Project description:The resident astrocytes-retinal ganglion cell lipoxin circuit is impaired during retinal stress that include exocytotoxic- and ocular hypertension-induced neuropathy. Two endogenous lipoxins (Lipoxin A4 and Lipoxin B4) produced by homeostatic astrocytes directly act on RGCs. LXB4 is the most potent lipoxin in the retina and directly increases RGC survival and function in ocular hypertension-induced neuropathy. Homeostatic roles and cellular targets of LXB4 in the retina and optic nerve are a critical gap in knowledge. Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to define cellular targets and signaling of LXB4 in the retina. For modeling neurodegeneration, sustained ocular hypertension was induced by silicone-oil injection in the anterior chamber of mouse eyes. For morphological characterization of microglia populations in the retina and optic nerve, we used MorphOMICs and pseudotime trajectory analysis. Bulk RNA sequencing of optic nerves was performed to characterize pathways and mechanism of action for LXB4. qPCR and immunohistochemistry were used for validation of transcriptomics data. Student’s t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to determine differences between experimental groups. Single Cell transcriptomic identified microglia as a primary target for LXB4 in the healthy retina. LXB4 downregulated genes that drive microglia environmental sensing and reactivity responses. Analysis of microglia function uncovered that ocular hypertension induces distinct, temporally defined and dynamic phenotypes in the retina and, unexpectedly, in the distal myelinated optic nerve. Microglial expression of CD74, a marker of disease-associated microglia (DAM) in the brain, was only induced in a unique population of optic nerve microglia but not the retina. Genetic deletion of lipoxin formation correlated with presence of a CD74 optic nerve microglia population in normotensive eyes optic, while LXB4 treatment during ocular hypertension shifted optic nerve microglia toward a homeostatic morphology and non-reactive state and downregulated expression of CD74. Furthermore, we identified a correlation between CD74 and phospho-PI3K (p-PI3K) expression levels in the optic nerve, that was reduced by LXB4 treatment. Results identify distal optic nerve microglial dynamic and reactive responses as a key feature of ocular hypertension induce neurodegeneration. Our findings establish microglia regulation as a new LXB4 cell target in the retina and optic nerve. LXB4 maintenance of optic nerve microglia homeostatic phenotype and inhibition of a disease-associated phenotype are potential mechanisms for LXB4 neuroprotection.

Project description:BackgroundThe resident astrocyte-retinal ganglion cell (RGC) lipoxin circuit is impaired during retinal stress, which includes ocular hypertension-induced neuropathy. Lipoxin B4 produced by homeostatic astrocytes directly acts on RGCs to increase survival and function in ocular hypertension-induced neuropathy. RGC death in the retina and axonal degeneration in the optic nerve are driven by the complex interactions between microglia and macroglia. Whether LXB4 neuroprotective actions include regulation of other cell types in the retina and/or optic nerve is an important knowledge gap.MethodsCellular targets and signaling of LXB4 in the retina were defined by single-cell RNA sequencing. Retinal neurodegeneration was induced by injecting silicone oil into the anterior chamber of the mouse eyes, which induced sustained and stable ocular hypertension. Morphological characterization of microglia populations in the retina and optic nerve was established by MorphOMICs and pseudotime trajectory analyses. The pathways and mechanisms of action of LXB4 in the optic nerve were investigated using bulk RNA sequencing. Transcriptomics data was validated by qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Differences between experimental groups was assessed by Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA.ResultsSingle-cell transcriptomics identified microglia as a primary target for LXB4 in the healthy retina. LXB4 downregulated genes that drive microglia environmental sensing and reactivity responses. Analysis of microglial function revealed that ocular hypertension induced distinct, temporally defined, and dynamic phenotypes in the retina and, unexpectedly, in the distal myelinated optic nerve. Microglial expression of CD74, a marker of disease-associated microglia in the brain, was only induced in a unique population of optic nerve microglia, but not in the retina. Genetic deletion of lipoxin formation correlated with the presence of a CD74 optic nerve microglia population in normotensive eyes, while LXB4 treatment during ocular hypertension shifted optic nerve microglia toward a homeostatic morphology and non-reactive state and downregulated the expression of CD74. Furthermore, we identified a correlation between CD74 and phospho-phosphoinositide 3-kinases (p-PI3K) expression levels in the optic nerve, which was reduced by LXB4 treatment.ConclusionWe identified early and dynamic changes in the microglia functional phenotype, reactivity, and induction of a unique CD74 microglia population in the distal optic nerve as key features of ocular hypertension-induced neurodegeneration. Our findings establish microglia regulation as a novel LXB4 target in the retina and optic nerve. LXB4 maintenance of a homeostatic optic nerve microglia phenotype and inhibition of a disease-associated phenotype are potential neuroprotective mechanisms for the resident LXB4 pathway.

Project description:BackgroundThe resident astrocyte-retinal ganglion cell (RGC) lipoxin circuit is impaired during retinal stress, which includes ocular hypertension-induced neuropathy. Lipoxin B4 produced by homeostatic astrocytes directly acts on RGCs to increase survival and function in ocular hypertension-induced neuropathy. RGC death in the retina and axonal degeneration in the optic nerve are driven by the complex interactions between microglia and macroglia. Whether LXB4 neuroprotective actions include regulation of other cell types in the retina and/or optic nerve is an important knowledge gap.MethodsCellular targets and signaling of LXB4 in the retina were defined by single-cell RNA sequencing. Retinal neurodegeneration was induced by injecting silicone oil into the anterior chamber of mouse eyes, which induced sustained and stable ocular hypertension. Morphological characterization of microglia populations in the retina and optic nerve was established by MorphOMICs and pseudotime trajectory analyses. The pathways and mechanisms of action of LXB4 in the optic nerve were investigated using bulk RNA sequencing. Transcriptomics data was validated by qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Differences between experimental groups were assessed by Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA.ResultsSingle-cell transcriptomics identified microglia as a primary target for LXB4 in the healthy retina. LXB4 downregulated genes that drive microglia environmental sensing and reactivity responses. Analysis of microglial function revealed that ocular hypertension induced distinct, temporally defined, and dynamic phenotypes in the retina and, unexpectedly, in the distal myelinated optic nerve. Microglial expression of CD74, a marker of disease-associated microglia in the brain, was only induced in a unique population of optic nerve microglia, but not in the retina. Genetic deletion of lipoxin formation correlated with the presence of a CD74 optic nerve microglia population in normotensive eyes, while LXB4 treatment during ocular hypertension shifted optic nerve microglia toward a homeostatic morphology and non-reactive state and downregulated the expression of CD74. Furthermore, we identified a correlation between CD74 and phospho-phosphoinositide 3-kinases (p-PI3K) expression levels in the optic nerve, which was reduced by LXB4 treatment.ConclusionWe identified early and dynamic changes in the microglia functional phenotype, reactivity, and induction of a unique CD74 microglia population in the distal optic nerve as key features of ocular hypertension-induced neurodegeneration. Our findings establish microglia regulation as a novel LXB4 target in the retina and optic nerve. LXB4 maintenance of a homeostatic optic nerve microglia phenotype and inhibition of a disease-associated phenotype are potential neuroprotective mechanisms for the resident LXB4 pathway.

Project description:Purpose: Müller glia play dual roles in glaucoma, contributing to both retinal homeostasis and neuroinflammation; their activation by elevated intraocular pressure through the mechanosensitive channel TRPV4 promotes a reactive state that drives retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss. Lipoxin B4 (LXB4), an endogenous lipid mediator produced by retinal astrocytes, has been shown to suppress glial reactivity and directly protect RGCs. This study investigated whether LXB4 modulates TRPV4-driven Müller glial activation and inflammation and whether Müller glia themselves contribute to this retinal lipoxin pathway. Methods: Ocular hypertension (OHT) was induced in mice via a silicone oil model, and reactive Müller glia were isolated via magnetic sorting for transcriptomic analysis. In vitro, primary and immortalized Müller glia were treated with a TRPV4 agonist with or without LXB4. Glial reactivity was assessed by flow cytometry, immunostaining, qPCR, and western blotting. LC–MS/MS-based lipidomics was used to quantify lipoxin pathway metabolites, and single-cell RNA-seq was used to examine transcriptional responses to LXB4 treatment. GFAP and TRPV4 expression was evaluated via immunohistochemistry in retinal sections. Results: RNA bulk-sequencing analysis and qPCR revealed that Müller glia express both 5- and 15-lipoxygenase. Lipidomic analysis confirmed that the lipoxin pathway is functional and that Müller glia endogenously produce LXB4, establishing this essential cell type as a source of anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective LXB4 in the retina. TRPV4 activation induced a reactive glial phenotype characterized by increased GFAP and IL6 expression, increased STAT3 phosphorylation, and increased production of lipoxin pathway metabolites, suggesting that biomechanical stress simultaneously triggers both gliosis and lipid signaling. Exogenous LXB4 suppressed TRPV4-induced gliosis in vitro by downregulating IL6 and inhibiting STAT3 activation, and in vivo treatment during OHT reduced the expression of Stat3, Il6, and TNF-α while attenuating TRPV4 upregulation in Müller glia. Conclusion: These findings identify a self-regulating lipid circuit in Müller glia and support the targeting of the TRPV4–lipoxin pathway to inhibit gliosis and protect against neurodegeneration in glaucoma.

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Regulation of Diseases Associated Microglia in the Optic Nerve by Lipoxin B4 and Ocular Hypertension

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