title: Choroidal Involution Is Associated with a Progressive Degeneration of the Outer Retinal Function in a Model of Retinopathy of Prematurity: Early Role for IL-1β.
abstract: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), the most common cause of blindness in premature infants, has long been associated with inner retinal alterations. However, recent studies reveal outer retinal dysfunctions in patients formerly afflicted with ROP. We have recently demonstrated that choroidal involution occurs early in retinopathy. Herein, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the choroidal involution and its long-term impact on retinal function. An oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model was used. In vitro and ex vivo assays were applied to evaluate cytotoxic effects of IL-1β on choroidal endothelium. Electroretinogram was used to evaluate visual function. We found that proinflammatory IL-1β was markedly increased in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid and positively correlated with choroidal degeneration in the early stages of retinopathy. IL-1β was found to be cytotoxic to choroid in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. Long-term effects on choroidal involution included a hypoxic outer neuroretina, associated with a progressive loss of RPE and photoreceptors, and visual deterioration. Early inhibition of IL-1β receptor preserved choroid, decreased subretinal hypoxia, and prevented RPE/photoreceptor death, resulting in life-long improved visual function in IL-1 receptor antagonist-treated OIR animals. Together, these findings suggest a critical role for IL-1β-induced choroidal degeneration in outer retinal dysfunction. Neonatal therapy using IL-1 receptor antagonist preserves choroid and prevents protracted outer neuroretinal anomalies in OIR, suggesting IL-1β as a potential therapeutic target in ROP.
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Tianwei E
authors: TE
authors: Zhou
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: José C
authors: JC
authors: Rivera
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Vikrant K
authors: VK
authors: Bhosle
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Lahaie
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Zhuo
authors: Z
authors: Shao
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Houda
authors: H
authors: Tahiri
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Tang
authors: T
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Polosa
authors: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Allison
authors: A
authors: Dorfman
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Beaudry-Richard
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Santiago
authors: S
authors: Costantino
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Gregory A
authors: GA
authors: Lodygensky
authors: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Lachapelle
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Hospital, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Electronic address: sylvain.chemtob@umontreal.ca.
authors: Sylvain
authors: S
authors: Chemtob
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002829:Choroid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004596:Electroretinography; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000009:adverse effects; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D010100:Oxygen