Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisa Murenu, Sarantos Kostidis, Shibojyoti Lahiri, Anna S. Geserich, Axel Imhof, Martin Giera, Stylianos Michalakis
Summary: The study investigated metabolic dynamics in healthy and retinal degeneration mice after eye opening, revealing changes in metabolite concentrations in the retina and alterations in the vitreous/lens composition post eye opening, particularly in the context of retinal degeneration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
David Sokolov, Emily R. Sechrest, Yekai Wang, Connor Nevin, Jianhai Du, Saravanan Kolandaivelu
Summary: This study reveals the previously unrecognized complexity in NMNAT1-associated retinal degeneration, indicating a potential role for NMNAT1 in gene regulation during photoreceptor terminal differentiation. Deletion of nuclear-localized NAD(+) synthase NMNAT1 in developing murine retina leads to early and severe degeneration of photoreceptors and inner retinal neurons, associated with disruptions in central carbon metabolism, purine nucleotide synthesis, and amino acid pathways. Dysregulation of photoreceptor and synapse-specific genes in NMNAT1 knockout retinas is observed prior to detectable morphological or metabolic alterations.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tess A. V. Afanasyeva, Julio C. Corral-Serrano, Alejandro Garanto, Ronald Roepman, Michael E. Cheetham, Rob W. J. Collin
Summary: In the era of personalized medicine, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as a valuable system for cell replacement and modeling of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). Three-dimensional iPSCs-derived retinal organoids containing various retinal cell types show promise for advancing research and treatments for IRDs.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ophthalmology
Marina Yasvoina, Qian Yang, Sasha M. Woods, Tjebo Heeren, Grant M. Comer, Catherine A. Egan, Marcus Fruttiger
Summary: This study found that RPE cells invading the retina in retinal degenerative diseases undergo dedifferentiation and can be pigmented or unpigmented. As a result, the number of these cells may be underestimated through funduscopy.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Geetika Kaur, Nikhlesh K. Singh
Summary: Retinal neurodegeneration, commonly manifested as apoptosis or impaired function of photoreceptors, is a major cause of irreversible vision loss and blindness. This review summarizes the extensive research conducted on the pathogenesis and treatment of retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, inherited retinal dystrophies, retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt macular dystrophy, and Leber congenital amaurosis. The role of inflammation in retinal degeneration is highlighted, and various therapeutic approaches, such as gene therapy and stem cell-based therapies, are evaluated.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Grzegorz Walkiewicz, Alicja Ronisz, Rita Van Ginderdeuren, Sophie Lemmens, Femke H. Bouwman, Jeroen J. M. Hoozemans, Tjado H. J. Morrema, Annemieke J. Rozemuller, Frederique J. Hart de Ruyter, Lies De Groef, Ingeborg Stalmans, Dietmar Rudolf Thal
Summary: This study reveals the presence of a distinct primary retinal tauopathy that is different from tauopathies in the brain. The stage of retinal p-tau pathology is correlated with age, AD, and inflammation, while vision impairment is associated with underlying eye diseases and the stage of retinal p-tau pathology.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Aiwen Xu, Michael Beyeler
Summary: This study used a biophysical model to simulate the retina and investigated the impact of neuroanatomical changes on cellular responses during retinal degeneration. The findings revealed that retinal cell activity increased and electrical stimulation thresholds also increased during retinal degeneration, and testable predictions about the underlying neuroanatomical mechanisms were proposed.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Britta U. Westner, James Lubell, Mads Jensen, Sigbjorn Hokland, Sarang S. Dalal
Summary: Optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) offer a flexible and contactless alternative for measuring brain and retinal activity without the need for cryogenic cooling. Magnetoretinographic (MRG) activity shows familiar signals similar to electroretinogram and shares a significant amount of information in both simultaneous and separate measurements.
Article
Neurosciences
Khris G. Griffis, Katherine E. Fehlhaber, Fred Rieke, Alapakkam P. Sampath
Summary: The sensitivity of retinal cells is altered in response to background light. The sensitivity adjustments in rods and postsynaptic modulation of the transduction cascade in rod bipolar cells are involved in this adaptation. The background illumination affects both rod and rod bipolar cell sensitivity.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Jianyang Xie, Quanyong Yi, Yufei Wu, Yalin Zheng, Yonghuai Liu, Antonella Macerollo, Huazhu Fu, Yanwu Xu, Jiong Zhang, Ardhendu Behera, Chenlei Fan, Alejandro F. Frangi, Jiang Liu, Qinkang Lu, Hong Qi, Yitian Zhao
Summary: This study developed a standardized OCTA analysis framework for retinal microvascular assessment and compared the parameters extracted from OCTA images between controls, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) groups. The results showed significant reductions in vessel area, length densities, and bifurcation numbers in AD group compared to controls. The MCI group demonstrated decreases in vascular parameters, fractal dimension, and bifurcation numbers in both superficial and inner vascular complexes, as well as increased vascular tortuosity and roundness of foveal avascular zone (FAZ). The study suggests that OCTA can be a useful tool for the diagnosis of AD and MCI.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Dan Zhang, Doina M. Mihai, Ilyas Washington
Summary: The study found that the vitamin A byproduct A2E alone is sufficient to cause retinal damage and functional decline, potentially being the root cause of retinal diseases. Delaying the formation of vitamin A byproducts could help prevent retinal diseases.
Article
Ophthalmology
Xue-Jiao Chen, Chang-Jun Zhang, Ya-Han Wang, Zi-Bing Jin
Summary: Silencing and overexpression of Ago2 in mouse retina both resulted in significant morphological alterations and severe impairment of retinal function, accompanied by changes in noncoding RNAs. Ago2 disruption led to severe retinal degeneration, indicating its important role in maintaining retinal structural and functional homeostasis.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ophthalmology
Takayuki Baba, Ryo Kawasaki, Keita Yamakiri, Takashi Koto, Koichi Nishitsuka, Shuichi Yamamoto, Taiji Sakamoto
Summary: Older age, low intraocular pressure, high myopia, multiple retinal breaks, giant retinal tear, wide retinal detachment, and macula-off detachment were associated with poorer postoperative visual acuity outcomes.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Acoustics
Gengxi Lu, Xuejun Qian, Chen Gong, Jie Ji, Biju B. Thomas, Mark S. Humayun, Qifa Zhou
Summary: Ultrasound neuromodulation is an emerging technology that has shown promise in activating healthy and degenerated retinas. This review article summarizes pilot studies on ultrasound retinal stimulation, compares it with other neuromodulation technologies, and discusses the advantages and limitations of using high-frequency ultrasound for developing a noninvasive retinal prosthesis. Opportunities and challenges in this field are also highlighted.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS FERROELECTRICS AND FREQUENCY CONTROL
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Amit Chatterjee, Ruchira Singh
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted membrane vesicles that come in various sizes, including exosomes (-30-200 nm) and microvesicles (MVs) that are around 100-1,000 nm in size. These EVs have been found to play a crucial role in autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine signaling, and are associated with a range of human disorders, including retinal degenerative diseases such as age related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). In this review, the authors provide an overview of the current understanding of the role of EVs in retinal physiology and specifically focus on how disease-related changes in EVs can impact specific retinal diseases. Additionally, they discuss the potential of EVs in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for targeting retinal diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)