Sample records for ciliary abnormalities due

  1. Bilateral buphthalmia in a 4-month-old Texas longhorn steer.

    PubMed

    Jones, M L; Beck, A P; Dubielzig, R R

    2013-01-01

    Congenital ocular disease occurs uncommonly in cattle, with multiple abnormalities reported only sporadically in the literature. This report describes a case of anterior segment dysgenesis resulting in glaucoma in a 4-month-old Texas Longhorn steer. On clinical exam, bilateral buphthalmia was present and intraocular pressures exceeded 47 mm Hg in both eyes. On histopathologic examination, the iridocorneal angle and filtration apparatus were distorted due to collapse of the ciliary cleft and anterior displacement of the anterior portion of the ciliary body. No evidence of inflammation or other causes of glaucoma were recognized.

  2. PRIMARY CILIARY DYSKINESIA: DIAGNOSTIC AND PHENOTYPIC FEATURES

    EPA Science Inventory

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disease characterized by abnormalities in ciliary structure/function. We hypothesized that the major clinical and biologic phenotypic markers of the disease could be evaluated by studying a cohort of subjects suspected of having PCD. ...

  3. Culture of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Epithelial Cells at Air-Liquid Interface Can Alter Ciliary Phenotype but Remains a Robust and Informative Diagnostic Aid

    PubMed Central

    Coles, Janice L.; Williams, Gwyneth; Rutman, Andrew; Goggin, Patricia M.; Adam, Elizabeth C.; Page, Anthony; Evans, Hazel J.; Lackie, Peter M.; O’Callaghan, Christopher; Lucas, Jane S.

    2014-01-01

    Background The diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) requires the analysis of ciliary function and ultrastructure. Diagnosis can be complicated by secondary effects on cilia such as damage during sampling, local inflammation or recent infection. To differentiate primary from secondary abnormalities, re-analysis of cilia following culture and re-differentiation of epithelial cells at an air-liquid interface (ALI) aids the diagnosis of PCD. However changes in ciliary beat pattern of cilia following epithelial cell culture has previously been described, which has brought the robustness of this method into question. This is the first systematic study to evaluate ALI culture as an aid to diagnosis of PCD in the light of these concerns. Methods We retrospectively studied changes associated with ALI-culture in 158 subjects referred for diagnostic testing at two PCD centres. Ciliated nasal epithelium (PCD n = 54; non-PCD n = 111) was analysed by high-speed digital video microscopy and transmission electron microscopy before and after culture. Results Ciliary function was abnormal before and after culture in all subjects with PCD; 21 PCD subjects had a combination of static and uncoordinated twitching cilia, which became completely static following culture, a further 9 demonstrated a decreased ciliary beat frequency after culture. In subjects without PCD, secondary ciliary dyskinesia was reduced. Conclusions The change to ciliary phenotype in PCD samples following cell culture does not affect the diagnosis, and in certain cases can assist the ability to identify PCD cilia. PMID:24586956

  4. Brain Dysplasia Associated with Ciliary Dysfunction In Infants with Congenital Heart Disease

    PubMed Central

    Panigrahy, Ashok; Lee, Vincent; Ceschin, Rafael; Zuccoli, Giulio; Beluk, Nancy; Khalifa, Omar; Votava-Smith, Jodie K; DeBrunner, Mark; Munoz, Ricardo; Domnina, Yuliya; Morell, Victor; Wearden, Peter; De Toledo, Joan Sanchez; Devine, William; Zahid, Maliha; Lo, Cecilia W.

    2016-01-01

    Objective To test for associations between abnormal respiratory ciliary motion (CM) and brain abnormalities in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) Study design We recruited 35 infants with CHD preoperatively and performed nasal tissue biopsy to assess respiratory CM by videomicroscopy. Cranial ultrasound and brain magnetic resonance imaging were obtained pre- and/or post-operatively and systematically reviewed for brain abnormalities. Segmentation was used to quantitate cerebrospinal fluid and regional brain volumes. Perinatal and perioperative clinical variables were collected. Results A total of 10 (28.5%) patients with CHD had abnormal CM. Abnormal CM was not associated with brain injury, but was correlated with increased extra-axial CSF volume (p<0.001), delayed brain maturation (p<0.05), and a spectrum of subtle dysplasia including the hippocampus (p<0.0078) and olfactory bulb (p<0.034). Abnormal CM was associated with higher composite dysplasia score (p<0.001) and both were correlated with elevated pre-operative serum lactate (p <0.001). Conclusion Abnormal respiratory CM in infants with CHD is associated with a spectrum of brain dysplasia. These findings suggest that ciliary defects may play a role in brain dysplasia in patients with CHD and have the potential to prognosticate neurodevelopmental risks. PMID:27574995

  5. Embryonic exposure to propylthiouracil disrupts left-right patterning in Xenopus embryos.

    PubMed

    van Veenendaal, Nicole R; Ulmer, Bärbel; Boskovski, Marko T; Fang, Xiefan; Khokha, Mustafa K; Wendler, Christopher C; Blum, Martin; Rivkees, Scott A

    2013-02-01

    Antithyroid medications are the preferred therapy for the treatment of Graves' disease during pregnancy. Propylthiouracil (PTU) is favored over methimazole (MMI) due to potential teratogenic concerns with MMI. This study was to determine the teratogenic potential of MMI and PTU using a validated Xenopus tropicalis embryo model. Embryos were exposed to 1 mM PTU (EC(50)=0.88 mM), 1 mM MMI, or vehicle control (water) from stages 2 to 45. Treated embryos were examined for gross morphological defects, ciliary function, and gene expression by in situ hybridization. Exposure to PTU, but not MMI, led to cardiac and gut looping defects and shortening along the anterior-posterior axis. PTU exposure during gastrulation (stage 8-12.5) was identified as the critical period of exposure leading to left-right (LR) patterning defects. Abnormal cilia polarization, abnormal cilia-driven leftward flow at the gastrocoel roof plate (GRP), and aberrant expression of both Coco and Pitx2c were associated with abnormal LR symmetry observed following PTU exposure. PTU is teratogenic during late blastula, gastrulation, and neurulation; whereas MMI is not. PTU alters ciliary-driven flow and disrupts the normal genetic program involved in LR axis determination. These studies have important implications for women taking PTU during early pregnancy.

  6. Recent advances in primary ciliary dyskinesia genetics

    PubMed Central

    Kurkowiak, Małgorzata; Ziętkiewicz, Ewa; Witt, Michał

    2015-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetically heterogeneous disorder caused by the abnormal structure and/or function of motile cilia. The PCD diagnosis is challenging and requires a well-described clinical phenotype combined with the identification of abnormalities in ciliary ultrastructure and/or beating pattern as well as the recognition of genetic cause of the disease. Regarding the pace of identification of PCD-related genes, a rapid acceleration during the last 2–3 years is notable. This is the result of new technologies, such as whole-exome sequencing, that have been recently applied in genetic research. To date, PCD-causative mutations in 29 genes are known and the number of causative genes is bound to rise. Even though the genetic causes of approximately one-third of PCD cases still remain to be found, the current knowledge can already be used to create new, accurate genetic tests for PCD that can accelerate the correct diagnosis and reduce the proportion of unexplained cases. This review aims to present the latest data on the relations between ciliary structure aberrations and their genetic basis. PMID:25351953

  7. Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.

    PubMed

    Knowles, Michael R; Zariwala, Maimoona; Leigh, Margaret

    2016-09-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a recessive genetically heterogeneous disorder of motile cilia with chronic otosinopulmonary disease and organ laterality defects in ∼50% of cases. The prevalence of PCD is difficult to determine. Recent diagnostic advances through measurement of nasal nitric oxide and genetic testing has allowed rigorous diagnoses and determination of a robust clinical phenotype, which includes neonatal respiratory distress, daily nasal congestion, and wet cough starting early in life, along with organ laterality defects. There is early onset of lung disease in PCD with abnormal airflow mechanics and radiographic abnormalities detected in infancy and early childhood. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Negative regulation of ciliary length by ciliary male germ cell-associated kinase (Mak) is required for retinal photoreceptor survival.

    PubMed

    Omori, Yoshihiro; Chaya, Taro; Katoh, Kimiko; Kajimura, Naoko; Sato, Shigeru; Muraoka, Koichiro; Ueno, Shinji; Koyasu, Toshiyuki; Kondo, Mineo; Furukawa, Takahisa

    2010-12-28

    Cilia function as cell sensors in many organs, and their disorders are referred to as "ciliopathies." Although ciliary components and transport machinery have been well studied, regulatory mechanisms of ciliary formation and maintenance are poorly understood. Here we show that male germ cell-associated kinase (Mak) regulates retinal photoreceptor ciliary length and subcompartmentalization. Mak was localized both in the connecting cilia and outer-segment axonemes of photoreceptor cells. In the Mak-null retina, photoreceptors exhibit elongated cilia and progressive degeneration. We observed accumulation of intraflagellar transport 88 (IFT88) and IFT57, expansion of kinesin family member 3A (Kif3a), and acetylated α-tubulin signals in the Mak-null photoreceptor cilia. We found abnormal rhodopsin accumulation in the Mak-null photoreceptor cell bodies at postnatal day 14. In addition, overexpression of retinitis pigmentosa 1 (RP1), a microtubule-associated protein localized in outer-segment axonemes, induced ciliary elongation, and Mak coexpression rescued excessive ciliary elongation by RP1. The RP1 N-terminal portion induces ciliary elongation and increased intensity of acetylated α-tubulin labeling in the cells and is phosphorylated by Mak. These results suggest that Mak is essential for the regulation of ciliary length and is required for the long-term survival of photoreceptors.

  9. Negative regulation of ciliary length by ciliary male germ cell-associated kinase (Mak) is required for retinal photoreceptor survival

    PubMed Central

    Omori, Yoshihiro; Chaya, Taro; Katoh, Kimiko; Kajimura, Naoko; Sato, Shigeru; Muraoka, Koichiro; Ueno, Shinji; Koyasu, Toshiyuki; Kondo, Mineo; Furukawa, Takahisa

    2010-01-01

    Cilia function as cell sensors in many organs, and their disorders are referred to as “ciliopathies.” Although ciliary components and transport machinery have been well studied, regulatory mechanisms of ciliary formation and maintenance are poorly understood. Here we show that male germ cell-associated kinase (Mak) regulates retinal photoreceptor ciliary length and subcompartmentalization. Mak was localized both in the connecting cilia and outer-segment axonemes of photoreceptor cells. In the Mak-null retina, photoreceptors exhibit elongated cilia and progressive degeneration. We observed accumulation of intraflagellar transport 88 (IFT88) and IFT57, expansion of kinesin family member 3A (Kif3a), and acetylated α-tubulin signals in the Mak-null photoreceptor cilia. We found abnormal rhodopsin accumulation in the Mak-null photoreceptor cell bodies at postnatal day 14. In addition, overexpression of retinitis pigmentosa 1 (RP1), a microtubule-associated protein localized in outer-segment axonemes, induced ciliary elongation, and Mak coexpression rescued excessive ciliary elongation by RP1. The RP1 N-terminal portion induces ciliary elongation and increased intensity of acetylated α-tubulin labeling in the cells and is phosphorylated by Mak. These results suggest that Mak is essential for the regulation of ciliary length and is required for the long-term survival of photoreceptors. PMID:21148103

  10. Emerging ciliopathies: are respiratory cilia compromised in Usher syndrome?

    PubMed

    Piatti, G; De Santi, M M; Brogi, M; Castorina, P; Ambrosetti, U

    2014-01-01

    Usher syndrome is a ciliopathy involving photoreceptors and cochlear hair cells (sensory cilia): since sensory and motor ciliopathies can overlap, we analysed the respiratory cilia (motile) in 17 patients affected by Usher syndrome and 18 healthy control subject. We studied the mucociliary transport time with the saccharine test, ciliary motility and ultrastructure of respiratory cilia obtained by nasal brushing; we also recorded the classical respiratory function values by spirometry. All enrolled subjects showed normal respiratory function values. The mean mucociliary transport time with saccharine was 22.33 ± 17.96 min, which is in the range of normal values. The mean ciliary beat frequency of all subjects was 8.81 ± 2.18 Hz, which is a value approaching the lower physiological limit. None of the classical ciliary alterations characterizing the "ciliary primary dyskinesia" was detected, although two patients showed alterations in number and arrangement of peripheral microtubules and one patient had abnormal ciliary roots. Respiratory cilia in Usher patients don't seem to have evident ultrastructural alterations, as expected, but the fact that the ciliary motility appeared slightly reduced could emphasize that a rigid distinction between sensory and motor ciliopathies may not reflect what really occurs. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Regulation of ciliary retrograde protein trafficking by the Joubert syndrome proteins ARL13B and INPP5E.

    PubMed

    Nozaki, Shohei; Katoh, Yohei; Terada, Masaya; Michisaka, Saki; Funabashi, Teruki; Takahashi, Senye; Kontani, Kenji; Nakayama, Kazuhisa

    2017-02-01

    ARL13B (a small GTPase) and INPP5E (a phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase) are ciliary proteins encoded by causative genes of Joubert syndrome. We here showed, by taking advantage of a visible immunoprecipitation assay, that ARL13B interacts with the IFT46 -: IFT56 (IFT56 is also known as TTC26) dimer of the intraflagellar transport (IFT)-B complex, which mediates anterograde ciliary protein trafficking. However, the ciliary localization of ARL13B was found to be independent of its interaction with IFT-B, but dependent on the ciliary-targeting sequence RVEP in its C-terminal region. ARL13B-knockout cells had shorter cilia than control cells and exhibited aberrant localization of ciliary proteins, including INPP5E. In particular, in ARL13B-knockout cells, the IFT-A and IFT-B complexes accumulated at ciliary tips, and GPR161 (a negative regulator of Hedgehog signaling) could not exit cilia in response to stimulation with Smoothened agonist. This abnormal phenotype was rescued by the exogenous expression of wild-type ARL13B, as well as by its mutant defective in the interaction with IFT-B, but not by its mutants defective in INPP5E binding or in ciliary localization. Thus, ARL13B regulates IFT-A-mediated retrograde protein trafficking within cilia through its interaction with INPP5E. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  12. Ick Ciliary Kinase Is Essential for Planar Cell Polarity Formation in Inner Ear Hair Cells and Hearing Function.

    PubMed

    Okamoto, Shio; Chaya, Taro; Omori, Yoshihiro; Kuwahara, Ryusuke; Kubo, Shun; Sakaguchi, Hirofumi; Furukawa, Takahisa

    2017-02-22

    Cellular asymmetries play crucial roles in development and organ function. The planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway is involved in the establishment of cellular asymmetry within the plane of a cell sheet. Inner ear sensory hair cells (HCs), which have several rows of staircase-like stereocilia and one kinocilium located at the vertex of the stereocilia protruding from the apical surface of each HC, exhibit a typical form of PCP. Although connections between cilia and PCP signaling in vertebrate development have been reported, their precise nature is not well understood. During inner ear development, several ciliary proteins are known to play a role in PCP formation. In the current study, we investigated a functional role for intestinal cell kinase (Ick), which regulates intraflagellar transport (IFT) at the tip of cilia, in the mouse inner ear. A lack of Ick in the developing inner ear resulted in PCP defects in the cochlea, including misorientation or misshaping of stereocilia and aberrant localization of the kinocilium and basal body in the apical and middle turns, leading to auditory dysfunction. We also observed abnormal ciliary localization of Ift88 in both HCs and supporting cells. Together, our results show that Ick ciliary kinase is essential for PCP formation in inner ear HCs, suggesting that ciliary transport regulation is important for PCP signaling. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The cochlea in the inner ear is the hearing organ. Planar cell polarity (PCP) in hair cells (HCs) in the cochlea is essential for mechanotransduction and refers to the asymmetric structure consisting of stereociliary bundles and the kinocilium on the apical surface of the cell body. We reported previously that a ciliary kinase, Ick, regulates intraflagellar transport (IFT). Here, we found that loss of Ick leads to abnormal localization of the IFT component in kinocilia, PCP defects in HCs, and hearing dysfunction. Our study defines the association of ciliary transport regulation with PCP formation in HCs and hearing function. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/372073-13$15.00/0.

  13. CCDC65 Mutation Causes Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia with Normal Ultrastructure and Hyperkinetic Cilia

    PubMed Central

    Horani, Amjad; Brody, Steven L.; Ferkol, Thomas W.; Shoseyov, David; Wasserman, Mollie G.; Ta-shma, Asaf; Wilson, Kate S.; Bayly, Philip V.; Amirav, Israel; Cohen-Cymberknoh, Malena; Dutcher, Susan K.; Elpeleg, Orly; Kerem, Eitan

    2013-01-01

    Background Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disorder characterized by impaired ciliary function, leading to chronic sinopulmonary disease. The genetic causes of PCD are still evolving, while the diagnosis is often dependent on finding a ciliary ultrastructural abnormality and immotile cilia. Here we report a novel gene associated with PCD but without ciliary ultrastructural abnormalities evident by transmission electron microscopy, but with dyskinetic cilia beating. Methods Genetic linkage analysis was performed in a family with a PCD subject. Gene expression was studied in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and human airway epithelial cells, using RNA assays and immunostaining. The phenotypic effects of candidate gene mutations were determined in primary culture human tracheobronchial epithelial cells transduced with gene targeted shRNA sequences. Video-microscopy was used to evaluate cilia motion. Results A single novel mutation in CCDC65, which created a termination codon at position 293, was identified in a subject with typical clinical features of PCD. CCDC65, an orthologue of the Chlamydomonas nexin-dynein regulatory complex protein DRC2, was localized to the cilia of normal nasal epithelial cells but was absent in those from the proband. CCDC65 expression was up-regulated during ciliogenesis in cultured airway epithelial cells, as was DRC2 in C. reinhardtii following deflagellation. Nasal epithelial cells from the affected individual and CCDC65-specific shRNA transduced normal airway epithelial cells had stiff and dyskinetic cilia beating patterns compared to control cells. Moreover, Gas8, a nexin-dynein regulatory complex component previously identified to associate with CCDC65, was absent in airway cells from the PCD subject and CCDC65-silenced cells. Conclusion Mutation in CCDC65, a nexin-dynein regulatory complex member, resulted in a frameshift mutation and PCD. The affected individual had altered cilia beating patterns, and no detectable ultrastructural defects of the ciliary axoneme, emphasizing the role of the nexin-dynein regulatory complex and the limitations of certain methods for PCD diagnosis. PMID:23991085

  14. Systematic discovery of novel ciliary genes through functional genomics in the zebrafish

    PubMed Central

    Choksi, Semil P.; Babu, Deepak; Lau, Doreen; Yu, Xianwen; Roy, Sudipto

    2014-01-01

    Cilia are microtubule-based hair-like organelles that play many important roles in development and physiology, and are implicated in a rapidly expanding spectrum of human diseases, collectively termed ciliopathies. Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), one of the most prevalent of ciliopathies, arises from abnormalities in the differentiation or motility of the motile cilia. Despite their biomedical importance, a methodical functional screen for ciliary genes has not been carried out in any vertebrate at the organismal level. We sought to systematically discover novel motile cilia genes by identifying the genes induced by Foxj1, a winged-helix transcription factor that has an evolutionarily conserved role as the master regulator of motile cilia biogenesis. Unexpectedly, we find that the majority of the Foxj1-induced genes have not been associated with cilia before. To characterize these novel putative ciliary genes, we subjected 50 randomly selected candidates to a systematic functional phenotypic screen in zebrafish embryos. Remarkably, we find that over 60% are required for ciliary differentiation or function, whereas 30% of the proteins encoded by these genes localize to motile cilia. We also show that these genes regulate the proper differentiation and beating of motile cilia. This collection of Foxj1-induced genes will be invaluable for furthering our understanding of ciliary biology, and in the identification of new mutations underlying ciliary disorders in humans. PMID:25139857

  15. KIAA0556 is a novel ciliary basal body component mutated in Joubert syndrome.

    PubMed

    Sanders, Anna A W M; de Vrieze, Erik; Alazami, Anas M; Alzahrani, Fatema; Malarkey, Erik B; Sorusch, Nasrin; Tebbe, Lars; Kuhns, Stefanie; van Dam, Teunis J P; Alhashem, Amal; Tabarki, Brahim; Lu, Qianhao; Lambacher, Nils J; Kennedy, Julie E; Bowie, Rachel V; Hetterschijt, Lisette; van Beersum, Sylvia; van Reeuwijk, Jeroen; Boldt, Karsten; Kremer, Hannie; Kesterson, Robert A; Monies, Dorota; Abouelhoda, Mohamed; Roepman, Ronald; Huynen, Martijn H; Ueffing, Marius; Russell, Rob B; Wolfrum, Uwe; Yoder, Bradley K; van Wijk, Erwin; Alkuraya, Fowzan S; Blacque, Oliver E

    2015-12-29

    Joubert syndrome (JBTS) and related disorders are defined by cerebellar malformation (molar tooth sign), together with neurological symptoms of variable expressivity. The ciliary basis of Joubert syndrome related disorders frequently extends the phenotype to tissues such as the eye, kidney, skeleton and craniofacial structures. Using autozygome and exome analyses, we identified a null mutation in KIAA0556 in a multiplex consanguineous family with hallmark features of mild Joubert syndrome. Patient-derived fibroblasts displayed reduced ciliogenesis potential and abnormally elongated cilia. Investigation of disease pathophysiology revealed that Kiaa0556 (-/-) null mice possess a Joubert syndrome-associated brain-restricted phenotype. Functional studies in Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes and cultured human cells support a conserved ciliary role for KIAA0556 linked to microtubule regulation. First, nematode KIAA0556 is expressed almost exclusively in ciliated cells, and the worm and human KIAA0556 proteins are enriched at the ciliary base. Second, C. elegans KIAA0056 regulates ciliary A-tubule number and genetically interacts with an ARL13B (JBTS8) orthologue to control cilium integrity. Third, human KIAA0556 binds to microtubules in vitro and appears to stabilise microtubule networks when overexpressed. Finally, human KIAA0556 biochemically interacts with ciliary proteins and p60/p80 katanins. The latter form a microtubule-severing enzyme complex that regulates microtubule dynamics as well as ciliary functions. We have identified KIAA0556 as a novel microtubule-associated ciliary base protein mutated in Joubert syndrome. Consistent with the mild patient phenotype, our nematode, mice and human cell data support the notion that KIAA0556 has a relatively subtle and variable cilia-related function, which we propose is related to microtubule regulation.

  16. A novel ICK mutation causes ciliary disruption and lethal endocrine-cerebro-osteodysplasia syndrome.

    PubMed

    Oud, Machteld M; Bonnard, Carine; Mans, Dorus A; Altunoglu, Umut; Tohari, Sumanty; Ng, Alvin Yu Jin; Eskin, Ascia; Lee, Hane; Rupar, C Anthony; de Wagenaar, Nathalie P; Wu, Ka Man; Lahiry, Piya; Pazour, Gregory J; Nelson, Stanley F; Hegele, Robert A; Roepman, Ronald; Kayserili, Hülya; Venkatesh, Byrappa; Siu, Victoria M; Reversade, Bruno; Arts, Heleen H

    2016-01-01

    Endocrine-cerebro-osteodysplasia (ECO) syndrome [MIM:612651] caused by a recessive mutation (p.R272Q) in Intestinal cell kinase (ICK) shows significant clinical overlap with ciliary disorders. Similarities are strongest between ECO syndrome, the Majewski and Mohr-Majewski short-rib thoracic dysplasia (SRTD) with polydactyly syndromes, and hydrolethalus syndrome. In this study, we present a novel homozygous ICK mutation in a fetus with ECO syndrome and compare the effect of this mutation with the previously reported ICK variant on ciliogenesis and cilium morphology. Through homozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing, we identified a second variant (c.358G > T; p.G120C) in ICK in a Turkish fetus presenting with ECO syndrome. In vitro studies of wild-type and mutant mRFP-ICK (p.G120C and p.R272Q) revealed that, in contrast to the wild-type protein that localizes along the ciliary axoneme and/or is present in the ciliary base, mutant proteins rather enrich in the ciliary tip. In addition, immunocytochemistry revealed a decreased number of cilia in ICK p.R272Q-affected cells. Through identification of a novel ICK mutation, we confirm that disruption of ICK causes ECO syndrome, which clinically overlaps with the spectrum of ciliopathies. Expression of ICK-mutated proteins result in an abnormal ciliary localization compared to wild-type protein. Primary fibroblasts derived from an individual with ECO syndrome display ciliogenesis defects. In aggregate, our findings are consistent with recent reports that show that ICK regulates ciliary biology in vitro and in mice, confirming that ECO syndrome is a severe ciliopathy.

  17. Mice Deficient in the Axonemal Protein Tektin-t Exhibit Male Infertility and Immotile-Cilium Syndrome Due to Impaired Inner Arm Dynein Function

    PubMed Central

    Tanaka, Hiromitsu; Iguchi, Naoko; Toyama, Yoshiro; Kitamura, Kouichi; Takahashi, Tohru; Kaseda, Kazuhiro; Maekawa, Mamiko; Nishimune, Yoshitake

    2004-01-01

    The haploid germ cell-specific Tektin-t protein is a member of the Tektin family of proteins that form filaments in flagellar, ciliary, and axonemal microtubules. To investigate the physiological role of Tektin-t, we generated mice with a mutation in the tektin-t gene. The homozygous mutant males were infertile, while the females were fully fertile. Sperm morphology and function were abnormal, with frequent bending of the sperm flagella and marked defects in motility. In vitro fertilization assays showed that the defective spermatozoa were able to fertilize eggs. Electron microscopic examination showed that the dynein inner arm structure was disrupted in the sperm flagella of tektin-t-deficient mice. Furthermore, homozygous mutant mice had functionally defective tracheal cilia, as evidenced by altered dynein arm morphology. These results indicate that Tektin-t participates in dynein inner arm formation or attachment and that the loss of Tektin-t results in impaired motility of both flagella and cilia. Therefore, the tektin-t gene is one of the causal genes for immotile-cilium syndrome/primary ciliary dyskinesia. PMID:15340058

  18. Spectrum of Clinical Diseases Caused By Disorders of Primary Cilia

    PubMed Central

    Aygun, Meral Gunay-; Hildebrandt, Friedhelm

    2011-01-01

    The ciliopathies are a category of diseases caused by disruption of the physiological functions of cilia. Ciliary dysfunction results in a broad range of phenotypes, including renal, hepatic, and pancreatic cyst formation; situs abnormalities; retinal degeneration; anosmia; cerebellar or other brain anomalies; postaxial polydactyly; bronchiectasis; and infertility. The specific clinical features are dictated by the subtype, structure, distribution, and function of the affected cilia. This review highlights the clinical variability caused by dysfunction of motile and nonmotile primary cilia and emphasizes the genetic heterogeneity and phenotypic overlap that are characteristics of these disorders. There is a need for additional research to understand the shared and unique functions of motile and nonmotile cilia and the pathophysiology resulting from mutations in cilia, basal bodies, or centrosomes. Increased understanding of ciliary biology will improve the diagnosis and management of primary ciliary dyskinesia, syndromic ciliopathies, and cilia-related cystic diseases. PMID:21926397

  19. Semi-Automatic Extraction Algorithm for Images of the Ciliary Muscle

    PubMed Central

    Kao, Chiu-Yen; Richdale, Kathryn; Sinnott, Loraine T.; Ernst, Lauren E.; Bailey, Melissa D.

    2011-01-01

    Purpose To development and evaluate a semi-automatic algorithm for segmentation and morphological assessment of the dimensions of the ciliary muscle in Visante™ Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography images. Methods Geometric distortions in Visante images analyzed as binary files were assessed by imaging an optical flat and human donor tissue. The appropriate pixel/mm conversion factor to use for air (n = 1) was estimated by imaging calibration spheres. A semi-automatic algorithm was developed to extract the dimensions of the ciliary muscle from Visante images. Measurements were also made manually using Visante software calipers. Interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman analyses were used to compare the methods. A multilevel model was fitted to estimate the variance of algorithm measurements that was due to differences within- and between-examiners in scleral spur selection versus biological variability. Results The optical flat and the human donor tissue were imaged and appeared without geometric distortions in binary file format. Bland-Altman analyses revealed that caliper measurements tended to underestimate ciliary muscle thickness at 3 mm posterior to the scleral spur in subjects with the thickest ciliary muscles (t = 3.6, p < 0.001). The percent variance due to within- or between-examiner differences in scleral spur selection was found to be small (6%) when compared to the variance due to biological difference across subjects (80%). Using the mean of measurements from three images achieved an estimated ICC of 0.85. Conclusions The semi-automatic algorithm successfully segmented the ciliary muscle for further measurement. Using the algorithm to follow the scleral curvature to locate more posterior measurements is critical to avoid underestimating thickness measurements. This semi-automatic algorithm will allow for repeatable, efficient, and masked ciliary muscle measurements in large datasets. PMID:21169877

  20. Diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia: summary of the ERS Task Force report

    PubMed Central

    Lucas, Jane S.

    2017-01-01

    Key points Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disease characterised by abnormal motile ciliary function. There is no “gold standard” diagnostic test for PCD. The European Respiratory Society (ERS) Task Force Guidelines for diagnosing PCD recommend that patients should be referred for diagnostic testing if they have several of the following features: persistent wet cough; situs anomalies; congenital cardiac defects; persistent rhinitis; chronic middle ear disease with or without hearing loss; or a history, in term infants, of neonatal upper and lower respiratory symptoms or neonatal intensive care admission. The ERS Task Force recommends that patients should be investigated in a specialist PCD centre with access to a range of complementary tests: nasal nitric oxide, high-speed video microscopy analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Additional tests including immunofluorescence labelling of ciliary proteins and genetic testing may also help determine the diagnosis. Educational aims This article is intended for primary and secondary care physicians interested in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), i.e. those who identify patients for testing, and those involved in diagnosing and managing PCD patients. It aims: to inform readers about the new European Respiratory Society Task Force Guidelines for diagnosing patients with PCDto enable primary and secondary care physicians to: identify patients who need diagnostic testing; understand the diagnostic tests that their patients will undergo, the results of the tests and their limitations; and ensure that appropriate care is subsequently delivered. PMID:28894478

  1. Value of transmission electron microscopy for primary ciliary dyskinesia diagnosis in the era of molecular medicine: Genetic defects with normal and non-diagnostic ciliary ultrastructure.

    PubMed

    Shapiro, Adam J; Leigh, Margaret W

    2017-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disorder causing chronic oto-sino-pulmonary disease. No single diagnostic test will detect all PCD cases. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of respiratory cilia was previously considered the gold standard diagnostic test for PCD, but 30% of all PCD cases have either normal ciliary ultrastructure or subtle changes which are non-diagnostic. These cases are identified through alternate diagnostic tests, including nasal nitric oxide measurement, high-speed videomicroscopy analysis, immunofluorescent staining of axonemal proteins, and/or mutation analysis of various PCD causing genes. Autosomal recessive mutations in DNAH11 and HYDIN produce normal TEM ciliary ultrastructure, while mutations in genes encoding for radial spoke head proteins result in some cross-sections with non-diagnostic alterations in the central apparatus interspersed with normal ciliary cross-sections. Mutations in nexin link and dynein regulatory complex genes lead to a collection of different ciliary ultrastructures; mutations in CCDC65, CCDC164, and GAS8 produce normal ciliary ultrastructure, while mutations in CCDC39 and CCDC40 cause absent inner dynein arms and microtubule disorganization in some ciliary cross-sections. Mutations in CCNO and MCIDAS cause near complete absence of respiratory cilia due to defects in generation of multiple cellular basal bodies; however, the scant cilia generated may have normal ultrastructure. Lastly, a syndromic form of PCD with retinal degeneration results in normal ciliary ultrastructure through mutations in the RPGR gene. Clinicians must be aware of these genetic causes of PCD resulting in non-diagnostic TEM ciliary ultrastructure and refrain from using TEM of respiratory cilia as a test to rule out PCD.

  2. Mutations in CEP78 Cause Cone-Rod Dystrophy and Hearing Loss Associated with Primary-Cilia Defects.

    PubMed

    Nikopoulos, Konstantinos; Farinelli, Pietro; Giangreco, Basilio; Tsika, Chrysanthi; Royer-Bertrand, Beryl; Mbefo, Martial K; Bedoni, Nicola; Kjellström, Ulrika; El Zaoui, Ikram; Di Gioia, Silvio Alessandro; Balzano, Sara; Cisarova, Katarina; Messina, Andrea; Decembrini, Sarah; Plainis, Sotiris; Blazaki, Styliani V; Khan, Muhammad Imran; Micheal, Shazia; Boldt, Karsten; Ueffing, Marius; Moulin, Alexandre P; Cremers, Frans P M; Roepman, Ronald; Arsenijevic, Yvan; Tsilimbaris, Miltiadis K; Andréasson, Sten; Rivolta, Carlo

    2016-09-01

    Cone-rod degeneration (CRD) belongs to the disease spectrum of retinal degenerations, a group of hereditary disorders characterized by an extreme clinical and genetic heterogeneity. It mainly differentiates from other retinal dystrophies, and in particular from the more frequent disease retinitis pigmentosa, because cone photoreceptors degenerate at a higher rate than rod photoreceptors, causing severe deficiency of central vision. After exome analysis of a cohort of individuals with CRD, we identified biallelic mutations in the orphan gene CEP78 in three subjects from two families: one from Greece and another from Sweden. The Greek subject, from the island of Crete, was homozygous for the c.499+1G>T (IVS3+1G>T) mutation in intron 3. The Swedish subjects, two siblings, were compound heterozygotes for the nearby mutation c.499+5G>A (IVS3+5G>A) and for the frameshift-causing variant c.633delC (p.Trp212Glyfs(∗)18). In addition to CRD, these three individuals had hearing loss or hearing deficit. Immunostaining highlighted the presence of CEP78 in the inner segments of retinal photoreceptors, predominantly of cones, and at the base of the primary cilium of fibroblasts. Interaction studies also showed that CEP78 binds to FAM161A, another ciliary protein associated with retinal degeneration. Finally, analysis of skin fibroblasts derived from affected individuals revealed abnormal ciliary morphology, as compared to that of control cells. Altogether, our data strongly suggest that mutations in CEP78 cause a previously undescribed clinical entity of a ciliary nature characterized by blindness and deafness but clearly distinct from Usher syndrome, a condition for which visual impairment is due to retinitis pigmentosa. Copyright © 2016 American Society of Human Genetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Ciliary body toxicities of systemic oxcarbazepine and valproic acid treatments: electron microscopic study.

    PubMed

    Göktaş, Güleser; Aktaş, Zeynep; Erdoğan, Deniz; Seymen, Cemile Merve; Karaca, Emine Esra; Cansu, Ali; Serdaroğlu, Ayşe; Kaplanoğlu, Gülnur Take

    2015-01-01

    Ciliary body is responsible for humour aqueous production in posterior chamber. Valproic acid (VPA) has been widely used for the treatment of epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric diseases such as bipolar disease and major depression. Oxcarbazepine (OXC) is a new anti-epileptic agent that has been used recently for childhood epilepsies such as VPA. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of VPA and OXC treatments used as antiepileptic in ciliary body by electron microscopy. In our study, 40 Wistar rats (21 days old) were divided equally into four groups which were applied saline (group 1), VPA (group 2), OXC (group 3) and VPA + OXC (group 4). The as-prepared ocular tissues were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique in scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM-TEM) (Carl Zeiss EVO LS10). The results confirmed that VPA caused dense ciliary body degeneration. Additionally, ciliary body degeneration in group 4 was supposed to be due to VPA treatment. Ciliary body damage and secondary outcomes should be considered in patients with long-term VPA therapy.

  4. Synchronous imaging of the pulse response of the ciliary muscle and lens with SD-OCT (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chang, Yu-Cherng; Pham, Alex; Williams, Siobhan; Alawa, Karam A.; de Freitas, Carolina; Ruggeri, Marco; Parel, Jean-Marie A.; Manns, Fabrice

    2017-02-01

    Purpose: To determine the dynamic interaction between ciliary muscle and lens during accommodation and disaccommodation through synchronous imaging of ciliary muscle and lens response to pulse stimulus Methods: The ciliary muscle and lens were imaged simultaneously in a 33 year old subject responding to a 4D pulse stimulus (accommodative stimulus at 1.7 s, disaccommodative stimulus at 7.7 s) using an existing imaging system (Ruggeri et al, 2016) consisting of an Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography system, Ciliary Muscle Optical Coherence Tomography system, and custom-built accommodation module. OCT images were recorded at an effective frame rate of 13.0 frames per second for a total scan time of 11.5 s. An automated segmentation algorithm was applied to images of the anterior segment to detect the boundaries of the cornea and lens, from which lens thickness was extracted. Segmentation of the ciliary muscle was performed manually and then corrected for distortion due to refraction of the beam to obtain measurements of thicknesses at the apex and fixed distances from the scleral spur. Results: The dynamic biometric response to a pulse stimulus at 4D was determined for both the ciliary muscle and lens, suggesting the ciliary muscle and lens interact differently in accommodation and disaccommodation. Conclusions: The study introduces new data and analyses of the ciliary muscle and lens interaction during a complete accommodative response from the relaxed to the accommodated state and back, providing insight into the interplay between individual elements in the accommodative system and how their relationships may change with age.

  5. Loss-of-Function Mutations in a Human Gene Related to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dynein IC78 Result in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

    PubMed Central

    Pennarun, Gaëlle; Escudier, Estelle; Chapelin, Catherine; Bridoux, Anne-Marie; Cacheux, Valère; Roger, Gilles; Clément, Annick; Goossens, Michel; Amselem, Serge; Duriez, Bénédicte

    1999-01-01

    Summary Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a group of heterogeneous disorders of unknown origin, usually inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Its phenotype is characterized by axonemal abnormalities of respiratory cilia and sperm tails leading to bronchiectasis and sinusitis, which are sometimes associated with situs inversus (Kartagener syndrome) and male sterility. The main ciliary defect in PCD is an absence of dynein arms. We have isolated the first gene involved in PCD, using a candidate-gene approach developed on the basis of documented abnormalities of immotile strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which carry axonemal ultrastructural defects reminiscent of PCD. Taking advantage of the evolutionary conservation of genes encoding axonemal proteins, we have isolated a human sequence (DNAI1) related to IC78, a C. reinhardtii gene encoding a dynein intermediate chain in which mutations are associated with the absence of outer dynein arms. DNAI1 is highly expressed in trachea and testis and is composed of 20 exons located at 9p13-p21. Two loss-of-function mutations of DNAI1 have been identified in a patient with PCD characterized by immotile respiratory cilia lacking outer dynein arms. In addition, we excluded linkage between this gene and similar PCD phenotypes in five other affected families, providing a clear demonstration of locus heterogeneity. These data reveal the critical role of DNAI1 in the development of human axonemal structures and open up new means for identification of additional genes involved in related developmental defects. PMID:10577904

  6. Intestinal cell kinase, a protein associated with endocrine-cerebro-osteodysplasia syndrome, is a key regulator of cilia length and Hedgehog signaling.

    PubMed

    Moon, Heejung; Song, Jieun; Shin, Jeong-Oh; Lee, Hankyu; Kim, Hong-Kyung; Eggenschwiller, Jonathan T; Bok, Jinwoong; Ko, Hyuk Wan

    2014-06-10

    Endocrine-cerebro-osteodysplasia (ECO) syndrome is a recessive genetic disorder associated with multiple congenital defects in endocrine, cerebral, and skeletal systems that is caused by a missense mutation in the mitogen-activated protein kinase-like intestinal cell kinase (ICK) gene. In algae and invertebrates, ICK homologs are involved in flagellar formation and ciliogenesis, respectively. However, it is not clear whether this role of ICK is conserved in mammals and how a lack of functional ICK results in the characteristic phenotypes of human ECO syndrome. Here, we generated Ick knockout mice to elucidate the precise role of ICK in mammalian development and to examine the pathological mechanisms of ECO syndrome. Ick null mouse embryos displayed cleft palate, hydrocephalus, polydactyly, and delayed skeletal development, closely resembling ECO syndrome phenotypes. In cultured cells, down-regulation of Ick or overexpression of kinase-dead or ECO syndrome mutant ICK resulted in an elongation of primary cilia and abnormal Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. Wild-type ICK proteins were generally localized in the proximal region of cilia near the basal bodies, whereas kinase-dead ICK mutant proteins accumulated in the distal part of bulged ciliary tips. Consistent with these observations in cultured cells, Ick knockout mouse embryos displayed elongated cilia and reduced Shh signaling during limb digit patterning. Taken together, these results indicate that ICK plays a crucial role in controlling ciliary length and that ciliary defects caused by a lack of functional ICK leads to abnormal Shh signaling, resulting in congenital disorders such as ECO syndrome.

  7. IFT46 plays an essential role in cilia development

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Mi-Sun; Hwang, Kyu-Seok; Oh, Hyun-Woo; Ji-Ae, Kim; Kim, Hyun-Taek; Cho, Hyun-Soo; Lee, Jeong-Ju; Ko, Je Yeong; Choi, Jung-Hwa; Jeong, Yun-Mi; You, Kwan-Hee; Kim, Joon; Park, Doo-Sang; Nam, Ki-Hoan; Aizawa, Shinichi; Kiyonari, Hiroshi; Shioi, Go; Park, Jong-Hoon; Zhou, Weibin; Kim, Nam-Soon; Kim, Cheol-Hee

    2015-01-01

    Cilia are microtubule-based structures that project into the extracellular space. Ciliary defects are associated with several human diseases, including polycystic kidney disease, primary ciliary dyskinesia, left-right axis patterning, hydrocephalus and retinal degeneration. However, the genetic and cellular biological control of ciliogenesis remains poorly understood. The IFT46 is one of the highly conserved intraflagellar transport complex B proteins. In zebrafish, ift46 is expressed in various ciliated tissues such as Kupffer’s vesicle, pronephric ducts, ears and spinal cord. We show that ift46 is localized to the basal body. Knockdown of ift46 gene results in multiple phenotypes associated with various ciliopathies including kidney cysts, pericardial edema and ventral axis curvature. In ift46 morphants, cilia in kidney and spinal canal are shortened and abnormal. Similar ciliary defects are observed in otic vesicles, lateral line hair cells, olfactory pits, but not in Kupffer’s vesicle. To explore the functions of Ift46 during mouse development, we have generated Ift46 knock-out mice. The Ift46 mutants have developmental defects in brain, neural tube and heart. In particular Ift46(−/−) homozygotes displays randomization of the embryo heart looping, which is a hallmark of defective left-right (L/R) axis patterning. Taken together, our results demonstrated that IFT46 has an essential role in vertebrate ciliary development. PMID:25722189

  8. Remodeling Cildb, a popular database for cilia and links for ciliopathies

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background New generation technologies in cell and molecular biology generate large amounts of data hard to exploit for individual proteins. This is particularly true for ciliary and centrosomal research. Cildb is a multi–species knowledgebase gathering high throughput studies, which allows advanced searches to identify proteins involved in centrosome, basal body or cilia biogenesis, composition and function. Combined to localization of genetic diseases on human chromosomes given by OMIM links, candidate ciliopathy proteins can be compiled through Cildb searches. Methods Othology between recent versions of the whole proteomes was computed using Inparanoid and ciliary high throughput studies were remapped on these recent versions. Results Due to constant evolution of the ciliary and centrosomal field, Cildb has been recently upgraded twice, with new species whole proteomes and new ciliary studies, and the latter version displays a novel BioMart interface, much more intuitive than the previous ones. Conclusions This already popular database is designed now for easier use and is up to date in regard to high throughput ciliary studies. PMID:25422781

  9. Cyanide levels found in infected cystic fibrosis sputum inhibit airway ciliary function.

    PubMed

    Nair, Chandrika; Shoemark, Amelia; Chan, Mario; Ollosson, Sarah; Dixon, Mellissa; Hogg, Claire; Alton, Eric W F W; Davies, Jane C; Williams, Huw D

    2014-11-01

    We have previously reported cyanide at concentrations of up to 150 μM in the sputum of cystic fibrosis patients infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a negative correlation with lung function. Our aim was to investigate possible mechanisms for this association, focusing on the effect of pathophysiologically relevant cyanide levels on human respiratory cell function. Ciliary beat frequency measurements were performed on nasal brushings and nasal air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures obtained from healthy volunteers and cystic fibrosis patients. Potassium cyanide decreased ciliary beat frequency in healthy nasal brushings (n = 6) after 60 min (150 μM: 47% fall, p<0.0012; 75 μM: 32% fall, p<0.0001). Samples from cystic fibrosis patients (n = 3) showed similar results (150 μM: 55% fall, p = 0.001). Ciliary beat frequency inhibition was not due to loss of cell viability and was reversible. The inhibitory mechanism was independent of ATP levels. KCN also significantly inhibited ciliary beat frequency in ALI cultures, albeit to a lesser extent. Ciliary beat frequency measurements on ALI cultures treated with culture supernatants from P. aeruginosa mutants defective in virulence factor production implicated cyanide as a key component inhibiting the ciliary beat frequency. If cyanide production similarly impairs mucocilliary clearance in vivo, it could explain the link with increased disease severity observed in cystic fibrosis patients with detectable cyanide in their airway. ©ERS 2014.

  10. Mucosal pathology of an experimental otitis media with effusion after X-ray irradiation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ohashi, Y.; Nakai, Y.; Ikeoka, H.

    1987-07-01

    Ten guinea pigs were irradiated with 30 Gy of x-radiation. Five were killed on the eighth day after irradiation, and the remainder were killed at the sixteenth day after irradiation. At the time of death, examination was made of the ciliary activity and the fine structure of the middle ear mucosa. Serous effusion was found in each tympanic cavity of all animals. It was shown also that the guinea pig, when irradiated with 30 Gy of x-radiation, exhibits pathologic abnormalities similar to those in humans with otitis media with effusion: degeneration of cilia or ciliated cells and changes in themore » vascular system (capillary injury and increased capillary permeability). Functional examinations showed that x-ray irradiation has delayed effects on ciliary activity, and the effects are much greater at the sixteenth day than at the eighth day. We speculate that the accumulation of effusion can be, at least partially, a consequence of ciliary dysfunction. The induction of sterile effusion by the use of x-ray irradiation provides a unique animal model for chronic otitis media with effusion of the serous type.« less

  11. Tubulin Glutamylation Regulates Ciliary Motility by Altering Inner Dynein Arm Activity

    PubMed Central

    Suryavanshi, Swati; Eddé, Bernard; Fox, Laura A.; Guerrero, Stella; Hard, Robert; Hennessey, Todd; Kabi, Amrita; Malison, David; Pennock, David; Sale, Winfield S.; Wloga, Dorota; Gaertig, Jacek

    2010-01-01

    SUMMMARY How microtubule-associated motor proteins are regulated is not well understood. A potential mechanism for spatial regulation of motor proteins is provided by post-translational modifications of tubulin subunits that form patterns on microtubules. Glutamylation is a conserved tubulin modification [1] that is enriched in axonemes. The enzymes responsible for this PTM, glutamic acid ligases (E-ligases), belong to a family of proteins with a tubulin tyrosine ligase (TTL) homology domain (TTL-like or TTLL proteins) [2]. We show that in cilia of Tetrahymena, TTLL6 E-ligases generate glutamylation mainly on the B-tubule of outer doublet microtubules, the site of force production by ciliary dynein. Deletion of two TTLL6 paralogs caused severe deficiency in ciliary motility associated with abnormal waveform and reduced beat frequency. In isolated axonemes with a normal dynein arm composition, TTLL6 deficiency did not affect the rate of ATP-induced doublet microtubule sliding. Unexpectedly, the same TTLL6 deficiency increased the velocity of microtubule sliding in axonemes that also lack outer dynein arms, in which forces are generated by inner dynein arms. We conclude that tubulin glutamylation on the B-tubule inhibits the net force imposed on sliding doublet microtubules by inner dynein arms. PMID:20189389

  12. Ciliary locomotion in presence of boundaries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jana, Saikat; Um, Soong Ho; Jung, Sunghwan

    2010-11-01

    Micro-organisms in nature navigate through a variety of fluidic geometries and chemical conditions. We investigate the effect of confined spaces in nature by introducing Paramecium Multimicronucleatum in two different configurations: a capillary tube & a wavy PDMS channel. Paramecium swims by creating the metachronal waves due to ciliary beating. The influence of the walls on Paramecia is characterized by measuring the velocity and observing the ciliary beating pattern. Theoretically, we also model the system by solving the stream-function with a pressure gradient. The theoretical and experimental observations are compared and conclusions are drawn about the change in the swimming characteristics as compared to free swimming without the boundaries.

  13. The effects of VEGF-A-inhibitors aflibercept and ranibizumab on the ciliary body and iris of monkeys.

    PubMed

    Ludinsky, Maximilian; Christner, Sarah; Su, Nan; Taubitz, Tatjana; Tschulakow, Alexander; Biesemeier, Antje; Julien-Schraermeyer, Sylvie; Schraermeyer, Ulrich

    2016-06-01

    To investigate the effects of intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis®) and aflibercept (Eylea®) on the ciliary body and the iris of 12 cynomolgus monkeys with regard to the fenestrations of their blood vessels. Structural changes in the ciliary body and in the iris were investigated with light, fluorescent, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The latter was used to specifically quantify fenestrations of the endothelium of blood vessels after treatment with aflibercept and ranibizumab. Each of the two ciliary bodies treated with aflibercept and the two treated with ranibizumab and their controls were examined after 1 and 7 days respectively. Ophthalmological investigations including funduscopy and intraocular pressure measurements were also applied. Ophthalmological investigations did not reveal any changes within the groups. Both drugs reduced the VEGF concentration in the ciliary body pigmented epithelium. The structure of the ciliary body was not influenced, while the posterior pigmented epithelium of the iris showed vacuoles after aflibercept treatment. Ranibizumab was mainly concentrated on the surface layer of the ciliary epithelium, in the blood vessel walls and the lumen of some of the blood vessels, and in the cells of the epithelium of the ciliary body. Aflibercept was more concentrated in the stroma and not in the cells of the epithelium, but as with ranibizumab, also in the blood vessel walls and some of their lumina, and again on the surface layer of the epithelium. Both aflibercept-and ranibizumab-treated eyes showed a decreased number of fenestrations of the capillaries in the ciliary body compared to the untreated controls. On day 1 and day 7, aflibercept had fewer fenestrations than the ranibizumab samples of the same day. Both aflibercept and ranibizumab were found to reach the blood vessel walls of the ciliary body, and effectively reduced their fenestrations. Aflibercept might eliminate VEGF to a greater extent, possibly due to a higher elimination of fenestrations in a shorter time. Moreover, the vacuoles found in the iris need further research, in order to evaluate whether they carry a possible pathological potential.

  14. Primary ciliary dyskinesia. Recent advances in diagnostics, genetics, and characterization of clinical disease.

    PubMed

    Knowles, Michael R; Daniels, Leigh Anne; Davis, Stephanie D; Zariwala, Maimoona A; Leigh, Margaret W

    2013-10-15

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous recessive disorder of motile cilia that leads to oto-sino-pulmonary diseases and organ laterality defects in approximately 50% of cases. The estimated incidence of PCD is approximately 1 per 15,000 births, but the prevalence of PCD is difficult to determine, primarily because of limitations in diagnostic methods that focus on testing ciliary ultrastructure and function. Diagnostic capabilities have recently benefitted from (1) documentation of low nasal nitric oxide production in PCD and (2) discovery of biallelic mutations in multiple PCD-causing genes. The use of these complementary diagnostic approaches shows that at least 30% of patients with PCD have normal ciliary ultrastructure. More accurate identification of patients with PCD has also allowed definition of a strong clinical phenotype, which includes neonatal respiratory distress in >80% of cases, daily nasal congestion and wet cough starting soon after birth, and early development of recurrent/chronic middle-ear and sinus disease. Recent studies, using advanced imaging and pulmonary physiologic assessments, clearly demonstrate early onset of lung disease in PCD, with abnormal air flow mechanics by age 6-8 years that is similar to cystic fibrosis, and age-dependent onset of bronchiectasis. The treatment of PCD is not standardized, and there are no validated PCD-specific therapies. Most patients with PCD receive suboptimal management, which should include airway clearance, regular surveillance of pulmonary function and respiratory microbiology, and use of antibiotics targeted to pathogens. The PCD Foundation is developing a network of clinical centers, which should improve diagnosis and management of PCD.

  15. Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. Recent Advances in Diagnostics, Genetics, and Characterization of Clinical Disease

    PubMed Central

    Daniels, Leigh Anne; Davis, Stephanie D.; Zariwala, Maimoona A.; Leigh, Margaret W.

    2013-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous recessive disorder of motile cilia that leads to oto-sino-pulmonary diseases and organ laterality defects in approximately 50% of cases. The estimated incidence of PCD is approximately 1 per 15,000 births, but the prevalence of PCD is difficult to determine, primarily because of limitations in diagnostic methods that focus on testing ciliary ultrastructure and function. Diagnostic capabilities have recently benefitted from (1) documentation of low nasal nitric oxide production in PCD and (2) discovery of biallelic mutations in multiple PCD-causing genes. The use of these complementary diagnostic approaches shows that at least 30% of patients with PCD have normal ciliary ultrastructure. More accurate identification of patients with PCD has also allowed definition of a strong clinical phenotype, which includes neonatal respiratory distress in >80% of cases, daily nasal congestion and wet cough starting soon after birth, and early development of recurrent/chronic middle-ear and sinus disease. Recent studies, using advanced imaging and pulmonary physiologic assessments, clearly demonstrate early onset of lung disease in PCD, with abnormal air flow mechanics by age 6–8 years that is similar to cystic fibrosis, and age-dependent onset of bronchiectasis. The treatment of PCD is not standardized, and there are no validated PCD-specific therapies. Most patients with PCD receive suboptimal management, which should include airway clearance, regular surveillance of pulmonary function and respiratory microbiology, and use of antibiotics targeted to pathogens. The PCD Foundation is developing a network of clinical centers, which should improve diagnosis and management of PCD. PMID:23796196

  16. Orchid-pollinator interactions and potential vulnerability to biological invasion.

    PubMed

    Chupp, Adam D; Battaglia, Loretta L; Schauber, Eric M; Sipes, Sedonia D

    2015-08-17

    Mutualistic relationships between plants and their pollinators have played a major role in the evolution of biodiversity. While the vulnerability of these relationships to environmental change is a major concern, studies often lack a framework for predicting impacts from emerging threats (e.g. biological invasions). The objective of this study was to determine the reliance of Platanthera ciliaris (orange-fringed orchid) on Papilio palamedes (Palamedes swallowtail butterfly) for pollination and the relative availability of alternative pollinators. Recent declines of P. palamedes larval host plants due to laurel wilt disease (LWD) could endanger P. ciliaris populations that rely heavily on this butterfly for pollination. We monitored pollinator visitation and fruit set and measured nectar spur lengths of P. ciliaris flowers and proboscis lengths of its floral visitors in Jackson County, MS, USA. Papilio palamedes was the primary visitor with minimal visitation by Phoebis sennae (cloudless sulfur butterfly). Lengths of P. ciliaris nectar spurs were similar to proboscis lengths of both pollinator species. Fruit set was moderate with access to pollinators (55 ± 10.8 %), yet failed (0 %) when pollinators were excluded. Visitation increased with inflorescence size, but there was no such pattern in fruit set, indicating that fruit set was not limited by pollinator visitation within the range of visitation rates we observed. Our results are supported by historical data that suggest P. palamedes and P. sennae are important pollinators of P. ciliaris. Although P. sennae may provide supplemental pollination service, this is likely constrained by habitat preferences that do not always overlap with those of P. cilaris. Observed declines of P. palamedes due to LWD could severely limit the reproductive success and persistence of P. ciliaris and similar orchid species populations. This empirical-based prediction is among the first to document exotic forest pests and pathogens as an indirect threat to plant-pollinator interactions. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company.

  17. Orchid–pollinator interactions and potential vulnerability to biological invasion

    PubMed Central

    Chupp, Adam D.; Battaglia, Loretta L.; Schauber, Eric M.; Sipes, Sedonia D.

    2015-01-01

    Mutualistic relationships between plants and their pollinators have played a major role in the evolution of biodiversity. While the vulnerability of these relationships to environmental change is a major concern, studies often lack a framework for predicting impacts from emerging threats (e.g. biological invasions). The objective of this study was to determine the reliance of Platanthera ciliaris (orange-fringed orchid) on Papilio palamedes (Palamedes swallowtail butterfly) for pollination and the relative availability of alternative pollinators. Recent declines of P. palamedes larval host plants due to laurel wilt disease (LWD) could endanger P. ciliaris populations that rely heavily on this butterfly for pollination. We monitored pollinator visitation and fruit set and measured nectar spur lengths of P. ciliaris flowers and proboscis lengths of its floral visitors in Jackson County, MS, USA. Papilio palamedes was the primary visitor with minimal visitation by Phoebis sennae (cloudless sulfur butterfly). Lengths of P. ciliaris nectar spurs were similar to proboscis lengths of both pollinator species. Fruit set was moderate with access to pollinators (55 ± 10.8 %), yet failed (0 %) when pollinators were excluded. Visitation increased with inflorescence size, but there was no such pattern in fruit set, indicating that fruit set was not limited by pollinator visitation within the range of visitation rates we observed. Our results are supported by historical data that suggest P. palamedes and P. sennae are important pollinators of P. ciliaris. Although P. sennae may provide supplemental pollination service, this is likely constrained by habitat preferences that do not always overlap with those of P. cilaris. Observed declines of P. palamedes due to LWD could severely limit the reproductive success and persistence of P. ciliaris and similar orchid species populations. This empirical-based prediction is among the first to document exotic forest pests and pathogens as an indirect threat to plant–pollinator interactions. PMID:26286221

  18. Differential Effects of RET and TRKB on Axonal Branching and Survival of Parasympathetic Neurons

    PubMed Central

    Simpson, Julie; Keefe, Julie; Nishi, Rae

    2014-01-01

    Interactions between neurons and their targets of innervation influence many aspects of neural development. To examine how synaptic activity interacts with neurotrophic signaling, we determined the effects of blocking neuromuscular transmission on survival and axonal outgrowth of ciliary neurons from the embryonic chicken ciliary ganglion. Ciliary neurons undergo a period of cell loss due to programmed cell death between embryonic Days (E) 8 and 14 and they innervate the striated muscle of the iris. The nicotinic antagonist d-tubocurarine (dTC) induces an increase in branching measured by counting neurofilament-positive voxels (NF-VU) in the iris between E14–17 while reducing ciliary neuron survival. Blocking ganglionic transmission with dihyro-β-erythroidin and α-methyllycacontine does not mimic dTC. At E8, many trophic factors stimulate neurite outgrowth and branching of neurons placed in cell culture; however, at E13, only GDNF stimulates branching selectively in cultured ciliary neurons. The GDNF-induced branching at E13 could be inhibited by BDNF. Blocking ret signaling in vivo with a dominant negative (dn)ret decreases survival of ciliary and choroid neurons at E14 and prevents dTC induced increases in NF-VU in the iris at E17. Blocking TRKB signaling with dn TRKB increases NF-VU in the iris at E17 and decreases neuronal survival at E17, but not at E14. Thus, RET promotes survival during programmed cell death in the ciliary ganglion and contributes to promoting branching when synaptic transmission is blocked while TRKB inhibits branching and promotes maintenance of neuronal survival. These studies highlight the multifunctional nature of trophic molecule function during neuronal development. PMID:22648743

  19. An essential role of intestinal cell kinase in lung development is linked to the perinatal lethality of human ECO syndrome

    PubMed Central

    Tong, Yixin; Park, So Hyun; Wu, Di; Xu, Wenhao; Guillot, Stacey J.; Jin, Li; Li, Xudong; Wang, Yalin; Lin, Chyuan-Sheng; Fu, Zheng

    2017-01-01

    Human endocrine-cerebro-osteodysplasia (ECO) syndrome, caused by the loss-of-function mutation R272Q in the ICK (intestinal cell kinase) gene, is a neonatal-lethal developmental disorder. To elucidate the molecular basis of ECO syndrome, we constructed an Ick R272Q knock-in mouse model that recapitulates ECO pathological phenotypes. Newborns bearing Ick R272Q homozygous mutations die at birth due to respiratory distress. Ick mutant lungs exhibit not only impaired branching morphogenesis associated with reduced mesenchymal proliferation, but also significant airspace deficiency in primitive alveoli concomitant with abnormal interstitial mesenchymal differentiation. ICK dysfunction induces elongated primary cilia and perturbs ciliary Hedgehog signaling and autophagy during lung sacculation. Our study identifies an essential role for ICK in lung development and advances the mechanistic understanding of ECO syndrome. PMID:28380258

  20. An essential role of intestinal cell kinase in lung development is linked to the perinatal lethality of human ECO syndrome.

    PubMed

    Tong, Yixin; Park, So Hyun; Wu, Di; Xu, Wenhao; Guillot, Stacey J; Jin, Li; Li, Xudong; Wang, Yalin; Lin, Chyuan-Sheng; Fu, Zheng

    2017-05-01

    Human endocrine-cerebro-osteodysplasia (ECO) syndrome, caused by the loss-of-function mutation R272Q in the intestinal cell kinase (ICK) gene, is a neonatal-lethal developmental disorder. To elucidate the molecular basis of ECO syndrome, we constructed an Ick R272Q knock-in mouse model that recapitulates ECO pathological phenotypes. Newborns bearing Ick R272Q homozygous mutations die at birth due to respiratory distress. Ick mutant lungs exhibit not only impaired branching morphogenesis associated with reduced mesenchymal proliferation but also significant airspace deficiency in primitive alveoli concomitant with abnormal interstitial mesenchymal differentiation. ICK dysfunction induces elongated primary cilia and perturbs ciliary Hedgehog signaling and autophagy during lung sacculation. Our study identifies an essential role for ICK in lung development and advances the mechanistic understanding of ECO syndrome. © 2017 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

  1. Unique among ciliopathies: primary ciliary dyskinesia, a motile cilia disorder.

    PubMed

    Praveen, Kavita; Davis, Erica E; Katsanis, Nicholas

    2015-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a ciliopathy, but represents the sole entity from this class of disorders that results from the dysfunction of motile cilia. Characterized by respiratory problems appearing in childhood, infertility, and situs defects in ~50% of individuals, PCD has an estimated prevalence of approximately 1 in 10,000 live births. The diagnosis of PCD can be prolonged due to a lack of disease awareness, coupled with the fact that symptoms can be confused with other more common genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, or environmental insults that result in frequent respiratory infections. A primarily autosomal recessive disorder, PCD is genetically heterogeneous with >30 causal genes identified, posing significant challenges to genetic diagnosis. Here, we provide an overview of PCD as a disorder underscored by impaired ciliary motility; we discuss the recent advances towards uncovering the genetic basis of PCD; we discuss the molecular knowledge gained from PCD gene discovery, which has improved our understanding of motile ciliary assembly; and we speculate on how accelerated diagnosis, together with detailed phenotypic data, will shape the genetic and functional architecture of this disorder.

  2. Regulation of anterior chamber drainage by bicarbonate-sensitive soluble adenylyl cyclase in the ciliary body.

    PubMed

    Lee, Yong S; Tresguerres, Martin; Hess, Kenneth; Marmorstein, Lihua Y; Levin, Lonny R; Buck, Jochen; Marmorstein, Alan D

    2011-12-02

    Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness affecting as many as 2.2 million Americans. All current glaucoma treatment strategies aim to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP results from the resistance to drainage of aqueous humor (AH) produced by the ciliary body in a process requiring bicarbonate. Once secreted into the anterior chamber, AH drains from the eye via two pathways: uveoscleral and pressure-dependent or conventional outflow (C(t)). Modulation of "inflow" and "outflow" pathways is thought to occur via distinct, local mechanisms. Mice deficient in the bicarbonate channel bestrophin-2 (Best2), however, exhibit a lower IOP despite an increase in AH production. Best2 is expressed uniquely in nonpigmented ciliary epithelial (NPE) cells providing evidence for a bicarbonate-dependent communicative pathway linking inflow and outflow. Here, we show that bicarbonate-sensitive soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) is highly expressed in the ciliary body in NPE cells, but appears to be absent from drainage tissues. Pharmacologic inhibition of sAC in mice causes a significant increase in IOP due to a decrease in C(t) with no effect on inflow. In mice deficient in sAC IOP is elevated, and C(t) is decreased relative to wild-type mice. Pharmacologic inhibition of sAC did not alter IOP or C(t) in sAC-deficient mice. Based on these data we propose that the ciliary body can regulate C(t) and that sAC serves as a critical sensor of bicarbonate in the ciliary body regulating the secretion of substances into the AH that govern outflow facility independent of pressure.

  3. Vasodilatory effects of nipradilol, an alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocker with nitric oxide releasing action, in rabbit ciliary artery.

    PubMed

    Yoshitomi, Takeshi; Yamaji, Kazutsuna; Ishikawa, Hitoshi; Ohnishi, Yoshitaka

    2002-12-01

    Nipradilol is a new antiglaucoma ophthalmic agent used in Japan. Topical application of nipradilol is reported to increase ocular blood flow. To investigate the action of this drug, we studied the effect of nipradilol on the isolated rabbit ciliary artery. Under the dissecting microscope, ciliary arteries were prepared from rabbit eyes and mounted on a myograph system. The effects of nipradilol on the isolated rabbit ciliary artery were investigated using isometric tension recording methods. Nipradilol provoked a dose-dependent (10 microM-1m M) relaxation in ciliary arteries that were pre-contracted with high-K solutions (K(+): 100.7 m M). It also inhibited the amplitude of smooth muscle contraction evoked by field stimulation. Nipradilol was more effective in relaxing phenylephrine-induced contraction (EC(50): 21.6+/-16.3 microM) compared to high-K solution-induced contractions (EC(50): 230+/-130 microM). Application of N(w)-nitro- L -arginine methylester (300 microM), a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, or denudations of endothelium by rubbing the inner surface with a scalp hair did not affect this relaxation. However, NO scavenger carboxy-PTIO (1m M) or methylene blue (10 microM), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, inhibited the nipradilol-induced relaxation. These results indicate that nipradilol relaxes the rabbit ciliary artery by two different mechanisms. First, the relaxation is due to the NO produced by denitrification of nipradilol itself. Second, nipradilol may act as an alpha-adrenergic antagonist. These actions of nipradilol may explain the mechanisms of increased ocular blood flow in vivo.

  4. The NIMA-like kinase Nek2 is a key switch balancing cilia biogenesis and resorption in the development of left-right asymmetry.

    PubMed

    Endicott, S Joseph; Basu, Basudha; Khokha, Mustafa; Brueckner, Martina

    2015-12-01

    Vertebrate left-right (LR) asymmetry originates at a transient left-right organizer (LRO), a ciliated structure where cilia play a crucial role in breaking symmetry. However, much remains unknown about the choreography of cilia biogenesis and resorption at this organ. We recently identified a mutation affecting NEK2, a member of the NIMA-like serine-threonine kinase family, in a patient with congenital heart disease associated with abnormal LR development. Here, we report how Nek2 acts through cilia to influence LR patterning. Both overexpression and knockdown of nek2 in Xenopus result in abnormal LR development and reduction of LRO cilia count and motility, phenotypes that are modified by interaction with the Hippo signaling pathway. nek2 knockdown leads to a centriole defect at the LRO, consistent with the known role of Nek2 in centriole separation. Nek2 overexpression results in premature ciliary resorption in cultured cells dependent on function of the tubulin deacetylase Hdac6. Finally, we provide evidence that the known interaction between Nek2 and Nup98, a nucleoporin that localizes to the ciliary base, is important for regulating cilium resorption. Together, these data show that Nek2 is a switch balancing ciliogenesis and resorption in the development of LR asymmetry. © 2015. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  5. Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: An Update on Clinical Aspects, Genetics, Diagnosis, and Future Treatment Strategies

    PubMed Central

    Mirra, Virginia; Werner, Claudius; Santamaria, Francesca

    2017-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an orphan disease (MIM 244400), autosomal recessive inherited, characterized by motile ciliary dysfunction. The estimated prevalence of PCD is 1:10,000 to 1:20,000 live-born children, but true prevalence could be even higher. PCD is characterized by chronic upper and lower respiratory tract disease, infertility/ectopic pregnancy, and situs anomalies, that occur in ≈50% of PCD patients (Kartagener syndrome), and these may be associated with congenital heart abnormalities. Most patients report a daily year-round wet cough or nose congestion starting in the first year of life. Daily wet cough, associated with recurrent infections exacerbations, results in the development of chronic suppurative lung disease, with localized-to-diffuse bronchiectasis. No diagnostic test is perfect for confirming PCD. Diagnosis can be challenging and relies on a combination of clinical data, nasal nitric oxide levels plus cilia ultrastructure and function analysis. Adjunctive tests include genetic analysis and repeated tests in ciliary culture specimens. There are currently 33 known genes associated with PCD and correlations between genotype and ultrastructural defects have been increasingly demonstrated. Comprehensive genetic testing may hopefully screen young infants before symptoms occur, thus improving survival. Recent surprising advances in PCD genetic designed a novel approach called “gene editing” to restore gene function and normalize ciliary motility, opening up new avenues for treating PCD. Currently, there are no data from randomized clinical trials to support any specific treatment, thus, management strategies are usually extrapolated from cystic fibrosis. The goal of treatment is to prevent exacerbations, slowing the progression of lung disease. The therapeutic mainstay includes airway clearance maneuvers mainly with nebulized hypertonic saline and chest physiotherapy, and prompt and aggressive administration of antibiotics. Standardized care at specialized centers using a multidisciplinary approach that imposes surveillance of lung function and of airway biofilm composition likely improves patients’ outcome. Pediatricians, neonatologists, pulmonologists, and ENT surgeons should maintain high awareness of PCD and refer patients to the specialized center before sustained irreversible lung damage develops. The recent creation of a network of PCD clinical centers, focusing on improving diagnosis and treatment, will hopefully help to improve care and knowledge of PCD patients. PMID:28649564

  6. Growth, biomass production and photosynthesis of Cenchrus ciliaris L. under Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne based silvopastoral systems in semi arid tropics.

    PubMed

    Mishra, A K; Tiwari, H S; Bhatt, R K

    2010-11-01

    The growth, biomass production and photosynthesis of Cenchrus ciliaris was studied under the canopies of 17 yr old Acacia tortilis trees in semi arid tropical environment. On an average the full grown canopy of A. tortilis at the spacing of 4 x 4 m allowed 55% of total Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) which in turn increased Relative Humidity (RH) and reduced under canopy temperature to -1.75 degrees C over the open air temperature. C. ciliaris attained higher height under the shade of A. tortilis. The tiller production and leaf area index decreased marginally under the shade of tree canopies as compared to the open grown grasses. C. ciliaris accumulated higher chlorophyll a and b under the shade of tree canopies indicating its shade adaptation potential. The assimilatory functions such as rate of photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic water use efficiency (PN/TR) and carboxylation efficiency (PN/CINT) decreased under the tree canopies due to low availability of PAR. The total biomass production in term of fresh and dry weight decreased under the tree canopies. On average of 2 yr C. ciliaris had produced 12.78 t ha(-1) green and 3.72 -t ha(-1) dry biomass under the tree canopies of A. tortilis. The dry matter yield reduced to 38% under the tree canopies over the open grown grasses. The A. tortilis + C. ciliaris maintained higher soil moisture, organic carbon content and available N P K for sustainable biomass production for the longer period. The higher accumulation of crude protein, starch, sugar and nitrogen in leaves and stem of C. ciliaris indicates that this grass species also maintained its quality under A. tortilis based silvopastoral system. The photosynthesis and dry matter accumulation are closely associated with available PAR indicating that for sustainable production of this grass species in the silvopasture systems for longer period about 55% or more PAR is required.

  7. Particulate matter in cigarette smoke increases ciliary axoneme beating through mechanical stimulation.

    PubMed

    Navarrette, Chelsea R; Sisson, Joseph H; Nance, Elizabeth; Allen-Gipson, Diane; Hanes, Justin; Wyatt, Todd A

    2012-06-01

    The lung's ability to trap and clear foreign particles via the mucociliary elevator is an important mechanism for protecting the lung against respirable irritants and microorganisms. Although cigarette smoke (CS) exposure and particulate inhalation are known to alter mucociliary clearance, little is known about how CS and nanoparticles (NPs) modify cilia beating at the cytoskeletal infrastructure, or axonemal, level. We used a cell-free model to introduce cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and NPs with variant size and surface chemistry to isolated axonemes and measured changes in ciliary motility. We hypothesized that CSE would alter cilia beating and that alterations in ciliary beat frequency (CBF) due to particulate matter would be size- and surface chemistry-dependent. Demembranated axonemes were isolated from ciliated bovine tracheas and exposed to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to initiate motility. CBF was measured in response to 5% CSE, CSE filtrate, and carboxyl-modified (COOH), sulphate (SO(4))-modified (sulfonated), or PEG-coated polystyrene (PS) latex NPs ranging in size from 40 nm to 500 nm. CSE concentrations as low as 5% resulted in rapid, significant stimulation of CBF (p<0.05 vs. baseline control). Filtering CSE through a 0.2-μm filter attenuated this effect. Introduction of sulphate-modified PS beads ~300 nm in diameter resulted in a similar increase in CBF above baseline ATP levels. Uncharged, PEG-coated beads had no effect on CBF regardless of size. Similarly, COOH-coated particles less than 200 nm in diameter did not alter ciliary motility. However, COOH-coated PS particles larger than 300 nm increased CBF significantly and increased the number of motile points. These data show that NPs, including those found in CSE, mechanically stimulate axonemes in a size- and surface chemistry-dependent manner. Alterations in ciliary motility due to physicochemical properties of NPs may be important for inhalational lung injury and efficient drug delivery of respirable particles.

  8. Anterior Segment Morphology in Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Balakrishna, Nagalla

    2017-01-01

    Aim To evaluate the configuration of the anterior chamber angle quantitatively and study the morphological changes in the eye with ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) patients after laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). Materials and methods A total of 185 eyes of 185 PACG patients post-LPI and 126 eyes of 126 normal subjects were included in this prospective study. All subjects underwent complete ophthalmic evaluation, A-scan biometry, and UBM. The anterior segment and angle parameters were measured quantitatively and compared in both groups using Student’s t-test. Results The PACG patients had shorter axial length, shallower central anterior chamber depth anterior chamber depth (ACD), and anteriorly located lens when compared with normal subjects. Trabecular iris angle (TIA) was significantly narrow (5.73 ± 7.76°) in patients with PACG when compared with normal subjects (23.75 ± 9.38°). The angle opening distance at 500 pm from scleral spur (AOD 500), trabecular-ciliary process distance (TCPD), iris-ciliary process distance (ICPD), and iris-zonule distance (IZD) were significantly shorter in patients with PACG than in normal subjects (p < 0.0001). The iris lens angle (ILA), scleral-iris angle (SIA), and scleral-ciliary process angle (SCPA) were significantly narrower in patients with PACG than in normal subjects (p < 0.0001). The iris-lens contact distance (ILCD) was greater in PACG group than in normal (p = 0.001). Plateau iris was seen in 57/185 (30.8%) of the eyes. Anterior positioned ciliary processes were seen in 130/185 eyes (70.3%) of eyes. Conclusion In PACG patients, persistent apposition angle closure is common even after LPI, which could be due to anterior rotation of ciliary body and plateau iris and overcrowding of anterior segment due to shorter axial length and relative anterior lens position. How to cite this article: Mansoori T, Balakrishna N. Anterior Segment Morphology in Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(3):86-91. PMID:29151682

  9. Force-response considerations in ciliary mechanosensation.

    PubMed

    Resnick, Andrew; Hopfer, Ulrich

    2007-08-15

    Considerable experimental evidence indicates that the primary, nonmotile cilium is a mechanosensory organelle in several epithelial cell types. As the relationship between cellular responses and nature and magnitude of applied forces is not well understood, we have investigated the effects of exposure of monolayers of renal collecting duct chief cells to orbital shaking and quantified the forces incident on cilia. An exposure of 24 h of these cells to orbital shaking resulted in a decrease of amiloride-sensitive sodium current by approximately 60% and ciliary length by approximately 30%. The sensitivity of the sodium current to shaking was dependent on intact cilia. The drag force on cilia due to induced fluid flow during orbital shaking was estimated at maximally 5.2x10(-3) pN at 2 Hz, approximately 4 times that of thermal noise. The major structural feature of cilia contributing to their sensitivity appears to be ciliary length. As more than half of the total drag force is exerted on the ciliary cap, one function of the slender stalk may be to expose the cap to greater drag force. Regardless, the findings indicate that the cilium is a mechanosensory organelle with a sensitivity much lower than previously recognized.

  10. BMP signaling is required for development of the ciliary body.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Shulei; Chen, Qin; Hung, Fang-Cheng; Overbeek, Paul A

    2002-10-01

    The ciliary body in the eye secretes aqueous humor and glycoproteins of the vitreous body and maintains the intraocular pressure. The ciliary muscle controls the shape of the lens through the ciliary zonules to focus the image onto the retina. During embryonic development, the ciliary epithelium is derived from the optic vesicle, but the molecular signals that control morphogenesis of the ciliary body are unknown. We report that lens-specific expression of a transgenic protein, Noggin, can block BMP signaling in the mouse eye and result in failure in formation of the ciliary processes. Co-expression of transgenic BMP7 restores normal development of the ciliary epithelium. Ectopic expression of Noggin also promotes differentiation of retinal ganglion cells. These results indicate that BMP signaling is required for development of the ciliary body and may also play a role in regulation of neuronal differentiation in the developing eye.

  11. Inactivation of Ca2+-induced ciliary reversal by high-salt extraction in the cilia of Paramecium.

    PubMed

    Kutomi, Osamu; Seki, Makoto; Nakamura, Shogo; Kamachi, Hiroyuki; Noguchi, Munenori

    2013-10-01

    Intracellular Ca(2+) induces ciliary reversal and backward swimming in Paramecium. However, it is not known how the Ca(2+) signal controls the motor machinery to induce ciliary reversal. We found that demembranated cilia on the ciliated cortical sheets from Paramecium caudatum lost the ability to undergo ciliary reversal after brief extraction with a solution containing 0.5 M KCl. KNO(3), which is similar to KCl with respect to chaotropic effect; it had the same effect as that of KCl on ciliary response. Cyclic AMP antagonizes Ca(2+)-induced ciliary reversal. Limited trypsin digestion prevents endogenous A-kinase and cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of an outer arm dynein light chain and induces ciliary reversal. However, the trypsin digestion prior to the high-salt extraction did not affect the inhibition of Ca(2+)-induced ciliary reversal caused by the high-salt extraction. Furthermore, during the course of the high-salt extraction, some axonemal proteins were extracted from ciliary axonemes, suggesting that they may be responsible for Ca(2+)-induced ciliary reversal.

  12. The effects of 2100-MHz radiofrequency radiation on nasal mucosa and mucociliary clearance in rats.

    PubMed

    Aydoğan, Filiz; Aydın, Emine; Koca, Gökhan; Özgür, Elçin; Atilla, Pergin; Tüzüner, Arzu; Demirci, Şule; Tomruk, Arin; Öztürk, Göknur Güler; Seyhan, Nesrin; Korkmaz, Meliha; Müftüoğlu, Sevda; Samim, Ethem Erdal

    2015-07-01

    Nasal mucociliary clearance has an important role in voiding the airways from inhaled foreign substances. This activity could be disturbed by environmental factors such as radiofrequency radiation. The aim of the present study was to investigate short-term and relatively long-term effects of 2100-MHz radiofrequency radiation emitted by a generator, simulating a 3G-mobile phone, on the nasal septal mucosa and mucociliary clearance in rats. Thirty Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups. There were 6 rats in Group A and Group B, which served as the control groups (10-day and 40-day groups, respectively). Groups C (10-day exposure) and D (40-day exposure) were both composed of 9 rats; they comprised the radiofrequency radiation exposure groups. The rats in groups C and D were exposed to 2100-MHz radiofrequency radiation emitted by a generator, simulating a 3G-mobile phone, 6 hours/day, for 10 or 40 days, respectively. After exposure, nasal mucociliary clearance was measured by rhinoscintigraphy. After euthanization, the nasal septa of the animals were removed, and tissue samples of the nasal mucosa were examined using a transmission electron microscope. The differences in mucociliary clearances between groups A and C, groups B and D, and groups C and D were found to be statistically significant (p = 0.005, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Although there were no histopathological abnormalities in the control groups, the exposure groups showed a number of degenerated and apoptotic cells, ciliary disorganization and ciliary loss in the epithelial cells, epithelial metaplasia, alteration of normal chromatin distribution and karyolysis in nuclei, changes in the basal cells, and lymphocytic infiltration. The histopathological changes were more severe in group D. Radiofrequency radiation at 2100 MHz damaged the nasal septal mucosa, and disturbed the mucociliary clearance. Ciliary disorganization and ciliary loss in the epithelial cells resulted in deterioration of nasal mucociliary clearance. © 2015 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

  13. Chick eyes under cycloplegia compensate for spectacle lenses despite six-hydroxy dopamine treatment.

    PubMed

    Schwahn, H N; Schaeffel, F

    1994-08-01

    To test whether eye growth changes produced by spectacle lens wear are mediated by changes in ciliary muscle tonus in chicks. Because there is evidence that deprivation myopia is based on a local-retinal mechanism in the eye that probably remains functional after cycloplegia as well as after ciliary ganglion or Edinger-Westphal lesions, none of these treatments provides insight into whether accommodation tonus is also important in the control of axial eye growth. Because 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA) suppresses deprivation myopia, to isolate growth changes mediated by accommodation the authors injected 6-OHDA and paralyzed accommodation in addition (by corneal application of vecuroniumbromide). To quantify the state of cycloplegia, the abnormal pecking responses of cyclopleged chickens were studied. The authors found that cycloplegia could be maintained for 3 hours daily by corneal application of vecuroniumbromide. To ensure that visual exposure was restricted to the time period of cycloplegia, chickens were transferred to a 3-hour light/21-hour dark cycle. Control experiments showed that emmetropization was still functional under the changed light cycle. Strikingly, even with suppressed local-retinal growth control mechanisms (as indicated by the lack of deprivation myopia in a 6-OHDA injected group of chickens with occluders) and paralysis of accommodation, the eyes compensated for the defocus imposed by spectacles by changing their axial growth rates to be similar to those of eyes with functional accommodation. The findings show that the ciliary muscle and the activity of the iris sphincter muscle are not involved in emmetropization in chicks. If accommodation mediates the growth effects with lenses, it must happen via another pathway. Based on previous results, the authors propose that either the choroidal nerves from the ciliary ganglion to the choroid are important or that another yet unknown pathway from the Edinger Westphal nucleus to the eye transmits the necessary information.

  14. The development of the trabecular meshwork and its abnormality in primary infantile glaucoma.

    PubMed Central

    Anderson, D R

    1981-01-01

    Tissue from ten eyes with infantile glaucoma and from 40 normal eyes of fetuses and infants without glaucoma were examined by light and electron microscopy. In normal development, the corneoscleral coat grows faster than the uveal tract during the last trimester, leading to a posterior migration of the ciliary body attachment from Schwalbe's line (5th month) to the scleral spur (9th month), and then to a location behind the scleral spur (postnatally). In infantile glaucoma, the insertion of the anterior ciliary body and iris overlaps the trabecular meshwork, similar to the late fetal position. The trabecular sheets are perforated, and there is no membrane over the surface of the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular beams are thicker than in normal infant eyes. There is both histologic and clinical evidence of traction on the iris root exerted by the thickened trabecular beams. These findings suggest that in congenital glaucoma the thickened beams had prevented the normal posterior migration of the ciliary body and iris root. This traction may compact the thickened trabecular beams, obstructing aqueous humor outflow. Release of the traction by an incision (goniotomy or trabeculotomy) of the thickened meshwork may relieve the obstruction. Of uncertain pathological significance is that there are no vacuoles in the endothelium of Schlemm's canal and there is a broad layer of collagen and amorphous material in the juxtacanalicular connective tissue. The ciliary processes are elongated inward, as if they were pulled by zonular traction (perhaps created by an enlarging diameter of the limbus with a fixed lens diameter). Images FIGURE 7 FIGURE 8 FIGURE 10 FIGURE 11 FIGURE 20 A FIGURE 20 B FIGURE 1 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 A FIGURE 4 B FIGURE 5 A FIGURE 5 B FIGURE 6 FIGURE 9 FIGURE 12 FIGURE 13 FIGURE 14 FIGURE 15 FIGURE 16 FIGURE 17 FIGURE 18 FIGURE 19 PMID:7342408

  15. Mutations in RSPH1 cause primary ciliary dyskinesia with a unique clinical and ciliary phenotype.

    PubMed

    Knowles, Michael R; Ostrowski, Lawrence E; Leigh, Margaret W; Sears, Patrick R; Davis, Stephanie D; Wolf, Whitney E; Hazucha, Milan J; Carson, Johnny L; Olivier, Kenneth N; Sagel, Scott D; Rosenfeld, Margaret; Ferkol, Thomas W; Dell, Sharon D; Milla, Carlos E; Randell, Scott H; Yin, Weining; Sannuti, Aruna; Metjian, Hilda M; Noone, Peadar G; Noone, Peter J; Olson, Christina A; Patrone, Michael V; Dang, Hong; Lee, Hye-Seung; Hurd, Toby W; Gee, Heon Yung; Otto, Edgar A; Halbritter, Jan; Kohl, Stefan; Kircher, Martin; Krischer, Jeffrey; Bamshad, Michael J; Nickerson, Deborah A; Hildebrandt, Friedhelm; Shendure, Jay; Zariwala, Maimoona A

    2014-03-15

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous recessive disorder of motile cilia, but the genetic cause is not defined for all patients with PCD. To identify disease-causing mutations in novel genes, we performed exome sequencing, follow-up characterization, mutation scanning, and genotype-phenotype studies in patients with PCD. Whole-exome sequencing was performed using NimbleGen capture and Illumina HiSeq sequencing. Sanger-based sequencing was used for mutation scanning, validation, and segregation analysis. We performed exome sequencing on an affected sib-pair with normal ultrastructure in more than 85% of cilia. A homozygous splice-site mutation was detected in RSPH1 in both siblings; parents were carriers. Screening RSPH1 in 413 unrelated probands, including 325 with PCD and 88 with idiopathic bronchiectasis, revealed biallelic loss-of-function mutations in nine additional probands. Five affected siblings of probands in RSPH1 families harbored the familial mutations. The 16 individuals with RSPH1 mutations had some features of PCD; however, nasal nitric oxide levels were higher than in patients with PCD with other gene mutations (98.3 vs. 20.7 nl/min; P < 0.0003). Additionally, individuals with RSPH1 mutations had a lower prevalence (8 of 16) of neonatal respiratory distress, and later onset of daily wet cough than typical for PCD, and better lung function (FEV1), compared with 75 age- and sex-matched PCD cases (73.0 vs. 61.8, FEV1 % predicted; P = 0.043). Cilia from individuals with RSPH1 mutations had normal beat frequency (6.1 ± Hz at 25°C), but an abnormal, circular beat pattern. The milder clinical disease and higher nasal nitric oxide in individuals with biallelic mutations in RSPH1 provides evidence of a unique genotype-phenotype relationship in PCD, and suggests that mutations in RSPH1 may be associated with residual ciliary function.

  16. Ultrastructural nasal pathology in children chronically and sequentially exposed to air pollutants.

    PubMed

    Calderón-Garcidueñas, L; Valencia-Salazar, G; Rodríguez-Alcaraz, A; Gambling, T M; García, R; Osnaya, N; Villarreal-Calderón, A; Devlin, R B; Carson, J L

    2001-02-01

    Southwest Metropolitan Mexico City (SWMMC) children are repeatedly exposed to a complex mixture of air pollutants, including ozone, particulate matter, and aldehydes. Nasal biopsies taken from these children exhibit a wide range of histopathologic alterations: marked changes in ciliated and goblet cell populations, basal cell hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, and mild dysplasias. We studied the ultrastructural features of 15 nasal biopsies obtained from clinically healthy children 4 to 15 yr of age, growing up in SWMMC. The results were compared with nasal biopsies from 11 children growing up in Veracruz and exposed to low pollutant levels. Ultrathin sections of nasal biopsies revealed an unremarkable mucociliary epithelium in control children, whereas SWMMC children showed an epithelium comprised of variable numbers of basal, ciliated, goblet, and squamous metaplastic as well as intermediate cells. Nascent ciliated cells, as evidenced by the presence of migratory kinetosomes, were common, as were ciliary abnormalities, including absent central microtubules, supernumerary central and peripheral tubules, ciliary microtubular discontinuities, and compound cilia. Dyskinesia associated with these abnormal cilia was suggested by the altered orientation of the central microtubules in closely adjacent cilia. A transudate was evident between epithelial cells, suggesting potential deficiencies in epithelial junction integrity. Particulate matter was present in heterolysosomal bodies in epithelial cells and it was also deposited in intercellular spaces. The severe structural alteration of the nasal epithelium together with the prominent acquired ciliary defects are likely the result of chronic airway injury in which ozone, particulate matter, and aldehydes are thought to play a crucial role. The nasal epithelium in SWMMC children is fundamentally disordered, and their mucociliary defense mechanisms are no longer intact. A compromised nasal epithelium has less ability to protect the lower respiratory tract and may potentially leave the distal acinar airways more vulnerable to reactive gases. Impairment of mucociliary clearance has the potential to increase the contact time between deposited mutagenic particulate matter and the epithelial surface, thus increasing the risk for nasal carcinogenesis. Chronic exposures to air pollutants affect the whole respiratory tract; the nasal epithelium is an accessible and valuable sentinel to monitor exposures to toxic or carcinogenic substances.

  17. A pilot study exploring the impact of cardiac medications on ciliary beat frequency: possible implications for clinical management.

    PubMed

    Loomba, Rohit S; Bhushan, Abhinav; Afolayan, Adeleye J

    2018-05-03

    Cilia are involved in several physiologic processes, and at least a single primary cilium can be found on nearly every cell in the human body. Various factors, such as pH, temperature, exposure to medications and toxins can impact ciliary function as is manifested by changes in the ciliary beat frequency. Those with ciliary dyskinesia may also have congenital cardiac malformations and may require care in a cardiac intensive care unit. This study investigates the effect on the ciliary beat frequency of medications frequently used in a cardiac intensive care unit. The ciliated epithelial cells were obtained via nasal swab from a relatively healthy individual. These cells were cultured for 24 h. Video microscopy was then employed to determine the ciliary beat frequency at baseline and then at 15, 30, 60 and 90 min after exposure to either normal saline (control) or one of several medications. The ciliary beat frequency at each time point was then compared to the ciliary beat frequency at the same time point in the control sample as well as the baseline value for that particular sample. Epinephrine increased the ciliary beat frequency compared to the baseline and the controls up to 30 min and then subsequently led to a significant decrease in ciliary beat frequency at 90 min. On the one hand, norepinephrine, dexmedetomidine, procainamide, propranolol and enalapril all decreased ciliary beat frequency significantly throughout the 90-min observation period. On the other hand, Milrinone significantly increased the ciliary beat frequency throughout the observation period, while heparin had no impact on ciliary beat frequency. The medications frequently used in cardiac intensive care unit impact ciliary function, with most being ciliodepressant. Further investigation is needed to determine the clinical impacts and whether these effects are exaggerated in those with ciliary dyskinesia.

  18. ciliaFA: a research tool for automated, high-throughput measurement of ciliary beat frequency using freely available software

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background Analysis of ciliary function for assessment of patients suspected of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and for research studies of respiratory and ependymal cilia requires assessment of both ciliary beat pattern and beat frequency. While direct measurement of beat frequency from high-speed video recordings is the most accurate and reproducible technique it is extremely time consuming. The aim of this study was to develop a freely available automated method of ciliary beat frequency analysis from digital video (AVI) files that runs on open-source software (ImageJ) coupled to Microsoft Excel, and to validate this by comparison to the direct measuring high-speed video recordings of respiratory and ependymal cilia. These models allowed comparison to cilia beating between 3 and 52 Hz. Methods Digital video files of motile ciliated ependymal (frequency range 34 to 52 Hz) and respiratory epithelial cells (frequency 3 to 18 Hz) were captured using a high-speed digital video recorder. To cover the range above between 18 and 37 Hz the frequency of ependymal cilia were slowed by the addition of the pneumococcal toxin pneumolysin. Measurements made directly by timing a given number of individual ciliary beat cycles were compared with those obtained using the automated ciliaFA system. Results The overall mean difference (± SD) between the ciliaFA and direct measurement high-speed digital imaging methods was −0.05 ± 1.25 Hz, the correlation coefficient was shown to be 0.991 and the Bland-Altman limits of agreement were from −1.99 to 1.49 Hz for respiratory and from −2.55 to 3.25 Hz for ependymal cilia. Conclusions A plugin for ImageJ was developed that extracts pixel intensities and performs fast Fourier transformation (FFT) using Microsoft Excel. The ciliaFA software allowed automated, high throughput measurement of respiratory and ependymal ciliary beat frequency (range 3 to 52 Hz) and avoids operator error due to selection bias. We have included free access to the ciliaFA plugin and installation instructions in Additional file 1 accompanying this manuscript that other researchers may use. PMID:23351276

  19. Cycling of the signaling protein phospholipase D through cilia requires the BBSome only for the export phase

    PubMed Central

    Brown, Jason M.; Sampaio, Julio L.; Craft, Julie M.; Shevchenko, Andrej; Evans, James E.; Witman, George B.

    2013-01-01

    The BBSome is a complex of seven proteins, including BBS4, that is cycled through cilia by intraflagellar transport (IFT). Previous work has shown that the membrane-associated signaling protein phospholipase D (PLD) accumulates abnormally in cilia of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii bbs mutants. Here we show that PLD is a component of wild-type cilia but is enriched ∼150-fold in bbs4 cilia; this accumulation occurs progressively over time and results in altered ciliary lipid composition. When wild-type BBSomes were introduced into bbs cells, PLD was rapidly removed from the mutant cilia, indicating the presence of an efficient BBSome-dependent mechanism for exporting ciliary PLD. This export requires retrograde IFT. Importantly, entry of PLD into cilia is BBSome and IFT independent. Therefore, the BBSome is required only for the export phase of a process that continuously cycles PLD through cilia. Another protein, carbonic anhydrase 6, is initially imported normally into bbs4 cilia but lost with time, suggesting that its loss is a secondary effect of BBSome deficiency. PMID:23589493

  20. Three types of ependymal cells with intracellular calcium oscillation are characterized by distinct cilia beating properties.

    PubMed

    Liu, Tongyu; Jin, Xingjian; Prasad, Rahul M; Sari, Youssef; Nauli, Surya M

    2014-09-01

    Ependymal cells are multiciliated epithelial cells that line the ventricles in the adult brain. Abnormal function or structure of ependymal cilia has been associated with various neurological deficits. For the first time, we report three distinct ependymal cell types, I, II, and III, based on their unique ciliary beating frequency and beating angle. These ependymal cells have specific localizations within the third ventricle of the mouse brain. Furthermore, neither ependymal cell types nor their localizations are altered by aging. Our high-speed fluorescence imaging analysis reveals that these ependymal cells have an intracellular pacing calcium oscillation property. Our study further shows that alcohol can significantly repress the amplitude of calcium oscillation and the frequency of ciliary beating, resulting in an overall decrease in volume replacement by the cilia. Furthermore, the pharmacological agent cilostazol could differentially increase cilia beating frequency in type II, but not in type I or type III, ependymal cells. In summary, we provide the first evidence of three distinct types of ependymal cells with calcium oscillation properties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  1. Apical localization of glutamate in GLAST-1, glutamine synthetase positive ciliary body nonpigmented epithelial cells

    PubMed Central

    Langford, Marlyn P; Gosslee, Jeffrey M; Liang, Chanping; Chen, Dequan; Redens, Thomas B.; Welbourne, Tomas C

    2007-01-01

    The distribution of glutamate (Glu), the Glu transporter GLAST-1, and glutamine synthetase (GS) in human and monkey anterior uveal tissue, as well as serum (S) to aqueous humor (AH) Glu and glutamine (Gln) gradients were investigated. Cross-linked Glu (xGlu), GLAST-1, and GS were detected using the immunofluorescent antibody technique. S/AH Glu, Gln, and alanine (Ala) concentrations were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. xGlu immunoreactivity was detected in melanocytes, posterior pigmented epithelial/dilator muscle cells, vascular endothelial cells, and lymphocytes of the iris, as well as the pigmented (PE) and nonpigmented epithelial (NPE) cells and muscle cells of ciliary body. xGlu immunoreactivity was highly concentrated at the apices of GLAST-1, GS positive ciliary body NPE cells, and in GLAST-1 positive iris melanocytes and iris dilator muscle cells. AH Glu concentrations were lower (p < 0.001), while Gln was higher in monkey (p = 0.01) and human cataractous (p = 0.15) AH than serum. The results indicate that Glu is concentrated within GLAST-1, GS positive NPE cells and are consistent with the suggestion that Glu and Gln concentrations in AH may be due in part to GLAST-1 and GS activity in iris and ciliary body epithelial cells. PMID:19668465

  2. An Outer Arm Dynein Conformational Switch Is Required for Metachronal Synchrony of Motile Cilia in Planaria

    PubMed Central

    Rompolas, Panteleimon; Patel-King, Ramila S.

    2010-01-01

    Motile cilia mediate the flow of mucus and other fluids across the surface of specialized epithelia in metazoans. Efficient clearance of peri-ciliary fluids depends on the precise coordination of ciliary beating to produce metachronal waves. The role of individual dynein motors and the mechanical feedback mechanisms required for this process are not well understood. Here we used the ciliated epithelium of the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea to dissect the role of outer arm dynein motors in the metachronal synchrony of motile cilia. We demonstrate that animals that completely lack outer dynein arms display a significant decline in beat frequency and an inability of cilia to coordinate their oscillations and form metachronal waves. Furthermore, lack of a key mechanosensitive regulatory component (LC1) yields a similar phenotype even though outer arms still assemble in the axoneme. The lack of metachrony was not due simply to a decrease in ciliary beat frequency, as reducing this parameter by altering medium viscosity did not affect ciliary coordination. In addition, we did not observe a significant temporal variability in the beat cycle of impaired cilia. We propose that this conformational switch provides a mechanical feedback system within outer arm dynein that is necessary to entrain metachronal synchrony. PMID:20844081

  3. Differential effects of ascorbate on endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)-mediated vasodilatation in the bovine ciliary vascular bed and coronary artery.

    PubMed

    McNeish, Alister J; Nelli, Silvia; Wilson, William S; Dowell, Fiona J; Martin, William

    2003-03-01

    1. The ability of ascorbate to inhibit endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)-mediated vasodilatation was compared in the bovine perfused ciliary vascular bed and isolated rings of coronary artery. 2. Acetylcholine-induced, EDHF-mediated vasodilatation of the ciliary circulation was blocked following inclusion of ascorbate (50 micro M, 120 min) in the perfusion fluid. The blockade was highly selective since ascorbate had no effect on the vasodilator actions of the K(ATP) channel opener, levcromakalim, nor on the tonic vasodepressor action of basally released nitric oxide. 3. The possibility that concentration of ascorbate by the ciliary body was a prerequisite for blockade to occur was ruled out, since EDHF was still blocked when the anterior and posterior chambers were continuously flushed with Krebs solution or when both the aqueous and vitreous humour were drained. 4. Ascorbate at 50 micro M failed to affect bradykinin- or acetylcholine-induced, EDHF-mediated vasodilatation in rings of bovine coronary artery. Raising the concentration to 3 mM did produce blockade of EDHF, but this was nonselective, since vasodilator responses to endothelium-derived nitric oxide were also inhibited. 5. Thus, ascorbate (50 micro M) is not a universal blocker of EDHF. Whether its ability to block in the bovine ciliary circulation, but not in the coronary artery, is due to differences in the nature of EDHF at the two sites, differences in vessel size (resistance arterioles versus conduit artery), the presence or absence of flow, or to some other factor remains to be determined.

  4. Potential roles for BMP and Pax genes in the development of iris smooth muscle.

    PubMed

    Jensen, Abbie M

    2005-02-01

    The embryonic optic cup generates four types of tissue: neural retina, pigmented epithelium, ciliary epithelium, and iris smooth muscle. Remarkably little attention has focused on the development of the iris smooth muscle since Lewis ([1903] J. Am. Anat. 2:405-416) described its origins from the anterior rim of the optic cup neuroepithelium. As an initial step toward understanding iris smooth muscle development, I first determined the spatial and temporal pattern of the development of the iris smooth muscle in the chick by using the HNK1 antibody, which labels developing iris smooth muscle. HNK1 labeling shows that iris smooth muscle development is correlated in time and space with the development of the ciliary epithelial folds. Second, because neural crest is the only other neural tissue that has been shown to generate smooth muscle (Le Lievre and Le Douarin [1975] J. Embryo. Exp. Morphol. 34:125-154), I sought to determine whether iris smooth muscle development shares similarities with neural crest development. Two members of the BMP superfamily, BMP4 and BMP7, which may regulate neural crest development, are highly expressed by cells at the site of iris smooth muscle generation. Third, because humans and mice that are heterozygous for Pax6 mutations have no irides (Hill et al. [1991] Nature 354:522-525; Hanson et al. [1994] Nat. Genet. 6:168-173), I determined the expression of Pax6. I also examined the expression of Pax3 in the developing anterior optic cup. The developing iris smooth muscle coexpresses Pax6 and Pax3. I suggest that some of the eye defects caused by mutations in Pax6, BMP4, and BMP7 may be due to abnormal iris smooth muscle. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  5. Evolution of the genetic machinery of the visual cycle: a novelty of the vertebrate eye?

    PubMed

    Albalat, Ricard

    2012-05-01

    The discovery in invertebrates of ciliary photoreceptor cells and ciliary (c)-opsins established that at least two of the three elements that characterize the vertebrate photoreceptor system were already present before vertebrate evolution. However, the origin of the third element, a series of biochemical reactions known as the "retinoid cycle," remained uncertain. To understand the evolution of the retinoid cycle, I have searched for the genetic machinery of the cycle in invertebrate genomes, with special emphasis on the cephalochordate amphioxus. Amphioxus is closely related to vertebrates, has a fairly prototypical genome, and possesses ciliary photoreceptor cells and c-opsins. Phylogenetic and structural analyses of the amphioxus sequences related with the vertebrate machinery do not support a function of amphioxus proteins in chromophore regeneration but suggest that the genetic machinery of the retinoid cycle arose in vertebrates due to duplications of ancestral nonvisual genes. These results favor the hypothesis that the retinoid cycle machinery was a functional innovation of the primitive vertebrate eye.

  6. Hemodynamic response to intravitreal triamcinolone in eyes with macular edema: intravitreal triamcinolone and ocular blood flow.

    PubMed

    Cekiç, Osman; Bardak, Yavuz; Tiğ, Sahin U; Demirkol, Aykut; Ekim, Mustafa M; Altintaş, Onem; Yeşildağ, Ahmet; Oyar, Orhan

    2007-10-01

    To assess ocular hemodynamic response to intravitreal triamcinolone in patients with macular edema due to diabetes or retinal vein occlusion. Forty-three patients that were injected by intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (0.1 cc 4 mg) for unilateral macular edema due to diabetes mellitus (n = 17) and occlusion of retinal vein (n = 26) underwent ocular hemodynamic evaluation by color Doppler imaging (CDI) before and one, two and three months after injection. Non-injected fellow eyes as well as 16 healthy volunteers were also evaluated. In patients with diabetic macular edema, there was no hemodynamic difference between eyes to be injected and non-injected at baseline (P > 0.23). Compared to controls, a significant difference existed in the ophthalmic artery resistant index (P = 0.001) and end-diastolic velocity (P < 0.001) in diabetics. At one month, compared to fellow eyes, change in end diastolic velocity from baseline in treated eyes was significantly decreased in posterior ciliary arteries (0.68 +/- 0.34 cm/s [mean +/- SEM] vs. -1.04 +/- 0.81 cm/s, P = 0.012). Throughout the study period, no significant alteration from baseline in the resistant index of any artery was noted in treated diabetic eyes (P > 0.05). In eyes with retinal vein occlusion, baseline CDI evaluation demonstrated reduced posterior ciliary arteries systolic flow velocity compared to fellow and control eyes (13.24 +/- 1.04 cm/s, 16.37 +/- 0.76 cm/s and 14.33 +/- 1.41 cm/s, respectively, P = 0.007). Increased peak systolic velocity in the posterior ciliary arteries at one week (P = 0.02), one month (P = 0.005) and two months (P = 0.04), and increase in central retinal artery resistant index at one month was noted (P = 0.05). Intravitreal triamcinolone temporarily changed central retinal artery blood flow and posterior ciliary arteries' peak systolic blood velocity in eyes with retinal vein occlusion whilst no response of blood flow to triamcinolone injection but only transiently altered end diastolic blood velocity in posterior ciliary arteries was observed in diabetic eyes.

  7. Regulation of polycystin-1 ciliary trafficking by motifs at its C-terminus and polycystin-2 but not by cleavage at the GPS site

    PubMed Central

    Su, Xuefeng; Wu, Maoqing; Yao, Gang; El-Jouni, Wassim; Luo, Chong; Tabari, Azadeh; Zhou, Jing

    2015-01-01

    ABSTRACT Failure to localize membrane proteins to the primary cilium causes a group of diseases collectively named ciliopathies. Polycystin-1 (PC1, also known as PKD1) is a large ciliary membrane protein defective in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Here, we developed a large set of PC1 expression constructs and identified multiple sequences, including a coiled-coil motif in the C-terminal tail of PC1, regulating full-length PC1 trafficking to the primary cilium. Ciliary trafficking of wild-type and mutant PC1 depends on the dose of polycystin-2 (PC2, also known as PKD2), and the formation of a PC1–PC2 complex. Modulation of the ciliary trafficking module mediated by the VxP ciliary-targeting sequence and Arf4 and Asap1 does not affect the ciliary localization of full-length PC1. PC1 also promotes PC2 ciliary trafficking. PC2 mutations truncating its C-terminal tail but not those changing the VxP sequence to AxA or impairing the pore of the channel, leading to a dead channel, affect PC1 ciliary trafficking. Cleavage at the GPCR proteolytic site (GPS) of PC1 is not required for PC1 trafficking to cilia. We propose a mutually dependent model for the ciliary trafficking of PC1 and PC2, and that PC1 ciliary trafficking is regulated by multiple cis-acting elements. As all pathogenic PC1 mutations tested here are defective in ciliary trafficking, ciliary trafficking might serve as a functional read-out for ADPKD. PMID:26430213

  8. Regulation of polycystin-1 ciliary trafficking by motifs at its C-terminus and polycystin-2 but not by cleavage at the GPS site.

    PubMed

    Su, Xuefeng; Wu, Maoqing; Yao, Gang; El-Jouni, Wassim; Luo, Chong; Tabari, Azadeh; Zhou, Jing

    2015-11-15

    Failure to localize membrane proteins to the primary cilium causes a group of diseases collectively named ciliopathies. Polycystin-1 (PC1, also known as PKD1) is a large ciliary membrane protein defective in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Here, we developed a large set of PC1 expression constructs and identified multiple sequences, including a coiled-coil motif in the C-terminal tail of PC1, regulating full-length PC1 trafficking to the primary cilium. Ciliary trafficking of wild-type and mutant PC1 depends on the dose of polycystin-2 (PC2, also known as PKD2), and the formation of a PC1-PC2 complex. Modulation of the ciliary trafficking module mediated by the VxP ciliary-targeting sequence and Arf4 and Asap1 does not affect the ciliary localization of full-length PC1. PC1 also promotes PC2 ciliary trafficking. PC2 mutations truncating its C-terminal tail but not those changing the VxP sequence to AxA or impairing the pore of the channel, leading to a dead channel, affect PC1 ciliary trafficking. Cleavage at the GPCR proteolytic site (GPS) of PC1 is not required for PC1 trafficking to cilia. We propose a mutually dependent model for the ciliary trafficking of PC1 and PC2, and that PC1 ciliary trafficking is regulated by multiple cis-acting elements. As all pathogenic PC1 mutations tested here are defective in ciliary trafficking, ciliary trafficking might serve as a functional read-out for ADPKD. © 2015. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  9. [Implantation of intraocular lenses in the ciliary sulcus].

    PubMed

    Schulze, S; Bertelmann, T; Sekundo, W

    2014-04-01

    Implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL) into the ciliary sulcus is the second most common implantation site after the regular capsular bag (in the bag) placement of an IOL. Although mainly not primarily intended, it is very often used in both complicated cataract surgery and secondary implantation due to IOL dislocation or aphakia. In most cases stable positioning is possible, especially when using optic capture techniques. A variety of difficulties can occur with sulcus implantation depending on the anatomical and surgical conditions present at the time of implantation. The most anterior position of the sulcus lense has to be considered for calculation of the refractive power of the IOL.

  10. Bio mathematical venture for the metallic nanoparticles due to ciliary motion.

    PubMed

    Akbar, Noreen Sher; Butt, Adil Wahid

    2016-10-01

    The present investigation is associated with the contemporary study of viscous flow in a vertical tube with ciliary motion. The main flow problem has been modeled using cylindrical coordinates; flow equations are simplified to ordinary differential equations using longwave length and low Reynold's number approximation; and exact solutions have been obtained for velocity, pressure gradient and temperature. Results acquired are discussed graphically for better understanding. Streamlines for the velocity profile are plotted to discuss the trapping phenomenon. It is seen that with an increment in the Grashof number, the velocity of the governing fluids starts to decrease significantly. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. An autocrine ATP release mechanism regulates basal ciliary activity in airway epithelium.

    PubMed

    Droguett, Karla; Rios, Mariana; Carreño, Daniela V; Navarrete, Camilo; Fuentes, Christian; Villalón, Manuel; Barrera, Nelson P

    2017-07-15

    Extracellular ATP, in association with [Ca 2+ ] i regulation, is required to maintain basal ciliary beat frequency. Increasing extracellular ATP levels increases ciliary beating in airway epithelial cells, maintaining a sustained response by inducing the release of additional ATP. Extracellular ATP levels in the millimolar range, previously associated with pathophysiological conditions of the airway epithelium, produce a transient arrest of ciliary activity. The regulation of ciliary beat frequency is dependent on ATP release by hemichannels (connexin/pannexin) and P2X receptor activation, the blockage of which may even stop ciliary movement. The force exerted by cilia, measured by atomic force microscopy, is reduced following extracellular ATP hydrolysis. This result complements the current understanding of the ciliary beating regulatory mechanism, with special relevance to inflammatory diseases of the airway epithelium that affect mucociliary clearance. Extracellular nucleotides, including ATP, are locally released by the airway epithelium and stimulate ciliary activity in a [Ca 2+ ] i -dependent manner after mechanical stimulation of ciliated cells. However, it is unclear whether the ATP released is involved in regulating basal ciliary activity and mediating changes in ciliary activity in response to chemical stimulation. In the present study, we evaluated ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and ciliary beating forces in primary cultures from mouse tracheal epithelium, using videomicroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. Extracellular ATP levels and [Ca 2+ ] i were measured by luminometric and fluorimetric assays, respectively. Uptake of ethidium bromide was measured to evaluate hemichannel functionality. We show that hydrolysis of constitutive extracellular ATP levels with apyrase (50 U ml -1 ) reduced basal CBF by 45% and ciliary force by 67%. The apyrase effect on CBF was potentiated by carbenoxolone, a hemichannel inhibitor, and oxidized ATP, an antagonist used to block P2X7 receptors, which reduced basal CBF by 85%. Additionally, increasing extracellular ATP levels (0.1-100 μm) increased CBF, maintaining a sustained response that was suppressed in the presence of carbenoxolone. We also show that high levels of ATP (1 mm), associated with inflammatory conditions, lowered basal CBF by reducing [Ca 2+ ] i and hemichannel functionality. In summary, we provide evidence indicating that airway epithelium ATP release is the molecular autocrine mechanism regulating basal ciliary activity and is also the mediator of the ciliary response to chemical stimulation. © 2017 The Authors. The Journal of Physiology © 2017 The Physiological Society.

  12. Synthesis and Turnover of Embryonic Sea Urchin Ciliary Proteins during Selective Inhibition of Tubulin Synthesis and Assembly

    PubMed Central

    Stephens, Raymond E.

    1997-01-01

    When ciliogenesis first occurs in sea urchin embryos, the major building block proteins, tubulin and dynein, exist in substantial pools, but most 9+2 architectural proteins must be synthesized de novo. Pulse-chase labeling with [3H]leucine demonstrates that these proteins are coordinately up-regulated in response to deciliation so that regeneration ensues and the tubulin and dynein pools are replenished. Protein labeling and incorporation into already-assembled cilia is high, indicating constitutive ciliary gene expression and steady-state turnover. To determine whether either the synthesis of tubulin or the size of its available pool is coupled to the synthesis or turnover of the other 9+2 proteins in some feedback manner, fully-ciliated mid- or late-gastrula stage Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis embryos were pulse labeled in the presence of colchicine or taxol at concentrations that block ciliary growth. As a consequence of tubulin autoregulation mediated by increased free tubulin, no labeling of ciliary tubulin occurred in colchicine-treated embryos. However, most other proteins were labeled and incorporated into steady-state cilia at near-control levels in the presence of colchicine or taxol. With taxol, tubulin was labeled as well. An axoneme-associated 78 kDa cognate of the molecular chaperone HSP70 correlated with length during regeneration; neither colchicine nor taxol influenced the association of this protein in steady-state cilia. These data indicate that 1) ciliary protein synthesis and turnover is independent of tubulin synthesis or tubulin pool size; 2) steady-state incorporation of labeled proteins cannot be due to formation or elongation of cilia; 3) substantial tubulin exchange takes place in fully-motile cilia; and 4) chaperone presence and association in steady-state cilia is independent of background ciliogenesis, tubulin synthesis, and tubulin assembly state. PMID:9362062

  13. Ocular disease in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus): a survey of 1000 animals.

    PubMed

    Williams, David; Sullivan, Ann

    2010-09-01

    Anecdotal evidence has suggested that guinea pigs have a high prevalence of ocular lesions. Here we undertook a survey of 1000 guinea pigs from populations of animals kept as laboratory animals, breeding show cavies, animals kept as pets and those from rescue and rehoming centers. Each animal was examined to assess for ocular abnormalities. A full ophthalmic examination was performed on each animal with direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy and with slit lamp biomicroscopy. Measurement of tear production using the Schirmer tear test 1 and intraocular pressure using the Tonopen applanation tonometer after topical anesthesia was undertaken in selected animals. Forty-five percent of animals examined had some ocular abnormality. The majority were lens lesions including 17% with cataract and 21% with subclinical lens abnormalities such as nuclear sclerosis. Other abnormalities included conjunctivitis in 4.7% and keratitis in 3.6%. Lipid deposition in conjunctiva was observed in 2.3% of guinea pigs and ciliary body heterotopic bone formation in 0.8% of animals. This study shows a high proportion of eyes with some degree of abnormality in animals otherwise considered healthy. Information on diseases of the guinea pig eye is important given the use of the species as a laboratory rodent and also the number kept as pets and show animals.

  14. High-frequency ultrasound measurements of the normal ciliary body and iris.

    PubMed

    Garcia, Julian P S; Spielberg, Leigh; Finger, Paul T

    2011-01-01

    To determine the normal ultrasonographic thickness of the iris and ciliary body. This prospective 35-MHz ultrasonographic study included 80 normal eyes of 40 healthy volunteers. The images were obtained at the 12-, 3-, 6-, and 9-o'clock radial meridians, measured at three locations along the radial length of the iris and at the thickest section of the ciliary body. Mixed model was used to estimate eye site-adjusted means and standard errors and to test the statistical difference of adjusted results. Parameters included mean thickness, standard deviation, and range. Mean thicknesses at the iris root, midway along the radial length of the iris, and at the juxtapupillary margin were 0.4 ± 0.1, 0.5 ± 0.1, and 0.6 ± 0.1 mm, respectively. Those of the ciliary body, ciliary processes, and ciliary body + ciliary processes were 0.7 ± 0.1, 0.6 ± 0.1, and 1.3 ± 0.2 mm, respectively. This study provides standard, normative thickness data for the iris and ciliary body in healthy adults using ultrasonographic imaging. Copyright 2011, SLACK Incorporated.

  15. Comparative Proteomics Reveals Timely Transport into Cilia of Regulators or Effectors as a Mechanism Underlying Ciliary Disassembly.

    PubMed

    Wang, Limei; Gu, Lixiao; Meng, Dan; Wu, Qiong; Deng, Haiteng; Pan, Junmin

    2017-07-07

    Primary cilia are assembled and disassembled during cell cycle progression. During ciliary disassembly, ciliary axonemal microtubules (MTs) are depolymerized accompanied by extensive posttranslational protein modifications of ciliary proteins including protein phosphorylation, methylation, and ubiquitination. These events are hypothesized to involve transport of effectors or regulators into cilia at the time of ciliary disassembly from the cell body. To prove this hypothesis and identify new proteins involved in ciliary disassembly, we analyzed disassembling flagella in Chlamydomonas using comparative proteomics with TMT labeling. Ninety-one proteins were found to increase more than 1.4-fold in four replicates. The proteins of the IFT machinery not only increase but also exhibit stoichiometric changes. The other proteins that increase include signaling molecules, chaperones, and proteins involved in microtubule dynamics or stability. In particular, we have identified a ciliopathy protein C21orf2, the AAA-ATPase CDC48, that is involved in segregating polypeptides from large assemblies or cellular structures, FAP203 and FAP236, which are homologous to stabilizers of axonemal microtubules. Our data demonstrate that ciliary transport of effectors or regulators is one of the mechanisms underlying ciliary disassembly. Further characterization of the proteins identified will provide new insights into our understanding of ciliary disassembly and likely ciliopathy.

  16. Anterior Mesencephalic Cap Dysplasia: Novel Brain Stem Malformative Features Associated with Joubert Syndrome.

    PubMed

    Arrigoni, F; Romaniello, R; Peruzzo, D; De Luca, A; Parazzini, C; Valente, E M; Borgatti, R; Triulzi, F

    2017-12-01

    In Joubert syndrome, the "molar tooth" sign can be associated with several additional supra- and infratentorial malformations. Here we report on 3 subjects (2 siblings, 8-14 years of age) with Joubert syndrome, showing an abnormal thick bulging of the anterior profile of the mesencephalon causing a complete obliteration of the interpeduncular fossa. DTI revealed that the abnormal tissue consisted of an ectopic white matter tract with a laterolateral transverse orientation. Tractographic reconstructions support the hypothesis of impaired axonal guidance mechanisms responsible for the malformation. The 2 siblings were compound heterozygous for 2 missense variants in the TMEM67 gene, while no mutations in a panel of 120 ciliary genes were detected in the third patient. The name "anterior mesencephalic cap dysplasia," referring to the peculiar aspect of the mesencephalon on sagittal MR imaging, is proposed for this new malformative feature. © 2017 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

  17. Morphological changes in the anterior segment of the Abyssinian cat eye with hereditary rod-cone degeneration.

    PubMed

    May, Chr Albrecht; Lütjen-Drecoll, Elke; Narfström, Kristina

    2005-10-01

    The purpose of this study was to investigate morphological changes of the anterior segment of the eye in Abyssinian cats with progressive rod-cone degeneration and to correlate them with blood flow data obtained in the same animals. Sections of the left eyes of six normal cats and of eight cats with different stages of hereditary retinal degeneration were prepared for transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Tangential and sagittal sections were also stained with antibodies against substance P, tyrosine hydroxylase, panneuronal marker PGP9.5, nitric oxide synthase, synaptophysin, and smooth muscle alpha-actin. In Abyssinian cats with hereditary rod-cone degeneration, significant changes were observed in the iris consisting of irregularities in the vascular wall of smaller arteries without changes in their innervation pattern. The ciliary processes were shorter than in normal cats, and their structure appeared more compact and retracted. Slight changes were also observed in the anterior part of the ciliary epithelium. The anterior chamber angle region did not appear to be affected. Clear morphological correlations to the physiological blood flow data were observed in the anterior eye segment, pointing not only to functional but also morphological vascular abnormalities in this animal model for retinitis pigmentosa.

  18. The Challenges of Diagnosing Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

    PubMed Central

    O'Callaghan, Christopher; Knowles, Michael R.

    2011-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder of ciliary structure and function. The diagnosis can be challenging, particularly when using nongenetic assays. The “gold standard” diagnostic test is ultrastructural analysis of respiratory cilia obtained by nasal scrape or brush biopsy. A few specialized centers use high-speed videomicroscopy to examine ciliary beat. Certain beat patterns correlate with ultrastructural defects, and, in some cases, subtle alterations in beat pattern can be seen when ultrastructure is normal. Recent studies have shown that nasal nitric oxide (NO) is very low in patients with PCD compared with healthy control subjects; therefore, this assay may be a useful screening or adjunctive test for PCD. Because acute respiratory illnesses may yield alterations in ciliary ultrastructure, ciliary beat, and nasal NO values, these tests should be performed during a stable baseline period. Identification of an array of PCD genes has provided the opportunity for making a definitive genetic diagnosis for PCD in some cases. All of these approaches have a role in diagnosing PCD. For example, PCD has been confirmed by identifying disease-causing mutations in a heavy dynein chain gene in individuals with normal ciliary ultrastructure but subtle defects in ciliary beat and low nasal NO. Priorities to improve nongenetic diagnostic capability include standardization of nasal NO as a screening test and the development of specialized centers using uniform approaches for the analysis of ciliary ultrastructure and ciliary beat pattern. Another chapter in this issue (see Zariwala and colleagues, pp. 430) addresses the progress toward improved capabilities for definitive genetic testing PMID:21926395

  19. Clinical and genetic aspects of primary ciliary dyskinesia/Kartagener syndrome.

    PubMed

    Leigh, Margaret W; Pittman, Jessica E; Carson, Johnny L; Ferkol, Thomas W; Dell, Sharon D; Davis, Stephanie D; Knowles, Michael R; Zariwala, Maimoona A

    2009-07-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a genetically heterogeneous disorder of motile cilia. Most of the disease-causing mutations identified to date involve the heavy (dynein axonemal heavy chain 5) or intermediate(dynein axonemal intermediate chain 1) chain dynein genes in ciliary outer dynein arms, although a few mutations have been noted in other genes. Clinical molecular genetic testing for primary ciliary dyskinesia is available for the most common mutations. The respiratory manifestations of primary ciliary dyskinesia (chronic bronchitis leading to bronchiectasis, chronic rhino-sinusitis, and chronic otitis media)reflect impaired mucociliary clearance owing to defective axonemal structure. Ciliary ultrastructural analysis in most patients (>80%) reveals defective dynein arms, although defects in other axonemal components have also been observed. Approximately 50% of patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia have laterality defects (including situs inversus totalis and, less commonly, heterotaxy, and congenital heart disease),reflecting dysfunction of embryological nodal cilia. Male infertility is common and reflects defects in sperm tail axonemes. Most patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia have a history of neonatal respiratory distress, suggesting that motile cilia play a role in fluid clearance during the transition from a fetal to neonatal lung. Ciliopathies involving sensory cilia, including autosomal dominant or recessive polycystic kidney disease, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, and Alstrom syndrome, may have chronic respiratory symptoms and even bronchiectasis suggesting clinical overlap with primary ciliary dyskinesia.

  20. Mechanical Properties of a Primary Cilium Measured by Resonant Oscillation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Resnick, Andrew

    Primary cilia are ubiquitous mammalian cellular substructures implicated in an ever-increasing number of regulatory pathways. The well-established `ciliary hypothesis' states that physical bending of the cilium (for example, due to fluid flow) initiates signaling cascades, yet the mechanical properties of the cilium remain incompletely measured, resulting in confusion regarding the biological significance of flow-induced ciliary mechanotransduction. In this work we measure the mechanical properties of a primary cilium by using an optical trap to induce resonant oscillation of the structure. Our data indicate 1), the primary cilium is not a simple cantilevered beam, 2), the base of the cilium may be modeled as a nonlinear rotatory spring, the linear spring constant `k' of the cilium base calculated to be (4.6 +/- 0.62)*10-12 N/rad and nonlinear spring constant ` α' to be (-1 +/- 0.34) *10-10 N/rad2 , and 3) the ciliary base may be an essential regulator of mechanotransduction signalling. Our method is also particularly suited to measure mechanical properties of nodal cilia, stereocilia, and motile cilia, anatomically similar structures with very different physiological functions.

  1. Intraciliary calcium oscillations initiate vertebrate left-right asymmetry.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Shiaulou; Zhao, Lu; Brueckner, Martina; Sun, Zhaoxia

    2015-03-02

    Bilateral symmetry during vertebrate development is broken at the left-right organizer (LRO) by ciliary motility and the resultant directional flow of extracellular fluid. However, how ciliary motility is perceived and transduced into asymmetrical intracellular signaling at the LRO remains controversial. Previous work has indicated that sensory cilia and polycystin-2 (Pkd2), a cation channel, are required for sensing ciliary motility, yet their function and the molecular mechanism linking both to left-right signaling cascades are unknown. Here we report novel intraciliary calcium oscillations (ICOs) at the LRO that connect ciliary sensation of ciliary motility to downstream left-right signaling. Utilizing cilia-targeted genetically encoded calcium indicators in live zebrafish embryos, we show that ICOs depend on Pkd2 and are left-biased at the LRO in response to ciliary motility. Asymmetric ICOs occur with onset of LRO ciliary motility, thus representing the earliest known LR asymmetric molecular signal. Suppression of ICOs using a cilia-targeted calcium sink reveals that they are essential for LR development. These findings demonstrate that intraciliary calcium initiates LR development and identify cilia as a functional ion signaling compartment connecting ciliary motility and flow to molecular LR signaling. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Quantification of the ciliary muscle and crystalline lens interaction during accommodation with synchronous OCT imaging

    PubMed Central

    Ruggeri, Marco; de Freitas, Carolina; Williams, Siobhan; Hernandez, Victor M.; Cabot, Florence; Yesilirmak, Nilufer; Alawa, Karam; Chang, Yu-Cherng; Yoo, Sonia H.; Gregori, Giovanni; Parel, Jean-Marie; Manns, Fabrice

    2016-01-01

    Abstract: Two SD-OCT systems and a dual channel accommodation target were combined and precisely synchronized to simultaneously image the anterior segment and the ciliary muscle during dynamic accommodation. The imaging system simultaneously generates two synchronized OCT image sequences of the anterior segment and ciliary muscle with an imaging speed of 13 frames per second. The system was used to acquire OCT image sequences of a non-presbyopic and a pre-presbyopic subject accommodating in response to step changes in vergence. The image sequences were processed to extract dynamic morphological data from the crystalline lens and the ciliary muscle. The synchronization between the OCT systems allowed the precise correlation of anatomical changes occurring in the crystalline lens and ciliary muscle at identical time points during accommodation. To describe the dynamic interaction between the crystalline lens and ciliary muscle, we introduce accommodation state diagrams that display the relation between anatomical changes occurring in the accommodating crystalline lens and ciliary muscle. PMID:27446660

  3. Quantification of the ciliary muscle and crystalline lens interaction during accommodation with synchronous OCT imaging.

    PubMed

    Ruggeri, Marco; de Freitas, Carolina; Williams, Siobhan; Hernandez, Victor M; Cabot, Florence; Yesilirmak, Nilufer; Alawa, Karam; Chang, Yu-Cherng; Yoo, Sonia H; Gregori, Giovanni; Parel, Jean-Marie; Manns, Fabrice

    2016-04-01

    Two SD-OCT systems and a dual channel accommodation target were combined and precisely synchronized to simultaneously image the anterior segment and the ciliary muscle during dynamic accommodation. The imaging system simultaneously generates two synchronized OCT image sequences of the anterior segment and ciliary muscle with an imaging speed of 13 frames per second. The system was used to acquire OCT image sequences of a non-presbyopic and a pre-presbyopic subject accommodating in response to step changes in vergence. The image sequences were processed to extract dynamic morphological data from the crystalline lens and the ciliary muscle. The synchronization between the OCT systems allowed the precise correlation of anatomical changes occurring in the crystalline lens and ciliary muscle at identical time points during accommodation. To describe the dynamic interaction between the crystalline lens and ciliary muscle, we introduce accommodation state diagrams that display the relation between anatomical changes occurring in the accommodating crystalline lens and ciliary muscle.

  4. Comparative anatomy of the accessory ciliary ganglion in mammals.

    PubMed

    Kuchiiwa, S; Kuchiiwa, T; Suzuki, T

    1989-01-01

    The orbits of 13 mammalian species (pig, sika deer, domestic sheep, horse, cat, fox, racoon dog, marten, rat, rabbit, crab-eating macaque, japanese macaque and man) were stained with silver nitrate and dissected under a dissecting microscope with special attention to the presence and location of the accessory ciliary ganglion. Some preparations were stained with thionin and examined as whole-mounts in a transmission microscope. The accessory ciliary ganglion was present in all 13 species, although the number and degree of development varied greatly from species to species. The accessory ciliary ganglion could be readily differentiated from the main ciliary ganglion in the following respects: it was located on the short ciliary nerve, and it had no root derived directly from the inferior trunk of the oculomotor nerve and it never attaches to this nerve. In many species, ganglion cells were also scattered in the short ciliary nerves in the stained whole preparations. In a few species, there were one or more small ganglia on the nerve to the inferior oblique muscle.

  5. Diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia*

    PubMed Central

    Olm, Mary Anne Kowal; Caldini, Elia Garcia; Mauad, Thais

    2015-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disorder of ciliary structure or function. It results in mucus accumulation and bacterial colonization of the respiratory tract which leads to chronic upper and lower airway infections, organ laterality defects, and fertility problems. We review the respiratory signs and symptoms of PCD, as well as the screening tests for and diagnostic investigation of the disease, together with details related to ciliary function, ciliary ultrastructure, and genetic studies. In addition, we describe the difficulties in diagnosing PCD by means of transmission electron microscopy, as well as describing patient follow-up procedures. PMID:26176524

  6. A homozygous nonsense CEP250 mutation combined with a heterozygous nonsense C2orf71 mutation is associated with atypical Usher syndrome.

    PubMed

    Khateb, Samer; Zelinger, Lina; Mizrahi-Meissonnier, Liliana; Ayuso, Carmen; Koenekoop, Robert K; Laxer, Uri; Gross, Menachem; Banin, Eyal; Sharon, Dror

    2014-07-01

    Usher syndrome (USH) is a heterogeneous group of inherited retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) caused by mutations in at least 12 genes. Our aim is to identify additional USH-related genes. Clinical examination included visual acuity test, funduscopy and electroretinography. Genetic analysis included homozygosity mapping and whole exome sequencing (WES). A combination of homozygosity mapping and WES in a large consanguineous family of Iranian Jewish origin revealed nonsense mutations in two ciliary genes: c.3289C>T (p.Q1097*) in C2orf71 and c.3463C>T (p.R1155*) in centrosome-associated protein CEP250 (C-Nap1). The latter has not been associated with any inherited disease and the c.3463C>T mutation was absent in control chromosomes. Patients who were double homozygotes had SNHL accompanied by early-onset and severe RP, while patients who were homozygous for the CEP250 mutation and carried a single mutant C2orf71 allele had SNHL with mild retinal degeneration. No ciliary structural abnormalities in the respiratory system were evident by electron microscopy analysis. CEP250 expression analysis of the mutant allele revealed the generation of a truncated protein lacking the NEK2-phosphorylation region. A homozygous nonsense CEP250 mutation, in combination with a heterozygous C2orf71 nonsense mutation, causes an atypical form of USH, characterised by early-onset SNHL and a relatively mild RP. The severe retinal involvement in the double homozygotes indicates an additive effect caused by nonsense mutations in genes encoding ciliary proteins. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  7. Placental Growth Factor Contributes to Micro-Vascular Abnormalization and Blood-Retinal Barrier Breakdown in Diabetic Retinopathy

    PubMed Central

    Kowalczuk, Laura; Touchard, Elodie; Omri, Samy; Jonet, Laurent; Klein, Christophe; Valamanes, Fatemeh; Berdugo, Marianne; Bigey, Pascal; Massin, Pascale; Jeanny, Jean-Claude; Behar-Cohen, Francine

    2011-01-01

    Objective There are controversies regarding the pro-angiogenic activity of placental growth factor (PGF) in diabetic retinopathy (DR). For a better understanding of its role on the retina, we have evaluated the effect of a sustained PGF over-expression in rat ocular media, using ciliary muscle electrotransfer (ET) of a plasmid encoding rat PGF-1 (pVAX2-rPGF-1). Materials and Methods pVAX2-rPGF-1 ET in the ciliary muscle (200 V/cm) was achieved in non diabetic and diabetic rat eyes. Control eyes received saline or naked plasmid ET. Clinical follow up was carried out over three months using slit lamp examination and fluorescein angiography. After the control of rPGF-1 expression, PGF-induced effects on retinal vasculature and on the blood-external barrier were evaluated respectively by lectin and occludin staining on flat-mounts. Ocular structures were visualized through histological analysis. Results After fifteen days of rPGF-1 over-expression in normal eyes, tortuous and dilated capillaries were observed. At one month, microaneurysms and moderate vascular sprouts were detected in mid retinal periphery in vivo and on retinal flat-mounts. At later stages, retinal pigmented epithelial cells demonstrated morphological abnormalities and junction ruptures. In diabetic retinas, PGF expression rose between 2 and 5 months, and, one month after ET, rPGF-1 over-expression induced glial activation and proliferation. Conclusion This is the first demonstration that sustained intraocular PGF production induces vascular and retinal changes similar to those observed in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. PGF and its receptor Flt-1 may therefore be looked upon as a potential regulatory target at this stage of the disease. PMID:21408222

  8. Evaluation of pulmonary disease using static lung volumes in primary ciliary dyskinesia.

    PubMed

    Pifferi, Massimo; Bush, Andrew; Pioggia, Giovanni; Caramella, Davide; Tartarisco, Gennaro; Di Cicco, Maria; Zangani, Marta; Chinellato, Iolanda; Maggi, Fabrizio; Tezza, Giovanna; Macchia, Pierantonio; Boner, Attilio

    2012-11-01

    In primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) lung damage is usually evaluated by high-resolution CT (HRCT). To evaluate whether HRCT abnormalities and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection were better predicted by spirometry or plethysmography. A cross-sectional study performed in consecutive patients with PCD who underwent sputum culture, spirometry, plethysmography and HRCT within 48 h. Principal component analysis and soft computing were used for data evaluation. Fifty patients (26 children) were studied. P aeruginosa infection was found in 40% of the patients and bronchiectasis in 88%. There was a correlation between infection with P aeruginosa and extent of bronchiectasis (p=0.009; r =0.367) and air-trapping (p=0.03; r =0.315). Moreover, there was an association between infection with P aeruginosa and residual volume (RV) values >150% (p=0.04) and RV/total lung capacity (TLC) ratio >140% (p=0.001), but not between infection with P aeruginosa and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1))<80%, or forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity (FVC) (FEF(25-75%))<70% or FEV(1)/FVC<70% (<80% in children). Severity of the total lung impairment on chest HRCT directly correlated with RV when expressed as per cent predicted (p=0.003; r =0.423), and RV/TLC (p<0.001; r =0.513) or when expressed as z scores (p=0.002, r =0.451 and p<0.001, r =0.536 respectively). Principal component analysis on plethysmographic but not on spirometry data allowed recognition of different severities of focal air trapping, atelectasis and extent of bronchiectasis. Plethysmography better predicts HRCT abnormalities than spirometry. Whether it might be a useful test to define populations of patients with PCD who should or should not have HRCT scans requires further longitudinal studies.

  9. Genetics Home Reference: primary ciliary dyskinesia

    MedlinePlus

    ... mutations explain only 2% of primary ciliary dykinesia. Respiration. 2008;76(2):198-204. doi: 10.1159/ ... MR. Genetic causes of bronchiectasis: primary ciliary dyskinesia. Respiration. 2007;74(3):252-63. Review. Citation on ...

  10. Treatment of glaucoma with high intensity focused ultrasound.

    PubMed

    Aptel, Florent; Lafon, Cyril

    2015-05-01

    Glaucoma is a common disease mainly due to an increase in pressure inside the eye, leading to a progressive destruction of the optic nerve, potentially to blindness. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the result of a balance between production of liquid that fills the eye--aqueous humour--and its resorption. All treatments for glaucoma aim to reduce IOP and can therefore have two mechanisms of action: reducing aqueous humour production by the partial destruction or medical inhibition of the ciliary body--the anatomical structure responsible for production of aqueous humour--or facilitating the evacuation of aqueous humour from the eye. Several physical methods can be used to destroy the ciliary body, e.g. laser, cryotherapy, microwave. All these methods have two major drawbacks: they are non-selective for the organ to be treated and they have an unpredictable dose–effect relationship. High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can be used to coagulate the ciliary body and avoid these drawbacks. A commercially available device was marketed in the 1980s, but later abandoned, essentially for technical reasons. A smaller circular device using miniaturised transducers was recently developed and proposed for clinical practice. Experimental studies have shown selective coagulation necrosis of the treated ciliary body. The first three clinical trials in humans have shown that this device was well tolerated and allowed a significant, predictable and sustained reduction of IOP. The aim of this contribution is to present a summary of the work concerning the use of HIFU to treat glaucoma.

  11. Amylin competes for binding sites of CGRP in the chamber angle and uvea of monkey, cat, and pig eye.

    PubMed

    Alajuuma, Päivi; Oksala, Olli; Uusitalo, Hannu

    2003-12-01

    Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) binding sites have been identified previously in the eyes of monkey, cat, pig, and guinea pig. In this study, the ability of cat, human, and rat amylins to displace the binding of CGRP in the anterior part of the eye of monkey, cat, and pig was studied. The location and displacement of 125I-hCGRPalpha by amylins as concentrations of 1-1000 nM were studied in cryosections by autoradiography. In the monkey eye, cat and rat amylins were able to compete for the binding sites of CGRP in ciliary muscle and ciliary processes. In the cat eye, cat and human amylins clearly displaced CGRP binding from ciliary muscle, ciliary processes, iris, and chamber angle. Furthermore, rat amylin clearly displaced CGRP binding from ciliary muscle and ciliary processes. In the pig eye, cat, human, and rat amylins competed for the binding sites of CGRP in ciliary muscle, ciliary processes, iris, and limbal conjunctiva. Specific amylin receptors or the possible physiological role of amylin in the eye have not hitherto been reported. It seems, however, that amylin can bind to ocular CGRP receptors and thus probably plays a role in the regulation of the same functions as CGRP, (e.g., aqueous humor outflow).

  12. [THE STRUCTURE OF LYMPHATIC CAPILLARIES OF THE CILIARY BODY OF THE HUMAN EYE].

    PubMed

    Borodin, Yu I; Bgatova, N P; Chernykh, V V; Trunov, A N; Pozhidayeva, A A; Konenkov, V I

    2015-01-01

    Using light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy, the structural organization of interstitial spaces and vessels of the ciliary body of the human eye (n = 5) were studied. The ciliary body was found to contain wide interstitial spaces--tissue clefts bound by collagen fibers and fibroblasts. Organ-specific lymphatic capillaries were also demonstrated in the ciliary body. According to the present findings and the lymphatic region concept, the first 2 elements of the lymphatic region of the eye were described: tissue clefts--prelymphatics and lymphatic capillaries of the ciliary body. The third element of the lymphatic region are the lymph nodes of the head and neck.

  13. ICK is essential for cell type-specific ciliogenesis and the regulation of ciliary transport.

    PubMed

    Chaya, Taro; Omori, Yoshihiro; Kuwahara, Ryusuke; Furukawa, Takahisa

    2014-06-02

    Cilia and flagella are formed and maintained by intraflagellar transport (IFT) and play important roles in sensing and moving across species. At the distal tip of the cilia/flagella, IFT complexes turn around to switch from anterograde to retrograde transport; however, the underlying regulatory mechanism is unclear. Here, we identified ICK localization at the tip of cilia as a regulator of ciliary transport. In ICK-deficient mice, we found ciliary defects in neuronal progenitor cells with Hedgehog signal defects. ICK-deficient cells formed cilia with mislocalized Hedgehog signaling components. Loss of ICK caused the accumulation of IFT-A, IFT-B, and BBSome components at the ciliary tips. In contrast, overexpression of ICK induced the strong accumulation of IFT-B, but not IFT-A or BBSome components at ciliary tips. In addition, ICK directly phosphorylated Kif3a, while inhibition of this Kif3a phosphorylation affected ciliary formation. Our results suggest that ICK is a Kif3a kinase and essential for proper ciliogenesis in development by regulating ciliary transport at the tip of cilia. © 2014 The Authors.

  14. ICK is essential for cell type-specific ciliogenesis and the regulation of ciliary transport

    PubMed Central

    Chaya, Taro; Omori, Yoshihiro; Kuwahara, Ryusuke; Furukawa, Takahisa

    2014-01-01

    Cilia and flagella are formed and maintained by intraflagellar transport (IFT) and play important roles in sensing and moving across species. At the distal tip of the cilia/flagella, IFT complexes turn around to switch from anterograde to retrograde transport; however, the underlying regulatory mechanism is unclear. Here, we identified ICK localization at the tip of cilia as a regulator of ciliary transport. In ICK-deficient mice, we found ciliary defects in neuronal progenitor cells with Hedgehog signal defects. ICK-deficient cells formed cilia with mislocalized Hedgehog signaling components. Loss of ICK caused the accumulation of IFT-A, IFT-B, and BBSome components at the ciliary tips. In contrast, overexpression of ICK induced the strong accumulation of IFT-B, but not IFT-A or BBSome components at ciliary tips. In addition, ICK directly phosphorylated Kif3a, while inhibition of this Kif3a phosphorylation affected ciliary formation. Our results suggest that ICK is a Kif3a kinase and essential for proper ciliogenesis in development by regulating ciliary transport at the tip of cilia. PMID:24797473

  15. Regulation of ciliary motility: conserved protein kinases and phosphatases are targeted and anchored in the ciliary axoneme

    PubMed Central

    Wirschell, Maureen; Yamamoto, Ryosuke; Alford, Lea; Gokhale, Avanti; Gaillard, Anne; Sale, Winfield S.

    2011-01-01

    Recent evidence has revealed that the dynein motors and highly conserved signaling proteins are localized within the ciliary 9 + 2 axoneme. One key mechanism for regulation of motility is phosphorylation. Here, we review diverse evidence, from multiple experimental organisms, that ciliary motility is regulated by phosphorylation / dephosphorylation of the dynein arms through kinases and phosphatases that are anchored immediately adjacent to their axonemal substrates. PMID:21513695

  16. Region-Specific Relationships Between Refractive Error and Ciliary Muscle Thickness in Children

    PubMed Central

    Pucker, Andrew D.; Sinnott, Loraine T.; Kao, Chiu-Yen; Bailey, Melissa D.

    2013-01-01

    Purpose. To determine if there is a relationship between refractive error and ciliary muscle thickness in different muscle regions. Methods. An anterior segment optical coherence tomographer was used to measure cycloplegic ciliary muscle thicknesses at 1 mm (CMT1), 2 mm (CMT2), and 3 mm (CMT3) posterior to the scleral spur; maximum (CMTMAX) thickness was also assessed. An autorefractor was used to determine cycloplegic spherical equivalent refractive error (SPHEQ). Apical ciliary muscle fibers were obtained by subtracting corresponding CMT2 values from CMT1 and CMTMAX. Multilevel regression models were used to determine the relationship between ciliary muscle thickness in various regions of the muscle and refractive error. Results. Subjects included 269 children with a mean age of 8.71 ± 1.51 years and a mean refractive error of +0.41 ± 1.29 diopters. In linear models with ciliary muscle thicknesses and SPHEQ, SPHEQ was significantly associated only with CMT2 (β = −11.34, P = 0.0008) and CMT 3 (β = −6.97, P = 0.007). When corresponding values of CMT2 were subtracted from CMT1 and CMTMAX, apical fibers at CMT1 (β = 14.75, P < 0.0001) and CMTMAX (β = 18.16, P < 0.0001) had a significant relationship with SPHEQ. Conclusions. These data indicated that in children the posterior ciliary muscle fibers are thicker in myopia (CMT2 and CMT3), but paradoxically, the apical ciliary muscle fibers are thicker in hyperopia (CMTMAX and CMT1). This may be the first evidence that hyperopia is associated with a thicker apical ciliary muscle region. PMID:23761093

  17. Pulmonary distribution of an inhaled radioaerosol in obstructive pulmonary disease

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lin, M.S.; Goodwin, D.A.

    1976-03-01

    Pulmonary distribution of an inhaled radioaerosol was analyzed in 20 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 8 of other OPD. Nonciliary/ciliary partition of the distribution correlated with the severity of airway obstruction and approximated 3 : 1 in mild and 1 : 3 in very severe obstruction. In nuclear images, the distribution featured contrast abnormalities of hyperdeposition and hypodeposition. Intense hyperdeposition most commonly occurred in hilar and perihilar large airways. In isolated instances, hyperdeposition almost certainly occurred focally at sites of partial bronchial obstruction and diffusely by expiratory trapping; hypodeposition occurred distally to bronchial obstruction and in areasmore » of parenchymal loss. (auth)« less

  18. Pharmacological characterization of NMDA-like receptors in the single-celled organism Paramecium primaurelia.

    PubMed

    Ramoino, Paola; Candiani, Simona; Pittaluga, Anna Maria; Usai, Cesare; Gallus, Lorenzo; Ferrando, Sara; Milanese, Marco; Faimali, Marco; Bonanno, Giambattista

    2014-02-01

    Paramecium primaurelia is a unicellular eukaryote that moves in freshwater by ciliary beating and responds to environmental stimuli by altering motile behaviour. The movements of the cilia are controlled by the electrical changes of the cell membrane: when the intraciliary Ca(2+) concentration associated with plasma membrane depolarization increases, the ciliary beating reverses its direction, and consequently the swimming direction changes. The ciliary reversal duration is correlated with the amount of Ca(2+) influx. Here, we evaluated the effects due to the activation or blockade of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors on swimming behaviour in Paramecium. Paramecia normally swim forward, drawing almost linear tracks. We observed that the simultaneous administration of NMDA and glycine induced a partial ciliary reversal (PaCR) leading to a continuous spiral-like swim. Furthermore, the duration of continuous ciliary reversal (CCR), triggered by high external KCl concentrations, was longer in NMDA+glycine-treated cells. NMDA action required the presence of Ca(2+), as the normal forward swimming was restored when the ion was omitted from the extracellular milieu. The PaCR and the enhancement of CCR duration significantly decreased when the antagonists of the glutamate site D-AP5 or CGS19755, the NMDA channel blocker MK-801 or the glycine site antagonist DCKA was added. The action of NMDA+glycine was also abolished by Zn(2+) or ifenprodil, the GluN2A and the GluN2B NMDA-containing subunit blockers, respectively. Searches of the Paramecium genome database currently available indicate that the NMDA-like receptor with ligand-binding characteristics of an NMDA receptor-like complex, purified from rat brain synaptic membranes and found in some metazoan genomes, is also present in Paramecium. These results provide evidence that functional NMDA receptors similar to those typical of mammalian neuronal cells are present in the single-celled organism Paramecium and thus suggest that the glutamatergic NMDA system is a phylogenetically old behaviour-controlling mechanism.

  19. Fluid pumping using magnetic cilia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hanasoge, Srinivas; Ballard, Matt; Alexeev, Alexander; Hesketh, Peter; Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering Team

    2016-11-01

    Using experiments and computer simulations, we examine fluid pumping by artificial magnetic cilia fabricated using surface micromachining techniques. An asymmetry in forward and recovery strokes of the elastic cilia causes the net pumping in a creeping flow regime. We show this asymmetry in the ciliary strokes is due to the change in magnetization of the elastic cilia combined with viscous force due to the fluid. Specifically, the time scale for forward stroke is mostly governed by the magnetic forces, whereas the time scale for the recovery stroke is determined by the elastic and viscous forces. These different time scales result in different cilia deformation during forward and backward strokes which in turn lead to the asymmetry in the ciliary motion. To disclose the physics of magnetic cilia pumping we use a hybrid lattice Boltzmann and lattice spring method. We validate our model by comparing the simulation results with the experimental data. The results of our study will be useful to design microfluidic systems for fluid mixing and particle manipulation including different biological particles. USDA and NSF.

  20. The effects of iris-ciliary complex on the organ cultured rabbit ocular lens.

    PubMed

    Niyogi, T K; Emanuel, K; Parafina, J; Bagchi, M

    1991-01-01

    Freshly isolated rabbit lenses were cultured with and without attached iris-ciliary (IC)-complex for 24 hours in TC-199 medium. Subsequent morphological analysis revealed that the IC-complex cannot be maintained in serum-free medium. In addition an observed effect of the IC-complex on the co-cultured lenses could not be due only because of the cellular degeneration of the IC-complex. To test this possibility lenses with attached IC-complexes were incubated in 20% serum-containing TC-199 medium. The IC-complex cultured in 20% serum containing medium retained its normal morphology. However co-cultured lens cells displayed vacuoles and other signs of degeneration. The protein synthetic and Na+/K+ pump activities of these lenses were also significantly depressed. These data indicated that the observed effects of IC-complex on the lens were not due to its cellular degradation. Preliminary experiments showed that the IC-complex contains water soluble factor(s) which could effectively inhibit lens protein synthesis and Na+/K+ pump.

  1. Tubby family proteins are adapters for ciliary trafficking of integral membrane proteins

    PubMed Central

    Shimada, Issei S.; Loriot, Evan

    2017-01-01

    The primary cilium is a paradigmatic organelle for studying compartmentalized signaling; however, unlike soluble protein trafficking, processes targeting integral membrane proteins to cilia are poorly understood. In this study, we determine that the tubby family protein TULP3 functions as a general adapter for ciliary trafficking of structurally diverse integral membrane cargo, including multiple reported and novel rhodopsin family G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) and the polycystic kidney disease–causing polycystin 1/2 complex. The founding tubby family member TUB also localizes to cilia similar to TULP3 and determines trafficking of a subset of these GPCRs to neuronal cilia. Using minimal ciliary localization sequences from GPCRs and fibrocystin (also implicated in polycystic kidney disease), we demonstrate these motifs to be sufficient and TULP3 dependent for ciliary trafficking. We propose a three-step model for TULP3/TUB-mediated ciliary trafficking, including the capture of diverse membrane cargo by the tubby domain in a phosphoinositide 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2)-dependent manner, ciliary delivery by intraflagellar transport complex A binding to the TULP3/TUB N terminus, and subsequent release into PI(4,5)P2-deficient ciliary membrane. PMID:28154160

  2. Comparative anatomy of the ciliary body of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) and selected species.

    PubMed

    Natiello, Michelle; Lewis, Patricia; Samuelson, Don

    2005-01-01

    To examine the anatomy of the ciliary body in the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), paying close attention to its vascularization and to compare to those of its distant relative, the African elephant (Loxodonta africana), the amphibious hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) and the aquatic short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus). Specimens from each species were preserved in 10% buffered formalin, and observed stereomicroscopically before being embedded in paraffin, sectioned and stained by Masson trichrome, hematoxylin and eosin, and periodic acid-Schiff for light microscopic evaluation. The network of blood vessels in the ciliary processes of the West Indian manatee appear to have an intricate pattern, especially with regard to venous outflow. Those of the elephant are slightly less complex, while those of the hippopotamus and whale have different vascular patterns within the ciliary body. Musculature within the ciliary body is absent within the manatee and pilot whale. In general, there appears to be a direct relationship between the increased development of vasculature and the loss of musculature within the ciliary bodies of the aquatic and amphibious mammals presently studied. Specifically, the ciliary body of the West Indian manatee has a comparatively unique construction, especially with regard to its vasculature.

  3. Lithium-induced developmental anomalies in the spirotrich ciliate Stylonychia lemnae (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida).

    PubMed

    Makhija, Seema; Gupta, Renu; Toteja, Ravi

    2015-08-01

    Lithium is known to have profound biological effects of varying intensity in different life forms. In the present investigation, the effect of lithium was studied on the spirotrich ciliate Stylonychia lemnae. Lithium treatment brings about quantitative changes in the patterning of ciliary structures in S. lemnae. The dorsal surface of the affected cells develops supernumerary ciliary kineties due to excessive proliferation of the kinetosomes. The ventral surface on the other hand develops fewer than normal cirri formed from reduced numbers of ciliary primordia. The adoral zone of membranelles (AZM) fails to remodel properly as, in certain segments, membranelles become disarranged and misaligned. Lithium-induced changes are transitory as the normal pattern is restored during recovery after the cells are shifted to normal medium, suggesting non-genic regulation of cortical pattern. Lithium also affects the process of cell proliferation as the number of cells undergoing division is negligible as compared to reorganizing cells. The results point to the extremely complex and heterogeneous organization of the cellular cortex (plasma membrane and cytoskeleton) which is capable of exerting autonomous control over the phenotype and cortical pattern. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  4. Protein Interaction Analysis Provides a Map of the Spatial and Temporal Organization of the Ciliary Gating Zone.

    PubMed

    Takao, Daisuke; Wang, Liang; Boss, Allison; Verhey, Kristen J

    2017-08-07

    The motility and signaling functions of the primary cilium require a unique protein and lipid composition that is determined by gating mechanisms localized at the base of the cilium. Several protein complexes localize to the gating zone and may regulate ciliary protein composition; however, the mechanisms of ciliary gating and the dynamics of the gating components are largely unknown. Here, we used the BiFC (bimolecular fluorescence complementation) assay and report for the first time on the protein-protein interactions that occur between ciliary gating components and transiting cargoes during ciliary entry. We find that the nucleoporin Nup62 and the C termini of the nephronophthisis (NPHP) proteins NPHP4 and NPHP5 interact with the axoneme-associated kinesin-2 motor KIF17 and thus spatially map to the inner region of the ciliary gating zone. Nup62 and NPHP4 exhibit rapid turnover at the transition zone and thus define dynamic components of the gate. We find that B9D1, AHI1, and the N termini of NPHP4 and NPHP5 interact with the transmembrane protein SSTR3 and thus spatially map to the outer region of the ciliary gating zone. B9D1, AHI1, and NPHP5 exhibit little to no turnover at the transition zone and thus define components of a stable gating structure. These data provide the first comprehensive map of the molecular orientations of gating zone components along the inner-to-outer axis of the ciliary gating zone. These results advance our understanding of the functional roles of gating zone components in regulating ciliary protein composition. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Expression of a chemokine by ciliary body epithelium in horses with naturally occurring recurrent uveitis and in cultured ciliary body epithelial cells.

    PubMed

    Gilger, Brian C; Yang, Ping; Salmon, Jacklyn H; Jaffe, Glenn J; Allen, Janice B

    2002-07-01

    To determine whether a chemokine (RANTES)-like protein expressed by ciliary epithelium plays a role in uveitis. 3 clinically normal horses intradermal, 5 eyes from 5 horses with recurrent uveitis, and 10 normal eyes from 5 age- and sex-matched horses. Cross-reactivity and sensitivity of recombinant human (rh)-regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) protein were evaluated in horses by use of intradermal hypersensitivity reactions and a chemotaxis assay. Aqueous humor and ciliary body of eyes from clinically normal horses and horses with uveitis were examined for RANTES expression by use of an ELISA and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Expression of RANTES mRNA and protein content of primary cultures of equine ciliary pigmented epithelial cells (RT-PCR) and culture supernatant (ELISA) were measured 6 or 24 hours, respectively, after cultures were stimulated with interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Strong reactions to intradermal hypersensitivity testing and significant chemotaxis of equine leukocytes to rh-RANTES wereas observed. Aqueous humor of eyes from horses with uveitis contained increased concentrations of rh-RANTES-like protein (mean +/- SD, 45.9+/-31.7 pg/ml), compared with aqueous humor from clinically normal horses (0 pg/ml). Ciliary body from horses with uveitis expressed RANTES mRNA, whereas ciliary body from clinically normal horses had low mRNA expression. Stimulated ciliary pigmented epithelial cells expressed increased amounts of rh-RANTES-like protein (506.1+/-298.3 pg/ml) and mRNA, compared with unstimulated samples. Ciliary epithelium may play a role in recruitment and activation of leukocytes through expression of RANTES.

  6. BLOC-1 is required for selective membrane protein trafficking from endosomes to primary cilia

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    Primary cilia perceive the extracellular environment through receptors localized in the ciliary membrane, but mechanisms directing specific proteins to this domain are poorly understood. To address this question, we knocked down proteins potentially important for ciliary membrane targeting and determined how this affects the ciliary trafficking of fibrocystin, polycystin-2, and smoothened. Our analysis showed that fibrocystin and polycystin-2 are dependent on IFT20, GMAP210, and the exocyst complex, while smoothened delivery is largely independent of these components. In addition, we found that polycystin-2, but not smoothened or fibrocystin, requires the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1 (BLOC-1) for ciliary delivery. Consistent with the role of BLOC-1 in sorting from the endosome, we find that disrupting the recycling endosome reduces ciliary polycystin-2 and causes its accumulation in the recycling endosome. This is the first demonstration of a role for BLOC-1 in ciliary assembly and highlights the complexity of pathways taken to the cilium. PMID:28576874

  7. The role of molecular genetic analysis in the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia.

    PubMed

    Kim, Raymond H; A Hall, David; Cutz, Ernest; Knowles, Michael R; Nelligan, Kathleen A; Nykamp, Keith; Zariwala, Maimoona A; Dell, Sharon D

    2014-03-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder of motile cilia. The diagnosis of PCD has previously relied on ciliary analysis with transmission electron microscopy or video microscopy. However, patients with PCD may have normal ultrastructural appearance, and ciliary analysis has limited accessibility. Alternatively, PCD can be diagnosed by demonstrating biallelic mutations in known PCD genes. Genetic testing is emerging as a diagnostic tool to complement ciliary analysis where interpretation and access may delay diagnosis. To determine the diagnostic yield of genetic testing of patients with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of PCD in a multiethnic urban center. Twenty-eight individuals with confirmed PCD on transmission electron microscopy of ciliary ultrastructure and 24 individuals with a probable diagnosis of PCD based on a classical PCD phenotype and low nasal nitric oxide had molecular analysis of 12 genes associated with PCD. Of 49 subjects who underwent ciliary biopsy, 28 (57%) were diagnosed with PCD through an ultrastructural defect. Of the 52 individuals who underwent molecular genetic analysis, 22 (42%) individuals had two mutations in known PCD genes. Twenty-four previously unreported mutations in known PCD genes were observed. Combining both diagnostic modalities of biopsy and molecular genetics, the diagnostic yield increased to 69% compared with 57% based on biopsy alone. The diagnosis of PCD is challenging and has traditionally relied on ciliary biopsy, which is unreliable as the sole criterion for a definitive diagnosis. Molecular genetic analysis can be used as a complementary test to increase the diagnostic yield.

  8. Formation of the transition zone by Mks5/Rpgrip1L establishes a ciliary zone of exclusion (CIZE) that compartmentalises ciliary signalling proteins and controls PIP2 ciliary abundance

    PubMed Central

    Jensen, Victor L; Li, Chunmei; Bowie, Rachel V; Clarke, Lara; Mohan, Swetha; Blacque, Oliver E; Leroux, Michel R

    2015-01-01

    Cilia are thought to harbour a membrane diffusion barrier within their transition zone (TZ) that compartmentalises signalling proteins. How this “ciliary gate” assembles and functions remains largely unknown. Contrary to current models, we present evidence that Caenorhabditis elegans MKS-5 (orthologue of mammalian Mks5/Rpgrip1L/Nphp8 and Rpgrip1) may not be a simple structural scaffold for anchoring > 10 different proteins at the TZ, but instead, functions as an assembly factor. This activity is needed to form TZ ultrastructure, which comprises Y-shaped axoneme-to-membrane connectors. Coiled-coil and C2 domains within MKS-5 enable TZ localisation and functional interactions with two TZ modules, consisting of Meckel syndrome (MKS) and nephronophthisis (NPHP) proteins. Discrete roles for these modules at basal body-associated transition fibres and TZ explain their redundant functions in making essential membrane connections and thus sealing the ciliary compartment. Furthermore, MKS-5 establishes a ciliary zone of exclusion (CIZE) at the TZ that confines signalling proteins, including GPCRs and NPHP-2/inversin, to distal ciliary subdomains. The TZ/CIZE, potentially acting as a lipid gate, limits the abundance of the phosphoinositide PIP2 within cilia and is required for cell signalling. Together, our findings suggest a new model for Mks5/Rpgrip1L in TZ assembly and function that is essential for establishing the ciliary signalling compartment. PMID:26392567

  9. cAMP Stimulates Transepithelial Short-Circuit Current and Fluid Transport Across Porcine Ciliary Epithelium.

    PubMed

    Cheng, Angela King-Wah; Civan, Mortimer M; To, Chi-Ho; Do, Chi-Wai

    2016-12-01

    To investigate the effects of cAMP on transepithelial electrical parameters and fluid transport across porcine ciliary epithelium. Transepithelial electrical parameters were determined by mounting freshly isolated porcine ciliary epithelium in a modified Ussing chamber. Similarly, fluid movement across intact ciliary body was measured with a custom-made fluid flow chamber. Addition of 1, 10, and 100 μM 8-Br-cAMP (cAMP) to the aqueous side (nonpigmented ciliary epithelium, NPE) induced a sustained increase in short-circuit current (Isc). Addition of niflumic acid (NFA) to the aqueous surface effectively blocked the cAMP-induced Isc stimulation. The administration of cAMP to the stromal side (pigmented ciliary epithelium, PE) triggered a significant stimulation of Isc only at 100 μM. No additive effect was observed with bilateral application of cAMP. Likewise, forskolin caused a significant stimulation of Isc when applied to the aqueous side. Concomitantly, cAMP and forskolin increased fluid transport across porcine ciliary epithelium, and this stimulation was effectively inhibited by aqueous NFA. Depleting Cl- in the bathing solution abolished the baseline Isc and inhibited the subsequent stimulation by cAMP. Pretreatment with protein kinase A (PKA) blockers (H89/KT5720) significantly inhibited the cAMP- and forskolin-induced Isc responses. Our results suggest that cAMP triggers a sustained stimulation of Cl- and fluid transport across porcine ciliary epithelium; Cl- channels in the NPE cells are potentially a cellular site for this PKA-sensitive cAMP-mediated response.

  10. Defining the proteome of human iris, ciliary body, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Pingbo; Kirby, David; Dufresne, Craig; Chen, Yan; Turner, Randi; Ferri, Sara; Edward, Deepak P; Van Eyk, Jennifer E; Semba, Richard D

    2016-04-01

    The iris is a fine structure that controls the amount of light that enters the eye. The ciliary body controls the shape of the lens and produces aqueous humor. The retinal pigment epithelium and choroid (RPE/choroid) are essential in supporting the retina and absorbing light energy that enters the eye. Proteins were extracted from iris, ciliary body, and RPE/choroid tissues of eyes from five individuals and fractionated using SDS-PAGE. After in-gel digestion, peptides were analyzed using LC-MS/MS on an Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer. In iris, ciliary body, and RPE/choroid, we identified 2959, 2867, and 2755 nonredundant proteins with peptide and protein false-positive rates of <0.1% and <1%, respectively. Forty-three unambiguous protein isoforms were identified in iris, ciliary body, and RPE/choroid. Four "missing proteins" were identified in ciliary body based on ≥2 proteotypic peptides. The mass spectrometric proteome database of the human iris, ciliary body, and RPE/choroid may serve as a valuable resource for future investigations of the eye in health and disease. The MS proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE partner repository with the dataset identifiers PXD001424 and PXD002194. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  11. Gorilloflasca africana n.g., n.sp., (Entodiniomorphida) from wild habituated Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Rwanda.

    PubMed

    Ito, Akira; Eckardt, Winnie; Stoinski, Tara S; Gillespie, Thomas R; Tokiwa, Toshihiro

    2017-08-01

    A new entodiniomorphid ciliate species, Gorilloflasca africana n. g., n. sp. was described from the Virunga mountain gorillas, Gorilla beringei beringei, in Rwanda. It is characterized by a flask-shaped body, a long tubular vestibulum, a round frontal lobe, a large posterior cavity, an ellipsoidal or peanut-shaped macronucleus and a single contractile vacuole. G. africana has the adoral and the vestibular ciliary zones in the buccal area. The adoral ciliary zone is non-retractable, encircling the vestibular opening. The vestibular ciliary zone extends posteriorly in the vestibulum. The somatic ciliary zones are the cavity ciliary zone in the posterior cavity along the ventral side of its opening and two longitudinal ciliary zones on the dorsal body surface. The buccal infraciliary bands of G. africana are a C-shaped adoral polybrachykinety, a stick-shaped vestibular kinety band, and paralabial kineties. The anterior region of the vestibular kinety band is composed of short kineties whereas, kineties in the remaining region are longitudinal. The somatic infraciliary bands are a cavity polybrachykinety and two longitudinal polybrachykineties. Gorilloflasca is a member of the family Blepharocorythidae based on the non-retractable adoral ciliary zone, the frontal lobe, the large posterior cavity and the vestibular longitudinal kineties. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  12. An essential role of the basal body protein SAS-6 in Plasmodium male gamete development and malaria transmission

    PubMed Central

    Marques, Sara R; Ramakrishnan, Chandra; Carzaniga, Raffaella; Blagborough, Andrew M; Delves, Michael J; Talman, Arthur M; Sinden, Robert E

    2015-01-01

    Gametocytes are the sole Plasmodium parasite stages that infect mosquitoes; therefore development of functional gametes is required for malaria transmission. Flagellum assembly of the Plasmodium male gamete differs from that of most other eukaryotes in that it is intracytoplasmic but retains a key conserved feature: axonemes assemble from basal bodies. The centriole/basal body protein SAS-6 normally regulates assembly and duplication of these organelles and its depletion causes severe flagellar/ciliary abnormalities in a diverse array of eukaryotes. Since basal body and flagellum assembly are intimately coupled to male gamete development in Plasmodium, we hypothesized that SAS-6 disruption may cause gametogenesis defects and perturb transmission. We show that Plasmodium berghei sas6 knockouts display severely abnormal male gametogenesis presenting reduced basal body numbers, axonemal assembly defects and abnormal nuclear allocation. The defects in gametogenesis reduce fertilization and render Pbsas6 knockouts less infectious to mosquitoes. Additionally, we show that lack of Pbsas6 blocks transmission from mosquito to vertebrate host, revealing an additional yet undefined role in ookinete to sporulating oocysts transition. These findings underscore the vulnerability of the basal body/SAS-6 to malaria transmission blocking interventions. PMID:25154861

  13. A mutation in Ccdc39 causes neonatal hydrocephalus with abnormal motile cilia development in mice.

    PubMed

    Abdelhamed, Zakia; Vuong, Shawn M; Hill, Lauren; Shula, Crystal; Timms, Andrew; Beier, David; Campbell, Kenneth; Mangano, Francesco T; Stottmann, Rolf W; Goto, June

    2018-01-09

    Pediatric hydrocephalus is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and is one of the most common congenital brain abnormalities. However, little is known about the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating CSF flow in the developing brain. Through whole-genome sequencing analysis, we report that a homozygous splice site mutation in coiled-coil domain containing 39 ( Ccdc39 ) is responsible for early postnatal hydrocephalus in the progressive hydrocephal us ( prh ) mouse mutant. Ccdc39 is selectively expressed in embryonic choroid plexus and ependymal cells on the medial wall of the forebrain ventricle, and the protein is localized to the axoneme of motile cilia. The Ccdc39 prh/prh ependymal cells develop shorter cilia with disorganized microtubules lacking the axonemal inner arm dynein. Using high-speed video microscopy, we show that an orchestrated ependymal ciliary beating pattern controls unidirectional CSF flow on the ventricular surface, which generates bulk CSF flow in the developing brain. Collectively, our data provide the first evidence for involvement of Ccdc39 in hydrocephalus and suggest that the proper development of medial wall ependymal cilia is crucial for normal mouse brain development. © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  14. [The protective effect of dexpanthenol in nasal sprays. First results of cytotoxic and ciliary-toxic studies in vitro].

    PubMed

    Klöcker, N; Verse, T; Rudolph, P

    2003-03-01

    In Germany more than 60 million units of nasal decongestants are prescribed or sold over the counter. The cytotoxic and ciliary-toxic potential of alpha-sympathomimetic decongestants is well established. Furthermore, in many of the marketed products preservatives are added, predominantly benzalchonium-chloride, which can lead to a further alteration of cell- and ciliary function. Recently a protective effect of dexpanthenol was found for the human nasal mucosa. The objective of the present studies was to prove the hypothesis that dexpanthenol is able to neutralise the toxic effects of both alpha-sympathomimetic decongestants, in particular those of xylometazoline, and those of benzalconium-chloride. Therefore, systematic cytotoxic and ex vivo in vitro ciliary-toxic studies were performed. After exposition to xylometazoline in concentrations of 0.1 % and 0.05 %, the influence of dexpanthenol (5 %) and benzalconium-chloride (0,01 %) was assessed by determination of a) cell growth of FL-cells of human amnion origin, and b) ciliary beat frequency of human nasal mucosa. All tests were performed placebo-controlled. Both hypotheses were confirmed. Dexpanthenol (5 %) reduces statistically significantly the concentration-dependent toxic effects of xylometazoline, and benzalchonium-cloride regarding cell growth and ciliary beat frequency (p < 0.001). The combination of xylometazoline with dexpanthenol, while benzalconium-chloride is eliminated, resulted in a further significant increase of cell growth and ciliary beat frequency (p < 0.001), similar to control. The additive application of dexpanthenol (5 %) with nasal decongestants and/or with preserved nasal sprays seems to be able to reduce the cell- and ciliary-toxic effects of these substances.

  15. Development and characterization of a complete set of Triticum aestivum-Roegneria ciliaris disomic addition lines.

    PubMed

    Kong, Lingna; Song, Xinying; Xiao, Jin; Sun, Haojie; Dai, Keli; Lan, Caixia; Singh, Pawan; Yuan, Chunxia; Zhang, Shouzhong; Singh, Ravi; Wang, Haiyan; Wang, Xiue

    2018-05-31

    A complete set wheat-R. ciliaris disomic addition lines (DALs) were characterized and the homoeologous groups and genome affinities of R. ciliaris chromosomes were determined. Wild relatives are rich gene resources for cultivated wheat. The development of alien addition chromosome lines not only greatly broadens the genetic diversity, but also provides genetic stocks for comparative genomics studies. Roegneria ciliaris (genome S c S c Y c Y c ), a tetraploid wild relative of wheat, is tolerant or resistant to many abiotic and biotic stresses. To develop a complete set of wheat-R. ciliaris disomic addition lines (DALs), we undertook a euplasmic backcrossing program to overcome allocytoplasmic effects and preferential chromosome transmission. To improve the efficiency of identifying chromosomes from S c and Y c , we established techniques including sequential genomic in situ hybridization/fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and molecular marker analysis. Fourteen DALs of wheat, each containing one pair of R. ciliaris chromosomes pairs, were characterized by FISH using four repetitive sequences [pTa794, pTa71, RcAfa and (GAA) 10 ] as probes. One hundred and sixty-two R. ciliaris-specific markers were developed. FISH and marker analysis enabled us to assign the homoeologous groups and genome affinities of R. ciliaris chromosomes. FHB resistance evaluation in successive five growth seasons showed that the amphiploid, DA2Y c , DA5Y c and DA6S c had improved FHB resistance, indicating their potential value in wheat improvement. The 14 DALs are likely new gene resources and will be phenotyped for more agronomic performances traits.

  16. Case report: imaging and treatment of ophthalmic manifestations in oculodentodigital dysplasia.

    PubMed

    Mosaed, Sameh; Jacobsen, Bradley H; Lin, Ken Young

    2016-01-07

    Diagnostic and surgical management of severe chronic angle- closure glaucoma secondary to ciliary body cysts can be difficult to manage in a patient with oculodentodigital dysplasia. A 6-year old girl with oculodentodigital dysplasia, with progressive chronic angle- closure glaucoma secondary to ciliary body cysts presented to our clinic. The initial examination revealed counting fingers vision in the left eye. Intraocular pressure (IOP), as assessed by tonopen, was 31 mm Hg. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed ciliary body cysts in the left eye, and gonioscopy confirmed chronic angle closure. A tube shunt was placed to control the elevated IOP. A year after her tube shunt placement in the left eye, ultrasound biomiscropy was performed on her right eye and showed no ciliary body cysts. Gonioscopy in the right eye revealed an open angle to the ciliary body band. Subsequent serial gonioscopy every 3 months showed gradual narrowing of the right eye angle and finally three-and-a-half years after tube placement of the left eye, her right eye IOP became uncontrolled with medications alone and a tube shunt was similarly placed in the right eye. Intraoperative ultrasound biomicroscopy performed at the time of the right eye tube shunt revealed extensive ciliary body cysts in the right eye. Her IOP in both eyes have been well controlled since the placement of tube shunts. This is one of the first reported cases of severe chronic angle- closure glaucoma secondary to ciliary body cysts in a patient with oculodentodigital dysplasia. We believe that early screening for ciliary body cysts is important in patients with oculodentodigital dysplasia.

  17. Short- and long-term effects on the ciliary body and the aqueous outflow pathways of high-intensity focused ultrasound cyclocoagulation.

    PubMed

    Aptel, Florent; Béglé, Aurélie; Razavi, Arash; Romano, Fabrice; Charrel, Thomas; Chapelon, Jean-Yves; Denis, Philippe; Lafon, Cyril

    2014-09-01

    Several physical methods can be used to coagulate the ciliary body and decrease intra-ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. The study described here investigated the short- and long-term effects of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) cyclocoagulation on the aqueous humor production structures and outflow pathways. Thirty-four rabbit eyes were sonicated with a ring-shaped probe containing six miniaturized HIFU transducers. Light, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy and corrosion casts were performed. In the affected regions, the epithelium of the ciliary processes was degenerated or necrotic and sloughed off. Examinations performed several months afterward revealed involution of the ciliary processes. Vascular corrosion cast revealed focal interruption of the ciliary body microvasculature. In most animals, a sustained fluid space was seen between the sclera, the ciliary body and the choroid, likely indicating an increase in the aqueous outflow by the uveoscleral pathway. These results suggest that HIFU cyclocoagulation has a dual effect on aqueous humor dynamics. Copyright © 2014 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Circumferential Ciliary Body Cysts Presenting as Acute Pigment Dispersion and Ocular Hypertension.

    PubMed

    Sarıgül Sezenöz, Almila; Güngör, Sirel Gür; Kıratlı, Hayyam; Akman, Ahmet

    2017-09-15

    To report a case of circumferential neuroepithelial cyst of the ciliary body presenting with pigment dispersion (PD) and ocular hypertension. 48-year-old female patient presented with a complaint of pain in the left eye. On examination, visual acuity of the left eye was 0.9, and the intraocular pressure was 48 mmHg. Biomicroscopic anterior segment examination of the left eye revealed 4+ pigmented cells in the anterior chamber. Active PD from the pupillary region at 11 o'clock was noticed at the time of the examination. Ultrasound biomicroscopy demonstrated 360º cystic lesions of the ciliary body in the left eye. The patient was diagnosed as neuroepithelial cyst of the ciliary body. Our case is unique as it is the first case of circumferential neuroepithelial ciliary body cyst presenting with acute PD and ocular hypertension.

  19. [Non-ciliary functions of cilia proteins].

    PubMed

    Taulet, Nicolas; Delaval, Bénédicte

    2014-11-01

    Cilia proteins have long been characterized for their role in cilia formation and function, and their implications in ciliopathies. However, several cellular defects induced by cilia proteins deregulation suggest that they could have non-ciliary roles. Indeed, several non-ciliary functions have been recently characterized for cilia proteins including roles in intra-cellular and in vesicular transport, in spindle orientation or in the maintenance of genomic stability. These observations thus raise the crucial question of the contribution of non-ciliary functions of cilia proteins to the pathological manifestations associated with ciliopathies such as polycystic kidney disease. © 2014 médecine/sciences – Inserm.

  20. Untangling ciliary access and enrichment of two rhodopsin-like receptors using quantitative fluorescence microscopy reveals cell-specific sorting pathways

    PubMed Central

    Geneva, Ivayla I.; Tan, Han Yen; Calvert, Peter D.

    2017-01-01

    Resolution limitations of optical systems are major obstacles for determining whether proteins are enriched within cell compartments. Here we use an approach to determine the degree of membrane protein ciliary enrichment that quantitatively accounts for the differences in sampling of the ciliary and apical membranes inherent to confocal microscopes. Theory shows that cilia will appear more than threefold brighter than the surrounding apical membrane when the densities of fluorescently labeled proteins are the same, thus providing a benchmark for ciliary enrichment. Using this benchmark, we examined the ciliary enrichment signals of two G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs)—the somatostatin receptor 3 and rhodopsin. Remarkably, we found that the C-terminal VxPx motif, required for efficient enrichment of rhodopsin within rod photoreceptor sensory cilia, inhibited enrichment of the somatostatin receptor in primary cilia. Similarly, VxPx inhibited primary cilium enrichment of a chimera of rhodopsin and somatostatin receptor 3, where the dual Ax(S/A)xQ ciliary targeting motifs within the third intracellular loop of the somatostatin receptor replaced the third intracellular loop of rhodopsin. Rhodopsin was depleted from primary cilia but gained access, without being enriched, with the dual Ax(S/A)xQ motifs. Ciliary enrichment of these GPCRs thus operates via distinct mechanisms in different cells. PMID:27974638

  1. Effect of azelastine on sulphur dioxide induced impairment of ciliary motility in airway epithelium.

    PubMed Central

    Tamaoki, J; Chiyotani, A; Sakai, N; Takeyama, K; Konno, K

    1993-01-01

    OBJECTIVE--The effect of azelastine on airway mucociliary transport function was studied by measuring ciliary motility of human bronchial epithelium in vitro with a photoelectric method. METHOD--Bronchial epithelial cells were obtained by fibreoptic bronchoscopy, mounted in a Rose chamber, and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution. The preparations were placed on a microscope stage equipped with an illuminator, and the variations of light intensity caused by ciliary beating were detected by a photometer. RESULTS--The addition of azelastine to the perfusate increased ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in a dose dependent manner without ciliary discoordination. The mean (SE) maximal increase from the baseline value and the concentration required to produce a half maximal effect were 27.0 (4.2)% and 9.2 x 10(-6) mol/l, respectively. Exposure of the cells to the perfusate containing 3 ppm sulphur dioxide rapidly decreased CBF by 59.2 (5.0)%, and was accompanied by a reduction in intracellular cyclic AMP levels from 38.1 (4.3) to 10.1 (2.4) pmol/mg protein. This effect was prevented by pretreatment of cells with azelastine in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS--Azelastine not only stimulates ciliary motility of airway epithelium and hence mucociliary transport function, but may also protect against sulphur dioxide induced ciliary dysfunction, probably by inhibiting intracellular cyclic AMP loss. PMID:8322244

  2. Airway surface liquid homeostasis in cystic fibrosis: pathophysiology and therapeutic targets.

    PubMed

    Haq, Iram J; Gray, Michael A; Garnett, James P; Ward, Christopher; Brodlie, Malcolm

    2016-03-01

    Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-limiting disease characterised by recurrent respiratory infections, inflammation and lung damage. The volume and composition of the airway surface liquid (ASL) are important in maintaining ciliary function, mucociliary clearance and antimicrobial properties of the airway. In CF, these homeostatic mechanisms are impaired, leading to a dehydrated and acidic ASL. ASL volume depletion in CF is secondary to defective anion transport by the abnormal cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR). Abnormal CFTR mediated bicarbonate transport creates an unfavourable, acidic environment, which impairs antimicrobial function and alters mucus properties and clearance. These disease mechanisms create a disordered airway milieu, consisting of thick mucopurulent secretions and chronic bacterial infection. In addition to CFTR, there are additional ion channels and transporters in the apical airway epithelium that play a role in maintaining ASL homeostasis. These include the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), the solute carrier 26A (SLC26A) family of anion exchangers, and calcium-activated chloride channels. In this review we discuss how the ASL is abnormal in CF and how targeting these alternative channels and transporters could provide an attractive therapeutic strategy to correct the underlying ASL abnormalities evident in CF. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

  3. Morphometric assessment of normal human ciliary body using ultrasound biomicroscopy.

    PubMed

    Okamoto, Yoshifumi; Okamoto, Fumiki; Nakano, Shinichiro; Oshika, Tetsuro

    2017-12-01

    To quantitatively assess the biometry of the ciliary body in normal human eyes using ultrasound biomicroscopy. We evaluated 85 eyes of 85 normal subjects (35 men and 50 women), whose age ranged from 11 to 86 years (mean ± SD, 56.8 ± 20.4 years). The eyes were assessed along the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-o'clock meridians relative to the center of the cornea. Clinical data were collected, including age, axial length, ciliary body length (CBL), ciliary body thickness (CBT), anterior chamber depth, iris root thickness, trabecular-iris angle, and scleral-ciliary process angle. Axial length was measured using A-scan ultrasonography. CBL and CBT tended to be larger in the superior than in the inferior quadrant, but the differences among the four quadrants were not statistically significant. The average CBL showed a significant positive correlation with the average CBT (r = 0.40, P < 0.001). Average CBL and CBT were significantly correlated with axial length (r = 0.33, P = 0.031; r = 0.46, P < 0.01 respectively). In addition, the average CBL was significantly correlated with anterior chamber depth (r = 0.23, P < 0.05), trabecular-iris angle (r = 0.29, P = 0.01), and scleral-ciliary process angle (r = 0.40, P < 0.001). Ultrasound biomicroscopic imaging demonstrated that the ciliary body is similar in size in all circumferences, and eyes with longer axial length have an elongated and thicker ciliary body. The values obtained in the present study may serve as standard clinical references.

  4. Effects of dorzolamide on choroidal blood flow, ciliary blood flow, and aqueous production in rabbits.

    PubMed

    Reitsamer, Herbert A; Bogner, Barbara; Tockner, Birgit; Kiel, Jeffrey W

    2009-05-01

    To determine the effects of topical dorzolamide (a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) on choroidal and ciliary blood flow and the relationship between ciliary blood flow and aqueous flow. The experiments were performed in four groups of pentobarbital-anesthetized rabbits treated with topical dorzolamide (2%, 50 microL). In all groups, intraocular pressure (IOP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at the eye level were measured continuously by direct cannulation. In group 1, aqueous flow was measured by fluorophotometry before and after dorzolamide treatment. In group 2, aqueous flow was measured after dorzolamide at normal MAP and while MAP was held constant at 80, 55, or 40 mm Hg with occluders on the aorta and vena cava. In group 3, the same MAP levels were used, and ciliary blood flow was measured transsclerally by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). In group 4, choroidal blood flow was measured by LDF with the probe tip positioned in the vitreous over the posterior pole during ramp increases and decreases in MAP before and after dorzolamide. Dorzolamide lowered IOP by 19% (P < 0.01) and aqueous flow by 17% (P < 0.01), and increased ciliary blood flow by 18% (P < 0.01), which was associated with a significant reduction in ciliary vasculature resistance (-7%, P < 0.01). Dorzolamide shifted the relationship between ciliary blood flow and aqueous flow downward relative to the previously determined control relationship in the rabbit. Dorzolamide did not alter choroidal blood flow, choroidal vascular resistance, or the choroidal pressure flow relationship. Acute topical dorzolamide is a ciliary vasodilator and has a direct inhibitory effect on aqueous production, but it does not have a detectable effect on choroidal hemodynamics at the posterior pole in the rabbit.

  5. Ocular blood flow parameters after pars plana vitrectomy in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

    PubMed

    Krepler, Katharina; Polska, Elzbieta; Wedrich, Andreas; Schmetterer, Leopold

    2003-04-01

    Whereas the anatomic result of vitrectomy in patients with vitreoretinal complications due to diabetes is usually satisfying, the functional outcome is sometimes poor. The authors investigated whether this may be related in part to effects of vitrectomy on ocular perfusion. Ocular hemodynamics were measured before vitrectomy and 1 and 4 weeks postoperatively in 13 consecutive diabetic patients. Pulsatile choroidal blood flow was assessed with laser interferometric measurement of fundus pulsation amplitude. In addition, mean blood flow velocity and resistive index in the ophthalmic artery, the central retinal artery, and the posterior ciliary arteries were measured with color Doppler imaging. Fundus pulsation amplitude was significantly reduced after surgery as compared to baseline (baseline: 3.7 +/- 1.0 microm; 4 weeks: 3.1 +/- 0.8; P < 0.001). Postoperatively, mean blood flow velocity in the central retinal artery (P = 0.009) and the posterior ciliary arteries (P = 0.0006) was significantly reduced, whereas resistive index was increased in the central retinal artery (P = 0.028) but not in the posterior ciliary arteries. The current data suggest that vitrectomy induces significant reductions in ocular blood flow in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Whether this may affect the visual outcome after vitrectomy or whether this reflects improved retinal oxygenation after vitrectomy remains to be established.

  6. Diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of primary ciliary dyskinesia: PCD foundation consensus recommendations based on state of the art review.

    PubMed

    Shapiro, Adam J; Zariwala, Maimoona A; Ferkol, Thomas; Davis, Stephanie D; Sagel, Scott D; Dell, Sharon D; Rosenfeld, Margaret; Olivier, Kenneth N; Milla, Carlos; Daniel, Sam J; Kimple, Adam J; Manion, Michele; Knowles, Michael R; Leigh, Margaret W

    2016-02-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous, rare lung disease resulting in chronic oto-sino-pulmonary disease in both children and adults. Many physicians incorrectly diagnose PCD or eliminate PCD from their differential diagnosis due to inexperience with diagnostic testing methods. Thus far, all therapies used for PCD are unproven through large clinical trials. This review article outlines consensus recommendations from PCD physicians in North America who have been engaged in a PCD centered research consortium for the last 10 years. These recommendations have been adopted by the governing board of the PCD Foundation to provide guidance for PCD clinical centers for diagnostic testing, monitoring, and appropriate short and long-term therapeutics in PCD patients. © 2015 The Authors. Pediatric Pulmonology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  7. [Regeneration of the ciliary beat of human ciliated cells].

    PubMed

    Wolf, G; Koidl, B; Pelzmann, B

    1991-10-01

    The influence of an isotonic, alkaline saline solution (diluted "Emser Sole" or brine from the spa of Bad Ems) on the ciliary beat of isolated cultured human ciliated cells of the upper respiratory tract was investigated. The ciliary beat was observed via an inverted phase contrast microscope (Zeiss Axiomat IDPC) and measured microphotometrically under physiological conditions and after the damaging influence of 1% propanal solution. Under physiological conditions the saline solution had a positive, although statistically not significant influence on the frequency of the ciliary beat. After damage of the cultivated cells by 1% propanal solution, the saline solution had a significant better influence on the regeneration of the cultured cells than a physiological sodium chloride solution. It is concluded that diluted brine from Bad Ems has a positive effect on the ciliary beat of the respiratory epithelium and accelerates its regeneration after damage by viral and bacterial infections, surgery or inhaled noxae.

  8. Development of the larval nervous system of the sand dollar, Dendraster excentricus.

    PubMed

    Burke, R D

    1983-01-01

    Transformation of the gastrula to the pluteus includes development of the ability of the larva to control the direction of ciliary beat and coordinate activities of the ciliary band with activities of the esophageal muscles (48-60 h, 15 degrees C). Glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence shows several cells of the animal plate to contain catecholamines in the 36-h gastrula. As the ectoderm thickens to form the ciliary band (36 48 h), the catecholamine-containing cells increase in number and occur dispersed throughout the band. Tissues with the ultrastructural characteristics of nerves first became apparent associated with the ciliary band in 60-h larvae. The coincident development of coordinated behaviour and the appearance of cells with ultrastructural and histochemical characteristics of nerves suggests that the larval nervous system is derived at least in part from cells of the animal plate and develops in association with the ciliary bands.

  9. Variability of manual ciliary muscle segmentation in optical coherence tomography images.

    PubMed

    Chang, Yu-Cherng; Liu, Keke; Cabot, Florence; Yoo, Sonia H; Ruggeri, Marco; Ho, Arthur; Parel, Jean-Marie; Manns, Fabrice

    2018-02-01

    Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers new options for imaging the ciliary muscle allowing direct in vivo visualization. However, variation in image quality along the length of the muscle prevents accurate delineation and quantification of the muscle. Quantitative analyses of the muscle are accompanied by variability in segmentation between examiners and between sessions for the same examiner. In processes such as accommodation where changes in muscle thickness may be tens of microns- the equivalent of a small number of image pixels, differences in segmentation can influence the magnitude and potentially the direction of thickness change. A detailed analysis of variability in ciliary muscle thickness measurements was performed to serve as a benchmark for the extent of this variability in studies on the ciliary muscle. Variation between sessions and examiners were found to be insignificant but the magnitude of variation should be considered when interpreting ciliary muscle results.

  10. Rapid diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia: cell culture and soft computing analysis.

    PubMed

    Pifferi, Massimo; Bush, Andrew; Montemurro, Francesca; Pioggia, Giovanni; Piras, Martina; Tartarisco, Gennaro; Di Cicco, Maria; Chinellato, Iolanda; Cangiotti, Angela M; Boner, Attilio L

    2013-04-01

    Diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) sometimes requires repeated nasal brushing to exclude secondary ciliary alterations. Our aim was to evaluate whether the use of a new method of nasal epithelial cell culture can speed PCD diagnosis in doubtful cases and to identify which are the most informative parameters by means of a multilayer artificial neural network (ANN). A cross-sectional study was performed in patients with suspected PCD. All patients underwent nasal brushing for ciliary motion analysis, ultrastructural assessment and evaluation of ciliary function after ciliogenesis in culture by ANN. 151 subjects were studied. A diagnostic suspension cell culture was obtained in 117 nasal brushings. A diagnosis of PCD was made in 36 subjects (29 of whom were children). In nine out of the 36 patients the diagnosis was made only after a second brushing, because of equivocal results of both tests at first examination. In each of these subjects diagnosis of PCD was confirmed by cell culture results. Cell culture in suspension evaluated by means of ANN allows the separation of PCD from secondary ciliary dyskinesia patients after only 5 days of culture and allows diagnosis to be reached in doubtful cases, thus avoiding the necessity of a second sample.

  11. Recessive HYDIN Mutations Cause Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia without Randomization of Left-Right Body Asymmetry

    PubMed Central

    Olbrich, Heike; Schmidts, Miriam; Werner, Claudius; Onoufriadis, Alexandros; Loges, Niki T.; Raidt, Johanna; Banki, Nora Fanni; Shoemark, Amelia; Burgoyne, Tom; Al Turki, Saeed; Hurles, Matthew E.; Köhler, Gabriele; Schroeder, Josef; Nürnberg, Gudrun; Nürnberg, Peter; Chung, Eddie M.K.; Reinhardt, Richard; Marthin, June K.; Nielsen, Kim G.; Mitchison, Hannah M.; Omran, Heymut

    2012-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous recessive disorder characterized by defective cilia and flagella motility. Chronic destructive-airway disease is caused by abnormal respiratory-tract mucociliary clearance. Abnormal propulsion of sperm flagella contributes to male infertility. Genetic defects in most individuals affected by PCD cause randomization of left-right body asymmetry; approximately half show situs inversus or situs ambiguous. Almost 70 years after the hy3 mouse possessing Hydin mutations was described as a recessive hydrocephalus model, we report HYDIN mutations in PCD-affected persons without hydrocephalus. By homozygosity mapping, we identified a PCD-associated locus, chromosomal region 16q21-q23, which contains HYDIN. However, a nearly identical 360 kb paralogous segment (HYDIN2) in chromosomal region 1q21.1 complicated mutational analysis. In three affected German siblings linked to HYDIN, we identified homozygous c.3985G>T mutations that affect an evolutionary conserved splice acceptor site and that subsequently cause aberrantly spliced transcripts predicting premature protein termination in respiratory cells. Parallel whole-exome sequencing identified a homozygous nonsense HYDIN mutation, c.922A>T (p.Lys307∗), in six individuals from three Faroe Island PCD-affected families that all carried an 8.8 Mb shared haplotype across HYDIN, indicating an ancestral founder mutation in this isolated population. We demonstrate by electron microscopy tomography that, consistent with the effects of loss-of-function mutations, HYDIN mutant respiratory cilia lack the C2b projection of the central pair (CP) apparatus; similar findings were reported in Hydin-deficient Chlamydomonas and mice. High-speed videomicroscopy demonstrated markedly reduced beating amplitudes of respiratory cilia and stiff sperm flagella. Like the hy3 mouse model, all nine PCD-affected persons had normal body composition because nodal cilia function is apparently not dependent on the function of the CP apparatus. PMID:23022101

  12. Autonomic control of the eye

    PubMed Central

    McDougal, David H.; Gamlin, Paul D.

    2016-01-01

    The autonomic nervous system influences numerous ocular functions. It does this by way of parasympathetic innervation from postganglionic fibers that originate from neurons in the ciliary and pterygopalatine ganglia, and by way of sympathetic innervation from postganglionic fibers that originate from neurons in the superior cervical ganglion. Ciliary ganglion neurons project to the ciliary body and the sphincter pupillae muscle of the iris to control ocular accommodation and pupil constriction, respectively. Superior cervical ganglion neurons project to the dilator pupillae muscle of the iris to control pupil dilation. Ocular blood flow is controlled both via direct autonomic influences on the vasculature of the optic nerve, choroid, ciliary body, and iris, as well as via indirect influences on retinal blood flow. In mammals, this vasculature is innervated by vasodilatory fibers from the pterygopalatine ganglion, and by vasoconstrictive fibers from the superior cervical ganglion. Intraocular pressure is regulated primarily through the balance of aqueous humor formation and outflow. Autonomic regulation of ciliary body blood vessels and the ciliary epithelium is an important determinant of aqueous humor formation; autonomic regulation of the trabecular meshwork and episcleral blood vessels is an important determinant of aqueous humor outflow. These tissues are all innervated by fibers from the pterygopalatine and superior cervical ganglia. In addition to these classical autonomic pathways, trigeminal sensory fibers exert local, intrinsic influences on many of these regions of the eye, as well as on some neurons within the ciliary and pterygopalatine ganglia. PMID:25589275

  13. Enriched expression of the ciliopathy gene Ick in cell proliferating regions of adult mice.

    PubMed

    Tsutsumi, Ryotaro; Chaya, Taro; Furukawa, Takahisa

    2018-04-07

    Cilia are essential for sensory and motile functions across species. In humans, ciliary dysfunction causes "ciliopathies", which show severe developmental abnormalities in various tissues. Several missense mutations in intestinal cell kinase (ICK) gene lead to endocrine-cerebro-osteodysplasia syndrome or short rib-polydactyly syndrome, lethal recessive developmental ciliopathies. We and others previously reported that Ick-deficient mice exhibit neonatal lethality with developmental defects. Mechanistically, Ick regulates intraflagellar transport and cilia length at ciliary tips. Although Ick plays important roles during mammalian development, roles of Ick at the adult stage are poorly understood. In the current study, we investigated the Ick gene expression in adult mouse tissues. RT-PCR analysis showed that Ick is ubiquitously expressed, with enrichment in the retina, brain, lung, intestine, and reproductive system. In the adult brain, we found that Ick expression is enriched in the walls of the lateral ventricle, in the rostral migratory stream of the olfactory bulb, and in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus by in situ hybridization analysis. We also observed that Ick staining pattern is similar to pachytene spermatocyte to spermatid markers in the mature testis and to an intestinal stem cell marker in the adult small intestine. These results suggest that Ick is expressed in proliferating regions in the adult mouse brain, testis, and intestine. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Morphological findings in the tracheal epithelium of dogs exposed to the inhalation of poorly conditioned gases under use of an endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway.

    PubMed

    Dias, Norimar Hernandes; Braz, José Reinaldo Cerqueira; Defaveri, Júlio; Carvalho, Lídia Raquel; Martins, Regina Helena Garcia

    2011-10-01

    To study morphological findings in the tracheal epithelium of dogs exposed to the inhalation of poorly conditioned gases under use of an endotracheal tube (ET) or laryngeal mask airway (LMA). Twelve dogs randomly were allocated to two groups: ET group (n-6) and LMA group (n-6), anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated, without CO(2) reabsorption. Haemodynamic and ventilatory parameters, tympanic temperature, temperature, relative and absolute humidity of the ambient and inhaled gases were analyzed during three hours. The animals were submitted to euthanasia and biopsies were carried out along the tracheal segment to morphological study. Three healthy dogs were used to morphological control. Inhaled gas temperature was maintained between 24ºC and 26ºC, relative humidity between 10% and 12%, and absolute humidity between 2 - 3 mg H(2)O.L(-1) with no significant differences between groups. In both groups, histological analysis showed epithelial inflammation and congestion in the corion and scanning electron microscopy showed ciliary grouping and disorganization. Transmission electron microscopy showed higher alterations in ET group than LMA group as widening of cell junctions, ciliary disorientation, cytoplasmic vacuolization, nuclear abnormalities, picnosis and chromatin condensation. LMA determined less pronounced changes in the tracheal epithelium in dogs exposed to the inhalation of poorly conditioned gases.

  15. Seeing cilia: imaging modalities for ciliary motion and clinical connections.

    PubMed

    Peabody, Jacelyn E; Shei, Ren-Jay; Bermingham, Brent M; Phillips, Scott E; Turner, Brett; Rowe, Steven M; Solomon, George M

    2018-06-01

    The respiratory tract is lined with multiciliated epithelial cells that function to move mucus and trapped particles via the mucociliary transport apparatus. Genetic and acquired ciliopathies result in diminished mucociliary clearance, contributing to disease pathogenesis. Recent innovations in imaging technology have advanced our understanding of ciliary motion in health and disease states. Application of imaging modalities including transmission electron microscopy, high-speed video microscopy, and micron-optical coherence tomography could improve diagnostics and be applied for precision medicine. In this review, we provide an overview of ciliary motion, imaging modalities, and ciliopathic diseases of the respiratory system including primary ciliary dyskinesia, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

  16. Redescription of Tintinnopsis cylindrica Daday, 1887 (Ciliophora: Spirotricha) and Unification of Tintinnid Terminology

    PubMed Central

    AGATHA, Sabine; RIEDEL-LORJÉ, Jeannette Cornelie

    2010-01-01

    Summary Although Tintinnopsis cylindrica Daday, 1887 is apparently widely distributed in the plankton of marine and brackish coastal waters, its ciliary pattern remained unknown. Without detailed knowledge of the cell morphology, however, the proposed synonymies cannot be proved. Hence, the cell and lorica features of T. cylindrica are redescribed from live and protargol-impregnated specimens collected in mixo-polyhaline basins at the German North Sea coast. An improved species diagnosis and a comprehensive unified terminology are provided. The somatic ciliary pattern of T. cylindrica is complex, comprising a ventral, dorsal, and posterior kinety as well as a right, left, and lateral ciliary field. Accordingly, the species differs from its congener T. cylindrata that has merely a right and left ciliary field and ventral organelles. On the other hand, the genera Codonella, Codonellopsis, Cymatocylis, Helicostomella, Leprotintinnus, and Stenosemella share this pattern. The oral primordium of T. cylindrica develops hypoapokinetally posterior to the lateral ciliary field as in Codonella cratera and Cymatocylis convallaria. PMID:20368769

  17. N-terminal dual lipidation-coupled molecular targeting into the primary cilium.

    PubMed

    Kumeta, Masahiro; Panina, Yulia; Yamazaki, Hiroya; Takeyasu, Kunio; Yoshimura, Shige H

    2018-06-13

    The primary cilium functions as an "antenna" for cell signaling, studded with characteristic transmembrane receptors and soluble protein factors, raised above the cell surface. In contrast to the transmembrane proteins, targeting mechanisms of nontransmembrane ciliary proteins are poorly understood. We focused on a pathogenic mutation that abolishes ciliary localization of retinitis pigmentosa 2 protein and revealed a dual acylation-dependent ciliary targeting pathway. Short N-terminal sequences which contain myristoylation and palmitoylation sites are sufficient to target a marker protein into the cilium in a palmitoylation-dependent manner. A Golgi-localized palmitoyltransferase DHHC-21 was identified as the key enzyme controlling this targeting pathway. Rapid turnover of the targeted protein was ensured by cholesterol-dependent membrane fluidity, which balances highly and less-mobile populations of the molecules within the cilium. This targeting signal was found in a set of signal transduction molecules, suggesting a general role of this pathway in proper ciliary organization, and dysfunction in ciliary disorders. © 2018 Molecular Biology Society of Japan and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

  18. Asymmetrically localized proteins stabilize basal bodies against ciliary beating forces

    PubMed Central

    Galati, Domenico F.

    2016-01-01

    Basal bodies are radially symmetric, microtubule-rich structures that nucleate and anchor motile cilia. Ciliary beating produces asymmetric mechanical forces that are resisted by basal bodies. To resist these forces, distinct regions within the basal body ultrastructure and the microtubules themselves must be stable. However, the molecular components that stabilize basal bodies remain poorly defined. Here, we determine that Fop1 functionally interacts with the established basal body stability components Bld10 and Poc1. We find that Fop1 and microtubule glutamylation incorporate into basal bodies at distinct stages of assembly, culminating in their asymmetric enrichment at specific triplet microtubule regions that are predicted to experience the greatest mechanical force from ciliary beating. Both Fop1 and microtubule glutamylation are required to stabilize basal bodies against ciliary beating forces. Our studies reveal that microtubule glutamylation and Bld10, Poc1, and Fop1 stabilize basal bodies against the forces produced by ciliary beating via distinct yet interdependent mechanisms. PMID:27807131

  19. Laser light-scattering spectroscopy: a new application in the study of ciliary activity.

    PubMed Central

    Lee, W I; Verdugo, P

    1976-01-01

    A uniquely precise and simple method to study ciliary activity by laser light-scattering spectroscopy has been developed and validated. A concurrent study of the effect of Ca2+ on ciliary activity in vitro by laser scattering spectroscopy and high speed cinematography has demonstrated that this new method is simpler and as accurate and reproducible as the high speed film technique. PMID:963208

  20. Changing epidemiology of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

    PubMed

    Bahçeci, Semiha; Karaman, Sait; Nacaroğlu, Hikmet Tekin; Yazıcı, Selçuk; Girit, Saniye; Ünsal-Karkıner, Şule; Can, Demet

    2016-01-01

    Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis again becomes a major health problem due to inappropriate antibiotic use and increasing frequency of protracted bacterial bronchitis. The aim was to determine the changes in etiology of bronchiectasis. Patients who admitted to Behçet Uz Children Hospital between 2005 and 2015 (n=110) were retrospectively examined. The etiology of bronchiectasis was detected as; primary ciliary dyskinesia 26.4%, protracted bacterial bronchitis 22.8%, primary immune deficiency 11.8%, bronchiolitis obliterans 8.2%, lung disease secondary to gastro-esophageal reflux 3.7%, foreign body aspiration 2.7%, tuberculosis %2.7, congenital malformation 1.8% and asthma 1.8%, respectively. In 15.4% of cases, etiology was not identified clearly. 91% of the patients were medically treated. In ten years, the frequency of asthma and tuberculosis in etiology had decreased but primary ciliary dyskinesia and primary immune deficiency had increased. Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis can be followed up for a long time with medical treatment.

  1. Diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of primary ciliary dyskinesia: PCD foundation consensus recommendations based on state of the art review

    PubMed Central

    Zariwala, Maimoona A.; Ferkol, Thomas; Davis, Stephanie D.; Sagel, Scott D.; Dell, Sharon D.; Rosenfeld, Margaret; Olivier, Kenneth N.; Milla, Carlos; Daniel, Sam J.; Kimple, Adam J.; Manion, Michele; Knowles, Michael R.; Leigh, Margaret W.

    2015-01-01

    Summary Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous, rare lung disease resulting in chronic oto‐sino‐pulmonary disease in both children and adults. Many physicians incorrectly diagnose PCD or eliminate PCD from their differential diagnosis due to inexperience with diagnostic testing methods. Thus far, all therapies used for PCD are unproven through large clinical trials. This review article outlines consensus recommendations from PCD physicians in North America who have been engaged in a PCD centered research consortium for the last 10 years. These recommendations have been adopted by the governing board of the PCD Foundation to provide guidance for PCD clinical centers for diagnostic testing, monitoring, and appropriate short and long‐term therapeutics in PCD patients. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:115–132. © 2015 The Authors. Pediatric Pulmonology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. PMID:26418604

  2. Voltage-gated calcium channels of Paramecium cilia

    PubMed Central

    Lodh, Sukanya; Valentine, Megan S.; Van Houten, Judith L.

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT Paramecium cells swim by beating their cilia, and make turns by transiently reversing their power stroke. Reversal is caused by Ca2+ entering the cilium through voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channels that are found exclusively in the cilia. As ciliary Ca2+ levels return to normal, the cell pivots and swims forward in a new direction. Thus, the activation of the CaV channels causes cells to make a turn in their swimming paths. For 45 years, the physiological characteristics of the Paramecium ciliary CaV channels have been known, but the proteins were not identified until recently, when the P. tetraurelia ciliary membrane proteome was determined. Three CaVα1 subunits that were identified among the proteins were cloned and confirmed to be expressed in the cilia. We demonstrate using RNA interference that these channels function as the ciliary CaV channels that are responsible for the reversal of ciliary beating. Furthermore, we show that Pawn (pw) mutants of Paramecium that cannot swim backward for lack of CaV channel activity do not express any of the three CaV1 channels in their ciliary membrane, until they are rescued from the mutant phenotype by expression of the wild-type PW gene. These results reinforce the correlation of the three CaV channels with backward swimming through ciliary reversal. The PwB protein, found in endoplasmic reticulum fractions, co-immunoprecipitates with the CaV1c channel and perhaps functions in trafficking. The PwA protein does not appear to have an interaction with the channel proteins but affects their appearance in the cilia. PMID:27707864

  3. PLATEAU IRIS--DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.

    PubMed

    Stefan, Cornel; Iliescu, Daniela Adriana; Batras, Mehdi; Timaru, Cristina Mihaela; De Simone, Algerino

    2015-01-01

    The objective of our study was to review the current knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment options of plateau iris configuration and syndrome. Relevant publications on plateau iris that were published until 2014. Plateau iris syndrome is a form of primary angle closure glaucoma caused by a large or anteriorly positioned ciliary body that leads to mechanical obstruction of trabecular meshwork. This condition is most often found in younger patients. Plateau iris has been considered an abnormal anatomic variant of the iris that can be diagnosed on ultrasound biomicroscopy or optical coherence tomography of anterior segment. Patients with plateau iris syndrome can be recognized by the lack of response in angle opening after iridotomy. The treatment of choice in these cases is argon laser peripheral iridoplasty.

  4. Light entrainment of the murine intraocular pressure circadian rhythm utilizes non-local mechanisms.

    PubMed

    Tsuchiya, Shunsuke; Buhr, Ethan D; Higashide, Tomomi; Sugiyama, Kazuhisa; Van Gelder, Russell N

    2017-01-01

    Intraocular pressure (IOP) is known to have a strong circadian rhythm, yet how light/dark cycles entrain this rhythm is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess whether, like the retina, the mammalian ciliary body and IOP clocks have an intrinsic ability to entrain to light/dark cycles. Iris-ciliary body complexes were obtained from period2:luciferase (PER2::LUC) mice and cultured to measure bioluminescence rhythmicity. Pairs of the iris-ciliary body complex were exposed to antiphasic 9:15 h light/dark cycle in vitro. After 4 days of exposure to light/dark cycles, bioluminescence was recorded to establish their circadian phases. In addition, pairs of the iris-ciliary body complex co-cultured with the retinas or corneas of wild-type mice were also investigated. The IOP circadian changes of free-running Opn4-/-;rd1/rd1 mice whose behavior was antiphasic to wild-type were measured by a rebound tonometry, and compared with wild-type mice. Opn3, Opn4, and Opn5 mRNA expression in the iris-ciliary body were analyzed using RT-PCR. The iris/ciliary body complex expressed Opn3, Opn4, and Opn5 mRNA; however, unlike in retina and cornea, neither the iris-CB complex nor the co-cultured complex was directly entrained by light-dark cycle in vitro. The diurnal IOP change of Opn4-/-;rd1/rd1 mice showed an antiphasic pattern to wild-type mice and their rhythms followed the whole-animal behavioral rhythm. Despite expressing mRNA for several non-visual opsins, circadian rhythms of the iris-ciliary body complex of mice do not entrain directly to light-dark cycles ex vivo. Unlike retina, the iris/ciliary body clocks of blind mice remain synchronized to the organismal behavioral rhythm rather than local light-dark cycles. These results suggest that IOP rhythm entrainment is mediated by a systemic rather than local signal in mice.

  5. Light entrainment of the murine intraocular pressure circadian rhythm utilizes non-local mechanisms

    PubMed Central

    Tsuchiya, Shunsuke; Buhr, Ethan D.; Higashide, Tomomi; Sugiyama, Kazuhisa

    2017-01-01

    Purpose Intraocular pressure (IOP) is known to have a strong circadian rhythm, yet how light/dark cycles entrain this rhythm is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess whether, like the retina, the mammalian ciliary body and IOP clocks have an intrinsic ability to entrain to light/dark cycles. Methods Iris-ciliary body complexes were obtained from period2:luciferase (PER2::LUC) mice and cultured to measure bioluminescence rhythmicity. Pairs of the iris-ciliary body complex were exposed to antiphasic 9:15 h light/dark cycle in vitro. After 4 days of exposure to light/dark cycles, bioluminescence was recorded to establish their circadian phases. In addition, pairs of the iris-ciliary body complex co-cultured with the retinas or corneas of wild-type mice were also investigated. The IOP circadian changes of free-running Opn4-/-;rd1/rd1 mice whose behavior was antiphasic to wild-type were measured by a rebound tonometry, and compared with wild-type mice. Opn3, Opn4, and Opn5 mRNA expression in the iris-ciliary body were analyzed using RT-PCR. Results The iris/ciliary body complex expressed Opn3, Opn4, and Opn5 mRNA; however, unlike in retina and cornea, neither the iris-CB complex nor the co-cultured complex was directly entrained by light-dark cycle in vitro. The diurnal IOP change of Opn4-/-;rd1/rd1 mice showed an antiphasic pattern to wild-type mice and their rhythms followed the whole-animal behavioral rhythm. Conclusions Despite expressing mRNA for several non-visual opsins, circadian rhythms of the iris-ciliary body complex of mice do not entrain directly to light-dark cycles ex vivo. Unlike retina, the iris/ciliary body clocks of blind mice remain synchronized to the organismal behavioral rhythm rather than local light-dark cycles. These results suggest that IOP rhythm entrainment is mediated by a systemic rather than local signal in mice. PMID:28934261

  6. Physical mapping of 5S and 18S-5.8S-26S RNA gene families in polyploid series of Cenchrus ciliaris Linnaeus, 1771 (Poaceae)

    PubMed Central

    Kharrat-Souissi, Amina; Siljak-Yakovlev, Sonja; Pustahija, Fatima; Chaieb, Mohamed

    2012-01-01

    Abstract The Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L., Poaceae) is one of the most important pasturage grasses due to its high productivity and good forage qualities. This species possess a high adaptability to bioclimatic constraints of arid zones and may be used for the restoration of degraded arid ecosystems. Tunisian populations present three ploidy levels (4x, 5x and 6x) with a basic chromosome number x=9. This study reported for the first time the distribution of the ribosomal genes (rRNA) for pentaploid and hexaploid cytotypes of Cenchrus ciliaris. Molecular cytogenetic study using double fluorescence in situ hybridization has shown that the two rDNA families, 5S and 18S-5.8S-26S (18S), displayed intraspecific variation in number of loci among different ploidy levels. Each ploidy level was characterized by specific number of both 5S and 18S rDNA loci (two loci in tetraploid, five in pentaploid and six in hexaploid level). For three studied cytotypes (4x, 5x and 6x) all 5S rDNA loci were localized on the subcentromeric region of chromosomes, while 18S loci were situated on the telomeric region of short chromosome arms. Data of the FISH experiments show proportional increase of ribosomal loci number during polyploidization processes. PMID:24260668

  7. Observing planar cell polarity in multiciliated mouse airway epithelial cells.

    PubMed

    Vladar, Eszter K; Lee, Yin Loon; Stearns, Tim; Axelrod, Jeffrey D

    2015-01-01

    The concerted movement of cilia propels inhaled contaminants out of the lungs, safeguarding the respiratory system from toxins, pathogens, pollutants, and allergens. Motile cilia on the multiciliated cells (MCCs) of the airway epithelium are physically oriented along the tissue axis for directional motility, which depends on the planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway. The MCCs of the mouse respiratory epithelium have emerged as an important model for the study of motile ciliogenesis and the PCP signaling mechanism. Unlike other motile ciliated or planar polarized tissues, airway epithelial cells are relatively easily accessible and primary cultures faithfully model many of the essential features of the in vivo tissue. There is growing interest in understanding how cells acquire and polarize motile cilia due to the impact of mucociliary clearance on respiratory health. Here, we present methods for observing and quantifying the planar polarized orientation of motile cilia both in vivo and in primary culture airway epithelial cells. We describe how to acquire and evaluate electron and light microscopy images of ciliary ultrastructural features that reveal planar polarized orientation. Furthermore, we describe the immunofluorescence localization of PCP pathway components as a simple readout for airway epithelial planar polarization and ciliary orientation. These methods can be adapted to observe ciliary orientation in other multi- and monociliated cells and to detect PCP pathway activity in any tissue or cell type. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Ciliary photoreceptors in the cerebral eyes of a protostome larva

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Eyes in bilaterian metazoans have been described as being composed of either ciliary or rhabdomeric photoreceptors. Phylogenetic distribution, as well as distinct morphologies and characteristic deployment of different photopigments (ciliary vs. rhabdomeric opsins) and transduction pathways argue for the co-existence of both of these two photoreceptor types in the last common bilaterian ancestor. Both receptor types exist throughout the Bilateria, but only vertebrates are thought to use ciliary photoreceptors for directional light detection in cerebral eyes, while all other invertebrate bilaterians studied utilize rhabdomeric photoreceptors for this purpose. In protostomes, ciliary photoreceptors that express c-opsin have been described only from a non-visual deep-brain photoreceptor. Their homology with vertebrate rods and cones of the human eye has been hypothesized to represent a unique functional transition from non-visual to visual roles in the vertebrate lineage. Results To test the hypothesis that protostome cerebral eyes employ exclusively rhabdomeric photoreceptors, we investigated the ultrastructure of the larval eyes in the brachiopod Terebratalia transversa. We show that these pigment-cup eyes consist of a lens cell and a shading pigment cell, both of which are putative photoreceptors, deploying a modified, enlarged cilium for light perception, and have axonal connections to the larval brain. Our investigation of the gene expression patterns of c-opsin, Pax6 and otx in these eyes confirms that the larval eye spots of brachiopods are cerebral eyes that deploy ciliary type photoreceptors for directional light detection. Interestingly, c-opsin is also expressed during early embryogenesis in all potential apical neural cells, becoming restricted to the anterior neuroectoderm, before expression is initiated in the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Coincident with the expression of c-opsin in the presumptive neuroectoderm, we found that middle gastrula stage embryos display a positive photoresponse behavior, in the absence of a discrete shading pigment or axonal connections between cells. Conclusions Our results indicate that the dichotomy in the deployment of ciliary and rhabdomeric photoreceptors for directional light detection is not as clear-cut as previously thought. Analyses of brachiopod larval eyes demonstrate that the utilization of c-opsin expressing ciliary photoreceptors in cerebral eyes is not limited to vertebrates. The presence of ciliary photoreceptor-based eyes in protostomes suggests that the transition between non-visual and visual functions of photoreceptors has been more evolutionarily labile than previously recognized, and that co-option of ciliary and rhabdomeric photoreceptor cell types for directional light detection has occurred multiple times during animal evolution. In addition, positive photoresponse behavior in gastrula stage embryos suggests that a discrete shading pigment is not requisite for directional photoreception in metazoans. Scanning photoreception of light intensities mediating cell-autonomous changes of ciliary movement may represent an ancient mechanism for regulating locomotory behavior, and is likely to have existed prior to the evolution of eye-mediated directional light detection employing axonal connections to effector cells and a discreet shading pigment. PMID:21362157

  9. Voltage-gated calcium channels of Paramecium cilia.

    PubMed

    Lodh, Sukanya; Yano, Junji; Valentine, Megan S; Van Houten, Judith L

    2016-10-01

    Paramecium cells swim by beating their cilia, and make turns by transiently reversing their power stroke. Reversal is caused by Ca 2+ entering the cilium through voltage-gated Ca 2+ (Ca V ) channels that are found exclusively in the cilia. As ciliary Ca 2+ levels return to normal, the cell pivots and swims forward in a new direction. Thus, the activation of the Ca V channels causes cells to make a turn in their swimming paths. For 45 years, the physiological characteristics of the Paramecium ciliary Ca V channels have been known, but the proteins were not identified until recently, when the P. tetraurelia ciliary membrane proteome was determined. Three Ca V α1 subunits that were identified among the proteins were cloned and confirmed to be expressed in the cilia. We demonstrate using RNA interference that these channels function as the ciliary Ca V channels that are responsible for the reversal of ciliary beating. Furthermore, we show that Pawn (pw) mutants of Paramecium that cannot swim backward for lack of Ca V channel activity do not express any of the three Ca V 1 channels in their ciliary membrane, until they are rescued from the mutant phenotype by expression of the wild-type PW gene. These results reinforce the correlation of the three Ca V channels with backward swimming through ciliary reversal. The PwB protein, found in endoplasmic reticulum fractions, co-immunoprecipitates with the Ca V 1c channel and perhaps functions in trafficking. The PwA protein does not appear to have an interaction with the channel proteins but affects their appearance in the cilia. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  10. Preoperative and postoperative size and movements of the lens capsular bag: ultrasound biomicroscopy analysis.

    PubMed

    Modesti, Marina; Pasqualitto, Giacomo; Appolloni, Rossella; Pecorella, Irene; Sourdille, Philippe

    2011-10-01

    To evaluate capsular bag size and accommodative movement before and after cataract surgery using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Ophthalmology Unit, Fabia Mater Clinic, Rome, Italy. Cohort study. Eyes having cataract surgery and monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were studied using UBM. The following parameters were measured preoperatively and 1, 2, and 12 months postoperatively: anterior chamber depth (ACD) (also by AS-OCT), capsular bag thickness, capsular bag diameter, ciliary ring diameter, sulcus-to-sulcus (STS) diameter, ciliary process-capsular bag distance, ciliary apex-capsular bag plane, and IOL tilting. The preoperative and postoperative capsular bag volumes were calculated at 12 months. The results were compared with the changes during accommodation. The study comprised 24 eyes. With the exception of the ciliary apex-capsular bag plane, which appeared to be unmodified postoperatively, all measured parameters showed significant variation after IOL implantation. Only the ACD did not change significantly during accommodation. After cataract surgery, the capsular bag stretched horizontally and with reduced vertical diameter as a result of adaptation to the implanted IOL. The capsular bag-IOL complex filled all available space, compressing the zonular fibers and almost abolishing the space between the ciliary apex and the capsular bag. There was anterior chamber deepening and a decrease in the ciliary ring diameter and STS diameter. In the absence of zonular fiber tension, the shape of the ciliary processes may be modified. No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Additional disclosures are found in the footnotes. Copyright © 2011 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Untangling ciliary access and enrichment of two rhodopsin-like receptors using quantitative fluorescence microscopy reveals cell-specific sorting pathways.

    PubMed

    Geneva, Ivayla I; Tan, Han Yen; Calvert, Peter D

    2017-02-15

    Resolution limitations of optical systems are major obstacles for determining whether proteins are enriched within cell compartments. Here we use an approach to determine the degree of membrane protein ciliary enrichment that quantitatively accounts for the differences in sampling of the ciliary and apical membranes inherent to confocal microscopes. Theory shows that cilia will appear more than threefold brighter than the surrounding apical membrane when the densities of fluorescently labeled proteins are the same, thus providing a benchmark for ciliary enrichment. Using this benchmark, we examined the ciliary enrichment signals of two G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)-the somatostatin receptor 3 and rhodopsin. Remarkably, we found that the C-terminal VxPx motif, required for efficient enrichment of rhodopsin within rod photoreceptor sensory cilia, inhibited enrichment of the somatostatin receptor in primary cilia. Similarly, VxPx inhibited primary cilium enrichment of a chimera of rhodopsin and somatostatin receptor 3, where the dual Ax(S/A)xQ ciliary targeting motifs within the third intracellular loop of the somatostatin receptor replaced the third intracellular loop of rhodopsin. Rhodopsin was depleted from primary cilia but gained access, without being enriched, with the dual Ax(S/A)xQ motifs. Ciliary enrichment of these GPCRs thus operates via distinct mechanisms in different cells. © 2017 Geneva et al. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). Two months after publication it is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

  12. The Gene Ontology of eukaryotic cilia and flagella.

    PubMed

    Roncaglia, Paola; van Dam, Teunis J P; Christie, Karen R; Nacheva, Lora; Toedt, Grischa; Huynen, Martijn A; Huntley, Rachael P; Gibson, Toby J; Lomax, Jane

    2017-01-01

    Recent research into ciliary structure and function provides important insights into inherited diseases termed ciliopathies and other cilia-related disorders. This wealth of knowledge needs to be translated into a computational representation to be fully exploitable by the research community. To this end, members of the Gene Ontology (GO) and SYSCILIA Consortia have worked together to improve representation of ciliary substructures and processes in GO. Members of the SYSCILIA and Gene Ontology Consortia suggested additions and changes to GO, to reflect new knowledge in the field. The project initially aimed to improve coverage of ciliary parts, and was then broadened to cilia-related biological processes. Discussions were documented in a public tracker. We engaged the broader cilia community via direct consultation and by referring to the literature. Ontology updates were implemented via ontology editing tools. So far, we have created or modified 127 GO terms representing parts and processes related to eukaryotic cilia/flagella or prokaryotic flagella. A growing number of biological pathways are known to involve cilia, and we continue to incorporate this knowledge in GO. The resulting expansion in GO allows more precise representation of experimentally derived knowledge, and SYSCILIA and GO biocurators have created 199 annotations to 50 human ciliary proteins. The revised ontology was also used to curate mouse proteins in a collaborative project. The revised GO and annotations, used in comparative 'before and after' analyses of representative ciliary datasets, improve enrichment results significantly. Our work has resulted in a broader and deeper coverage of ciliary composition and function. These improvements in ontology and protein annotation will benefit all users of GO enrichment analysis tools, as well as the ciliary research community, in areas ranging from microscopy image annotation to interpretation of high-throughput studies. We welcome feedback to further enhance the representation of cilia biology in GO.

  13. A novel mouse model of anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD): conditional deletion of Tsc1 disrupts ciliary body and iris development

    PubMed Central

    Hägglund, Anna-Carin; Jones, Iwan

    2017-01-01

    ABSTRACT Development of the cornea, lens, ciliary body and iris within the anterior segment of the eye involves coordinated interaction between cells originating from the ciliary margin of the optic cup, the overlying periocular mesenchyme and the lens epithelium. Anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) encompasses a spectrum of developmental syndromes that affect these anterior segment tissues. ASD conditions arise as a result of dominantly inherited genetic mutations and result in both ocular-specific and systemic forms of dysgenesis that are best exemplified by aniridia and Axenfeld–Rieger syndrome, respectively. Extensive clinical overlap in disease presentation amongst ASD syndromes creates challenges for correct diagnosis and classification. The use of animal models has therefore proved to be a robust approach for unravelling this complex genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity. However, despite these successes, it is clear that additional genes that underlie several ASD syndromes remain unidentified. Here, we report the characterisation of a novel mouse model of ASD. Conditional deletion of Tsc1 during eye development leads to a premature upregulation of mTORC1 activity within the ciliary margin, periocular mesenchyme and lens epithelium. This aberrant mTORC1 signalling within the ciliary margin in particular leads to a reduction in the number of cells that express Pax6, Bmp4 and Msx1. Sustained mTORC1 signalling also induces a decrease in ciliary margin progenitor cell proliferation and a consequent failure of ciliary body and iris development in postnatal animals. Our study therefore identifies Tsc1 as a novel candidate ASD gene. Furthermore, the Tsc1-ablated mouse model also provides a valuable resource for future studies concerning the molecular mechanisms underlying ASD and acts as a platform for evaluating therapeutic approaches for the treatment of visual disorders. PMID:28250050

  14. Transmembrane protein OSTA-1 shapes sensory cilia morphology via regulation of intracellular membrane trafficking in C. elegans.

    PubMed

    Olivier-Mason, Anique; Wojtyniak, Martin; Bowie, Rachel V; Nechipurenko, Inna V; Blacque, Oliver E; Sengupta, Piali

    2013-04-01

    The structure and function of primary cilia are critically dependent on intracellular trafficking pathways that transport ciliary membrane and protein components. The mechanisms by which these trafficking pathways are regulated are not fully characterized. Here we identify the transmembrane protein OSTA-1 as a new regulator of the trafficking pathways that shape the morphology and protein composition of sensory cilia in C. elegans. osta-1 encodes an organic solute transporter alpha-like protein, mammalian homologs of which have been implicated in membrane trafficking and solute transport, although a role in regulating cilia structure has not previously been demonstrated. We show that mutations in osta-1 result in altered ciliary membrane volume, branch length and complexity, as well as defects in localization of a subset of ciliary transmembrane proteins in different sensory cilia types. OSTA-1 is associated with transport vesicles, localizes to a ciliary compartment shown to house trafficking proteins, and regulates both retrograde and anterograde flux of the endosome-associated RAB-5 small GTPase. Genetic epistasis experiments with sensory signaling, exocytic and endocytic proteins further implicate OSTA-1 as a crucial regulator of ciliary architecture via regulation of cilia-destined trafficking. Our findings suggest that regulation of transport pathways in a cell type-specific manner contributes to diversity in sensory cilia structure and might allow dynamic remodeling of ciliary architecture via multiple inputs.

  15. Swimming Speed of Larval Snail Does Not Correlate with Size and Ciliary Beat Frequency

    PubMed Central

    Chan, Kit Yu Karen; Jiang, Houshuo; Padilla, Dianna K.

    2013-01-01

    Many marine invertebrates have planktonic larvae with cilia used for both propulsion and capturing of food particles. Hence, changes in ciliary activity have implications for larval nutrition and ability to navigate the water column, which in turn affect survival and dispersal. Using high-speed high-resolution microvideography, we examined the relationship between swimming speed, velar arrangements, and ciliary beat frequency of freely swimming veliger larvae of the gastropod Crepidula fornicata over the course of larval development. Average swimming speed was greatest 6 days post hatching, suggesting a reduction in swimming speed towards settlement. At a given age, veliger larvae have highly variable speeds (0.8–4 body lengths s−1) that are independent of shell size. Contrary to the hypothesis that an increase in ciliary beat frequency increases work done, and therefore speed, there was no significant correlation between swimming speed and ciliary beat frequency. Instead, there are significant correlations between swimming speed and visible area of the velar lobe, and distance between centroids of velum and larval shell. These observations suggest an alternative hypothesis that, instead of modifying ciliary beat frequency, larval C. fornicata modify swimming through adjustment of velum extension or orientation. The ability to adjust velum position could influence particle capture efficiency and fluid disturbance and help promote survival in the plankton. PMID:24367554

  16. Analysis of ciliary beat frequency and ovum transport ability in the mouse oviduct.

    PubMed

    Shi, Dongbo; Komatsu, Kouji; Uemura, Tadashi; Fujimori, Toshihiko

    2011-03-01

    The oviduct is important in reproduction where fertilization occurs, and the fertilized eggs are conveyed to the uterus. Multi-ciliated cells of the oviductal epithelium and muscle contractions are believed to generate this unidirectional flow. Although there are many studies in human oviducts, there are few reports on mouse oviductal ciliary movements where we can dissect underlying genetic programs. To study ciliary movements in the mouse oviduct, we exposed the ovary-side of the oviduct (infundibulum) longitudinally and recorded the ciliary beatings in a hanging drop preparation. We calculated the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) by automated image analysis and found that the average CBF was 10.9 ± 3.3 and 8.5 ± 2.5 Hz (±standard deviation) during the diestrus and estrus stages, respectively. Mapping of the CBF to multiple locations in the epithelium showed that the cilia beat regularly at a local level, but have a range of frequencies within the entire plane. We also observed ova with cumulus cells were transported to the uterus side by the opened oviduct at the diestrus and estrus stages. These results suggest that the ciliated cells of the infundibulum can generate unidirectional flows and are able to deliver ova by their ciliary activities despite their discordance in beating periodicity. © 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 by the Molecular Biology Society of Japan/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  17. Molecular characterization and differential gene induction of the neuroendocrine-specific genes neurotensin, neurotensin receptor, PC1, PC2, and 7B2 in the human ocular ciliary epithelium.

    PubMed

    Ortego, J; Coca-Prados, M

    1997-11-01

    The ocular ciliary epithelium is a bilayer of neuroepithelial cells specialized in the secretion of aqueous humor fluid and the regulation of intraocular pressure. In this study, we report on the expression of the regulatory peptide neurotensin (NT) and a set of differentiated neuroendocrine markers including neurotensin receptors (NTrs), the prohormone convertases furin, PC1, and PC2, and the neuroendocrine polypeptide 7B2 in the ciliary epithelium. Using a human cell line, ODM-2, derived from the nonpigmented ciliary epithelium, we demonstrate that (1) NT expression is highly activated by nerve growth factor, glucocorticoid, and activators of adenylate cyclase; (2) NTr expression is up-regulated by selective ligand-activated beta2-adrenergic receptor; and (3) PC1 and PC2 expression are up-regulated via distinct signaling transduction pathways. PC1 gene expression is activated by phorbol ester, and PC2 by the same inducers as those of NT expression. A radioimmunoassay for NT detected an NT-like immunoreactivity in human ciliary epithelium and ODM-2 cell extracts, in aqueous humor, and in conditioned culture medium. The results support the view that the entire ciliary epithelium functions as a neuroendocrine tissue, synthesizing, processing, and releasing NT into the aqueous humor where it may exert important physiological functions through autocrine and/or paracrine mechanisms.

  18. Efficient mucociliary transport relies on efficient regulation of ciliary beating.

    PubMed

    Braiman, Alex; Priel, Zvi

    2008-11-30

    The respiratory mucociliary epithelium is a synchronized and highly effective waste-disposal system. It uses mucus as a vehicle, driven by beating cilia, to transport unwanted particles, trapped in the mucus, away from the respiratory system. The ciliary machinery can function in at least two different modes: a low rate of beating that requires only ATP, and a high rate of beating regulated by second messengers. The mucus propelling velocity is linearly dependent on ciliary beat frequency (CBF). The linear dependence implies that a substantial increase in transport efficiency requires an equally substantial rise in CBF. The ability to enhance beating in response to various physiological cues is a hallmark of mucociliary cells. An intricate signaling network controls ciliary activity, which relies on interplay between calcium and cyclic nucleotide pathways.

  19. Quantitative optical coherence tomography imaging of intermediate flow defect phenotypes in ciliary physiology and pathophysiology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Brendan K.; Gamm, Ute A.; Jonas, Stephan; Khokha, Mustafa K.; Choma, Michael A.

    2015-03-01

    Cilia-driven fluid flow is a critical yet poorly understood aspect of pulmonary physiology. Here, we demonstrate that optical coherence tomography-based particle tracking velocimetry can be used to quantify subtle variability in cilia-driven flow performance in Xenopus, an important animal model of ciliary biology. Changes in flow performance were quantified in the setting of normal development, as well as in response to three types of perturbations: mechanical (increased fluid viscosity), pharmacological (disrupted serotonin signaling), and genetic (diminished ciliary motor protein expression). Of note, we demonstrate decreased flow secondary to gene knockdown of kif3a, a protein involved in ciliogenesis, as well as a dose-response decrease in flow secondary to knockdown of dnah9, an important ciliary motor protein.

  20. Vanadate and aqueous humor dynamics. Proctor Lecture.

    PubMed

    Becker, B

    1980-10-01

    Topical administration of 0.5% vanadate lowers intraocular pressure in monkey and rabbit eyes. This appears to be a consequence of a reduction in the rate of aqueous humor secretion, probably resulting from the inhibition of ciliary epithelium membrane. NaK ATPase. The ubiquitous vanadate and its interactions with catecholamines and ascorbate may play a role in regulating the sodium pump of the ciliary epithelium. Adrenergic blocking agents may also lower intraocular pressure by inhibiting the NaK ATPase of the ciliary epithelium.

  1. Functional short- and long-term effects of nasal CPAP with and without humidification on the ciliary function of the nasal respiratory epithelium.

    PubMed

    Sommer, J Ulrich; Kraus, Marius; Birk, Richard; Schultz, Johannes D; Hörmann, Karl; Stuck, Boris A

    2014-03-01

    Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but its impact on ciliary function is unclear to date. Furthermore, CPAP is associated with numerous side effects related to the nose and upper airway. Humidified CPAP is used to relieve these symptoms, but again, little is known regarding its effect on ciliary function of the nasal respiratory epithelium. In this prospective, randomized, crossover trial, 31 patients with OSA (AHI >15/h) were randomized to two treatment arms: nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) with humidification or nCPAP without humidification for one night in each modality to assess short-term effects of ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and mucus transport time (MTT) and consecutively for 8 weeks in each modality to assess long-term effects in a crossover fashion. The baseline CBF was 4.8 ± 0.6 Hz, and baseline MTT was 540 ± 221 s. After one night of CPAP with and without humidification, ciliary function increased moderately yet with statistical significance (p <0.05). The short-term groups with and without humidification did not differ statistically significant. Regarding long-term effects of CPAP, a statistically significant increase in ciliary function above the baseline level and above the short-term level was shown without humidification (7.2 ± 0.4 Hz; 402 ± 176 s; p <0.01). The increase above baseline level was even more pronounced with humidification (9.3 ± 0.7 Hz; 313 ± 95 s; p <0.01). There was a statistically significant difference between both groups at long-term assessment with regard to CBF (p <0.01). Independent of airway humidification, nCPAP has moderate effects on short-term ciliary function of the nasal respiratory epithelium. However, a significant increase in ciliary function-both in terms of an increased CBF and a decreased MTT-was detected after long-term use. The effect was more pronounced when humidification was used during nCPAP.

  2. A novel murine allele of Intraflagellar Transport Protein 172 causes a syndrome including VACTERL-like features with hydrocephalus.

    PubMed

    Friedland-Little, Joshua M; Hoffmann, Andrew D; Ocbina, Polloneal Jymmiel R; Peterson, Mike A; Bosman, Joshua D; Chen, Yan; Cheng, Steven Y; Anderson, Kathryn V; Moskowitz, Ivan P

    2011-10-01

    The primary cilium is emerging as a crucial regulator of signaling pathways central to vertebrate development and human disease. We identified atrioventricular canal 1 (avc1), a mouse mutation that caused VACTERL association with hydrocephalus, or VACTERL-H. We showed that avc1 is a hypomorphic mutation of intraflagellar transport protein 172 (Ift172), required for ciliogenesis and Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. Phenotypically, avc1 caused VACTERL-H but not abnormalities in left-right (L-R) axis formation. Avc1 resulted in structural cilia defects, including truncated cilia in vivo and in vitro. We observed a dose-dependent requirement for Ift172 in ciliogenesis using an allelic series generated with Ift172(avc1) and Ift172(wim), an Ift172 null allele: cilia were present on 42% of avc1 mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) and 28% of avc1/wim MEFs, in contrast to >90% of wild-type MEFs. Furthermore, quantitative cilium length analysis identified two specific cilium populations in mutant MEFS: a normal population with normal IFT and a truncated population, 50% of normal length, with disrupted IFT. Cells from wild-type embryos had predominantly full-length cilia, avc1 embryos, with Hh signaling abnormalities but not L-R abnormalities, had cilia equally divided between full-length and truncated, and avc1/wim embryos, with both Hh signaling and L-R abnormalities, were primarily truncated. Truncated Ift172 mutant cilia showed defects of the distal ciliary axoneme, including disrupted IFT88 localization and Hh-dependent Gli2 localization. We propose a model in which mutation of Ift172 results in a specific class of abnormal cilia, causing disrupted Hh signaling while maintaining L-R axis determination, and resulting in the VACTERL-H phenotype.

  3. Neural control of the ciliary muscle.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1963-03-01

    The cat ciliary muscle was shown to respond to both parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve impulses in vitro. Sympathetic responses were directionally opposite to parasympathetic responses and are interpreted as active contractions of the radial muscl...

  4. Fiber optic laser light scattering measurement of ciliary function of the fallopian tube

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Halbert, Sheridan A.; Lim, Kap; Lee, Wylie I.

    1990-07-01

    A fiber-optic laser light-scattering system (FLS) for measuring ciliary function was evaluated by means of three sets of in vitro experiments. First, FLS performance was compared to that of a previously proven benchtop laser system (BLS). Using tissue excised from rabbit fallopian tubes, ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of each sample was measured with FLS and BLS. Paired CBF measurements showed excellent correlation between the two systems (r =0.93). Second, the FLS was used to evaluate the dependency of CBF on temperature (T) by using tissue sampies of rabbit oviductal fimbna. Regression analysis of CBF vs T showed a linear relationship over the range of 18-37°C for both individual samples (r =0.98) and pooled data from all experiments (r = 0.84). Fmally, the relalionship between CBF and ciliary ovum transport rate (TR) was tested by using T to modulate CBF of rabbit fimbria, in vitro. The relationship was linear over the range of CBF from 10 to 30 Hz (r2 = 0.83). At 37°C, CBF = 31+/-1 Hz, and TR = O.12+/-.02 mm/sec. equal to ovum transport rate in situ. The FLS is a valuable tool for characterizing ciliary activity and thus ovum transport function. Owing to the fact that ciliary dyskinesia resulting from disease of the fallopian tube is associated with infeitility, the FLS may be useful to acquire data important to the clinical evaluation of fallopian tube function and female infertility.

  5. Cell- and subunit-specific mechanisms of CNG channel ciliary trafficking and localization in C. elegans

    PubMed Central

    Wojtyniak, Martin; Brear, Andrea G.; O'Halloran, Damien M.; Sengupta, Piali

    2013-01-01

    Summary Primary cilia are ubiquitous sensory organelles that concentrate transmembrane signaling proteins essential for sensing environmental cues. Mislocalization of crucial ciliary signaling proteins, such as the tetrameric cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels, can lead to cellular dysfunction and disease. Although several cis- and trans-acting factors required for ciliary protein trafficking and localization have been identified, whether these mechanisms act in a protein- and cell-specific manner is largely unknown. Here, we show that CNG channel subunits can be localized to discrete ciliary compartments in individual sensory neurons in C. elegans, suggesting that channel composition is heterogeneous across the cilium. We demonstrate that ciliary localization of CNG channel subunits is interdependent on different channel subunits in specific cells, and identify sequences required for efficient ciliary targeting and localization of the TAX-2 CNGB and TAX-4 CNGA subunits. Using a candidate gene approach, we show that Inversin, transition zone proteins, intraflagellar transport motors and a MYND-domain protein are required to traffic and/or localize CNG channel subunits in both a cell- and channel subunit-specific manner. We further find that TAX-2 and TAX-4 are relatively immobile in specific sensory cilia subcompartments, suggesting that these proteins undergo minimal turnover in these domains in mature cilia. Our results uncover unexpected diversity in the mechanisms that traffic and localize CNG channel subunits to cilia both within and across cell types, highlighting the essential contribution of this process to cellular functions. PMID:23886944

  6. Cell- and subunit-specific mechanisms of CNG channel ciliary trafficking and localization in C. elegans.

    PubMed

    Wojtyniak, Martin; Brear, Andrea G; O'Halloran, Damien M; Sengupta, Piali

    2013-10-01

    Primary cilia are ubiquitous sensory organelles that concentrate transmembrane signaling proteins essential for sensing environmental cues. Mislocalization of crucial ciliary signaling proteins, such as the tetrameric cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels, can lead to cellular dysfunction and disease. Although several cis- and trans-acting factors required for ciliary protein trafficking and localization have been identified, whether these mechanisms act in a protein- and cell-specific manner is largely unknown. Here, we show that CNG channel subunits can be localized to discrete ciliary compartments in individual sensory neurons in C. elegans, suggesting that channel composition is heterogeneous across the cilium. We demonstrate that ciliary localization of CNG channel subunits is interdependent on different channel subunits in specific cells, and identify sequences required for efficient ciliary targeting and localization of the TAX-2 CNGB and TAX-4 CNGA subunits. Using a candidate gene approach, we show that Inversin, transition zone proteins, intraflagellar transport motors and a MYND-domain protein are required to traffic and/or localize CNG channel subunits in both a cell- and channel subunit-specific manner. We further find that TAX-2 and TAX-4 are relatively immobile in specific sensory cilia subcompartments, suggesting that these proteins undergo minimal turnover in these domains in mature cilia. Our results uncover unexpected diversity in the mechanisms that traffic and localize CNG channel subunits to cilia both within and across cell types, highlighting the essential contribution of this process to cellular functions.

  7. A new ex vivo method for the study of nasal drops on ciliary function.

    PubMed

    Levrier, J; Molon-Noblot, S; Duval, D; Lloyd, K G

    1989-01-01

    Any pharmaceutical nasal preparation should respect the physiological function of the mucociliary transport system and should undergo testing to this effect. An experimental protocol has been developed using the guinea pig in order to assess the effects of commercial nasal drop preparations on mucociliary function. The method presented here consists of applying in vivo the test solution on the nasal respiratory epithelium. After a specified contact time and following rapid sacrifice of the animal, the mucosa is removed; the beating frequency of the cilia is then recorded ex vivo by micro-photo-oscillography. The method is sensitive to compounds known to diminish mucociliary function as sodium mercurothiolate inhibits ciliary movement of the nasal epithelium ex vivo. This inhibition of ciliary movement is long-lasting, although reversible. This method can be used to test the action of intranasally administered pharmaceutical preparations on mucociliary function. Commercially available solutions of the nasal vasoconstrictors tymazoline, fenoxazoline or oxymetazoline do not alter ciliary movement ex vivo at dose levels equal to or greater than those clinically utilized. ATP significantly enhances nasal ciliary frequency in instances where a low basal rate occurred. Thus, this method can be used for the testing of the maintenance of nasal ciliary function in the presence of compounds and preparations which will be applied into the nostrils. The advantages over previous techniques include a closer approach to the therapeutic utilization and the maintained physiological conditions of the mucosa during drug administration.

  8. Childhood recurrent pneumonia caused by endobronchial sutures: A case report.

    PubMed

    Zan, Yiheng; Liu, Hanmin; Zhong, Lin; Qiu, Li; Tao, Qingfen; Chen, Lina

    2017-01-01

    Recurrent pneumonia is defined as more than two episodes of pneumonia in one year or three or more episodes anytime in life. Common clinical scenarios leading to recurrent pneumonia include anatomical abnormalities of respiratory tract, immunodeficiency, congenital heart diseases, primary ciliary dyskinesia, etc. A school-aged girl suffered from 1-2 episodes of pneumonia each year after trachea connection and lung repair operation resulted from an accident of car crash. Bronchoscopy revealed the sutures twisted with granulation in the left main bronchus and the patient's symptoms relieved after removal of the sutures. Here we report for the first time that surgical suture was the cause of recurrent pneumonia. This case indicates that children with late and recurrent onset of pneumonia should undergo detailed evaluation including bronchoscopy.

  9. PLATEAU IRIS – DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

    PubMed Central

    Stefan, Cornel; Iliescu, Daniela Adriana; Batras, Mehdi; Timaru, Cristina Mihaela; De Simone, Algerino

    2015-01-01

    Objectives: The objective of our study was to review the current knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment options of plateau iris configuration and syndrome. Systematic review methodology: Relevant publications on plateau iris that were published until 2014. Conclusions: Plateau iris syndrome is a form of primary angle closure glaucoma caused by a large or anteriorly positioned ciliary body that leads to mechanical obstruction of trabecular meshwork. This condition is most often found in younger patients. Plateau iris has been considered an abnormal anatomic variant of the iris that can be diagnosed on ultrasound biomicroscopy or optical coherence tomography of anterior segment. Patients with plateau iris syndrome can be recognized by the lack of response in angle opening after iridotomy. The treatment of choice in these cases is argon laser peripheral iridoplasty PMID:27373109

  10. RAPAMYCIN INCREASES LENGTH AND MECHANOSENSORY FUNCTION OF PRIMARY CILIA IN RENAL EPITHELIAL AND VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL CELLS.

    PubMed

    Sherpa, Rinzhin T; Atkinson, Kimberly F; Ferreira, Viviana P; Nauli, Surya M

    2016-12-01

    Primary cilia arebiophysically-sensitive organelles responsible for sensing fluid-flow and transducing this stimulus into intracellular responses. Previous studies have shown that the primary cilia mediate flow-induced calcium influx, and sensitivity of cilia function to flow is correlated to cilia length. Cells with abnormal cilia length or function can lead to a host of diseases that are collectively termed as ciliopathies. Rapamycin, a potent inhibitor of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), has been demonstrated to be a potential pharmacological agent against the aberrant mTOR signaling seen in ciliopathies such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Here we look at the effects of rapamycin on ciliary length and function for the first time. Compared to controls, primary cilia in rapamycin-treated porcine renal epithelial and mouse vascular endothelial cells showed a significant increase in length. Graded increases in fluid-shear stress further indicates that rapamycin enhances cilia sensitivity to fluid flow. Treatment with rapamycin led to G0 arrest in porcine epithelial cells while no significant change in cell cycle were observed in rapamycin-treated mouse epithelial or endothelial cells, indicating a species-specific effect of rapamycin. Given the previousin vitro and in vivo studies establishing rapamycin as a potential therapeutic agent for ciliopathies, such as PKD and TSC, our studies show that rapamycin enhances ciliary function and sensitivity to fluid flow. The results of our studies suggest a potential ciliotherapeutic effect of rapamycin.

  11. The accommodative ciliary muscle function is preserved in older humans

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tabernero, Juan; Chirre, Emmanuel; Hervella, Lucia; Prieto, Pedro; Artal, Pablo

    2016-05-01

    Presbyopia, the loss of the eye’s accommodation capability, affects all humans aged above 45-50 years old. The two main reasons for this to happen are a hardening of the crystalline lens and a reduction of the ciliary muscle functionality with age. While there seems to be at least some partial accommodating functionality of the ciliary muscle at early presbyopic ages, it is not yet clear whether the muscle is still active at more advanced ages. Previous techniques used to visualize the accommodation mechanism of the ciliary muscle are complicated to apply in the older subjects, as they typically require fixation stability during long measurement times and/or to have an ultrasound probe directly in contact with the eye. Instead, we used our own developed method based on high-speed recording of lens wobbling to study the ciliary muscle activity in a small group of pseudophakic subjects (around 80 years old). There was a significant activity of the muscle, clearly able to contract under binocular stimulation of accommodation. This supports a purely lenticular-based theory of presbyopia and it might stimulate the search for new solutions to presbyopia by making use of the remaining contraction force still presented in the aging eye.

  12. Automated software for analysis of ciliary beat frequency and metachronal wave orientation in primary ciliary dyskinesia.

    PubMed

    Mantovani, Giulia; Pifferi, Massimo; Vozzi, Giovanni

    2010-06-01

    Patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) have structural and/or functional alterations of cilia that imply deficits in mucociliary clearance and different respiratory pathologies. A useful indicator for the difficult diagnosis is the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) that is significantly lower in pathological cases than in physiological ones. The CBF computation is not rapid, therefore, the aim of this study is to propose an automated method to evaluate it directly from videos of ciliated cells. The cells are taken from inferior nasal turbinates and videos of ciliary movements are registered and eventually processed by the developed software. The software consists in the extraction of features from videos (written with C++ language) and the computation of the frequency (written with Matlab language). This system was tested both on the samples of nasal cavity and software models, and the results were really promising because in a few seconds, it can compute a reliable frequency if compared with that measured with visual methods. It is to be noticed that the reliability of the computation increases with the quality of acquisition system and especially with the sampling frequency. It is concluded that the developed software could be a useful mean for PCD diagnosis.

  13. Muscarinic receptor M1 and M2 subtypes in the human eye: QNB, pirenzipine, oxotremorine, and AFDX-116 in vitro autoradiography.

    PubMed Central

    Gupta, N; McAllister, R; Drance, S M; Rootman, J; Cynader, M S

    1994-01-01

    Muscarinic cholinergic agents are used to lower intraocular pressure in the medical management of glaucoma and subtypes of muscarinic receptors have now been recognised in many tissues including the eye. To localise muscarinic receptors and their M1 and M2 subtypes in the human eye, in vitro ligand binding and autoradiographic techniques with densitometric quantitation on postmortem eye sections were used. As ligands, [3H] quinuclydinyl benzylate (QNB) (non-subtype specific muscarinic antagonist), [3H]pirenzipine (M1 antagonist), [3H]oxotremorine (M2 muscarinic agonist), [3H]AFDX-116(11[(2[diethylaminomethyl]1-piperidinyl)acetyl]5 , 11dihydro-6H-pyrido [2,3b][1,4]benzodiazepine-6-one) (M2 antagonist) were studied. Specific binding sites for QNB, pirenzipine, and AFDX-116 were localised in the entire ciliary muscle, the iris, and ciliary epithelium. [3H]oxotremorine localised only in the longitudinal portion of the ciliary muscle, and additionally, was not localised in the iris or ciliary epithelium. These results suggest that oxotremorine, by binding selectively to receptors on the longitudinal ciliary muscle and inducing its contraction, may modulate outflow facility independently from accommodation and miosis. Images PMID:7918268

  14. PACS-1 Mediates Phosphorylation-Dependent Ciliary Trafficking of the CNG Channel in Olfactory Sensory Neurons

    PubMed Central

    Jenkins, Paul M.; Zhang, Lian; Thomas, Gary; Martens, Jeffrey R.

    2009-01-01

    Impaired ciliary protein transport in olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) leads to anosmia, and is a newly recognized clinical manifestation of a class of human disorders called ciliopathies. Surprisingly little is known regarding the mechanisms controlling trafficking to this unique neuronal compartment. Here, we show a novel role for phosphofurin acidic cluster-sorting protein 1 (PACS-1) in the ciliary trafficking of the olfactory CNG channel. PACS-1 is an intracellular sorting protein that mediates its effects through the binding of acidic clusters on cargo protein. This interaction is dependent on CK2 phosphorylation of both PACS-1 and its cargo. We show that CNGB1b contains two putative PACS-1 binding sites, which are phosphorylated by the serine/threonine protein kinase, CK2. Additionally, we show that PACS-1 is expressed in OSNs and interacts in complex with the CNG channel. CK2 inhibition in native OSNs causes a loss of CNG channel from cilia and subsequent olfactory dysfunction, while adenoviral expression of mutant PACS-1 causes similar mislocalization. These results provide a mechanism for the subunit-dependent ciliary trafficking of the CNG channel and offer insight into the mechanisms of ciliary transport. PMID:19710307

  15. PACS-1 mediates phosphorylation-dependent ciliary trafficking of the cyclic-nucleotide-gated channel in olfactory sensory neurons.

    PubMed

    Jenkins, Paul M; Zhang, Lian; Thomas, Gary; Martens, Jeffrey R

    2009-08-26

    Impaired ciliary protein transport in olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) leads to anosmia, and is a newly recognized clinical manifestation of a class of human disorders called ciliopathies. Surprisingly little is known regarding the mechanisms controlling trafficking to this unique neuronal compartment. Here, we show a novel role for phosphofurin acidic cluster-sorting protein 1 (PACS-1) in the ciliary trafficking of the olfactory cyclic-nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel. PACS-1 is an intracellular sorting protein that mediates its effects through the binding of acidic clusters on cargo protein. This interaction is dependent on CK2 phosphorylation of both PACS-1 and its cargo. We show that CNGB1b contains two putative PACS-1 binding sites, which are phosphorylated by the serine/threonine protein kinase, CK2. Additionally, we show that PACS-1 is expressed in OSNs and interacts in complex with the CNG channel. CK2 inhibition in native OSNs causes a loss of CNG channel from cilia and subsequent olfactory dysfunction, while adenoviral expression of mutant PACS-1 causes similar mislocalization. These results provide a mechanism for the subunit-dependent ciliary trafficking of the CNG channel and offer insight into the mechanisms of ciliary transport.

  16. Molecular basis for CPAP-tubulin interaction in controlling centriolar and ciliary length

    PubMed Central

    Zheng, Xiangdong; Ramani, Anand; Soni, Komal; Gottardo, Marco; Zheng, Shuangping; Ming Gooi, Li; Li, Wenjing; Feng, Shan; Mariappan, Aruljothi; Wason, Arpit; Widlund, Per; Pozniakovsky, Andrei; Poser, Ina; Deng, Haiteng; Ou, Guangshuo; Riparbelli, Maria; Giuliano, Callaini; Hyman, Anthony A.; Sattler, Michael; Gopalakrishnan, Jay; Li, Haitao

    2016-01-01

    Centrioles and cilia are microtubule-based structures, whose precise formation requires controlled cytoplasmic tubulin incorporation. How cytoplasmic tubulin is recognized for centriolar/ciliary-microtubule construction remains poorly understood. Centrosomal-P4.1-associated-protein (CPAP) binds tubulin via its PN2-3 domain. Here, we show that a C-terminal loop-helix in PN2-3 targets β-tubulin at the microtubule outer surface, while an N-terminal helical motif caps microtubule's α-β surface of β-tubulin. Through this, PN2-3 forms a high-affinity complex with GTP-tubulin, crucial for defining numbers and lengths of centriolar/ciliary-microtubules. Surprisingly, two distinct mutations in PN2-3 exhibit opposite effects on centriolar/ciliary-microtubule lengths. CPAPF375A, with strongly reduced tubulin interaction, causes shorter centrioles and cilia exhibiting doublet- instead of triplet-microtubules. CPAPEE343RR that unmasks the β-tubulin polymerization surface displays slightly reduced tubulin-binding affinity inducing over-elongation of newly forming centriolar/ciliary-microtubules by enhanced dynamic release of its bound tubulin. Thus CPAP regulates delivery of its bound-tubulin to define the size of microtubule-based cellular structures using a ‘clutch-like' mechanism. PMID:27306797

  17. [Complications of a voluminous congenital ciliary body cyst].

    PubMed

    Kottler, Ulrike B; Schwenn, Oliver

    2002-09-01

    Multiple cysts of iris and ciliary body may cause many complications such as acute or chronic angle closure glaucoma. We present a boy with multiple congenital cysts of the iris pigment epithelium and a voluminous cyst of the unpigmented ciliary body epithelium of the right eye. This resulted in lenticular astigmatism, concomitant strabismus divergens and subsequently to anisometropia. The voluminous cyst (8 x 12 mm in diameter) was folded around the lens, reached the optic axis and resulted in displacement of the lens and contact between the iris and the corneal endothelium from 6.30 to 11. After puncture and partial resection of the cyst at the age of 8 months the boy developed a subcapsular multivesicular cataractic clouding of the temporal lens and a progredient myopia (up to - 14.0/- 2.0/0 degrees ); in contrast the left eye was hyperopic (+ 3.5/- 3.75/0 degrees ). The lens was subluxated superonasally due to congenital damage of the zonular fibres. Because development of visual acuity seemed limited by these determinants (20/200 at the right eye), cataract surgery with posterior capsulorhexis, anterior vitrectomy, and implantation of a capsular tension ring and posterior chamber intraocular lens was performed at the age of nearly five. Actually, there is an orthotropia, best corrected visual acuity in the distance of 20/32 in the right and 20/20 in the left eye; binocular vision is somewhat restricted. Usually congenital cysts are clinically not very relevant; occasionally surgical intervention is required to ensure adequate development of visual acuity.

  18. Circular flow patterns induced by ciliary activity in reconstituted human bronchial epithelium

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Viallat, Annie; Khelloufi, Kamel; Gras, Delphine; Chanez, Pascal; Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, CINaM, Marseille, France Team; Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, Inserm, LAI, Marseille, France Team

    2016-11-01

    Mucociliary clearance is the transport at the surface of airways of a complex fluid layer, the mucus, moved by the beats of microscopic cilia present on epithelial ciliated cells. We explored the coupling between the spatial organisation and the activity of cilia and the transport of surface fluids on reconstituted cultures of human bronchial epithelium at air-liquid interface, obtained by human biopsies. We reveal the existence of stable local circular surface flow patterns of mucus or Newtonian fluid at the epithelium surface. We find a power law over more than 3 orders of magnitude showing that the average ciliated cell density controls the size of these flow patterns, and, therefore the distance over which mucus can be transported. We show that these circular flow patterns result from the radial linear increase of the local propelling forces (due to ciliary beats) on each flow domain. This linear increase of local forces is induced by a fine self-regulation of both cilia density and orientation of ciliary beats. Local flow domains grow and merge during ciliogenesis to provide macroscopic mucus transport. This is possible only when the viscoelastic mucus continuously exerts a shear stress on beating cilia, revealing a mechanosensitive function of cilia. M. K. Khelloufi thanks the society MedBioMed for financial support. This work was supported by the ANR MUCOCIL project, Grant ANR-13-BSV5-0015 of the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche.

  19. Effect of cAMP on short-circuit current in isolated human ciliary body.

    PubMed

    Wu, Ren-yi; Ma, Ning; Hu, Qian-qian

    2013-07-01

    Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) could activate chloride channels in bovine ciliary body and trigger an increase in the ionic current (short-circuit current, Isc) across the ciliary processes in pigs. The purpose of this study was to investigate how cAMP modulates Isc in isolated human ciliary processes and the possible involvement of chloride transport across the tissue in cAMP-induced Isc change. In an Ussing-type chamber system, the Isc changes induced by the cAMP analogue 8-bromo-cAMP and an adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin in isolated human ciliary processes were assessed. The involvement of Cl(-) component in the bath solution was investigated. The effect of Cl(-) channel (10 µmol/L niflumic acid and 1 mmol/L 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS)), K(+) channel (10 mmol/L tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA)), or Na(+) channel blockers (1 mmol/L amiloride) on 8-bromo-cAMP-induced Isc change was also studied. Dose-dependently, 8-bromo-cAMP (10 nmol/L-30 µmol/L) or forskolin (10 nmol/L-3 µmol/L) increased Isc across the ciliary processes with an increase in negative potential difference on the non-pigmented epithelium (NPE) side of the tissue. Isc increase induced by 8-bromo-cAMP was more pronounced when the drug was applied on the NPE side than on the pigmented epithelium side. When the tissue was bathed in low Cl(-) solutions, the Isc increase was significantly inhibited. Finally, niflumic acid and DIDS, but not TEA or amiloride, significantly prevented the Isc increase induced by 8-bromo-cAMP. cAMP stimulates stroma-to-aqueous anionic transport in isolated human ciliary processes. Chloride is likely to be among the ions, the transportation of which across the tissue is triggered by cAMP, suggesting the potential role of cAMP in the process of aqueous humor formation in human eyes.

  20. Measuring Changes in Ciliary Muscle Thickness with Accommodation in Young Adults

    PubMed Central

    Lossing, Laura Ashley; Sinnott, Loraine T.; Kao, Chiu-Yen; Richdale, Kathryn; Bailey, Melissa D.

    2012-01-01

    Purpose To develop a measurement protocol for changes in the shape and size of the ciliary muscle with accommodation using the Zeiss Visante™ Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomographer (AS-OCT) and to determine the test-retest repeatability of these measurements. Methods Subjects were 25 adults ages 23–28 years. The ciliary muscle was imaged at two visits with the Visante™ while accommodative response was monitored during imaging using the PowerRefractor. Ciliary muscle thickness was measured at 1 mm (CMT1), 2 mm (CMT2), and 3 mm (CMT3) posterior to the scleral spur and at the point of maximal thickness (CMTMAX). Thickness was measured at these locations while subjects viewed a target at distance and at a 4.00-D accommodative stimulus. Outcome measures were the change in thickness between distance and the 4.00-D stimulus and the change in thickness per diopter of accommodative response (PowerRefractor). Finally, the repeatability measurements between visit 1 and visit 2 were determined with a Bland-Altman analysis. Results The statistically significant modeled changes in ciliary muscle thickness were as follows: CMTMAX = 69.2 μm (4.00-D stimulus) and 18.1 μm (per diopter of accommodation); CMT1 = 45.2 μm (4.00-D stimulus) and 12.3 μm (per diopter of accommodation); and CMT3 = −45.9 μm (4.00-D stimulus) and −12.0 μm (per diopter of accommodation); p < 0.0001 for all. Conclusions The combination of the Visante™ and the PowerRefractor is a feasible tool for measuring thickening of ciliary muscle at more anterior locations and thinning at more posterior locations during accommodation. We noted a wide range of accommodative responses during the time of image capture in this study indicating that the most accurate estimates of the change in ciliary muscle dimensions with accommodation may be obtained by using accommodative response rather than stimulus values and by using measurements taken simultaneously with image capture. PMID:22504328

  1. A novel mouse model of anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD): conditional deletion of Tsc1 disrupts ciliary body and iris development.

    PubMed

    Hägglund, Anna-Carin; Jones, Iwan; Carlsson, Leif

    2017-03-01

    Development of the cornea, lens, ciliary body and iris within the anterior segment of the eye involves coordinated interaction between cells originating from the ciliary margin of the optic cup, the overlying periocular mesenchyme and the lens epithelium. Anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) encompasses a spectrum of developmental syndromes that affect these anterior segment tissues. ASD conditions arise as a result of dominantly inherited genetic mutations and result in both ocular-specific and systemic forms of dysgenesis that are best exemplified by aniridia and Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, respectively. Extensive clinical overlap in disease presentation amongst ASD syndromes creates challenges for correct diagnosis and classification. The use of animal models has therefore proved to be a robust approach for unravelling this complex genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity. However, despite these successes, it is clear that additional genes that underlie several ASD syndromes remain unidentified. Here, we report the characterisation of a novel mouse model of ASD. Conditional deletion of Tsc1 during eye development leads to a premature upregulation of mTORC1 activity within the ciliary margin, periocular mesenchyme and lens epithelium. This aberrant mTORC1 signalling within the ciliary margin in particular leads to a reduction in the number of cells that express Pax6, Bmp4 and Msx1 Sustained mTORC1 signalling also induces a decrease in ciliary margin progenitor cell proliferation and a consequent failure of ciliary body and iris development in postnatal animals. Our study therefore identifies Tsc1 as a novel candidate ASD gene. Furthermore, the Tsc1 -ablated mouse model also provides a valuable resource for future studies concerning the molecular mechanisms underlying ASD and acts as a platform for evaluating therapeutic approaches for the treatment of visual disorders. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  2. Innervation of the Uvea by Galanin and Somatostatin Immunoreactive Axons in Macaques and Baboons

    PubMed Central

    Firth, Sally I.; Kaufman, Paul L.; De Jean, Baptiste J.; Byers, John M.; Marshak, David W.

    2014-01-01

    The neuropeptide galanin has not been localized previously in the primate uvea, and the neuropeptide somatostatin has not been localized in the uvea of any mammal. Here, the distribution of galanin-like and somatostatin-like immunoreactive axons in the iris, ciliary body and choroid of macaques and baboons using double and triple immunofluorescence labeling techniques and confocal microscopy was reported. In the ciliary body, galanin-like immunoreactive axons innervated blood vessels and the ciliary processes, particularly at their bases. In the iris, the majority of these axons was associated with the loose connective tissue in the stroma. Somatostatin-like immunoreactive axons were found in many of the same areas of the uvea supplied by cholinergic nerves. In the ciliary body, there were labelled axons within the ciliary processes and ciliary muscle. They were also found alongside blood vessels in the ciliary stroma. In the iris, somatostatin-like immunoreactive axons were abundant in the sphincter muscle and less so in the dilator muscle. A unilateral sympathectomy had no effect on the distribution of somatostatin-like or galanin-like immunoreactive axons, and these axons did not contain the sympathetic marker tyrosine hydroxylase. They did not contain the parasympathetic marker choline acetyltransferase, either. The galanin-like immunoreactive axons contained other neuropeptides found in sensory nerves, including calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P and cholecystokinin. Somatostatin-like immunoreactive axons did not contain any of these sensory neuropeptides or galanin-like immunoreactivity, and they were neither labelled with an antibody to 200 kDa neurofilament protein, nor did they bind isolectin-IB4. Nevertheless, they are likely to be of sensory origin because somatostatin-like immunoreactive perikarya have previously been localized in the trigeminal ganglion of primates. Taken together, these findings indicate galanin and somatostatin are present in two different subsets of sensory axons in primate uvea. PMID:12123636

  3. Neuronal NOS localises to human airway cilia.

    PubMed

    Jackson, Claire L; Lucas, Jane S; Walker, Woolf T; Owen, Holly; Premadeva, Irnthu; Lackie, Peter M

    2015-01-30

    Airway NO synthase (NOS) isoenzymes are responsible for rapid and localised nitric oxide (NO) production and are expressed in airway epithelium. We sought to determine the localisation of neuronal NOS (nNOS) in airway epithelium due to the paucity of evidence. Sections of healthy human bronchial tissue in glycol methacrylate resin and human nasal polyps in paraffin wax were immunohistochemically labelled and reproducibly demonstrated nNOS immunoreactivity, particularly at the proximal portion of cilia; this immunoreactivity was blocked by a specific nNOS peptide fragment. Healthy human epithelial cells differentiated at an air-liquid interface (ALI) confirmed the presence of all three NOS isoenzymes by immunofluorescence labelling. Only nNOS immunoreactivity was specific to the ciliary axonemeand co-localised with the cilia marker β-tubulin in the proximal part of the ciliary axoneme. We report a novel localisation of nNOS at the proximal portion of cilia in airway epithelium and conclude that its independent and local regulation of NO levels is crucial for normal cilia function. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Enzymes of the γ-Glutamyl Cycle in the Ciliary Body and Lens

    PubMed Central

    Ross, Leonard L.; Barber, Lee; Tate, Suresh S.; Meister, Alton

    1973-01-01

    The enzymes of the γ-glutamyl cycle have been found in rabbit ciliary body and, except for 5-oxoprolinase, also in the ocular lens. Histochemical studies show that γ-glutamyl transpeptidase is localized mainly in the basal portions of the epithelial cells of the ciliary body; the findings are similar to those observed in the chloroid plexuses. The histochemical staining reaction in the ciliary epithelium is more intense than in the chloroid plexus, intestine, and kidney. γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase staining activity in the epithelium of the intestinal and renal proximal convoluted tubules is confined to the microvillus border. Moderate transpeptidase activity was found in the cytoplasm of nonpigmented epithelial cells of the iris at the posterior pupillary margin. The histochemical and enzyme activity studies are consistent with the thesis that the γ-glutamyl cycle functions in transport of amino acids across the blood-aqueous humor barrier. Images PMID:4152058

  5. Magnetic resonance imaging of aging, accommodating, phakic, and pseudophakic ciliary muscle diameters

    PubMed Central

    Strenk, Susan A.; Strenk, Lawrence M.; Guo, Suqin

    2012-01-01

    PURPOSE To quantify in vivo accommodative changes in the aging human ciliary muscle diameter in phakic and pseudophakic eyes. SETTING Department of Surgery/Bioengineering, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, and the Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science UMDNJ–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA. METHODS Images were acquired from 48 eyes of 40 people between the ages of 22 and 91 years, 1 eye of 32 phakic volunteers and both eyes of 8 patients who had monocular implantation of a single-piece AcrySof intraocular lens (IOL) (Alcon Laboratories). Images were acquired during physiological accommodation and with accommodation at rest, and the diameter of the ciliary muscle ring was measured. RESULTS Results show the ciliary muscle remains active throughout life. The accommodative change in its diameter (mean 0.64 mm) (P<.00001) was undiminished by age or IOL implantation. Preliminary data showed that the accommodative decrease in muscle diameter in phakic and pseudophakic eyes was statistically identical. The phakic eyes had a marked decrease in ciliary muscle diameter with advancing age for both accommodative states (P<.000001 and P<.000001), which did not appear to be altered by IOL implantation. The lens equator was constant with age in the unaccommodated human eye, resulting in decreased circumlental space with advancing age in the phakic eyes. CONCLUSION Although the undiminished ability of the ciliary muscle to decrease its diameter with accommodation can be relied on in strategies for presbyopia correction, even in advanced presbyopia, the decreasing circumlental space and its potential effects on zonular tension must also be considered. PMID:17081859

  6. Sensory Regulation of Network Components Underlying Ciliary Locomotion in Hermissenda

    PubMed Central

    Crow, Terry; Tian, Lian-Ming

    2008-01-01

    Ciliary locomotion in the nudibranch mollusk Hermissenda is modulated by the visual and graviceptive systems. Components of the neural network mediating ciliary locomotion have been identified including aggregates of polysensory interneurons that receive monosynaptic input from identified photoreceptors and efferent neurons that activate cilia. Illumination produces an inhibition of type Ii (off-cell) spike activity, excitation of type Ie (on-cell) spike activity, decreased spike activity in type IIIi inhibitory interneurons, and increased spike activity of ciliary efferent neurons. Here we show that pairs of type Ii interneurons and pairs of type Ie interneurons are electrically coupled. Neither electrical coupling or synaptic connections were observed between Ie and Ii interneurons. Coupling is effective in synchronizing dark-adapted spontaneous firing between pairs of Ie and pairs of Ii interneurons. Out-of-phase burst activity, occasionally observed in dark-adapted and light-adapted pairs of Ie and Ii interneurons, suggests that they receive synaptic input from a common presynaptic source or sources. Rhythmic activity is typically not a characteristic of dark-adapted, light-adapted, or light-evoked firing of type I interneurons. However, burst activity in Ie and Ii interneurons may be elicited by electrical stimulation of pedal nerves or generated at the offset of light. Our results indicate that type I interneurons can support the generation of both rhythmic activity and changes in tonic firing depending on sensory input. This suggests that the neural network supporting ciliary locomotion may be multifunctional. However, consistent with the nonmuscular and nonrhythmic characteristics of visually modulated ciliary locomotion, type I interneurons exhibit changes in tonic activity evoked by illumination. PMID:18768639

  7. Qualitative evaluation of the iris and ciliary body by ultrasound biomicroscopy in subjects with angle closure.

    PubMed

    Ku, Judy Y; Nongpiur, Monisha E; Park, Judy; Narayanaswamy, Arun K; Perera, Shamira A; Tun, Tin A; Kumar, Rajesh S; Baskaran, Mani; Aung, Tin

    2014-12-01

    To qualitatively analyze anterior chamber structures imaged by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in primary angle-closure patients. Subjects diagnosed as primary angle-closure suspect (PACS), primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), and previous acute primary angle closure (APAC) were recruited prospectively along with a group of normal controls. UBM was performed under standardized dark room conditions and qualitative assessment was carried out using a set of reference photographs of standard UBM images to categorize the various anatomic features related to angle configuration. These included overall and basal iris thicknesses, iris convexity, iris angulation, ciliary body size, and ciliary sulcus. A total of 60 PACS, 114 PACG, 41 APAC, and 33 normal controls were included. Patients were predominantly older Chinese females. After controlling the confounding effect of age and sex, eyes with overall thicker irides [medium odds ratio (OR) 3.58, thick OR 2.84] when compared with thin irides have a significantly higher likelihood of having PACS/PACG/APAC versus controls. Thicker basal iris component (medium OR 4.13, thick OR 3.39) also have higher likelihood of having angle closure when compared with thin basal iris thickness. Subjects with basal iris insertion, mild iris angulation, and large ciliary body have a higher OR of having angle closure. In contrast, the presence/absence of a ciliary sulcus did not influence the likelihood of angle closure. Eyes with thicker overall and basal iris thicknesses are more likely to have angle closure than controls. Other features that increase the likelihood of angle closure include basal iris insertion, mild iris angulation, and large ciliary body.

  8. Age-Related Changes in Centripetal Ciliary Body Movement Relative to Centripetal Lens Movement in Monkeys

    PubMed Central

    Croft, Mary Ann; McDonald, Jared P.; Nadkarni, Nivedita V.; Lin, Ting-Li; Kaufman, Paul L.

    2009-01-01

    The goal was to determine the age-related changes in accommodative movements of the lens and ciliary body in rhesus monkeys. Varying levels of accommodation were stimulated via the Edinger-Westphal (E-W) nucleus in 26 rhesus monkeys, aged 6-27 years, and the refractive changes were measured by coincidence refractometry. Centripetal ciliary process (CP) and lens movements were measured by computerized image analysis of goniovideographic images. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) at 50 MHz was used to visualize and measure accommodative forward movements of the ciliary body in relation to age, accommodative amplitude, and centripetal CP and lens movements. At ∼3 diopters of accommodation, the amount of centripetal lens movement required did not significantly change with age (p=0.10; n=18 monkeys); however, the amount of centripetal CP movement required significantly increased with age (p=0.01; n=18 monkeys), while the amount of forward ciliary body movement significantly decreased with age (p=0.007; n=11 monkeys). In the middle-aged animals (12-16.5 years), a greater amount of centripetal CP movement was required to induce a given level of lens movement and thereby a given level of accommodation (p=0.01), compared to the young animals (6-10 yrs). Collectively, the data suggests that, with age, the accommodative system may be attempting to compensate for the loss of forward ciliary body movement by increasing the amount of centripetal CP movement. This, in turn, would allow enough zonular relaxation to achieve the magnitude of centripetal lens movement necessary for a given amplitude of accommodation. PMID:19635475

  9. Calcium stone lithoptysis in promary ciliary dyskinesia

    EPA Science Inventory

    BACKGROUND: An association between lithoptysis and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) has not been previously reported. However, reports of lithoptysis from 2 older patients (>60 yr) prompted a study of this association. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of all PCD patients...

  10. The evolution of rod photoreceptors

    PubMed Central

    Morshedian, Ala

    2017-01-01

    Photoreceptors in animals are generally of two kinds: the ciliary or c-type and the rhabdomeric or r-type. Although ciliary photoreceptors are found in many phyla, vertebrates seem to be unique in having two distinct kinds which together span the entire range of vision, from single photons to bright light. We ask why the principal photoreceptors of vertebrates are ciliary and not rhabdomeric, and how rods evolved from less sensitive cone-like photoreceptors to produce our duplex retina. We suggest that the principal advantage of vertebrate ciliary receptors is that they use less ATP than rhabdomeric photoreceptors. This difference may have provided sufficient selection pressure for the development of a completely ciliary eye. Although many of the details of rod evolution are still uncertain, present evidence indicates that (i) rods evolved very early before the split between the jawed and jawless vertebrates, (ii) outer-segment discs make no contribution to rod sensitivity but may have evolved to increase the efficiency of protein renewal, and (iii) evolution of the rod was incremental and multifaceted, produced by the formation of several novel protein isoforms and by changes in protein expression, with no one alteration having more than a few-fold effect on transduction activation or inactivation. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Vision in dim light’. PMID:28193819

  11. The evolution of rod photoreceptors.

    PubMed

    Morshedian, Ala; Fain, Gordon L

    2017-04-05

    Photoreceptors in animals are generally of two kinds: the ciliary or c-type and the rhabdomeric or r-type. Although ciliary photoreceptors are found in many phyla, vertebrates seem to be unique in having two distinct kinds which together span the entire range of vision, from single photons to bright light. We ask why the principal photoreceptors of vertebrates are ciliary and not rhabdomeric, and how rods evolved from less sensitive cone-like photoreceptors to produce our duplex retina. We suggest that the principal advantage of vertebrate ciliary receptors is that they use less ATP than rhabdomeric photoreceptors. This difference may have provided sufficient selection pressure for the development of a completely ciliary eye. Although many of the details of rod evolution are still uncertain, present evidence indicates that (i) rods evolved very early before the split between the jawed and jawless vertebrates, (ii) outer-segment discs make no contribution to rod sensitivity but may have evolved to increase the efficiency of protein renewal, and (iii) evolution of the rod was incremental and multifaceted, produced by the formation of several novel protein isoforms and by changes in protein expression, with no one alteration having more than a few-fold effect on transduction activation or inactivation.This article is part of the themed issue 'Vision in dim light'. © 2017 The Author(s).

  12. European Respiratory Society guidelines for the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia.

    PubMed

    Lucas, Jane S; Barbato, Angelo; Collins, Samuel A; Goutaki, Myrofora; Behan, Laura; Caudri, Daan; Dell, Sharon; Eber, Ernst; Escudier, Estelle; Hirst, Robert A; Hogg, Claire; Jorissen, Mark; Latzin, Philipp; Legendre, Marie; Leigh, Margaret W; Midulla, Fabio; Nielsen, Kim G; Omran, Heymut; Papon, Jean-Francois; Pohunek, Petr; Redfern, Beatrice; Rigau, David; Rindlisbacher, Bernhard; Santamaria, Francesca; Shoemark, Amelia; Snijders, Deborah; Tonia, Thomy; Titieni, Andrea; Walker, Woolf T; Werner, Claudius; Bush, Andrew; Kuehni, Claudia E

    2017-01-01

    The diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia is often confirmed with standard, albeit complex and expensive, tests. In many cases, however, the diagnosis remains difficult despite the array of sophisticated diagnostic tests. There is no "gold standard" reference test. Hence, a Task Force supported by the European Respiratory Society has developed this guideline to provide evidence-based recommendations on diagnostic testing, especially in light of new developments in such tests, and the need for robust diagnoses of patients who might enter randomised controlled trials of treatments. The guideline is based on pre-defined questions relevant for clinical care, a systematic review of the literature, and assessment of the evidence using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach. It focuses on clinical presentation, nasal nitric oxide, analysis of ciliary beat frequency and pattern by high-speed video-microscopy analysis, transmission electron microscopy, genotyping and immunofluorescence. It then used a modified Delphi survey to develop an algorithm for the use of diagnostic tests to definitively confirm and exclude the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia; and to provide advice when the diagnosis was not conclusive. Finally, this guideline proposes a set of quality criteria for future research on the validity of diagnostic methods for primary ciliary dyskinesia. Copyright ©ERS 2017.

  13. DRC2/CCDC65 is a central hub for assembly of the nexin–dynein regulatory complex and other regulators of ciliary and flagellar motility

    PubMed Central

    Bower, Raqual; Tritschler, Douglas; Mills, Kristyn VanderWaal; Heuser, Thomas; Nicastro, Daniela; Porter, Mary E.

    2018-01-01

    The nexin–dynein regulatory complex (N-DRC) plays a central role in the regulation of ciliary and flagellar motility. In most species, the N-DRC contains at least 11 subunits, but the specific function of each subunit is unknown. Mutations in three subunits (DRC1, DRC2/CCDC65, DRC4/GAS8) have been linked to defects in ciliary motility in humans and lead to a ciliopathy known as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Here we characterize the biochemical, structural, and motility phenotypes of two mutations in the DRC2 gene of Chlamydomonas. Using high-resolution proteomic and structural approaches, we find that the C-terminal region of DRC2 is critical for the coassembly of DRC2 and DRC1 to form the base plate of N-DRC and its attachment to the outer doublet microtubule. Loss of DRC2 in drc2 mutants disrupts the assembly of several other N-DRC subunits and also destabilizes the assembly of several closely associated structures such as the inner dynein arms, the radial spokes, and the calmodulin- and spoke-associated complex. Our study provides new insights into the range of ciliary defects that can lead to PCD. PMID:29167384

  14. Variation of Ciliary Beat Pattern in Three Different Beating Planes in Healthy Subjects.

    PubMed

    Kempeneers, Celine; Seaton, Claire; Chilvers, Mark A

    2017-05-01

    Digital high-speed video microscopy (DHSV) allows analysis of ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and ciliary beat pattern (CBP) of respiratory cilia in three planes. Normal reference data use a sideways edge to evaluate ciliary dyskinesia and calculate CBF using the time needed for a cilium to complete 10 beat cycles. Variability in CBF within the respiratory epithelium has been described, but data concerning variation of CBP is limited in healthy epithelium. This study aimed to document variability of CBP in normal samples, to compare ciliary function in three profiles, and to compare CBF calculated over five or 10 beat cycles. Nasal brushing samples from 13 healthy subjects were recorded using DHSV in three profiles. CBP and CBF over a 10-beat cycle were evaluated in all profiles, and CBF was reevaluated over five-beat cycles in the sideways edges. A uniform CBP was seen in 82.1% of edges. In the sideways profile, uniformity within the edge was lower (uniform normal CBP, 69.1% [sideways profile]; 97.1% [toward the observer], 92.0% [from above]), and dyskinesia was higher. Interobserver agreement for dyskinesia was poor. CBF was not different between profiles (P = .8097) or between 10 and five beat cycles (P = .1126). Our study demonstrates a lack of uniformity and consistency in manual CBP analysis of samples from healthy subjects, emphasizing the risk of automated CBP analysis in limited regions of interest and of single and limited manual CBP analysis. The toward the observer and from above profiles may be used to calculate CBF but may be less sensitive for evaluation of ciliary dyskinesia and CBP. CBF can be measured reliably by evaluation of only five-beat cycles. Copyright © 2016 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Super-Resolution Imaging Reveals TCTN2 Depletion-Induced IFT88 Lumen Leakage and Ciliary Weakening.

    PubMed

    Weng, Rueyhung Roc; Yang, T Tony; Huang, Chia-En; Chang, Chih-Wei; Wang, Won-Jing; Liao, Jung-Chi

    2018-06-01

    The primary cilium is an essential organelle mediating key signaling activities, such as sonic hedgehog signaling. The molecular composition of the ciliary compartment is distinct from that of the cytosol, with the transition zone (TZ) gated the ciliary base. The TZ is a packed and organized protein complex containing multiple ciliopathy-associated protein species. Tectonic 2 (TCTN2) is one of the TZ proteins in the vicinity of the ciliary membrane, and its mutation is associated with Meckel syndrome. Despite its importance in ciliopathies, the role of TCTN2 in ciliary structure and molecules remains unclear. Here, we created a CRISPR/Cas9 TCTN2 knockout human retinal pigment epithelial cell line and conducted quantitative analysis of geometric localization using both wide-field and super-resolution microscopy techniques. We found that TCTN2 depletion resulted in partial TZ damage, loss of ciliary membrane proteins, leakage of intraflagellar transport protein IFT88 toward the basal body lumen, and cilium shortening and curving. The basal body lumen occupancy of IFT88 was also observed in si-RPGRIP1L cells and cytochalasin-D-treated wild-type cells, suggesting varying lumen accessibility for intraflagellar transport proteins under different perturbed conditions. Our findings support two possible models for the lumen leakage of IFT88, i.e., a tip leakage model and a misregulation model. Together, our quantitative image analysis augmented by super-resolution microscopy facilitates the observation of structural destruction and molecular redistribution in TCTN2 -/- cilia, shedding light on mechanistic understanding of TZ-protein-associated ciliopathies. Copyright © 2018 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. AZD2171 in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Stage IV Melanoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2015-06-01

    Acral Lentiginous Malignant Melanoma; Ciliary Body and Choroid Melanoma, Medium/Large Size; Ciliary Body and Choroid Melanoma, Small Size; Extraocular Extension Melanoma; Intraocular Melanoma; Iris Melanoma; Lentigo Maligna Malignant Melanoma; Recurrent Melanoma; Stage, Intraocular Melanoma; Stage IV Melanoma; Superficial Spreading Malignant Melanoma

  17. Adjuvant Sunitinib or Valproic Acid in High-Risk Patients With Uveal Melanoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-10-25

    Ciliary Body and Choroid Melanoma, Medium/Large Size; Ciliary Body and Choroid Melanoma, Small Size; Iris Melanoma; Stage I Intraocular Melanoma; Stage IIA Intraocular Melanoma; Stage IIB Intraocular Melanoma; Stage IIIA Intraocular Melanoma; Stage IIIB Intraocular Melanoma; Stage IIIC Intraocular Melanoma

  18. dTULP, the Drosophila melanogaster Homolog of Tubby, Regulates Transient Receptor Potential Channel Localization in Cilia

    PubMed Central

    Shim, Jaewon; Han, Woongsu; Lee, Jinu; Bae, Yong Chul; Chung, Yun Doo; Kim, Chul Hoon; Moon, Seok Jun

    2013-01-01

    Mechanically gated ion channels convert sound into an electrical signal for the sense of hearing. In Drosophila melanogaster, several transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have been implicated to be involved in this process. TRPN (NompC) and TRPV (Inactive) channels are localized in the distal and proximal ciliary zones of auditory receptor neurons, respectively. This segregated ciliary localization suggests distinct roles in auditory transduction. However, the regulation of this localization is not fully understood. Here we show that the Drosophila Tubby homolog, King tubby (hereafter called dTULP) regulates ciliary localization of TRPs. dTULP-deficient flies show uncoordinated movement and complete loss of sound-evoked action potentials. Inactive and NompC are mislocalized in the cilia of auditory receptor neurons in the dTulp mutants, indicating that dTULP is required for proper cilia membrane protein localization. This is the first demonstration that dTULP regulates TRP channel localization in cilia, and suggests that dTULP is a protein that regulates ciliary neurosensory functions. PMID:24068974

  19. Evolutionary Proteomics Uncovers Ancient Associations of Cilia with Signaling Pathways.

    PubMed

    Sigg, Monika Abedin; Menchen, Tabea; Lee, Chanjae; Johnson, Jeffery; Jungnickel, Melissa K; Choksi, Semil P; Garcia, Galo; Busengdal, Henriette; Dougherty, Gerard W; Pennekamp, Petra; Werner, Claudius; Rentzsch, Fabian; Florman, Harvey M; Krogan, Nevan; Wallingford, John B; Omran, Heymut; Reiter, Jeremy F

    2017-12-18

    Cilia are organelles specialized for movement and signaling. To infer when during evolution signaling pathways became associated with cilia, we characterized the proteomes of cilia from sea urchins, sea anemones, and choanoflagellates. We identified 437 high-confidence ciliary candidate proteins conserved in mammals and discovered that Hedgehog and G-protein-coupled receptor pathways were linked to cilia before the origin of bilateria and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels before the origin of animals. We demonstrated that candidates not previously implicated in ciliary biology localized to cilia and further investigated ENKUR, a TRP channel-interacting protein identified in the cilia of all three organisms. ENKUR localizes to motile cilia and is required for patterning the left-right axis in vertebrates. Moreover, mutation of ENKUR causes situs inversus in humans. Thus, proteomic profiling of cilia from diverse eukaryotes defines a conserved ciliary proteome, reveals ancient connections to signaling, and uncovers a ciliary protein that underlies development and human disease. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. An organelle-specific protein landscape identifies novel diseases and molecular mechanisms

    PubMed Central

    Boldt, Karsten; van Reeuwijk, Jeroen; Lu, Qianhao; Koutroumpas, Konstantinos; Nguyen, Thanh-Minh T.; Texier, Yves; van Beersum, Sylvia E. C.; Horn, Nicola; Willer, Jason R.; Mans, Dorus A.; Dougherty, Gerard; Lamers, Ideke J. C.; Coene, Karlien L. M.; Arts, Heleen H.; Betts, Matthew J.; Beyer, Tina; Bolat, Emine; Gloeckner, Christian Johannes; Haidari, Khatera; Hetterschijt, Lisette; Iaconis, Daniela; Jenkins, Dagan; Klose, Franziska; Knapp, Barbara; Latour, Brooke; Letteboer, Stef J. F.; Marcelis, Carlo L.; Mitic, Dragana; Morleo, Manuela; Oud, Machteld M.; Riemersma, Moniek; Rix, Susan; Terhal, Paulien A.; Toedt, Grischa; van Dam, Teunis J. P.; de Vrieze, Erik; Wissinger, Yasmin; Wu, Ka Man; Apic, Gordana; Beales, Philip L.; Blacque, Oliver E.; Gibson, Toby J.; Huynen, Martijn A.; Katsanis, Nicholas; Kremer, Hannie; Omran, Heymut; van Wijk, Erwin; Wolfrum, Uwe; Kepes, François; Davis, Erica E.; Franco, Brunella; Giles, Rachel H.; Ueffing, Marius; Russell, Robert B.; Roepman, Ronald; Al-Turki, Saeed; Anderson, Carl; Antony, Dinu; Barroso, Inês; Bentham, Jamie; Bhattacharya, Shoumo; Carss, Keren; Chatterjee, Krishna; Cirak, Sebahattin; Cosgrove, Catherine; Danecek, Petr; Durbin, Richard; Fitzpatrick, David; Floyd, Jamie; Reghan Foley, A.; Franklin, Chris; Futema, Marta; Humphries, Steve E.; Hurles, Matt; Joyce, Chris; McCarthy, Shane; Mitchison, Hannah M.; Muddyman, Dawn; Muntoni, Francesco; O'Rahilly, Stephen; Onoufriadis, Alexandros; Payne, Felicity; Plagnol, Vincent; Raymond, Lucy; Savage, David B.; Scambler, Peter; Schmidts, Miriam; Schoenmakers, Nadia; Semple, Robert; Serra, Eva; Stalker, Jim; van Kogelenberg, Margriet; Vijayarangakannan, Parthiban; Walter, Klaudia; Whittall, Ros; Williamson, Kathy

    2016-01-01

    Cellular organelles provide opportunities to relate biological mechanisms to disease. Here we use affinity proteomics, genetics and cell biology to interrogate cilia: poorly understood organelles, where defects cause genetic diseases. Two hundred and seventeen tagged human ciliary proteins create a final landscape of 1,319 proteins, 4,905 interactions and 52 complexes. Reverse tagging, repetition of purifications and statistical analyses, produce a high-resolution network that reveals organelle-specific interactions and complexes not apparent in larger studies, and links vesicle transport, the cytoskeleton, signalling and ubiquitination to ciliary signalling and proteostasis. We observe sub-complexes in exocyst and intraflagellar transport complexes, which we validate biochemically, and by probing structurally predicted, disruptive, genetic variants from ciliary disease patients. The landscape suggests other genetic diseases could be ciliary including 3M syndrome. We show that 3M genes are involved in ciliogenesis, and that patient fibroblasts lack cilia. Overall, this organelle-specific targeting strategy shows considerable promise for Systems Medicine. PMID:27173435

  1. CCDC103 mutations cause primary ciliary dyskinesia by disrupting assembly of ciliary dynein arms

    PubMed Central

    Panizzi, Jennifer R.; Becker-Heck, Anita; Castleman, Victoria H.; Al-Mutairi, Dalal; Liu, Yan; Loges, Niki T.; Pathak, Narendra; Austin-Tse, Christina; Sheridan, Eamonn; Schmidts, Miriam; Olbrich, Heike; Werner, Claudius; Häffner, Karsten; Hellman, Nathan; Chodhari, Rahul; Gupta, Amar; Kramer-Zucker, Albrecht; Olale, Felix; Burdine, Rebecca D.; Schier, Alexander F.; O’Callaghan, Christopher; Chung, Eddie MK; Reinhardt, Richard; Mitchison, Hannah M.; King, Stephen M.; Omran, Heymut; Drummond, Iain A.

    2012-01-01

    Cilia are essential for fertilization, respiratory clearance, cerebrospinal fluid circulation, and to establish laterality1. Cilia motility defects cause Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD, MIM 242650), a disorder affecting 1:15-30,000 births. Cilia motility requires the assembly of multisubunit dynein arms that drive cilia bending2. Despite progress in understanding the genetic basis of PCD, mutations remain to be identified for several PCD linked loci3. Here we show that the zebrafish cilia paralysis mutant schmalhanstn222 (smh) mutant encodes the coiled-coil domain containing 103 protein (Ccdc103), a foxj1a regulated gene. Screening 146 unrelated PCD families identified patients in six families with reduced outer dynein arms, carrying mutations in CCDC103. Dynein arm assembly in smh mutant zebrafish was rescued by wild-type but not mutant human CCDC103. Chlamydomonas Ccdc103 functions as a tightly bound, axoneme-associated protein. The results identify Ccdc103 as a novel dynein arm attachment factor that when mutated causes Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. PMID:22581229

  2. Fetal adenoma of the pigmented ciliary epithelium associated with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous.

    PubMed

    Doro, S; Werblin, T P; Haas, B; Iwamoto, T; Jakobiec, F A

    1986-10-01

    A 1.5-year-old girl presented with a peripheral iris mass. When the girl was 3 years old, the lesion was excised after it had manifested significant growth. A stalk of fibrovascular tissue was noted to extend from the lesion to the optic disc. Histopathologically, the tumor was a well-circumscribed, pigmented ciliary body adenoma. Electron microscopy revealed characteristic neuroepithelial melanosomes, distinct from those of choroidal melanocytes, and occasional annulate lamellae. A fibrovascular membrane extended over the tumor surface and was adherent to lens capsule. The association of this adenoma with a persistent stalk of primary vitreous indicates a congenital origin of this tumor. Both adenoma and adenocarcinoma of the pigmented and nonpigmented ciliary epithelium tend to be disorders of adults. The authors report the youngest presentation of a pigment epithelium adenoma, the only well-documented case associated with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous, and the only documentation of annulate lamellae in a ciliary body tumor.

  3. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the angioarchitecture of the ciliary body of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus).

    PubMed

    Natiello, Michelle; Samuelson, Don

    2005-01-01

    To examine the angioarchitecture of the ciliary body in the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), through the use of three-dimensional reconstruction. Specimens from West Indian manatee were preserved in 10% buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin, serial sectioned and stained by Masson trichrome for light microscopic three-dimensional reconstruction and evaluation. The network of blood vessels in the ciliary processes of the West Indian manatee is fed by the major arterial circle that lies mostly near the base of the iris. The branching arterioles give rise to a capillary-sinusoidal bed that extends internally along each process, emptying into two sets of veins, one being elevated. The elevated and nonelevated veins join posteriorly before emptying into the choroidal venous system. The angioarchitecture of the ciliary body of the West Indian manatee is clearly unique when compared to those previously examined in land mammals. Three-dimensional reconstruction of paraffin sections is an effective means to evaluate vascular patterns in ocular specimens, especially those unavailable for corrosion casting.

  4. Mutations in ZMYND10, a Gene Essential for Proper Axonemal Assembly of Inner and Outer Dynein Arms in Humans and Flies, Cause Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

    PubMed Central

    Moore, Daniel J.; Onoufriadis, Alexandros; Shoemark, Amelia; Simpson, Michael A.; zur Lage, Petra I.; de Castro, Sandra C.; Bartoloni, Lucia; Gallone, Giuseppe; Petridi, Stavroula; Woollard, Wesley J.; Antony, Dinu; Schmidts, Miriam; Didonna, Teresa; Makrythanasis, Periklis; Bevillard, Jeremy; Mongan, Nigel P.; Djakow, Jana; Pals, Gerard; Lucas, Jane S.; Marthin, June K.; Nielsen, Kim G.; Santoni, Federico; Guipponi, Michel; Hogg, Claire; Antonarakis, Stylianos E.; Emes, Richard D.; Chung, Eddie M.K.; Greene, Nicholas D.E.; Blouin, Jean-Louis; Jarman, Andrew P.; Mitchison, Hannah M.

    2013-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a ciliopathy characterized by airway disease, infertility, and laterality defects, often caused by dual loss of the inner dynein arms (IDAs) and outer dynein arms (ODAs), which power cilia and flagella beating. Using whole-exome and candidate-gene Sanger resequencing in PCD-affected families afflicted with combined IDA and ODA defects, we found that 6/38 (16%) carried biallelic mutations in the conserved zinc-finger gene BLU (ZMYND10). ZMYND10 mutations conferred dynein-arm loss seen at the ultrastructural and immunofluorescence level and complete cilia immotility, except in hypomorphic p.Val16Gly (c.47T>G) homozygote individuals, whose cilia retained a stiff and slowed beat. In mice, Zmynd10 mRNA is restricted to regions containing motile cilia. In a Drosophila model of PCD, Zmynd10 is exclusively expressed in cells with motile cilia: chordotonal sensory neurons and sperm. In these cells, P-element-mediated gene silencing caused IDA and ODA defects, proprioception deficits, and sterility due to immotile sperm. Drosophila Zmynd10 with an equivalent c.47T>G (p.Val16Gly) missense change rescued mutant male sterility less than the wild-type did. Tagged Drosophila ZMYND10 is localized primarily to the cytoplasm, and human ZMYND10 interacts with LRRC6, another cytoplasmically localized protein altered in PCD. Using a fly model of PCD, we conclude that ZMYND10 is a cytoplasmic protein required for IDA and ODA assembly and that its variants cause ciliary dysmotility and PCD with laterality defects. PMID:23891471

  5. Loss of SPEF2 Function in Mice Results in Spermatogenesis Defects and Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia1

    PubMed Central

    Sironen, Anu; Kotaja, Noora; Mulhern, Howard; Wyatt, Todd A.; Sisson, Joseph H.; Pavlik, Jacqueline A.; Miiluniemi, Mari; Fleming, Mark D.; Lee, Lance

    2011-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) results from defects in motile cilia function. Mice homozygous for the mutation big giant head (bgh) have several abnormalities commonly associated with PCD, including hydrocephalus, male infertility, and sinusitis. In the present study, we use a variety of histopathological and cell biological techniques to characterize the bgh phenotype, and we identify the bgh mutation using a positional cloning approach. Histopathological, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopic analyses demonstrate that the male infertility results from shortened flagella and disorganized axonemal and accessory structures in elongating spermatids and mature sperm. In addition, there is a reduced number of elongating spermatids during spermatogenesis and mature sperm in the epididymis. Histological analyses show that the hydrocephalus is characterized by severe dilatation of the lateral ventricles and that bgh sinuses have an accumulation of mucus infiltrated by neutrophils. In contrast to the sperm phenotype, electron microscopy demonstrates that mutant respiratory epithelial cilia are ultrastructurally normal, but video microscopic analysis shows that their beat frequency is lower than that of wild-type cilia. Through a positional cloning approach, we identified two sequence variants in the gene encoding sperm flagellar protein 2 (SPEF2), which has been postulated to play an important role in spermatogenesis and flagellar assembly. A causative nonsense mutation was validated by Western blot analysis, strongly suggesting that the bgh phenotype results from the loss of SPEF2 function. Taken together, the data in this study demonstrate that SPEF2 is required for cilia function and identify a new genetic cause of PCD in mice. PMID:21715716

  6. ACCOMMODATIVE MOVEMENTS OF THE LENS/CAPSULE AND THE STRAND THAT EXTENDS BETWEEN THE POSTERIOR VITREOUS ZONULE INSERTION ZONE & THE LENS EQUATOR, IN RELATION TO THE VITREOUS FACE AND AGING

    PubMed Central

    CROFT, MARY ANN; HEATLEY, GREGG; MCDONALD, JARED P.; KATZ, ALEXANDER; KAUFMAN, PAUL L.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose To elucidate the dynamic accommodative movements of the lens capsule, posterior lens and the strand that attaches to the posterior vitreous zonule insertion zone and posterior lens equator (PVZ INS-LE), and their age-related changes. Methods Twelve human subjects (ages 19–65 years) and twelve rhesus monkeys (ages 6–27 years) were studied. Accommodation was induced pharmacologically (humans) or by central electrical stimulation (monkeys). Ultrasound biomicroscopy was used to image intraocular structures in both species. Surgical procedures and contrast agents were utilized in the monkey eyes to elucidate function and allow visualization of the intraocular accommodative structures. Results Human: The posterior pole of the lens moves posteriorly during accommodation in proportion to accommodative amplitude and ciliary muscle movement. Monkey: Similar accommodative movements of the posterior lens pole were seen in the monkey eyes. Following extracapsular lens extraction (ECLE), the central capsule bows backward during accommodation in proportion to accommodative amplitude and ciliary muscle movement, while the peripheral capsule moves forward. During accommodation the ciliary muscle moved forward by ~1.0 mm, pulling forward the vitreous zonule and the PVZ INS-LE structure. During the accommodative response the PVZ INS-LE structure moved forward when the lens was intact and when the lens substance and capsule were removed. In both the monkey and the human eyes these movements declined with age. Conclusions The accommodative shape change of the central capsule may be due to the elastic properties of the capsule itself. For these capsule/lens accommodative posterior movements to occur, the vitreous face must either allow for it or facilitate it. The PVZ INS-LE structure may act as a “strut” to the posterior lens equator (pushing the lens equator forward) and thereby facilitate accommodative forward lens equator movement and lens thickening. The age-related posterior restriction of the ciliary muscle, vitreous zonule and the PVZ-INS LE structure dampens the accommodative lens shape change. Future descriptions of the accommodative mechanism, and approaches to presbyopia therapy, may need to incorporate these findings. PMID:26769326

  7. Elevated Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling Is Critical for the Pathogenesis of the Dwarfism in Evc2/Limbin Mutant Mice.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Honghao; Kamiya, Nobuhiro; Tsuji, Takehito; Takeda, Haruko; Scott, Greg; Rajderkar, Sudha; Ray, Manas K; Mochida, Yoshiyuki; Allen, Benjamin; Lefebvre, Veronique; Hung, Irene H; Ornitz, David M; Kunieda, Tetsuo; Mishina, Yuji

    2016-12-01

    Ellis-van Creveld (EvC) syndrome is a skeletal dysplasia, characterized by short limbs, postaxial polydactyly, and dental abnormalities. EvC syndrome is also categorized as a ciliopathy because of ciliary localization of proteins encoded by the two causative genes, EVC and EVC2 (aka LIMBIN). While recent studies demonstrated important roles for EVC/EVC2 in Hedgehog signaling, there is still little known about the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the skeletal dysplasia features of EvC patients, and in particular why limb development is affected, but not other aspects of organogenesis that also require Hedgehog signaling. In this report, we comprehensively analyze limb skeletogenesis in Evc2 mutant mice and in cell and tissue cultures derived from these mice. Both in vivo and in vitro data demonstrate elevated Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) signaling in Evc2 mutant growth plates, in addition to compromised but not abrogated Hedgehog-PTHrP feedback loop. Elevation of FGF signaling, mainly due to increased Fgf18 expression upon inactivation of Evc2 in the perichondrium, critically contributes to the pathogenesis of limb dwarfism. The limb dwarfism phenotype is partially rescued by inactivation of one allele of Fgf18 in the Evc2 mutant mice. Taken together, our data uncover a novel pathogenic mechanism to understand limb dwarfism in patients with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome.

  8. Elevated Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling Is Critical for the Pathogenesis of the Dwarfism in Evc2/Limbin Mutant Mice

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Honghao; Kamiya, Nobuhiro; Tsuji, Takehito; Takeda, Haruko; Scott, Greg; Ray, Manas K.; Mochida, Yoshiyuki; Lefebvre, Veronique; Hung, Irene H.; Kunieda, Tetsuo; Mishina, Yuji

    2016-01-01

    Ellis-van Creveld (EvC) syndrome is a skeletal dysplasia, characterized by short limbs, postaxial polydactyly, and dental abnormalities. EvC syndrome is also categorized as a ciliopathy because of ciliary localization of proteins encoded by the two causative genes, EVC and EVC2 (aka LIMBIN). While recent studies demonstrated important roles for EVC/EVC2 in Hedgehog signaling, there is still little known about the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the skeletal dysplasia features of EvC patients, and in particular why limb development is affected, but not other aspects of organogenesis that also require Hedgehog signaling. In this report, we comprehensively analyze limb skeletogenesis in Evc2 mutant mice and in cell and tissue cultures derived from these mice. Both in vivo and in vitro data demonstrate elevated Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) signaling in Evc2 mutant growth plates, in addition to compromised but not abrogated Hedgehog-PTHrP feedback loop. Elevation of FGF signaling, mainly due to increased Fgf18 expression upon inactivation of Evc2 in the perichondrium, critically contributes to the pathogenesis of limb dwarfism. The limb dwarfism phenotype is partially rescued by inactivation of one allele of Fgf18 in the Evc2 mutant mice. Taken together, our data uncover a novel pathogenic mechanism to understand limb dwarfism in patients with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome. PMID:28027321

  9. Proton irradiation of malignant melanoma of the ciliary body.

    PubMed Central

    Gragoudas, E S; Goitein, M; Koehler, A; Wagner, M S; Verhey, L; Tepper, J; Suit, H D; Schneider, R J; Johnson, K N

    1979-01-01

    This is our first case of malignant melanoma of the ciliary body treated with proton beam irradiation, a technique that we developed for irradiating choroidal melanomas. After 21 months of follow-up no growth of the tumour has been observed, and shrinkage of the tumour was noted on the follow-up photographs and by ultrasonography. The 32P uptake test, which was positive before treatment, turned negative 14 months after irradiation. The described technique of proton beam irradiation might offer an alternative for the treatment of ciliary body melanomas when the present techniques of iridocyclectomy cannot be applied because of the size of the lesion. Images PMID:106873

  10. Centrosomal protein Dzip1l binds Cby, promotes ciliary bud formation, and acts redundantly with Bromi to regulate ciliogenesis in the mouse.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chengbing; Li, Jia; Takemaru, Ken-Ichi; Jiang, Xiaogang; Xu, Guoqiang; Wang, Baolin

    2018-03-15

    The primary cilium is a microtubule-based organelle required for Hedgehog (Hh) signaling and consists of a basal body, a ciliary axoneme and a compartment between the first two structures, called the transition zone (TZ). The TZ serves as a gatekeeper to control protein composition in cilia, but less is known about its role in ciliary bud formation. Here, we show that centrosomal protein Dzip1l is required for Hh signaling between Smoothened and Sufu. Dzip1l colocalizes with basal body appendage proteins and Rpgrip1l, a TZ protein. Loss of Dzip1l results in reduced ciliogenesis and dysmorphic cilia in vivo Dzip1l interacts with, and acts upstream of, Cby, an appendage protein, in ciliogenesis. Dzip1l also has overlapping functions with Bromi (Tbc1d32) in ciliogenesis, cilia morphogenesis and neural tube patterning. Loss of Dzip1l arrests ciliogenesis at the stage of ciliary bud formation from the TZ. Consistent with this, Dzip1l mutant cells fail to remove the capping protein Cp110 (Ccp110) from the distal end of mother centrioles and to recruit Rpgrip1l to the TZ. Therefore, Dzip1l promotes ciliary bud formation and is required for the integrity of the TZ. © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  11. Applications of emerging transmission electron microscopy technology in PCD research and diagnosis.

    PubMed

    Shoemark, Amelia

    2017-01-01

    Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a heterogeneous genetic condition characterized by dysfunction of motile cilia. Patients suffer from chronic infection and inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Diagnosis of PCD is confirmed by identification of a hallmark defect of ciliary ultrastructure or by identification of biallelic pathogenic mutations in a known PCD gene. Since the first description of PCD in 1976, assessment of ciliary ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been central to diagnosis and research. Electron tomography is a technique whereby a series of transmission electron micrographs are collected at different angles and reconstructed into a single 3D model of a specimen. Electron tomography provides improved spatial information and resolution compared to a single micrograph. Research by electron tomography has revealed new insight into ciliary ultrastructure and consequently ciliary function at a molecular and cellular level. Gene discovery studies in PCD have utilized electron tomography to define the structural consequences of variants in cilia genes. Modern transmission electron microscopes capable of electron tomography are increasingly being installed in clinical laboratories. This presents the possibility for the use of tomography technique in a diagnostic setting. This review describes the electron tomography technique, the contribution tomography has made to the understanding of basic cilia structure and function and finally the potential of the technique for use in PCD diagnosis.

  12. Ciliary muscle contraction force and trapezius muscle activity during manual tracking of a moving visual target.

    PubMed

    Domkin, Dmitry; Forsman, Mikael; Richter, Hans O

    2016-06-01

    Previous studies have shown an association of visual demands during near work and increased activity of the trapezius muscle. Those studies were conducted under stationary postural conditions with fixed gaze and artificial visual load. The present study investigated the relationship between ciliary muscle contraction force and trapezius muscle activity across individuals during performance of a natural dynamic motor task under free gaze conditions. Participants (N=11) tracked a moving visual target with a digital pen on a computer screen. Tracking performance, eye refraction and trapezius muscle activity were continuously measured. Ciliary muscle contraction force was computed from eye accommodative response. There was a significant Pearson correlation between ciliary muscle contraction force and trapezius muscle activity on the tracking side (0.78, p<0.01) and passive side (0.64, p<0.05). The study supports the hypothesis that high visual demands, leading to an increased ciliary muscle contraction during continuous eye-hand coordination, may increase trapezius muscle tension and thus contribute to the development of musculoskeletal complaints in the neck-shoulder area. Further experimental studies are required to clarify whether the relationship is valid within each individual or may represent a general personal trait, when individuals with higher eye accommodative response tend to have higher trapezius muscle activity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Effects of antiglaucoma drugs on [32P]orthophosphate incorporation into phospholipids of cat iris and ciliary process.

    PubMed

    Yorio, T; DeLoach, G; Satumtira, N

    1985-01-01

    The effects of antiglaucoma drugs on [32P]-orthophosphate incorporation into phospholipids of iris and ciliary process were investigated. Both iris and ciliary process rapidly incorporated 32Pi into the major phospholipids, with the acidic phosphoinositides demonstrating a greater labelling than phosphatidylcholine, indicating a greater turnover. The muscarinic agonists, carbachol and pilocarpine, stimulated 32Pi-labelling of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidic acid (PA) in both iris and ciliary process. These effects were blocked by atropine, suggesting that the response was mediated through muscarinic receptors. The beta blocking ocular hypotensive drugs, propranolol, timolol and atenolol, produced varying effects on 32P incorporation into phospholipids of iris and ciliary process. Propranolol stimulated 32Pi-labelling into phosphatidylinositol 4', 5' bisphosphate (PIP2), phosphatidylinositol 4' phosphate (PIP), PI and PA. Timolol decreased 32Pi-incorporation into PIP2 and PI, whereas atenolol, a selective beta 1 antagonist, had no significant effect on 32Pi-labelling of phospholipids. The above findings on propranolol agree with previous observations which demonstrated that propranolol redirects glycerolipid metabolism through multiple effects on the enzymes in phospholipid biosynthesis, particularly in stimulating phosphatidylinositol kinases. The results with timolol suggest that this drug may decrease phosphoinositide hydrolysis. The effects of these ocular hypotensive, non-selective beta blocking drugs on phospholipid turnover may ultimately limit the accumulation of breakdown products which could serve as cellular messengers.

  14. Use of optical tweezers to probe epithelial mechanosensation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Resnick, Andrew

    2010-01-01

    Cellular mechanosensation mechanisms have been implicated in a variety of disease states. Specifically in renal tubules, the primary cilium and associated mechanosensitive ion channels are hypothesized to play a role in water and salt homeostasis, with relevant disease states including polycystic kidney disease and hypertension. Previous experiments investigating ciliary-mediated cellular mechanosensation have used either fluid flow chambers or micropipetting to elicit a biological response. The interpretation of these experiments in terms of the ``ciliary hypothesis'' has been difficult due the spatially distributed nature of the mechanical disturbance-several competing hypotheses regarding possible roles of primary cilium, glycocalyx, microvilli, cell junctions, and actin cytoskeleton exist. I report initial data using optical tweezers to manipulate individual primary cilia in an attempt to elicit a mechanotransduction response-specifically, the release of intracellular calcium. The advantage of using laser tweezers over previous work is that the applied disturbance is highly localized. I find that stimulation of a primary cilium elicits a response, while stimulation of the apical surface membrane does not. These results lend support to the hypothesis that the primary cilium mediates transduction of mechanical strain into a biochemical response in renal epithelia.

  15. X-linked primary ciliary dyskinesia due to mutations in the cytoplasmic axonemal dynein assembly factor PIH1D3

    PubMed Central

    Olcese, Chiara; Patel, Mitali P.; Shoemark, Amelia; Kiviluoto, Santeri; Legendre, Marie; Williams, Hywel J.; Vaughan, Cara K.; Hayward, Jane; Goldenberg, Alice; Emes, Richard D.; Munye, Mustafa M.; Dyer, Laura; Cahill, Thomas; Bevillard, Jeremy; Gehrig, Corinne; Guipponi, Michel; Chantot, Sandra; Duquesnoy, Philippe; Thomas, Lucie; Jeanson, Ludovic; Copin, Bruno; Tamalet, Aline; Thauvin-Robinet, Christel; Papon, Jean- François; Garin, Antoine; Pin, Isabelle; Vera, Gabriella; Aurora, Paul; Fassad, Mahmoud R.; Jenkins, Lucy; Boustred, Christopher; Cullup, Thomas; Dixon, Mellisa; Onoufriadis, Alexandros; Bush, Andrew; Chung, Eddie M. K.; Antonarakis, Stylianos E.; Loebinger, Michael R.; Wilson, Robert; Armengot, Miguel; Escudier, Estelle; Hogg, Claire; Al-Turki, Saeed; Anderson, Carl; Antony, Dinu; Barroso, Inês; Beales, Philip L.; Bentham, Jamie; Bhattacharya, Shoumo; Carss, Keren; Chatterjee, Krishna; Cirak, Sebahattin; Cosgrove, Catherine; Allan, Daly; Durbin, Richard; Fitzpatrick, David; Floyd, Jamie; Foley, A. Reghan; Franklin, Chris; Futema, Marta; Humphries, Steve E.; Hurles, Matt; McCarthy, Shane; Muddyman, Dawn; Muntoni, Francesco; Parker, Victoria; Payne, Felicity; Plagnol, Vincent; Raymond, Lucy; Savage, David B.; Scambler, Peter J.; Schmidts, Miriam; Semple, Robert; Serra, Eva; Stalker, Jim; van Kogelenberg, Margriet; Vijayarangakannan, Parthiban; Walter, Klaudia; Amselem, Serge; Sun, Zhaoxia; Bartoloni, Lucia; Blouin, Jean-Louis; Mitchison, Hannah M.

    2017-01-01

    By moving essential body fluids and molecules, motile cilia and flagella govern respiratory mucociliary clearance, laterality determination and the transport of gametes and cerebrospinal fluid. Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an autosomal recessive disorder frequently caused by non-assembly of dynein arm motors into cilia and flagella axonemes. Before their import into cilia and flagella, multi-subunit axonemal dynein arms are thought to be stabilized and pre-assembled in the cytoplasm through a DNAAF2–DNAAF4–HSP90 complex akin to the HSP90 co-chaperone R2TP complex. Here, we demonstrate that large genomic deletions as well as point mutations involving PIH1D3 are responsible for an X-linked form of PCD causing disruption of early axonemal dynein assembly. We propose that PIH1D3, a protein that emerges as a new player of the cytoplasmic pre-assembly pathway, is part of a complementary conserved R2TP-like HSP90 co-chaperone complex, the loss of which affects assembly of a subset of inner arm dyneins. PMID:28176794

  16. X-linked primary ciliary dyskinesia due to mutations in the cytoplasmic axonemal dynein assembly factor PIH1D3.

    PubMed

    Olcese, Chiara; Patel, Mitali P; Shoemark, Amelia; Kiviluoto, Santeri; Legendre, Marie; Williams, Hywel J; Vaughan, Cara K; Hayward, Jane; Goldenberg, Alice; Emes, Richard D; Munye, Mustafa M; Dyer, Laura; Cahill, Thomas; Bevillard, Jeremy; Gehrig, Corinne; Guipponi, Michel; Chantot, Sandra; Duquesnoy, Philippe; Thomas, Lucie; Jeanson, Ludovic; Copin, Bruno; Tamalet, Aline; Thauvin-Robinet, Christel; Papon, Jean-François; Garin, Antoine; Pin, Isabelle; Vera, Gabriella; Aurora, Paul; Fassad, Mahmoud R; Jenkins, Lucy; Boustred, Christopher; Cullup, Thomas; Dixon, Mellisa; Onoufriadis, Alexandros; Bush, Andrew; Chung, Eddie M K; Antonarakis, Stylianos E; Loebinger, Michael R; Wilson, Robert; Armengot, Miguel; Escudier, Estelle; Hogg, Claire; Amselem, Serge; Sun, Zhaoxia; Bartoloni, Lucia; Blouin, Jean-Louis; Mitchison, Hannah M

    2017-02-08

    By moving essential body fluids and molecules, motile cilia and flagella govern respiratory mucociliary clearance, laterality determination and the transport of gametes and cerebrospinal fluid. Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an autosomal recessive disorder frequently caused by non-assembly of dynein arm motors into cilia and flagella axonemes. Before their import into cilia and flagella, multi-subunit axonemal dynein arms are thought to be stabilized and pre-assembled in the cytoplasm through a DNAAF2-DNAAF4-HSP90 complex akin to the HSP90 co-chaperone R2TP complex. Here, we demonstrate that large genomic deletions as well as point mutations involving PIH1D3 are responsible for an X-linked form of PCD causing disruption of early axonemal dynein assembly. We propose that PIH1D3, a protein that emerges as a new player of the cytoplasmic pre-assembly pathway, is part of a complementary conserved R2TP-like HSP90 co-chaperone complex, the loss of which affects assembly of a subset of inner arm dyneins.

  17. Forkhead Transcription Factor Fd3F Cooperates with Rfx to Regulate a Gene Expression Program for Mechanosensory Cilia Specialization

    PubMed Central

    Newton, Fay G.; zur Lage, Petra I.; Karak, Somdatta; Moore, Daniel J.; Göpfert, Martin C.; Jarman, Andrew P.

    2012-01-01

    Summary Cilia have evolved hugely diverse structures and functions to participate in a wide variety of developmental and physiological processes. Ciliary specialization requires differences in gene expression, but few transcription factors are known to regulate this, and their molecular function is unclear. Here, we show that the Drosophila Forkhead box (Fox) gene, fd3F, is required for specialization of the mechanosensory cilium of chordotonal (Ch) neurons. fd3F regulates genes for Ch-specific axonemal dyneins and TRPV ion channels, which are required for sensory transduction, and retrograde transport genes, which are required to differentiate their distinct motile and sensory ciliary zones. fd3F is reminiscent of vertebrate Foxj1, a motile cilia regulator, but fd3F regulates motility genes as part of a broader sensory regulation program. Fd3F cooperates with the pan-ciliary transcription factor, Rfx, to regulate its targets directly. This illuminates pathways involved in ciliary specialization and the molecular mechanism of transcription factors that regulate them. PMID:22698283

  18. Kin5 Knockdown in Tetrahymena thermophila Using RNAi Blocks Cargo Transport of Gef1

    PubMed Central

    Awan, Aashir; Bell, Aaron J.; Satir, Peter

    2009-01-01

    A critical process that builds and maintains the eukaryotic cilium is intraflagellar transport (IFT). This process utilizes members of the kinesin-2 superfamily to transport cargo into the cilium (anterograde transport) and a dynein motor for the retrograde traffic. Using a novel RNAi knockdown method, we have analyzed the function of the homodimeric IFT kinesin-2, Kin5, in Tetrahymena ciliary transport. In RNAi transformants, Kin5 was severely downregulated and disappeared from the cilia, but cilia did not resorb, although tip structure was affected. After deciliation of the knockdown cell, cilia regrew and cells swam, which suggested that Kin5 is not responsible for the trafficking of axonemal precursors to build the cilium, but could be transporting molecules that act in ciliary signal transduction, such as guanine nucleotide exchange proteins (GEFs). Gef1 is a Tetrahymena ciliary protein, and current coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence studies showed that it is absent in regrowing cilia of the knockdown cells lacking ciliary Kin5. We suggest that one important cargo of Kin5 is Gef1 and knockdown of Kin5 results in cell lethality. PMID:19290045

  19. Ciliopathy proteins establish a bipartite signaling compartment in a C. elegans thermosensory neuron

    PubMed Central

    Nguyen, Phuong Anh T.; Liou, Willisa; Hall, David H.; Leroux, Michel R.

    2014-01-01

    ABSTRACT How signaling domains form is an important, yet largely unexplored question. Here, we show that ciliary proteins help establish two contiguous, yet distinct cyclic GMP (cGMP) signaling compartments in Caenorhabditis elegans thermosensory AFD neurons. One compartment, a bona fide cilium, is delineated by proteins associated with Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS), Meckel syndrome and nephronophthisis at its base, and requires NPHP-2 (known as inversin in mammals) to anchor a cGMP-gated ion channel within the proximal ciliary region. The other, a subcompartment with profuse microvilli and a different lipid environment, is separated from the dendrite by a cellular junction and requires BBS-8 and DAF-25 (known as Ankmy2 in mammals) for correct localization of guanylyl cyclases needed for thermosensation. Consistent with a requirement for a membrane diffusion barrier at the subcompartment base, we reveal the unexpected presence of ciliary transition zone proteins where no canonical transition zone ultrastructure exists. We propose that differential compartmentalization of signal transduction components by ciliary proteins is important for the functions of ciliated sensory neurons. PMID:25335890

  20. Vortex arrays and ciliary tangles underlie the feeding-swimming trade-off in starfish larvae

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gilpin, William; Prakash, Vivek N.; Prakash, Manu

    2017-04-01

    Many marine invertebrates have larval stages covered in linear arrays of beating cilia, which propel the animal while simultaneously entraining planktonic prey. These bands are strongly conserved across taxa spanning four major superphyla, and they are responsible for the unusual morphologies of many invertebrate larvae. However, few studies have investigated their underlying hydrodynamics. Here, we study the ciliary bands of starfish larvae, and discover a beautiful pattern of slowly evolving vortices that surrounds the swimming animals. Closer inspection of the bands reveals unusual ciliary `tangles' analogous to topological defects that break up and re-form as the animal adjusts its swimming stroke. Quantitative experiments and modelling demonstrate that these vortices create a physical trade-off between feeding and swimming in heterogeneous environments, which manifests as distinct flow patterns or `eigenstrokes' representing each behaviour--potentially implicating neuronal control of cilia. This quantitative interplay between larval form and hydrodynamic function may generalize to other invertebrates with ciliary bands, and illustrates the potential effects of active boundary conditions in other biological and synthetic systems.

  1. Cyclodialysis: an update.

    PubMed

    González-Martín-Moro, Julio; Contreras-Martín, Inés; Muñoz-Negrete, Francisco José; Gómez-Sanz, Fernando; Zarallo-Gallardo, Jesús

    2017-04-01

    Cyclodialysis is the result of the separation of the longitudinal ciliary muscle fibers from the scleral spur, which creates an abnormal pathway for aqueous humor drainage that may lead to ocular hypotony. For many years cyclodialysis was considered a treatment option for glaucoma. However, today it usually occurs as a complication of blunt trauma or more rarely as a complication of anterior segment ocular surgery. Ocular hypotony can lead to cataract development, optic disk swelling, refractive changes, and several retinal complications, making accurate identification and timely intervention of the cleft mandatory. Traditionally gonioscopy was the only available technique to diagnose and localize the cleft. However, other tests such as optical coherence tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, transillumination, and specially ultrasound biomicroscopy are now available for the diagnosis of cyclodialysis. Multiple treatment options are also available for this condition. Although medical treatment can be effective to close small clefts, surgery is needed in most patients to restore ocular pressure.

  2. TTC25 Deficiency Results in Defects of the Outer Dynein Arm Docking Machinery and Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia with Left-Right Body Asymmetry Randomization.

    PubMed

    Wallmeier, Julia; Shiratori, Hidetaka; Dougherty, Gerard W; Edelbusch, Christine; Hjeij, Rim; Loges, Niki T; Menchen, Tabea; Olbrich, Heike; Pennekamp, Petra; Raidt, Johanna; Werner, Claudius; Minegishi, Katsura; Shinohara, Kyosuke; Asai, Yasuko; Takaoka, Katsuyoshi; Lee, Chanjae; Griese, Matthias; Memari, Yasin; Durbin, Richard; Kolb-Kokocinski, Anja; Sauer, Sascha; Wallingford, John B; Hamada, Hiroshi; Omran, Heymut

    2016-08-04

    Multiprotein complexes referred to as outer dynein arms (ODAs) develop the main mechanical force to generate the ciliary and flagellar beat. ODA defects are the most common cause of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a congenital disorder of ciliary beating, characterized by recurrent infections of the upper and lower airways, as well as by progressive lung failure and randomization of left-right body asymmetry. Using a whole-exome sequencing approach, we identified recessive loss-of-function mutations within TTC25 in three individuals from two unrelated families affected by PCD. Mice generated by CRISPR/Cas9 technology and carrying a deletion of exons 2 and 3 in Ttc25 presented with laterality defects. Consistently, we observed immotile nodal cilia and missing leftward flow via particle image velocimetry. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis in TTC25-deficient mice revealed an absence of ODAs. Consistent with our findings in mice, we were able to show loss of the ciliary ODAs in humans via TEM and immunofluorescence (IF) analyses. Additionally, IF analyses revealed an absence of the ODA docking complex (ODA-DC), along with its known components CCDC114, CCDC151, and ARMC4. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed interaction between the ODA-DC component CCDC114 and TTC25. Thus, here we report TTC25 as a new member of the ODA-DC machinery in humans and mice. Copyright © 2016 American Society of Human Genetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Recombination within the apospory specific genomic region leads to the uncoupling of apomixis components in Cenchrus ciliaris.

    PubMed

    Conner, Joann A; Gunawan, Gunawati; Ozias-Akins, Peggy

    2013-07-01

    Apomixis enables the clonal propagation of maternal genotypes through seed. If apomixis could be harnessed via genetic engineering or introgression, it would have a major economic impact for agricultural crops. In the grass species Pennisetum squamulatum and Cenchrus ciliaris (syn. P. ciliare), apomixis is controlled by a single dominant "locus", the apospory-specific genomic region (ASGR). For P. squamulatum, 18 published sequenced characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers have been identified which always co-segregate with apospory. Six of these markers are conserved SCARs in the closely related species, C. ciliaris and co-segregate with the trait. A screen of progeny from a cross of sexual × apomictic C. ciliaris genotypes identified a plant, A8, retaining two of the six ASGR-linked SCAR markers. Additional and newly identified ASGR-linked markers were generated to help identify the extent of recombination within the ASGR. Based on analysis of missing markers, the A8 recombinant plant has lost a significant portion of the ASGR but continues to form aposporous embryo sacs. Seedlings produced from aposporous embryo sacs are 6× in ploidy level and hence the A8 recombinant does not express parthenogenesis. The recombinant A8 plant represents a step forward in reducing the complexity of the ASGR locus to determine the factor(s) required for aposporous embryo sac formation and documents the separation of expression of the two components of apomixis in C. ciliaris.

  4. Introduction of Lens-angle Reconstruction Surgery in Rabbit Eyes

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Min Hee; Hwang, Ho Sik; Park, Kyoung Jin; Hwang, Je Hyung

    2014-01-01

    Purpose In this study, we examined the stability of the lens-angle supporter (LAS) for accommodation restoration by comparing intraocular lens (IOL) location, after-cataract and ciliary body damage after cataract surgery in rabbits. Methods Eight rabbits were divided into experimental and control groups of four rabbits each. Phacoemulsification and irrigation and aspiration were performed in all rabbits. This was followed by an LAS and IOL insertion in the four experimental rabbits. In the four control rabbits, only an IOL insertion was performed. Six months after the surgery, the location of the IOL, the conditions of the lens capsule and ciliary body were evaluated using a slitl-amp examination and Miyake-Apple view. Results For the experimental group, the ultrasound biomicroscope results showed normal LAS and IOL positioning in all four cases. According to the slitlamp examination and Miyake-Apple view, the IOL was positioned at the center, with less after-cataract and damage to the ciliary body. For the control group, ultrasound biomicroscope results indicated a higher IOL position than normal, as well as a single case of IOL decentering. According to the slit-lamp examination and Miyake-Apple view, the IOL was decentered with more severe after-cataract and ciliary body damage. Conclusions The LAS has the potential to maintain a stable IOL position while producing less after-cataract when used in lens-angle reconstruction for correction of presbyopia. Moreover, LAS implantation incurs less damage to the ciliary body. PMID:25435752

  5. Ciliary Body Thickness and Refractive Error in Children

    PubMed Central

    Bailey, Melissa D.; Sinnott, Loraine T.; Mutti, Donald O.

    2010-01-01

    Purpose To determine whether ciliary body thickness (CBT) is related to refractive error in school-age children. Methods Fifty-three children, 8 to 15 years of age, were recruited. CBT was measured from anterior segment OCT images (Visante; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA) at 1 (CBT1), 2 (CBT2) and 3 (CBT3) mm posterior to the scleral spur. Cycloplegic refractive error was measured with an autorefractor, and axial length was measured with an optical biometer. Multilevel regression models determined the relationship between CBT measurements and refractive error or axial length. A Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess the between-visit repeatability of the ciliary body measurements. Results The between-visits coefficients of repeatability for CBT1, -2, and -3 were 148.04, 165.68, and 110.90, respectively. Thicker measurements at CBT2 (r = −0.29, P = 0.03) and CBT3 (r = −0.38, P = 0.005) were associated with increasingly myopic refractive errors (multilevel model: P < 0.001). Thicker measurements at CBT2 (r = 0.40, P = 0.003) and CBT3 (r = 0.51, P < 0.001) were associated with longer axial lengths (multilevel model: P < 0.001). Conclusions Thicker ciliary body measurements were associated with myopia and a longer axial length. Future studies should determine whether this relationship is also present in animal models of myopia and determine the temporal relationship between thickening of the ciliary muscle and the onset of myopia. PMID:18566470

  6. Adenosine receptor distribution in Rhesus monkey ocular tissue.

    PubMed

    Beach, Krista M; Hung, Li-Fang; Arumugam, Baskar; Smith, Earl L; Ostrin, Lisa A

    2018-05-21

    Adenosine receptor (ADOR) antagonists, such as 7-methylxanthine (7-MX), have been shown to slow myopia progression in humans and animal models. Adenosine receptors are found throughout the body, and regulate the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and glutamate. However, the role of adenosine in eye growth is unclear. Evidence suggests that 7-MX increases scleral collagen fibril diameter, hence preventing axial elongation. This study used immunohistochemistry (IHC) and reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to examine the distribution of the four ADORs in the normal monkey eye to help elucidate potential mechanisms of action. Eyes were enucleated from six Rhesus monkeys. Anterior segments and eyecups were separated into components and flash-frozen for RNA extraction or fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and processed for immunohistochemistry against ADORA1, ADORA2a, ADORA2b, and ADORA3. RNA was reverse-transcribed, and qPCR was performed using custom primers. Relative gene expression was calculated using the ΔΔCt method normalizing to liver expression, and statistical analysis was performed using Relative Expression Software Tool. ADORA1 immunostaining was highest in the iris sphincter muscle, trabecular meshwork, ciliary epithelium, and retinal nerve fiber layer. ADORA2a immunostaining was highest in the corneal epithelium, trabecular meshwork, ciliary epithelium, retinal nerve fiber layer, and scleral fibroblasts. ADORA2b immunostaining was highest in corneal basal epithelium, limbal stem cells, iris sphincter, ciliary muscle, ciliary epithelium, choroid, isolated retinal ganglion cells and scattered scleral fibroblasts. ADORA3 immunostaining was highest in the iris sphincter, ciliary muscle, ciliary epithelium, choroid, isolated retinal ganglion cells, and scleral fibroblasts. Compared to liver mRNA, ADORA1 mRNA was significantly higher in the brain, retina and choroid, and significantly lower in the iris/ciliary body. ADORA2a expression was higher in brain and retina, ADORA2b expression was higher in retina, and ADORA3 was higher in the choroid. In conclusion, immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR indicated differential patterns of expression of the four adenosine receptors in the ocular tissues of the normal non-human primate. The presence of ADORs in scleral fibroblasts and the choroid may support mechanisms by which ADOR antagonists prevent myopia. The potential effects of ADOR inhibition on both anterior and posterior ocular structures warrant investigation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. MKS1 regulates ciliary INPP5E levels in Joubert syndrome

    PubMed Central

    Slaats, Gisela G.; Isabella, Christine R.; Kroes, Hester Y.; Dempsey, Jennifer C.; Gremmels, Hendrik; Monroe, Glen R.; Phelps, Ian G.; Duran, Karen J.; Adkins, Jonathan; Kumar, Sairam A.; Knutzen, Dana M.; Knoers, Nine V.; Mendelsohn, Nancy J.; Neubauer, David; Mastroyianni, Sotiria D.; Vogt, Julie; Worgan, Lisa; Karp, Natalya; Bowdin, Sarah; Glass, Ian A.; Parisi, Melissa A.; Otto, Edgar A.; Johnson, Colin A.; Hildebrandt, Friedhelm; van Haaften, Gijs; Giles, Rachel H.; Doherty, Dan

    2016-01-01

    Background Joubert syndrome (JS) is a recessive ciliopathy characterized by a distinctive brain malformation “the molar tooth sign”. Mutations in >27 genes cause JS, and mutations in 12 of these genes also cause Meckel syndrome (MKS). The goals of this work are to describe the clinical features of MKS1-related JS and determine whether disease causing MKS1 mutations affect cellular phenotypes such as cilium number, length and protein content as potential mechanisms underlying JS. Methods We measured cilium number, length and protein content (ARL13B and INPP5E) by immunofluorescence in fibroblasts from individuals with MKS1-related JS and in a 3D spheroid rescue assay to test the effects of disease-related MKS1 mutations. Results We report MKS1 mutations (eight of them previously unreported) in nine individuals with JS. A minority of the individuals with MKS1-related JS have MKS features. In contrast to the truncating mutations associated with MKS, all of the individuals with MKS1-related JS carry ≥1 non-truncating mutation. Fibroblasts from individuals with MKS1-related JS make normal or fewer cilia than control fibroblasts, their cilia are more variable in length than controls, and show decreased ciliary ARL13B and INPP5E. Additionally, MKS1 mutant alleles have similar effects in 3D spheroids. Conclusions MKS1 functions in the transition zone at the base of the cilium to regulate ciliary INPP5E content, through an ARL13B-dependent mechanism. Mutations in INPP5E also cause JS, so our findings in patient fibroblasts support the notion that loss of INPP5E function, due to either mutation or mislocalization, is a key mechanism underlying JS, downstream of MKS1 and ARL13B. PMID:26490104

  8. The Effects of Color to the Eye and its Importance for Heliport Lighting

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1996-08-01

    beginning around middle age . The hardening of the lens makes it difficult for the ciliary muscles to squeeze the lens to accommodate near objects. This...deficiencies of the visual system is important when designing a new approach lighting system so that these effects are not worsened. The effects of aging ...older, our ability to perceive color at the extremes of the visual spectrum decreases due primarily to the aging effects of the eye’s components. Current

  9. Guinea Pig Ciliary Muscle Development

    PubMed Central

    Pucker, Andrew D.; Carpenter, Ashley R.; McHugh, Kirk M.; Mutti, Donald O.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop a method for quantifying guinea pig ciliary muscle volume (CMV) and to determine its relationship to age and ocular biometric measurements. Methods Six albino guinea pigs eyes were collected at each of five ages (n=30 eyes). Retinoscopy and photography were used to document refractive error, eye size, and eye shape. Serial sections through the excised eyes were made and then labeled with an α-smooth muscle actin antibody. The CM was then visualized with an Olympus BX51 microscope, reconstructed with Stereo Investigator (MBF Bioscience) and analyzed using Neurolucida Explorer (MBF Bioscience). Full (using all sections) and partial (using a subset of sections) reconstruction methods were used to determine CMV. Results There was no significant difference between the full and partial volume determination methods (P = 0.86). The mean CMV of the 1, 10, 20, 30, and 90-day old eyes was 0.40 ± 0.16 mm3, 0.48 ± 0.13 mm3, 0.67 ± 0.15 mm3, 0.86 ± 0.35 mm3, and 1.09 ± 0.63 mm3, respectively. CMV was significantly correlated with log age (P = 0.001), ocular length (P = 0.003), limbal circumference (P = 0.01), and equatorial diameter (P = 0.003). It was not correlated with refractive error (P = 0.73) or eye shape (P = 0.60). Multivariate regression determined that biometric variables were not significantly associated with CMV after adjustment for age. Conclusions Three-dimensional reconstruction was an effective means of determining CMV. These data provide evidence that CM growth occurs with age in tandem with eye size in normal albino guinea pigs. Additional work is needed to determine the relationship between CMV and abnormal ocular growth. PMID:24901488

  10. [The relationship between ophthalmic nerve lesion in glaucoma and ocular and systemic haemodynamic disturbance].

    PubMed

    Liu, L; Yuan, S; Yang, W

    1999-04-01

    To explore the relationship between the optic nerve lesion in glaucoma and ocular and systemic haemodynamic disturbance. The color Doppler imaging was used to study blood velocity in the ophthalmic, the central retinal and the short posterior ciliary arteries in 34 patients with primary open angle glaucoma, 31 patients with low tension glaucoma and 90 healthy controls. The peak systolic velocity(PSV), the end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI) in each artery were measured, moreover the nailfold microcirculation and blood viscosity in each patient were examined. Compared with the control group, the PSV and EDV of the central retinal arteries were significantly lower while the RI of the central retinal arteries was significantly higher in both POAG and LTG patients. The RI of the short posterior ciliary arteries however was significantly higher in POAG. Nailfold microcirculation shows that some important parameters, including flow pattern, loop surrounding, morphological weighted value, total weighted value and capillary deformity rate in the two glaucoma groups were higher, whereas the flow velocity was lower than in the control group. The plasm viscosity and the whole blood viscosity (low spear) were higher than normal. According to our measurements, the nailfold microcirculation and blood viscosity was worse at the end stage of glaucoma than at early stage. The correlative analysis between measurement results of color doppler imaging and microcirculation and heamorrheology showed that nailfold microcirculation morphological weighted value was negatively correlated with the EDV of the central retinal artery and positively correlated with the RI of the central retinal artery in LTG patients. The abnormity of ocular haemodynamics and systemic microcirculation and blood viscosity is one important factor of optic nerve damage in glaucoma.

  11. Respiratory Syncytial Virus Inhibits Ciliagenesis in Differentiated Normal Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells: Effectiveness of N-Acetylcysteine

    PubMed Central

    Mata, Manuel; Sarrion, Irene; Armengot, Miguel; Carda, Carmen; Martinez, Isidoro; Melero, Jose A.; Cortijo, Julio

    2012-01-01

    Persistent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections have been associated with the exacerbation of chronic inflammatory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This virus infects the respiratory epithelium, leading to chronic inflammation, and induces the release of mucins and the loss of cilia activity, two factors that determine mucus clearance and the increase in sputum volume. These alterations involve reactive oxygen species-dependent mechanisms. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has proven useful in the management of COPD, reducing symptoms, exacerbations, and accelerated lung function decline. NAC inhibits RSV infection and mucin release in human A549 cells. The main objective of this study was to analyze the effects of NAC in modulating ciliary activity, ciliagenesis, and metaplasia in primary normal human bronchial epithelial cell (NHBEC) cultures infected with RSV. Our results indicated that RSV induced ultrastructural abnormalities in axonemal basal bodies and decreased the expression of β-tubulin as well as two genes involved in ciliagenesis, FOXJ1 and DNAI2. These alterations led to a decrease in ciliary activity. Furthermore, RSV induced metaplastic changes to the epithelium and increased the number of goblet cells and the expression of MUC5AC and GOB5. NAC restored the normal functions of the epithelium, inhibiting ICAM1 expression, subsequent RSV infection through mechanisms involving nuclear receptor factor 2, and the expression of heme oxygenase 1, which correlated with the restoration of the antioxidant capacity, the intracellular H2O2 levels and glutathione content of NHBECs. The results presented in this study support the therapeutic use of NAC for the management of chronic respiratory diseases, including COPD. PMID:23118923

  12. 15 years of research on Oral-Facial-Digital syndromes: from 1 to 16 causal genes

    PubMed Central

    Bruel, Ange-Line; Franco, Brunella; Duffourd, Yannis; Thevenon, Julien; Jego, Laurence; Lopez, Estelle; Deleuze, Jean-François; Doummar, Diane; Giles, Rachel H.; Johnson, Colin A.; Huynen, Martijn A.; Chevrier, Véronique; Burglen, Lydie; Morleo, Manuela; Desguerres, Isabelle; Pierquin, Geneviève; Doray, Bérénice; Gilbert-Dussardier, Brigitte; Reversade, Bruno; Steichen-Gersdorf, Elisabeth; Baumann, Clarisse; Panigrahi, Inusha; Fargeot-Espaliat, Anne; Dieux, Anne; David, Albert; Goldenberg, Alice; Bongers, Ernie; Gaillard, Dominique; Argente, Jesús; Aral, Bernard; Gigot, Nadège; St-Onge, Judith; Birnbaum, Daniel; Phadke, Shubha R.; Cormier-Daire, Valérie; Eguether, Thibaut; Pazour, Gregory J.; Herranz-Pérez, Vicente; Lee, Jaclyn S.; Pasquier, Laurent; Loget, Philippe; Saunier, Sophie; Mégarbané, André; Rosnet, Olivier; Leroux, Michel R.; Wallingford, John B.; Blacque, Oliver E.; Nachury, Maxence V.; Attie-Bitach, Tania; Rivière, Jean-Baptiste; Faivre, Laurence; Thauvin-Robinet, Christel

    2017-01-01

    Oral-facial-digital syndromes (OFDS) gather rare genetic disorders characterized by facial, oral and digital abnormalities associated with a wide range of additional features (polycystic kidney disease, cerebral malformations and several others) to delineate a growing list of OFD subtypes. The most frequent, OFD type I, is caused by a heterozygous mutation in the OFD1 gene encoding a centrosomal protein. The wide clinical heterogeneity of OFDS suggests the involvement of other ciliary genes. For 15 years, we have aimed to identify the molecular bases of OFDS. This effort has been greatly helped by the recent development of whole exome sequencing (WES). Here, we present all our published and unpublished results for WES in 24 OFDS cases. We identified causal variants in five new genes (C2CD3, TMEM107, INTU, KIAA0753, IFT57) and related the clinical spectrum of four genes in other ciliopathies (C5orf42, TMEM138, TMEM231, WDPCP) to OFDS. Mutations were also detected in two genes previously implicated in OFDS. Functional studies revealed the involvement of centriole elongation, transition zone and intraflagellar transport defects in OFDS, thus characterizing three ciliary protein modules: the complex KIAA0753-FOPNL-OFD1, a regulator of centriole elongation; the MKS module, a major component of the transition zone; and the CPLANE complex necessary for IFT-A assembly. OFDS now appear to be a distinct subgroup of ciliopathies with wide heterogeneity, which makes the initial classification obsolete. A clinical classification restricted to the three frequent/well-delineated subtypes could be proposed, and for patients who do not fit one of these 3 main subtypes, a further classification could be based on the genotype. PMID:28289185

  13. Arima syndrome caused by CEP290 specific variant and accompanied with pathological cilium; clinical comparison with Joubert syndrome and its related diseases.

    PubMed

    Itoh, Masayuki; Ide, Shuhei; Iwasaki, Yuji; Saito, Takashi; Narita, Keishi; Dai, Hongmei; Yamakura, Shinji; Furue, Takeki; Kitayama, Hirotsugu; Maeda, Keiko; Takahashi, Eihiko; Matsui, Kiyoshi; Goto, Yu-Ichi; Takeda, Sen; Arima, Masataka

    2018-04-01

    Arima syndrome (AS) is a rare disease and its clinical features mimic those of Joubert syndrome or Joubert syndrome-related diseases (JSRD). Recently, we clarified the AS diagnostic criteria and its severe phenotype. However, genetic evidence of AS remains unknown. We explored causative genes of AS and compared the clinical and genetic features of AS with the other JSRD. We performed genetic analyses of 4 AS patients of 3 families with combination of whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing. Furthermore, we studied cell biology with the cultured fibroblasts of 3 AS patients. All patients had a specific homozygous variant (c.6012-12T>A, p.Arg2004Serfs*7) or compound heterozygous variants (c.1711+1G>A; c.6012-12T>A, p.Gly570Aspfs*19;Arg2004Serfs*7) in centrosomal protein 290 kDa (CEP290) gene. These unique variants lead to abnormal splicing and premature termination. Morphological analysis of cultured fibroblasts from AS patients revealed a marked decrease of the CEP290-positive cell number with significantly longer cilium and naked and protruded ciliary axoneme without ciliary membrane into the cytoplasm. AS resulted in cilia dysfunction from centrosome disruption. The unique variant of CEP290 could be strongly linked to AS pathology. Here, we provided AS specific genetic evidence, which steers the structure and functions of centrosome that is responsible for normal ciliogenesis. This is the first report that has demonstrated the molecular basis of Arima syndrome. Copyright © 2017 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Accuracy of Immunofluorescence in the Diagnosis of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

    PubMed Central

    Frost, Emily; Dixon, Mellisa; Ollosson, Sarah; Kilpin, Kate; Patel, Mitali; Scully, Juliet; Rogers, Andrew V.; Mitchison, Hannah M.; Bush, Andrew; Hogg, Claire

    2017-01-01

    Rationale: The standard approach to diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) in the United Kingdom consists of assessing ciliary function by high-speed microscopy and ultrastructure by election microscopy, but equipment and expertise is not widely available internationally. The identification of biallelic disease-causing mutations is also diagnostic, but many disease-causing genes are unknown, and testing is not widely available outside the United States. Fluorescent antibodies to ciliary proteins are used to validate research genetic studies, but diagnostic utility in this disease has not been systematically evaluated. Objectives: To determine utility of a panel of six fluorescent labeled antibodies as a diagnostic tool for PCD. Methods: The study used immunofluorescent labeling of nasal brushings from a discovery cohort of 35 patients diagnosed with PCD by ciliary ultrastructure, and a diagnostic accuracy cohort of 386 patients referred with symptoms suggestive of disease. The results were compared with diagnostic outcome. Measurements and Main Results: Immunofluorescence correctly identified mislocalized or absent staining in 100% of the discovery cohort. In the diagnostic cohort immunofluorescence successfully identified 22 of 25 patients with PCD and normal staining in all 252 in whom PCD was considered highly unlikely. In addition, immunofluorescence provided a result in 55% (39) of cases that were previously inconclusive. Immunofluorescence results were available within 14 days, costing $187 per sample compared with electron microscopy (27 days; cost $1,452). Conclusions: Immunofluorescence is a highly specific diagnostic test for PCD, and it improves the speed and availability of diagnostic testing. However, sensitivity is limited and immunofluorescence is not suitable as a stand-alone test. PMID:28199173

  15. Age-related posterior ciliary muscle restriction – A link between trabecular meshwork and optic nerve head pathophysiology

    PubMed Central

    Lütjen-Drecoll, Elke; Kaufman, Paul L.

    2016-01-01

    The ciliary muscle plays a major role in controlling both accommodation and outflow facility in primates. The ciliary muscle and the choroid functionally form an elastic network that extends from the trabecular meshwork all the way to the back of the eye and ultimately attaches to the elastic fiber ring that surrounds the optic nerve and to the lamina cribrosa through which the nerve passes. The ciliary muscle governs the accommodative movement of the elastic network. With age ciliary muscle mobility is restricted by progressively inelastic posterior attachments and the posterior restriction makes the contraction progressively isometric; placing increased tension on the optic nerve region. In addition, outflow facility also declines with age and limbal corneoscleral contour bows inward. Age-related loss in muscle movement and altered limbal corneoscleral contour could both compromise the basal function of the trabecular meshwork. Further, recent studies in non-human primates show that the central vitreous moves posteriorly all the way back to the optic nerve region, suggesting a fluid current and a pressure gradient toward the optic nerve. Thus, there may be pressure and tension spikes on the optic nerve region during accommodation and these pressure and tension spikes may increase with age. This constellation of events could be relevant to glaucomatous optic neuropathy. In summary, our hypothesis is that glaucoma and presbyopia may be literally linked to each other, via the choroid, and that damage to the optic nerve may be inflicted by accommodative intraocular pressure and choroidal tension “spikes”, which may increase with age. PMID:27453343

  16. Age-related posterior ciliary muscle restriction - A link between trabecular meshwork and optic nerve head pathophysiology.

    PubMed

    Croft, Mary Ann; Lütjen-Drecoll, Elke; Kaufman, Paul L

    2017-05-01

    The ciliary muscle plays a major role in controlling both accommodation and outflow facility in primates. The ciliary muscle and the choroid functionally form an elastic network that extends from the trabecular meshwork all the way to the back of the eye and ultimately attaches to the elastic fiber ring that surrounds the optic nerve and to the lamina cribrosa through which the nerve passes. The ciliary muscle governs the accommodative movement of the elastic network. With age ciliary muscle mobility is restricted by progressively inelastic posterior attachments and the posterior restriction makes the contraction progressively isometric; placing increased tension on the optic nerve region. In addition, outflow facility also declines with age and limbal corneoscleral contour bows inward. Age-related loss in muscle movement and altered limbal corneoscleral contour could both compromise the basal function of the trabecular meshwork. Further, recent studies in non-human primates show that the central vitreous moves posteriorly all the way back to the optic nerve region, suggesting a fluid current and a pressure gradient toward the optic nerve. Thus, there may be pressure and tension spikes on the optic nerve region during accommodation and these pressure and tension spikes may increase with age. This constellation of events could be relevant to glaucomatous optic neuropathy. In summary, our hypothesis is that glaucoma and presbyopia may be literally linked to each other, via the choroid, and that damage to the optic nerve may be inflicted by accommodative intraocular pressure and choroidal tension "spikes", which may increase with age. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Qualitative Assessment of Ultrasound Biomicroscopic Images Using Standard Photographs: The Liwan Eye Study

    PubMed Central

    Jiang, Yuzhen; Huang, Wenyong; Huang, Qunxiao; Zhang, Jian; Foster, Paul J.

    2010-01-01

    Objective. To classify anatomic features related to anterior chamber angles by a qualitative assessment system based on ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) images. Methods. Cases of primary angle-closure suspect (PACS), defined by pigmented trabecular meshwork that is not visible in two or more quadrants on static gonioscopy (cases) and systematically selected subjects (1 of every 10) who did not meet this criterion (controls) were enrolled during a population-based survey in Guangzhou, China. All subjects underwent UBM examination. A set of standard UBM images was used to qualitatively classify anatomic features related to the angle configuration, including iris thickness, iris convexity, iris angulation, ciliary body size, and ciliary process position. All analysis was conducted on right eye images. Results. Based on the qualitative grades, the difference in overall iris thickness between gonioscopically narrow eyes (n = 117) and control eyes (n = 57) was not statistically significant. The peripheral one third of the iris tended to be thicker in all quadrants of the PACS eyes, although the difference was statistically significant only in the superior quadrant (P = 0.008). No significant differences were found in the qualitative classifications of iris insertion, iris angulation, ciliary body size, and ciliary process position. The findings were similar when compared with the control group of eyes with wide angles in all quadrants. Conclusions. Basal iris thickness seems to be more relevant to narrow angle configuration than to overall iris thickness. Otherwise, the anterior rotation and size of the ciliary body, the iris insertion, and the overall iris thickness are comparable in narrow- and wide-angle eyes. PMID:19834039

  18. Anteriorly located zonular fibres as a tool for fine regulation in accommodation

    PubMed Central

    Flügel-Koch, Cassandra; Croft, Mary Ann; Kaufman, Paul L.; Lütjen-Drecoll, Elke

    2015-01-01

    Purpose To describe an anteriorly located system of zonular fibres that could be involved in fine-tuning of accommodation Methods Forty six human and 28 rhesus monkey eyes were dissected and special preparations were processed for scanning electron microscopy and reflected-light microscopy. Additional series of frontal and sagittal histological and ultrathin sections were analysed in respect to the origin and insertion of anteriorly located zonules. The presence of sensory terminals at the site of the originating zonules within the connective tissue of the ciliary body was studied by immunohistochemistry. For in-vivo visualization ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) was performed on 12 human subjects. Results Fine zonular fibres originated from the valleys and lateral walls of the most anterior pars plicata that covers the anterior and inner circular ciliary muscle portion. These most anterior zonules (MAZ) showed attachments either to the anterior or posterior tines or they inserted directly onto the surface of the lens. At the site of origin, the course of the MAZ merged into the connective tissue fibres connecting the adjacent pigmented epithelium to the ciliary muscle. Numerous afferent terminals directly at the site of this MAZ-origin were connected to the intrinsic nervous network of the ciliary muscle. Conclusions A newly described set of zonular fibres features the capabilities to register the tensions of the zonular fork and lens capsule. The close location and neural connection towards the circular ciliary muscle portion could provide the basis for stabilization and readjustment of focusing that serves fast and fine-tuned accommodation and disaccommodation. PMID:26490669

  19. The pupillary and ciliary components of the cat Edinger-Westphal nucleus: a transsynaptic transport investigation.

    PubMed

    Erichsen, Jonathan T; May, Paul J

    2002-01-01

    The distribution of preganglionic motoneurons supplying the ciliary ganglion in the cat was defined both qualitatively and quantitatively. These cells were retrogradely labeled directly, following injections of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) into the ciliary ganglion, or were transsynaptically labeled following injections of WGA into the vitreous chamber. Almost half of the cells are distributed rostral to the oculomotor nucleus, both in and lateral to the anteromedian nucleus. Of the remaining preganglionic motoneurons, roughly 20% of the total are located dorsal to the oculomotor nucleus. Strikingly few of these neurons are actually found within the Edinger-Westphal nucleus proper. Instead, the majority are found in the adjacent supraoculomotor area or along the midline between the two somatic nuclei. An additional population, roughly 30% of the total, is located ventral to the oculomotor nucleus. This study also provides evidence for a functional subdivision of this preganglionic population. Pupil-related preganglionic motoneurons were transsynaptically labeled by injecting WGA into the anterior chamber, while lens-related preganglionic motoneurons were transsynaptically labeled by injecting WGA into the ciliary muscle. The results suggest that the pupil-related preganglionic motoneurons, that is, those controlling the iris sphincter pupillae muscle, are located rostrally, in and lateral to the anteromedian nucleus. In contrast, lens-related preganglionic motoneurons, that is, those controlling the ciliary muscle are particularly prevalent caudally, both dorsal and ventral to the oculomotor nucleus. Thus, the cat intraocular muscle preganglionic innervation is spatially organized with respect to function, despite the dispersed nature of its distribution.

  20. Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IIC-IV Melanoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2014-05-20

    Ciliary Body and Choroid Melanoma, Medium/Large Size; Ciliary Body and Choroid Melanoma, Small Size; Extraocular Extension Melanoma; Iris Melanoma; Metastatic Intraocular Melanoma; Mucosal Melanoma; Recurrent Intraocular Melanoma; Recurrent Melanoma; Stage IIC Melanoma; Stage IIIA Intraocular Melanoma; Stage IIIA Melanoma; Stage IIIB Intraocular Melanoma; Stage IIIB Melanoma; Stage IIIC Intraocular Melanoma; Stage IIIC Melanoma; Stage IV Intraocular Melanoma; Stage IV Melanoma

  1. Redescription of the Tintinnid Stenosemella pacifica Kofoid and Campbell, 1929 (Ciliophora, Spirotricha) Based on Live Observation, Protargol Impregnation, and Scanning Electron Microscopy

    PubMed Central

    AGATHA, SABINE; TSAI, SHENG-FANG

    2010-01-01

    The tintinnid ciliate Stenosemella pacifica Kofoid and Campbell, 1929 was occasionally recorded from the pelagial of temperate, subtropical, and tropical neritic waters. Since its cytological features were unknown, the species is redescribed from material collected in the pelagial of the Irish Sea, using live observation, protargol impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the species diagnosis is improved to include new characteristics, e.g. the somatic ciliary pattern comprising a ventral, dorsal, and posterior kinety as well as a right, left, and lateral ciliary field. The stomatogenesis of S. pacifica is typical for species with such a complex somatic ciliary pattern: the oral primordium develops hypoapokinetally posterior to the lateral ciliary field. The presence of windows in the lorica collar of Stenosemella ventricosa, the type of the genus, necessitates (i) an improved genus diagnosis, (ii) a synonymization of the genus Luminella Kofoid and Campbell, 1939, and (iii) a transfer of the Luminella species to the genus Stenosemella, including Luminella neocalifornica, which becomes Stenosemella neocalifornica nov. comb. Owing to the lack of a description, Stenosemella crateri is considered a nomen nudum. PMID:18318859

  2. Effects of theophylline on expression of the long cilia phenotype in sand dollar blastulae.

    PubMed

    Riederer-Henderson, M A

    1988-04-01

    Previously, increases in ciliary length have only been obtained through genetic mutation in Chlamydomonas or by incubation of swimming echinoderm blastulae in trypsin or elastase. We have found that the phenotypic switch from short to long cilia on sand dollar blastulae can also be effected by incubation in theophylline. Cilia detached from control blastulae have a mean length of 21 +/- 7 microns with 10% of the cilia being greater than 30 microns. Upon incubation in 10 mM theophylline additional long cilia appeared after 10 hours and by 24-32 hours 1/2-3/4 of the embryo was covered with long cilia. The percentage of long cilia increased to 65% with a mean length of 40.0 +/- 17.6 microns. Incubation in other methylxanthines, such as aminophylline, caffeine, or isobutylmethylxanthine, inhibited development but had no effect on ciliary length distribution. Dibutyryl cAMP, 8-bromoadenosine, and calcium ionophore also had no effect on ciliary length. Cyclic AMP levels were measured and showed only slight differences among controls and embryos incubated in trypsin, caffeine, or theophylline. These data suggest that theophylline may be altering ciliary length control through some mechanism other than elevations in cAMP.

  3. Sequence-Based Identification of a Zoophilic Strain of Trichophyton interdigitale in a Rare Case of Tinea Blepharo-Ciliaris Associated with Tinea Barbae.

    PubMed

    Buruiana, Adrian M; Mihali, Ciprian V; Popescu, Cristina

    2015-12-01

    Impaired hair at blepharo-ciliaris area by dermatophytes is a rare clinical entity. This infection is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, being mistakenly referred to as an infection of bacterial origin. Herein, we present a rare case of tinea blepharo-ciliaris associated with tinea barbae in an adult male. Considering the two lesions of the patient, mycological examination was performed by phenotypic methods, including environmental electronic scanning microscopy. Trichophyton interdigitale zoophilic strain was identified as the etiological agent by direct examination of the hair, primary culture analysis of the developed colonies and PCR sequencing of the ITS1 region of the rDNA gene. Homology search showed 100% similarity with T. interdigitale (GenBank accession number: KC595993), Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii (GenBank accession number: JQ407190) and zoophilic strain of T. interdigitale (GenBank accession number: AY062119.1.). Four weeks of oral and local treatment with itraconazole (100 mg twice a day) and fluconazole 0.3% (eyedrops) induced complete remission. To our knowledge, this is the first report of tinea blepharo-ciliaris associated with tinea barbae in Romania.

  4. Head sensory organs of Dactylopodola baltica (Macrodasyida, Gastrotricha): a combination of transmission electron microscopical and immunocytochemical techniques.

    PubMed

    Liesenjohann, Thilo; Neuhaus, Birger; Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas

    2006-08-01

    The anterior and posterior head sensory organs of Dactylopodola baltica (Macrodasyida, Gastrotricha) were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, whole individuals were labeled with phalloidin to mark F-actin and with anti-alpha-tubulin antibodies to mark microtubuli and studied with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Immunocytochemistry reveals that the large number of ciliary processes in the anterior head sensory organ contain F-actin; no signal could be detected for alpha-tubulin. Labeling with anti-alpha-tubulin antibodies revealed that the anterior and posterior head sensory organs are innervated by a common stem of nerves from the lateral nerve cords just anterior of the dorsal brain commissure. TEM studies showed that the anterior head sensory organ is composed of one sheath cell and one sensory cell with a single branching cilium that possesses a basal inflated part and regularly arranged ciliary processes. Each ciliary process contains one central microtubule. The posterior head sensory organ consists of at least one pigmented sheath cell and several probably monociliary sensory cells. Each cilium branches into irregularly arranged ciliary processes. These characters are assumed to belong to the ground pattern of the Gastrotricha. Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  5. ARL2BP, a protein linked to Retinitis Pigmentosa, is needed for normal photoreceptor cilia doublets and outer segment structure.

    PubMed

    Moye, Abigail R; Singh, Ratnesh; Kimler, Victoria A; Dilan, Tanya L; Munezero, Daniella; Saravanan, Thamaraiselvi; Goldberg, Andrew F X; Ramamurthy, Visvanathan

    2018-05-02

    The outer segment (OS) of photoreceptor cells is an elaboration of a primary cilium with organized stacks of membranous discs that contain the proteins needed for phototransduction and vision. Though cilia formation and function has been well characterized, little is known about the role of cilia in the development of photoreceptor OS. Nevertheless, progress has been made by studying mutations in ciliary proteins which often result in malformed outer segments and lead to blinding diseases. To investigate how ciliary proteins contribute to outer segment formation, we generated a knockout mouse model for ARL2BP, a ciliary protein linked to Retinitis Pigmentosa. The knockout mice display an early and progressive reduction in visual response. Prior to photoreceptor degeneration we observed disorganization of the photoreceptor OS, with vertically aligned discs and shortened axonemes. Interestingly, ciliary doublet microtubule structure was also impaired, displaying open B-tubule doublets, paired with loss of singlet microtubules. Based on results from this study, we conclude that ARL2BP is necessary for photoreceptor cilia doublet formation and axoneme elongation, which is required for outer segment morphogenesis and vision.

  6. Miyake-Apple view of inner side of sclerotomy during microincision vitrectomy surgery.

    PubMed

    Inoue, Makoto; Ota, Ichiro; Taniuchi, Shutaro; Nagamoto, Toshiyuki; Miyake, Kensaku; Hirakata, Akito

    2011-08-01

    To examine the inner surface of the sclerotomy during microincision vitrectomy surgery by Miyake-Apple view. The anterior half of porcine eyes was attached to a transparent acrylic plate with cyanoacrylate glue. Then, either a 23-gauge or a 25-gauge trocar-cannula was inserted through the sclera obliquely. The inner surface of the entrance site was observed posteriorly by Miyake-Apple view. These images were compared with the endoscopic view of two patients who underwent vitreous surgery for an epiretinal membrane. When the trocar-cannula was inserted obliquely, the Miyake-Apple view showed that the ciliary epithelium at the sclerotomy site was stretched. When the trocar-cannula was inserted vertically, the ciliary epithelium was folded, and the folds remained even after the trocar was removed. Vitreous strands were seen incarcerated into the sclerotomy site. In human eyes, a folding of the ciliary epithelium was not clearly seen with the endoscopic view but the incarcerated vitreous was seen. The Miyake-Apple view provided a precise, in vivo, observation of the inner surface of the entry site. It disclosed the morphological stress on the ciliary epithelium by the sclerotomy. © 2011 The Authors. Acta Ophthalmologica © 2011 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation.

  7. Primary ciliary dyskinesia: improving the diagnostic approach

    PubMed Central

    Leigh, Margaret W.; Zariwala, Maimoona A.; Knowles, Michael R.

    2009-01-01

    Purpose of review The diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) has relied on analysis of ciliary motility and ultrastructure; however, these tests are not readily available and have not been standardized. Consequently, the diagnosis of PCD may be delayed or missed or made incorrectly. This review outlines the potential utility of new diagnostic tests, including measurement of nasal nitric oxide (NO) production and systematic analysis for mutations in gene encoding ciliary proteins. Recent findings Clinical manifestations of PCD have been expanded to include neonatal respiratory distress and heterotaxy. Measurement of nasal NO has emerged as a useful screening test for PCD based on the very low levels in PCD (approximately 1/10 of normal values). Genetic testing is emerging for PCD and demonstrates extensive genetic heterogeneity. Some genes and gene mutations involved in PCD have been defined. Approximately one third of PCD cases have identifiable gene mutations in one of 6 different genes. An international effort is focused on defining PCD-causing defects in other genes. Summary The incorporation of nasal NO measurement as a screening test to define probable PCD cases and gene mutation analysis to make a definitive diagnosis of PCD should enhance diagnostic evaluation of PCD. PMID:19300264

  8. Maintaining protein composition in cilia.

    PubMed

    Stephen, Louise A; Elmaghloob, Yasmin; Ismail, Shehab

    2017-12-20

    The primary cilium is a sensory organelle that is vital in regulating several signalling pathways. Unlike most organelles cilia are open to the rest of the cell, not enclosed by membranes. The distinct protein composition is crucial to the function of cilia and many signalling proteins and receptors are specifically concentrated within distinct compartments. To maintain this composition, a mechanism is required to deliver proteins to the cilium whilst another must counter the entropic tendency of proteins to distribute throughout the cell. The combination of the two mechanisms should result in the concentration of ciliary proteins to the cilium. In this review we will look at different cellular mechanisms that play a role in maintaining the distinct composition of cilia, including regulation of ciliary access and trafficking of ciliary proteins to, from and within the cilium.

  9. Ciliary neurotrophic factor is an endogenous pyrogen.

    PubMed

    Shapiro, L; Zhang, X X; Rupp, R G; Wolff, S M; Dinarello, C A

    1993-09-15

    Fever is initiated by the action of polypeptide cytokines called endogenous pyrogens, which are produced by the host during inflammation, trauma, or infection and which elevate the thermoregulatory set point in the hypothalamus. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) supports the differentiation and survival of central and peripheral neurons. We describe the activity of CNTF as intrinsically pyrogenic in the rabbit. CNTF induced a monophasic fever which rose rapidly (within the first 12 min) following intravenous injection; CNTF fever was blocked by pretreatment with indomethacin. The fever induced by CNTF was not due to contaminating endotoxins. Increasing doses of CNTF resulted in prolongation of the fever, suggesting the subsequent induction of additional endogenous pyrogenic activity. After passive transfer of plasma obtained during CNTF-induced fever, endogenous pyrogen activity was not present in the circulation; CNTF also did not induce the endogenous pyrogens interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor, or interleukin 6 in vitro. Nevertheless, a second endogenous pyrogen may originate within the central nervous system following the systemic injection of CNTF. Of the four endogenous pyrogens described to date (interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor, interferon, and interleukin 6), CNTF, like interleukin 6, utilizes the cell-surface gp 130 signal-transduction apparatus.

  10. Ciliary neurotrophic factor is an endogenous pyrogen.

    PubMed Central

    Shapiro, L; Zhang, X X; Rupp, R G; Wolff, S M; Dinarello, C A

    1993-01-01

    Fever is initiated by the action of polypeptide cytokines called endogenous pyrogens, which are produced by the host during inflammation, trauma, or infection and which elevate the thermoregulatory set point in the hypothalamus. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) supports the differentiation and survival of central and peripheral neurons. We describe the activity of CNTF as intrinsically pyrogenic in the rabbit. CNTF induced a monophasic fever which rose rapidly (within the first 12 min) following intravenous injection; CNTF fever was blocked by pretreatment with indomethacin. The fever induced by CNTF was not due to contaminating endotoxins. Increasing doses of CNTF resulted in prolongation of the fever, suggesting the subsequent induction of additional endogenous pyrogenic activity. After passive transfer of plasma obtained during CNTF-induced fever, endogenous pyrogen activity was not present in the circulation; CNTF also did not induce the endogenous pyrogens interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor, or interleukin 6 in vitro. Nevertheless, a second endogenous pyrogen may originate within the central nervous system following the systemic injection of CNTF. Of the four endogenous pyrogens described to date (interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor, interferon, and interleukin 6), CNTF, like interleukin 6, utilizes the cell-surface gp 130 signal-transduction apparatus. PMID:8378338

  11. [Kartagener sindrome (primary ciliary dyskinesia). Report of a case and literature review].

    PubMed

    Pino Rivero, V; Pardo Romero, G; Iglesias González, R J; Rodríguez Carmona, M; del Castillo Beneyto, F

    2007-01-01

    Kartagener syndrome (a clinical variant of primary ciliary dyskinesia) is a recessive autossomical disease characterized by the triad of chronic sinusitis, bronchiectasis and situs inversus with dextrocardia. We report one case described in a 8 years old boy who besides presented a seromucous otitis and bronchitis of repetition. Finally we performed a short bibliographic review at respect of this uncommon pathology.

  12. Cochliotoxin, a Dihydropyranopyran-4,5-dione, and its analogues produced by Cochliobolus australiensis display phytotoxic activity against buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris)

    Treesearch

    Marco Masi; Susan Meyer; Suzette Clement; Alessio Cimmino; Massimo Cristofaro; Antonio Evidente

    2017-01-01

    Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare or Cenchrus ciliaris) is a perennial grass that has become highly invasive in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona. In the search for novel control strategies against this weed, strains of the foliar fungal pathogen Cochliobolus australiensis from buffelgrass have been screened for their ability to produce phytotoxic metabolites that...

  13. On the origin of the chordate central nervous system: expression of onecut in the sea urchin embryo.

    PubMed

    Poustka, Albert J; Kühn, Alexander; Radosavljevic, Vesna; Wellenreuther, Ruth; Lehrach, Hans; Panopoulou, Georgia

    2004-01-01

    We identified a transcription factor of the onecut class in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus that represents an ortholog of the mammalian gene HNF6, the founding member of the onecut class of proteins. The isolated sea urchin gene, named SpOnecut, encodes a protein of 483 amino acids with one cut domain and a homeodomain. Phylogenetic analysis clearly places the sea urchin gene into this family, most closely related to the ascidian onecut gene HNF-6. Nevertheless, phylogenetic analysis reveals a difficult phylogeny indicating that certain members of the family evolve more rapidly than others and also that the cut domain and homeodomain evolve at a different pace. In fly, worm, ascidian, and teleost fish, the onecut genes isolated so far are exclusively expressed in cells of the central nervous system (CNS), whereas in mammals the two copies of the gene have acquired additional functions in liver and pancreas development. In the sea urchin embryo, expression is first detected in the emerging ciliary band at the late blastula stage. During the gastrula stage, expression is limited to the ciliary band. In the early pluteus stage, SpOnecut is expressed at the apical organ and the elongating arms but continues most prominently in the ciliary band. This is the first gene known that exclusively marks the ciliary band and therein the apical organ in a pluteus larva, whereas chordate orthologs execute essential functions in dorsal CNS development. The significance of this finding for the hypothesis that the ciliary bands and apical organs of the hypothetical "dipleurula"-like chordate ancestor and the chordate/vertebrate CNS are of common origin is discussed.

  14. Unexpected genetic heterogeneity for primary ciliary dyskinesia in the Irish Traveller population.

    PubMed

    Casey, Jillian P; McGettigan, Paul A; Healy, Fiona; Hogg, Claire; Reynolds, Alison; Kennedy, Breandan N; Ennis, Sean; Slattery, Dubhfeasa; Lynch, Sally A

    2015-02-01

    We present a study of five children from three unrelated Irish Traveller families presenting with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). As previously characterized disorders in the Irish Traveller population are caused by common homozygous mutations, we hypothesised that all three PCD families shared the same recessive mutation. However, exome sequencing showed that there was no pathogenic homozygous mutation common to all families. This finding was supported by histology, which showed that each family has a different type of ciliary defect; transposition defect (family A), nude epithelium (family B) and absence of inner and outer dynein arms (family C). Therefore, each family was analysed independently using homozygosity mapping and exome sequencing. The affected siblings in family A share a novel 1 bp duplication in RSPH4A (NM_001161664.1:c.166dup; p.Arg56Profs*11), a radial-spoke head protein involved in ciliary movement. In family B, we identified three candidate genes (CCNO, KCNN3 and CDKN1C), with a 5-bp duplication in CCNO (NM_021147.3:c.258_262dup; p.Gln88Argfs*8) being the most likely cause of ciliary aplasia. This is the first study to implicate CCNO, a DNA repair gene reported to be involved in multiciliogenesis, in PCD. In family C, we identified a ∼3.5-kb deletion in DYX1C1, a neuronal migration gene previously associated with PCD. This is the first report of a disorder in the relatively small Irish Traveller population to be caused by >1 disease gene. Our study identified at least three different PCD genes in the Irish Traveller population, highlighting that one cannot always assume genetic homogeneity, even in small consanguineous populations.

  15. Paramecium swimming and ciliary beating patterns: a study on four RNA interference mutations.

    PubMed

    Funfak, Anette; Fisch, Cathy; Abdel Motaal, Hatem T; Diener, Julien; Combettes, Laurent; Baroud, Charles N; Dupuis-Williams, Pascale

    2015-01-01

    Paramecium cells swim and feed by beating their thousands of cilia in coordinated patterns. The organization of these patterns and its relationship with cell motility has been the subject of a large body of work, particularly as a model for ciliary beating in human organs where similar organization is seen. However the rapid motion of the cells makes quantitative measurements very challenging. Here we provide detailed measurements of the swimming of Paramecium cells from high-speed video at high magnification, as they move in microfluidic channels. An image analysis protocol allows us to decouple the cell movement from the motion of the cilia, thus allowing us to measure the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and the spatio-temporal organization into metachronal waves along the cell periphery. Two distinct values of the CBF appear at different regions of the cell: most of the cilia beat in the range of 15 to 45 Hz, while the cilia in the peristomal region beat at almost double the frequency. The body and peristomal CBF display a nearly linear relation with the swimming velocity. Moreover the measurements do not display a measurable correlation between the swimming velocity and the metachronal wave velocity on the cell periphery. These measurements are repeated for four RNAi silenced mutants, where proteins specific to the cilia or to their connection to the cell base are depleted. We find that the mutants whose ciliary structure is affected display similar swimming to the control cells albeit with a reduced efficiency, while the mutations that affect the cilia's anchoring to the cell lead to strongly reduced ability to swim. This reduction in motility can be related to a loss of coordination between the ciliary beating in different parts of the cell.

  16. PARAMETERS OF GASEOUS ION EFFECTS ON THE MAMMALIAN TRACHEA

    PubMed Central

    Krueger, Albert P.; Smith, Richard F.

    1959-01-01

    A. Duration of Effects Groups of mice exposed to high densities of unipolar light air ions for 72 hours exhibited persistent alterations in the functional efficiency of their tracheas. These effects lasted at least 4 weeks, and in the case of animals treated with (+) ions included diminished ciliary activity, pale and contracted tracheal mucosa, and enhanced vulnerability to trauma. Following treatment with (-) ions, animals displayed increased ciliary activity with no other detectable changes. It required at least 60 minutes of exposure to ions to induce such "permanent" functional changes. B. Minimal Effective Ion Densities The minimal ion densities producing changes in ciliary activity within an arbitrary period of 30 minutes were determined with extirpated tracheal strips from rabbits and guinea pigs. The threshold value for (-) ions was approximately 2.5 x 103 ions/cm.2/sec. and that for (+) ions was in the range between 1 x 104 and 2.5 x 105 ions/cm.2/sec.The minimal ion densities producing changes in ciliary activity within an arbitrary period of 30 minutes were determined with extirpated tracheal strips from rabbits and guinea pigs. The threshold value for (-) ions was approximately 2.5 x 103 ions/cm.2/sec. and that for (+) ions was in the range between 1 x 104 and 2.5 x 105 ions/cm.2/sec. The evidence indicates that ion-induced functional changes in the ciliated epithelium of the pulmonary tree are the results of direct contact of ions with surface cells and do not involve participation of the central nervous system or circulation. So far as ciliary activity is concerned, the number of ions required to produce a change in rate is very small. PMID:13654744

  17. Species variation in biology and physiology of the ciliary epithelium: similarities and differences.

    PubMed

    Do, Chi Wai; Civan, Mortimer M

    2009-04-01

    Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only strategy documented to delay the appearance and retard the progression of vision loss. One major approach for lowering IOP is to slow the rate of aqueous humor formation by the ciliary epithelium. As discussed in the present review, the transport basis for this secretion is largely understood. However, several substantive issues are yet to be resolved, including the integrated regulation of secretion, the functional topography of the ciliary epithelium, and the degree and significance of species variation in aqueous humor inflow. This review discusses species differences in net secretion, particularly of Cl(-) and HCO(3)(-) secretion. Identifying animal models most accurately mimicking aqueous humor formation in the human will facilitate development of future novel initiatives to lower IOP.

  18. LRRC6 Mutation Causes Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia with Dynein Arm Defects

    PubMed Central

    Horani, Amjad; Ferkol, Thomas W.; Shoseyov, David; Wasserman, Mollie G.; Oren, Yifat S.; Kerem, Batsheva; Amirav, Israel; Cohen-Cymberknoh, Malena; Dutcher, Susan K.; Brody, Steven L.; Elpeleg, Orly; Kerem, Eitan

    2013-01-01

    Despite recent progress in defining the ciliome, the genetic basis for many cases of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) remains elusive. We evaluated five children from two unrelated, consanguineous Palestinian families who had PCD with typical clinical features, reduced nasal nitric oxide concentrations, and absent dynein arms. Linkage analyses revealed a single common homozygous region on chromosome 8 and one candidate was conserved in organisms with motile cilia. Sequencing revealed a single novel mutation in LRRC6 (Leucine-rich repeat containing protein 6) that fit the model of autosomal recessive genetic transmission, leading to a change of a highly conserved amino acid from aspartic acid to histidine (Asp146His). LRRC6 was localized to the cytoplasm and was up-regulated during ciliogenesis in human airway epithelial cells in a Foxj1-dependent fashion. Nasal epithelial cells isolated from affected individuals and shRNA-mediated silencing in human airway epithelial cells, showed reduced LRRC6 expression, absent dynein arms, and slowed cilia beat frequency. Dynein arm proteins were either absent or mislocalized to the cytoplasm in airway epithelial cells from a primary ciliary dyskinesia subject. These findings suggest that LRRC6 plays a role in dynein arm assembly or trafficking and when mutated leads to primary ciliary dyskinesia with laterality defects. PMID:23527195

  19. Uveal Melanoma Regression after Brachytherapy: Relationship with Chromosome 3 Monosomy Status.

    PubMed

    Salvi, Sachin M; Aziz, Hassan A; Dar, Suhail; Singh, Nakul; Hayden-Loreck, Brandy; Singh, Arun D

    2017-07-01

    The objective was to evaluate the relationship between the regression rate of ciliary body melanoma and choroidal melanoma after brachytherapy and chromosome 3 monosomy status. We conducted a prospective and consecutive case series of patients who underwent biopsy and brachytherapy for ciliary/choroidal melanoma. Tumor biopsy performed at the time of radiation plaque placement was analyzed with fluorescence in situ hybridization to determine the percentage of tumor cells with chromosome 3 monosomy. The regression rate was calculated as the percent change in tumor height at months 3, 6, and 12. The relationship between regression rate and tumor location, initial tumor height, and chromosome 3 monosomy (percentage) was assessed by univariate linear regression (R version 3.1.0). Of the 75 patients included in the study, 8 had ciliary body melanoma, and 67 were choroidal melanomas. The mean tumor height at the time of diagnosis was 5.2 mm (range: 1.90-13.00). The percentage composition of chromosome 3 monosomy ranged from 0-20% (n = 35) to 81-100% (n = 40). The regression of tumor height at months 3, 6, and 12 did not statistically correlate with tumor location (ciliary or choroidal), initial tumor height, or chromosome 3 monosomy (percentage). The regression rate of choroidal melanoma following brachytherapy did not correlate with chromosome 3 monosomy status.

  20. Chlamydomonas DYX1C1/PF23 is essential for axonemal assembly and proper morphology of inner dynein arms

    PubMed Central

    Yamamoto, Ryosuke; Alford, Lea M.; Ide, Takahiro; Owa, Mikito; Hwang, Juyeon; Inaba, Kazuo; James, Noliyanda; Ishikawa, Takashi

    2017-01-01

    Cytoplasmic assembly of ciliary dyneins, a process known as preassembly, requires numerous non-dynein proteins, but the identities and functions of these proteins are not fully elucidated. Here, we show that the classical Chlamydomonas motility mutant pf23 is defective in the Chlamydomonas homolog of DYX1C1. The pf23 mutant has a 494 bp deletion in the DYX1C1 gene and expresses a shorter DYX1C1 protein in the cytoplasm. Structural analyses, using cryo-ET, reveal that pf23 axonemes lack most of the inner dynein arms. Spectral counting confirms that DYX1C1 is essential for the assembly of the majority of ciliary inner dynein arms (IDA) as well as a fraction of the outer dynein arms (ODA). A C-terminal truncation of DYX1C1 shows a reduction in a subset of these ciliary IDAs. Sucrose gradients of cytoplasmic extracts show that preassembled ciliary dyneins are reduced compared to wild-type, which suggests an important role in dynein complex stability. The role of PF23/DYX1C1 remains unknown, but we suggest that DYX1C1 could provide a scaffold for macromolecular assembly. PMID:28892495

  1. De novo 14q24.2q24.3 microdeletion including IFT43 is associated with intellectual disability, skeletal anomalies, cardiac anomalies, and myopia.

    PubMed

    Stokman, Marijn F; Oud, Machteld M; van Binsbergen, Ellen; Slaats, Gisela G; Nicolaou, Nayia; Renkema, Kirsten Y; Nijman, Isaac J; Roepman, Ronald; Giles, Rachel H; Arts, Heleen H; Knoers, Nine V A M; van Haelst, Mieke M

    2016-06-01

    We report an 11-year-old girl with mild intellectual disability, skeletal anomalies, congenital heart defect, myopia, and facial dysmorphisms including an extra incisor, cup-shaped ears, and a preauricular skin tag. Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis identified a de novo 4.5-Mb microdeletion on chromosome 14q24.2q24.3. The deleted region and phenotype partially overlap with previously reported patients. Here, we provide an overview of the literature on 14q24 microdeletions and further delineate the associated phenotype. We performed exome sequencing to examine other causes for the phenotype and queried genes present in the 14q24.2q24.3 microdeletion that are associated with recessive disease for variants in the non-deleted allele. The deleted region contains 65 protein-coding genes, including the ciliary gene IFT43. Although Sanger and exome sequencing did not identify variants in the second IFT43 allele or in other IFT complex A-protein-encoding genes, immunocytochemistry showed increased accumulation of IFT-B proteins at the ciliary tip in patient-derived fibroblasts compared to control cells, demonstrating defective retrograde ciliary transport. This could suggest a ciliary defect in the pathogenesis of this disorder. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. Neutral endopeptidase inhibitor potentiates the tachykinin-induced increase in ciliary beat frequency in rabbit trachea.

    PubMed

    Kondo, M; Tamaoki, J; Takizawa, T

    1990-08-01

    We used cultured rabbit tracheal epithelium to determine the effect of mammalian-derived tachykinin on airway ciliary activity and its modulation by neutral endopeptidase EC 3.4.24.11 (NEP). Neurokinin A (NKA) caused dose-dependent increases in ciliary beat frequency (CBF), as measured by a photoelectric method, with the maximal increase from the baseline 15.7 +/- 1.7% (mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.01), whereas substance P (SP) had no effect. The NKA-induced increase in CBF was not inhibited by phentolamine, propranolol, or atropine, but it was abolished by the tachykinin antagonist [D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9]SP. Pretreatment of tissue with thiorphan (10(-5) M), a NEP inhibitor, had little effect on CBF responses to NKA; however, it significantly potentiated the responses to SP (14.9 +/- 3.0%, p less than 0.01). Other peptidase inhibitors, including captopril, bestatin, and leupeptin, did not alter the tachykinin-induced CBF response, suggesting that angiotensin converting enzyme, aminopeptidases, and serine proteinases do not modulate ciliary activity in response to tachykinins. These results suggest that NKA increases CBF by acting directly on tachykinin receptors and that NEP may play a role in modulating the tachykinin-induced stimulatory effects on CBF.

  3. [Microscopic structure of the epithelium of the oviducts in cows during the estrus cycle].

    PubMed

    Uhrín, V

    1983-03-01

    The mucous membrane of a cow is covered with ciliary and secretory cells. The so-called basal cells occur at the basal membrane. The counts of ciliary cells vary during the sexual cycle: they reach the maximum (up to 68%) during oestrus. About 13% of cells lose cilia during metoestrus and at the beginning of dioestrus. Reciliation occurs during pro-oestrus. Light and dark ciliary cells can be discerned by the staining of cytoplasm and by the density of nuclei. A higher variability was found in the secretory cells. There are light and dark cells, cells with a wedge shape and rod-shaped cells. Their frequency and function are discussed. Mitoses of epithelium were found in rare cases. The relative volume of epithelium and the mucous membrane of connective tissues change during the sexual cycle. The volume of secretory cells increases during metoestrus and dioestrus and the volume of ciliary cells increases during pro-oestrus and heat. The volume of nuclei decreases in metoestrus and mainly in dioestrus. PAS positive granules occur in the cytoplasm of secretory cells, mainly during metoestrus, in the apical regions. Ptyalin-resistant polysaccharides, besides glycogen, were detected in the cells. The occurrence rate of lipids varies just slightly during the oestrous cycle.

  4. Clinical and Genetic Aspects of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia / Kartagener Syndrome

    PubMed Central

    Leigh, Margaret W.; Pittman, Jessica E.; Carson, Johnny L.; Ferkol, Thomas W.; Dell, Sharon D.; Davis, Stephanie D.; Knowles, Michael R.; Zariwala, Maimoona A.

    2013-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder of motile cilia. Most of the disease-causing mutations identified to date involve the heavy (DNAH5) or intermediate (DNAI1) chain dynein genes in ciliary outer dynein arms, although a few mutations have been noted in other genes. Clinical molecular genetic testing for PCD is available for the most common mutations. The respiratory manifestations of PCD (chronic bronchitis leading to bronchiectasis, chronic rhino-sinusitis and chronic otitis media) reflect impaired mucociliary clearance owing to defective axonemal structure. Ciliary ultrastructural analysis in most patients (>80%) reveals defective dynein arms, although defects in other axonemal components have also been observed. Approximately 50% of PCD patients have laterality defects (including situs inversus totalis and, less commonly, heterotaxy and congenital heart disease), reflecting dysfunction of embryological nodal cilia. Male infertility is common and reflects defects in sperm tail axonemes. Most PCD patients have a history of neonatal respiratory distress, suggesting that motile cilia play a role in fluid clearance during the transition from a fetal to neonatal lung. Ciliopathies involving sensory cilia, including autosomal dominant or recessive polycystic kidney disease, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, and Alstrom syndrome, may have chronic respiratory symptoms and even bronchiectasis suggesting clinical overlap with PCD. PMID:19606528

  5. Clinical and molecular features of Joubert syndrome and related disorders

    PubMed Central

    Parisi, Melissa A.

    2009-01-01

    Joubert syndrome (JBTS; OMIM 213300) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a specific congenital malformation of the hindbrain and a broad spectrum of other phenotypic findings that is now known to be caused by defects in the structure and/or function of the primary cilium. The complex hindbrain malformation that is characteristic of JBTS can be identified on axial magnetic resonance imaging and is known as the molar tooth sign (MTS); other diagnostic criteria include intellectual disability, hypotonia, and often, abnormal respiratory pattern and/or abnormal eye movements. In addition, a broad spectrum of other anomalies characterize Joubert syndrome and related disorders (JSRD), and may include retinal dystrophy, ocular coloboma, oral frenulae and tongue tumors, polydactyly, cystic renal disease (including cystic dysplasia or juvenile nephronophthisis), and congenital hepatic fibrosis. The clinical course can be variable, but most children with this condition survive infancy to reach adulthood. At least 8 genes cause JSRD, with some genotype-phenotype correlations emerging, including the association between mutations in the MKS3 gene and hepatic fibrosis characteristic of the JSRD subtype known as COACH syndrome. Several of the causative genes for JSRD are implicated in other ciliary disorders, such as juvenile nephronophthisis and Meckel syndrome, illustrating the close association between these conditions and their overlapping clinical features that reflect a shared etiology involving the primary cilium. PMID:19876931

  6. Cri du Chat Syndrome and Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: A Common Genetic Cause on Chromosome 5p

    PubMed Central

    Shapiro, Adam J.; Weck, Karen E.; Chao, Kay C.; Rosenfeld, Margaret; Nygren, Anders O. H.; Knowles, Michael R.; Leigh, Margaret W.; Zariwala, Maimoona A.

    2014-01-01

    Cri du chat syndrome (CdCS) and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) are rare diseases that present with frequent respiratory symptoms. PCD can be caused by hemizygous DNAH5 mutation in combination with a 5p segmental deletion attributable to CdCS on the opposite chromosome. Chronic oto-sino-pulmonary symptoms or organ laterality defects in CdCS should prompt an evaluation for PCD. PMID:25066065

  7. Novel Insights into the Development and Function of Cilia Using the Advantages of the Paramecium Cell and Its Many Cilia

    PubMed Central

    Yano, Junji; Valentine, Megan S.; Van Houten, Judith L.

    2015-01-01

    Paramecium species, especially P. tetraurelia and caudatum, are model organisms for modern research into the form and function of cilia. In this review, we focus on the ciliary ion channels and other transmembrane proteins that control the beat frequency and wave form of the cilium by controlling the signaling within the cilium. We put these discussions in the context of the advantages that Paramecium brings to the understanding of ciliary motility: mutants for genetic dissections of swimming behavior, electrophysiology, structural analysis, abundant cilia for biochemistry and modern proteomics, genomics and molecular biology. We review the connection between behavior and physiology, which allows the cells to broadcast the function of their ciliary channels in real time. We build a case for the important insights and advantages that this model organism continues to bring to the study of cilia. PMID:26230712

  8. Ciliary dysfunction and obesity.

    PubMed

    Mok, C A; Héon, E; Zhen, M

    2010-01-01

    Obesity associates with increased health risks such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. The steady rise in the obese population worldwide poses an increasing burden on health systems. Genetic factors contribute to the development of obesity, and the elucidation of their physiological functions helps to understand the cause, and improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment for this disorder. Primary cilia are evolutionarily conserved organelles whose dysfunctions lead to human disorders now defined as ciliopathies. Human ciliopathies present pleiotropic and overlapping phenotypes that often include retinal degeneration, cystic renal anomalies and obesity. Increasing evidence implicates an intriguing involvement of cilia in lipid/energy homeostasis. Here we discuss recent studies in support of the key roles of ciliary genes in the development and pathology of obesity in various animal models. Genes affecting ciliary development and function may pose promising candidate underlying genetic factors that contribute to the development of common obesity.

  9. Handedness and situs inversus in primary ciliary dyskinesia.

    PubMed Central

    McManus, I. C.; Martin, N.; Stubbings, G. F.; Chung, E. M. K.; Mitchison, H. M.

    2004-01-01

    ...The limbs on the right side are stronger. [The] cause may be ... [that] ... motion, and abilities of moving, are somewhat holpen from the liver, which lieth on the right side. (Sir Francis Bacon, Sylva sylvarum (1627).)Fifty per cent of people with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) (also known as immotile cilia syndrome or Siewert-Kartagener syndrome) have situs inversus, which is thought to result from absent nodal ciliary rotation and failure of normal symmetry breaking. In a study of 88 people with PCD, only 15.2% of 46 individuals with situs inversus, and 14.3% of 42 individuals with situs solitus, were left handed. Because cerebral lateralization is therefore still present, the nodal cilia cannot be the primary mechanism responsible for symmetry breaking in the vertebrate body. Intriguingly, one behavioural lateralization, wearing a wrist-watch on the right wrist, did correlate with situs inversus. PMID:15615683

  10. Handedness and situs inversus in primary ciliary dyskinesia.

    PubMed

    McManus, I C; Martin, N; Stubbings, G F; Chung, E M K; Mitchison, H M

    2004-12-22

    ... The limbs on the right side are stronger. [The] cause may be ... [that] ... motion, and abilities of moving, are somewhat holpen from the liver, which lieth on the right side. (Sir Francis Bacon, Sylva sylvarum (1627).)Fifty per cent of people with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) (also known as immotile cilia syndrome or Siewert-Kartagener syndrome) have situs inversus, which is thought to result from absent nodal ciliary rotation and failure of normal symmetry breaking. In a study of 88 people with PCD, only 15.2% of 46 individuals with situs inversus, and 14.3% of 42 individuals with situs solitus, were left handed. Because cerebral lateralization is therefore still present, the nodal cilia cannot be the primary mechanism responsible for symmetry breaking in the vertebrate body. Intriguingly, one behavioural lateralization, wearing a wrist-watch on the right wrist, did correlate with situs inversus.

  11. Fabrication and Manipulation of Ciliary Microrobots with Non-reciprocal Magnetic Actuation

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Sangwon; Lee, Seungmin; Lee, Jeonghun; Nelson, Bradley J.; Zhang, Li; Choi, Hongsoo

    2016-01-01

    Magnetically actuated ciliary microrobots were designed, fabricated, and manipulated to mimic cilia-based microorganisms such as paramecia. Full three-dimensional (3D) microrobot structures were fabricated using 3D laser lithography to form a polymer base structure. A nickel/titanium bilayer was sputtered onto the cilia part of the microrobot to ensure magnetic actuation and biocompatibility. The microrobots were manipulated by an electromagnetic coil system, which generated a stepping magnetic field to actuate the cilia with non-reciprocal motion. The cilia beating motion produced a net propulsive force, resulting in movement of the microrobot. The magnetic forces on individual cilia were calculated with various input parameters including magnetic field strength, cilium length, applied field angle, actual cilium angle, etc., and the translational velocity was measured experimentally. The position and orientation of the ciliary microrobots were precisely controlled, and targeted particle transportation was demonstrated experimentally. PMID:27470077

  12. Primary ciliary dyskinesia: current state of the art

    PubMed Central

    Bush, Andrew; Chodhari, Rahul; Collins, Nicola; Copeland, Fiona; Hall, Pippa; Harcourt, Jonny; Hariri, Mohamed; Hogg, Claire; Lucas, Jane; Mitchison, Hannah M; O'Callaghan, Christopher; Phillips, Gill

    2007-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is usually inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder and presents with upper and lower respiratory tract infection, and mirror image arrangement in around 50% of cases. Cilia dysfunction is also implicated in a wider spectrum of disease, including polycystic liver and kidney disease, central nervous system problems including retinopathy and hydrocephalus, and biliary atresia. Cilia are complex structures, containing more than 250 proteins; recent studies have begun to locate PCD genes scattered throughout the genome. Screening tests for PCD include nasal nitric oxide and in vivo tests of ciliary motility such as the saccharin test. Specific diagnosis requires examination of cilia by light and electron microscopy, with epithelial culture in doubtful cases. This is only available in supra‐regional centres, recently centrally funded by the National Commissioning Group. Treatment is not evidence based and recommendations are largely extrapolated from cystic fibrosis and other suppurative lung diseases. PMID:17634184

  13. Novel Insights into the Development and Function of Cilia Using the Advantages of the Paramecium Cell and Its Many Cilia.

    PubMed

    Yano, Junji; Valentine, Megan S; Van Houten, Judith L

    2015-07-29

    Paramecium species, especially P. tetraurelia and caudatum, are model organisms for modern research into the form and function of cilia. In this review, we focus on the ciliary ion channels and other transmembrane proteins that control the beat frequency and wave form of the cilium by controlling the signaling within the cilium. We put these discussions in the context of the advantages that Paramecium brings to the understanding of ciliary motility: mutants for genetic dissections of swimming behavior, electrophysiology, structural analysis, abundant cilia for biochemistry and modern proteomics, genomics and molecular biology. We review the connection between behavior and physiology, which allows the cells to broadcast the function of their ciliary channels in real time. We build a case for the important insights and advantages that this model organism continues to bring to the study of cilia.

  14. Intraocular ALλ amyloidoma with plasma cell neoplasia in a cat.

    PubMed

    Kershaw, Olivia; Linek, Jens; Linke, Reinhold P; Gruber, Achim D

    2011-09-01

    An 11-year-old, neutered male domestic short-hair cat was presented with buphthalmos of the right eye and diagnosed with advanced glaucoma. Sonographic examination revealed an iridial thickening. Neoplasia was suspected and an enucleation was performed. Histopathology of the enucleated eye revealed abundant amyloid deposition predominantly in the anterior uveal tract accompanied by few to moderate numbers of well-differentiated plasma cells. The amyloid deposits were identified by staining with Congo red and showing green birefringence under polarized light. Immunohistochemically, amyloid and plasma cells stained intensely only with anti-ALλ antibody, supporting the amyloid tumor being an immunoglobulin-λ-light chain origin. Additional abnormalities included narrowing of the filtration angle and collapse of the ciliary cleft, and trabecular meshwork. One year post-enucleation, the cat was still healthy without signs of systemic amyloidosis or apparent metastatic disease. This is the first report of a cat with noncutaneous extramedullary plasmacytoma originating in the anterior uveal tract with resulting local amyloid. © 2011 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

  15. The ciliogenic transcription factor Rfx3 is required for the formation of the thalamocortical tract by regulating the patterning of prethalamus and ventral telencephalon.

    PubMed

    Magnani, Dario; Morlé, Laurette; Hasenpusch-Theil, Kerstin; Paschaki, Marie; Jacoby, Monique; Schurmans, Stéphane; Durand, Bénédicte; Theil, Thomas

    2015-05-01

    Primary cilia are complex subcellular structures that play key roles during embryogenesis by controlling the cellular response to several signaling pathways. Defects in the function and/or structure of primary cilia underlie a large number of human syndromes collectively referred to as ciliopathies. Often, ciliopathies are associated with mental retardation (MR) and malformation of the corpus callosum. However, the possibility of defects in other forebrain axon tracts, which could contribute to the cognitive disorders of these patients, has not been explored. Here, we investigate the formation of the corticothalamic/thalamocortical tracts in mice mutant for Rfx3, which regulates the expression of many genes involved in ciliogenesis and cilia function. Using DiI axon tracing and immunohistochemistry experiments, we show that some Rfx3(-/-) corticothalamic axons abnormally migrate toward the pial surface of the ventral telencephalon (VT). Some thalamocortical axons (TCAs) also fail to leave the diencephalon or abnormally project toward the amygdala. Moreover, the Rfx3(-/-) VT displays heterotopias containing attractive guidance cues and expressing the guidance molecules Slit1 and Netrin1. Finally, the abnormal projection of TCAs toward the amygdala is also present in mice carrying a mutation in the Inpp5e gene, which is mutated in Joubert Syndrome and which controls cilia signaling and stability. The presence of identical thalamocortical malformations in two independent ciliary mutants indicates a novel role for primary cilia in the formation of the corticothalamic/thalamocortical tracts by establishing the correct cellular environment necessary for its development. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  16. Embryonic and post-embryonic development of the polyclad flatworm Maritigrella crozieri; implications for the evolution of spiralian life history traits

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background Planktonic life history stages of spiralians share some muscular, nervous and ciliary system characters in common. The distribution of these characters is patchy and can be interpreted either as the result of convergent evolution, or as the retention of primitive spiralian larval features. To understand the evolution of these characters adequate taxon sampling across the Spiralia is necessary. Polyclad flatworms are the only free-living Platyhelminthes that exhibit a continuum of developmental modes, with direct development at one extreme, and indirect development via a trochophore-like larval stage at the other. Here I present embryological and larval anatomical data from the indirect developing polyclad Maritrigrella crozieri, and consider these data within a comparative spiralian context. Results After 196 h hours of embryonic development, M. crozieri hatches as a swimming, planktotrophic larva. Larval myoanatomy consists of an orthogonal grid of circular and longitudinal body wall muscles plus parenchymal muscles. Diagonal body wall muscles develop over the planktonic period. Larval neuroanatomy consists of an apical plate, neuropile, paired nerve cords, a peri-oral nerve ring, a medial nerve, a ciliary band nerve net and putative ciliary photoreceptors. Apical neural elements develop first followed by posterior perikarya and later pharyngeal neural elements. The ciliated larva is encircled by a continuous, pre-oral band of longer cilia, which follows the distal margins of the lobes; it also possesses distinct apical and caudal cilia. Conclusions Within polyclads heterochronic shifts in the development of diagonal bodywall and pharyngeal muscles are correlated with life history strategies and feeding requirements. In contrast to many spiralians, M. crozieri hatch with well developed nervous and muscular systems. Comparisons of the ciliary bands and apical organs amongst spiralian planktonic life-stages reveal differences; M. crozieri lack a distinct ciliary band muscle and flask-shaped epidermal serotonergic cells of the apical organ. Based on current phylogenies, the distribution of ciliary bands and apical organs between polyclads and other spiralians is not congruent with a hypothesis of homology. However, some similarities exist, and this study sets an anatomical framework from which to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms that will help to distinguish between parallelism, convergence and homology of these features. PMID:20426837

  17. Regulation of human airway ciliary beat frequency by intracellular pH

    PubMed Central

    Sutto, Zoltan; Conner, Gregory E; Salathe, Matthias

    2004-01-01

    pHi affects a number of cellular functions, but the influence of pHi on mammalian ciliary beat frequency (CBF) is not known. CBF and pHi of single human tracheobronchial epithelial cells in submerged culture were measured simultaneously using video microscopy (for CBF) and epifluorescence microscopy with the pH-sensitive dye BCECF. Baseline CBF and pHi values in bicarbonate-free medium were 7.2 ± 0.2 Hz and 7.49 ± 0.02, respectively (n = 63). Alkalization by ammonium pre-pulse to pHi 7.78 ± 0.02 resulted in a 2.2 ± 0.1 Hz CBF increase (P < 0.05). Following removal of NH4Cl, pHi decreased to 7.24 ± 0.02 and CBF to 5.8 ± 0.1 Hz (P < 0.05). Removal of extracellular CO2 to change pHi resulted in similar CBF changes. Pre-activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (10 μm forskolin), broad inhibition of protein kinases (100 μm H-7), inhibition of PKA (10 μm H-89), nor inhibition of phosphatases (10 μm cyclosporin + 1.5 μm okadaic acid) changed pHi-mediated changes in CBF, nor were they due to [Ca2+]i changes. CBF of basolaterally permeabilized human tracheobronchial cells, re-differentiated at the air–liquid interface, was 3.9 ± 0.3, 5.7 ± 0.4, 7.0 ± 0.3 and 7.3 ± 0.3 Hz at basolateral i.e., intracellular pH of 6.8, 7.2, 7.6 and 8.0, respectively (n = 18). Thus, intracellular alkalization stimulates, while intracellular acidification attenuates human airway CBF. Since phosphorylation and [Ca2+]i changes did not seem to mediate pHi-induced CBF changes, pHi may directly act on the ciliary motile machinery. PMID:15308676

  18. The mammalian iris-ciliary complex affects organization and synthesis of cytoskeletal proteins of organ and tissue cultured lens epithelial cells.

    PubMed

    Banerjee, A; Emanuel, K; Parafina, J; Bagchi, M

    1992-10-01

    A water soluble growth inhibitor was isolated from the mammalian ocular iris-ciliary complex. The molecular weight of this protein is 10 kD or lower as determined by ultrafiltration fractionation. The iris-ciliary (IC) complex water soluble protein(s) significantly inhibits synthesis of lower molecular weight proteins of the epithelial cells of the organ cultured mammalian ocular lens. It was also found that this inhibitory effect of IC is mediated via the structural organization of the lens. Monolayer cultures of the lens epithelial cells exposed to IC did not manifest any inhibition of their protein synthesis. Moreover, these tissue cultured lens epithelial (TCLE) cells showed a significant increase in their protein synthetic activities in response to the presence of IC factors in the culture medium. It is postulated that the IC activity is modulated via either the lens capsule, an extracellular matrix, or due to the specific organization of the intact lens. The specific effects of IC on the cytoskeletal organization and synthesis in the organ cultured lens epithelial (OCLE) and TCLE cells were also examined. Both groups, treated with IC factors, manifested significant alterations in their protein synthetic activities and cytoskeletal architecture. The 3H-leucine incorporation experiments showed that alpha-actin and alpha-tubulin synthesis is partially inhibited by IC factors in OCLE cells but vimentin synthesis is not, whereas in TCLE cells all of them showed increased synthesis in response to IC factors. Turnover rates of these proteins in both OCLE and TCLE cells were also computed. The immunofluorescence and microscopic evaluation of OCLE and TCLE cells exposed to IC factors illustrated significant alteration in the cytoarchitecture of the filaments. We demonstrate that an inhibitor(s) molecule of 10 kD or lower size isolated from IC inhibited protein synthesis of OCLE cells and stimulated protein synthesis in TCLE cells. The IC factor also affects the synthesis and organization of cytoskeletal filaments of both the OCLE and TCLE cells.

  19. MKS1 regulates ciliary INPP5E levels in Joubert syndrome.

    PubMed

    Slaats, Gisela G; Isabella, Christine R; Kroes, Hester Y; Dempsey, Jennifer C; Gremmels, Hendrik; Monroe, Glen R; Phelps, Ian G; Duran, Karen J; Adkins, Jonathan; Kumar, Sairam A; Knutzen, Dana M; Knoers, Nine V; Mendelsohn, Nancy J; Neubauer, David; Mastroyianni, Sotiria D; Vogt, Julie; Worgan, Lisa; Karp, Natalya; Bowdin, Sarah; Glass, Ian A; Parisi, Melissa A; Otto, Edgar A; Johnson, Colin A; Hildebrandt, Friedhelm; van Haaften, Gijs; Giles, Rachel H; Doherty, Dan

    2016-01-01

    Joubert syndrome (JS) is a recessive ciliopathy characterised by a distinctive brain malformation 'the molar tooth sign'. Mutations in >27 genes cause JS, and mutations in 12 of these genes also cause Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS). The goals of this work are to describe the clinical features of MKS1-related JS and determine whether disease causing MKS1 mutations affect cellular phenotypes such as cilium number, length and protein content as potential mechanisms underlying JS. We measured cilium number, length and protein content (ARL13B and INPP5E) by immunofluorescence in fibroblasts from individuals with MKS1-related JS and in a three-dimensional (3D) spheroid rescue assay to test the effects of disease-related MKS1 mutations. We report MKS1 mutations (eight of them previously unreported) in nine individuals with JS. A minority of the individuals with MKS1-related JS have MKS features. In contrast to the truncating mutations associated with MKS, all of the individuals with MKS1-related JS carry ≥ 1 non-truncating mutation. Fibroblasts from individuals with MKS1-related JS make normal or fewer cilia than control fibroblasts, their cilia are more variable in length than controls, and show decreased ciliary ARL13B and INPP5E. Additionally, MKS1 mutant alleles have similar effects in 3D spheroids. MKS1 functions in the transition zone at the base of the cilium to regulate ciliary INPP5E content, through an ARL13B-dependent mechanism. Mutations in INPP5E also cause JS, so our findings in patient fibroblasts support the notion that loss of INPP5E function, due to either mutation or mislocalisation, is a key mechanism underlying JS, downstream of MKS1 and ARL13B. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

  20. Revealing the Molecular Structure and the Transport Mechanism at the Base of Primary Cilia Using Superresolution STED Microscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Tung-Lin

    The primary cilium is an organelle that serves as a signaling center of the cell and is involved in the hedgehog signaling, cAMP pathway, Wnt pathways, etc. Ciliary function relies on the transportation of molecules between the primary cilium and the cell, which is facilitated by intraflagellar transport (IFT). IFT88, one of the important IFT proteins in complex B, is known to play a role in the formation and maintenance of cilia in various types of organisms. The ciliary transition zone (TZ), which is part of the gating apparatus at the ciliary base, is home to a large number of ciliopathy molecules. Recent studies have identified important regulating elements for TZ gating in cilia. However, the architecture of the TZ region and its arrangement relative to intraflagellar transport (IFT) proteins remain largely unknown, hindering the mechanistic understanding of the regulation processes. One of the major challenges comes from the tiny volume at the ciliary base packed with numerous proteins, with the diameter of the TZ close to the diffraction limit of conventional microscopes. Using a series of stimulated emission depletion (STED) superresolution images mapped to electron microscopy images, we analyzed the structural organization of the ciliary base. Subdiffraction imaging of TZ components defines novel geometric distributions of RPGRIP1L, MKS1, CEP290, TCTN2 and TMEM67, shedding light on their roles in TZ structure, assembly, and function. We found TCTN2 at the outmost periphery of the TZ close to the ciliary membrane, with a 227+/-18 nm diameter. TMEM67 was adjacent to TCTN2, with a 205+/-20 nm diameter. RPGRIP1L was localized toward the axoneme at the same axial level as TCTN2 and TMEM67, with a 165+/-8 nm diameter. MKS1 was situated between TMEM67 and RPGRIP1L, with an 186+/-21 nm diameter. Surprisingly, CEP290 was localized at the proximal side of the TZ close to the distal end of the centrin-labeled basal body. The lateral width was unexpectedly close to the width of the basal body, distant from the potential Y-links region of the TZ. Moreover, IFT88 was intriguingly distributed in two distinct patterns, forming three puncta or a Y shape at the ciliary base found in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE), human fibroblasts (HFF), mouse inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). We hypothesize that the two distribution states of IFT88 correspond to the open and closed gating states of the TZ, where IFT particles aggregate to form three puncta when the gate is closed, and move to form the branches of the Y-shape pattern when the gate is open. Two reservoirs of IFT particles, correlating with phases of ciliary growth, were localized relative to the internal structure of the TZ. These subdiffraction images reveal unprecedented architectural details of the TZ, providing a basic structural framework for future functional studies. To visualize the dynamic movement of IFT particles within primary cilia, we further conducted superresolution live-cell imaging of IFT88 fused to EYFP in IMCD cells. Our findings, in particular, show IFT88 particles pass through the TZ at a reduced speed by approximately 50%, implying the gating mechanism is involved at this region to slow down IFT trafficking. Finally, we report the distinct transport pathways of IFT88 and Smo (Smoothened), an essential player to hedgehog signaling, to support our hypothesis that two proteins are transported in different mechanisms at the ciliary base, based on dual-color superresolution imaging.

  1. Cri du chat syndrome and primary ciliary dyskinesia: a common genetic cause on chromosome 5p.

    PubMed

    Shapiro, Adam J; Weck, Karen E; Chao, Kay C; Rosenfeld, Margaret; Nygren, Anders O H; Knowles, Michael R; Leigh, Margaret W; Zariwala, Maimoona A

    2014-10-01

    Cri du chat syndrome (CdCS) and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) are rare diseases that present with frequent respiratory symptoms. PCD can be caused by hemizygous DNAH5 mutation in combination with a 5p segmental deletion attributable to CdCS on the opposite chromosome. Chronic oto-sino-pulmonary symptoms or organ laterality defects in CdCS should prompt an evaluation for PCD. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. A solid-state control system for dynein-based ciliary/flagellar motility

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Ciliary and flagellar beating requires the coordinated action of multiple dyneins with different enzymatic and motor properties. In this issue, Yamamoto et al. (2013. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201211048) identify the MIA (modifier of inner arms) complex within the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii axoneme that physically links to a known regulatory structure and provides a signaling conduit from the radial spokes to an inner arm dynein essential for waveform determination. PMID:23569213

  3. Palladium-103 plaque radiation therapy for ciliary body melanoma through a functioning glaucoma filtering bleb.

    PubMed

    Pathan, Arif H K; Barash, Alexander; Tena, Lawrence B; Finger, Paul T

    2018-01-01

    To provide a clinical description of the long-term outcome of a 103 Pd plaque-irradiated ciliary body melanoma with extrascleral extension while attempting to preserve a subadjacent glaucoma filtering bleb. A 75-year-old woman with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma for 17 years, 16 years status post argon laser trabeculoplasty, and 15 years status post trabeculectomy in the left eye, was diagnosed with an ipsilateral ciliary body melanoma with visible extrascleral extension. Treatment involved insertion of a 103 Pd radioactive plaque over the functioning trabeculectomy, with removal 7 days later. At plaque insertion, amniotic membrane grafts were used to cover the plaque and protect the filtering site. The tumor was successfully treated without clinical evidence of harm to the filtering bleb, with resultant stable intraocular pressure. However, the patient developed blebitis 1.5 years later. Though it resolved with topical antibiotic therapy, the bleb became less succulent. Two years postoperatively, she developed a spontaneous hyphema that resolved after one injection of transscleral bevacizumab 1.25 mg. Her tumor continually regressed in thickness. Without additional glaucoma surgery, her intraocular pressure remained well-controlled on topical medications for 6 years. Ciliary body melanoma with minimal extrascleral extension beneath a functioning filtering bleb can be treated using radioactive plaque therapy. In this case, we were able to achieve both tumor regression and glaucoma control by covering the plaque with an amniotic membrane graft.

  4. Short Communication: An apospory-specific genomic region is conserved between Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) and Pennisetum squamulatum Fresen.

    PubMed

    Roche; Cong; Chen; Hanna; Gustine; Sherwood; Ozias-Akins

    1999-07-01

    Twelve molecular markers linked to pseudogamous apospory, a form of gametophytic apomixis, were previously isolated from Pennisetum squamulatum Fresen. No recombination between these markers was found in a segregating population of 397 individuals (Ozias-Akins et al. 1998, Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 95, 5127-5132). The objective of the present study was to test if these markers were also linked to the aposporous mode of reproduction in two small segregating populations of Cenchrus ciliaris (= Pennisetum ciliare (L.)Link), another apomictic grass species. Among 12 markers (sequence characterized amplified regions, SCARs), six were scored as dominant markers between aposporous and sexual C. ciliaris genotypes (presence/absence, respectively). Five were always linked to apospory and one showed a low level of recombination in 84 progenies. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were observed between sexual and apomictic phenotypes for three of the six remaining SCARs from P. squamulatum when used as probes. No recombination was observed in the F1 progenies. Preliminary data from megabase DNA analysis and sequencing in both species indicate that an apospory-specific genomic region (ASGR) is highly conserved between the two species. Although C. ciliaris has a smaller genome size to P. squamulatum, a higher copy number for markers linked to apospory found in the former may impair the progress of positional cloning of gene(s) for apomixis in this species.

  5. Evaluation of iridociliary and lenticular elasticity using shear-wave elastography in rabbit eyes.

    PubMed

    Detorakis, Efstathios T; Drakonaki, Eleni E; Ginis, Harilaos; Karyotakis, Nikolaos; Pallikaris, Ioannis G

    2014-01-01

    A previous study has employed shear-wave ultrasound elastographic imaging to assess corneal rigidity in an ex-vivo porcine eye model. This study employs the same modality in vivo in a rabbit eye model in order to assess lens, ciliary body and total ocular rigidity changes following the instillation of atropine and pilocarpine. Ten non-pigmented female rabbits were examined. Measurements of the lens, ciliary body and total ocular rigidity as well as lens thickness and anterior chamber depth were taken with the Aixplorer system (SuperSonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France) with the SuperLinear™ SL 15-4 transducer in both eyes at baseline as well as after pilocarpine and atropine instillation. The IOP was also measured with the TonoPen tonometer. Changes in rigidity in the examined areas following atropine instillation were statistically not significant. Ciliary body rigidity was significantly increased whereas lens and total ocular rigidity were significantly reduced following pilocarpine instillation. The decrease in lens rigidity following pilocarpine was significantly associated with the respective increase in ciliary body rigidity. Shear-wave ultrasound elastography can detect in vivo rigidity changes in the anterior segment of the rabbit eye model and may potentially be applied in human eyes, providing useful clinical information on conditions in which rigidity changes play an important role, such as glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation syndrome or presbyopia.

  6. Bug22p, a Conserved Centrosomal/Ciliary Protein Also Present in Higher Plants, Is Required for an Effective Ciliary Stroke in Paramecium ▿ †

    PubMed Central

    Laligné, C.; Klotz, C.; Garreau de Loubresse, N.; Lemullois, M.; Hori, M.; Laurent, F. X.; Papon, J. F.; Louis, B.; Cohen, J.; Koll, F.

    2010-01-01

    Centrioles, cilia, and flagella are ancestral conserved organelles of eukaryotic cells. Among the proteins identified in the proteomics of ciliary proteins in Paramecium, we focus here on a protein, Bug22p, previously detected by cilia and basal-body high-throughput studies but never analyzed per se. Remarkably, this protein is also present in plants, which lack centrioles and cilia. Bug22p sequence alignments revealed consensus positions that distinguish species with centrioles/cilia from plants. In Paramecium, antibody and green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion labeling localized Bug22p in basal bodies and cilia, and electron microscopy immunolabeling refined the localization to the terminal plate of the basal bodies, the transition zone, and spots along the axoneme, preferentially between the membrane and the microtubules. RNA interference (RNAi) depletion of Bug22p provoked a strong decrease in swimming speed, followed by cell death after a few days. High-speed video microscopy and morphological analysis of Bug22p-depleted cells showed that the protein plays an important role in the efficiency of ciliary movement by participating in the stroke shape and rigidity of cilia. The defects in cell swimming and growth provoked by RNAi can be complemented by expression of human Bug22p. This is the first reported case of complementation by a human gene in a ciliate. PMID:20118210

  7. Bug22p, a conserved centrosomal/ciliary protein also present in higher plants, is required for an effective ciliary stroke in Paramecium.

    PubMed

    Laligné, C; Klotz, C; de Loubresse, N Garreau; Lemullois, M; Hori, M; Laurent, F X; Papon, J F; Louis, B; Cohen, J; Koll, F

    2010-04-01

    Centrioles, cilia, and flagella are ancestral conserved organelles of eukaryotic cells. Among the proteins identified in the proteomics of ciliary proteins in Paramecium, we focus here on a protein, Bug22p, previously detected by cilia and basal-body high-throughput studies but never analyzed per se. Remarkably, this protein is also present in plants, which lack centrioles and cilia. Bug22p sequence alignments revealed consensus positions that distinguish species with centrioles/cilia from plants. In Paramecium, antibody and green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion labeling localized Bug22p in basal bodies and cilia, and electron microscopy immunolabeling refined the localization to the terminal plate of the basal bodies, the transition zone, and spots along the axoneme, preferentially between the membrane and the microtubules. RNA interference (RNAi) depletion of Bug22p provoked a strong decrease in swimming speed, followed by cell death after a few days. High-speed video microscopy and morphological analysis of Bug22p-depleted cells showed that the protein plays an important role in the efficiency of ciliary movement by participating in the stroke shape and rigidity of cilia. The defects in cell swimming and growth provoked by RNAi can be complemented by expression of human Bug22p. This is the first reported case of complementation by a human gene in a ciliate.

  8. Loss and gain of cone types in vertebrate ciliary photoreceptor evolution.

    PubMed

    Musser, Jacob M; Arendt, Detlev

    2017-11-01

    Ciliary photoreceptors are a diverse cell type family that comprises the rods and cones of the retina and other related cell types such as pineal photoreceptors. Ciliary photoreceptor evolution has been dynamic during vertebrate evolution with numerous gains and losses of opsin and phototransduction genes, and changes in their expression. For example, early mammals lost all but two cone opsins, indicating loss of cone receptor types in response to nocturnal lifestyle. Our review focuses on the comparison of specifying transcription factors and cell type-specific transcriptome data in vertebrate retinae to build and test hypotheses on ciliary photoreceptor evolution. Regarding cones, recent data reveal that a combination of factors specific for long-wavelength sensitive opsin (Lws)- cones in non-mammalian vertebrates (Thrb and Rxrg) is found across all differentiating cone photoreceptors in mice. This suggests that mammalian ancestors lost all but one ancestral cone type, the Lws-cone. We test this hypothesis by a correlation analysis of cone transcriptomes in mouse and chick, and find that, indeed, transcriptomes of all mouse cones are most highly correlated to avian Lws-cones. These findings underscore the importance of specifying transcription factors in tracking cell type evolution, and shed new light on the mechanisms of cell type loss and gain in retina evolution. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Pigment dispersion glaucoma induced by the chafing effect of intraocular lens haptics in Asian eyes.

    PubMed

    Hong, Ying; Sun, Yan-Xiu; Qi, Hong; Zhou, Ji-Chao; Hao, Yan-Sheng

    2013-03-01

    To study the possible mechanism and treatment for pigment dispersion glaucoma (PDG) caused by single-piece acrylic (SPA) intraocular lens (IOL) ciliary sulcus fixation in Asian eyes. Patients referred for PDG caused by SPA IOL ciliary sulcus fixation to our hospital from April 2005 to June 2011 were included. The patients' general information, IOL type, interval between initial surgery and PDG occurrence, examination findings, antiglaucoma medicine regimen and surgical interventions were recorded. In total, six eyes from five Chinese patients were included in this study. The intraocular pressure (IOP) increased 19-30 days after cataract surgery and was not satisfactorily controlled with antiglaucoma medication. Dense pigmentation was deposited on the IOLs and on the anterior chamber angle. IOL haptic chafing was noted on the rear iris surface. IOL repositioning in the capsular bag was performed in three eyes and was combined with trabeculectomy in two eyes with progressive glaucoma. An IOL exchange with three-piece IOL ciliary sulcus fixation was performed in the other three eyes. Scanning electron microscopy of the explanted IOLs demonstrated a rough edge on the IOL haptics. SPA IOLs were not suitable for ciliary sulcus fixation. The chafing effect of the IOL haptics on the posterior iris pigment epithelium could induce PDG in Asian eyes. IOLs should be positioned in the capsular bag or a three-piece IOL should be used instead.

  10. Ciliary targeting of olfactory CNG channels requires the CNGB1b subunit and the kinesin-2 motor protein, KIF17.

    PubMed

    Jenkins, Paul M; Hurd, Toby W; Zhang, Lian; McEwen, Dyke P; Brown, R Lane; Margolis, Ben; Verhey, Kristen J; Martens, Jeffrey R

    2006-06-20

    Nonmotile cilia on olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) compartmentalize signaling molecules, including odorant receptors and cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels, allowing for efficient, spatially confined responses to sensory stimuli . Little is known about the mechanisms of the ciliary targeting of olfactory CNG channels, composed of three subunits: CNGA2, CNGA4, and CNGB1b . Recent reports suggest that subunit composition of the retinal CNG channel influences localization, leading to disease . However, the mechanistic role of subunits in properly targeting native olfactory CNG channels remains unclear. Here, we show that heteromeric assembly with CNGB1b, containing a critical carboxy-terminal motif (RVxP), is required for ciliary trafficking of olfactory CNG channels. Movement of proteins within the cilia is governed by intraflagellar transport (IFT), a process that facilitates bidirectional movement of cargo along microtubules. Work in C. elegans has established that heterotrimeric and homodimeric kinesin-2 family members play a critical role in anterograde transport . In mammalian systems, the heterotrimeric KIF3a/KIF3b/KAP-3 complex plays a clear role in IFT; however, no role has been established for KIF17, the mammalian homolog of OSM-3 . Here, we demonstrate that KIF17 is required for olfactory CNG channel targeting, providing novel insights into mechanisms of mammalian ciliary transport.

  11. Three-dimensional high-resolution ultrasonic imaging of the eye

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Silverman, Ronald H.; Lizzi, Frederick L.; Kalisz, Andrew; Coleman, D. J.

    2000-04-01

    Very high frequency (50 MHz) ultrasound provides spatial resolution on the order of 30 microns axially by 60 microns laterally. Our aim was to reconstruct the three-dimensional anatomy of the eye in the full detail permitted by this fine- scale transducer resolution. We scanned the eyes of human subjects and anesthetized rabbits in a sequence of parallel planes 50 microns apart. Within each scan plane, vectors were also spaced 50 microns apart. Radio-frequency data were digitized at a rate of 250 MHz or higher. A series of spectrum analysis and segmentation algorithms was applied to data acquired in each plane; the outputs of these procedures were used to produce color-coded 3-D representations of the sclera, iris and ciliary processes to enhance 3-D volume rendered presentation. We visualized the radial pattern of individual ciliary processes in humans and rabbits and the geodetic web of supporting connections between the ciliary processes and iris that exist only in the rabbit. By acquiring data such that adjacent vectors and planes are separated by less than the transducer's lateral resolution, we were able to visualize structures, such as the ciliary web, that had not been seen before in-vivo. Our techniques offer the possibility of high- precision imaging and measurement of anterior segment structures. This would be relevant in monitoring of glaucoma, tumors, foreign bodies and other clinical conditions.

  12. [Mesectodermal leiomyoma. Unusual tumor of the ciliary body].

    PubMed

    Rentería-Ruiz, Nancy Paulina; de Wit-Carter, Guillermo; Villaseñor-Diez, Jaime; Flores-Estrada, José Javier; Rodríguez-Reyes, Abelardo Antonio

    2014-01-01

    Mesectodermal leiomyoma is a benign tumor of smooth muscle of the ciliary body, which is derived from the neural crest. We report the case of a 35-year-old Mexican woman with visually impaired and blurred vision of the right eye of 2 months duration. The clinical and imaging presuntional diagnosis was adenoma of the non pigmented epithelium of the ciliary body and it was surgically resected. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of cells with round nuclei and scant cytoplasm without atypia or mitosis, arranged in a fibrillary background. The immunohistochemical markers for vimentin, muscle specific actin, smooth muscle actin and calponin were strongly positive in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells, while for glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100 protein were negative in the same cellular population. Mesectodermal leiomyoma of the ciliary body is benign tumor of smooth muscle extremely rare in this location. Until now, there are just 25 previous reported cases in the literature and, the main differential diagnosis is uveal malignant melanoma, therefore some eyes were enucleated. The ultrabiomicroscopy, A and B-scan imaging studies are useful in the evaluation, however, is mandatory the microsocpic examination with routine and histochemical stains as well as the use of immunohistochemical markers such as vimentin, specific muscle actin, smooth muscle actin andcalponin to stablish the smooth muscle origin of this neoplasm, and rule out other malignant neoplams such as malignant melanoma.

  13. Apparent X-linked primary ciliary dyskinesia associated with retinitis pigmentosa and a hearing loss.

    PubMed

    Krawczyński, Maciej R; Dmeńska, Hanna; Witt, Michał

    2004-01-01

    Three brothers, one 10-year-old and a pair of 14-year-old dizygotic twins--expressed the classical, early-onset retinitis pigmentosa (RP) with typical ophthalmoscopic findings, night blindness, visual field constricted to 10 degrees and flat ERG response. All three brothers were also diagnosed with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and had recurrent respiratory infections, chronic sinusitis and bronchiectasis. In all of them, resection of the middle lobe of the right lung was performed. A similar clinical picture of coexisting RP and PCD was noted in the brother of the probands' mother. All probands displayed situs solitus. Consistent with the X-linked mode of RP inheritance, there were also three obligatory female carriers of the disorder in this family: the mother of the affected boys, her mother and a daughter of her brother. In all of them, retinitis pigmentosa "sine pigmento" was found with milder but clinically significant symptoms (mild night blindness, visual field constricted to 30 degrees, and scotopic and photopic ERG responses reduced to 30-60%). No extraocular symptoms were detected in any of the heterozygous female carriers. This family presents an example of two rare phenomena: X-linked dominant retinitis pigmentosa (with milder expression in females) and a rare combination of RP with recurrent respiratory infections due to PCD.

  14. Molecular and functional identification of a novel photopigment in Pecten ciliary photoreceptors.

    PubMed

    Arenas, Oscar; Osorno, Tomás; Malagón, Gerardo; Pulido, Camila; Gomez, María Del Pilar; Nasi, Enrico

    2018-01-26

    The two basic animal photoreceptor types, ciliary and microvillar, use different light-transduction schemes: their photopigments couple to G t versus G q proteins, respectively, to either mobilize cyclic nucleotides or trigger a lipid signaling cascade. A third class of photoreceptors has been described in the dual retina of some marine invertebrates; these present a ciliary morphology but operate via radically divergent mechanisms, prompting the suggestion that they comprise a novel lineage of light sensors. In one of these organisms, an uncommon putative opsin was uncovered that was proposed to signal through G o Orthologues subsequently emerged in diverse phyla, including mollusks, echinoderms, and chordates, but the cells in which they express have not been identified, and no studies corroborated their function as visual pigments or their suggested signaling mode. Conversely, in only one invertebrate species, Pecten irradians , have the ciliary photoreceptors been physiologically characterized, but their photopigment has not been identified molecularly. We used the transcriptome of Pecten retina to guide the cloning by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) extensions of a new member of this group of putative opsins. In situ hybridization shows selective transcription in the distal retina, and specific antibodies identify a single band of the expected molecular mass in Western blots and distinctly label ciliary photoreceptors in retina sections. RNA interference knockdown resulted in a reduction in the early receptor current-the first manifestation of light transduction-and prevented the prolonged aftercurrent, which requires a large buildup of activated rhodopsin. We also obtained a full-length clone of the α-subunit of a G o from Pecten retina complementary DNA and localized it by in situ hybridization to the distal photoreceptors. Small interfering RNA targeting this G o caused a specific depression of the photocurrent. These results establish this novel putative opsin as a bona fide visual pigment that couples to G o to convey the light signal. © 2018 Arenas et al.

  15. Clinical and histopathological features of adenomas of the ciliary pigment epithelium.

    PubMed

    Chang, Ying; Wei, Wen Bin; Shi, Ji Tong; Xian, Jun Fang; Yang, Wen Li; Xu, Xiao Lin; Bai, Hai Xia; Li, Bin; Jonas, Jost B

    2016-11-01

    Adenomas of the ciliary pigment epithelium (CPE) are rare benign tumours which have mainly to be differentiated from malignant ciliary body melanomas. Here we report on a consecutive series of patients with CPE adenomas and describe their characteristics. The retrospective hospital-based case series study included all patients who were consecutively operated for CPE adenomas. Of the 110 patients treated for ciliary body tumours, five patients (4.5%) had a CPE adenoma. Mean age was 59.0 ± 9.9 years (range: 46-72 years). Mean tumour apical thickness was 6.6 ± 1.7 mm. Tumour colour was mostly homogenously brown to black, and the tumour surface was smooth. The tumour masses pushed the iris tissue forward without infiltrating iris or anterior chamber angle. Sonography revealed an irregular echogram with sharp lesion borders and signs of blood flow in Color Doppler flow imaging. Ultrasonographic biomicroscopy demonstrated medium-low internal reflectivity and acoustic attenuation. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the tumours as compared to brain were hyperintense on T1-weighted images and hypointense on T2-weighted images. Tumour tissue consisted of cords and nests of pigment epithelium cells separated by septa of vascularized fibrous connective tissue, leading to a pseudo-glandular appearance. The melanin granules in the cytoplasm were large and mostly spherical in shape. In four patients, the tumours were hyperpigmented. Tumour cells were large with round or oval nuclei and clearly detectable nucleoli. These clinical characteristics of CPE adenomas, such as homogenous dark brown colour, smooth surface, iris dislocation and anterior chamber angle narrowing but no iris infiltration, segmental cataract, pigment dispersion, and, as compared to brain tissue, hypointensity and, as compared to extraocular muscles or lacrimal gland, hyperintensity on T2-weighted MRI images, may be helpful for the differentiation from ciliary body malignant melanomas. © 2016 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  16. Ciliary Muscle Thickness in Anisometropia

    PubMed Central

    Kuchem, Mallory K; Sinnott, Loraine T; Kao, Chiu-Yen; Bailey, Melissa D

    2014-01-01

    Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between ciliary muscle thickness (CMT), refractive error, and axial length both across subjects and between the more and less myopic eyes of adults with anisometropia. Methods Both eyes of 29 adult subjects with at least 1.00 D of anisometropia were measured. Ciliary muscle thickness was measured at the maximum thickness (CMTMAX) and at 1.0 mm (CMT1), 2.0 mm (CMT2), and 3.0 mm (CMT3) posterior to the scleral spur, and also at the apical region (Apical CMTMAX = CMTMAX – CMT2, and Apical CMT1 = CMT1 – CMT2). Multilevel regression models were used to determine the relationship between the various CMT measures and cycloplegic refractive error or axial length, and to assess whether there are CMT differences between the more and less myopic eyes of an anisometropic adult. Results CMTMAX, CMT1, CMT2 and CMT3 were negatively associated with mean refractive error (all p ≤ 0.03), and the strongest association was in the posterior region (CMT2 and CMT3). Apical CMTMAX and Apical CMT1, however, were positively associated with mean refractive error (both p < 0.0001) across subjects. Within a subject, i.e., comparing the two anisometropic eyes, there was no statistically significant difference in CMT in any region. Conclusions Similar to previous studies, across anisometropic subjects, a thicker posterior region of the ciliary muscle (CMT2 and CMT3) was associated with increased myopic refractive error. Conversely, shorter, more hyperopic eyes tended to have thicker anterior, apical fiber portions of their ciliary muscle (Apical CMTMAX and Apical CMT1). There was no difference between the two eyes for any CMT measurement, indicating that in anisometropia, an eye can grow longer and more myopic than its fellow eye without resulting in an increase in CMT. PMID:24100479

  17. Uncovering the Forgotten Effect of Superior Cervical Ganglia on Pupil Diameter in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: An Experimental Study.

    PubMed

    Onen, Mehmet Resid; Yilmaz, Ilhan; Ramazanoglu, Leyla; Aydin, Mehmet Dumlu; Keles, Sadullah; Baykal, Orhan; Aydin, Nazan; Gundogdu, Cemal

    2018-01-01

    To investigate the relationship between neuron density of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia and pupil diameter in subarachnoid hemorrhage. This study was conducted on 22 rabbits; 5 for the baseline control group, 5 for the SHAM group and 12 for the study group. Pupil diameters were measured via sunlight and ocular tomography on day 1 as the control values. Pupil diameters were re-measured after injecting 0.5 cc saline to the SHAM group, and autologous arterial blood into the cisterna magna of the study group. After 3 weeks, the brain, superior cervical sympathetic ganglia and ciliary ganglia were extracted with peripheral tissues bilaterally and examined histopathologically. Pupil diameters were compared with neuron densities of the sympathetic ganglia and ciliary ganglia which were examined using stereological methods. Baseline values were; normal pupil diameter 7.180±620 ?m and mean neuron density of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia 6.321±510/mm3, degenerated neuron density of ciliary ganglia was 5±2/mm3 after histopathological examination in the control group. These values were measured as 6.850±578 ?m, 5.950±340/mm3 and 123±39/mm3 in the SHAM group and 9.910±840 ?m, 7.950±764/mm3 and 650±98/mm3 in the study group. A linear relationship was determined between neuron density of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia and pupil diameters (p < 0.005). Degenerated ciliary ganglia neuron density had an inverse effect on pupil diameters in all groups (p < 0.0001). Highly degenerated neuron density of the ciliary ganglion is not responsible for pupil dilatation owing to parasympathetic pupilloconstrictor palsy, but high neuron density of the pupillodilatatory superior cervical sympathetic ganglia should be considered an important factor for pupil dilatation.

  18. Heterologous live infectious bronchitis virus vaccination in day-old commercial broiler chicks: clinical signs, ciliary health, immune responses and protection against variant infectious bronchitis viruses.

    PubMed

    Awad, Faez; Hutton, Sally; Forrester, Anne; Baylis, Matthew; Ganapathy, Kannan

    2016-01-01

    Groups of one-day-old broiler chicks were vaccinated via the oculo-nasal route with different live infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) vaccines: Massachusetts (Mass), 793B, D274 or Arkansas (Ark). Clinical signs and gross lesions were evaluated. Five chicks from each group were humanely killed at intervals and their tracheas collected for ciliary activity assessment and for the detection of CD4+, CD8+ and IgA-bearing B cells by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Blood samples were collected at intervals for the detection of anti-IBV antibodies. At 21 days post-vaccination (dpv), protection conferred by different vaccination regimes against virulent M41, QX and 793B was assessed. All vaccination programmes were able to induce high levels of CD4+, CD8+ and IgA-bearing B cells in the trachea. Significantly higher levels of CD4+ and CD8+ expression were observed in the Mass2 + 793B2-vaccinated group compared to the other groups (subscripts indicate different manufacturers). Protection studies showed that the group of chicks vaccinated with Mass2 + 793B2 produced 92% ciliary protection against QX challenge; compared to 53%, 68% and 73% ciliary protection against the same challenge virus by Mass1 + D274, Mass1 + 793B1 and Mass3 + Ark, respectively. All vaccination programmes produced more than 85% ciliary protection against M41 and 793B challenges. It appears that the variable levels of protection provided by different heterologous live IBV vaccinations are dependent on the levels of local tracheal immunity induced by the respective vaccine combination. The Mass2 + 793B2 group showed the worst clinical signs, higher mortality and severe lesions following vaccination, but had the highest tracheal immune responses and demonstrated the best protection against all three challenge viruses.

  19. Radiation induced violations of blood circulation in the ciliary body and changes of the anterior chamber angle in the pathogenesis of glaucoma in clean up workers of the Chornobyl NPP accident and residents of contaminated areas.

    PubMed

    Garkava, N A; Fedirko, P A; Babenko, T F; Dorichevska, R E

    2017-12-01

    Estimate changes blood filling of the ciliary body and changes of the anterior chamber angle; study their influence to glaucoma pathogenesis in irradiated persons. Used the results of a randomly selected group survey of 41 clean up workers of the Chornobyl NPP accident (clean up workers), and 18 inhabitants of the zone of guaranteed voluntary resettlement; age at the time of the survey was 45-50 years. The control group consisted of 41 persons of the same age had not radiation exposure. State of the anterior chamber angle studied by gonioscopy, which was conducted 35 clean up workers and 35 persons of the control group. Changes of the blood circulation in the ciliary body examine by the ophtalmoreog raphy, what was done on 12 eyes of 6 clean up workers, control was 12 eyes of 6 persons had not radiation exposure. Detection revealed of the blood circulation in the ciliary body in all clean up workers, reography coefficient was probably lower (p < 0.05), than in the control group. The research of the state of the anterior chamber angle revealed a higher relative risk of appearance of involution changes of the anterior chamber angle in clean up work ers of ChNPP accident, in comparison with the control group was 3.5 (1.27; 9.5) χ2 = 7.48, p = 0.031. The same changes are characteristic for inhabitants of radiation polluted territories. Influence ionizing radiation causes a blood circulation decrease in the ciliary body and development changes of the angle of the anterior chamber. Presence of these changes can explain the features of the pathogene sis of glaucoma in irradiated late manifestation and, at the same time, severe course. N. A. Garkava, P. A. Fedirko, T. F. Babenko, R. E. Dorichevska.

  20. Comparison of tight junction protein expression in the ciliary epithelia of mouse, rabbit, cat and human eyes.

    PubMed

    Karim, M J; Biswas, S; Bhattacherjee, P; Paterson, C A

    2011-06-01

    Tight junctions in the nonpigmented epithelium (NPE) of the ciliary processes and the iris vascular endothelium form the ocular blood aqueous barrier that prevents leakage of proteins, immune cells and non-immune cells of blood into the anterior chamber. We attempted to determine whether ultrastructural differences in tight junctions reported in earlier studies are reflected in the expression pattern of tight junction proteins (TJP) and whether the TJP in mice, rabbits and cats resemble those of humans. For immunohistochemistry, 10 μm thick cryosections were rehydrated in PBS and fixed in 50 mM ammonium chloride at room temperature. After rinses in PBS, the sections were incubated twice in 0.1% Triton X-100, 10% goat serum, specific primary antibody or in PBS. After rinses in PBS, the sections were incubated in FITC-conjugated secondary antibody. After rinses in PBS, the sections were mounted with Vectashield mounting medium with propidium iodide, examined and photographed using a confocal microscope. The expression patterns of TJP in ocular ciliary epithelium of human, rabbit, cat and mouse were similar. Occludin immunoreactivity was observed as a sharp line along the junction between pigmented epithelium (PE) and NPE, and along the apico-lateral surfaces of NPE. Very light staining of the ciliary stroma was observed in cat and mouse. Claudin-1 was expressed along the entire boundaries of NPE and was more distinct between PE and NPE in rabbit. The ciliary stroma showed faint staining in cat and mouse. ZO-1 showed staining between PE and NPE, and at the adjacent membrane. Moderate staining was seen in PE in cat and mouse, which suggests that claudin-1, occludin and ZO-1 are expressed along the junction between PE and NPE, and the apico-lateral border of NPE. Lack of major difference in the expression patterns among the different species is important for validating the use of rabbit, mouse and cat in studies of intraocular inflammation in humans.

  1. CEP78 is mutated in a distinct type of Usher syndrome.

    PubMed

    Fu, Qing; Xu, Mingchu; Chen, Xue; Sheng, Xunlun; Yuan, Zhisheng; Liu, Yani; Li, Huajin; Sun, Zixi; Li, Huiping; Yang, Lizhu; Wang, Keqing; Zhang, Fangxia; Li, Yumei; Zhao, Chen; Sui, Ruifang; Chen, Rui

    2017-03-01

    Usher syndrome is a genetically heterogeneous disorder featured by combined visual impairment and hearing loss. Despite a dozen of genes involved in Usher syndrome having been identified, the genetic basis remains unknown in 20-30% of patients. In this study, we aimed to identify the novel disease-causing gene of a distinct subtype of Usher syndrome. Ophthalmic examinations and hearing tests were performed on patients with Usher syndrome in two consanguineous families. Target capture sequencing was initially performed to screen causative mutations in known retinal disease-causing loci. Whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were applied for identifying novel disease-causing genes. RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing were performed to evaluate the splicing-altering effect of identified CEP78 variants. Patients from the two independent families show a mild Usher syndrome phenotype featured by juvenile or adult-onset cone-rod dystrophy and sensorineural hearing loss. WES and WGS identified two homozygous rare variants that affect mRNA splicing of a ciliary gene CEP78 . RT-PCR confirmed that the two variants indeed lead to abnormal splicing, resulting in premature stop of protein translation due to frameshift. Our results provide evidence that CEP78 is a novel disease-causing gene for Usher syndrome, demonstrating an additional link between ciliopathy and Usher protein network in photoreceptor cells and inner ear hair cells. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

  2. Flow Field Analysis of Micromixer Powered by Ciliary Motion of Vorticella

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hayasaka, Yo; Nagai, Moeto; Matsumoto, Nobuyoshi; Kawashima, Takahiro; Shibata, Takayuki

    We demonstrate the observation of a flow field generated by ciliary motion of Vorticella in a microfluidic chamber. We applied the property that Vorticella vibrates its cilia and create a flow field to a micromixer. The stability and mixing performance of Vorticella were measured by PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry). One cell of Vorticella mixed the half area of the microchamber. We revealed that the flow field of a single cell in a chamber was more stable than that of multiple cells.

  3. Two cases of tinea ciliaris with blepharitis due to Microsporum audouinii and Trichophyton verrucosum and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Sahin, Gulay Ozel; Dadaci, Zeynep; Ozer, Turkan Toka

    2014-09-01

    Dermatophytes are rarely taken into account among the causes of blepharitis. In our report, we describe a 69-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman with chronic blepharitis for 10 years and 4 years respectively, in whom we examined the scales and pulled eyelashes on direct microscopy and isolated Microsporum audouinii and Trichophyton verrrucosum in the culture. We emphasise that dermatophytes may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of chronic blepharitis. In chronic, treatment resistance blepharitis fungal infections may be considered as possible cause. © 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

  4. Ascorbate elevates perfusion pressure in the bovine extraocular long posterior ciliary artery: role of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF).

    PubMed

    Stirrat, Alison; Nelli, Silvia; McGuckin, Alicia; Ho, Vivian Wing Man; Wilson, William S; Martin, William

    2006-03-18

    Ascorbate blocks agonist-induced, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)-mediated vasodilatation in the bovine perfused ciliary artery and this is associated with a rise in perfusion pressure. We now report the origins of this ascorbate-induced rise in perfusion pressure. In segments of ciliary artery perfused at 2.5 ml/min, the addition of ascorbate (10-150 microM) enhanced U46619-induced perfusion pressure. Ascorbate produced no enhancement in the absence of U46619, suggesting that its effects resulted not from a constrictor action but through removal of a tonic vasodilator influence. Experiments revealed the endothelial source of this vasodilator influence, and EDHF, but not nitric oxide or prostanoids, appeared to be involved. The ascorbate-induced enhancement of vasoconstrictor tone was not seen in a static myograph or in segments perfused at low rates of flow, but was seen at flow rates of 2.5 ml(-1) and above. We conclude that ascorbate augments vasoconstrictor tone through inhibition of flow-induced EDHF activity.

  5. Dynamic remodeling of membrane composition drives cell cycle through primary cilia excision

    PubMed Central

    Phua, Siew Cheng; Chiba, Shuhei; Suzuki, Masako; Su, Emily; Roberson, Elle C.; Pusapati, Ganesh V.; Setou, Mitsutoshi; Rohatgi, Rajat; Reiter, Jeremy F.; Ikegami, Koji; Inoue, Takanari

    2017-01-01

    The life cycle of a primary cilium begins in quiescence and ends prior to mitosis. In quiescent cells, primary cilium insulates itself from contiguous dynamic membrane processes on the cell surface to function as a stable signaling apparatus. Here, we demonstrate that basal restriction of ciliary structure dynamics is established by cilia-enriched phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase, Inpp5e. Growth induction displaces ciliary Inpp5e and accumulates phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to distal cilia. This triggers otherwise forbidden actin polymerization in primary cilia, which excises cilia tips in a process we call cilia decapitation. Whilst cilia disassembly is traditionally thought to occur solely through resorption, we show that an acute loss of IFT-B through cilia decapitation precedes resorption. Finally, we propose that cilia decapitation induces mitogenic signaling and constitutes a molecular link between the cilia life cycle and cell-division cycle. This newly defined ciliary mechanism may find significance in cell proliferation control during normal development and cancer. PMID:28086093

  6. An in vitro assay for entry into cilia reveals unique properties of the soluble diffusion barrier

    PubMed Central

    Breslow, David K.; Koslover, Elena F.; Seydel, Federica; Spakowitz, Andrew J.

    2013-01-01

    Specific proteins are concentrated within primary cilia, whereas others remain excluded. To understand the mechanistic basis of entry into cilia, we developed an in vitro assay using cells in which the plasma membrane was permeabilized, but the ciliary membrane was left intact. Using a diffusion-to-capture system and quantitative analysis, we find that proteins >9 nm in diameter (∼100 kD) are restricted from entering cilia, and we confirm these findings in vivo. Interference with the nuclear pore complex (NPC) or the actin cytoskeleton in permeabilized cells demonstrated that the ciliary diffusion barrier is mechanistically distinct from those of the NPC or the axon initial segment. Moreover, applying a mass transport model to this system revealed diffusion coefficients for soluble and membrane proteins within cilia that are compatible with rapid exploration of the ciliary space in the absence of active transport. Our results indicate that large proteins require active transport for entry into cilia but not necessarily for movement inside cilia. PMID:24100294

  7. [A case of ring melanoma found while treating traumatic glaucoma].

    PubMed

    Manabe, Kazuyo; Jo, Nobuo; Tateno, Hiroko; Shishidon, Nami; Takahashi, Kanji; Iwashita, Kenshiro; Isei, Taiki; Ohe, Chisato; Sakaida, Noriko; Uemura, Yoshiko

    2013-04-01

    Ring melanoma, a malignant melanoma which infiltrates over 180 degrees degrees of the ciliary body is very rare in Japan. We report a case of ring melanoma found while treating treatment of traumatic glaucoma with an ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM). A 44-year old woman presented with high intraocular pressure after blunt trauma in her left eye. Best-corrected visual acuity OS was 1.2, and intraocular pressure was 30 mmHg. Gonioscopy showed about 180 degrees of the angle recession. Intraocular pressure was difficult to control in spite of anti-glaucoma drug treatment. Rapid progression of iris elevation and 360 degrees thickening of the ciliary body were detected by UBM. We detected atypical cells with melanine granules in the aqueous fluid and positive findings in PET-CT, leading to a diagnosis of ciliary body malignant melanoma. Consequently we enucleated the left eye. The histopathological diagnosis was ring melanoma. Ring melanoma is an important element in the differential diagnosis for untreatable secondary glaucoma.

  8. Vortex arrays and ciliary tangles underlie the feeding-swimming tradeoff in starfish larvae

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gilpin, William; Prakash, Vivek N.; Prakash, Manu

    2016-11-01

    Many marine invertebrates have larval stages covered in linear arrays of beating cilia, which propel the animal while simultaneously entraining planktonic prey. These bands are strongly conserved across taxa spanning four major superphyla, and they are responsible for the unusual morphologies of many invertebrates. However, few studies have investigated their underlying hydrodynamics. Here, we study the ciliary bands of starfish larvae, and discover a beautiful pattern of slowly-evolving vortices that surrounds the swimming animals. Closer inspection of the bands reveals unusual ciliary "tangles" analogous to topological defects that break-up and re-form as the animal adjusts its swimming stroke. Quantitative experiments and modeling demonstrate that these vortices create a physical tradeoff between feeding and swimming in heterogenous environments, which manifests as distinct flow patterns or "eigenstrokes" representing each behavior-potentially implicating neuronal control of cilia. This quantitative interplay between larval form and hydrodynamic function generalizes to other invertebrates, and illustrates the potential effects of active boundary conditions in other biological and synthetic systems.

  9. Fifteen years of research on oral-facial-digital syndromes: from 1 to 16 causal genes.

    PubMed

    Bruel, Ange-Line; Franco, Brunella; Duffourd, Yannis; Thevenon, Julien; Jego, Laurence; Lopez, Estelle; Deleuze, Jean-François; Doummar, Diane; Giles, Rachel H; Johnson, Colin A; Huynen, Martijn A; Chevrier, Véronique; Burglen, Lydie; Morleo, Manuela; Desguerres, Isabelle; Pierquin, Geneviève; Doray, Bérénice; Gilbert-Dussardier, Brigitte; Reversade, Bruno; Steichen-Gersdorf, Elisabeth; Baumann, Clarisse; Panigrahi, Inusha; Fargeot-Espaliat, Anne; Dieux, Anne; David, Albert; Goldenberg, Alice; Bongers, Ernie; Gaillard, Dominique; Argente, Jesús; Aral, Bernard; Gigot, Nadège; St-Onge, Judith; Birnbaum, Daniel; Phadke, Shubha R; Cormier-Daire, Valérie; Eguether, Thibaut; Pazour, Gregory J; Herranz-Pérez, Vicente; Goldstein, Jaclyn S; Pasquier, Laurent; Loget, Philippe; Saunier, Sophie; Mégarbané, André; Rosnet, Olivier; Leroux, Michel R; Wallingford, John B; Blacque, Oliver E; Nachury, Maxence V; Attie-Bitach, Tania; Rivière, Jean-Baptiste; Faivre, Laurence; Thauvin-Robinet, Christel

    2017-06-01

    Oral-facial-digital syndromes (OFDS) gather rare genetic disorders characterised by facial, oral and digital abnormalities associated with a wide range of additional features (polycystic kidney disease, cerebral malformations and several others) to delineate a growing list of OFDS subtypes. The most frequent, OFD type I, is caused by a heterozygous mutation in the OFD1 gene encoding a centrosomal protein. The wide clinical heterogeneity of OFDS suggests the involvement of other ciliary genes. For 15 years, we have aimed to identify the molecular bases of OFDS. This effort has been greatly helped by the recent development of whole-exome sequencing (WES). Here, we present all our published and unpublished results for WES in 24 cases with OFDS. We identified causal variants in five new genes ( C2CD3 , TMEM107 , INTU , KIAA0753 and IFT57 ) and related the clinical spectrum of four genes in other ciliopathies ( C5orf42 , TMEM138 , TMEM231 and WDPCP ) to OFDS. Mutations were also detected in two genes previously implicated in OFDS. Functional studies revealed the involvement of centriole elongation, transition zone and intraflagellar transport defects in OFDS, thus characterising three ciliary protein modules: the complex KIAA0753-FOPNL-OFD1, a regulator of centriole elongation; the Meckel-Gruber syndrome module, a major component of the transition zone; and the CPLANE complex necessary for IFT-A assembly. OFDS now appear to be a distinct subgroup of ciliopathies with wide heterogeneity, which makes the initial classification obsolete. A clinical classification restricted to the three frequent/well-delineated subtypes could be proposed, and for patients who do not fit one of these three main subtypes, a further classification could be based on the genotype. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

  10. Loss of Centrobin Enables Daughter Centrioles to Form Sensory Cilia in Drosophila.

    PubMed

    Gottardo, Marco; Pollarolo, Giulia; Llamazares, Salud; Reina, Jose; Riparbelli, Maria G; Callaini, Giuliano; Gonzalez, Cayetano

    2015-08-31

    Sensory cilia are organelles that convey information to the cell from the extracellular environment. In vertebrates, ciliary dysfunction results in ciliopathies that in humans comprise a wide spectrum of developmental disorders. In Drosophila, sensory cilia are found only in the neurons of type I sensory organs, but ciliary dysfunction also has dramatic consequences in this organism because it impairs the mechanosensory properties of bristles and chaetae and leads to uncoordination, a crippling condition that causes lethality shortly after eclosion. The cilium is defined by the ciliary membrane, a protrusion of the cell membrane that envelops the core structure known as the axoneme, a microtubule array that extends along the cilium from the basal body. In vertebrates, basal body function requires centriolar distal and subdistal appendages and satellites. Because these structures are acquired through centriole maturation, only mother centrioles can serve as basal bodies. Here, we show that although centriole maturity traits are lacking in Drosophila, basal body fate is reserved to mother centrioles in Drosophila type I neurons. Moreover, we show that depletion of the daughter-centriole-specific protein Centrobin (CNB) enables daughter centrioles to dock on the cell membrane and to template an ectopic axoneme that, although structurally defective, protrudes out of the cell and is enveloped by a ciliary membrane. Conversely, basal body capability is inhibited in mother centrioles modified to carry CNB. These results reveal the crucial role of CNB in regulating basal body function in Drosophila ciliated sensory organs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Impact and benefit of A(2B)-adenosine receptor agonists for the respiratory tract: mucociliary clearance, ciliary beat frequency, trachea muscle tonus and cytokine release.

    PubMed

    Walaschewski, Robin; Begrow, Frank; Verspohl, Eugen J

    2013-01-01

    Adenosine is known to induce a bronchospasm in asthma- and COPD patients. The role of A(2B) receptors was investigated with respect to several parameters of the respiratory tract: tonus of smooth muscle, ciliary beat frequency as measured by high-speed video camera connected to a microscope (both in rats) and mucociliary clearance (MCC; transport of a fluorescent dye using a microdialysis procedure) in mice.  NECA (5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine) (a non-selective adenosine receptor agonist) was able to acutely induce a contraction, which was reversed to a relaxation after repeated dosing. This relaxation was completely abolished by PSB-1115, an A(2B) receptor antagonist. IL-13 (cytokine) was not involved mediating acute contractility effects. MCC was increased by BAY 60-6583 (A(2B) receptor agonist) and NECA (counteracted by the A(2B) receptor antagonist PSB-1115). Activation of A(2B) adenosine receptors by BAY 60-6583 induced an increase of the ciliary beat frequency, which could be reduced by administration of PSB-1115. Several cytokines were increased by NECA although only some are relevant because they are not blocked by A(2B) receptor antagonism. The A(2B) receptors are involved in airway relaxation, MCC improvement and ciliary beat frequency. A(2B) receptor agonists may be of therapeutic value and should be developed. © 2012 The Authors. JPP © 2012 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

  12. Effect of Cilia Beat Frequency on Muco-ciliary Clearance

    PubMed Central

    Sedaghat, M.H.; Shahmardan, M.M.; Norouzi, M.; Heydari, M.

    2016-01-01

    Background: The airway surface liquid (ASL), which is a fluid layer coating the interior epithelial surface of the bronchi and bronchiolesis, plays an important defensive role against foreign particles and chemicals entering lungs. Objective: Numerical investigation has been employed to solve two-layer model consisting of mucus layer as a viscoelastic fluid and periciliary liquid layer as a Newtonian fluid to study the effects of cilia beat frequency (CBF) at various amounts of mucus properties on muco-ciliary transport problem. Methods: Hybrid finite difference-lattice Boltzmann-method (FB-LBM) has been used to solve the momentum equations and to simulate cilia forces, and also the PCL-mucus interface more accurately, immersed boundary method (IBM) has been employed. The main contribution of the current study is to use an Oldroyd-B model as the constitutive equation of mucus. Results: Our results show that increasing CBF and decreasing mucus viscosity ratio have great effects on mucus flow, but the effect of viscosity ratio is more significant. The results also illustrate that the relation between cilia beat frequency and mean mucus velocity is almost linear and it has similar behavior at different values of viscosity ratio. Conclusion: Numerical investigation based on hybrid IB-FD-LBM has been used to study the effect of CBF at various mounts of mucus viscosity ratio on the muco-ciliary clearance. The results showed that the effect of viscosity ratio on the muco-ciliary transport process is more significant compared with CBF. PMID:28144596

  13. Influence of essential and fatty oils on ciliary beat frequency of human nasal epithelial cells.

    PubMed

    Neher, Andreas; Gstöttner, Michaela; Thaurer, Michael; Augustijns, Patrick; Reinelt, Monika; Schobersberger, Wolfgang

    2008-01-01

    In alternative and complementary medicine, the use of essential and fatty oils has become more and more popular. In addition to conventional medical therapies, self-medication is showing increasing popularity, using agents with unclear compounds and poorly controlled dosages. Among other disorders, these alternative treatments are used in bronchitis and rhinitis, including some topical applications. Thus, the influence on ciliated epithelia should be evaluated, because a disturbance of the ciliary function can lead to recurrent sinusitis and chronic rhinosinusitis. The aim of this study was to test the influence of fatty and essential oils on the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of nasal mucosa in vivo. The influence of sesame oil, soy oil, peanut oil, Miglyol 840, thyme oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and menthol on the ciliary activity of nasal brushings was evaluated by digital high-speed imaging. The presence of most fatty oils resulted in an increase in CBF, the effect being highest for peanut oil. Miglyol 840 had no significant influence on CBF. The essential oils were tested at a concentration of 0.2 and 2%. Thyme oil did not affect CBF, whereas the presence of all other essentials oils resulted in an increase in CBF; the effect was higher at 0.2% than at 2%. Except thyme oil and Miglyol 840, all tested oils caused an increase in CBF. Interestingly, the 0.2% concentrations of essential oils resulted in stronger effects when compared with the 2% concentrations.

  14. Arrestin in ciliary invertebrate photoreceptors: molecular identification and functional analysis in vivo.

    PubMed

    Gomez, Maria Del Pilar; Espinosa, Lady; Ramirez, Nelson; Nasi, Enrico

    2011-02-02

    Arrestin was identified in ciliary photoreceptors of Pecten irradians, and its role in terminating the light response was established electrophysiologically. Downstream effectors in these unusual visual cells diverge from both microvillar photoreceptors and rods and cones; the finding that key regulatory mechanisms of the early steps of visual excitation are conserved across such distant lineages of photoreceptors underscores that a common blueprint for phototransduction exists across metazoa. Arrestin was detected by Western blot analysis of retinal lysates, and localized in ciliary photoreceptors by immunostaining of whole-eye cryosections and dissociated cells. Two arrestin isoforms were molecularly identified by PCR; these present the canonical N- and C-arrestin domains, and are identical at the nucleotide level over much of their sequence. A high degree of homology to various β-arrestins (up to 70% amino acid identity) was found. In situ hybridization localized the two transcripts within the retina, but failed to reveal finer spatial segregation, possibly because of insufficient differences between the riboprobes. Intracellular dialysis of anti arrestin antibodies into voltage-clamped ciliary photoreceptors produced a gradual slow-down of the photocurrent falling phase, leaving a tail that decayed over many seconds after light termination. The antibodies also caused spectrally neutral flashes to elicit prolonged aftercurrents in the absence of large metarhodopsin accumulation; such aftercurrents could be quenched by chromatic illumination that photoconverts metarhodopsin back to rhodopsin. These observations indicate that the antibodies depleted functionally available arrestin, and implicate this molecule in the deactivation of the photoresponse at the rhodopsin level.

  15. Comparative responses of the Savanna grasses Cenchrus ciliaris and Themeda triandra to defoliation.

    PubMed

    Hodgkinson, K C; Ludlow, M M; Mott, J J; Baruch, Z

    1989-04-01

    Two perennial tussock grasses of savannas were compared in a glasshouse study to determine why they differed in their ability to withstand frequent, heavy grazing; Cenchrus ciliaris is tolerant and Themeda triandra is intolerant of heavy grazing. Frequent defoliation at weekly intervals for six weeks reduced shoot biomass production over a subsequent 42 day regrowth period compared with previously undefoliated plants (infrequent) in T. triandra, but not in C. ciliaris. Leaf area of T. triandra expanded rapidly following defoliation but high initial relative growth rates of shoots were not sustained after 14 days of regrowth because of reducing light utilising efficiency of leaves. Frequently defoliated plants were slower in rate of leaf area expansion and this was associated with reduced photosynthetic capacity of newly formed leaves, lower allocation of photosynthate to leaves but not lower tiller numbers. T. triandra appears well adapted to a regime where defoliation is sufficiently infrequent to allow carbon to be fixed to replace that used in initial leaf area expansion. In contrast, C. ciliaris is better adapted to frequent defoliation than is T. triandra, because horizontally orientated nodal tillers are produced below the defoliation level. This morphological adaptation resulted in a 10-fold higher leaf area remaining after defoliation compared with similarly defoliated T. triandra, which together with the maintenance of moderate levels of light utilising efficiency, contributed to the higher leaf area and shoot weight throughout the regrowth period.

  16. Functional Architecture of the Outer Arm Dynein Conformational Switch*

    PubMed Central

    King, Stephen M.; Patel-King, Ramila S.

    2012-01-01

    Dynein light chain 1 (LC1/DNAL1) is one of the most highly conserved components of ciliary axonemal outer arm dyneins, and it associates with both a heavy chain motor unit and tubulin located within the A-tubule of the axonemal outer doublet microtubules. In a variety of model systems, lack of LC1 or expression of mutant forms leads to profound defects in ciliary motility, including the failure of the hydrodynamic coupling needed for ciliary metachronal synchrony, random stalling during the power/recovery stroke transition, an aberrant response to imposed viscous load, and in some cases partial failure of motor assembly. These phenotypes have led to the proposal that LC1 acts as part of a mechanical switch to control motor function in response to alterations in axonemal curvature. Here we have used NMR chemical shift mapping to define the regions perturbed by a series of mutations in the C-terminal domain that yield a range of phenotypic effects on motility. In addition, we have identified the subdomain of LC1 involved in binding microtubules and characterized the consequences of an Asn → Ser alteration within the terminal leucine-rich repeat that in humans causes primary ciliary dyskinesia. Together, these data define a series of functional subdomains within LC1 and allow us to propose a structural model for the organization of the dynein heavy chain-LC1-microtubule ternary complex that is required for the coordinated activity of dynein motors in cilia. PMID:22157010

  17. Ciliary behavior of a negatively phototactic Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

    PubMed

    Josef, Keith; Saranak, Jureepan; Foster, Kenneth W

    2005-06-01

    With an instrument that can record the motion of both cilia of the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for many hours, the behavioral differences of its two cilia have been studied to determine their specific role in phototaxis. The organism was held on a fixed micropipette with the plane of ciliary beating rotated into the imaging plane of a quadrant photodetector. The responses to square-wave light patterns of a wide range of temporal frequencies were used to characterize the responses of each cilium. Eighty-one cells were examined showing an unexpectedly diverse range of responses. Plausible common signals for the linear and nonlinear signals from the cell body are suggested. Three independent ciliary measures--the beat frequency, stroke velocity, and phasing of the two cilia--have been identified. The cell body communicates to the cilia the direction of phototaxis the cell desires to go, the absolute light intensity, and the appropriate graded transient response for tracking the light source. The complexity revealed by each measure of the ciliary response indicates many independent variables are involved in the net phototactic response. In spite of their morphological similarity, the two cilia of Chlamydomonas respond uniquely. Probably the signals from the cell body fan out to independent pathways in the cilia. Each cilium modifies the input in its own way. The change in the pattern of the effective and recovery strokes of each cilium associated with negative phototaxis has been demonstrated and its involvement in phototactic turning is described. Copyright (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  18. Novel NEK8 Mutations Cause Severe Syndromic Renal Cystic Dysplasia through YAP Dysregulation

    PubMed Central

    Grampa, Valentina; Odye, Gweltas; Thomas, Sophie; Elkhartoufi, Nadia; Filhol, Emilie; Niel, Olivier; Silbermann, Flora; Lebreton, Corinne; Collardeau-Frachon, Sophie; Rouvet, Isabelle; Alessandri, Jean-Luc; Devisme, Louise; Dieux-Coeslier, Anne; Cordier, Marie-Pierre; Capri, Yline; Khung-Savatovsky, Suonavy; Sigaudy, Sabine; Salomon, Rémi; Antignac, Corinne; Gubler, Marie-Claire; Benmerah, Alexandre; Terzi, Fabiola; Attié-Bitach, Tania; Jeanpierre, Cécile; Saunier, Sophie

    2016-01-01

    Ciliopathies are a group of genetic multi-systemic disorders related to dysfunction of the primary cilium, a sensory organelle present at the cell surface that regulates key signaling pathways during development and tissue homeostasis. In order to identify novel genes whose mutations would cause severe developmental ciliopathies, >500 patients/fetuses were analyzed by a targeted high throughput sequencing approach allowing exome sequencing of >1200 ciliary genes. NEK8/NPHP9 mutations were identified in five cases with severe overlapping phenotypes including renal cystic dysplasia/hypodysplasia, situs inversus, cardiopathy with hypertrophic septum and bile duct paucity. These cases highlight a genotype-phenotype correlation, with missense and nonsense mutations associated with hypodysplasia and enlarged cystic organs, respectively. Functional analyses of NEK8 mutations in patient fibroblasts and mIMCD3 cells showed that these mutations differentially affect ciliogenesis, proliferation/apoptosis/DNA damage response, as well as epithelial morphogenesis. Notably, missense mutations exacerbated some of the defects due to NEK8 loss of function, highlighting their likely gain-of-function effect. We also showed that NEK8 missense and loss-of-function mutations differentially affect the regulation of the main Hippo signaling effector, YAP, as well as the expression of its target genes in patient fibroblasts and renal cells. YAP imbalance was also observed in enlarged spheroids of Nek8-invalidated renal epithelial cells grown in 3D culture, as well as in cystic kidneys of Jck mice. Moreover, co-injection of nek8 MO with WT or mutated NEK8-GFP RNA in zebrafish embryos led to shortened dorsally curved body axis, similar to embryos injected with human YAP RNA. Finally, treatment with Verteporfin, an inhibitor of YAP transcriptional activity, partially rescued the 3D spheroid defects of Nek8-invalidated cells and the abnormalities of NEK8-overexpressing zebrafish embryos. Altogether, our study demonstrates that NEK8 human mutations cause major organ developmental defects due to altered ciliogenesis and cell differentiation/proliferation through deregulation of the Hippo pathway. PMID:26967905

  19. PLATEAU IRIS SYNDROME--CASE SERIES.

    PubMed

    Feraru, Crenguta Ioana; Pantalon, Anca Delia; Chiselita, Dorin; Branisteanu, Daniel

    2015-01-01

    Plateau iris is characterized by closing the anterior chamber angle due to a large ciliary body or due to its anterior insertion that alters the position of iris periphery in respect to the trabecular meshwork. There are two aspects that need to be differentiated: plateau iris configuration and plateau iris syndrome. The first describes a situation when the iris root is flat and the anterior chamber is not shallow, the latter refers to a post laser iridotomy condition in which a patent iridotomy has removed the relative pupillary block, but goniscopically confirmed angle closure recurs without central shallowing of the anterior chamber. Isolated plateau iris syndrome is rare compared to plateau iris configuration. We hereby present two case reports of plateau iris syndrome in young patients who came to an ophthalmologic consult by chance.

  20. [Histological structure of the trabecular meshwork in the eyeball: challenging the traditional concept and preliminary findings in rabbits, rats and mice].

    PubMed

    Shi, Yun; Zhou, Fan-Qi; Luo, Zhou-Cai; Chen, Ying-Hua; Chen, Yu; Dong, Wei-Ren

    2017-10-20

    To verify that the trabecular meshwork (TM) in the wall of the eyeball consists of smooth muscle fibers instead of collagen fibers or endothelial cells. Eighteen fresh eyeballs from 3 rabbits, 3 SD rats and 3 mice were sectioned along the sagittal plane and sliced after paraffin embedding for HE staining, VG staining, Masson staining, α-SMA immunohistochemistry or CD31 immunohistochemistry. These slices were observed under microscope and the structure of the TM was compared with those of scleral collagen fibers, ciliary muscles and endothelial cells. HE staining of the eyeball slices from the 3 animal species resulted in purplish red staining of the TM, which was highly consistent with ciliary muscle fibers. The cell?like structures on the surface of the TM were not clearly outlined, with flat nuclei showing a dark purple staining; these structures did not show obvious boundaries from the TM. Ciliary muscle fibers, which were smooth muscle cells in nature, were aligned in bundles in various directions. The longitudinally sectioned cells were flat and contained purplish cytoplasm and highly flattened nuclei. Scleral collagen fibers were stained dark red with a few fibroblasts sandwiched among them. The long axis of the fibroblasts was in parallel with that of the collagen fibers. The outline of the fibroblast was not clear and the nucleus was flat in dark blue. The vascular endothelial cells presented with different morphologies and contained light purplish cytoplasm and dark nuclei, protruding into the vascular cavity. VG staining of the TM revealed a pale red filamentous structure, and the collagen fibers were stained bright red. Masson staining of the TM showed a reticular structure consisting mainly of dark red fibers intermingled with thin green fibers. Scleral collagen fibers presented with a cord?like green wavy structure. The endothelial cells were green and flat, while the ciliary smooth muscle fibers were purple. In immunohistochemistry for α?SMA, the TM and the ciliary smooth muscle fibers showed a strong positivity in the cytoplasm, while the scleral collagen fibers and vascular endothelial cells showed negative staining; immunohistochemistry for CD31 showed no obvious positive staining in the TM, collagen fibers or ciliary smooth muscle cells from all the animals in spite of slight differences among them. The TM consists mainly of smooth muscle fibers with a thin layer of peripheral endomysium without endothelial cells.

  1. Assessment of a new hydrophilic acrylic supplementary IOL for sulcus fixation in pseudophakic cadaver eyes

    PubMed Central

    Reiter, N; Werner, L; Guan, J; Li, J; Tsaousis, K T; Mamalis, N; Srinivasan, S

    2017-01-01

    Purpose Management of refractive errors after cataract surgery includes spectacles or contact lens, secondary laser vision correction, intraocular lens (IOL) exchange, or piggyback lens implantation. We evaluated for the first time a single-piece hydrophilic acrylic IOL designed for supplementary sulcus fixation in postmortem pseudophakic human eyes. Methods Pseudophakic human cadaver eyes were imaged by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) to assess position of the primary IOL. Eyes were prepared as per the Miyake-Apple technique. The supplementary IOL (Medicontur A4 Addon IOL family) was then inserted into the ciliary sulcus. AS-OCT and photographs from anterior and posterior views were used to assess IOL centration, tilt, and interlenticular distance from the primary IOL. Results Data were obtained from 12 eyes having primary IOLs of varying materials and designs in the bag and representing different sizes of eyes and severity of Soemmering's ring formation. The A4 Addon IOL was successfully inserted into the ciliary sulcus and was well centered in all cases. Four cases of tilt were observed on AS-OCT: three with mild tilt due to pre-existing zonular dehiscence, and one due to a localized area of Soemmering's ring formation. Interlenticular distance ranged from 0.34 to 1.24 mm and was not dependent on severity of Soemmering's ring or type of primary IOL. Conclusions The A4 Addon IOL was designed for sulcus fixation as a supplementary lens, with a large diameter, a square-shaped optic, four smooth loop haptics, and a convex–concave optical surface. It exhibited appropriate centration and interlenticular distance with different primary in-the-bag IOLs. PMID:28106890

  2. Bioinformatics and reanalysis of subtracted expressed sequence tags from the human ciliary body: Identification of novel biological functions.

    PubMed

    Escribano, Julio; Coca-Prados, Miguel

    2002-08-28

    The ciliary body is largely known for its major roles in the regulation of aqueous humor secretion, intraocular pressure, and accommodation of the lens. In this review article we applied bioinformatics to re-examine hundreds of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) previously isolated by subtractive hybridization from a human ciliary body library [1]. The DNA sequences of these clones have been recently added to the web site of NEIBank. DNA sequence comparisons of subtracted ESTs were performed against all entries in the last available release of the non-redundant database containing GenBank, EMBL, DDBJ and PDB sequences using the BlastN program accessed through NCBI's BLAST services on the internet (NCBI). Sequences were also compared and mapped using the Blast search program provided through the Internet by the Human Genome Project (UCSC). A total number of 284 independent ESTs were classified in 17 functional groups. Analysis of their relationships allowed to define the expression of five major groups of known genes: (i) protein synthesis, folding, secretion and degradation (20%); (ii) energy supply and biosynthesis (12%); (iii) contractility and cytoskeleton structure (6%); (iv) cellular signaling and cell cycle regulation (7%); and (v) nerve cell related tasks (2%), including neuropeptide processing and putative non-visual phototransduction and circadian rhythm control. The largest group contain unidentified sequences, a total of 105 sequences, accounting for 37% of ESTs. The unidentified sequences show similarity to genomic non-coding regions, or genes of unknown function. The most highly represented EST, correspond to myocilin, a gene involved in glaucoma. The data also confirms the secretory functions of the ciliary epithelium, and its high metabolism; the presence of a neuroendocrine peptidergic system presumably involved in the regulation of the intraocular pressure and/or aqueous humor secretion. Additional genes may be related to a non-visual phototransduction cascade and/or to circadian rhythms. Overall this initial group of subtracted ESTs can lead to uncover novel physiological functions of the ciliary body in normal and in disease, as well as novel candidate genes for ocular diseases.

  3. Anterior but not posterior choroid changed before and during Valsalva manoeuvre in healthy Chinese: a UBM and SS-OCT study

    PubMed Central

    Li, Fei; Gao, Kai; Li, Xingyi; Chen, Shida; Huang, Wenbin; Zhang, Xiulan

    2017-01-01

    Purpose To determine if the anterior choroid is involved in ocular change during the Valsalva manoeuvre (VM). Materials and methods Fifty-three healthy volunteers aged 18–65 years with normal visual field test results and no history of intraocular pressure (IOP) exceeding 21 mm Hg were recruited. Anterior and posterior choroidal changes before and during VM were recorded by ultrasound microscope and swept-source optical coherence tomography, respectively. Parameters of the anterior segment included ciliary body thickness (CBT0), thickness of the choroid at a distance of 4 mm from the root of the iris (CT4), anterior placement of the ciliary body (APCB) and trabecular–ciliary angle (TCA). Thickness of different layers of retina and posterior choroid were also measured and compared before and during VM. IOP, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), axial length, spherical equivalent refractive error and pupil diameter (PD) were also recorded and analysed. Results VM caused elevated IOP, systolic BP, diastolic BP and increased HR. There was a significant increase in anterior parameters including CBT0, CT4 and APCB (p<0.001), but not in TCA or PD (p>0.05). The mean change of CBT0, CT4 and APCB were: from 1.00±0.09 mm to 1.11±0.10 mm (p<0.001), from 0.29±0.04 mm to 0.36±0.05 mm (p<0.001), from 0.76±0.11 mm to 0.88±0.13 mm (p<0.001), respectively. However, there is no significant change in posterior choroid (from 215.74±60.23 µm to 214.82±61.32 µm, p=0.17). Conclusion We found that VM did not affect the posterior choroid, but it did cause thickening of the anterior choroid and the ciliary body, both of which led to a larger anterior placement of the ciliary body and a narrowed anterior chamber. The anterior (but not the posterior) choroid could be related to IOP elevation and a narrowed anterior chamber in primary angle closure diseases. PMID:28432110

  4. Whole-Organism Developmental Expression Profiling Identifies RAB-28 as a Novel Ciliary GTPase Associated with the BBSome and Intraflagellar Transport

    PubMed Central

    Sanders, Anna A. W. M.; Li, Chunmei; Kennedy, Julie; Cai, Jerry; Scheidel, Noemie; Kennedy, Breandán N.; Morin, Ryan D.; Leroux, Michel R.; Blacque, Oliver E.

    2016-01-01

    Primary cilia are specialised sensory and developmental signalling devices extending from the surface of most eukaryotic cells. Defects in these organelles cause inherited human disorders (ciliopathies) such as retinitis pigmentosa and Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), frequently affecting many physiological and developmental processes across multiple organs. Cilium formation, maintenance and function depend on intracellular transport systems such as intraflagellar transport (IFT), which is driven by kinesin-2 and IFT-dynein motors and regulated by the Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) cargo-adaptor protein complex, or BBSome. To identify new cilium-associated genes, we employed the nematode C. elegans, where ciliogenesis occurs within a short timespan during late embryogenesis when most sensory neurons differentiate. Using whole-organism RNA-Seq libraries, we discovered a signature expression profile highly enriched for transcripts of known ciliary proteins, including FAM-161 (FAM161A orthologue), CCDC-104 (CCDC104), and RPI-1 (RP1/RP1L1), which we confirm are cilium-localised in worms. From a list of 185 candidate ciliary genes, we uncover orthologues of human MAP9, YAP, CCDC149, and RAB28 as conserved cilium-associated components. Further analyses of C. elegans RAB-28, recently associated with autosomal-recessive cone-rod dystrophy, reveal that this small GTPase is exclusively expressed in ciliated neurons where it dynamically associates with IFT trains. Whereas inactive GDP-bound RAB-28 displays no IFT movement and diffuse localisation, GTP-bound (activated) RAB-28 concentrates at the periciliary membrane in a BBSome-dependent manner and undergoes bidirectional IFT. Functional analyses reveal that whilst cilium structure, sensory function and IFT are seemingly normal in a rab-28 null allele, overexpression of predicted GDP or GTP locked variants of RAB-28 perturbs cilium and sensory pore morphogenesis and function. Collectively, our findings present a new approach for identifying ciliary proteins, and unveil RAB28, a GTPase most closely related to the BBS protein RABL4/IFT27, as an IFT-associated cargo with BBSome-dependent cell autonomous and non-autonomous functions at the ciliary base. PMID:27930654

  5. Whole-Organism Developmental Expression Profiling Identifies RAB-28 as a Novel Ciliary GTPase Associated with the BBSome and Intraflagellar Transport.

    PubMed

    Jensen, Victor L; Carter, Stephen; Sanders, Anna A W M; Li, Chunmei; Kennedy, Julie; Timbers, Tiffany A; Cai, Jerry; Scheidel, Noemie; Kennedy, Breandán N; Morin, Ryan D; Leroux, Michel R; Blacque, Oliver E

    2016-12-01

    Primary cilia are specialised sensory and developmental signalling devices extending from the surface of most eukaryotic cells. Defects in these organelles cause inherited human disorders (ciliopathies) such as retinitis pigmentosa and Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), frequently affecting many physiological and developmental processes across multiple organs. Cilium formation, maintenance and function depend on intracellular transport systems such as intraflagellar transport (IFT), which is driven by kinesin-2 and IFT-dynein motors and regulated by the Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) cargo-adaptor protein complex, or BBSome. To identify new cilium-associated genes, we employed the nematode C. elegans, where ciliogenesis occurs within a short timespan during late embryogenesis when most sensory neurons differentiate. Using whole-organism RNA-Seq libraries, we discovered a signature expression profile highly enriched for transcripts of known ciliary proteins, including FAM-161 (FAM161A orthologue), CCDC-104 (CCDC104), and RPI-1 (RP1/RP1L1), which we confirm are cilium-localised in worms. From a list of 185 candidate ciliary genes, we uncover orthologues of human MAP9, YAP, CCDC149, and RAB28 as conserved cilium-associated components. Further analyses of C. elegans RAB-28, recently associated with autosomal-recessive cone-rod dystrophy, reveal that this small GTPase is exclusively expressed in ciliated neurons where it dynamically associates with IFT trains. Whereas inactive GDP-bound RAB-28 displays no IFT movement and diffuse localisation, GTP-bound (activated) RAB-28 concentrates at the periciliary membrane in a BBSome-dependent manner and undergoes bidirectional IFT. Functional analyses reveal that whilst cilium structure, sensory function and IFT are seemingly normal in a rab-28 null allele, overexpression of predicted GDP or GTP locked variants of RAB-28 perturbs cilium and sensory pore morphogenesis and function. Collectively, our findings present a new approach for identifying ciliary proteins, and unveil RAB28, a GTPase most closely related to the BBS protein RABL4/IFT27, as an IFT-associated cargo with BBSome-dependent cell autonomous and non-autonomous functions at the ciliary base.

  6. Sinus surgery can improve quality of life, lung infections, and lung function in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia.

    PubMed

    Alanin, Mikkel Christian; Aanaes, Kasper; Høiby, Niels; Pressler, Tania; Skov, Marianne; Nielsen, Kim Gjerum; Johansen, Helle Krogh; von Buchwald, Christian

    2017-03-01

    Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and bacterial sinusitis are ubiquitous in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). From the sinuses, Pseudomonas aeruginosa can infect the lungs. We studied the effect of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) on symptoms of CRS and lower airway infections in PCD patients in a prospective single-arm intervention study of ESS with adjuvant therapy using nasal irrigation with saline, topical nasal steroids, and 2 weeks of systemic antibiotics. Additional treatment with local colistin for 6 months was instigated when P. aeruginosa was cultured at ESS. Twenty-four PCD patients underwent ESS to search for an infectious focus (n = 10), due to severe symptoms of CRS (n = 8), or both (n = 6). Bacteria were cultured from sinus samples in 21 patients (88%), and simultaneous sinus and lung colonization with identical pathogens were observed in 13 patients (62%). Four patients with preoperative P. aeruginosa lung colonization (25%) had no regrowth during follow-up; 2 of these had P. aeruginosa sinusitis. Sinonasal symptoms were improved 12 months after ESS and we observed a trend toward better lung function after ESS. We demonstrated an improvement in CRS-related symptoms after ESS and adjuvant therapy. In selected PCD patients, the suggested regimen may postpone chronic lung infection with P. aeruginosa and stabilize lung function. © 2016 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

  7. Distribution of CD163-positive cell and MHC class II-positive cell in the normal equine uveal tract.

    PubMed

    Sano, Yuto; Matsuda, Kazuya; Okamoto, Minoru; Takehana, Kazushige; Hirayama, Kazuko; Taniyama, Hiroyuki

    2016-02-01

    Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the uveal tract participate in ocular immunity including immune homeostasis and the pathogenesis of uveitis. In horses, although uveitis is the most common ocular disorder, little is known about ocular immunity, such as the distribution of APCs. In this study, we investigated the distribution of CD163-positive and MHC II-positive cells in the normal equine uveal tract using an immunofluorescence technique. Eleven eyes from 10 Thoroughbred horses aged 1 to 24 years old were used. Indirect immunofluorescence was performed using the primary antibodies CD163, MHC class II (MHC II) and CD20. To demonstrate the site of their greatest distribution, positive cells were manually counted in 3 different parts of the uveal tract (ciliary body, iris and choroid), and their average number was assessed by statistical analysis. The distribution of pleomorphic CD163- and MHC II-expressed cells was detected throughout the equine uveal tract, but no CD20-expressed cells were detected. The statistical analysis demonstrated the distribution of CD163- and MHC II-positive cells focusing on the ciliary body. These results demonstrated that the ciliary body is the largest site of their distribution in the normal equine uveal tract, and the ciliary body is considered to play important roles in uveal and/or ocular immune homeostasis. The data provided in this study will help further understanding of equine ocular immunity in the normal state and might be beneficial for understanding of mechanisms of ocular disorders, such as equine uveitis.

  8. Wavefront Derived Refraction and Full Eye Biometry in Pseudophakic Eyes

    PubMed Central

    Mao, Xinjie; Banta, James T.; Ke, Bilian; Jiang, Hong; He, Jichang; Liu, Che; Wang, Jianhua

    2016-01-01

    Purpose To assess wavefront derived refraction and full eye biometry including ciliary muscle dimension and full eye axial geometry in pseudophakic eyes using spectral domain OCT equipped with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. Methods Twenty-eight adult subjects (32 pseudophakic eyes) having recently undergone cataract surgery were enrolled in this study. A custom system combining two optical coherence tomography systems with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor was constructed to image and monitor changes in whole eye biometry, the ciliary muscle and ocular aberration in the pseudophakic eye. A Badal optical channel and a visual target aligning with the wavefront sensor were incorporated into the system for measuring the wavefront-derived refraction. The imaging acquisition was performed twice. The coefficients of repeatability (CoR) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. Results Images were acquired and processed successfully in all patients. No significant difference was detected between repeated measurements of ciliary muscle dimension, full-eye biometry or defocus aberration. The CoR of full-eye biometry ranged from 0.36% to 3.04% and the ICC ranged from 0.981 to 0.999. The CoR for ciliary muscle dimensions ranged from 12.2% to 41.6% and the ICC ranged from 0.767 to 0.919. The defocus aberrations of the two measurements were 0.443 ± 0.534 D and 0.447 ± 0.586 D and the ICC was 0.951. Conclusions The combined system is capable of measuring full eye biometry and refraction with good repeatability. The system is suitable for future investigation of pseudoaccommodation in the pseudophakic eye. PMID:27010674

  9. Wavefront Derived Refraction and Full Eye Biometry in Pseudophakic Eyes.

    PubMed

    Mao, Xinjie; Banta, James T; Ke, Bilian; Jiang, Hong; He, Jichang; Liu, Che; Wang, Jianhua

    2016-01-01

    To assess wavefront derived refraction and full eye biometry including ciliary muscle dimension and full eye axial geometry in pseudophakic eyes using spectral domain OCT equipped with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. Twenty-eight adult subjects (32 pseudophakic eyes) having recently undergone cataract surgery were enrolled in this study. A custom system combining two optical coherence tomography systems with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor was constructed to image and monitor changes in whole eye biometry, the ciliary muscle and ocular aberration in the pseudophakic eye. A Badal optical channel and a visual target aligning with the wavefront sensor were incorporated into the system for measuring the wavefront-derived refraction. The imaging acquisition was performed twice. The coefficients of repeatability (CoR) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. Images were acquired and processed successfully in all patients. No significant difference was detected between repeated measurements of ciliary muscle dimension, full-eye biometry or defocus aberration. The CoR of full-eye biometry ranged from 0.36% to 3.04% and the ICC ranged from 0.981 to 0.999. The CoR for ciliary muscle dimensions ranged from 12.2% to 41.6% and the ICC ranged from 0.767 to 0.919. The defocus aberrations of the two measurements were 0.443 ± 0.534 D and 0.447 ± 0.586 D and the ICC was 0.951. The combined system is capable of measuring full eye biometry and refraction with good repeatability. The system is suitable for future investigation of pseudoaccommodation in the pseudophakic eye.

  10. Primary cilia proteins: ciliary and extraciliary sites and functions.

    PubMed

    Hua, Kiet; Ferland, Russell J

    2018-05-01

    Primary cilia are immotile organelles known for their roles in development and cell signaling. Defects in primary cilia result in a range of disorders named ciliopathies. Because this organelle can be found singularly on almost all cell types, its importance extends to most organ systems. As such, elucidating the importance of the primary cilium has attracted researchers from all biological disciplines. As the primary cilia field expands, caution is warranted in attributing biological defects solely to the function of this organelle, since many of these "ciliary" proteins are found at other sites in cells and likely have non-ciliary functions. Indeed, many, if not all, cilia proteins have locations and functions outside the primary cilium. Extraciliary functions are known to include cell cycle regulation, cytoskeletal regulation, and trafficking. Cilia proteins have been observed in the nucleus, at the Golgi apparatus, and even in immune synapses of T cells (interestingly, a non-ciliated cell). Given the abundance of extraciliary sites and functions, it can be difficult to definitively attribute an observed phenotype solely to defective cilia rather than to some defective extraciliary function or a combination of both. Thus, extraciliary sites and functions of cilia proteins need to be considered, as well as experimentally determined. Through such consideration, we will understand the true role of the primary cilium in disease as compared to other cellular processes' influences in mediating disease (or through a combination of both). Here, we review a compilation of known extraciliary sites and functions of "cilia" proteins as a means to demonstrate the potential non-ciliary roles for these proteins.

  11. Meckel-Gruber Syndrome: An Update on Diagnosis, Clinical Management, and Research Advances.

    PubMed

    Hartill, Verity; Szymanska, Katarzyna; Sharif, Saghira Malik; Wheway, Gabrielle; Johnson, Colin A

    2017-01-01

    Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS) is a lethal autosomal recessive congenital anomaly syndrome caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins that are structural or functional components of the primary cilium. Conditions that are caused by mutations in ciliary genes are collectively termed the ciliopathies, and MKS represents the most severe condition in this group of disorders. The primary cilium is a microtubule-based organelle, projecting from the apical surface of vertebrate cells. It acts as an "antenna" that receives and transduces chemosensory and mechanosensory signals, but also regulates diverse signaling pathways, such as Wnt and Shh, that have important roles during embryonic development. Most MKS proteins localize to a distinct ciliary compartment called the transition zone (TZ) that regulates the trafficking of cargo proteins or lipids. In this review, we provide an up-to-date summary of MKS clinical features, molecular genetics, and clinical diagnosis. MKS has a highly variable phenotype, extreme genetic heterogeneity, and displays allelism with other related ciliopathies such as Joubert syndrome, presenting significant challenges to diagnosis. Recent advances in genetic technology, with the widespread use of multi-gene panels for molecular testing, have significantly improved diagnosis, genetic counseling, and the clinical management of MKS families. These include the description of some limited genotype-phenotype correlations. We discuss recent insights into the molecular basis of disease in MKS, since the functions of some of the relevant ciliary proteins have now been determined. A common molecular etiology appears to be disruption of ciliary TZ structure and function, affecting essential developmental signaling and the regulation of secondary messengers.

  12. Surgical intervention and accommodative responses, I: centripetal ciliary body, capsule, and lens movements in rhesus monkeys of various ages.

    PubMed

    Croft, Mary Ann; McDonald, Jared P; James, Rebecca J; Heatley, Gregg A; Lin, Ting-Li; Lütjen-Drecoll, Elke; Kaufman, Paul L

    2008-12-01

    To determine how surgically altering the normal relationship between the lens and the ciliary body in rhesus monkeys affects centripetal ciliary body and lens movement. In 18 rhesus monkey eyes (aged 6-27 years), accommodation was induced before and after surgery by electrical stimulation of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. Accommodative amplitude was measured by coincidence refractometry. Goniovideography was performed before and after intra- and extracapsular lens extraction (ICLE, ECLE) and anterior regional zonulolysis (ARZ). Centripetal lens/capsule movements, centripetal ciliary process (CP) movements, and circumlental space were measured by computerized image analysis of the goniovideography images. Centripetal accommodative CP and capsule movement increased in velocity and amplitude after, compared with before, ECLE regardless of age (n = 5). The presence of the lens substance retarded capsule movement by approximately 21% in the young eyes and by approximately 62% in the older eyes. Post-ICLE compared with pre-ICLE centripetal accommodative CP movement was dampened in all eyes in which the anterior vitreous was disrupted (n = 7), but not in eyes in which the anterior vitreous was left intact (n = 2). After anterior regional zonulolysis (n = 4), lens position shifted toward the lysed quadrant during accommodation. The presence of the lens substance, capsule zonular attachments, and Wieger's ligament may play a role in centripetal CP movement. The capsule is still capable of centripetal movement in the older eye (although at a reduced capacity) and may have the ability to produce approximately 6 D of accommodation in the presence of a normal, young crystalline lens or a similar surrogate.

  13. Ciliary propulsion of objects in tubes: wall drag on swimming Tetrahymena (Ciliata) in the presence of mucin and other long-chain polymers.

    PubMed

    Winet, H

    1976-04-01

    The lubrication effect of three long-chain polymers - mucin, methylcellulose and Ficoll - on ciliary propulsion in tubes is measured by plotting the relative velocities of swimming cilitates as a function of the tube bore diameter. Mucin shows the most unequivocal lubrication, which is found at concentrations between 0% and 9.1% (w/v). This observation, coupled with viscometric measurements which show that ciliary tip shear rates are sufficient to solate mucin, serve as the groundwork for a model of mucin lubrication which explains the optimized lubrication behaviour of thixotropic gelating polymers as an expression of the response to shear by the various stages of polymer clustering during the gelatin process. In addition to the lubricative effect, another wall drag reduction effect by mucin was measured in the clearance region beyond the lubrication layer. This apparent viscosity reduction is optimized in the concentration range between I.7% and 4.I% mucin and may also be explained in terms of the properties of gel clustering.

  14. Neuropeptide Y family receptors traffic via the Bardet-Biedl syndrome pathway to signal in neuronal primary cilia.

    PubMed

    Loktev, Alexander V; Jackson, Peter K

    2013-12-12

    Human monogenic obesity syndromes, including Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), implicate neuronal primary cilia in regulation of energy homeostasis. Cilia in hypothalamic neurons have been hypothesized to sense and regulate systemic energy status, but the molecular mechanism of this signaling remains unknown. Here, we report a comprehensive localization screen of 42 G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) revealing seven ciliary GPCRs, including the neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors NPY2R and NPY5R. We show that mice modeling BBS disease or obese tubby mice fail to localize NPY2R to cilia in the hypothalamus and that BBS mutant mice fail to activate c-fos or decrease food intake in response to the NPY2R ligand PYY3-36. We find that cells with ciliary NPY2R show augmented PYY3-36-dependent cAMP signaling. Our data demonstrate that ciliary targeting of NPY receptors is important for controlling energy balance in mammals, revealing a physiologically defined ligand-receptor pathway signaling within neuronal cilia. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Flow Induced by Ex-Vivo Nasal Cilia: Developing an Index of Dyskinesis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grotberg, James; Bottier, Mathieu; Pena-Fernandez, Marta; Blanchon, Sylvain; Pelle, Gabriel; Bequignon, Emilie; Isabey, Daniel; Coste, Andre; Escudier, Estelle; Papon, Jean-Francois; Filoche, Marcel; Louis, Bruno

    2017-11-01

    Mucociliary clearance is one of the major lines of defense of the respiratory system. The mucus layer coating the pulmonary airways is moved along and out of the lung by the activity of motile cilia, thus expelling the particles trapped in it. Here we compare ex vivomeasurements of a Newtonian flow induced by cilia beating (using micro-beads as tracers) and a mathematical model of this fluid flow. Samples of nasal epithelial cells placed in water are recorded by high-speed video-microscopy and ciliary beat pattern is inferred. Automatic tracking of micro-beads, used as markers of the flow generated by cilia motion, enables us also to assess the steady velocity profile as a function of the distance above the cilia. This profile is shown to be essentially parabolic. This compares well to a 2D mathematical model for ciliary fluid propulsion using an envelope model. From the model and the experimental measurements, the shear stress exerted by the cilia is deduced. Finally, this shear stress is proposed as a new index for characterizing the efficiency of ciliary beating and diagnosing dyskinesis.

  16. Change in human lens dimensions, lens refractive index distribution and ciliary body ring diameter with accommodation.

    PubMed

    Khan, Adnan; Pope, James M; Verkicharla, Pavan K; Suheimat, Marwan; Atchison, David A

    2018-03-01

    We investigated changes in ciliary body ring diameter, lens dimensions and lens refractive index distributions with accommodation in young adults. A 3T clinical magnetic resonance imaging scanner imaged right eyes of 38 18-29 year old participants using a multiple spin echo sequence to determine accommodation-induced changes along lens axial and equatorial directions. Accommodation stimuli were approximately 1 D and 5 D. With accommodation, ciliary body ring diameter, and equatorial lens diameter decreased (-0.43 ± 0.31 mm and -0.30 ± 0.23 mm, respectively), and axial lens thickness increased ( + 0.34 ± 0.16 mm). Lens shape changes cause redistribution of the lens internal structure, leading to change in refractive index distribution profiles. With accommodation, in the axial direction refractive index profiles became flatter in the center and steeper near the periphery of the lens, while in the equatorial direction they became steeper in the center and flatter in the periphery. The results suggest that the anatomical accuracy of lens optical models can be improved by accounting for changes in the refractive index profile during accommodation.

  17. Pathogenesis of Congenital Rubella Virus Infection in Human Fetuses: Viral Infection in the Ciliary Body Could Play an Important Role in Cataractogenesis.

    PubMed

    Nguyen, Thong Van; Pham, Van Hung; Abe, Kenji

    2015-01-01

    Development of congenital rubella syndrome associated with rubella virus infection during pregnancy is clinically important, but the pathogenicity of the virus remains unclear. Pathological examination was conducted on 3 aborted fetuses with congenital rubella infection. At autopsy, all 3 aborted fetuses showed congenital cataract confirmed by gross observation. Rubella virus infection occurred via systemic organs including circulating hematopoietic stem cells confirmed by immunohistochemical and molecular investigations, and major histopathogical changes were found in the liver. It is noteworthy that the virus infected the ciliary body of the eye, suggesting a possible cause of cataracts. Our study based on the pathological examination demonstrated that the rubella virus infection occurred via systemic organs of human fetuses. This fact was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and direct detection of viral RNA in multiple organs. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report demonstrating that the rubella virus infection occurred via systemic organs of the human body. Importantly, virus infection of the ciliary body could play an important role in cataractogenesis.

  18. Intraflagellar transport protein 122 antagonizes Sonic Hedgehog signaling and controls ciliary localization of pathway components.

    PubMed

    Qin, Jian; Lin, Yulian; Norman, Ryan X; Ko, Hyuk W; Eggenschwiler, Jonathan T

    2011-01-25

    Primary cilia are required for proper Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling in mammals. However, their role in the signal transduction process remains unclear. We have identified sister of open brain (sopb), a null allele of mouse Intraflagellar transport protein 122 (Ift122). IFT122 negatively regulates the Shh pathway in the cilium at a step downstream of the Shh ligand and the transmembrane protein Smoothened, but upstream of the Gli2 transcription factor. Ift122(sopb) mutants generate primary cilia, but they show features of defective retrograde intraflagellar transport. IFT122 controls the ciliary localization of Shh pathway regulators in different ways. Disruption of IFT122 leads to accumulation of Gli2 and Gli3 at cilia tips while blocking the ciliary localization of the antagonist TULP3. Suppressor of Fused and Smoothened localize to the cilium through an IFT122-independent mechanism. We propose that the balance between positive and negative regulators of the Shh pathway at the cilium tip controls the output of the pathway and that Shh signaling regulates this balance through intraflagellar transport.

  19. DisAp-dependent striated fiber elongation is required to organize ciliary arrays

    PubMed Central

    Galati, Domenico F.; Bonney, Stephanie; Kronenberg, Zev; Clarissa, Christina; Yandell, Mark; Elde, Nels C.; Jerka-Dziadosz, Maria; Giddings, Thomas H.; Frankel, Joseph

    2014-01-01

    Cilia-organizing basal bodies (BBs) are microtubule scaffolds that are visibly asymmetrical because they have attached auxiliary structures, such as striated fibers. In multiciliated cells, BB orientation aligns to ensure coherent ciliary beating, but the mechanisms that maintain BB orientation are unclear. For the first time in Tetrahymena thermophila, we use comparative whole-genome sequencing to identify the mutation in the BB disorientation mutant disA-1. disA-1 abolishes the localization of the novel protein DisAp to T. thermophila striated fibers (kinetodesmal fibers; KFs), which is consistent with DisAp’s similarity to the striated fiber protein SF-assemblin. We demonstrate that DisAp is required for KFs to elongate and to resist BB disorientation in response to ciliary forces. Newly formed BBs move along KFs as they approach their cortical attachment sites. However, because they contain short KFs that are rotated, BBs in disA-1 cells display aberrant spacing and disorientation. Therefore, DisAp is a novel KF component that is essential for force-dependent KF elongation and BB orientation in multiciliary arrays. PMID:25533842

  20. Differential regulation of gene expression of neurotensin and prohormone convertases PC1 and PC2 in the bovine ocular ciliary epithelium: possible implications on neurotensin processing.

    PubMed

    Ortego, Javier; Wollmann, Guido; Coca-Prados, Miguel

    2002-11-15

    Prohormone convertases PC1 and PC2 are enzymes involved in the intracellular processing of pro-neurotensin/neuromedin N (pro-NT/NN) through the regulated secretory pathway. In this study, we present evidence of the differential gene expression of pro-NT/NN, pro-PC1 and pro-PC2 in two cell lines established from the neuroendocrine ocular ciliary epithelium. Dexamethasone and forskolin were found to synergistically up-regulate NT/NN mRNA expression in both cell types. The pigmented cells released NT, and this release was enhanced by agents that induced its biosynthesis. In contrast, nonpigmented cells exhibited a significantly reduced neurotensin secretion in response to inducers, leading to an accumulation of the peptide. PC1 and PC2 mRNA expression was induced in a cell-specific manner by the same agents that enhanced pro-NT/NN biosynthesis. These results demonstrate cell-specific processing of pro-NT/NN by the ciliary epithelium. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.

  1. Msx1-Positive Progenitors in the Retinal Ciliary Margin Give Rise to Both Neural and Non-neural Progenies in Mammals.

    PubMed

    Bélanger, Marie-Claude; Robert, Benoit; Cayouette, Michel

    2017-01-23

    In lower vertebrates, stem/progenitor cells located in a peripheral domain of the retina, called the ciliary margin zone (CMZ), cooperate with retinal domain progenitors to build the mature neural retina. In mammals, it is believed that the CMZ lacks neurogenic potential and that the retina develops from one pool of multipotent retinal progenitor cells (RPCs). Here we identify a population of Msx1-expressing progenitors in the mouse CMZ that is both molecularly and functionally distinct from RPCs. Using genetic lineage tracing, we report that Msx1 progenitors have unique developmental properties compared with RPCs. Msx1 lineages contain both neural retina and non-neural ciliary epithelial progenies and overall generate fewer photoreceptors than classical RPC lineages. Furthermore, we show that the endocytic adaptor protein Numb regulates the balance between neural and non-neural fates in Msx1 progenitors. These results uncover a population of CMZ progenitors, distinct from classical RPCs, that also contributes to mammalian retinogenesis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Primary ciliary dyskinesia.

    PubMed

    Lobo, L J; Zariwala, M A; Noone, P G

    2014-09-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of cilia structure and function, leading to chronic infections of the respiratory tract, fertility problems and disorders of organ laterality. Making a definitive diagnosis is challenging, utilizing characteristic phenotypes, ciliary functional and ultra-structural defects in addition to newer screening tools such as nasal nitric oxide and genetic testing. There are 21 known PCD causing genes and in the future, comprehensive genetic testing may help diagnosis young infants prior to developing symptoms thus improving survival. Therapy includes surveillance of pulmonary function and microbiology in addition to, airway clearance, antibiotics and early referral to bronchiectasis centers. Standardized care at specialized centers using a multidisciplinary approach is likely to improve outcomes. In conjunction with the PCD foundation and lead investigators and clinicians are developing a network of PCD clinical centers to coordinate the effort in North America and Europe. As the network grows, care and knowledge will undoubtedly improve. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Physicians. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  3. Long-term Results of the UCSF-LBNL Randomized Trial: Charged Particle With Helium Ion Versus Iodine-125 Plaque Therapy for Choroidal and Ciliary Body Melanoma

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mishra, Kavita K., E-mail: Kavita.mishra@ucsf.edu; Quivey, Jeanne M.; Daftari, Inder K.

    Purpose: Relevant clinical data are needed given the increasing national interest in charged particle radiation therapy (CPT) programs. Here we report long-term outcomes from the only randomized, stratified trial comparing CPT with iodine-125 plaque therapy for choroidal and ciliary body melanoma. Methods and Materials: From 1985 to 1991, 184 patients met eligibility criteria and were randomized to receive particle (86 patients) or plaque therapy (98 patients). Patients were stratified by tumor diameter, thickness, distance to disc/fovea, anterior extension, and visual acuity. Tumors close to the optic disc were included. Local tumor control, as well as eye preservation, metastases due tomore » melanoma, and survival were evaluated. Results: Median follow-up times for particle and plaque arm patients were 14.6 years and 12.3 years, respectively (P=.22), and for those alive at last follow-up, 18.5 and 16.5 years, respectively (P=.81). Local control (LC) for particle versus plaque treatment was 100% versus 84% at 5 years, and 98% versus 79% at 12 years, respectively (log rank: P=.0006). If patients with tumors close to the disc (<2 mm) were excluded, CPT still resulted in significantly improved LC: 100% versus 90% at 5 years and 98% versus 86% at 12 years, respectively (log rank: P=.048). Enucleation rate was lower after CPT: 11% versus 22% at 5 years and 17% versus 37% at 12 years, respectively (log rank: P=.01). Using Cox regression model, likelihood ratio test, treatment was the most important predictor of LC (P=.0002) and eye preservation (P=.01). CPT was a significant predictor of prolonged disease-free survival (log rank: P=.001). Conclusions: Particle therapy resulted in significantly improved local control, eye preservation, and disease-free survival as confirmed by long-term outcomes from the only randomized study available to date comparing radiation modalities in choroidal and ciliary body melanoma.« less

  4. Adie's syndrome: some new observations.

    PubMed Central

    Thompson, H S

    1977-01-01

    Adie's syndrome is a disease of unknown etiology. We known where the damage is, and which nerves are involved. We even know something of how the nerves react after the damage is done, but we don't known what causes the primary injury. The first step in working a jigsaw puzzle is to getall of the pieces right side up and take a good look at them. Some of the jigsaw pieces handled in this paper are listed below. Some of them are new observations; many of them are old concepts, partly modified and partly made secure by new facts. 1. Not all "tonic pupils" are due to "Adie's syndrome"; some are due to local injury and some to a generalized peripheral neuropathy (Table II). 2. All patients should have serologic tests for shyphilis. In this series one in six had positive serology. 3. The incidence of Adie's syndrome in Iowa in the early 1970's was approximately 4.7 per 100,000 population per year. 4. The prevalence of Adie's syndrome, therefore, was approximately 2 per 1000. 5. The mean age of onset of Adie's syndrome was about 32.2 years (Figure 1A). 6. The sex ratio was 2.6 females to each male. 7. Right eyes and left eyes were involved at approximately the same rate (Figure 2). 8. The incidence of second eye involvement in unilateral cases was about 4% per year during the first decade of the disease (Figure 18). 9. If this rate of second eye involvement (4% per year) persists during subsequent decades, then most Adie's pupils will eventually become bilateral. 10. The incidence of Adie's syndrome in a largely caucasian patient group is independent of iris color (Figure 4). 11. Only 10% of patients with Adie's syndrome had completely normal muscle stretch reflexes. 12. The muscle stretch reflexes in the arms were just as frequently imparied as those in th elegs, but the degree of impariment tended to be more severe in the ankles and triceps. 13. When there was any light reaction remaining in an Adie's pupil, a segmental paralysis of the sphincter muscle could be seen. 14. The near reaction of the pupil was often segmental and frequently involved segments which did not respond to light. 15. The segmental paralysis to light was randomly distributed around the sphincter (Figure 6B). 16. There was some tendency for the sphincter palsy to gradually become worse. This progression was also random (Figure 8). 17. Almost all patients with Adie's syndrome had an accommodative paresis at the time of onset. 18. Reading glasses given to a patient with a fresh Adie's pupil were soon discarded as accommodation recovered (Figure 9). 19. Accomodative effort induced an astigmatism in about half of the eyes with Adie's--presumably the result of a segmental palsy of the ciliary muscle. 20. Tonicity of accommodation was present in about 1/2 of the eyes with Adie's, making it difficut for the patient to maintain a steady level of ciliary muscle tone. 21. An occasional patient complained of brow ache from ciliary spasm with near work. 22. In most patients with Adie's syndrome the ciliary muscle was supersensitive to pilocarpine 0... PMID:613531

  5. Adie's syndrome: some new observations.

    PubMed

    Thompson, H S

    1977-01-01

    Adie's syndrome is a disease of unknown etiology. We known where the damage is, and which nerves are involved. We even know something of how the nerves react after the damage is done, but we don't known what causes the primary injury. The first step in working a jigsaw puzzle is to getall of the pieces right side up and take a good look at them. Some of the jigsaw pieces handled in this paper are listed below. Some of them are new observations; many of them are old concepts, partly modified and partly made secure by new facts. 1. Not all "tonic pupils" are due to "Adie's syndrome"; some are due to local injury and some to a generalized peripheral neuropathy (Table II). 2. All patients should have serologic tests for shyphilis. In this series one in six had positive serology. 3. The incidence of Adie's syndrome in Iowa in the early 1970's was approximately 4.7 per 100,000 population per year. 4. The prevalence of Adie's syndrome, therefore, was approximately 2 per 1000. 5. The mean age of onset of Adie's syndrome was about 32.2 years (Figure 1A). 6. The sex ratio was 2.6 females to each male. 7. Right eyes and left eyes were involved at approximately the same rate (Figure 2). 8. The incidence of second eye involvement in unilateral cases was about 4% per year during the first decade of the disease (Figure 18). 9. If this rate of second eye involvement (4% per year) persists during subsequent decades, then most Adie's pupils will eventually become bilateral. 10. The incidence of Adie's syndrome in a largely caucasian patient group is independent of iris color (Figure 4). 11. Only 10% of patients with Adie's syndrome had completely normal muscle stretch reflexes. 12. The muscle stretch reflexes in the arms were just as frequently imparied as those in th elegs, but the degree of impariment tended to be more severe in the ankles and triceps. 13. When there was any light reaction remaining in an Adie's pupil, a segmental paralysis of the sphincter muscle could be seen. 14. The near reaction of the pupil was often segmental and frequently involved segments which did not respond to light. 15. The segmental paralysis to light was randomly distributed around the sphincter (Figure 6B). 16. There was some tendency for the sphincter palsy to gradually become worse. This progression was also random (Figure 8). 17. Almost all patients with Adie's syndrome had an accommodative paresis at the time of onset. 18. Reading glasses given to a patient with a fresh Adie's pupil were soon discarded as accommodation recovered (Figure 9). 19. Accomodative effort induced an astigmatism in about half of the eyes with Adie's--presumably the result of a segmental palsy of the ciliary muscle. 20. Tonicity of accommodation was present in about 1/2 of the eyes with Adie's, making it difficut for the patient to maintain a steady level of ciliary muscle tone. 21. An occasional patient complained of brow ache from ciliary spasm with near work. 22. In most patients with Adie's syndrome the ciliary muscle was supersensitive to pilocarpine 0...

  6. [Spasm of accommodation].

    PubMed

    Lindberg, Laura

    2014-01-01

    Spasm of accommodation refers to prolonged contraction of the ciliary muscle, most commonly causing pseudomyopia to varying degrees in both eyes by keeping the lens in a state of short sightedness. It may also be manifested as inability to allow the adaptation spasticity prevailing in the ciliary muscle relax without measurable myopia. As a rule, this is a functional ailment triggered by prolonged near work and stress. The most common symptoms include blurring of distance vision, varying visual acuity as well as pains in the orbital region and the head, progressing into a chronic state. Cycloplegic eye drops are used as the treatment.

  7. Pyriculins A and B, two monosubstituted hex-4-ene-2,3-diols and other phytotoxic metabolites produced by Pyricularia grisea isolated from buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris)

    Treesearch

    Marco Masi; Susan Meyer; Marcin Gorecki; Alessandro Mandoli; Lorenzo Di Bari; Gennaro Pescitelli; Alessio Cimmino; Massimo Cristofaro; Suzette Clement; Antonio Evidente

    2017-01-01

    Pyricularia grisea has been identified as a foliar pathogen on buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) in North America and was studied as a potential source of phytotoxins for buffelgrass control. Two monosubstituted hex‐4‐ene‐2,3‐diols, named pyriculins A and B, were isolated from its culture filtrate organic extract together with (10S,11S)‐(−)‐epipyriculol, trans‐3...

  8. Evaluation of protective and therapeutic effects of dexpanthenol on nasal decongestants and preservatives: results of cytotoxic studies in vitro.

    PubMed

    Klöcker, Norbert; Rudolph, Peter; Verse, Thomas

    2004-01-01

    More than 600 million units of nasal decongestants are sold worldwide annually. The cytotoxic and ciliary toxic potential of decongestants, as well as the preservatives of these products, in particular benzalkonium chloride (BKC), is well established. Recently, a beneficial effect of dexpanthenol on the tolerability of the alpha-sympathomimetic xylometazoline and BKC has been described; however, it was unclear if this effect, resulting in significantly higher cell counts in a cytotoxicity study and an increase in ciliary beat frequency in a ciliary toxicity study was of protective or therapeutic nature. The objective of this study was (a) to evaluate whether dexpanthenol would be a useful additive to nasal decongestants to counter the cytotoxic and ciliary toxic effects of the active ingredient and the preservative and (b) to find out whether this beneficial effect is of protective or therapeutic nature. Systematic cytotoxic in vitro tests were performed. After exposure to xylometazoline (0.1%), the effect of dexpanthenol (5%) and BKC (0.01%) was determined by placebo-controlled assessment of cell growth in a human amniotic cell line. Dexpanthenol significantly reduces the toxic effects of xylometazoline regarding cell growth (p < 0.001) when applied in advance. When BKC is eliminated from the nasal sprays, a further significant increase of cell growth was found (p < 0.001). When dexpanthenol is therapeutically applied after xylometazoline, effects on cell growth are only one-half of those of the protective approach. The additive application of dexpanthenol (5%) given before nasal decongestants or preserved nasal sprays is able to improve the tolerability of these substances and to counteract the toxic effects.

  9. Long-term clearance from small airways in subjects with ciliary dysfunction.

    PubMed

    Lindström, Maria; Falk, Rolf; Hjelte, Lena; Philipson, Klas; Svartengren, Magnus

    2006-05-20

    The objective of this study was to investigate if long-term clearance from small airways is dependent on normal ciliary function. Six young adults with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) inhaled 111 Indium labelled Teflon particles of 4.2 microm geometric and 6.2 microm aerodynamic diameter with an extremely slow inhalation flow, 0.05 L/s. The inhalation method deposits particles mainly in the small conducting airways. Lung retention was measured immediately after inhalation and at four occasions up to 21 days after inhalation. Results were compared with data from ten healthy controls. For additional comparison three of the PCD subjects also inhaled the test particles with normal inhalation flow, 0.5 L/s, providing a more central deposition. The lung retention at 24 h in % of lung deposition (Ret24) was higher (p < 0.001) in the PCD subjects, 79 % (95% Confidence Interval, 67.6;90.6), compared to 49% (42.3;55.5) in the healthy controls. There was a significant clearance after 24 h both in the PCD subjects and in the healthy controls with equivalent clearance. The mean Ret24 with slow inhalation flow was 73.9 +/- 1.9% compared to 68.9 +/- 7.5% with normal inhalation flow in the three PCD subjects exposed twice. During day 7-21 the three PCD subjects exposed twice cleared 9% with normal flow, probably representing predominantly alveolar clearance, compared to 19% with slow inhalation flow, probably representing mainly small airway clearance. This study shows that despite ciliary dysfunction, clearance continues in the small airways beyond 24 h. There are apparently additional clearance mechanisms present in the small airways.

  10. Selection and validation of reference genes for gene expression analysis in apomictic and sexual Cenchrus ciliaris

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Apomixis is a naturally occurring asexual mode of seed reproduction resulting in offspring genetically identical to the maternal plant. Identifying differential gene expression patterns between apomictic and sexual plants is valuable to help deconstruct the trait. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) is a popular method for analyzing gene expression. Normalizing gene expression data using proper reference genes which show stable expression under investigated conditions is critical in qRT-PCR analysis. We used qRT-PCR to validate expression and stability of six potential reference genes (EF1alpha, EIF4A, UBCE, GAPDH, ACT2 and TUBA) in vegetative and reproductive tissues of B-2S and B-12-9 accessions of C. ciliaris. Findings Among tissue types evaluated, EF1alpha showed the highest level of expression while TUBA showed the lowest. When all tissue types were evaluated and compared between genotypes, EIF4A was the most stable reference gene. Gene expression stability for specific ovary stages of B-2S and B-12-9 was also determined. Except for TUBA, all other tested reference genes could be used for any stage-specific ovary tissue normalization, irrespective of the mode of reproduction. Conclusion Our gene expression stability assay using six reference genes, in sexual and apomictic accessions of C. ciliaris, suggests that EIF4A is the most stable gene across all tissue types analyzed. All other tested reference genes, with the exception of TUBA, could be used for gene expression comparison studies between sexual and apomictic ovaries over multiple developmental stages. This reference gene validation data in C. ciliaris will serve as an important base for future apomixis-related transcriptome data validation. PMID:24083672

  11. Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation with tube insertion through the ciliary sulcus in pseudophakic/aphakic eyes.

    PubMed

    Eslami, Yadolla; Mohammadi, Massood; Fakhraie, Ghasem; Zarei, Reza; Moghimi, Sasan

    2014-02-01

    To report the efficacy and safety of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) insertion into the ciliary sulcus in pseudophakic/aphakic patients. A chart review was done on patients with uncontrolled glaucoma, who underwent AGV implantation with tube inserted into the ciliary sulcus. Baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) and number of medications were compared with that of postoperative follow-up visits. Surgical success was defined as last IOP <21 mm Hg and 20% reduction in IOP, without further surgery for complications or glaucoma control, and without loss of light perception. Postoperative complications were recorded. Twenty-three eyes of 23 patients were recruited with the mean follow-up of 9 months (range, 3 to 24 mo). The mean (SD) age of patients was 49.9 (16.9) years (range, 22 to 80 years). The mean (SD) IOP (mm Hg) was reduced from 37.9 (12.4) before surgery to 16.2 (3.6) at the last follow-up visit (P<0.001). The mean (SD) number of medications was reduced from 3.3 (0.9) preoperatively to 1 (1.1) at the last follow-up (P<0.001). Success rate was 18/23 (78.6%). Complications included endophthalmitis in 1 eye, tube exposure in 1 diabetic patient, and vitreous tube occlusion in 1 eye. No case of corneal decompensation or graft failure was seen during follow-up. Ciliary sulcus placement of the tube of AGV effectively reduces IOP and medication use in short term. It has the potential to lower corneal complications of anterior chamber tube insertion and avoids the need for pars plana vitrectomy and tube insertion in patients at higher risk of corneal decompensation.

  12. Clinical Efficacy of Ciliary Ring Incision Combined with Modified Partial Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Malignant Glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Yu, Jianchun; Chen, Xing; Zhou, Danying; Shen, Jian; Wu, Yanbing; Sun, Qingzhu

    2018-06-10

    BACKGROUND Currently, safe and effective surgical treatment of malignant glaucoma is still under investigation. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of ciliary ring incision combined with modified partial pars plana vitrectomy in the treatment of malignant glaucoma. The technique is particularly useful in the treatment of "phakic" patients with malignant glaucoma, especially those who wish to preserve the natural lens. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 13 cases (16 eyes) of malignant glaucoma in which patients underwent ciliary ring incision combined with modified partial pars plana vitrectomy based on follow-up data collected from May 2004 to March 2017. The data we analyzed included postoperative best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), anterior chamber depth (ACD), optic cup changes, and surgical complications; some patients underwent visual field tracking. The mean follow-up period was 33.1±10.6 (range, 19-46) months. RESULTS A statistically significant number of eyes had improved visual acuity 1 year after surgery compared with the preoperative difference (Z=-3.853, P=0.000). Increases in the mean anterior chamber depth and decreases in the mean IOP measured at the 1-week and the 1-year follow-ups were also statistically significant. There were no serious complications during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Ciliary ring incision combined with modified partial pars plana vitrectomy for malignant glaucoma not only provided a clear and reliable intraoperative vitrectomy channel, but it also caused less disturbance of intraocular tissue structure and fewer complications. It also has the advantage of preserving the lens and avoiding further damage to the anatomy in the anterior segment of the eye.

  13. SURGICAL INTERVENTION AND ACCOMMODATIVE RESPONSES: I. CENTRIPETAL CILIARY BODY, CAPSULE AND LENS MOVEMENT IN RHESUS MONKEYS OF VARYING AGE

    PubMed Central

    Croft, Mary Ann; Mcdonald, Jared P.; James, Rebecca J.; Heatley, Gregg A.; Lin, Ting-Li; Lütjen-Drecoll, Elke; Kaufman, Paul L.

    2009-01-01

    Purpose To determine how surgically altering the normal relationship between the lens and the ciliary body in rhesus monkeys affects centripetal ciliary body and lens movement. Methods In 18 rhesus monkey eyes (aged 6–27 years), accommodation was induced before and after surgery by electrical stimulation of the Edinger-Westphal (E–W) nucleus. Accommodative amplitude was measured by coincidence refractometry. Goniovideography was performed before and after intra- and extra-capsular lens extraction (ICLE, ECLE) and anterior regional zonulolysis. Centripetal lens/capsule movements, centripetal ciliary process (CP) movements, and circumlental space were measured by computerized image analysis of the goniovideography images. Results Centripetal accommodative CP and capsule movement increased in velocity and amplitude post-ECLE compared to pre-ECLE regardless of age (n=5). The presence of the lens substance retarded capsule movement by ~21% in the young eyes and by ~62% in the older eyes. Post-ICLE compared to pre-ICLE centripetal accommodative CP movement was dampened in all eyes in which the anterior vitreous was disturbed (n=7), but not in eyes in which the anterior vitreous was left intact (n=2). Following anterior regional zonulolysis (n=4), lens position shifted toward the lysed quadrant during accommodation. Conclusions The presence of the lens substance, capsule zonular attachments, and Wiegers ligament may play a role in centripetal CP movement. The capsule is still capable of centripetal movement in the older eye (although at a reduced capacity) and may have the ability to produce ~6 diopters of accommodation in the presence of a normal young crystalline lens or a similar surrogate. PMID:18552393

  14. The disposal of a lime water treatment residue on soil and spoil material from a coalmine: a glasshouse investigation.

    PubMed

    Titshall, L W; Hughes, J C; Morris, C D; Zacharias, P J K

    2007-01-01

    Eragrostis tef (Zucc.), Cenchrus ciliaris L., and Digitaria eriantha Steud. were grown in a soil (Psammentic Haplustalf) and spoil material from a coalmine both treated with a lime water treatment residue (WTR) at rates of 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 g kg(-1). The yield of the grasses, from the sum of the three harvests, and concentrations of B, Ca, Cu, K, Fe, Mg, Mn, N, Na, P, and Zn in foliage from the second harvest were determined. The yield of grasses grown in the soil decreased exponentially as WTR application increased. The yields of C. ciliaris, D. eriantha, and E. tef (in the 400 g kg(-1) WTR treated soil) decreased by 74.4, 78.7, and 59.8%, respectively, when compared with the control treatments. In the spoil, the yield of E. tef and D. eriantha decreased by 13.6% and and D. eriantha by 23.9%, while an increase was observed for C. ciliaris (45.4%), at the highest WTR application rate. No relationship existed between yield of E. tef and WTR application rate when grown in the spoil, while a weak negative linear relationship (p < 0.05) was found for D. eriantha and a positive linear relationship existed for C. ciliaris. Magnesium concentrations of the grasses were positively correlated to WTR application rate. Grasses grown in the soil had higher Na concentrations, while those grown in the spoil typically had higher B, N, and Zn concentrations. The decreases in yield were attributed to nutrient deficiencies (notably Zn), induced by high WTR application rates that led to high substrate pH. Disposal of high rates of WTR on the mine materials was not recommended.

  15. Use of a Novel Cell Adhesion Method and Digital Measurement to Show Stimulus-dependent Variation in Somatic and Oral Ciliary Beat Frequency in Paramecium

    PubMed Central

    Bell, Wade E.; Hallworth, Richard; Wyatt, Todd A.; Sisson, Joseph H.

    2015-01-01

    When Paramecium encounters positive stimuli, the membrane hyperpolarizes and ciliary beat frequency increases. We adapted an established immobilization protocol using a biological adhesive and a novel digital analysis system to quantify beat frequency in immobilized Paramecium. Cells showed low mortality and demonstrated beat frequencies consistent with previous studies. Chemoattractant molecules, reduction in external potassium, and posterior stimulation all increased somatic beat frequency. In all cases, the oral groove cilia maintained a higher beat frequency than mid-body cilia, but only oral cilia from cells stimulated with chemoattactants showed an increase from basal levels. PMID:25066640

  16. Targeted Resequencing of 29 Candidate Genes and Mouse Expression Studies Implicate ZIC3 and FOXF1 in Human VATER/VACTERL Association.

    PubMed

    Hilger, Alina C; Halbritter, Jan; Pennimpede, Tracie; van der Ven, Amelie; Sarma, Georgia; Braun, Daniela A; Porath, Jonathan D; Kohl, Stefan; Hwang, Daw-Yang; Dworschak, Gabriel C; Hermann, Bernhard G; Pavlova, Anna; El-Maarri, Osman; Nöthen, Markus M; Ludwig, Michael; Reutter, Heiko; Hildebrandt, Friedhelm

    2015-12-01

    The VATER/VACTERL association describes the combination of congenital anomalies including vertebral defects, anorectal malformations, cardiac defects, tracheoesophageal fistula with or without esophageal atresia, renal malformations, and limb defects. As mutations in ciliary genes were observed in diseases related to VATER/VACTERL, we performed targeted resequencing of 25 ciliary candidate genes as well as disease-associated genes (FOXF1, HOXD13, PTEN, ZIC3) in 123 patients with VATER/VACTERL or VATER/VACTERL-like phenotype. We detected no biallelic mutation in any of the 25 ciliary candidate genes; however, identified an identical, probably disease-causing ZIC3 missense mutation (p.Gly17Cys) in four patients and a FOXF1 de novo mutation (p.Gly220Cys) in a further patient. In situ hybridization analyses in mouse embryos between E9.5 and E14.5 revealed Zic3 expression in limb and prevertebral structures, and Foxf1 expression in esophageal, tracheal, vertebral, anal, and genital tubercle tissues, hence VATER/VACTERL organ systems. These data provide strong evidence that mutations in ZIC3 or FOXF1 contribute to VATER/VACTERL. © 2015 WILEY PERIODICALS, INC.

  17. Cilia play a role in breaking left-right symmetry of the sea urchin embryo.

    PubMed

    Takemoto, Ayumi; Miyamoto, Tatsuo; Simono, Fumie; Kurogi, Nao; Shirae-Kurabayashi, Maki; Awazu, Akinori; Suzuki, Ken-Ichi T; Yamamoto, Takashi; Sakamoto, Naoaki

    2016-06-01

    Left-right asymmetry of bilaterian animals is established during early development. In mice, frogs and fishes, the ciliated left-right organizer plays an essential role in establishing bilateral asymmetry, and leftward flow of extracellular fluid generated by ciliary motion results in Nodal activity on the left side. However, H(+) /K(+) -ATPase activity is also involved in the determination of left-right asymmetry in a variety of animals, and it has been thought to be an ancestral mechanism in deuterostomes. In sea urchin, the determination of the left-right asymmetry based on H(+) /K(+) -ATPase activity was already clarified, but it remains to be uncovered whether ciliary motion is involved in the left-right asymmetry of the embryo. Here, we show evidence that ciliary motion is involved in the establishment of left-right asymmetry of sea urchin embryo. Furthermore, we show that the initial cilia generated on small micromeres during the early stage of embryogenesis may be involved in this process. These results suggest that the cilia-mediated mechanism for the determination of left-right asymmetry may be acquired at the base of the deuterostomes. © 2016 Molecular Biology Society of Japan and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

  18. Ciliary metachronal wave propagation on the compliant surface of Paramecium cells.

    PubMed

    Narematsu, Naoki; Quek, Raymond; Chiam, Keng-Hwee; Iwadate, Yoshiaki

    2015-12-01

    Ciliary movements in protozoa exhibit metachronal wave-like coordination, in which a constant phase difference is maintained between adjacent cilia. It is at present generally thought that metachronal waves require hydrodynamic coupling between adjacent cilia and the extracellular fluid. To test this hypothesis, we aspirated a Paramecium cell using a micropipette which completely sealed the surface of the cell such that no fluid could pass through the micropipette. Thus, the anterior and the posterior regions of the cell were hydrodynamically decoupled. Nevertheless, we still observed that metachronal waves continued to propagate from the anterior to the posterior ends of the cell, suggesting that in addition to hydrodynamic coupling, there are other mechanisms that can also transmit the metachronal waves. Such transmission was also observed in computational modeling where the fluid was fully decoupled between two partitions of a beating ciliary array. We also imposed cyclic stretching on the surface of live Paramecium cells and found that metachronal waves persisted in the presence of cyclic stretching. This demonstrated that, in addition to hydrodynamic coupling, a compliant substrate can also play a critical role in mediating the propagation of metachronal waves. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  19. Change in human lens dimensions, lens refractive index distribution and ciliary body ring diameter with accommodation

    PubMed Central

    Khan, Adnan; Pope, James M.; Verkicharla, Pavan K.; Suheimat, Marwan; Atchison, David A.

    2018-01-01

    We investigated changes in ciliary body ring diameter, lens dimensions and lens refractive index distributions with accommodation in young adults. A 3T clinical magnetic resonance imaging scanner imaged right eyes of 38 18-29 year old participants using a multiple spin echo sequence to determine accommodation-induced changes along lens axial and equatorial directions. Accommodation stimuli were approximately 1 D and 5 D. With accommodation, ciliary body ring diameter, and equatorial lens diameter decreased (–0.43 ± 0.31 mm and –0.30 ± 0.23 mm, respectively), and axial lens thickness increased ( + 0.34 ± 0.16 mm). Lens shape changes cause redistribution of the lens internal structure, leading to change in refractive index distribution profiles. With accommodation, in the axial direction refractive index profiles became flatter in the center and steeper near the periphery of the lens, while in the equatorial direction they became steeper in the center and flatter in the periphery. The results suggest that the anatomical accuracy of lens optical models can be improved by accounting for changes in the refractive index profile during accommodation. PMID:29541520

  20. Exome sequencing for the differential diagnosis of ciliary chondrodysplasias: Example of a WDR35 mutation case and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Antony, Dinu; Nampoory, Narayanan; Bacchelli, Chiara; Melhem, Motasem; Wu, Kaman; James, Chela T; Beales, Philip L; Hubank, Mike; Thomas, Daisy; Mashankar, Anant; Behbehani, Kazem; Schmidts, Miriam; Alsmadi, Osama

    2017-12-01

    Exome sequencing is becoming widely popular and affordable, making it one of the most desirable methods for the identification of rare genetic variants for clinical diagnosis. Here, we report the clinical application of whole exome sequencing for the ultimate diagnosis of a ciliary chondrodysplasia case presented with an initial clinical diagnosis of Asphyxiating Thoracic Dystrophy (ATD, Jeune Syndrome). We have identified a novel homozygous missense mutation in WDR35 (c.206G > A), a gene previously associated with Sensenbrenner Syndrome, Ellis-van Creveld syndrome and Short-rib polydactyly syndrome type V. The genetic findings in this family led to the re-evaluation of the initial diagnosis and a differential diagnosis of Sensenbrenner Syndrome was made after cautious re-examination of the patient. Cell culture studies revealed normal subcellular localization of the mutant WDR35 protein in comparison to wildtype protein, pointing towards impaired protein-protein interaction and/or altered cell signaling pathways as a consequence of the mutated allele. This research study highlights the importance of including pathogenic variant identification in the diagnosis pipeline of ciliary chondrodysplasias, especially for clinically not fully defined phenotypes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  1. hemingway is required for sperm flagella assembly and ciliary motility in Drosophila.

    PubMed

    Soulavie, Fabien; Piepenbrock, David; Thomas, Joëlle; Vieillard, Jennifer; Duteyrat, Jean-Luc; Cortier, Elisabeth; Laurençon, Anne; Göpfert, Martin C; Durand, Bénédicte

    2014-04-01

    Cilia play major functions in physiology and development, and ciliary dysfunctions are responsible for several diseases in humans called ciliopathies. Cilia motility is required for cell and fluid propulsion in organisms. In humans, cilia motility deficiencies lead to primary ciliary dyskinesia, with upper-airways recurrent infections, left-right asymmetry perturbations, and fertility defects. In Drosophila, we identified hemingway (hmw) as a novel component required for motile cilia function. hmw encodes a 604-amino acid protein characterized by a highly conserved coiled-coil domain also found in the human orthologue, KIAA1430. We show that HMW is conserved in species with motile cilia and that, in Drosophila, hmw is expressed in ciliated sensory neurons and spermatozoa. We created hmw-knockout flies and found that they are hearing impaired and male sterile. hmw is implicated in the motility of ciliated auditory sensory neurons and, in the testis, is required for elongation and maintenance of sperm flagella. Because HMW is absent from mature flagella, we propose that HMW is not a structural component of the motile axoneme but is required for proper acquisition of motile properties. This identifies HMW as a novel, evolutionarily conserved component necessary for motile cilium function and flagella assembly.

  2. Automatic analysis of ciliary beat frequency using optical flow

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Figl, Michael; Lechner, Manuel; Werther, Tobias; Horak, Fritz; Hummel, Johann; Birkfellner, Wolfgang

    2012-02-01

    Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) can be a useful parameter for diagnosis of several diseases, as e.g. primary ciliary dyskinesia. (PCD). CBF computation is usually done using manual evaluation of high speed video sequences, a tedious, observer dependent, and not very accurate procedure. We used the OpenCV's pyramidal implementation of the Lukas-Kanade algorithm for optical flow computation and applied this to certain objects to follow the movements. The objects were chosen by their contrast applying the corner detection by Shi and Tomasi. Discrimination between background/noise and cilia by a frequency histogram allowed to compute the CBF. Frequency analysis was done using the Fourier transform in matlab. The correct number of Fourier summands was found by the slope in an approximation curve. The method showed to be usable to distinguish between healthy and diseased samples. However there remain difficulties in automatically identifying the cilia, and also in finding enough high contrast cilia in the image. Furthermore the some of the higher contrast cilia are lost (and sometimes found) by the method, an easy way to distinguish the correct sub-path of a point's path have yet to be found in the case where the slope methods doesn't work.

  3. Genotypic variation in response to salinity in a new sexual germplasm of Cenchrus ciliaris L.

    PubMed

    Quiroga, Mariana; Tommasino, Exequiel; Griffa, Sabrina; Ribotta, Andrea; Colomba, Eliana López; Carloni, Edgardo; Grunberg, Karina

    2016-05-01

    As part of a breeding program for new salt-tolerant sexual genotypes of Cenchrus ciliaris L., here we evaluated the salt-stress response of two new sexual hybrids, obtained by controlled crosses, at seedling and germination stages. A seedling hydroponic experiment with 300 mM NaCl was performed and physiological variables and growth components were evaluated. While salt-treated sexual material did not show a decrease in productivity with respect to control plants, a differential response in some physiological characteristics was observed. Sexual hybrid 1-9-1 did not suffer oxidative damage and its proline content did not differ from that of control treatment. By contrast, sexual hybrid 1-7-11 suffered oxidative damage and accumulated proline, maintaining its growth under saline stress. At the germination stage, sexual hybrid 1-9-1 presented the highest Germination Rate Index at the maximum NaCl concentration assayed, suggesting an ecological advantage in this genotype. These new sexual resources are promising maternal parental with differential response to salt and could be incorporated in a breeding program of C. ciliaris in the search of new genotypes tolerant to salinity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  4. Two Heteromeric Kinesin Complexes in Chemosensory Neurons and Sensory Cilia of Caenorhabditis elegans

    PubMed Central

    Signor, Dawn; Wedaman, Karen P.; Rose, Lesilee S.; Scholey, Jonathan M.

    1999-01-01

    Chemosensation in the nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans depends on sensory cilia, whose assembly and maintenance requires the transport of components such as axonemal proteins and signal transduction machinery to their site of incorporation into ciliary structures. Members of the heteromeric kinesin family of microtubule motors are prime candidates for playing key roles in these transport events. Here we describe the molecular characterization and partial purification of two heteromeric kinesin complexes from C. elegans, heterotrimeric CeKinesin-II and dimeric CeOsm-3. Transgenic worms expressing green fluorescent protein driven by endogenous heteromeric kinesin promoters reveal that both CeKinesin-II and CeOsm-3 are expressed in amphid, inner labial, and phasmid chemosensory neurons. Additionally, immunolocalization experiments on fixed worms show an intense concentration of CeKinesin-II and CeOsm-3 polypeptides in the ciliated endings of these chemosensory neurons and a punctate localization pattern in the corresponding cell bodies and dendrites. These results, together with the phenotypes of known mutants in the pathway of sensory ciliary assembly, suggest that CeKinesin-II and CeOsm-3 drive the transport of ciliary components required for sequential steps in the assembly of chemosensory cilia. PMID:9950681

  5. Epithelial Cell Culture from Human Adenoids: A Functional Study Model for Ciliated and Secretory Cells

    PubMed Central

    González, Claudia; Espinosa, Marisol; Sánchez, María Trinidad; Droguett, Karla; Ríos, Mariana; Fonseca, Ximena; Villalón, Manuel

    2013-01-01

    Background. Mucociliary transport (MCT) is a defense mechanism of the airway. To study the underlying mechanisms of MCT, we have both developed an experimental model of cultures, from human adenoid tissue of ciliated and secretory cells, and characterized the response to local chemical signals that control ciliary activity and the secretion of respiratory mucins in vitro. Materials and Methods. In ciliated cell cultures, ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and intracellular Ca2+ levels were measured in response to ATP, UTP, and adenosine. In secretory cultures, mucin synthesis and secretion were identified by using immunodetection. Mucin content was taken from conditioned medium and analyzed in the presence or absence of UTP. Results. Enriched ciliated cell monolayers and secretory cells were obtained. Ciliated cells showed a basal CBF of 10.7 Hz that increased significantly after exposure to ATP, UTP, or adenosine. Mature secretory cells showed active secretion of granules containing different glycoproteins, including MUC5AC. Conclusion. Culture of ciliated and secretory cells grown from adenoid epithelium is a reproducible and feasible experimental model, in which it is possible to observe ciliary and secretory activities, with a potential use as a model to understand mucociliary transport control mechanisms. PMID:23484122

  6. Spontaneous Findings in the Eyes of Cynomolgus Monkeys ( Macaca fascicularis) of Mauritian Origin.

    PubMed

    Woicke, Jochen; Haile, Solomon; Mysore, Jagannatha; Peden, W Michael; Lejeune, Typhaine; Sanderson, Thomas; Brodie, Thomas

    2018-04-01

    Spontaneous findings noted in the eyes of Mauritian cynomolgus monkeys are described and descriptions are supplemented with illustrations. Findings observed after extensive histopathologic examinations (20 to 44 sections per eye) from 20 control, 17 treatment-naive stock monkeys, and 2 findings noted in drug-treated monkeys that were considered to be spontaneous are included. Also included are findings from 361 control monkeys of routine toxicity studies performed at our laboratories, for most of which a standard histopathological examination of 1 section per eye was conducted. Common observations in monkeys examined extensively and in historical controls were limited to lymphocytic or mononuclear cell infiltrations of the uvea and/or conjunctiva/sclera and, less commonly observed, melanocytoma of the ciliary body or iris. Findings noted only in monkeys examined extensively consisted of inflammation of the conjunctiva, ora serrata cysts, glial nodules, focal degeneration of the retina, cystoid degeneration of the central retina, ballooning degeneration of the ciliary epithelium, cyst of the ciliary body, and decreased pigmentation of the retinal pigment epithelium. Changes recorded only in historical controls included retinal atrophy and nuclear displacement in the retina. Lesions are discussed and compared with pertinent literature.

  7. Eye lesions in pet birds.

    PubMed

    Tsai, S S; Park, J H; Hirai, K; Itakura, C

    1993-03-01

    Amongst eye lesions in birds that died in quarantine, cataracts were the most common disorders (37/241, 15.4%), being prevalent in the annular pads of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva aestiva) and budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). The incidence in male birds was more than twice that in females. Deposition of crystals, mostly in the cornea, was the second most frequent lesion (21/293, 8.7%), mainly found in cockatiels, parakeets (Psittacula krameri manillensis), Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva aestiva), budgerigars and finches (Poephila gouldiae gouldiae). These corneal crystals were negative to PAS and Kossa's stains. Six parakeets (Psittacula krameri manillensis) had calcium salts deposited in the inner plexiform layer of the retina and occasionally in the iris and ciliary body. Neither inflammation nor neo-vascularization was observed when cataracts, corneal crystalline deposition, and retinal and ciliary calcification were present. Intranuclear inclusion bodies typical for papovavirus infection were found in the eyelids of six budgerigars (2.5%). Similar inclusions were simultaneously found in the pars ciliaris retinae (4, 1.7%), inner plexiform of retina (1, 0.4%) and anterior epithelium of the cornea (1, 0.4%). Other lesions such as candidial endophthalmitis, conjunctival cryptosporidiosis, corneal dystrophy, keratitis, corneal perforation and iridocyclitis, were occasional findings.

  8. Existence of multiple receptors in single neurons: responses of single bullfrog olfactory neurons to many cAMP-dependent and independent odorants.

    PubMed

    Kashiwayanagi, M; Shimano, K; Kurihara, K

    1996-11-04

    The responses of single bullfrog olfactory neurons to various odorants were measured with the whole-cell patch clamp which offers direct information on cellular events and with the ciliary recording technique to obtain stable quantitative data from many neurons. A large portion of single olfactory neurons (about 64% and 79% in the whole-cell recording and in the ciliary recording, respectively) responded to many odorants with quite diverse molecular structures, including both odorants previously indicated to be cAMP-dependent (increasing) and independent odorants. One odorant elicited a response in many cells; e.g. hedione and citralva elicited the response in 100% and 92% of total neurons examined with the ciliary recording technique. To confirm that a single neuron carries different receptors or transduction pathways, the cross-adaptation technique was applied to single neurons. Application of hedione to a single neuron after desensitization of the current in response to lyral or citralva induced an inward current with a similar magnitude to that applied alone. It was suggested that most single olfactory neurons carry multiple receptors and at least dual transduction pathways.

  9. Diode laser cyclophotocoagulation: histopathology in two cases of clinical failure.

    PubMed

    Walland, M J; McKelvie, P A

    1998-10-01

    Diode laser photocoagulation is an alternative technique to Nd:YAG laser or cryotherapy in cycloablation. It may be more titratable with fewer local side effects. The effect is not, however, always maintained in the long term. The authors wished to establish histologic correlates with in vivo clinical outcomes of failure. Histologic findings in two cases of clinical failure of a single treatment with contact diode laser cyclophotocoagulation are presented. A recurrence of uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) finally led to enucleation of the eyes 5 and 6 months after laser treatment. Histologic examination demonstrated preservation in both specimens of some ciliary processes outside the treatment zone, which was evidently over the pars plana in a case with a relatively low axial length. Persisting damage of treated ciliary processes was seen. Some efforts at ciliary epithelial regeneration were made in these, but in a disorganized and presumably nonfunctional fashion, so that a histologic explanation for the gradual postoperative rise in IOP was not evident. Diode laser cyclophotocoagulation may lower IOP by mechanisms other than destruction of ciliary epithelium. Reversal of a laser-induced increase in uveoscleral outflow may explain the gradual rise in IOP seen postoperatively in these two cases, given the ineffectual secretory epithelial regeneration in one case and the treatment over the pars plana in the other. Methods to enhance probe placement, such as ultrasound biomicroscopy, transillumination, or axial length measurement, may be useful to ensure that treatment is directed to the pars plicata. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers 1998;29:852-856.] Cyclodestructive procedures have been likened to "duck hunting in the dark (without radar) since the 'shooter' sees neither the target nor the effect of the blast!" Although the use of Nd:YAG and semiconductor diode laser cyclophotocoagulation instead of cyclocryotherapy has progressively refined the caliber of the weapon and its titratability, aim in the placement of the destruction remains inexact. The assumption has generally been, however, that treatment must be directed to ablation of the ciliary epithelium to achieve a hypotensive effect. We present the histopathology from two cases of contact diode laser cyclophotocoagulation (DLCPC), both of which resulted in initially successful intraocular pressure (IOP) control, but which finally required enucleation for problems supervening on a recurrently raised IOP.

  10. Prostaglandin F2 alpha and its analogs induce release of endogenous prostaglandins in iris and ciliary muscles isolated from cat and other mammalian species.

    PubMed

    Yousufzai, S Y; Ye, Z; Abdel-Latif, A A

    1996-09-01

    Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF 2 alpha) and its analog latanoprost are effective in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in both animal and human subjects. There is mounting experimental evidence now which indicates that the IOP-lowering effect of these PGs occurs through an increased uveoscleral outflow of aqueous humor. The ciliary muscle constitutes the main resistance in this pathway. Work from several laboratories, including our own, has shown that in this smooth muscle PGF 2 alpha has little effect on cAMP accumulation or on Ca2+ mobilization. In the present study, we hypothesized that some of the effects of PGF2 alpha and its analogs may be mediated through the release of endogenous PGs. The purpose of this work was to determine whether or not PGF2 alpha and its analogs can enhance the release of endogenous PGs in iris and ciliary muscles isolated from different species. This report documents for the first time that exogenous PGF2 alpha and its analogs, PhXA85 and latanoprost, stimulate the formation of PGE2, PGD2 and PGF2 alpha in iris and ciliary muscles isolated from cat, bovine, rabbit, dog, rhesus monkey and human. PG-induced PG release was demonstrated by means of both radioimmunoassay and radiochromatography. Kinetic studies on cat iris revealed that PGF2 alpha-induced PGE2 release is time (t 1/2 = 1.7 min) and dose-dependent (EC50 = 45 nM). The increase in PGE2 release was blocked by indomethacin (Indo) and by dexamethasone in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 s of 9.2 nM and 2.6 microM, respectively. Furthermore, dexamethasone inhibited arachidonic acid (AA) release, suggesting the involvement of phospholipase A2 in PGF2 alpha-induced PG release. The data presented demonstrate that PGF2 alpha and its analogs interact with the PG receptor to stimulate phospholipase A2 and release AA for PG synthesis. Relaxation of ciliary muscle by PGF2 alpha and its analogs, via release of endogenous PGE2, a potent activator of the adenylate cyclase system, could in part explain how these PGs may increase uveoscleral outflow and consequently lower IOP.

  11. [Computer tomography in the diagnosis of persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous body].

    PubMed

    Prokes, B; Rehůrek, J

    1989-10-01

    The authors described and evaluated clinical and CT pictures of five children with persistence of hyperplastic primary vitreous body originating due to regression of embryonal hyaloid vascular system. It becomes clinically manifest especially in leucocoria, reduced globe of the eye, prolonged ciliary processi and the formation of fibrovascular changes behind the lens. CT picture is characterized by a) increased density of vitreous body, b) dense stripes going in retrolental direction and in the course of the Cloquet canal, c) microphthalmus, d) absence of calcifications and e) facultative changes on the lens and anterior chamber. These signs represent an important criterium for differentiating persistence of hyperplastic primary vitreous body from retinoblastoma.

  12. Ciliary contact interactions dominate surface scattering of swimming eukaryotes

    PubMed Central

    Kantsler, Vasily; Dunkel, Jörn; Polin, Marco; Goldstein, Raymond E.

    2013-01-01

    Interactions between swimming cells and surfaces are essential to many microbiological processes, from bacterial biofilm formation to human fertilization. However, despite their fundamental importance, relatively little is known about the physical mechanisms that govern the scattering of flagellated or ciliated cells from solid surfaces. A more detailed understanding of these interactions promises not only new biological insights into structure and dynamics of flagella and cilia but may also lead to new microfluidic techniques for controlling cell motility and microbial locomotion, with potential applications ranging from diagnostic tools to therapeutic protein synthesis and photosynthetic biofuel production. Due to fundamental differences in physiology and swimming strategies, it is an open question of whether microfluidic transport and rectification schemes that have recently been demonstrated for pusher-type microswimmers such as bacteria and sperm cells, can be transferred to puller-type algae and other motile eukaryotes, because it is not known whether long-range hydrodynamic or short-range mechanical forces dominate the surface interactions of these microorganisms. Here, using high-speed microscopic imaging, we present direct experimental evidence that the surface scattering of both mammalian sperm cells and unicellular green algae is primarily governed by direct ciliary contact interactions. Building on this insight, we predict and experimentally verify the existence of optimal microfluidic ratchets that maximize rectification of initially uniform Chlamydomonas reinhardtii suspensions. Because mechano-elastic properties of cilia are conserved across eukaryotic species, we expect that our results apply to a wide range of swimming microorganisms. PMID:23297240

  13. Joubert syndrome: genotyping a Northern European patient cohort.

    PubMed

    Kroes, Hester Y; Monroe, Glen R; van der Zwaag, Bert; Duran, Karen J; de Kovel, Carolien G; van Roosmalen, Mark J; Harakalova, Magdalena; Nijman, Ies J; Kloosterman, Wigard P; Giles, Rachel H; Knoers, Nine V A M; van Haaften, Gijs

    2016-02-01

    Joubert syndrome (JBS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder belonging to the group of ciliary diseases. JBS is genetically heterogeneous, with >20 causative genes identified to date. A molecular diagnosis of JBS is essential for prediction of disease progression and genetic counseling. We developed a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach for parallel sequencing of 22 known JBS genes plus 599 additional ciliary genes. This method was used to genotype a cohort of 51 well-phenotyped Northern European JBS cases (in some of the cases, Sanger sequencing of individual JBS genes had been performed previously). Altogether, 21 of the 51 cases (41%) harbored biallelic pathogenic mutations in known JBS genes, including 14 mutations not previously described. Mutations in C5orf42 (12%), TMEM67 (10%), and AHI1 (8%) were the most prevalent. C5orf42 mutations result in a purely neurological Joubert phenotype, in one case associated with postaxial polydactyly. Our study represents a population-based cohort of JBS patients not enriched for consanguinity, providing insight into the relative importance of the different JBS genes in a Northern European population. Mutations in C5orf42 are relatively frequent (possibly due to a Dutch founder mutation) and mutations in CEP290 are underrepresented compared with international cohorts. Furthermore, we report a case with heterozygous mutations in CC2D2A and B9D1, a gene associated with the more severe Meckel-Gruber syndrome that was recently published as a potential new JBS gene, and discuss the significance of this finding.

  14. Effect of primary iris and ciliary body cyst on anterior chamber angle in patients with shallow anterior chamber*

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Bing-hong; Yao, Yu-feng

    2012-01-01

    Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of primary iris and/or ciliary body cysts in eyes with shallow anterior chamber and their effect on the narrowing of the anterior chamber angle. Methods: Among the general physical check-up population, subjects with shallow anterior chambers, as judged by van Herick technique, were recruited for further investigation. Ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM) was used to detect and measure the cysts located in the iris and/or ciliary body, the anterior chamber depth (ACD), the angle opening distance at 500 μm (AOD500), and the trabecular-iris angle (TIA). A-scan ultrasonography was used to measure the ocular biometry, including lens thickness, axial length, lens/axial length factor (LAF), and relative lens position (RLP). The effect of the cyst on narrowing the corresponding anterior chamber angle and the entire angle was evaluated by the UBM images, ocular biometry, and gonioscopic grading. The eye with unilateral cyst was compared with the eye without the cyst for further analysis. Results: Among the 727 subjects with shallow anterior chamber, primary iris and ciliary body cysts were detected in 250 (34.4%) patients; among them 96 (38.4%) patients showed unilateral single cyst, 21 (8.4%) patients had unilateral double cysts, and 42 (16.8%) patients manifested unilateral multiple and multi-quadrants cysts. Plateau iris configuration was found in 140 of 361 (38.8%) eyes with cysts. The mean size of total cysts was (0.6547±0.2319) mm. In evaluation of the effect of the cyst size and location on narrowing the corresponding angle to their position, the proportion of the cysts causing corresponding angle narrowing or closure among the cysts larger than 0.8 mm (113/121, 93.4%) was found to be significantly higher than that of the cysts smaller than 0.8 mm (373/801, 46.6%), and a significant higher proportion was also found in the cysts located at iridociliary sulcus (354/437, 81.0%) than in that at the pars plicata (131/484, 27.1%). In evaluating the effect of the cyst on the entire anterior chamber angle, the eyes with multiple and multi-quadrants cysts manifested significant narrowing of the entire anterior chamber angle as compared with the eyes without cysts, based on the data analysis in comparison of TIA, AOD500, and gonioscopic grading evaluation. The unilateral single or double cysts in the eyes had no significant effect on narrowing of anterior chamber angle as compared with eyes without cysts. The iris and/or ciliary body cysts did not seem to affect the axial length, ACD, lens thickness, RLP, LAF. Conclusions: The prevalence of primary iris and ciliary body cyst was 34.4% in the subjects with shallow anterior chamber. The cysts larger than 0.8 mm, locating at iridociliary sulcus, or multiple and extensive cysts were inclined to cause the angle narrowing or closure. PMID:22949363

  15. Fitness and lung function in children with primary ciliary dyskinesia and cystic fibrosis.

    PubMed

    Ring, Astrid M; Buchvald, Frederik F; Holgersen, Mathias G; Green, Kent; Nielsen, Kim G

    2018-06-01

    Peak oxygen uptake (VO 2peak ) is associated with morbidity and mortality in health and disease, and provides important information of global physical health not achieved from standard pulmonary function tests. Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and cystic fibrosis (CF) are genetically determined diseases involving different basic defects, but both showing impaired mucociliary clearance leading to chronic infections and pulmonary destruction early in life. PCD is generally considered a milder disease than CF and it is hypothesized that children with CF would have consistently lower VO 2peak and pulmonary function than children with PCD. We performed a prospective, observational single-center, clinical cohort study of VO 2peak and pulmonary function in age and gender matched schoolchildren, at two occasions 12 months apart. VO 2peak was persistently (at baseline and after 12 months) and significantly reduced in the 22 patients with PCD (z-score = -0.89 and -1.0) and 24 with CF (z-score = -0.94 and -1.1), included in the study. Abnormal VO 2peak was detected in a larger proportion of children with PCD (≈30%) than CF (≈13%). Moreover, children with PCD exhibited persistently lower FEV 1 (p < 0.0001 at first visit and p = 0.001 at second visit) while FEF 25-75 and FVC differed only at baseline. Indeed, a retrospective analysis comparing lung function over the last year in our entire PCD and CF populations between 6 and 18 years of age, revealed lower values in patients with PCD (FEV 1 z-score, p = 0.0004, FVC z-score p < 0.0001, FEF 25-75 z-score p = 0.008). This is the first report indicating that cardiopulmonary fitness is equally and consistently reduced in both children with PCD and CF along with a consistent lower pulmonary function in PCD compared with CF. A certain reservation for possible selection bias and the small number of patients is necessary. However, increased focus on early diagnosis, evidence-based treatment regimens and close clinical monitoring in PCD are warranted. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Characterization of amyloid in equine recurrent uveitis as AA amyloid.

    PubMed

    Ostevik, L; de Souza, G A; Wien, T N; Gunnes, G; Sørby, R

    2014-01-01

    Two horses with chronic uveitis and histological lesions consistent with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) were examined. Microscopical findings in the ciliary body included deposits of amyloid lining the non-pigmented epithelium, intracytoplasmic, rod-shaped, eosinophilic inclusions and intraepithelial infiltration of T lymphocytes. Ultrastructural examination of the ciliary body of one horse confirmed the presence of abundant extracellular deposits of non-branching fibrils (9-11 nm in diameter) consistent with amyloid. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong positive labelling for AA amyloid and mass spectrometry showed the amyloid to consist primarily of serum amyloid A1 in both cases. The findings suggest that localized, intraocular AA amyloidosis may occur in horses with ERU. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. High frequency ultrasound imaging in pupillary block glaucoma.

    PubMed Central

    Aslanides, I M; Libre, P E; Silverman, R H; Reinstein, D Z; Lazzaro, D R; Rondeau, M J; Harmon, G K; Coleman, D J

    1995-01-01

    BACKGROUND--The diagnosis of pupillary block glaucoma requires sufficient clarity of the ocular media. This is particularly important for assessment of both the presence and patency of an iridotomy, and the determination of central anterior chamber depth. METHODS--High frequency ultrasonography was used in three patients with suspected pupillary block to determine iris configuration, posterior chamber volume, and ciliary body conformation. RESULTS--All patients demonstrated high frequency ultrasonographic findings consistent with pupillary block: iris bombé, a formed posterior chamber, and a lack of anterior rotation of the ciliary processes. CONCLUSION--High frequency ultrasound imaging appears to be a valuable adjunct in making or corroborating the diagnosis of pupillary block glaucoma. Images PMID:8534666

  18. Primary Cilia: Highly Sophisticated Biological Sensors

    PubMed Central

    Abou Alaiwi, Wissam A.; Lo, Shao T.; Nauli, Surya M.

    2009-01-01

    Primary cilia, thin hair-like structures protruding from the apical surface of most mammalian cells, have gained the attention of many researchers over the past decade. Primary cilia are microtubule-filled sensory organelles that are enclosed within the ciliary membrane. They originate at the cell surface from the mother centriole that becomes the mature basal body. In this review, we will discuss recent literatures on the roles of cilia as sophisticated sensory organelles. With particular emphasis on vascular endothelia and renal epithelia, the mechanosensory role of cilia in sensing fluid shear stress will be discussed. Also highlighted is the ciliary involvement in cell cycle regulation, development, cell signaling and cancer. Finally, primary cilia-related disorders will be briefly described. PMID:22423203

  19. Myopia prevention and therapy. The role of pharmaceutical agents. Japanese studies.

    PubMed

    Hosaka, A

    1988-01-01

    In order to normalize the condition of pseudomyopia, the following can be summarized: One percent cyclopentolate was effective in 63%, and 0.4% tropicamide was effective in 59% of the cases. With a value of 68% after labetalol eye drops there were no significant differences in efficacy between this drug and the above cycloplegics. In subjects treated only with placebo, 4 out of 16 eyes, i.e. 25% were relieved. A significant difference (P less than 0.01) was found between the results with the above 3 drugs and placebo. On the other hand, the efficacy of 0.25% timolol (effect in 28%) and chemical X (effect in 37%) were not significantly different from the effect of placebo, though the results with chemical X encourage further trials. It can be postulated that by releasing an abnormal tension cycloplegics reduce the myopic condition. Regarding the hypotensive action of beta-adrenergic blockers on intraocular pressure, it presumably depends mainly on inhibition of secretion in the ciliary body. The fact that labetalol appeared effective, and timolol not, in treatment trials of slight myopia might imply that the mechanism behind an effect of labetalol on slight myopia is not merely a beta-adrenergic blocking action.

  20. Mutation spectrum of Joubert syndrome and related disorders among Arabs

    PubMed Central

    Ben-Salem, Salma; Al-Shamsi, Aisha M; Gleeson, Joseph G; Ali, Bassam R; Al-Gazali, Lihadh

    2014-01-01

    Joubert syndrome (JS) is a rare autosomal recessive (AR), neurological condition characterized by dysgenesis of the cerebellar vermis with the radiological hallmark of molar tooth sign, oculomotor apraxia, recurrent hyperventilation and intellectual disability. Most cases display a broad spectrum of additional features, including polydactyly, retinal dystrophy and renal abnormalities, which define different subtypes of JS-related disorders (JSRDs). To date, 23 genes have been shown to cause JSRDs, and although most of the identified genes encode proteins involved in cilia function or assembly, the molecular mechanisms associated with ciliary signaling remain enigmatic. Arab populations are ethnically diverse with high levels of consanguinity (20–60%) and a high prevalence of AR disorders. In addition, isolated communities with very-high levels of inbreeding and founder mutations are common. In this article, we review the 70 families reported thus far with JS and JSRDs that have been studied at the molecular level from all the Arabic countries and compile the mutations found. We show that JS and the related JSRDs are genetically heterogeneous in Arabs, with 53 mutations in 15 genes. Thirteen of these mutations are potentially founder mutations for the region. PMID:27081510

  1. Methyl-sulfonyl-methane (MSM)-induced acute angle closure.

    PubMed

    Hwang, Jeremy C; Khine, Kay T; Lee, Jennifer C; Boyer, David S; Francis, Brian A

    2015-01-01

    To report the first case of presumed bilateral acute angle closure (AAC) secondary to ingestion of the dietary supplement, methyl-sulfonyl-methane (MSM). A 35-year-old woman presented with bilateral AAC 1 week after starting multiple dietary supplements, one of which contained MSM. Ultrasound biomicroscopy demonstrated bilateral anterior rotation of the iris-lens diaphragm, ciliary body edema, and choroidal effusion. Four days after discontinuation of the supplements, her angle closure and uveal effusion resolved, and her best-corrected vision recovered to 20/20 bilaterally. Sulfa-based drugs have been reported to cause AAC, choroidal effusion, and ciliary body edema. In our patient, the coincidence of bilateral AAC with choroidal and ciliary body effusion that began 1 week after starting dietary supplements was suspicious for drug-induced AAC. The dietary supplement Basic Detox Nutrients contains MSM, the only constituent in the patient's medication list with a sulfonyl moiety. Given the similarities in chemical structure and clinical presentation, we postulate that MSM induces AAC in a manner similar to mechanisms previously described for other sulfa-based drugs. As MSM continues to be used and studied for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, investigators and marketers will need to be cognizant of its potential to cause AAC and provide proper warning to consumers.

  2. Formulation to target delivery to the ciliary body and choroid via the suprachoroidal space of the eye using microneedles.

    PubMed

    Kim, Yoo Chun; Oh, Kyung Hee; Edelhauser, Henry F; Prausnitz, Mark R

    2015-09-01

    In this work, we tested the hypothesis that particles injected into the suprachoroidal space can be localized at the site of injection or broadly distributed throughout the suprachoroidal space by controlling polymeric formulation properties. Single hollow microneedles were inserted into the sclera of New Zealand White rabbits and injected non-biodegradable fluorescently tagged nanoparticles and microparticles suspended in polymeric formulations into the suprachoroidal space of the eye. When formulated in saline, the particles were distributed over 29-42% of the suprachoroidal space immediately after injection. To spread particles over larger areas of the choroidal surface, addition of hyaluronic acid to make moderately non-Newtonian solutions increased particle spread to up to 100% of the suprachoroidal space. To localize particles at the site of injection adjacent to the ciliary body, strongly non-Newtonian polymer solutions localized particles to 8.3-20% of the suprachoroidal space, which exhibited a small increase in area over the course of two months. This study demonstrates targeted particle delivery within the suprachoroidal space using polymer formulations that spread particles over the whole choroidal surface or localized them adjacent to the ciliary body after injection. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Methods for Studying Ciliary-Mediated Chemoresponse in Paramecium.

    PubMed

    Valentine, Megan Smith; Van Houten, Judith L

    2016-01-01

    Paramecium is a useful model organism for the study of ciliary-mediated chemical sensing and response. Here we describe ways to take advantage of Paramecium to study chemoresponse.Unicellular organisms like the ciliated protozoan Paramecium sense and respond to chemicals in their environment (Van Houten, Ann Rev Physiol 54:639-663, 1992; Van Houten, Trends Neurosci 17:62-71, 1994). A thousand or more cilia that cover Paramecium cells serve as antennae for chemical signals, similar to ciliary function in a large variety of metazoan cell types that have primary or motile cilia (Berbari et al., Curr Biol 19(13):R526-R535, 2009; Singla V, Reiter J, Science 313:629-633, 2006). The Paramecium cilia also produce the motor output of the detection of chemical cues by controlling swimming behavior. Therefore, in Paramecium the cilia serve multiple roles of detection and response.We present this chapter in three sections to describe the methods for (1) assaying populations of cells for their behavioral responses to chemicals (attraction and repulsion), (2) characterization of the chemoreceptors and associated channels of the cilia using proteomics and binding assays, and (3) electrophysiological analysis of individual cells' responses to chemicals. These methods are applied to wild type cells, mutants, transformed cells that express tagged proteins, and cells depleted of gene products by RNA Interference (RNAi).

  4. Characterization of (/sup 3/H)forskolin binding sites in the iris-ciliary body of the albino rabbit

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Goldman, M.E.; Mallorga, P.; Pettibone, D.J.

    1988-01-01

    (/sup 3/H)forskolin binding sites were identified using membranes prepared from the iris-ciliary body of adult, albino rabbits. Scatchard analysis of saturation binding experiments demonstrated that (/sup 3/H)forskolin bound to a single population of high affinity sites. The K/sub d/ and B/sub max/ values were 8.7 +- 0.9 nM and 119.0 +- 30.9 fmolmg prot. using membranes prepared from frozen tissue and 17.0 +- 6.2 nM and 184.4 +- 47.2 fmolmg prot. using fresh tissue. The binding of (/sup 3/H)forskolin was magnesium-dependent. The B/sub max/ was enhanced by sodium fluoride and Gpp(NH)p, a nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotide analog. Forskolin was the mostmore » potent inhibitor of (/sup 3/H)forskolin binding; two commercially-available analogs were weaker inhibitors. In an adenylate cyclase assay, there was the same rank order of potency to enhance enzyme activity. Based upon binding affinities, magnesium-dependence, sensitivity to sodium fluoride and Gpp(NH)p, rank order of potencies of analogs and correlation of binding with adenylate cyclase activity, these studies suggest that the (/sup 3/H)forskolin binding site in the iris-ciliary body is similar to the binding site in other tissues« less

  5. Human Eye Development Is Characterized by Coordinated Expression of Fibrillin Isoforms

    PubMed Central

    Hubmacher, Dirk; Reinhardt, Dieter P.; Plesec, Thomas; Schenke-Layland, Katja; Apte, Suneel S.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose. Mutations in human fibrillin-1 and -2, which are major constituents of tissue microfibrils, can affect multiple ocular components, including the ciliary zonule, lens, drainage apparatus, cornea, and retina. However, the expression pattern of the three human fibrillins and an integral microfibrillar component, MAGP1, during human eye development is not known. Methods. We analyzed sections from human eyes at gestational weeks (GWs) 6, 8, and 11 and at 1 and 3 years of age with antibodies specific for each human fibrillin isoform or MAGP1, using immunofluorescence microscopy. Results. During embryonic development, each fibrillin isoform was detected in vascular structures bridging the ciliary body and the developing lens, hyaloid vasculature, and retina. In addition, they were present in the developing corneal basement membranes and lens capsule. MAGP1 codistributed with the fibrillin isoforms. In contrast, the juvenile zonule was composed of fibrillin-1 microfibrils containing MAGP1, but fibrillin-2 was absent and fibrillin-3 was only sparsely detected. Conclusions. Fibrillin-1, -2, and, unique to humans, fibrillin-3 are found in various ocular structures during human embryonic eye development, whereas fibrillin-1 dominates the postnatal zonule. We speculate that vasculature spanning the ciliary body and lens, which elaborates fibrillin-2 and -3, may provide an initial scaffold for fibrillin assembly and zonule formation. PMID:25406291

  6. A new index for characterizing micro-bead motion in a flow induced by ciliary beating: Part I, experimental analysis.

    PubMed

    Bottier, Mathieu; Blanchon, Sylvain; Pelle, Gabriel; Bequignon, Emilie; Isabey, Daniel; Coste, André; Escudier, Estelle; Grotberg, James B; Papon, Jean-François; Filoche, Marcel; Louis, Bruno

    2017-07-01

    Mucociliary clearance is one of the major lines of defense of the respiratory system. The mucus layer coating the pulmonary airways is moved along and out of the lung by the activity of motile cilia, thus expelling the particles trapped in it. Here we compare ex vivo measurements of a Newtonian flow induced by cilia beating (using micro-beads as tracers) and a mathematical model of this fluid flow, presented in greater detail in a second companion article. Samples of nasal epithelial cells placed in water are recorded by high-speed video-microscopy and ciliary beat pattern is inferred. Automatic tracking of micro-beads, used as markers of the flow generated by cilia motion, enables us also to assess the velocity profile as a function of the distance above the cilia. This profile is shown to be essentially parabolic. The obtained experimental data are used to feed a 2D mathematical and numerical model of the coupling between cilia, fluid, and micro-bead motion. From the model and the experimental measurements, the shear stress exerted by the cilia is deduced. Finally, this shear stress, which can easily be measured in the clinical setting, is proposed as a new index for characterizing the efficiency of ciliary beating.

  7. A new index for characterizing micro-bead motion in a flow induced by ciliary beating: Part I, experimental analysis

    PubMed Central

    Bottier, Mathieu; Blanchon, Sylvain; Pelle, Gabriel; Bequignon, Emilie; Coste, André; Escudier, Estelle; Grotberg, James B.; Papon, Jean-François

    2017-01-01

    Mucociliary clearance is one of the major lines of defense of the respiratory system. The mucus layer coating the pulmonary airways is moved along and out of the lung by the activity of motile cilia, thus expelling the particles trapped in it. Here we compare ex vivo measurements of a Newtonian flow induced by cilia beating (using micro-beads as tracers) and a mathematical model of this fluid flow, presented in greater detail in a second companion article. Samples of nasal epithelial cells placed in water are recorded by high-speed video-microscopy and ciliary beat pattern is inferred. Automatic tracking of micro-beads, used as markers of the flow generated by cilia motion, enables us also to assess the velocity profile as a function of the distance above the cilia. This profile is shown to be essentially parabolic. The obtained experimental data are used to feed a 2D mathematical and numerical model of the coupling between cilia, fluid, and micro-bead motion. From the model and the experimental measurements, the shear stress exerted by the cilia is deduced. Finally, this shear stress, which can easily be measured in the clinical setting, is proposed as a new index for characterizing the efficiency of ciliary beating. PMID:28708889

  8. Chloral hydrate alters the organization of the ciliary basal apparatus and cell organelles in sea urchin embryos

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chakrabarti, A.; Schatten, H.; Mitchell, K. D.; Crosser, M.; Taylor, M.

    1998-01-01

    The mitotic inhibitor, chloral hydrate, induces ciliary loss in the early embryo phase of Lytechinus pictus. It causes a breakdown of cilia at the junction of the cilium and the basal body known as the basal plate. This leaves the plasma membrane temporarily unsealed. The basal apparatus accessory structures, consisting of the basal body, basal foot, basal foot cap, striated side arm, and striated rootlet, are either misaligned or disintegrated by treatment with chloral hydrate. Furthermore, microtubules which are associated with the basal apparatus are disassembled. Mitochondria accumulate at the base of cilia - underneath the plasma membrane - and show alterations in their structural organization. The accumulation of mitochondria is observed in 40% of all electron micrograph sections while 60% show the areas mostly devoid of mitochondria. The microvilli surrounding a cilium and striated rootlet remain intact in the presence of chloral hydrate. These results suggest that deciliation in early sea urchin embryos by chloral hydrate is caused by combined effects on the ciliary membrane and on microtubules in the cilia. Furthermore, it is suggested that chloral hydrate can serve as a tool to explore the cytoskeletal mechanisms that are involved in cilia motility in the developing sea urchin embryo.

  9. Biophysics and biofluid dynamics of primary cilia: evidence for and against the flow-sensing function.

    PubMed

    Nag, Subhra; Resnick, Andrew

    2017-09-01

    Primary cilia have been called "the forgotten organelle" for over 20 yr. As cilia now have their own journal and several books devoted to their study, perhaps it is time to reconsider the moniker "forgotten organelle." In fact, during the drafting of this review, 12 relevant publications have been issued; we therefore apologize in advance for any relevant work we inadvertently omitted. What purpose is yet another ciliary review? The primary goal of this review is to specifically examine the evidence for and against the hypothesized flow-sensing function of primary cilia expressed by differentiated epithelia within a kidney tubule, bringing together differing disciplines and their respective conceptual and experimental approaches. We will show that understanding the biophysics/biomechanics of primary cilia provides essential information for understanding any potential role of ciliary function in disease. We will summarize experimental and mathematical models used to characterize renal fluid flow and incident force on primary cilia and to characterize the mechanical response of cilia to an externally applied force and discuss possible ciliary-mediated cell signaling pathways triggered by flow. Throughout, we stress the importance of separating the effects of fluid shear and stretch from the action of hydrodynamic drag. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

  10. Purification and characterization of factors produced by Aspergillus fumigatus which affect human ciliated respiratory epithelium.

    PubMed

    Amitani, R; Taylor, G; Elezis, E N; Llewellyn-Jones, C; Mitchell, J; Kuze, F; Cole, P J; Wilson, R

    1995-09-01

    The mechanisms by which Aspergillus fumigatus colonizes the respiratory mucosa are unknown. Culture filtrates of eight of nine clinical isolates of A. fumigatus slowed ciliary beat frequency and damaged human respiratory epithelium in vitro. These changes appeared to occur concurrently. Culture filtrates of two clinical isolates of Candida albicans had no effect on ciliated epithelium. We have purified and characterized cilioinhibitory factors of a clinical isolate of A. fumigatus. The cilioinhibitory activity was heat labile, reduced by dialysis, and partially extractable into chloroform. The activity was associated with both high- and low-molecular-weight factors, as determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50. A low-molecular-weight cilioinhibitory factor was further purified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and shown by mass spectrometry to be gliotoxin, a known metabolite of A. fumigatus. Gliotoxin significantly slowed ciliary beat frequency in association with epithelial damage at concentrations above 0.2 microgram/ml; other Aspergillus toxins, i.e., fumagillin and helvolic acid, were also cilioinhibitory but at much higher concentrations. High-molecular-weight (> or = 35,000 and 25,000) cilioinhibitory materials had neither elastolytic nor proteolytic activity and remain to be identified. Thus, A. fumigatus produces a number of biologically active substances which slow ciliary beating and damage epithelium and which may influence colonization of the airways.

  11. Endoscopic evaluation of therapeutic effects of "Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama" in Pratishyaya w.s.r. to mucociliary clearance mechanism and Bernoulli's principle.

    PubMed

    Bhardwaj, Atul; Sharma, Mahendra Kumar; Gupta, Manoj

    2013-10-01

    The current endeavor intended to evaluate the effectiveness and mode of action of Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama (AVP), i.e., alternate nasal breathing exercise, in resolving clinical features of Pratishyaya, i.e., rhinosinusitis. The present study was directed to validate the use of classical "saccharin test" in measuring the nasal health by measuring mucociliary clearance time. This study also highlights the effects of AVP by application of Bernoulli principle in ventilation of paranasal sinuses and surface oxygenation of nasal and paranasal sinuses ciliary epithelium. Clinically, endoscopically and radiologically diagnosed patients of Pratishyaya, i.e., rhinosinusitis, satisfying the inclusion criteria were selected to perform AVP as a breathing exercise regularly for 30 min every day in order to evaluate the effectiveness of AVP in resolving features of rhinosinusitis. Saccharin test was performed before and after completion of 40 days trial to assess the nasal ciliary activity, which has been proved to be directly related to the health of ciliary epithelium and nasal health overall as well. AVP may be regarded as a catalyst to conspicuously enhance ventilation and oxygenation of the paranasal sinuses and the positively effect the nasal respiratory epithelium by increasing better surface availability of oxygen and negative pressure in the nasal cavity itself.

  12. Endoscopic evaluation of therapeutic effects of “Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama” in Pratishyaya w.s.r. to mucociliary clearance mechanism and Bernoulli's principle

    PubMed Central

    Bhardwaj, Atul; Sharma, Mahendra Kumar; Gupta, Manoj

    2013-01-01

    The current endeavor intended to evaluate the effectiveness and mode of action of Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama (AVP), i.e., alternate nasal breathing exercise, in resolving clinical features of Pratishyaya, i.e., rhinosinusitis. The present study was directed to validate the use of classical “saccharin test” in measuring the nasal health by measuring mucociliary clearance time. This study also highlights the effects of AVP by application of Bernoulli principle in ventilation of paranasal sinuses and surface oxygenation of nasal and paranasal sinuses ciliary epithelium. Clinically, endoscopically and radiologically diagnosed patients of Pratishyaya, i.e., rhinosinusitis, satisfying the inclusion criteria were selected to perform AVP as a breathing exercise regularly for 30 min every day in order to evaluate the effectiveness of AVP in resolving features of rhinosinusitis. Saccharin test was performed before and after completion of 40 days trial to assess the nasal ciliary activity, which has been proved to be directly related to the health of ciliary epithelium and nasal health overall as well. AVP may be regarded as a catalyst to conspicuously enhance ventilation and oxygenation of the paranasal sinuses and the positively effect the nasal respiratory epithelium by increasing better surface availability of oxygen and negative pressure in the nasal cavity itself. PMID:24696572

  13. Functional characterization of putative cilia genes by high-content analysis

    PubMed Central

    Lai, Cary K.; Gupta, Nidhi; Wen, Xiaohui; Rangell, Linda; Chih, Ben; Peterson, Andrew S.; Bazan, J. Fernando; Li, Li; Scales, Suzie J.

    2011-01-01

    Cilia are microtubule-based protrusions from the cell surface that are involved in a number of essential signaling pathways, yet little is known about many of the proteins that regulate their structure and function. A number of putative cilia genes have been identified by proteomics and comparative sequence analyses, but functional data are lacking for the vast majority. We therefore monitored the effects in three cell lines of small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of 40 of these genes by high-content analysis. We assayed cilia number, length, and transport of two different cargoes (membranous serotonin receptor 6-green fluorescent protein [HTR6-GFP] and the endogenous Hedgehog [Hh] pathway transcription factor Gli3) by immunofluorescence microscopy; and cilia function using a Gli-luciferase Hh signaling assay. Hh signaling was most sensitive to perturbations, with or without visible structural cilia defects. Validated hits include Ssa2 and mC21orf2 with ciliation defects; Ift46 with short cilia; Ptpdc1 and Iqub with elongated cilia; and Arl3, Nme7, and Ssna1 with distinct ciliary transport but not length defects. Our data confirm various ciliary roles for several ciliome proteins and show it is possible to uncouple ciliary cargo transport from cilia formation in vertebrates. PMID:21289087

  14. Clinical Features and Associated Likelihood of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia in Children and Adolescents.

    PubMed

    Leigh, Margaret W; Ferkol, Thomas W; Davis, Stephanie D; Lee, Hye-Seung; Rosenfeld, Margaret; Dell, Sharon D; Sagel, Scott D; Milla, Carlos; Olivier, Kenneth N; Sullivan, Kelli M; Zariwala, Maimoona A; Pittman, Jessica E; Shapiro, Adam J; Carson, Johnny L; Krischer, Jeffrey; Hazucha, Milan J; Knowles, Michael R

    2016-08-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a genetically heterogeneous, recessive disorder of motile cilia, is associated with distinct clinical features. Diagnostic tests, including ultrastructural analysis of cilia, nasal nitric oxide measurements, and molecular testing for mutations in PCD genes, have inherent limitations. To define a statistically valid combination of systematically defined clinical features that strongly associates with PCD in children and adolescents. Investigators at seven North American sites in the Genetic Disorders of Mucociliary Clearance Consortium prospectively and systematically assessed individuals (aged 0-18 yr) referred due to high suspicion for PCD. The investigators defined specific clinical questions for the clinical report form based on expert opinion. Diagnostic testing was performed using standardized protocols and included nasal nitric oxide measurement, ciliary biopsy for ultrastructural analysis of cilia, and molecular genetic testing for PCD-associated genes. Final diagnoses were assigned as "definite PCD" (hallmark ultrastructural defects and/or two mutations in a PCD-associated gene), "probable/possible PCD" (no ultrastructural defect or genetic diagnosis, but compatible clinical features and nasal nitric oxide level in PCD range), and "other diagnosis or undefined." Criteria were developed to define early childhood clinical features on the basis of responses to multiple specific queries. Each defined feature was tested by logistic regression. Sensitivity and specificity analyses were conducted to define the most robust set of clinical features associated with PCD. From 534 participants 18 years of age and younger, 205 were identified as having "definite PCD" (including 164 with two mutations in a PCD-associated gene), 187 were categorized as "other diagnosis or undefined," and 142 were defined as having "probable/possible PCD." Participants with "definite PCD" were compared with the "other diagnosis or undefined" group. Four criteria-defined clinical features were statistically predictive of PCD: laterality defect; unexplained neonatal respiratory distress; early-onset, year-round nasal congestion; and early-onset, year-round wet cough (adjusted odds ratios of 7.7, 6.6, 3.4, and 3.1, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity based on the number of criteria-defined clinical features were four features, 0.21 and 0.99, respectively; three features, 0.50 and 0.96, respectively; and two features, 0.80 and 0.72, respectively. Systematically defined early clinical features could help identify children, including infants, likely to have PCD. Clinical trial registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00323167).

  15. The character of abnormalities found in eye development of quail embruos exposed under space flight conditions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grigoryan, E.; Dadheva, O.; Polinskaya, V.; Guryeva, T.

    The avian embryonic eye is used as a model system for studies on the environmental effects on central nervous system development. Here we present results of qualitative investigation of the eye development in quail embryos incubated in micro-"g" environment. In this study we used eyes of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) embryos "flown" onboard biosatellite Kosmos-1129 and on Mir station within the framework of Mir-NASA Program. Eyes obtained from embryos ranging in age from 3-12 days (E3-E12) were prepared histologically and compared with those of the synchronous and laboratory gound controls. Ther most careful consideration was given to finding and analysis of eye developmental abnormalities. Then they were compared with those already described by experimental teratology for birds and mammals. At the stage of the "eye cup" (E3) we found the case of invalid formation of the inner retina. The latter was represented by disorganized neuroblasts occupying whole posterior chamber of the eye. On the 7th day of quail eye development, at the period of cellular growth activation some cases of small eyes with many folds of overgrowing neural and pigmented retinal layers were detected. In retinal folds of these eyes the normal layering was disturbed as well as the formation of aqueous body and pecten oculi. At this time point the changes were also found in the anterior part of the eye. The peculiarities came out of the bigger width of the cornea and separation of its layers, but were found in synchronous control as well. Few embryos of E10 had also eyes with the abnormities described for E7 but this time they were more vivid because of the completion of eye tissue differentiation. At the stage E12 we found the case evaluated as microphthalmia attending by overgrowth of anterior pigmented tissues - iris and ciliary body attached with the cornea. Most, but not all, of abnormalities we found in eye morphogeneses belonged to the birds "flown" aboard Kosmos- 1129 and were likely induced by specific conditions of that flight. All sorts of disturbances we observed in eye development were similar with dom inated types found in birds and mammals on ground and could be induced by factors we intend to discuss in our report.

  16. In vitro effects of anthocyanidins on sinonasal epithelial nitric oxide production and bacterial physiology

    PubMed Central

    Hariri, Benjamin M.; Payne, Sakeena J.; Chen, Bei; Mansfield, Corrine; Doghramji, Laurel J.; Adappa, Nithin D.; Palmer, James N.; Kennedy, David W.; Niv, Masha Y.

    2016-01-01

    Background: T2R bitter taste receptors play a crucial role in sinonasal innate immunity by upregulating mucociliary clearance and nitric oxide (NO) production in response to bitter gram-negative quorum-sensing molecules in the airway surface liquid. Previous studies showed that phytochemical flavonoid metabolites, known as anthocyanidins, taste bitter and have antibacterial effects. Our objectives were to examine the effects of anthocyanidins on NO production by human sinonasal epithelial cells and ciliary beat frequency, and their impact on common sinonasal pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: Ciliary beat frequency and NO production were measured by using digital imaging of differentiated air-liquid interface cultures prepared from primary human cells isolated from residual surgical material. Plate-based assays were used to determine the effects of anthocyanidins on bacterial swimming and swarming motility. Biofilm formation and planktonic growth were also assessed. Results: Anthocyanidin compounds triggered epithelial cells to produce NO but not through T2R receptors. However, anthocyanidins did not impact ciliary beat frequency. Furthermore, they did not reduce biofilm formation or planktonic growth of P. aeruginosa. In S. aureus, they did not reduce planktonic growth, and only one compound had minimal antibiofilm effects. The anthocyanidin delphinidin and anthocyanin keracyanin were found to promote bacterial swimming, whereas anthocyanidin cyanidin and flavonoid myricetin did not. No compounds that were tested inhibited bacterial swarming. Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that, although anthocyanidins may elicited an innate immune NO response from human cells, they do not cause an increase in ciliary beating and they may also cause a pathogenicity-enhancing effect in P. aeruginosa. Additional studies are necessary to understand how this would affect the use of anthocyanidins as therapeutics. This study emphasized the usefulness of in vitro screening of candidate compounds against multiple parameters of both epithelial and bacterial physiologies to prioritize candidates for in vivo therapeutic testing. PMID:27456596

  17. The Meckel syndrome- associated protein MKS1 functionally interacts with components of the BBSome and IFT complexes to mediate ciliary trafficking and hedgehog signaling

    PubMed Central

    Barrington, Chloe L.; Katsanis, Nicholas

    2017-01-01

    The importance of primary cilia in human health is underscored by the link between ciliary dysfunction and a group of primarily recessive genetic disorders with overlapping clinical features, now known as ciliopathies. Many of the proteins encoded by ciliopathy-associated genes are components of a handful of multi-protein complexes important for the transport of cargo to the basal body and/or into the cilium. A key question is whether different complexes cooperate in cilia formation, and whether they participate in cilium assembly in conjunction with intraflagellar transport (IFT) proteins. To examine how ciliopathy protein complexes might function together, we have analyzed double mutants of an allele of the Meckel syndrome (MKS) complex protein MKS1 and the BBSome protein BBS4. We find that Mks1; Bbs4 double mutant mouse embryos exhibit exacerbated defects in Hedgehog (Hh) dependent patterning compared to either single mutant, and die by E14.5. Cells from double mutant embryos exhibit a defect in the trafficking of ARL13B, a ciliary membrane protein, resulting in disrupted ciliary structure and signaling. We also examined the relationship between the MKS complex and IFT proteins by analyzing double mutant between Mks1 and a hypomorphic allele of the IFTB component Ift172. Despite each single mutant surviving until around birth, Mks1; Ift172avc1 double mutants die at mid-gestation, and exhibit a dramatic failure of cilia formation. We also find that Mks1 interacts genetically with an allele of Dync2h1, the IFT retrograde motor. Thus, we have demonstrated that the MKS transition zone complex cooperates with the BBSome to mediate trafficking of specific trans-membrane receptors to the cilium. Moreover, the genetic interaction of Mks1 with components of IFT machinery suggests that the transition zone complex facilitates IFT to promote cilium assembly and structure. PMID:28291807

  18. Ciliary dyslexia candidate genes DYX1C1 and DCDC2 are regulated by Regulatory Factor X (RFX) transcription factors through X-box promoter motifs

    PubMed Central

    Tammimies, Kristiina; Bieder, Andrea; Lauter, Gilbert; Sugiaman-Trapman, Debora; Torchet, Rachel; Hokkanen, Marie-Estelle; Burghoorn, Jan; Castrén, Eero; Kere, Juha; Tapia-Páez, Isabel; Swoboda, Peter

    2016-01-01

    DYX1C1, DCDC2, and KIAA0319 are three of the most replicated dyslexia candidate genes (DCGs). Recently, these DCGs were implicated in functions at the cilium. Here, we investigate the regulation of these DCGs by Regulatory Factor X transcription factors (RFX TFs), a gene family known for transcriptionally regulating ciliary genes. We identify conserved X-box motifs in the promoter regions of DYX1C1, DCDC2, and KIAA0319 and demonstrate their functionality, as well as the ability to recruit RFX TFs using reporter gene and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Furthermore, we uncover a complex regulation pattern between RFX1, RFX2, and RFX3 and their significant effect on modifying the endogenous expression of DYX1C1 and DCDC2 in a human retinal pigmented epithelial cell line immortalized with hTERT (hTERT-RPE1). In addition, induction of ciliogenesis increases the expression of RFX TFs and DCGs. At the protein level, we show that endogenous DYX1C1 localizes to the base of the cilium, whereas DCDC2 localizes along the entire axoneme of the cilium, thereby validating earlier localization studies using overexpression models. Our results corroborate the emerging role of DCGs in ciliary function and characterize functional noncoding elements, X-box promoter motifs, in DCG promoter regions, which thus can be targeted for mutation screening in dyslexia and ciliopathies associated with these genes.—Tammimies, K., Bieder, A., Lauter, G., Sugiaman-Trapman, D., Torchet, R., Hokkanen, M.-E., Burghoorn, J., Castrén, E., Kere, J., Tapia-Páez, I., Swoboda, P. Ciliary dyslexia candidate genes DYX1C1 and DCDC2 are regulated by Regulatory Factor (RF) X transcription factors through X-box promoter motifs. PMID:27451412

  19. Ciliary dyslexia candidate genes DYX1C1 and DCDC2 are regulated by Regulatory Factor X (RFX) transcription factors through X-box promoter motifs.

    PubMed

    Tammimies, Kristiina; Bieder, Andrea; Lauter, Gilbert; Sugiaman-Trapman, Debora; Torchet, Rachel; Hokkanen, Marie-Estelle; Burghoorn, Jan; Castrén, Eero; Kere, Juha; Tapia-Páez, Isabel; Swoboda, Peter

    2016-10-01

    DYX1C1, DCDC2, and KIAA0319 are three of the most replicated dyslexia candidate genes (DCGs). Recently, these DCGs were implicated in functions at the cilium. Here, we investigate the regulation of these DCGs by Regulatory Factor X transcription factors (RFX TFs), a gene family known for transcriptionally regulating ciliary genes. We identify conserved X-box motifs in the promoter regions of DYX1C1, DCDC2, and KIAA0319 and demonstrate their functionality, as well as the ability to recruit RFX TFs using reporter gene and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Furthermore, we uncover a complex regulation pattern between RFX1, RFX2, and RFX3 and their significant effect on modifying the endogenous expression of DYX1C1 and DCDC2 in a human retinal pigmented epithelial cell line immortalized with hTERT (hTERT-RPE1). In addition, induction of ciliogenesis increases the expression of RFX TFs and DCGs. At the protein level, we show that endogenous DYX1C1 localizes to the base of the cilium, whereas DCDC2 localizes along the entire axoneme of the cilium, thereby validating earlier localization studies using overexpression models. Our results corroborate the emerging role of DCGs in ciliary function and characterize functional noncoding elements, X-box promoter motifs, in DCG promoter regions, which thus can be targeted for mutation screening in dyslexia and ciliopathies associated with these genes.-Tammimies, K., Bieder, A., Lauter, G., Sugiaman-Trapman, D., Torchet, R., Hokkanen, M.-E., Burghoorn, J., Castrén, E., Kere, J., Tapia-Páez, I., Swoboda, P. Ciliary dyslexia candidate genes DYX1C1 and DCDC2 are regulated by Regulatory Factor (RF) X transcription factors through X-box promoter motifs. © The Author(s).

  20. PhotoGate microscopy: tracking single molecules in a cytoplasm (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yildiz, Ahmet

    2016-02-01

    Tracking single molecules inside cells reveals the dynamics of biological processes, including receptor trafficking, signaling and cargo transport. However, individual molecules often cannot be resolved inside cells due to their high density in the cellular environment. We developed a photobleaching gate assay, which controls the number of fluorescent particles in a region of interest by repeatedly photobleaching its boundary. Using this method, we tracked single particles at surface densities two orders of magnitude higher than the single-molecule detection limit. We observed ligand-induced dimerization of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) on a live cell membrane. In addition, we tracked individual intraflagellar transport (IFT) trains along the length of a cilium and observed their remodeling at the ciliary tip.

  1. [Hypertension secondary to treatment with latanoprost].

    PubMed

    Santos-Bueso, E; Sáenz-Francés, F; Palmero-Fernández, L; García-Sáenz, S; Martínez-de-la-Casa, J M; García-Feijoo, J; García-Sánchez, J

    2015-01-01

    An 80 year old woman operated on by trabeculectomy for primary open-angle glaucoma due to increased pressure, who started treatment with latanoprost. Monitoring of blood pressure (BP) showed a statistically significant increase in both systolic and diastolic BP, coinciding with the use of topical hypotensive, which resolved by voluntarily suspending treatment, thus increasing again to reintroduce the prostaglandin. Prostaglandin analogs reduce intraocular pressure to produce vasodilation of the episcleral and ciliary arteries, increasing the outflow of aqueous humor. Cardiovascular effects are rare, but have been described by the vasoconstrictor effect that can trigger the reversible increase in BP, as in this case. Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  2. Investigation of frog abnormalities on national wildlife refuges in the Northeast U.S.

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Eaton-Poole, L.; Pinkney, A.E.; Green, D.E.; Sutherland, D.R.; Babbitt, K.J.; ,

    2003-01-01

    To address concerns about frog abnormalities, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service examined over 3,643 frogs and toads on National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in the Northeast U.S. The objectives were to: 1) determine if certain refuges had sites where abnormalities were frequently observed; 2) evaluate if the prevalence of abnormalities at a site was consistent within a season and among years; and 3) investigate possible causes. Sampling was conducted from 1999 through 2001. A complete sample from a site consisted of ???50 metamorphs of one species. The prevalence of abnormalities ranged from 0 to 15% and fluctuated within season and among years. The most common external abnormalities were truncated limbs, and missing limbs, feet, and digits. Frogs with duplication of limb segments were rare (6). Based on radiographical examinations of 89 abnormal frogs, 55 had abnormalities due to trauma, 22 due to malformations, and 12 could not be classified. Metacercariae of the trematode Ribeiroia were detected in substantial numbers in two species from Iroquois NWR, with one specimen having supernumerary hindlimbs. We recommend continued sampling and integrated, causal evaluations on NWRs where the prevalence of abnormalities exceeds 5% or where the types of abnormalities warrant further study.

  3. A review of hedgehog signaling in cranial bone development

    PubMed Central

    Pan, Angel; Chang, Le; Nguyen, Alan; James, Aaron W.

    2013-01-01

    During craniofacial development, the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway is essential for mesodermal tissue patterning and differentiation. The HH family consists of three protein ligands: Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), Indian Hedgehog (IHH), and Desert Hedgehog (DHH), of which two are expressed in the craniofacial complex (IHH and SHH). Dysregulations in HH signaling are well documented to result in a wide range of craniofacial abnormalities, including holoprosencephaly (HPE), hypotelorism, and cleft lip/palate. Furthermore, mutations in HH effectors, co-receptors, and ciliary proteins result in skeletal and craniofacial deformities. Cranial suture morphogenesis is a delicate developmental process that requires control of cell commitment, proliferation and differentiation. This review focuses on both what is known and what remains unknown regarding HH signaling in cranial suture morphogenesis and intramembranous ossification. As demonstrated from murine studies, expression of both SHH and IHH is critical to the formation and fusion of the cranial sutures and calvarial ossification. SHH expression has been observed in the cranial suture mesenchyme and its precise function is not fully defined, although some postulate SHH to delay cranial suture fusion. IHH expression is mainly found on the osteogenic fronts of the calvarial bones, and functions to induce cell proliferation and differentiation. Unfortunately, neonatal lethality of IHH deficient mice precludes a detailed examination of their postnatal calvarial phenotype. In summary, a number of basic questions are yet to be answered regarding domains of expression, developmental role, and functional overlap of HH morphogens in the calvaria. Nevertheless, SHH and IHH ligands are integral to cranial suture development and regulation of calvarial ossification. When HH signaling goes awry, the resultant suite of morphologic abnormalities highlights the important roles of HH signaling in cranial development. PMID:23565096

  4. Disruption of the mouse Jhy gene causes abnormal ciliary microtubule patterning and juvenile hydrocephalus

    PubMed Central

    Appelbe, Oliver K.; Bollman, Bryan; Attarwala, Ali; Triebes, Lindy A.; Muniz-Talavera, Hilmarie; Curry, Daniel J.; Schmidt, Jennifer V.

    2013-01-01

    SUMMARY Congenital hydrocephalus, the accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain, affects one of every 1,000 children born today, making it one of the most common human developmental disorders. Genetic causes of hydrocephalus are poorly understood in humans, but animal models suggest a broad genetic program underlying the regulation of CSF balance. In this study, the random integration of a transgene into the mouse genome led to the development of an early onset and rapidly progressive hydrocephalus. Juvenile hydrocephalus transgenic mice (JhylacZ) inherit communicating hydrocephalus in an autosomal recessive fashion with dilation of the lateral ventricles observed as early as postnatal day 1.5. Ventricular dilation increases in severity over time, becoming fatal at 4-8 weeks of age. The ependymal cilia lining the lateral ventricles are morphologically abnormal and reduced in number in JhylacZ/lacZ brains, and ultrastructural analysis revealed disorganization of the expected 9+2 microtubule pattern. Rather, the majority of JhylacZ/lacZ cilia develop axonemes with 9+0 or 8+2 microtubule structures. Disruption of an unstudied gene, 4931429I11Rik (now named Jhy) appears to underlie the hydrocephalus of JhylacZ/lacZ mice, and the Jhy transcript and protein are decreased in JhylacZ/lacZ mice. Partial phenotypic rescue was achieved in JhylacZ/lacZ mice by the introduction of a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) carrying 60-70% of the JHY protein coding sequence. Jhy is evolutionarily conserved from humans to basal vertebrates, but the predicted JHY protein lacks identifiable functional domains. Ongoing studies are directed at uncovering the physiological function of JHY and its role in CSF homeostasis. PMID:23906841

  5. Use of a novel cell adhesion method and digital measurement to show stimulus-dependent variation in somatic and oral ciliary beat frequency in Paramecium.

    PubMed

    Bell, Wade E; Hallworth, Richard; Wyatt, Todd A; Sisson, Joseph H

    2015-01-01

    When Paramecium encounters positive stimuli, the membrane hyperpolarizes and ciliary beat frequency increases. We adapted an established immobilization protocol using a biological adhesive and a novel digital analysis system to quantify beat frequency in immobilized Paramecium. Cells showed low mortality and demonstrated beat frequencies consistent with previous studies. Chemoattractant molecules, reduction in external potassium, and posterior stimulation all increased somatic beat frequency. In all cases, the oral groove cilia maintained a higher beat frequency than mid-body cilia, but only oral cilia from cells stimulated with chemoattactants showed an increase from basal levels. © 2014 The Author(s) Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology © 2014 International Society of Protistologists.

  6. Lectin histochemical aspects of mucus function in the oesophagus of the reticulated python (Python reticulatus).

    PubMed

    Meyer, W; Luz, S; Schnapper, A

    2009-08-01

    Using lectin histochemistry, the study characterizes basic functional aspects of the mucus produced by the oesophageal epithelium of the Reticulated python (Python reticulatus). Reaction staining varied as related to the two epithelium types present, containing goblet cells and ciliary cells. Remarkable intensities were achieved especially in the luminal mucus layer and the fine mucus covering the epithelial ciliary border for Con A (alpha-D-Man; alpha-D-Glc) as part of neutral glycoproteins, Limax flavus agglutinin (NeuNac = NeuNgc), emphasizing that water binding hyaluronan provides a hydrated interface conductive to the passage of material and UEA-I (alpha-L-Fuc), corroborating the view that fucose-rich highly viscous mucus is helpful against mechanical stress during prey transport.

  7. [Application research of DEI technique based on synchrotron X-ray source in imaging rabbit eyeball in vitro].

    PubMed

    Yin, Hong-xia; Huang, Zhi-feng; Wang, Zhen-chang; Liu, Zhao-hui; Li, Yong; Zhu, Pei-ping

    2010-03-23

    To study the application of DEI technique in imaging the small structures of rabbit eyeball. DEI technique was used to image the eyeball of New Zealand white rabbit in vitro. The experiments were performed using beamline 4W1A at the topography station of Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF). DEI image showed clearly the fine structures of the rabbit eyeball, such as the transparent cornea, the sclera, the ciliaris, and the ciliary body. DEI is a new X-ray imaging modality which achieves high contrast and spatial resolution. It also showed obvious effect of edge enhancement. DEI has good potential in observing the micro-structures of eyeballs and other small organs.

  8. Odor-induced phosphorylation of olfactory cilia proteins.

    PubMed Central

    Boekhoff, I; Schleicher, S; Strotmann, J; Breer, H

    1992-01-01

    Stimulation of isolated rat olfactory cilia in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP leads to a significantly enhanced incorporation of [32P]phosphate. Depending on the type of odorants applied, the induced phosphorylation is completely blocked by specific inhibitors of either protein kinase A or protein kinase C. Time-course experiments indicate that the odor-induced modification of ciliary proteins is transient; the intensity of labeling decayed over time (1-10 sec). Separation of ciliary proteins by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography demonstrated that upon stimulation with lilial, a single polypeptide (50,000 Da) was phosphorylated; the size of the modified protein is in line with the hypothesis that odorant receptors are phosphorylated subsequent to activation by specific odors. Images PMID:1334554

  9. Computer-Aided Diagnosis of Splenic Enlargement Using Wave Pattern of Spleen in Abdominal CT Images: Initial Observations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Seong, Won; Cho, June-Sik; Noh, Seung-Moo; Park, Jong-Won

    In general, the spleen accompanied by abnormal abdomen is hypertrophied. However, if the spleen size is originally small, it is hard to detect the splenic enlargement due to abnormal abdomen by simply measure the size. On the contrary, the spleen size of a person having a normal abdomen may be large by nature. Therefore, measuring the size of spleen is not a reliable diagnostic measure of its enlargement or the abdomen abnormality. This paper proposes an automatic method to diagnose the splenic enlargement due to abnormality, by examining the boundary pattern of spleen in abdominal CT images.

  10. [Modern methods of diagnosis dyslipidemia ].

    PubMed

    Sukhorukov, V N; Karagodin, V P; Orekhov, A N

    2016-01-01

    Dyslipidemia is abnormalities of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Most dyslipidemias are hyperlipidemias; that is an abnormally high level of lipids and/or lipoproteins in the blood. Lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities are common in the general population, and are regarded as a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease due to their influence on atherosclerosis. Primary dyslipidemia is usually due to genetic causes, while secondary dyslipidemia arises due to other underlying causes such as diabetes mellitus. Thus, dyslipidemia is an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases therefore, it is important to diagnose it in time. This review focuses on the modern methods of diagnosis of dyslipidemia.

  11. Loss of the ciliary kinase Nek8 causes left-right asymmetry defects.

    PubMed

    Manning, Danielle K; Sergeev, Mikhail; van Heesbeen, Roy G; Wong, Michael D; Oh, Jin-Hee; Liu, Yan; Henkelman, R Mark; Drummond, Iain; Shah, Jagesh V; Beier, David R

    2013-01-01

    A missense mutation in mouse Nek8, which encodes a ciliary kinase, produces the juvenile cystic kidneys (jck) model of polycystic kidney disease, but the functions of Nek8 are incompletely understood. Here, we generated a Nek8-null allele and found that homozygous mutant mice die at birth and exhibit randomization of left-right asymmetry, cardiac anomalies, and glomerular kidney cysts. The requirement for Nek8 in left-right patterning is conserved, as knockdown of the zebrafish ortholog caused randomized heart looping. Ciliogenesis was intact in Nek8-deficient embryos and cells, but we observed misexpression of left-sided marker genes early in development, suggesting that nodal ciliary signaling was perturbed. We also generated jck/Nek8 compound heterozygotes; these mutants developed less severe cystic disease than jck homozygotes and provided genetic evidence that the jck allele may encode a gain-of-function protein. Notably, NEK8 and polycystin-2 (PC2) proteins interact, and we found that Nek8(-/-) and Pkd2(-/-) embryonic phenotypes are strikingly similar. Nek8-deficient embryos and cells did express PC2 normally, which localized properly to the cilia. However, similar to cells lacking PC2, NEK8-depleted inner medullary collecting duct cells exhibited a defective response to fluid shear, suggesting that NEK8 may play a role in mediating PC2-dependent signaling.

  12. The release of acetylcholine from post-ganglionic cell bodies in response to depolarization.

    PubMed Central

    Johnson, D A; Pilar, G

    1980-01-01

    1. Acetylcholine (Ach) release from parasympathetic ganglia cell somata was investigated in denervated avian ciliary ganglia. Three days after the input to the ganglion (the oculomotor nerve) was sectioned, all presynaptic nerve terminals had degenerated. 2. Denervated ganglia were shown to contain endogenous ACh and to be capable of synthesizing [3H]ACh from [3H]choline added to the incubation medium. 3. In response to depolarization induced by incubation in 50 mM-[K+]o, denervated ganglia released [3H]ACh into bath effluents in amounts approximately 15% of the non-denervated contralateral control. This release was shown to be Ca2+ dependent in both intact and denervated ganglia. 4. Antidromic electrical stimulation of ciliary nerves also elicited [3H]ACh release. Nicotine (1 microgram/microliter.) depolarized denervated ciliary ganglion cells and evoked release of the transmitter and this release was antagonized by curare. 5. It is concluded that the ganglionic cell bodies sysnthesized ACh and released the transmitter in response to K+ depolarization, antidromic stimulation and cholinergic agonists, despite the lack of morphological specializations usually associated with stimulus-induced release of neurotransmitter. The evidence suggests the existence of a mechanism of transmitter release which is Ca2+ dependent, probably from a cytoplasmic pool and therefore distinct from the usual vesicular release at the nerve terminal. Images Plate 1 Plate 2 PMID:6247485

  13. Amphipathic amines affect membrane excitability in paramecium: role for bilayer couple.

    PubMed Central

    Browning, J L; Nelson, D L

    1976-01-01

    Amphipathic amines and local anesthetics stimulated reversal of the ciliary beating direction in wild-type Paramecium. Ca++ influx across the surface membrane and the consequent increase in internal Ca++ causes ciliary reversal and backward swimming. Mutant cells of the "Pawn" class, which lack a "gating" mechanism for regulating Ca++ influx, did not swim backwards in the presence of local anesthetics. Local anesthetics stimulated the passive efflux of K+ but had no effect on the active transport of K+ or Ca++. Apparently passive influx of Ca++ also was stimulated by local anesthetics as evidenced by their effects on swimming direction. These data can be interpreted in terms of the "bilayer couple" hypothesis of Sheetz and Singer [(1974) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 71, 4457-4461]: amphipathic drugs affect cells by asymmetric insertion into one face of the lipid bilayer. As predicted by this hypothesis, the drugs' effects were seen only after a short time lag, and quaternary amines were less effective than tertiary amines. The effect on behavior was caused by any of several amphipathic cations, and the relative potency was a function of their hydrophobicity. Amphipathic anions, which according to the hypothesis would insert into the opposite face of the lipid bilayer, had little effect on ciliary reversal. Asymmetric perturbation of the lipid bilayer with amphipathic cations may trigger the opening of the Ca++ gate. Images PMID:1061147

  14. Insights into the Structure and Function of Ciliary and Flagellar Doublet Microtubules

    PubMed Central

    Linck, Richard; Fu, Xiaofeng; Lin, Jianfeng; Ouch, Christna; Schefter, Alexandra; Steffen, Walter; Warren, Peter; Nicastro, Daniela

    2014-01-01

    Cilia and flagella are conserved, motile, and sensory cell organelles involved in signal transduction and human disease. Their scaffold consists of a 9-fold array of remarkably stable doublet microtubules (DMTs), along which motor proteins transmit force for ciliary motility and intraflagellar transport. DMTs possess Ribbons of three to four hyper-stable protofilaments whose location, organization, and specialized functions have been elusive. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the distribution and structural arrangements of Ribbon proteins from sea urchin sperm flagella, using quantitative immunobiochemistry, proteomics, immuno-cryo-electron microscopy, and tomography. Isolated Ribbons contain acetylated α-tubulin, β-tubulin, conserved protein Rib45, >95% of the axonemal tektins, and >95% of the calcium-binding proteins, Rib74 and Rib85.5, whose human homologues are related to the cause of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. DMTs contain only one type of Ribbon, corresponding to protofilaments A11-12-13-1 of the A-tubule. Rib74 and Rib85.5 are associated with the Ribbon in the lumen of the A-tubule. Ribbons contain a single ∼5-nm wide filament, composed of equimolar tektins A, B, and C, which interact with the nexin-dynein regulatory complex. A summary of findings is presented, and the functions of Ribbon proteins are discussed in terms of the assembly and stability of DMTs, ciliary motility, and other microtubule systems. PMID:24794867

  15. TMEM237 Is Mutated in Individuals with a Joubert Syndrome Related Disorder and Expands the Role of the TMEM Family at the Ciliary Transition Zone

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Lijia; Szymanska, Katarzyna; Jensen, Victor L.; Janecke, Andreas R.; Innes, A. Micheil; Davis, Erica E.; Frosk, Patrick; Li, Chunmei; Willer, Jason R.; Chodirker, Bernard N.; Greenberg, Cheryl R.; McLeod, D. Ross; Bernier, Francois P.; Chudley, Albert E.; Müller, Thomas; Shboul, Mohammad; Logan, Clare V.; Loucks, Catrina M.; Beaulieu, Chandree L.; Bowie, Rachel V.; Bell, Sandra M.; Adkins, Jonathan; Zuniga, Freddi I.; Ross, Kevin D.; Wang, Jian; Ban, Matthew R.; Becker, Christian; Nürnberg, Peter; Douglas, Stuart; Craft, Cheryl M.; Akimenko, Marie-Andree; Hegele, Robert A.; Ober, Carole; Utermann, Gerd; Bolz, Hanno J.; Bulman, Dennis E.; Katsanis, Nicholas; Blacque, Oliver E.; Doherty, Dan; Parboosingh, Jillian S.; Leroux, Michel R.; Johnson, Colin A.; Boycott, Kym M.

    2011-01-01

    Joubert syndrome related disorders (JSRDs) have broad but variable phenotypic overlap with other ciliopathies. The molecular etiology of this overlap is unclear but probably arises from disrupting common functional module components within primary cilia. To identify additional module elements associated with JSRDs, we performed homozygosity mapping followed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) and uncovered mutations in TMEM237 (previously known as ALS2CR4). We show that loss of the mammalian TMEM237, which localizes to the ciliary transition zone (TZ), results in defective ciliogenesis and deregulation of Wnt signaling. Furthermore, disruption of Danio rerio (zebrafish) tmem237 expression produces gastrulation defects consistent with ciliary dysfunction, and Caenorhabditis elegans jbts-14 genetically interacts with nphp-4, encoding another TZ protein, to control basal body-TZ anchoring to the membrane and ciliogenesis. Both mammalian and C. elegans TMEM237/JBTS-14 require RPGRIP1L/MKS5 for proper TZ localization, and we demonstrate additional functional interactions between C. elegans JBTS-14 and MKS-2/TMEM216, MKSR-1/B9D1, and MKSR-2/B9D2. Collectively, our findings integrate TMEM237/JBTS-14 in a complex interaction network of TZ-associated proteins and reveal a growing contribution of a TZ functional module to the spectrum of ciliopathy phenotypes. PMID:22152675

  16. Purification and characterization of factors produced by Aspergillus fumigatus which affect human ciliated respiratory epithelium.

    PubMed Central

    Amitani, R; Taylor, G; Elezis, E N; Llewellyn-Jones, C; Mitchell, J; Kuze, F; Cole, P J; Wilson, R

    1995-01-01

    The mechanisms by which Aspergillus fumigatus colonizes the respiratory mucosa are unknown. Culture filtrates of eight of nine clinical isolates of A. fumigatus slowed ciliary beat frequency and damaged human respiratory epithelium in vitro. These changes appeared to occur concurrently. Culture filtrates of two clinical isolates of Candida albicans had no effect on ciliated epithelium. We have purified and characterized cilioinhibitory factors of a clinical isolate of A. fumigatus. The cilioinhibitory activity was heat labile, reduced by dialysis, and partially extractable into chloroform. The activity was associated with both high- and low-molecular-weight factors, as determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50. A low-molecular-weight cilioinhibitory factor was further purified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and shown by mass spectrometry to be gliotoxin, a known metabolite of A. fumigatus. Gliotoxin significantly slowed ciliary beat frequency in association with epithelial damage at concentrations above 0.2 microgram/ml; other Aspergillus toxins, i.e., fumagillin and helvolic acid, were also cilioinhibitory but at much higher concentrations. High-molecular-weight (> or = 35,000 and 25,000) cilioinhibitory materials had neither elastolytic nor proteolytic activity and remain to be identified. Thus, A. fumigatus produces a number of biologically active substances which slow ciliary beating and damage epithelium and which may influence colonization of the airways. PMID:7543879

  17. Retrobulbar ocular blood flow changes measured by colour Doppler imaging after intra-arterial chemotherapy in retinoblastoma.

    PubMed

    Xue, Kang; Liu, Ailin; Hui, Ren; Zhang, Jing; Qian, Jiang

    2017-10-01

    To evaluate the effects of intra-arterial chemotherapy on retrobulbar blood flow parameters in patients with retinoblastoma. 20 eyes of 10 patients with unilateral retinoblastoma that were treated with intra-arterial chemotherapy were evaluated using colour Doppler imaging. The peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities of the ophthalmic, central retinal and posterior ciliary arteries were determined. The pulsatility and resistance indices were calculated automatically. The treated eye was compared with the untreated (control) eye and with itself before and after intra-arterial chemotherapy. When comparing the retinoblastoma-containing eyes with the contralateral normal eyes, the peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities of the central retinal artery were significantly higher in the tumorous eyes than in the normal eyes before intra-arterial chemotherapy. Moreover, the peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities in the posterior ciliary and central retinal arteries were significantly decreased after intra-arterial chemotherapy in the tumorous eyes (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the other parameters. Our results suggest that intra-arterial chemotherapy has a measurable effect on the retrobulbar blood flow, which can cause a decrease in the peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities in the posterior ciliary and central retinal arteries. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

  18. Is the use of benzalkonium chloride as a preservative for nasal formulations a safety concern? A cautionary note based on compromised mucociliary transport.

    PubMed

    Bernstein, I L

    2000-01-01

    Topical nasal solution and suspension delivery systems are available for short- and long-acting vasoconstrictors, ipratropium, cromolyn, azelastine, and glucocorticosteroids. The use of intranasal glucocorticosteroids has increased substantially because the efficacy of these agents has been well established for the treatment of perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis. Adverse local effects of burning, irritation, and dryness are occasionally associated with glucocorticosteroid nasal preparations. Benzalkonium chloride (BKC) is a quaternary ammonium antimicrobial agent included in some nasal solutions (including glucocorticosteroids) to prevent the growth of bacteria. Some reports suggest that BKC in nasal sprays may cause adverse effects, including reduced mucociliary transport, rhinitis medicamentosa, and neutrophil dysfunction. This article summarizes recent literature about possible adverse biologic effects associated with BKC as a nasal spray preservative by examining its effects on the following properties of mucociliary transport: ciliary motion, ciliary form, ciliary beat frequency, electron microscopy, and particle movement/saccharin clearance tests. Both animal and human in vitro data suggest that BKC promotes ciliostasis and reduction in mucociliary transport that may be partially masked by absorption and dilution effects occurring in respiratory mucus. These possible confounding factors may account for several disparate human in vivo results. The use of BKC-free glucocorticosteroid formulations should be considered, particularly in patients who complain of nasal burning, dryness, or irritation.

  19. Prototapirella ciliates from wild habituated Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Rwanda with the descriptions of two new species.

    PubMed

    Ito, Akira; Eckardt, Winnie; Stoinski, Tara S; Gillespie, Thomas R; Tokiwa, Toshihiro

    2016-06-01

    The morphology of Prototapirella fosseyi n. sp., P. rwanda n. sp. and P. gorillaeImai, Ikeda, Collet, and Bonhomme, 1991 in the Entodiniomorphida were described from the mountain gorillas, Gorilla beringei beringei, in Rwanda. The ciliates have a retractable adoral ciliary zone, four non-retractable ciliary tufts in four caudalia, and one broad skeletal plate beneath the body surface. P. rwanda has a dorsal lobe and ventral lobes in two rows whereas P. fosseyi has no lobes. These two new species have an elongated body, a flat tail flap leaning to the ventral, a macronucleus with a tapering anterior end, a round posterior end and a shallow depression on the dorsal side, a micronucleus lying near the anterior end of macronucleus, a thin left region of the skeletal plate, a distinct skeletal rod plate, and four contractile vacuoles. P. gorillae has some variations in the nuclei and the skeletal plate. The infraciliary bands of three Prototapirella species were the same as some Triplumaria species; a C-shaped adoral polybrachykinety, a slender perivestibular polybrachykinety, and paralabial kineties in their retractable adoral ciliary zone and short lateral polybrachykineties in their four caudalia. The perivestibular polybrachykinety is joined only to the right end of adoral polybrachykinety. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  20. [Endoscopically controlled optimization of trans-scleral suture fixation of posterior chamber lenses in the ciliary sulcus].

    PubMed

    Althaus, C; Sundmacher, R

    1993-08-01

    Two technical difficulties have to be overcome in transscleral suture fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PCL) in the ciliary sulcus: first, exact needle penetration through the sulcus, and second, exact positioning of the PCL haptics in the sulcus. Incongruence of the two may lead to long-term complications by compression or even strangulation of ciliary processes. Intraocular endoscopy was used intraoperatively to visualize the site of needle penetration and the final location of the haptics in patients. It turned out that with our previously described standard techniques the precision was far less than anticipated. Thus, new technical ways had to be sought to improve the precision of positioning. In secondary implantation without perforating keratoplasty we achieved the best results when the needle was passed ab externo before opening the eye and before anterior vitrectomy, taking advantage of a precisely prepared sclerocorneal zone. Passing the needle ab externo in an already hypotonic eyeball gives much less precise results. In combination with perforating keratoplasty with an open-sky approach, needle penetration ab interno is reliable. Correct positioning of the PCL haptics is at least as difficult as correct needle penetration, a fact which up to now has mostly been ignored. In 33 consecutively operated eyes the technique of implantation and PCL design was varied under endoscopical control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

  1. Axial movement of the dual-optic accommodating intraocular lens for the correction of the presbyopia: optical performance and clinical outcomes.

    PubMed

    Tomás-Juan, Javier; Murueta-Goyena Larrañaga, Ane

    2015-01-01

    Presbyopia occurs in the aging eye due to changes in the ciliary muscle, zonular fibers, crystalline lens, and an increased lens sclerosis. As a consequence, the capacity of accommodation decreases, which hampers to focus near objects. With the aim of restoring near vision, different devices that produce multiple focuses have been developed and introduced. However, these devices are still unable to restore accommodation. In order to achieve that goal, dual-optic accommodating Intraocular Lenses have been designed, whose anterior optic displaces axially to increase ocular power, and focus near objects. Although dual-optic accommodating IOLs are relatively new, their outcomes are promising, as they provide large amplitudes of accommodation and a greater IOL displacement than single-optic accommodating IOLs. The outcomes show comfortable near vision, higher patients' satisfaction rates, and minimal postoperative complications like Posterior Capsular Opacification and Anterior Capsular Opacification, due to their design and material. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Espana.

  2. Genetic counseling for men with recurrent pregnancy loss or recurrent implantation failure due to abnormal sperm chromosomal aneuploidy.

    PubMed

    Kohn, Taylor P; Kohn, Jaden R; Darilek, Sandra; Ramasamy, Ranjith; Lipshultz, Larry

    2016-05-01

    The purpose of this study is to review recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) due to sperm chromosomal abnormalities and discuss the genetic counseling that is required for men with sperm chromosomal abnormalities. The literature was reviewed, and a genetic counselor lends her expertise as to how couples with RPL and sperm chromosomal abnormalities ought to be counseled. The review of the literature was performed using MEDLINE. Sperm fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can be used to determine if disomy or unbalanced chromosomal translocations are present. In men with aneuploidy in sperm or who carry a chromosomal translocation, pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) combined with in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can increase chances of live birth. In men with abnormal sperm FISH results, the degree of increased risk of abnormal pregnancy remains unclear. Genetic counselors can provide information to couples about the risk for potential trisomies and sex chromosome aneuploidies and discuss their reproductive and testing options such as PGS, use of donor sperm, and adoption. The provision of genetic counseling also allows a couple to be educated about recommended prenatal testing since pregnancies conceived with a partner who has had abnormal sperm FISH are considered to be at increased risk for aneuploidy. We review the literature and discuss genetic counseling for couples with RPL or recurrent implantation failure due to increased sperm aneuploidy.

  3. Paramecium swimming in capillary tube

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jana, Saikat; Um, Soong Ho; Jung, Sunghwan

    2012-04-01

    Swimming organisms in their natural habitat need to navigate through a wide range of geometries and chemical environments. Interaction with boundaries in such situations is ubiquitous and can significantly modify the swimming characteristics of the organism when compared to ideal laboratory conditions. We study the different patterns of ciliary locomotion in glass capillaries of varying diameter and characterize the effect of the solid boundaries on the velocities of the organism. Experimental observations show that Paramecium executes helical trajectories that slowly transition to straight lines as the diameter of the capillary tubes decreases. We predict the swimming velocity in capillaries by modeling the system as a confined cylinder propagating longitudinal metachronal waves that create a finite pressure gradient. Comparing with experiments, we find that such pressure gradient considerations are necessary for modeling finite sized ciliary organisms in restrictive geometries.

  4. Accommodation training in foreign workers.

    PubMed

    Takada, Masumi; Miyao, Masaru; Matsuura, Yasuyuki; Takada, Hiroki

    2013-01-01

    By relaxing the contracted focus-adjustment muscles around the eyeball, known as the ciliary and extraocular muscles, the degree of pseudomyopia can be reduced. This understanding has led to accommodation training in which a visual target is presented in stereoscopic video clips. However, it has been pointed out that motion sickness can be induced by viewing stereoscopic video clips. In Measurement 1 of the present study, we verified whether the new 3D technology reduced the severity of motion sickness in accordance with stabilometry. We then evaluated the short-term effects of accommodation training using new stereoscopic video clips on foreign workers (11 females) suffering from eye fatigue in Measurement 2. The foreign workers were trained for three days. As a result, visual acuity was statistically improved by continuous accommodation training, which will help promote ciliary muscle stretching.

  5. Retinal pigment epithelium changes in Kartagener syndrome.

    PubMed

    Garcia, Maria D; Ventura, Camila V; Dias, João R; Chang, Ta Chen P; Berrocal, Audina M

    2018-06-01

    We present the first case in the literature of a patient with Kartagener syndrome and ocular findings of nonexudative age-related macular degeneration. A 55-year-old woman with Kartagener syndrome and chronic angle closure glaucoma presented for evaluation of the retina. Optos ultra-widefield imaging of the fundus showed glaucomatous cupping, drusen, and retinal pigment epithelium changes within the macular region. Humphrey visual field testing confirmed glaucomatous changes. Drusenoid pigment epithelial detachments were observed bilaterally with optical coherence tomography. We hypothesize that in addition to the lungs, spermatozoa and the Fallopian tubes, the retinal pigment epithelium may also be affected by ciliary dysfunction in individuals with Kartagener syndrome. Given recent advances in our knowledge of retinal ciliopathies, further studies are needed to understand how ciliary dysfunction affects the retina in Kartagener syndrome.

  6. Solving intraocular lens-related pigment dispersion syndrome with repositioning of primary sulcus implanted single-piece IOL in the capsular bag.

    PubMed

    Kohnen, Thomas; Kook, Daniel

    2009-08-01

    We describe 2 cases of pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS) after uneventful phacoemulsification and implantation of a posterior chamber single-piece intraocular lens (IOL) with a sharp-edge design. In both cases, several days after IOL implantation, marked pigment dispersion was seen on the iris and in the trabecular meshwork, associated with an elevation in intraocular pressure (IOP). Thorough examination showed that the implanted IOL was in the ciliary sulcus. After surgical repositioning of both IOLs in the capsular bag, the pigment dispersion regressed and the IOP returned to normal limits. The 2 cases suggest that particularly in PDS patients, an IOL with an anterior sharp-edge design should be implanted in the capsular bag. Implantation in the ciliary sulcus should be avoided.

  7. Cholinergic inhibition of adrenergic neurosecretion in the rabbit iris-ciliary body

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jumblatt, J.E.; North, G.T.

    The prejunctional effects of cholinergic agents on release of norepinephrine from sympathetic nerve endings were investigated in the isolated, superfused rabbit iris-ciliary body. Stimulation-evoked release of /sup 3/H-norepinephrine was inhibited by the cholinergic agonists methacholine, oxotremorine, muscarine, carbamylcholine and acetylcholine (plus eserine), but was unmodified by pilocarpine or nicotine. Agonist-induced inhibition was antagonized selectively by atropine, indicating a muscarinic response. Atropine alone markedly enhanced norepinephrine release, revealing considerable tonic activation of prejunctional cholinergic receptors in this system. Prejunctional inhibition by carbamylcholine was found to completely override the facilitative action of forskolin or 8-bromo-cyclic AMP on neurotransmitter release. Cholinergic and alphamore » 2-adrenergic effects on neurosecretion were non-additive, suggesting that the underlying receptors coexist at neurotransmitter release sites.« less

  8. Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Reactivates from Autonomic Ciliary Ganglia Independently from Sensory Trigeminal Ganglia To Cause Recurrent Ocular Disease

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Sungseok; Ives, Angela M.

    2015-01-01

    ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 establish latency in sensory and autonomic neurons after ocular or genital infection, but their recurrence patterns differ. HSV-1 reactivates from latency to cause recurrent orofacial disease, and while HSV-1 also causes genital lesions, HSV-2 recurs more efficiently in the genital region and rarely causes ocular disease. The mechanisms regulating these anatomical preferences are unclear. To determine whether differences in latent infection and reactivation in autonomic ganglia contribute to differences in HSV-1 and HSV-2 anatomical preferences for recurrent disease, we compared HSV-1 and HSV-2 clinical disease, acute and latent viral loads, and viral gene expression in sensory trigeminal and autonomic superior cervical and ciliary ganglia in a guinea pig ocular infection model. HSV-2 produced more severe acute disease, correlating with higher viral DNA loads in sensory and autonomic ganglia, as well as higher levels of thymidine kinase expression, a marker of productive infection, in autonomic ganglia. HSV-1 reactivated in ciliary ganglia, independently from trigeminal ganglia, to cause more frequent recurrent symptoms, while HSV-2 replicated simultaneously in autonomic and sensory ganglia to cause more persistent disease. While both HSV-1 and HSV-2 expressed the latency-associated transcript (LAT) in the trigeminal and superior cervical ganglia, only HSV-1 expressed LAT in ciliary ganglia, suggesting that HSV-2 is not reactivation competent or does not fully establish latency in ciliary ganglia. Thus, differences in replication and viral gene expression in autonomic ganglia may contribute to differences in HSV-1 and HSV-2 acute and recurrent clinical disease. IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 establish latent infections, from which the viruses reactivate to cause recurrent disease throughout the life of the host. However, the viruses exhibit different manifestations and frequencies of recurrent disease. HSV-1 and HSV-2 establish latency in both sensory and autonomic ganglia. Autonomic ganglia are more responsive than sensory ganglia to stimuli associated with recurrent disease in humans, such as stress and hormone fluctuations, suggesting that autonomic ganglia may play an important role in recurrent disease. We show that HSV-1 can reactivate from autonomic ganglia, independently from sensory ganglia, to cause recurrent ocular disease. We found no evidence that HSV-2 could reactivate from autonomic ganglia independently from sensory ganglia after ocular infection, but HSV-2 did replicate in both ganglia simultaneously to cause persistent disease. Thus, viral replication and reactivation in autonomic ganglia contribute to different clinical disease manifestations of HSV-1 and HSV-2 after ocular infection. PMID:26041294

  9. Intraocular (Eye) Melanoma—Health Professional Version

    Cancer.gov

    Intraocular (uveal) melanoma of the uveal tract (iris, ciliary body, and choroid), though rare, is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Find evidence-based information on intraocular melanoma treatment.

  10. Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

    MedlinePlus

    ... made to help with CPT, such as: An electric chest clapper, known as a mechanical percussor. An ... your child spends time, including the home and car. Encourage your child to never start smoking. For ...

  11. Guaifenesin in rhinitis.

    PubMed

    Storms, William; Farrar, Judith R

    2009-03-01

    Mucus in the airways is a complex mixture of water, lipids, glycoproteins, sugars, and electrolytes that serves as a lubricant for the epithelium. The efficient flow of respiratory mucus is a first level of immune defense that requires an appropriate viscosity and elasticity for optimal barrier and ciliary functions. Thickening and drying of airway mucus by respiratory tract infections, allergies, and drugs can impair evacuation. Tenacious, bothersome mucus is an annoying and frequent symptom of rhinitis that is difficult to manage. Common remedies include adequate hydration through fluid intake and nasal washes. The use of mucoactive agents is controversial due to limited data and equivocal efficacy in available studies. Nonetheless, some patients benefit. This review examines the use of guaifenesin (glyceryl guaiacolate) on bothersome nasal mucus associated with rhinitis, including the available published data and clinical experience.

  12. [Radionuclide evaluation of the mucociliary function of the mucosa of the nasal cavity in chronic lung diseases].

    PubMed

    Kasatkin, Iu N; Kaganov, S Iu; Vyrenkova, N Iu; Kramer, E F; Rozinova, N N

    1987-02-01

    The authors presented their first experience of radionuclide assessment of the nasal mucosal transport (NMT) in 39 patients with chronic bronchopulmonary pathology (14 adults and 25 children) to detect patients among them with suspected syndrome of primary ciliary dyskinesia (SPCD). In 18 patients the test was positive excluding SPCD as a cause of a chronic inflammatory pulmonary process. In 21 patients NMT was absent, 2 of these patients had Kartagener's triad serving as a kind of model confirming the data on NMT. The authors proposed the method as a screening test due to its non-invasiveness and simplicity in patients with chronic inflammatory pulmonary diseases in order to detect among them patients with suspected SPCD for further examination using invasive methods.

  13. Mutation of Growth Arrest Specific 8 Reveals a Role in Motile Cilia Function and Human Disease

    PubMed Central

    Lewis, Wesley R.; Malarkey, Erik B.; Tritschler, Douglas; Bower, Raqual; Pasek, Raymond C.; Porath, Jonathan D.; Birket, Susan E.; Saunier, Sophie; Antignac, Corinne; Leigh, Margaret W.; Zariwala, Maimoona A.; Drummond, Iain A.; Parant, John M.; Hildebrandt, Friedhelm; Yoder, Bradley K.

    2016-01-01

    Ciliopathies are genetic disorders arising from dysfunction of microtubule-based cellular appendages called cilia. Different cilia types possess distinct stereotypic microtubule doublet arrangements with non-motile or ‘primary’ cilia having a 9+0 and motile cilia have a 9+2 array of microtubule doublets. Primary cilia are critical sensory and signaling centers needed for normal mammalian development. Defects in their structure/function result in a spectrum of clinical and developmental pathologies including abnormal neural tube and limb patterning. Altered patterning phenotypes in the limb and neural tube are due to perturbations in the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. Motile cilia are important in fluid movement and defects in motility result in chronic respiratory infections, altered left-right asymmetry, and infertility. These features are the hallmarks of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD, OMIM 244400). While mutations in several genes are associated with PCD in patients and animal models, the genetic lesion in many cases is unknown. We assessed the in vivo functions of Growth Arrest Specific 8 (GAS8). GAS8 shares strong sequence similarity with the Chlamydomonas Nexin-Dynein Regulatory Complex (NDRC) protein 4 (DRC4) where it is needed for proper flagella motility. In mammalian cells, the GAS8 protein localizes not only to the microtubule axoneme of motile cilia, but also to the base of non-motile cilia. Gas8 was recently implicated in the Hh signaling pathway as a regulator of Smoothened trafficking into the cilium. Here, we generate the first mouse with a Gas8 mutation and show that it causes severe PCD phenotypes; however, there were no overt Hh pathway phenotypes. In addition, we identified two human patients with missense variants in Gas8. Rescue experiments in Chlamydomonas revealed a subtle defect in swim velocity compared to controls. Further experiments using CRISPR/Cas9 homology driven repair (HDR) to generate one of these human missense variants in mice demonstrated that this allele is likely pathogenic. PMID:27472056

  14. Mutation of Growth Arrest Specific 8 Reveals a Role in Motile Cilia Function and Human Disease.

    PubMed

    Lewis, Wesley R; Malarkey, Erik B; Tritschler, Douglas; Bower, Raqual; Pasek, Raymond C; Porath, Jonathan D; Birket, Susan E; Saunier, Sophie; Antignac, Corinne; Knowles, Michael R; Leigh, Margaret W; Zariwala, Maimoona A; Challa, Anil K; Kesterson, Robert A; Rowe, Steven M; Drummond, Iain A; Parant, John M; Hildebrandt, Friedhelm; Porter, Mary E; Yoder, Bradley K; Berbari, Nicolas F

    2016-07-01

    Ciliopathies are genetic disorders arising from dysfunction of microtubule-based cellular appendages called cilia. Different cilia types possess distinct stereotypic microtubule doublet arrangements with non-motile or 'primary' cilia having a 9+0 and motile cilia have a 9+2 array of microtubule doublets. Primary cilia are critical sensory and signaling centers needed for normal mammalian development. Defects in their structure/function result in a spectrum of clinical and developmental pathologies including abnormal neural tube and limb patterning. Altered patterning phenotypes in the limb and neural tube are due to perturbations in the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. Motile cilia are important in fluid movement and defects in motility result in chronic respiratory infections, altered left-right asymmetry, and infertility. These features are the hallmarks of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD, OMIM 244400). While mutations in several genes are associated with PCD in patients and animal models, the genetic lesion in many cases is unknown. We assessed the in vivo functions of Growth Arrest Specific 8 (GAS8). GAS8 shares strong sequence similarity with the Chlamydomonas Nexin-Dynein Regulatory Complex (NDRC) protein 4 (DRC4) where it is needed for proper flagella motility. In mammalian cells, the GAS8 protein localizes not only to the microtubule axoneme of motile cilia, but also to the base of non-motile cilia. Gas8 was recently implicated in the Hh signaling pathway as a regulator of Smoothened trafficking into the cilium. Here, we generate the first mouse with a Gas8 mutation and show that it causes severe PCD phenotypes; however, there were no overt Hh pathway phenotypes. In addition, we identified two human patients with missense variants in Gas8. Rescue experiments in Chlamydomonas revealed a subtle defect in swim velocity compared to controls. Further experiments using CRISPR/Cas9 homology driven repair (HDR) to generate one of these human missense variants in mice demonstrated that this allele is likely pathogenic.

  15. Melanoma of the eye

    MedlinePlus

    ... eye, including the: Choroid Ciliary body Conjunctiva Eyelid Iris Orbit The choroid layer is the most likely ... any of the following: Bulging eyes Change in iris color Poor vision in one eye Red, painful ...

  16. Flow of Aqueous Humor

    MedlinePlus

    ... National Glaucoma Research Home Flow of Aqueous Humor Flow of Aqueous Humor Most, but not all, forms ... aqueous humor) produced by the eye's ciliary body flows out freely (follow blue arrow). Aqueous humor flows ...

  17. Flagellar Synchronization Is a Simple Alternative to Cell Cycle Synchronization for Ciliary and Flagellar Studies

    PubMed Central

    Dutta, Soumita

    2017-01-01

    ABSTRACT The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an ideal model organism for studies of ciliary function and assembly. In assays for biological and biochemical effects of various factors on flagellar structure and function, synchronous culture is advantageous for minimizing variability. Here, we have characterized a method in which 100% synchronization is achieved with respect to flagellar length but not with respect to the cell cycle. The method requires inducing flagellar regeneration by amputation of the entire cell population and limiting regeneration time. This results in a maximally homogeneous distribution of flagellar lengths at 3 h postamputation. We found that time-limiting new protein synthesis during flagellar synchronization limits variability in the unassembled pool of limiting flagellar protein and variability in flagellar length without affecting the range of cell volumes. We also found that long- and short-flagella mutants that regenerate normally require longer and shorter synchronization times, respectively. By minimizing flagellar length variability using a simple method requiring only hours and no changes in media, flagellar synchronization facilitates the detection of small changes in flagellar length resulting from both chemical and genetic perturbations in Chlamydomonas. This method increases our ability to probe the basic biology of ciliary size regulation and related disease etiologies. IMPORTANCE Cilia and flagella are highly conserved antenna-like organelles that found in nearly all mammalian cell types. They perform sensory and motile functions contributing to numerous physiological and developmental processes. Defects in their assembly and function are implicated in a wide range of human diseases ranging from retinal degeneration to cancer. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an algal model system for studying mammalian cilium formation and function. Here, we report a simple synchronization method that allows detection of small changes in ciliary length by minimizing variability in the population. We find that this method alters the key relationship between cell size and the amount of protein accumulated for flagellar growth. This provides a rapid alternative to traditional methods of cell synchronization for uncovering novel regulators of cilia. PMID:28289724

  18. Flagellar Synchronization Is a Simple Alternative to Cell Cycle Synchronization for Ciliary and Flagellar Studies.

    PubMed

    Dutta, Soumita; Avasthi, Prachee

    2017-01-01

    The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an ideal model organism for studies of ciliary function and assembly. In assays for biological and biochemical effects of various factors on flagellar structure and function, synchronous culture is advantageous for minimizing variability. Here, we have characterized a method in which 100% synchronization is achieved with respect to flagellar length but not with respect to the cell cycle. The method requires inducing flagellar regeneration by amputation of the entire cell population and limiting regeneration time. This results in a maximally homogeneous distribution of flagellar lengths at 3 h postamputation. We found that time-limiting new protein synthesis during flagellar synchronization limits variability in the unassembled pool of limiting flagellar protein and variability in flagellar length without affecting the range of cell volumes. We also found that long- and short-flagella mutants that regenerate normally require longer and shorter synchronization times, respectively. By minimizing flagellar length variability using a simple method requiring only hours and no changes in media, flagellar synchronization facilitates the detection of small changes in flagellar length resulting from both chemical and genetic perturbations in Chlamydomonas . This method increases our ability to probe the basic biology of ciliary size regulation and related disease etiologies. IMPORTANCE Cilia and flagella are highly conserved antenna-like organelles that found in nearly all mammalian cell types. They perform sensory and motile functions contributing to numerous physiological and developmental processes. Defects in their assembly and function are implicated in a wide range of human diseases ranging from retinal degeneration to cancer. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an algal model system for studying mammalian cilium formation and function. Here, we report a simple synchronization method that allows detection of small changes in ciliary length by minimizing variability in the population. We find that this method alters the key relationship between cell size and the amount of protein accumulated for flagellar growth. This provides a rapid alternative to traditional methods of cell synchronization for uncovering novel regulators of cilia.

  19. Smoke Exposure Exacerbates an Ethanol-Induced Defect in Mucociliary Clearance of Streptococcus pneumoniae

    PubMed Central

    Vander Top, Elizabeth A.; Wyatt, Todd A.; Gentry-Nielsen, Martha J.

    2005-01-01

    Background Alcoholics and smokers are particularly susceptible to pulmonary infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, the pneumococcus. Infection begins when pneumococci colonizing the nasopharynx are aspirated into the lower respiratory tract. The major host defense against this movement is the mucociliary clearance apparatus. Both cigarette smoke and ethanol (EtOH) exposure alter ciliary beating and protein kinase activity in the respiratory mucosa in vitro, but their effects on bacterial clearance in the intact animal have not been determined. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed twice daily for 12 weeks to either the smoke generated from 30 cigarettes (smoke-exposed) or room air (sham-exposed). For the last five weeks of smoke exposure, the rats were fed Lieber-DeCarli liquid diets containing 0%, 16%, 26% or 36% EtOH calories. The rats then were infected intranasally with S. pneumoniae, and movement of the organisms into the lower respiratory tract was quantified by plate counts of the trachea and lungs four hours later. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) analysis was performed on tracheal ring explants from each animal before and after stimulation with the β-agonist isoproterenol, and tracheal epithelial cell protein kinase C (PKC) activity was measured. Results Ingestion of any of the EtOH-containing diets resulted in a dose-dependent increase in movement of S. pneumoniae into the rats’ lungs. This EtOH-induced defect was augmented further by concurrent smoke exposure, although smoke exposure alone had little effect on S. pneumoniae movement. Smoke, but not EtOH exposure, activated tracheal epithelial cell PKC. Increased movement of organisms into lungs correlated with a decrease in CBF, and loss of the ciliary response to isoproterenol. Conclusion EtOH ingestion in our model facilitates movement of S. pneumoniae into rats’ lungs, a phenomenon exacerbated by concurrent smoke exposure. Furthermore, the organism’s movement into the lungs correlated with a blunting of the rats’ ciliary response to an established stimulus. Defects in mucociliary clearance thus may be one cause of the increased risk of pneumococcal infections in people who abuse alcohol, particularly if they also smoke. PMID:15897734

  20. Characterization of T-lymphocytes in the anterior uvea of eyes with chronic equine recurrent uveitis.

    PubMed

    Gilger, B C; Malok, E; Cutter, K V; Stewart, T; Horohov, D W; Allen, J B

    1999-10-01

    Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), a chronic, recurrent inflammation primarily of the anterior uveal tract, is the most common cause of blindness in horses. Recently, T-lymphocytes have been found to be the most numerous cell type to infiltrate the anterior uveal of horses with ERU. In the present study, we characterized the T-lymphocyte population in the anterior uveal tract of eyes of horses with chronic ERU by evaluating the microscopic appearance (histopathologic features), the T-lymphocyte subsets, and the relative levels and amounts of T-lymphocyte cytokine mRNA in the anterior uvea. Seven inflamed eyes (from six horses with chronic ERU) and 5 normal eyes (from five horses with nonocular problems) were studied. After clinical examination, the eyes were removed, ocular fluids were aspirated, and anterior uveal tissues (iris and ciliary body) were processed for histologic and molecular (RNA isolation) analyses. Histologic examination by hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining and immunohistochemistry evaluating T-lymphocyte subsets (anti-CD4, CD8, CD5) were performed for each sample. RNA samples were analyzed for levels of messenger (m) RNA specific for interleukin (IL)-2, 4, and interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR). Eyes with ERU exhibited characteristic clinical signs, including corneal edema, aqueous flare, posterior synechia, corpora nigra degeneration, and cataract formation. Histologically, infiltration of the uveal tract with lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages was most evident in the ciliary body and base of the iris. Loss of tissue structure (destruction) was most evident in the ciliary processes. Infiltrating lymphocytes were predominantly CD4+ T-cells (e.g. 48% CD4+ and 18% CD8+ in the ciliary body stroma), as determined by immunohistochemistry. Few inflammatory cells were observed in the normal eyes. The QRT-PCR results revealed increased transcription of IL-2 and IFNgamma and low IL-4 mRNA expression in eyes with chronic ERU compared to normal eyes, demonstrating a Thelper (Th) 1-like inflammatory response in eyes with ERU.

  1. Bbs8, together with the planar cell polarity protein Vangl2, is required to establish left-right asymmetry in zebrafish.

    PubMed

    May-Simera, Helen L; Kai, Masatake; Hernandez, Victor; Osborn, Daniel P S; Tada, Masazumi; Beales, Philip L

    2010-09-15

    Laterality defects such as situs inversus are not uncommonly encountered in humans, either in isolation or as part of another syndrome, but can have devastating developmental consequences. The events that break symmetry during early embryogenesis are highly conserved amongst vertebrates and involve the establishment of unidirectional flow by cilia within an organising centre such as the node in mammals or Kupffer's vesicle (KV) in teleosts. Disruption of this flow can lead to the failure to successfully establish left-right asymmetry. The correct apical-posterior cellular position of each node/KV cilium is critical for its optimal radial movement which serves to sweep fluid (and morphogens) in the same direction as its neighbours. Planar cell polarity (PCP) is an important conserved process that governs ciliary position and posterior tilt; however the underlying mechanism by which this occurs remains unclear. Here we show that Bbs8, a ciliary/basal body protein important for intraciliary/flagellar transport and the core PCP protein Vangl2 interact and are required for establishment and maintenance of left-right asymmetry during early embryogenesis in zebrafish. We discovered that loss of bbs8 and vangl2 results in laterality defects due to cilia disruption at the KV. We showed that perturbation of cell polarity following abrogation of vangl2 causes nuclear mislocalisation, implying defective centrosome/basal body migration and apical docking. Moreover, upon loss of bbs8 and vangl2, we observed defective actin organisation. These data suggest that bbs8 and vangl2 act synergistically on cell polarization to establish and maintain the appropriate length and number of cilia in the KV and thereby facilitate correct LR asymmetry. (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  2. A Novel Mgp-Cre Knock-In Mouse Reveals an Anticalcification/Antistiffness Candidate Gene in the Trabecular Meshwork and Peripapillary Scleral Region.

    PubMed

    Borrás, Teresa; Smith, Matthew H; Buie, LaKisha K

    2015-04-01

    Soft tissue calcification is a pathological condition. Matrix Gla (MGP) is a potent mineralization inhibitor secreted by cartilage chondrocytes and arteries' vascular smooth muscle cells. Mgp knock-out mice die at 6 weeks due to massive arterial calcification. Arterial calcification results in arterial stiffness and higher systolic blood pressure. Intriguingly, MGP was highly abundant in trabecular meshwork (TM). Because tissue stiffness is relevant to glaucoma, we investigated which additional eye tissues use Mgp's function using knock-in mice. An Mgp-Cre-recombinase coding sequence (Cre) knock-in mouse, containing Mgp DNA plus an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)-Cre-cassette was generated by homologous recombination. Founders were crossed with Cre-mediated reporter mouse R26R-lacZ. Their offspring expresses lacZ where Mgp is transcribed. Eyes from MgpCre/+;R26RlacZ/+ (Mgp-lacZ knock-in) and controls, 1 to 8 months were assayed for β-gal enzyme histochemistry. As expected, Mgp-lacZ knock-in's TM was intensely blue. In addition, this mouse revealed high specific expression in the sclera, particularly in the peripapillary scleral region (ppSC). Ciliary muscle and sclera above the TM were also positive. Scleral staining was located immediately underneath the choroid (chondrocyte layer), began midsclera and was remarkably high in the ppSC. Cornea, iris, lens, ciliary body, and retina were negative. All mice exhibited similar staining patterns. All controls were negative. Matrix Gla's restricted expression to glaucoma-associated tissues from anterior and posterior segments suggests its involvement in the development of the disease. Matrix Gla's anticalcification/antistiffness properties in the vascular tissue, together with its high TM and ppCS expression, place this gene as a strong candidate for TM's softness and sclera's stiffness regulation in glaucoma.

  3. Adjustable Augmented Rectus Muscle Transposition Surgery with or Without Ciliary Vessel Sparing for Abduction Deficiencies

    PubMed Central

    Hendler, Karen; Pineles, Stacy L.; Demer, Joseph L.; Yang, Dawn; Velez, Federico G.

    2014-01-01

    Background Vertical rectus transposition (VRT) is useful in abduction deficiencies. Posterior fixation sutures enhance the effect of VRT, but usually preclude the use of adjustable sutures. Augmentation of VRT by resection of the transposed muscles allows for an adjustable technique that can reduce induced vertical deviations and overcorrections. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients undergoing adjustable partial or full tendon VRT augmented by resection of the transposed muscles. Ciliary vessels were preserved in most of the patients by either splitting the transposed muscle or by dragging the transposed muscle without disrupting the muscle insertion. Results Seven patients with abducens palsy and one with esotropic Duane syndrome were included. Both vertical rectus muscles were symmetrically resected by 3–5 mm. Preoperative central gaze esotropia of 30.6 ± 12.9Δ (range, 17–50Δ) decreased to 10.6 ± 8.8Δ (range, 0–25Δ) at the final visit (p = 0.003). Three patients required postoperative adjustment by recession of one of the transposed muscles due to an induced vertical deviation (mean 9.3Δ reduced to 0Δ), coupled with overcorrection (mean exotropia 11.3Δ reduced to 0 in two patients and exophoria 2Δ in one patient). At the final follow-up visit 3.8 ± 2.6 months postoperatively, one patient had a vertical deviation <4Δ, and none had overcorrection or anterior segment ischemia. Three patients required further surgery for recurrent esotropia. Conclusions Augmentation of VRT by resection of the transposed muscles can be performed with adjustable sutures and vessel-sparing technique. This allows for postoperative control of overcorrections and induced vertical deviations as well as less risk of anterior segment ischemia. PMID:24738948

  4. Adjustable augmented rectus muscle transposition surgery with or without ciliary vessel sparing for abduction deficiencies.

    PubMed

    Hendler, Karen; Pineles, Stacy L; Demer, Joseph L; Yang, Dawn; Velez, Federico G

    2014-06-01

    Vertical rectus transposition (VRT) is useful in abduction deficiencies. Posterior fixation sutures enhance the effect of VRT, but usually preclude the use of adjustable sutures. Augmentation of VRT by resection of the transposed muscles allows for an adjustable technique that can reduce induced vertical deviations and overcorrections. We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients undergoing adjustable partial or full tendon VRT augmented by resection of the transposed muscles. Ciliary vessels were preserved in most of the patients by either splitting the transposed muscle or by dragging the transposed muscle without disrupting the muscle insertion. Seven patients with abducens palsy and one with esotropic Duane syndrome were included. Both vertical rectus muscles were symmetrically resected by 3-5 mm. Preoperative central gaze esotropia of 30.6 ± 12.9Δ (range, 17-50Δ) decreased to 10.6 ± 8.8Δ (range, 0-25Δ) at the final visit (p = 0.003). Three patients required postoperative adjustment by recession of one of the transposed muscles due to an induced vertical deviation (mean 9.3Δ reduced to 0Δ), coupled with overcorrection (mean exotropia 11.3Δ reduced to 0 in two patients and exophoria 2Δ in one patient). At the final follow-up visit 3.8 ± 2.6 months postoperatively, one patient had a vertical deviation <4Δ, and none had overcorrection or anterior segment ischemia. Three patients required further surgery for recurrent esotropia. Augmentation of VRT by resection of the transposed muscles can be performed with adjustable sutures and vessel-sparing technique. This allows for postoperative control of overcorrections and induced vertical deviations as well as less risk of anterior segment ischemia.

  5. Sperm-Associated Antigen–17 Gene Is Essential for Motile Cilia Function and Neonatal Survival

    PubMed Central

    Teves, Maria Eugenia; Zhang, Zhibing; Costanzo, Richard M.; Henderson, Scott C.; Corwin, Frank D.; Zweit, Jamal; Sundaresan, Gobalakrishnan; Subler, Mark; Salloum, Fadi N.; Rubin, Bruce K.

    2013-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), resulting from defects in cilia assembly or motility, is caused by mutations in a number of genes encoding axonemal proteins. PCD phenotypes are variable, and include recurrent respiratory tract infections, bronchiectasis, hydrocephaly, situs inversus, and male infertility. We generated knockout mice for the sperm-associated antigen–17 (Spag17) gene, which encodes a central pair (CP) protein present in the axonemes of cells with “9 + 2” motile cilia or flagella. The targeting of Spag17 resulted in a severe phenotype characterized by immotile nasal and tracheal cilia, reduced clearance of nasal mucus, profound respiratory distress associated with lung fluid accumulation and disruption of the alveolar epithelium, cerebral ventricular expansion consistent with emerging hydrocephalus, failure to suckle, and neonatal demise within 12 hours of birth. Ultrastructural analysis revealed the loss of one CP microtubule in approximately one quarter of tracheal cilia axonemes, an absence of a C1 microtubule projection, and other less frequent CP structural abnormalities. SPAG6 and SPAG16 (CP proteins that interact with SPAG17) were increased in tracheal tissue from SPAG17-deficient mice. We conclude that Spag17 plays a critical role in the function and structure of motile cilia, and that neonatal lethality is likely explained by impaired airway mucociliary clearance. PMID:23418344

  6. Variation in Cilia Protein Genes and Progression of Lung Disease in Cystic Fibrosis.

    PubMed

    Blue, Elizabeth; Louie, Tin L; Chong, Jessica X; Hebbring, Scott J; Barnes, Kathleen C; Rafaels, Nicholas M; Knowles, Michael R; Gibson, Ronald L; Bamshad, Michael J; Emond, Mary J

    2018-04-01

    Cystic fibrosis, like primary ciliary dyskinesia, is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by abnormal mucociliary clearance and obstructive lung disease. We hypothesized that genes underlying the development or function of cilia may modify lung disease severity in persons with cystic fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, we compared variants in 93 candidate genes in both upper and lower tertiles of lung function in a large cohort of children and adults with cystic fibrosis with those of a population control dataset. Variants within candidate genes were tested for association using the SKAT-O test, comparing cystic fibrosis cases defined by poor (n = 127) or preserved (n = 127) lung function with population controls (n = 3,269 or 3,148, respectively). Associated variants were then tested for association with related phenotypes in independent datasets. Variants in DNAH14 and DNAAF3 were associated with poor lung function in cystic fibrosis, whereas variants in DNAH14 and DNAH6 were associated with preserved lung function in cystic fibrosis. Associations between DNAH14 and lung function were replicated in disease-related phenotypes characterized by obstructive lung disease in adults. Genetic variants within DNAH6, DNAH14, and DNAAF3 are associated with variation in lung function among persons with cystic fibrosis.

  7. BBSome function is required for both the morphogenesis and maintenance of the photoreceptor outer segment

    PubMed Central

    Hsu, Ying; Kim, Gunhee; Zhang, Qihong; Datta, Poppy; Seo, Seongjin

    2017-01-01

    Genetic mutations disrupting the structure and function of primary cilia cause various inherited retinal diseases in humans. Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a genetically heterogeneous, pleiotropic ciliopathy characterized by retinal degeneration, obesity, postaxial polydactyly, intellectual disability, and genital and renal abnormalities. To gain insight into the mechanisms of retinal degeneration in BBS, we developed a congenital knockout mouse of Bbs8, as well as conditional mouse models in which function of the BBSome (a protein complex that mediates ciliary trafficking) can be temporally inactivated or restored. We demonstrate that BBS mutant mice have defects in retinal outer segment morphogenesis. We further demonstrate that removal of Bbs8 in adult mice affects photoreceptor function and disrupts the structural integrity of the outer segment. Notably, using a mouse model in which a gene trap inhibiting Bbs8 gene expression can be removed by an inducible FLP recombinase, we show that when BBS8 is restored in immature retinas with malformed outer segments, outer segment extension can resume normally and malformed outer segment discs are displaced distally by normal outer segment structures. Over time, the retinas of the rescued mice become morphologically and functionally normal, indicating that there is a window of plasticity when initial retinal outer segment morphogenesis defects can be ameliorated. PMID:29049287

  8. Primary cilia maintain corneal epithelial homeostasis by regulation of the Notch signaling pathway

    PubMed Central

    Grisanti, Laura; Revenkova, Ekaterina; Gordon, Ronald E.

    2016-01-01

    Primary cilia have been linked to signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, cell motility and cell polarity. Defects in ciliary function result in developmental abnormalities and multiple ciliopathies. Patients affected by severe ciliopathies, such as Meckel syndrome, present several ocular surface disease conditions of unclear pathogenesis. Here, we show that primary cilia are predominantly present on basal cells of the mouse corneal epithelium (CE) throughout development and in the adult. Conditional ablation of cilia in the CE leads to an increase in proliferation and vertical migration of basal corneal epithelial cells (CECs). A consequent increase in cell density of suprabasal layers results in a thicker than normal CE. Surprisingly, in cilia-deficient CE, cilia-mediated signaling pathways, including Hh and Wnt pathways, were not affected but the intensity of Notch signaling was severely diminished. Although Notch1 and Notch2 receptors were expressed normally, nuclear Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) expression was severely reduced. Postnatal development analysis revealed that in cilia-deficient CECs downregulation of the Notch pathway precedes cell proliferation defects. Thus, we have uncovered a function of the primary cilium in maintaining homeostasis of the CE by balancing proliferation and vertical migration of basal CECs through modulation of Notch signaling. PMID:27122169

  9. Clinical Features and Associated Likelihood of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia in Children and Adolescents

    PubMed Central

    Ferkol, Thomas W.; Davis, Stephanie D.; Lee, Hye-Seung; Rosenfeld, Margaret; Dell, Sharon D.; Sagel, Scott D.; Milla, Carlos; Olivier, Kenneth N.; Sullivan, Kelli M.; Zariwala, Maimoona A.; Pittman, Jessica E.; Shapiro, Adam J.; Carson, Johnny L.; Krischer, Jeffrey; Hazucha, Milan J.

    2016-01-01

    Rationale: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a genetically heterogeneous, recessive disorder of motile cilia, is associated with distinct clinical features. Diagnostic tests, including ultrastructural analysis of cilia, nasal nitric oxide measurements, and molecular testing for mutations in PCD genes, have inherent limitations. Objectives: To define a statistically valid combination of systematically defined clinical features that strongly associates with PCD in children and adolescents. Methods: Investigators at seven North American sites in the Genetic Disorders of Mucociliary Clearance Consortium prospectively and systematically assessed individuals (aged 0–18 yr) referred due to high suspicion for PCD. The investigators defined specific clinical questions for the clinical report form based on expert opinion. Diagnostic testing was performed using standardized protocols and included nasal nitric oxide measurement, ciliary biopsy for ultrastructural analysis of cilia, and molecular genetic testing for PCD-associated genes. Final diagnoses were assigned as “definite PCD” (hallmark ultrastructural defects and/or two mutations in a PCD-associated gene), “probable/possible PCD” (no ultrastructural defect or genetic diagnosis, but compatible clinical features and nasal nitric oxide level in PCD range), and “other diagnosis or undefined.” Criteria were developed to define early childhood clinical features on the basis of responses to multiple specific queries. Each defined feature was tested by logistic regression. Sensitivity and specificity analyses were conducted to define the most robust set of clinical features associated with PCD. Measurements and Main Results: From 534 participants 18 years of age and younger, 205 were identified as having “definite PCD” (including 164 with two mutations in a PCD-associated gene), 187 were categorized as “other diagnosis or undefined,” and 142 were defined as having “probable/possible PCD.” Participants with “definite PCD” were compared with the “other diagnosis or undefined” group. Four criteria-defined clinical features were statistically predictive of PCD: laterality defect; unexplained neonatal respiratory distress; early-onset, year-round nasal congestion; and early-onset, year-round wet cough (adjusted odds ratios of 7.7, 6.6, 3.4, and 3.1, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity based on the number of criteria-defined clinical features were four features, 0.21 and 0.99, respectively; three features, 0.50 and 0.96, respectively; and two features, 0.80 and 0.72, respectively. Conclusions: Systematically defined early clinical features could help identify children, including infants, likely to have PCD. Clinical trial registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00323167). PMID:27070726

  10. International PPB Registry for PPB, DICER1 and Associated Conditions

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-12-18

    Pleuropulmonary Blastoma; Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor; DICER1 Syndrome; Cystic Nephroma; Wilms Tumor; Pineoblastoma; Renal Sarcoma; Nodular Hyperplasia of Thyroid; Nasal Chondromesenchymal Hamartoma; Ciliary Body Medulloepithelioma; Neuroblastoma; Pituitary Cancer; Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma

  11. New Roles of the Primary Cilium in Autophagy

    PubMed Central

    Ávalos, Yenniffer; Peña-Oyarzun, Daniel; Budini, Mauricio

    2017-01-01

    The primary cilium is a nonmotile organelle that emanates from the surface of multiple cell types and receives signals from the environment to regulate intracellular signaling pathways. The presence of cilia, as well as their length, is important for proper cell function; shortened, elongated, or absent cilia are associated with pathological conditions. Interestingly, it has recently been shown that the molecular machinery involved in autophagy, the process of recycling of intracellular material to maintain cellular and tissue homeostasis, participates in ciliogenesis. Cilium-dependent signaling is necessary for autophagosome formation and, conversely, autophagy regulates both ciliogenesis and cilium length by degrading specific ciliary proteins. Here, we will discuss the relationship that exists between the two processes at the cellular and molecular level, highlighting what is known about the effects of ciliary dysfunction in the control of energy homeostasis in some ciliopathies. PMID:28913352

  12. New Roles of the Primary Cilium in Autophagy.

    PubMed

    Ávalos, Yenniffer; Peña-Oyarzun, Daniel; Budini, Mauricio; Morselli, Eugenia; Criollo, Alfredo

    2017-01-01

    The primary cilium is a nonmotile organelle that emanates from the surface of multiple cell types and receives signals from the environment to regulate intracellular signaling pathways. The presence of cilia, as well as their length, is important for proper cell function; shortened, elongated, or absent cilia are associated with pathological conditions. Interestingly, it has recently been shown that the molecular machinery involved in autophagy, the process of recycling of intracellular material to maintain cellular and tissue homeostasis, participates in ciliogenesis. Cilium-dependent signaling is necessary for autophagosome formation and, conversely, autophagy regulates both ciliogenesis and cilium length by degrading specific ciliary proteins. Here, we will discuss the relationship that exists between the two processes at the cellular and molecular level, highlighting what is known about the effects of ciliary dysfunction in the control of energy homeostasis in some ciliopathies.

  13. Effect of retinal detachment surgery on the course of preexisting open-angle glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Friedman, Z; Neumann, E

    1975-10-01

    In 11 of 12 eyes with chronic simple glaucoma after surgery for retinal detachment, intraocular pressures were decreased for one to 5 1/2 years without any antiglaucomatous treatment. No further deterioration in the state of the optic disks or the visual fields occurred in any of these eyes. In all 12 fellow eyes antiglaucomatous treatment is still being administered. The operation employed in nine of the 11 cases consisted of an encircling silicone rubber band shortened by 15 to 20% of its length when placed around the eyeball before tapping subretinal fluid. An episcleral silicone implant was placed under the encircling ban in seven of these eyes. Kinking and possibly narrowing of the long posterior ciliary arteries by the encircling silicone band probably caused the ciliary hyposecretion and the resultant hypotony.

  14. STUDIES ON CILIA

    PubMed Central

    Satir, Peter

    1963-01-01

    Upon excision into spring water, the lateral cilia of the gill of the freshwater mussel Elliptio complanatus (Solander) stop beating, but 0.04 M potassium ion can activate the gill so that these cilia again beat with metachronal rhythm. One per cent osmium tetroxide quickly pipetted onto a fully activated gill fixes the lateral cilia in a pattern that preserves the form and arrangement of the metachronal wave, and permits the cilia to be studied with the electron microscope in all stages of their beat cycle. Changes are seen in the fixed active preparation that are not present in the inactive control, i.e., in the packing of the cilia, the position of the axis of the ciliary cross-section, and the diameter of the ring of peripheral filaments. Analysis of these parameters may lead to new correlations between ciliary fine structure and function. PMID:14079494

  15. Left-right asymmetry: cilia stir up new surprises in the node.

    PubMed

    Babu, Deepak; Roy, Sudipto

    2013-05-29

    Cilia are microtubule-based hair-like organelles that project from the surface of most eukaryotic cells. They play critical roles in cellular motility, fluid transport and a variety of signal transduction pathways. While we have a good appreciation of the mechanisms of ciliary biogenesis and the details of their structure, many of their functions demand a more lucid understanding. One such function, which remains as intriguing as the time when it was first discovered, is how beating cilia in the node drive the establishment of left-right asymmetry in the vertebrate embryo. The bone of contention has been the two schools of thought that have been put forth to explain this phenomenon. While the 'morphogen hypothesis' believes that ciliary motility is responsible for the transport of a morphogen preferentially to the left side, the 'two-cilia model' posits that the motile cilia generate a leftward-directed fluid flow that is somehow sensed by the immotile sensory cilia on the periphery of the node. Recent studies with the mouse embryo argue in favour of the latter scenario. Yet this principle may not be generally conserved in other vertebrates that use nodal flow to specify their left-right axis. Work with the teleost fish medaka raises the tantalizing possibility that motility as well as sensory functions of the nodal cilia could be residing within the same organelle. In the end, how ciliary signalling is transmitted to institute asymmetric gene expression that ultimately induces asymmetric organogenesis remains unresolved.

  16. Left–right asymmetry: cilia stir up new surprises in the node

    PubMed Central

    Babu, Deepak; Roy, Sudipto

    2013-01-01

    Cilia are microtubule-based hair-like organelles that project from the surface of most eukaryotic cells. They play critical roles in cellular motility, fluid transport and a variety of signal transduction pathways. While we have a good appreciation of the mechanisms of ciliary biogenesis and the details of their structure, many of their functions demand a more lucid understanding. One such function, which remains as intriguing as the time when it was first discovered, is how beating cilia in the node drive the establishment of left–right asymmetry in the vertebrate embryo. The bone of contention has been the two schools of thought that have been put forth to explain this phenomenon. While the ‘morphogen hypothesis’ believes that ciliary motility is responsible for the transport of a morphogen preferentially to the left side, the ‘two-cilia model’ posits that the motile cilia generate a leftward-directed fluid flow that is somehow sensed by the immotile sensory cilia on the periphery of the node. Recent studies with the mouse embryo argue in favour of the latter scenario. Yet this principle may not be generally conserved in other vertebrates that use nodal flow to specify their left–right axis. Work with the teleost fish medaka raises the tantalizing possibility that motility as well as sensory functions of the nodal cilia could be residing within the same organelle. In the end, how ciliary signalling is transmitted to institute asymmetric gene expression that ultimately induces asymmetric organogenesis remains unresolved. PMID:23720541

  17. Measurement of ciliary beat frequency using ultra-high resolution optical coherence tomography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Jason J.; Jing, Joseph C.; Su, Erica; Badger, Christopher; Coughlan, Carolyn A.; Chen, Zhongping; Wong, Brian J. F.

    2016-02-01

    Ciliated epithelial cells populate up to 80% of the surface area of the human airway and are responsible for mucociliary transport, which is the key protective mechanism that provides the first line of defense in the respiratory tract. Cilia beat in a rhythmic pattern and may be easily affected by allergens, pollutants, and pathogens, altering ciliary beat frequency (CBF) subsequently. Diseases including cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and primary ciliary dyskinesia may also decrease CBF. CBF is therefore a critical component of respiratory health. The current clinical method of measuring CBF is phase-contrast microscopy, which involves a tissue biopsy obtained via brushing of the nasal cavity. While this method is minimally invasive, the tissue sample must be oriented to display its profile view, making the visualization of a single layer of cilia challenging. In addition, the conventional method requires subjective analysis of CBF, e.g., manually counting by visual inspection. On the contrary, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been used to study the retina in ophthalmology as well as vasculature in cardiology, and offers higher resolution than conventional computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Based on this technology, our lab specifically developed an ultra-high resolution OCT system to image the microstructure of the ciliated epithelial cells. Doppler analysis was also performed to determine CBF. Lastly, we also developed a program that utilizes fast Fourier transform to determine CBF under phase-contrast microscopy, providing a more objective method compared to the current method.

  18. Morphology and accommodative function of the vitreous zonule in human and monkey eyes.

    PubMed

    Lütjen-Drecoll, Elke; Kaufman, Paul L; Wasielewski, Rainer; Ting-Li, Lin; Croft, Mary Ann

    2010-03-01

    To explore the attachments of the posterior zonule and vitreous in relation to accommodation and presbyopia in monkeys and humans. Novel scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) techniques were used to visualize the anterior, intermediate, and posterior vitreous zonule and their connections to the ciliary body, vitreous membrane, lens capsule, and ora serrata, and to characterize their age-related changes and correlate them with loss of accommodative forward movement of the ciliary body. alpha-Chymotrypsin was used focally to lyse the vitreous zonule and determine the effect on movement of the accommodative apparatus in monkeys. The vitreous attached to the peripheral lens capsule and the ora serrata directly. The pars plana zonule and the posterior tines of the anterior zonule were separated from the vitreous membrane except for strategically placed attachments, collectively termed the vitreous zonule, that may modulate and smooth the forward and backward movements of the entire system. Age-dependent changes in these relationships correlated significantly with loss of accommodative amplitude. Lysis of the intermediate vitreous zonule partially restored accommodative movement. The vitreous zonule system may help to smoothly translate to the lens the driving forces of accommodation and disaccommodation generated by the ciliary muscle, while maintaining visual focus and protecting the lens capsule and ora serrata from acute tractional forces. Stiffening of the vitreous zonular system may contribute to age-related loss of accommodation and offer a therapeutic target for presbyopia.

  19. S100A8 promotes migration and infiltration of inflammatory cells in acute anterior uveitis

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Yuqin; Zhang, Zuhui; Zhang, Laihe; Li, Xinxin; Lu, Rui; Xu, Peipei; Zhang, Xuhong; Dai, Mali; Dai, Xiaodan; Qu, Jia; Lu, Fan; Chi, Zailong

    2016-01-01

    Uveitis, the pathologic condition of inflammation of the uvea, frequently leads to severe vision loss and blindness. S100A8 is a calcium-binding protein which mainly expresses in granulocytes and monocytes and plays a prominent role in the regulation of inflammatory processes and immune response. Here, we determined the role of S100A8-positive cells in acute anterior uveitis (AAU) and keratitis. In rat models of endotoxin (lipopolisaccharide, LPS) -induced uveitis (EIU) and keratitis, S100A8-positive granulocytes and monocytes increased significantly in the iris-ciliary body and cornea as well as in the blood. Interestingly, Glucocorticoids slightly increased S100A8 levels in leukocytes, but reduced its presence significantly in the iris-ciliary body after LPS injection. Moreover, inhibition of NF-kB activation remarkably suppressed both progression of AAU and total S100A8 levels in leukocytes and the iris-ciliary body after LPS administration. Additionally, S100A8 protein level was also found to be elevated in the serum of AAU patients parallel with the progression of AAU through the designated clinical stages. Thus, S100A8 plays a pivotal role in the processes of AAU through involvement in migration and infiltration of S100A8-positive cells. Our findings suggest that serum levels of S100A8 protein can be used to monitor inflammatory activity in AAU. PMID:27786310

  20. S100A8 promotes migration and infiltration of inflammatory cells in acute anterior uveitis.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yuqin; Zhang, Zuhui; Zhang, Laihe; Li, Xinxin; Lu, Rui; Xu, Peipei; Zhang, Xuhong; Dai, Mali; Dai, Xiaodan; Qu, Jia; Lu, Fan; Chi, Zailong

    2016-10-27

    Uveitis, the pathologic condition of inflammation of the uvea, frequently leads to severe vision loss and blindness. S100A8 is a calcium-binding protein which mainly expresses in granulocytes and monocytes and plays a prominent role in the regulation of inflammatory processes and immune response. Here, we determined the role of S100A8-positive cells in acute anterior uveitis (AAU) and keratitis. In rat models of endotoxin (lipopolisaccharide, LPS) -induced uveitis (EIU) and keratitis, S100A8-positive granulocytes and monocytes increased significantly in the iris-ciliary body and cornea as well as in the blood. Interestingly, Glucocorticoids slightly increased S100A8 levels in leukocytes, but reduced its presence significantly in the iris-ciliary body after LPS injection. Moreover, inhibition of NF-kB activation remarkably suppressed both progression of AAU and total S100A8 levels in leukocytes and the iris-ciliary body after LPS administration. Additionally, S100A8 protein level was also found to be elevated in the serum of AAU patients parallel with the progression of AAU through the designated clinical stages. Thus, S100A8 plays a pivotal role in the processes of AAU through involvement in migration and infiltration of S100A8-positive cells. Our findings suggest that serum levels of S100A8 protein can be used to monitor inflammatory activity in AAU.

  1. Sex steroid hormone metabolism takes place in human ocular cells.

    PubMed

    Coca-Prados, Miguel; Ghosh, Sikha; Wang, Yugang; Escribano, Julio; Herrala, Annakaisa; Vihko, Pirkko

    2003-08-01

    Steroids are potentially important mediators in the pathophysiology of ocular diseases. In this study, we report on the gene expression in the human eye of a group of enzymes, the 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17HSDs), involved in the biosynthesis and inactivation of sex steroid hormones. In the eye, the ciliary epithelium, a neuroendocrine secretory epithelium, co-expresses the highest levels of 17HSD2 and 5 mRNAs, and in lesser level 17HSD7 mRNA. The regulation of gene expression of these enzymes was investigated in vitro in cell lines, ODM-C4 and chronic open glaucoma (GCE), used as cell models of the human ciliary epithelium. The estrogen, 17beta-estradiol (10(-7) M) and androgen agonist, R1881 (10(-8) M) elicited in ODM-C4 and GCE cells over a 24 h time course a robust up-regulation of 17HSD7 mRNA expression. 17HSD2 was up-regulated by estradiol in ODM-C4 cells, but not in GCE cells. Under steady-state conditions, ODM-C4 cells exhibited a predominant 17HSD2 oxidative enzymatic activity. In contrast, 17HSD2 activity was low or absent in GCE cells. Our collective data suggest that cultured human ciliary epithelial cells are able to metabolize estrogen, androgen and progesterone, and that 17HSD2 and 7 in these cells are sex steroid hormone-responsive genes and 17HSD7 is responsible to keep on intra/paracrine estrogenic milieu.

  2. Ganetespib limits ciliation and cystogenesis in autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

    PubMed

    Nikonova, Anna S; Deneka, Alexander Y; Kiseleva, Anna A; Korobeynikov, Vladislav; Gaponova, Anna; Serebriiskii, Ilya G; Kopp, Meghan C; Hensley, Harvey H; Seeger-Nukpezah, Tamina N; Somlo, Stefan; Proia, David A; Golemis, Erica A

    2018-05-01

    Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is associated with progressive formation of renal cysts, kidney enlargement, hypertension, and typically end-stage renal disease. In ADPKD, inherited mutations disrupt function of the polycystins (encoded by PKD1 and PKD2), thus causing loss of a cyst-repressive signal emanating from the renal cilium. Genetic studies have suggested ciliary maintenance is essential for ADPKD pathogenesis. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) clients include multiple proteins linked to ciliary maintenance. We determined that ganetespib, a clinical HSP90 inhibitor, inhibited proteasomal repression of NEK8 and the Aurora-A activator trichoplein, rapidly activating Aurora-A kinase and causing ciliary loss in vitro. Using conditional mouse models for ADPKD, we performed long-term (10 or 50 wk) dosing experiments that demonstrated HSP90 inhibition caused durable in vivo loss of cilia, controlled cystic growth, and ameliorated symptoms induced by loss of Pkd1 or Pkd2. Ganetespib efficacy was not increased by combination with 2-deoxy-d-glucose, a glycolysis inhibitor showing some promise for ADPKD. These studies identify a new biologic activity for HSP90 and support a cilia-based mechanism for cyst repression.-Nikonova, A. S., Deneka, A. Y., Kiseleva, A. A., Korobeynikov, V., Gaponova, A., Serebriiskii, I. G., Kopp, M. C., Hensley, H. H., Seeger-Nukpezah, T. N., Somlo, S., Proia, D. A., Golemis, E. A. Ganetespib limits ciliation and cystogenesis in autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

  3. Ift25 is not a cystic kidney disease gene but is required for early steps of kidney development.

    PubMed

    Desai, Paurav B; San Agustin, Jovenal T; Stuck, Michael W; Jonassen, Julie A; Bates, Carlton M; Pazour, Gregory J

    2018-06-01

    Eukaryotic cilia are assembled by intraflagellar transport (IFT) where large protein complexes called IFT particles move ciliary components from the cell body to the cilium. Defects in most IFT particle proteins disrupt ciliary assembly and cause mid gestational lethality in the mouse. IFT25 and IFT27 are unusual components of IFT-B in that they are not required for ciliary assembly and mutant mice survive to term. The mutants die shortly after birth with numerous organ defects including duplex kidneys. Completely duplex kidneys result from defects in ureteric bud formation at the earliest steps of metanephric kidney development. Ureteric bud initiation is a highly regulated process involving reciprocal signaling between the ureteric epithelium and the overlying metanephric mesenchyme with regulation by the peri-Wolffian duct stroma. The finding of duplex kidney in Ift25 and Ift27 mutants suggests functions for these genes in regulation of ureteric bud initiation. Typically the deletion of IFT genes in the kidney causes rapid cyst growth in the early postnatal period. In contrast, the loss of Ift25 results in smaller kidneys, which show only mild tubule dilations that become apparent in adulthood. The smaller kidneys appear to result from reduced branching in the developing metanephric kidney. This work indicates that IFT25 and IFT27 are important players in the early development of the kidney and suggest that duplex kidney is part of the ciliopathy spectrum. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. ZMYND10--Mutation Analysis in Slavic Patients with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.

    PubMed

    Kurkowiak, Małgorzata; Ziętkiewicz, Ewa; Greber, Agnieszka; Voelkel, Katarzyna; Wojda, Alina; Pogorzelski, Andrzej; Witt, Michał

    2016-01-01

    Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare recessive disease with a prevalence of 1/10,000; its symptoms are caused by a kinetic dysfunction of motile cilia in the respiratory epithelium, flagella in spermatozoids, and primary cilia in the embryonic node. PCD is genetically heterogeneous: genotyping the already known PCD-related genes explains the genetic basis in 60-65% of the cases, depending on the population. While identification of new genes involved in PCD pathogenesis remains crucial, the search for new, population-specific mutations causative for PCD is equally important. The Slavs remain far less characterized in this respect compared to West European populations, which significantly limits diagnostic capability. The main goal of this study was to characterize the profile of causative genetic defects in one of the PCD-causing genes, ZMYND10, in the cohort of PCD patients of Slavic origin. The study was carried out using biological material from 172 unrelated PCD individuals of Polish origin, with no causative mutation found in nine major PCD genes. While none of the previously described mutations was found using the HRM-based screening, a novel frameshift mutation (c.367delC) in ZMYND10, unique for Slavic PCD population, was found in homozygous state in two unrelated PCD patients. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the absence of outer and inner dynein arms from the ciliary axoneme, consistent with the already published ZMYND10-mutated phenotype; cDNA analysis revealed the lack of ZMYND10 mRNA, indicating nonsense-mediated decay of the truncated transcript.

  5. Glaucoma tube shunt implantation through the ciliary sulcus in pseudophakic eyes with high risk of corneal decompensation.

    PubMed

    Weiner, Asher; Cohn, Aaron D; Balasubramaniam, Mamtha; Weiner, Adam J

    2010-08-01

    To summarize our clinical experience with implanting Baerveldt glaucoma tube shunts through the ciliary sulcus in eyes with a posterior chamber intraocular lens and shallow anterior chambers, corneal transplants, guttata or edema. A retrospective interventional nonrandomized noncomparative case series. Main outcome measure was postoperative corneal status. Secondary outcome measures included postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity and complications. Thirty-six eyes of 32 patients were identified through chart review. Follow-up period was 21.8+/-16.6 months (mean+/-standard deviation, range: 4.0 to 58.5 mo). At final visit, all 23 preoperative clear native corneas and 6 of 7 corneal transplants remained clear. Thus, of the 30 preoperative clear corneas, only 1 decompensated. Preoperative IOP was 27.9+/-11.8 mm Hg (range: 12 to 59 mm Hg), reduced postoperatively to 10.1+/-3.9 mm Hg (range: 2 to 21 mm Hg, P=0.0001), a reduction of 58.2%+/-19.3% (range: 5.0% to 95.4%). Final IOP was >or=5 and

  6. Feasibility of Proton Beam Therapy for Ocular Melanoma Using a Novel 3D Treatment Planning Technique

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hartsell, William F., E-mail: whartsell@chicagocancer.org; Kapur, Rashmi; Hartsell, Siobhan O'Connor

    Purpose: We evaluated sparing of normal structures using 3-dimensional (3D) treatment planning for proton therapy of ocular melanomas. Methods and Materials: We evaluated 26 consecutive patients with choroidal melanomas on a prospective registry. Ophthalmologic work-up included fundoscopic photographs, fluorescein angiography, ultrasonographic evaluation of tumor dimensions, and magnetic resonance imaging of orbits. Three tantalum clips were placed as fiducial markers to confirm eye position for treatment. Macula, fovea, optic disc, optic nerve, ciliary body, lacrimal gland, lens, and gross tumor volume were contoured on treatment planning compute tomography scans. 3D treatment planning was performed using noncoplanar field arrangements. Patients were typicallymore » treated with 3 fields, with at least 95% of planning target volume receiving 50 GyRBE in 5 fractions. Results: Tumor stage was T1a in 10 patients, T2a in 10 patients, T2b in 1 patient, T3a in 2 patients, T3b in 1 patient, and T4a in 2 patients. Acute toxicity was mild. All patients completed treatment as planned. Mean optic nerve dose was 10.1 Gy relative biological effectiveness (RBE). Ciliary body doses were higher for nasal (mean: 11.4 GyRBE) than temporal tumors (5.8 GyRBE). Median follow-up was 31 months (range: 18-40 months). Six patients developed changes which required intraocular bevacizumab or corticosteroid therapy, but only 1 patient developed neovascular glaucoma. Five patients have since died: 1 from metastatic disease and 4 from other causes. Two patients have since required enucleation: 1 due to tumor and 1 due to neovascular glaucoma. Conclusions: 3D treatment planning can be used to obtain appropriate coverage of choroidal melanomas. This technique is feasible with relatively low doses to anterior structures, and appears to have acceptable rates of local control with low risk of enucleation. Further evaluation and follow-up is needed to determine optimal dose-volume relationships for organs at risk to decrease complications rates.« less

  7. Correcting lenticular astigmatism by reinstating the correct neuromuscular message.

    PubMed

    Yee, John William

    2013-07-01

    The spasm of the oblique muscles can contribute to lenticular astigmatism. The visual cortex interprets the tension of the oblique muscles as an eye that is in near focus mode. It overrides the response to the information generated by depth perception to bring a distant image into focus. Any excessive effort to bring it into focus will not be successful and continuing to make that effort can cause a misalignment in the tension of the rectus muscles. This in turn can directly induce corneal astigmatism and indirectly induce lenticular astigmatism. The astigmatic eye can still bring a near image into focus, but a distant image remains aberrant. The design of a special contact lens to treat lenticular astigmatism is similar to the design of a contact lens to treat corneal astigmatism by means of orthoculogy (or ortho C) as outlined in the paper Correcting Corneal Astigmatism by Reinstating the Correct Neuromuscular Message. The ortho C lens is worn for about two minutes to attend to the blur and distorted aspects of "simple myopic astigmatism". Both of these refractive errors are corrected simultaneously. Once the oblique muscles become "loose" due to a "contact lens draw", it triggers the visual cortex to reinstate the proper neuromotor message to stimulate the ciliary muscle (the muscle that controls the shape of the crystalline lens) to relax along a certain meridian-which in turn "flattens" the crystalline lens along that meridian to bring a blur and distorted image in the distance into focus. The correction only takes a few minutes because the ciliary muscle of an astigmatic eye was not compromised. The correction is not strictly due to an ortho C lens. Its design is the same for corneal astigmatism or lenticular astigmatism. The purpose of the design is to "loosen" the oblique muscles in a certain manner depending on the degree of astigmatism instead of a specific type of astigmatism. The visual cortex can discriminate whether to correct for corneal astigmatism or lenticular astigmatism after the "draw" from the lens relaxes the oblique muscles. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Histopathological Findings of Endometrial Samples and its Correlation Between the Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women in Abnormal Uterine Bleeding.

    PubMed

    Sharma, S; Makaju, R; Shrestha, S; Shrestha, A

    2014-01-01

    Abnormal uterine bleeding is considered as one of the most common problems among women. The therapy is incomplete without knowing the underlying pathology. To determine the types and frequency of endometrial pathologies in patients presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding at Dhulikhel Hospital Kathmandu university Hospital. This is retrospective study total 100 cases were included over a period of one year of Abnormal Uterine bleeding. Out of 100 cases of Abnormal uterine bleeding, 61% were due to non-organic cause with a commonest histopathological findings proliferative endometrium. 27% cases were due to organic cause with pregnancy related condition as most common finding. 12% were reported as inadequate. The rate of postmenopausal bleeding declined with increasing age in the postmenopausal period and endometritis was the predominant finding. There is an age specific association of Abnormal uterine bleeding with increased incidence in perimenopausal age group. Postmenopausal bleeding declined with increasing with endometritis the most common finding. Dilation and curettage is helpful to exclude other organic pathology. It is useful for diagnosis and to know pathological incidence of organic lesions in cases of Abnormal uterine bleeding prior to surgery.

  9. 24-hour urine protein

    MedlinePlus

    ... one urine sample (protein-to-creatinine ratio). Normal Results The normal value is less than 100 milligrams ... meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may be due to: A ...

  10. Extraocular muscle function testing

    MedlinePlus

    ... may result in double vision or rapid, uncontrolled eye movements . Normal Results Normal movement of the eyes in all directions. What Abnormal Results Mean Eye movement disorders may be due to abnormalities of the ...

  11. Reconstitution reveals motor activation for intraflagellar transport.

    PubMed

    Mohamed, Mohamed A A; Stepp, Willi L; Ökten, Zeynep

    2018-05-01

    The human body represents a notable example of ciliary diversification. Extending from the surface of most cells, cilia accomplish a diverse set of tasks. Predictably, mutations in ciliary genes cause a wide range of human diseases such as male infertility and blindness. In Caenorhabditis elegans sensory cilia, this functional diversity appears to be traceable to the differential regulation of the kinesin-2-powered intraflagellar-transport (IFT) machinery. Here we reconstituted the first, to our knowledge, functional multi-component IFT complex that is deployed in the sensory cilia of C. elegans. Our bottom-up approach revealed the molecular basis of specific motor recruitment to the IFT trains. We identified the key component that incorporates homodimeric kinesin-2 into its physiologically relevant context, which in turn allosterically activates the motor for efficient transport. These results will enable the molecular delineation of IFT regulation, which has eluded understanding since its discovery more than two decades ago.

  12. A Structural Basis for How Motile Cilia Beat

    PubMed Central

    Satir, Peter; Heuser, Thomas; Sale, Winfield S.

    2014-01-01

    The motile cilium is a mechanical wonder, a cellular nanomachine that produces a high-speed beat based on a cycle of bends that move along an axoneme made of 9+2 microtubules. The molecular motors, dyneins, power the ciliary beat. The dyneins are compacted into inner and outer dynein arms, whose activity is highly regulated to produce microtubule sliding and axonemal bending. The switch point hypothesis was developed long ago to account for how sliding in the presence of axonemal radial spoke–central pair interactions causes the ciliary beat. Since then, a new genetic, biochemical, and structural complexity has been discovered, in part, with Chlamydomonas mutants, with high-speed, high-resolution analysis of movement and with cryoelectron tomography. We stand poised on the brink of new discoveries relating to the molecular control of motility that extend and refine our understanding of the basic events underlying the switching of arm activity and of bend formation and propagation. PMID:26955066

  13. Design considerations of a real-time clinical confocal microscope

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Masters, Barry R.

    1991-06-01

    A real-time clinical confocal light microscope provides the ophthalmologist with a new tool for the observation of the cornea and the ocular lens. In addition, the ciliary body, the iris, and the sclera can be observed. The real-time light microscopic images have high contrast and resolution. The transverse resolution is about one half micron and the range resolution is one micron. The following observations were made with visible light: corneal epithelial cells, wing cells, basal cells, Bowman's membrane, nerve fibers, basal lamina, fibroblast nuclei, Descemet's membrane, endothelial cells. Observation of the in situ ocular lens showed lens capsule, lens epithelium, lens fibrils, the interior of lens fibrils. The applications of the confocal microscope include: eye banking, laser refractive surgery, observation of wound healing, observation of the iris, the sciera, the ciliary body, the ocular lens, and the intraocular lens. Digital image processing can produce three-dimensional reconstructions of the cornea and the ocular lens.

  14. Investigation of ciliary propulsion of Tetrahymena Pyriformis in viscous solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jung, Ilyong; Lyubich, Eva; Valles, James

    2014-03-01

    Recent experiments by our group showed that the ciliated protist Paramecium Caudatumswims with a constant propulsive force in solutions with viscosities 1 < η/ ηw<7 where ηw is the viscosity of water. Measurements of the geometry of its helical swimming trajectory combined with high speed video of the ciliary motion provided insight into this behavior. Using a phenomenological model we found that the body cilia beating frequency decreases while the beating angle remains roughly constant to produce the constant propulsive force dependence on viscosity. In this talk, we present studies of another ciliated protozoa, Tetrahymena Pyriformis to determine whether the behavior of Paramecium is general. Preliminary results indicate that Tetrahymena Pyriformis also swims with a nearly constant propulsive force with increasing viscosity. Investigations similar to those performed on Paramecium are underway and the latest results will be presented. This work was supported by NSF PHY0750360 and at the NHMFL by NSF DMR-0084173

  15. Panretinal, high-resolution color photography of the mouse fundus.

    PubMed

    Paques, Michel; Guyomard, Jean-Laurent; Simonutti, Manuel; Roux, Michel J; Picaud, Serge; Legargasson, Jean-François; Sahel, José-Alain

    2007-06-01

    To analyze high-resolution color photographs of the mouse fundus. A contact fundus camera based on topical endoscopy fundus imaging (TEFI) was built. Fundus photographs of C57 and Balb/c mice obtained by TEFI were qualitatively analyzed. High-resolution digital imaging of the fundus, including the ciliary body, was routinely obtained. The reflectance and contrast of retinal vessels varied significantly with the amount of incident and reflected light and, thus, with the degree of fundus pigmentation. The combination of chromatic and spherical aberration favored blue light imaging, in term of both field and contrast. TEFI is a small, low-cost system that allows high-resolution color fundus imaging and fluorescein angiography in conscious mice. Panretinal imaging is facilitated by the presence of the large rounded lens. TEFI significantly improves the quality of in vivo photography of retina and ciliary process of mice. Resolution is, however, affected by chromatic aberration, and should be improved by monochromatic imaging.

  16. Three-dimensional Organization of Layered Apical Cytoskeletal Networks Associated with Mouse Airway Tissue Development

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tateishi, Kazuhiro; Nishida, Tomoki; Inoue, Kanako; Tsukita, Sachiko

    2017-03-01

    The cytoskeleton is an essential cellular component that enables various sophisticated functions of epithelial cells by forming specialized subcellular compartments. However, the functional and structural roles of cytoskeletons in subcellular compartmentalization are still not fully understood. Here we identified a novel network structure consisting of actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules directly beneath the apical membrane in mouse airway multiciliated cells and in cultured epithelial cells. Three-dimensional imaging by ultra-high voltage electron microscopy and immunofluorescence revealed that the morphological features of each network depended on the cell type and were spatiotemporally integrated in association with tissue development. Detailed analyses using Odf2 mutant mice, which lack ciliary basal feet and apical microtubules, suggested a novel contribution of the intermediate filaments to coordinated ciliary beating. These findings provide a new perspective for viewing epithelial cell differentiation and tissue morphogenesis through the structure and function of apical cytoskeletal networks.

  17. Cannabinoid receptor CB1 mRNA is highly expressed in the rat ciliary body: implications for the antiglaucoma properties of marihuana.

    PubMed

    Porcella, A; Casellas, P; Gessa, G L; Pani, L

    1998-07-15

    We used RT-PCR to measure relative differences in cannabinoid receptor (CB) mRNAs in the rat eye, comparing CB1 or CB2 transcripts to that of the normalizing reference gene beta2 microglobulin (beta2m). Significantly higher levels of CB1 mRNA levels were found in the ciliary body (0.84+/-0.05% of beta2m) than in the iris, (0.34+/-0.04% of beta2m), retina (0.07+/-0.005% of beta2m) and choroid (0.06+/-0.005% of beta2m). CB2 mRNA was undetectable. This expression pattern supports a specific role for the CB1 receptor in controlling intraocular pressure, helping to explain the antiglaucoma property of cannabinoids. Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Structural and Functional Recovery of Sensory Cilia in C. elegans IFT Mutants upon Aging.

    PubMed

    Cornils, Astrid; Maurya, Ashish K; Tereshko, Lauren; Kennedy, Julie; Brear, Andrea G; Prahlad, Veena; Blacque, Oliver E; Sengupta, Piali

    2016-12-01

    The majority of cilia are formed and maintained by the highly conserved process of intraflagellar transport (IFT). Mutations in IFT genes lead to ciliary structural defects and systemic disorders termed ciliopathies. Here we show that the severely truncated sensory cilia of hypomorphic IFT mutants in C. elegans transiently elongate during a discrete period of adult aging leading to markedly improved sensory behaviors. Age-dependent restoration of cilia morphology occurs in structurally diverse cilia types and requires IFT. We demonstrate that while DAF-16/FOXO is dispensable, the age-dependent suppression of cilia phenotypes in IFT mutants requires cell-autonomous functions of the HSF1 heat shock factor and the Hsp90 chaperone. Our results describe an unexpected role of early aging and protein quality control mechanisms in suppressing ciliary phenotypes of IFT mutants, and suggest possible strategies for targeting subsets of ciliopathies.

  19. Structural and Functional Recovery of Sensory Cilia in C. elegans IFT Mutants upon Aging

    PubMed Central

    Kennedy, Julie; Brear, Andrea G.; Prahlad, Veena; Blacque, Oliver E.; Sengupta, Piali

    2016-01-01

    The majority of cilia are formed and maintained by the highly conserved process of intraflagellar transport (IFT). Mutations in IFT genes lead to ciliary structural defects and systemic disorders termed ciliopathies. Here we show that the severely truncated sensory cilia of hypomorphic IFT mutants in C. elegans transiently elongate during a discrete period of adult aging leading to markedly improved sensory behaviors. Age-dependent restoration of cilia morphology occurs in structurally diverse cilia types and requires IFT. We demonstrate that while DAF-16/FOXO is dispensable, the age-dependent suppression of cilia phenotypes in IFT mutants requires cell-autonomous functions of the HSF1 heat shock factor and the Hsp90 chaperone. Our results describe an unexpected role of early aging and protein quality control mechanisms in suppressing ciliary phenotypes of IFT mutants, and suggest possible strategies for targeting subsets of ciliopathies. PMID:27906968

  20. The Developmental Process of the Growing Motile Ciliary Tip Region.

    PubMed

    Reynolds, Matthew J; Phetruen, Tanaporn; Fisher, Rebecca L; Chen, Ke; Pentecost, Brian T; Gomez, George; Ounjai, Puey; Sui, Haixin

    2018-05-22

    Eukaryotic motile cilia/flagella play vital roles in various physiological processes in mammals and some protists. Defects in cilia formation underlie multiple human disorders, known as ciliopathies. The detailed processes of cilia growth and development are still far from clear despite extensive studies. In this study, we characterized the process of cilium formation (ciliogenesis) by investigating the newly developed motile cilia of deciliated protists using complementary techniques in electron microscopy and image analysis. Our results demonstrated that the distal tip region of motile cilia exhibit progressive morphological changes as cilia develop. This developmental process is time-dependent and continues after growing cilia reach their full lengths. The structural analysis of growing ciliary tips revealed that B-tubules of axonemal microtubule doublets terminate far away from the tip end, which is led by the flagellar tip complex (FTC), demonstrating that the FTC might not directly mediate the fast turnover of intraflagellar transport (IFT).

  1. Transpupillary Argon Laser Cyclophotocoagulation in a Refractory Traumatic Glaucoma Patient with Aphakia and Aniridia

    PubMed Central

    Uzunel, Umut Duygu; Yüce, Berna; Küsbeci, Tuncay; Ateş, Halil

    2016-01-01

    We present a case of transpupillary argon laser cyclophotocoagulation (TALC) in a patient with traumatic aniridia and aphakia secondary to blunt trauma who had previous bilateral trabeculectomy. Four months after the trauma the patient’s intraocular pressure (IOP) rose to 35 mmHg despite topical antiglaucomatous medication. Inferior 180 degrees cyclophotocoagulation was performed with transpupillary argon laser in the first session and his IOP fell to values of 12-17 mmHg. Twelve weeks after TALC, his IOP rose to 22 mmHg and we had to apply TALC to the residual ciliary processes. Seven months later his IOP was 13 mmHg with topical dorzolamide/timolol and latanoprost administration. TALC may be an effective treatment alternative for lowering IOP in patients with visible ciliary processes who do not respond to conventional medical or laser treatment. PMID:27800256

  2. Genetic Causes of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.

    PubMed

    Page, Jessica M; Silver, Robert M

    2016-09-01

    Pregnancy loss is one of the most common obstetric complications, affecting over 30% of conceptions. A considerable proportion of losses are due to genetic abnormalities. Indeed, over 50% of early pregnancy losses have been associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Most are due to de novo nondisjunctional events but balanced parental translocations are responsible for a small but important percentage of genetic abnormalities in couples with recurrent pregnancy loss. In the past, assessment of genetic abnormalities was limited to karyotype performed on placental or fetal tissue. However, advances in molecular genetic technology now provide rich genetic information about additional genetic causes of and risk factors for pregnancy loss. In addition, the use of preimplantation genetic testing in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization has the potential to decrease the risk of pregnancy loss from genetic abnormalities. To date, efficacy is uncertain but considerable potential remains. This chapter will review what is known about genetic causes of recurrent pregnancy loss with a focus on novel causes and potential treatments. Remaining knowledge gaps will be highlighted.

  3. A robust real-time abnormal region detection framework from capsule endoscopy images

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cheng, Yanfen; Liu, Xu; Li, Huiping

    2009-02-01

    In this paper we present a novel method to detect abnormal regions from capsule endoscopy images. Wireless Capsule Endoscopy (WCE) is a recent technology where a capsule with an embedded camera is swallowed by the patient to visualize the gastrointestinal tract. One challenge is one procedure of diagnosis will send out over 50,000 images, making physicians' reviewing process expensive. Physicians' reviewing process involves in identifying images containing abnormal regions (tumor, bleeding, etc) from this large number of image sequence. In this paper we construct a novel framework for robust and real-time abnormal region detection from large amount of capsule endoscopy images. The detected potential abnormal regions can be labeled out automatically to let physicians review further, therefore, reduce the overall reviewing process. In this paper we construct an abnormal region detection framework with the following advantages: 1) Trainable. Users can define and label any type of abnormal region they want to find; The abnormal regions, such as tumor, bleeding, etc., can be pre-defined and labeled using the graphical user interface tool we provided. 2) Efficient. Due to the large number of image data, the detection speed is very important. Our system can detect very efficiently at different scales due to the integral image features we used; 3) Robust. After feature selection we use a cascade of classifiers to further enforce the detection accuracy.

  4. Functional optical imaging of tracheal health (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gil, Daniel A.; Sharick, Joe T.; Gamm, Ute A.; Choma, Michael A.; Skala, Melissa C.

    2017-04-01

    The health of the tracheal mucosa is an important, but poorly understood, aspect of critical care medicine. Many critical care patients are mechanically ventilated through an endotracheal tube that can cause local inflammation and blunt damage to the ciliated epithelial cells lining the trachea. These cilia clear mucus and infectious agents from the respiratory tract, so impaired ciliary function may lead to increased susceptibility to respiratory infection. Therefore, a minimally-invasive method to monitor mucosal health and ciliary function in intubated patients would be valuable to critical care medicine. Optical metabolic imaging (OMI) can quantitatively assess the metabolic state of cells by measuring the fluorescence intensities of endogenous metabolic co-enzymes NAD(P)H and FAD. OMI is especially attractive for assessing tracheal health because OMI is label-free, and ciliary function is tightly linked to the levels of NAD(P)H and FAD. In this study, we apply widefield OMI to ex vivo mouse tracheae (n=6), and demonstrate that the optical redox ratio (fluorescence intensity of NAD(P)H divided by the intensity of FAD) is sensitive to changes in the cellular metabolism of the tracheal mucosa. We observed a 46% increase in the redox ratio 20 minutes after treatment with 10mM of sodium cyanide (p<0.001, 95% CI [40%, 52%]), an inhibitor of oxidative cellular respiration. In addition to being a proof-of-concept demonstration, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important cause of morbidity and mortality in CF patients and in the ICU, produces hydrogen cyanide. Our results support the development of minimally-invasive fiber-optic probes for in vivo monitoring of tracheal health.

  5. Comparative Physical Mapping of the Apospory-Specific Genomic Region in Two Apomictic Grasses: Pennisetum squamulatum and Cenchrus ciliaris

    PubMed Central

    Goel, Shailendra; Chen, Zhenbang; Akiyama, Yukio; Conner, Joann A.; Basu, Manojit; Gualtieri, Gustavo; Hanna, Wayne W.; Ozias-Akins, Peggy

    2006-01-01

    In gametophytic apomicts of the aposporous type, each cell of the embryo sac is genetically identical to somatic cells of the ovule because they are products of mitosis, not of meiosis. The egg of the aposporous embryo sac follows parthenogenetic development into an embryo; therefore, uniform progeny result even from heterozygous plants, a trait that would be valuable for many crop species. Attempts to introgress apomixis from wild relatives into major crops through traditional breeding have been hindered by low or no recombination within the chromosomal region governing this trait (the apospory-specific genomic region or ASGR). The lack of recombination also has been a major obstacle to positional cloning of key genes. To further delineate and characterize the nonrecombinant ASGR, we have identified eight new ASGR-linked, AFLP-based molecular markers, only one of which showed recombination with the trait for aposporous embryo sac development. Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones identified with the ASGR-linked AFLPs or previously mapped markers, when mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization in Pennisetum squamulatum and Cenchrus ciliaris, showed almost complete macrosynteny between the two apomictic grasses throughout the ASGR, although with an inverted order. A BAC identified with the recombinant AFLP marker mapped most proximal to the centromere of the ASGR-carrier chromosome in P. squamulatum but was not located on the ASGR-carrier chromosome in C. ciliaris. Exceptional regions where synteny was disrupted probably are nonessential for expression of the aposporous trait. The ASGR appears to be maintained as a haplotype even though its position in the genome can be variable. PMID:16547108

  6. Non-invasive measurements of the dynamic changes in the ciliary muscle, crystalline lens morphology, and anterior chamber during accommodation with a high-resolution OCT.

    PubMed

    Esteve-Taboada, José J; Domínguez-Vicent, Alberto; Monsálvez-Romín, Daniel; Del Águila-Carrasco, Antonio J; Montés-Micó, Robert

    2017-07-01

    The purpose of the study was to assess non-invasively the changes in the anterior chamber eye, crystalline lens morphology, and ciliary muscle during accommodation by means of an anterior chamber optical coherence tomographer (OCT), and correlate them with vergence. Twenty-five eyes of twenty-five healthy subjects, whose mean age was 29.9±7.1 years, were included and measured with an anterior chamber OCT. The central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior crystalline lens radius of curvature (ALRC), crystalline lens thickness (CLT), and ciliary muscle area (CMA) were measured for each participant at 0, -1, -2, and -3 D of target vergence. A linear model was used to assess the correlation of each eye parameter with the vergence demand. The mean CCT showed no change for all the accommodative stimuli. The mean ACD and ALRC decreased with the vergence, about 4.5 and 30 % at -3 D, respectively. On the contrary, the CLT and CMA showed an opposite tendency, where the mean CLT was increased by 4.0 % and the mean CMA was done by 26% at -3 D. Statistical significant differences (p < 0.001) were obtained among all vergences for each eye metric, except for the CCT (p = 0.76). The ACD and ALRC decreased about 2 and 10 % per dioptre of accommodation, respectively; whereas the CLT and CMA increased about 2 and 9 %, respectively. These results add knowledge regarding the understanding of accommodation and give new perspectives for biomechanics and biometry.

  7. Long-term follow-up of patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) receiving intraocular ciliary neurotrophic factor implants

    PubMed Central

    Birch, David G.; Bennett, Lea D.; Duncan, Jacque L.; Weleber, Richard G.; Pennesi, Mark E.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose To evaluate the long-term efficacy of ciliary neurotrophic factor delivered via an intraocular encapsulated cell implant for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Design Long-term follow up of a multicenter, sham-controlled study. Methods Thirty-six patients at three CNTF4 sites were randomly assigned to receive a high- or low- dose implant in one eye and sham surgery in the fellow eye. The primary endpoint (change in visual field sensitivity at 12 months) has been reported previously.1 Here we report long-term visual acuity, visual field and optical coherence tomography (OCT) outcomes in 24 patients either retaining or explanting the device at 24 months relative to sham-treated eyes. Results Eyes retaining the implant showed significantly greater visual field loss from baseline than either explanted eyes or sham eyes through 42 months. By 60 months and continuing through 96 months, visual field loss was comparable among sham-treated eyes, eyes retaining the implant and explanted eyes, as was visual acuity and OCT macular volume. Conclusions Over the short term, ciliary neurotrophic factor released continuously from an intra-vitreal implant lead to loss of total visual field sensitivity that was greater than the natural progression in the sham-treated eye. This additional loss of sensitivity related to the active implant was reversible when the implant was removed. Over the long term (60 – 96 months), there was no evidence of efficacy for visual acuity, visual field sensitivity or OCT measures of retinal structure. PMID:27457255

  8. A rare case of respiratory disorders associated with two autosomal recessive diseases and male infertility.

    PubMed

    Mendeluk, Gabriela Ruth; Costa, Sergio López; Scigliano, Sergio; Menga, Guillermo; Demiceu, Sergio; Palaoro, Luis Alberto

    2013-01-01

    The study of nasal ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and ultrastructure may contribute to the understanding of pathognomonic cases of male infertility associated with defects in sperm motility. This study was designed to report a particular case of male infertility, characterized by the association of two respiratory autosomal recessive genetic diseases (alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency [AAT-D] and primary ciliary dyskinesia [PCD]). A 39-year-old patient with complete sperm immotility, AAT-D, and bronchiectasis was studied in the Laboratory of Male Fertility, the Department of Urology, the Respiratory Center of a Pediatric Hospital, and in the Department of Clinical Medicine of a Rehabilitation Respiratory Hospital. Family history, physical examination, hormonal analysis, microbial assays, semen analysis, nasal ciliary function, and structure study by digital high-speed video photography and transmission electron microscopy are described. A noninvasive nasal biopsy to retrieve ciliated epithelium lining the inferior surface of the inferior nasal turbinates was performed and CBF was determined. Beat pattern was slightly curved and rigid, not wide, and metacronic in all the observed fields analyzed. CBF was 8.2 Hz in average (reference value, 10-15 Hz) Ultrastructural assay revealed absence of the inner dynein arms in 97% of the cilia observed. The final infertility accurate diagnosis was achieved by the study of nasal CBF and ultrastructure contributing to the patient health management and genetic counseling while deciding fatherhood. Beyond this particular case, the present report may open a new field of studies in male infertility, mainly in cases of asthenozoospermia.

  9. A rare case of respiratory disorders associated with two autosomal recessive diseases and male infertility

    PubMed Central

    Costa, Sergio López; Scigliano, Sergio; Menga, Guillermo; Demiceu, Sergio; Palaoro, Luis Alberto

    2013-01-01

    The study of nasal ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and ultrastructure may contribute to the understanding of pathognomonic cases of male infertility associated with defects in sperm motility. This study was designed to report a particular case of male infertility, characterized by the association of two respiratory autosomal recessive genetic diseases (alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency [AAT-D] and primary ciliary dyskinesia [PCD]). A 39-year-old patient with complete sperm immotility, AAT-D, and bronchiectasis was studied in the Laboratory of Male Fertility, the Department of Urology, the Respiratory Center of a Pediatric Hospital, and in the Department of Clinical Medicine of a Rehabilitation Respiratory Hospital. Family history, physical examination, hormonal analysis, microbial assays, semen analysis, nasal ciliary function, and structure study by digital high-speed video photography and transmission electron microscopy are described. A noninvasive nasal biopsy to retrieve ciliated epithelium lining the inferior surface of the inferior nasal turbinates was performed and CBF was determined. Beat pattern was slightly curved and rigid, not wide, and metacronic in all the observed fields analyzed. CBF was 8.2 Hz in average (reference value, 10–15 Hz) Ultrastructural assay revealed absence of the inner dynein arms in 97% of the cilia observed. The final infertility accurate diagnosis was achieved by the study of nasal CBF and ultrastructure contributing to the patient health management and genetic counseling while deciding fatherhood. Beyond this particular case, the present report may open a new field of studies in male infertility, mainly in cases of asthenozoospermia. PMID:23772318

  10. VEGF Trap in Treating Patients With Recurrent Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-04-26

    Ciliary Body and Choroid Melanoma, Medium/Large Size; Extraocular Extension Melanoma; Iris Melanoma; Metastatic Intraocular Melanoma; Recurrent Intraocular Melanoma; Recurrent Melanoma; Stage III Melanoma; Stage IV Melanoma

  11. Vaccine Therapy With or Without Sargramostim in Treating Patients Who Have Undergone Surgery for Melanoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2015-04-14

    Ciliary Body and Choroid Melanoma, Medium/Large Size; Extraocular Extension Melanoma; Iris Melanoma; Stage IIB Melanoma; Stage IIC Melanoma; Stage IIIA Melanoma; Stage IIIB Melanoma; Stage IIIC Melanoma; Stage IV Melanoma

  12. [Establishment of visceral left-right asymmetry in mammals: the role of ciliary action and leftward fluid flow in the region of Hensen's node].

    PubMed

    Ermakov, A S

    2013-01-01

    During individual development of vertebrates, the anteroposterior, dorsoventral, and left-right axes of the body are established. Although the vertebrates are bilaterally symmetric outside, their internal structure is asymmetric. Of special interest is the insight into establishment of visceral left-right asymmetry in mammals, since it has not only basic but also an applied medical significance. As early as 1976, it was hypothesized that the ciliary action could be associated with the establishment of left-right asymmetry in mammals. Currently, the majority of researchers agree that the ciliary action in the region of Hensen's node and the resulting leftward laminar fluid flow play a key role in the loss of bilateral symmetry and triggering of expression of the genes constituting the Nodal-Ptx2 signaling cascade, specific of the left side of the embryo. The particular mechanism underlying this phenomenon is still insufficiently clear. There are three competing standpoints on how leftward fluid flow induces expression of several genes in the left side of the embryo. The morphogen gradient hypothesis postulates that the leftward flow creates a high concentration of a signaling biomolecule in the left side of Hensen's node, which, in turn, stimulates triggering of.gene expression of the Nodal-Ptx2 cascade. The biomechanical hypothesis (or two-cilia model) states that the immotile cilia located in the periphery of Hensen's node act as mechanosensors, activate mechanosensory ion channels, and trigger calcium signaling in the left side of the embryo. Finally, the "shuttle-bus model" holds that leftward fluid flow carries the lipid vesicles, which are crashed when colliding immotile cilia in the periphery of Hensen's node to release the contained signaling biomolecules. It is also noteworthy that the association between the ciliary action and establishment of asymmetry has been recently discovered in representatives of the lower invertebrates. In this paper, the author considers evolution of concepts on the mechanisms underlying establishment of visceral left-right asymmetry since 1976 until the present and critically reexamines the current concepts in this field of science. According to the author, serious arguments favoring the biomechanical hypothesis for determination of left-right asymmetry in mammals have been obtained.

  13. Identification and quantitation of carotenoids and their metabolites in the tissues of the human eye.

    PubMed

    Bernstein, P S; Khachik, F; Carvalho, L S; Muir, G J; Zhao, D Y; Katz, N B

    2001-03-01

    There is increasing evidence that the macular pigment carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, may play an important role in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and other blinding disorders. Although it is well known that the retina and lens are enriched in these carotenoids, relatively little is known about carotenoid levels in the uveal tract and in other ocular tissues. Also, the oxidative metabolism and physiological functions of the ocular carotenoids are not fully understood. Thus, we have set out to identify and quantify the complete spectrum of dietary carotenoids and their oxidative metabolites in a systematic manner in all tissues of the human eye in order to gain better insight into their ocular physiology. Human donor eyes were dissected, and carotenoid extracts from ocular tissues [retinal pigment epithelium/choroid (RPE/choroid), macula, peripheral retina, ciliary body, iris, lens, vitreous, cornea, and sclera] were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Carotenoids were identified and quantified by comparing their chromatographic and spectral profiles with those of authentic standards. Nearly all ocular structures examined with the exception of vitreous, cornea, and sclera had quantifiable levels of dietary (3R,3'R,6'R)-lutein, zeaxanthin, their geometrical (E / Z) isomers, as well as their metabolites, (3R,3'S,6'R)-lutein (3'-epilutein) and 3-hydroxy-beta,epsilon-caroten-3'-one. In addition, human ciliary body revealed the presence of monohydroxycarotenoids and hydrocarbon carotenoids, while only the latter group was detected in human RPE/choroid. Uveal structures (iris, ciliary body, and RPE/choroid) account for approximately 50% of the eye's total carotenoids and approximately 30% of the lutein and zeaxanthin. In the iris, these pigments are likely to play a role in filtering out phototoxic short-wavelength visible light, while they are more likely to act as antioxidants in the ciliary body. Both mechanisms, light screening and antioxidant, may be operative in the RPE/choroid in addition to a possible function of this tissue in the transport of dihydroxycarotenoids from the circulating blood to the retina. This report lends further support for the critical role of lutein, zeaxanthin, and other ocular carotenoids in protecting the eye from light-induced oxidative damage and aging. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

  14. Loss-of-function of the ciliopathy protein Cc2d2a disorganizes the vesicle fusion machinery at the periciliary membrane and indirectly affects Rab8-trafficking in zebrafish photoreceptors

    PubMed Central

    Gesemann, Matthias; Mateos, José M.; Barmettler, Gery; Forbes, Austin; Ziegler, Urs

    2017-01-01

    Ciliopathies are human disorders caused by dysfunction of primary cilia, ubiquitous organelles involved in transduction of environmental signals such as light sensation in photoreceptors. Concentration of signal detection proteins such as opsins in the ciliary membrane is achieved by RabGTPase-regulated polarized vesicle trafficking and by a selective barrier at the ciliary base, the transition zone (TZ). Dysfunction of the TZ protein CC2D2A causes Joubert/Meckel syndromes in humans and loss of ciliary protein localization in animal models, including opsins in retinal photoreceptors. The link between the TZ and upstream vesicle trafficking has been little explored to date. Moreover, the role of the small GTPase Rab8 in opsin-carrier vesicle (OCV) trafficking has been recently questioned in a mouse model. Using correlative light and electron microscopy and live imaging in zebrafish photoreceptors, we provide the first live characterization of Rab8-mediated trafficking in photoreceptors in vivo. Our results support a possibly redundant role for both Rab8a/b paralogs in OCV trafficking, based on co-localization of Rab8 and opsins in vesicular structures, and joint movement of Rab8-tagged particles with opsin. We further investigate the role of the TZ protein Cc2d2a in Rab8-mediated trafficking using cc2d2a zebrafish mutants and identify a requirement for Cc2d2a in the latest step of OCV trafficking, namely vesicle fusion. Progressive accumulation of opsin-containing vesicles in the apical portion of photoreceptors lacking Cc2d2a is caused by disorganization of the vesicle fusion machinery at the periciliary membrane with mislocalization and loss of the t-SNAREs SNAP25 and Syntaxin3 and of the exocyst component Exoc4. We further observe secondary defects on upstream Rab8-trafficking with cytoplasmic accumulation of Rab8. Taken together, our results support participation of Rab8 in OCV trafficking and identify a novel role for the TZ protein Cc2d2a in fusion of incoming ciliary-directed vesicles, through organization of the vesicle fusion machinery at the periciliary membrane. PMID:29281629

  15. Loss-of-function of the ciliopathy protein Cc2d2a disorganizes the vesicle fusion machinery at the periciliary membrane and indirectly affects Rab8-trafficking in zebrafish photoreceptors.

    PubMed

    Ojeda Naharros, Irene; Gesemann, Matthias; Mateos, José M; Barmettler, Gery; Forbes, Austin; Ziegler, Urs; Neuhauss, Stephan C F; Bachmann-Gagescu, Ruxandra

    2017-12-01

    Ciliopathies are human disorders caused by dysfunction of primary cilia, ubiquitous organelles involved in transduction of environmental signals such as light sensation in photoreceptors. Concentration of signal detection proteins such as opsins in the ciliary membrane is achieved by RabGTPase-regulated polarized vesicle trafficking and by a selective barrier at the ciliary base, the transition zone (TZ). Dysfunction of the TZ protein CC2D2A causes Joubert/Meckel syndromes in humans and loss of ciliary protein localization in animal models, including opsins in retinal photoreceptors. The link between the TZ and upstream vesicle trafficking has been little explored to date. Moreover, the role of the small GTPase Rab8 in opsin-carrier vesicle (OCV) trafficking has been recently questioned in a mouse model. Using correlative light and electron microscopy and live imaging in zebrafish photoreceptors, we provide the first live characterization of Rab8-mediated trafficking in photoreceptors in vivo. Our results support a possibly redundant role for both Rab8a/b paralogs in OCV trafficking, based on co-localization of Rab8 and opsins in vesicular structures, and joint movement of Rab8-tagged particles with opsin. We further investigate the role of the TZ protein Cc2d2a in Rab8-mediated trafficking using cc2d2a zebrafish mutants and identify a requirement for Cc2d2a in the latest step of OCV trafficking, namely vesicle fusion. Progressive accumulation of opsin-containing vesicles in the apical portion of photoreceptors lacking Cc2d2a is caused by disorganization of the vesicle fusion machinery at the periciliary membrane with mislocalization and loss of the t-SNAREs SNAP25 and Syntaxin3 and of the exocyst component Exoc4. We further observe secondary defects on upstream Rab8-trafficking with cytoplasmic accumulation of Rab8. Taken together, our results support participation of Rab8 in OCV trafficking and identify a novel role for the TZ protein Cc2d2a in fusion of incoming ciliary-directed vesicles, through organization of the vesicle fusion machinery at the periciliary membrane.

  16. Excessive Astrocyte-Derived Neurotrophin-3 Contributes to the Abnormal Neuronal Dendritic Development in a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome

    PubMed Central

    Guo, Yan-yan; Liu, Shui-bing; Wu, Yu-mei; Li, Xiao-qiang; Zhao, Ming-gao

    2012-01-01

    Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a form of inherited mental retardation in humans that results from expansion of a CGG repeat in the Fmr1 gene. Recent studies suggest a role of astrocytes in neuronal development. However, the mechanisms involved in the regulation process of astrocytes from FXS remain unclear. In this study, we found that astrocytes derived from a Fragile X model, the Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse which lacks FMRP expression, inhibited the proper elaboration of dendritic processes of neurons in vitro. Furthermore, astrocytic conditioned medium (ACM) from KO astrocytes inhibited proper dendritic growth of both wild-type (WT) and KO neurons. Inducing expression of FMRP by transfection of FMRP vectors in KO astrocytes restored dendritic morphology and levels of synaptic proteins. Further experiments revealed elevated levels of the neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in KO ACM and the prefrontal cortex of Fmr1 KO mice. However, the levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) were normal. FMRP has multiple RNA–binding motifs and is involved in translational regulation. RNA–binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) showed the NT-3 mRNA interacted with FMRP in WT astrocytes. Addition of high concentrations of exogenous NT-3 to culture medium reduced the dendrites of neurons and synaptic protein levels, whereas these measures were ameliorated by neutralizing antibody to NT-3 or knockdown of NT-3 expression in KO astrocytes through short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs). Prefrontal cortex microinjection of WT astrocytes or NT-3 shRNA infected KO astrocytes rescued the deficit of trace fear memory in KO mice, concomitantly decreased the NT-3 levels in the prefrontal cortex. This study indicates that excessive NT-3 from astrocytes contributes to the abnormal neuronal dendritic development and that astrocytes could be a potential therapeutic target for FXS. PMID:23300470

  17. Primary cilia are increased in number and demonstrate structural abnormalities in human cancer.

    PubMed

    Yasar, Binnaz; Linton, Kim; Slater, Christian; Byers, Richard

    2017-07-01

    Primary cilia play an important role in the regulation of cell signalling pathways and are thought to have a role in cancer but have seldom been studied in human cancer samples. Primary cilia were visualised by dual immunofluorescence for anti-CROCC (ciliary rootlet coiled-coil) and anti-tubulin in a range of human cancers (including carcinomas of stomach, pancreas, prostate, lung and colon, lobular and ductal breast cancers and follicular lymphoma) and in matched normal tissue (stomach, pancreas, lung, large and small intestines, breast and reactive lymph nodes) samples using a tissue microarray; their frequency, association with proliferation, was measured by Ki-67 staining and their structure was analysed. Compared with normal tissues, primary cilia frequency was significantly elevated in adenocarcinoma of the lung (2.75% vs 1.85%, p=0.016), adenocarcinoma of the colon (3.80% vs 2.43%, respectively, p=0.017), follicular lymphoma (1.18% vs 0.83%, p=0.003) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (7.00% vs 5.26%, p=0.002); there was no statistically significant difference compared with normal control tissue for gastric and prostatic adenocarcinomas or for lobular and ductal breast cancers. Additionally, structural abnormalities of primary cilia were identified in cancer tissues, including elongation of the axoneme, multiple basal bodies and branching of the axoneme. Ki-67 scores ranged from 0.7% to 78.4% and showed no statistically significant correlation with primary cilia frequency across all tissues (p=0.1501). The results show upregulation of primary cilia and the presence of structural defects in a wide range of human cancer tissue samples demonstrating association of dysregulation of primary cilia with human cancer. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

  18. The nature of neuroendocrine abnormalities in depression: a controversial issue in contemporary psychiatry.

    PubMed

    von Zerssen, D; Berger, M; Dose, M; Doerr, P; Krieg, C; Bossert, S; Riemann, D; Pirke, K M; Dolhofer, R; Müller, O A

    1986-01-01

    Neuroendocrine abnormalities in depression have been regarded, by many authors, as relatively specific markers of nosological subtypes of the disorder, e.g. primary vs. secondary, endogenous vs. non-endogenous or unipolar vs. bipolar depression. They should reflect the same changes in central neurotransmitters (e.g. noradrenergic insufficiency and/or cholinergic hyperactivity) that were hypothesized as the cause of clinical symptoms. This view is challenged on the basis of our own neuroendocrine investigations in 317 psychiatric patients and 103 normal controls. According to these studies the abnormalities are nosologically rather unspecific. They are induced by a large variety of factors, e.g. emotional stress associated with the clinical symptomatology, weight loss due to malnutrition as a consequence of reduced appetite, medication and drug withdrawal. Stress-induced hypercortisolism appears to be the most common abnormality that may trigger other neuroendocrine dysfunctions, such as a blunted TSH response to TRH. Differences in neuroendocrine abnormalities of depressives are probably due to variations in the manifold factors influencing the hormonal axes involved, to temporal changes in hormonal patterns (e.g. one abnormality triggering another) and to individual differences in the basic activity and the responsiveness of the various axes.

  19. Abnormal grain growth in AISI 304L stainless steel

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shirdel, M., E-mail: mshirdel1989@ut.ac.ir; Mirzadeh, H., E-mail: hmirzadeh@ut.ac.ir; Advanced Metalforming and Thermomechanical Processing Laboratory, School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran

    2014-11-15

    The microstructural evolution during abnormal grain growth (secondary recrystallization) in 304L stainless steel was studied in a wide range of annealing temperatures and times. At relatively low temperatures, the grain growth mode was identified as normal. However, at homologous temperatures between 0.65 (850 °C) and 0.7 (900 °C), the observed transition in grain growth mode from normal to abnormal, which was also evident from the bimodality in grain size distribution histograms, was detected to be caused by the dissolution/coarsening of carbides. The microstructural features such as dispersed carbides were characterized by optical metallography, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersivemore » X-ray analysis, and microhardness. Continued annealing to a long time led to the completion of secondary recrystallization and the subsequent reappearance of normal growth mode. Another instance of abnormal grain growth was observed at homologous temperatures higher than 0.8, which may be attributed to the grain boundary faceting/defaceting phenomenon. It was also found that when the size of abnormal grains reached a critical value, their size will not change too much and the grain growth behavior becomes practically stagnant. - Highlights: • Abnormal grain growth (secondary recrystallization) in AISI 304L stainless steel • Exaggerated grain growth due to dissolution/coarsening of carbides • The enrichment of carbide particles by titanium • Abnormal grain growth due to grain boundary faceting at very high temperatures • The stagnancy of abnormal grain growth by annealing beyond a critical time.« less

  20. Cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 (CLCF1) and neuropoietin (NP) signalling and their roles in development, adulthood, cancer and degenerative disorders.

    PubMed

    Sims, Natalie A

    2015-10-01

    Mutations in cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor (CLCF1) and the related cytokine to which it binds, cytokine receptor-like factor 1 (CRLF1), are associated with Crisponi/cold induced sweating syndromes, and lead to early neonatal death in mice due to a suckling defect. These cytokines are members of the IL-6 superfamily, and form a range of composite cytokines that signal through gp130 bound either to the ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFR) or a complex that involves the IL-27 p28 subunit. This review describes current knowledge of the signalling complexes formed by these cytokines, and explores their described and suggested roles in the neural, haematopoietic, skeletal, renal, immune and respiratory systems during development and adulthood, and in degenerative diseases and cancer. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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