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Dev Neurobiol
2017 Sep 01;779:1086-1100. doi: 10.1002/dneu.22497.
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Upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase triggers transdifferentiation of retinal pigmented epithelial cells in Xenopus laevis: A Link between inflammatory response and regeneration.
Naitoh H
,
Suganuma Y
,
Ueda Y
,
Sato T
,
Hiramuki Y
,
Fujisawa-Sehara A
,
Taketani S
,
Araki M
.
Figure 1 qPCR analysis of expression of Xenopus Mmp7,
Mmp8, Mmp9, Mmp18 in the RPE1choroid tissues. Tissues
containing RPE and choroid were isolated from Xenopus
eyes on Days 1, 5, and 10 after retinal removal, and RNA
was isolated and used for quantitative PCR assay. Four to six
animals were used for each stage after operation. *, p<0.05;
**, p<0.01 vs. normal tissue. [Color figure can be viewed
at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Figure 2 Phase contrast image of tissue cultured Xenopus RPE1choroid on Day 14 and (A to H)
detection of Xmmp9 and Xmmp18 expression on Day 5. Normally, 4 different zones can be discriminated
around Day 14 of culture, depending on the cellâcell interactions. In the epithelial zone, both
N-cadherin and Connexin-43 are detected, while in the transitional zone only N-cadherin can be
detected (Nabeshima et al., 2013). (AâD) In situ hybridization of Xmmp9 and Xmmp18 at the early
stage of culture. RPE cells migrating from the periphery of the explant (asterisks) and in the epithelial
zone are positively stained for both Xmmp9 and Xmmp18. (EâH) No positive staining was
detected when sense probes were applied. Cultures were treated for de-pigmentation before they
were processed for in situ hybridization. [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Figure 3 Effects of MMP inhibitor, 1, 10-PNTL on RPE cell migration and neuronal differentiation.
(A, B) In the control culture, RPE cells already began to migrate from the explants on Day 2
(arrow in A) and form the epithelial zone on Day 7. (C, D) In the presence of the inhibitor, only a
few RPE cells were observed outside of the explant (arrows). Asterisks indicate tissue explants. (Eâ
H) Neuronal differentiation was detected by bIII tubulin immunocytochemistry on Day 15. The
inhibitor substantially suppressed differentiation of bIII tubulin-positive cells at 20 mM. (I) Cell
counting of bIII tubulin-positive cells. The data are the mean cell number from 4 explants at each
concentration of the inhibitor. Three separate experiments were performed and the representative
data are shown in the figures. *, p<0.05 vs. cultured without the inhibitor (DMSO). [Color figure
can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Figure 4 Effects of 1, 10-PNTL on the RPE cell-cell adhesion and Pax6 expression. Cell adhesion
profiles were examined using anti-connexin-43 and N-cadherin antibodies. (A, B and E, F) In the control
cultures, connexin-43 immunoreaction was detected in the epithelial zone, while N-cadherin was
found both in the epithelial and transitional zones. (C, D and G, H) In the presence of the inhibitor, no
positive staining for both antibodies was detected. (IâK) In the control culture, intense Pax6 immunoreactivity
was detected in the transitional zone, while no positive cells were detected in the presence of
the inhibitor (LâN). Asterisks indicate tissue explants and the dotted lines indicate the boundaries
between the explant and the epithelial zone. Four separate experiments were performed and the representative
data are shown in the figures. [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Figure 5 Effects of 1, 10-PNTL on RPE cell proliferation. (A,B) In the control cultures, numerous
cells in the transitional zone were labeled for BrdU. (C) By applying double immunostaining for
BrdU (red color) and connexin-43 (green color), RPE cells that were labeled for BrdU were
observed mostly in the transitional zone, while in the epithelial zone cells were stained for
connexin-43 and were not labeled for BrdU. (D, E) In the presence of the inhibitor, only a few cells
were labeled for BrdU. Asterisks indicate tissue explants and the dotted lines indicate the boundaries
between the explant and the epithelial zone. Asterisks indicate tissue explants and the dotted
lines indicate the boundaries between the explant and the epithelial zone. (F) Quantification of
labeled cells for BrdU indicates that the inhibitor substantially inhibited RPE cell proliferation. The
data are the mean cell number from four explants at each concentration of the inhibitor. For details
of cell counting, see the methods section. Three separate experiments were performed and the
representative data are shown in the figures. *, p<0.05 vs. cultured without the inhibitor. [Color
figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Figure 6 Expression of TNF-a and IL-1b in the RPE and
choroid at Day 1 after retinal removal (A), and expression
of TNF-a and IL-1b, Xmmp9, and Xmmp18 in cultured tissues
(B). (A) Twenty-four hours after retinal removal, both
cytokine genes are markedly upregulated, indicating that
inflammatory reaction had begun in the choroid. Three to
four animals were used either for the control or Day 1 after
retinal removal. (B) In the culture, expression of TNF-a
and IL-1b is clearly observed on Day 3 and the expression
level decreased considerably on Day 20. Expression of
Mmp9 and Mmp18 exhibits a similar profile to that of cytokine
genes. In the presence of 10 mM Withaferin A (W),
expression levels of these genes on Day 3 substantially
decreased. Three separate experiments were performed and
representative data are shown in the figure. *, p<0.05; **,
p<0.01 vs. cultured at Day 0. [Color figure can be viewed
at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Figure 7 Effects of the anti-inflammatory drugs dexamethasone (Dex) and Withaferin A on RPE cell
migration and neuronal differentiation. (AâC) On Day 12 in the culture lacking Dex, RPE cells had
migrated out from the periphery of the explant. The arrow indicates the distance between the periphery
of the explant and the most outward RPE cells. Cells did not actively migrate when Dex was present
in the culture at 50 mM (B) or 100 mM (C). (D, E) Similar effects by Withaferin A were observed on
Day 8, and Withaferin A mostly suppressed RPE cell migration at 10 mM. Asterisks indicate tissue
explants. (F) When neuronal differentiation was detected with ÃIII tubulin immunostaining, Dex suppressed
differentiation of ÃIII tubulin-positive cells in a Dex-concentration-dependent manner. The
data are the mean cell numbers from four explants at each concentration of the inhibitor. The results
represent data from three separate experiments. *, p<0.05; **, p<0.01 vs. cultured without Dex.
[Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Figure 8 Summary of the hypothetical sequence of retinal
regeneration in X. laevis. Surgical removal of the retina
causes an inflammatory reaction in the capillary-rich tissue,
the choroid, and some cytokines will be released in the tissue.
These substances will induce RPE cells to upregulate
Mmp genes. Accordingly, RPE cells detach from their basement
membrane and migrate to the other basement membrane
(the retinal vascular membrane), where they re-form
an epithelial structure and finally upregulate the regeneration
genes, Rax and Pax6. [Color figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]