Comprehensive genetic analysis uncovers the mutational spectrum of MFRP and its genotype-phenotype correlation in a large cohort of Chinese microphthalmia patients.

PURPOSE: Microphthalmia is a severe congenital ocular disease featured by abnormal ocular development. The aim of this study was to detail the genetic and clinical characteristics of a large cohort of Chinese patients with microphthalmia related to MFRP variants, focusing on uncovering genotype-phenotype correlations. METHODS: Fifty microphthalmia patients from 44 unrelated Chinese families were recruited. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was conducted to analyze the coding regions and adjacent intronic regions of MFRP. Axial lengths (AL) were measured for all probands and available family members. Protein structures of mutations with high frequency in our cohort were predicted. The genotype-phenotype correlations were explored by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen MFRP variants were detected in 17 families, accounting for 38.64 % of all microphthalmia families. There were 9 novel mutations (c.427+1G>C, c.428-2A>C, c.561_575del:p.A188_E192del, c.836G>A:p.C279Y, c.1010_1021del:p.H337_E340del:p.Y479*, c.1516_1517del:p.S506Pfs*66, c.1561T>G:p.C521G, c.1616G>A:p.R539H, and c.1735C>T:p.P579S) and six previously reported variants in MFRP, with p.E496K and p.H337_E340del being highly frequent, found in eight (47.06 %) and two families (11.76 %), respectively. Seven variants (43.75 %) were located in the C-terminal cysteine-rich frizzled-related domain (CRD) (7/16, 43.75 %). Protein prediction implicated p.E496K and p.H337_E340del mutations might lead to a destabilization of the MFRP protein. The average AL of all 42 eyes was 16.02 ± 1.05 mm, and 78.36 % of eyes with AL < 16 mm harbored p.E496K variant. Twenty-six eyes with variant variant had shorter AL than that of the other 16 eyes without this variant (p = 0.006), highlighting a novel genotype-phenotype correlation. CONCLUSIONS: In this largest cohort of Chinese patients with microphthalmia, the 9 novel variants, high frequency of p.E496W, and mutation hotspots in CRD reveals unique insights into the MFRP mutation spectrum among Chinese patients, indicating ethnic variability. A new genotype-phenotype correlation that p.E496K variant associated with a shorter AL is unveiled. Our findings enhance the current knowledge of MFRP-associated microphthalmia and provide valuable information for prenatal diagnosis as well as future therapy.

Mitomycin C-loaded PTMC15-F127-PTMC15 hydrogel maintained better bleb function after filtering glaucoma surgery in monkeys with intraocular hypertension.

There is an unmet need for a safer and more effective approach for antimetabolite application to prevent bleb fibrosis after glaucoma filtering surgery. Here, we utilized our previously developed thermosensitive sustained-release agent, mitomycin C-loaded poly(trimethylene carbonate)15-F127-poly(trimethylene carbonate)15 (MMC-hydrogel), aiming to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of MMC-hydrogel in high intraocular pressure (IOP) primate eyes. Twelve primate eyes after high IOP induction were randomly divided into three groups, which respectively received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-hydrogel, MMC-hydrogel, and MMC treatment during trabeculectomy. IOP and bleb volume were measured using a Tonopen and anterior segment optical coherence tomography over 28 days. At the end of the experiment, all experimental primate eyes were enucleated. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry were performed to reveal myofibroblast cells and collagen deposition of filtering blebs. The MMC-hydrogel group had satisfactory IOP control (9.25 ± 4.80 mmHg) and maintained well-functioning blebs for a longer time. Fibrosis and scarring were significantly alleviated in this MMC-hydrogel group. There was no obvious toxicity to ocular surfaces or intraocular structures. Taken together, these data suggest that PTMC15-F127-PTMC15-loaded MMC-hydrogel plays a role in functional maintenance and scarring inhibition, showing high efficacy in reducing post-filtering surgery bleb fibrosis. This MMC-hydrogel may offer a new solution for filtering bleb management after glaucoma surgery.

NIR-Assisted MgO-Based Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Targeted Treatment of Parkinson's Disease through the Blood-Brain Barrier.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major limiting factor that prevents the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, MgOp@PPLP nanoparticles are explored by using MgO nanoparticles as a substrate, polydopamine as a shell, wrapping anti-SNCA plasmid inside, and modifying polyethylene glycol, lactoferrin, and puerarin on the surface to improve the hydrophilicity, brain targeting and antioxidant properties of the particles, respectively. MgOp@PPLP exhibits superior near-infrared radiation (NIR) response. Under the guidance of photothermal effect, these MgOp@PPLP particles are capable of penetrating the BBB and be taken up by neuronal cells to exert gene therapy and antioxidant therapy. In both in vivo and in vitro models of PD, MgOp@PPLP exhibits good neuroprotective effects. Therefore, combined with noninvasive NIR radiation, MgOp@PPLP nanoplatform with good biocompatibility becomes an ideal material to combat neurodegenerative diseases.

Fabrication of Resveratrol-Loaded Scaffolds and Their Application for Delaying Cell Senescence In Vitro.

In this research, resveratrol (RSV)-loaded scaffolds have been prepared to control the release of resveratrol and used to delay hepatic stellate cell (HSC) senescence in vitro. The functional carboxyl group-COOH is first introduced to the surface of poly(ε-caprolactone/d,l-lactide) (P(CL-DLLA)) under the coadministration of ultra-violet (UV) treatment and photo initiator and then resveratrol are conjugated onto the surface of the modified scaffolds through esterification. The characterization of the structure of RSV-AA-P(CL-DLLA) shows that resveratrol has been successfully conjugated onto the modified surface. Cell growth exhibits a higher level of cell viability and much more obvious agglomeration on the surface of the synthetic RSV-AA-P(CL-DLLA). Meanwhile the activity of senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) is downgulated for cells on RSV-AA-P(CL-DLLA), which suggests that cell senescence is delayed on RSV-AA-P(CL-DLLA). And then it is attested that cells have a lower level of p53 but SIRT1 expression is upregulated on RSV-AA-P(CL-DLLA), which might be related to resveratrol release from RSV-AA-P(CL-DLLA). It also suggested cell senescence on RSV-AA-P(CL-DLLA) has been regulated by p53 and the SIRT1 signaling pathway. In all, the present study shows that RSV-AA-P(CL-DLLA) can be successfully prepared to promote cell growth and delay cell senescence and could be used for cell-based therapy in tissue engineering.

Biodegradable scaffolds facilitate epiretinal transplantation of hiPSC-Derived retinal neurons in nonhuman primates.

Transplantation of stem cell-derived retinal neurons is a promising regenerative therapy for optic neuropathy. However, significant anatomic differences compromise its efficacy in large animal models. The present study describes the procedure and outcomes of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal sheet transplantation in primate models using biodegradable materials. Stem cell-derived retinal organoids were seeded on polylactic-coglycolic acid (PLGA) scaffolds and directed toward a retinal ganglion cell (RGC) fate. The seeded tissues showed active proliferation, typical neuronal morphology, and electrical excitability. The cellular scaffolds were then epiretinally transplanted onto the inner surface of rhesus monkey retinas. With sufficient graft-host contact provided by the scaffold, the transplanted tissues survived for up to 1 year without tumorigenesis. Histological examinations indicated survival, further maturation, and migration. Moreover, green fluorescent protein-labeled axonal projections toward the host optic nerve were observed. Cryopreserved organoids were also able to survive and migrate after transplantation. Our results suggest the potential efficacy of RGC replacement therapy in the repair of optic neuropathy for the restoration of visual function. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In the present study, we generated a human retinal sheet by seeding hiPSC-retinal organoid-derived RGCs on a biodegradable PLGA scaffold. We transplanted this retinal sheet onto the inner surface of the rhesus monkey retina. With scaffold support, donor cells survive, migrate and project their axons into the host optic nerve. Furthermore, an effective cryopreservation strategy for retinal organoids was developed, and the thawed organoids were also observed to survive and show cell migration after transplantation.

Effects of Differentiation and Antisenescence from BMSCs to Hepatocy-Like Cells of the PAAm-IGF-1/TNF-α Biomaterial.

Aiming at the cells' differentiation phenomenon and senescence problem in liver tissue engineering, this work is designed to synthesize three different chargeable polymers (polypropylene acid (PAAc), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polypropylene amine (PAAm)) coimmobilized by the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). We explore the hepatocyte differentiation effect and the antisenecence effect of PSt-PAAm-IGF-1/TNF-α biomaterial which was selected from the three different chargeable polymers in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Our work will establish a model for studying the biochemical molecular regulation mechanism and signal transduction pathway of cell senescence in liver tissue engineering, which provide a molecular basis for developing biomaterials for liver tissue engineering.

Self-Assembled Heterojunction Carbon Nanotubes Synergizing with Photoimmobilized IGF-1 Inhibit Cellular Senescence.

Synthesis of artificial and functional structures for bone tissue engineering has been well recognized but the associated cell senescence issue remains much less concerned so far. In this work, surface-modified polycaprolactone-polylactic acid scaffolds using self-assembled heterojunction carbon nanotubes (sh-CNTs) combined with insulin-like growth factor-1 are synthesized and a series of structural and biological characterizations are carried out, with particular attention to cell senescence mechanism. It is revealed that the modified scaffolds can up-regulate the expressions of alkaline phosphates and bone morphogenetic proteins while down-regulate the expressions of senescence-related proteins in mesenchymal stem cells, demonstrating the highly preferred anti-senescence functionality of the sh-CNTs modified scaffolds in bone tissue engineering. Furthermore, it is also found that with sh-CNTs, scaffolds can accelerate bone healing with extremely low toxicity in vivo.