scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 infects and replicates in photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cells of human retinal organoids

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yotam Menuchin-Lasowski ◽  
Andre Schreiber ◽  
Aaron Lecanda ◽  
Angeles Mecate-Zambrano ◽  
Linda Brunotte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Retinal Degeneration ◽  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Human Stem Cell ◽  
Retinal Cells ◽  
Interleukin 33 ◽  
Retinal Pathologies

Several studies have pointed to retinal involvement in COVID 19 disease, yet many questions remain regarding the ability of SARS CoV 2 to infect and replicate in retinal cells and its effects on the retina. Here we have used human stem cell derived retinal organoids to study retinal infection by the SARS CoV 2 virus. Indeed, SARS CoV 2 can infect and replicate in retinal organoids, as it is shown to infect different retinal lineages, such as retinal ganglion cells and photoreceptors. SARS CoV 2 infection of retinal organoids also induces the expression of several inflammatory genes, such as interleukin 33, a gene associated with acute COVID 19 disease and retinal degeneration. Finally, we show that the use of antibodies to block the ACE2 receptor significantly reduces SARS CoV 2 infection of retinal organoids, indicating that SARS CoV 2 infects retinal cells in an ACE2 dependent manner. These results suggest a retinal involvement in COVID 19 and emphasize the need to monitor retinal pathologies as potential sequelae of long COVID.

scholarly journals Hereditary Optic Neuropathies: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based 2D/3D Approaches

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Marta García-López ◽  
Joaquín Arenas ◽  
M. Esther Gallardo
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cell ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Genetic Disorders ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Inherited optic neuropathies share visual impairment due to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) as the hallmark of the disease. This group of genetic disorders are caused by mutations in nuclear genes or in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). An impaired mitochondrial function is the underlying mechanism of these diseases. Currently, optic neuropathies lack an effective treatment, and the implementation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology would entail a huge step forward. The generation of iPSC-derived RGCs would allow faithfully modeling these disorders, and these RGCs would represent an appealing platform for drug screening as well, paving the way for a proper therapy. Here, we review the ongoing two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) approaches based on iPSCs and their applications, taking into account the more innovative technologies, which include tissue engineering or microfluidics.

Treatment In vitro of Retinal Cells with IL-4 Increases the Survival of Retinal Ganglion Cells: The Involvement of BDNF

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandro de Araujo-Martins ◽  
Raphael Monteiro de Oliveira ◽  
Gabriela Velozo Gomes dos Santos ◽  
Renata Cláudia Celestino dos Santos ◽  
Aline Araujo dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Retinal Cells

scholarly journals Neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells by the sigma-1 receptor agonist pridopidine in models of experimental glaucoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Geva ◽  
Noga Gershoni-Emek ◽  
Luana Naia ◽  
Philip Ly ◽  
Sandra Mota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ganglion Cell ◽  
Retinal Degeneration ◽  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Retinal Ganglion Cell ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Neuroprotective Effect ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Cell Degeneration ◽  
Sigma 1 Receptor ◽  
Sigma 1

AbstractOptic neuropathies such as glaucoma are characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration and death. The sigma-1 receptor (S1R) is an attractive target for treating optic neuropathies as it is highly expressed in RGCs, and its absence causes retinal degeneration. Activation of the S1R exerts neuroprotective effects in models of retinal degeneration. Pridopidine is a highly selective and potent S1R agonist in clinical development. We show that pridopidine exerts neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells in two different rat models of glaucoma. Pridopidine strongly binds melanin, which is highly expressed in the retina. This feature of pridopidine has implications to its ocular distribution, bioavailability, and effective dose. Mitochondria dysfunction is a key contributor to retinal ganglion cell degeneration. Pridopidine rescues mitochondrial function via activation of the S1R, providing support for the potential mechanism driving its neuroprotective effect in retinal ganglion cells.

scholarly journals Aberrant synaptic input to retinal ganglion cells varies with morphology in a mouse model of retinal degeneration

2014 ◽  
Vol 522 (18) ◽  
pp. 4085-4099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher W. Yee ◽  
Abduqodir H. Toychiev ◽  
Elena Ivanova ◽  
Botir T. Sagdullaev
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Retinal Degeneration ◽  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Synaptic Input ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Retinal Ganglion

scholarly journals Effects of Adult Müller Cells and Their Conditioned Media on the Survival of Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Ganglion Cells

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1759
Author(s):  
Xandra Pereiro ◽  
Adam M. Miltner ◽  
Anna La Torre ◽  
Elena Vecino
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Cell Survival ◽  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Müller Cells ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Conditioned Media ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Muller Cells ◽  
Müller Glia

Retinal neurons, particularly retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), are susceptible to the degenerative damage caused by different inherited conditions and environmental insults, leading to irreversible vision loss and, ultimately, blindness. Numerous strategies are being tested in different models of degeneration to restore vision and, in recent years, stem cell technologies have offered novel avenues to obtain donor cells for replacement therapies. To date, stem cell–based transplantation in the retina has been attempted as treatment for photoreceptor degeneration, but the same tools could potentially be applied to other retinal cell types, including RGCs. However, RGC-like cells are not an abundant cell type in stem cell–derived cultures and, often, these cells degenerate over time in vitro. To overcome this limitation, we have taken advantage of the neuroprotective properties of Müller glia (one of the main glial cell types in the retina) and we have examined whether Müller glia and the factors they secrete could promote RGC-like cell survival in organoid cultures. Accordingly, stem cell-derived RGC-like cells were co-cultured with adult Müller cells or Müller cell-conditioned media was added to the cultures. Remarkably, RGC-like cell survival was substantially enhanced in both culture conditions, and we also observed a significant increase in their neurite length. Interestingly, Atoh7, a transcription factor required for RGC development, was up-regulated in stem cell-derived organoids exposed to conditioned media, suggesting that Müller cells may also enhance the survival of retinal progenitors and/or postmitotic precursor cells. In conclusion, Müller cells and the factors they release promote organoid-derived RGC-like cell survival, neuritogenesis, and possibly neuronal maturation.

scholarly journals The development of melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells in mice with early retinal degeneration

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Ruggiero ◽  
Charles N. Allen ◽  
R. Lane Brown ◽  
David W. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Degeneration ◽  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Retinal Ganglion

The neurotensin-related hexapeptide LANT6 is found in retinal ganglion cells and in their central projections in pigeons

1992 ◽  
Vol 9 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 217-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Reiner
Keyword(s):  
Ganglion Cell ◽  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Ganglion Cell Layer ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Cell Layer ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Retinal Cells ◽  
Neuroactive Substance ◽  
Immunohistochemical Techniques ◽  
Immunohistochemical Studies

AbstractPrevious biochemical and immunohistochemical studies have shown that the neurotensin-related hexapeptide LANT6 is widespread and abundant in the avian nervous system. In the present study, immunohistochemical techniques were used to show that LANT6 is present in numerous cells of the retinal ganglion cell layer in pigeons. Consistent with the possibility that these LANT6+ retinal cells might be retinal ganglion cells, it was found that (1) the distribution of LANT6+ fibers and terminals in the central retinal target areas matched the distribution of central retinal projections; (2) the LANT6+ fibers and terminals are eliminated from retinal target areas by transection of the contralateral optic nerve; and (3) LANT6+ retinal cells in the ganglion cell layer can be retrogradely labeled by injections of fluorogold in the tectum. These results suggest that LANT6 may be utilized as a neuroactive substance by the central terminals of numerous retinal ganglion cells in birds. Similar anatomical findings have been previously reported for members of several other vertebrate groups, giving rise to the possibility that LANT6 (or its homologues in nonavians) may be a phylogenetically ubiquitous neuroactive substance used by retinal ganglion cells.

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