Deletion of autophagy inducer RB1CC1 results in degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium

• Published in: Autophagy Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 939 - 953
• Main Authors: Yao, Jingyu, Jia, Lin, Khan, Naheed, Lin, Chengmao, Mitter, Sayak K, Boulton, Michael E, Dunaief, Joshua L, Klionsky, Daniel J, Guan, Jun-Lin, Thompson, Debra A, Zacks, David N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.01.2015
• Subjects: age-related macular degeneration; AMD, age-related macular degeneration; Animals; ANOVA, analysis of variance; Autophagy - genetics; Bru, Bruch's membrane; CKO, conditional knockout; CTSD, cathepsin D; Electroretinography - methods; Epithelium - metabolism; ERG, electroretinogram; FIP200; GCL, ganglion cell layer; INL, inner nuclear layer; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics; IS, inner segment; LAP, LC3-associated phagocytosis; Mice; Mitochondria - genetics; MTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin; OCT, optical coherence tomography; ONL, outer nuclear layer; OS, outer segment; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; photoreceptor; POS, photoreceptor outer segments; RB1CC1, RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1; retina; retinal pigment epithelium; Retinal Pigment Epithelium - metabolism; RPE, retinal pigment epithelium; Sequence Deletion - genetics; siRNA, small interfering ribonucleic acid; Translational Research Paper; LAP, LC3-associated phagocytosis; MTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin; POS, photoreceptor outer segments; CKO, conditional knockout; photoreceptor; GCL, ganglion cell layer; OCT, optical coherence tomography; RPE, retinal pigment epithelium; AMD, age-related macular degeneration; RB1CC1, RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1; OS, outer segment; Bru, Bruch's membrane; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; IS, inner segment; retina; ANOVA, analysis of variance; ERG, electroretinogram; FIP200; retinal pigment epithelium; ONL, outer nuclear layer; CTSD, cathepsin D; age-related macular degeneration; INL, inner nuclear layer; siRNA, small interfering ribonucleic acid
• ISSN: 1554-8627; 1554-8635
• DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2015.1041699

Autophagy regulates cellular homeostasis and response to environmental stress. Within the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the eye, the level of autophagy can change with both age and disease. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between reduced autophagy and age-related degeneration of the RPE. The gene encoding RB1CC1/FIP200 (RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1), a protein essential for induction of autophagy, was selectively knocked out in the RPE by crossing Best1-Cre mice with mice in which the Rb1cc1 gene was flanked with Lox-P sites (Rb1cc1 flox/flox ). Ex vivo and in vivo analyses, including western blot, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, fundus photography, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, and electroretinography were performed to assess the structure and function of the retina as a function of age. Deletion of Rb1cc1 resulted in multiple autophagy defects within the RPE including decreased conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II, accumulation of autophagy-targeted precursors, and increased numbers of mitochondria. Age-dependent degeneration of the RPE occurred, with formation of atrophic patches, subretinal migration of activated microglial cells, subRPE deposition of inflammatory and oxidatively damaged proteins, subretinal drusenoid deposits, and occasional foci of choroidal neovascularization. There was secondary loss of photoreceptors overlying the degenerated RPE and reduction in the electroretinogram. These observations are consistent with a critical role of autophagy in the maintenance of normal homeostasis in the aging RPE, and indicate that disruption of autophagy leads to retinal phenotypes associated with age-related degeneration.