The leading cause of blindness in the United States is retinal degeneration, typically involving the death of photoreceptors (rods and cones). Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a major group of hereditary retinal degenerative diseases commonly caused by mutations in rod-specific genes. These genetic defects cause rods to die followed by gradual degeneration of normal cones. It is cone death that results in progressive vision loss in RP. RP affects over 100,000 people in the United States with no treatment or prevention currently available. Our long-term goal is to understand the mechanism of photoreceptor degeneration in RP and to develop therapies that save photoreceptors and restore visual function in RP patients. A major challenge to saving rods is the heterogeneous nature of RP, as many mutations have been identified in rod-specific genes; thus, each mutation may require a unique therapy. By contrast, saving cones may provide a more general means to save vision for RP. Our previous study demonstrated a novel role of HDAC4 in promoting rod survival in a mouse model of RP. We will expand our studies through the following Aims:
Aim 1) we will investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which HDAC4 protects photoreceptors in retinal degeneration mice. Using a cre-loxp system to restrict HDAC4 expression in specific cell types, we will test whether HDAC4 exerts its pro-survival effect in photoreceptors through a cell-autonomous mechanism versus HDAC4's effect in other cell types. We will further test whether the HDAC4 deacetylase domain is required for its effect in photoreceptor protection.
Aim 2) we will test whether HDAC4 saves photoreceptors in both fast and slower retinal degeneration models. Using AAV(adeno-associated virus)-mediated gene transfer in rd1 mice (a fast retinal degeneration model), we will test whether HDAC4 directly promotes cone survival. We will test for preserved cone structure and critical components in cone phototransduction. Using AAV-mediated gene transfer in VPP and rd10 mice (slower retinal degeneration models), we will investigate 1) whether photoreceptor protection requires developmental expression of HDAC4; 2) whether HDAC4 can be used as a more general survival factor for photoreceptor protection.
Aim 3) we will investigate major survival signaling pathways that are inactivated during retinal degeneration and reactivated in HDAC4-saved cones. We will further test whether HDAC4-saved cones restore visual function using: 1) electrophysiology to test the integrity of neural circuits in the retina and visual cortex; 2) behavioral tests to determine whether rescued retinal function can guide complex behaviors. In summary, our proposed studies will elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms and pathways through which HDAC4 promotes the survival of photoreceptors, the main target of genetic diseases in the retina. Our proposed research on the pro-survival effect of HDAC4 in both rods and cones will advance the therapeutic paradigm for a major group of blinding diseases.

Public Health Relevance

We propose to utilize the pro-survival effect of HDAC4 (histone deacetylase 4) to protect retinal neurons in retinal degenerative diseases that cause progressive vision loss in humans. Understanding the mechanisms by which HDAD4 functions in the retina may lead to new therapeutic interventions for other degenerative diseases in the central nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and spinocerebellar ataxia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
4R01EY021502-05
Application #
9060940
Study Section
Biology and Diseases of the Posterior Eye Study Section (BDPE)
Program Officer
Neuhold, Lisa
Project Start
2012-05-01
Project End
2017-04-30
Budget Start
2016-05-01
Budget End
2017-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
Yao, Kai; Qiu, Suo; Wang, Yanbin V et al. (2018) Restoration of vision after de novo genesis of rod photoreceptors in mammalian retinas. Nature 560:484-488
Guo, Xinzheng; Snider, William D; Chen, Bo (2016) GSK3? regulates AKT-induced central nervous system axon regeneration via an eIF2B?-dependent, mTORC1-independent pathway. Elife 5:e11903
Patterson, Victoria L; Thompson, Brian S; Cherry, Catherine et al. (2016) A Phenotyping Regimen for Genetically Modified Mice Used to Study Genes Implicated in Human Diseases of Aging. J Vis Exp :
Peng, Shaomin; Wang, Shao-Bin; Singh, Deepti et al. (2016) Claudin-3 and claudin-19 partially restore native phenotype to ARPE-19 cells via effects on tight junctions and gene expression. Exp Eye Res 151:179-89
Guo, Xinzheng; Wang, Shao-Bin; Xu, Hongping et al. (2015) A short N-terminal domain of HDAC4 preserves photoreceptors and restores visual function in retinitis pigmentosa. Nat Commun 6:8005
Zhao, Peter Y; Gan, Geliang; Peng, Shaomin et al. (2015) TRP Channels Localize to Subdomains of the Apical Plasma Membrane in Human Fetal Retinal Pigment Epithelium. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56:1916-23
Shen, Hongying; Giordano, Francesca; Wu, Yumei et al. (2014) Coupling between endocytosis and sphingosine kinase 1 recruitment. Nat Cell Biol 16:652-62
Demos-Davies, Kimberly M; Ferguson, Bradley S; Cavasin, Maria A et al. (2014) HDAC6 contributes to pathological responses of heart and skeletal muscle to chronic angiotensin-II signaling. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 307:H252-8
Zheng, Qinxiang; Ren, Yueping; Tzekov, Radouil et al. (2012) Differential proteomics and functional research following gene therapy in a mouse model of Leber congenital amaurosis. PLoS One 7:e44855