Myeloid cells expressing VEGF and arginase-1 following uptake of damaged retinal pigment epithelium suggests potential mechanism that drives the onset of choroidal angiogenesis in mice

Whilst data recognise both myeloid cell accumulation during choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) as well as complement activation, none of the data has presented a clear explanation for the angiogenic drive that promotes pathological angiogenesis. One possibility that is a pre-eminent drive is a specific and early conditioning and activation of the myeloid cell infiltrate. Using a laser-induced CNV murine model, we have identified that disruption of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch's membrane resulted in an early recruitment of macrophages derived from monocytes and microglia, prior to angiogenesis and contemporaneous with lesional complement activation. Early recruited CD11b(+) cells expressed a definitive gene signature of selective inflammatory mediators particularly a pronounced Arg-1 expression. Accumulating macrophages from retina and peripheral blood were activated at the site of injury, displaying enhanced VEGF expression, and notably prior to exaggerated VEGF expression from RPE, or earliest stages of angiogenesis. All of these initial events, including distinct VEGF (+) Arg-1(+) myeloid cells, subsided when CNV was established and at the time RPE-VEGF expression was maximal. Depletion of inflammatory CCR2-positive monocytes confirmed origin of infiltrating monocyte Arg-1 expression, as following depletion Arg-1 signal was lost and CNV suppressed. Furthermore, our in vitro data supported a myeloid cell uptake of damaged RPE or its derivatives as a mechanism generating VEGF (+) Arg-1(+) phenotype in vivo. Our results reveal a potential early driver initiating angiogenesis via myeloid-derived VEGF drive following uptake of damaged RPE and deliver an explanation of why CNV develops during any of the stages of macular degeneration and can be explored further for therapeutic gain

The disruption of proteostasis in neurodegenerative diseases

Cells count on surveillance systems to monitor and protect the cellular proteome which, besides being highly heterogeneous, is constantly being challenged by intrinsic and environmental factors. In this context, the proteostasis network (PN) is essential to achieve a stable and functional proteome. Disruption of the PN is associated with aging and can lead to and/or potentiate the occurrence of many neurodegenerative diseases (ND). This not only emphasizes the importance of the PN in health span and aging but also how its modulation can be a potential target for intervention and treatment of human diseases.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genetically engineering mammalian cell lines for increased viability and productivity

NRC publication: Ye

Molecular chaperones as HSF1-specific transcriptional repressors

UI - 98167909NRC publication: Ye

Use of a micromanipulator for high-efficiency cloning of cells co-expressing fluorescent proteins

The inclusion of the gene encoding the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) or its derivatives into dicistronic transfer vectors is a useful method to visually identify cells that have incorporated a specific gene of interest. By combining this approach with the use of a micromanipulator, we have developed a protocol for the one-step isolation of cells expressing a specific transgene from a pool of transfected cells. Target fluorescent cells could be identified and isolated even when they occured at frequencies as low as 1/100,000. The use of Leibowitz L-15 serum-free medium and serum-coated non-charged petri dishes, along with minimal light exposure yielded maximal cell viability and high cloning efficiency ( 48 40%, on average) for a large number of cell lines, both adherent and suspension. Several variations of the basic method are presented, as well as guidelines for the choice of hardware components to implement our cloning workstation.NRC publication: Ye