The disruption of the rod-derived cone viability gene leads to photoreceptor dysfunction and susceptibility to oxidative stress

Abstract

Rod-derived Cone Viability Factor is a thioredoxin-like protein which has therapeutic potential for rod-cone dystrophies such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Cone loss in rodent models of RP is effectively reduced by RdCVF treatment. Here we investigate the physiological role of RdCVF in the retina by analyzing the phenotype of the mouse lacking the RdCVF gene, Nxnl1. While the mice do not show an obvious developmental defect, an age-related reduction of both cone and rod function and a delay in the dark-adaptation of the retina are recorded by electroretinogram (ERG). This functional change is accompanied by a 17 % reduction in cone density and a 20 % reduction in thickness of the outer nuclear layer. The transcriptome of the retina reveals early changes in the expression of genes involved in programmed cell death, stress-response and redox-signaling which is followed by a generalized injury response with increased microglial activation, GFAP, FGF2 and lipid peroxidation levels. Furthermore cones of the mice lacking Nxnl1 are more sensitive to oxidative stress with a reduction of 65 % in the cone flicker ERG amplitude measured under hyperoxic conditions. We demonstrate here that the RdCVF gene, in addition to therapeutic properties, has an essential role in photoreceptor maintenance and resistance to retinal oxidative stress.

Introduction

Retinal Degeneration (RD) represents a large group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous blinding diseases within which prospective gene therapies have been studied in depth.^1–4 One particular form, Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) begins with apoptotic death of the rod photoreceptors caused in many cases by mutations in genes expressed specifically by rods followed by the irreversible progressive loss of cone photoreceptors.⁵ The rods, which comprise up to 95 % of the cells in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) of human retina, provide an overwhelming contribution to retinal homeostasis and are thus likely to have a determining role in the fate of the cones. This role is critical as cones mediate vision in lit conditions as well as the visual perception of color and fine-detail and their loss unleashes the most debilitating aspects of blindness.^6,7 A point of therapeutic intervention post rod demise aimed at preserving cone survival may be sufficient for patient benefit and perhaps optimal, given the range of somatic gene therapies that would otherwise be required. With this objective in mind, the Rod-derived Cone Viability Factor (RdCVF) was identified in 2004.⁸ The factor isolated by high content screening protects cones in two rodent models of RD, the rd1 mouse⁸ and the Pro23His rat⁹ and in vitro mediates the resistance to photooxidative damage.¹⁰

RdCVF corresponds to a truncated thioredoxin-like protein and is encoded by the exon 1 of the nucleoredoxin-like 1 (Nxnl1) gene. In addition to the RdCVF mRNA, the Nxnl1 gene produces a second mRNA by splicing together exons 1 and 2 to yield a longer protein isoform RdCVFL containing an entire thioredoxin fold. We have also identified Nxnl2, a paralogue encoding the RdCVF2 protein.¹¹ Thioredoxin (TRX) proteins play an important role in maintaining a reducing environment in the cell.¹² The diverse integrated TRX functions, which include apoptosis and cell communication, are based on thiol-oxidoreductase reactions mediated by a conserved CXXC catalytic site within the thioredoxin fold. Disruption of TRXs can thus lead to conditions of oxidative stress. RdCVF does not have any thiol-oxidoreductase activity however, the production of a second Nxnl1 gene product RdCVFL, corresponding to an active thioredoxin in the “living fossil,” Carcinoscorpius, suggests that the trophic activity is regulated by redox signaling through the mediation of RdCVFL.¹³ Recently we have demonstrated the participation of RdCVFL in the oxidative stress signaling through its interaction with the microtubule binding protein TAU.¹⁴ We show here that the disruption of the Nxnl1 gene leads to a progressive loss of the function and viability of both cone and rod photoreceptors. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the Nxnl1 knockout mice to oxidative stress demonstrates that RdCVF is part of an endogenous redox-based signaling pathway involved in the maintenance of the retina. These observations are made in the Nxnl1−/− mouse, which nevertheless express the potentially compensatory Nxnl2 gene, demonstrating a critical and unique protective role for this gene in the retina.

Results

Construction of Nxnl1−/− mouse strain

Conditional gene targeting was used to create by homologous recombination an embryonic stem (ES) cell line with an allele where loxP sites frame exon 1 of the Nxnl1 gene (Figure 1a). ES cells carrying the targeted allele (Figure 1b) were injected into blastocysts and subsequently injected into foster mothers to generate chimeric mice on the non-pigmented BALB/c background. Male chimeric mice were crossed with females of a BALB/c Cre-deletor strain. Heterozygote Nxnl1+/− mice were shown to transmit the recombinated allele (Figure 1c). From sib-mating the control wild-type and the homozygous knockout mice were produced. The absence of expression of RdCVFL, the second product of the Nxnl1 gene, was verified by western blot on retinal extracts (Figure 1d). Protein markers of inner retinal cells and plexiform layers do not show significant differences in levels between wild-type and knockout retinas at 7, 10 and 18 months of age (Supplementary Figure S1 a, b and c).

Figure 1.

Construction of Nxnl1 knock-out mouse. (a) The three constructs presented correspond to the wild-type (WT) Nxnl1 allele, the targeted Nxnl1 allele after homologous recombination and removal of the neomycin selection cassette by Flp-mediated recombination at the FRT sites in ES cells and the targeted Nxnl1 allele after Cre-mediated loxP recombination and deletion of exon1. X: Xba1 restriction sites. Dotted box: Probe used for Southern blotting. P1, P2, P3: Primers used for PCR genotyping. (b) Southern hybridization with DNA from ES cells. Hybridization was performed with a ³²P-labeled Nxnl1 probe. Lane 1–7: individual targeted ES clones, lane 8: control DNA from WT ES cells. (c) PCR genotyping of litter-mates. The upper panel shows the amplification of exon 1 (P1, P2), absent in homozygote knockout mice. The lower panel shows the amplification using primers (P2, P3) framing exon 1 and resulting in a product that is too large to amplify from WT allele. (d) Western blot showing the absence of RdCVFL protein in Nxnl1−/− retina.

Reduction in cone cell density and outer nuclear thickness in the Nxnl1−/− mouse

The cone cell density in the mice was measured by labeling cones in flat-mounted retinas with the lectin Peanut Agglutinin (PNA, Figure 2a). A drop of 17 % in the overall number of cones in the Nxnl1−/− mouse was determined, Nxnl1+/+: 6766 +/− 153; Nxnl1−/−: 5654 +/− 256, p = 0.008 (Figure 2b) for mice at 15 weeks of age (n = 12). A corresponding reduction was determined in counts when opsin specific antibodies were used. M-opsin; Nxnl1+/+: 1721 +/− 310; Nxnl1−/−: 1305 +/− 125, p <= 0.05, (Figure 2c), S-opsin: Nxnl1+/+: 1971 +/− 470; Nxnl1−/−: 1204 +/− 200, p = 0.06 (Figure 2d).

Figure 2.

Histology and immunostaining of photoreceptors in Nxnl1−/− retinas. (a–d) Flat-mounted retinas were labeled with the cone-specific (PNA) lectin, M-opsin or S-opsin antibodies for automated counting of cone photoreceptor cell density. (a) Representative images of PNA cone-labeling of retinas used for cone counting. (b) PNA-labeled counts show a 17 % drop in cell number at 15 weeks of age, (n = 12). (c) M-opsin antibody shows a 24 % drop in M-cone cell number at 15 weeks of age, p = 0.05, (n = 7). (d) S-opsin antibody shows a 39 % drop in S-cone cell number at 15 weeks of age, (n = 7). (e) The outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness measurements from resin-embedded retinal sections show a 20 % drop in thickness in the Nxnl1−/− retinas compared to controls at 6 months of age. (f) The thinning of the ONL is linked with age in Nxnl1−/− mice at 3 and 6 months of age. (g) Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) images of retinal OCT sections at 3 months. (h) Filter binding assay showing TAU aggregation. Control: Non pathological human brain extract, AD: Alzheimer’s disease human brain extract. (i, j, l m) Ultrastructure of the outer retina in Nxnl1+/+ (i, j) and Nxnl1−/− mice (l, m) at 3 (i, l) and 12 (j, m) months of age. The Transmission Electron Microscopy images show the stacked outer segments of the ONL Scale bar: 5 μm (i, l) as well as the photoreceptor cell bodies of the ONL Scale bar: 2 μm (j, m). (k, n) Immunohistochemistry for RPE65 (green) and recoverin (red) in cryosections of the retinas stained with DAPI (blue) at 18 months of age. OPL: Outer Plexiform Layer, INL: Inner Nuclear Layer. Scale bar: 50 μm.

As the rod photoreceptors comprise more than 95 % of the outer nuclear layer (ONL), the overall thickness of this layer reveals both rod number and integrity. The ONL was found reduced by 20 % in central parts of the superior retina, p < 0.05 (Figure 2e). This reduction progresses with the age of the animal between 3 and 6 months (Figure 2f) and may be caused by a reduction in cell number and/or their alignment in the ONL. Paradoxically no TUNEL positive cells are detected in the 12 month (Figure 2g) or the 3 month old Nxnl1−/− retina compared to positive controls using rd1 retina (Supplementary Figure S2). However, we found that the Nxnl1−/− retinas contain aggregated TAU protein as measured by filter binding assay (Figure 2h), as found in the brain of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and in agreement to the interaction of RdCVFL with TAU.¹⁴ We also observe by electron microscopy that the soma of rod photoreceptor cell bodies is considerably darker in wild-type than in the Nxnl1−/− retinas at 12 months of age possibly indicating a vacuolated cytoplasm in the photoreceptors (Figure 2j and 2m). Moreover, significant disruption of outer segments of rods is already evident at 3 months of age (Figure 2i and 2l), with an increase of the extracellular space between the segmented stacks. At advanced ages increased extracellular spaces can also be seen in retinas from 18 month-old Nxnl1−/− mice where nuclear stain DAPI and the ONL marker recoverin are used (Figure 2k and 2n). The extracellular spaces may represent cell loss and result in the thinning of the ONL as a function of age.

Impaired vision of the Nxnl1−/− mouse

The light-adapted ERG wave amplitude, reflecting cone function was recorded after 10 minutes of light saturation in response to flashes of light intensity of 10 cds/m². We did not observe any significant differences at 3 months of age between the two genotypes using photopic and flicker ERG (a cone photoreceptor-mediated response examined after 10 minutes of 25 cds/m² light bleach, Figure 3a). A 24 % reduction in amplitude was recorded at 7 months that is further reduced to 32 % at 12 months, p <= 0.05 (Figure 3b). Thus, in accordance with a functional deficit that progresses with age, the cone b-wave amplitudes of both the Nxnl1+/+ and Nxnl1−/− decrease as the mice age, but the reduction is more pronounced for the Nxnl1−/− mice and precedes the loss of cone cells.

Figure 3.

Electroretinography (ERG) of the Nxnl1−/− mice. (a) Electroretinogram recordings of photopic (upper panel) and flicker (lower panel) ERGs from Nxnl1+/+ and Nxnl1−/− mice at 3 months of age. The ‘cone-only’ photopic response is obtained using a flash intensity of 10 cds/m² on light-adapted animals. (b) The absolute amplitudes recorded for the b-wave of the photopic ERG (n = 5 for each age-group). (c) Representative electroretinogram traces from the scotopic ERGs of Nxnl1+/+ and Nxnl1−/− mice after dark-adaptation overnight. The arrow marks the onset of the flash stimulus. (d) The amplitudes recorded for the a-wave in response to flashes of 1 cds/m² on dark-adapted retinas is shown for three age-groups with a reduction of 57 % in Nxnl1−/− mice at 12 months, (n = 5 for each age-group). (e) Voltage-Intensity response amplitudes show bwave amplitudes from dark-adapted mice and were used to determine visual sensitivity, k for Nxnl1+/+ and Nxnl1−/− mice at 12 months of age. (f) Dark adaptation analysis for the recovery ERG was carried out on mice at 6 months of age (n = 5), 10 minutes after light bleach (3 cd s/m²) Nxnl1−/− mice have not recovered full a-wave amplitude in response to 0.1 cds/m² flash stimulus, whereas Nxnl1+/+ mice maintain flash response throughout. Error bars show +/− SEM, * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01.

The rod-mediated responses were recorded at a range of light intensities (0.001 to 10 cds/m²) following 12 hours dark-adaptation. A steady decline in the Nxnl1−/− a- and b-wave amplitudes in all three age-groups (3, 7 and 12 months) is observed with increasing light intensity as shown at 3 months (Figure 3c). The differences in the response were maximal for the mixed rod/cone response at a flash intensity of 1 cds/m². When plotted as a function of age, the a-wave amplitude shows a 26 % reduction at 3 months to 57 % reduction at 12 months, p = 0.007 (Figure 3d). The b-wave amplitudes are proportionally reduced such that the b/a ratios are equivalent for the two genotypes, suggesting that the defect is not located within the inner retinal layer. The maximum voltage responses for the b-wave (V_max) are listed in table 1. As expected, the scotopic trend recorded for the Nxnl1+/+ mice shows increasing voltage response from 0.001 to 10 cds/m². This is because time-intervals between each scotopic recording are lengthened in proportion with increasing flash intensity allowing the rods to dark-adapt and thus recover function between each flash. By contrast, and as observed at 12 months of age, the b-wave amplitude for the Nxnl1−/− mice reaches maximal scotopic response at 0.01 cds/m² and drops at higher intensities (Figure 3e). To analyze this more precisely, we recorded scotopic responses following increasing time intervals of recovery from five minutes of photo-bleach of 3 cds/m². Five to fifteen minutes of dark-adaptation is required for the Nxnl1−/− mouse to recover function and respond to a flash stimulus of 0.1 cds/m², while the Nxnl1+/+ mouse has recovered within two minutes (Figure 3f). While the parameter k that corresponds to the inverse of the sensitivity of the visual response value did not change significantly across the age-groups for the Nxnl1+/+ mice, it did increase significantly in the Nxnl1−/− mice between 3 and 12 months of age from 0.097 to 0.691 cds/m² demonstrating an age-related decline in the sensitivity of the rods in the absence of Nxnl1 (Tables 1 and 2).

Table 1.

Amplitude of the b-wave of the scotopic ERG from Nxnl1+/+ and Nxnl1−/− mice

Age	b-wave Vmax(μV)* +/− SEM		Time to peak (msecs) +/− SEM		k (cds/m2)† +/− SEM		Ivmax(cds/m2)‡
	+/+	−/−	+/+	−/−	+/+	−/−	+/+	−/−
3 months (n = 5)	568 +/− 98.0	467 +/− 14.3	49.2 +/− 5.4	32.6 +/− 2.0	0.012 +/− 0.002	0.097 +/− 0.12	10	3
7 months (n = 5)	427 +/− 60.6	315 +/− 12.7	49.4 +/− 7.3	55.4 +/− 5.2	0.010 +/− 0.104	0.681 +/− 0.18	10	0.1
12 months (n = 5)	408 +/− 20.6	200 +/− 19.3	44.0 +/− 14	40.6 +/− 6.3	0.006 +/− 0.009	0.691 +/− 0.11	0.1	0.1
	At 7 months p < 0.05 At 12 months p < 0.01

^*Maximum ERG voltage for the b-wave recorded of flash intensity series in dark-adapted animals.

^†k, flash intensity yielding semi-saturation voltage response.

^‡I_Vmax, flash intensity yielding maximum voltage response, SEM: Standard Error of the Mean.

Table 2.

Amplitude of the b-wave of the photopic ERG from Nxnl1+/+ and Nxnl1−/− mice

Age	b-wave amplitude* (μV) +/− SEM		Time to peak (msecs) +/− SEM
	+/+	−/−	+/+	−/−
3 months (n = 5)	188.5 +/− 31.5	184.1 +/− 27.2	60.2 +/− 0.9	60.0 +/− 3.1
7 months (n = 5)	129.2 +/− 6.9	98.2 +/− 14.0	68.6 +/− 12	65.2 +/− 2.0
12 months (n = 5)	136.0 +/− 15.1	93.0 +/− 10.0	64.2 +/− 2.6	72.5 +/− 3.3
	At 12 months p = 0.05

^*ERG voltage response recorded at 10 cds/m² from light-adapted mouse retinas

Differential gene expression in the Nxnl1−/− retina reveals early abnormalities

Microarray profiling of Nxnl1−/− retina at post-natal day 40 (PN40) was performed to identify molecular events that precede the phenotypic changes. Candidate gene expression changes were validated by quantitative RT-PCR (Supplementary Table S1). The largest fold change, aside from the Nxnl1 gene itself (named here Txnl6), is for Endothelin 2, (Edn2) with a 35-fold induction in the Nxnl1−/− retina (Supplementary Table S2). Edn2 expression is highly induced in all tested models of photoreceptor disease or injury and points to early abnormalities of the Nxnl1−/− retina. ¹⁵ Also induced are stress-activated genes, such as the crystallins, Gckr linked to metabolic stress and retinol dehydrogenase 9 reflecting possible oxidative stress. We also identified the downregulation of genes of the visual cycle, such as Recoverin (Rcvrn) and Irbp3, in coherence with the delay in dark adaptation (Figure 3f). In addition, we observed a perturbed expression of genes encoding for cytoskeleton and ciliary proteins.

Injury response, microglial-activation and FGF2-signaling in the Nxnl1−/− retina

Nudix is among the transcripts most significantly induced in the Nxnl1−/− retina (Supplementary Table S2). This natural antisense of the Fgf2 gene is induced in many pathological conditions.¹⁶ In the retina of the Nxnl1−/− mice at 3 months of age, the 22 and 22.5 kDa isoforms of FGF2 are more abundant in the total cell extract and the 18 kDa isoform of FGF2 is present at higher levels both in the total extract and in the nuclear fraction (Figure 4a). By 12 months the level of FGF2 is reduced (Figure 4b). The microglia marker protein IBA-1 is also increased implicating the activation of microglial cells as the source of FGF2 (Figure 4c–d). At 3 months of age, an 8-fold increase in microglial cell number in Nxnl1−/− mice was quantified (n = 4, Figure 4c) and was maintained at 12 months of age (Figure 4d). By immunocolocalisation we show that the higher retinal spread of microglial cells is spatially correlated with an increase in FGF2 levels in the retina (Figure 4e–f). Such a response is similarly recorded in a number of pathological conditions, including age related macular degeneration (AMD).^17–19 This is indicative of an endogenous retinal defense against stress existing in the absence of the Nxnl1 gene products arising at an early age. With increasing age this defense may be dampened, as evidenced by declining FGF2 levels (Figure 4b) and microglial infiltration of the ONL (Figure 4d), however levels remain increased compared to the wild-type. It is worth noting that, in addition to secretion of neurotrophic factors, the retinal microglia can trigger inflammation and thus their activation represents a double-edged sword for the survival of neuronal cells.²⁰

Figure 4.

FGF2 and microglial activation. (a) The FGF2 protein levels in total and nuclear extracts from retinas of mice at 3 months of age; the upper panel: FGF2 expression, middle panel: Tata Binding Protein (TBP) used as a control for nuclear extracts, lower panel: β-actin to control for loading of whole cell extracts. (b) Quantification of the FGF2 expression at 3 and 12 months of age (c) Sub-retinal accumulation of microglial cells as revealed by IHC using IBA-1 antibody on flat-mounted retinas from mice at 12 months of age. (d) Quantification of microglial cells using stereological counting of flat-mounted retinas at 3 months of age and 12 months of age. (e–f) Co-immunolabeling of cryosections from retinas of mice at 3 months of age with FGF2 (green) and IBA-1 (red). Error bars show +/− SEM, ** p < 0.01.

Lipid peroxidation in older Nxnl1−/− retina and cone sensitivity to hyperoxia

In older mice, at 18 months, an accumulating effect of the response to stress is evidenced by the increase expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, Figure 5a–b). A generalized injury response is thus maintained throughout life in the Nxnl1−/− mice.

Figure 5.

Injury response and lipid peroxidation in aging Nxnl1−/− mice. Immunolabeling of cryosections from retinas of mice at 18 months of age with (a–b) Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP, green) and glutamine synthetase (GS, red) antibodies and (c–d) 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE, red), lectin-PNA (green) and DAPI (blue) (e) Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay was used as an index of lipid peroxidation in retinal and brain lysates tested at 6 months of age. (f–g and h–i) Acrolein (red), lectin-PNA (green) and DAPI (blue) immunostaining on cryosections from mouse retinas. The retinas were sectioned and stained at 18 months of age. Scale bars: a–b: 80 μm. Scale bars: c–d and f–g: 50 μm. Scale bars: h–i: 15 μm. Error bars show +/− SEM, ** p < 0.01.

Among the most toxic products formed due to lipid peroxidation, acrolein and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) can modify proteins and inactivate enzymes²¹ and are used as biomarkers of oxidative damage in AMD.²² The immunostaining pattern for these adducts was examined in mice at 3 months of age (Supplementary Figure S3) and at 18 months (Figure 5c–d). 4-HNE antibody did not label the Nxnl1+/+ retina but stains the inner retina and photoreceptor cell bodies of the ONL of the Nxnl1−/− mouse retina with increased intensity at 18-months. We also estimated the level of lipid peroxidation using MDA. A 55 % increase in the level of MDA concentration was measured in the Nxnl1−/− retina compared to Nxnl1+/+ at 6 months of age (Figure 5e), but not at 3 months (not shown). Furthermore, brain lysates from these mice did not show any increase in MDA concentration between the two genotypes demonstrating the peroxidation to be specific of the tissue where Nxnl1 is expressed.¹¹ Acrolein immunostaining was found more pronounced in the Nxnl1−/− retina at 18 months of age (Figure 5f–g), particularly in regions surrounding cone outer segments (Figure 5h–i). Similar to 4-HNE, the acrolein staining while present in the knockout retina at 3 months (Supplementary Figure S3) was more pronounced at 18 months.

Oxidative damage to photoreceptor proteins leads to cellular dysfunction

Lipid peroxidation alongside the generalized injury response in the Nxnl1−/− retina may arise due to the absence of the thioredoxin enzymatic activity carried by RdCVFL and the consequential changes in the redox environment of the retinal cells. We therefore examine visual function of the Nxnl1−/− mice under oxidative stress conditions, by increasing the oxygen pressure in the retina.²³ Mice at 3 months of age were caged in a 75 % oxygen-enriched environment for two weeks, following which retinal function was analyzed. After 12 hours of dark adaptation, the cone flicker ERG amplitude was recorded and found to be markedly reduced for the Nxnl1−/− mice under hyperoxic compared to normoxic conditions, contrarily to controls (Figure 6a–c). The amplitude is reduced by 60 % for the Nxnl1−/− mice in two separate experiments (n = 10 for each group). The difference in the amplitudes recorded before hyperoxia was not significant (33 μV for Nxnl1+/+, 23.7 μV Nxnl1−/−, p = 0.2). However, the difference becomes significant after hyperoxia (28 μV for Nxnl1+/+, 10.7 μV for Nxnl1−/−, p < 0.01). Furthermore, this deficit in cone function is reflected in a 52 % loss of M-opsin transcript and a 21 % loss of S-opsin transcripts (Supplementary Table S3). The retinas of BALB/c mice have previously been found to be resistant to the detrimental effects of hyperoxic caging and this resistance is evident for the Nxnl1+/+ mice.²⁴ By contrast, the cone function of the Nxnl1−/− mice is particularly vulnerable to hyperoxia-induced damage. As under normoxic conditions, TUNEL-positive cells are not detected in the wild-type or the knockout retinas (Supplementary Figure S2) and cannot therefore be correlated with the functional changes. However, a decrease of over 40 % in the expression of the anti-apoptotic BCL2 protein is found, in agreement with the drop in Bcl2 gene expression detected by microarray (Supplementary Table S2), while the level of pro-apoptotic BID is increased by over 30%, and BAX over 100% only in the Nxnl1+/+ retina (Figure 6d–e). It is notable that BCL2 retinal protein levels in the wild-type may protect this retina from the damaging effects of hyperoxia (Figure 6d–e). By contrast, in the knockout the BCL2 levels may not be sufficient to prevent this damage.

Figure 6.

Hyperoxic stress and cell death signaling in Nxnl1−/− mice. (a–b) The amplitude measured for the 15-hz flicker ERG from 3 month old mice under normoxic and hyperoxic (two week caging in 75 % ambient oxygen) conditions are shown. Error bars show +/− SEM, ** p < 0.01. (c) A representative flicker electroretinogram trace from hyperoxic ERG measurements is shown for Nxnl1+/+ and Nxnl1−/− mice. (d) Western blots for BCL2, BID, BAX and β-Actin proteins in retinal extracts from mice used in hyperoxic experiments. (e) Plot of the enhanced HRP signal from western blots after normalisation to β-Actin.

Discussion

We investigate here the role of the retinal-specific trophic factor RdCVF in vivo by analyzing the phenotype of a mouse engineered with a disrupted RdCVF-encoding gene, Nxnl1. The phenotype of the Nxnl1−/− mouse suggests that RdCVF does not have an essential role in development with normal formation of the retinal layers (Supplementary Figure S1) and instead plays a role in the maintenance of the retina. A homologue of RdCVF termed RdCVF2, encoded by the gene Nxnl2¹¹ is predicted to compensate for RdCVF in the Nxnl1−/− mouse retina, however as we show here this potential compensation is not complete. Changes in the visual phenotype of the model are relatively mild until 6 months, after which the degenerative effects of age are more pronounced in Nxnl1−/− mouse retinas compared to Nxnl1+/+. The delay in visual recovery to dark adaptation (Figure 3d–f) possibly indicates a dysfunction of the visual cycle. The described defect in the rods may be attributed to the absence of a paracrine activity from secreted RdCVF or alternatively to the absence of the second isoform encoded by the gene RdCVFL within the rods themselves.¹⁴ The presence of aggregates of TAU, an RdCVFL interacting protein indicates that the death of photoreceptors in the Nxnl1−/− retina may be triggered by these aggregates, as reported in Alzheimer’s disease.²⁵ TUNEL positive cells are not detected however this may be explained by the slower rate of degeneration observed here, with 20 % of the cells in the ONL lost over a period of six months as compared to the rd1 which looses 97 % of these cells over 15 days (Supplementary Figure S2). The reduced cone number and function (Figure 2a–d and Figure 3a–b) is evidence that RdCVF is involved in the viability of these photoreceptors. However the cone phenotype under normal conditions is milder than that of the rod; as such additional protective pathways are likely to be involved.²⁶ Nevertheless, as the cone-specific detrimental effects of hyperoxia in the Nxnl1−/− mouse retina demonstrate, the cone-protective role of this factor appears to be magnified under conditions of stress, as arises during RD.

Based on the presence of an entire thioredoxin domain of RdCVFL, we hypothesized that the photoreceptor defects result from oxidative stress in the absence of RdCVFL. To investigate this we examined the oxidative-stress responses of the Nxnl1−/− mouse and found that the Nxnl1−/− mice show decreased cone function following hyperoxia (Figure 6a–c). This suggests that RdCVF plays a role in protection against hyperoxia, of significance given that oxygen toxicity is considered to be a major factor in triggering cone photoreceptor death and thus the onset of severe blindness in the end-stages of RP.²⁷

However the mechanism of cell loss itself remains ambiguous with a marked absence of TUNEL positive-cells in the retinas of the knockout mice at 3 and 12 months of age. TUNEL staining, though a classic marker for apoptosis may not be reliable in some forms of RD, as the highly efficient autophagocytic mechanisms inherent to retinal function may achieve a rapid clearance of cell debris with each wave of cell loss.²⁸ Apart from the kinetics of rod death, the nuclear fragmentation of the dying cells may never be detectable where autophagy arises in close parallel with apoptosis, as has been described to occur in the rd1 mouse and in models of light-damage.²⁹ The ultrastructural images here support the possibility that vacuolation and the infiltration of autophagosomes is occurring in the cytoplasm of Nxnl1−/− ONL cells and may explain the absence of TUNEL positive cells. Furthermore, there are other indications of activity from specific cell-death pathways in the Nxnl1−/− retina. Alterations in the Bcl2-signaling, a pathway associated with developmental cell death, are reflected in decreased levels of anti-apoptotic BCL2 protein (Figure 6d–e) and an imbalance in the overall BCL2/BAX/BID ratio. The overexpression of thioredoxin 1 has previously been shown to protect against hyperoxia-induced apoptosis in alveolar cells by the up-regulation of BCL2 protein.³⁰ The absence of the thioredoxin-like RdCVFL protein in the Nxnl1−/− mouse may lead to a disruption of the Bcl2-signaling pathway and therefore compromise a necessary defense mechanism for the mouse retina under conditions of hyperoxia.

The retinal transcriptome at PN40 reveals early abnormalities that precede phenotypic changes. The genes whose expression level is correlated to the number of copies of the Nxnl1 gene are pointing out to Nxnl1 signaling. Three major potential pathways were distinguished. The fatty acid transporter genes, Fabp4, the trimethyllysine hydroxylase, Tmlhe and the Stearoyl-Coenzyme A desaturase-2, Scd2 show a dose-dependent dowregulation (Table 3, Supplementary Table S2) and are both involved in energy metabolism. Their down-regulation is suggestive of metabolic changes at the onset of retinal degeneration similar to that observed prior to cone death in the rd1 mouse model.²⁶ We also observed a gene dose-dependent reduction of two regulators of the Wnt pathway: Btrc and Porcupine (Porcn), a pathway related to that of nucleoredoxin, the distant homologue of Nxnl1.³¹ Finally, the Srpk2, Cugbp2, Son and Donson involved in alternative splicing, support the interesting possibility that RdCVF and/or RdCVFL are able to regulate their own relative expression by controlling the expression of specific splicing factors. From this work, we propose the rod defect to be specifically linked to the absence of the long isoform RdCVFL and to the resulting loss of the redox regulation of targeted proteins, such as TAU. However, we also demonstrate that a cone protective function, which in earlier studies was achieved through delivery of the short isoform RdCVF,^8,9 is absent in the Nxnl1−/− model under conditions of more advanced stress.

Table 3.

Pathways identified as Nxnl1 dose-dependent

Energy metabolism
The fatty acid transporter genes, Fabp4	<
Trimethyllysine hydroxylase, Tmlhe	<
Stearoyl-Coenzyme A desaturase-2, Scd2	<
Wnt pathway
Btrc	<
Porcupine, Porcn	<
Alternative splicing
Srpk2	<
Cugbp2	<
Son	>
Donson	>

Materials and Methods

Animals

All procedures in this study adhered to the ARVO Statement for the use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research. Animals were housed under a 12 hours light/12 hours dark cycle and given ad-libitum access to food and water.

Nxnl1 genomic sequences corresponding to Nxnl1 5′UTR, exon 1 and intron 1 were amplified from BALB/c mouse genomic DNA and subcloned into a modified targeting vector containing a loxP recombination site as well as an FRT-flanked neomycin cassette. Subcloned sequences were validated by comparison to sequences available from the Mouse Ensembl database (gene ID: ENSMUSG00000034829). Finally, a loxP element was inserted into the 5′UTR upstream of exon 1, resulting in the plasmid pNxnl1 target. BALB/c mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell culture was performed with primary X-ray inactivated embryonic fibroblasts derived from DR4 mice. ES cells were transfected by electroporation using 12 μg of linearized pNxnl1 target. Transfected ES cells were selected for neomycin resistance using 0.2 mg/ml geneticin (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). For positive-negative selection, ten days after transfection, G418-resistant ES cell clones were isolated and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for homologous recombination and for the presence of the loxP element integrated into the Nxnl1 5′UTR. To remove the neomycin selection cassette targeted ES cells were transfected with an Flp expression plasmid. Individual ES cell clones were subsequently screened for neomycin sensitivity. DNA was prepared from selected neomycin-sensitive ES cell clones and analyzed by PCR for the loss of the selection cassette. Southern blotting was performed on 12 μg of genomic DNA, digested with 30 units of the XbaI restriction enzyme and separated on a 1 % agarose gel. After denaturation the DNA was blotted on a Hybond N+ membrane (GE Healthcare) followed by UV crosslinking. Hybridization with the ³²P-labeled DNA probe (Rediprime II Random prime labeling kit, GE Healthcare) was performed in Perfect Plus Hybridization buffer (Sigma) at 65°C overnight. After washing of the hybridized membrane, image analysis was performed using a phosphoimager. Targeted BALB/c ES cells were injected into C57Bl/6 host blastocysts, which were then transferred into pseudopregnant CB6F1 foster mothers. Chimeric offspring were identified by coat pigmentation (white BALB/c on a black C57Bl/6 background). White offspring indicated the germline transmission of the targeted ES cells and were further analyzed for their correct genotype. In order to generate Nxnl1 knock out mice, targeted mice were mated with BALB/c Cre deleter females (C-TgN(CMV-Cre)#Cgn), resulting in Cre mediated loxP recombination and the excision of the floxed exon 1 of the Nxnl1 gene.³² Offspring were analyzed for their genotype by PCR performed on genomic DNA prepared from tail biopsies (primer sequences available on request).

Cone counting

Cone counting was performed on mice at 15 weeks (n = 10). The retinas were carefully dissected from surrounding tissue in phosphate buffered saline 0.01M, pH 7.4 (PBS) warmed to 37°C and transferred to 4 % paraformaldehyde at 4°C overnight. The retinas were prepared for staining, as described previously.³³ Retinas were labeled using either (FITC)-conjugated peanut agglutinin lectin from arachis hypogae, PNA (1/40)³⁴, a S-opsin antibody at 1/400 or a M-opsin-specific antibody (1/200, Calbiochem, San Diego, CA) at 4°C. Incubation times were 24 hours for PNA and 48 hours for opsin antibodies. The retinas were then rinsed in PBS, 0.05 % Tween-20 and, in the case of opsin-specific antibodies, incubated with a goat anti-rabbit IgG conjugated to either Alexa TM 594 or 488 at 1/500 for 2 hours at room temperature. The retinas were whole-mounted photoreceptor side-up in fade-resistant mounting media (Biomedia, CA).

Cryosectioning and immunostaining

For cryosections, the eyes were enucleated quickly and immersed in PBS. The centre of the cornea was removed to allow penetration of the fixative. The eyes were immersed at 4°C overnight in 4 % paraformaldehyde in PBS. The tissues were incubated successively in 10 %, 20 % and 30 % sucrose at 4°C for cryoprotection and embedded in O.C.T. cryoembedding media (Sakura Finetek, Gentaur, Belgium). Frozen sections of 10 μm thickness were used for immunohistochemistry. Antibodies were diluted in blocking buffer (5 % BSA in PBS-Tween 0.05 %), at a concentration of 1/250 for the rhodopsin antibody (Rho-4D2),³⁵ 1/100 for FGF2 (Upstate Cell Signaling, Millipore, MA), 1/1000 respectively for recoverin (Millipore, MA), RPE65 (Abcam, Cambridge, UK), GFAP (Dako, Glostrup, Denmark) and Glutamine synthetase (Chemicon, Millipore, MA). A concentration of 1/350 was used for HNE antibody (Calbiochem, San Diego, CA) and 1/200 for acrolein antibody (Cosmo bio, Tokyo, Japan). Primary antibodies were incubated overnight at 4°C. For immunostaining using the acrolein antibody, slides were subjected to antigen retrieval heating/cooling cycles as described previously.³⁶ For flat-mounted retinas, an immunostain using IBA1 at 1/300 (Wako Chemicals, Inc., Tokyo, Japan) was used. For each antibody, after washing, sectioned tissues were incubated with a secondary antibody: goat anti-mouse IgG conjugated to either Alexa TM 594 or 488 at 1/500 for 1 hour. The nuclear marker 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI, Sigma) was added to the incubation solution for sectioned tissues, which were ultimately mounted with fade-resistant mounting media (Biomedia, CA).

TUNEL assay

To detect DNA fragmentation in retinal cells, the 10 μm cryosections from mice retinas were treated with an in situ cell death detection kit (Roche, Indianapolis, IN) using the TUNEL technique according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Filter binding assay

Retinal extracts were made in lysis buffer (10 mM Tris HCl, pH8.0, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1 % NP40, 1 % sodium deoxycholate), sonicated and suspended in PBS 2 % SDS. Fifty μg of proteins were filtered through 0.22 μm nitrocellulose membrane using biodot microfiltration apparatus (Biorad) as described.³⁷ The membrane was probed with the anti tau5 antibody (Abcam, 1/500).

Semithin sectioning and outer nuclear layer (ONL) measurement

Mice were anesthetized by a mixture of Ketamine (160 mg/kg)/Xylazine (32 mg/kg) followed immediately by vascular perfusion of Glutharaldehyde 2.5 % and Formaldehyde 2 % in PBS. The eyes were embedded in epoxy resin and histological sections of 1 μm thick were made along the sagital axis at the optic nerve level as previously described.³⁸ Briefly, in each of the superior (dorsal) and inferior (ventral) hemispheres, ONL thickness was measured in nine sets of three measurements each (total of 27 measurements in each hemisphere). Each set was centered on adjacent 250 μm lengths of retina, with the first set centered 250 μm from the optic nerve head and subsequent sets located more peripherally. Within each 250 μm length, the three measurements were made at defined points separated from one another by 50 μm. The 54 measurements in the two hemispheres sampled are representative of the entire retina.

Transmission Electron Microscopy

The eye cups were fixed in 2.5 % Glutharaldehyde at room temperature 2 hours, extensively washed overnight and post-fixed in Osmium tetraoxide 1 % for 1 hour at room temperature. Samples were washed in Ringer-Krebs Buffer (140 mM NaCl; 4.5 mM KCl, 2.2 mM CaCl₂, 12 mM MgSO₄, 12 mM NaHCO₃, 0.44 mM KH₂PO₄, 5.55 mM Glucose, pH = 7.4) followed by dehydration in graded ethanol and acetone. They were embedded in epoxy resin and ultrathin sections (400 to 600 nm) were cut and stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and observed under an electron microscope (Met Zeiss 912, at 80 kV).

Western Blotting

Retinas from mice were dissected and homogenized by sonication in RIPA buffer (PBS buffer, 1 % NP-40, 0.5 % sodium deoxycholate, 0.1 % sodium dodecyl sulfate) containing protease inhibitors. Isolation of DNA binding proteins was achieved using a high-salt extraction protocol as described by Andrews and Faller.³⁹ Whole cell extract protein concentrations were measured by Bradford’s assay. Nuclear extract protein concentration was measured using the RC-DC protein assay (Bio-rad, Hertfordshire, UK). 40 μg of proteins were loaded on a 12 % SDS-PAGE and transferred to nitrocellulose. The membrane was saturated with PBS 1×, 0.05 % Tween-20, 5 % nonfat dry milk for 1 hour at room temperature and then incubated overnight at 4°C with anti-FGF2 (1/1000, Upstate Cell Signaling, Millipore, MA), anti-BAX (1/1000, Cell Signaling, #2772), anti-BCL2 (1/1000, Abcam, ab18210) or anti-BID (1/800, Millipore AB1730). After washing, the membrane was incubated with peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit secondary antibody (1/15000, Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, Hamburg, Germany) for one hour at room temperature. Antibody binding was revealed by Enhanced Chemiluminescence system and hyperfilm-ECL X-ray film (GE Healthcare, GmbH, Munchen, Germany). To ensure equal loading an antibody-removal was achieved using Reblot recycling kit (Chemicon, Millipore, MA), the membrane was then washed, saturated and subsequently reincubated with monoclonal anti-β–actin antibody (1/1000, T5168, Sigma, Saint Louis, MO) and anti-TBP18 (1/1000, Abcam, Cambridge, UK).

MDA Assay

To test for the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of retinal lipid peroxidation a TBARS assay kit was used (Cayman Chemical Company, Ann Arbor, MI). 25 mg of retinal tissue or brain tissue was sonicated on ice in 250 μl of RIPA buffer. Following centrifugation at 1600 g for 10 minutes at 4°C, the supernatant was stored for use in the assay. The prescribed TBARS protocol was used, in addition to the duplicate pipetting of MDA aliquots of known concentration to produce a standard curve and the triplicate-pipetting of each test sample. The absorbance was read from the 96-well plate at 570 nm using a plate reader. The averaged values were used to determine MDA concentration from the MDA standard curve graph. TBARS analysis was repeated three times on retinal lysate with n = 3 mice used in each assay.

RNA purification and gene expression analysis

Animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The eyes were removed, and retinal tissue was dissected free of Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) and placed in guanidine HCl (Promega). The samples were subsequently disrupted and homogenized using a rotor stator (Polytron PT2100). RNA used for transcriptomic studies was purified from a cesium chloride gradient produced by high speed ultracentrifugation according to the method of Glisin et al.⁴⁰

Microarray analysis

Using purified retinal RNA from PN40 mice (n = 5), cDNA probes were subsequently generated and hybridized to Affymetrix gene chips (mouse genome 430 2.0 array). Three replicates were performed for each experiment. Quality Control (QC) was performed using RReportGenerator⁴¹, and confirmed that all arrays used in the study were of good and consistent quality (available on request). The complete QC report is available on request. Affymetrix raw data were summarized and normalized using gcrma (R/Bioconductor) and filtered to remove genes with very low signal intensities in all samples. Differential gene expression in the Nxnl1+/− and Nxnl1−/− transcriptomes was determined using local false discovery rate (fdr).⁴² The genes resulting from the statistical analysis of +/+, +/− and −/− mice were combined to a single (non-redundant) list and the standardized expression profiles for each probe-set were clustered using DPC.⁴³ Out of the resulting clusters only the clusters with progressively decreasing cluster-averages (minimum slope of 1.1) were selected and up-regulated or down-regulated probe-sets combined. The validity of the clustering results was verified by plotting (i) the cluster-profiles of the original (non-standardized) data and (ii) by projection onto the first and second principal components (data not shown).

Electroretinography (ERG)

Handling the mice

Following overnight dark adaptation, animals were prepared for recording under dim red light. After intramuscular anesthesia with a mixture of ketamine (80 mg/kg) and xylazine (16 mg/kg) diluted in saline, pupils were dilated by topical application of 1 % atropine sulfate. Upper and lower lids were retracted to keep the eye open and proptosed. Body temperature was maintained at 37°C through the use of a circulating hot water heating pad. The electrical signal was recorded using a pair of electrodes constructed specifically for use on mice. A gold loop electrode was placed on the center of the corneal surface and maintained with lacrigel (Europhta) to further ensure good electrical contact. A stainless steel reference electrode to normalize signal output was inserted subcutaneously in the cheek of the mouse and a second needle electrode inserted subcutaneously in the back of the mouse served to ground the signal. Recordings were made from both eyes simultaneously.⁴⁴ ERGs were performed on n = 7 mice at each age group under normal conditions. ERGs were carried out on n = 10 mice from two replica experiments involving hyperoxic containment of mice, the second of which carried out as a blind test.

Recording measurements

The light stimulus was provided by a 150 watt xenon lamp in a Ganzfeld stimulator (Multiliner Vision, Jaeger Toennies, Germany). Responses were amplified and filtered (1 Hz-low and 300 Hz-high cut off filters) with a 1 channel DC-/AC-amplifier. Following overnight dark-adaptation rod responses were determined to flash intensities between 0.01 and 10 cds/m². Each scotopic ERG represents the average of five responses from a set of five flashes of stimulation. For recovery experiments bleaching was done in the Ganzfeld dome at 3 cds/m² for 5 minute periods and the scotopic responses recorded using a 0.1 cds/m² stimulus. To isolate cone responses a 10 minutes light saturation at 25 cd/m² was used to desensitize the rods.⁴⁷ The cone photopic ERGs shown represents the average of ten responses from ten consecutive flashes at 10 cds/m² intensity. The flicker ERG was also used to isolate cone responses at flash frequencies of 10, 15 and 30 Hz and 3 cds/m² intensity.

Data acquisition

For all scotopic recordings, a-wave amplitude was measured from the baseline to the a-wave trough and b-wave amplitude was measured from the a-wave trough to the peak of the b-wave. The murine cone ERG has no initial a-wave except under the weakest background field, therefore photopic-wave amplitudes were measured from the base-line to the peak of the photopic b-wave.⁴⁵ The Naka-Rushton equation^45,46 was used to determine the sensitivity of the rod response: V = (Vmax * Iⁿ)/(kⁿ + Iⁿ) V refers to the voltage at intensity I, V_max is the maximum amplitude elicited in the intensity series and the parameter k represents the light intensity required to produce a half-maximal response. The least-square curve fits of scotopic b-wave data was carried out using OriginPro version 8 software to calculate parameters of the Naka-Rushton function.

Statistics

Standard t-tests were used to determine significance in differences between pairs for morphological data, TBARS analysis and cone counts. The combined coefficients of variation, as computed by the Roche LightCycler 3.5 Software, were used to determine fold range of expression in quantitative RT-PCR data. R/bioconductor was used in the statistical analysis of all microarray data. The Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon two-sample test was used to compare data-sets of ERG measurements. For all experiments data were expressed as the mean +/− the Standard Error of the Mean (SEM). In the figures, different levels of significance are indicated by * if p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01.

Supplementary Material

1

Supplementary Figure S1 Immunohistochemistry on retinal cryosections from mice at (a) 7-, (b) 10- and (c) 18-months of age. The antibodies were chosen to characterize the successive layers and cell-types of the Nxnl1+/+ and Nxnl1−/− retinas by targeting region-specific markers; RPE: RPE65; photoreceptor cell layer: rhodopsin, S-opsin, M-opsin, recoverin; ON-bipolar cells: PKC-alpha, GO-alpha; horizontal cells and amacrine cells: calbindin, syntaxin; astrocytes and Muller cells: GFAP, glutamine synthetase; Brn3A: ganglion cell layer.

Supplementary Figure S2 Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) images of retinal OCT sections from rd1 (C3H rd/rd), wild-type (C3H wt/wt) at 15 days post partum, and Nxnl1+/+ and Nxnl1−/− mice at 3 months of age under normoxic and hyperoxic conditions.

Supplementary Figure S3 Immunohistochemistry on retinal cryosections from mouse retinas at 3 months of age. HNE (red), Acrolein (red), lectin-PNA (green) and DAPI (blue). Scale bars: 50 μm.

Supplementary Table S1 Quantitative RT-PCR data on selected genes to validate microarray results from the Nxnl1+/+ and Nxnl1−/− mice. The value of the crossing thresholds (2^−ΔCT) normalized to β-actin is shown for each gene and genotype. The fold-change, for which the SEM is incorporated into the normalized crossing threshold value, is also presented. n/a: not available.

Supplementary Table S2 Table of the Nxnl1+/+, +/− and −/− transcriptome. The level of differential expression between genotypes is shown in descending order. The gene names and gene ontology are shown as well as the corresponding fdr’s and FC’s. The raw data and CV values are also listed. The tables present a summary of the data, the +/+ to −/−, +/+ to +/− and +/− to −/− comparisons, and the list of dose-dependent changes in the transcriptome.

Supplementary Table S3 Quantitative RT-PCR data on cone opsin gene expression levels in retinas of Nxnl1+/+ and Nxnl1−/− mice following two-weeks of caging in hyperoxic chamber. The value of the crossing thresholds (2^−ΔCT) normalized to β-actin is shown for each gene and genotype. The fold-change (2^−ΔΔCT) for which the SEM is incorporated into the normalized crossing threshold value is also presented. hyp = hyperoxia.

Abbreviations list

Nxnl1

Nucleoredoxin-like 1

RdCVF

Rod derived Cone Viability Factor

RP

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Trx

Thioredoxins

FGF2

Fibroblast Growth Factor 2

MAPs

Microtubule Associated Proteins