141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

280050
Acute lung injury correlates with retinal vascular injury in an in vivo model of retinopathy of prematurity

Monday, November 4, 2013

Olachi Mezu-Ndubuisi, M.D, O.D , Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Narsa M. Reddy, Ph.D , Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Justin Wanek, Ph.D , Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Kelechi Mezu-Nnabue, Dr. PH, O.D , Aqua Vision Center, Pikesville, MD
Pang-yu Teng, Ph.D , Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Sekhar P. Reddy, Ph.D , Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Mahnaz Shahidi, Ph.D , Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Background: The retina and lung blood vessels develop in a hypoxic in utero environment. Oxygen exposure in premature infants has been separately implicated in the development of Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) and Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). However, a direct link between CLD and ROP has not been established. Methods: Using a neonatal mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), newborn C57BL6/J mice pups (n =9) were exposed to 77% hyperoxia from postnatal day 7 (P7) to P12 before placing in room air. From P17 to P19, in vivo retinal imaging was performed with fluorescein angiography followed by ex vivo retinal histology and lung histology. Bronco-alveolar lavage (BAL) was also done for cell count and protein estimation. Results: Fluorescein angiography (FA) following hyperoxia exposure showed distinct areas of capillary non-perfusion and increased dilation and tortuosity of retinal vessels, while the room air raised mice showed uniform vascularization. Retinal histology reveals vascular engorgement and retinal neovascular nuclei above the inner limiting membrane. Lung histology in OIR mice had cellular infiltration and thickening of the alveolar septa, vascular congestion and loss of regular alveolar architecture when compared to controls. There was 3 fold increase in protein count and 4 fold increase in total inflammatory cells in the BAL fluid of OIR mice (p<0.01). Conclusions: Hyperoxia exposure results in both lung and retinal injury and inflammation. Study of inflammatory pathways propagating this injury, may lead to therapeutic options to prevent morbidity and mortality in chronic lung disease as well as blindness from ROP.

Learning Areas:
Basic medical science applied in public health
Chronic disease management and prevention
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health biology

Learning Objectives:
Identify public health impact of Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) and Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) to children worldwide Explain the etiology, Pathophysiology, and Risk Factors for Chronic Lung Disease and ROP in premature infants Describe methods for in vivo imaging using fluorescein angiography and ex vivo histology studies on the lung and retina following oxygen exposure Evaluate the in vivo retinal imaging findings Differentiate various histological findings in lung and retina on hematoxylin-eosin sections on postnatal day 17 to 19. Assess the correlation between RDS and CLD Identify the impact of such correlation in future therapeutic studies on ROP and CLD.

Keywords: Children, Vision Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: N/A

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a licensed pediatrician currently completing a research fellowship in Neonatal-perinatal medicine at Univ of Illinois, Chicago. I obtained a doctor of optometry degree prior to medical school, hence my passionate interest in vision care research. This is my original basic science research study. I personally performed all tasks in this paper including designing orginal research, breeding of mice and oxygen exposure, optical imaging, surgical procedures, histological studies,and data analysis.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.