Simultaneous cyclin D1 overexpression and p27kip1 knockdown enable robust Müller glia cell cycle reactivation in uninjured mouse retina

Harnessing the regenerative potential of endogenous stem cells to restore lost neurons is a promising strategy for treating neurodegenerative disorders. Müller glia (MG), the primary glial cell type in the retina, exhibit extraordinary regenerative abilities in zebrafish, proliferating and different...

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Main Authors: Zhifei Wu, Baoshan Liao, Julia Ying, Jan Keung, Zongli Zheng, Virpi Ahola, Wenjun Xiong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd 2025-04-01
Series:eLife
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Online Access:https://elifesciences.org/articles/100904
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author Zhifei Wu
Baoshan Liao
Julia Ying
Jan Keung
Zongli Zheng
Virpi Ahola
Wenjun Xiong
author_facet Zhifei Wu
Baoshan Liao
Julia Ying
Jan Keung
Zongli Zheng
Virpi Ahola
Wenjun Xiong
author_sort Zhifei Wu
collection DOAJ
description Harnessing the regenerative potential of endogenous stem cells to restore lost neurons is a promising strategy for treating neurodegenerative disorders. Müller glia (MG), the primary glial cell type in the retina, exhibit extraordinary regenerative abilities in zebrafish, proliferating and differentiating into neurons post-injury. However, the regenerative potential of mouse MG is limited by their inherent inability to re-enter the cell cycle, constrained by high levels of the cell cycle inhibitor p27Kip1 and low levels of cyclin D1. Here, we report a method to drive robust MG proliferation by adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated cyclin D1 overexpression and p27Kip1 knockdown. MG proliferation induced by this dual targeting vector was self-limiting, as MG re-entered cell cycle only once. As shown by single-cell RNA-sequencing, cell cycle reactivation led to suppression of interferon signaling, activation of reactive gliosis, and downregulation of glial genes in MG. Over time, the majority of the MG daughter cells retained the glial fate, resulting in an expanded MG pool. Interestingly, about 1% MG daughter cells expressed markers for retinal interneurons, suggesting latent neurogenic potential in a small MG subset. By establishing a safe, controlled method to promote MG proliferation in vivo while preserving retinal integrity, this work provides a valuable tool for combinatorial therapies integrating neurogenic stimuli to promote neuron regeneration.
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spelling doaj-art-e2d218b81901480d9dfa6a84add2c61b2025-08-20T01:55:57ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2025-04-011310.7554/eLife.100904Simultaneous cyclin D1 overexpression and p27kip1 knockdown enable robust Müller glia cell cycle reactivation in uninjured mouse retinaZhifei Wu0Baoshan Liao1https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6599-624XJulia Ying2https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4574-1058Jan Keung3Zongli Zheng4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4849-4903Virpi Ahola5Wenjun Xiong6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6836-2807Department of Biomedical Sciences and Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Hong Kong, ChinaMing Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Hong Kong, China; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, FinlandDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaHarnessing the regenerative potential of endogenous stem cells to restore lost neurons is a promising strategy for treating neurodegenerative disorders. Müller glia (MG), the primary glial cell type in the retina, exhibit extraordinary regenerative abilities in zebrafish, proliferating and differentiating into neurons post-injury. However, the regenerative potential of mouse MG is limited by their inherent inability to re-enter the cell cycle, constrained by high levels of the cell cycle inhibitor p27Kip1 and low levels of cyclin D1. Here, we report a method to drive robust MG proliferation by adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated cyclin D1 overexpression and p27Kip1 knockdown. MG proliferation induced by this dual targeting vector was self-limiting, as MG re-entered cell cycle only once. As shown by single-cell RNA-sequencing, cell cycle reactivation led to suppression of interferon signaling, activation of reactive gliosis, and downregulation of glial genes in MG. Over time, the majority of the MG daughter cells retained the glial fate, resulting in an expanded MG pool. Interestingly, about 1% MG daughter cells expressed markers for retinal interneurons, suggesting latent neurogenic potential in a small MG subset. By establishing a safe, controlled method to promote MG proliferation in vivo while preserving retinal integrity, this work provides a valuable tool for combinatorial therapies integrating neurogenic stimuli to promote neuron regeneration.https://elifesciences.org/articles/100904retinaregenerationMüller gliacell cycle regulatorcyclin D1p27kip1
spellingShingle Zhifei Wu
Baoshan Liao
Julia Ying
Jan Keung
Zongli Zheng
Virpi Ahola
Wenjun Xiong
Simultaneous cyclin D1 overexpression and p27kip1 knockdown enable robust Müller glia cell cycle reactivation in uninjured mouse retina
eLife
retina
regeneration
Müller glia
cell cycle regulator
cyclin D1
p27kip1
title Simultaneous cyclin D1 overexpression and p27kip1 knockdown enable robust Müller glia cell cycle reactivation in uninjured mouse retina
title_full Simultaneous cyclin D1 overexpression and p27kip1 knockdown enable robust Müller glia cell cycle reactivation in uninjured mouse retina
title_fullStr Simultaneous cyclin D1 overexpression and p27kip1 knockdown enable robust Müller glia cell cycle reactivation in uninjured mouse retina
title_full_unstemmed Simultaneous cyclin D1 overexpression and p27kip1 knockdown enable robust Müller glia cell cycle reactivation in uninjured mouse retina
title_short Simultaneous cyclin D1 overexpression and p27kip1 knockdown enable robust Müller glia cell cycle reactivation in uninjured mouse retina
title_sort simultaneous cyclin d1 overexpression and p27kip1 knockdown enable robust muller glia cell cycle reactivation in uninjured mouse retina
topic retina
regeneration
Müller glia
cell cycle regulator
cyclin D1
p27kip1
url https://elifesciences.org/articles/100904
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