The pGenesil-1-Beclin1 eukaryotic expression vectors were constructed to establish an SH-SY5Y cell line stably expressing shRNA-Beclin1. The shRNA was connected to pGenesil-1 to construct the recombinant plasmid pGenesil-1-Beclin1, which was transformed into JM109 E.coli. Positive clones were identified by digestion with restriction endonuclease and DNA sequencing. SH-SY5Y cells were cultured by the conventional method. The pGenesil-1-Beclin1 and pGenesil-1 plasmids were transfected into SH-SY5Ycells, and the cells were screened by G418 until the stable G418-resistant monoclonal cells were acquired. Beclin1 mRNA and Beclin1 protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis respectively. The results of restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequencing confirmed the correct construction of the eukaryotic expression vector pGenesil-1-Beclin1. Two SH-SY5Y transfected cell lines were successfully selected. Compared with the control group, RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the expression of Beclin1 mRNA and protein were down regulated 71.28%±1.45%(P<0.05)and 75.50%±2.63%(P<0.05), respectively. The results indicated that the eukaryotic expression vector pGenesil-1-Beclin1 was successfully constructed and the SH-SY5Y cell lines with inhibited Beclin1 expression were established. It provides a useful cell model for studying the biological function of Beclin1.
Objective To observe the mutation frequency and the characteristics of rentinitis pigmentosa (RP)1 gene in the Chinese patients with autosomal dominant (AD) RP or sporadic RP (SRP), and to evaluate their potential effects on the pathogenesis of RP. Methods Fifty-five members from 7 Chinese families with ADRP, 30 patients with SRP, and 75 healthy adults were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing were used to detect the sequence mutation in the entire coding region and splice sites of RP1 gene. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were used to detect the effect of RP1 gene mutation sites on RP. Results Four coding sequence variants were detected in the codes of 852，872，921 and 939 at the exon 4 of RP1 gene. The R872H alteration, which was found in both ADRP families and patients with SRP, showed positive correlation with RP confirmed by the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The P903L alteration was only found in ADRP families but not in the patients with SRP or the healthy adults. Conclusions The R872H alteration in the RP1 gene is likely to increase the risk of RP, and may be a susceptible gene of RP. Whether the P903L alteration is a diseasecausing factor needs to be further studied.
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the pathogenic gene types and clinical phenotypes of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA).MethodsA retrospective clinical study. Six patients with LCA confirmed by genetic testing and 18 family members were included in the study. The patients came from six unrelated families. The family was investigated with a specific hereditary eye disease enrichment panel which contained 463 known pathogenic genes and based on targeted exome capture technology first to indentify the potential pathogenic genes and mutations. Then the TULP1, RPGRIP1, GUCY2D pathogenic mutations were conformed by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity of the gene variation was searched through relevant databases and PubMed literature, and its function was explained by protein prediction software.ResultsOf the 6 patients, 3 were males and 3 were females; the age was from 3 to 33 years. Nystagmus, finger pressing eyes, photophobia, and night blindness were seen in 5 cases; electroretinogram showed 3 cases of extinction or near extinction; and 4 cases of retinopathy. The results showed patients with compound heterozygous mutation of c.1318C＞T and c.1142T＞G, homozygous mutation ofc.1318C＞T and compound heterozygous mutation of c.1153G＞A and c.1561C＞T of TULP1 in Family 1, Family 2 and Family 5, respectively. There were compound heterozygous mutations of RPGRIP1 c.391delG and c.1468-2A＞G in Family 3 and c.715delA and c.1765C＞T in Family 6, respectively. Homozygous mutation of c.3177_3178delAC of GUCY2D was found in Family 4.The parents of all six patients were carriers of corresponding heterozygous mutations.TULP1 gene c.1142T＞G, RPGRIP1 gene c.391delG, c.715delA and c.1765C＞T and GUCY2D gene c.3177_3178delAC mutations were novel mutations and unreported. The 381th amino acid locus of product protein of TULP1 gene was highly conserved among species. The protein prediction software predicted that the mutation pathogenic. The c.391delG, c.715delA and c.1765C＞T mutations of RPGRIP1 gene and c.3177_3178delAC mutation of GUCY2D gene can lead to early translation termination of their product proteins, which are pathogenic variants.ConclusionThe pathogenic mutations of TULP1, RPGRIP1 and GUCY2D genes led to LCA 15, LCA 6 and LCA 1 in six families.
Objective To study the effect of hypoxia on proliferation of cultured bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and expression of the antiapoptotic protein bcl-2. Methods The bovine RPE cells were cultured under normal and hypoxic chamber respectively. After 24 hours, the proliferation of RPE cells was evaluated by［3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, MTT］test. At the same time, anti-bcl-2 protein antibody was examined by immuno-histochemistry method. Results The A value in the hypoxia group was higher than that in the normal group after 24 hours (P＜0.05 )in MTT-test. Positive staining for anti-bcl-2 protein antibody was seen in 72.6% cells in hypoxia group and 38.64% in normal group. The positive staining was more obvious near the nucleus, and fine granules scattered in cytoplasm of some cells. Conclusion Hypoxia can stimulate the proliferation of RPE cells and expression of antiapoptotic protein bcl-2. The results indicate that bcl-2 may play an important role in mediating the proliferation activity of RPE cells. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 293-295)
Purpose To observe the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen（PCNA）and bcl-2 of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells（RPE）． Methods SABC techniques were applied for immunocytochemical staining of cultured RPE with mouse anti-human PCNA monoclonal antibody and rabbit antihuman bcl-2 antibodies． Results 31.2% and 50.6% cultured cells were positive to anti-human PCNA at 24h and 48h after seeding，respectively．The positive staining was mottled in the nucleus．positive staining for bcl was seen in 76%to 90% cells as fine granules scattered within the cytoplasm. Conclusion One half of cultured RPE expressed PCNA，indicating that the cells were in phase S of the cell cycle．Positive staining for bcl-2 appeared in much more RPE cells．These biological markers may be associated with the growth activity of cultured RPE． (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1998,14:26-28)
Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common cause of deaf-blindness diseases characterized by sensorineural hearing loss and retinitis pigmentosa. Patients are clinically and genetically heterogeneous, however, there are no convincing methods for prevention and treatment. USH2A is the most common disease-causing gene among 14 genes related to Usher syndrome. Great progress has been achieved in the pathogenic mechanism, animal models studies, diagnosis, and treatments based on gene therapy, cells transplantation and antisense oligonucleotide-based splice correction. Mutations in USH2A result in defects in USH complex proteins which involved in the transport function of the peripheral cilia region. There is respective limitations in established mouse and zebrafish animal models. Two promising treatments of this disease are introduced. One is clinical transplantation of visual organs which induced from corrected patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells by the CRISPR/Cas9 system and another one is the RNA splicing therapy based on antisense oligonucleotides.
ObjectiveTo reveal the pathogenic mutation in a three-generation Chinese family with autosomal dominant familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR). MethodsThree patients and a healthy spouse from the index family with FEVR were recruited. The proband was a 5 years old boy. His mother and grandpa were presented with typical FEVR presentations, while his father with normal ocular fundus. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples taken from all four participants. All coding and exon-intron boundary regions of five targeted genes, including NDP, FZD4, LRP5, TSPAN12 and ZNF408 were amplified with polymerase chain reaction and sequenced using direct sequencing. In silico analyses were applied to determine the conservation of the mutation site, pathogenic effect and the potential protein crystal structural changes caused by the mutation. ResultsFZD4 c.478G > A, a susceptible mutation was found after four high frequency mutation sites which MAF values were higher than 0.001 was filtered among 5 single nucleotide variations detected in four participants, leading to the residue 160 changing from glutamate to lysine (p.E160K). Co-segregation analysis between genotypes and phenotypes revealed FZD4 p.E160K as the disease-causing mutation for this family. Conservational analysis suggested that this mutation site was highly conserved among all tested species. Functional analysis predicated that this mutation may be a damaging mutation. Crystal structural analysis also indicated that this mutation could lead to the elimination of the hydrogen bond between residue 160 and asparagine at residue 152, thus altering the tertiary structure of the protein and further impairing the protein function. ConclusionOur study demonstrates FZD4 p.E160K as a novel pathogenic mutation for FEVR.
Objective To observe the expression and relationship of high-mobility group A(HMGA)1, HMGA2, MIB-1 labeling index (LI) and let-7 in retinoblastoma (RB). Methods Forty-four RB samples were studied, including 11 poorly-differentiated samples, 33 well-differentiated samples; eight invasive and 36 non-invasive samples. The expression of HMGA1, HMGA2 and MIB-1 LI in RB were analyzed by immunohistochemitry. The HMGA1, HMGA2 were scored on a scale of 0 to high expression. 0: no expression; low: 1%-10%; medium: 11%-50%; high: ＞50%. The MIB LI were scored on a scale of 0 to high expression. 0: no expression; low: 1%-40%; high: ＞40%. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to assay the let-7 expression level: ge;80% showed no significantly decreased expression; 60%-79% showed medium decrease in expression; ＜60% highly decreased in expression. ResultsIn 44 RB samples, there were 14 cases with no HMGA1 expression (32%), 11 cases with low expression (25%), 10 cases with medium expression (23%), and nine cases with high expression (20%). Expression level of HMGA1 was significantly higher in poorly differentiated RB than in well-differentiated RB (chi;2=11.3,P＜0.01); however, no statistically significant difference was found between invasive tumors and noninvasive tumors (chi;2=5.9,P＞0.05). There were 11 cases with no HMGA2 expression (25%), 11 cases with low expression (25%), nine cases with medium expression (20%), and 13 cases with high expression (30%). Expression level of HMGA2 was significantly higher in poorly differentiated and invasive RB than in well-differentiated and noninvasive RB respectively (chi;2=20.9, 8.7;P＜0.05). There were 4 cases with no MIB-1 LI expression (9%), 18 cases with low expression (41%), and 22 cases with high expression (50%). Expression level of MIB-1 LI was significantly higher in poorly differentiated RB than in well-differentiated RB (t=5.2,P＜0.05). Higher expression of MIB-1 LI was found in invasive tumors than in noninvasive tumors, with no significant difference (t=-1.1,P＞0.05). Twenty-seven cases had no significantly decreased expression of let-7 (61%). There were eight cases with medium decreased expression (18%) and nine cases with highly decreased expression (21%). Correlation analyses revealed that MIB-1 LI expression significantly correlated with HMGA1and HMGA2 proteins (r=0.327, 0.602;P＜0.05). A significantly inverse correlation existed between let-7 expression and HMGA1, HMGA2 proteins and MIB-1 LI respectively (r=-0.247,-0.310,-0.392;P＜0.05). Conclusions Overexpression of HMGA1, HMGA2 and MIB-1 LI and down regulation of let-7 were demonstrated in RB. Supplying let-7 to RB cells can possibly inhibit HMGA1 and HMGA2 expression.
It is clear that genetic background contributes to the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, the identification of susceptibility loci through candidate gene approaches, linkage disequilibrium analysis of case-control data and genome wide association study is still in its infancy and faces many challenges due to the complexity of the disease itself. China has rich resources of clinical samples. In order to facilitate elucidating the susceptibility genes of DR in China, we look forward multi-disciplinary, multi-regional collaboration studies integrating novel technologies, such as proteomics, metabolomics and next-generation sequencing to analyze gene-gene and gene-environment interaction factors comprehensively.
Objective To observe the expression of p53, bcl-2 genes, vascular endothelial cell growth factor（VEGF）, basic fibroblast growth factor（bFGF）, insulin-like growth factor-I （IGF-I）, and the receptors of these factors of retinal vascular endothelial cells (VECs) of 1- to 20-week diabetic rats, and the relationship between the expressions and cell cycle arrest.Methods Retinal sections of diabetic rats induced by alloxan were immunohistochemically stained and observed by light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM). Dot blotting and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of mRNA, proteins of p53 and bcl-2. Results Under LM, immunohistochemical positive expression of p53 and bcl-2 were found on the vessels of ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer of retinae of 8- to 20-week diabetic rats; under EM, these substances were observed depositing in VECs. The retinal VECs also expressed VEGF, bFGF, IGF-I and their receptors. There was no positive expression of other cell types in these retinae, all cell types of retinae in control group, or all cells of retinae of diabetic rats with the course of disease of 1 to 6 weeks. The result of dot blotting revealed that retinal tissue of 20-week diabetic rat expressed p53 and bcl-2 mRNA, and the result of Western blotting revealed that they also expressed p53 and bcl-2 proteins. But retinal tissues of control group did not. Positive expression of bax was not found in the retinae in control group or 1- to 20-week diabetic rats. Conclusion p53, bcl-2 may introduce cell cycle arrest of VECs of retinae in 8- to 20-week diabetic rats. High glucose might stimulate the expression of VEGF, bFGF, IGF-I and their receptors, and the growth factors may keep VECs surviving by self-secretion. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：29-33)