A novel system for the classification of diseased retinal ganglion cells.

Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dendritic atrophy is an early feature of many forms of retinal degeneration, providing a challenge to RGC classification. The characterization of these changes is complicated by the possibility that selective labeling of any particular class can confound the estimation of dendritic remodeling. To address this issue we have developed a novel, robust, and quantitative RGC classification based on proximal dendritic features which are resistant to early degeneration. RGCs were labeled through the ballistic delivery of DiO and DiI coated tungsten particles to whole retinal explants of 20 adult Brown Norway rats. RGCs were grouped according to the Sun classification system. A comprehensive set of primary and secondary dendrite features were quantified and a new classification model derived using principal component (PCA) and discriminant analyses, to estimate the likelihood that a cell belonged to any given class. One-hundred and thirty one imaged RGCs were analyzed; according to the Sun classification, 24% (n = 31) were RGCA, 29% (n = 38) RGCB, 32% (n = 42) RGCC, and 15% (n = 20) RGCD. PCA gave a 3 component solution, separating RGCs based on descriptors of soma size and primary dendrite thickness, proximal dendritic field size and dendritic tree asymmetry. The new variables correctly classified 73.3% (n = 74) of RGCs from a training sample and 63.3% (n = 19) from a hold out sample indicating an effective model. Soma and proximal dendritic tree morphological features provide a useful surrogate measurement for the classification of RGCs in disease. While a definitive classification is not possible in every case, the technique provides a useful safeguard against sample bias where the normal criteria for cell classification may not be reliable.

Assessment of Response of Kidney Tumors to Rapamycin and Atorvastatin in Tsc1+/- Mice.

Atorvastatin is widely used to lower blood cholesterol and to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease-associated complications. Epidemiological investigations and preclinical studies suggest that statins such as atorvastatin have antitumor activity for various types of cancer. Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is a tumor syndrome caused by TSC1 or TSC2 mutations that lead to aberrant activation of mTOR and tumor formation in multiple organs. Previous studies have demonstrated that atorvastatin selectively suppressed growth and proliferation of mouse Tsc2 null embryonic fibroblasts through inhibition of mTOR. However, atorvastatin alone did not reduce tumor burden in the liver and kidneys of Tsc2+/- mice as assessed by histological analysis, and no combination therapy of rapamycin and atorvastatin has been tried. In this study, we used T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to track changes in tumor number and size in the kidneys of a Tsc1+/- mouse model and to assess the efficacy of rapamycin and atorvastatin alone and as a combination therapy. We found that rapamycin alone or rapamycin combined with atorvastatin significantly reduced tumor burden, while atorvastatin alone did not. Combined therapy with rapamycin and atorvastatin appeared to be more effective for treating renal tumors than rapamycin alone, but the difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that combined therapy with rapamycin and atorvastatin is unlikely to provide additional benefit over rapamycin as a single agent in the treatment of Tsc-associated renal tumors.

The dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor GSK2126458 is effective for treating solid renal tumours in Tsc2+/- mice through suppression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis.

Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is an inherited tumour syndrome caused by mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 that lead to aberrant activation of mTOR. Tumour responses in TSC patients to rapamycin, an allosteric inhibitor of mTOR, or its analogs are partial and reversible probably due to feedback activation of Akt. In this study, we examined the efficacy of GSK2126458, an ATP-competitive dual inhibitor of PI3K/mTOR, in comparison to rapamycin for treatment of renal tumours in genetically engineered Tsc2+/- mice. We found that both GSK2126458 and rapamycin caused significant reduction in number and size of solid renal tumours. GSK2126458 also significantly reduced the number and size of all lesions (cystic, papillary and solid) although to a lesser extent compared to rapamycin. GSK2126458 inhibited both PI3K and mTOR while rapamycin exerted stronger inhibitory effect on mTORC1 in renal tumours. Furthermore, GSK2126458 and rapamycin suppressed proliferation of tumour cells. Importantly, GSK2126458 increased apoptosis of solid tumours but rapamycin did not. Further investigations are therefore needed to test whether rapamycin in combination with GSK2126458 could promote apoptosis and thus improve therapy of TSC-associated renal tumours.

Combination of Everolimus with Sorafenib for Solid Renal Tumors in Tsc2+/- Mice Is Superior to Everolimus Alone.

Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is an inherited tumor syndrome caused by mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 that lead to aberrant activation of mTOR and development of tumors in multiple organs including the kidneys. The mTOR inhibitors rapamycin and everolimus (rapalogs) have demonstrated clinical efficacy in treating TSC-associated tumors including renal angiomyolipomas. However, tumor responses are usually only partial, and regrowth occurs after drug withdrawal. TSC-associated tumors are highly vascular, and TSC patients with renal angiomyolipomas have elevated levels of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A and VEGFD. Sorafenib inhibits multiple kinases including VEGF receptors and has been used to treat metastatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma in one case, but formal trials have not been undertaken. In this study, we investigated tumor angiogenesis and the therapeutic efficacy of everolimus in combination with sorafenib for renal tumors in Tsc2+/- mice. We found that these tumors exhibited remarkably variable angiogenesis despite consistent aberrant activation of mTOR and increased expression of HIF1α and VEGFA. Treatment of 11-month-old Tsc2+/- mice for 2 months with a combination of everolimus and sorafenib significantly reduced the number and size of solid renal tumors, whereas everolimus or sorafenib alone did not. These results suggest that inhibition of mTOR and multiple kinases including VEGF receptors using combination therapy could hold promise for the treatment of TSC-associated tumors that have responded inadequately to a rapalog alone.

A novel method for the induction of experimental glaucoma using magnetic microspheres.

PURPOSE: The development of a method for the sustained elevation of intraocular pressure in experimental glaucoma based on the anterior chamber injection of paramagnetic microbeads. METHODS: Unilateral glaucoma was induced in adult male Norwegian Brown rats by the injection of paramagnetic polystyrene microspheres. A handheld 0.45 Tesla magnet was used to draw the beads into the iridocorneal angle to impede aqueous drainage via the trabecular meshwork. RESULTS: Elevated intraocular pressures (IOPs) were induced in 61 rats, resulting in a mean elevation of 5.8 mm Hg ± 1.0 (SEM) relative to the contralateral control eye. The mean duration of sustained IOP elevation (defined as >5 mm Hg relative to the control eye for at least 7 consecutive days) after a single injection was 12.8 days ± 0.9 (SEM, maximum duration 27 days). In all eyes, the visual axis remained clear from the time of injection, with minimal inflammation after injection. Retinal ganglion cell loss was determined in 21 animals (mean integral IOP, 194.5 mm Hg days ± 87.5 [SEM]) as 36.4% ± 2.4 (SEM) compared with the contralateral, untreated eye. CONCLUSIONS: The use of paramagnetic microbeads for the occlusion of the iridocorneal angle produces a sustained elevation of IOP with fewer injections and avoids the risk of visual axis occlusion. It represents a simple and effective method for the induction of experimental glaucoma.