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Dharmarajan S, Carrillo C, Qi Z, Wilson JM, Baucum AJ, Sorenson CM, Sheibani N, Belecky-Adams TL. Retinal inflammation in murine models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes with diabetic retinopathy. Diabetologia 2023; 66:2170-2185. [PMID: 37670018 PMCID: PMC10541343 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-023-05995-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS The loss of pericytes surrounding the retinal vasculature in early diabetic retinopathy underlies changes to the neurovascular unit that lead to more destructive forms of the disease. However, it is unclear which changes lead to loss of retinal pericytes. This study investigated the hypothesis that chronic increases in one or more inflammatory factors mitigate the signalling pathways needed for pericyte survival. METHODS Loss of pericytes and levels of inflammatory markers at the mRNA and protein levels were investigated in two genetic models of diabetes, Ins2Akita/+ (a model of type 1 diabetes) and Leprdb/db (a model of type 2 diabetes), at early stages of diabetic retinopathy. In addition, changes that accompany gliosis and the retinal vasculature were determined. Finally, changes in retinal pericytes chronically incubated with vehicle or increasing amounts of IFNγ were investigated to determine the effects on pericyte survival. The numbers of pericytes, microglia, astrocytes and endothelial cells in retinal flatmounts were determined by immunofluorescence. Protein and mRNA levels of inflammatory factors were determined using multiplex ELISAs and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The effects of IFNγ on the murine retinal pericyte survival-related platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) signalling pathway were investigated by western blot analysis. Finally, the levels of cell death-associated protein kinase C isoform delta (PKCδ) and cleaved caspase 3 (CC3) in pericytes were determined by western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS The essential findings of this study were that both type 1 and 2 diabetes were accompanied by a similar progression of retinal pericyte loss, as well as gliosis. However, inflammatory factor expression was dissimilar in the two models of diabetes, with peak expression occurring at different ages for each model. Retinal vascular changes were more severe in the type 2 diabetes model. Chronic incubation of murine retinal pericytes with IFNγ decreased PDGFRβ signalling and increased the levels of active PKCδ and CC3. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION We conclude that retinal inflammation is involved in and sustains pericyte loss as diabetic retinopathy progresses. Moreover, IFNγ plays a critical role in reducing pericyte survival in the retina by reducing activation of the PDGFRβ signalling pathway and increasing PKCδ levels and pericyte apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subramanian Dharmarajan
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Casandra Carrillo
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Zhonghua Qi
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jonathan M Wilson
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Anthony J Baucum
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Christine M Sorenson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Nader Sheibani
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Teri L Belecky-Adams
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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Kim J, Ahn M, Choi Y, Chun J, Jung K, Tanaka A, Matsuda H, Shin T. Osteopontin is a biomarker for early autoimmune uveoretinitis. Neural Regen Res 2021; 17:1604-1608. [PMID: 34916447 PMCID: PMC8771122 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.330614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteopontin (OPN) is an extracellular matrix protein with a diverse range of functions, including roles in cell adhesion, migration, and immunomodulation, which are associated with the modulation of neuroinflammation in the central nervous system. The present study was performed to evaluate the involvement of OPN in the eyes of an experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) model. The EAU model was developed by immunization of Lewis rats with interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein. The results showed the OPN level was remarkably upregulated in the eye of EAU rats on day 9 post-immunization. The level of CD44, a ligand of OPN, was increased in the ciliary body of EAU rats. Furthermore, OPN was also detected in the ciliary body and activated microglia/macrophages in the EAU retina. The results suggest that OPN was significantly upregulated in the eyes of EAU rats, and that it may be useful as an early biomarker of ocular autoimmune diseases. All animal experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Jeju National University (approval No. 2020-0012) on March 11, 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeongtae Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Meejung Ahn
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Science, Sangji University, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuna Choi
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoon Chun
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungsook Jung
- Functional Biomaterials Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Akane Tanaka
- Laboratory of Comparative Animal Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Matsuda
- Laboratory of Comparative Animal Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taekyun Shin
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea
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Korhonen A, Gucciardo E, Lehti K, Loukovaara S. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy transcriptomes reveal angiogenesis, anti-angiogenic therapy escape mechanisms, fibrosis and lymphatic involvement. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18810. [PMID: 34552123 PMCID: PMC8458546 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97970-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is a sight-threatening diabetic complication in urgent need of new therapies. In this study we identify potential molecular mechanisms and target candidates in the pathogenesis of PDR fibrovascular tissue formation. We performed mRNA sequencing of RNA isolated from eleven excised fibrovascular membranes of type 1 diabetic PDR patients and two non-diabetic patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. We determined differentially expressed genes between these groups and performed pathway and gene ontology term enrichment analyses to identify potential underlying mechanisms, pathways, and regulators. Multiple pro-angiogenic processes, including VEGFA-dependent and -independent pathways, as well as processes related to lymphatic development, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), wound healing, inflammation, fibrosis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, were overrepresented in PDR. Overrepresentation of different angiogenic processes may help to explain the transient nature of the benefits that many patients receive from current intravitreal anti-angiogenic therapies, highlighting the importance of combinatorial treatments. Enrichment of genes and pathways related to lymphatic development indicates that targeting lymphatic involvement in PDR progression could have therapeutic relevance. Together with overrepresentation of EMT and fibrosis as well as differential ECM composition, these findings demonstrate the complexity of PDR fibrovascular tissue formation and provide avenues for the development of novel treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ani Korhonen
- Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Erika Gucciardo
- Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kaisa Lehti
- Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sirpa Loukovaara
- Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. .,Unit of Vitreoretinal Surgery, Ophthalmology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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Becker K, Klein H, Simon E, Viollet C, Haslinger C, Leparc G, Schultheis C, Chong V, Kuehn MH, Fernandez-Albert F, Bakker RA. In-depth transcriptomic analysis of human retina reveals molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic retinopathy. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10494. [PMID: 34006945 PMCID: PMC8131353 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88698-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is among the major global causes for vision loss. With the rise in diabetes prevalence, an increase in DR incidence is expected. Current understanding of both the molecular etiology and pathways involved in the initiation and progression of DR is limited. Via RNA-Sequencing, we analyzed mRNA and miRNA expression profiles of 80 human post-mortem retinal samples from 43 patients diagnosed with various stages of DR. We found differentially expressed transcripts to be predominantly associated with late stage DR and pathways such as hippo and gap junction signaling. A multivariate regression model identified transcripts with progressive changes throughout disease stages, which in turn displayed significant overlap with sphingolipid and cGMP-PKG signaling. Combined analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression further uncovered disease-relevant miRNA/mRNA associations as potential mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation. Finally, integrating human retinal single cell RNA-Sequencing data revealed a continuous loss of retinal ganglion cells, and Müller cell mediated changes in histidine and β-alanine signaling. While previously considered primarily a vascular disease, attention in DR has shifted to additional mechanisms and cell-types. Our findings offer an unprecedented and unbiased insight into molecular pathways and cell-specific changes in the development of DR, and provide potential avenues for future therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kolja Becker
- Global Computational Biology & Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Holger Klein
- Global Computational Biology & Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Eric Simon
- Global Computational Biology & Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Coralie Viollet
- Global Computational Biology & Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Christian Haslinger
- Global Computational Biology & Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co. KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - German Leparc
- Translational Medicine & Clinical Pharmacology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Christian Schultheis
- Translational Medicine & Clinical Pharmacology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Victor Chong
- Therapeutic Area CNS Retinopathies Emerging Areas, BI International GmbH, Ingelheim, Germany
| | - Markus H Kuehn
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
| | - Francesc Fernandez-Albert
- Global Computational Biology & Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany.
| | - Remko A Bakker
- Global Department Cardio-Metabolic Diseases Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riß, Germany.
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Ng KKK, Cheung CYY, Lee CH, Fong CHY, Kwok KHM, Li KKW, Gangwani RA, Wong IYH, Woo YC, Chow WS, Yuen MMA, Wong RLC, Xu A, Wong DSH, Sham PC, Lam KSL. Possible Modifying Effect of Hemoglobin A1c on Genetic Susceptibility to Severe Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2021; 61:7. [PMID: 32756921 PMCID: PMC7441357 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.61.10.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Glycemic control has been recognized as an important modifiable risk factor for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Whether hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), as an indicator of glycemic control, could modify the genetic susceptibility to severe DR remains to be investigated. This study aimed to investigate whether HbA1c could modulate the genetic susceptibility to severe DR in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods A total of 3,093 Chinese individuals with type 2 diabetes were included in the cross-sectional case-control study: 1,051 with sight-threatening DR (STDR) and 2,042 without STDR. Sixty-nine top-ranked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified from previous genome-wide association studies were examined for their associations with STDR and proliferative DR as a subgroup analysis. SNPs showing suggestive associations with DR were examined in the stratified analysis by dichotomized HbA1c (<7% vs. ≥7%). An interaction analysis was performed by including an interaction term of SNP × HbA1c in the regression model. Results Four SNPs showed suggestive associations with STDR. In the stratified analysis, patients with adequate glycemic control (HbA1c <7%) had a 42% lower risk of STDR for carrying each additional protective C allele of COL5A1 rs59126004 (P = 1.76 × 10−4; odds ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.44–0.77). rs59126004 demonstrated a significant interaction with dichotomized HbA1c on the risk of STDR (Pinteraction = 1.733 × 10−3). In the subgroup analysis for proliferative DR, the protective effect of rs59126004 was even more pronouncedly demonstrated (P = 8.35 × 10−5; odds ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.22–0.60) and it showed similar interactions with dichotomized HbA1c (Pinteraction = 1.729 × 10−3). Conclusions Our data provided evidence for possible interactions between HbA1c and COL5A1 rs59126004 on the risk of severe DR. These findings may provide new insight into the pathophysiologic mechanism of DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin K K Ng
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chloe Y Y Cheung
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chi-Ho Lee
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Carol H Y Fong
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kelvin H M Kwok
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kenneth K W Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong
| | - Rita A Gangwani
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ian Y H Wong
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yu-Cho Woo
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wing-Sun Chow
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Rachel L C Wong
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Aimin Xu
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,Research Center of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - David S H Wong
- Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Pak-Chung Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Karen S L Lam
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,Research Center of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Markasz L, Olsson KW, Holmström G, Sindelar R. Cluster Analysis of Early Postnatal Biochemical Markers May Predict Development of Retinopathy of Prematurity. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2020; 9:14. [PMID: 33344058 PMCID: PMC7726592 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.13.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Growth factors and inflammatory and angiogenetic proteins are involved in the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). However, no early biochemical markers are in clinical use to predict ROP. By performing cluster analysis of multiple biomarkers, we aimed to determine patient groups with high and low risk for developing ROP. Methods In total, 202 protein markers in plasma were quantified by proximity extension assay from 35 extremely preterm infants on day 2 of life. Infants were sorted in groups by automated two-dimensional hierarchical clustering of all biomarkers. ROP was classified as stages I to III with or without surgical treatment. Predictive biomarkers were evaluated by analysis of variance and detected differences by two-sided paired t-test with Bonferroni corrections for multiple comparisons. Results Differences in 39 biochemical markers divided infants without ROP into two control groups (control 1, n = 7; control 2, n = 5; P < 0.05). Sixty-six biochemical markers defined differences between the control groups (n = 13) and all ROP infants (n = 23; P < 0.05). PARK7, VIM, MPO, CD69, and NEMO were markedly increased in control 1 compared to all ROP infants (P < 0.001). Lower TNFRSF4 and higher HER2 and GAL appeared in infants with ROP as compared to control 1 and/or 2 (P < 0.05, respectively). Conclusions Our data suggest that early elevated levels of PARK7, VIM, MPO, CD69, and NEMO may be associated with lower risk of developing ROP. Lower levels of TNFRSF4 with higher levels of HER2 and GAL may predict ROP development. Translational Relevance Cluster analysis of early postnatal biomarkers may help to identify infants with low or high risk of developing ROP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laszlo Markasz
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karl-Wilhelm Olsson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gerd Holmström
- Department of Neuroscience/Ophthalmology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Richard Sindelar
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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