Humanin Nanoparticles for Reducing Pathological Factors Characteristic of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aum Solanki ◽  
Rudy Smalling ◽  
Abraham H. Parola ◽  
Ilana Nathan ◽  
Roni Kasher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Release ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Chitosan Nanoparticles ◽  
The Body ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Potential Applications

Background: Humanin is a novel neuronal peptide that has displayed potential in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease through the suppression of inflammatory IL-6 cytokine receptors. Such receptors are found throughout the body, including the eye, suggesting its other potential applications. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developing world. There is no cure for this disease, and current treatments have several negative side effects associated with them, making finding other treatment options desirable. Objective: In this study, the potential applications in treating AMD for a more potent humanin derivative, AGA-HNG, were studied. Methods: AGA-HNG was synthesized and encapsulated in chitosan Nanoparticles (NPs), which were then characterized for their size, Encapsulation Efficiency (EE), and drug release. Their ability to suppress VEGF secretion and protect against oxidative apoptosis was studied in vitro using ARPE-19 cells. The chitosan NPs exhibited similar anti-VEGF properties and oxidative protection as the free protein while exhibiting superior pharmaceutical characteristics including biocompatibility and drug release. Results: Drug-loaded NPs exhibited a radius of 346nm with desirable pharmacokinetic properties including a stable surface charge (19.5 ± 3.7 mV) and steady drug release capacity. AGA-HNG showed great promise in mediating apoptosis in hypoxic cells. They were also able to significantly reduce VEGF expression in vitro with reduced cellular toxicity compared to the free drug. Conclusion: The ability of this drug delivery system to reduce retinal apoptosis with desirable pharmacokinetic and biocompatible properties makes this a promising therapeutic option for AMD.

scholarly journals Complement C5 is not critical for the formation of sub-RPE deposits in Efemp1 mutant mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donita L. Garland ◽  
Eric A. Pierce ◽  
Rosario Fernandez-Godino
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Deposit Formation ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Complement Dysregulation

AbstractThe complement system plays a role in the formation of sub-retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) deposits in early stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). But the specific mechanisms that connect complement activation and deposit formation in AMD patients are unknown, which limits the development of efficient therapies to reduce or stop disease progression. We have previously demonstrated that C3 blockage prevents the formation of sub-RPE deposits in a mouse model of EFEMP1-associated macular degeneration. In this study, we have used double mutant Efemp1R345W/R345W:C5-/- mice to investigate the role of C5 in the formation of sub-RPE deposits in vivo and in vitro. The data revealed that the genetic ablation of C5 does not eliminate the formation of sub-RPE deposits. Contrarily, the absence of C5 in RPE cultures promotes complement dysregulation that results in increased activation of C3, which likely contributes to deposit formation even in the absence of EFEMP1-R345W mutant protein. The results also suggest that genetic ablation of C5 alters the extracellular matrix turnover through an effect on matrix metalloproteinases in RPE cell cultures. These results confirm that C3 rather than C5 could be an effective therapeutic target to treat early AMD.

scholarly journals Silicon Phthalocyanine 4 Phototoxicity in Trichophyton rubrum

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 3029-3034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minh Lam ◽  
Matthew L. Dimaano ◽  
Patricia Oyetakin-White ◽  
Mauricio A. Retuerto ◽  
Jyotsna Chandra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Toxicity ◽  
Trichophyton Rubrum ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Noninvasive Treatment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Silicon Phthalocyanine

ABSTRACTTrichophyton rubrumis the leading pathogen that causes long-lasting skin and nail dermatophyte infections. Currently, topical treatment consists of terbinafine for the skin and ciclopirox for the nails, whereas systemic agents, such as oral terbinafine and itraconazole, are also prescribed. These systemic drugs have severe side effects, including liver toxicity. Topical therapies, however, are sometimes ineffective. This led us to investigate alternative treatment options, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT). Although PDT is traditionally recognized as a therapeutic option for treating a wide range of medical conditions, including age-related macular degeneration and malignant cancers, its antimicrobial properties have also received considerable attention. However, the mechanism(s) underlying the susceptibility of dermatophytic fungi to PDT is relatively unknown. As a noninvasive treatment, PDT uses a photosensitizing drug and light, which, in the presence of oxygen, results in cellular destruction. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of cytotoxicity of PDTin vitrousing the silicon phthalocyanine (Pc) 4 [SiPc(OSi(CH3)2(CH2)3N(CH3)2)(OH)] inT. rubrum. Confocal microscopy revealed that Pc 4 binds to cytoplasmic organelles, and upon irradiation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated. The impairment of fungal metabolic activities as measured by an XTT (2,3-bis[2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxyanilide inner salt) assay indicated that 1.0 μM Pc 4 followed by 670 to 675 nm light at 2.0 J/cm2reduced the overall cell survival rate, which was substantiated by a dry weight assay. In addition, we found that this therapeutic approach is effective against terbinafine-sensitive (24602) and terbinafine-resistant (MRL666) strains. These data suggest that Pc 4-PDT may have utility as a treatment for dermatophytosis.

scholarly journals An in vitro model of chronic wounding and its implication for age-related macular degeneration

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. e0236298
Author(s):  
Lindsay J. Bailey-Steinitz ◽  
Ying-Hsuan Shih ◽  
Monte J. Radeke ◽  
Pete J. Coffey
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
In Vitro Model ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Vitro Model

scholarly journals Experimental Models in Neovascular Age Related Macular Degeneration

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (13) ◽  
pp. 4627
Author(s):  
Olivia Rastoin ◽  
Gilles Pagès ◽  
Maeva Dufies
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Decoy Receptors ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (vAMD), characterized by the neo-vascularization of the retro-foveolar choroid, leads to blindness within few years. This disease depends on angiogenesis mediated by the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) and to inflammation. The only available treatments consist of monthly intravitreal injections of antibodies directed against VEGF or VEGF/VEGFB/PlGF decoy receptors. Despite their relative efficacy, these drugs only delay progression to blindness and 30% of the patients are insensitive to these treatments. Hence, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Experimental models of vAMD are essential to screen different innovative therapeutics. The currently used in vitro and in vivo models in ophthalmic translational research and their relevance are discussed in this review.

scholarly journals Inhibition of Experimental Choroidal Neovascularization by a Novel Peptide Derived from Calreticulin Anti-Angiogenic Domain

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youn-Shen Bee ◽  
Yi‐Ling Ma ◽  
Jinying Chen ◽  
Pei-Jhen Tsai ◽  
Shwu-Jiuan Sheu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Choroidal Neovascularization ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Aortic Ring ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Pathological Feature ◽  
Fundus Fluorescein Angiography ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Topical Applications

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a key pathological feature of several of the leading causes of vision loss including neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Here we show that a calreticulin anti-angiogenic domain (CAD)-like peptide 27, CAD27, inhibited in vitro angiogenic activities, including tube formation and migration of endothelial cells, and suppressed vascular sprouting from rat aortic ring explants. In rat model of laser-induced CNV, we demonstrate that intravitreal injection of CAD27 significantly attenuated the formation of CNV lesions as measured via fundus fluorescein angiography and choroid flat-mounts (19.5% and 22.4% reductions at 10μg and 20μg of CAD27 injected, respectively). Similarly, the reduction of CNV lesions was observed in the groups of rats that had received topical applications of CAD27 (choroid flat-mounts: 17.9% and 32.5% reductions at 10μg/mL and 20μg/mL of CAD27 installed, respectively). Retinal function was unaffected, as measured using electroretinography in both groups received interareal injection or topical applications of CAD27 at least for 9 days. These findings show that CAD27 can be used as a potential therapeutic alternative for targeting CNV in the diseases such as neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

scholarly journals Age-Related Macular Degeneration Revisited: From Pathology and Cellular Stress to Potential Therapies

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majda Hadziahmetovic ◽  
Goldis Malek
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a neurodegenerative disease of the aging retina, in which patients experience severe vision loss. Therapies available to patients are limited and are only effective in a sub-population of patients. Future comprehensive clinical care depends on identifying new therapeutic targets and adopting a multi-therapeutic approach. With this goal in mind, this review examines the fundamental concepts underlying the development and progression of AMD and re-evaluates the pathogenic pathways associated with the disease, focusing on the impact of injury at the cellular level, with the understanding that critical assessment of the literature may help pave the way to identifying disease-relevant targets. During this process, we elaborate on responses of AMD vulnerable cells, including photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelial cells, microglia, and choroidal endothelial cells, based on in vitro and in vivo studies, to select stressful agents, and discuss current therapeutic developments in the field, targeting different aspects of AMD pathobiology.

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