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  • Research and Graduate Studies

Fighting Diabetic Blindness: MU Researchers Develop New Target to Study Potential Treatments

Color fundus photographs and Fundus fluorescein angiograms (FFA) of wild -type (WT), Kimba, Akita and Akimba mice. WT mouse showed regular arterial and venular caliber, branching, and tortuosity in the retina - A–F. Kimba mice had multiple spots of hyperfluorescein (bright spots) throughout the retina - G–L. Akita mice displayed a slight increase in tortuosity with no signs of leakage - M–R. Akimba mice showed vasculature abnormalities inherited from parental strains, with high severity of leakages accompanied with tortuosity and significant loss of capillary density - S–X. Credit: Shyam Chaurasia.
Color fundus photographs and Fundus fluorescein angiograms (FFA) of wild -type (WT), Kimba, Akita and Akimba mice. WT mouse showed regular arterial and venular caliber, branching, and tortuosity in the retina – A–F. Kimba mice had multiple spots of hyperfluorescein (bright spots) throughout the retina – G–L. Akita mice displayed a slight increase in tortuosity with no signs of leakage – M–R. Akimba mice showed vasculature abnormalities inherited from parental strains, with high severity of leakages accompanied with tortuosity and significant loss of capillary density – S–X. Credit: Shyam Chaurasia.

Diabetic retinopathy is a retinal microvascular disease that often causes blindness in adults who have had diabetes mellitus for 10 years or more. Estimates are that 600 million people will have some sort of diabetic retinopathy by 2040. Previously, no good animal models existed that scientists could use to study the disease, its diagnosis or potential treatments. Now, a team of researchers led by the University of Missouri has employed a mouse model exhibiting diabetic retinopathy symptoms that could lead to future translational research studies.

“Diabetic retinopathy is a common retinal complication of diabetes mellitus that can be categorized in different stages in humans,” said Shyam Chaurasia, an assistant professor of ophthalmology and vision sciences research in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. “Multiple interlinked pathways—including malfunctions in the immune system—lead to cellular damage. These vascular and neuronal abnormalities in the retina lead to ‘blind spots’ and complete blindness. With the prevalence of diabetes reaching record levels, it is important to develop the tools needed to combat this disease.”

The team focused on a specific inflammasome, a protein responsible for the activation of inflammatory responses, called the NLRP3 inflammasome. Long-term hyperglycemia results in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome causing vascular leakages in the retina and eventually leading to neovascularization, which is the formation of new blood vessels or networks in the retina.

Using advanced retinal imaging techniques, the scientists tested these diabetic mice that processed NLRP3. Using a new technique called laser speckle flowgraphy, the group was able to create the “heat map” of blood flow volume and found significantly decreased levels in the NLRP3 mice. These mice also showed an increased prevalence of a buildup of macrophages in the retina that could be caused by immune responses involved in chronic inflammation that leads to diabetic retinopathy.

Loss of retinal capillary density and vessel leakage in Akimba mice. Isolectin-GS IB4 staining on retinal flat mount showed normal vascular bed and uniform capillary distribution in WT (A–C) mouse, which was reduced markedly in Kimba - D–F, Akita - G–I - and significantly higher in Akimba - J–L - mice. Disruption of the capillary network was noted especially around the optic disk of Akimba – K - retina. Credit: Shyam Chaurasia.
Loss of retinal capillary density and vessel leakage in Akimba mice. Isolectin-GS IB4 staining on retinal flat mount showed normal vascular bed and uniform capillary distribution in WT (A–C) mouse, which was reduced markedly in Kimba – D–F, Akita – G–I – and significantly higher in Akimba – J–L – mice. Disruption of the capillary network was noted especially around the optic disk of Akimba – K – retina. Credit: Shyam Chaurasia.

“Several new techniques and potential diagnostics are demonstrated in this study for the first time, including the laser speckle flowgraphy technique, which may prove useful in the diagnosis of human DR,” Chaurasia said. “This is the first study to show that the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in the proliferative changes observed during DR progression, proving that this mouse model could be useful in screening potential drugs to fight the disease.”

The study, “The NLRP3 Inflammasome May Contribute to Pathologic Neovascularization in the Advanced Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy,” was published in Scientific Reports. Major funding was provided by Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Start-up grant to Dr. Chaurasia. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies.

Story Contact: Jeff Sossamon, sossamonj@missouri.edu, 573-882-3346

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Giving to the College of Veterinary MedicineThe MU College of Veterinary Medicine is Missouri’s only institution that confers the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Thank you for exploring how you can partner with us to make a positive difference in the lives of animals and people.

Whether your interest in supporting our mission to teach, heal, discover and serve is inspired by care your pet received, the desire to help less fortunate animals and their families, an interest in helping the next generation of veterinarians pursue their dreams, or the wish to be a part of a medical breakthrough, we are grateful for your thoughtful consideration. We have many programs that will benefit from additional financial support.

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In addition to the four-year professional curriculum leading to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, the college offers a variety of online (BIOMED) courses. Courses serve as electives for other degree programs, a component to the online health science and bachelor of general studies degrees, as partial requirements in the MU Pre-Veterinary Medicine Scholars Program, and to earn either a thesis or non-thesis master’s degree. BIOMED courses are also recommended electives in meeting the requirements to apply for a DVM program.

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