Alan R. Harvey

Intraocular elevation of cyclic AMP potentiates ciliary neurotrophic factor-induced regeneration of adult rat retinal ganglion cell axons.

In vitro, cyclic AMP (cAMP) elevation alters neuronal responsiveness to diffusible growth factors and myelin-associated inhibitory molecules. Here we used an established in vivo model of adult central nervous system injury to investigate the effects of elevated cAMP on neuronal survival and axonal regeneration. We studied the effects of intraocular injections of neurotrophic factors and/or a cAMP analogue (CPT-cAMP) on the regeneration of axotomized rat retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons into peripheral nerve autografts. Elevation of cAMP alone did not significantly increase RGC survival or the number of regenerating RGCs. Ciliary neurotrophic factor increased RGC viability and axonal regrowth, the latter effect substantially enhanced by coapplication with CPT-cAMP. Under these conditions over 60% of surviving RGCs regenerated their axons. Neurotrophin-4/5 injections also increased RGC viability, but there was reduced long-distance axonal regrowth into grafts, an effect partially ameliorated by cAMP elevation. Thus, cAMP can act cooperatively with appropriate neurotrophic factors to promote axonal regeneration in the injured adult mammalian central nervous system.

AAV-mediated expression of CNTF promotes long-term survival and regeneration of adult rat retinal ganglion cells.

We compared the effects of intravitreal injection of bi-cistronic adeno-associated viral (AAV-2) vectors encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) and either ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or growth-associated protein-43 (GAP43) on adult retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and regeneration following (i) optic nerve (ON) crush or (ii) after ON cut and attachment of a peripheral nerve (PN). At 7 weeks after ON crush, quantification of βIII-tubulin immunostaining revealed that, compared to AAV-GFP controls, RGC survival was not enhanced by AAV-GAP43-GFP but was increased in AAV-CNTF-GFP (mean RGCs/retina: 17 450±358 s.e.m.) and AAV-BDNF-GFP injected eyes (10 200±4064 RGCs/retina). Consistent with increased RGC viability in AAV-CNTF-GFP and AAV-BDNF-GFP injected eyes, these animals possessed many βIII-tubulin- and GFP-positive fibres proximal to the ON crush. However, only in the AAV-CNTF-GFP group were regenerating RGC axons seen in distal ON (1135±367 axons/nerve, 0.5 mm post-crush), some reaching the optic chiasm. RGCs were immunoreactive for CNTF and quantitative RT-PCR revealed a substantial increase in CNTF mRNA expression in retinas transduced with AAV-CNTF-GFP. The combination of AAV-CNTF-GFP transduction of RGCs with autologous PN-ON transplantation resulted in even greater RGC survival and regeneration. At 7 weeks after PN transplantation there were 27 954 (±2833) surviving RGCs/retina, about 25% of the adult RGC population. Of these, 13 352 (±1868) RGCs/retina were retrogradely labelled after fluorogold injections into PN grafts. In summary, AAV-mediated expression of CNTF promotes long-term survival and regeneration of injured adult RGCs, effects that are substantially enhanced by combining gene and cell-based therapies/interventions.

Cellular Mechanisms Associated with Spontaneous and Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor-cAMP-Induced Survival and Axonal Regeneration of Adult Retinal Ganglion Cells

We have shown previously that intraocular elevation of cAMP using the cAMP analog 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (CPT-cAMP) failed to promote axonal regeneration of axotomized adult retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) into peripheral nerve (PN) grafts but significantly potentiated ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF)-induced axonal regeneration. Using the PN graft model, we now examine the mechanisms underlying spontaneous and CNTF/CPT-cAMP-induced neuronal survival and axonal regrowth. We found that blockade of the cAMP pathway executor protein kinase A (PKA) using the cell-permeable inhibitor KT5720 did not affect spontaneous survival and axonal regeneration but essentially abolished the CNTF/CPT-cAMP-induced RGC survival and axonal regeneration. Blockade of CNTF signaling pathways such as phosphotidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/akt by 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) by 2-(2-diamino-3-methoxyphenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (PD98059), or Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activators of transcription (STAT3) by tyrphostin AG490 also blocked the CNTF/CPT-cAMP-dependent survival and regeneration effects. PKA activity assay and Western blots showed that KT5720, LY294002, and PD98059 almost completely inhibited PKA, PI3K/akt, and MAPK/ERK signal transduction, respectively, whereas AG490 substantially decreased JAK/STAT3 signal transduction. Intraocular injection of CPT-cAMP resulted in a small PKA-dependent increase in CNTF receptor α mRNA expression in the retinas, an effect that may facilitate CNTF action on survival and axonal regeneration. Surprisingly, in the absence of CNTF/CPT-cAMP, LY294002, PD98059, and AG490, but not KT5720, significantly enhanced spontaneous RGC survival, suggesting differential roles of these pathways in RGC survival under different conditions. Our data suggest that CNTF/CPT-cAMP-induced RGC survival and axonal regeneration are a result of multiple pathway actions, with PKA as an essential component, but that these pathways can function in an antagonistic manner under different conditions.

At least two mechanisms are involved in the death of retinal ganglion cells following target ablation in neonatal rats

Removal of the superior colliculus (SC) in neonatal Wistar rats results in a rapid loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). There is an early twofold increase in RGC death 4–8 hr postlesion (PL) followed by a later 10–11-fold increase in pyknosis about 24 hr PL. We have now used neurotrophic factors (BDNF, NT-4/5, NT-3, NGF, LIF), glutamate receptor antagonists (MK-801, DNQX, CNQX), an antioxidant (N-ace-tyl-L- cysteine), and an NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) to determine whether the early and late phases of lesion-induced RGC death involved similar or different mechanisms. Normal and pyknotic nuclei of tectally projecting RGCs were visualized by injecting the left s.c. of 2 d old rats with diamidino yellow (DY). Two days later the injection site was removed. In most rats, right eyes were injected with factors immediately after the s.c. ablation. Rats were perfused either 6 or 24 hr PL. In the latter group a second intravitreal injection of the appropriate factor was sometimes made 12 hr PL. NT- 4/5 and BDNF significantly decreased RGC pyknosis 6 and 24 hr PL, whereas NT-3 was only protective 6 hr PL. LIF slightly reduced RGC death 24 hr PL, but NGF had no influence on RGC survival at either time point. NT-4/5 also reduced the rate of naturally occurring RGC death. MK-801, DNQX, CNQX, N-acetylcysteine, and L-NAME all prevented the early lesion-induced increase in RGC death but had no significant effect on RGC death measured 24 hr PL; none of these factors significantly reduced the rate of naturally occuring RGC death. Cycloheximide, shown previously to reduce RGC pyknosis 24 hr PL, did not prevent RGC death 6 hr PL. The data indicate that there are at least two mechanisms involved in RGC death after neonatal target ablation. The early increase is related to excitotoxic effects mediated by glutamate receptors and involves NOS and the production of free radicals. We found no evidence that RGC death measured 24 hr PL is dependent on these processes, but the later death does require protein synthesis and, most likely, the activation of an endogenous suicide program. NT-4/5 and BDNF protected RGCs from both types of lesion- induced death.

Viral vector-mediated gene expression in olfactory ensheathing glia implants in the lesioned rat spinal cord

Implantation of olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG) is a promising strategy to augment long-distance regeneration in the injured spinal cord. In this study, implantation of OEG following unilateral hemisection of the dorsal cervical spinal cord was combined with ex vivo gene transfer techniques. We report, to our knowledge for the first time, that purified cultures of primary OEG are capable of expressing a foreign gene following adenoviral (AdV) and lentiviral (LV) vector-mediated gene transfer. OEG implants subjected to AdV vector-mediated gene transfer expressed high levels of transgenic protein in both intact and lesioned spinal cord at 7 days after implantation. However, the levels of transgene expression gradually declined between 7 and 30 days after implantation in lesioned spinal cord. Infection with LV vectors resulted in stable transduction of primary OEG cultures and transgene expression persisted for at least 4 months after implantation. Genetic engineering of OEG opens the possibility of expressing additional neurotrophic genes and create optimal ‘bridging’ substrates to support spinal axon regeneration. Furthermore, stable transduction of OEG allows us to reliably study the behaviour of implanted cells and to obtain better understanding of their regeneration supporting properties.

Gene therapy and transplantation in CNS repair: The visual system

Normal visual function in humans is compromised by a range of inherited and acquired degenerative conditions, many of which affect photoreceptors and/or retinal pigment epithelium. As a consequence the majority of experimental gene- and cell-based therapies are aimed at rescuing or replacing these cells. We provide a brief overview of these studies, but the major focus of this review is on the inner retina, in particular how gene therapy and transplantation can improve the viability and regenerative capacity of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Such studies are relevant to the development of new treatments for ocular conditions that cause RGC loss or dysfunction, for example glaucoma, diabetes, ischaemia, and various inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. However, RGCs and associated central visual pathways also serve as an excellent experimental model of the adult central nervous system (CNS) in which it is possible to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with neuroprotection and axonal regeneration after neurotrauma. In this review we present the current state of knowledge pertaining to RGC responses to injury, neurotrophic and gene therapy strategies aimed at promoting RGC survival, and how best to promote the regeneration of RGC axons after optic nerve or optic tract injury. We also describe transplantation methods being used in attempts to replace lost RGCs or encourage the regrowth of RGC axons back into visual centres in the brain via peripheral nerve bridges. Cooperative approaches including novel combinations of transplantation, gene therapy and pharmacotherapy are discussed. Finally, we consider a number of caveats and future directions, such as problems associated with compensatory sprouting and the reformation of visuotopic maps, the need to develop efficient, regulatable viral vectors, and the need to develop different but sequential strategies that target the cell body and/or the growth cone at appropriate times during the repair process.

The regrowth of axons within tissue defects in the CNS is promoted by implanted hydrogel matrices that contain BDNF and CNTF producing fibroblasts

In this study we demonstrate the potential for combining biocompatible polymers with genetically engineered cells to elicit axon regrowth across tissue defects in the injured CNS. Eighteen- to 21-day-old rats received implants of poly N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide (HPMA) hydrogels containing RGD peptide sequences that had been infiltrated with control (untransfected) fibroblasts (n = 8), fibroblasts engineered to express brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (n = 5), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) (n = 5), or a mixture of BDNF and CNTF expressing fibroblasts (n = 11). Fibroblasts were prelabeled with Hoechst 33342. Cell/polymer constructs were inserted into cavities made in the left optic tract, between thalamus and superior colliculus. After 4-8 weeks, retinal projections were analyzed by injecting right eyes with cholera toxin (B-subunit). Rats were perfused 24 h later and sections were immunoreacted to visualize retinal axons, other axons (RT97 antibody), host astrocytes and macrophages, donor fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix molecules. The volume fraction (VF) of each gel that was occupied by RT97(+) axons was quantified. RT-PCR confirmed expression of the transgenes prior to, and 5 weeks after, transplantation. Compared to control rats (mean VF = 0.02 +/- 0.01% SEM) there was increased ingrowth of RT97(+) axons into implants in CNTF (mean VF = 0.33 +/- 0.19%) and BDNF (mean VF = 0.62 +/-0.19%) groups. Axon growth into hydrogels in the mixed BDNF/CNTF group (mean VF = 3.58 +/- 0.92%) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than in the BDNF or CNTF fibroblast groups. Retinal axons exhibited a complex branching pattern within gels containing BDNF or BDNF/CNTF fibroblasts; however, they regrew the greatest distances within implants containing both BDNF and CNTF expressing cells.

Intravitreal Injection of Adeno-associated Viral Vectors Results in the Transduction of Different Types of Retinal Neurons in Neonatal and Adult Rats: A Comparison with Lentiviral Vectors

Replication-deficient viral vectors encoding the marker gene green fluorescent protein (GFP) were injected into the vitreous of newborn, juvenile (P14), and adult rats. We tested two different types of modified virus: adeno-associated viral-2-GFP (AAV-GFP) and lentiviral-GFP vectors (LV-GFP). The extent of retinal cell transduction in different-aged animals was compared 7, 21, and 70 days after eye injections. At all postinjection times, LV-GFP transduction was mostly limited to pigment epithelium and cells in sclera and choroid. In contrast, transduction of large numbers of neural retinal cells was seen 21 and 70 days after AAV-GFP injections. AAV-GFP predominantly transduced neurons, although GFP-positive Müller cells were seen. All neuronal classes were labeled, but the extent of transduction for a given class varied depending on injection age. After P0 injections about 50% of transduced cells were photoreceptors and 30-40% were amacrine or bipolar cells. After adult injections 60-70% of transduced cells were retinal ganglion cells. In adults many GFP-positive retinal axons were traced through the optic nerve/tract and terminal arbors were visualized in central targets.

Neural tissue engineering: from polymer to biohybrid organs

This investigation reports on the immobilization of neuronal and glial cells (Schwann cells and astrocytes) within N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) polymer hydrogels for the production of cell-based polymer hybrid devices. Cells were included within HPMA polymer networks by gel-entrapment, and these biogels were maintained in vitro for up to 6 days. Cell viability and differentiation were studied using immunocytochemical methods and image analysis techniques. The polymer structure and its relationships with cells were examined by scanning electron microscopy. A proportion of the cell population was viable, expressing its own antigenic profile throughout the period of gel incubation, as cells do in conventional culture conditions, and some cells exhibited behaviour such as spreading or process outgrowth and secretion of laminin. The result of the present study allows us to envisage tissue replacement in the central nervous system by means of such cell-based polymer constructs.

Brainstem organization of efferent projections to the guinea pig cochlea studied using the fluorescent tracers fast blue and diamidino yellow

SummaryIntracochlear injection of the fluorescent retrograde neuronal tracers fast blue and diamidino yellow was used to investigate the distribution within the brainstem of neurones projecting to the cochlea in the guinea pig. The overall pattern of distribution of cells within the brainstem auditory nuclei was the same for both tracers and was also in broad agreement with recent studies in this species using horse-radish peroxidase as the neuronal tracer. However, the total number of neurones found (mean of 1234 projecting to each cochlea) was significantly greater than that reported using horseradish peroxidase, largely as a result of more small labelled neurones being detected within the lateral superior olivary nucleus ipsilateral to the injected cochlea. The yield of labelled cells was greatest in animals in which care was taken to perfuse the whole length of the cochlear epithelium. After bilateral injections of both tracers, double-labelled cells were found in small numbers within all the large neurone medial system nuclei and the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus. It was concluded that between 1–5% of the medial system neurones project to both cochleas.