scholarly journals Novel role for αvβ5-integrin in retinal adhesion and its diurnal peak

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (4) ◽  
pp. C1256-C1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emeline F. Nandrot ◽  
Monika Anand ◽  
Mousumi Sircar ◽  
Silvia C. Finnemann

αvβ5-Integrin is the sole integrin receptor at the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-photoreceptor interface and promotes RPE phagocytic signaling to the tyrosine kinase Mer tyrosine kinase (MerTK) once a day in response to circadian photoreceptor shedding. Herein we identify a novel role for αvβ5-integrin in permanent RPE-photoreceptor adhesion that is independent of αvβ5's function in retinal phagocytosis. To compare retinal adhesion of wild-type and β 5 -integrin −/− mice, we mechanically separated RPE and neural retina and quantified RPE protein and pigment retention with the neural retina. Lack of αvβ5-integrin with normal expression of other RPE integrins greatly weakened retinal adhesion in young mice and accelerated its age-dependent decline. Unexpectedly, the strength of wild-type retinal adhesion varied with a diurnal rhythm that peaked 3.5 h after light onset, after the completion of phagocytosis, when integrin signaling to MerTK is minimal. Permanent αvβ5 receptor deficiency attenuated the diurnal peak of retinal adhesion in β 5 -integrin −/− mice. These results identify αvβ5-integrin as the first RPE receptor that contributes to retinal adhesion, a vital mechanism for long-term photoreceptor function and viability. Furthermore, they indicate that αvβ5 receptors at the same apical plasma membrane domain of RPE cells fulfill two separate functions that are synchronized by different diurnal rhythms.

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (21) ◽  
pp. 5468-5473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Esteve-Rudd ◽  
Roni A. Hazim ◽  
Tanja Diemer ◽  
Antonio E. Paniagua ◽  
Stefanie Volland ◽  
...  

Stargardt macular dystrophy 3 (STGD3) is caused by dominant mutations in the ELOVL4 gene. Like other macular degenerations, pathogenesis within the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) appears to contribute to the loss of photoreceptors from the central retina. However, the RPE does not express ELOVL4, suggesting photoreceptor cell loss in STGD3 occurs through two cell nonautonomous events: mutant photoreceptors first affect RPE cell pathogenesis, and then, second, RPE dysfunction leads to photoreceptor cell death. Here, we have investigated how the RPE pathology occurs, using a STGD3 mouse model in which mutant human ELOVL4 is expressed in the photoreceptors. We found that the mutant protein was aberrantly localized to the photoreceptor outer segment (POS), and that resulting POS phagosomes were degraded more slowly in the RPE. In cell culture, the mutant POSs are ingested by primary RPE cells normally, but the phagosomes are processed inefficiently, even by wild-type RPE. The mutant phagosomes excessively sequester RAB7A and dynein, and have impaired motility. We propose that the abnormal presence of ELOVL4 protein in POSs results in phagosomes that are defective in recruiting appropriate motor protein linkers, thus contributing to slower degradation because their altered motility results in slower basal migration and fewer productive encounters with endolysosomes. In the transgenic mouse retinas, the RPE accumulated abnormal-looking phagosomes and oxidative stress adducts; these pathological changes were followed by pathology in the neural retina. Our results indicate inefficient phagosome degradation as a key component of the first cell nonautonomous event underlying retinal degeneration due to mutant ELOVL4.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Wei ◽  
Xiaomei Liu ◽  
Taiming Li ◽  
Xiaofang Li ◽  
Qungang Zhou ◽  
...  

Aim: Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is the most preferred gene therapy vector. The purpose of our research is to compare the infection tropism and gene expression efficiency of vitreous injection of recombinant AAVs (rAAVs) and their capsid mutants in mouse retina. Materials & methods: We packaged wild-type rAAV2/2,6,8,9 and their capsid mutants carrying EGFP expression cassette using insect cells. The gene expression profiles of rAAVs and their mutants in mouse retina were evaluated by optical imaging of retinal tissue flat mount and cryosections. Results & conclusion: The results showed that rAAV2 and rAAV2-Y444F mainly targeted retinal ganglion cell; rAAV8, rAAV8-Y733F, rAAV9 and mutants had obvious EGFP expression in retinal pigment epithelium cells. Compared with the wild-type rAAVs, capsid mutants have an improved transduction efficiency in mouse retina cells.


2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 3731-3735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiang Wu ◽  
Alan D. Marmorstein ◽  
Jörg Striessnig ◽  
Neal S. Peachey

In response to light, the mouse retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) generates a series of slow changes in potential that are referred to as the c-wave, fast oscillation (FO), and light peak (LP) of the electroretinogram (ERG). The LP is generated by a depolarization of the basolateral RPE plasma membrane by the activation of a calcium-sensitive chloride conductance. We have previously shown that the LP is reduced in both mice and rats by nimodipine, which blocks voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) and is abnormal in lethargic mice, carrying a null mutation in the calcium channel β4 subunit. To define the α1 subunit involved in this process, we examined mice lacking CaV1.3. In comparison with wild-type (WT) control littermates, LPs were reduced in CaV1.3−/− mice. This pattern matched closely with that previously noted in lethargic mice, confirming a role for VDCCs in regulating the signaling pathway that culminates in LP generation. These abnormalities do not reflect a defect in rod photoreceptor activity, which provides the input to the RPE to generate the c-wave, FO, and LP, because ERG a-waves were comparable in WT and CaV1.3−/− littermates. Our results identify CaV1.3 as the principal pore-forming subunit of VDCCs involved in stimulating the ERG LP.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenxu Wang ◽  
Jia Xu ◽  
Thomas D. Kocher ◽  
Minghui Li ◽  
Deshou Wang

Premelanosome protein (pmel) is a key gene for melanogenesis in vertebrates. Mutations in this gene are responsible for white plumage in chicken, but its role in pigmentation of fish remains to be demonstrated. In this study we found that most fishes have two pmel genes arising from the teleost-specific whole genome duplication. Both pmela and pmelb were expressed at high levels in the eyes and skin of Nile tilapia. We mutated both genes in tilapia using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Homozygous mutation of pmela resulted in yellowish body color with weak vertical bars and a hypo-pigmented retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) due to significantly reduced number and size of melanophores. In contrast, we observed an increased number and size of xanthophores in mutants compared to wild-type fish. Homozygous mutation of pmelb resulted in a similar, but milder phenotype than pmela -/- mutants, without effects on RPE pigmentation. Double mutation of pmela and pmelb resulted in loss of additional melanophores compared to the pmela -/- mutants, and also an increase in the number and size of xanthophores, producing a strong golden body color without bars in the trunk. The RPE pigmentation of pmela -/ - ;pmelb -/- was similar to pmela -/- mutants, with much less pigmentation than pmelb -/- mutants and wild-type fish. Taken together, our results indicate that, while both pmel genes are important for the formation of body color in tilapia, pmela plays a more important role than pmelb. To our knowledge, this is the first report on mutation of pmelb or both pmela;pmelb in fish. Studies on these mutants suggest new strategies for breeding golden tilapia, and also provide a new model for studies of pmel function in vertebrates.


Development ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (13) ◽  
pp. 3161-3171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruben Adler ◽  
Teri L. Belecky-Adams

The ventral region of the chick embryo optic cup undergoes a complex process of differentiation leading to the formation of four different structures: the neural retina, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), the optic disk/optic stalk, and the pecten oculi. Signaling molecules such as retinoic acid and sonic hedgehog have been implicated in the regulation of these phenomena. We have now investigated whether the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) also regulate ventral optic cup development. Loss-of-function experiments were carried out in chick embryos in ovo, by intraocular overexpression of noggin, a protein that binds several BMPs and prevents their interactions with their cognate cell surface receptors. At optic vesicle stages of development, this treatment resulted in microphthalmia with concomitant disruption of the developing neural retina, RPE and lens. At optic cup stages, however, noggin overexpression caused colobomas, pecten agenesis, replacement of the ventral RPE by neuroepithelium-like tissue, and ectopic expression of optic stalk markers in the region of the ventral retina and RPE. This was frequently accompanied by abnormal growth of ganglion cell axons, which failed to enter the optic nerve. The data suggest that endogenous BMPs have significant effects on the development of ventral optic cup structures.


Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (17) ◽  
pp. 3757-3767 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A. Lister ◽  
C.P. Robertson ◽  
T. Lepage ◽  
S.L. Johnson ◽  
D.W. Raible

We report the isolation and identification of a new mutation affecting pigment cell fate in the zebrafish neural crest. Homozygous nacre (nac(w2)) mutants lack melanophores throughout development but have increased numbers of iridophores. The non-crest-derived retinal pigment epithelium is normal, suggesting that the mutation does not affect pigment synthesis per se. Expression of early melanoblast markers is absent in nacre mutants and transplant experiments suggested a cell-autonomous function in melanophores. We show that nac(w2) is a mutation in a zebrafish gene encoding a basic helix-loop-helix/leucine zipper transcription factor related to microphthalmia (Mitf), a gene known to be required for development of eye and crest pigment cells in the mouse. Transient expression of the wild-type nacre gene restored melanophore development in nacre(−/−) embryos. Furthermore, misexpression of nacre induced the formation of ectopic melanized cells and caused defects in eye development in wild-type and mutant embryos. These results demonstrate that melanophore development in fish and mammals shares a dependence on the nacre/Mitf transcription factor, but that proper development of the retinal pigment epithelium in the fish is not nacre-dependent, suggesting an evolutionary divergence in the function of this gene.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos J. Cardozo ◽  
María Almuedo-Castillo ◽  
Paola Bovolenta

The primordium of the vertebrate eye is composed of a pseudostratified and apparently homogeneous neuroepithelium, which folds inward to generate a bilayered optic cup. During these early morphogenetic events, the optic vesicle is patterned along three different axes—proximo-distal, dorso-ventral, and naso-temporal—and three major domains: the neural retina, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and the optic stalk. These fundamental steps that enable the subsequent development of a functional eye, entail the precise coordination among genetic programs. These programs are driven by the interplay of signaling pathways and transcription factors, which progressively dictate how each tissue should evolve. Here, we discuss the contribution of the Hh, Wnt, FGF, and BMP signaling pathways to the early patterning of the retina. Comparative studies in different vertebrate species have shown that their morphogenetic activity is repetitively used to orchestrate the progressive specification of the eye with evolutionary conserved mechanisms that have been adapted to match the specific need of a given species.


2020 ◽  
pp. jlr.TR120000979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sriganesh Ramachandra Rao ◽  
Steven J. Fliesler

Cholesterol is a quantitatively and biologically significant constituent of all mammalian cell membrane, including those that comprise the retina. Retinal cholesterol homeostasis entails the interplay between de novo synthesis, uptake, intra-retinal sterol transport, metabolism and efflux. Defects in these complex processes are associated with several congenital and age-related disorders of the visual system. Herein, we provide an overview of the following topics: a) cholesterol synthesis in the neural retina; b) lipoprotein uptake and intraretinal sterol transport in the neural retina and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE); c) cholesterol efflux from the neural retina and the RPE; and d) biology and pathobiology of defects in sterol synthesis and sterol oxidation in the neural retina and the RPE. We focus, in particular, on studies involving animal models of monogenic disorders pertinent to the above topics, as well as in vitro models using biochemical, metabolic, and omic approaches. We also identify current knowledge gaps as well as opportunities in the field that beg further research in this topic area.


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