Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irina Saltykova, Assylbek Zhylkibayev, Oleg S. Gorbatyuk, Marina S. Gorbatyuk
Summary: This study validates translational attenuation in P23H RHO retinas degenerating at a slower rate and demonstrates that GADD34 ablation does not impact translation rate but further suppresses retinal protein synthesis and apoptotic cell death. The molecular analysis reveals that GADD34 also controls cytokine expression and STAT3 activation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yong Guo, Vanda A. Lennon, Joseph E. Parisi, Bogdan Popescu, Christina Vasquez, Sean J. Pittock, Charles L. Howe, Claudia F. Lucchinetti
Summary: Neuromyelitis optica is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that affects CNS astrocytes. This study reveals the complex astrogliotic reactions and their role in the evolution and potential for repair of lesions, independent of aquaporin-4 loss or lysis.
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Soyoung Im, Hong Sik Park, Uiju Cho, Tae Yoon La
Summary: We report a case of massive retinal gliosis associated with traumatic phthisis bulbi, which was initially misdiagnosed as a malignant intraocular tumor and confirmed through enucleation. Histopathological examination revealed excessive glial cell proliferation, metaplastic bone formation, hyalinized vessels, and hyperplasia of the retinal pigment epithelium.
Article
Ophthalmology
Yu Xia, Qihui Luo, Jingfei Chen, Chao Huang, Asad Jahangir, Ting Pan, Xiaoli Wei, Wentao Liu, Zhengli Chen
Summary: Astrocytes activation, reactive gliosis, and neurodegeneration were observed in both T1DM and T2DM rhesus monkey models at the early stage of DR.
CURRENT EYE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarah Palko, Nicholas J. Saba, Elias Mullane, Benjamin D. Nicholas, Yosuke Nagasaka, Jayakrishna Ambati, Bradley D. Gelfand, Akihito Ishigami, Paola Bargagna-Mohan, Royce Mohan
Summary: Muller glia (MG) have been found to play a crucial role in reactive gliosis and are associated with retinal degenerative diseases. This study shows that MG citrullination is broadly conserved in various models and human tissues. The enzyme PAD4 is responsible for the citrullination, and endfeet are identified as a location where citrullination initiates and sustains in retinal degeneration.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Paul F. Cullen, Arpan G. Mazumder, Daniel Sun, John G. Flanagan
Summary: This study presents a novel method for isolating and enriching retinal astrocytes' RNA using enzyme-assisted microdissection and selective ribosome immunoprecipitation. The method is rapid, preserves cell morphology, and minimizes RNA loss.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Marcela Pekna, Milos Pekny
Summary: The complement system plays critical roles in the central nervous system, including regulating astrocyte activity. Astrocytes can send and receive complement-related signals by expressing complement proteins and receptors, affecting their environment and neuronal functioning.
Article
Oncology
Elisabetta Pilotto, Giulia Midena, Tommaso Torresin, Gilda De Moja, Maria Laura Bacelle, Alfonso Massimiliano Ferrara, Stefania Zovato, Edoardo Midena
Summary: The in vivo optical coherence tomography analysis of the biomarkers of retinal microglia and macroglia in Von Hippel-Lindau disease reveals a novel pathophysiologic pathway of retinal hemangioblastoma. The different behavior of these glial cells in VHL patients provides new insights into the pathophysiology of this hereditary disorder, particularly in relation to the presence or absence of retinal hemangioblastoma.
Article
Cell Biology
Michael R. Williamson, Cathleen Joy A. Fuertes, Andrew K. Dunn, Michael R. Drew, Theresa A. Jones
Summary: This study demonstrates that reactive astrocytes play a crucial role in vascular repair and remodeling after ischemic stroke in mice, by activating transcriptional programs related to vascular remodeling. Ablation of reactive astrocytes significantly impairs vascular and extracellular matrix remodeling, leading to prolonged blood flow deficits, exacerbated vascular permeability, ongoing cell death, and worsened motor recovery. These findings highlight the critical role of reactive astrocytes as cellular mediators of vascular remodeling during neural repair.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Grazia Rossino, Rosario Amato, Marialaura Amadio, Michela Rosini, Filippo Basagni, Maurizio Cammalleri, Massimo Dal Monte, Giovanni Casini
Summary: The study found that NIH1 can enhance nuclear translocation of Nrf2, inhibit retinal damage caused by oxidative stress, and prevent apoptotic cell death and gliotic reactivity induced by oxidative stress.
Article
Cell Biology
Manuela Voelkner, Thomas Kurth, Jana Schor, Lynn J. A. Ebner, Lara Bardtke, Cagri Kavak, Joerg Hackermueller, Mike O. Karl
Summary: The optimized protocol for high yield mouse retinal organoids facilitates the assessment of key parameters, showing reliable completion of retinogenesis and maintenance for at least 60 days in culture with continued maturation. Activation of sonic hedgehog signaling during development increased retinal epithelial length in the organoid system, supporting organoid maturation, stability, and reproducibility.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sabra Mouhi, Breona Martin, Sharon Owino
Summary: Recent studies have shown that G-protein coupled receptors play diverse and complex roles in the pathophysiology of stroke. Orphan GPCRs, a sub-class of GPCRs without natural ligands, have been found to be expressed in the central nervous system and may serve as potential targets for treating neurological diseases. This review focuses on the emerging roles of two brain-expressed orphan GPCRs, GPR37 and GPR37 L1, in regulating cellular and molecular processes underlying ischemic stroke.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Monika Jain, Soumen Das, Paul P. Y. Lu, Garima Virmani, Sumitha Soman, Surya Chandra Rao Thumu, David H. Gutmann, Narendrakumar Ramanan
Summary: The conditional deletion of the transcription factor serum response factor (SRF) in astrocytes results in astrogliosis, characterized by hypertrophic morphology and increased expression of specific markers. Reactive astrocytes lacking SRF are present throughout the brain and persist into adulthood with concurrent microglial activation. However, SRF-deficient astrocytes do not exhibit neurotoxicity, cell death, or blood-brain barrier deficits, suggesting that SRF plays a critical role in maintaining astrocytes in a non-reactive state.
Article
Ophthalmology
Jie Fan, Jiali Liu, Jian Liu, Chunhe Chen, Yiannis Koutalos, Craig E. Crosson
Summary: Ceramides can induce RGC cell death directly or indirectly through the release of TNF-alpha from optic nerve head astrocytes. The activity of ASMase in generating ceramides is crucial in ocular hypertensive injury.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Azusa Yoneshige, Man Hagiyama, Yasutoshi Takashima, Satoru Ueno, Takao Inoue, Ryuichiro Kimura, Yoshiki Koriyama, Akihiko Ito
Summary: The study shows that elevation of hydrostatic pressure directly upregulates the expression of Lcn2 in the retina, leading to neurotoxic effects on retinal cells. Modulating Lcn2 and iron levels could be a promising therapeutic approach for retinal degeneration.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Victoria Maneu, Pedro Lax, Nicolas Cuenca
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Lorena Perdices, Lorena Fuentes-Broto, Francisco Segura, Ana Cavero, Elvira Orduna-Hospital, Gema Insa-Sanchez, Ana Isabel Sanchez-Cano, Laura Fernandez-Sanchez, Nicolas Cuenca, Isabel Pinilla
Summary: EGCG can protect against retinal degenerative diseases and reduce visual function loss in animal models of RP.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Boned-Murillo, Henar Albertos-Arranz, Maria Dolores Diaz-Barreda, Elvira Orduna-Hospital, Ana Sanchez-Cano, Antonio Ferreras, Nicolas Cuenca, Isabel Pinilla
Summary: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is an essential tool for the diagnosis and control of diabetic patients, allowing visualization and analysis of the retinal and choroidal microvasculature, and the detection of diabetic retinopathy and other related diseases.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabel Pinilla, Victoria Maneu, Laura Campello, Laura Fernandez-Sanchez, Natalia Martinez-Gil, Oksana Kutsyr, Xavier Sanchez-Saez, Carla Sanchez-Castillo, Pedro Lax, Nicolas Cuenca
Summary: Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are a group of genetically and clinically heterogeneous diseases characterized by progressive degeneration of the retina and loss of visual function. Oxidative stress and inflammation play key roles in the pathophysiology of IRDs. Gene therapy has shown some success in treating IRDs, but other therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative stress and inflammation are also being investigated.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Raquel Atienzar-Aroca, Jesus-Jose Ferre-Fernandez, Angel Tevar, Juan-Manuel Bonet-Fernandez, Maria-Jose Cabanero, Maria-Jose Ruiz-Pastor, Nicolas Cuenca, Jose-Daniel Aroca-Aguilar, Julio Escribano
Summary: The developed transgenic zebrafish provides a new tool for investigating the role of Myocilin in ocular anterior segment and retinal biology. The overexpression of Myocilin leads to ocular anterior segment alterations and visual impairment in these transgenic zebrafish, possibly through influencing extracellular matrix organization and cellular proliferation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Anatomy & Morphology
Luis Perez de Sevilla, Laura Fernandez-Sanchez
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Xavier Sanchez-Saez, Isabel Ortuno-Lizaran, Carla Sanchez-Castillo, Pedro Lax, Nicolas Cuenca
Summary: This study aimed to determine if starburst amacrine cells, involved in motion direction selectivity, are degenerated in Parkinson's disease (PD) and if the dopaminergic system is related to this degeneration. The results showed a reduction in starburst amacrine cell density and a decrease in dopaminergic synaptic contacts in PD retinas. In conclusion, the degeneration of starburst amacrine cells in PD is related to dopaminergic degeneration, and dopaminergic amacrine cells play a role in modulating the function of starburst amacrine cells. Assessment of motion perception circuitries using visual tests could be a valuable tool for PD diagnosis.
TRANSLATIONAL NEURODEGENERATION
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Henar Albertos-Arranz, Natalia Martinez-Gil, Xavier Sanchez-Saez, Agustina Noailles, Clara Monferrer Adsuara, Lidia Remoli Sargues, Juan J. Perez-Santonja, Pedro Lax, Ramon Calvo Andres, Nicolas Cuenca
Summary: This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19 affected retinal cells and establish correlations with clinical parameters. Immunostaining and confocal microscopy analysis revealed that Muller cells in COVID-19 patients showed stronger expression of ACE2 and CRALBP, and the retinas exhibited glial activation and neuronal alterations, mainly related to inflammation, hypoxic conditions, and age.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Guisela Fernandez-Espinosa, Carlos Ruiz-Tabuenca, Elvira Orduna-Hospital, Isabel Pinilla, Francisco J. Salgado-Remacha
Summary: The aim of this study was to reduce the variability of manual segmentation of the Foveal Avascular Zone (FAZ) in retinal optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images. A new criterion was established based on the comparison of segmentations by different observers, resulting in smaller FAZ areas and slightly reduced acircularity values in all groups.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Aleksander Tworak, Alexander Kolesnikov, John D. Hong, Elliot H. Choi, Jennings C. Luu, Grazyna Palczewska, Zhiqian Dong, Dominik Lewandowski, Matthew J. Brooks, Laura Campello, Anand Swaroop, Philip D. Kiser, Vladimir J. Kefalov, Krzysztof Palczewski
Summary: Using a cell-specific gene reactivation approach, we investigated the kinetics of RGR-mediated recovery of photoreceptor responses. We found that both RPE and a specialized subset of Mueuroller glia contribute to scotopic and photopic function, and demonstrated the role of 11-cis-retinal in rapid visual pigment regeneration.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Boned-Murillo, Guisela Fernandez-Espinosa, Elvira Orduna-Hospital, Maria Dolores Diaz-Barreda, Ana Sanchez-Cano, Maria Sopena-Pinilla, Sofia Bielsa-Alonso, Isabel Pinilla
Summary: This study analyzes the retinal thickness and sensitivity in DM2 patients and correlates the results with blood lipid levels and MAIA measurements, providing an accurate method for assessing moderate DR in DM2 patients. Thinning of GCL+ and GCL++ may support ganglion cell loss before RNFL damage.
Article
Ophthalmology
Agustina Noailles, Oksana Kutsyr, Aloma Mayordomo-Febrer, Pedro Lax, Maria Lopez-Murcia, Silvia M. Sanz-Gonzalez, Maria Dolores Pinazo-Duran, Nicolas Cuenca
Summary: By studying a rat model of chronic glaucoma, it was found that intraocular injections of sodium hyaluronate result in increased intraocular pressure and changes in retinal morphology, similar to the characteristics of human open-angle glaucoma.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)