Leukocyte chemotactic receptor Fpr1 protects against aging-related posterior subcapsular cataract formation.

Cataracts are a common consequence of aging; however, pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Here, we observed that after 3 months of age mice lacking the G protein-coupled leukocyte chemotactic receptor Fpr1 (N-formyl peptide receptor 1) began to develop bilateral posterior subcapsular cataracts that progressed to lens rupture and severe degeneration, without evidence of either systemic or local ocular infection or inflammation. Consistent with this, Fpr1 was detected in both mouse and human lens in primary lens epithelial cells (LECs), the only cell type present in the lens; however, expression was confined to subcapsular LECs located along the anterior hemispheric surface.

No Sex Differences in the Frequencies of Common Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Since some studies have reported differences in the association of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with biological sex, we set out to determine whether the difference in the disease susceptibility is afforded by common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with AMD.

Methods: We genotyped 2067 Caucasian subjects from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study cohort for commonly associated AMD SNPs, including those in CFH (rs1061170, rs1410996, and rs3766404), ARMS2 (rs10490924), and C3 (rs2230199) using either a Sequenom MassARRAY MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer or using Taqman genotyping reagents. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the effect of genotype, age, sex, and smoking status on the development of AMD.

Functional single nucleotide polymorphism in IL-17A 3' untranslated region is targeted by miR-4480 in vitro and may be associated with age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible central vision loss in the elderly. Genetic factors contributing to AMD include single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in immune-related genes including CFH, C2, CFI, C9, and C3, thus implicating these pathways in AMD pathogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are powerful regulators of gene expression and execute this function by binding to the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of target mRNAs, leading to mRNA degradation.

Responses of Multipotent Retinal Stem Cells to IL-1β, IL-18, or IL-17.

Purpose. To investigate how multipotent retinal stem cells (RSCs) isolated from mice respond to the proinflammatory signaling molecules, IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-17A. Materials and Methods.

Wnt signaling in age-related macular degeneration: human macular tissue and mouse model.

Background: The wingless-type MMTV integration site (Wnt) signaling is a group of signal transduction pathways. In canonical Wnt pathway, Wnt ligands bind to low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 or 6 (LRP5 or LRP6), resulting in phosphorylation and activation of the receptor. We hypothesize that canonical Wnt pathway plays a role in the retinal lesion of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of irreversible central visual loss in elderly.

Rare and common variants in extracellular matrix gene Fibrillin 2 (FBN2) are associated with macular degeneration.

Neurodegenerative diseases affecting the macula constitute a major cause of incurable vision loss and exhibit considerable clinical and genetic heterogeneity, from early-onset monogenic disease to multifactorial late-onset age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As part of our continued efforts to define genetic causes of macular degeneration, we performed whole exome sequencing in four individuals of a two-generation family with autosomal dominant maculopathy and identified a rare variant p.Glu1144Lys in Fibrillin 2 (FBN2), a glycoprotein of the elastin-rich extracellular matrix (ECM).

Interleukin-17 retinotoxicity is prevented by gene transfer of a soluble interleukin-17 receptor acting as a cytokine blocker: implications for age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common yet complex retinal degeneration that causes irreversible central blindness in the elderly. Pathology is widely believed to follow loss of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor degeneration. Here we report aberrant expression of interleukin-17A (IL17A) and the receptor IL17RC in the macula of AMD patients.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-C inhibits neuroretinal apoptosis in a murine model of focal retinal degeneration.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-C is a member of the PDGF family and is critical for neuronal survival in the central nervous system. We studied the possible survival and antiapoptotic effects of PDGF-C on focal retinal lesions in Ccl2(-/-)/Cx3cr1(-/-) on C57BL/6N [Crb1(rd8)] (DKO rd8) background mice, a model for progressive and focal retinal degeneration. We found no difference in transcript and protein expression of PDGF-C in the retina between DKO rd8 mice and wild type (WT, C57BL/6N).

In-depth analyses unveil the association and possible functional involvement of novel RAD51B polymorphisms in age-related macular degeneration.

The contribution of DNA damage to the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been reported. Recently, a genomewide association study detected the association of a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in RAD51B (rs8017304 A>G) with AMD. RAD51B is involved in recombinational repair of DNA double-strand breaks.

Evaluating Potential Therapies in a Mouse Model of Focal Retinal Degeneration with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)-Like Lesions.

Although the mouse has no macula leutea, its neuroretina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) can develop lesions mimicking certain features of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Differences between the and double deficient mouse on () background (DKO ) and the mouse in photoreceptor and RPE pathology, as well as ocularA2E contents and immune responses, show that DKO recapitulates some human AMD-like features in addition to retinal dystrophy/degeneration. Different therapeutic interventions have been demonstrated to be effective on the AMD-like features of DKO mice.

Systems Biology Profiling of AMD on the Basis of Gene Expression.

Genetic pathways underlying the initiation and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have not been yet sufficiently revealed, and the correlations of AMD's genotypes, phenotypes, and disease spectrum are still awaiting resolution. We are tackling both problems with systems biology phylogenetic parsimony analysis. Gene expression data (GSE29801: NCBI, Geo) of macular and extramacular specimens of the retinas and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) choroid complexes representing dry AMD without geographic atrophy (GA), choroidal neovascularization (CNV), GA, as well as pre-AMD and subclinical pre-AMD were polarized against their respective normal specimens and then processed through the parsimony program MIX to produce phylogenetic cladograms.

Distinct microRNA-155 expression in the vitreous of patients with primary vitreoretinal lymphoma and uveitis.

Purpose: To use micro-ribonucleic acid (microRNA) profiles in the vitreous for differential diagnosis of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma and uveitis.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 17 diffuse large B-cell primary vitreoretinal lymphoma and 12 uveitis patients.

Epigenetics in ocular diseases.

Epigenetics pertains to heritable alterations in gene expression that do not involve modification of the underlying genomic DNA sequence. Historically, the study of epigenetic mechanisms has focused on DNA methylation and histone modifications, but the concept of epigenetics has been more recently extended to include microRNAs as well. Epigenetic patterning is modified by environmental exposures and may be a mechanistic link between environmental risk factors and the development of disease.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor reduces apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in a murine model of focal retinal degeneration.

AMD (age-related macular degeneration) is a neurodegenerative disease causing irreversible central blindness in the elderly. Apoptosis and inflammation play important roles in AMD pathogenesis. PEDF (pigment epithelium-derived factor) is a potent neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory glycoprotein that protects the retinal neurons and photoreceptors against cell death caused by pathological insults.

Subconjunctival Palomid 529 in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may have an immune mediated component. Palomid 529, an investigational medication involving the immune Akt/mTOR pathway, is unique in dissociating both targets of rapamycin complexes TORC1 and TORC2. This small short-term pilot study assesses the safety of subconjunctival Palomid 529 in the treatment of neovascular AMD, with some limited efficacy information.

Nutrient supplementation with n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, lutein, and zeaxanthin decrease A2E accumulation and VEGF expression in the retinas of Ccl2/Cx3cr1-deficient mice on Crb1rd8 background.

The Age-Related Eye Diseases Study 2 (AREDS2) clinical trial is assessing the effects of higher dietary xanthophyll (lutein and zeaxanthin) and long-chain n3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) intake on progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study's purpose was to examine the retinal effects of the AREDS2 formulation on Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (Ccl2(-/-))/CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (Cx3cr1(-/-)) mice on Crumbs homolog 1 retinal degeneration phenotype 8 (Crb1(rd8)) background (DKO), which develop focal retinal lesions with certain features similar to AMD. DKO and C57BL/6N rd8 background mice (WT) were bred and randomized into 4 groups.

Early degeneration of photoreceptor synapse in Ccl2/Cx3cr1-deficient mice on Crb1(rd8) background.

Photoreceptor ribbon synapse releases glutamate to postsynaptic targets. The synaptic ribbon may play multiple roles in ribbon synapse development, synaptic vesicle recycling, and synaptic transmission. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients appear to have fewer or no detectable synaptic ribbons as well as abnormal swelling in the photoreceptor terminals in the macula.

Influence of TIMP3/SYN3 polymorphisms on the phenotypic presentation of age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible central visual loss in the elderly. A recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) reported that rs9621532 near the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3)/synapsin III (SYN3) region of 22q12.3 is associated with AMD.

Genetic mechanisms and age-related macular degeneration: common variants, rare variants, copy number variations, epigenetics, and mitochondrial genetics.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex and multifaceted disease involving contributions from both genetic and environmental influences. Previous work exploring the genetic contributions of AMD has implicated numerous genomic regions and a variety of candidate genes as modulators of AMD susceptibility. Nevertheless, much of this work has revolved around single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and it is apparent that a significant portion of the heritability of AMD cannot be explained through these mechanisms.

Controversial view of a genetically altered mouse model of focal retinal degeneration.

Tuo et al. (2012) demonstrated tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 recombinant protein (TSG-6) arrest of focal retinal lesions on a Ccl2 and Cx3cr1 double deficient mouse (DKO) on rd8 background (hereon referred to as DKO rd8). DKO rd8, a model of focal retinal degeneration with earlier onset and higher penetrance than Ccl2 and Cx3cr1 single knockout strains, demonstrates characteristic features of AMD such as focal photoreceptor atrophy, retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) degeneration, elevated ocular A2E levels and complement deposition in addition to retinal dystrophy.

Hypomethylation of the IL17RC promoter associates with age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly population worldwide. Although recent studies have demonstrated strong genetic associations between AMD and SNPs in a number of genes, other modes of regulation are also likely to play a role in the etiology of this disease. We identified a significantly decreased level of methylation on the IL17RC promoter in AMD patients.

Suggestive association between PLA2G12A single nucleotide polymorphism rs2285714 and response to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: The use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy, with drugs such as ranibizumab and bevacizumab, to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) produces an effective but widely variable response. Identifying markers that predict differentiated response could serve as a valuable assay in developing more personalized medicine. This study aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that influence the outcome of treatment with anti-VEGF therapy for AMD.