ObjectiveTo observe the protective effect of polypyrimidine bundle-binding protein-related splicing factor (PSF) over-expression on RPE cell injury induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs).MethodsThe human RPE cells cultured in vitro were divided into three groups: normal control group (N group), blank control group (N + AGEs group), empty vector control group (Vec + AGEs group), and PSF high expression group (PSF + AGEs). group). RPE cells in N group were routinely cultured; RPE cells in N + AGEs group were only transfected but did not introduce any exogenous genes combined with AGEs induction; Vec +AGEs group and PSF + AGEs group were transfected with pcDNA The empty vector or pcDNA-PSF eukaryotic expression plasmid was introduced into RPE cells and induced by AGEs. Except the N group, the other 3 groups of cells were transfected accordingly, and were stimulated with 150 μg/ml AGEs for 72 h after 24 h. HE staining and Hoechst 33258 staining were used to observe the effect of high PSF expression on the morphological changes of RPE cells; ROS level detection was used to analyze the effect of PSF high expression on the ROS expression of RPE cells induced by AGEs; MTT colorimetric method was used to detect the high PSF expression Effects on the viability of RPE cells; Western blot was used to detect the effects of different time and dose of PSF on the expression of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1).ResultsHE staining and Hoechst 33258 staining observation showed that the cells in group N were full in shape, the nucleus was round, the cytoplasm was rich, and the staining was uniform; the cells in N + AGEs group and Vec + AGEs group were reduced in size, the eosinophilic staining was enhanced, and the nucleus was densely densely stained. Pyrolysis and even fragmentation; the morphology of cells in the PSF + AGEs group was still full, the cytoplasm staining was more uniform, and the nucleus staining was uniform. The results of MTT colorimetry showed that high expression of PSF can effectively improve the viability of RPE cells, but this effect can be effectively antagonized by ZnPP, and the difference is statistically significant (F=33.26, P＜0.05). DCFH-DA test results showed that compared with the N + AGEs group and Vec + AGEs group, the ROS production in PSF + AGEs group decreased, the difference was statistically significant (F=11.94, P＜0.05). Western blot analysis showed that PSF protein up-regulated HO-1 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The relative expression level of HO-1 at 24, 48, and 72 h after PSF protein was significantly higher than that at 0 h, and the difference was statistically significant (F=164.91, P＜0.05). The relative expression level of HO-1 under the action of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 μg PSF protein was significantly higher than 0.0 μg, and the difference was statistically significant (F=104.82, P＜0.05).ConclusionPSF may inhibit the production of ROS by up-regulating the expression of HO-1, thus protecting the RPE cells induced by AGEs.
ObjectiveTo observe the macular choroidal and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) thickness in tilted disc syndrome (TDS).
MethodsThis is a descriptive study. Thirty eyes of 22 TDS patients (TDS group) and 30 eyes of 15 normal subjects (control group) were analyzed. Among TDS group, there were 8 males (11 eyes) and 14 females (19 eyes), the average age was (9.00±2.78) years old. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.3-1.0, and the average spherical equivalent degree was (-3.44±2.22) DS. Among the control group, there were 8 males (16 eyes) and 7 females (14 eyes), the average age was (9.33±1.11) years old. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)≥1.0, and the average spherical equivalent degree was (-3.18±1.13)DS. The difference of the spherical equivalent degree between two groups was not statistically significant (t=-1.648, P=0.110). Enhanced depth imaging techniques of frequency-domain optical coherence tomography was used to measure the thickness of choroid and RPE at totally 17 sites. There sites included subfoveal, 4 sites each (500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 μm from the fovea) at the horizontal (nasal/temple) and vertical (superior/inferior) directions.
ResultsThe subfoveal choroidal thickness was (235.53±51.77) μm and (273.45±60.3) μm in TDS patients and control respectively, the difference was significant(t=-2.612,P=0.011). The difference of the choroidal thickness of the other 8 horizontal sites (F=24.180) and 8 vertical sites (F=23.390) in TDS group was statistically significant (P=0.000). The TDS choroidal thickness of all horizontal sites except nasal 1000 μm site was thinner than corresponding sites of the control group (P<0.05). The TDS choroidal thickness of the subfoveal site and 4 inferior vertical sites was thinner than corresponding sites of the control group (P<0.05). The subfoveal RPE thickness was (32.56±5.00) μm and (36.58±3.60) μm in TDS patients and control respectively, the difference was significant(t=-3.567,P=0.001). The subfoveal RPE thickness was the thickest among other 16 sites in both groups, and the TDS RPE thickness of all sites was thinner than control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).
ConclusionThe choroidal and RPE thickness of TDS patient was thinner than normal subjects.
Torpedo maculopathy is a rare, congenital lesion of RPE, which locates temporal to the macula and along the horizontal raphe. The lesion is torpedo-shaped with its torpedo-like tip pointing towards the fovea. As an incidental finding, it often affects only one eye with no damage to central visual acuity. According to its characteristics on OCT, it is divided into 2 types: typeⅠ, attenuation of outer retinal structures without outer retinal cavitation; typeⅡ, those with both attenuation of outer retinal structures and outer retinal cavitation. Diseases with pigment changes in the RPE layer similar to torpedo maculopathy include congenital hypertrophy of the RPE, RPE lesions in Gardner syndrome, etc. The main point to distinguish the disease from other diseases is its unique location and shape. Most of the torpedo maculopathy lesions are stable and do not require special treatment, but the disease can be complicated by neurosensory retinal detachment, choroidal neovascularization and so on, and symptomatic treatment is needed if necessary.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of intravitreal injection of aflibercept (IVA) in the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) combined with RPE detachment (PED).MethodsA retrospective case study. From June 2018 to June 2019, 32 eyes (overall group) of 27 wAMD patients with PED were included in the study. All eyes were treated with IVA. The initial loading dose was 2.0 mg, which was injected once a month for 2 consecutive months and and then use a PRN regimen after evaluation. According to the maximum height of PED (PEDH) 2 months after treatment, the overall group was divided into the response group and the partial response group, with 20 (62.50%) and 12 (37.50%) eyes respectively. The response group: PEDH decreased by ≥25% compared with before treatment. The partial response: PEDH decreased by ＜25%. The macular fovea was scanned with the 3D-OCT 2000 instrument from Topcon (Japan). PEDH, PED area (PEDA), PED volume (PEDV), and macular foveal retinal thickness (CMT) were measured. There was no significant difference in BCVA, CMT, PEDH, PEDA, and PEDV of the eyes in the response group and the partial response group (t=－0.791, －0.488, －0.900, －1.130, －0.400; P=0.435, 0.630, 0.380, 0.270, 0.690). The changes of BCVA, PEDH, PEDA, PEDV, CMT in each group were observed before treatment and 1, 2, 4, and 6 months after treatment. The comparison of BCVA and PED-related indicators and CMT before and after treatment were performed by repeated measures analysis of variance.ResultsCompared with before treatment, the BCVA, CMT, PEDH, PEDA and PEDV of the eyes in the overall group, the response group, and the partial response group were obviously improved after treatment. Among them, there were statistically significant differences in all indicators of the overall group and the response group (FBCVA=5.871, 3.798; P=0.001, 0.019. FCMT=24.526, 14.109; P=0.000, 0.001. FPEDH=12.569, 12.091; P=0.000, 0.000. FPEDA=7.534, 6.286; P=0.000, 0.000. FPEDV=5.139, 4.104; P=0.004, 0.014); there was no statistically significant difference in PED-related indicators in the partial response group (FPEDH=3.210, P=0.054; FPEDA=1.913, P=0.183; FPEDV=3.500, P=0.051), the difference between BCVA and CMT was statistically significant (FBCVA=3.033, P=0.027; FCMT=11.140, P=0.001). Two months after treatment, the eye number of PEDH reduction rate ＜25%, 25%-＜50%, 50%-＜75%, and ≥75% were 12 (37.50%), 8 (25.00%), 9 (28.13%), and 3 (9.38%) in the overall group, respectively. And PED in one eye (3.13%) was completely eliminated. Six months after treatment, the proportion was 13 (40.23%), 5 (15.63%), 7 (21.88%) and 7 (21.88%), respectively, among which 4 eyes (12.50%) with PED were completely resolved.ConclusionsAflibercept treatment of wAMD combined with PED can restore its anatomical indicators and improve visual function of patients in a short time; the efficacy of PED in the PRN stage is related to the efficacy of the loading dose stage.
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of L-Phenylalanine on the efficiency of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell derivation from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and explore the underlying mechanisms.
MethodsH1 hESCs were routinely cultured with mTeSR medium and divided into control and experimental groups. When cells reached over-confluence, spontaneous differentiation was triggered using 10% KSR differentiation medium without bFGF. L-Phenylalanine (0.2 mmol/L) was supplemented in the experimental group from the 3rd week. The expression of RPE markers and Wnt signaling components in the two groups was detected by Real time-RCR, Western blot and Flow cytometry analyses. Purified hESC-RPE cells and PBS were injected into the subretinal space of sodium iodine-induced retinal degeneration rats separately. Retinal function was assessed by ERG 6 weeks after the transplantation.
ResultsOn the 7th week, much more pigment cell clumps appeared in the experimental group compared to the control group. Within these areas there were monolayer hexagonal RPE cells full of pigment granules. The experimental group showed significantly higher expression of Pax6, MITF, Tyrosinase, RPE65, Wnt3a, Lef1 and Tcf7 genes than the control group (P < 0.01). Higher expression level of MITF and RPE65 proteins and higher percentage of RPE65 (+) cells (P < 0.01) were detected in the experimental group. 6 weeks after sub-retinal transplantation of hESC-RPE cells, the amplitudes of a-b wave in the transplanted eyes were significantly higher than those in the control eyes (P < 0.01) at the stimulus intensity of 3.0 cd·s/m2.
ConclusionsL-Phenylalanine effectively promoted the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into retinal pigment epithelial cells, and its impacts on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may partially explain the underlying mechanisms. Subretinal transplantation of hESC-RPE remarkably improved the retinal functions of retinal degenerative animal models.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of subretinal injection of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells for RPE in mice.
MethodsA total of 30 postnatal day 7 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal mice group, OIR model group and OIR model cell transplanted group, 10 mice in each group. The OIR model was induced in mice of OIR model group and OIR model cell transplanted group. The RPE cells were subretinal injected into the RPE of mice in OIR model cell transplanted group. At 20 days after the injection, the RPE thickness was evaluated by fluorescence microscope. The expression of RPE65, Bestrophin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) were estimated by Western blot and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR).
ResultsThe thickness of RPE in OIR model mice was thinner than that in normal mice; the thickness of RPE in OIR model cell transplantation mice was significantly thicker than that in the OIR model mice. The results of Western blot and RT-PCR indicated that the differences of protein (F=8.597, 18.864, 25.691) and mRNA expression (F=39.458, 11.461, 34.796) of RPE65, Bestrophin, ZO-1 were statistically significant between OIR model group and OIR model cell transplanted group (P < 0.05).
ConclusionsSubretinal injection of RPE cells can promote RPE thickening. RPE65 and Bestrophin protein relative expression levels increased, ZO-1 protein relative expression levels reduced; mRNA expression levels of RPE65, Bestrophin and ZO-1 genes increased.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the functional and anatomical outcomes of autologous single retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) transplantation for severe obsolete submacular hemorrhage (SMH) in late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From January 2012 to December 2015, 11 patients with AMD (11 eyes) with obsolete SMH who were diagnosed and treated by pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with autologous RPE transplantation at the Department of Ophthalmology, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were included. Among them, there were 9 eyes in 9 males and 2 eyes in 2 females. All the eyes underwent the examinations of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography; 4 eyes underwent macular fixation function (MAIA) at the same time. The BCVA examination was carried out using the international standard visual acuity chart, which was converted into logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity during statistics. All eyes were treated with PPV combined with autologous single-layer RPE transplantation or autologous RPE-choroidal full-thickness transplantation, and were divided into S group and C group, with 5 and 6 eyes respectively. The differences of age (t=－0.363), gender composition ratio (χ2=0.549), course and thickness of SMH (t=0.118, 0.231), average times of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drug treatments (t=0.129), times of PPV (t=－0.452) between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The follow-up period was 6-40 months after the operation, and the BCVA, MAIA, graft status and complications of the eyes after the operation were observed. The comparison of continuous variables between groups was performed by independent-sample t test; the comparison of categorical variables was performed by χ2 test. ResultsAt the last follow-up, the average logMAR BCVA of the eyes in group S and C were 1.62±0.34 and 1.03±0.20, respectively; group C was better than group S, however, the difference was not statistically significant (t=1.532, P=0.160). There were 4 eyes (80%, 4/5) and 6 eyes (100%, 6/6) in S group and C group with BCVA better than preoperative, the difference was no statistical significance (χ2=0.677, P=0.895). There were 2 (40%, 2/5) and 3 (50%, 3/6) eyes with logMAR BCVA better than 1.0 in S group and C group, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ2=0.572, P=0.423). After the operation, 6 eyes of grafts were in good condition and 5 eyes were in poor condition; the BCVA of grafts in good condition was significantly higher than that of poor condition, the difference was statistically significant (t=4.894, P=0.001). Among the 4 eyes that underwent MAIA examination, 2 eyes were unstable and diffusely fixed on the graft; the fixation point was located at the normal retina adjacent to the graft area in 2 eyes. Secondary subretinal hemorrhage occurred in 3 eyes after the operation; the intraocular pressure was high in 1 eye after the operation. During the follow-up period, no intraocular infection, secondary retinal detachment, recurrent choroidal neovascularization or low intraocular pressure occurred in all eyes. ConclusionsBoth autologous single-layer RPE transplantation and autologous RPE-choroidal full-thickness transplantation can help stabilize or even improve the visual function of eyes with severe SMH secondary to advanced AMD. The visual acuity after surgery is closely related to the state of the graft.
Objective
To investigate the impact of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin on the expression of pigment epithelial derivative factor (PEDF) mRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA in adult retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro.
Methods
The changes of cellular viability before and after PDT were assessed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolum (MTT) colorimetric assay. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted to detect the expression of PEDF and VEGF mRNA in RPE cells before and after PDT.
Results
PDT caused the death of RPE cells. The cellular mortality was positively correlated with the power of photocoagulation and the concentration of verteporfin.
Conclusion
PDT could downregulate the expression of PEDF and VEGF mRNA in adult RPE cells in vitro, which may relate to the cure or relapse of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane after PDT.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 256-260)
ObjectiveTo investigate the role of sonic hedgehog (Shh) signal transduction pathway in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) under hypoxia in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells.
MethodsARPE-19 were cultured and divided into normal ARPE-19 (Cont) and hypoxia group (100 μmol/L CoCl2 Cobalt Chloride +ARPE-19); hypoxia group was further divided into CoCl2 group, cyclopamine group (CYA) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group. 20μmol/L cyclopamine was added to the CYA group 1 hour before hypoxia, 1‰DMSO was added into DMSO group at the same time. The hRPE cells were cultured under hypoxia for 4, 8, 12, 24 hours. The expression of Shh and VEGF were determined by Real-time fluorescent quantitate PCR (RT-PCR). The amount of VEGF in the hRPE-conditioned supernatant was measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 4, 8, 12, 24 hours, respectively.
ResultsRT-PCR tests showed that the level of Shh and VEGF of hRPE was time dependently increased (Shh: F=45.260, P=0.001; VEGF: F=264.938, P=0.001). The level of Shh and VEGF of hRPE in the group treated with cyclopamine was decreased (P < 0.01). ELISA tests showed that the amount of VEGF in hRPE supernatant was significantly increased in time-dependent manner (F=3 156.676, P=0.001), and it was down-regulated by cyclopamine under hypoxia (P < 0.01).
ConclusionShh signal transduction pathway could play a role in the VEGF expression induced by hypoxia in hRPE cells.
Objective To investigate the protective effects of riluzole, a sustained activator of K2P subfamily member TRAAK potassium channel, in human retinal pigment epithelium (hRPE) cells with oxidative induce by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) in vitro, and to evaluate the possible involvement of K2P in the cytoprotective function of retina degeneration diseases. Methods The third to fifth passage of the primary cultured hRPE cells were used in the following experiments．hRPE cells were divided into seven groups: normal control group.t-BHP (300 mu;mol/L) group.t-BHP with riluzole (2, 5, 10, 20 mu;mol/L) group and riluzole (10 mu;mol/L) group. The apoptosis was measured by the 3(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, annexinV/PI double staining flow cytometry. Changes of cells and nuclei morphology were observed under a phase contrast microscope and a fluorescence microscope after 4prime;, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. Immunofluorescence 1abelling was carried out to analysis the expression of TRAAK. Results After 24 hours incubation with 300 mu;mol/L t-BHP, the cells viability decreased to (58.7plusmn;12.2)% as compared to the normal control groups. The cell viability of t-BHP with riluzole group at different concentrations was higher than the t-BHP group, while 10 mu;mol/L riluzole showed maximally protective effect on hRPE death induced by t-BHP（t=4.84.P＜0.05）. Riluzole remarkably decreased pyknotic nucleus and cell swelling when compared with t-BHP group. Morphology of cells was fusiform with the uniform elliptic nuclei in normal and riluzole group. The Results of annexinV/PI double staining flow cytometry showed that ratio of normal cells were （97.6plusmn;1.3）%, （70.3plusmn;7.0）%, （86.9plusmn;5.2）%, （93.9plusmn;1.5）% in normal group.t-BHP group.t-BHP with riluzole group and riluzole group respectively. The ratio significant decreased in t-BHP group when it was compared with the other groups (t=7.53, 4.59, 6.49, respectively.P＜0.05). By contrast with normal group and riluzole group, the ratio of normal cells in t-BHP with riluzole group had no statistical significance（t=2.94, 1.91, respectively.P＞0.05）. Riluzole (10 mu;mol/L) also significantly decreased the ratio of early stage apoptotic cells from (25.50plusmn;8.02)% to (1.20plusmn;0.72)% in t-BHP injured groups （t=7.13，P＜0.05）. The ratio of early stage apoptotic cells significant decreased in t-BHP group when it was compared with the normal group and riluzole group （t=7.07, 5.94, respectively.P＜0.05）. By comparison with normal group and riluzole group, there are no statistical significance in t-BHP with riluzole group（t=0.06, 1.18, respectively.P＞0.05）. The mean gray values of TRAAK expression were 0.040plusmn;0.003, 0.041plusmn;0.001, 0.049plusmn;0.001, 0.055plusmn;0.001 in normal group.t-BHP group.t-BHP with riluzole group and riluzole group respectively. TRAAK density was significantly higher in t-BHP with riluzole group and riluzole group（t=7.40, 12.70, respectively.P＜0.05）. Conclusions Riluzole can protect hRPE cells against oxidative injury-induced cell death at early apoptosis stage. The mechanism may relate to that riluzole can promote the expression of K2P TRAAK potassium channel.
