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Mokady D, Charish J, Barretto-Burns P, Grisé KN, Coles BLK, Raab S, Ortin-Martinez A, Müller A, Fasching B, Jain P, Drukker M, van der Kooy D, Steger M. Small-Molecule-Directed Endogenous Regeneration of Visual Function in a Mammalian Retinal Degeneration Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1521. [PMID: 38338800 PMCID: PMC10855388 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031521] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Degenerative retinal diseases associated with photoreceptor loss are a leading cause of visual impairment worldwide, with limited treatment options. Phenotypic profiling coupled with medicinal chemistry were used to develop a small molecule with proliferative effects on retinal stem/progenitor cells, as assessed in vitro in a neurosphere assay and in vivo by measuring Msx1-positive ciliary body cell proliferation. The compound was identified as having kinase inhibitory activity and was subjected to cellular pathway analysis in non-retinal human primary cell systems. When tested in a disease-relevant murine model of adult retinal degeneration (MNU-induced retinal degeneration), we observed that four repeat intravitreal injections of the compound improved the thickness of the outer nuclear layer along with the regeneration of the visual function, as measured with ERG, visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity tests. This serves as a proof of concept for the use of a small molecule to promote endogenous regeneration in the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphna Mokady
- Endogena Therapeutics, Inc., 661 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 0B7, Canada (P.B.-B.)
| | - Jason Charish
- Endogena Therapeutics, Inc., 661 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 0B7, Canada (P.B.-B.)
| | | | - Kenneth N. Grisé
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Donnelly Centre Rm 1110, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Brenda L. K. Coles
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Donnelly Centre Rm 1110, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Susanne Raab
- Endogena Therapeutics, AG, Binzmuehlestrasse 170 d, CH-8050 Zuerich, Switzerland
| | - Arturo Ortin-Martinez
- Endogena Therapeutics, Inc., 661 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 0B7, Canada (P.B.-B.)
| | - Alex Müller
- Endogena Therapeutics, AG, Binzmuehlestrasse 170 d, CH-8050 Zuerich, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Fasching
- Endogena Therapeutics, AG, Binzmuehlestrasse 170 d, CH-8050 Zuerich, Switzerland
| | - Payal Jain
- Endogena Therapeutics, Inc., 661 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 0B7, Canada (P.B.-B.)
| | - Micha Drukker
- Endogena Therapeutics, AG, Binzmuehlestrasse 170 d, CH-8050 Zuerich, Switzerland
| | - Derek van der Kooy
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Donnelly Centre Rm 1110, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Matthias Steger
- Endogena Therapeutics, AG, Binzmuehlestrasse 170 d, CH-8050 Zuerich, Switzerland
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Grigoryan EN. Pigment Epithelia of the Eye: Cell-Type Conversion in Regeneration and Disease. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12030382. [PMID: 35330132 PMCID: PMC8955580 DOI: 10.3390/life12030382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pigment epithelial cells (PECs) of the retina (RPE), ciliary body, and iris (IPE) are capable of altering their phenotype. The main pathway of phenotypic switching of eye PECs in vertebrates and humans in vivo and/or in vitro is neural/retinal. Besides, cells of amphibian IPE give rise to the lens and its derivatives, while mammalian and human RPE can be converted along the mesenchymal pathway. The PECs’ capability of conversion in vivo underlies the lens and retinal regeneration in lower vertebrates and retinal diseases such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy and fibrosis in mammals and humans. The present review considers these processes studied in vitro and in vivo in animal models and in humans. The molecular basis of conversion strategies in PECs is elucidated. Being predetermined onto- and phylogenetically, it includes a species-specific molecular context, differential expression of transcription factors, signaling pathways, and epigenomic changes. The accumulated knowledge regarding the mechanisms of PECs phenotypic switching allows the development of approaches to specified conversion for many purposes: obtaining cells for transplantation, creating conditions to stimulate natural regeneration of the retina and the lens, blocking undesirable conversions associated with eye pathology, and finding molecular markers of pathology to be targets of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora N Grigoryan
- Kol'tsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
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Coles BLK, Labib M, Poudineh M, Innes BT, Belair-Hickey J, Gomis S, Wang Z, Bader GD, Sargent EH, Kelley SO, van der Kooy D. A microfluidic platform enables comprehensive gene expression profiling of mouse retinal stem cells. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4464-4476. [PMID: 34651637 PMCID: PMC8578462 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00790d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Loss of photoreceptors due to retinal degeneration is a major cause of untreatable visual impairment and blindness. Cell replacement therapy, using retinal stem cell (RSC)-derived photoreceptors, holds promise for reconstituting damaged cell populations in the retina. One major obstacle preventing translation to the clinic is the lack of validated markers or strategies to prospectively identify these rare cells in the retina and subsequently enrich them. Here, we introduce a microfluidic platform that combines nickel micromagnets, herringbone structures, and a design enabling varying flow velocities among three compartments to facilitate a highly efficient enrichment of RSCs. In addition, we developed an affinity enrichment strategy based on cell-surface markers that was utilized to isolate RSCs from the adult ciliary epithelium. We showed that targeting a panel of three cell surface markers simultaneously facilitates the enrichment of RSCs to 1 : 3 relative to unsorted cells. Combining the microfluidic platform with single-cell whole-transcriptome profiling, we successfully identified four differentially expressed cell surface markers that can be targeted simultaneously to yield an unprecedented 1 : 2 enrichment of RSCs relative to unsorted cells. We also identified transcription factors (TFs) that play functional roles in maintenance, quiescence, and proliferation of RSCs. This level of analysis for the first time identified a spectrum of molecular and functional properties of RSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda L K Coles
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Mahmoud Labib
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada.
| | - Mahla Poudineh
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Brendan T Innes
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Justin Belair-Hickey
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Surath Gomis
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Zongjie Wang
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
- Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G4, Canada
| | - Gary D Bader
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Edward H Sargent
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Shana O Kelley
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada.
- Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Derek van der Kooy
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
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Sherpa RD, Hui SP. An insight on established retinal injury mechanisms and prevalent retinal stem cell activation pathways in vertebrate models. Animal Model Exp Med 2021; 4:189-203. [PMID: 34557646 PMCID: PMC8446703 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Implementing different tools and injury mechanisms in multiple animal models of retina regeneration, researchers have discovered the existence of retinal stem/progenitor cells. Although they appear to be distributed uniformly across the vertebrate lineage, the reparative potential of the retina is mainly restricted to lower vertebrates. Regenerative repair post-injury requires the creation of a proliferative niche, vital for proper stem cell activation, propagation, and lineage differentiation. This seems to be lacking in mammals. Hence, in this review, we first discuss the many forms of retinal injuries that have been generated using animal models. Next, we discuss how they are utilized to stimulate regeneration and mimic eye disease pathologies. The key to driving stem cell activation in mammals relies on the information we can gather from these models. Lastly, we present a brief update about the genes, growth factors, and signaling pathways that have been brought to light using these models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Subhra Prakash Hui
- S. N. Pradhan Centre for NeurosciencesUniversity of CalcuttaKolkataIndia
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Abstract
Purpose Retinal degenerative diseases lead to the death of retinal neurons causing visual impairment and blindness. In lower order vertebrates, the retina and its surrounding tissue contain stem cell niches capable of regenerating damaged tissue. Here we examine these niches and review their capacity to be used as retinal stem/progenitor cells (RSC/RPCs) for retinal repair. Recent Findings Exogenous factors can control the in vitro activation of RSCs/PCs found in several niches within the adult eye including cells in the ciliary margin, the retinal pigment epithelium, iris pigment epithelium as well as the inducement of Müller and amacrine cells within the neural retina itself. Recently, factors have been identified for the activation of adult mammalian Müller cells to a RPC state in vivo. Summary Whereas cell transplantation still holds potential for retinal repair, activation of the dormant native regeneration process may lead to a more successful process including greater integration efficiency and proper synaptic targeting.
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The peripheral eye: A neurogenic area with potential to treat retinal pathologies? Prog Retin Eye Res 2018; 68:110-123. [PMID: 30201383 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Numerous degenerative diseases affecting visual function, including glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa, are produced by the loss of different types of retinal cells. Cell replacement therapy has emerged as a promising strategy for treating these and other retinal diseases. The retinal margin or ciliary body (CB) of mammals has been proposed as a potential source of cells to be used in degenerative conditions affecting the retina because it has been reported it might hold neurogenic potential beyond embryonic development. However, many aspects of the origin and biology of the CB are unknown and more recent experiments have challenged the capacity of CB cells to generate different types of retinal neurons. Here we review the most recent findings about the development of the marginal zone of the retina in different vertebrates and some of the mechanisms underlying the proliferative and neurogenic capacity of this fascinating region of the vertebrates eye. In addition, we performed experiments to isolate CB cells from the mouse retina, generated neurospheres and observed that they can be expanded with a proliferative ratio similar to neural stem cells. When induced to differentiate, cells derived from the CB neurospheres start to express early neural markers but, unlike embryonic stem cells, they are not able to fully differentiate in vitro or generate retinal organoids. Together with previous reports on the neurogenic capacity of CB cells, also reviewed here, our results contribute to the current knowledge about the potentiality of this peripheral region of the eye as a therapeutic source of functional retinal neurons in degenerative diseases.
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