Molecular Vision最新文献

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the inflammatory mediators present in the tear film of patients with keratoconus (KC). It also aimed to investigate the gene expression of these mediators in corneal epithelial cells and their immune activity in conjunctival epithelial cells in patients with KC compared to a control group.

Methods: This transversal study included 30 patients with KC and 23 control group participants. Tear samples were collected by washing the ocular surface with 60 μL of sterile buffered saline solution. The levels of interleukin IL-5, IL-13, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and IL-4 were measured using a LEGEND plex HU Th1/Th2 panel kit and analyzed using flow cytometry. Corneal epithelial samples were obtained via manual keratectomy from KC patients scheduled for corneal crosslinking and from individuals scheduled for photorefractive keratectomy (control group). These samples were immediately stored at -70 °C for mRNA extraction and subsequent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis to measure IL-5 and IL-6 gene expression. Conjunctival epithelium samples were collected using impression cytology and analyzed using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy to detect IL-5 and IL-6 immunoreactions.

Results: Our study found no statistically significant differences in the tear film cytokine concentrations between the two groups. In addition, the gene expression of IL-5 and IL-6 in the corneal epithelium was higher in the KC group than in the control group, with IL-5 showing a 50% increase and IL-6 showing a 20% increase. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a greater immunostaining of IL-5 and IL-6 in the conjunctival epithelium of patients with KC compared to the control group.

Conclusions: In this study, despite higher levels of IL-5 and IL-6 in the tear film of patients with KC, there was no statistically significant difference compared to the control group. However, there was heightened immune activity in the corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells of patients with KC based on IL-5 and IL-6 gene expression and their immunodetection, respectively.

[This retracts the article on p. 92 in vol. 30, PMID: 38601014.].

Purpose: Ranibizumab is a frequently used inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the treatment of macular edema following central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Studying proteins that mediate the beneficial effects of ranibizumab in CRVO can potentially lead to the improved management of macular edema.

Methods: In 14 Danish Landrace pigs, experimental CRVO was induced in the right eyes and treated with either intravitreal ranibizumab (n = 6) or an intravitreal sodium chloride 9 mg/mL solution as a sham injection (n = 8). Successful CRVO was confirmed by fluorescein angiography. Retinal samples were collected 15 days after induced CRVO and analyzed with label-free, quantification, nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Validation was performed with western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

Results: CRVO was successfully induced and confirmed by fluorescein angiography. A total of 28 proteins were upregulated, and 31 proteins were downregulated following ranibizumab treatment. A high concentration of the ranibizumab component immunoglobulin kappa chain C region was observed in retinas treated with ranibizumab. Complement C3, the Ig lambda chain C region, and nucleobindin-2 were downregulated following ranibizumab intervention. The downregulation of complement C3 was confirmed by western blotting. Modest changes were observed in the remaining significantly regulated proteins.

Conclusions: Retinal complement C3 was downregulated following ranibizumab intervention in CRVO. The decrease in complement C3 may potentially downregulate the inflammatory response in CRVO. A high retinal concentration of ranibizumab was reached 15 days after injection of the compound.

Purpose: Congenital cataract is an important cause of visual impairment in childhood. Our previous study reported that the c.110G>C (p.R36P) mutation in the γD-crystallin gene (CRYGD) was associated with congenital cataract in a Chinese family. This study aimed to investigate the potential underlying mechanism through which the p.R36P mutation leads to congenital cataract.

Methods: Plasmids encoding wide-type human γD-crystallin and the mutant R36P γD-crystallin were transfected into HEK293T and SRA01/04 cells. Protein expression levels, including total, soluble, and insoluble fractions, were quantified by Western blotting. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assess the mRNA expression of other crystallin genes. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated using the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

Results: The total protein, especially the soluble fraction, was significantly reduced in the R36P mutant, while the insoluble part remained unaffected. The decrease of soluble R36P γD-crystallin could not be rescued by the proteinase inhibitor MG132. The mRNA expression of the R36P mutation was lower, but other crystallin RNAs were unchanged. Cell viability was slightly decreased (11%, p<0.05), and cell apoptosis was not significantly increased (12%, p=0.31).

Conclusions: The significant decrease in soluble R36P γD-crystallin may represent a novel mechanism underlying congenital cataract caused by CRYGD gene mutation.

Purpose: To investigate the differences in anterior scleral thickness (AST) among the refractive statuses of Chinese adults aged 18-35.

Methods: This study recruited 170 Chinese participants (mean age, 24.06 ± 2.78 years), including myopes (spherical equivalent refraction [SER] -1.00 to -12.75 diopters [D]; n = 134), emmetropes (SER ± 0.75 D; n = 36), and AST (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal), which were investigated via swept-source optical coherence tomography. Semiautomated custom-designed software measured the scleral thickness from the scleral spur to 5 mm along four meridians.

Results: The mean axial length and spherical equivalent refractive error were 25.12 ± 1.44 mm and -3.93 ± 3.09 D, respectively. The anterior sclera was thickest in the inferior region and thinnest in the superior region (753.9 ± 88.7 μm versus 613.6 ± 58.4; p < 0.001). The AST in the temporal meridian was significantly thicker than that in the nasal meridian (727.5 ± 60.8, 690.9 ± 55 μm; p < 0.001). There were no significant variations in AST in the myopes and emmetropes along the five latitude lines. AST along the inferior meridian at the 4-mm (r 2 = 0.0992; p < 0.001) and 5-mm (r 2 = 0.0888; p < 0.001) locations decreased significantly with increasing myopia.

Conclusion: With increased myopia, AST at the 4-mm and 5-mm locations showed significant thinning in the inferior meridian. The results indicate that AST, especially along the inferior meridian, may act as a biologic marker to monitor the progression of myopia.

Purpose: To investigate systemic and ocular toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 expression and its association with oxidative stress markers in ocular rosacea (OR).

Methods: This prospective study included 40 patients with rosacea with ocular involvement and 20 healthy volunteers. Tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, meibomoscore, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores were estimated for all participants. TLR-4 expression in conjunctival epithelium and peripheral blood mononuclear cells was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In the tears and serum samples of all participants, antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and arylesterase (ARE) activation levels were measured using a fully automated spectrophotometric method, and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated.

Results: TLR-4 expression levels and oxidative stress status (TOS and OSI values) were significantly higher (p < 0.01), and antioxidant status (TAS and ARE values) were significantly lower (p < 0.01) in both ocular and blood samples of patients with OR compared with those in controls. A significant positive correlation was found between the ocular and blood values in all parameters (p < 0.05). According to the clinical associations of these results, we found negative correlations between TLR-4, OSI, and TBUT and between TLR-4 and Schirmer, whereas a positive correlation was observed between TLR-4, OSI, and meiboscore and between TLR-4, OSI, and OSDI (p < 0.05). No correlation was found between the OSI and Schirmer results (p = 0.92).

Conclusions: TLR-4 and oxidative stress both play important roles in OR pathophysiology and are closely related to clinical findings.

Purpose: Subconjunctival fibrosis is the main cause of failure after glaucoma filtration surgery. We explored the effects of sulforaphane (SFN) on the conversion of human Tenon's fibroblasts (HTFs) into myofibroblasts, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced contraction of collagen gel, and inflammation.

Methods: After treatment with the combination of TGF-β and SFN or TGF-β alone, primary HTFs were subjected to a three-dimensional collagen contraction experiment to examine their contractility. Levels of α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM), and phosphorylation of various signaling molecules were determined by western blot or quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Fluorescence microscopy was employed to examine stress fiber formation in HTFs. The expressions of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were determined using RT-qPCR.

Results: The contraction of myofibroblasts caused by TGF-β was significantly suppressed by SFN. This suppressive effect was exerted via the differentiation of HTFs into myofibroblasts by inhibiting the production of fibronectin and the expression of α-SMA. Moreover, SFN treatment reduced the expression of TGF-β-promoted integrins β1 and α5, myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, and stress fiber formation, as well as the expression of IL-6, IL-8, and CTGF. Finally, TGF-β-induced Smad2/3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylations were attenuated by SFN.

Conclusions: SFN inhibits HTF contractility, differentiation into myofibroblasts, and inflammation caused by TGF-β. These effects are mediated by both classic and non-classic signaling pathways. Our results indicate that SFN has potent anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects in HTFs and is a potential candidate for subconjunctival fibrosis therapy.

Purpose: The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) comprise a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders with thirteen NCL-disease causing genes ceroid lipofuscinosis neuronal (CLN) identified. The purpose of this study was to describe the genetic and clinical characteristics of a cohort of Chinese patients harboring biallelic variants in the CLN genes.

Methods: We recruited 14 patients from 13 unrelated families who carried biallelic variants in the CLN genes. All patients underwent ophthalmic and systematic evaluations, as well as comprehensive molecular genetic analyses. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were performed to observe the effect of a novel non-canonical splice-site (NCSS) variant on CLN3 pre-mRNA splicing. Eventually, eight patients were followed up.

Results: We detected 21 variants in three CLN genes (CLN3, MFSD8, and PPT1); 13 variants were novel. RT-PCR assays indicated that the NCSS variant c.963-13A>G changed the pre-mRNA splicing, thereby creating an in-frame indel variant p.(W321delinsCPNLR) in CLN3. Diagnoses of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) and non-syndromic retinal dystrophy (RD) were established in eight patients and six patients, respectively. The patients with NCL showed clinical heterogeneity, from typical phenotypes of CLN3 or CLN7 disease to juvenile- or adult-onset CLN1 disease. All patients experienced early and severe visual loss. A retinal evaluation revealed specific macular striation in 12 of the 14 patients.

Conclusions: Patients with variants in the three CLN genes exhibit varied clinical spectra, which might be related to their genotype. All patients presented relatively unique retinal alterations. Our findings point to a crucial need for genetic analysis for the early and accurate diagnosis of patients with NCL.