| First Author | Zhang L | Year | 2023 |
| Journal | iScience | Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 8 | Pages | 107415 |
| PubMed ID | 37559903 | Mgi Jnum | J:339192 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7517802 | Doi | 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107415 |
| Citation | Zhang L, et al. (2023) A Frizzled4-LRP5 agonist promotes blood-retina barrier function by inducing a Norrin-like transcriptional response. iScience 26(8):107415 |
| abstractText | Norrin (NDP) and WNT7A/B induce and maintain the blood-brain and blood-retina barrier (BBB, BRB) by stimulating the Frizzled4-LDL receptor related protein 5/6 (FZD4-LRP5/6) complex to induce beta-catenin-dependent signaling in endothelial cells (ECs). Recently developed agonists for the FZD4-LRP5 complex have therapeutic potential in retinal and neurological diseases. Here, we use the tetravalent antibody modality F4L5.13 to identify agonist activities in Tspan12(-/-) mice, which display a complex retinal pathology due to impaired NDP-signaling. F4L5.13 administration during development alleviates BRB defects, retinal hypovascularization, and restores neural function. In mature Tspan12(-/-) mice F4L5.13 partially induces a BRB de novo without inducing angiogenesis. In a genetic model of impaired BRB maintenance, administration of F4L5.13 rapidly and substantially restores the BRB. scRNA-seq reveals perturbations of key mediators of barrier functions in juvenile Tspan12(-/-) mice, which are in large parts restored after F4L5.13 administration. This study identifies transcriptional and functional activities of FZD4-LRP5 agonists. |
