calpastatin and Retinal-Degeneration

Mutations in rhodopsin (RHO) are a common cause of retinal dystrophy and can be transmitted by dominant or recessive inheritance. Clinical symptoms caused by dominant and recessive mutations in patients and animal models are very similar but the molecular mechanisms leading to retinal degeneration may differ. We characterized three murine models of retina degeneration caused by either Rho loss of function or expression of the P23H dominant mutation in Rho. Rho loss of function is characterized by activation of calpains and apoptosis-inducing factor (Aif) in dying photoreceptors. Retinas bearing the P23H dominant mutations activate both the calpain-Aif cell death pathway and ER-stress responses that together contribute to photoreceptor cell demise. In vivo treatment with the calpastatin peptide, a calpain inhibitor, was strongly neuroprotective in mice lacking Rho while photoreceptor survival in retinas expressing the P23H dominant mutation was more affected by treatment with salubrinal, an inhibitor of the ER-stress pathway. The further reduction of photoreceptor cell demise by co-treatment with calpastatin and salubrinal suggests co-activation of the calpain and ER-stress death pathways in mice bearing dominant mutations in the Rho gene.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis Inducing Factor; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calpain; Disease Models, Animal; Mice; Mutation; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate; Retina; Retinal Degeneration; Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells; Retinitis Pigmentosa; Rhodopsin

The present study was performed to investigate changes of cytosolic and mitochondrial calpain activities, and effects of intravitreously injected calpain inhibitor on photoreceptor apoptosis in Royal College of Surgeon's (RCS) rats. Time courses of activities for both cytosolic and mitochondrial calpains and amount of calpastatin in RCS rat retina were analyzed by subcellular fractionation, calpain assay and western blotting. Calpain assay was colorimetrically performed using Suc-LLVY-Glo as substrate. Effects of intravitreously injected calpain inhibitor (ALLN and PD150606) on RCS rat retinal degeneration were analyzed by TUNEL staining. Effects of mitochondrial calpain activity on activation and translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) were analyzed by western blotting. Mitochondrial calpain started to be significantly activated at postnatal (p) 28 days in RCS rat retina, whereas cytosolic micro-calpain was activated at p 35 days, although specific activity of mitochondrial calpain was 13% compared to cytosolic micro-calpain. Intravitreously injected ALLN and PD150606 effectively inhibited photoreceptor apoptosis only when injected at p 25 days, but did not inhibit photoreceptor apoptosis when injected at p 32 days. Parts of AIF were truncated/activated by mitochondrial calpains and translocated to the nucleus. These results suggest that 1), calpain presents not only in the cytosolic fraction but also in the mitochondrial fraction in RCS rat retina; 2), mitochondrial calpain is activated earlier than cytosolic calpain during retinal degeneration in RCS rats; 3), photoreceptor apoptosis may be regulated by not only calpain systems but also other mechanisms; 4), mitochondrial calpain may activate AIF to induce apoptosis; and 5), calpain inhibitors may be partially effective to inhibit photoreceptor apoptosis in RCS rats. The present study provides new insights into the molecular basis for photoreceptor apoptosis in RCS rats and the future possibility of new pharmaceutical treatments for retinitis pigmentosa.

Topics: Acrylates; Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis Inducing Factor; Blotting, Western; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calpain; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytosol; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Immunoenzyme Techniques; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Leupeptins; Mitochondria; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate; Rats; Rats, Mutant Strains; Retinal Degeneration

Photoreceptor degeneration is the hallmark of a group of inherited blinding diseases collectively termed retinitis pigmentosa (RP); a major cause of blindness in humans. RP is at present untreatable and the underlying neurodegenerative mechanisms are largely unknown, even though the genetic causes are often established. The activation of calpain-type proteases may play an important role in cell death in various neuronal tissues, including the retina. We therefore tested the efficacy of two different calpain inhibitors in preventing cell death in the retinal degeneration (rd1) human homologous mouse model for RP. Pharmacological inhibition of calpain activity in rd1 organotypic retinal explants had ambiguous effects on photoreceptor viability. Calpain inhibitor XI had protective effects when applied for short periods of time (16 h) but demonstrated substantial levels of toxicity in both wild-type and rd1 retina when used over several days. In contrast, the highly specific calpain inhibitor calpastatin peptide reduced photoreceptor cell death in vitro after both short and prolonged exposure, an effect that was also evident after in vivo application via intravitreal injection. These findings highlight the importance of calpain activation for photoreceptor cell death but also for photoreceptor survival and propose the use of highly specific calpain inhibitors to prevent or delay RP.

Topics: Animals; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calpain; Cell Death; Glycoproteins; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Mice, Transgenic; Organ Culture Techniques; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate; Retinal Degeneration; Retinitis Pigmentosa

Calpain had been shown to be highly activated at one day after exposure to the damaging light (Perche et al. (2007)Caspase-dependent apoptosis in light-induced retinal degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 48:2753-2759.), suggesting that they might play a critical role in photoreceptor apoptosis induced by light. Therefore in the present study we investigate the role of calpain in light-induced photoreceptor cell death. In a first set of experiments, untreated albino Wistar rats were sacrificed at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 h of light exposure and at one day after the light was turned off (D1) to measure retinal calpain activity and to study calpain expression. In a second set of experiments, after control electroretinograms (ERGs), rats were uninjected or injected intravitreally with DMSO or the calpain inhibitor Mu-Phe-hPhe-FMK, before being exposed to the damaging light for 24 h. ERGs were then recorded at one day (D1) and fifteen days (D15) after the end of light exposure. Rats were sacrificed at D1 for apoptotic cell detection or D15 for histological analysis (ONL thickness). Calpain activity and expression significantly increased in Untreated retinas, from 0 h to D1. DMSO has no effect on calpain activity. Mu-Phe-hPhe-FMK significantly inhibited retinal calpain activity by 85% at 2 h of light exposure and still 48% at D1. However, Mu-Phe-hPhe-FMK has no effect on light-induced retinal degeneration as evidence by equivalent loss of function, equivalent loss of photoreceptor cells and an equivalent number of apoptotic cells in Mu-Phe-hPhe-FMK and DMSO retinas. Therefore, calpains are up-regulated by light stress but they do not have a pivotal role in photoreceptor apoptosis.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calpain; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dipeptides; Electroretinography; Light; Morpholines; Neuroprotective Agents; Photic Stimulation; Radiation Injuries, Experimental; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Retina; Retinal Degeneration

The retinal degeneration (rd)1 mouse displays an inherited retinal degeneration and therefore allows studies of the molecular mechanisms behind the blinding disease retinitis pigmentosa. Activation of the calcium-dependent protease calpain has been suggested to play an important role in cell death in various tissues, but little is known about the expression and activity of calpain during inherited retinal degeneration. Using microarray techniques, transcript levels of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB)-1, calpastatin and of various calpain genes were analysed in the rd1 mouse compared with its wild-type control. Expression of distinct calpain isoforms and calpastatin was investigated using immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Gene transcription and protein expression levels were compared with calpain activity using an enzymatic assay that allowed monitoring of calpain activity at the cellular level. We found that CREB-1 and calpastatin expression was reduced in rd1 retinas, whereas calpain activity was substantially increased in rd1 photoreceptors. Calpain activity peaked at postnatal day 13, together with rd1 photoreceptor cell death. Calpain-specific inhibitors decreased calpain activity in situ. These results indicate that activation of calpains correlates with rd1 photoreceptor cell death, which raises the possibility of using calpain inhibitors to prevent or delay photoreceptor degeneration.

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Blotting, Western; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calpain; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; Enzyme Activation; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Glycoproteins; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Microarray Analysis; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate; Retinal Degeneration; Transcription, Genetic

Our recent study suggested involvement of calpain-induced proteolysis in retinal degeneration and dysfunction in acute ocular hypertensive rats. The purpose of the present study was to determine if an orally available form of calpain inhibitor, ((1S)-1-((((1S)-1-benzyl-3-cyclopropylamino-2,3-di-oxopropyl)amino)carbonyl)-3-methylbutyl)carbamic acid 5-methoxy-3-oxapentyl ester (SNJ-1945), ameliorated retinal degeneration induced by acute hypertension in rats. To help extrapolate the effect of SNJ-1945 from the rat model to the human glaucomatous patient, in vitro inhibition of calpain-induced proteolysis by SNJ-1945 in monkey and human retinal proteins was compared with proteolysis in rat proteins.. Intraocular pressure (IOP) in rats was elevated to 110 mm Hg for 50 min. SNJ-1945 was administrated i.p. or orally before ocular hypertension. Retinal degeneration was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and cell counting. Transcripts for calpains and calpastatin in rat, monkey, and human retinas were measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Calpain activities were determined by casein zymography. Soluble retinal proteins from rat, monkey, and humans were incubated with calcium to activate calpains, with or without SNJ-1945. Proteolysis of calpain substrate alpha-spectrin was analyzed by immunoblotting.. Elevated IOP caused retinal degeneration and proteolysis of alpha-spectrin. Both i.p. and oral administration of SNJ-1945 inhibited proteolysis of alpha-spectrin and ameliorated retinal degeneration. Transcript levels for calpain 1 and calpastatin were similar in rat, monkey, and human retinas. Calpain 2 transcript levels were higher in rats compared with monkey and human. Appreciable caseinolytic activities due to calpains were observed in monkey and human retinas. Incubation of retinal soluble proteins with calcium led to proteolysis of alpha-spectrin due to calpains in rat, monkey, and human samples. SNJ-1945 similarly inhibited proteolysis in all species.. Our results suggested that orally available calpain inhibitor SNJ-1945 might be a possible candidate drug for testing in preventing progression of glaucomatous retinal degeneration.

Topics: Animals; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calpain; Carbamates; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Administration Routes; Glycoproteins; Haplorhini; Humans; Intraocular Pressure; Ocular Hypertension; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Retinal Degeneration; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Staining and Labeling; Time Factors

Results of our recent studies in rats suggested that calpains play an important role in retinal cell death induced by ischemia-reperfusion in vivo and by hypoxia in vitro. Study of spontaneous animal models could help determine the involvement of calpains in human retinopathy. The WBN/Kob rat is such a model for spontaneous retinal degeneration. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine the involvement of calpain isoforms during retinal degeneration in WBN/Kob rats. Histologic and functional retinal degeneration in WBN/Kob rats was observed by use of light microscopy and electroretinography, respectively. Proteolysis of alpha-spectrin in the retina was detected by use of immunoblot analysis in aging WBN/Kob rats. This proteolysis was associated with the increases of retinal calcium content and caseinolytic activity for calpains 1 and 2. Expression of calpain 1, calpain 2, and calpastatin mRNAs in the retina, as measured by use of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, were only slightly up-regulated at 24 weeks of age. In contrast, expression of retina-specific calpains, such as Rt88, Rt88', and Rt90 mRNA, was markedly down-regulated at 12 weeks of age. Expression of calpain 10 mRNA in the retina was only slightly down-regulated at 12 weeks of age. In contrast to mRNA expression, various expression patterns of calpain 10 proteins were observed. Increased retinal calcium content, leading to activation of calpains 1 and 2, may be an important event in the sequential changes leading to degeneration of the retina in WBN/Kob rats. Activated calpain causing proteolysis of alpha-spectrin and changes in Rt88, Rt88', Rt90 and calpain 10 may also contribute to retinal degeneration.

Topics: Animals; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calpain; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Electroretinography; Isoenzymes; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Rats, Wistar; Retina; Retinal Degeneration; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Spectrin; Up-Regulation