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Mullin NK, Bohrer LR, Voigt AP, Lozano LP, Wright AT, Bonilha VL, Mullins RF, Stone EM, Tucker BA. NR2E3 loss disrupts photoreceptor cell maturation and fate in human organoid models of retinal development. J Clin Invest 2024:e173892. [PMID: 38652563 DOI: 10.1172/jci173892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
While dysfunction and death of light-detecting photoreceptor cells underlie most inherited retinal dystrophies, knowledge of the species-specific details of human rod and cone photoreceptor cell development remains limited. Here, we generate retinal organoids carrying retinal disease-causing variants in NR2E3, as well as isogenic and unrelated controls. Organoids were sampled using single-cell RNA sequencing across the developmental window encompassing photoreceptor specification, emergence, and maturation. Using scRNAseq data, we reconstruct the rod photoreceptor developmental lineage and identify a branchpoint unique to the disease state. We show that the rod-specific transcription factor NR2E3 is required for the proper expression of genes involved in phototransduction, including rhodopsin, which is absent in divergent rods. NR2E3-null rods additionally misexpress several cone-specific phototransduction genes. Using joint multimodal single-cell sequencing, we further identify putative regulatory sites where rod-specific factors act to steer photoreceptor cell development. Finally, we show that rod-committed photoreceptor cells form and persist throughout life in a patient with NR2E3-associated disease. Importantly, these findings are strikingly different than those observed in Nr2e3 rodent models. Together, these data provide a roadmap of human photoreceptor development and leverage patient iPSCs to define the specific roles of rod transcription factors in photoreceptor cell emergence and maturation in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel K Mullin
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States of America
| | - Laura R Bohrer
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States of America
| | - Andrew P Voigt
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States of America
| | - Lola P Lozano
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States of America
| | - Allison T Wright
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States of America
| | - Vera L Bonilha
- Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, United States of America
| | - Robert F Mullins
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States of America
| | - Edwin M Stone
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States of America
| | - Budd A Tucker
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States of America
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Binkley EM, Lozano LP, Riker MJ, Pennington EC, Tucker BA, Stone EM, Boldt HC, Mullins RF. Vascular Findings in the Choriocapillaris in a Case of Radiation Retinopathy Secondary to Choroidal Melanoma. Case Rep Ophthalmol 2022; 13:589-598. [PMID: 36160486 PMCID: PMC9459633 DOI: 10.1159/000525568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of radiation retinopathy on the retinal vasculature have been well established; however, the literature describing the pathologic changes in the choriocapillaris is relatively lacking. In this report, we describe the histologic findings of a donor eye with a choroidal melanoma with special attention to the choriocapillaris. Clinical and histological findings, including immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy, are described for the retina and choroid of a donor eye affected by radiation retinopathy secondary to treatment of choroidal melanoma. Cells within the tumor exhibited an epithelioid structure and balloon melanosomes. Notable infiltration of macrophages with elongated morphology was also observed. Atrophy of photoreceptors, retinal pigmented epithelium, and choriocapillaris was observed on the inferior edge of the lesion and extending past the tumor. The choriocapillaris endothelium showed more severe dropout at the periphery of the lesion where loss of fenestration, thickened cytosol, and degenerated pericytes were observed. Morphologic analysis revealed choriocapillaris loss with pronounced degeneration of choroidal pericytes. Understanding the differences in sensitivity to radiation injury between different cell types and different patients will provide better insight into radiation retinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine M. Binkley
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- *Elaine M. Binkley,
| | - Lola P. Lozano
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Megan J. Riker
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Budd A. Tucker
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Edwin M. Stone
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - H. Culver Boldt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Robert F. Mullins
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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Voigt AP, Mullin NK, Mulfaul K, Lozano LP, Wiley LA, Flamme-Wiese MJ, Boese EA, Han IC, Scheetz TE, Stone EM, Tucker BA, Mullins RF. Choroidal endothelial and macrophage gene expression in atrophic and neovascular macular degeneration. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:2406-2423. [PMID: 35181781 PMCID: PMC9307320 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The human choroid is a heterogeneous, highly vascular connective tissue that dysfunctions in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on 21 human choroids, 11 of which were derived from donors with early atrophic or neovascular AMD. Using this large donor cohort, we identified new gene expression signatures and immunohistochemically characterized discrete populations of resident macrophages, monocytes/inflammatory macrophages and dendritic cells. These three immune populations demonstrated unique expression patterns for AMD genetic risk factors, with dendritic cells possessing the highest expression of the neovascular AMD-associated MMP9 gene. Additionally, we performed trajectory analysis to model transcriptomic changes across the choroidal vasculature, and we identified expression signatures for endothelial cells from choroidal arterioles and venules. Finally, we performed differential expression analysis between control, early atrophic AMD, and neovascular AMD samples, and we observed that early atrophic AMD samples had high expression of SPARCL1, a gene that has been shown to increase in response to endothelial damage. Likewise, neovascular endothelial cells harbored gene expression changes consistent with endothelial cell damage and demonstrated increased expression of the sialomucins CD34 and ENCM, which were also observed at the protein level within neovascular membranes. Overall, this study characterizes the molecular features of new populations of choroidal endothelial cells and mononuclear phagocytes in a large cohort of AMD and control human donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Voigt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Nathaniel K Mullin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kelly Mulfaul
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Lola P Lozano
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Luke A Wiley
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Miles J Flamme-Wiese
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Erin A Boese
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Ian C Han
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Todd E Scheetz
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Edwin M Stone
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Budd A Tucker
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Robert F Mullins
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Lozano LP, Tucker BA, Hinz CJ, Boldt HC, Binkley EM. Retinal Capillary Hemangioma Leading to a Diagnosis of von Hippel-Lindau Disease in a Patient with Retinopathy of Prematurity. Case Rep Ophthalmol 2022; 13:323-329. [PMID: 35702652 PMCID: PMC9149552 DOI: 10.1159/000524297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is a rare inherited cancer syndrome that results in the development of tumor formation in multiple systems. In the eye, retinal capillary hemangioma (RCH) can lead to severe vision loss. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is likewise a rare disease in which abnormal retinal vasculature develops in premature infants. Hallmarks of this disease include temporal dragging of the macula and retinal vessels. Here, we describe a 36-year-old myopic woman with a known history of ROP who presented with a vitreous hemorrhage in the right eye. As the vitreous hemorrhage cleared, she was found to have not only a retinal tear but also a juxtapapillary RCH that lead to a diagnosis of VHL disease in the patient, her mother, and her aunt. This is the first reported case of an individual with concomitant ROP and RCH from VHL. Her vision was remarkably well preserved over 25 years of follow-up despite having a moderate-sized laser scar temporal to the disc from treating the juxtapapillary RCH, likely due to the temporal macular dragging from her underlying ROP. This case highlights the importance of being aware that rare diagnoses can co-exist, and one must be aware of the protean manifestations of VHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lola P. Lozano
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Budd A. Tucker
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Connie J. Hinz
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - H. Culver Boldt
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Elaine M. Binkley
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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