Six3 overexpression initiates the formation of ectopic retina. (17/5824)

The homeobox gene sine oculis (so) is essential for visual system formation in Drosophila. A vertebrate member of the so/Six gene family, Six3, is expressed in the developing eye and forebrain. Injection of Six3 RNA into medaka fish embryos causes ectopic Pax6 and Rx2 expression in midbrain and cerebellum, resulting in the formation of ectopic retinal primordia. Injected mouse Six3 RNA initiates ectopic expression of endogenous medaka Six3, uncovering a feedback control of Six3 expression. Initiation of ectopic retina formation reveals a pivotal role for Six3 in vertebrate retina development and hints at a conserved regulatory network underlying vertebrate and invertebrate eye development.  (+info)

Pax6 and Cdx2/3 form a functional complex on the rat glucagon gene promoter G1-element. (18/5824)

Alpha-cell specific transcription of the glucagon gene is mainly conferred by the glucagon promoter G1-element, while additional elements G2, G3, and G4 have broad islet cell specificity. Transcription of the glucagon gene has been shown to be stimulated by Pax6 through binding to the glucagon gene promoter G3-element. In this report, we show that Pax6 additionally binds the glucagon gene promoter G1-element and forms a transcriptionally active complex with another homeodomain protein, Cdx2/3. Two distinct mutations in the G1-element, that both reduce promoter activity by 85-90%, is shown to eliminate binding of either Pax6 or Cdx2/3. Additionally, Pax6 enhanced Cdx2/3 mediated activation of a glucagon reporter in heterologous cells. We discuss how Pax6 may contribute to cell-type specific transcription in the pancreatic islets by complex formation with different transcription factors.  (+info)

Pax6 and Pdx1 form a functional complex on the rat somatostatin gene upstream enhancer. (19/5824)

The somatostatin upstream enhancer (SMS-UE) is a highly complex enhancer element. The distal A-element contains overlapping Pdx1 and Pbx binding sites. However, a point mutation in the A-element that abolishes both Pdxl and Pbx binding does not impair promoter activity. In contrast, a point mutation that selectively eliminates Pdx1 binding to a proximal B-element reduces the promoter activity. The B-element completely overlaps with a Pax6 binding site, the C-element. A point mutation in the C-element demonstrates that Pax6 binding is essential for promoter activity. Interestingly, a block mutation in the A-element reduces both Pax6 binding and promoter activity. In heterologous cells, Pdx1 potentiated Pax6 mediated activation of a somatostatin reporter. We conclude that the beta/delta-cell-specific activity of the SMS-UE is achieved through simultaneous binding of Pdx1 and Pax6 to the B- and C-elements, respectively. Furthermore, the A-element appears to stabilise Pax6 binding.  (+info)

Abnormal photoresponses and light-induced apoptosis in rods lacking rhodopsin kinase. (20/5824)

Phosphorylation is thought to be an essential first step in the prompt deactivation of photoexcited rhodopsin. In vitro, the phosphorylation can be catalyzed either by rhodopsin kinase (RK) or by protein kinase C (PKC). To investigate the specific role of RK, we inactivated both alleles of the RK gene in mice. This eliminated the light-dependent phosphorylation of rhodopsin and caused the single-photon response to become larger and longer lasting than normal. These results demonstrate that RK is required for normal rhodopsin deactivation. When the photon responses of RK-/- rods did finally turn off, they did so abruptly and stochastically, revealing a first-order backup mechanism for rhodopsin deactivation. The rod outer segments of RK-/- mice raised in 12-hr cyclic illumination were 50% shorter than those of normal (RK+/+) rods or rods from RK-/- mice raised in constant darkness. One day of constant light caused the rods in the RK-/- mouse retina to undergo apoptotic degeneration. Mice lacking RK provide a valuable model for the study of Oguchi disease, a human RK deficiency that causes congenital stationary night blindness.  (+info)

Eye1 and Eye2: gene loci that modulate eye size, lens weight, and retinal area in the mouse. (21/5824)

PURPOSE: Vision is critically dependent on genetic factors that influence the rate and duration of eye growth. The genetic basis of variation in eye size in mice was explored, and genes that modulate eye weight, lens weight, and retinal area were mapped. METHODS: Eyes of approximately 700 mice were weighed. Data were corrected by regression analysis to eliminate effects of sex, age, and body weight. Interval mapping was used to locate quantitative trait loci (QTLs) using recombinant inbred strains and F2 intercrosses between strains C57BL/6J and DBA/2J. RESULTS: Major QTLs were discovered near the centromere of chromosome 5 (Eye1: genomewide P < 0.005) and on proximal chromosome 17 near the mast cell protease 6 gene (Eye2, P < 0.05). Both QTLs have significant effects on eye size, lens weight, and retinal area. The DBA/2J alleles at Eye1 and Eye2 are partially dominant and increase eye weight by as much as 1.0 mg. Analysis of 183 F2 progeny confirmed and refined the chromosomal assignments of both Eye1 and Eye2. CONCLUSIONS: Eye1 and Eye2 are the first loci known to control normal variation in eye size in any mammal. The hepatic growth factor gene (Hgf), a potent mitogen expressed in the retina, pigment epithelium, and choroid, is a strong candidate for Eye1. The human homolog of Eye2 should map to chromosome 6p, 16q13.3, or 19q13, whereas that of Eye1 should map to 7q.  (+info)

Activation of NADPH oxidase by docosahexaenoic acid hydroperoxide and its inhibition by a novel retinal pigment epithelial protein. (22/5824)

PURPOSE: In an earlier study, a novel retinal pigment epithelial protective protein (RPP) was described, which suppresses the superoxide generation of activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). In experimental autoimmune uveitis, docosahexaenoic acid hydroperoxide (22:6OOH) has been shown to be the major lipid peroxidation product in photoreceptors. This hydroperoxide was also found to be chemotactic to PMNs. This study was undertaken to evaluate the activation capability of 22:6OOH in resting PMNs and the possible inhibition of this activation by RPP. METHODS: The 22:6OOH was obtained from pure 22:6 and was purified by thin-layer and high-performance liquid chromatography. Intact rabbit peritoneal PMNs (7-8 X 10(5)) were coincubated with 0.5 microM formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), 1.3 microM 22:6OOH, or 5.0 microM 22:6. These systems were coincubated with and without 0.25 microg/ml RPP. From PMN cell-free preparations, the reconstitutes each containing 21 microg plasma membranes and 276 microg cytosolic factors were coincubated with arachidonate, 22:6OOH, or 22:6, each at 100 microM. The inhibition of superoxide production was estimated by adding 0.20 microg/ml RPP. Superoxide generation was measured by superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome C reduction. RESULTS: In 30 minutes, 22:6OOH-activated PMNs produced 11.10 +/- 0.68 nanomoles superoxide, and production was suppressed 72% by RPP. Under the same conditions, fMLP induced production of 34.6 +/- 2.77 nanomoles superoxide, and RPP inhibited 60% of production. In the PMN cell-free systems, 100 microM 22:6OOH induced 74.7 nanomoles superoxide per milligram plasma membrane proteins per 5 minutes, and RPP suppressed 50% of production. These results were comparable with those generated by arachidonate, a known stimulator for this system. RPP was effective only when it was added before assembly of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase. CONCLUSIONS: The inflammation-mediated retinal peroxidation product 22:6OOH significantly activates resting PMNs, either in intact cells or in cell-free preparations, to increase further the release of superoxide from PMNs, thus accelerating inflammation-mediated tissue damage. This profound amplification process seems to be effectively downregulated by an RPE-generated protein RPP.  (+info)

Protective effect of the type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram in EAU: protection is independent of IL-10-inducing activity. (23/5824)

PURPOSE: Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) is a cell-mediated model of retinal autoimmunity that is negatively regulated by interleukin (IL)-10. The antidepressant drug rolipram, a type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor, enhances IL-10 production by monocyte/macrophages. The effect of rolipram on induction of EAU and its associated immunologic responses was investigated. METHODS: Mice were challenged for EAU induction by immunization with the retinal antigen interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) or by adoptive transfer of uveitogenic T cells and were treated with rolipram. EAU severity and immunologic responses to IRBP were analyzed. In addition, the effect of rolipram added to the culture on antigen-driven responses of primed lymph node cells was tested. RESULTS: Rolipram treatment from days -1 to 7 after immunization (afferent phase) was not protective, but severity of EAU was reduced to 50% by treatment from days 8 to 16 after immunization or when EAU was induced by adoptive transfer (efferent phase). Antigen-specific proliferation and interferon (IFN)-gamma production ex vivo by lymph node cells of protected mice were not reduced. However, the addition of rolipram directly to the culture suppressed IRBP-driven proliferation and IFN-gamma production by primed lymph node cells. Freshly explanted lymph node cells of treated mice showed inhibition of IFN-gamma mRNA but no parallel enhancement of IL-10 mRNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Rolipram inhibited EAU in IL-10 knockout mice equally well compared with controls and suppressed their primed lymph node cells in culture. CONCLUSIONS: Rolipram appears to inhibit the expansion and effector function of uveitogenic T cells, raising the possibility that it may be useful for treatment of established disease. Contrary to expectations based on in vitro studies, the protective effects in vivo appear to be independent of IL-10. The observation that suppression of antigen-specific responses is demonstrable only in the physical presence of the drug suggests that, in a clinical setting, continuous administration of rolipram might be needed to sustain its therapeutic effect.  (+info)

AlphaB-crystallin selectively targets intermediate filament proteins during thermal stress. (24/5824)

PURPOSE: AlphaB-Crystallin is a small heat shock protein (sHsp) expressed at high levels in the lens of the eye, where its molecular chaperone functions may protect against cataract formation in vivo. The purpose of this study was to identify protein targets for the sHsp alphaB-crystallin in lens cell homogenates during conditions of mild thermal stress. METHODS: The authors report the use of a fusion protein, maltose-binding protein alphaB-crystallin (MBP-alphaB), immobilized on amylose resin as a novel method for isolating endogenous alphaB-crystallin-binding proteins from lens cell homogenates after mild thermal stress. RESULTS: Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western immunoblot analyses showed selective interactions in lens cell homogenates between MBP-alphaB and endogenous alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins, the lens-specific intermediate filament proteins phakinin (CP49) and filensin (CP115), and vimentin during a mild 20-minute heat shock at 45 degrees C. No interactions were observed with the beta- or gamma-crystallins, or the cytoskeletal proteins actin, alpha-tubulin, and spectrin, although these proteins were present in lens cell homogenates. In contrast, gamma-crystallin and actin interacted with MBP-alphaB at 45 degrees C only in their purified states. The results obtained with MBP-alphaB were confirmed by immunoprecipitation reactions in which immunoprecipitation of native bovine alphaB-crystallin from heat-shocked lens cell homogenates resulted in the coprecipitation of phakinin and filensin. CONCLUSIONS: In the lens the sHsp alphaB-crystallin may selectively target intermediate filaments for protection against unfolding during conditions of stress.  (+info)