A5070300226- Retinal Diseases and Treatments
- Angiogenesis and VEGF in Cancer
- Retinal Imaging and Analysis
- Advanced Glycation End Products research
- Glaucoma and retinal disorders
- Retinopathy of Prematurity Studies
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Retinal and Optic Conditions
- Neurological Disorders and Treatments
- Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects
- Ocular Oncology and Treatments
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Barrier Structure and Function Studies
- Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Aldose Reductase and Taurine
- Structural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative Mechanisms
- Intraocular Surgery and Lenses
- Immune cells in cancer
- Connexins and lens biology
- Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes
- Cellular transport and secretion
Queen's University Belfast
2009-2023
National Physical Laboratory
2015-2022
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
2020-2021
London North West Healthcare NHS Trust
2021
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
2015
Centre of Experimental Medicine of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
1989-2014
Royal Victoria Hospital
1986-2011
University of Ulster
1988-2011
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital
1981-2008
Victoria Hospital
2002-2005
The murine VEGF gene is alternatively transcribed to yield the VEGF120, VEGF164, and VEGF188 isoforms, which differ in their potential bind heparan sulfate neuropilin-1 stimulate endothelial growth. Here, role retinal vascular development was studied mice selectively expressing single isoforms. VEGF164/164 were normal, healthy, had normal angiogenesis. In contrast, VEGF120/120 exhibited severe defects outgrowth patterning, whereas VEGF188/188 displayed venular but impaired arterial...
The term endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is currently used to refer cell populations which are quite dissimilar in terms of biological properties. This study provides a detailed molecular fingerprint for two EPC subtypes: early EPCs (eEPCs) and outgrowth (OECs).Human blood-derived eEPCs OECs were characterised by using genome-wide transcriptional profiling, 2D protein electrophoresis, electron microscopy. Comparative analysis at the transcript level included monocytes mature as reference...
We examined the ability of pyridoxamine (PM), an inhibitor formation advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and lipoxidation (ALEs), to protect against diabetes-induced retinal vascular lesions. The effects PM were compared with antioxidants vitamin E (VE) R-α-lipoic acid (LA) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Animals given either (1 g/l drinking water), VE (2,000 IU/kg diet), or LA (0.05%/kg diet). After 29 weeks diabetes, retinas for pathogenic changes, alterations extracellular...
The murine VEGF gene is alternatively transcribed to yield the VEGF120, VEGF164, and VEGF188 isoforms, which differ in their potential bind heparan sulfate neuropilin-1 stimulate endothelial growth. Here, role retinal vascular development was studied mice selectively expressing single isoforms. VEGF164/164 were normal, healthy, had normal angiogenesis. In contrast, VEGF120/120 exhibited severe defects outgrowth patterning, whereas VEGF188/188 displayed venular but impaired arterial...
Because it is one of the few autoimmune disorders in which target autoantigen has been definitively identified, myasthenia gravis (MG) provides a unique opportunity for testing basic concepts immune tolerance. In most MG patients, Abs against acetylcholine receptors (AChR) at neuromuscular junction can be readily identified and have directly shown to cause muscle weakness. T cells also implicated appear play role regulating pathogenic B cells. A murine model, generated by immunizing mice...
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) promote angiogenesis, and clinical trials have shown such cell therapy to be feasible for treating ischemic disease. However, outcomes been contradictory owing the diverse range of EPC types used. We recently characterized two subtypes, identified outgrowth endothelial as only type with true characteristics. By contrast, myeloid angiogenic (MACs) were monocytic without characteristics despite being widely described "EPCs." In current study we demonstrated...
Purpose.: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have potential for promoting vascular repair and revascularization of ischemic retina. However, the highly heterogeneous nature these causes confusion when assessing their biological functions. The purpose this study was to provide a comprehensive comparison between two main EPC subtypes, early EPCs (eEPCs) outgrowth endothelial (OECs), establish OECs as novel cell therapy retinopathy. Methods.: Two types human blood-derived were isolated...
purpose. A critical event in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy is inappropriate adherence leukocytes to retinal capillaries. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are known play a role chronic inflammatory processes, and authors postulated that these adducts may promoting pathogenic increases proinflammatory pathways within microvasculature. methods. Retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RMECs) were treated with glycoaldehyde-modified albumin (AGE-Alb) or unmodified (Alb). NFκB...
Diabetic patients who also have retinitis pigmentosa (RP) appear to fewer and less severe retinal microvascular lesions. retinopathy may be linked increased inner hypoxia, with the possibility that this is exacerbated by oxygen usage during dark-adaptation response. Therefore, RP depleted rod photoreceptors encounter proportionately and, when diabetes present, there retinopathic This hypothesis was tested in rhodopsin knockout mice (Rho-/-) as an model which diabetic milieu superimposed. The...
Erythropoietin (EPO) may be protective for early stage diabetic retinopathy, although there are concerns that it could exacerbate retinal angiogenesis and thrombosis. A peptide based on the EPO helix-B domain (helix B-surface [pHBSP]) is nonerythrogenic but retains tissue-protective properties, this study evaluates its therapeutic potential in retinopathy.After 6 months of streptozotocin-induced diabetes, rats (n = 12) age-matched nondiabetic controls were evenly split into pHBSP scrambled...
Suppression of angiogenesis during diabetes is a recognized phenomenon but less appreciated within the context diabetic retinopathy. The current study has investigated regulation retinal by serum and determined if advanced glycation end products (AGEs) could modulate this response, possibly via AGE-receptor interactions. A novel in vitro model was developed ability sera to regulate process quantified. AGE-modified albumin prepared according range protocols, these were also analyzed along...
AbstractChronic use of chloroquine has been shown to induce numerous pathophysiological defects in the retina. This drug ability alter pH intracellular compartments and lysosomal function retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) neurons may constitute basis retinopathy. The aim current study was investigate pathogenic alterations cells continuously exposed using appropriate vivo vitro models. Male hooded Lister rats were implanted with osmotic mini pumps which released over a period seven days. eyes...
The immunolocalization and gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) its cognate tyrosine kinase receptors, Flt-1 KDR, has been studied in ocular melanomas retinoblastomas using situ hybridization immunohistochemistry. Tumour-related alterations VEGF/VEGF-receptor have also examined separate uninvolved iris, retina choroid the same eyes. Although VEGF immunoreactivity normal was virtually absent, low-level evident ganglion cell-bodies, Müller cells a distinct population...
AbstractFocal gamma irradiation was used to limit the intraocular extension of scar tissue which typically occurs after posterior perforating injury eye. Standard injuries were created in right eye forty-eight rabbits, half had site perforation focally irradiated using a Cobalt 60 ophthalmic plaque. Non-irradiated wounds healed with profuse formation highly cellular and vascularised granulation invaded vitreous form contractile vitreo-retinal membranes. In eyes membrane infrequent; showing...