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Mishra AV, Vermeirsch S, Lin S, Martin-Gutierrez MP, Simcoe M, Pontikos N, Schiff E, de Guimarães TAC, Hysi PG, Michaelides M, Arno G, Webster AR, Mahroo OA. Sex Distributions in Non-ABCA4 Autosomal Macular Dystrophies. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:9. [PMID: 38700873 PMCID: PMC11077905 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.5.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose We sought to explore whether sex imbalances are discernible in several autosomally inherited macular dystrophies. Methods We searched the electronic patient records of our large inherited retinal disease cohort, quantifying numbers of males and females with the more common (non-ABCA4) inherited macular dystrophies (associated with BEST1, EFEMP1, PROM1, PRPH2, RP1L1, and TIMP3). BEST1 cases were subdivided into typical autosomal dominant and recessive disease. For PRPH2, only patients with variants at codons 172 or 142 were included. Recessive PROM1 and recessive RP1L1 cases were excluded because these variants give a more widespread or peripheral degeneration. The proportion of females was calculated for each condition; two-tailed binomial testing was performed. Where a significant imbalance was found, previously published cohorts were also explored. Results Of 325 patients included, numbers for BEST1, EFEMP1, PROM1, PRPH2, RP1L1, and TIMP3 were 152, 35, 30, 50, 14, and 44, respectively. For autosomal dominant Best disease (n = 115), there were fewer females (38%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 29-48%; P = 0.015). For EFEMP1-associated disease (n = 35), there were significantly more females (77%; 95% CI, 60%-90%; P = 0.0019). No significant imbalances were seen for the other genes. When pooling our cohort with previous large dominant Best disease cohorts, the proportion of females was 37% (95% CI, 31%-43%; P = 1.2 × 10-5). Pooling previously published EFEMP1-cases with ours yielded an overall female proportion of 62% (95% CI, 54%-69%; P = 0.0023). Conclusions This exploratory study found significant sex imbalances in two autosomal macular dystrophies, suggesting that sex could be a modifier. Our findings invite replication in further cohorts and the investigation of potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit V. Mishra
- Genetics Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Vermeirsch
- Genetics Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Siying Lin
- Genetics Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mark Simcoe
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Section of Ophthalmology, King's College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nikolas Pontikos
- Genetics Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Schiff
- Genetics Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thales A. C. de Guimarães
- Genetics Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pirro G. Hysi
- Section of Ophthalmology, King's College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michel Michaelides
- Genetics Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin Arno
- Genetics Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- North East Thames Regional Genetics Service, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew R. Webster
- Genetics Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Omar A. Mahroo
- Genetics Service, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Section of Ophthalmology, King's College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Chiang TK, Yu M. Electrophysiological Evaluation of Macular Dystrophies. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12041430. [PMID: 36835965 PMCID: PMC9962076 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12041430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Macular dystrophies are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders that often severely threatens the bilateral central vision of the affected patient. While advances in molecular genetics have been instrumental in the understanding and diagnosis of these disorders, there remains significant phenotypical variation among patients within any particular subset of macular dystrophies. Electrophysiological testing remains a vital tool not only to characterize vision loss for differential diagnosis but also to understand the pathophysiology of these disorders and to monitor the treatment effect, potentially leading to therapeutic advances. This review summarizes the application of electrophysiological testing in macular dystrophies, including Stargardt disease, bestrophinopathies, X-linked retinoschisis, Sorsby fundus dystrophy, Doyne honeycomb retina dystrophy, autosomal dominant drusen, occult macular dystrophy, North Carolina macular dystrophy, pattern dystrophy, and central areolar choroidal dystrophy.
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Fibulin-3 knockout mice demonstrate corneal dysfunction but maintain normal retinal integrity. J Mol Med (Berl) 2020; 98:1639-1656. [PMID: 32964303 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-020-01974-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Fibulin-3 (F3) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein found in basement membranes across the body. An autosomal dominant R345W mutation in F3 causes a macular dystrophy resembling dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), whereas genetic removal of wild-type (WT) F3 protects mice from sub-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) deposit formation. These observations suggest that F3 is a protein which can regulate pathogenic sub-RPE deposit formation in the eye. Yet the precise role of WT F3 within the eye is still largely unknown. We found that F3 is expressed throughout the mouse eye (cornea, trabecular meshwork (TM) ring, neural retina, RPE/choroid, and optic nerve). We next performed a thorough structural and functional characterization of each of these tissues in WT and homozygous (F3-/-) knockout mice. The corneal stroma in F3-/- mice progressively thins beginning at 2 months, and the development of corneal opacity and vascularization starts at 9 months, which worsens with age. However, in all other tissues (TM, neural retina, RPE, and optic nerve), gross structural anatomy and functionality were similar across WT and F3-/- mice when evaluated using SD-OCT, histological analyses, electron microscopy, scotopic electroretinogram, optokinetic response, and axonal anterograde transport. The lack of noticeable retinal abnormalities in F3-/- mice was confirmed in a human patient with biallelic loss-of-function mutations in F3. These data suggest that (i) F3 is important for maintaining the structural integrity of the cornea, (ii) absence of F3 does not affect the structure or function of any other ocular tissue in which it is expressed, and (iii) targeted silencing of F3 in the retina and/or RPE will likely be well-tolerated, serving as a safe therapeutic strategy for reducing sub-RPE deposit formation in disease. KEY MESSAGES: • Fibulins are expressed throughout the body at varying levels. • Fibulin-3 has a tissue-specific pattern of expression within the eye. • Lack of fibulin-3 leads to structural deformities in the cornea. • The retina and RPE remain structurally and functionally healthy in the absence of fibulin-3 in both mice and humans.
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Paez-Escamilla M, Jhingan M, Gallagher DS, Singh SR, Fraser-Bell S, Chhablani J. Age-related macular degeneration masqueraders: From the obvious to the obscure. Surv Ophthalmol 2020; 66:153-182. [PMID: 32971140 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2020.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide with increasing prevalence owing to increased life expectancy. Intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factor agents are commonly used in exudative AMD and oral antioxidant medication for nonexudative AMD; however, many disorders mimic exudative and nonexudative AMD, and misdiagnosis can seriously affect the management of these patients. We summarize the demographics and clinical and imaging characteristics of each of the conditions that masquerade as AMD. As some of the conditions have features of AMD, a short update on the classical features of AMD is also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Paez-Escamilla
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mahima Jhingan
- Jacobs Retina Center at Shiley Eye Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Denise S Gallagher
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sumit Randhir Singh
- Jacobs Retina Center at Shiley Eye Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Jay Chhablani
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Liu H, Barnes J, Pedrosa E, Herman NS, Salas F, Wang P, Zheng D, Lachman HM. Transcriptome analysis of neural progenitor cells derived from Lowe syndrome induced pluripotent stem cells: identification of candidate genes for the neurodevelopmental and eye manifestations. J Neurodev Disord 2020; 12:14. [PMID: 32393163 PMCID: PMC7212686 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-020-09317-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lowe syndrome (LS) is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the X-linked gene OCRL, which codes for an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase that plays a key role in endosome recycling, clathrin-coated pit formation, and actin polymerization. It is characterized by congenital cataracts, intellectual and developmental disability, and renal proximal tubular dysfunction. Patients are also at high risk for developing glaucoma and seizures. We recently developed induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from three patients with LS who have hypomorphic variants affecting the 3' end of the gene, and their neurotypical brothers to serve as controls. METHODS In this study, we used RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to obtain transcriptome profiles in LS and control neural progenitor cells (NPCs). RESULTS In a comparison of the patient and control NPCs (n = 3), we found 16 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at the multiple test adjusted p value (padj) < 0.1, with nine at padj < 0.05. Using nominal p value < 0.05, 319 DEGs were detected. The relatively small number of DEGs could be due to the fact that OCRL is not a transcription factor per se, although it could have secondary effects on gene expression through several different mechanisms. Although the number of DEGs passing multiple test correction was small, those that were found are quite consistent with some of the known molecular effects of OCRL protein, and the clinical manifestations of LS. Furthermore, using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), we found that genes increased expression in the patient NPCs showed enrichments of several gene ontology (GO) terms (false discovery rate < 0.25): telencephalon development, pallium development, NPC proliferation, and cortex development, which are consistent with a condition characterized by intellectual disabilities and psychiatric manifestations. In addition, a significant enrichment among the nominal DEGs for genes implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was found (e.g., AFF2, DNER, DPP6, DPP10, RELN, CACNA1C), as well as several that are strong candidate genes for the development of eye problems found in LS, including glaucoma. The most notable example is EFEMP1, a well-known candidate gene for glaucoma and other eye pathologies. CONCLUSION Overall, the RNA-seq findings present several candidate genes that could help explain the underlying basis for the neurodevelopmental and eye problems seen in boys with LS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hequn Liu
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Jesse Barnes
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Erika Pedrosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Nathaniel S. Herman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Franklin Salas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
- Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Herbert M. Lachman
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
- Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
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