La détérioration de la barrière hémato rétinienne et l'oedème maculaire consécutif est une manifestation cardinale de la rétinopathie diabétique (RD) et la caractéristique clinique la plus étroitement associée à la perte de la vue. Alors que l'oedème maculaire affecte plus de 25% des patients souffrant de diabète, les modalités de traitement actuellement disponibles tels que les corticostéroïdes administrés localement et les thérapies anti-VEGF récemment approuvés présentent plusieurs inconvénients. Bien que le lien entre une rupture de l’unité neuro-vasculaire et la pathogénèse de la RD ait récemment été établi, l’influence de la signalisation neuro-vasculaire sur la vasculopathie oculaire diabetique a jusqu’à présent reçu peu d’attention. Ici, à l’aide d’ètudes humaines et animales, nous fournissons la première preuve du rôle essentiel de la molécule de guidage neuronale classique Sémaphorine 3A dans l’instigation de la perméabilité vasculaire maculaire pathologique dans le diabète de type 1. L’étude de la dynamique d’expression de Sémaphorine 3A révèle que cette dernière est induite dans les phases précoces hyperglycèmiques du diabète dans la rétine neuronale et participe à la rupture initiale de la fonction de barrière endothéliale. En utilisant le modèle de souris streptozotocine pour simuler la rétinopathie diabétique humaine, nous avons démontré par une série d’approches analogue que la neutralisation de Sémaphorine 3A empêche de façon efficace une fuite vasculaire rétinienne. Nos résultats identifient une nouvelle cible thérapeutique pour l’oedème maculaire diabétique en plus de fournir d’autres preuves de communication neuro-vasculaire dans la pathogènese de la RD. / The deterioration of the blood retinal barrier and consequent macular edema is a cardinal manifestation of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the clinical feature most closely associated with loss of sight. While macular edema affects over 25% of patients suffering from diabetes, currently available treatment modalities such as locally administered corticosteroids and recently approved anti-VEGF therapies, present several drawbacks. Although recent insight on the pathogenesis of DR points to a breakdown in the neurovascular unit, neurovascular cross-talk and its influence on diabetic ocular vasculopathy has thus far received limited attention. Here we provide the first evidence from both human and animal studies for the critical role of the classical neuronal guidance cue Semaphorin3A in instigating pathological macular vascular permeability in type I diabetes. Investigation of the dynamics of expression reveal that Semaphorin3A is induced in the early hyperglycemic phases of diabetes within the neuronal retina and precipitates initial breakdown of endothelial barrier function. Using the streptozotocin mouse model as a proxy for human diabetic retinopathy, we demonstrate by a series of orthogonal approaches (gene silencing or treatment with soluble Neuropilin-1 employed as a Semaphorin3A trap), that neutralization of Semaphorin3A efficiently prevents retinal vascular leakage. Our findings identify a new therapeutic target for DME and provide further evidence for neurovascular cross-talk in pathogenesis of DR.

In this Ph.D. thesis, we study new methods to analyse digital fundus images of diabetic patients. In particular, we concentrate on the development of the algorithmic components of an automatic screening system for diabetic retinopathy. The techniques developed can be categorized in: quality assessment and improvement, lesion segmentation and diagnosis. For the first category, we present a fast algorithm to numerically estimate the quality of a single image by employing vasculature and colour-based features; additionally, we show how it is possible to increase the image quality and remove reflection artefacts by merging information gathered in multiple fundus images (which are captured by changing the stare point of the patient). For the second category, two families of lesion are targeted: exudate and microaneurysms; two new algorithms which work on single fundus images are proposed and compared with existing techniques in order to prove their efficacy; in the microaneurysms case, a new Radon transform-based operator was developed. In the last diagnosis category, we have developed an algorithm that diagnoses diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema based on the lesions segmented; starting from a single unseen image, our algorithm can generate a diabetic retinopathy and ma cular edema diagnosis in _22 seconds on a 1.6 GHz machine with 4 GB of RAM; additionally, we show the first results of a macular edema detection algorithm based on multiple fundus images, which can potentially identify the swelling of the macula even when no lesions are visible.

Διάφορες ρεολογικές διαταραχές των ερυθροκυττάρων, μεταξύ των οποίων η αυξημένη συσσωμάτωση και η μειωμένη ικανότητα ελαστικής παραμόρφωσης, έχουν παρατηρηθεί στο σακχαρώδη διαβήτη και πιστεύεται ότι εμπλέκονται στην ανάπτυξη της διαβητικής μικροαγγειοπάθειας. Δομικές μεταβολές των πρωτεϊνών της μεμβράνης των ερυθρών αιμοσφαιρίων, ως αποτέλεσμα της διαβητικής διαδικασίας, μπορεί να βρίσκονται πίσω από αυτές τις ρεολογικές διαταραχές. Στην παρούσα μελέτη, διερευνήθηκε η ύπαρξη μεταβολών των πρωτεϊνών της μεμβράνης των ερυθρών αιμοσφαιρίων σε ασθενείς με διαβητική αμφιβληστροειδοπάθεια. Εξετάστηκαν δείγματα περιφερικού αίματος 40 ασθενών με σακχαρώδη διαβήτη τύπου 2 και διαβητική αμφιβληστροειδοπάθεια ποικίλης βαρύτητας (19 άνδρες και 21 γυναίκες με μέση ηλικία 66,8 έτη: Ομάδα Α) και συγκρίθηκαν με δείγματα από 19 ασθενείς με σακχαρώδη διαβήτη τύπου 2 χωρίς αμφιβληστροειδοπάθεια (13 άνδρες και 6 γυναίκες με μέση ηλικία 66,5 έτη: Ομάδα Β) και από 16 υγιείς μάρτυρες (8 άνδρες και 8 γυναίκες με μέση ηλικία 65,6 έτη: Ομάδα Γ). Ερυθροκυτταρικές μεμβράνες από όλα τα δείγματα απομονώθηκαν και υποβλήθηκαν σε ηλεκτροφόρηση πηκτώματος γέλης SDS – πολυακρυλαμίδης και, σε κάθε δείγμα, έγινε μελέτη της ηλεκτροφορητικής κινητικότητας των διαμεμβρανικών πρωτεϊνών και των πρωτεϊνών του υπομεμβρανικού σκελετού. Η ποσοτική ανάλυση κάθε ηλεκτροφορητικής ζώνης επιτεύχθηκε με σάρωση και ψηφιακή ανάλυση. Στις Ομάδες Β και Γ παρατηρήθηκαν μη σημαντικές αποκλίσεις από τη φυσιολογική ηλεκτροφόρηση, εκτός από μια αύξηση στη ζώνη 8 σε δύο δείγματα της Ομάδας Β (11%). Αντίθετα, σε 14 δείγματα της Ομάδας Α (35%) διαπιστώθηκε αύξηση της πρωτεϊνικής ζώνης 8 ή/και της αιμοσφαιρίνης της συνδεδεμένης με τη μεμβράνη παράλληλα με μείωση της σπεκτρίνης. Επιπρόσθετα, σε 10 δείγματα της Ομάδας Α (25%) παρατηρήθηκαν αυξημένη κινητικότητα της ζώνης 3, μια παθολογική ζώνη υψηλού μοριακού βάρους (>255 kDa) και μια παθολογική ζώνη χαμηλού μοριακού βάρους (42 kDa). Οι γλυκοφορίνες εμφάνισαν αλλοιώσεις στο 46% των ασθενών της Ομάδας Α έναντι 38% των ασθενών της Ομάδας Β. Οι γυναίκες και οι ασθενείς με μεγάλη διάρκεια του διαβήτη εμφάνισαν τις περισσότερες ηλεκτροφορητικές διαταραχές. Δομικές μεταβολές των πρωτεϊνών της μεμβράνης των ερυθρών αιμοσφαιρίων σε συσχέτιση με διαβητική αμφιβληστροειδοπάθεια παρουσιάζονται για πρώτη φορά στη διεθνή βιβλιογραφία. Η ανίχνευση των μεταβολών αυτών θα μπορούσε να χρησιμεύσει ως αιματικός δείκτης για την ανάπτυξη διαβητικής μικροαγγειοπάθειας. Περαιτέρω μελέτες είναι απαραίτητες ώστε να διερευνηθεί αν ενδεχόμενη φαρμακευτική παρέμβαση στη ρεολογία των ερυθρών αιμοσφαιρίων μπορεί να προλάβει ή να μετριάσει τις επιπλοκές της διαβητικής μικροαγγειοπάθειας. / Several rheological disorders of the erythrocytes, such as increased aggregation and decreased deformability, have been observed in diabetes mellitus and have been implicated in the development of diabetic microangiopathy. Structural alterations of the erythrocyte membrane proteins caused by the diabetic process may be at the origin of these observations. In the present study, we searched for erythrocyte membrane protein alterations in diabetic retinopathy. We examined peripheral blood samples from 40 type-2 diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy of variable severity (19 males and 21 females, mean age 66.8 years, Group A) and we compared them with samples from 19 type-2 diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (13 males and 6 females, mean age 66.5 years, Group B) and 16 healthy volunteers (8 males and 8 females, mean age 65.6 years, Group C). Erythrocyte membrane ghosts from all samples were subjected to SDS-PAGE, and the electrophoretic pattern of transmembrane and cytoskeletal proteins was analysed for each sample. The protein quantification of each electrophoretic band was accomplished through scanning densitometry. No significant deviations from normal electrophoresis were observed in Groups B and C, apart from an increase in band 8 in two samples from Group B (11%). In contrast, in 14 samples from Group A (35%) we detected increases in protein band 8 and/or membrane-bound haemoglobin along with a decrease in spectrin. Moreover, increased mobility of band 3, an aberrant high molecular weight (>255 kDa) band and a low molecular weight (42 kDa) band were evident in 10 samples from Group A (25%). Glycophorins were altered in 46% of Group-A patients versus 38% of Group-B patients. Females and patients with long duration of diabetes presented more electrophoretic abnormalities. Structural alterations of the erythrocyte membrane proteins are shown for the first time in association with diabetic retinopathy. Their detection may serve as a blood marker for the development of diabetic microangiopathy. Further studies are needed to assess whether pharmaceutical intervention to the rheology of erythrocytes can prevent or alleviate microvascular diabetic complications.

La rétinopathie diabétique est la cause principale de cécité dans la population en âge de travailler. Une détection précoce et un traitement adapté permettent de réduire considérablement le risque de perte de vue. Les autorités médicales recommandent un examen annuel pour les patients diabétiques. Plusieurs programmes de dépistage de la rétinopathie diabétique ont été déployés pour appliquer cette recommandation. L'objectif du projet TeleOphta était de détecter automatiquement des examens normaux dans un système de dépistage du diabète, afin de réduire le fardeau des lecteurs, et donc servir plus de patients. Cette thèse propose plusieurs méthodes pour extraire des informations liées à des lésions provoquées par la rétinopathie diabétique dans des images en couleurs du fond d'œil.La détection des exsudats, microanévrismes et hémorragies est discutée en détail. L'un des principaux défis de ce travail est de traiter des images cliniques, acquises avec différents types de caméras de fond d'œil, par des personnes différentes. Par conséquent, l'hétérogénéité de la base de données est élevé. Des nouvelles méthodes de pré-traitement, qui effectuent non seulement des tâches de normalisation et de débruitage, mais aussi de détection de réflexions et d'artefacts optiques, sont proposées. Des méthodes de segmentation des candidats basées sur la morphologie mathématique, et de nouveaux descripteurs de texture et de contexte sont proposées pour la caractérisation des lésions. Un algorithme de forêts aléatoires est utilisé pour choisir les lésions parmi les candidats. Les méthodes proposées utilisent largement des nouvelles méthodes d'analyse des résidus.En outre, trois nouvelles bases de données publiques d'images de la rétine, e-ophtha EX, e-ophtha MA et e-ophtha HM, respectivement conçues pour développer et évaluer les méthodes de détection d' exsudats,de microanévrismes et d'hémorragies, sont proposées dans ce travail. Les images ont été extraites du réseau de télémédecine OPHDIAT pour le dépistage de la rétinopathie diabétique. Des annotations manuelles détaillées des lésions sont fournies avec ces bases de données. Les algorithmes proposés sont évalués sur ces bases.Les méthodes proposées ont été intégrées dans le système TeleOphta , qui est présentée et évaluée sur deux grandes bases de données. Chaque dossier du patient est classé en deux catégories: “Pour avis” ou “Normal". La classification est basée non seulement sur les résultats des méthodes présentées, mais aussi sur les signatures d'image fournies par d'autres partenaires, ainsi que sur l'information médicale du patient, et les données liées à l'acquisition. L'évaluation montre que le système TeleOphta permet de traiter deux fois plus de patients dans un réseau de dépistage, à moyens constants. / Diabetic retinopathy is the main cause of blindness among the middle-aged population. An early detection and adapted treatment considerably reduce the risk of sight loss. Medical authorities recommend an annual examination to diabetic patients. Several diabetic retinopathy screening programs have been deployed to enforce this recommendation. The aim of the TeleOphta project was to automatically detect normal examinations in a diabetic screening system, in order to reduce the burden on readers, and therefore serve more patients. This thesis proposes several methods to extract information linked to diabetic retinopathy lesions from color eye fundus images.The detection of exudates, microaneurysms and hemorrhages is discussed in detail. One of the main challenges of this work is to deal with clinical images, acquired by different types of eye fundus cameras, by different persons. Therefore the data base heterogeneity is high. New pre-processing methods, which perform not only normalization and denoising tasks, but also detect reflections and artifacts in the images, are proposed. Novel candidate segmentation methods based on mathematical morphology, and new textural and contextual features for lesion characterization, are proposed. A random forest algorithm is used to detect lesions among the candidates. The proposed methods make extensive use of new residue analysis methods.Moreover, three new publicly available retinal image databases, e-ophtha EX, e-ophtha MA and e-ophtha HM, respectively designed to develop and evaluate exudate, microaneurysms and hemorrhages detections methods, are proposed in this work. The images are extracted from the OPHDIAT telemedicine network for diabetic retinopathy screening. Manual annotations of the lesions are given in detail in these databases. The proposed algorithms are evaluated on these databases.The proposed methods have been integrated within the TeleOphta system, which is presented and evaluated on two large databases. Each patient record is classified into two categories: “To be referred” or “Normal”. The classification is based not only on the results of the presented methods, but also on image signatures provided by other partners, as well as on medical and acquisition-related information. The evaluation shows that the TeleOphta system can make about 2 times more patients benefit from the diagnosis service.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os relatos de alterações da acuidade visual no pósoperatório são esporádicos e acredita-se que apenas os mais graves estejam descritos na literatura. Trata-se de complicação grave e não existem estudos comparativos de avaliação visual antes e após os procedimentos anestésico-cirúrgicos. OBJETIVOS: Analisar a incidência e os fatores de risco para alterações visuais pós-operatórias em pacientes idosos. MÉTODOS: Após aprovação pela Comissão Institucional de Ética em Pesquisa foram estudados 107 pacientes entre 60 anos e 80 anos submetidos a cirurgias com duração superior a 120 minutos. Pacientes com pontuação inferior a 18 pontos na avaliação cognitiva pelo teste de Mini Mental (MMSE) foram excluídos do estudo e também aqueles candidatos a cirurgia oftalmológica, de coluna, cardiovascular, neurocirurgia, de cabeça e pescoço ou otorrinolaringológica, ou os portadores de distúrbios psiquiátricos ou alterações oftalmológicas significativas. Realizou-se avaliação da acuidade visual no dia anterior à cirurgia e no 3º e 21º dias de pósoperatório, sendo esta última realizada apenas nos pacientes que apresentaram algum tipo de alteração visual no 3º PO. As avaliações da acuidade visual foram realizadas utilizando a tabela de Snellen, tabela de Jaeger, biomicroscopia, tonometria óptica, refração, motilidade ocular e fundoscopia. As variáveis independentes preditoras de risco de alteração visual foram selecionadas pelo modelo de regressão logística múltipla. RESULTADOS: A incidência de alteração visual no 3o PO foi de 19,6% (n=21), dos quais 33% (n=7) persistiram com a alteração visual até o 21o PO. A principal alteração foi encontrada ao exame da tabela de Snellen com redução de 30% (p < 0,05) da acuidade visual no 3o PO. Esta alteração foi acompanhada de aumento da refração e da pressão intraocular. Os pacientes diabéticos tipo II, com aumento da frequência cardíaca após a indução anestésica, redução da saturação de oxigênio ao final da cirurgia e submetidos a cirurgias mais prolongadas apresentaram maior risco de alteração visual pós-operatória. DISCUSSÃO: A avaliação por meio de testes específicos permitiu identificar a incidência de alteração visual pósoperatória em pacientes idosos submetidos a anestesia geral para cirurgias com mais de 120 minutos de duração. Os fatores de risco identificados sugerem que pacientes idosos e diabéticos submetidos a cirurgias prolongadas, com aumento da frequência cardíaca e hipotensão após a indução anestésica, redução da saturação de oxigênio ao final da cirurgia e apresentam maior risco de desenvolvimento de alteração visual pósoperatória. Estudos adicionais sobre as causas e formas de prevenção são desejáveis para a melhor compreensão deste evento adverso / BACKGROUND: Reports of changes in visual acuity in the postoperative period are sporadic and it is believed that only the most serious are described in the literature. It is a serious complication and there are no comparative studies evaluating visual function before and after anestheticsurgical procedures. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the incidence and risk factors for postoperative visual changes in elderly patients. METHODS: After approval by the Institutional Ethics Committee, 107 patients between 60 and 80 years of age and candidates for surgery lasting more than 120 minutes were evaluated. Patients with less than 18 points on the cognitive evaluation by the mini-mental state evaluation (MMSE) were excluded from the study and also those candidates to ophthalmologic, spinal, cardiovascular, neurosurgery, head and neck or otorhinolaryngologic surgery, or those with psychiatric disorders or ophthalmological changes. Visual acuity assessment was performed on the day before surgery and on the 3rd and 21st postoperative days (POD), the latter being performed only in patients who presented some type of visual alteration in the 3rd POD. Visual acuity assessments were performed using the Snellen table, Jaeger table, biomicroscopy, optical tonometry, refraction, ocular motility and fundoscopy. The independent predictors of risk of visual impairment were selected by the multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS: The incidence of visual impairment in the 3rd POD was 19.6% (n = 21), of which 33% (n = 7) persisted with the visual alteration until the 21st POD. The main alteration was found when examining the Snellen chart with a 30% reduction (p < 0.05) in visual acuity in the 3rd POD. This alteration was accompanied by an increase in refraction and intraocular pressure. Type II diabetic patients with increased heart rate after anesthetic induction, reduction of oxygen saturation at the end of surgery, and submitted to more prolonged surgeries presented a greater risk of postoperative visual changes. DISCUSSION: The evaluation through specific tests allowed the identification of the incidence of postoperative visual alteration in elderly patients submitted to general anesthesia for surgeries lasting more than 120 minutes. The risk factors identified suggest that elderly and diabetic patients undergoing prolonged surgeries, with increased heart rate and hypotension after induction, and reduction of oxygen saturation at the end of surgery present a higher risk of developing postoperative visual changes. Additional studies on the causes and forms of prevention are desirable for the better understanding of this adverse event

Abstract The incidence of childhood onset type 1 diabetes in Finland has been the highest in the world for several decades. Optimal management of the disease presents a lifelong challenge to the affected individuals. Related complications are common and include an ocular pathology called diabetic retinopathy. Type 1 diabetes with its ramifications can impact on several facets of a patient’s physical and psychological well-being. This study aimed to assess the ophthalmic findings and to evaluate the characteristics of general well-being of a population-based cohort of paediatric patients with type 1 diabetes and a population-based cohort of young adults with type 1 diabetes since childhood. The prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy were assessed of the population-based paediatric cohort in the catchment area of the Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District and these were compared to a similar paediatric cohort studied 18 years previously. There was no significant change in the overall prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (12%) during the study period. Furthermore, glycaemic balance and other risk factors of diabetic retinopathy had remained almost unchanged. A population-based cohort of young adults was evaluated in 2007 for the prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy. Most of the cohort subjects (94%) had developed diabetic retinopathy and in every third subject there was evidence of proliferative retinopathy. Health related quality of life was the same as that in the age- and gender-standardised control population. For the most part, the young adults with a long duration of type 1 diabetes fared equally well as the general population in the measured social aspects. However, proliferative diabetic retinopathy was associated with lower educational achievements and poorer health related quality of life as well as with a higher probability of unemployment or being pensioned. Glycaemic balance and prevalence of diabetic retinopathy have remained unchanged in paediatric cohorts for nearly two decades despite concurrent advances in care. Social well-being was mainly restricted in young adults exhibiting signs of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The negative impact of advanced complications of type 1 diabetes already in these young adults highlights the importance of strict metabolic control to maintain overall well-being. / Tiivistelmä Lapsuusiässä alkavan tyypin 1 diabeteksen ilmaantuvuus on ollut Suomessa maailman korkein usean vuosikymmenen ajan. Hyvän hoitotasapainon ylläpitäminen on elinikäinen haaste sairastuneelle. Diabeteksen liitännäissairaudet ovat yleisiä, kuten myös silmänpohjissa todettava diabeettinen retinopatia. Tyypin 1 diabetes voi komplikaatioineen vaikuttaa laajasti potilaan fyysiseen ja psyykkiseen hyvinvointiin. Tässä tutkimuksessa pyrittiin arvioimaan silmien terveydentilaa ja yleiseen hyvinvointiin liittyviä tekijöitä tyypin 1 diabetesta sairastavien lasten sekä lapsena diabetekseen sairastuneiden nuorten aikuisten väestöpohjaisissa potilasaineistoissa. Diabeettisen retinopatian esiintyvyys ja riskitekijät tutkittiin väestöpohjaisessa lapsipotilasaineistossa Pohjois-Pohjanmaan sairaanhoitopiirin alueella ja tuloksia verrattiin vastaavaan 18 vuotta aiemmin tutkittuun potilasaineistoon. Diabeettisen retinopatian esiintyvyys (12 %) ei ollut merkittävästi muuttunut tutkimusaikana. Glykeeminen tasapaino ja muut diabeettisen retinopatian riskitekijät olivat pysyneet kohorttien välillä oleellisilta osin ennallaan. Lapsena sairastuneiden nuorten aikuisten väestöpohjaisesta potilasaineistosta arvioitiin diabeettisen retinopatian esiintyvyys ja vaikeusaste vuonna 2007. Enemmistölle potilaista (94 %) oli kehittynyt diabeettinen retinopatia ja kolmanneksella todettiin proliferatiivinen retinopatia. Terveyteen liittyvä elämänlaatu oli verrattavissa ikä- ja sukupuolivakioituun verrokkiväestöön. Sosiaalista hyvinvointia mittaavat tulokset olivat pääosin yhtäläiset muuhun väestöön verrattuna. Proliferatiivisella diabeettisella retinopatialla havaittiin kuitenkin yhteys huonompaan terveyteen liittyvään elämänlaatuun ja koulutustasoon sekä korkeampiin työttömyys- ja eläköitymislukuihin. Tutkitussa aineistossa lapsipotilaiden glykeeminen tasapaino sekä diabeettisen retinopatian esiintyvyys pysyivät ennallaan lähes kahden vuosikymmenen ajan hoitojen kehittymisestä huolimatta. Nuorten aikuisten sosiaalisessa hyvinvoinnissa esiintyi poikkeavuuksia lähinnä proliferatiivista diabeettista retinopatiaa sairastavilla. Tyypin 1 diabeteksen pitkälle edenneiden komplikaatioiden negatiivinen vaikutus jo nuorella aikuisiällä korostaa hyvän hoitotasapainon tärkeyttä yleisen elämänlaadun ylläpitämisessä.

Les complications vasculaires rétiniennes constituent des évènements qui peuvent être observés au cours de rétinopathies pouvant être à l’origine d’une cécité à tous les stades de la vie. Ces complications concernent particulièrement la rétinopathie du prématuré, la rétinopathie diabétique et la dégénérescence maculaire liée à l’âge. Les lipides offrent de nombreuses possibilités pour prévenir et éventuellement freiner le développement de ces rétinopathies. Parmi eux, la classe des plasmalogènes est particulièrement riche en acides gras poly-insaturés (AGPI), qui sont libérés par une phospholipase indépendante du calcium (iPLA2) et qui sont précurseurs de métabolites biologiquement actifs. Certains de ces métabolites sont connus pour être impliqués dans la modulation de l’angiogenèse rétinienne. L’objectif de ce travail de thèse a été d’évaluer l’implication des plasmalogènes dans le développement vasculaire rétinien par l’intermédiaire de la libération des AGPI par la iPLA2. Pour vérifier cette hypothèse, nous avons caractérisé les évènements cellulaires et moléculaires du développement vasculaire rétinien postnatal chez un modèle animal d’inhibition de la iPLA2 rétinienne que nous avons préalablement développé, ceci de manière comparative avec un modèle de déficience totale en plasmalogènes. Nous avons également tenté de mettre en évidence de potentielles altérations du métabolisme des plasmalogènes chez au cours d’une rétinopathie à composante vasculaire chez l’homme, la rétinopathie diabétique. Nos résultats ont suggéré que les plasmalogènes sont indispensables pour le développement physiologique des vaisseaux rétiniens. Ils seraient impliqués dans le contrôle de la formation de la trame astrocytaire et la mise en place du réseau endothélial par l’intermédiaire des AGPI libérés par la iPLA2. Les mécanismes moléculaires impliqueraient la voie des Angiopoïétines-Tie sans affecter celle du VEGF. Chez l’homme, nous avons noté une réduction des AGPI circulants, en particulier l’acide docosaexanéïque et l’acide arachidonique, sur les phosphatidyl-éthanolamines chez tous les patients diabétiques avec ou sans rétinopathie diabétique, sans implication des formes plasmalogènes. Nos résultats suggèrent une implication du métabolisme des plasmalogènes dans le contrôle du développement vasculaire en période péri-natale mais pas au cours de la rétinopathie diabétique. Ce contrôle serait exercé par l’intermédiaire des AGPI libérés par la iPLA2. / Retinal vascular complications are secondary events of several retinopathies that result in blindness at all ages. Such complications can be observed in retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Lipids, and particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), display beneficial properties in the prevention of such retinopathies. Among the different lipid classes, the plasmalogen subclass is particularly interesting since it is known to be rich in PUFAs. These PUFAs are known to be released by a calcium-independent phospholipase (iPLA2) and further converted into biologically active metabolites. Some of these metabolites are known to be involved in the modulation of retinal angiogenesis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the involvement of plasmalogens in retinal vascular development through PUFA release by iPLA2. To check this hypothesis, we have comparatively characterized cellular and molecular mechanisms of postnatal retinal vascular development in an animal model of retinal iPLA2 inhibition as well as in a model of plasmalogens deficiency. On the other hand, we have attempted to identify potential alterations in plasmalogen metabolism in diabetic retinopathy. Our results suggest that plasmalogens are essential for the physiological development of retinal vessels. They are involved in the control of astrocyte template formation and the development of the primary vascular network through PUFA released by iPLA2. Molecular mechanisms by which PUFAs from plasmalogens control retinal vascular development involve Angiopoietin-Tie pathways, without affecting those involving VEGF. In the human study, we have observed a decrease in the bioavailability of circulating PUFAs, and especially docosaexaneic acid and arachidonic acid binded to phosphatidyl-ethanolamine in all diabetic patients with or without diabetic retinopathy. Plasmalogens were not involved in these modifications. Our results suggest that plasmalogen metabolism is involved in the control of primary vascular growth during retinal development but not in diabetic retinopathy. Plasmalogens may control early steps of retinal vascular development through the release of PUFAs by iPLA2.

Orientadores: Jacqueline Mendonça Lopes de Faria, José Butori Lopes de Faria / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T10:54:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Duarte_DiegoAndreazzi_D.pdf: 28811769 bytes, checksum: 726e2f631efd3a14fedaf1f8148784aa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A retinopatia diabética (RD) é uma doença devastadora que está entre as maiores causas de cegueira entre pessoas na idade adulta em todo o mundo. Considerada multifatorial e progressiva, a RD afeta células neurais e gliais, e também elementos vasculares da retina. Sabe-se que diversas vias estão envolvidas na patogênese da RD, no entanto, os mecanismos que levam a exacerbação da inflamação e morte de células gliais/neurais o que caracteriza a neurodegeneração da retina, ainda permanecem desconhecidos. Diante disso, a redução desses fatores tem sido extensivamente estudada como alvo no combate a RD. As Sirtuínas, histonas desacetilases dependentes de nicotinamida adenina dinucleotídeo (NAD+), atuam em resposta a vários estresses e atualmente tem sido relacionadas às importantes funções moleculares na regulação de várias doenças. Considerado um redox sensível, a SIRT1 pode estar reduzida em condição de doença, o que agravar ainda mais a situação patológica. No entanto, não se sabe ao certo o mecanismo de modulação e/ou atuação da SIRT1 frete às doenças neurodegenerativas, tais como a RD. No Artigo I, foram avaliados os possíveis efeitos protetores do cacau rico em polifenóis na retina diabética. As células Müller da retina (rMC-1) foram expostos por 24h à glicose normal (NG), alta glicose (HG) ou peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) e submetidas ao tratamento com cacau na presença ou não de um inibidor da SIRT1 ou siRNA. O estudo animal foi desenvolvido em ratos experimentalmente diabéticos induzidos por estreptozotocina e randomizado para receber tratamentos com cacau com baixa, intermediária, ou elevada dose de polifenol (0,12 mg; 2,9 mg; 22,9 mg/kg/dia) por gavagem durante 16 semanas. As células expostas a H2O2 ou HG apresentaram aumento de proteína acídica fibrilar glial (GFAP) e acetil-RelA/p65 e diminuição da atividade/expressão da SIRT1. Estes efeitos foram anulados pelo cacau, que diminuiu a produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio e reduziu a ativação da poli(ADP-ribose) polimerase-1 (PARP-1); melhorou os níveis intracelulares de NAD+ e consequentemente aumentou da atividade da SIRT1. As retinas dos ratos diabéticos exibiram os primeiros marcadores de retinopatia acompanhada pela eletrorretinografia prejudicada. A presença de diabetes levou a ativação da PARP-1 e diminuição dos níveis de NAD+, resultando em comprometimento da SIRT1. O aumento na acetilação do RelA/p65 levou na hiperexpressão do GFAP. A administração oral de cacau polifenol restaurou as alterações acima referidas. Este estudo revelou que o cacau enriquecido com polifenóis teve efeito protetor da retina diabética restabelecendo a via da SIRT-1. No Artigo II, foi investigado o possível efeito terapêutico de células derivadas de animais saudáveis (Dock7 m +/+ Leprdb db/m) e diabéticos (BKS.Cg-Dock7 m +/+ Leprdb/J, db/db) na retinopatia diabética (RD). Os camundongos db/db (espontaneamente diabéticos) com 8 semanas de idade foram randomizados para receber uma única injeção intravenosa de PBS ou células early outgrowth (EOCs) de doadores db/m ou db/db. Quatro semanas mais tarde, os animais foram sacrificados e os olhos enucleados. Para estudo in vitro, o meio condicionado das EOCs (EOC-CM) foi gerado a partir do cultivo de EOCs de animais db/m e db/db. As células rMC-1 foram expostas por 24h a NG ou HG e submetidas ao tratamento com db/m ou db/db EOC-CM, em presença ou não de um inibidor farmacológico (EX527) ou gênico (siRNA) da SIRT1. Nos ratos diabéticos, houve um aumento de marcadores de RD e do dano oxidativo, acompanhado por uma diminuição da proteína SIRT1 e seguido pelo aumento da acetilação da lisina-310 do complexo p65-NFkB. A terapia celular com EOCs reduziu significativamente todas as alterações mencionadas acima. As rMC-1 expostas a HG apresentaram aumento da expressão de GFAP, fator de crescimento do endotélio vascular e Nox4, acompanhado pelo aumento dos níveis de espécies reativas de oxigênio e acetil-lisina-310-p65-NFkB. Além disso, a expressão/atividade da SIRT1 foram reduzidas em ambiente diabético. O tratamento com EOC-CM impediu todas estas alterações. Este estudo demonstra que a capacidade parácrina das EOCs, na secreção de fatores, é eficaz no restabelecimento da via de SIRT1 retina, e assim, proteger a retina dos insultos diabéticos. Em resumo, a presente tese fornece evidências que tanto a administração oral do cacau enriquecido com polifenóis quanto à terapia celular com EOCs, conferem neuroproteção da retina aos insultos do diabetes. Portanto, intervenções que modulem a atividade das sirtuínas são promissoras no tratamento farmacológico da retinopatia diabética / Abstract: The diabetic retinopathy (RD) is a devastating disease and the principal cause of blindness among people in adulthood worldwide. The RD is considered a multifactorial and progressive disease, affecting neuronal and glial cells, and also vascular elements of the retina. It is known that several pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of RD, however, the mechanisms that lead to exacerbation of inflammation and death of glial/neuronal cell, characterizing retinal neurodegeneration, remain unknown. Therefore, the reduction of these factors have been extensively studied as a therapeutic target against RD. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a family of histone deacetylase enzyme, acts in response to various stresses and, currently, has been related to important molecular functions in the regulation of various diseases. Considered a redox-sensitive, SIRT1 may be reduced under disease condition, whereby aggravate the pathological situation. However, is not known the mechanism of modulation/activity of SIRT1 in neurodegenerative diseases, such as RD. In the article I, were studies the possible protective effects of cocoa in the diabetic retina were assessed. rMCs exposed to NG, HG or H2O2 were submitted to cocoa treatment in the presence or absence of SIRT-1 inhibitor and siRNA. The experimental animal study was conducted in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and randomized to receive low, intermediate, or high polyphenol cocoa treatments via daily gavage for 16 weeks (i.e., 0.12 mg/kg/day, 2.9 mg/kg/day, or 22.9 mg/kg/day of polyphenols). The rMCs exposed to HG or H2O2 exhibited increased GFAP and acetyl-RelA/p65 and decreased SIRT1 activity/expression. These effects were cancelled out by cocoa, which decreased ROS production and PARP-1 activity, augmented the intracellular pool of NAD+, and improved SIRT1 activity. The rat diabetic retinas displayed the early markers of retinopathy accompanied by markedly impaired electroretinogram. The presence of diabetes activated PARP-1 and lowered NAD+ levels, resulting in SIRT1 impairment. This augmented acetyl RelA/p65 had the effect of upregulated GFAP. Oral administration of polyphenol cocoa restored the above alterations in a dose-dependent manner. This study reveals that cocoa enriched with polyphenol improves the retinal SIRT-1 pathway, thereby protecting the retina from diabetic milieu insult. In the article II, were investigated the possible therapeutic effect of cells derived from control (db/m) and spontaneously diabetic (db/db) mice on diabetic retinopathy. The db/db mice with 8 weeks of age were randomized to receive a unique intravenous injection of PBS or 0,5x105 db/m EOCs or 0,5x105 db/db EOCs. Four weeks later, the animals were euthanized and the eyes enucleated. For in vitro study, EOC-CM was generated from db/m and db/db EOCs cultures. rMCs were exposed for 24h to NG or HG combined or not with db/m or db/db EOC-CMs. In diabetic rats, there was an increase of DR and oxidative damage markers, accompanied by decrease in SIRT1 protein followed by lysine-310-p65-NF?B acetylation. The treatment with cells from db/m significantly reduced all the above-mentioned, but interestingly the treatment with cells from db/db mice fully restored the above alterations to normal levels. rMCs exposed to HG displayed GFAP and VEGF expression up regulated, accompanied by increase in Nox4 expression and ROS levels, and acetyl-lysine-310-p65-NF?B. SIRT1 protein expression and activity were markedly reduced in diabetic milieu conditions. The treatment with both EOC-CMs prevented all these abnormalities, but db/db EOC-CM fully restored to NG conditions. This study demonstrates that endocrine capacity of EOCs is effective in improving retinal SIRT1 pathway thus protecting the retina from diabetic milieu insult. In summary, compelling novel evidence is provided herein that either through oral administration of polyphenol enriched cocoa or cell therapy with EOCs, conferred retinal neuroprotection against diabetic insults in animal models. The identification of SIRT-1 as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy may provide new perspective in the pharmacological treatment of this diabetic complication / Doutorado / Clinica Medica / Doutor em Clínica Médica

<p>Transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), a hub kinase at the convergence of multiple signaling pathways, is critical to the development of the central nervous system and has been found to play a role in cell death and apoptosis. TAK1 may have the potential to elucidate mechanisms of cell cycle and neurodegeneration. The Belecky-Adams laboratory has aimed to study TAK1 and its potential roles in cell cycle by studying its role in chick retinal development as well as its possible implication in the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Chapter 3 includes studies that explore TAK1 in a study in chick retinal development and TAK1 in in vitro studies in retinal microglia. Using the embryonic chick, immunohistochemistry for the activated form of TAK1 (pTAK1) showed localization of pTAK1 in differentiated and progenitor cells of the retina. Using an inhibitor or TAK1 activite, (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol, in chick eye development showed an increase in progenitor cells and a decrease in differentiated cells. This study in chick suggests TAK1 may be a critical player in the regulation of the cell cycle during retinal development. Results from experimentation in chick led to studying the potential role of TAK1 in inflammation and neurodegeneration. TAK1 has previously been implicated in cell death and apoptosis suggesting that TAK1 may be a critical player in inflammatory pathways. TAK1 has been implicated in the regulation of inflammatory factors in different parts of the CNS but has not yet been studied specifically in retina or in specific retinal cells [3, 4]. Chapter 2 includes studies from the Belecky-Adams laboratory of in vitro work with retinal microglia. Retinal microglia were treated with activators and the translocation to the nucleus of a downstream factor of TAK1 was determined: NF-kB. Treatment of retinal microglia in the presence of activators with TAKinib, an inhibitor of TAK1 activation, revealed that TAK1 inhibition reduces the activation of downstream NF-kB. Together this data suggests that TAK1 may be implicated in various systems of the body and further studies on its mechanisms may help elucidate potential therapeutic roles of the kinase.</p>

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