC comorbidities/syndromes were constructed. Conclusion Twenty-four genes were identified as potential contributors to KC and 49 KC-related comorbidities/syndromes were found. More than 85% of the known KC-related genes are involved in glaucoma, Down syndrome, connective tissue disorders, endothelial dystrophy, posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy, and cataract.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Konstantinos Sfakianakis
- Division of Surgical Anatomy, Laboratory of Anatomy, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, University Campus, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Panagiota Syrmakesi
- AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloníki, Greece.,Ophthalmica Eye Institute, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Eleni Tsotridou
- Ophthalmica Eye Institute, Thessaloníki, Greece.,Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Myrsini Orfanidou
- Ophthalmica Eye Institute, Thessaloníki, Greece.,Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Dimitra Rafailia Bakaloudi
- Ophthalmica Eye Institute, Thessaloníki, Greece.,Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Maria Stoila
- Ophthalmica Eye Institute, Thessaloníki, Greece.,Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Athina Kozei
- Ophthalmica Eye Institute, Thessaloníki, Greece.,School of Pharmacology, University of Nicosia, Makedonitissis, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Zisis Gatzioufas
- Department of Ophthalmology, Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Aliki Fiska
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, University Campus, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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Sharif R, Priyadarsini S, Rowsey TG, Ma JX, Karamichos D. Corneal Tissue Engineering: An In Vitro Model of the Stromal-nerve Interactions of the Human Cornea. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 29443018 DOI: 10.3791/56308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue engineering has gained substantial recognition due to the high demand for human cornea replacements with an estimated 10 million people worldwide suffering from corneal vision loss1. To address the demand for viable human corneas, significant progress in three-dimensional (3D) tissue engineering has been made2,3,4. These cornea models range from simple monolayer systems to multilayered models, leading to 3D full-thickness corneal equivalents2. However, the use of a 3D tissue-engineered cornea in the context of in vitro disease models studied to date lacks resemblance to the multilayered 3D corneal tissue structure, function, and the networking of different cell types (i.e., nerve, epithelium, stroma, and endothelium)2,3. In addition, the demand for in vitro cornea tissue models has increased in an attempt to reduce animal testing for pharmaceutical products. Thus, more sophisticated models are required to better match systems to human physiological requirements, and the development of a model that is more relevant to the patient population is absolutely necessary. Given that multiple cell types in the cornea are affected by diseases and dystrophies, such as Keratoconus, Diabetic Keratopathy, and Fuchs, this model includes a 3D co-culture model of primary human corneal fibroblasts (HCFs) from healthy donors and neurons from the SH-SY5Y cell line. This allows us for the first time to investigate the interactions between the two cell types within the human corneal tissue. We believe that this model could potentially dissect the underlying mechanisms associated with the stromal-nerve interactions of corneal diseases that exhibit nerve damages. This 3D model mirrors the basic anatomical and physiological nature of the corneal tissue in vivo and can be used in the future as a tool for investigating corneal defects as well as screening the efficacy of various agents before animal testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabab Sharif
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
| | - Shrestha Priyadarsini
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
| | - Tyler G Rowsey
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
| | - Jian-Xing Ma
- Department of Physiology, Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
| | - Dimitrios Karamichos
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center;
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Priyadarsini S, Nicholas SE, Karamichos D. 3D Stacked Construct: A Novel Substitute for Corneal Tissue Engineering. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1697:173-180. [PMID: 28451994 DOI: 10.1007/7651_2017_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Corneal trauma/injury often results in serious complications including permanent vision loss or loss of visual acuity which demands corneal transplantations or treatment with allogenic graft tissues. There is currently a huge shortage of donor tissue worldwide and the need for human corneal equivalents increases annually. In order to meet such demand the current clinical approach of treating corneal injuries is limited and involves synthetic and allogenic materials which have various shortcomings when it comes to actual transplantations. In this study we introduce the newly developed, next generation of our previously established 3D self-assembled constructs, where multiple constructs are grown and stacked on top of each other without any other artificial product. This new technology brings our 3D in vitro model closer to what is seen in vivo and provides a solid foundation for future studies on corneal biology.Lipids are known for playing a vital role during metabolism and diseased state of various tissues and Sphingolipids are one such class of lipids which are involved in various cellular mechanisms and signaling processes. The impacts of Sphingolipids that have been documented in several human diseases often involve inflammation, neovascularization, tumorigenesis, and diabetes, but these conditions are not yet thoroughly studied. There is very little information about the exact role of Sphingolipids in the human cornea and future studies aiming at dissecting the mechanisms and pathways involved in order to develop novel therapies. We believe that our novel 3D stacked model can be used to delineate the role of Sphingolipids in the human cornea and provide new insights for understanding and treating various human corneal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrestha Priyadarsini
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Sarah E Nicholas
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Dimitrios Karamichos
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
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Ocular Complications of Diabetes and Therapeutic Approaches. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:3801570. [PMID: 27119078 PMCID: PMC4826913 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3801570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease defined by elevated blood glucose (BG). DM is a global epidemic and the prevalence is anticipated to continue to increase. The ocular complications of DM negatively impact the quality of life and carry an extremely high economic burden. While systemic control of BG can slow the ocular complications they cannot stop them, especially if clinical symptoms are already present. With the advances in biodegradable polymers, implantable ocular devices can slowly release medication to stop, and in some cases reverse, diabetic complications in the eye. In this review we discuss the ocular complications associated with DM, the treatments available with a focus on localized treatments, and what promising treatments are on the horizon.
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Priyadarsini S, McKay TB, Sarker-Nag A, Karamichos D. Keratoconus in vitro and the key players of the TGF-β pathway. Mol Vis 2015; 21:577-88. [PMID: 26015770 PMCID: PMC4443584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Keratoconus (KC) is a corneal thinning disease of unknown etiology whose pathophysiology is correlated with the presence of a thin corneal stroma and altered extracellular matrix (ECM). Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is a key regulator of ECM secretion and assembly in multiple tissues, including the anterior segment of the eye, and it has been linked to KC. We have previously shown that human keratoconus cells (HKCs) have a myofibroblast phenotype and altered ECM assembly compared to normal human corneal fibroblasts (HCFs). Moreover, TGF-β3 treatment promotes assembly of a more normal stromal ECM and modulates the fibrotic phenotype in HKCs. Herein, we identify alterations in TGF-β signaling that contribute to the observed fibrotic phenotype in HKCs. METHODS HCFs and HKCs were stimulated with TGF-β1, TGF-β2, or TGF-β3 isoforms (0.1 ng/mL) in the presence of a stable vitamin C derivative (0.5 mM) for 4 weeks. All samples were examined using RT-PCR and western blotting to quantify changes in the expressions of key TGF-β signaling molecules between HCFs and HKCs. RESULTS We found a significant downregulation in the SMAD6 and SMAD7 expressions by HKCs when compared to HCFs (p≤0.05). Moreover, stimulation of HKCs with any of the three TGF-β isoforms did not significantly alter the expressions of SMAD6 or SMAD7. HCFs also showed an upregulation in TGF-βRI, TGF-βRII, and TGF-βRIII following TGF-β3 treatment, whereas HKCs showed a significant two-fold downregulation. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our data shows the decreased expressions of the regulatory SMADs SMAD6 and SMAD7 by HKCs contribute to the pathological ECM structure observed in KC, and TGF-β3 may attenuate this mechanism by downregulating the expression of the key profibrotic receptor, TGF-βRII. Our study suggests a significant role of altered regulation of TGF-β signaling in KC progression and that it may enable novel therapeutic developments targeting TGF-β receptor regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrestha Priyadarsini
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Tina B. McKay
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Akhee Sarker-Nag
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Dimitrios Karamichos
- Department of Ophthalmology/Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK,Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
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Sefic Kasumovic S, Racic-Sakovic A, Kasumovic A, Pavljasevic S, Duric-Colic B, Cabric E, Mavija M, Lepara O, Jankov M. Assessment of the tomographic values in keratoconic eyes after collagen crosslinking procedure. Med Arch 2015; 69:91-4. [PMID: 26005256 PMCID: PMC4429986 DOI: 10.5455/medarh.2015.69.91-94] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2015] [Accepted: 04/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
GOAL This study aimed to investigate the differences in values of K1 and K2 readings, the central corneal thickness (PAH) before the collagen crosslinking procedure (CXL) and 3, 6, 12 months later. METHODS 64 eyes were evaluated in retrospective cross sectional study. The corneal biomechanical parameters were taken with WaveLight Allegro Oculyzer produced by Alcon before the CXL, 3,6, 12 months after the procedure. The curvature of K1 reading and K2 reading were taken and the central corneal thickness were considered due to the time after CXL. RESULTS The value of K1 reading before the treatment was 48.8 diopters (D) (46.65-50.50) and was statistically significant lower comparing to the value of K1 3 months after the collagen CXL procedure 46.30 D (43.57-49.45) (p=0.0006), K1 reading one year post collagen CXL procedure was 47.20 D (44.35-50.07) (p=0.002). The value of K2 reading before the collagen CXL procedure was 52.65 D (47.55-54.72), 3 months after the procedure was 51.4 (45.05-54.0), 6 months later 48.55 D (47.20-50.62), 12 months later 51.30 D (47.22-54.77). There is statistically significant lower value of K2 reading 6 months after the treatment comparing to the values 3 months postoperatively (p=0.014). However there is significantly lower values of K2 reading 12 months postoperatively comparing to preoperative period (p=0.006). The value of central corneal thickness preoperative was 431.0 microns (398.0-446.25), 3 months after collagen CXL procedure was 373.50 microns (363.25-430.75), 6 months later 435.0 microns (360.0-464.75), 12 months after the CXL procedure was 429.50 microns (357.75-496.25). There is statistically significant lower values of central corneal thickness 3 months after collagen CXL treatment comparing to the central corneal thickness preoperative (p<0.005). There is statistically significant lower values of pachymetry 12 months after the CXL procedure comparing to the values 6 months later (p=0.036) and those preoperativelly (p=0.032). There is no statistically significant difference in the values of central corneal thickness in the period from 3 and 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION After riboflavin-UVA CXL in eyes with keratokonus there was significant decrease in central corneal thickness 3 and 6 months after the procedure and the thickness is almost the same 12 months. However, K2 (Kmax) reading is significantly changed 3 and 6 months later and is followed by changing of K1 reading.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aida Kasumovic
- Eye Polyclinic "Dr. Sefic", Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | | | | | - Emir Cabric
- "Public Health Care Institution Doboj-Jug, Matuzici", Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Milka Mavija
- University Clinical Center, Banjaluka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Orhan Lepara
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Mirko Jankov
- Laser Fokus Centre for Eye Microsurgery, Beograd, Serbia
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