Cells respond to chemical, mechanical and topographical cues both in vivo and in vitro. Much research has been carried out into the effects of chemical signals and to a lesser degree, mechanical. However, less is known about cell responses to topographical cues, particularly to topographies with nanoscale dimensions. Understanding how cells respond to topography is of particular interest to the field of tissue engineering, where it is crucial to characterise the effects that biomaterial surfaces have on the cells that they come into contact with. Observations of the impact that topographic signalling has on cells, within two tissue engineering systems, are discussed in this thesis. These systems are: polymer conduits for peripheral nerve regeneration and thin films for the replacement of the retinal pigment epithelium. Understanding the effects that micro and nano scaled topographies have on nerve and retinal cell regeneration is important for successful development and implementation of appropriate tissue engineered devices. In order to fabricate topographical patterns on biomaterial surfaces, a number of fabrication techniques were investigated. The fundamental requirement of these techniques was for reliable production of uniform nano and micro scale topographical patterns over large lateral areas (millimeter scale). Initially, the suitability of electrohydrodynamic lithography (EHDL) was assessed. EHDL is a relatively new technique, first published in 2000, which employs electrostatic forces to pattern thin polymer films. Subsequently, techniques traditionally associated with the computing industry, such as e-beam lithography and reactive ion etching, were evaluated. Following successful pattern fabrication, NG108-15 and ARPE-19 cells were cultured on grooved topographies. Against a baseline parameter of elapsed time, the cell morphologies and their propensity for alignment with the grooves was rigorously assessed and compared. ARPE-19 and NG108-15 cell responses differed from one another, and were sensitive to varying groove dimensions. Ultimately, the developing morphologies (for both cell types) proved to be clearly dependent on groove dimensions and elapsed time.

Melatonin is an indolamine hormone presumably synthesized by retinal photoreceptors, and may act as a paracrine signal of darkness within the retina. Previous studies have suggested that melatonin, acting through specific receptors, may be involved in cyclic retinal functions such as photoreceptor outer segment disc shedding and phagocytosis, and modulation of neurotransmitter release in the inner retina. The goal of this study was to determine if melatonin receptor mRNA is expressed in the neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of Xenopus laevis. Sheets of RPE, devoid of contaminating cells, were obtained from Xenopus eyes, and epithelial cultures were subsequently established on microporous membrane filters in a defined medium. Total RNA was isolated from whole brain, neural retina, fresh RPE sheets, and cultured RPE cells. RNA expression of the three known Xenopus melatonin receptor subtypes (MEL1A, 1B, and 1C) was determined by reverse- transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR) amplification, followed by Southern hybridization with RNA probes. PCR-amplified cDNA encoding melatonin receptor subtypes 1B and 1C, but not 1A, were detected in reverse-transcribed RNA obtained from brain, neural retina and RPE. RPE cells grown in culture for two weeks also demonstrated 1B and 1C receptor RNA expression. This study suggests that RNA encoding the 1B and 1C melatonin receptor subtypes is expressed in the neural retina and RPE of Xenopus retina, and the expression persists in RPE cells when grown in culture. The expression of melatonin receptor RNA in the RPE may reflect a regulatory role for melatonin in some diurnal events that occur in this tissue, such as phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segment membranes, and intracellular migration of pigment granules.

Yes-associated protein (Yap) transcriptional co-activator, a major downstream effector of Hippo signaling pathway, controls organ size by modulating cell proliferation and apoptosis. The Hippo signaling cascade phosphorylates Yap, and this phosphorylation inhibits the nuclear retention of Yap, which is essential for cell proliferation. Thus, the loss of Hippo pathway components leads to enlarged organs through increased Yap activity in the nucleus. Our initial study showed that Yap was expressed in the developing retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), suggesting Yap's tissue-specific roles during the eye development. Intriguingly, Yap proteins were localized at the apical junctions in addition to the nucleus and cytosol of the retinal progenitor cells, adding another level of regulation. To uncover the tissue- and localization-specific functions of Yap, we generated a Yap conditional knockout mouse with Rx-Cre for the ablation of the Yap gene in the developing retina and RPE. Upon deletion of Yap, the retina showed severe lamination defects with numerous folding, which is reminiscent of the polarity and adhesion loss. The RPE, a single pigmented cell layer overlying the retina, lost pigmentation and changed into a multi-layered epithelium. The marker analysis revealed that 1) in the retina, the localization of the polarity complex proteins such as Pals1, Crb1 and atypical PKC were disrupted, suggesting Yap's indispensable role in junctional stability, and 2) the level of Otx2 in RPE decreased while those of Chx10 and beta-tubulin increased, suggesting transdifferentiation of RPE into the retina. In addition, the deletion of Yap induced a decrease in proliferation and an increase in apoptosis, ultimately resulting in microphthalmia. In conclusion, our results are consistent with the model that Yap functions in the stabilization of apical proteins for maintenance of the laminar organization, determination of RPE territory, and regulation of proliferation and apoptosis during the eye development. / Cell Biology

Le récepteur MerTK est impliqué dans la phagocytose des segments externes des photorécepteurs (SEP) par l'épithélium pigmentaire rétinien (EPR), fonction cruciale pour la survie des photorécepteurs et la vision. Dans la rétine, ces deux tissus sont en contact permanent et la phagocytose ne survient qu'une fois par jour, cette fonction nécessite donc d'être contrôlée précisément. Le pic de phagocytose est lié à l'activation intracellulaire de MerTK via l'intégrine αvβ5. Ce projet a eu pour but d'étudier les mécanismes extracellulaires régulant la fonction de MerTK au cours de cette phagocytose.Nous avons montré que MerTK est clivé à la surface des cellules d'EPR in vivo avant et après le pic de phagocytose. Ceci permettrait d'éviter une phagocytose trop prononcée des SEP.Nous avons démontré le rôle opposé des ligands de MerTK, spécifique à l'EPR. Gas6 semble inhibiteur, il stimule le clivage de MerTK et inhibe la phagocytose in vitro, et son expression in vivo est faible au moment du pic de phagocytose. Au contraire, Protéine S, dont l'expression augmente in vivo au moment du pic, inhibe le clivage de MerTK et stimule la phagocytose in vitro, et pourrait ainsi potentialiser cette fonction.Parmi les protéases étudiées, l'inhibition d'ADAM17 in vitro engendre une diminution du clivage de MerTK corrélée à une augmentation de sa biodisponibilité à la surface cellulaire et de son activité. Cependant, cet effet n'étant pas total, l'implication d'une autre protéase n'est pas exclue.Ainsi, mes travaux de Doctorat permettent de mieux comprendre la régulation complexe de l'activité de MerTK dans la phagocytose rétinienne, essentielle pour le rythme circadien de cette fonction. / The MerTK receptor is involved in the daily phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments (POS) by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), an indispensable process for photoreceptors survival and vision. In the retina, the contact between POS and RPE is permanent, and POS phagocytosis occurs once a day, requiring a precise control of this function. The phagocytic peak is initiated by activation of MerTK via the αvβ5 integrin receptor. This project aimed at studying extracellular mechanisms that control MerTK function during POS phagocytosis. We have shown that MerTK can be cleaved from the RPE cell surface in vivo before and just after the phagocytic peak. This process might avoid an excess of POS phagocytosis. We have also shown the opposite role of MerTK ligands, specific to RPE cells. Gas6 appears to act as an inhibitor as it stimulates MerTK cleavage and inhibits POS phagocytosis in vitro. Moreover, in vivo, Gas6 expression is weak at peak phagocytosis time. In contrast, Protein S, which in vivo expression increases at the time of the phagocytic peak, inhibits MerTK cleavage and stimulates POS phagocytosis in vitro, and thus might potentiate phagocytosis. Among the protease candidates we studied, in vitro inhibition of ADAM17 results in decreased MerTK cleavage associated with the increase of full-length receptors available at cell surface and of MerTK activation. However, as cleavage still occurs in these conditions, we cannot exclude the implication of another protease. Taken together, my PhD data allows us to better understand the complex regulation of MerTK activity during retinal phagocytosis, which is essential for the circadian rhythm of this function.

An estimated 170.38 million elderly adults suffer from some stage of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) worldwide, a vision defect that damages the macula, the central region of the retina required for sharp vision, such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces. Genetic factors strongly modify one's risk for developing AMD, and most of these genetic changes are found in genes of the alternative complement cascade, a component of the immune system. The lack of effective AMD prevention calls for the identification of druggable molecules and pathways. In my research, I use microarrays and RNA sequencing to investigate the events occurring in early AMD, the reasons for macular susceptibility to AMD, and the events triggering aberrant blood vessel growth in late AMD. First, I found that genes associated with endothelial cells tend to be expressed at lower levels in human donors eyes affected by early AMD than in control eyes, concordant with previous studies indicating loss of choriocapillaris in early AMD. Second, I found that molecular signals across regions of the retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid generally mirror the distribution of cell types in these regions. Third, I found that damage to cultured primate chorioretinal endothelial cells by the end product of complement activation, membrane attack complex, produces an environment conducive to choroidal neovascularization, a symptom of late-stage AMD. I propose a model that bridges genetic variants in the complement cascade genes with blood vessel loss in early AMD and the pathological growth of blood vessels in late AMD.

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a principal site of pathogenesis in age-related macular de-generation (AMD). AMD is a main source of vision loss even blindness in the elderly and there is no effective treatment right now. Our aim is to describe the relationship between the morphology of RPE cells and the age and genotype of the eyes. We use principal component analysis (PCA) or functional principal component method (FPCA), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) methods to analyze the morphological data of RPE cells in mouse eyes to classify their age and genotype. Our analyses show that amongst all morphometric measures of RPE cells, cell shape measurements (eccentricity and solidity) are good for classification. But combination of cell shape and size (perimeter) provide best classification.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains x, 148 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 136-148).

Mutations in BEST1, the gene encoding for Bestrophin-1 (Best1), cause five, clinically distinct inherited retinopathies: Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD), adult-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy (AVMD), autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB), autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy (ADVIRC), and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Little is known regarding how BEST1 mutations cause disease and why mutations cause multiple disease phenotypes. Within the eye, Best1 is a homo-oligomeric, integral membrane protein that is exclusively localized to the basolateral plasma membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Here, it regulates intracellular Ca2+ signaling and putatively mediates anion transport. Since defects in localization and oligomerization are known to underlie other channelopathies, we investigated how mutations causal for BVMD, AVMD, ARB, ADVIRC, and RP impact the localization and oligomerization of Best1. We generated replication-defective adenoviral vectors encoding for WT and 31 mutant forms of Best1 associated with these five diseases and expressed them in confluent, polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney and/or RPE cells. Localization was assessed via immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Oligomerization was examined using live-cell fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) as well as reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation experiments. We report that all 31 BVMD, AVMD, ARB, ADVIRC, and RP mutants tested can reciprocally co-immunoprecipitate with and exhibit comparable FRET efficiencies to WT Best1, indicative of unimpaired oligomerization. While all RP and ADVIRC mutants were properly localized to the basolateral plasma membrane, many but not all AVMD, ARB, and BVMD mutants were mislocalized to intracellular compartments. When co-expressed with WT Best1, mislocalized mutants predominantly co-localized with WT Best1 in intracellular compartments. Studies involving four ARB truncation mutants reveal that the first 174 amino acids are sufficient to mediate oligomerization with WT Best1 and that amino acids 472-585 are not necessary for proper trafficking. We conclude that, although mislocalization is a common result of BEST1 mutation, it is not an absolute feature of any individual bestrophinopathy. Moreover, we show that some recessive mutants mislocalize WT Best1 when co-expressed, indicating that mislocalization cannot, on its own, generate a disease phenotype, and that the absence of Best1 at the plasma membrane is well tolerated.

Aquaporin proteins significantly increase water permeability across tissues and cell membranes. Ocular tissues, including the trabecular meshwork (TM) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), are especially reliant on aquaporin mediated water movement for ocular homeostasis. Even though bulk fluid movement is paracellular through the TM and transcellular through the RPE, both express aquaporin-1 (AQP1). The role and regulation of AQP1 as it relates to homeostasis in different ocular tissues is not well understood. I hypothesized that ocular tissues respond to external mechanical and molecular cues by altering AQP1 expression and function in order to regulate ocular fluid movement and maintain homeostasis.To test how AQP1 function is altered in response to external cues in order to maintain tissue-specific homeostasis, I addressed the following two aims. The first aim was directed at determining how mechanical strain, an external stimulus that routinely affects TM function, influences AQP1 expression and TM homeostasis. Primary cultures of human TM were subjected to static and cyclic stretch and then analyzed for changes in AQP1 expression by western blot and cell damage by activity of lactate dehydrogense (LDH) in conditioned media. The results show AQP1 expression and LDH release significantly increased with static stretch. Analysis of LDH release with respect to AQP1 expression revealed an inverse linear relationship (r² = 0.7780).The second aim was directed at characterizing signaling mechanisms responsible for regulating fluid transport in RPE, previously shown to be dependent upon AQP1. I treated primary cultures of human RPE with either atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) or 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) in the presence or absence of Anantin (ANP-receptor inhibitor) or H-8 (Protein Kinase G inhibitor). The results show that ANP and 8-Br-cGMP significantly increased apical to basal net fluid movement (p < 0.05, n = 3). Inhibition of these effects was successful with Anantin treatment but not with application of H-8.The data presented demonstrate a novel role of protection for AQP1 in TM, and also expand upon cGMP dependent regulation of RPE fluid transport. The combined studies indicate tissue specific AQP1 regulation may offer new avenues to target water movement in treatment of ocular pathologies.

Orientadores: Jacqueline Mendonça Lópes de Faria, José Butori Lopes de Faria / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T10:41:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rosales_MarianaAparecidaBrunini_D.pdf: 28953374 bytes, checksum: e9a2824bad639c7cbd3628c24c4308ad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A patogênese da retinopatia diabética (RD) está associada ao estresse nitrosativo. Alterações na barreira hemato-retiniana (BHR) externa, formada pelas células do epitélio pigmentar da retina (EPR), estão associadas às fases precoces da RD e podem acarretar no desequilíbrio da manutenção dos fotorreceptores e consequentemente promoverem mudanças nas células neuronais da retina. O estresse nitrosativo como conseqüência do aumento da produção de óxido nítrico (NO¿) produzido pela super expressão da óxido nítrico sintetase induzida (iNOS) esteve presente em todas as camadas da retina, inclusive no EPR em condições de RD experimental in vivo precoce ou na linhagem celular humana do EPR (ARPE-19) expostas à alta concentração de glicose. O tratamento com agentes químicos como a S-nitrosoglutationa (GSNO), ou naturais (cacau enriquecido com polifenol) atuaram em diferentes vias de inibição da iNOS, prevenindo o estresse nitrosativo. Para o estudo in vivo com o colírio de GSNO (artigo I) foram utilizados animais espontaneamente hipertensos (SHR) com 4 semanas de idade. O diabetes (DM) foi induzido por STZ. Após a confirmação do DM (48 horas), os animais foram divididos em 6 grupos: controles (CTs) veículo; GSNO 900nm e GSNO 10?m ou DMs veículo; GSNO 900nm e GSNO 10?m. O efeito do tratamento com colírio de GSNO foi dependente da presença ou ausência da condição do DM. Nos animais CT, o GSNO atuou como um agente nitrosativo e nos animais DM preveniu o aumento da expressão da iNOS, preservando a retina funcional. Os estudos in vitro, demonstraram que o efeito do GSNO foi deletério ou protetor dependente da concentração de glicose. Nas células ARPE-19 expostas a condições normais de glicose, o tratamento promoveu um aumento na produção de NO¿ sem aumentar a expressão de iNOS e nas células sob alta glicose induziu uma modificação pós-translacional de proteína, a S-glutationilação da iNOS prevenindo o estresse nitrosativo. No estudo do cacau (artigo II), foi avaliado in vitro (ARPE-19 exposta a alta concentração de glicose) o seu efeito protetor dependente da concentração de polifenóis. Para isso foram testadas duas formulações de cacau que diferiram somente na concentração de polifenol: 0,5% para o cacau com baixo teor de polifenol e 60,5% para o cacau com alto teor de polifenol. A epicatequina (EC), encontrada na concentração de 12% no cacau com alto teor de polifenol foi tão eficaz quanto o próprio e esteve envolvida no controle da expressão da iNOS através da estimulação do receptor ?-opióide (DOR) diminuindo os níveis de TNF-?. A modulação da iNOS, preveniu a S-nitrosilação da caveolina-1 (CAV-1) e diminuição da expressão das junções intercelulares claudina-1 e ocludina através da prevenção da interação CAV-1?junções. Em ambos os estudos, o alvo terapêutico foi a iNOS em duas diferentes modalidades: modificação pós-translacional de proteína e modulação do TNF-? via DOR no EPR em modelos experimentais de RD. Os tratamentos apresentados neste trabalho demonstraram a iNOS como alvo terapêutico e mostraram-se eficaz em conter danos funcionais e morfológicos promovidas pela situação de mimetismo do DM no EPR demonstrando o importante papel da iNOS no desenvolvimento da RD / Abstract: The pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is associated with nitrosative stress. Changes in outer blood-retinal barrier (BRB), formed by retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE) are associated in the early stages of DR and can cause imbalance in the maintenance of photoreceptors and thereby cause changes on retinal neuronal cells. The nitrosative stress as a result of increased production of nitric oxide (NO) produced by overexpression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was present in all layers of the retina and mainly in RPE cells in early in vivo experimental DR or in human RPE cell line (ARPE-19) exposed to high glucose condition. Therapy with chemical agents such as S-Nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) or natural compounds (enriched cocoa polyphenol) acted in different pathways of iNOS inhibition, preventing nitrosative stress. For the in vivo study with GSNO eye drops (article I), it were used spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) rats with 4 week old. Diabetes (DM) was induced by streptozotocin (STZ). After DM confirmation (48 hours), the animals were divided into 6 groups: controls (CTs) vehicle; GSNO 900nm and GSNO 10?m or DMs vehicle; GSNO 900nm e GSNO 10?m. The effects of treatments were dependent on glucose concentration. In CT animals, GSNO acted as a nitrosative agent and in DM rats prevented iNOS overexpression, preserving the retina function. In vitro study showed that GSNO protective or deleterious effects were dependent on the glucose concentration. In ARPE-19 cells exposed to normal glucose, the treatment promoted an increase of NO¿ production without increase iNOS expression and in cells under high glucose (HG) condition induced post-translational protein modification, S-glutationylation of iNOS, preventing nitrosative stress. In the study with cocoa (article II), it was evaluated its protective effect dependent on concentration of polyphenols in ARPE-19 cells under HG condition. For this study, the composition of cocoa was the same in both preparations with the only difference in the amounts of polyphenol, 0.5% for low polyphenol cocoa (LPC) and 60.5% for high polyphenol cocoa (HPC). Epicatechin (EC), found in 12% of HPC was similarly protective compare to HPC and it was involved in controlling iNOS expression by stimulation of the delta opioid receptor decreasing TNF- ? levels. The modulation of iNOS prevented S-nitrosylation of caveolin-1 (CAV-1) and decreased expression of claudin-1 and occluding tight junctions by preventing CAV-1/junctions interactions. The treatments presented here showed iNOS as a therapeutic target containing functional and morphological changes promoted by DM milieu in RPE showing the important role of iNOS in the development of DR / Doutorado / Clinica Medica / Doutora em Clínica Médica