Search

Purpose We aim to reveal the disease-causing mutations in 15 Chinese families with optic atrophy (OA). Methods In total, 15 families with OA were recruited in the present study. Medical histories were carefully reviewed and comprehensive ophthalmic examinations were received by all recruited patients. Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was selectively performed on all probands for mutation detection. Intrafamilial cosegregation and in-silico analyses were subsequently applied to predict the potential pathogenic effects of identified mutations. Results All included patients presented bilateral vision loss. Their fundus photographs showed temporal or total pallor of the optic discs. Fourteen mutations in the optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) gene were revealed as disease-causing mutations for the 15 families, including eight novel (c.968A>G, c.193C>G, c.1071dupT, c.987_988del, c.2012+2T>G, c.1036–1G>C, c.2126A>G, and c.1036_1038del) and six recurrent (c.1499G>A, c.1800C>A, c.1034G>A, c.2873_2876del, c.112C>T, and c.804_805del) mutations. Conclusions In conclusion, our study expands the mutational spectrum for the OPA1 gene and implies targeted NGS as an effective approach for the genetic diagnosis of OA, which might help to improve the clinical diagnosis for patients with OA.

Purpose To investigate the role of Gremlin-1, which is an endogenous antagonist of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway, in inducing epithelium-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in fetal RPE cells after repeated wounds. Methods Subconfluent repetitive passages in fetal RPE cells were regarded as a model of repeated wounds. A phase contrast microscope was used to observe the morphology and pigment formation in cells. The expression of GREM1 (Gene ID: 26585; OMIM 603054) and EMT- or RPE-related genes in cells was evaluated with quantitative PCR (qPCR). Recombinant human protein Gremlin-1 (0.1 μg/ml) was added every day to investigate the molecular effects of Gremlin-1 on fetal RPE cells. The cell migration rate was investigated using a cell wound scratch assay, and western blotting was used to analyze the representative proteins (P-cadherin, ZO-1, vimentin, Smad4, and phosphorylated-Smads). In addition, transfection of siRNA was used to explore the rescue effects on EMT cells through the downregulation of GREM1. Finally, LDN193189, which is a type of pan-inhibitor of BMP receptors, was used to verify whether complete blocking of the BMP pathway interferes with the redifferentiation in low-passage fetal cells, even if the cells were treated with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β) inhibitors. Results In fetal RPE cells, the expression of GREM1 were gradually upregulated with repetitive passages, and at the same time, the function-specific genes in fetal RPE cells (TJP1, PMEL, BEST1, RPE65, and MERTK) were downregulated while the EMT-specific genes were upregulated. In addition, GREM1 had a similar expression pattern as SNAI1, which is a key transcription factor to trigger EMT. Recombinant human Gremlin-1 promoted EMT with the upregulation of SNAI1 and elevated the cell migration rate in a cell scratch assay, as well as decreased the expression of two key transcription factors of RPE embryonic development (MITF and OTX2) and the RPE marker, RPE65. Furthermore, the EMT marker, vimentin, and the TGF-β pathway downstream transcription factor phosphorylated-Smad2 (p-Smad2) increased, but the epithelial marker, ZO-1, was reduced. Additionally, Smad4, which plays a role as a Snail1 cooperator by binding Smad3, was also increased. In contrast, GREM1 silencing increased the expression of MITF and OTX2, which means there was better redifferentiation in subconfluent fetal RPE cells, but it had little influence on p-Smad2 compared to the negative control group. Finally, by adding LDN193189, the BMP signaling pathway was blocked, and this block led to poor redifferentiation in low-passage cells, although the cells were treated with TGF-β inhibitors. In addition, as positive feedback to block the BMP pathway, GREM1 was subsequently upregulated. Conclusions In fetal RPE cells, Gremlin-1 induces EMT and inhibits redifferentiation by promoting the TGF-β pathway and inhibiting the BMP pathway. GREM1 silencing alleviates EMT and increases the redifferentiation of cells by relieving the blockade of the BMP pathway. However, GREM1 silencing has no effects on the TGF-β pathway. Thus, Gremlin-1 may serve as a novel target to treat proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and inhibit subretinal fibrosis, which is a risk factor for influencing the therapeutic effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) on neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Weiwei Zhang,1,* Huan Hu,2,* Haixia Cheng,3,* Qinghuai Liu,1 Dongqing Yuan1 1Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Xishui People’s Hospital Affiliated to Hubei University of Science and Technology, Huanggang, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Dongqing YuanDepartment of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210029, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax +86-25-68303160Email wuyuleng@126.comPurpose: To evaluate the changes in vessel density in patients with unilateral congenital cataract after cataract extraction.Materials and Methods: Children with unilateral congenital cataract were enrolled in our study. All of the patients underwent congenital cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation successfully. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was performed to image the retinal vasculature in the macular and optic disc areas before and after surgery. The differences in vessel density and retinal thickness between groups were compared.Results: We found that the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was significantly improved one month after surgery compared with that before surgery (t=5.179, p< 0.001). The axial length was also changed one month after surgery (t=5.350, p< 0.001). The vessel density in the macular and optic disc areas of the affected eyes was significantly lower than that in the normal eyes, while the vessel density at the posterior pole was significantly improved one month after cataract extraction.Conclusion: The decrease in vessel density in the macular and optic disc areas might be a consequence of the congenital cataract. Cataract extraction can relieve the form deprivation of the affected eye and increase the vessel density at the posterior pole of the affected eye significantly.Keywords: unilateral congenital cataract, OCTA, cataract extraction, vessel density, form deprivation

Sheng Gao,1 Qingxia Chu,1 Xia Liu,1 Xia Zhao,2 Libao Qin,1 Guoliang Li,1 Qinghuai Liu3 1Department of Ophthalmology, Nanjing Pukou Central Hospital, Nanjing 211800, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Tangshan Eye Hospital, Tangshan 063000, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qinghuai LiuDepartment of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300# Guangzhou Road, Gulou District, Nanjing 210029, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail liuqinghuai6304@hotmail.comBackground: Abnormally expressed long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) high expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HEIH) has been implicated in many types of human cancer, and plays crucial roles in tumor development and progression. However, little is known about its function in retinoblastoma.Methods: qRT-PCR was used to determine the expression levels of HEIH, miR-194-5p and WEE1 in retinoblastoma tissues and cell lines. The trypan blue exclusion method, colony formation assay, wound-healing assay and transwell invasion assay were performed to evaluate the effects of HEIH, miR-194-5p and WEE1 on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay and Western blot were employed to investigate the regulatory relationship among HEIH, miR-194-5p and WEE1.Results: We found that HEIH was up-regulated in retinoblastoma tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, high level of HEIH was associated with TNM stage, optic nerve invasion and choroidal invasion of patients with retinoblastoma. Functional studies showed that HEIH knockdown significantly suppressed retinoblastoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, HEIH promoted retinoblastoma progression by serving as a sponge of miR-194-5p to regulate WEE1 expression.Conclusion: Our work suggests that HEIH acts as an oncogenic lncRNA to promote retinoblastoma proliferation and metastasis, providing a new insight into the retinoblastoma treatment.Keywords: retinoblastoma, HEIH, miR-194-5p, WEE1, metastasis

Dongqing Yuan, Weiwei Zhang, Songtao Yuan, Ping Xie, Qinghuai Liu Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qinghuai LiuDepartment of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210029, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail liuqh@njmu.edu.cnPurpose: To evaluate the vision-related quality of life of vitrectomy combined with autologous internal limiting membrane (ILM) transplantation for refractory macular holes (MHs).Methods: There were 40 eyes with refractory MHs included, and all eyes received 23 G vitrectomy and ILM peeling with autologous ILM transplantation. Preoperative and postoperative basic conditions were recorded. The Chinese version of the vision-related quality-of-life scale was used to evaluate patients after operation. Quality of life, postoperative visual acuity, and size of MHs before operation were assessed with Spearman rank correlations.Results: All patients were followed up for 3 months after surgery. Mean postoperative best-corrected visual acuity had significantly improved after surgery. Vision-related quality of life of patients after surgery was closely related to the MH index, but negatively correlated with best-corrected visual acuity before and after surgery.Conclusion: The anatomical structure of refractory MHs with ILM peeling combined with autologous ILM transplantation was largely reduced, and the visual acuity of patients improved significantly.Keywords: refractory macular hole, internal limiting membrane transplantation, vision-related quality of life