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Tessmer K, Gasparini SJ, Hammer J, Adhikari T, Schmidtke K, Knöbel S, Ader M. Invited Session II: Retinal remodeling and regeneration: Insights into retinal cell replacement: Optimising photoreceptor and RPE transplantation. J Vis 2023; 23:10. [PMID: 38109638 DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.15.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and inherited retinal degenerations, are characterized by the dysfunction and ultimately loss of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Retinal cell replacement has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy. This is enabled by the availability of desired donor cells differentiated in large numbers from human embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells. With many differentiation protocols around, detailed comparison of donor cell and host characteristics allowing improved transplantations outcomes are however still sparse. Here, I will present our work on a more detailed assessment of photoreceptor and RPE single cell suspension transplantations. Human photoreceptors incorporate extensively into a cone-degeneration mouse host, interact with host Müller glia and bipolar cells and polarize to form inner and outer segments as well as synapses. Importantly, increased donor-host interactions correlate with improved graft polarization and maturation, with donor cell age greatly influencing this process. Similarly, RPE transplantations into an acute RPE depletion mouse model showed that monolayer formation strongly depends on RPE differentiation times, with further improvement by enrichment of an RPE subpopulation by cell surface markers. Overall, our work highlights the need for careful selection of appropriate donor cells for structural integration into recipient tissue after transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Tessmer
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, TUD Dresden University of Technology
| | | | - Juliane Hammer
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, TUD Dresden University of Technology
| | - Trishla Adhikari
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, TUD Dresden University of Technology
| | - Klara Schmidtke
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, TUD Dresden University of Technology
| | | | - Marius Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, TUD Dresden University of Technology
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Carido M, Völkner M, Steinheuer LM, Wagner F, Kurth T, Dumler N, Ulusoy S, Wieneke S, Norniella AV, Golfieri C, Khattak S, Schönfelder B, Scamozzi M, Zoschke K, Canzler S, Hackermüller J, Ader M, Karl MO. Reliability of human retina organoid generation from hiPSC-derived neuroepithelial cysts. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1166641. [PMID: 37868194 PMCID: PMC10587494 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1166641] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The possible applications for human retinal organoids (HROs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) rely on the robustness and transferability of the methodology for their generation. Standardized strategies and parameters to effectively assess, compare, and optimize organoid protocols are starting to be established, but are not yet complete. To advance this, we explored the efficiency and reliability of a differentiation method, called CYST protocol, that facilitates retina generation by forming neuroepithelial cysts from hiPSC clusters. Here, we tested seven different hiPSC lines which reproducibly generated HROs. Histological and ultrastructural analyses indicate that HRO differentiation and maturation are regulated. The different hiPSC lines appeared to be a larger source of variance than experimental rounds. Although previous reports have shown that HROs in several other protocols contain a rather low number of cones, HROs from the CYST protocol are consistently richer in cones and with a comparable ratio of cones, rods, and Müller glia. To provide further insight into HRO cell composition, we studied single cell RNA sequencing data and applied CaSTLe, a transfer learning approach. Additionally, we devised a potential strategy to systematically evaluate different organoid protocols side-by-side through parallel differentiation from the same hiPSC batches: In an explorative study, the CYST protocol was compared to a conceptually different protocol based on the formation of cell aggregates from single hiPSCs. Comparing four hiPSC lines showed that both protocols reproduced key characteristics of retinal epithelial structure and cell composition, but the CYST protocol provided a higher HRO yield. So far, our data suggest that CYST-derived HROs remained stable up to at least day 200, while single hiPSC-derived HROs showed spontaneous pathologic changes by day 200. Overall, our data provide insights into the efficiency, reproducibility, and stability of the CYST protocol for generating HROs, which will be useful for further optimizing organoid systems, as well as for basic and translational research applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madalena Carido
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Manuela Völkner
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lisa Maria Steinheuer
- Department Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Felix Wagner
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technology Platform, Core Facility Electron Microscopy and Histology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Natalie Dumler
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Selen Ulusoy
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephanie Wieneke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Cristina Golfieri
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Shahryar Khattak
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Stem Cell Engineering Facility, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Bruno Schönfelder
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maria Scamozzi
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katja Zoschke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sebastian Canzler
- Department Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jörg Hackermüller
- Department Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mike O Karl
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Schaub F, Mele B, Gass P, Ader M, Helbig H, Lagrèze WA, Schlötzer-Schrehardt U, Ueffing M, Cursiefen C. [Scientific performance of ophthalmological research institutions in Germany 2018-2020 : Studies, publications, third-party funding and more-The research map of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG)]. Ophthalmologie 2022; 119:582-590. [PMID: 35925367 DOI: 10.1007/s00347-022-01653-z] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) regularly records the scientific activities of ophthalmological research institutions in Germany. OBJECTIVE With this publication the DOG wants to make the performance of scientific ophthalmology in Germany transparent and increase the options for future research cooperation with facilities of research institutions. METHODS Systematic survey of German research centers in ophthalmology. RESULTS The current research map records the data from 41 German research centers for the reporting period 2018-2020. Compared to previous editions of the research map, there has been a significant increase in scientific activity. The number of studies reported rose to 496. The number of government funded research projects (n = 121) and projects funded by foundations (n = 108) also increased. Furthermore, the number of scientific publications has almost doubled: while 1919 were published in the period from 2012 to 2014 and 2305 in the period from 2015 to 2017, there were 4215 in the current reporting period. The map also reports on a continuous increase in the number of young scientists in ophthalmology. CONCLUSION The research map demonstrates the performance of German scientific ophthalmology. At the same time, the need for research in ophthalmology remains high because many diseases that affect the eyes are not yet or not yet completely curable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Schaub
- Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Medizinische Fakultät und Uniklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924, Köln, Deutschland.
| | - Birgit Mele
- Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V. (DOG), München, Deutschland
| | - Philip Gass
- Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V. (DOG), München, Deutschland
| | - Marius Ader
- Arbeitskreis Forschung der DOG (AK DOG-Forschung)
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Deutschland
| | - Horst Helbig
- Arbeitskreis Forschung der DOG (AK DOG-Forschung)
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Regensburg, Deutschland
| | - Wolf A Lagrèze
- Arbeitskreis Forschung der DOG (AK DOG-Forschung)
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Medizinische Fakultät, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland
| | - Ursula Schlötzer-Schrehardt
- Arbeitskreis Forschung der DOG (AK DOG-Forschung)
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Augenklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Deutschland
| | - Marius Ueffing
- Arbeitskreis Forschung der DOG (AK DOG-Forschung)
- Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Forschungsinstitut für Augenheilkunde, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Deutschland
| | - Claus Cursiefen
- Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Medizinische Fakultät und Uniklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924, Köln, Deutschland
- Arbeitskreis Forschung der DOG (AK DOG-Forschung)
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Gasparini SJ, Tessmer K, Reh M, Wieneke S, Carido M, Völkner M, Borsch O, Swiersy A, Zuzic M, Goureau O, Kurth T, Busskamp V, Zeck G, Karl MO, Ader M. Transplanted human cones incorporate and function in a murine cone degeneration model. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:154619. [PMID: 35482419 PMCID: PMC9197520 DOI: 10.1172/jci154619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Once human photoreceptors die, they do not regenerate, thus, photoreceptor transplantation has emerged as a potential treatment approach for blinding diseases. Improvements in transplant organization, donor cell maturation, and synaptic connectivity to the host will be critical in advancing this technology for use in clinical practice. Unlike the unstructured grafts of prior cell-suspension transplantations into end-stage degeneration models, we describe the extensive incorporation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) retinal organoid–derived human photoreceptors into mice with cone dysfunction. This incorporative phenotype was validated in both cone-only as well as pan-photoreceptor transplantations. Rather than forming a glial barrier, Müller cells extended throughout the graft, even forming a series of adherens junctions between mouse and human cells, reminiscent of an outer limiting membrane. Donor-host interaction appeared to promote polarization as well as the development of morphological features critical for light detection, namely the formation of inner and well-stacked outer segments oriented toward the retinal pigment epithelium. Putative synapse formation and graft function were evident at both structural and electrophysiological levels. Overall, these results show that human photoreceptors interacted readily with a partially degenerated retina. Moreover, incorporation into the host retina appeared to be beneficial to graft maturation, polarization, and function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen Tessmer
- Ader Lab, Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Miriam Reh
- Department of Neurophysics, NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Wieneke
- Karl Lab, Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Madalena Carido
- Ader Lab, Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Manuela Völkner
- Karl Lab, Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- Ader Lab, Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anka Swiersy
- Busskamp Lab, Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marta Zuzic
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Olivier Goureau
- Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Kurth
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Volker Busskamp
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Günther Zeck
- Department of Neurophysics, NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Mike O Karl
- Karl Lab, Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Ader Lab, Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Heisterkamp P, Borsch O, Lezama ND, Gasparini S, Fathima A, Carvalho LS, Wagner F, Karl MO, Schlierf M, Ader M. Evidence for endogenous exchange of cytoplasmic material between a subset of cone and rod photoreceptors within the adult mammalian retina via direct cell-cell connections. Exp Eye Res 2022; 219:109033. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Herbig M, Tessmer K, Nötzel M, Nawaz AA, Santos-Ferreira T, Borsch O, Gasparini SJ, Guck J, Ader M. Label-free imaging flow cytometry for analysis and sorting of enzymatically dissociated tissues. Sci Rep 2022; 12:963. [PMID: 35046492 PMCID: PMC8770577 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomedical research relies on identification and isolation of specific cell types using molecular biomarkers and sorting methods such as fluorescence or magnetic activated cell sorting. Labelling processes potentially alter the cells’ properties and should be avoided, especially when purifying cells for clinical applications. A promising alternative is the label-free identification of cells based on physical properties. Sorting real-time deformability cytometry (soRT-DC) is a microfluidic technique for label-free analysis and sorting of single cells. In soRT-FDC, bright-field images of cells are analyzed by a deep neural net (DNN) to obtain a sorting decision, but sorting was so far only demonstrated for blood cells which show clear morphological differences and are naturally in suspension. Most cells, however, grow in tissues, requiring dissociation before cell sorting which is associated with challenges including changes in morphology, or presence of aggregates. Here, we introduce methods to improve robustness of analysis and sorting of single cells from nervous tissue and provide DNNs which can distinguish visually similar cells. We employ the DNN for image-based sorting to enrich photoreceptor cells from dissociated retina for transplantation into the mouse eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maik Herbig
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Karen Tessmer
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Nötzel
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ahsan Ahmad Nawaz
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light & Max-Planck-Zentrum Für Physik Und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tiago Santos-Ferreira
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Borsch
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sylvia J Gasparini
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jochen Guck
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light & Max-Planck-Zentrum Für Physik Und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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7
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Herbig M, Jacobi A, Wobus M, Weidner H, Mies A, Kräter M, Otto O, Thiede C, Weickert MT, Götze KS, Rauner M, Hofbauer LC, Bornhäuser M, Guck J, Ader M, Platzbecker U, Balaian E. Machine learning assisted real-time deformability cytometry of CD34+ cells allows to identify patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Sci Rep 2022; 12:870. [PMID: 35042906 PMCID: PMC8766444 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04939-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) mainly relies on a manual assessment of the peripheral blood and bone marrow cell morphology. The WHO guidelines suggest a visual screening of 200 to 500 cells which inevitably turns the assessor blind to rare cell populations and leads to low reproducibility. Moreover, the human eye is not suited to detect shifts of cellular properties of entire populations. Hence, quantitative image analysis could improve the accuracy and reproducibility of MDS diagnosis. We used real-time deformability cytometry (RT-DC) to measure bone marrow biopsy samples of MDS patients and age-matched healthy individuals. RT-DC is a high-throughput (1000 cells/s) imaging flow cytometer capable of recording morphological and mechanical properties of single cells. Properties of single cells were quantified using automated image analysis, and machine learning was employed to discover morpho-mechanical patterns in thousands of individual cells that allow to distinguish healthy vs. MDS samples. We found that distribution properties of cell sizes differ between healthy and MDS, with MDS showing a narrower distribution of cell sizes. Furthermore, we found a strong correlation between the mechanical properties of cells and the number of disease-determining mutations, inaccessible with current diagnostic approaches. Hence, machine-learning assisted RT-DC could be a promising tool to automate sample analysis to assist experts during diagnosis or provide a scalable solution for MDS diagnosis to regions lacking sufficient medical experts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maik Herbig
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Angela Jacobi
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light & Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Manja Wobus
- Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Heike Weidner
- Medical Department III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Healthy Aging, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anna Mies
- Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Kräter
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light & Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Oliver Otto
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen in Kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Christian Thiede
- Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marie-Theresa Weickert
- Department of Medicine III: Hematology and Oncology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina S Götze
- Department of Medicine III: Hematology and Oncology, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martina Rauner
- Medical Department III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Healthy Aging, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lorenz C Hofbauer
- Medical Department III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Center for Healthy Aging, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Bornhäuser
- Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jochen Guck
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light & Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Uwe Platzbecker
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Hematology, Cellular Therapy and Hemostaseology, Leipzig University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Balaian
- Medical Department I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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8
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Zerti D, Hilgen G, Dorgau B, Collin J, Ader M, Armstrong L, Sernagor E, Lako M. Transplanted pluripotent stem cell-derived photoreceptor precursors elicit conventional and unusual light responses in mice with advanced retinal degeneration. Stem Cells 2021; 39:882-896. [PMID: 33657251 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Retinal dystrophies often lead to blindness. Developing therapeutic interventions to restore vision is therefore of paramount importance. Here we demonstrate the ability of pluripotent stem cell-derived cone precursors to engraft and restore light responses in the Pde6brd1 mouse, an end-stage photoreceptor degeneration model. Our data show that up to 1.5% of precursors integrate into the host retina, differentiate into cones, and engraft in close apposition to the host bipolar cells. Half of the transplanted mice exhibited visual behavior and of these 33% showed binocular light sensitivity. The majority of retinal ganglion cells exhibited contrast-sensitive ON, OFF or ON-OFF light responses and even motion sensitivity; however, quite a few exhibited unusual responses (eg, light-induced suppression), presumably reflecting remodeling of the neural retina. Our data indicate that despite relatively low engraftment yield, pluripotent stem cell-derived cone precursors can elicit light responsiveness even at advanced degeneration stages. Further work is needed to improve engraftment yield and counteract retinal remodeling to achieve useful clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darin Zerti
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Microscopy Centre and Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Gerrit Hilgen
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Birthe Dorgau
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Joseph Collin
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lyle Armstrong
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Evelyne Sernagor
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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9
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Subramanian K, Weigert M, Borsch O, Petzold H, Garcia-Ulloa A, Myers EW, Ader M, Solovei I, Kreysing M. Rod nuclear architecture determines contrast transmission of the retina and behavioral sensitivity in mice. eLife 2019; 8:49542. [PMID: 31825309 PMCID: PMC6974353 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rod photoreceptors of nocturnal mammals display a striking inversion of nuclear architecture, which has been proposed as an evolutionary adaptation to dark environments. However, the nature of visual benefits and the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. It is widely assumed that improvements in nocturnal vision would depend on maximization of photon capture at the expense of image detail. Here, we show that retinal optical quality improves 2-fold during terminal development, and that this enhancement is caused by nuclear inversion. We further demonstrate that improved retinal contrast transmission, rather than photon-budget or resolution, enhances scotopic contrast sensitivity by 18–27%, and improves motion detection capabilities up to 10-fold in dim environments. Our findings therefore add functional significance to a prominent exception of nuclear organization and establish retinal contrast transmission as a decisive determinant of mammalian visual perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushikaram Subramanian
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence, Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Weigert
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence, Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Heike Petzold
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Eugene W Myers
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence, Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Computer Science, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Irina Solovei
- Biozentrum, Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München, Germany
| | - Moritz Kreysing
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence, Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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10
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Santos‐Ferreira T, Herbig M, Otto O, Carido M, Karl MO, Michalakis S, Guck J, Ader M. Morpho-Rheological Fingerprinting of Rod Photoreceptors Using Real-Time Deformability Cytometry. Cytometry A 2019; 95:1145-1157. [PMID: 31107590 PMCID: PMC6900160 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.23798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Distinct cell-types within the retina are mainly specified by morphological and molecular parameters, however, physical properties are increasingly recognized as a valuable tool to characterize and distinguish cells in diverse tissues. High-throughput analysis of morpho-rheological features has recently been introduced using real-time deformability cytometry (RT-DC) providing new insights into the properties of different cell-types. Rod photoreceptors represent the main light sensing cells in the mouse retina that during development forms apically the densely packed outer nuclear layer. Currently, enrichment and isolation of photoreceptors from retinal primary tissue or pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids for analysis, molecular profiling, or transplantation is achieved using flow cytometry or magnetic activated cell sorting approaches. However, such purification methods require genetic modification or identification of cell surface binding antibody panels. Using primary retina and embryonic stem cell-derived retinal organoids, we characterized the inherent morpho-mechanical properties of mouse rod photoreceptors during development based on RT-DC. We demonstrate that rods become smaller and more compliant throughout development and that these features are suitable to distinguish rods within heterogenous retinal tissues. Hence, physical properties should be considered as additional factors that might affect photoreceptor differentiation and retinal development besides representing potential parameters for label-free sorting of photoreceptors. © 2019 The Authors. Cytometry Part A published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Santos‐Ferreira
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTechnische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Maik Herbig
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTechnische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Oliver Otto
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTechnische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
- Centre for Innovation Competence: Humoral Immune Reactions in Cardiovascular Diseases (HIKE)University of GreifswaldGreifswaldGermany
| | - Madalena Carido
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTechnische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Mike O. Karl
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTechnische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)DresdenGermany
| | - Stylianos Michalakis
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CiPSM), Department of Pharmacy—Center for Drug ResearchLudwig‐Maximilians‐Universität MünchenMunichGermany
| | - Jochen Guck
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTechnische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular BioengineeringTechnische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
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11
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Rojo Arias JE, Economopoulou M, Juárez López DA, Kurzbach A, Au Yeung KH, Englmaier V, Merdausl M, Schaarschmidt M, Ader M, Morawietz H, Funk RHW, Jászai J. VEGF-Trap is a potent modulator of vasoregenerative responses and protects dopaminergic amacrine network integrity in degenerative ischemic neovascular retinopathy. J Neurochem 2019; 153:390-412. [PMID: 31550048 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Retinal hypoxia triggers abnormal vessel growth and microvascular hyper-permeability in ischemic retinopathies. Whereas vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) inhibitors significantly hinder disease progression, their benefits to retinal neurons remain poorly understood. Similar to humans, oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mice exhibit severe retinal microvascular malformations and profound neuronal dysfunction. OIR mice are thus a phenocopy of human retinopathy of prematurity, and a proxy for investigating advanced stages of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Hence, the OIR model offers an excellent platform for assessing morpho-functional responses of the ischemic retina to anti-angiogenic therapies. Using this model, we investigated the retinal responses to VEGF-Trap (Aflibercept), an anti-angiogenic agent recognizing ligands of VEGF receptors 1 and 2 that possesses regulatory approval for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion and diabetic macular edema. Our results indicate that Aflibercept not only reduces the severity of retinal microvascular aberrations but also significantly improves neuroretinal function. Aflibercept administration significantly enhanced light-responsiveness, as revealed by electroretinographic examinations, and led to increased numbers of dopaminergic amacrine cells. Additionally, retinal transcriptional profiling revealed the concerted regulation of both angiogenic and neuronal targets, including transcripts encoding subunits of transmitter receptors relevant to amacrine cell function. Thus, Aflibercept represents a promising therapeutic alternative for the treatment of further progressive ischemic retinal neurovasculopathies beyond the set of disease conditions for which it has regulatory approval. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.14743.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús E Rojo Arias
- Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Saxony, Germany
| | - Matina Economopoulou
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Saxony, Germany
| | - David A Juárez López
- Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Saxony, Germany
| | - Anica Kurzbach
- Medizinische Klinik III, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Saxony, Germany.,German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Kwan H Au Yeung
- Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Saxony, Germany
| | - Vanessa Englmaier
- Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Saxony, Germany
| | - Marie Merdausl
- Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Saxony, Germany
| | - Martin Schaarschmidt
- Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Saxony, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Cluster of Excellence, Saxony, Germany
| | - Henning Morawietz
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Division of Vascular Endothelium and Microcirculation, Technische Universität Dresden, Saxony, Germany
| | - Richard H W Funk
- Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Saxony, Germany
| | - József Jászai
- Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Saxony, Germany
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12
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Garita-Hernandez M, Lampič M, Chaffiol A, Guibbal L, Routet F, Santos-Ferreira T, Gasparini S, Borsch O, Gagliardi G, Reichman S, Picaud S, Sahel JA, Goureau O, Ader M, Dalkara D, Duebel J. Restoration of visual function by transplantation of optogenetically engineered photoreceptors. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4524. [PMID: 31586094 PMCID: PMC6778196 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12330-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A major challenge in the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases, with the transplantation of replacement photoreceptors, is the difficulty in inducing the grafted cells to grow and maintain light sensitive outer segments in the host retina, which depends on proper interaction with the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Here, for an RPE-independent treatment approach, we introduce a hyperpolarizing microbial opsin into photoreceptor precursors from newborn mice, and transplant them into blind mice lacking the photoreceptor layer. These optogenetically-transformed photoreceptors are light responsive and their transplantation leads to the recovery of visual function, as shown by ganglion cell recordings and behavioral tests. Subsequently, we generate cone photoreceptors from human induced pluripotent stem cells, expressing the chloride pump Jaws. After transplantation into blind mice, we observe light-driven responses at the photoreceptor and ganglion cell levels. These results demonstrate that structural and functional retinal repair is possible by combining stem cell therapy and optogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maruša Lampič
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Chaffiol
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Laure Guibbal
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Fiona Routet
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | | | - Sylvia Gasparini
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, CMCB, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, CMCB, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Giuliana Gagliardi
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Sacha Reichman
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Serge Picaud
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, DHU Sight Restore, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Olivier Goureau
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, CMCB, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France.
| | - Jens Duebel
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Vision, INSERM, CNRS, 75012, Paris, France. .,Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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13
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Bernard C, Escalas A, Villeriot N, Agogué H, Hugoni M, Duval C, Carré C, Got P, Sarazin G, Jézéquel D, Leboulanger C, Grossi V, Ader M, Troussellier M. Very Low Phytoplankton Diversity in a Tropical Saline-Alkaline Lake, with Co-dominance of Arthrospira fusiformis (Cyanobacteria) and Picocystis salinarum (Chlorophyta). Microb Ecol 2019; 78:603-617. [PMID: 30729265 PMCID: PMC6744573 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-019-01332-8] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Lake Dziani Dzaha (Mayotte Island, Indian Ocean) is a tropical thalassohaline lake which geochemical and biological conditions make it a unique aquatic ecosystem considered as a modern analogue of Precambrian environments. In the present study, we focused on the diversity of phytoplanktonic communities, which produce very high and stable biomass (mean2014-2015 = 652 ± 179 μg chlorophyll a L-1). As predicted by classical community ecology paradigms, and as observed in similar environments, a single species is expected to dominate the phytoplanktonic communities. To test this hypothesis, we sampled water column in the deepest part of the lake (18 m) during rainy and dry seasons for two consecutive years. Phytoplanktonic communities were characterized using a combination of metagenomic, microscopy-based and flow cytometry approaches, and we used statistical modeling to identify the environmental factors determining the abundance of dominant organisms. As hypothesized, the overall diversity of the phytoplanktonic communities was very low (15 OTUs), but we observed a co-dominance of two, and not only one, OTUs, viz., Arthrospira fusiformis (Cyanobacteria) and Picocystis salinarum (Chlorophyta). We observed a decrease in the abundance of these co-dominant taxa along the depth profile and identified the adverse environmental factors driving this decline. The functional traits measured on isolated strains of these two taxa (i.e., size, pigment composition, and concentration) are then compared and discussed to explain their capacity to cope with the extreme environmental conditions encountered in the aphotic, anoxic, and sulfidic layers of the water column of Lake Dziani Dzaha.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Bernard
- UMR 7245 MCAM, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - CNRS, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP 39, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France.
| | - A Escalas
- UMR 7245 MCAM, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - CNRS, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP 39, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - N Villeriot
- UMR 7245 MCAM, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - CNRS, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP 39, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
- UMR 9190 MARBEC, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - IRD - IFREMER, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - H Agogué
- UMR 7266 LIENSs, Université de La Rochelle - CNRS, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - M Hugoni
- UMR 5557 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Lyon 1 - CNRS - INRA, 69220, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - C Duval
- UMR 7245 MCAM, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - CNRS, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP 39, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - C Carré
- UMR 9190 MARBEC, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - IRD - IFREMER, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - P Got
- UMR 9190 MARBEC, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - IRD - IFREMER, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - G Sarazin
- UMR 7154 Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris - Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Diderot, 1 rue de Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France
| | - D Jézéquel
- UMR 7154 Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris - Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Diderot, 1 rue de Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France
| | - C Leboulanger
- UMR 9190 MARBEC, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - IRD - IFREMER, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - V Grossi
- Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon, Université de Lyon - CNRS - UCBL - ENSL, 69220 Villeurbanne, France
| | - M Ader
- UMR 7154 Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris - Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Diderot, 1 rue de Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France
| | - M Troussellier
- UMR 9190 MARBEC, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - IRD - IFREMER, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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14
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Cellamare M, Duval C, Drelin Y, Djediat C, Touibi N, Agogué H, Leboulanger C, Ader M, Bernard C. Characterization of phototrophic microorganisms and description of new cyanobacteria isolated from the saline-alkaline crater-lake Dziani Dzaha (Mayotte, Indian Ocean). FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2019; 94:5033403. [PMID: 29878107 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiy108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The saline-alkaline crater-lake Dziani Dzaha (Mayotte, Indian Ocean) is dominated by the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Arthrospira. However, the rest of the phototrophic community remains underexplored because of their minute dimension or lower biomass. To characterize the phototrophic microorganisms living in this ecosystem considered as a modern analog of Precambrian environments, several strains were isolated from the water column and stromatolites and analyzed using the polyphasic approach. Based on morphological, ultrastructural and molecular (16S rRNA gene, 18S rRNA gene, 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and cpcBA-IGS locus) methods, seven filamentous cyanobacteria and the prasinophyte Picocystis salinarum were identified. Two new genera and four new cyanobacteria species belonging to the orders Oscillatoriales (Desertifilum dzianense sp. nov.) and Synechococcales (Sodalinema komarekii gen. nov., sp. nov., Sodaleptolyngbya stromatolitii gen. nov., sp. nov. and Haloleptolyngbya elongata sp. nov.) were described. This approach also allowed to identify Arthrospira fusiformis with exclusively straight trichomes instead of the spirally coiled form commonly observed in the genus. This study evidenced the importance of using the polyphasic approach to solve the complex taxonomy of cyanobacteria and to study algal assemblages from unexplored ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cellamare
- UMR 7245 MCAM MNHN-CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 39, 12 rue Buffon, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.,Phyto-Quality, 15 rue Pétrarque, 75116 Paris, France
| | - C Duval
- UMR 7245 MCAM MNHN-CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 39, 12 rue Buffon, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Y Drelin
- UMR 7245 MCAM MNHN-CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 39, 12 rue Buffon, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - C Djediat
- UMR 7245 MCAM MNHN-CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 39, 12 rue Buffon, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.,Electron Microscopy Platform, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 39, 12 rue Buffon, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - N Touibi
- UMR 7245 MCAM MNHN-CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 39, 12 rue Buffon, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.,Electron Microscopy Platform, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 39, 12 rue Buffon, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - H Agogué
- UMR 7266 LIENSs CNRS, Université de La Rochelle, F-17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - C Leboulanger
- UMR 9190 MARBEC IRD-CNRS, Université de Montpellier-IFREMER, Avenue Jean Monnet, F-34200 Sète, France
| | - M Ader
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Diderot, UMR 7154 CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - C Bernard
- UMR 7245 MCAM MNHN-CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 39, 12 rue Buffon, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
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15
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Collin J, Zerti D, Queen R, Santos-Ferreira T, Bauer R, Coxhead J, Hussain R, Steel D, Mellough C, Ader M, Sernagor E, Armstrong L, Lako M. CRX Expression in Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Photoreceptors Marks a Transplantable Subpopulation of Early Cones. Stem Cells 2019; 37:609-622. [PMID: 30681766 PMCID: PMC6519156 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Death of photoreceptors is a common cause of age-related and inherited retinal dystrophies, and thus their replenishment from renewable stem cell sources is a highly desirable therapeutic goal. Human pluripotent stem cells provide a useful cell source in view of their limitless self-renewal capacity and potential to not only differentiate into cells of the retina but also self-organize into tissue with structure akin to the human retina as part of three-dimensional retinal organoids. Photoreceptor precursors have been isolated from differentiating human pluripotent stem cells through application of cell surface markers or fluorescent reporter approaches and shown to have a similar transcriptome to fetal photoreceptors. In this study, we investigated the transcriptional profile of CRX-expressing photoreceptor precursors derived from human pluripotent stem cells and their engraftment capacity in an animal model of retinitis pigmentosa (Pde6brd1), which is characterized by rapid photoreceptor degeneration. Single cell RNA-Seq analysis revealed the presence of a dominant cell cluster comprising 72% of the cells, which displayed the hallmarks of early cone photoreceptor expression. When transplanted subretinally into the Pde6brd1 mice, the CRX+ cells settled next to the inner nuclear layer and made connections with the inner neurons of the host retina, and approximately one-third of them expressed the pan cone marker, Arrestin 3, indicating further maturation upon integration into the host retina. Together, our data provide valuable molecular insights into the transcriptional profile of human pluripotent stem cells-derived CRX+ photoreceptor precursors and indicate their usefulness as a source of transplantable cone photoreceptors. Stem Cells 2019;37:609-622.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Collin
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Darin Zerti
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Queen
- Genomics Core Facility, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Tiago Santos-Ferreira
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Roman Bauer
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Coxhead
- Genomics Core Facility, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Rafiqul Hussain
- Genomics Core Facility, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - David Steel
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Carla Mellough
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Evelyne Sernagor
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Lyle Armstrong
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
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16
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Gasparini SJ, Llonch S, Borsch O, Ader M. Transplantation of photoreceptors into the degenerative retina: Current state and future perspectives. Prog Retin Eye Res 2018; 69:1-37. [PMID: 30445193 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian retina displays no intrinsic regenerative capacities, therefore retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or retinitis pigmentosa (RP) result in a permanent loss of the light-sensing photoreceptor cells. The degeneration of photoreceptors leads to vision impairment and, in later stages, complete blindness. Several therapeutic strategies have been developed to slow down or prevent further retinal degeneration, however a definitive cure i.e. replacement of the lost photoreceptors, has not yet been established. Cell-based treatment approaches, by means of photoreceptor transplantation, have been studied in pre-clinical animal models over the last three decades. The introduction of pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids represents, in principle, an unlimited source for the generation of transplantable human photoreceptors. However, safety, immunological and reproducibility-related issues regarding the use of such cells still need to be solved. Moreover, the recent finding of cytoplasmic material transfer between donor and host photoreceptors demands reinterpretation of several former transplantation studies. At the same time, material transfer between healthy donor and dysfunctional patient photoreceptors also offers a potential alternative strategy for therapeutic intervention. In this review we discuss the history and current state of photoreceptor transplantation, the techniques used to assess rescue of visual function, the prerequisites for effective transplantation as well as the main roadblocks, including safety and immune response to the graft, that need to be overcome for successful clinical translation of photoreceptor transplantation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia J Gasparini
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sílvia Llonch
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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17
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Abstract
A major cause for vision impairment and blindness in industrialized countries is the loss of the light-sensing retinal tissue in the eye. Photoreceptor damage is one of the main characteristics found in retinal degeneration diseases, such as Retinitis Pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration. The lack of effective therapies to stop photoreceptor loss together with the absence of significant intrinsic regeneration in the human retina converts such degenerative diseases into permanent conditions that are currently irreversible. Cell replacement by means of photoreceptor transplantation has been proposed as a potential approach to tackle cell loss in the retina. Since the first attempt of photoreceptor transplantation in humans, about twenty years ago, several research groups have focused in the development and improvement of technologies necessary to bring cell transplantation for retinal degeneration diseases to reality. Progress in recent years in the generation of human tissue derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) has significantly improved our tools to study human development and disease in the dish. Particularly the availability of 3D culture systems for the generation of PSC-derived organoids, including the human retina, has dramatically increased access to human material for basic and medical research. In this review, we focus on important milestones towards the generation of transplantable photoreceptor precursors from PSC-derived retinal organoids and discuss recent pre-clinical transplantation studies using organoid-derived photoreceptors in context to related in vivo work using primary photoreceptors as donor material. Additionally, we summarize remaining challenges for developing photoreceptor transplantation towards clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Llonch
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Madalena Carido
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden (DZNE), Arnoldstraße 18, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
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Abstract
Vision impairment and blindness due to photoreceptor loss represents one of the major causes for disability in industrialized societies. Whereas rod photoreceptors allow vision under dim light conditions, cone photoreceptors provide high-acuity vision in daylight conditions and color detection. Several therapeutic strategies are currently developed to repair vision loss, including cell-based interventions. Within the last decade, major progress regarding the replacement of photoreceptors by transplantation has been made in pre-clinical animal models. This includes defining the necessary conditions, like the optimal ontogenetic stage of transplantable donor photoreceptors, cell-specific enrichment procedures and robust transplantation technologies. Moreover, first studies provided evidence for functional improvements by photoreceptor transplantation in mouse models of retinal dysfunction. Furthermore, advances in cell culture technology were made by introducing methods to generate photoreceptor-containing retinal organoids, derived from pluripotent stem cells, that provide theoretically unlimited sources for the production of photoreceptor transplants. Interestingly, the recently identified transfer of cytoplasmic material between donor and host photoreceptors might represent an additional treatment option for cell transplantation approaches. Within this review, we focus on the main developments within the photoreceptor transplantation field and discuss important achievements, challenges and hurdles to develop photoreceptor transplantation towards clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Borsch
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden
| | - T Santos-Ferreira
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden
| | - M Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden
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Santos-Ferreira TF, Borsch O, Ader M. Rebuilding the Missing Part-A Review on Photoreceptor Transplantation. Front Syst Neurosci 2017; 10:105. [PMID: 28105007 PMCID: PMC5214672 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2016.00105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Vision represents one of the main senses for humans to interact with their environment. Our sight relies on the presence of fully functional light sensitive cells – rod and cone photoreceptors — allowing us to see under dim (rods) and bright (cones) light conditions. Photoreceptor degeneration is one of the major causes for vision impairment in industrialized countries and it is highly predominant in the population above the age of 50. Thus, with the continuous increase in life expectancy it will make retinal degeneration reach an epidemic proportion. To date, there is no cure established for photoreceptor loss, but several therapeutic approaches, spanning from neuroprotection, pharmacological drugs, gene therapy, retinal prosthesis, and cell (RPE or photoreceptor) transplantation, have been developed over the last decade with some already introduced in clinical trials. In this review, we focus on current developments in photoreceptor transplantation strategies, its major breakthroughs, current limitations and the next challenges to translate such cell-based approaches toward clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago F Santos-Ferreira
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Cluster of Excellence, Technische Universität Dresden Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Cluster of Excellence, Technische Universität Dresden Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Cluster of Excellence, Technische Universität Dresden Dresden, Germany
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20
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Santos-Ferreira T, Llonch S, Borsch O, Postel K, Haas J, Ader M. Retinal transplantation of photoreceptors results in donor-host cytoplasmic exchange. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13028. [PMID: 27701381 PMCID: PMC5059459 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-clinical studies provided evidence for successful photoreceptor cell replacement therapy. Migration and integration of donor photoreceptors into the retina has been proposed as the underlying mechanism for restored visual function. Here we reveal that donor photoreceptors do not structurally integrate into the retinal tissue but instead reside between the photoreceptor layer and the retinal pigment epithelium, the so-called sub-retinal space, and exchange intracellular material with host photoreceptors. By combining single-cell analysis, Cre/lox technology and independent labelling of the cytoplasm and nucleus, we reliably track allogeneic transplants demonstrating cellular content transfer between graft and host photoreceptors without nuclear translocation. Our results contradict the common view that transplanted photoreceptors migrate and integrate into the photoreceptor layer of recipients and therefore imply a re-interpretation of previous photoreceptor transplantation studies. Furthermore, the observed interaction of donor with host photoreceptors may represent an unexpected mechanism for the treatment of blinding diseases in future cell therapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Santos-Ferreira
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Sílvia Llonch
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Kai Postel
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jochen Haas
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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Santos-Ferreira T, Völkner M, Borsch O, Haas J, Cimalla P, Vasudevan P, Carmeliet P, Corbeil D, Michalakis S, Koch E, Karl MO, Ader M. Author Response: Possibility of Cytoplasmic Transportation Between Donor-Host Cell Following Photoreceptor Transplantation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2016; 57:5336-5337. [PMID: 27727397 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.16-20687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Santos-Ferreira
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Manuela Völkner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jochen Haas
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter Cimalla
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Dresden, Germany
| | - Praveen Vasudevan
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- University of Leuven, Vesalius Research Center, Department of Oncology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Denis Corbeil
- Technische Universität Dresden, Biotechnology Center, Dresden, Germany; and the
| | - Stylianos Michalakis
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich CiPSM, Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Edmund Koch
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mike O Karl
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany; 2German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Santos-Ferreira T, Völkner M, Borsch O, Haas J, Cimalla P, Vasudevan P, Carmeliet P, Corbeil D, Michalakis S, Koch E, Karl MO, Ader M. Stem Cell–Derived Photoreceptor Transplants Differentially Integrate Into Mouse Models of Cone-Rod Dystrophy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 57:3509-20. [DOI: 10.1167/iovs.16-19087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Santos-Ferreira
- Technische Universität Dresden CRTD - Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Manuela Völkner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- Technische Universität Dresden CRTD - Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jochen Haas
- Technische Universität Dresden CRTD - Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter Cimalla
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Dresden, Germany
| | - Praveen Vasudevan
- Technische Universität Dresden CRTD - Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, VIB - Vesalius Research Center, University of Leuven, Department of Oncology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Denis Corbeil
- Technische Universität Dresden, Biotechnology Center, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stylianos Michalakis
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CiPSM), Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Edmund Koch
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mike O. Karl
- Technische Universität Dresden CRTD - Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany 2German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Technische Universität Dresden CRTD - Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Becirovic E, Böhm S, Nguyen ONP, Riedmayr LM, Koch MA, Schulze E, Kohl S, Borsch O, Santos-Ferreira T, Ader M, Michalakis S, Biel M. In Vivo Analysis of Disease-Associated Point Mutations Unveils Profound Differences in mRNA Splicing of Peripherin-2 in Rod and Cone Photoreceptors. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1005811. [PMID: 26796962 PMCID: PMC4722987 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Point mutations in peripherin-2 (PRPH2) are associated with severe retinal degenerative disorders affecting rod and/or cone photoreceptors. Various disease-causing mutations have been identified, but the exact contribution of a given mutation to the clinical phenotype remains unclear. Exonic point mutations are usually assumed to alter single amino acids, thereby influencing specific protein characteristics; however, they can also affect mRNA splicing. To examine the effects of distinct PRPH2 point mutations on mRNA splicing and protein expression in vivo, we designed PRPH2 minigenes containing the three coding exons and relevant intronic regions of human PRPH2. Minigenes carrying wild type PRPH2 or PRPH2 exon 2 mutations associated with rod or cone disorders were expressed in murine photoreceptors using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors. We detect three PRPH2 splice isoforms in rods and cones: correctly spliced, intron 1 retention, and unspliced. In addition, we show that only the correctly spliced isoform results in detectable protein expression. Surprisingly, compared to rods, differential splicing leads to lower expression of correctly spliced and higher expression of unspliced PRPH2 in cones. These results were confirmed in qRT-PCR experiments from FAC-sorted murine rods and cones. Strikingly, three out of five cone disease-causing PRPH2 mutations profoundly enhanced correct splicing of PRPH2, which correlated with strong upregulation of mutant PRPH2 protein expression in cones. By contrast, four out of six PRPH2 mutants associated with rod disorders gave rise to a reduced PRPH2 protein expression via different mechanisms. These mechanisms include aberrant mRNA splicing, protein mislocalization, and protein degradation. Our data suggest that upregulation of PRPH2 levels in combination with defects in the PRPH2 function caused by the mutation might be an important mechanism leading to cone degeneration. By contrast, the pathology of rod-specific PRPH2 mutations is rather characterized by PRPH2 downregulation and impaired protein localization. Photoreceptors are the light sensing cells of the retina and consist of dim light and night vision mediating rods and daylight and color vision mediating cones. PRPH2 is crucial for the structural and functional integrity of photoreceptors. Some point mutations in PRPH2 lead to degeneration of rods, whereas others only affect cones. We examined the potential effects of 11 disease-linked PRPH2 mutations on mRNA splicing and protein expression in vivo. For this, we expressed six PRPH2 mutants associated with degeneration of rods in murine rods and five additional mutants linked to cone diseases in murine cones. We demonstrate that different splicing efficiencies of PRPH2 lead to its high expression in rods and to its low expression in cones. Furthermore, we show that the majority of PRPH2 mutants associated with cone disorders results in an upregulation of PRPH2 expression in cones by increasing the mRNA splicing efficiency. By contrast, the majority of PRPH2 mutants associated with rod diseases leads to a downregulation of PRPH2 expression in rods via different mechanisms including aberrant mRNA splicing. These results provide novel insights into the pathobiology of mRNA splicing in photoreceptors and might contribute to explain the differential penetrance of PRPH2 mutants in rods and cones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvir Becirovic
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy–Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
- * E-mail: (EB); (MB)
| | - Sybille Böhm
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy–Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Ong Nam Phuong Nguyen
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy–Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Lisa Maria Riedmayr
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy–Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Mirja Annika Koch
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy–Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Schulze
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy–Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Susanne Kohl
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Center for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD/DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Cluster of Excellence, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tiago Santos-Ferreira
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD/DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Cluster of Excellence, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Technische Universität Dresden, CRTD/DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Cluster of Excellence, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stylianos Michalakis
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy–Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Martin Biel
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy–Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
- * E-mail: (EB); (MB)
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Cimalla P, Werner T, Winkler K, Mueller C, Wicht S, Gaertner M, Mehner M, Walther J, Rellinghaus B, Wittig D, Karl MO, Ader M, Funk RHW, Koch E. Imaging of nanoparticle-labeled stem cells using magnetomotive optical coherence tomography, laser speckle reflectometry, and light microscopy. J Biomed Opt 2015; 20:036018. [PMID: 25822955 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.20.3.036018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Cell transplantation and stem cell therapy are promising approaches for regenerative medicine and are of interest to researchers and clinicians worldwide. However, currently, no imaging technique that allows three-dimensional in vivo inspection of therapeutically administered cells in host tissues is available. Therefore, we investigate magnetomotive optical coherence tomography (MM-OCT) of cells labeled with magnetic particles as a potential noninvasive cell tracking method. We develop magnetomotive imaging of mesenchymal stem cells for future cell therapy monitoring. Cells were labeled with fluorescent iron oxide nanoparticles, embedded in tissue-mimicking agar scaffolds, and imaged using a microscope setup with an integrated MM-OCT probe. Magnetic particle-induced motion in response to a pulsed magnetic field of 0.2 T was successfully detected by OCT speckle variance analysis, and cross-sectional and volumetric OCT scans with highlighted labeled cells were obtained. In parallel, fluorescence microscopy and laser speckle reflectometry were applied as two-dimensional reference modalities to image particle distribution and magnetically induced motion inside the sample, respectively. All three optical imaging modalities were in good agreement with each other. Thus, magnetomotive imaging using iron oxide nanoparticles as cellular contrast agents is a potential technique for enhanced visualization of selected cells in OCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Cimalla
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Theresa Werner
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Kai Winkler
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Mueller
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, GermanycLife Science Inkubator GmbH, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany
| | - Sebastian Wicht
- IFW Dresden, Institute for Metallic Materials, Helmholtzstraße 20, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Maria Gaertner
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Mirko Mehner
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, GermanyeTechnische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medic
| | - Julia Walther
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, GermanyeTechnische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medic
| | - Bernd Rellinghaus
- IFW Dresden, Institute for Metallic Materials, Helmholtzstraße 20, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Dierk Wittig
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, GermanycLife Science Inkubator GmbH, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany
| | - Mike O Karl
- Technische Universität Dresden, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Fetscherstraße 105, 01307 Dresden, GermanygGerman Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Arnoldstraße 18, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Technische Universität Dresden, DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Fetscherstraße 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Richard H W Funk
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Edmund Koch
- Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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Santos-Ferreira T, Postel K, Stutzki H, Kurth T, Zeck G, Ader M. Daylight Vision Repair by Cell Transplantation. Stem Cells 2014; 33:79-90. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.1824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Santos-Ferreira
- CRTD/DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Kai Postel
- CRTD/DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Henrike Stutzki
- Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen; Reutlingen Germany
- Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience; Tübingen Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- CRTD/DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Günther Zeck
- Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen; Reutlingen Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
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26
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Carido M, Zhu Y, Postel K, Benkner B, Cimalla P, Karl MO, Kurth T, Paquet-Durand F, Koch E, Münch TA, Tanaka EM, Ader M. Characterization of a mouse model with complete RPE loss and its use for RPE cell transplantation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2014; 55:5431-44. [PMID: 25103259 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-14325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major leading cause of visual impairment and blindness with no cure currently established. Cell replacement of RPE is discussed as a potential therapy for AMD. Previous studies were performed in animal models with severe limitations in recapitulating the disease progression. In detail, we describe the effect of systemic injection of sodium iodate in the mouse retina. We further evaluate the usefulness of this animal model to analyze cell-specific effects following transplantation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived RPE cells. METHODS Morphologic, functional, and behavioral changes following sodium iodate injection were monitored by histology, gene expression analysis, electroretinography, and optokinetic head tracking. Human embryonic stem cell-derived RPE cells were transplanted 1 week after sodium iodate injection and experimental retinae were analyzed 3 weeks later. RESULTS Injection of sodium iodate caused complete RPE cell loss, photoreceptor degeneration, and altered gene and protein expression in outer and inner nuclear layers. Retinal function was severely affected by day 3 and abolished from day 14. Following transplantation, donor hESC-derived RPE cells formed extensive monolayers that displayed wild-type RPE cell morphology, organization, and function, including phagocytosis of host photoreceptor outer segments. CONCLUSIONS Systemic injection of sodium iodate has considerable effects on RPE, photoreceptors, and inner nuclear layer neurons, and provides a model to assay reconstitution and maturation of RPE cell transplants. The availability of an RPE-free Bruch's membrane in this model likely allows the unprecedented formation of extensive polarized cell monolayers from donor hESC-derived RPE cell suspensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madalena Carido
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Yu Zhu
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Kai Postel
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Boris Benkner
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Bernstein Center for Computacional Biology, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Cimalla
- Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Mike O Karl
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany DZNE (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases), Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Edmund Koch
- Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas A Münch
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Bernstein Center for Computacional Biology, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Elly M Tanaka
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
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Abstract
Recently human embryonic stem cell research has taken on a new dimension - the third dimension. Capitalizing on increasing knowledge on directing pluripotent cells along different lineages, combined with ECM supported three-dimensional culture conditions, it has become possible to generate highly organized tissues of the central nervous system, gut, liver and kidney. Each system has been used to study different aspects of organogenesis and function including physical forces underlying optic cup morphogenesis, the function of disease related genes in progenitor cell control, as well as interaction of the generated tissues with host tissue upon transplantation. Pluripotent stem cell derived organoids represent powerful systems for the study of how cells self-organize to generate tissues with a given shape, pattern and form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Ader
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Elly M Tanaka
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 105, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
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28
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Eberle D, Santos-Ferreira T, Grahl S, Ader M. Subretinal transplantation of MACS purified photoreceptor precursor cells into the adult mouse retina. J Vis Exp 2014:e50932. [PMID: 24638161 DOI: 10.3791/50932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vision impairment and blindness due to the loss of the light-sensing cells of the retina, i.e. photoreceptors, represents the main reason for disability in industrialized countries. Replacement of degenerated photoreceptors by cell transplantation represents a possible treatment option in future clinical applications. Indeed, recent preclinical studies demonstrated that immature photoreceptors, isolated from the neonatal mouse retina at postnatal day 4, have the potential to integrate into the adult mouse retina following subretinal transplantation. Donor cells generated a mature photoreceptor morphology including inner and outer segments, a round cell body located at the outer nuclear layer, and synaptic terminals in close proximity to endogenous bipolar cells. Indeed, recent reports demonstrated that donor photoreceptors functionally integrate into the neural circuitry of host mice. For a future clinical application of such cell replacement approach, purified suspensions of the cells of choice have to be generated and placed at the correct position for proper integration into the eye. For the enrichment of photoreceptor precursors, sorting should be based on specific cell surface antigens to avoid genetic reporter modification of donor cells. Here we show magnetic-associated cell sorting (MACS) - enrichment of transplantable rod photoreceptor precursors isolated from the neonatal retina of photoreceptor-specific reporter mice based on the cell surface marker CD73. Incubation with anti-CD73 antibodies followed by micro-bead conjugated secondary antibodies allowed the enrichment of rod photoreceptor precursors by MACS to approximately 90%. In comparison to flow cytometry, MACS has the advantage that it can be easier applied to GMP standards and that high amounts of cells can be sorted in relative short time periods. Injection of enriched cell suspensions into the subretinal space of adult wild-type mice resulted in a 3-fold higher integration rate compared to unsorted cell suspensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Eberle
- CRTD / DFG-Research Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden
| | - Tiago Santos-Ferreira
- CRTD / DFG-Research Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden
| | - Sandra Grahl
- CRTD / DFG-Research Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD / DFG-Research Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden;
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Yang X, Zou H, Jung G, Richard G, Linke SJ, Ader M, Bartsch U. Nonneuronal control of the differential distribution of myelin along retinal ganglion cell axons in the mouse. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2013; 54:7819-27. [PMID: 24222305 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.13-12596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE In most mammalian species, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons are myelinated in the optic nerve, but remain nonmyelinated in the retinal nerve fiber layer and the most proximal (i.e., retina-near) region of the nerve. Here we analyzed whether RGCs are involved in the control of this characteristic distribution of oligodendrocytes and myelin in the primary visual pathway of mice. METHODS Neurospheres were enriched in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) by a short-term exposure to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and grafted into the retina of young postnatal mice close to the optic disc. Immunohistochemistry was performed to study the integration and differentiation of the grafted cells, and the formation of donor-derived myelin in the normally nonmyelinated retinal nerve fiber layer and intrabulbar and most proximal retrobulbar region of the optic nerve. RESULTS Intraretinal transplantations of small-sized PDGF-treated neurospheres into young postnatal mice resulted in extensive integration of the grafted cells into host retinas. A significant fraction of the donor cells differentiated into oligodendrocytes that myelinated the nerve fiber layer. Importantly, RGC axon segments within the normally nonmyelinated intrabulbar and most proximal retrobulbar region of the nerve also became myelinated in a fraction of animals. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report demonstrating that the normally nonmyelinated intrabulbar and retrobulbar segments of RGC axons are competent to become myelinated. Results support the view that the differential distribution of myelin and oligodendrocytes in the primary visual pathway is controlled by nonneuronal factors rather than by the RGCs themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Roehlecke C, Schumann U, Ader M, Brunssen C, Bramke S, Morawietz H, Funk RHW. Stress reaction in outer segments of photoreceptors after blue light irradiation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71570. [PMID: 24039718 PMCID: PMC3770596 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The retina is prone to oxidative stress from many factors which are also involved in the pathogenesis of degenerative diseases. In this study, we used the application of blue light as a physiological stress factor. The aim of this study was to identify the major source of intracellular ROS that mediates blue light-induced detrimental effects on cells which may lead to cytotoxicity. We hypothesized that outer segments are the major source of blue light induced ROS generation. In photoreceptors, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (Nox) enzymes and the recently found respiratory chain complexes may represent a major source for reactive oxygen species (ROS), beside mitochondria and chromophores. Therefore, we investigated this hypothesis and analysed the exact localization of the ROS source in photoreceptors in an organotypic culture system for mouse retinas. Whole eyeball cultures were irradiated with visible blue light (405 nm) with an output power of 1 mW/cm2. Blue light impingement lead to an increase of ROS production (detected by H2DCFDA in live retinal explants), which was particularly strong in the photoreceptor outer segments. Nox-2 and Nox-4 proteins are sources of ROS in blue light irradiated photoreceptors; the Nox inhibitor apocynin decreased ROS stimulated by blue light. Concomitantly, enzyme SOD-1, a member of the antioxidant defense system, indicator molecules of protein oxidation (CML) and lipid oxidation (MDA and 4-HNE) were also increased in the outer segments. Interestingly, outer segments showed a mitochondrial-like membrane potential which was demonstrated using two dyes (JC-1 and TMRE) normally exclusively associated with mitochondria. As in mitochondria, these dyes indicated a decrease of the membrane potential in hypoxic states or cell stress situations. The present study demonstrates that ROS generation and oxidative stress occurs directly in the outer segments of photoreceptors after blue light irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora Roehlecke
- Institute of Anatomy, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Ulrike Schumann
- Institute of Anatomy, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) DFG – Cluster of Excellence, Biotechnology Center, Dresden, Germany
| | - Coy Brunssen
- Division of Vascular Endothelium and Microcirculation, Department of Medicine III, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Silvia Bramke
- Institute of Anatomy, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Henning Morawietz
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) DFG – Cluster of Excellence, Biotechnology Center, Dresden, Germany
- Division of Vascular Endothelium and Microcirculation, Department of Medicine III, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Richard H. W. Funk
- Institute of Anatomy, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) DFG – Cluster of Excellence, Biotechnology Center, Dresden, Germany
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Zhu Y, Carido M, Meinhardt A, Kurth T, Karl MO, Ader M, Tanaka EM. Three-dimensional neuroepithelial culture from human embryonic stem cells and its use for quantitative conversion to retinal pigment epithelium. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54552. [PMID: 23358448 PMCID: PMC3554725 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2012] [Accepted: 12/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A goal in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research is the faithful differentiation to given cell types such as neural lineages. During embryonic development, a basement membrane surrounds the neural plate that forms a tight, apico-basolaterally polarized epithelium before closing to form a neural tube with a single lumen. Here we show that the three-dimensional epithelial cyst culture of hESCs in Matrigel combined with neural induction results in a quantitative conversion into neuroepithelial cysts containing a single lumen. Cells attain a defined neuroepithelial identity by 5 days. The neuroepithelial cysts naturally generate retinal epithelium, in part due to IGF-1/insulin signaling. We demonstrate the utility of this epithelial culture approach by achieving a quantitative production of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from hESCs within 30 days. Direct transplantation of this RPE into a rat model of retinal degeneration without any selection or expansion of the cells results in the formation of a donor-derived RPE monolayer that rescues photoreceptor cells. The cyst method for neuroepithelial differentiation of pluripotent stem cells is not only of importance for RPE generation but will also be relevant to the production of other neuronal cell types and for reconstituting complex patterning events from three-dimensional neuroepithelia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhu
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Madalena Carido
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andrea Meinhardt
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mike O. Karl
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Elly M. Tanaka
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Eberle D, Kurth T, Santos-Ferreira T, Wilson J, Corbeil D, Ader M. Outer segment formation of transplanted photoreceptor precursor cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46305. [PMID: 23029471 PMCID: PMC3460822 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 08/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Transplantation of photoreceptor precursor cells (PPCs) into the retina represents a promising treatment for cell replacement in blinding diseases characterized by photoreceptor loss. In preclinical studies, we and others demonstrated that grafted PPCs integrate into the host outer nuclear layer (ONL) and develop into mature photoreceptors. However, a key feature of light detecting photoreceptors, the outer segment (OS) with natively aligned disc membrane staples, has not been studied in detail following transplantation. Therefore, we used as donor cells PPCs isolated from neonatal double transgenic reporter mice in which OSs are selectively labeled by green fluorescent protein while cell bodies are highlighted by red fluorescent protein. PPCs were enriched using CD73-based magnetic associated cell sorting and subsequently transplanted into either adult wild-type or a model of autosomal-dominant retinal degeneration mice. Three weeks post-transplantation, donor photoreceptors were identified based on fluorescent-reporter expression and OS formation was monitored at light and electron microscopy levels. Donor cells that properly integrated into the host wild-type retina developed OSs with the formation of a connecting cilium and well-aligned disc membrane staples similar to the surrounding native cells of the host. Surprisingly, the majority of not-integrated PPCs that remained in the sub-retinal space also generated native-like OSs in wild-type mice and those affected by retinal degeneration. Moreover, they showed an improved photoreceptor maturation and OS formation by comparison to donor cells located on the vitreous side suggesting that environmental cues influence the PPC differentiation and maturation. We conclude that transplanted PPCs, whether integrated or not into the host ONL, are able to generate the cellular structure for effective light detection, a phenomenon observed in wild-type as well as in degenerated retinas. Given that patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa lose almost all photoreceptors, our findings are of utmost importance for the development of cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Eberle
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Cluster of Excellence/TU-Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Cluster of Excellence/TU-Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tiago Santos-Ferreira
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Cluster of Excellence/TU-Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - John Wilson
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Denis Corbeil
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Cluster of Excellence/TU-Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Biotechnology Center, TU-Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Cluster of Excellence/TU-Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Vukicevic V, Schmid J, Hermann A, Lange S, Qin N, Gebauer L, Chunk KF, Ravens U, Eisenhofer G, Storch A, Ader M, Bornstein SR, Ehrhart-Bornstein M. Differentiation of chromaffin progenitor cells to dopaminergic neurons. Cell Transplant 2012; 21:2471-86. [PMID: 22507143 DOI: 10.3727/096368912x638874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of dopamine-producing neurons from chromaffin progenitors might represent a new valuable source for replacement therapies in Parkinson's disease. However, characterization of their differentiation potential is an important prerequisite for efficient engraftment. Based on our previous studies on isolation and characterization of chromaffin progenitors from adult adrenals, this study investigates their potential to produce dopaminergic neurons and means to enhance their dopaminergic differentiation. Chromaffin progenitors grown in sphere culture showed an increased expression of nestin and Mash1, indicating an increase of the progenitor subset. Proneurogenic culture conditions induced the differentiation into neurons positive for neural markers β-III-tubulin, MAP2, and TH accompanied by a decrease of Mash1 and nestin. Furthermore, Notch2 expression decreased concomitantly with a downregulation of downstream effectors Hes1 and Hes5 responsible for self-renewal and proliferation maintenance of progenitor cells. Chromaffin progenitor-derived neurons secreted dopamine upon stimulation by potassium. Strikingly, treatment of differentiating cells with retinoic and ascorbic acid resulted in a twofold increase of dopamine secretion while norepinephrine and epinephrine were decreased. Initiation of dopamine synthesis and neural maturation is controlled by Pitx3 and Nurr1. Both Pitx3 and Nurr1 were identified in differentiating chromaffin progenitors. Along with the gained dopaminergic function, electrophysiology revealed features of mature neurons, such as sodium channels and the capability to fire multiple action potentials. In summary, this study elucidates the capacity of chromaffin progenitor cells to generate functional dopaminergic neurons, indicating their potential use in cell replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Vukicevic
- Molecular Endocrinology, Medical Clinic III, University Clinic Dresden, Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstrasse 74, Dresden, Germany
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Fabig G, Kretschmar S, Weiche S, Eberle D, Ader M, Kurth T. Labeling of ultrathin resin sections for correlative light and electron microscopy. Methods Cell Biol 2012; 111:75-93. [PMID: 22857924 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-416026-2.00005-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Correlative microscopy combines the versatility of the light microscope with the excellent spatial resolution of the electron microscope. Here, we describe fast and simple methods for correlative immunofluorescence and immunogold labeling on the very same ultrathin section. The protocols are demonstrated on sections of tissue samples embedded in the methacrylate Lowicryl K4M. Ultrathin sections are mounted on electron microscopy (EM) grids and stained simultaneously with fluorescent and gold markers. For the detection of primary antibodies, we applied either protein A gold or immunoglobulin G (IgG) gold in combination with secondary antibodies coupled to Alexa488 or Alexa555. Alternatively, the correlative marker FluoroNanogold was used, followed by silver enhancement. The samples have to be analyzed first at the light microscope and then in the transmission electron microscope (TEM), because the fluorescence is bleached by the electron beam. Labeled structures selected at the fluorescence microscope can be identified in the TEM and analyzed at high resolution. This way, fluorescent signals can be directly correlated to the corresponding subcellular structures in the area of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunar Fabig
- Center for Regenerative Therapies, TU Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, D-01307 Dresden, Saxony, Germany
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Eberle D, Schubert S, Postel K, Corbeil D, Ader M. Increased integration of transplanted CD73-positive photoreceptor precursors into adult mouse retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2011; 52:6462-71. [PMID: 21743009 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.11-7399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE. Retinal degeneration initiated by loss of photoreceptors is the prevalent cause of visual impairment and blindness in industrialized countries. Transplantation of photoreceptor cells represents a possible replacement strategy. This study determined that identification of cell surface antigens can assist in enriching photoreceptor precursors for transplantation. METHODS. The expression profile of rod photoreceptors at postnatal day 4 was investigated by microarray analysis to identify photoreceptor-specific cell surface antigens. For enrichment of transplantable photoreceptors, neonatal retinas from rod photoreceptor-specific reporter mice were dissociated, and the rods were purified by magnetic associated cell sorting (MACS) with CD73 antibodies. MAC-sorted cell fractions were transplanted into the subretinal space of adult wild-type mice. The number of rod photoreceptors contained in unsorted, CD73-negative, and CD73-positive cell fractions were quantified in vitro and after grafting in vivo. RESULTS. Microarray analysis revealed that CD73 is a marker for rod photoreceptors. CD73-based MACS resulted in enrichment of rods to 87%. Furthermore, in comparison with unsorted cell fractions, CD73-positive MAC-sorted cells showed an approximately three-fold increase in the number of integrated, outer segment-forming photoreceptors after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS. CD73-based MACS is a reliable method for the enrichment of integrating photoreceptors. Purification via cell surface markers represents a new tool for the separation of transplantable photoreceptor precursors from a heterogeneous cell population, avoiding the need of reporter gene expression in target cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Eberle
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Cluster of Excellence, Dresden, Germany
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Roehlecke C, Schumann U, Ader M, Knels L, Funk RH. Influence of blue light on photoreceptors in a live retinal explant system. Mol Vis 2011; 17:876-84. [PMID: 21527999 PMCID: PMC3081800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2011] [Accepted: 04/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The present study was performed to investigate the early effects of blue light irradiation of photoreceptors in retinal explant cultures. METHODS Murine retinal explant cultures were irradiated with visible blue light (405 nm) with an output power of 1 mW/cm2. Dihydroethidium was used to determine the production of reactive oxygen species. Morphological alterations of photoreceptor outer segments were determined by live imaging microscopy with mitochondrial dye JC-1. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy were used for ultrastructural evaluations. Cell death in the retina was assessed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay method. RESULTS Live retinal explants displayed an increase in reactive oxygen species production, as revealed by fluorescent dihydroethidium products in photoreceptor cells after 30 min of blue light exposure. After 3 h of exposure, blue light caused disorganization of the normally neatly stacked outer segments of living photoreceptors. Ultrastructural analysis revealed breaks in the cell membrane surrounding the outer segments, especially in the middle section. The outer segments appeared tortuous, and the lamellar structures had been disrupted. TUNEL-staining revealed that long-term blue light exposure induced photoreceptor cell death. CONCLUSIONS In vitro blue light irradiation of retinal explants is a suitable model system for investigating early ultrastructural changes, as well as damage that leads to cell death in photoreceptor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden – Cluster of Excellence, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lilla Knels
- Institute of Anatomy, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Richard H.W. Funk
- Institute of Anatomy, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,CRTD/DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden – Cluster of Excellence, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Abstract
Although nitrogen is a key element in organic molecules such as nucleic acids and proteins, the timing of the emergence of its modern biogeochemical cycle is poorly known. Recent studies on the antiquity of the nitrogen cycle and its interaction with free oxygen suggests the establishment of a complete aerobic N biogeochemical cycle with nitrification, denitrification, and nitrogen fixation at about 2.68 Gyr. Here, we report new bulk nitrogen isotope data for the 2.72 billion-year-old sedimentary succession of the Tumbiana Formation (Pilbara Craton, Western Australia). The nitrogen isotopic compositions vary widely from +8.6‰ up to +50.4‰ and are inversely correlated with the very low δ(13)C values of associated organic matter defining the Fortescue excursion (down to about -56‰). We propose that this (15)N-enrichment records the onset of nitrification coupled to the continuous removal of its derivatives (nitrite and nitrate) by denitrification. This finding implies an increase in the availability of electron acceptors and probably oxygen in the Tumbiana depositional environment, 300 million years before the oxygenation of the Earth's atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Thomazo
- Laboratoire de géochimie des isotopes stables, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Université Paris Diderot, CNRS, PRES Sorbonne Paris Cité, France.
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Tanner G, Glaus E, Barthelmes D, Ader M, Fleischhauer J, Pagani F, Berger W, Neidhardt J. Therapeutic strategy to rescue mutation-induced exon skipping in rhodopsin by adaptation of U1 snRNA. Hum Mutat 2009; 30:255-63. [DOI: 10.1002/humu.20861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Tanner G, Glaus E, Barthelmes D, Ader M, Fleischhauer J, Pagani F, Berger W, Neidhardt J. Therapeutic strategy to rescue mutation-induced exon skipping in rhodopsin by adaptation of U1 snRNA. Hum Mutat 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/humu.20943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Tam LCS, Kiang AS, Kennan A, Kenna PF, Chadderton N, Ader M, Palfi A, Aherne A, Ayuso C, Campbell M, Reynolds A, McKee A, Humphries MM, Farrar GJ, Humphries P. Therapeutic benefit derived from RNAi-mediated ablation of IMPDH1 transcripts in a murine model of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RP10). Hum Mol Genet 2008; 17:2084-100. [PMID: 18385099 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddn107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations within the inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase 1 (IMPDH1) gene cause the RP10 form of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP), an early-onset retinopathy resulting in extensive visual handicap owing to progressive death of photoreceptors. Apart from the prevalence of RP10, estimated to account for 5-10% of cases of adRP in United States and Europe, two observations render this form of RP an attractive target for gene therapy. First, we show that while recombinant adeno-associated viral (AAV)-mediated expression of mutant human IMPDH1 protein in the mouse retina results in an aggressive retinopathy modelling the human counterpart, expression of a normal human IMPDH1 gene under similar conditions has no observable pathological effect on retinal function, indicating that over-expression of a therapeutic replacement gene may be relatively well tolerated. Secondly, complete absence of IMPDH1 protein in mice with a targeted disruption of the gene results in relatively mild retinal dysfunction, suggesting that significant therapeutic benefit may be derived even from the suppression-only component of an RNAi-based gene therapy. We show that AAV-mediated co-expression in the murine retina of a mutant human IMPDH1 gene together with short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) validated in vitro and in vivo, targeting both human and mouse IMPDH1, substantially suppresses the negative pathological effects of mutant IMPDH1, at a point where, in the absence of shRNA, expression of mutant protein in the RP10 model essentially ablates all photoreceptors in transfected areas of the retina. These data strongly suggest that an RNAi-mediated approach to therapy for RP10 holds considerable promise for human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence C S Tam
- The Ocular Genetics Unit, Department of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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Bartsch U, Oriyakhel W, Kenna PF, Linke S, Richard G, Petrowitz B, Humphries P, Farrar GJ, Ader M. Retinal cells integrate into the outer nuclear layer and differentiate into mature photoreceptors after subretinal transplantation into adult mice. Exp Eye Res 2008; 86:691-700. [PMID: 18329018 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2008.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2007] [Revised: 01/24/2008] [Accepted: 01/25/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Vision impairment caused by degeneration of photoreceptors, termed retinitis pigmentosa, is a debilitating condition with no cure presently available. Cell-based therapeutic approaches represent one treatment option by replacing degenerating or lost photoreceptors. In this study the potential of transplanted primary retinal cells isolated from neonatal mice to integrate into the outer nuclear layer (ONL) of adult mice and to differentiate into mature photoreceptors was evaluated. Retinal cells were isolated from retinas of transgenic mice ubiquitously expressing enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) at either postnatal day (P) 0, P1 or P4 and transplanted into the subretinal space of adult wild-type mice. One week to 11 months post-transplantation experimental retinas were analyzed for integration and differentiation of donor cells. Subsequent to transplantation some postnatal retinal cells integrated into the ONL of the host and differentiated into mature photoreceptors containing inner and outer segments as confirmed by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Notably, the appearance of EGFP-positive photoreceptors was not the result of fusion between donor cells and endogenous photoreceptors. Retinal cells isolated at P4 showed a significant increase in their capacity to integrate into the ONL and to differentiate into mature photoreceptors when compared with cells isolated at P0 or P1. As cell suspensions isolated at P4 are enriched in cells committed towards a rod photoreceptor cell fate it is tempting to speculate that immature photoreceptors may have the highest integration and differentiation potential and thus may present a promising cell type to develop cell replacement strategies for diseases involving rod photoreceptor loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udo Bartsch
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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O'Reilly M, Palfi A, Chadderton N, Millington-Ward S, Ader M, Cronin T, Tuohy T, Auricchio A, Hildinger M, Tivnan A, McNally N, Humphries MM, Kiang AS, Humphries P, Kenna PF, Farrar GJ. RNA interference-mediated suppression and replacement of human rhodopsin in vivo. Am J Hum Genet 2007; 81:127-35. [PMID: 17564969 PMCID: PMC1950918 DOI: 10.1086/519025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2007] [Accepted: 04/12/2007] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutational heterogeneity represents a significant barrier to development of therapies for many dominantly inherited diseases. For example, >100 mutations in the rhodopsin gene (RHO) have been identified in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The development of therapies for dominant disorders that correct the primary genetic lesion and overcome mutational heterogeneity is challenging. Hence, therapeutics comprising two elements--gene suppression in conjunction with gene replacement--have been investigated. Suppression is targeted to a site independent of the mutation; therefore, both mutant and wild-type alleles are suppressed. In parallel with suppression, a codon-modified replacement gene refractory to suppression is provided. Both in vitro and in vivo validation of suppression and replacement for RHO-linked RP has been undertaken in the current study. RNA interference (RNAi) has been used to achieve ~90% in vivo suppression of RHO in photoreceptors, with use of adeno-associated virus (AAV) for delivery. Demonstration that codon-modifed RHO genes express functional wild-type protein has been explored transgenically, together with in vivo expression of AAV-delivered RHO-replacement genes in the presence of targeting RNAi molecules. Observation of potential therapeutic benefit from AAV-delivered suppression and replacement therapies has been obtained in Pro23His mice. Results provide the first in vivo indication that suppression and replacement can provide a therapeutic solution for dominantly inherited disorders such as RHO-linked RP and can be employed to circumvent mutational heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary O'Reilly
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
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Palfi A, Ader M, Kiang AS, Millington-Ward S, Clark G, O'Reilly M, McMahon HP, Kenna PF, Humphries P, Farrar GJ. RNAi-based suppression and replacement of rds-peripherin in retinal organotypic culture. Hum Mutat 2006; 27:260-8. [PMID: 16419083 DOI: 10.1002/humu.20287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Extensive mutational heterogeneity presents a significant barrier to the development of therapeutics for RDS-peripherin-linked autosomal-dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RP), for which more than 50 disease-related mutations have been identified to date. Mutation-independent suppression, using RNA interference (RNAi), together with simultaneous expression of a replacement rds gene (r-rds, which has been altered to escape suppression but nevertheless encodes wild-type protein) has been explored in COS-7 cells and mouse retinal explants. The efficacy of small interfering and short hairpin RNAs (si/shRNAs) silencing mouse rds, and the function of r-rds (containing degenerate substitutions in the RNAi target sequence) were analyzed at transcript (RT-PCR) and protein (ELISA) levels in COS-7 cells. "Dual-" and "triple-expression" constructs carrying the shRNA suppressor and the marker EGFP with or without the r-rds cassette were electroporated in vitro into retinal explants from 1-day-old pups. The retinae were dissociated at day 14, and transduced cells were FACS-sorted using the coexpressed EGFP marker and analyzed by RT-PCR. si/shRNAs decreased rds mRNA and protein expression by up to 82%, while r-rds was protected from suppression in COS-7 cells. Similarly, efficient RNAi-mediated suppression of endogenous rds was detected in retinal explants, while concomitant rescue of r-rds was also achieved. These data validate the concept of RNAi-based suppression coupled with replacement technology for the development of therapies targeting RDS-linked autosomal-dominant RP, and suggest that such approaches could potentially be used for other autosomal-dominant diseases with similarly extensive intragenic heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpad Palfi
- Department of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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Palfi A, O'Reilly M, Millington-Ward S, Ader M, Chadderton N, Tuohy G, Kiang AS, McNally N, Humphries M, Humphries P, Kenna PF, Farrar GJ. 1021. Suppression and Replacement Strategies for Rhodopsin-Linked Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa. Mol Ther 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2006.08.1116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Chadderton N, Palfi A, O'Reilly M, Millington-Ward S, Ader M, Hildinger M, Auricchio A, Tuohy G, Humphries P, Kenna PF, Farrar GJ. 1020. AAV Delivery of Suppression and Replacement Constructs for Rhodopsin-Linked Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa. Mol Ther 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2006.08.1115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Kiang AS, Palfi A, Ader M, Kenna PF, Millington-Ward S, Clark G, Kennan A, O'reilly M, Tam LCT, Aherne A, McNally N, Humphries P, Farrar GJ. Toward a gene therapy for dominant disease: validation of an RNA interference-based mutation-independent approach. Mol Ther 2005; 12:555-61. [PMID: 15967729 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2005.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2003] [Revised: 03/23/2005] [Accepted: 03/24/2005] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The intragenic heterogeneity encountered in many dominant disease-causing genes represents a significant challenge with respect to development of economically viable therapeutics. For example, 25% of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa is caused by over 100 different mutations within the gene encoding rhodopsin, each of which could require a unique gene therapy. We describe here an RNA interference (RNAi)-based mutation-independent approach, targeting as an example murine rhodopsin. Native transcripts are suppressed by a single RNAi molecular species, whereas transcripts from replacement genes engineered at degenerate third-codon wobble positions are resistant to suppression. We demonstrate suppression of murine rhodopsin transcript by up to 90% with full concomitant expression of replacement transcript and establish the validity of this approach in cell culture, retinal explants, and mouse liver in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Sophia Kiang
- Ocular Genetics Unit, Department of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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Richard I, Ader M, Sytnyk V, Dityatev A, Richard G, Schachner M, Bartsch U. Electroporation-based gene transfer for efficient transfection of neural precursor cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 138:182-90. [PMID: 15908040 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbrainres.2005.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2004] [Revised: 03/27/2005] [Accepted: 04/18/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Transplantation of neural precursor cells (NPCs) is a potential tool to replace dysfunctional or degenerated neuronal or glial cell types in the central nervous system. Furthermore, transplantation of genetically engineered neural precursor cells might provide a strategy to target therapeutic gene products to the diseased nervous system. Here, we describe a novel and highly efficient electroporation-based transfection protocol for mitogen-expanded mouse NPCs. Transfection of NPCs with the reporter gene enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or the neural adhesion molecule L1 revealed transfection efficacies of more than 70% as estimated by the number of EGFP-positive or L1-immunoreactive cells 1 day after transfection in vitro. The percentage of EGFP- or L1-positive cells decreased with increasing time in culture. Positive cells were detectable for up to 3 weeks after transfection. When EGFP- or L1-transfected NPCs were grafted into the retina of adult wild-type or L1-deficient mice, they differentiated into glial cells some of which expressed EGFP and L1 for up to 2 and 3 weeks, respectively, the longest post-transplantation periods investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Richard
- Kopf-und Hautzentrum, Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany
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Liberty IF, Ionut V, Kim SP, Ader M, Lottati M, Bergman RN. 165 HIV-PROTEASE INHIBITOR TREATMENT, A NEW CANINE EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF INSULIN RESISTANCE:. J Investig Med 2005. [DOI: 10.2310/6650.2005.00005.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Ader M, Schachner M, Bartsch U. Integration and differentiation of neural stem cells after transplantation into the dysmyelinated central nervous system of adult mice. Eur J Neurosci 2004; 20:1205-10. [PMID: 15341592 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03577.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Mutant mice deficient in the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and the nonreceptor-type tyrosine kinase Fyn are characterized by a severely hypomyelinated central nervous system (CNS) and morphologically abnormal myelin sheaths. Despite this pronounced phenotype, MAG/Fyn-deficient mice have a normal longevity. In the present study, we took advantage of the normal life expectancy of this myelin mutant and grafted neural stem cells (NSCs) into the CNS of MAG/Fyn-deficient mice to study in short- and long-term experiments the fate of NSCs in adult dysmyelinated brains. Neural stem cells were isolated from spinal cords of transgenic mouse embryos ubiquitously expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein. Cells were expanded in vitro in the presence of mitogens for up to 5 weeks before they were grafted into the lateral ventricles or injected into white matter tracts. Analysis of mutant brains 3-15 weeks after intracerebroventricular transplantation of NSCs revealed only limited integration of donor cells into the host brains. However, injection of NSCs directly into white matter tracts resulted in widespread distribution of donor cells within the host tissue. Donor cells survived for at least 15 weeks in adult host brains. The majority of grafted cells populated white matter tracts and differentiated into oligodendrocytes that myelinated host axons. Results suggest that intraparenchymal transplantation of NSCs might be a strategy to reconstruct myelin in dysmyelinated adult brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Ader
- Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universität Hamburg, Martinistr. 52, D-20246, Germany
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50
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Schmucker J, Ader M, Brockschnieder D, Brodarac A, Bartsch U, Riethmacher D. erbB3 is dispensable for oligodendrocyte development in vitro and in vivo. Glia 2003; 44:67-75. [PMID: 12951658 DOI: 10.1002/glia.10275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During development and in the adult, erbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 are expressed in many tissues and as heterodimers (B2/B3, B2/B4) serve as receptors for neuregulins. The general importance of neuregulin receptors for development is underlined by the observed embryonic (erbB2, erbB4) or perinatal (erbB3) lethality in mouse mutants. These mutants further revealed the fundamental role of the erbB2/erbB3 heterodimer for proper Schwann cell development, the ensheathing glia of the peripheral nervous system. However, only little is known about the functions of neuregulins and their receptors during postnatal development and in the adult. erbB2 and erbB3 during late embryogenesis and postnatally are expressed in different areas and cell types of the central nervous system, including oligodendrocytes, the ensheathing glia of the central nervous system. As terminal differentiation of oligodendrocytes peaks during postnatal development, it is not possible to use the neuregulin receptor mouse mutants to study terminal differentiation of oligodendrocytes in their absence in vivo. In order to investigate possible functions of the erbB3 gene in oligodendrocytes, we employed two different techniques. First, we directed the differentiation of erbB3-deficient embryonic stem cells into neural cell types to analyze the development of oligodendrocytes in the absence of erbB3 in vitro. Second, we grafted neural stem cells from spinal cords of erbB3 mutants into the retina of young mice to monitor oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination in vivo. Results of both experimental approaches clearly show that erbB3 is not required for normal oligodendrocyte development and myelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Schmucker
- Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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