Samuels, I. S. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2023

Modeling aging and retinal degeneration with mitochondrial DNA mutation burden.

Somatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation accumulation has been observed in individuals with retinal degenerative disorders. To study the effects of aging and mtDNA mutation accumulation in the retina, a Polymerase gamma (POLG) deficiency model, the POLGD257A mutator mice (PolgD257A), was used. POLG is an enzyme responsible for regulating mtDNA replication and repair. Retinas of young and older mice with this mutation were analyzed in vivo and ex vivo to provide new insights into the contribution of age-related mitochondrial dysfunction due to mtDNA damage. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) image analysis revealed a decrease in retinal and photoreceptor thickness starting at 6 months of age in mice with the POLGD257A mutation compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Electroretinography (ERG) testing showed a significant decrease in all recorded responses at 6 months of age. Sections labeled with markers of different types of retinal cells, including cones, rods, and bipolar cells, exhibited decreased labeling starting at 6 months. However, electron microscopy analysis revealed differences in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) mitochondria morphology beginning at 3 months. Interestingly, there was no increase in oxidative stress observed in the retina or RPE of POLGD257A mice. Additionally, POLGD257A RPE exhibited an accelerated rate of autofluorescence cytoplasmic granule formation and accumulation. Mitochondrial markers displayed decreased abundance in protein lysates obtained from retina and RPE samples. These findings suggest that the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations leads to impaired mitochondrial function and accelerated aging, resulting in retinal degeneration.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Reduction of Glut1 in retinal neurons but not the RPE alleviates polyol accumulation and normalizes early characteristics of diabetic retinopathy.

Hyperglycemia is a key determinant for development of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Inadequate glycemic control exacerbates retinopathy, while normalization of glucose levels delays its progression. In hyperglycemia, hexokinase is saturated and excess glucose is metabolized to sorbitol by aldose reductase via the polyol pathway. Therapies to reduce retinal polyol accumulation for the prevention of DR have been elusive due to low sorbitol dehydrogenase levels in the retina and inadequate inhibition of aldose reductase. Using systemic and conditional genetic inactivation, we targeted the primary facilitative glucose transporter in the retina, Glut1, as a preventative therapeutic in diabetic male and female mice. Unlike wildtype diabetics, diabetic Glut1+/- mice did not display elevated Glut1 levels in the retina. Furthermore, diabetic Glut1+/- mice exhibited ameliorated ERG defects, inflammation and oxidative stress, which was correlated with a significant reduction in retinal sorbitol accumulation. RPE-specific reduction of Glut1 did not prevent an increase in retinal sorbitol content or early hallmarks of DR. However, like diabetic Glut1+/- mice, reduction of Glut1 specifically in retinal neurons mitigated polyol accumulation and completely prevented retinal dysfunction and the elevation of markers for oxidative stress and inflammation associated with diabetes. These results suggest that modulation of retinal polyol accumulation via Glut1 in photoreceptors can circumvent the difficulties in regulating systemic glucose metabolism and be exploited to prevent DR. SignificanceDiabetic retinopathy (DR) affects one third of diabetic patients and is the primary cause of vision loss in adults aged 20-74. While anti-VEGF and photocoagulation treatments for the late-stage vision threatening complications can prevent vision loss, a significant proportion of patients do not respond to anti-VEGF therapies and mechanisms to stop progression of early-stage symptoms remain elusive. Glut1 is the primary facilitative glucose transporter for the retina. We determined that a moderate reduction in Glut1 levels, specifically in retinal neurons, but not the RPE, was sufficient to prevent retinal polyol accumulation and the earliest functional defects to be identified in the diabetic retina. Our study defines modulation of Glut1 in retinal neurons as a targetable molecule for prevention of DR.

neuroscience↗