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Hombrebueno JR, Ali IHA, Ma JX, Chen M, Xu H. Antagonising Wnt/β-catenin signalling ameliorates lens-capsulotomy-induced retinal degeneration in a mouse model of diabetes. Diabetologia 2018; 61:2433-2446. [PMID: 30019207 PMCID: PMC6182657 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-018-4682-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Cataract surgery in diabetic individuals worsens pre-existing retinopathy and triggers the development of diabetic ocular complications, although the underlying cellular and molecular pathophysiology remains elusive. We hypothesise that lens surgery may exaggerate pre-existing retinal inflammation in diabetes, which may accelerate neurovascular degeneration in diabetic eyes. METHODS Male heterozygous Ins2Akita mice (3 months of age) and C57BL/6 J age-matched siblings received either lens capsulotomy (to mimic human cataract surgery) or corneal incision (sham surgery) in the right eye. At different days post surgery, inflammation in anterior/posterior ocular tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry and proinflammatory gene expression in the retina by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Degenerative changes in the retina were evaluated by electroretinography, in vivo examination of retinal thickness (using spectral domain optical coherence tomography [SD-OCT]) and morphometric analysis of retinal neurons. The therapeutic benefit of neutralising Wnt/β-catenin signalling following lens capsulotomy was evaluated by intravitreal administration of monoclonal antibody against the co-receptor low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) (Mab2F1; 5 μg/μl in each eye). RESULTS Lens capsulotomy triggered the early onset of retinal neurodegeneration in Ins2Akita mice, evidenced by abnormal scotopic a- and b-wave responses, reduced retinal thickness and degeneration of outer/inner retinal neurons. Diabetic Ins2Akita mice also had a higher number of infiltrating ionised calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1)/CD68+ cells in the anterior/posterior ocular tissues and increased retinal expression of inflammatory mediators (chemokine [C-C motif] ligand 2 [CCL2] and IL-1β). The expression of β-catenin was significantly increased in the inner nuclear layer, ganglion cells and infiltrating immune cells in Ins2Akita mice receiving capsulotomy. Neutralisation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling by Mab2F1 ameliorated ocular inflammation and prevented capsulotomy-induced retinal degeneration in the Ins2Akita mouse model of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Targeting the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway may provide a novel approach for the postoperative management of diabetic individuals needing cataract surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose R Hombrebueno
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute of Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
| | - Imran H A Ali
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute of Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Jian-Xing Ma
- Department of Physiology, Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Mei Chen
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute of Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
| | - Heping Xu
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute of Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
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Chen M, Zhao J, Ali IHA, Marry S, Augustine J, Bhuckory M, Lynch A, Kissenpfennig A, Xu H. Cytokine Signaling Protein 3 Deficiency in Myeloid Cells Promotes Retinal Degeneration and Angiogenesis through Arginase-1 Up-Regulation in Experimental Autoimmune Uveoretinitis. Am J Pathol 2018; 188:1007-1020. [PMID: 29452101 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The suppressor of cytokine signaling protein 3 (SOCS3) critically controls immune cell activation, although its role in macrophage polarization and function remains controversial. Using experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) as a model, we show that inflammation-mediated retinal degeneration is exaggerated and retinal angiogenesis is accelerated in mice with SOCS3 deficiency in myeloid cells (LysMCre/+SOCS3fl/fl). At the acute stage of EAU, the population of infiltrating neutrophils was increased and the population of macrophages decreased in LysMCre/+SOCS3fl/fl mice compared with that in wild-type (WT) mice. Real-time RT-PCR showed that the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1β, interferon-γ, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and arginase-1 was significantly higher in the LysMCre/+SOCS3fl/fl EAU retina in contrast to the WT EAU retina. The percentage of arginase-1+ infiltrating cells was significantly higher in the LysMCre/+SOCS3fl/fl EAU retina than that in the WT EAU retina. In addition, bone marrow-derived macrophages and neutrophils from the LysMCre/+SOCS3fl/fl mice express significantly higher levels of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 and arginase-1 compared with those from WT mice. Inhibition of arginase using an l-arginine analog amino-2-borono-6-hexanoic suppressed inflammation-induced retinal angiogenesis without affecting the severity of inflammation. Our results suggest that SOCS3 critically controls the phenotype and function of macrophages and neutrophils under inflammatory conditions and loss of SOCS3 promotes the angiogenic phenotype of the cells through up-regulation of arginase-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Chen
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Jiawu Zhao
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Imran H A Ali
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Marry
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Josy Augustine
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Mohajeet Bhuckory
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Aisling Lynch
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Adrien Kissenpfennig
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Heping Xu
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
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Hookham MB, Ali IHA, O'Neill CL, Hackett E, Lambe MH, Schmidt T, Medina RJ, Chamney S, Rao B, McLoone E, Sweet D, Stitt AW, Brazil DP. Hypoxia-induced responses by endothelial colony-forming cells are modulated by placental growth factor. Stem Cell Res Ther 2016; 7:173. [PMID: 27899144 PMCID: PMC5129608 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-016-0430-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 07/16/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs), also termed late outgrowth endothelial cells, are a well-defined circulating endothelial progenitor cell type with an established role in vascular repair. ECFCs have clear potential for cell therapy to treat ischaemic disease, although the precise mechanism(s) underlying their response to hypoxia remains ill-defined. Methods In this study, we isolated ECFCs from umbilical cord blood and cultured them on collagen. We defined the response of ECFCs to 1% O2 exposure at acute and chronic time points. Results In response to low oxygen, changes in ECFC cell shape, proliferation, size and cytoskeleton phenotype were detected. An increase in the number of senescent ECFCs also occurred as a result of long-term culture in 1% O2. Low oxygen exposure altered ECFC migration and tube formation in Matrigel®. Increases in angiogenic factors secreted from ECFCs exposed to hypoxia were also detected, in particular, after treatment with placental growth factor (PlGF). Exposure of cells to agents that stabilise hypoxia-inducible factors such as dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) also increased PlGF levels. Conditioned medium from both hypoxia-treated and DMOG-treated cells inhibited ECFC tube formation. This effect was reversed by the addition of PlGF neutralising antibody to the conditioned medium, confirming the direct role of PlGF in this effect. Conclusions This study deepens our understanding of the response of ECFCs to hypoxia and also identifies a novel and important role for PlGF in regulating the vasculogenic potential of ECFCs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-016-0430-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle B Hookham
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Imran H A Ali
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Christina L O'Neill
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Emer Hackett
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Melanie H Lambe
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Tina Schmidt
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Reinhold J Medina
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Sara Chamney
- Eye & Ear Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Bharathi Rao
- Regional Neonatal Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Eibhlin McLoone
- Eye & Ear Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK
| | - David Sweet
- Regional Neonatal Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Alan W Stitt
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Derek P Brazil
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
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Ali IHA, Brazil DP. Bone morphogenetic proteins and their antagonists: current and emerging clinical uses. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 171:3620-32. [PMID: 24758361 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [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: 01/22/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the TGFβ superfamily of secreted cysteine knot proteins that includes TGFβ1, nodal, activins and inhibins. BMPs were first discovered by Urist in the 1960s when he showed that implantation of demineralized bone into intramuscular tissue of rabbits induced bone and cartilage formation. Since this seminal discovery, BMPs have also been shown to play key roles in several other biological processes, including limb, kidney, skin, hair and neuronal development, as well as maintaining vascular homeostasis. The multifunctional effects of BMPs make them attractive targets for the treatment of several pathologies, including bone disorders, kidney and lung fibrosis, and cancer. This review will summarize current knowledge on the BMP signalling pathway and critically evaluate the potential of recombinant BMPs as pharmacological agents for the treatment of bone repair and tissue fibrosis in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran H A Ali
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
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Abstract
Hyperglycemia-induced damage to the glomerular podocyte is thought to be a critical early event in diabetic nephropathy. Interventions that prevent podocyte damage or loss have been shown to have potential for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. New data show that conditioned medium from adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cells has the potential to protect podocytes from high-glucose-induced damage. Furthermore, epidermal growth factor may be the critical ingredient mediating this effect. These data suggest that components of the conditioned medium of mesenchymal stem cells, in addition to the cells themselves, may have potential for the treatment of diseases such as diabetic nephropathy.
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Agnew AJ, Robinson E, McVicar CM, Harvey AP, Ali IHA, Lindsay JE, McDonald DM, Green BD, Grieve DJ. The gastrointestinal peptide obestatin induces vascular relaxation via specific activation of endothelium-dependent NO signalling. Br J Pharmacol 2012; 166:327-38. [PMID: 22035179 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01761.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Obestatin is a recently discovered gastrointestinal peptide with established metabolic actions, which is linked to diabetes and may exert cardiovascular benefits. Here we aimed to investigate the specific effects of obestatin on vascular relaxation. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Cumulative relaxation responses to obestatin peptides were assessed in rat isolated aorta and mesenteric artery (n≥ 8) in the presence and absence of selective inhibitors. Complementary studies were performed in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). KEY RESULTS Obestatin peptides elicited concentration-dependent relaxation in both aorta and mesenteric artery. Responses to full-length obestatin(1-23) were greater than those to obestatin(1-10) and obestatin(11-23). Obestatin(1-23)-induced relaxation was attenuated by endothelial denudation, l-NAME (NOS inhibitor), high extracellular K(+) , GDP-β-S (G-protein inhibitor), MDL-12,330A (adenylate cyclase inhibitor), wortmannin (PI3K inhibitor), KN-93 (CaMKII inhibitor), ODQ (guanylate cyclase inhibitor) and iberiotoxin (BK(Ca) blocker), suggesting that it is mediated by an endothelium-dependent NO signalling cascade involving an adenylate cyclase-linked GPCR, PI3K/PKB, Ca(2+) -dependent eNOS activation, soluble guanylate cyclase and modulation of vascular smooth muscle K(+) . Supporting data from BAEC indicated that nitrite production, intracellular Ca(2+) and PKB phosphorylation were increased after exposure to obestatin(1-23). Relaxations to obestatin(1-23) were unaltered by inhibitors of candidate endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors (EDHFs) and combined SK(Ca) /IK(Ca) blockade, suggesting that EDHF-mediated pathways were not involved. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Obestatin produces significant vascular relaxation via specific activation of endothelium-dependent NO signalling. These actions may be important in normal regulation of vascular function and are clearly relevant to diabetes, a condition characterized by endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Agnew
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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