Elena Vecino | University of the Basque Country/ Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (EHU/UPV) and IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, (original) (raw)
Papers by Elena Vecino
Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología, Nov 1, 2017
Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología, Aug 1, 2011
Springer eBooks, 1998
The purpose of this chapter is to review some of our studies on the localisation of neurotrophins... more The purpose of this chapter is to review some of our studies on the localisation of neurotrophins and their receptors in glial cells of the optic nerve and retina of the fish (tench) and rat. The fish optic nerve has the capacity to regenerate after damage and the retina grows throughout life. These characteristics are not associated with the same tissues of the rat. Neurotrophins are thought to be involved in development and regeneration so a difference in the distribution of neurotrophins and their receptors in retina/optic nerve in rat and fish may relate to such functions. At least five different-types of neurotrophin molecules exist of which nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) have been best studied. Neurotrophin receptors of which there are two kinds, the low affinity receptor (p75) and the high affinity tyrosine kinase receptors (Trk) exists at varying states and have varying affinities for the different type of neurotrophins. The functional role of the neurotrophins and their receptors and ways of studying these molecules in the retina are also discussed in this overview.
Acta Ophthalmologica, 2022
New frontiers in ophthalmology, 2016
The essence of regeneration and plasticity lies in the capacities of certain cell populations to ... more The essence of regeneration and plasticity lies in the capacities of certain cell populations to give rise to progenies with specific functional and morphological traits. An array of molecular events directs this process (for instance, activation and de-activation of transcription or regulation of epigenetic mechanisms and controls). The unravelling of the processes that activate differentiation or de-differentiation events and the isolation and precise characterization of specific stem cell populations will open new avenues of therapy intervention in all areas of regenerative medicine, including eye pathologies. In the human anterior segment of the eye, adult stem cells can be found in the corneal limbus (the rim that separates cornea and conjunctiva). Currently, different approaches use transplantation of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESC) or corneal stromal stem cells (CSSC) to restore damaged cornea. LESC and CSSC establish a molecular dialogue that may support the maintenance of their stem phenotype. To restore corneal transparency and function other therapy approaches include the use of adult stem cells of different origins, bioengineered cells and biomaterials.
Experimental Eye Research, Jul 1, 2019
To assess the effect of somatostatin (SST) on the permeability of human retinal pigment epithelia... more To assess the effect of somatostatin (SST) on the permeability of human retinal pigment epithelial cells.
PubMed, Jul 1, 2003
Some ocular diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, r... more Some ocular diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy or pathological myopia result in apoptotic death of retinal cells. Caspases are proteases that take part in the intracellular signaling pathways that cause apoptosis in different cell types. By using different experimental models, an increase in caspase activity in retinal cells after damage has been shown. However, some studies have shown that other molecules apart from caspases are activated during apoptosis in the retina. Moreover, the type of caspase that is activated seems to be different depending on the type of retinal cell and the pathology analysed. Inhibition of the processes that result in retinal cell apoptosis could decrease the number of dead cells and prevent the irreversible loss of visual function associated with some pathologies such as glaucoma. In this study we aim to review the basic research studies published in the last years in order to know the molecules and pathways involved in the processes which cause apoptosis of the different types of retinal cells.
Springer eBooks, 2004
The Muller cells are the predominant glial element of the retina and the major supportive glia fo... more The Muller cells are the predominant glial element of the retina and the major supportive glia for neurones, performing many of the functions subserved by oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and ependymal cells in other regions of the central nervous system. Glial cells are thought to protect neurons from various neurologic insults. Thus, when the retina has an excitotoxic damage, Muller cells are responsible for diminishing the extracelular glutamate, protecting the neurons from dead. Moreover, Muller cells play an important role in neuroprotection, inflammatory processes or phagocytosis after damage, developing important processes for tissue repair after injury. These aspects and others developed by the Muller cells will be reviewed in the present chapter.
Arte, Individuo y Sociedad, Jul 12, 2021
<jats:p>Este trabajo estudia la exposición de fotografía científica titulada "El Ojo d... more <jats:p>Este trabajo estudia la exposición de fotografía científica titulada "El Ojo de la Ballena", íntegramente adaptada a personas con discapacidad visual, que tuvo lugar entre los días 10 y 21 de febrero de 2020 en Bilbao. El objetivo principal de este trabajo consiste en analizar si un novedoso estudio sobre el ojo de una ballena, es un elemento llamativo para lograr atraer a un público no experto a una exposición científica, al tratarse de una temática muy específica como es la anatomía ocular, el funcionamiento de la retina y la patología de Glaucoma. Para ello, se han analizado los resultados de las encuestas que los visitantes contestaron al final del recorrido. También se ha estudiado cómo pudo influir en la asistencia el nivel de estudios, el medio por el que los visitantes conocieron la exposición y el hecho de que estuviera totalmente adaptada a personas con discapacidad visual. Por último, se han realizado dos análisis de contenido para evaluar el objetivo pedagógico y el impacto de la exposición.</jats:p>
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2014
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2006
Histology and histopathology, 2004
Calretinin is a calcium-binding protein which participates in a variety of functions including ca... more Calretinin is a calcium-binding protein which participates in a variety of functions including calcium buffering and neuronal protection. It also serves as a developmental marker of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In order to study the role of calretinin in the development and regeneration of RGCs, we have studied its pattern of expression in the retina at different developmental stages, as well as during optic nerve regeneration by means of immunohistochemistry. During development, calretinin is found for the first time in RGCs when they connect with the optic tectum. Optic nerves from adult zebrafish were crushed and after different survival times, calretinin expression in the retina, optic nerve tract and optic tectum was studied. From the day of crushing to 10 days later, calretinin expression was found to be downregulated within RGCs and their axons, as was also observed during the early developmental stages of RGCs, when they are not committed to a definite cell phenotype. More...
Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia, 2015
Using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique, an in depth study has been carried out for the firs... more Using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique, an in depth study has been carried out for the first time on the distribution of fibres and cell bodies containing neurotensin and somatostatin-28 (1-12) (SOM) in the minipig brainstem. The animals used were not treated with colchicine. The distribution of neurotensin-and SOM-immunoreactive fibres was seen to be quite similar and was moderate in the minipig brainstem: a close anatomical relationship between both neuropeptides was observed. The distribution of cell bodies containing neurotensin or SOM was quite different and restricted. Cell bodies containing neurotensin were found in four brainstem nuclei: nucleus centralis raphae, nucleus dorsalis raphae, in the pars centralis of the nucleus tractus spinalis nervi trigemini and in the nucleus ventralis raphae. Cell bodies containing SOM were found in six nuclei/regions of the brainstem: nucleus ambiguus, nucleus dorsalis motorius nervi vagus, formatio reticularis, nucleus parabrachialis medialis, nucleus reticularis lateralis and nucleus ventralis raphae. According to the observed anatomical distribution of the immunoreactive structures containing neurotensin or SOM, the peptides could be involved in sleep-waking, nociceptive, gustatory, motor, respiratory and autonomic mechanisms.
Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología, 2010
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, May 14, 2008
To validate the porcine retina as a model with a very similar characteristics to the human retina... more To validate the porcine retina as a model with a very similar characteristics to the human retina with respect to the expression of the neurotrophins and their receptors. To characterise if the porcine RGCs types are similar to human cells in terms of size and cytoskeleton.
PubMed, Dec 1, 2001
Neurofilaments are the most abundant class of intermediate size filaments in adult neurons in cen... more Neurofilaments are the most abundant class of intermediate size filaments in adult neurons in central and peripheral nervous system. For a long time, neurofilaments have been thought to be implied in neurodegenerative diseases like lateral amyotrophic sclerosis or infantile spinal muscular atrophy. More recently, it has been observed that retinal ganglion cells containing highest levels of neurofilament protein were the most susceptible to cell death in experimental glaucoma. Currently, it has been shown that usually, in neurodegenerative diseases, a failure in the assembly of neurofilaments and neurofilament accumulation takes place within the soma and axons of motor neurons. However it is not yet clear whether this accumulation is a consequence or main cause of motor neurons dysfunction. Recent use of transgenic animals bearing mutations or alterations in genes coding for neurofilament sub-units or their associated proteins has not solved these questions. These findings, nevertheless have helped to understand the mechanism lying beneath these pathologies.
Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología, Nov 1, 2017
Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología, Aug 1, 2011
Springer eBooks, 1998
The purpose of this chapter is to review some of our studies on the localisation of neurotrophins... more The purpose of this chapter is to review some of our studies on the localisation of neurotrophins and their receptors in glial cells of the optic nerve and retina of the fish (tench) and rat. The fish optic nerve has the capacity to regenerate after damage and the retina grows throughout life. These characteristics are not associated with the same tissues of the rat. Neurotrophins are thought to be involved in development and regeneration so a difference in the distribution of neurotrophins and their receptors in retina/optic nerve in rat and fish may relate to such functions. At least five different-types of neurotrophin molecules exist of which nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) have been best studied. Neurotrophin receptors of which there are two kinds, the low affinity receptor (p75) and the high affinity tyrosine kinase receptors (Trk) exists at varying states and have varying affinities for the different type of neurotrophins. The functional role of the neurotrophins and their receptors and ways of studying these molecules in the retina are also discussed in this overview.
Acta Ophthalmologica, 2022
New frontiers in ophthalmology, 2016
The essence of regeneration and plasticity lies in the capacities of certain cell populations to ... more The essence of regeneration and plasticity lies in the capacities of certain cell populations to give rise to progenies with specific functional and morphological traits. An array of molecular events directs this process (for instance, activation and de-activation of transcription or regulation of epigenetic mechanisms and controls). The unravelling of the processes that activate differentiation or de-differentiation events and the isolation and precise characterization of specific stem cell populations will open new avenues of therapy intervention in all areas of regenerative medicine, including eye pathologies. In the human anterior segment of the eye, adult stem cells can be found in the corneal limbus (the rim that separates cornea and conjunctiva). Currently, different approaches use transplantation of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESC) or corneal stromal stem cells (CSSC) to restore damaged cornea. LESC and CSSC establish a molecular dialogue that may support the maintenance of their stem phenotype. To restore corneal transparency and function other therapy approaches include the use of adult stem cells of different origins, bioengineered cells and biomaterials.
Experimental Eye Research, Jul 1, 2019
To assess the effect of somatostatin (SST) on the permeability of human retinal pigment epithelia... more To assess the effect of somatostatin (SST) on the permeability of human retinal pigment epithelial cells.
PubMed, Jul 1, 2003
Some ocular diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, r... more Some ocular diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy or pathological myopia result in apoptotic death of retinal cells. Caspases are proteases that take part in the intracellular signaling pathways that cause apoptosis in different cell types. By using different experimental models, an increase in caspase activity in retinal cells after damage has been shown. However, some studies have shown that other molecules apart from caspases are activated during apoptosis in the retina. Moreover, the type of caspase that is activated seems to be different depending on the type of retinal cell and the pathology analysed. Inhibition of the processes that result in retinal cell apoptosis could decrease the number of dead cells and prevent the irreversible loss of visual function associated with some pathologies such as glaucoma. In this study we aim to review the basic research studies published in the last years in order to know the molecules and pathways involved in the processes which cause apoptosis of the different types of retinal cells.
Springer eBooks, 2004
The Muller cells are the predominant glial element of the retina and the major supportive glia fo... more The Muller cells are the predominant glial element of the retina and the major supportive glia for neurones, performing many of the functions subserved by oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and ependymal cells in other regions of the central nervous system. Glial cells are thought to protect neurons from various neurologic insults. Thus, when the retina has an excitotoxic damage, Muller cells are responsible for diminishing the extracelular glutamate, protecting the neurons from dead. Moreover, Muller cells play an important role in neuroprotection, inflammatory processes or phagocytosis after damage, developing important processes for tissue repair after injury. These aspects and others developed by the Muller cells will be reviewed in the present chapter.
Arte, Individuo y Sociedad, Jul 12, 2021
<jats:p>Este trabajo estudia la exposición de fotografía científica titulada "El Ojo d... more <jats:p>Este trabajo estudia la exposición de fotografía científica titulada "El Ojo de la Ballena", íntegramente adaptada a personas con discapacidad visual, que tuvo lugar entre los días 10 y 21 de febrero de 2020 en Bilbao. El objetivo principal de este trabajo consiste en analizar si un novedoso estudio sobre el ojo de una ballena, es un elemento llamativo para lograr atraer a un público no experto a una exposición científica, al tratarse de una temática muy específica como es la anatomía ocular, el funcionamiento de la retina y la patología de Glaucoma. Para ello, se han analizado los resultados de las encuestas que los visitantes contestaron al final del recorrido. También se ha estudiado cómo pudo influir en la asistencia el nivel de estudios, el medio por el que los visitantes conocieron la exposición y el hecho de que estuviera totalmente adaptada a personas con discapacidad visual. Por último, se han realizado dos análisis de contenido para evaluar el objetivo pedagógico y el impacto de la exposición.</jats:p>
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2014
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2006
Histology and histopathology, 2004
Calretinin is a calcium-binding protein which participates in a variety of functions including ca... more Calretinin is a calcium-binding protein which participates in a variety of functions including calcium buffering and neuronal protection. It also serves as a developmental marker of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In order to study the role of calretinin in the development and regeneration of RGCs, we have studied its pattern of expression in the retina at different developmental stages, as well as during optic nerve regeneration by means of immunohistochemistry. During development, calretinin is found for the first time in RGCs when they connect with the optic tectum. Optic nerves from adult zebrafish were crushed and after different survival times, calretinin expression in the retina, optic nerve tract and optic tectum was studied. From the day of crushing to 10 days later, calretinin expression was found to be downregulated within RGCs and their axons, as was also observed during the early developmental stages of RGCs, when they are not committed to a definite cell phenotype. More...
Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia, 2015
Using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique, an in depth study has been carried out for the firs... more Using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique, an in depth study has been carried out for the first time on the distribution of fibres and cell bodies containing neurotensin and somatostatin-28 (1-12) (SOM) in the minipig brainstem. The animals used were not treated with colchicine. The distribution of neurotensin-and SOM-immunoreactive fibres was seen to be quite similar and was moderate in the minipig brainstem: a close anatomical relationship between both neuropeptides was observed. The distribution of cell bodies containing neurotensin or SOM was quite different and restricted. Cell bodies containing neurotensin were found in four brainstem nuclei: nucleus centralis raphae, nucleus dorsalis raphae, in the pars centralis of the nucleus tractus spinalis nervi trigemini and in the nucleus ventralis raphae. Cell bodies containing SOM were found in six nuclei/regions of the brainstem: nucleus ambiguus, nucleus dorsalis motorius nervi vagus, formatio reticularis, nucleus parabrachialis medialis, nucleus reticularis lateralis and nucleus ventralis raphae. According to the observed anatomical distribution of the immunoreactive structures containing neurotensin or SOM, the peptides could be involved in sleep-waking, nociceptive, gustatory, motor, respiratory and autonomic mechanisms.
Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología, 2010
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, May 14, 2008
To validate the porcine retina as a model with a very similar characteristics to the human retina... more To validate the porcine retina as a model with a very similar characteristics to the human retina with respect to the expression of the neurotrophins and their receptors. To characterise if the porcine RGCs types are similar to human cells in terms of size and cytoskeleton.
PubMed, Dec 1, 2001
Neurofilaments are the most abundant class of intermediate size filaments in adult neurons in cen... more Neurofilaments are the most abundant class of intermediate size filaments in adult neurons in central and peripheral nervous system. For a long time, neurofilaments have been thought to be implied in neurodegenerative diseases like lateral amyotrophic sclerosis or infantile spinal muscular atrophy. More recently, it has been observed that retinal ganglion cells containing highest levels of neurofilament protein were the most susceptible to cell death in experimental glaucoma. Currently, it has been shown that usually, in neurodegenerative diseases, a failure in the assembly of neurofilaments and neurofilament accumulation takes place within the soma and axons of motor neurons. However it is not yet clear whether this accumulation is a consequence or main cause of motor neurons dysfunction. Recent use of transgenic animals bearing mutations or alterations in genes coding for neurofilament sub-units or their associated proteins has not solved these questions. These findings, nevertheless have helped to understand the mechanism lying beneath these pathologies.