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Martínez-Vacas A, Di Pierdomenico J, Gómez-Ramirez AM, Vidal-Sanz M, Villegas-Pérez MP, García-Ayuso D. Dose-Related Side Effects of Intravitreal Injections of Humanized Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Rats: Glial Cell Reactivity and Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:10. [PMID: 38573620 PMCID: PMC10996988 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.4.10] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose In a previous study, we documented that the Intravitreal injections (IVIs) of bevacizumab in rats caused a retinal inflammatory response. We now study whether the IVI of other humanized anti-VEGF: ranibizumab and aflibercept also cause an inflammatory reaction in the rat retina and if it depends on the dose administered. Finally, we study whether this reaction affects retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival. Methods Albino Sprague-Dawley rats received a single IVI of 5 µL of PBS or ranibizumab or aflibercept at the concentration used in clinical practice (10 µg/µL or 40 µg/µL) or at a lower concentration (0.38 µg/µL and 1.5 µg/µL) calculated to obtain within the rat eye the same concentration as in the human eye in clinical practice. Others received a single 5 µL IVI of a polyclonal goat anti-rat VEGF (0.015 µg/µL) or of vehicle (PBS). Animals were processed 7 days or 1 month later. Retinal whole mounts were immunolabeled for the detection of microglial, macroglial, RGCs, and intrinsically photosensitive RGCs (ipRGCs). Fluorescence and confocal microscopy were used to examine retinal changes, and RGCs and ipRGCs were quantified automatically or semiautomatically, respectively. Results All the injected substances including the PBS induced detectable side effects, namely, retinal microglial cell activation and retinal astrocyte hypertrophy. However, there was a greater microglial and macroglial response when the higher concentrations of ranibizumab and aflibercept were injected than when PBS, the antibody anti-rat VEGF and the lower concentrations of ranibizumab or aflibercept were injected. The higher concentration of ranibizumab and aflibercept resulted also in significant RGC death, but did not cause appreciable ipRGC death. Conclusions The IVI of all the substances had some retinal inflammatory effects. The IVI of humanized anti-VEGF to rats at high doses cause important side effects: severe inflammation and RGC death, but not ipRGC death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Martínez-Vacas
- Grupo de Investigación Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, España
| | - Johnny Di Pierdomenico
- Grupo de Investigación Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, España
| | - Ana María Gómez-Ramirez
- Grupo de Investigación Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, España
| | - Manuel Vidal-Sanz
- Grupo de Investigación Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, España
| | - María P. Villegas-Pérez
- Grupo de Investigación Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, España
| | - Diego García-Ayuso
- Grupo de Investigación Oftalmología Experimental, Departamento de Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Campus de Ciencias de la Salud, Murcia, España
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Gorbatyuk OS, Pitale PM, Saltykova IV, Dorofeeva IB, Zhylkibayev AA, Athar M, Fuchs PA, Samuels BC, Gorbatyuk MS. A Novel Tree Shrew Model of Diabetic Retinopathy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:799711. [PMID: 35046899 PMCID: PMC8762304 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.799711] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Existing animal models with rod-dominant retinas have shown that hyperglycemia injures neurons, but it is not yet clearly understood how blue cone photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) deteriorate in patients because of compromised insulin tolerance. In contrast, northern tree shrews (Tupaia Belangeri), one of the closest living relatives of primates, have a cone-dominant retina with short wave sensitivity (SWS) and long wave sensitivity (LWS) cones. Therefore, we injected animals with a single streptozotocin dose (175 mg/kg i.p.) to investigate whether sustained hyperglycemia models the features of human diabetic retinopathy (DR). We used the photopic electroretinogram (ERG) to measure the amplitudes of A and B waves and the photopic negative responses (PhNR) to evaluate cone and RGC function. Retinal flat mounts were prepared for immunohistochemical analysis to count the numbers of neurons with antibodies against cone opsins and RGC specific BRN3a proteins. The levels of the proteins TRIB3, ISR-1, and p-AKT/p-mTOR were measured with western blot. The results demonstrated that tree shrews manifested sustained hyperglycemia leading to a slight but significant loss of SWS cones (12%) and RGCs (20%) 16 weeks after streptozotocin injection. The loss of BRN3a-positive RGCs was also reflected by a 30% decline in BRN3a protein expression. These were accompanied by reduced ERG amplitudes and PhNRs. Importantly, the diabetic retinas demonstrated increased expression of TRIB3 and level of p-AKT/p-mTOR axis but reduced level of IRS-1 protein. Therefore, a new non-primate model of DR with SWS cone and RGC dysfunction lays the foundation to better understand retinal pathophysiology at the molecular level and opens an avenue for improving the research on the treatment of human eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg S Gorbatyuk
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Priyamvada M Pitale
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Irina V Saltykova
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Iuliia B Dorofeeva
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Assylbek A Zhylkibayev
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Mohammad Athar
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Preston A Fuchs
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Brian C Samuels
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Marina S Gorbatyuk
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Potilinski MC, Lorenc V, Perisset S, Gallo JE. Mechanisms behind Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss in Diabetes and Therapeutic Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072351. [PMID: 32231131 PMCID: PMC7177797 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes produces several changes in the body triggered by high glycemia. Some of these changes include altered metabolism, structural changes in blood vessels and chronic inflammation. The eye and particularly the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are not spared, and the changes eventually lead to cell loss and visual function impairment. Understanding the mechanisms resulting in RGC damage and loss from diabetic retinopathy is essential to find an effective treatment. This review focuses mainly on the signaling pathways and molecules involved in RGC loss and the potential therapeutic approaches for the prevention of this cell death. Throughout the manuscript it became evident that multiple factors of different kind are responsible for RGC damage. This shows that new therapeutic agents targeting several factors at the same time are needed. Alpha-1 antitrypsin as an anti-inflammatory agent may become a suitable option for the treatment of RGC loss because of its beneficial interaction with several signaling pathways involved in RGC injury and inflammation. In conclusion, alpha-1 antitrypsin may become a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of RGC loss and processes behind diabetic retinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Constanza Potilinski
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidad Austral-CONICET, Av. J.D. Perón 1500, 1629 Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; (M.C.P.); (V.L.); (S.P.)
| | - Valeria Lorenc
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidad Austral-CONICET, Av. J.D. Perón 1500, 1629 Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; (M.C.P.); (V.L.); (S.P.)
| | - Sofía Perisset
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidad Austral-CONICET, Av. J.D. Perón 1500, 1629 Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; (M.C.P.); (V.L.); (S.P.)
| | - Juan Eduardo Gallo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), Facultad de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidad Austral-CONICET, Av. J.D. Perón 1500, 1629 Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; (M.C.P.); (V.L.); (S.P.)
- Departamento de Oftalmologia, Hospital Universitario Austral, Av. Juan Perón 1500, 1629 Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +54-91164038725
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Lechner J, Hombrebueno JR, Pedrini E, Chen M, Xu H. Sustained intraocular vascular endothelial growth factor neutralisation does not affect retinal and choroidal vasculature in Ins2 Akita diabetic mice. Diab Vasc Dis Res 2019; 16:440-449. [PMID: 31023085 DOI: 10.1177/1479164119843092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand the influence of sustained intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor neutralisation on the retinal and choroidal vasculature in diabetic eyes. Ins2Akita diabetic mice received five intravitreal injections of anti-mouse vascular endothelial growth factor antibody or goat immunoglobulin G (0.2 µg/µL/eye) over a 4-month period. Retinal and choroidal vascular changes were analysed by confocal microscopy of tissue flat-mounts. Retinal gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor family members (vascular endothelial growth factors A, B, C and D), vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (sVEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2) and tight junctions (claudin 1, 2, 5; occludin and zonula occludens-1) were analysed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Vascular endothelial growth factor A and claudin 5 were significantly increased in diabetic retinae. Gene expression was unaffected by anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment. The number of acellular vessels was increased in diabetic retinae and reduced following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment. Retinal and choroidal vascular density and area were unaffected by sustained vascular endothelial growth factor neutralisation. Our results suggest that five consecutive intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections do not cause significant vascular changes in the retina and choroid in diabetic and non-diabetic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Lechner
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Jose R Hombrebueno
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Edoardo Pedrini
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Mei Chen
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Heping Xu
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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Trost A, Bruckner D, Rivera FJ, Reitsamer HA. Pericytes in the Retina. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1122:1-26. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-11093-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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