In vivo consequences of cholesterol-24S-hydroxylase (CYP46A1) inhibition by voriconazole on cholesterol homeostasis and function in the rat retina

Cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase (CYP46A1) converts cholesterol into 24S-hydroxycholesterol in neurons and participates in cholesterol homeostasis in the central nervous system, including the retina. We aimed to evaluate the consequences of CYP46A1 inhibition by voriconazole on cholesterol homeostasis and function in the retina. Rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of voriconazole (60 mg/kg), minocycline (22 mg/kg), voriconazole plus minocycline, or vehicle during five consecutive days. The rats were submitted to electroretinography to monitor retinal functionality. Cholesterol and 24S-hydroxycholesterol were measured in plasma, brain and retina by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The expression of CYP46A1, and GFAP as a marker for glial activation was analyzed in the retina and brain. Cytokines and chemokines were measured in plasma, vitreous, retina and brain. Voriconazole significantly impaired the functioning of the retina as exemplified by the reduced amplitude and increased latency of the b-wave of the electroretinogram, and altered oscillary potentials. Voriconazole decreased 24S-hydroxycholesterol levels in the retina. Unexpectedly, CYP46A1 and GFAP expression was increased in the retina of voriconazole-treated rats. ICAM-1 and MCP-1 showed significant increases in the retina and vitreous body. Minocycline did not reverse the effects of voriconazole. Our data highlighted the cross talk between retinal ganglion cells and glial cells in the retina, suggesting that reduced 24S-hydroxycholesterol concentration in the retina may be detected by glial cells, which were consequently activated.     

Differentiation of primate ES cells into retinal cells induced by ES cell-derived pigmented cells

Purpose: Photoreceptors cannot regenerate and recover their functions once disordered. Transplantation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has recently become a possible therapeutic approach for retinal degeneration. In the present study, we investigated the induction of photoreceptors by coculturing primate embryonic stem cells (ESCs) with ESC-derived RPE cells. Methods: RPE cells were derived by coculturing ESCs and Sertoli cells. Photoreceptors were then induced by using ESC-derived RPE cells and retinoic acid (RA) Results: RPE cell generation was confirmed by morphological analysis, which revealed highly pigmented polygonal cells with a compact cell-cell arrangement. After coculturing ESCs and RPE cells, some ESC derivatives became immunopositive for rhodopsin. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated the expression of retina-related gene markers such as Pax6, CRX, IRBP, rhodopsin, rhodopsin kinase, and Muschx10A. When RA was added, a distinct increase in the expression of photoreceptor-specific proteins and genes was found. In addition, the differentiation of bipolar horizontal cells was demonstrated by protein and gene expression. The ESCs that were cocultured with RPE cells and treated with RA were transplanted into the renal capsule or intra-vitreal space of nude mice. Grafted ESC derivatives demonstrated extensive rhodopsin expression, and they survived and organized into recipient tissues, although they formed teratomas. Conclusion: These results indicate that coculturing ESCs with ESC-derived RPE cells is a useful and efficient method for inducing photoreceptors and providing an insight into the use of ESCs for retina regeneration.     

早期糖尿病大鼠视网膜中血管生成素-1、血管内皮生长因子的表达

目的:研究血管生成素-1(angiopoietin-1,Ang-1)和血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)在早期糖尿病大鼠视网膜中的表达及其意义。方法:制备类似人类Ⅰ型糖尿病大鼠动物模型,取40只SD雄性大鼠分糖尿病组28只及正常对照组12只,糖尿病组28只SD雄性大鼠腹腔注射STZ65mg.Kg-1,建模成功后分别在1周、2周、3周、4周各取糖尿病组7只及正常对照组3只摘取大鼠眼球,应用免疫组化法检测Ang-1、VEGF在视网膜中的表达。结果:Ang-1、VEGF在正常大鼠视网膜的染色均为阴性,Ang-1在1、2、3周糖尿病大鼠视网膜内界膜、内核层及散在血管旁周细胞及Mǔller细胞中呈阳性表达,4周时呈阴性染色反应,Ang-1在糖尿病大鼠视网膜中表达1周阳性率约为39.5%,2周阳性率约为59.7%,3周阳性率约为78.9%,4周阳性率约为19.0%。VEGF在糖尿病大鼠视网膜中表达1周阳性率约为38.6%,2周阳性率约为54.3%,3周阳性率为78.9%,4周阳性率约为42%。结论:Ang-1、VEGF可能在糖尿病视网膜病变早期形成中起到重要...     

Investigation of Dopamine Content, Synthesis, and Release in the Rabbit Retina In Vitro: I. Effects of Dopamine Precursors, Reserpine, Amphetamine, and l-DOPA Decarboxylase and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

The basal catecholamine content of rabbit retina was determined by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (LC-EC) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine, DA) found to be the major catecholamine. The immediate DA precursor, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), and the metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), were also detected at about 2.8% and 17% of DA levels, respectively. When added exogenously, L-tyrosine did not increase the rate of DA synthesis over the basal level. In contrast, exogenous L-DOPA led to a 3.5-fold increase in DA, and to a 20-fold increase in DOPAC content. The monoamine oxidase inhibitors pargyline and (-)-deprenyl differentially affected the degradation of DA, since 100 microM pargyline was apparently more effective than 100 microM (-)-deprenyl. Reserpine and (+/-)-amphetamine each induced a Ca2+-independent decrease of DA stores. The separate actions of reserpine and (+/-)-amphetamine in lowering tissue DA levels were additive, suggesting two separate pools of DA available for release from presynaptic stores. The present study demonstrates that the LC-EC technique may be used to investigate the modulation of the synthesis and release of retinal DA in vitro, without the prior uptake of radiolabelled transmitter.     

视网膜静脉阻塞与颈动脉狭窄的相关性研究

目的:探究视网膜静脉阻塞与颈动脉狭窄的相关性研究,并为其临床检测、治疗与预后提供参考。方法:选择我院55例视网膜静脉阻塞患者(55只眼)为研究组,对其裸眼视力、矫正视力、眼压、眼底血管荧光造影(FFA)等检查资料进行分析,并进行多普勒彩超检查,记录其颈动脉狭窄情况,并对两种疾病之间的关系进行分析。同时选取55例健康人作为对照组。结果:研究组55例患者确诊为视网膜静脉阻塞(RVO),多普勒结果显示患者患侧与健侧劲动脉血流动力学各项差异不明显(P0.05);其IMT值较之对照组显著增高(P0.05);其PSV与EDV值有所降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:视网膜静脉阻塞患者大多存在颈动脉狭窄,因此检测颈动脉血流动力学对于诊断与预防视网膜静脉阻塞有着重要作用。     

Expression of Fibroblast growth factor 19 (Fgf19) during chicken embryogenesis and eye development, compared with Fgf15 expression in the mouse

The normal development of eyes relies on proper signaling through Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors, but the source and identity of cognate ligands have remained largely unknown. We have found that Fgf19 is expressed in the developing chicken retina. In situ hybridization discloses dynamic expression patterns for Fgf19 in the optic vesicle, lens primordia and retinal horizontal cells. Overall expression pattern of Fgf19 during chicken embryogenesis was also examined: Fgf19 is expressed in the regions associated with cranial placodes induction, boundary regions of rhombomeres, somites, specific groups of neural cells in midbrain, hindbrain, and those derived from epibranchial placodes, and the apical ectodermal ridge of limb buds. Expression pattern of the Fgf19-orthologous gene Fgf15 was further examined in the mouse developing eye. Fgf15 is expressed in the optic vesicle, a subset of progenitor cells of neural retina, and emerging ganglion and amacrine cells during retinogenesis.     

Msx2 alters the timing of retinal ganglion cells fate commitment and differentiation

Timing of cell fate commitment determines distinct retinal cell types, which is believed to be controlled by a tightly coordinated regulatory program of proliferation, cell cycle exit and differentiation. Although homeobox protein Msx2 could induce apoptosis of optic vesicle, it is unclear whether Msx2 regulates differentiation and cell fate commitment of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In this study, we show that overexpression of Msx2 transiently suppressed the expression of Cyclin D1 and blocked cell proliferation. Meanwhile, overexpression of Msx2 delayed the expression of RGC-specific differentiation markers (Math5 and Brn3b), which showed that Msx2 could affect the timing of RGCs fate commitment and differentiation by delaying the timing of cell cycle exit of retinal progenitors. These results indicate Msx2 possesses dual regulatory functions in controlling cell cycle progression of retinal RPCs and timing of RGCs differentiation.     

Substrate specificity of a recombinant chicken <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-carotene 15,15′-monooxygenase that converts <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-carotene into retinal

The recombinant β-carotene 15,15′-monooxygenase from chicken liver was purified as a single 60 kDa band by His-Trap HP and Resource Q chromatography. It had a molecular mass of 240 kDa by gel filtration indicating the native form to be tetramer. The enzyme converted β-carotene under maximal conditions (pH 8.0 and 37°C) with a k _cat of 1.65 min⁻¹ and a K _m of 26 μM and its conversion yield of β-carotene to retinal was 120% (mol mol⁻¹). The enzyme displayed catalytic efficiency and conversion yield for β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, β-apo-8′-carotenal, β-apo-4′-carotenal, α-carotene and γ-carotene in decreasing order but not for zeaxanthin, lutein, β-apo-12′-carotenal and lycopene, suggesting that the presence of one unsubstituted β-ionone ring in a substrate with a molecular weight greater than C₃₀ seems to be essential for enzyme activity.     

P物质在再生视网膜节细胞中的表达及IBMX和CPT-cAMP 对其表达的影响

采用金黄地鼠视神经切断并缝接坐骨神经的再生实验模型,玻璃体内注射IBMX或/和CPT-cAMP,荧光金逆行标记再生的RGCs结合P物质免疫荧光组化双标法,研究外周神经缝接于视神经断端能否促进P物质阳性的视网膜节细胞(RGCs)再生及IBMX或/和CPT-cAMP处理对其再生的影响。实验结果:①术后四周,对照AG组每个视网膜 再生RGCs数1329±104,双标细胞平均数为45±5,占再生RGCs总数的3.4％;②AG+IBMX组每个视网膜再生RGCs数为2099±419,再生P物质阳性节细胞平均数为119±22,占再生RGCs总数的6.55％;③AG+cAMP组每个视网膜再生RGCs数为2048±133,再生P物质阳性节细胞平均数为127±37,占再生RGCs总数的6.15％;④AG+IB-MX+cAMP组每个视网膜再生RGCs数为4370±487,再生P物质阳性节细胞平均数为339±72,占再生RGCs总数的7.98％,与对照组的差异具有统计学意义。表明成年哺乳动物P物质阳性RGCs能再生,玻璃体内注射IBMX或/和CPT-cAMP可以促进该类RGCs再生。