Molecular Regulation in Ocular Physiology and Diseases

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Microenvironment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 8921

Special Issue Editor

Centre de Recherche de Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Département d'ophtalmologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
Interests: angiogenesis; ophthalmology; vascular malformations; signal transduction; bone morphogenetic proteins

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The vertebrate eye is a highly specialized sensory organ resulting from structures derived from the neural tube called optic vesicles. During embryogenesis, ocular development is controlled by several intracellular and extracellular signaling pathways. These signaling pathways play essential roles in several developmental processes, including cell proliferation and cell fate determination. While the activity of these pathways is tightly controlled during development, dysregulation can result in multiple ocular malformations. Furthermore, faulty regulation of several signaling pathways has been associated with ocular pathologies in post-natal life. This Topic will highlight the role of several key signaling pathways involved in eye development and how their dysregulation contributes to ocular diseases.

Dr. Bruno Larrivée
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 6426 KiB  
Article
Twenty Novel MicroRNAs in the Aqueous Humor of Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma Patients
by Marcin Czop, Karolina Gasińska, Ewa Kosior-Jarecka, Dominika Wróbel-Dudzińska, Janusz Kocki and Tomasz Żarnowski
Cells 2023, 12(5), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12050737 - 24 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1415
Abstract
The microRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs (19–25 nt) that regulate the level of gene expression at the post-transcriptional stage. Altered miRNAs expression can lead to the development of various diseases, e.g., pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG). In this study, we assessed the levels of [...] Read more.
The microRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs (19–25 nt) that regulate the level of gene expression at the post-transcriptional stage. Altered miRNAs expression can lead to the development of various diseases, e.g., pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG). In this study, we assessed the levels of miRNA expression in the aqueous humor of PEXG patients using the expression microarray method. Twenty new miRNA molecules have been selected as having the potential to be associated with the development or progression of PEXG. Ten miRNAs were downregulated in PEXG (hsa-miR-95-5p, hsa-miR-515-3p, hsa-mir-802, hsa-miR-1205, hsa-miR-3660, hsa-mir-3683, hsa -mir-3936, hsa-miR-4774-5p, hsa-miR-6509-3p, hsa-miR-7843-3p) and ten miRNAs were upregulated in PEXG (hsa-miR-202 -3p, hsa-miR-3622a-3p, hsa-mir-4329, hsa-miR-4524a-3p, hsa-miR-4655-5p, hsa-mir-6071, hsa-mir-6723-5p, hsa-miR-6847-5p, hsa-miR-8074, and hsa-miR-8083). Functional analysis and enrichment analysis showed that the mechanisms that can be regulated by these miRNAs are: extracellular matrix (ECM) imbalance, cell apoptosis (possibly retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)), autophagy, and elevated calcium cation levels. Nevertheless, the exact molecular basis of PEXG is unknown and further research is required on this topic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Regulation in Ocular Physiology and Diseases)
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Review

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30 pages, 2383 KiB  
Review
Senescent Cells: Dual Implications on the Retinal Vascular System
by Mohammad Reza Habibi-Kavashkohie, Tatiana Scorza and Malika Oubaha
Cells 2023, 12(19), 2341; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12192341 - 23 Sep 2023
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Abstract
Cellular senescence, a state of permanent cell cycle arrest in response to endogenous and exogenous stimuli, triggers a series of gradual alterations in structure, metabolism, and function, as well as inflammatory gene expression that nurtures a low-grade proinflammatory milieu in human tissue. A [...] Read more.
Cellular senescence, a state of permanent cell cycle arrest in response to endogenous and exogenous stimuli, triggers a series of gradual alterations in structure, metabolism, and function, as well as inflammatory gene expression that nurtures a low-grade proinflammatory milieu in human tissue. A growing body of evidence indicates an accumulation of senescent neurons and blood vessels in response to stress and aging in the retina. Prolonged accumulation of senescent cells and long-term activation of stress signaling responses may lead to multiple chronic diseases, tissue dysfunction, and age-related pathologies by exposing neighboring cells to the heightened pathological senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). However, the ultimate impacts of cellular senescence on the retinal vasculopathies and retinal vascular development remain ill-defined. In this review, we first summarize the molecular players and fundamental mechanisms driving cellular senescence, as well as the beneficial implications of senescent cells in driving vital physiological processes such as embryogenesis, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. Then, the dual implications of senescent cells on the growth, hemostasis, and remodeling of retinal blood vessels are described to document how senescent cells contribute to both retinal vascular development and the severity of proliferative retinopathies. Finally, we discuss the two main senotherapeutic strategies—senolytics and senomorphics—that are being considered to safely interfere with the detrimental effects of cellular senescence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Regulation in Ocular Physiology and Diseases)
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29 pages, 1414 KiB  
Review
TGF-β Superfamily Signaling in the Eye: Implications for Ocular Pathologies
by Soumaya Hachana and Bruno Larrivée
Cells 2022, 11(15), 2336; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11152336 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5717
Abstract
The TGF-β signaling pathway plays a crucial role in several key aspects of development and tissue homeostasis. TGF-β ligands and their mediators have been shown to be important regulators of ocular physiology and their dysregulation has been described in several eye pathologies. TGF-β [...] Read more.
The TGF-β signaling pathway plays a crucial role in several key aspects of development and tissue homeostasis. TGF-β ligands and their mediators have been shown to be important regulators of ocular physiology and their dysregulation has been described in several eye pathologies. TGF-β signaling participates in regulating several key developmental processes in the eye, including angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Inadequate TGF-β signaling has been associated with defective angiogenesis, vascular barrier function, unfavorable inflammatory responses, and tissue fibrosis. In addition, experimental models of corneal neovascularization, diabetic retinopathy, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, glaucoma, or corneal injury suggest that aberrant TGF-β signaling may contribute to the pathological features of these conditions, showing the potential of modulating TGF-β signaling to treat eye diseases. This review highlights the key roles of TGF-β family members in ocular physiology and in eye diseases, and reviews approaches targeting the TGF-β signaling as potential treatment options. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Regulation in Ocular Physiology and Diseases)
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