Rupali Vohra

• MD
• PhD Student at University of Copenhagen

Aims/Purpose: Semaglutide, a prominent member of the GLP‐1 receptor agonists, has gained considerable attention for its efficacy in managing type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, emerging evidence expand its therapeutic potentials far beyond glycemic control and weight management. Preclinical studies indicate that through anti‐inflammatory, anti‐ox...

Aims/Purpose: Semaglutide, a prominent member of the GLP‐1 receptor agonists, has gained considerable attention for its efficacy in managing type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, emerging evidence expand its therapeutic potentials far beyond glycemic control and weight management. Preclinical studies indicate that through anti‐inflammatory, anti‐ox...

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is subdivided depending on eye pressure. Patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) have never had high intraocular pressure (IOP) measured while patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) have high eye pressure but no signs of glaucoma. Although IOP is considered to be a risk factor for all glaucoma patients, it is...

Aims/Purpose: Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) is an incretin hormone naturally released in response to a meal and therapeutically used in the treatment of diabetes. GLP‐1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide (SEM), have shown to promote neuronal survival in animal models of stroke, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease including retinal diseases...

Aims/Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate energy metabolism and retinal tissue survival in retinal explants in a murine model of AD (TgSwDI) during aging. Methods: The 7‐, 12‐ and 24‐month‐old TgSwDI mouse model was compared with age‐matched wild‐type (WT) mice. Characterization of the mouse model was assessed by Aβ plaques staining. Cell v...

Aims/Purpose: To determine the effect of hypoxia on the plasma metabolic signature of patients with normal‐tension glaucoma (NTG) and ocular hypertension (OHT), compared to healthy controls. Methods: Metabolomic profiles of plasma from patients with NTG ( n = 10) and OHT ( n = 10) were compared to age‐matched controls ( n = 10) to investigate the s...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents a major diagnostic challenge, as early detection is crucial for effective intervention. This review examines the diagnostic challenges facing current AD evaluations and explores the emerging field of retinal alterations as early indicators. Recognizing the potential of the retina as a noninvasive window to the br...

* Shared co-author. Purpose: Previous cerebral studies of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have provided evidence for a neuronal metabolic dysfunction, which precede the cognitive decline. Since the retina is one of the most energy demanding tissues in the body and considered an extension of the brain due to its origin from the neural tissue, we speculate...

Background: Progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dysfunction and death are common characteristics of retinal neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1 (HCA1R, GPR81) was identified as a key modulator of mitochondrial function and cell survival. Thus, we aimed to test whether activation of HCA1R with 3,5-Dihydroxybe...

Glaucoma is a common ocular neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and their axons. It is the most common cause of irreversible blindness. With an increasing number of glaucoma patients and disease progression despite treatment, it is paramount to develop new and effective therapeutics. Emerging ne...

Purpose Visual changes are some of the earliest symptoms that patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) experience¹. Pathophysiological processes such as amyloid-β plaque formation, vascular changes, neuroinflammation, and loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have been detected in the retina of AD patients and animal models¹. However, little is known...

Purpose Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death is a common characteristic for ocular neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma and optic neuropathies. Recently, GPR81 agonist treatment has been identified as a key modulator of mitochondrial function and cell survival. Thus, we aimed to test whether GPR81 agonist treatment likewise promotes RGC surviva...

Estrogen is essential in maintaining various physiological features in women, and a decline in estrogen levels are known to give rise to numerous unfortunate symptoms associated with menopause. To alleviate these symptoms hormone replacement therapy with estrogen is often used, and has been shown to be fruitful in improving quality of life in women...

Visual changes are some of the earliest symptoms that patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) experience. Pathophysiological processes such as amyloid-β plaque formation, vascular changes, neuroinflammation, and loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have been detected in the retina of AD patients and animal models. However, little is known about the...

Increasing evidence indicates that changes in the redox system may contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple optic neuropathies. Optic neuropathies are characterized by the neurodegeneration of the inner-most retinal neurons, the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), and their axons, which form the optic nerve. Often, optic neuropathies are asymptomatic...

Introduction: Most intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering eye drops are preserved with benzalkonium chloride (BAK). This can increase side effects and decrease adherence. Particularly, damage to the mucin-producing conjunctival goblet cells may be an issue due to instability of the tear film. We aimed to investigate the effect of IOP-lowering eye dro...

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a REDOX cofactor and metabolite essential for neuronal survival. Glaucoma is a common neurodegenerative disease in which neuronal levels of NAD decline. We assess the effects of nicotinamide (a precursor to NAD) on retinal ganglion cells (the affected neuron in glaucoma) in normal physiological conditions...

Purpose: To investigate whether patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) show an enhanced stress response to reduced oxygen supply compared to age-matched healthy controls, measured by serum adrenaline and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels and changes in distal finger temperature. Methods: A thorough clinical characterization of patients with NTG an...

Purpose: Animal models show retinal ganglion cell (RGC) injuries that replicate features of glaucoma and the contralateral eye is commonly used as an internal control. There is significant crossover of RGC axons from the ipsilateral to the contralateral side at the level of the optic chiasm, which may confound findings when damage is restricted to...

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a REDOX cofactor and metabolite essential for neuronal survival. Glaucoma is a common neurodegenerative disease in which neuronal levels of NAD decline. Repleting NAD via dietary supplementation of nicotinamide (a precursor to NAD) is effective in preventing retinal ganglion cell neurodegeneration in mouse...

The main risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is increased intraocular pressure (IOP). It is of interest that about half of the patients have an IOP within the normal range (normal-tension glaucoma, NTG). Additionally, there is a group of patients with a high IOP but no glaucomatous neurodegeneration (ocular hypertension, OHT). Theref...

The retina is an extension of the central nervous system and has been considered to be a simplified, more tractable and accessible version of the brain for a variety of neuroscience investigations. The optic nerve displays changes in response to underlying neurodegenerative diseases, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease, as w...

Purpose To investigate goblet cell (GC) survival after treatment with benzalkonium chloride (BAC)‐preserved anti‐glaucomatous eye drops. Conjunctival GCs produce mucin which stabilizes the tear film and protects against dry eyes. Eyedrop‐induced GC death may cause ocular surface disorders. Method Latanoprost Teva (LT; prostaglandin analogue), Opti...

Purpose To compare the cell toxicity levels of preserved (P) and preservative‐free (PF) 0.005% latanoprost formulations used in glaucoma treatment, on pure cultures of human conjunctival goblet cells (GC), and to establish the physical properties of the various P and PF formulations, with respect to drop size distribution, pH, osmolarity, surface t...

Purpose Autoregulation is essential for a constant circulation of O2. The apparent dissimilarity of vulnerability towards increased intraocular pressure in patients with normal‐tension glaucoma (NTGs) and individuals with ocular hypertension (OHTs) has been linked to disturbed autoregulation. The retina is particularly O2‐dependent and susceptible...

Purpose Animal models show retinal ganglion cell injuries that replicate features of glaucoma and the contralateral eye is commonly used as an internal control. There is significant cross-over of retinal ganglion cell axons from the ipsilateral to the contralateral side at the level of the optic chiasm which may confound findings when damage is res...

Purpose: Besides being actively metabolized, lactate may also function as a signaling molecule by activation of the G-protein-coupled receptor 81 (GPR81). Thus, we aimed to characterize the metabolic effects of GPR81 activation in Müller cells. Method: Primary Müller cells from mice were treated with and without 10 mM L-lactate in the presence o...

Loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is a leading cause of blinding conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of extracellular L-lactate on RGC survival facilitated through lactate metabolism and ATP production. We identified lactate as a preferred energy substrate over glucose in murine RGCs and showed that lactate metaboli...

Purpose To assess novel differences in serum levels of glucose, lactate and amino acids in patients with normal‐tension glaucoma (NTG) compared to age‐matched controls, at baseline and in response to universal hypoxia. Methods Twelve patients diagnosed with NTG and eleven control subjects underwent normobaric hypoxia for 2 hr. Peripheral venous bl...

Müller cells are pivotal in sustaining retinal ganglion cells, and an intact energy metabolism is essential for upholding Müller cell functions. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of lactate on Müller cell survival and function. Primary mice Müller cells and human Müller cell lines (MIO-M1) were treated with or without lactate (10 or...

Dysfunction of photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) or both contribute to the initiation and progression of several outer retinal disorders. Disrupted Müller glia function might additionally subsidize to these diseases. Mitochondrial malfunctioning is importantly associated with outer retina pathologies, which can be classified as prima...

Using the human Müller cell line, MIO-M1, the aim was to study the impact of mitochondrial inhibition in Müller glia through antimycin A treatment. MIO-M1 cell survival, levels of released lactate, mitochondrial function, and glutamate uptake were studied in response to mitochondrial inhibition and glucose restriction. Lactate release decreased in...

Purpose Glia-neuron partnership is important for inner retinal homeostasis and any disturbances may result in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. Müller cells support RGCs with essential functions such as removing excess glutamate and providing neurons with energy sources. In this study, we evaluated consequences of mitochondrial inhibition on retin...

Purpose To evaluate the effect of lactate on Müller cell and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and function. Methods The human Müller cell line MIO-M1 was incubated in media with the presence and absence of 6 mM glucose and furthermore with the presence and absence of respectively 10 mM and 20 mM l-lactate for 2 and 24 h. Same conditions were u...

In retina, like in brain, lactate equilibrates across cell membranes via monocarboxylate transporters and in the extracellular space by diffusion, forming a basis for the action of lactate as a transmitter of metabolic signals. In the present paper, we argue that the lactate receptor GPR81, also known as HCAR1, may contribute importantly to the con...

Purpose In the brain and in adipose tissue activation of the lactate receptor GPR 81 is known to promote downregulation of cAMP . Lactate is hereby involved in excitability, metabolism and inflammation. Neurodegenerative diseases in retina may in a similar manner be linked to disturbed lactate homeostasis. Methods qPCR was performed on retina and...

To investigate the significance of calcium-independent phospholipase A2, group VIA (iPLA2-VIA), in RPE cell survival following responses to sodium iodate (SI) in cell cultures. The human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell line (ARPE-19) cells and primary mouse-RPE cultures were treated with SI to induce cell death. Cells were transfected with an...

Inhibition of VEGF in the eye is an important treatment modality for reducing proliferation and migration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Additionally, previous studies suggest calcium-independent phospholipase A(2) group VIA (iPLA(2)-VIA) to be a potential regulator of cell proliferation and migration...