Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI)

6 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Medicine

A Step by Step Protocol for Subretinal Surgery in Rabbits

Sami Al-Nawaiseh¹, Fabian Thieltges¹, Zengping Liu^1,2, Claudine Strack¹, Ralf Brinken¹, Norbert Braun³, Marc Wolschendorf³, Arvydas Maminishkis⁵, Nicole Eter⁴, Boris V. Stanzel^1,6

¹Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, ²Department of Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore, ³Geuder AG, ⁴Department of Ophthalmology, University of Münster, ⁵Section on Epithelial and Retinal Physiology and Disease, National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health, ⁶Surgical Retina Department, Singapore National Eye Centre

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) replacement strategies and gene-based therapy are considered for several retinal degenerative conditions. For clinical translation, large eye animal models are required to study surgical techniques applicable in patients. Here we present a rabbit model for subretinal surgery geared towards RPE transplantation, which is versatile and cost-efficient.

Medicine

Fluorescent Dye Labeling of Erythrocytes and Leukocytes for Studying the Flow Dynamics in Mouse Retinal Circulation

Rupesh Agrawal^*1,2,3, Praveen Kumar Balne^*2, Sai Bo Bo Tun², Yeo Sia Wey², Neha Khandelwal¹, Veluchamy A. Barathi^2,4,5

¹National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, ²Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), Singapore National Eye Center, ³School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, ⁴Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health Systems, National University of Singapore, ⁵Ophthalmology Academic Clinical Research Program, DUKE-NUS Graduate Medical School

Live-cell imaging of the labeled blood cells in ocular circulation can provide information about inflammation and ischemia in diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. A protocol to label blood cells and image the labeled cells in the retinal circulation is described.

Immunology and Infection

A Non-invasive Way to Isolate and Phenotype Cells from the Conjunctiva

Tanima Bose¹, Aihua Hou², Ryan Lee², Louis Tong^2,3,4,5, K. George Chandy¹

¹Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, ²Singapore Eye Research Institute, ³Singapore National Eye Center, ⁴Duke-NUS Medical School, ⁵Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

The exposed normal ocular surface consists of cornea and conjunctiva. Epithelial cells, goblet cells and immune cells are present in the conjunctiva. Here, a non-invasive, technique of impression cytology is described using an impression cytology device and flow cytometry to analyze immune cells in the conjunctiva.

Immunology and Infection

A Chronic Autoimmune Dry Eye Rat Model with Increase in Effector Memory T Cells in Eyeball Tissue

Aihua Hou^1,2, Tanima Bose³, K. George Chandy³, Louis Tong^1,2,4,5

¹Singapore Eye Research Insitute, A Member of SingHealth, ²DUKE-National University of Singapore Medical School, ³Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, ⁴Singapore National Eye Center, ⁵Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore

This report describes a method to induce chronic experimental autoimmune dry eye in Lewis rats through immunization with an emulsion of rat lacrimal gland extract, ovalbumin, and complete Freund's adjuvant, followed by the injection of lacrimal gland extract and ovalbumin into the forniceal subconjunctiva and lacrimal glands six weeks later.

Immunology and Infection

Bead Based Multiplex Assay for Analysis of Tear Cytokine Profiles

Praveen Kumar Balne^1,2, Veonice Bijin AU³, Louis Tong², Arkasubhra Ghosh⁴, Mukesh Agrawal⁵, John Connolly³, Rupesh Agrawal¹

¹National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, ²Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), ³Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, ⁴GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, ⁵Vimta Labs Limited

Analysis of tear film cytokines helps in studying various ocular diseases. Bead based multiplex assays are simple and sensitive and enable the testing of multiple targets in samples with small volumes. Here we describe a protocol for tear film cytokine profiling a using bead based multiplex assay.

Medicine

Retinal Pigment Epithelium Transplantation in a Non-human Primate Model for Degenerative Retinal Diseases

Ivan Seah^*1,2, Zengping Liu^*1,3,4, Daniel Soo Lin Wong¹, Wendy Wong², Graham E. Holder^1,2,5, Veluchamy Amutha Barathi^1,4,6, Gopal Lingam^1,2,4, Xinyi Su^1,2,3,4, Boris V. Stanzel^1,7,8

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, ²Department of Ophthalmology, National University Hospital, Singapore, ³Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), ⁴Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), ⁵UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, ⁶Academic Clinical Program in Ophthalmology, Duke-NUS Medical School, ⁷Macula Center Saar, Eye Clinic Sulzbach, Knappschaft Hospital Saar, ⁸Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn

The non-human primate (NHP) is an ideal model for studying human retinal cellular therapeutics due to the anatomical and genetic similarities. This manuscript describes a method for submacular transplantation of retinal pigment epithelial cells in the NHP eye and strategies to prevent intraoperative complications associated with macular manipulation.