Thesis (doctoral)--Freie Universität Berlin, 1980.

Epidemiological evidence indicates that selenium supplementation may increase risk for ocular hypertension and glaucoma. The purpose of this project was to determine the effects of selenium on the conventional "trabecular" aqueous outflow pathway, a likely site of pathology for glaucoma. Human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with selenium (MSeA) at or near physiologically relevant concentrations. Selenium uptake by cells was monitored using mass spectrometry. While detectible changes in intracellular selenium were observed after exposure to 1-10 uM MSeA for 24 hours, the majority remained in the conditioned medium. The high concentrations of extracellular selenium we observed raised the possibility that selenium has an extracellular target.To investigate the role of selenium in extracellular matrix turnover, I examined alterations in protein secretion and intracellular signaling. MSeA treatment (5-10 uM) led to a significant decrease in the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase -2 and its inhibitor after 6-24 hours and to a dose-dependent decrease in kinase signaling. Later, I investigated the possibility that integrins are an extracellular target of selenium by monitoring morphological changes in HTM cells and by treating them with divalent cations. MSeA stimulated morphological changes consistent with a decrease in integrin function. These occurred before (less than 3 hours) alterations in protein secretion and intracellular signaling (3-6 hours). Zinc treatment prevented MSeA-mediated alterations in protein secretion and changes in cell-matrix adhesion.Finally markers of HTM cell homeostasis were examined. MSeA treatment (5 uM) led to a 60% decrease in protein synthesis after 3 hours and a 60% reduction in protein secretion, without causing significant alterations in cell viability and total ATP. To assess the physiological relevance of my results, anterior segments were perfused with MSeA to determine its effects on aqueous outflow facility. Preliminary results suggest that MSeA leads to a decrease in outflow facility.The combination of MSeA-induced decreases in several indicators of HTM cell homeostasis (without adversely effects on cell viability at physiologically relevant doses) and decreases in outflow facility provide a possible mechanism for selenium-associated ocular hypertension.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, and is a major cause of blindness in the United States. It affects approximately 5% of Caucasians and 10% of African- Americans over the age of 60 years. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is currently the only modifiable risk factor for glaucoma. Impaired outflow of aqueous humor from the eye is thought to be the cause of pathologically elevated IOP. However, the etiology of outflow impairment is unknown. Anatomically, the aqueous humor drains into the iridocorneal angle of the eye, where the iris inserts at the transition between the cornea and sclera. In humans, approximately 80-90% of the aqueous traverses through the trabecular meshwork (TM), juxtacanalicular connective tissue (JCT), Schlemm’s canal, collector channels and empties into episcleral veins. Abnormalities at these sites are thought to cause impaired outflow. Abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the TM or JCT, abnormal endothelial function in Schlemm’s canal, or a combination of these components have been strongly implicated. Our laboratory has focused on the role of Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) in regulating outflow. SPARC is the prototypical matricellular protein that mediates ECM organization and turnover in numerous human tissues. Our lab was first to demonstrate that SPARC is highly expressed in the TM and JCT regions of the eye, and that the SPARC knockout (KO) mouse has a significant decrease in IOP of 15-20%. SPARC may affect the degree of segmental flow, a theory that states that variable aqueous outflow occurs around the circumference of the eye; only certain portions of the TM are thought to display active outflow at any particular moment. The cytokine transforming growth factor-ß2 (TGFß2) has been shown to modulate multiple ECM proteins, including SPARC. TGFß2 is significantly upregulated by 2 to 3-fold in the aqueous humor of glaucoma patients compared to controls. In addition, when TGFß2 is overexpressed in rodent eyes, increased ECM deposition is observed within the trabecular meshwork leading to IOP elevation. SPARC is one of the most highly upregulated proteins by TGFß2, and is downstream of TGFß2. We hypothesized that wild-type (WT) mice would demonstrate segmental flow, while SPARC KO mice would display a more continuous pattern of outflow around the eye. We also believed that IOP would be inversely correlated with outflow area. We also hypothesized that SPARC is essential to the process of TGFß2-mediated ocular hypertension, and that the lack of SPARC would impair IOP elevation. We conducted a tracer study utilizing fluorescent microbeads to determine the location of outflow circumferentially around the mouse TM. Microbeads were injected intracamerally into the eyes of WT and KO mice. After a 45-minute incubation period, the mice were euthanized and eyes were processed for confocal, light, and electron microscopy. During the second group of experiments, empty or TGFß2-containing adenovirus was injected intravitreally into WT and SPARC KO mice and IOP was measured for 2 weeks. Immunohistochemistry was completed on all tissues to assess for changes in major ECM proteins. Percentage effective filtration length (PEFL), or area of the TM labeled by tracer, was significantly increased in SPARC KO mice (70.61% ± 11.36%, p<0.005; N=11) compared to WT mice (54.68% ± 9.95%; N=11). In addition, the pressures between the two sets of eyes were significantly different with mean pressures of 16.3 mm Hg in WT mice and 12.6 mm Hg in KO mice (p<0.005, N=11 pairs). In addition, PEFL and IOP were inversely correlated with R2 = 0.72 (N=10 pairs); in eyes with higher IOP, PEFL was reduced. Electron microscopy demonstrated that high-tracer TM areas had a greater separation between trabecular beams. Collagen fibril diameter was found to be smaller in the KO (28.272 nm) compared to WT (34.961 nm; p<0.0005, N=3 pairs). These data provided structural correlations to the functional data regarding segmental flow. In the second set of experiments, IOP was found to be significantly elevated in TGFß2- injected WT mice compared to empty vector-injected WT mice during days 4-11 (p<0.05, N=8). However, IOP was not significantly elevated in TGFß2-injected KO mice compared to controls. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that TGFß2 increased expression of collagen IV, fibronectin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and SPARC within the TM of WT mice, but only PAI-1 and CTGF in KO mice (p<0.05, N=3 pairs). These data support our hypotheses, indicating that SPARC plays an integral role in the modulation of aqueous humor outflow. In addition, it appears as though SPARC is essential to the regulation of TGFß2-mediated ocular hypertension. Aside from providing further evidence of the importance of ECM in IOP regulation, our work presents the novel discovery of segmental flow in the mouse. Given the potential role of SPARC in TGFß2-mediated ocular hypertension, SPARC may not only play an integral role in ECM homeostasis within the trabecular meshwork, but may be a valuable target for pharmacologic therapy in treating primary open-angle glaucoma.

Previously, we showed that transcription factor activating protein 2-beta (AP-2β) deletion from the periocular mesenchyme (POM)-derived neural crest cells (NCCs) using Wnt1Cre (AP-2β NCC knockouts/AP-2β NCC KOs) resulted in anterior segment abnormalities and increased intraocular pressure (IOP). The present study investigated the role of AP-2β in development of structures of the conventional pathway including the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal, and the unconventional pathway including the ciliary muscle. Studies using NCC KOs revealed that the embryonic POM migrated appropriately, but a significant reduction in postnatal POM cell proliferation in the angle was observed, accompanied by reduced expression of trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal markers when compared to controls, which likely contributed to the elevated IOP in NCC KOs. However, since Wnt1Cre was expressed in multiple NCC derivatives, AP-2β was deleted specifically from the developing trabecular meshwork region (TMR) using Mgp-Cre knock-in (Mgp-Cre.KI) mice. Although migration of the POM giving rise to the trabecular meshwork was not affected, peripheral anterior synechia (PAS), a decrease in expression of trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal markers, and significantly increased IOP was observed in TMR KOs compared to controls, paired with loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), and reduced retinal thickness and function. However, treatment with latanoprost, a prostaglandin analog that increases outflow through the unconventional pathway, significantly reduced elevated IOP in TMR KOs. Overall, the results suggest that AP-2β plays a cell-autonomous role in trabecular meshwork development and a non-cell-autonomous role in Schlemm’s canal development, while also playing an indirect role in unconventional pathway function, and thus, is important for IOP homeostasis. Moreover, the AP-2β NCC KO and AP-2β TMR KO may serve as models of primary angle closure glaucoma that can be used to test IOP-lowering drugs, molecular targets and neuroprotective strategies to develop treatments for human glaucoma. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Primary angle closure glaucoma is one type of glaucoma resulting from abnormalities in structures that allow aqueous humour found in the front of the eye from exiting the eye through two major routes, including the conventional and unconventional pathways. Defects in these structures lead to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) that damages specialized cells important for vision. This project examines the role of transcription factor activating protein 2-beta (AP-2β) in development of structures responsible for IOP balance. Data from the current study showed that AP-2β is required for formation of the structures of the conventional pathway, but does not directly affect development of unconventional pathway structures. The two AP-2β deletion mutants used here can model human primary angle closure glaucoma to test the effect of various drugs and cell protection strategies aimed at treating glaucoma.

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Le glaucome est défini par une dégénérescence du nerf optique dont le principal facteur de risque est l’hypertension oculaire due à des altérations du tissu trabéculaire. Les traitements incluent des agonistes du récepteur FP, les agonistes du récepteur EP2 pouvant également avoir des effets bénéfiques.Au cours de cette thèse, un modèle de cellules trabéculaires primaires humaines a été défini et les effets du latanoprost, un agoniste FP, et du butaprost, un agoniste EP2, ont été étudiés, d'une part, sur la survie des cellules trabéculaires, et d’autre part, sur la transition myofibroblastique. Il a été montré que l’activation du récepteur EP2 permet de protéger les cellules trabéculaires d’un stress du réticulum endoplasmique par une diminution de l’accumulation de p53 qui résulte en l’inhibition de l’expression de Puma. Enfin, le butaprost entraîne l’augmentation de l’expression de Bcl-2 et la phosphorylation de Bad qui participent à l’inhibition de l’apoptose.D’autre part, le latanoprost induit une contraction des cellules trabéculaires tandis que le butaprost inhibe la contraction induite par le TGF-B2. En revanche, les deux agonistes inhibent la déposition du collagène.En conclusion, indépendamment de leur effet hypotenseur connu, le latanoprost favoriserait l’acquisition par les cellules trabéculaires d’un phénotype contractile et l’activation du récepteur EP2 pourrait limiter le développement de la dysfonction trabéculaire en protégeant de la mort cellulaire et en favorisant une relaxation. Ces résultats suggèrent que la stimulation du récepteur EP2 pourrait limiter le développement du glaucome et serait plus favorable que les agonistes du récepteur FP. / Glaucoma is defined as an optic neuropathy whose main risk factor is ocular hypertension due to alterations of the trabecular meshwork (TM). The first-line therapies for glaucoma are agonists of the FP receptor. Agonists of the EP2 receptor could also present beneficial effects.During the thesis project, a model of primary human TM cells has been defined and the effects of latanoprost, an FP agonist, and butaprost, an EP2 agonist, have been studied on, firstly, the survival of TM cells and, secondly, on the myofibroblast transition.We have shown that activation of the EP2 receptor protects TM cells from an endoplasmic reticulum stress by a decreased accumulation of p53 which results in the inhibition of Puma transcription. Finally, butaprost mediates an increased expression of Bcl-2 and an elevation of Bad phosphorylation which contribute to protection against TM cell death.Moreover, latanoprost induces TM cell contraction while butaprost inhibits TGF-B2-dependent contraction. On the other hand, both agonists inhibit collagen.In conclusion, independently of their hypotensive effects, latanoprost would favor the acquisition by TM cells of a contractile phenotype while stimulation of EP2 receptor could limit TM dysfunction by protecting against TM cell death and relaxing the tissue. These results suggest that activation of EP2 receptor could slow down or inhibit the course of glaucoma progression and would be more favorable than the FP agonists currently used.

No description available.

<p>The trabecular meshwork (TM) is comparable to a bioactive filter that plays a major role in regulating outflow of aqueous humor of the eye and setting intraocular pressure (IOP). TM dysfunction may lead to ocular hypertension which is the major risk factor in glaucoma. Although the outflow properties of the TM have been assessed over the last sixty years, very little work has been done assessing its mechanical properties. Therefore, the major goals of these studies were two-fold: (1) to determine the relationship between mechanical properties of TM, specifically the bulk Young's modulus, and outflow function in normal and glaucomatous eyes, and (2) to establish a method and possible animal model for future testing of this relationship.</p><p>Outflow function was assessed by constant pressure perfusion in enucleated eyes at four pressure levels (10, 20, 30, and 40 mmHg) to determine outflow facilities and variability in outflow resistance with pressure elevation. A micro-strain analyzer (MSA) was used to determine the circumferential bulk Young's modulus of the TM post-perfusion. Based on their relative ease of availability, pigs and rats were explored as possible animal models. Due to the small size of rat eyes, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to assess the Young's modulus of TM rather than with a MSA.</p><p>We found that there was a relationship with better outflow function and a stiffer TM in normal eyes. Additionally, glaucomatous TM was found to be much softer and more variable than normal TM. Unfortunately, porcine TM did not serve as a good model for the bulk Young's modulus of human TM, presumably due to anatomical difference in its outflow pathway. Lastly, we were able to establish a new method for measuring the Young's modulus of rat TM for future work to determine potential mechanism for evaluating stiffness changes that may be associated with glaucoma.</p> / Dissertation

In the Kuehn lab, it has been shown that inducible pluripotent stems cells that have been induced to be trabecular meshwork cell-like (iPSC-TM) have a unique ability to regenerate dysfunctional trabecular meshwork (TM) cells by sharing specific unknown factors. In this thesis will discuss the novel means by which I isolate primary human Trabecular Meshwork (pTMs) and efficiently prepare cell cultures for experimentation, such as a sequencing experiment in which I studied expression changes that arose when the TM cell culture’s cell cycle control is manipulated. Previous research has shown that pTM grow atypical when 100% confluent compared to other epithelial cells creating an interesting time frame by which to observe their unique cell cycle control. Using newly isolated TM cell cultures I investigated expression of mRNA and miRNA to understand their roles in cell cycle control of these atypical cultures. With regards to the isolation of TM cell cultures were able to show that the “Crawling Out” methodology is an effective way to establish a pure TM cell line with both a low contamination rate and less passages/time. With these cultures we were able to establish 50 mRNAs and 19 miRNAs that were differential expressed in the TM cell cultures that were atypically grown. When reviewing the literature many of these expression changes were linked to carcinogenics, and the progression/prognosis of various cancer types.

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.