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Decreased sialylation in the mouse retina elicits complement-related microglia response and bipolar cell loss

ABSTRACT: Sialylation plays an important role in self-recognition, as well as keeping the complement and innate immune systems in check. It is unclear whether the reduced sialylation as seen during aging and in mice heterozygous for the null mutant of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (Gne+/-), an essential enzyme for sialic acid biosynthesis, contributes to retinal inflammation and degeneration. We found a reduction of polysialic acid and trisialic acid expression in several retinal layers in Gne+/- mice at 9 months of age, which was associated with a higher microglial expression of the lysosomal marker CD68. Furthermore, the total number of rod retinal bipolar cells was reduced in 12 months old Gne+/- mice, demonstrating loss of these retinal interneurons that are involved in connecting photoreceptors and ganglion cells. Whole-genome transcriptome analysis showed up-regulation of the complement, inflammation, and apoptosis pathways in the retinas of Gne+/- mice. Particularly, increased gene transcript levels of the complement factors C3 and C4 and the pro-inflammatory cytokine Il-1β were observed by semi-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (sqRT-PCR) in 9 months old Gne+/- mice. The Iincreased expression of CD68, as well as the loss of rod bipolar cells, and increased gene transcription of the complement factor C4, were all prevented after crossing Gne+/- mice with complement factor C3-deficient animals. In conclusion, our data show that retinal hyposialylation in middle-aged Gne+/- mice, at 9 and 12 months of age, was associated with complement-related inflammation and lysosomal microglia response, as well as rod bipolar cells loss, which was absent in animals with a genetic deletion of complement factor C3.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE275072 | GEO | 2025/09/15

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Retinal Müller glia (MG) can act as stem-like cells to generate new neurons in both zebrafish in mice. In zebrafish, retinal regeneration is innate and robust, resulting in the replacement of lost neurons and restoration of visual function. In mice, exogenous stimulation of MG is required to reveal a dormant and, to date, limited regenerative capacity. Zebrafish studies have been key in revealing factors that promote regenerative responses in the mammalian eye. Increased understanding of how the regenerative potential of MG is regulated in zebrafish may therefore aid efforts to promote retinal repair therapeutically. Developmental signaling pathways are known to coordinate regeneration following widespread retinal cell loss. In contrast, less is known about how regeneration is regulated in the context of retinal degenerative disease, i.e., following the loss of specific retinal cell types. To address this knowledge gap, we compared transcriptomic changes between two selective cell ablation paradigms, targeted loss of rod photoreceptors or bipolar cells. Our study spanned twelve time points encompassing the entire degenerative and regenerative process of each targeted cell type. 2,531 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Interestingly, the majority of DEGs were paradigm specific, including during MG activation phases, suggesting the nature of the injury/cell loss informs the regenerative process from initiation onward. For example, early modulation of Notch signaling was implicated in the rod but not bipolar cell ablation paradigm. Components of JAK/STAT signaling were activated in both paradigms but were more strongly induced during rod cell regeneration. We functionally validated the role of JAK/STAT signaling during rod cell regeneration using CRISPR/Cas9-based knockdown of stat3 which inhibited both MG proliferation and rod cell regeneration kinetics. Additionally, although more than a third of all DEGs are implicated as immune-system regulators, individual immune-related factors were largely paradigm specific. These data support emerging evidence that discrete “fate-biased” regenerative processes follow from selective retinal cell loss. Microarrays were used to follow gene expression changes in the eyes of fish following either rod or bipolar specific induced death.

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Decreased sialylation in the mouse retina elicits complement-related microglia response and bipolar cell loss

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