Article
Ophthalmology
Abduqodir H. Toychiev, Khulan Batsuuri, Miduturu Srinivas
Summary: The study revealed an increase in Cx43 expression and GJ coupling in retinal astrocytes during retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury, leading to exacerbate RGC loss. Deleting astrocytic Cx43 improved neuronal survival in acute ischemia, while pharmacological inhibition of GJ coupling provided neuroprotection in the injury condition.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Stefan Dhein, Aida Salameh
Summary: The heart relies on gap junction channels to maintain cell-cell coupling for efficient and rapid electrical conduction. Connexin expression and gap junction localization play crucial roles in modulating cardiac electrical properties, ultimately affecting cardiac stability and function.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mauricio Serrano-Rubi, Lidia Jimenez, Jacqueline Martinez-Rendon, Marcelino Cereijido, Arturo Ponce
Summary: Gap junctional intercellular communication is reduced in cancer cells compared to normal cells, but the plant-derived substance ouabain enhances this communication in various cancer cell lines through signaling mechanisms involving Csrc, ErK1/2, and ROCK-Rho. This finding suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for influencing cancer progression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuan Wang, Wenzhi Yang, Pingping Zhang, Zhengxia Ding, Liecheng Wang, Juan Cheng
Summary: This study investigated the role of melanopsin in light-induced sleep in rodents using melanopsin knockout mice and melanopsin-only mice. The results showed that melanopsin significantly affects REM and NREM sleep, indicating the important role of ipRGCs in light-induced sleep in mice.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Natalia Ziolkowska, Bogdan Lewczuk, Natalia Szyrynska, Aleksandra Rawicka, Alla Vyniarska
Summary: This study examined the impact of low-intensity blue light on the albino Wistar rat retina, specifically the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). Different exposure patterns of blue light were tested, and the results showed that prolonged exposure to low-intensity blue light caused damage to the retinas of the rats. This damage included decreased dendrite length, reduced immunoreactivity, changes in dendritic arborization, increased GFAP immunoreactivity, and apoptosis.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Shun-Yi Zhuo, Guo-Feng Li, Hai-qing Gong, Wei-Bao Qiu, Hai-Rong Zheng, Pei-Ji Liang
Summary: The study demonstrates that ultrasound stimulation enhances the background activity of ON- and OFF-RGCs in isolated mouse retinas, changes their light responsiveness, and suggests a potential role of glial cells in the bidirectional modulation effects of RGCs in response to ultrasound.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Wei Zhou, Li-Qin Wang, Yu-Qi Shao, Xu Han, Chen-Xi Yu, Fei Yuan, Xin Wang, Shi-Jun Weng, Yong-Mei Zhong, Xiong-Li Yang
Summary: This study demonstrates the modulation of pupillary light response in mice by the neuropeptide orexin, specifically through enhancing pupillary constriction by influencing M2 cells. Orexin-A increases the intrinsic excitability of M2 cells by activating OX(1)Rs, ultimately improving the visual performance in mice.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Ludovic S. Mure
Summary: This article discusses the profound impact of light on health, particularly emphasizing the role of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in non-image-forming vision. Progress in understanding human ipRGCs, including their morphology, function, and gene expression, could provide insights into how light is perceived by the human eye and aid in developing light-based therapeutic interventions. Further research on ipRGCs is critical for identifying therapeutic approaches and improving cognitive performance, mood, and quality of life through precise light usage recommendations.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Xiaohuan Zhao, Mengqiao Xu, Zhenzhen Zhao, Yimin Wang, Yang Liu, Ting Zhang, Xiaoling Wan, Mei Jiang, Xueting Luo, Yao Shen, Lei Chen, Minwen Zhou, Feng Wang, Xiaodong Sun
Summary: This study found that the probiotic Bifidobacterium can promote the survival of retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve regeneration. This effect is achieved by inhibiting microglia activation and promoting Muller cell activation, leading to a reduction in the risk of optic nerve injury.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alejandro Ogazon del Toro, Lidia Jimenez, Mauricio Serrano Rubi, Aida Castillo, Lorena Hinojosa, Jacqueline Martinez Rendon, Marcelino Cereijido, Arturo Ponce
Summary: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) significantly increases gap junctional intercellular communication in epithelial cells, with this effect not requiring synthesis of new RNA or proteins but rather trafficking of pre-synthesized subunits. Furthermore, this effect is mediated by the E2 receptor, which triggers a signaling pathway involving activation of adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase A (PKA).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Azin EbrahimAmini, Paolo Bazzigaluppi, Mark S. Aquilino, Bojana Stefanovic, Peter L. Carlen
Summary: Elevated extracellular potassium ion concentration is linked to various disorders, and K+ spatial buffering is a crucial regulatory mechanism. Experimental results confirm the rapid equilibrium of extracellular potassium levels by powerful local buffering mechanisms. Gap junctional communication plays a partial role in modulating potassium redistribution and the velocity of spreading responses.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kitako Tabata, Eriko Sugano, Akito Hatakeyama, Yoshito Watanabe, Tomoya Suzuki, Taku Ozaki, Tomokazu Fukuda, Hiroshi Tomita
Summary: The study demonstrated that retinal ganglion cells were photosensitive after the transduction of optogenetic genes and did not induce any phototoxicity following exposure to continuous light.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nange Jin, Lian-Ming Tian, Iris Fahrenfort, Zhijing Zhang, Friso Postma, David L. Paul, Stephen C. Massey, Christophe P. Ribelayga
Summary: This study utilized rod- or cone-specific gene knockout mice to investigate the functionality of the secondary rod pathway and the additive contribution of different pathways to retinal output.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Chao Wang, Yaqiong An, Zhaohua Xia, Xuezhi Zhou, Haibo Li, Shuang Song, Lexi Ding, Xiaobo Xia
Summary: This study found that melatonin could protect RGCs from glutamate excitotoxicity and NMDA-induced injury, reduce oxidative stress, and improve visual function in mice. These findings provide practical research ideas for the comprehensive prevention and treatment of glaucoma using melatonin.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Shailesh Appukuttan, Keith L. Brain, Rohit Manchanda
Summary: Gap junctions provide pathways for intercellular communication between adjacent cells, influencing electrical activity propagation and oscillation frequency. The location of pacemaking cells and differences in gap junctional properties can alter the behavior of electrically coupled tissues, affecting the oscillation frequency.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Seema Banerjee, Qin Wang, Chung Him So, Feng Pan
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tamas Kovacs-Oller, Elena Ivanova, Gergely Szarka, Adam J. Tengolics, Bela Volgyi, Botir T. Sagdullaev
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Seema Banerjee, Qin Wang, Fuxin Zhao, George Tang, Chunghim So, Dennis Tse, Chi-Ho To, Yun Feng, Xiangtian Zhou, Feng Pan
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Tamas Kovacs-Oller, Gergely Szarka, Adam J. Tengolics, Alma Ganczer, Boglarka Balogh, Edina Szabo-Meleg, Miklos Nyitrai, Bela Voelgyi
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qin Wang, Seema Banerjee, Chunghim So, Chunting Qiu, Hang-I Christie Lam, Dennis Tse, Bela Volgyi, Feng Pan
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Bela Volgyi
Article
Neurosciences
Qin Wang, Seema Banerjee, ChungHim So, ChunTing Qiu, YingHon Sze, Thomas Chuen Lam, Chi-Ho To, Feng Pan
Summary: Low-dose atropine has been shown to effectively control myopia progression with minimal side effects. However, the impact of atropine on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) remains unclear. Direct application of atropine on the retina affected the light-evoked responses of ON and OFF alpha RGCs in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but lower concentrations did not disrupt synchronized firing patterns between RGCs.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samuel Abokyi, Sze-Wan Shan, Christie Hang- Lam, Kirk Patrick Catral, Feng Pan, Henry Ho-Lung Chan, Chi-Ho To, Dennis Yan-Yin Tse
Summary: This study found that lysosomal dysfunction and autophagy defects underlie oxidative damage induced by HQ in human RPE cells, and supports lysosomal stabilization with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 as a potential remedy for oxidative damage in RPE and AMD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Katalin Fusz, Tamas Kovacs-Oller, Peter Kobor, Edina Szabo-Meleg, Bela Volgyi, Peter Buzas, Ildiko Telkes
Summary: The study found regional differences in the distribution of connexin-36 in the retinas of different species, which affects the processing of visual input. There is a close correlation between the density of Prox1-immunoreactive amacrine cells and the density of Cx36-immunoreactive plaques, which may contribute to functional ON/OFF asymmetries in the retina.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Boglarka Balogh, Gergely Szarka, Adam J. Tengolics, Gyula Hoffmann, Bela Volgyi, Tamas Kovacs-Oller
Summary: The study found that exposure to LED light increased levels of major apoptosis-related markers and activated microglial cells and Caspase-3, suggesting that overuse of unfiltered direct LED light can have detrimental effects on human retina.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Alma Ganczer, Gergely Szarka, Marton Balogh, Gyula Hoffmann, Adam Jonatan Tengolics, Garrett Kenyon, Tamas Kovacs-Oller, Bela Volgyi
Summary: Retinal ganglion cells encrypt stimulus features of the visual scene in action potentials and convey them toward higher visual centers in the brain. Each subtype of RGC establishes a separate signaling route for a specific visual feature. The efficiency of encoding depends on several factors, and RGCs perform further analysis before generating the final output spike train. These specific kinetic features are essential for target postsynaptic neurons in the brain to effectively decode and interpret signals.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tamas Kovacs-Oller, Bela Volgyi
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tamas Kovacs-Oller, Gergely Szarka, Gyula Hoffmann, Loretta Pentek, Greta Valentin, Liliana Ross, Bela Volgyi
Summary: Gap junctions and connexin proteins undergo major changes in degenerating retinal tissue. It is important to distinguish these adaptive changes from alterations following tissue deterioration.
Article
Neurosciences
Seema Banerjee, Qing Wang, George Tang, ChungHim So, Sze Wan Shan, King Kit Li, Chi-Wai Do, Feng Pan
Summary: Our study demonstrated an increase in phosphorylation of connexin35 at Ser276 in both 12-hour and 7-day stages of lens-induced myopia in cone-dominant chicken retinas, potentially leading to increased coupling with AII amacrine cells.
VISUAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)