Project description:Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and the resulting retinal angiogenesis are pathological hallmarks of wet Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The pathogenesis of CNV is not fully understood, but accumulated evidence has suggested the role of inflammation in the early stage of CNV. To better understand the molecular landscape during the early stage, we performed RNA-Seq and mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis in the retina of the laser-induced CNV mouse model. Both transcriptomic and proteomic data showed dramatic activation of inflammatory response 3 days post photocoagulation. Integrative analysis suggested a moderate correlation between RNA-Seq and mass spec. Up-regulation of angiogenic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (Fgf-2), but not vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegf) was observed at both RNA and protein levels, highlighting Fgf-2 as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target during the early stage of CNV. In addition, enrichment analysis indicated a large overlap of inflammation-related genes and pathways at both levels. We also compared our findings with human retinal RNA-Seq data from AMD patients and controls. By using a multi-omics and comparative approach, our findings demonstrate the molecular landscape during the inflammatory stage of mouse CNV and provided new insight into the translation from the mouse model to understanding human AMD and its potential intervention and therapies.
Project description:Retinal microvascularization can provide important informations to systemic vascular phenomena. The non-invasive quantitative description of the retinal vascularization is now possible by performing OCT-angiography and their image analysis software (vascular density and retinal perfusion). Systemic microvacular changes during the establishment of oncological treatment by targeted antiangiogenic therapy are little described in the literature. The objective of this pilot study is to describe the evolution of the retinal vascular density of patients with antiangiogenic drugs. In addition, the evolution of the retinal vascular density of patients on antiangiogenic drugs will study as a function of the response to the treatment and the toxicity of these treatments.
Project description:Proliferative retinopathies are associated with abnormal angiogenesis that can result in visual impairment or vision loss. The tight junction complex regulates blood-retinal barrier integrity; however, its role in proliferative retinopathies is still at an early stage. Here, we employed human retinal endothelial cells (HRMVECs), and a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) to investigate the impact of IL-33 signaling on tight junction disintegration and pathological angiogenesis. Our experimental findings demonstrate that IL-33 induces ZO-1 serine/threonine phosphorylation and tight junction disruption in HRMVECs. In addition, mass-spectroscopy (MS) analysis revealed that treating of HRMVECs with IL-33 induces ZO-1 phosphorylation at Thr861 residue. Furthermore, we observed that NOX1-PKC- signaling modulates IL-33-induced ZO-1 phosphorylation and tight junction integrity in HRMVECs. We also observed that IL-33 depletion significantly reduces OIR-induced NOX1-PKC-ZO-1 signaling, vascular leakage, and pathological retinal neovascularization in the ischemic retina. We also observed that the NOX1-specific inhibitor, fluoflavine (ML-090), attenuated OIR-induced NADPH oxidase activity and pathological retinal neovascularization in the ischemic retina. Thus, we infer that IL-33-mediated NOX1-PKC-ZO-1 signaling regulates ischemia-induced retinal endothelial cell tight junction disruption and retinal neovascularization.
Project description:Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature, is essential for the development of new organ systems, but transcriptional control of angiogenesis remains incompletely understood. Here we report that FOXC1 is essential for retinal angiogenesis. Endothelial cell (EC)-specific loss of Foxc1 impairs retinal vascular growth and expression of Slc3a2 and Slc7a5, which encode the heterodimeric CD98 (LAT1/4F2hc) amino acid transporter and regulate the intracellular transport of essential amino acids and activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). EC-Foxc1 deficiency diminishes mTOR activity, while administration of the mTOR agonist MHY-1485 rescues perturbed retinal angiogenesis. EC-Foxc1 expression is required for retinal revascularization and resolution of neovascular tufts in a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy. Foxc1 is also indispensable for pericytes, a critical component of the blood-retina barrier during retinal angiogenesis. Our findings establish FOXC1 as a crucial regulator of retinal vessels and identify therapeutic targets for treating retinal vascular disease.
Project description:Blood vessel growth and remodelling are essential during embryonic development and disease pathogenesis. The diversity of endothelial cells (ECs) is transcriptionally evident and ECs undergo dynamic changes in gene expression during vessel growth and remodelling.Here, we investigated the role of the histone acetyltransferase HBO1 (KAT7), which is important for activating genes during development and histone H3 lysine 14 acetylation (H3K14ac). Loss of HBO1 and H3K14ac impaired developmental sprouting angiogenesis and reduced pathological EC overgrowth in the retinal endothelium. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of retinal ECs revealed an increased abundance of tip cells in Hbo1 deleted retinas, which lead to EC overcrowding in the retinal sprouting front and prevented efficient tip cell migration. We found that H3K14ac was highly abundant in the endothelial genome in both intra- and intergenic regions suggesting that the role of HBO1 is as a genome organiser that promotes efficient tip cell behaviour necessary for sprouting angiogenesis.
Project description:Purpose: To investigate the role of endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) in pathological retinal angiogenesis and identify key molecular mediators in retina angiogenesis. Methods: RNA sequencing was performed on retinal tissue from oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse model to analyze gene expression patterns. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was used to examine the correlation between EMT and angiogenesis gene sets. Fibronectin (FN1) expression was evaluated in endothelial cells, and its function was assessed through siRNA mediated knockdown in both in vitro angiogenesis assays and the OIR model. Results: EndoMT occurred early in retinal angiogenesis development, with significant correlation between EMT and angiogenesis gene sets. FN1 was identified as the most significantly upregulated EMT-related gene in endothelial cells. siRNA-mediated inhibition of FN1 effectively prevented VEGF-induced angiogenesis in vitro and reduced pathological angiogenesis in the OIR model. Conclusions: EndoMT is a crucial early event in pathological retinal angiogenesis, with FN1 serving as a key mediator. Targeting FN1 may provide a novel therapeutic strategy that could synergize with anti-VEGF treatments to more effectively treat pathological angiogenesis in DR and ROP, particularly in cases of poor response to anti-VEGF therapy alone.
Project description:Müller cells play a critical role in retinal angiogenesis and inflammation, particularly in ischemic retinopathies such as oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). Here, we employed actively translating transcriptome profiling using RiboTag technology to selectively examine gene expression in Müller cells with and without Nrf2, a master regulator of oxidative stress responses, during OIR. Conditional deletion of Nrf2 in Müller cells exacerbated retinal avascular areas and pathological neovascularization in the OIR model, without altering Müller cell number or viability. RiboTag-based RNA sequencing and pathway analysis identified dysregulation of oxidative phosphorylation and acute phase signaling, along with suppression of pathways related to neuronal signaling. Müller cell Nrf2 deficiency resulted in dysregulation of multiple genes involved in acute-phase response, inflammation, and angiogenesis. These findings uncover a critical role for Nrf2 in maintaining Müller cell homeostasis and identify molecular signatures by which its loss amplifies retinal gliosis and pathological angiogenesis.
Project description:Angiogenesis, a process mediating the expansion of vascular beds in many physiological and pathological settings, requires dynamic changes in endothelial cell (EC) behavior. The molecular mechanisms governing EC activity during different phases of vascular growth, remodeling, maturation, and quiescence remain elusive. Here, we have employed actively translating transcriptome analysis of mouse retinal ECs for the characterization of dynamic gene expression changes during postnatal development and the identification of critical angiogenic factors.
Project description:Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from existing ones, is essential for physiological and pathological processes such as wound healing, organ development, and tumor growth. It is a tightly regulated process influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Emerging evidence shows a link between biological clocks that regulate physiological rhythms and angiogenesis through the modulation of angiogenic factors like vascular growth factors (Vegfa). Thus, the clock system can directly modulate the timing and efficiency of angiogenic processes. This study aimed to investigate the role of key circadian clock genes, Bmal1 and Per2, in retinal angiogenesis. Endothelial cell specific deletion of these genes significantly impairs vessel growth though distinct phenotypic differences emerge between the two knockout models as angiogenesis progresses. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of retinal endothelial cells reveals that circadian clocks predominantly influence the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation. Notably, vascular endothelial cell (VEC) proliferation is diurnally regulated, which is disrupted in the Bmal1 knockout animals leading to a reduction in the numbers of the Brn3a positive retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). These alterations are further associated with compromised retinal circuitry and function. Thus, this study uncovers critical roles for Bmal1 and Per2 in regulating retinal angiogenesis, emphasizing the importance of circadian control of cell proliferation in vascular development and retinal function.