David L. Simons

Gene therapy prevents photoreceptor death and preserves retinal function in a Bardet-Biedl syndrome mouse model

Patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) experience severe retinal degeneration as a result of impaired photoreceptor transport processes that are not yet fully understood. To date, there is no effective treatment for BBS-associated retinal degeneration, and blindness is imminent by the second decade of life. Here we report the development of an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector that rescues rhodopsin mislocalization, maintains nearly normal-appearing rod outer segments, and prevents photoreceptor death in the Bbs4-null mouse model. Analysis of the electroretinogram a-wave indicates that rescued rod cells are functionally indistinguishable from wild-type rods. These results demonstrate that gene therapy can prevent retinal degeneration in a mammalian BBS model.

Spata7 is a retinal ciliopathy gene critical for correct RPGRIP1 localization and protein trafficking in the retina

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and juvenile retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are severe hereditary diseases that causes visual impairment in infants and children. SPATA7 has recently been identified as the LCA3 and juvenile RP gene in humans, whose function in the retina remains elusive. Here, we show that SPATA7 localizes at the primary cilium of cells and at the connecting cilium (CC) of photoreceptor cells, indicating that SPATA7 is a ciliary protein. In addition, SPATA7 directly interacts with the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator interacting protein 1 (RPGRIP1), a key connecting cilium protein that has also been linked to LCA. In the retina of Spata7 null mutant mice, a substantial reduction of RPGRIP1 levels at the CC of photoreceptor cells is observed, suggesting that SPATA7 is required for the stable assembly and localization of the ciliary RPGRIP1 protein complex. Furthermore, our results pinpoint a role of this complex in protein trafficking across the CC to the outer segments, as we identified that rhodopsin accumulates in the inner segments and around the nucleus of photoreceptors. This accumulation then likely triggers the apoptosis of rod photoreceptors that was observed. Loss of Spata7 function in mice indeed results in a juvenile RP-like phenotype, characterized by progressive degeneration of photoreceptor cells and a strongly decreased light response. Together, these results indicate that SPATA7 functions as a key member of a retinal ciliopathy-associated protein complex, and that apoptosis of rod photoreceptor cells triggered by protein mislocalization is likely the mechanism of disease progression in LCA3/ juvenile RP patients.

Genetic ablation of Pals1 in retinal progenitor cells models the retinal pathology of Leber congenital amaurosis

Mutation of the polarity gene Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) is responsible for >10% of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) cases worldwide; LCA is characterized by early-onset degenerative retinal dystrophy. The role of CRB1 in LCA8 pathogenesis remains elusive since Crb1 mouse mutants, including a null allele, have failed to mimic the early-onset of LCA, most likely due to functional compensation by closely related genes encoding Crb2 and Crb3. Crb proteins form an evolutionarily conserved, apical polarity complex with the scaffolding protein associated with lin-seven 1 (Pals1), also known as MAGUK p55 subfamily member 5 (MPP5). Pals1 and Crbs are functionally inter-dependent in establishing and maintaining epithelial polarity. Pals1 is a single gene in the mouse and human genomes; therefore, we ablated Pals1 to establish a mouse genetic model mimicking human LCA. In our study, the deletion of Pals1 leads to the disruption of the apical localization of Crb proteins in retinal progenitors and the adult retina, validating their mutual interaction. Remarkably, the Pals1 mutant mouse exhibits the critical features of LCA such as early visual impairment as assessed by electroretinogram, disorganization of lamination and apical junctions and retinal degeneration. Our data uncover the indispensible role of Pals1 in retinal development, likely involving the maintenance of retinal polarity and survival of retinal neurons, thus providing the basis for the pathologic mechanisms of LCA8.

Loss of Shp2-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in Muller glial cells results in retinal degeneration.

ABSTRACT Extensive studies have identified many growth factors and intracellular pathways that can promote neuronal survival after retinal injury, but the intrinsic survival mechanisms in the normal retina are poorly understood. Here we report that genetic ablation of Shp2 (Ptpn11) protein phosphatase resulted in progressive apoptosis of all retinal cell types. Loss of Shp2 specifically disrupted extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling in Müller cells, leading to Stat3 activation in photoreceptors. However, neither inactivation of Stat3 nor stimulation of AKT signaling could ameliorate the Shp2 retinal degeneration. Instead, constitutively activated Kras signaling not only rescued the retinal cell numbers in the Shp2 mutant but also functionally improved the electroretinogram recording (ERG). These results suggest that Shp2-mediated Ras–mitogen-activated protein kinase (Ras-MAPK) signaling plays a critical role in Müller cell maturation and function, which is necessary for the survival of retinal neurons.

Connexin 36 and rod bipolar cell independent rod pathways drive retinal ganglion cells and optokinetic reflexes

Rod pathways are a parallel set of synaptic connections which enable night vision by relaying and processing rod photoreceptor light responses. We use dim light stimuli to isolate rod pathway contributions to downstream light responses then characterize these contributions in knockout mice lacking rod transducin-α (Trα), or certain pathway components associated with subsets of rod pathways. These comparisons reveal that rod pathway driven light sensitivity in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is entirely dependent on Trα, but partially independent of connexin 36 (Cx36) and rod bipolar cells. Pharmacological experiments show that rod pathway-driven and Cx36-independent RGC ON responses are also metabotropic glutamate receptor 6-dependent. To validate the RGC findings in awake, behaving animals we measured optokinetic reflexes (OKRs), which are sensitive to changes in ON pathways. Scotopic OKR contrast sensitivity was lost in Trα(-/-) mice, but indistinguishable from controls in Cx36(-/-) and rod bipolar cell knockout mice. Mesopic OKRs were also altered in mutant mice: Trα(-/-) mice had decreased spatial acuity, rod BC knockouts had decreased sensitivity, and Cx36(-/-) mice had increased sensitivity. These results provide compelling evidence against the complete Cx36 or rod BC dependence of night visions ON component. Further, the findings suggest the parallel nature of rod pathways provides considerable redundancy to scotopic light sensitivity but distinct contributions to mesopic responses through complicated interactions with cone pathways.

Electrophysiological and Histological Characterization of Rod-Cone Retinal Degeneration and Microglia Activation in a Mouse Model of Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IIIB

Sanfilippo syndrome Type B or Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB (MPS IIIB) is a neurodegenerative autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder in which patients suffer severe vision loss from associated retinopathy. Here we sought to study the underlying retinal functional and morphological changes associated with MPS IIIB disease progression using the established model of MPS IIIB, the B6.129S6-Naglu(tm1Efn)/J mouse line. Electroretinogram (ERG) was recorded from MPS IIIB and wild-type (WT) mice at the age of 28 and 46 weeks, and retinal tissues were subsequently collected for immunohistochemistry analysis. At the 28th week, rod a- and b-wave amplitudes were significantly diminished in MPS IIIB compared to WT mice. The cone a- and b-waves of MPS IIIB mice were not significantly different from those of the control at the 28th week but were significantly diminished at the 46th week, when MPS IIIB mice showed a major loss of rods and rod bipolar cells in both central and peripheral regions and a minor loss of cones in the periphery. Activation of microglia and neovascularization were also detected in the MPS IIIB retina. The new findings that cones and rod bipolar cells also undergo degeneration, and that retinal microglia are activated, will inform future development of therapeutic strategies.