Ai Ling Wang

Autophagy and Exosomes in the Aged Retinal Pigment Epithelium: Possible Relevance to Drusen Formation and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of loss of central vision in the elderly. The formation of drusen, an extracellular, amorphous deposit of material on Bruchs membrane in the macula of the retina, occurs early in the course of the disease. Although some of the molecular components of drusen are known, there is no understanding of the cell biology that leads to the formation of drusen. We have previously demonstrated increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and decreased DNA repair enzyme capabilities in the rodent RPE/choroid with age. In this study, we found that drusen in AMD donor eyes contain markers for autophagy and exosomes. Furthermore, these markers are also found in the region of Bruchs membrane in old mice. By in vitro modeling increased mtDNA damage induced by rotenone, an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I, in the RPE, we found that the phagocytic activity was not altered but that there were: 1) increased autophagic markers, 2) decreased lysosomal activity, 3) increased exocytotic activity and 4) release of chemoattractants. Exosomes released by the stressed RPE are coated with complement and can bind complement factor H, mutations of which are associated with AMD. We speculate that increased autophagy and the release of intracellular proteins via exosomes by the aged RPE may contribute to the formation of drusen. Molecular and cellular changes in the old RPE may underlie susceptibility to genetic mutations that are found in AMD patients and may be associated with the pathogenesis of AMD in the elderly.

Cigarette smoking, oxidative stress, the anti-oxidant response through Nrf2 signaling, and Age-related Macular Degeneration.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly. While excellent treatment has emerged for neovascular disease, treatment for early AMD is lacking due to an incomplete understanding of the early molecular events. Cigarette smoking is the strongest epidemiologic risk factor, yet we do not understand how smoking contributes to AMD. Smoking related oxidative damage during the early phases of AMD may play an important role. This review explores how cigarette smoking and oxidative stress to the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) might contribute to AMD, and how the transcription factor Nrf2 can activate a cytoprotective response.

Autophagy, exosomes and drusen formation in age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of loss of vision in developed countries. AMD is characterized by a progressive degeneration of the macula of the retina, usually bilateral, leading to a severe decrease in central vision. An early sign of AMD is the appearance of drusen, which are extracellular deposits that accumulate on Bruch’s membrane below the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Drusen are a risk factor for developing AMD. Some of the protein components of drusen are known, yet we know little about the processes that lead to formation of drusen. We have previously reported increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and decreased DNA repair enzyme capabilities in the rodent RPE/choroid with age. In this study, we used in vitro modeling of increased mtDNA damage. Under conditions of increased mtDNA damage, autophagy markers and exosome markers were upregulated. In addition, we found autophagy markers and exosome markers in the region of Bruch’s membrane in the retinas of old mice. Furthermore, we found that drusen in AMD donor eyes contain markers for autophagy and for exosomes. We speculate that increased autophagy and the release of intracellular proteins via exosomes by the aged RPE may contribute to the formation of drusen. Molecular and cellular changes in the old RPE may underlie susceptibility to genetic mutations that are found in AMD patients.

Changes in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Related to Cigarette Smoke: Possible Relevance to Smoking as a Risk Factor for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of central vision loss in the elderly and smoking is a primary risk factor associated with the prevalence and incidence of AMD. To better understand the cellular and molecular bases for the association between smoking and AMD, we determined the effects of Benzo(a)Pyrene (B(a)P), a toxic element in cigarette smoke, on cultured retinal pigment epithelia (RPE) and we examined the RPE/choroid from mice exposed to chronic cigarette smoke. We measured: mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage, phagocytic activity, lysosomal enzymes, exosome markers and selected complement pathway components. In the presence of a non-cytotoxic dose of B(a)P, there was extensive mtDNA damage but no nuclear DNA damage. RPE phagocytic activity was not altered but there were increased lysosomal activity, exocytotic activity and complement pathway components. Retinas from mice exposed to cigarette smoke contained markers for mtDNA damage, exosomes and complement pathway components surrounding Bruchs membrane. Markers for these processes are found in drusen from AMD patients. Thus, smoking may cause damage to mtDNA and increased degradative processes in the RPE. These altered cell biological processes in the RPE may contribute to the formation of drusen in individuals who are cigarette smokers and underlie susceptibility to genetic mutations associated with AMD.

Using LC3 to monitor autophagy flux in the retinal pigment epithelium.

Autophagy is a highly conserved housekeeping pathway that plays a critical role in the removal of aged or damaged intracellular organelles and their delivery to lysosomes for degradation.1,2 Autophagy begins with the formation of membranes arising in part from the endoplasmic reticulum, that elongate and fuse engulfing cytoplasmic constituents into a classic double-membrane bound nascent autophagosome. These early autophagosomes undergo a stepwise maturation process to form the late autophagosome or amphisome that ultimately fuses with a lysosome. Efficient autophagy is dependent on an equilibrium between the formation and elimination of autophagosomes; thus, a deficit in any part of this pathway will cause autophagic dysfunction. Autophagy plays a role in aging and age-related diseases. 1,2,7 However, few studies of autophagy in retinal disease have been reported. Recent studies show that autophagy and changes in lysosomal activity are associated with both retinal aging and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).3,4 This article describes methods which employ the target protein LC3 to monitor autophagic flux in retinal pigment epithelial cells. During autophagy, the cytosolic form of LC3 (LC3-I) is processed and recruited to the phagophore where it undergoes site specific proteolysis and lipidation near the C terminus to form LC3-II.5 Monitoring the formation of cellular autophagosome puncta containing LC3 and measuring the ratio of LC3-II to LC3-I provides the ability to monitor autophagy flux in the retina.

Degeneration of neuronal cell bodies following axonal injury in WldS mice

The phenotype of WldS (“slow Wallerian degeneration”) mice demonstrates prolonged survival of injured axons. However, whether the WldS mutation delays degeneration of the neuronal cell body following axonal injury is unclear. We used a retrograde model of axonal transport failure in WldS mice to test whether the mutant WldS protein has any beneficial effect on the neuronal cell body. Retrograde axonal transport was physically blocked by optic nerve crush and confirmed by the absence of Fluoro‐Gold labeling in wild‐type and in WldS mice. After this axonal injury, there was marked protection of axonal degeneration in the WldS phenotype, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. However, the WldS protein, localized in the nucleus of retinal ganglion cells, did not prevent or delay degeneration of the retinal ganglion cell body, confirmed by TUNEL staining and Fluoro‐Gold labeling. These results imply that, after axonal injury, Wallerian degeneration of axons and degeneration of the neuronal cell body have different mechanisms, which are autonomous and independent of each other. Although the WldS phenotype can be used to demonstrate stable enucleate axons, the mutation is unlikely to protect neurons in neurodegenerative diseases in which there is failure of retrograde transport.

Age-related changes in neuronal susceptibility to damage : Comparison of the retinal ganglion cells of young and old mice before and after optic nerve crush

Abstract:  To investigate whether or not the aging phenotype has increased vulnerability to axonal injury in vivo, we quantitated the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve crush. After crush, young animals lost 20% in 3 days and 50% of their RGCs in 7 days; however, old animals lost 40% in 3 days and 70% of their RGCs in 7 days. Our results showed that the time course in the loss of RGCs after crush in old mice is faster than that in young mice. Thus, old age increases susceptibility for the loss of RGCs following axonal damage.

Early cellular signaling responses to axonal injury

BackgroundWe have used optic nerve injury as a model to study early signaling events in neuronal tissue following axonal injury. Optic nerve injury results in the selective death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The time course of cell death takes place over a period of days with the earliest detection of RGC death at about 48 hr post injury. We hypothesized that in the period immediately following axonal injury, there are changes in the soma that signal surrounding glia and neurons and that start programmed cell death. In the current study, we investigated early changes in cellular signaling and gene expression that occur within the first 6 hrs post optic nerve injury.ResultsWe found evidence of cell to cell signaling within 30 min of axonal injury. We detected differences in phosphoproteins and gene expression within the 6 hrs time period. Activation of TNFα and glutamate receptors, two pathways that can initiate cell death, begins in RGCs within 6 hrs following axonal injury. Differential gene expression at 6 hrs post injury included genes involved in cytokine, neurotrophic factor signaling (Socs3) and apoptosis (Bax).ConclusionWe interpret our studies to indicate that both neurons and glia in the retina have been signaled within 30 min after optic nerve injury. The signals are probably initiated by the RGC soma. In addition, signals activating cellular death pathways occur within 6 hrs of injury, which likely lead to RGC degeneration.

Isolation and culture of astrocytes from the retina and optic nerve.

Detailed methods for the preparation of optic nerve head (ONH) astrocytes from human donor eyes and retinal astrocytes from rat eyes are described. Included is the immunopanning method used for ONH astrocyte isolation as well as cell characterization. The isolation of purified retinal astrocytes is outlined as a method applicable to rodent and other mammalian retinas.