scholarly journals Knock-Out of Tenascin-C Ameliorates Ischemia-Induced Rod-Photoreceptor Degeneration and Retinal Dysfunction

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Wiemann ◽  
Aisha Yousf ◽  
Stephanie C. Joachim ◽  
Carolin Peters ◽  
Ana M. Mueller-Buehl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Photoreceptor Cell ◽  
Retinal Ischemia ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Photoreceptor Degeneration ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Retinal Thinning ◽  
Rod Bipolar Cells

Retinal ischemia is a common pathomechanism in various eye diseases. Recently, evidence accumulated suggesting that the extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein tenascin-C (Tnc) plays a key role in ischemic degeneration. However, the possible functional role of Tnc in retinal ischemia is not yet known. The aim of our study was to explore retinal function and rod-bipolar/photoreceptor cell degeneration in wild type (WT) and Tnc knock-out (KO) mice after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Therefore, I/R was induced by increasing intraocular pressure in the right eye of wild type (WT I/R) and Tnc KO (KO I/R) mice. The left eye served as untreated control (WT CO and KO CO). Scotopic electroretinogram (ERG) recordings were performed to examine rod-bipolar and rod-photoreceptor cell function. Changes of Tnc, rod-bipolar cells, photoreceptors, retinal structure and apoptotic and synaptic alterations were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Hematoxylin and Eosin staining, Western blot, and quantitative real time PCR. We found increased Tnc protein levels 3 days after ischemia, while Tnc immunoreactivity decreased after 7 days. Tnc mRNA expression was comparable in the ischemic retina. ERG measurements after 7 days showed lower a-/b-wave amplitudes in both ischemic groups. Nevertheless, the amplitudes in the KO I/R group were higher than in the WT I/R group. We observed retinal thinning in WT I/R mice after 3 and 7 days. Although compared to the KO CO group, retinal thinning was not observed in the KO I/R group until 7 days. The number of PKCα+ rod-bipolar cells, recoverin+ photoreceptor staining and Prkca and Rcvrn expression were comparable in all groups. However, reduced rhodopsin protein as well as Rho and Gnat1 mRNA expression levels of rod-photoreceptors were found in the WT I/R, but not in the KO I/R retina. Additionally, a lower number of activated caspase 3+ cells was observed in the KO I/R group. Finally, both ischemic groups displayed enhanced vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (vGlut1) levels. Collectively, KO mice showed diminished rod-photoreceptor degeneration and retinal dysfunction after I/R. Elevated vGlut1 levels after ischemia could be related to an impaired glutamatergic photoreceptor-bipolar cell signaling and excitotoxicity. Our study provides novel evidence that Tnc reinforces ischemic retinal degeneration, possibly by synaptic remodeling.

scholarly journals Loss of PRCD alters number and packaging density of rhodopsin in rod photoreceptor disc membranes

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily R. Sechrest ◽  
Joseph Murphy ◽  
Subhadip Senapati ◽  
Andrew F. X. Goldberg ◽  
Paul S.-H. Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Fidelity ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Photoreceptor Degeneration ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Photoreceptor Outer Segment ◽  
Rod Photoreceptors ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Photoreceptor Neurons ◽  
Precise Role

Abstract Progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD) is a small protein localized to photoreceptor outer segment (OS) disc membranes. Several mutations in PRCD are linked to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in canines and humans, and while recent studies have established that PRCD is required for high fidelity disc morphogenesis, its precise role in this process remains a mystery. To better understand the part which PRCD plays in disease progression as well as its contribution to photoreceptor OS disc morphogenesis, we generated a Prcd-KO animal model using CRISPR/Cas9. Loss of PRCD from the retina results in reduced visual function accompanied by slow rod photoreceptor degeneration. We observed a significant decrease in rhodopsin levels in Prcd-KO retina prior to photoreceptor degeneration. Furthermore, ultrastructural analysis demonstrates that rod photoreceptors lacking PRCD display disoriented and dysmorphic OS disc membranes. Strikingly, atomic force microscopy reveals that many disc membranes in Prcd-KO rod photoreceptor neurons are irregular, containing fewer rhodopsin molecules and decreased rhodopsin packing density compared to wild-type discs. This study strongly suggests an important role for PRCD in regulation of rhodopsin incorporation and packaging density into disc membranes, a process which, when dysregulated, likely gives rise to the visual defects observed in patients with PRCD-associated RP.

scholarly journals Modelling and rescue of RP2 Retinitis Pigmentosa using iPSC Derived Retinal Organoids

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia Lane ◽  
Katarina Jovanovic ◽  
Ciara Shortall ◽  
Daniele Ottaviani ◽  
Anna Brugulat Panes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽  
Photoreceptor Cell ◽  
Outer Nuclear Layer ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Retinal Disease ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

SummaryRP2 mutations cause a severe form of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). The mechanism of RP2 associated retinal degeneration in humans is unclear, and animal models of RP2 XLRP do not recapitulate this severe phenotype. Here, we developed gene edited isogenic RP2 knock-out (RP2 KO) induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and RP2 patient derived iPSC to produce 3D retinal organoids as a human retinal disease model. Strikingly, the RP2 KO and RP2 patient derived organoids showed a peak in rod photoreceptor cell death at day 150 (D150) with subsequent thinning of the organoid outer nuclear layer (ONL) by D180 of culture. AAV mediated gene augmentation with human RP2 rescued the degeneration phenotype of the RP2 KO organoids, to prevent ONL thinning and restore rhodopsin expression. Notably, these data show that 3D retinal organoids can be used to model photoreceptor degeneration and test potential therapies to prevent photoreceptor cell death.

scholarly journals mGluR6 deletion renders the TRPM1 channel in retina inactive

2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 948-957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Xu ◽  
Anuradha Dhingra ◽  
Marie E. Fina ◽  
Chieko Koike ◽  
Takahisa Furukawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Receptor Potential ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Protein Subunit ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin ◽  
Rod Bipolar Cells

In darkness, glutamate released from photoreceptors activates the metabotropic glutamate receptor 6 (mGluR6) on retinal ON bipolar cells. This activates the G protein Go, which then closes transient receptor potential melastatin 1 (TRPM1) channels, leading to cells' hyperpolarization. It has been generally assumed that deleting mGluR6 would render the cascade inactive and the ON bipolar cells constitutively depolarized. Here we show that the rod bipolar cells in mGluR6-null mice were hyperpolarized. The slope conductance of the current-voltage curves and the current noise were smaller than in wild type. Furthermore, while in wild-type rod bipolar cells, TRPM1 could be activated by local application of capsaicin; in null cells, it did not. These results suggest that the TRPM1 channel in mGluR6-null rod bipolar cells is inactive. To explore the reason for this lack of activity, we tested if mGluR6 deletion affected expression of cascade components. Immunostaining for G protein subunit candidates Gαo, Gβ3, and Gγ13 showed no significant changes in their expression or distribution. Immunostaining for TRPM1 in the dendritic tips was greatly reduced, but the channel was still present in the soma and primary dendrites of mGluR6-null bipolar cells, where a certain fraction of TRPM1 appears to localize to the plasma membrane. Consequently, the lack of TRPM1 activity in the null retina is unlikely to be due to failure of the channels to localize to the plasma membrane. We speculate that, to be constitutively active, TRPM1 channels in ON bipolar cells have to be in a complex, or perhaps require an unidentified factor.

scholarly journals Characterization of Scotopic and Mesopic Rod Signaling Pathways in Dogs Using the On-Off Electroretinogram

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nate Pasmanter ◽  
Simon M Petersen-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Stimulus Strength ◽  
Full Field ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Lighting Conditions ◽  
Rod And Cone Photoreceptors ◽  
Rod Bipolar Cells

Abstract Background: The On-Off, or long flash, full field electroretinogram (ERG) separates retinal responses to flash onset and offset. Depending on degree of dark-adaptation and stimulus strength the On and Off ERG can be shaped by rod and cone photoreceptors and postreceptoral cells, including ON and OFF bipolar cells. Interspecies differences have been shown, with predominantly positive Off-response in humans and other primates and a negative Off-response in rodents and dogs. However, the rod signaling pathways that contribute to these differential responses have not been characterized. In this study, we designed a long flash protocol in the dog that varied in background luminance and stimulus strength allowing for some rod components to be present to better characterize how rod pathways vary from scotopic to mesopic conditions.Results: With low background light the rod a-wave remains while the b-wave is significantly reduced resulting in a predominantly negative waveform in mesopic conditions. Through modeling and subtraction of the rod-driven response, we show that rod bipolar cells saturate with dimmer backgrounds than rod photoreceptors, resulting in rod hyperpolarization contributing to a large underlying negativity with mesopic backgrounds. Conclusions: Reduction in rod bipolar cell responses in mesopic conditions prior to suppression of rod photoreceptor responses may reflect the changes in signaling pathway of rod-driven responses needed to extend the range of lighting conditions over which the retina functions.

scholarly journals Identification of PKCα-dependent phosphoproteins in mouse retina

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin M. Wakeham ◽  
Phillip A. Wilmarth ◽  
Jennifer M. Cunliffe ◽  
John E. Klimek ◽  
Gaoying Ren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Phorbol Ester ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Mouse Retina ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Light Intensities ◽  
Retinal Rod ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Rod Bipolar Cells

AbstractAdjusting to a wide range of light intensities is an essential feature of retinal rod bipolar cell (RBC) function. While persuasive evidence suggests this modulation involves phosphorylation by protein kinase C-alpha (PKCα), the targets of PKCα phosphorylation in the retina have not been identified. PKCα activity and phosphorylation in RBCs was examined by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy using a conformation-specific PKCα antibody and antibodies to phosphorylated PKC motifs. PKCα activity was dependent on light and expression of TRPM1, and RBC dendrites were the primary sites of light-dependent phosphorylation. PKCα-dependent retinal phosphoproteins were identified using a phosphoproteomics approach to compare total protein and phosphopeptide abundance between phorbol ester-treated wild type and PKCα knockout (PKCα-KO) mouse retinas. Phosphopeptide mass spectrometry identified over 1100 phosphopeptides in mouse retina, with 12 displaying significantly greater phosphorylation in WT compared to PKCα-KO samples. The differentially phosphorylated proteins fall into the following functional groups: cytoskeleton/trafficking (4 proteins), ECM/adhesion (2 proteins), signaling (2 proteins), transcriptional regulation (3 proteins), and homeostasis/metabolism (1 protein). Two strongly differentially expressed phosphoproteins, BORG4 and TPBG, were localized to the synaptic layers of the retina, and may play a role in PKCα-dependent modulation of RBC physiology. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD012906.SignificanceRetinal rod bipolar cells (RBCs), the second-order neurons of the mammalian rod visual pathway, are able to modulate their sensitivity to remain functional across a wide range of light intensities, from starlight to daylight. Evidence suggests that this modulation requires the serine/threonine kinase, PKCα, though the specific mechanism by which PKCα modulates RBC physiology is unknown. This study examined PKCα phosophorylation patterns in mouse rod bipolar cells and then used a phosphoproteomics approach to identify PKCα-dependent phosphoproteins in the mouse retina. A small number of retinal proteins showed significant PKCα-dependent phosphorylation, including BORG4 and TPBG, suggesting a potential contribution to PKCα-dependent modulation of RBC physiology.HighlightsPKCα is a major source of phosphorylation in retinal RBC dendrites and its activity in RBCs is light dependent.Proteins showing differential phosphorylation between phorbol ester-treated wild type and PKCα-KO retinas belong to the following major functional groups: cytoskeleton/trafficking (4 proteins), ECM/adhesion (2 proteins), signaling (2 proteins), transcriptional regulation (3 proteins), and homeostasis/metabolism (1 protein).The PKCα-dependent phosphoproteins, BORG4 and TPBG, are present in the synaptic layers of the retina and may be involved in PKCα-dependent modulation of RBC physiology.

scholarly journals Homeostatic plasticity in the retina is associated with maintenance of night vision during retinal degenerative disease

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henri Leinonen ◽  
Nguyen C Pham ◽  
Taylor Boyd ◽  
Johanes Santoso ◽  
Krzysztof Palczewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Degenerative Disease ◽  
Night Vision ◽  
Homeostatic Plasticity ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Photoreceptor Degeneration ◽  
Adaptive Responses ◽  
Rod Photoreceptors ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Retinal Adaptation

Neuronal plasticity of the inner retina has been observed in response to photoreceptor degeneration. Typically, this phenomenon has been considered maladaptive and may preclude vision restoration in the blind. However, several recent studies utilizing triggered photoreceptor ablation have shown adaptive responses in bipolar cells expected to support normal vision. Whether such homeostatic plasticity occurs during progressive photoreceptor degenerative disease to help maintain normal visual behavior is unknown. We addressed this issue in an established mouse model of Retinitis Pigmentosa caused by the P23H mutation in rhodopsin. We show robust modulation of the retinal transcriptomic network, reminiscent of the neurodevelopmental state, and potentiation of rod – rod bipolar cell signaling following rod photoreceptor degeneration. Additionally, we found highly sensitive night vision in P23H mice even when more than half of the rod photoreceptors were lost. These results suggest retinal adaptation leading to persistent visual function during photoreceptor degenerative disease.

Functional characterization of the H+/K+ ATPase in wild type and gastrin knock-out mice

2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (05) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Schnur ◽  
P Hegyi ◽  
V Venglovecz ◽  
Z Rakonczay ◽  
I Ignáth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Knock Out Mice

scholarly journals Effects of cofD gene knock-out on the methanogenesis of Methanobrevibacter ruminantium

AMB Express ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Ma ◽  
Xueying Wang ◽  
Ting Zhou ◽  
Rui Hu ◽  
Huawei Zou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Specific Growth ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Maximum Amount ◽  
Logarithmic Phase ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Maximum Biomass ◽  
Reproductive Ability ◽  
Methanobrevibacter Ruminantium

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the effects of cofD gene knock-out on the synthesis of coenzyme F420 and production of methane in Methanobrevibacter ruminantium (M. ruminantium). The experiment successfully constructed a cofD gene knock-out M. ruminantium via homologous recombination technology. The results showed that the logarithmic phase of mutant M. ruminantium (12 h) was lower than the wild-type (24 h). The maximum biomass and specific growth rate of mutant M. ruminantium were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of wild-type, and the maximum biomass of mutant M. ruminantium was approximately half of the wild-type; meanwhile, the proliferation was reduced. The synthesis amount of coenzyme F420 of M. ruminantium was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after the cofD gene knock-out. Moreover, the maximum amount of H2 consumed and CH4 produced by mutant were 14 and 2% of wild-type M. ruminantium respectively. In conclusion, cofD gene knock-out induced the decreased growth rate and reproductive ability of M. ruminantium. Subsequently, the synthesis of coenzyme F420 was decreased. Ultimately, the production capacity of CH4 in M. ruminantium was reduced. Our research provides evidence that cofD gene plays an indispensable role in the regulation of coenzyme F420 synthesis and CH4 production in M. ruminantium.

scholarly journals Renal Dnase1 expression is regulated by FGF23 but loss of Dnase1 does not alter renal phosphate handling

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Egli-Spichtig ◽  
Martin Y. H. Zhang ◽  
Alfred Li ◽  
Eva Maria Pastor Arroyo ◽  
Nati Hernando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Vitamin D Metabolism ◽  
Endocrine Hormone ◽  
Dnase 1 ◽  
Sodium Dependent ◽  
Renal Tubular ◽  
High Phosphate

AbstractFibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a bone-derived endocrine hormone that regulates phosphate and vitamin D metabolism. In models of FGF23 excess, renal deoxyribonuclease 1 (Dnase1) mRNA expression is downregulated. Dnase-1 is an endonuclease which binds monomeric actin. We investigated whether FGF23 suppresses renal Dnase-1 expression to facilitate endocytic retrieval of renal sodium dependent phosphate co-transporters (NaPi-IIa/c) from the brush border membrane by promoting actin polymerization. We showed that wild type mice on low phosphate diet and Fgf23−/− mice with hyperphosphatemia have increased renal Dnase1 mRNA expression while in Hyp mice with FGF23 excess and hypophosphatemia, Dnase1 mRNA expression is decreased. Administration of FGF23 in wild type and Fgf23−/− mice lowered Dnase1 expression. Taken together, our data shows that Dnase1 is regulated by FGF23. In 6-week-old Dnase1−/− mice, plasma phosphate and renal NaPi-IIa protein were significantly lower compared to wild-type mice. However, these changes were transient, normalized by 12 weeks of age and had no impact on bone morphology. Adaptation to low and high phosphate diet were similar in Dnase1−/− and Dnase1+/+ mice, and loss of Dnase1 gene expression did not rescue hyperphosphatemia in Fgf23−/− mice. We conclude that Dnase-1 does not mediate FGF23-induced inhibition of renal tubular phosphate reabsorption.

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