Here we demonstrate a novel approach to using high resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (HR-SD-OCT) to assist delivery of gene therapy agents into the subretinal space, assess its areal coverage, and characterize photoreceptor vitality.
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Method Article
Ultrahigh Resolution Mouse Optical Coherence Tomography to Aid Intraocular Injection in Retinal Gene Therapy Research
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
HR-SD-OCT is utilized to monitor the progression of photoreceptor degeneration in live mouse models, assess the delivery of therapeutic agents into the subretinal space, and to evaluate toxicity and efficacy in vivo. HR-SD-OCT uses near infrared light (800-880 nm) and has optics specifically designed for the unique optics of the mouse eye with sub-2-micron axial resolution. Transgenic mouse models of outer retinal (photoreceptor) degeneration and controls were imaged to assess the disease progression. Pulled glass microneedles were used to deliver sub retinal injections of adeno-associated virus (AAV) or nanoparticles (NP) via a trans-scleral and trans-choroidal approach. Careful positioning of the needle into the subretinal space was required prior to a calibrated pressure injection, which delivers fluid into the sub retinal space. Real time subretinal surgery was conducted on our retinal imaging system (RIS). HR-SD-OCT demonstrated progressive uniform retinal degeneration due to expression of a toxic mutant human mutant rhodopsin (P347S) (RHOP347S) transgene in mice. HR-SD-OCT allows rigorous quantification of all the retinal layers. Outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness and photoreceptor outer segment length (OSL) measurements correlate with photoreceptor vitality, degeneration, or rescue. The RIS delivery system allows real-time visualization of subretinal injections in neonatal (~P10-14) or adult mice, and HR-SD-OCT immediately determines success of delivery and maps areal extent. HR-SD-OCT is a powerful tool that can evaluate the success of subretinal surgery in mice, in addition to measuring vitality of photoreceptors in vivo. HR-SD-OCT can also be used to identify uniform animal cohorts to evaluate the extent of retinal degeneration, toxicity, and therapeutic rescue in preclinical gene therapy research studies.
Introduction
Researchers are developing gene therapies for a variety of retinal and retinal degenerative diseases with hopes of translating novel therapeutics into treatments for human disease1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11. Time domain or spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) has been used to investigate ....
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Protocol
Animal protocols were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees of the VA WNY HCS and the University at Buffalo-SUNY. Animals were used according to the stipulations of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and the Declaration of Helsinki.
1. Mouse Models
- Identify mouse models to be evaluated including controls.
NOTE: Imaging was performed for a C57BL/6(J), hC1/hC1//mWT/mWT, a partially humanized mouse retinal degeneration model homozygous for human mutant RHOP347S hC1 alleles on the wild-type (WT) mouse RHO+/+
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Results
Assessing the Presence, Rate and Uniformity of Model Outer Retinal Degeneration
Measurements of the ONL were recorded from the OPL to the ELM, defining the limits of the ONL using the caliper tool provided in the instrument software. The goal was to map the progression of outer retinal degeneration in a partially humanized adRP mouse model. Comparable images from a control C57BL/6(J) mouse and an hC1/hC1//mWT/mWT mouse model, expressing two copies of the mutant human .......
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Discussion
HR-SD-OCT provides a simple method for characterization of potential animal models of human disease to determine their usefulness in testing potential therapeutics. The ability to quickly and reliably characterize a potential animal model of human disease is critical to the process of therapeutic drug discovery (e.g., replacement gene therapy, ribozyme or shRNA knockdown gene therapy, combined gene therapy). HR-SD-OCT provides a simple, quick, and non-invasive method for evaluating retinal health that can be use.......
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Disclosures
Commercial Relationships: MCB: None; JMS: None. The retinal imaging system (RIS)23 used in this study is a novel device of substantial use to any group seeking to conduct gene therapy delivery studies in mice, rodents, or small animals. While the authors have no conflicts to declare with respect to this device at this time, the University at Buffalo- SUNY and the Veterans Administration have rights in the intellectual property and may seek to commercialize this instrument in the future.
Acknowledgements
This material is based upon work supported, in part, by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development (Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development) (VA Merit Grant 1I01BX000669). JMS is employed, in part, as Staff Physician-Scientist, Ophthalmology, by VA WNY; MCB is employed, in part, by VA WNY. The study was conducted at, and supported in part by, the Veterans Administration Western New York Healthcare System (Buffalo, NY). Contents do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. Also supported, in major part, by NIH/NEI R01 grant EY013433 (PI: JMS), NI....
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Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| C57BL6 (J) | Jackson Laboratories | 664 | |
| N129R- | N/A | N/A | |
| 2HRho 1T/1T | N/A | N/A | |
| Envisu R-2200 Ocular Coherence Tomography Instrument (OCT) | Bioptigen | 90-R2200-U1-120. | |
| Retinal Imaging System (RIS) | In-house | N/A | |
| Stemi 2000C Microscope | Zeiss | 000000-1106-133 | |
| P-97 Flaming/Brown micropipette puller | Sutter Instrument Co | p-97 | |
| MMN-33 micro manipulator | Narishige USA | MMN-33 | |
| PLI-100 micro injector | Harvard Apparatus | 64-1736 | |
| Micropipette Holder (Rotating) | In-house | N/A | |
| Micropipette Storage Receptacle | World Precision Instruments Inc. | E210 | |
| Borosilicate glass capillary tubes 1.5-1.8 X 100mm, | Harvard Apparatus | 30-0053 | |
| 2,2,2-Tribromoethanol | SIGMA Aldrich | T48402-25G | |
| Tert-amyl Alcohol | SIGMA Aldrich | 240486-100ML | |
| Atropine Sulfate Ophthalmic Solution, USP 1% | Akorn Inc. | NDC 17478-215-05 | |
| Goniovisc | BioVision Limited | NDC 17238-610-15 | |
| Cyclopentolate Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution, USP 2% | Akorn Inc. | NDC 17478-097-10 | |
| Gentamicin Sulfate Ointment USP, 0.1% | Perigo | NDC 45802-046-35 | |
| Systane Ultra | Alcon Laboratories, Inc. | 9006619-1013 | |
| Tetracaine Hydrochloride | Bausch and Lomb | NDC 24208-920-64 | |
| Ophthalmic Solution, USP 0.5% | Bausch and Lomb | NDC 24208-920-64 | |
| DPBS | Gibco Life Technologies | 14190-136 | |
| Virus Preparations | ViGene /UNC | N/A | |
| Gold nanorods | NANOPARTz | D12M-850-1.75 | |
| Fluorescein Sulfate AK-FLUOR 25% | Akorn Inc. | NDC 17478-250-20 | |
| Coverslips | Fisher Scientific | 12-548-A | |
| Forceps | Milton | 18-825 | |
| Needles 30 guage | Beckton Dickenson | W11604 | |
| Syringes | Beckton Dickenson | 309659 | |
| Bioptigen software Package | Bioptigen | N/A | |
| Proparacaine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution, USP 0.5% | Akorn Inc. | NDC 17478-263-12 | |
| Windows Excel | Microsoft | N/A | |
| Adobe Illustrator | Adobe | ||
| Scale | Mettler | ||
| Scissors | World Precision Instruments | ||
| Ear punch | Nat’l band | ||
| CL 100 Light source | Welch Allyn | CL100 | |
| Nitrogen Gas | Jackson Welding Supply | N/A | |
| Heated Water bath | Neslab | RTE-140 | |
| Heating plate | In House | N/A | |
| Heating mat | Cincinnatti Sub Zero | 273 | |
| Clay mouse holder | Plast.i.clay American Art Clay Co. | N/A | |
| Betadine | MedLine | NDC53329-938-06 | |
| Cotton Tip Applicators | American Health Service | Ctag | |
| EtOH 70% | Fisher Scientific | BP2818-100 | |
| Gloves Nitrile | VWR | 89038-272 | |
| Diagnosys ERG Color Dome instrument | Diagnosys Inc. | D125 | |
| Contact lenses | In-house | N/A | |
| Diagnosys Software | Diagnosys Inc. | N/A | |
| Origin 6.1 software | OriginLab Corp. | N/A | |
| Reference electrodes | Ocuscience | F-Thread Electrode (DTL) 24” |
References
- Regus-Leidig, H., et al. In-vivo knockdown of Piccolino disrupts presynaptic ribbon morphology in mouse photoreceptor synapses. Front Cell Neurosci. 8 (259), 1-13 (2014).
- Jiang, L., Frederick, J. M., Baehr, W.
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