Project description:We have used surgical specimens to perform a differential analysis of the transcriptome of human retinal tissues following detachment. Data analysis reveals major involvement of the immune response in the disease and interindividual variation was monitored to unravel a second crucial aspect of the pathological process, the death of photoreceptor cells. In total 38 surgical specimens (samples) were analyzed, 19 represent biopsies from patients with retinal detachment (RD) and 19 represent contral samples without retinal detachment.
Project description:We have used surgical specimens to perform a differential analysis of the transcriptome of human retinal tissues following detachment. Data analysis reveals major involvement of the immune response in the disease and interindividual variation was monitored to unravel a second crucial aspect of the pathological process, the death of photoreceptor cells.
Project description:Retinal detachment is a major cause of blindness due to penetrating trauma and ocular inflammation, and is often observed in many patients following cataract extraction surgery. When the retinal photoreceptors detach from their epithelium, stress signals and apoptotic pathways are initiated that will lead to loss of vision, however accelerating the reattachment of these cells can prevent photoreceptor death and subsequent vision loss. To determine the genes involved in this process, we performed a microarray screen using a mouse model or retinal detachment in conjunction with a P2Y2 agonist previously demonstrated to hasten retinal reattachment. Keywords: disease state analysis and therapeutic analysis
Project description:Retinal detachment is a major cause of blindness due to penetrating trauma and ocular inflammation, and is often observed in many patients following cataract extraction surgery. When the retinal photoreceptors detach from their epithelium, stress signals and apoptotic pathways are initiated that will lead to loss of vision, however accelerating the reattachment of these cells can prevent photoreceptor death and subsequent vision loss. To determine the genes involved in this process, we performed a microarray screen using a mouse model or retinal detachment in conjunction with a P2Y2 agonist previously demonstrated to hasten retinal reattachment. Experiment Overall Design: We conducted a microarray screen to identify genes involved in promoting faster resolution of retinal detachment. Subretinal detachment was induced in Balb/cJ mice by subretinal injection of 1 uL saline or delivery of 1 uL of 10uM INS37217/Saline to cause detachment and expedite the rate of recovery. We performed this study at three timepoints: 2 hrs post-injection to identify early response genes; 24 hrs post-detachment when the retina has reattached, but still grossly misfolded; and 7 days post-detachment when the misfolding has been resolved, but retinal function is merely 50% of wild-type function. We used each RNA pool (each containing >5 retinas) for GeneChip hybridization giving a total of 3 biological replicates for each treatment at each timepoint. For each GeneChip, we labeled 7 ug of total RNA according to the manufacturerâs specifications (Affymetrix Inc.).
Project description:Purpose: The present work investigated changes in the gene expression, molecular mechanisms, and pathogenesis of inherited retinal degeneration (RD) in three different disease models to identify predictive biomarkers for their varied phenotypes and to provide a better scientific basis for their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between retinal tissue from RD mouse models obtained during the photoreceptor cell death peak period (Pde6brd1 at post-natal (PN) day 13, Pde6brd10 at PN23, Prphrd2 at PN29) and retinal tissue from C3H wild-type mice were identified using Illumina high-throughput RNA-sequencing. Co-expression gene modules were identified using a combination of GO and KEGG enrichment analyses and gene co-expression network analysis. CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA network interactions were studied by genome-wide circRNA screening. Results: Pde6brd1, Pde6brd10, and Prphrd2 mice had 1,926, 3,096, and 375 DEGs, respectively. Genes related to ion channels, stress, inflammatory processes, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production, and microglial cell activation were up-regulated, while genes related to endoplasmic reticulum regulation, metabolism, and homeostasis were down-regulated. Differential expression of transcription factors and non-coding RNAs generally implicated in other human diseases was detected (e.g Gloucoma, diabetes retinopathy and inherited retinal degeneration). CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA network analysis indicated that these factors may be involved in photoreceptor cell death. Moreover, excessive cGMP accumulation causes photoreceptor cell death, and cGMP-related genes were generally affected by different pathogenic gene mutations. Conclusions: We screened genes and pathways related to photoreceptor cell death. Additionally, up-stream regulatory factors, such as transcription factors and non-coding RNA and their interaction networks were analyzed. Furthermore, RNAs involved in RDs were functionally annotated. Overall, this study lays a foundation for future studies on photoreceptor cell death mechanisms.
Project description:Human vitreous was collected in the OR at time of indicated surgery. No treatments were involved. Diagnoses are: epiretinal membranes (ERM); proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR); retinal detachment (RD)
Project description:The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) maintains photoreceptor viability and function, completes the visual cycle, and forms the outer blood-retinal barrier (oBRB). Loss of RPE function gives rise to several monogenic retinal dystrophies and contributes to age-related macular degeneration. Retinal detachment (RD) causes separation of the neurosensory retina from the underlying RPE, disrupting the functional and metabolic relationships between these layers. Although the retinal response to RD is highly studied, little is known about how the RPE responds to loss of this interaction. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) was used to compare normal and detached RPE in the C57BL6/J mouse. The naïve mouse RPE transcriptome was compared to previously published RPE signature gene lists and from the union of these 14 genes (Bmp4, Crim1, Degs1, Gja1, Itgav, Mfap3l, Pdpn, Ptgds, Rbp1, Rnf13, Rpe65, Slc4a2, Sulf1 and Ttr) representing a core signature gene set applicable across rodent and human RPE was derived. Gene ontology enrichment analysis (GOEA) of the mouse RPE transcriptome identified expected RPE features and functions, such as pigmentation, phagocytosis, lysosomal and proteasomal degradation of proteins, and barrier function. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) at 1 and 7 days post retinal detachment (dprd). were defined as mRNA with a significant (padj≤0.05) fold change (FC) of 0.67≥FC≥1.5 in detached versus naïve RPE. The RPE transcriptome exhibited dramatic changes at 1 dprd, with 2297 DEG identified. The KEGG pathways and biological process GO groups related to innate immune responses were significantly enriched. Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) and several chemokines were upregulated, while numerous genes related to RPE functions, such as pigment synthesis, visual cycle, phagocytosis, andtight junctions were down regulated at 1 dprd. The response was largely transient, with only 18 significant DEG identified at 7 dprd, including upregulation of complement gene C4b. Validation studies confirmed RNAseq results. Thus, the RPE quickly down-regulates cell-specific functions and mounts an innate immune defense response following RD. Our data demonstrate that the RPE contributes to the inflammatory response to RD and may play a role in attraction of immune cells to the subretinal space and the opsonization of orphaned outer segments following RD.
Project description:There have been reports of unexplained visual loss following intra-ocular silicone oil (SiO) tamponade in retinal detachment patients, yet the underlying mechanism is unknown. In the present study, we identified differentially expressed proteins in the vitreous humor of four groups (each group, n=3): pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD group), SiO removal after successful retinal reattachment (SO group), cataract surgery after successful retinal reattachment with sterilized air tamponade (FA group), and PPV for epiretinal membrane (ERM group). DIA was combined with two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to find expression changes in the proteome of vitreous.
Project description:Human vitreous was collected in the OR at time of indicated surgery. No treatments were involved. Diagnoses are: epiretinal membranes (ERM); proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR); retinal detachment (RD)
Project description:Cone photoreceptors are the primary initiator of visual transduction in the human retina. Dysfunction or death of rod photoreceptors precedes cone loss in many retinal and macular degenerative diseases, suggesting a rod-dependent trophic support for cone survival. Rod differentiation and homeostasis are dependent on the basic motif leucine zipper transcription factor NRL. The loss of Nrl in mice (Nrl-/-) results in a retina with predominantly S-opsin containing cones that exhibit molecular and functional characteristics of WT cones. Here we report that Nrl-/- retina undergoes a rapid but transient period of degeneration in early adulthood, with cone apoptosis, retinal detachment, alterations in retinal vessel structure, and activation and translocation of retinal microglia. However, cone degeneration stabilizes by four months of age, resulting in a thinned but intact outer nuclear layer with residual cones expressing S- and M-opsins and a preserved photopic ERG. At this stage, microglia translocate back to the inner retina and reacquire a quiescent morphology. Gene profiling analysis during the period of transient degeneration reveals misregulation of stress response and inflammation genes, implying their involvement in cone death. The Nrl-/- retina illustrates the long-term viability of cones in the absence of rods and may serve as a model for elucidating mechanisms of cone homeostasis and degeneration that would be relevant to understanding diseases of the cone-dominant human macula. Targets were generated from a pair of retinas (one Nrl-/- mouse) per biological replicate. Four biological replicates were generated for each of the five aging timepoints (1, 2, 4, 6, and 10 months post natal).