scholarly journals A Circulating MicroRNA Profile in a Laser-Induced Mouse Model of Choroidal Neovascularization

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Kiel ◽  
Patricia Berber ◽  
Marcus Karlstetter ◽  
Alexander Aslanidis ◽  
Tobias Strunz ◽  
...  

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a pathological process in which aberrant blood vessels invade the subretinal space of the mammalian eye. It is a characteristic feature of the prevalent neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Circulating microRNAs (cmiRNAs) are regarded as potentially valuable biomarkers for various age-related diseases, including nAMD. Here, we investigated cmiRNA expression in an established laser-induced CNV mouse model. Upon CNV induction in C57Bl/6 mice, blood-derived cmiRNAs were initially determined globally by RNA next generation sequencing, and the most strongly dysregulated cmiRNAs were independently replicated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) in blood, retinal, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroidal tissue. Our findings suggest that two miRNAs, mmu-mir-486a-5p and mmur-mir-92a-3p, are consistently dysregulated during CNV formation. Furthermore, in functional in vitro assays, a significant impact of mmu-mir-486a-5p and mmu-mir-92a-3p on murine microglial cell viability was observed, while mmu-mir-92a-3p also showed an impact on microglial mobility. Taken together, we report a robust dysregulation of two miRNAs in blood and RPE/choroid after laser-induced initiation of CNV lesions in mice, highlighting their potential role in pathology and eventual therapy of CNV-associated complications.

2011 ◽  
Vol 286 (18) ◽  
pp. 16229-16237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeriy V. Lyzogubov ◽  
Ruslana G. Tytarenko ◽  
Juan Liu ◽  
Nalini S. Bora ◽  
Puran S. Bora

In this study, we describe a new method for inducing choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in C57BL/6 mice, an animal model of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a disease that causes central blindness in humans. We injected PEG-8 subretinally in different doses (0.125–2 mg) to induce CNV. After PEG-8 injection, we examined CNV at several time points (days 3–42). We also used Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA to examine the complement component C3 split products, C9, VEGF, TGF-β2, and basic FGF. As early as day 1 after treatment, we found that a single subretinal injection of 1 mg of PEG-8 increased the C3 split products and the C9, TGF-β2, and basic FGF levels in the retinal pigment epithelium-choroid tissue. By day 3 after PEG-8 injection, the intraocular activation of the complement system caused induction and progression of CNV, including new vessels penetrating the Bruch's membrane. At day 5 after PEG-8 injection, we observed a fully developed CNV and retinal degeneration. Thus, in this study, we present a new, inexpensive, and accelerated mouse model of CNV that may be useful to study AMD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haibo Wang ◽  
Eric Kunz ◽  
Gregory J. Stoddard ◽  
William W. Hauswirth ◽  
M. Elizabeth Hartnett

Abstract Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial chronic disease that requires long term treatment. Gene therapy is being considered as a promising tool to treat AMD. We found that increased activation of Rap1a in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) reduces oxidative signaling to maintain barrier integrity of the RPE and resist neural sensory retinal angiogenesis from choroidal endothelial cell invasion. To optimally deliver constitutively active Rap1a (CARap1a) into the RPE of wild type mice, self-complementary AAV2 (scAAV2) vectors driven by two different promoters, RPE65 or VMD2, were generated and tested for optimal active Rap1a expression and inhibition of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) induced by laser injury. scAAV2-VMD2, but not scAAV2-RPE65, specifically and efficiently transduced the RPE to increase active Rap1a protein in the RPE. Mice with increased Rap1a from the scAAV2-VMD2-CARap1a had a significant reduction in CNV compared to controls. Increased active Rap1a in the RPE in vivo or in vitro inhibited inflammatory and angiogenic signaling determined by decreased activation of NF-κB and expression of VEGF without causing increased cell death or autophagy measured by increased LCA3/B. Our study provides a potential future strategy to deliver active Rap1a to the RPE in order to protect against both atrophic and neovascular AMD.


2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. von Kerczek ◽  
L. Zhu ◽  
A. Ernest ◽  
C. Eggleton ◽  
L. D. T. Topoleski ◽  
...  

Abstract Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in patients aged 65 years and older in the United States. In the majority of cases, the loss of central vision is secondary to exudative changes and fibrovascular scarring following choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Prompt laser treatment is recommended [Asrani et al., 1996; Macular Photocoagulation Study Group, 1993; Schneider et al, 1998]. However, direct laser treatment to the entire subfoveal lesion is almost invariably associated with immediate loss of central vision. Loss of central vision may be due to direct damage to foveal photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium or from damage to the nerve fiber layer serving foveal function [Han et al., 1988].


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Serge Camelo ◽  
Mathilde Latil ◽  
Stanislas Veillet ◽  
Pierre J. Dilda ◽  
René Lafont

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the commonest cause of severe visual loss and blindness in developed countries among individuals aged 60 and older. AMD slowly progresses from early AMD to intermediate AMD (iAMD) and ultimately late-stage AMD. Late AMD encompasses either neovascular AMD (nAMD) or geographic atrophy (GA). nAMD is defined by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and hemorrhage in the subretinal space at the level of the macula. This induces a rapid visual impairment caused by the death of photoreceptor cells. Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies is the standard treatment of nAMD but adds to the burden of patient care. GA is characterized by slowly expanding photoreceptor, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration patches progressively leading to blindness. There is currently no therapy to cure GA. Late AMD continues to be an unmet medical need representing a major health problem with millions of patients worldwide. Oxidative stress and inflammation are recognized as some of the main risk factors to developing late AMD. The antioxidant formulation AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Studies), contains β-carotene, which has been replaced by lutein and zeaxanthin in AREDS2, are given to patients with iAMD but have a limited effect on the incidence of nAMD and GA. Thus, to avoid or slowdown the development of late stages of AMD (nAMD or GA), new therapies targeting iAMD are needed such as crocetin obtained through hydrolysis of crocin, an important component of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), and norbixin derived from bixin extracted from Bixa orellana seeds. We have shown that these apocarotenoids preserved more effectively RPE cells against apoptosis following blue light exposure in the presence of A2E than lutein and zeaxanthin. In this review, we will discuss the potential use of apocarotenoids to slowdown the progression of iAMD, to reduce the incidence of both forms of late AMD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 835-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changyang Zhou ◽  
Xinde Hu ◽  
Cheng Tang ◽  
Wenjia Liu ◽  
Shaoran Wang ◽  
...  

Summary RNA-targeting CRISPR system Cas13 offers an efficient approach for manipulating RNA transcripts in vitro. In this perspective, we provide a proof-of-concept demonstration that Cas13-mediated Vegfa knockdown in vivo could prevent the development of laser-induced CNV in mouse model of Age-related macular degeneration.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (475) ◽  
pp. eaat5580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchi Sharma ◽  
Vladimir Khristov ◽  
Aaron Rising ◽  
Balendu Shekhar Jha ◽  
Roba Dejene ◽  
...  

Considerable progress has been made in testing stem cell–derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) as a potential therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the recent reports of oncogenic mutations in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) underlie the need for robust manufacturing and functional validation of clinical-grade iPSC-derived RPE before transplantation. Here, we developed oncogenic mutation-free clinical-grade iPSCs from three AMD patients and differentiated them into clinical-grade iPSC-RPE patches on biodegradable scaffolds. Functional validation of clinical-grade iPSC-RPE patches revealed specific features that distinguished transplantable from nontransplantable patches. Compared to RPE cells in suspension, our biodegradable scaffold approach improved integration and functionality of RPE patches in rats and in a porcine laser-induced RPE injury model that mimics AMD-like eye conditions. Our results suggest that the in vitro and in vivo preclinical functional validation of iPSC-RPE patches developed here might ultimately be useful for evaluation and optimization of autologous iPSC-based therapies.


F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Savannah A. Lynn ◽  
Eloise Keeling ◽  
Jennifer M. Dewing ◽  
David A. Johnston ◽  
Anton Page ◽  
...  

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of several blinding retinopathies. Alterations to RPE structure and function are reported in Age-related Macular Degeneration, Stargardt and Best disease as well as pattern dystrophies. However, the precise role of RPE cells in disease aetiology remains incompletely understood. Many studies into RPE pathobiology have utilised animal models, which only recapitulate limited disease features. Some studies are also difficult to carry out in animals as the ocular space remains largely inaccessible to powerful microscopes. In contrast, in-vitro models provide an attractive alternative to investigating pathogenic RPE changes associated with age and disease. In this article we describe the step-by-step approach required to establish an experimentally versatile in-vitro culture model of the outer retina incorporating the RPE monolayer and supportive Bruch’s membrane (BrM). We show that confluent monolayers of the spontaneously arisen human ARPE-19 cell-line cultured under optimal conditions reproduce key features of native RPE. These models can be used to study dynamic, intracellular and extracellular pathogenic changes using the latest developments in microscopy and imaging technology. We also discuss how RPE cells from human foetal and stem-cell derived sources can be incorporated alongside sophisticated BrM substitutes to replicate the aged/diseased outer retina in a dish. The work presented here will enable users to rapidly establish a realistic in-vitro model of the outer retina that is amenable to a high degree of experimental manipulation which will also serve as an attractive alternative to using animals. This in-vitro model therefore has the benefit of achieving the 3Rs objective of reducing and replacing the use of animals in research. As well as recapitulating salient structural and physiological features of native RPE, other advantages of this model include its simplicity, rapid set-up time and unlimited scope for detailed single-cell resolution and matrix studies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (9) ◽  
pp. 631-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Mohlin ◽  
Dick Delbro ◽  
Anders Kvanta ◽  
Kjell Johansson

Congo red (CR) is a histological stain used for the detection of extracellular amyloids mediating various neurodegenerative diseases. Given that damaged photoreceptors appear to degenerate similarly to other nerve cells, CR staining was evaluated in experimentally injured porcine retina. CR staining appeared mostly as discrete cytosolic deposits with no obvious plaque formation during the investigated time period. Increases of CR labeling coincided temporally with the known accumulation of mislocalized opsins and increases of cell death. Coculture, either with human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE) or human neural progenitor (ReN) cells, was accompanied by a significant reduction of CR labeling. Of particular interest was the reduction of CR labeling in cone photoreceptors, which are important for the perception of color and fine details and afflicted in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Electron microscopy revealed inclusions in the inner segment, cell body, and occasionally synaptic terminals of photoreceptor cells in cultured specimens. Closer examinations indicated the presence of different types of inclusions resembling protein aggregates as well as inclusion bodies. The current results indicate that injury-related response resulted in accumulation of CR deposits in photoreceptor cells, and that trophic and/or structural support attenuated this response.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document