Article
Ophthalmology
Yuki Iwata, Satoshi Inagaki, Wataru Morozumi, Shinsuke Nakamura, Hideaki Hara, Masamitsu Shimazawa
Summary: The study found that GDF15 has a neuroprotective effect on RGCs via the GFRAL-RET pathway, making it a potential therapeutic target for degenerative RGC diseases.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kwang-Eon Choi, Vu Thi Que Anh, Jee Taek Kim, Cheolmin Yun, Seongkwang Cha, Jungryul Ahn, Yong Sook Goo, Seong-Woo Kim
Summary: The study developed an outer retinal degeneration pig model by temporarily injecting N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) during vitrectomy. Varying concentrations of MNU induced different levels of retinal degeneration in the experiment, as observed through multimodal examinations and histological analysis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patricia Berber, Sofiia Bondarenko, Lisa Michaelis, Bernhard Heinrich Friedrich Weber
Summary: By implementing specific co-culture conditions, researchers have successfully improved the retention rate of photoreceptor outer segments (OSs) in retinal organoids (ROs) differentiated in vitro. This is important for modeling retinal diseases involving photoreceptors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Lay Khoon Too, Matthew P. Simunovic
Summary: Over the past two decades, significant progress has been made in understanding the functions of glial cells, particularly Muller glia (MG), in retinal homeostasis and regeneration. While MG show regenerative capacity varying across species, their in vivo regenerative potential in mammals, including humans, is limited. Advances in stem cell therapy have shed light on critical mechanisms underlying MG reprogramming in fish, showing promising results when applied to rodents.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Sean Mccracken, Michael J. Fitzpatrick, Allison L. Hall, Zelun Wang, Daniel Kerschensteiner, Josh L. Morgan, Philip R. Williams
Summary: Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration, caused by axon degeneration, is the main reason for vision loss in blinding conditions. Axonal Ca2+ elevations from optic nerve injury do not reach RGC somas, and baseline Ca2+ levels of RGCs predict their survival after axon injury.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Renae Elaine Bertrand, Jun Wang, Kaitlyn H. Xiong, Chinthana Thangavel, Xinye Qian, Rola Ba-Abbad, Qingnan Liang, Renata T. Simoes, Shirley A. M. Sampaio, Keren J. Carss, F. Lucy Raymond, Anthony G. Robson, Andrew R. Webster, Gavin Arno, Fernanda Belga Ottoni Porto, Rui Chen
Summary: This study identified pathogenic variants in the TLCD3B gene in four patients with cone-rod dystrophy or maculopathy from three families. Knockout mice lacking Tlcd3b exhibited similar phenotypes as the patients, including reduced cone photoreceptor light responses and degeneration of cone photoreceptors. These results establish a link between loss-of-function variants in a ceramide synthase gene and human retinal dystrophy.
GENETICS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Qing Zhu, Xue Rui, Ya Li, Ya You, Xun-Lun Sheng, Bo Lei
Summary: The study aimed to describe the genetic and clinical features of 17 patients with ABCA4-related inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) and define the phenotype-genotype correlations. Four novel ABCA4 variants were identified, expanding the spectrum of disease-causing variants in ABCA4 for future genetic counseling.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tae-Hoon Kim, Jie Ding, Xincheng Yao
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of functional optical coherence tomography (OCT) for in vivo monitoring of dark adaptation kinetics in mouse retina. The findings suggest that functional OCT can provide objective assessment of the physiological integrity of retinal photoreceptors and potential for early diagnosis and intervention.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Jeanee Bullock, Federica Polato, Mones Abu-Asab, Alexandra Bernardo-Colon, Elma Aflaki, Martin-Paul Agbaga, S. Patricia Becerra
Summary: The study found that downregulation of PEDF-R delayed POS digestion during phagocytosis, suggesting that the efficiency of RPE phagocytosis depends on PEDF-R.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sachiko Kaidzu, Tsutomu Okuno, Masaki Tanito, Akihiro Ohira
Summary: The study investigated the effects of visible light on the retina and found that the damage depends on the wavelength and energy level. Shorter wavelengths of light caused more significant harm to the albino rat's retina.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jing Zhang, Min Jing, Ping Li, Luqian Sun, Xiahui Pi, Ning Jiang, Ke-ke Zhu, Hui Li, Jing Li, Mingli Wang, Jun Zhang, Mugen Liu, Hongmei Mu, Yanzhong Hu, Xiukun Cui
Summary: In our study, depletion of the light intermediate chain protein DLIC1 using CRISPR-Cas9 technology in zebrafish resulted in progressive degeneration of retinal cone photoreceptors, especially blue cones. The retinal rods were not affected in dync1li1-/- zebrafish. Knockout of DLIC1 led to abnormal expression and localization of cone opsins in dync1li1-/- retinas, inducing apoptosis. Additionally, Rab8 transport was disturbed in dync1li1-/- retinas instead of Rab11 transport.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Yao Wang, Jiexuan Lv, Changquan Huang, Xiaohong Li, Yongxiong Chen, Wutian Wu, Renyi Wu
Summary: The study demonstrated that transplanted hUC-MSCs could survive and migrate in the vitreous cavity towards the damaged retina, providing significant neuroprotective effects on chronic glaucomatous retinal damage.
STEM CELLS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Kwang-Eon Choi, Seongkwang Cha, Cheolmin Yun, Jungryul Ahn, Seil Hwang, Young-Jin Kim, Hachul Jung, Heejong Eom, Dongkwan Shin, Jaeryung Oh, Yong Sook Goo, Seong-Woo Kim
Summary: The objective of this study was to induce and evaluate drug-dose-dependent outer retinal degeneration in cynomolgus monkeys using N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Intravitreal temporary tamponade with MNU solutions (2-3 mg ml(-1)) was performed after vitrectomy in five monkeys. Outer retinal degeneration, anatomical and functional changes were observed, especially in the peripheral retina. The findings suggest that temporary exposure to intravitreal MNU tamponade induces rod-dominant outer retinal degeneration, particularly in the peripheral retina.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haoqian Liang, Qiang Wu, Xinzheng Victor Guo, Linda Chan, Tin Mao, Cinzia Stella, Axel Guilbaud, Julien Camperi
Summary: Phagocytosis is a key function of retinal pigment epithelial cells in maintaining photoreceptor health and deficiency in this function may lead to vision loss. This study presents image-based and flow cytometry-based methods to measure phagocytosis activity and characterize photoreceptor outer segments, providing new tools for evaluating the function of retinal pigment epithelial cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiangjun She, Yifan Zhou, Zhi Liang, Jin Wei, Bintao Xie, Yun Zhang, Lijun Shen
Summary: This study investigated the altered metabolic pathways and physiological changes after retinal detachment and identified key changes, such as alterations in histidine, tyrosine, and tryptophan metabolism, decreased antioxidant capacity, and reduced levels of the neurotransmitter tyrosine.