Our previous study verified the protective effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides(LBP)on retinal neurons and blood vessels in acute ocular hypertension(AOH)mice.To investigate the effect of LBP on the reactivity o...Our previous study verified the protective effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides(LBP)on retinal neurons and blood vessels in acute ocular hypertension(AOH)mice.To investigate the effect of LBP on the reactivity of retinal glial cells,an AOH mouse model was established in one eye by maintaining ocular hypertension of 90 mm Hg for 60 minutes.Either LBP solution(1 mg/kg)or phosphate-buffered saline was administrated to the mice by gavage daily,starting 7 days before the AOH insult and continuing until the mice were sacrificed for specimen collection on day 4 post-insult.After AOH insult,increased numbers of astrocytes and microglia were observed,together with decreased expression of the following glial cell biomarkers in the retinal ganglion cells of AOH mice:glial fibrillary acidic protein,glutamine synthetase,aquaporin-4,S-100 proteins,ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1,amyloid precursor protein and receptor of advanced glycosylation end-products.After intervention with LBP,the above changes were significantly reduced.Remarkably,morphological remodeling of blood vessel-associated retinal astrocytes,marked by glial fibrillary acidic protein,was also observed.These results,taken together,suggest that LBP regulated the production of amyloid-βand expression of receptor of advanced glycosylation end-products,as well as mediating the activity of retinal glial cells,which may lead to the promotion of better maintenance of the blood-retinal barrier and improved neuronal survival in AOH insult.This study was approved by the Committee for the Use of Live Animals in Teaching and Research(approval No.CULTRA-#1664-08).展开更多
The chronic complications of diabetes mellitus constitute a major public health problem.For example,diabetic eye diseases are the most important cause of blindness,and diabetic nephropathy is the most frequent cause o...The chronic complications of diabetes mellitus constitute a major public health problem.For example,diabetic eye diseases are the most important cause of blindness,and diabetic nephropathy is the most frequent cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide.The cellular and molecular mechanisms of these chronic complications are still poorly understood,preventing the development of effective treatment strategies.Tight junctions(TJs)are epithelial intercellular junctions located at the most apical region of cell-cell contacts,and their main function is to restrict the passage of molecules through the paracellular space.The TJs consist of over 40 proteins,and the most important are occludin,claudins and the zonula occludens.Accumulating evidence suggests that TJ disruption in different organs,such as the brain,nerves,retina and kidneys,plays a fundamental pathophysiological role in the development of chronic complications.Increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier and the blood-retinal barrier has been demonstrated in diabetic neuropathy,brain injury and diabetic retinopathy.The consequences of TJ disruption on kidney function or progression of kidney disease are currently unknown.In the present review,we highlighted the molecular events that lead to barrier dysfunction in diabetes.Further investigation of the mechanisms underlying TJ disruption is expected to provide new insights into therapeutic approaches to ameliorate the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus.展开更多
Astrocytes are intimately involved in the formation and development of retinal vessels. Astrocyte dysfunction is a major cause of blood-retinal barrier injury and other retinal vascular diseases. In this study, the de...Astrocytes are intimately involved in the formation and development of retinal vessels. Astrocyte dysfunction is a major cause of blood-retinal barrier injury and other retinal vascular diseases. In this study, the development of the retinal vascular system and the formation of the blood-ret-inal barrier in mice were investigated using immunolfuorescence staining, gelatin-ink perfusion, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the retinal vascular system of mice develops from the optic disc after birth, and radiates out gradually to cover the entire retina, taking the papilla optica as the center. First, the superifcial vasculature is formed on the inner retinal layer;then, the vasculature extends into the inner and outer edges of the retinal inner nuclear layer, forming the deep vasculature that is parallel to the superifcial vasculature. The blood-retinal barrier is mainly composed of endothelium, basal lamina and the end-feet of astrocytes, which become mature during mouse development. Initially, the naive endothelial cells were immature with few organelles and many microvilli. The basal lamina was uniform in thickness, and the glial end-feet surrounded the outer basal lamina incompletely. In the end, the blood-retinal barrier matures with smooth endothelia connected through tight junctions, rela-tively thin and even basal lamina, and relatively thin glial cell end-feet. These ifndings indicate that the development of the vasculature in the retina follows the rules of“center to periphery”and“superifcial layer to deep layers”. Its development and maturation are spatially and tempo-rally consistent with the functional performance of retinal neurons and photosensitivity. The blood-retinal barrier gradually becomes mature via the process of interactions between astro-cytes and blood vessel cells.展开更多
基金supported in part by the National Basic Research Program of China,No.81300766(to XSM)the Cultivation and Innovation Fund from the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University,China,No.802168(to XSM)+2 种基金Hygiene&Health Appropriated Technology and Promoting Project of Guangdong Province of China,No.201905270933056876(to XSM)the fund of Leading Talents of Guangdong Province of China,No.87014002(to KFS)a grant from Ningxia Key Research and Development Program,and Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities of China,No.B14036(to KFS)。
文摘Our previous study verified the protective effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides(LBP)on retinal neurons and blood vessels in acute ocular hypertension(AOH)mice.To investigate the effect of LBP on the reactivity of retinal glial cells,an AOH mouse model was established in one eye by maintaining ocular hypertension of 90 mm Hg for 60 minutes.Either LBP solution(1 mg/kg)or phosphate-buffered saline was administrated to the mice by gavage daily,starting 7 days before the AOH insult and continuing until the mice were sacrificed for specimen collection on day 4 post-insult.After AOH insult,increased numbers of astrocytes and microglia were observed,together with decreased expression of the following glial cell biomarkers in the retinal ganglion cells of AOH mice:glial fibrillary acidic protein,glutamine synthetase,aquaporin-4,S-100 proteins,ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1,amyloid precursor protein and receptor of advanced glycosylation end-products.After intervention with LBP,the above changes were significantly reduced.Remarkably,morphological remodeling of blood vessel-associated retinal astrocytes,marked by glial fibrillary acidic protein,was also observed.These results,taken together,suggest that LBP regulated the production of amyloid-βand expression of receptor of advanced glycosylation end-products,as well as mediating the activity of retinal glial cells,which may lead to the promotion of better maintenance of the blood-retinal barrier and improved neuronal survival in AOH insult.This study was approved by the Committee for the Use of Live Animals in Teaching and Research(approval No.CULTRA-#1664-08).
文摘The chronic complications of diabetes mellitus constitute a major public health problem.For example,diabetic eye diseases are the most important cause of blindness,and diabetic nephropathy is the most frequent cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide.The cellular and molecular mechanisms of these chronic complications are still poorly understood,preventing the development of effective treatment strategies.Tight junctions(TJs)are epithelial intercellular junctions located at the most apical region of cell-cell contacts,and their main function is to restrict the passage of molecules through the paracellular space.The TJs consist of over 40 proteins,and the most important are occludin,claudins and the zonula occludens.Accumulating evidence suggests that TJ disruption in different organs,such as the brain,nerves,retina and kidneys,plays a fundamental pathophysiological role in the development of chronic complications.Increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier and the blood-retinal barrier has been demonstrated in diabetic neuropathy,brain injury and diabetic retinopathy.The consequences of TJ disruption on kidney function or progression of kidney disease are currently unknown.In the present review,we highlighted the molecular events that lead to barrier dysfunction in diabetes.Further investigation of the mechanisms underlying TJ disruption is expected to provide new insights into therapeutic approaches to ameliorate the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30771140,31070952 and U1204311
文摘Astrocytes are intimately involved in the formation and development of retinal vessels. Astrocyte dysfunction is a major cause of blood-retinal barrier injury and other retinal vascular diseases. In this study, the development of the retinal vascular system and the formation of the blood-ret-inal barrier in mice were investigated using immunolfuorescence staining, gelatin-ink perfusion, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the retinal vascular system of mice develops from the optic disc after birth, and radiates out gradually to cover the entire retina, taking the papilla optica as the center. First, the superifcial vasculature is formed on the inner retinal layer;then, the vasculature extends into the inner and outer edges of the retinal inner nuclear layer, forming the deep vasculature that is parallel to the superifcial vasculature. The blood-retinal barrier is mainly composed of endothelium, basal lamina and the end-feet of astrocytes, which become mature during mouse development. Initially, the naive endothelial cells were immature with few organelles and many microvilli. The basal lamina was uniform in thickness, and the glial end-feet surrounded the outer basal lamina incompletely. In the end, the blood-retinal barrier matures with smooth endothelia connected through tight junctions, rela-tively thin and even basal lamina, and relatively thin glial cell end-feet. These ifndings indicate that the development of the vasculature in the retina follows the rules of“center to periphery”and“superifcial layer to deep layers”. Its development and maturation are spatially and tempo-rally consistent with the functional performance of retinal neurons and photosensitivity. The blood-retinal barrier gradually becomes mature via the process of interactions between astro-cytes and blood vessel cells.