scholarly journals Role of Autofluorescence in Inflammatory/Infective Diseases of the Retina and Choroid

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Samy ◽  
Sue Lightman ◽  
Filis Ismetova ◽  
Lazha Talat ◽  
Oren Tomkins-Netzer

Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) has recently emerged as a novel noninvasive imaging technique that uses the fluorescent properties of innate fluorophores accumulated in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to assess the health and viability of the RPE/photoreceptor complex. Recent case reports suggest FAF as a promising tool for monitoring eyes with posterior uveitis helping to predict final visual outcome. In this paper we review the published literature on FAF in these disorders, specifically patterns in infectious and noninfectious uveitis, and illustrate some of these with short case histories.

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Malamos ◽  
Panos Masaoutis ◽  
Ilias Georgalas ◽  
Stelios Maselos ◽  
Konstantinos Andrianopoulos ◽  
...  

Background.To evaluate the correlation of fundus autofluorescence (FAF) with indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) in patients with various posterior uveitis disorders.Methods. Interventional case series including 23 eyes of 15 patients with diagnosis of a specific type of retinochoroiditis, such as acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE), serpiginous-like choroiditis, multifocal choroiditis (MFC), Harada disease, and syphilitic retinochoroiditis. Also, some cases with undefined retinochoroiditis were included. FAF and ICGA were performed and correlated at baseline and during follow-up after treatment.Results. In ICGA, early hypofluorescence was found to be the hallmark of acute choroidal inflammation, resolving in later stages and remaining in the late phase in areas with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damage. Poorly defined hyperautofluorescent areas correlated with acute choroidal lesions. Hypoautofluorescent delineation suggested the initiation of RPE healing processes, correlating well with the late phase of ICGA and delineating the RPE damage. Early hyperautofluorescence with late hypofluorescence in ICGA indicated the presence of primary RPE involvement.Conclusion. FAF contributes to the interpretation of RPE disease and may be a useful tool for the follow-up of progressive inflammatory disorders. Comparative evaluation of FAF and ICGA allows a characterization of the sequence of inflammatory events and the level of tissue affected.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flore De Bats ◽  
Benjamin Wolff ◽  
Martine Mauget-Faÿsse ◽  
Isabelle Meunier ◽  
Philippe Denis ◽  
...  

Purpose. To report an association between reticular pseudodrusen, located above the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and Early Onset Drusen (EOD) as described using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT). Methods. Eight patients (16 eyes) with EOD were examined. EOD were classified into three entities called Large Colloid Drusen (LCD), Malattia Leventinese (ML), and Cuticular Drusen (CD). Best-corrected visual acuity, fundus examination, color fundus photographs, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and SD-OCT were performed in all study patients. Results. Four patients had LCD, 2 had ML, and 2 had CD. Reticular pseudodrusen were observed with SD-OCT in all study patients; all these patients had hyperreflective lesions above and below the RPE. Conclusion. Early Onset Drusen appear to be associated with reticular pseudodrusen. SD-OCT is helpful in distinguishing the location of the deposits that are above and below the RPE in EOD. Further studies are needed to understand the role of reticular pseudodrusen in the pathophysiology of EOD.


Intraocular inflammations are still a diagnostic challenge for ophthalmologists. It is often difficult to make a precise etiological diagnosis in certain situations. Ancillary investigations are very useful in diagnosing the pathologies and monitoring inflammation in the anterior as well as the posterior segment. The most commonly used ancillary investigations in noninfectious uveitis include laser flare meter for anterior segment inflammation, fundus fluorescein angiography (FA) for retinal diseases, indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) for choroidal pathologies, fundus autofluorescence (FAF) for retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) as well as ultrasonography for the posterior segment. Laboratory investigations in the diagnosis of noninfectious uveitis are also very important, This review aims to be an overview describing the role of commonly used investigations.


Author(s):  
Beth Burnside

The vertebrate photoreceptor provides a drammatic example of cell polarization. Specialized to carry out phototransduction at its distal end and to synapse with retinal interneurons at its proximal end, this long slender cell has a uniquely polarized morphology which is reflected in a similarly polarized cytoskeleton. Membranes bearing photopigment are localized in the outer segment, a modified sensory cilium. Sodium pumps which maintain the dark current critical to photosensory transduction are anchored along the inner segment plasma membrane between the outer segment and the nucleus.Proximal to the nucleus is a slender axon terminating in specialized invaginating synapses with other neurons of the retina. Though photoreceptor diameter is only 3-8u, its length from the tip of the outer segment to the synapse may be as great as 200μ. This peculiar linear cell morphology poses special logistical problems and has evoked interesting solutions for numerous cell functions. For example, the outer segment membranes turn over by means of a unique mechanism in which new disks are continuously added at the proximal base of the outer segment, while effete disks are discarded at the tip and phagocytosed by the retinal pigment epithelium. Outer segment proteins are synthesized in the Golgi near the nucleus and must be transported north through the inner segment to their sites of assembly into the outer segment, while synaptic proteins must be transported south through the axon to the synapse.The role of the cytoskeleton in photoreceptor motile processes is being intensely investigated in several laboratories.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Tang ◽  
Jimin Han ◽  
Sonal Dalvi ◽  
Kannan Manian ◽  
Lauren Winschel ◽  
...  

AbstractMutations in CLN3 lead to photoreceptor cell loss in CLN3 disease, a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by childhood-onset vision loss, neurological impairment, and premature death. However, how CLN3 mutations cause photoreceptor cell death is not known. Here, we show that CLN3 is required for phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segment (POS) by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, a cellular process essential for photoreceptor survival. Specifically, a proportion of CLN3 in human, mouse, and iPSC-RPE cells localized to RPE microvilli, the site of POS phagocytosis. Furthermore, patient-derived CLN3 disease iPSC-RPE cells showed decreased RPE microvilli density and reduced POS binding and ingestion. Notably, POS phagocytosis defect in CLN3 disease iPSC-RPE cells could be rescued by wild-type CLN3 gene supplementation. Altogether, these results illustrate a novel role of CLN3 in regulating POS phagocytosis and suggest a contribution of primary RPE dysfunction for photoreceptor cell loss in CLN3 disease that can be targeted by gene therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Stefano Da Pozzo ◽  
Pierluigi Iacono ◽  
Alessandro Arrigo ◽  
Maurizio Battaglia Parodi

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a controversial disease both in terms of clinical classification and choice of therapeutic strategy. Choroidal layers, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), photoreceptors, and retina are involved to varying degrees. Beyond well-known symptoms raising the clinical suspect of CSC and slit-lamp fundus examination, multimodal imaging plays a key role in assessing the extent of chorioretinal structural involvement. Subretinal fluid (SRF) originating from the choroid leaks through one or multiple RPE defects and spreads into the subretinal space. Spontaneous fluid reabsorption is quite common, but in some eyes, resolution can be obtained only after treatment. Multiple therapeutic strategies are available, and extensive research identified the most effective procedures. Imaging has carved a significant role in guiding the choice of the most appropriate strategy for each single CSC eye. Multiple biomarkers have been identified, and all of them represent a diagnostic and prognostic reference point. This review aims to provide an updated and comprehensive analysis of the current scientific knowledge about the role of imaging in planning the treatment in eyes affected by CSC.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae Hui Kim ◽  
Young Suk Chang ◽  
Jong Woo Kim ◽  
Chul Gu Kim ◽  
Dong Won Lee

Purpose. To investigate the incidence and timing of prechoroidal cleft development and its association with visual prognosis in type 3 neovascularization. Methods. This retrospective study included 166 eyes that were diagnosed with type 3 neovascularization. All eyes were treated with antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. The incidence and timing of prechoroidal cleft development were evaluated. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at diagnosis and at final follow-up was compared between eyes with (cleft group) and without (no-cleft group) prechoroidal cleft. The incidence of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tear and subretinal hemorrhage was also compared between the two groups. Results. During the mean 39.7 ± 18.5 months of follow-up, prechoroidal cleft developed in 37 eyes (22.3%) at an average of 14.6 ± 10.4 months. The BCVA at final follow-up was significantly worse in the cleft group than in the no-cleft group (P=0.024), whereas the difference was not significant at diagnosis (P=0.969). The incidence of RPE tear (P=0.002) and subretinal hemorrhage (P<0.001) was significantly higher in the cleft group. Conclusions. Prechoroidal cleft is a frequently observed finding during the treatment course of type 3 neovascularization. Eyes with prechoroidal cleft are at high risk of RPE tear or subretinal hemorrhage and subsequently associated with poor prognosis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 52 (13) ◽  
pp. 9478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Knatokie M. Ford ◽  
Magali Saint-Geniez ◽  
Tony Walshe ◽  
Alisar Zahr ◽  
Patricia A. D'Amore

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina A. Yakovleva ◽  
Tatiana B. Feldman ◽  
Kristina N. Lyakhova ◽  
Dina M. Utina ◽  
Inna A. Kolesnikova ◽  
...  

The present study evaluated the effects of proton and gamma-ray ionizing radiation on the mouse eye. The aim of this work was to analyze radiation-mediated retinoid oxidation in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The findings from this analysis can be used to develop a noninvasive method for rapid assessment of the effects of ionizing radiation. Comparative fluorescence and chromatographic analyses of retinoids before and after irradiations were performed. The fluorescent properties of chloroform extracts from irradiated mouse retina and RPE exhibited an increase in fluorescence intensity in the short-wave region of the spectrum (λ &lt; 550 nm). This change is due to increased retinal and RPE retinoid oxidation and degradation products after radiation exposure. Comparative analyses of radiation effects demonstrated that the effect of proton exposure on the retina and RPE was higher than that of gamma-ray exposure. The present study revealed a new approach to assessing the level of radiation exposure in ocular tissues.


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