Name: Video: Rod Cell Degeneration in Xenopus Tadpoles by CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Rhodopsin Knockout
Uploaded: 2023-10-13T12:00:00
Description: 100 Views. Rod Cell Degeneration in Xenopus Tadpoles by CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Rhodopsin Knockout

rod cell degeneration in xenopus tadpoles by crispr/cas9-mediated rhodopsin knockout

Generating Retinal Degeneration to Investigate Cellular Repair Strategies in Xenopus

Millions of people worldwide are afflicted with various retinal degenerative diseases leading to blindness, such as retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD). To date, these conditions remain largely untreatable. Current therapeutic approaches under evaluation include gene therapy, cell or tissue transplantations, neuroprotective treatments, optogenetics, and prosthetic devices. Another emerging strategy is based on self-regeneration through the activation of endogenous cells with stem cell potential. M&#252;ller glial cells, the major glial cell type of the retina, are among cellular sources of interest in this context. Upon injury, they can dedifferentiate, proliferate, and generate neurons1,2,3. Although this process is very effective in zebrafish or Xenopus, it is largely inefficient in mammals.
Nonetheless, it has been shown that appropriate treatments with mitogenic proteins or overexpression of various factors can induce mammalian M&#252;ller glia cell-cycle re-entry and, in some cases, trigger their subsequent&#160;neurogenesis commitment1,2,3,4,5. This remains, however, largely insufficient for treatments. Hence, increasing our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration is necessary to identify molecules able to efficiently turn M&#252;ller stem-like cell properties into new cellular therapeutic strategies.
With this aim, we developed several injury paradigms in Xenopus that trigger retinal cell degeneration. Here, we present (1) a mechanical retinal injury that is not cell type-specific, (2) a conditional and reversible cell ablation model using the NTR-MTZ system that targets rod cells, (3) a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated rhodopsin knockout, a model of retinitis pigmentosa that triggers progressive rod cell degeneration, and (4) a CoCl2-induced cytotoxic model that according to the dose can specifically target cones or lead to broader retinal cell degeneration. We highlight the particularities, advantages, and disadvantages of each paradigm.

Author Spotlight: Exploring Retinal Regeneration Mechanisms in the Xenopus Frog 

Generating Retinal Injury Models in Xenopus Tadpoles

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Rod Cell Degeneration in Xenopus Tadpoles by CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Rhodopsin Knockout at JoVE.com

Rod Cell Degeneration in Xenopus Tadpoles by CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Rhodopsin Knockout  

Rod Cell Degeneration in Xenopus Tadpoles by CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Rhodopsin Knockout

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Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

100 Views. Rod Cell Degeneration in Xenopus Tadpoles by CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Rhodopsin Knockout

Video: Rod Cell Degeneration in Xenopus Tadpoles by CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Rhodopsin Knockout  

Retinal neurodegenerative diseases are the leading causes of blindness. Among numerous therapeutic strategies being explored, stimulating self-repair recently emerged as particularly appealing. A cellular source of interest for retinal repair is the M&#252;ller glial cell, which harbors stem cell potential and an extraordinary regenerative capacity in anamniotes. This potential is, however, very limited in mammals. Studying the molecular mechanisms underlying retinal regeneration in animal models with regenerative capabilities should provide insights into how to unlock the latent ability of mammalian M&#252;ller cells to regenerate the retina. This is a key step for the development of therapeutic strategies in regenerative medicine. To this aim, we developed several retinal injury paradigms in Xenopus: a mechanical retinal injury, a transgenic line allowing for nitroreductase-mediated photoreceptor conditional ablation, a retinitis pigmentosa model based on CRISPR/Cas9-mediated rhodopsin knockout, and a cytotoxic model driven by intraocular CoCl2 injections. Highlighting their advantages and disadvantages, we describe here this series of protocols that generate various degenerative conditions and allow the study of retinal regeneration in Xenopus.

We have developed several protocols to induce retinal damage or retinal degeneration in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. These models offer the possibility of studying retinal regeneration mechanisms.

Retinal neurodegenerative diseases are the leading causes of blindness. Among numerous therapeutic strategies being explored, stimulating self-repair ...