Increased H3K27 trimethylation contributes to cone survival in a mouse model of cone dystrophy.

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a heterogeneous group of blinding disorders, which result in dysfunction or death of the light-sensing cone and rod photoreceptors. Despite individual IRDs (Inherited retinal disease) being rare, collectively, they affect up to 1:2000 people worldwide, causing a significant socioeconomic burden, especially when cone-mediated central vision is affected. This study uses the Pde6c mouse model of achromatopsia, a cone-specific vision loss IRD (Inherited retinal disease), to investigate the potential gene-independent therapeutic benefits of a histone demethylase inhibitor GSK-J4 on cone cell survival.

Focused Update on AAV-Based Gene Therapy Clinical Trials for Inherited Retinal Degeneration.

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) comprise a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders that can ultimately result in photoreceptor dysfunction/death and vision loss. With over 270 genes known to be involved in IRDs, translation of treatment strategies into clinical applications has been historically difficult. However, in recent years there have been significant advances in basic research findings as well as translational studies, culminating in an increasing number of clinical trials with the ultimate goal of reducing vision loss and associated morbidities.

Validating Fluorescent Chrnb4.EGFP Mouse Models for the Study of Cone Photoreceptor Degeneration.

Purpose: To validate the application of a known transgenic mouse line with green fluorescent cones (Chrnb4.EGFP) to study cone photoreceptor biology and function in health and disease.

Methods: Chrnb4.

Frequency-specific effects of repetitive magnetic stimulation on primary astrocyte cultures.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic pulses over the cranium to induce electrical currents in underlying cortical tissue. Although rTMS has shown clinical utility for a number of neurological conditions, we have only limited understanding of how rTMS influences cellular function and cell-cell interactions.

Objective: In this study, we sought to investigate whether repeated magnetic stimulation (rMS) can influence astrocyte biology in vitro.

Integrated analyses of zebrafish miRNA and mRNA expression profiles identify miR-29b and miR-223 as potential regulators of optic nerve regeneration.

Background: Unlike mammals, zebrafish have the ability to regenerate damaged parts of their central nervous system (CNS) and regain functionality of the affected area. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in zebrafish regeneration may therefore provide insight into how CNS repair might be induced in mammals. Although many studies have described differences in gene expression in zebrafish during CNS regeneration, the regulatory mechanisms underpinning the differential expression of these genes have not been examined.

Cellular and molecular changes to cortical neurons following low intensity repetitive magnetic stimulation at different frequencies.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is increasingly used as a treatment for neurological dysfunction. Therapeutic effects have been reported for low intensity rTMS (LI-rTMS) although these remain poorly understood.

Objective: Our study describes for the first time a systematic comparison of the cellular and molecular changes in neurons in vitro induced by low intensity magnetic stimulation at different frequencies.