UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Predictive Mathematical Models for the Spread and Treatment of Hyperoxia-induced Photoreceptor Degeneration in Retinitis Pigmentosa

Roberts, PA; Gaffney, EA; Whiteley, JP; Luthert, PJ; Foss, AJE; Byrne, HM; (2018) Predictive Mathematical Models for the Spread and Treatment of Hyperoxia-induced Photoreceptor Degeneration in Retinitis Pigmentosa. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science , 59 (3) pp. 1238-1249. 10.1167/iovs.17-23177. Green open access

[thumbnail of Published article]
Preview
Text (Published article)
i1552-5783-59-3-1238.pdf - Published Version

Download (1MB) | Preview
[thumbnail of Supplementary information]
Preview
Text (Supplementary information)
Roberts_Predictive_Mathematical_Models_Suppl.pdf

Download (628kB) | Preview

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine whether the oxygen toxicity hypothesis can explain the distinctive spatio-temporal patterns of retinal degeneration associated with human retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and to predict the effects of antioxidant and trophic factor treatments under this hypothesis. METHODS: Three mathematical models were derived to describe the evolution of the retinal oxygen concentration and photoreceptor density over time. The first model considers only hyperoxia-induced degeneration, while the second and third models include mutation-induced rod and cone loss respectively. The models were formulated as systems of partial differential equations, defined on a two-dimensional domain spanning the region between the foveal center and the ora serrata, and were solved numerically using the finite element method. RESULTS: The mathematical models recapitulate patterns of retinal degeneration which involve preferential loss of photoreceptors in the parafoveal/perifoveal and far-peripheral retina, while those which involve a preferential loss of midperipheral photoreceptors cannot be reproduced. Treatment with antioxidants or trophic factors is predicted to delay, halt, or partially reverse retinal degeneration, depending upon the strength and timing of treatment and disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: The model simulations indicate that while the oxygen toxicity hypothesis is sufficient to explain some of the patterns of retinal degeneration observed in human RP, additional mechanisms are necessary to explain the full range of behaviors. The models further suggest that antioxidant and trophic factor treatments have the potential to reduce hyperoxia-induced disease severity and that, where possible, these treatments should be targeted at retinal regions with low photoreceptor density to maximize their efficacy.

Type: Article
Title: Predictive Mathematical Models for the Spread and Treatment of Hyperoxia-induced Photoreceptor Degeneration in Retinitis Pigmentosa
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-23177
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/iovs.17-23177
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © 2018 The Authors. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0).
Keywords: retinitis pigmentosa, mathematical model, finite element method, photoreceptors, oxygen toxicity
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Institute of Ophthalmology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10046827
Downloads since deposit
130Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item