The data suggest that in diabetic mouse retinas, neurons in the ganglion cell layer die, and this death occurs through an apoptotic pathway. Diabetic mice may be appropriate and valuable models for studies of neuronal cell death in diabetes.
In glaucoma, the increased release of glutamate is the major cause of retinal ganglion cell death. Cannabinoids have been demonstrated to protect neuron cultures from glutamate-induced death. In this study, we test the hypothesis that glutamate causes apoptosis of retinal neurons via the excessive formation of peroxynitrite, and that the neuroprotective effect of the psychotropic Delta9-tetrahydroxycannabinol (THC) or nonpsychotropic cannabidiol (CBD) is via the attenuation of this formation. Excitotoxicity of the retina was induced by intravitreal injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) in rats, which also received 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-n-oxyl (TEMPOL,a superoxide dismutase-mimetic), N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), THC, or CBD. Retinal neuron loss was determined by TDT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay, inner retinal thickness, and quantification of the mRNAs of ganglion cell markers. NMDA induced a dose- and time-dependent accumulation of nitrite/nitrate, lipid peroxidation, and nitrotyrosine (foot print of peroxynitrite), and a dose-dependent apoptosis and loss of inner retinal neurons. Treatment with L-NAME or TEMPOL protected retinal neurons and confirmed the involvement of peroxynitrite in retinal neurotoxicity. The neuroprotection by THC and CBD was because of attenuation of peroxynitrite. The effect of THC was in part mediated by the cannabinoid receptor CB1. These results suggest the potential use of CBD as a novel topical therapy for the treatment of glaucoma.
Sustained (+)-pentazocine treatment in an in vivo model of retinal degeneration conferred significant neuroprotection, reduced evidence of oxidative stress, and preserved retinal architecture, suggesting that sigmaR1 ligands are promising therapeutic agents for intervention in neurodegenerative diseases of the retina.
Retinal degenerative diseases are major causes of untreatable blindness, and novel approaches to treatment are being sought actively. Here we explored the activation of a unique protein, sigma 1 receptor (Sig1R), in the treatment of PRC loss because of its multifaceted role in cellular survival. We used Pde6β rd10 (rd10) mice, which harbor a mutation in the rod-specific phosphodiesterase gene Pde6β and lose rod and cone photoreceptor cells (PRC) within the first 6 wk of life, as a model for severe retinal degeneration. Systemic administration of the high-affinity Sig1R ligand (+)-pentazocine [(+)-PTZ] to rd10 mice over several weeks led to the rescue of cone function as indicated by electroretinographic recordings using natural noise stimuli and preservation of cone cells upon spectral domain optical coherence tomography and retinal histological examination. The protective effect appears to result from the activation of Sig1R, because rd10/Sig1R
The differential polarized distribution of the reducedfolate transporter (RFT-1) and folate receptor ␣ (FR␣), the two proteins involved in the transport of folate, has been characterized in normal mouse retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and in cultured human RPE cells. RPE cells mediate the vectorial transfer of nutrients from choroidal blood to neural retina. Whereas FR␣ is known to be present in many cell types of the neural retina, in situ hybridization analysis in the present study demonstrated that RFT-1 is present only in RPE. Laser-scanning confocal microscopy using antibodies specific for RFT-1 demonstrated an apical distribution of this protein in cultured human and intact mouse RPE, which contrasts with the basolateral distribution of FR␣ in these cells. The expression of RFT-1 in the RPE cell apical membrane was confirmed by functional studies with purified apical membrane vesicles from bovine RPE. These studies, done with N 5 -methyltetrahydrofolate (the predominant folate derivative in blood) and folate as substrates, have shown that RFT-1 functions in a Na
؉
-and C1؊ -independent manner. The transporter is specific for folate and its analogs. A transmembrane H ؉ gradient influences the transport function of this protein markedly; the transport mechanism is likely to be either folate/H ؉ co-transport or folate/OH ؊ exchange. Based on the differential polarization of FR␣ and RFT-1 in RPE, we suggest that these two proteins work in a concerted manner to bring about the vectorial transfer of folate across the RPE cell layer from the choroidal blood to the neural retina. This constitutes the first report of the differential polarization of the two folate transport proteins in any polarized epithelium.The one-carbon derivatives of the water-soluble vitamin folic acid are essential for intermediary metabolism. These derivatives are required for the synthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotide precursors of RNA and DNA and also for metabolism of several amino acids. Since folate and its one-carbon
Purpose
To determine the effects of endogenous elevation of homocysteine on the retina using the cystathionine β-synthase (cbs) mutant mouse.
Methods
Retinal homocysteine in cbs mutant mice was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Retinal cryosections from cbs−/− mice and cbs+/− mice were examined for histologic changes by light and electron microscopy. Morphometric analysis was performed on retinas of cbs+/− mice maintained on a high-methionine diet (cbs+/− HM). Changes in retinal gene expression were screened by microarray.
Results
HPLC analysis revealed an approximate twofold elevation in retinal homocysteine in cbs+/− mice and an approximate sevenfold elevation in cbs−/− mice. Distinct alterations in the ganglion, inner plexiform, inner nuclear, and epithelial layers were observed in retinas of cbs−/− and 1-year-old cbs+/− mice. Retinas of cbs+/− HM mice demonstrated an approximate 20% decrease in cells of the ganglion cell layer (GCL), which occurred as early as 5-weeks after onset of the HM diet. Microarray analysis revealed alterations in expression of several genes, including increased expression of Aven, Egr1, and Bat3 in retinas of cbs+/− HM mice.
Conclusions
This study provides the first analysis of morphologic and molecular effects of endogenous elevations of retinal homocysteine in an in vivo model. Increased retinal homocysteine alters inner and outer retinal layers in cbs homozygous mice and older cbs heterozygous mice, and it primarily affects the cells of the GCL in younger heterozygous mice. Elevated retinal homocysteine alters expression of genes involved in endoplasmic reticular stress, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation, cell cycle, and apoptosis.
SummaryHepcidin is a hormone central to the regulation of iron homeostasis in the body. It is believed to be produced exclusively by the liver. Ferroportin, an iron exporter, is the receptor for hepcidin. This transporter/receptor is expressed in Müller cells, photoreceptor cells, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) within the retina. Since the retina is protected by the retinal-blood barriers, we asked whether ferroportin in the retina is regulated by hepcidin in the circulation or whether the retina produces hepcidin for regulation of its own iron homeostasis. Here we show that hepcidin is expressed robustly in Müller cells, photoreceptor cells, and RPE, closely resembling the expression pattern of ferroportin. We also show that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a regulator of hepcidin expression in Müller cells and RPE, both in vitro and in vivo, and that the regulation occurs at the transcriptional level. The action of LPS on hepcidin expression is mediated by the Toll-like receptor-4. The upregulation of hepcidin by LPS occurs independent of Hfe (Human leukocyte antigen-like protein involved in Fe homeostasis). The increase in hepcidin levels in retinal cells in response to LPS treatment is associated with a decrease in ferroportin levels. The LPS-induced upregulation of hepcidin and consequent downregulation of ferroportin is associated with increased oxidative stress and apoptosis within the retina in vivo. We conclude that retinal iron homeostasis may be regulated in an autonomous manner by hepcidin generated within the retina and that chronic bacterial infection/inflammation of the retina may disrupt iron homeostasis and retinal function.
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