Tj Keen

Abnormal dark adaptation kinetics in autosomal dominant sector retinitis pigmentosa due to rod opsin mutation.

The time course of dark adaptation was measured in 10 subjects from three families with autosomal dominant sector retinitis pigmentosa (RP) due to mutations in the first exon of the rod opsin gene. In each subject cone adaptation and the early part of the recovery of rod sensitivity followed the normal time course, but the later phase of rod adaptation was markedly prolonged. The recovery of rod sensitivity is much slower than that reported in any other outer retinal dystrophy. Using a model based upon primate data of rod outer segment length and turnover, we have calculated that the delayed phase of the recovery of rod sensitivity in the RP patients tested following strong light adaptation could be due in part to formation of new disc membrane with its normal concentration of rhodopsin rather than in situ regeneration of photopigment.

Mutations in a protein target of the Pim-1 kinase associated with the RP9 form of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa

The RP9 form of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) maps to a locus on human chromosome 7p14. We now report two different disease associated mutations in a previously unidentified human gene, the mouse orthologue of which has been characterised by its interaction with the Pim-1 oncogene. In the original linked family we identified the missense mutation H137L. A second missense mutation, D170G, was found in a single RP patient. The putative RP9 gene appears to be expressed in a wide range of tissues, but its function is unknown and a pathogenic mechanism remains to be determined.

Autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa with apparent incomplete penetrance: a clinical, electrophysiological, psychophysical, and molecular genetic study.

Twenty five symptomatic individuals and six asymptomatic obligate gene carriers from four families with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) showing apparent incomplete penetrance have been studied. Symptomatic individuals from three families showed early onset of night blindness, non-recordable rod electroretinograms, and marked elevation of both rod and cone thresholds in all subjects tested. In the fourth family, there was more variation in the age of onset of night blindness and some symptomatic individuals showed well preserved rod and cone function in some retinal areas. All asymptomatic individuals tested had evidence of mild abnormalities of rod and cone function, indicating that these families show marked variation in expressivity rather than true non-penetrance of the adRP gene. No mutations of the rhodopsin or RDS genes were found in these families and the precise genetic mutation(s) remain to be identified.

A new phenotype of recessively inherited foveal hypoplasia and anterior segment dysgenesis maps to a locus on chromosome 16q23.2–24.2.

he phrase anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD), also sometimes known as anterior segment ocular or mesenchymal dysgenesis (ASOD or ASMD, OMIM #107250), was first used in 1981 by Hittner and colleagues to describe a range of developmental defects in structures at the front of the eye. 1 These defects are thought to result from abnormal migration or differentiation of the neural crest derived mesenchymal cells that give rise to the cornea, iris, and other components of the anterior chamber during eye development. 23 Conditions falling within the ASD spectrum include aniridia, posterior embryotoxon, Axenfeld’s anomaly, Reiger’s anomaly/syndrome, Peters’ anomaly, and iridogoniodysgenesis. Aniridia (OMIM #106210) ranges from almost complete absence of the iris, through enlargement and irregularity of the pupil mimicking a coloboma, to small slit-like defects in the anterior layer visible only with a slit lamp. In Axenfeld’s anomaly (OMIM #109120), the Schwalbe’s line is prominent and centrally displaced (posterior embryotoxon) with peripheral iris strands fused to it. Eye signs in Rieger’s anomaly (OMIM #109120) patients may include malformations of the anterior chamber angle and aqueous drainage structures (iridogoniodysgenesis), microcornea, iris hypoplasia, eccentric pupil (corectopia), iris tears (polycoria), and iridocorneal tissue adhesions traversing the anterior chamber angle. 45 In Reiger’s syndrome (OMIM #180500), patients have ASD in association with underdeveloped or misshapen teeth (hypodontia) and may also have hearing loss, heart defects and skeletal abnormalities. Peters’ anomaly (OMIM #604229) consists of a central corneal leucoma, absence of the posterior corneal stroma and Descemet membrane, and varying degrees of iris and lenticular attachment to the posterior cornea. All of these conditions carry with them an increased risk of glaucoma owing to abnormalities in the Schlemm’s canal and trabecular meshwork. Human ASD phenotypes are genetically heterogeneous, 6

Ocular manifestations in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa with a Lys-296-Glu rhodopsin mutation at the retinal binding site.

A lysine to glutamic acid substitution at codon 296 in the rhodopsin gene has been reported in a family with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. This mutation is of particular functional interest as this lysine molecule is the binding site of 11-cis-retinal. The clinical features of a family with this mutation have not been reported previously. We examined 14 patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa and a lysine-296-glutamic acid rhodopsin mutation. Four had detailed psychophysical and electrophysiological testing. Most affected subjects had severe disease with poor night vision from early life, and marked reduction of visual acuity and visual field by their early forties. Psychophysical testing showed no demonstrable rod function and severely reduced cone function in all patients tested.

Exclusion of chromosome 6 and 8 locations in nonrhodopsin autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa families: further locus heterogeneity in adRP

Genetic studies have revealed that 25 to 30% of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) families have mutations in the rhodopsin gene, while the remainder do not. More recently linkage data and mutation detection have demonstrated two further loci implicated in adRP, at an as yet unidentified gene on chromosome 8p and at the human gene homologue of the mouse Rds (Retinal Degeneration Slow) gene on chromosome 6p. We have previously reported exclusion of adRP from the rhodopsin locus on 3q in two large adRP families. We now report exclusion data for both families, on chromosomes 6 and 8, demonstrating that the adRP phenotype results from mutations in at least four locations.

Localization of the aquaporin 1 (AQP1) gene within a YAC contig containing the polymorphic markers D7S632 and D7S526

The aquaporin protein acts as a water selective, transmembrane channel. It is expressed in a wide range of tissues and organs and is especially abundant in the anterior segment of the eye. Studies have shown that there is only a single AQP1 gene locus, which has been localized by in situ hybridization to chromosome 7p14. A study by Deen et al. failed to identify any RFLP at the AQP1 locus. A poly(CA) sequence 400 bp upstream of the transcription start site also proved to be nonpolymorphic. The same authors identified six other sequence-tagged sites from a single cosmid containing the entire AQP1 gene. These all contained repeat motifs, but none was investigated for possible size variation at that time. 7 refs., 1 fig.

FREQUENCIES OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF AUTOSOMAL-DOMINANT RETINITIS-PIGMENTOSA AND A NEW LOCUS FOR ADRP

m Seven loci for dominant retinitis pigmentoeehave been described in the literature. These include the Rhodopsin and Rdslperipherin genee. and anonymous loci identtfted only by linkage on 7p, 7q. aq, 17p and 19q. We wishedto estimatethe frequendesof the anonymous loci, and determinewhether any adRP loci remained to be found. &@g& DNAe were colleded from twenty ftve adRP families. These were tested by linkage analyeis and mutetiin screening to determine the origin of the phenotype in each family. j&t& Of the twenty five families, the diiease in twelve wes found to be rhcdwein RP either bv linkaae analwie or by mutation detection. A further three map& the 19q adRP &us. one to {he 7p l&us. and one to the 17p locus. Three other familiee gave tentative evidence of linkege,hvo to 19q and one to sq. Four families show crcssovere at all the known loci. Finally in one large family we discovered a new locus. on chromosome 17q between markers D17SBo9 and Dl7S942. Multipoint enalysie in this fern@ gave e maximum led sccfe of 8.24 in this interval. Concluelone In this sample, Rho-RP accounted for approximately50% of adRP while the 19q lccus(RP11) accented for around 20%. All other loci ere rare. Approximately 15% of families map to an unknown locus or loci, proving that adRP is caused by mutations in at least nine dinerent genes.