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Song JY, Aravand P, Nikonov S, Leo L, Lyubarsky A, Bennicelli JL, Pan J, Wei Z, Shpylchak I, Herrera P, Bennett DJ, Commins N, Maguire AM, Pham J, den Hollander AI, Cremers FPM, Koenekoop RK, Roepman R, Nishina P, Zhou S, Pan W, Ying GS, Aleman TS, de Melo J, McNamara I, Sun J, Mills J, Bennett J. Amelioration of Neurosensory Structure and Function in Animal and Cellular Models of a Congenital Blindness. Mol Ther 2018; 26:1581-1593. [PMID: 29673930 PMCID: PMC5986734 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Most genetically distinct inherited retinal degenerations are primary photoreceptor degenerations. We selected a severe early onset form of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), caused by mutations in the gene LCA5, in order to test the efficacy of gene augmentation therapy for a ciliopathy. The LCA5-encoded protein, Lebercilin, is essential for the trafficking of proteins and vesicles to the photoreceptor outer segment. Using the AAV serotype AAV7m8 to deliver a human LCA5 cDNA into an Lca5 null mouse model of LCA5, we show partial rescue of retinal structure and visual function. Specifically, we observed restoration of rod-and-cone-driven electroretinograms in about 25% of injected eyes, restoration of pupillary light responses in the majority of treated eyes, an ∼20-fold decrease in target luminance necessary for visually guided behavior, and improved retinal architecture following gene transfer. Using LCA5 patient-derived iPSC-RPEs, we show that delivery of the LCA5 cDNA restores lebercilin protein and rescues cilia quantity. The results presented in this study support a path forward aiming to develop safety and efficacy trials for gene augmentation therapy in human subjects with LCA5 mutations. They also provide the framework for measuring the effects of intervention in ciliopathies and other severe, early-onset blinding conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Yun Song
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Puya Aravand
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sergei Nikonov
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Vision Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lanfranco Leo
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Arkady Lyubarsky
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Vision Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jeannette L Bennicelli
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jieyan Pan
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zhangyong Wei
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ivan Shpylchak
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Pamela Herrera
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Daniel J Bennett
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nicoletta Commins
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Albert M Maguire
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer Pham
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anneke I den Hollander
- Department of Ophthalmology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Frans P M Cremers
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Robert K Koenekoop
- McGill Ocular Genetics Center, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ronald Roepman
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Shangzhen Zhou
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wei Pan
- Penn Vision Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman, Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
| | - Gui-Shuang Ying
- Penn Vision Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Center for Preventive Ophthalmology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tomas S Aleman
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jimmy de Melo
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ilan McNamara
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Junwei Sun
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jason Mills
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jean Bennett
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) and F.M. Kirby Center for Molecular Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Vision Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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2
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de Melo J, Clark BS, Venkataraman A, Shiau F, Zibetti C, Blackshaw S. Ldb1- and Rnf12-dependent regulation of Lhx2 controls the relative balance between neurogenesis and gliogenesis in the retina. Development 2018; 145:dev.159970. [PMID: 29650591 DOI: 10.1242/dev.159970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Precise control of the relative ratio of retinal neurons and glia generated during development is essential for visual function. We show that Lhx2, which encodes a LIM-homeodomain transcription factor essential for specification and differentiation of retinal Müller glia, also plays a crucial role in the development of retinal neurons. Overexpression of Lhx2 with its transcriptional co-activator Ldb1 triggers cell cycle exit and inhibits both Notch signaling and retinal gliogenesis. Lhx2/Ldb1 overexpression also induces the formation of wide-field amacrine cells (wfACs). In contrast, Rnf12, which encodes a negative regulator of LDB1, is necessary for the initiation of retinal gliogenesis. We also show that Lhx2-dependent neurogenesis and wfAC formation requires Ascl1 and Neurog2, and that Lhx2 is necessary for their expression, although overexpression of Lhx2/Ldb1 does not elevate expression of these proneural bHLH factors. Finally, we demonstrate that the relative level of the LHX2-LDB1 complex in the retina decreases in tandem with the onset of gliogenesis. These findings show that control of Lhx2 function by Ldb1 and Rnf12 underpins the coordinated differentiation of neurons and Müller glia in postnatal retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy de Melo
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Brian S Clark
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Anand Venkataraman
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Fion Shiau
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Cristina Zibetti
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA .,Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Center for Human Systems Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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3
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Venkataraman A, Yang K, Irizarry J, Mackiewicz M, Mita P, Kuang Z, Xue L, Ghosh D, Liu S, Ramos P, Hu S, Bayron Kain D, Keegan S, Saul R, Colantonio S, Zhang H, Behn FP, Song G, Albino E, Asencio L, Ramos L, Lugo L, Morell G, Rivera J, Ruiz K, Almodovar R, Nazario L, Murphy K, Vargas I, Rivera-Pacheco ZA, Rosa C, Vargas M, McDade J, Clark BS, Yoo S, Khambadkone SG, de Melo J, Stevanovic M, Jiang L, Li Y, Yap WY, Jones B, Tandon A, Campbell E, Montelione GT, Anderson S, Myers RM, Boeke JD, Fenyö D, Whiteley G, Bader JS, Pino I, Eichinger DJ, Zhu H, Blackshaw S. A toolbox of immunoprecipitation-grade monoclonal antibodies to human transcription factors. Nat Methods 2018; 15:330-338. [PMID: 29638227 PMCID: PMC6063793 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.4632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A key component of efforts to address the reproducibility crisis in biomedical research is the development of rigorously validated and renewable protein-affinity reagents. As part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Protein Capture Reagents Program (PCRP), we have generated a collection of 1,406 highly validated immunoprecipitation- and/or immunoblotting-grade mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to 737 human transcription factors, using an integrated production and validation pipeline. We used HuProt human protein microarrays as a primary validation tool to identify mAbs with high specificity for their cognate targets. We further validated PCRP mAbs by means of multiple experimental applications, including immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq), and immunohistochemistry. We also conducted a meta-analysis that identified critical variables that contribute to the generation of high-quality mAbs. All validation data, protocols, and links to PCRP mAb suppliers are available at http://proteincapture.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Venkataraman
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Mark Mackiewicz
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama, USA
| | - Paolo Mita
- Institute for System Genetics, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Zheng Kuang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lin Xue
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Devlina Ghosh
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shuang Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sarah Keegan
- Institute for System Genetics, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Richard Saul
- Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Simona Colantonio
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Guang Song
- Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jessica McDade
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian S Clark
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sooyeon Yoo
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Seva G Khambadkone
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jimmy de Melo
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Milanka Stevanovic
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lizhi Jiang
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yana Li
- Eukaryotic Tissue Culture Facility, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Atul Tandon
- NeoBiotechnologies, Inc., Union City, California, USA
| | - Elliot Campbell
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.,Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Gaetano T Montelione
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.,Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Stephen Anderson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.,Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Richard M Myers
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama, USA
| | - Jef D Boeke
- Institute for System Genetics, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - David Fenyö
- Institute for System Genetics, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gordon Whiteley
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Joel S Bader
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Heng Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Center for Human Systems Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Center for Human Systems Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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4
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Zhang Q, Zagozewski J, Cheng S, Dixit R, Zhang S, de Melo J, Mu X, Klein WH, Brown NL, Wigle JT, Schuurmans C, Eisenstat DD. Regulation of Brn3b by DLX1 and DLX2 is required for retinal ganglion cell differentiation in the vertebrate retina. Development 2017; 144:1698-1711. [PMID: 28356311 PMCID: PMC5450843 DOI: 10.1242/dev.142042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Regulated retinal ganglion cell (RGC) differentiation and axonal guidance is required for a functional visual system. Homeodomain and basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors are required for retinogenesis, as well as patterning, differentiation and maintenance of specific retinal cell types. We hypothesized that Dlx1, Dlx2 and Brn3b homeobox genes function in parallel intrinsic pathways to determine RGC fate and therefore generated Dlx1/Dlx2/Brn3b triple-knockout mice. A more severe retinal phenotype was found in the Dlx1/Dlx2/Brn3b-null retinas than was predicted by combining features of the Brn3b single- and Dlx1/Dlx2 double-knockout retinas, including near total RGC loss with a marked increase in amacrine cells in the ganglion cell layer. Furthermore, we discovered that DLX1 and DLX2 function as direct transcriptional activators of Brn3b expression. Knockdown of Dlx2 expression in primary embryonic retinal cultures and Dlx2 gain of function in utero strongly support that DLX2 is both necessary and sufficient for Brn3b expression in vivo. We suggest that ATOH7 specifies RGC-committed progenitors and that Dlx1 and Dlx2 function both downstream of ATOH7 and in parallel, but cooperative, pathways that involve regulation of Brn3b expression to determine RGC fate. Summary:Dlx1/2 homeobox genes regulate retinal ganglion cell (RGC) differentiation by directly activating Brn3b expression; accordingly, Dlx1/Dlx2/Brn3b triple-knockout mice exhibit near complete RGC loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3E 0J9
| | - Jamie Zagozewski
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2H7
| | - Shaohong Cheng
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3A 1S1
| | - Rajiv Dixit
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada T2N 4N1
| | - Shunzhen Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3E 3J7
| | - Jimmy de Melo
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3E 0J9
| | - Xiuqian Mu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - William H Klein
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nadean L Brown
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, Canada
| | - Jeffrey T Wigle
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3E 3J7
| | - Carol Schuurmans
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada T2N 4N1
| | - David D Eisenstat
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3E 0J9 .,Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2H7.,Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3A 1S1.,Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3E 3J7.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada R3T 2N2
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Thein T, de Melo J, Zibetti C, Clark BS, Juarez F, Blackshaw S. Control of lens development by Lhx2-regulated neuroretinal FGFs. Development 2016; 143:3994-4002. [PMID: 27633990 PMCID: PMC5117141 DOI: 10.1242/dev.137760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is an essential regulator of lens epithelial cell proliferation and survival, as well as lens fiber cell differentiation. However, the identities of these FGF factors, their source tissue and the genes that regulate their synthesis are unknown. We have found that Chx10-Cre;Lhx2lox/lox mice, which selectively lack Lhx2 expression in neuroretina from E10.5, showed an early arrest in lens fiber development along with severe microphthalmia. These mutant animals showed reduced expression of multiple neuroretina-expressed FGFs and canonical FGF-regulated genes in neuroretina. When FGF expression was genetically restored in Lhx2-deficient neuroretina of Chx10-Cre;Lhx2lox/lox mice, we observed a partial but nonetheless substantial rescue of the defects in lens cell proliferation, survival and fiber differentiation. These data demonstrate that neuroretinal expression of Lhx2 and neuroretina-derived FGF factors are crucial for lens fiber development in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuzar Thein
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jimmy de Melo
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Cristina Zibetti
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Brian S Clark
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Felicia Juarez
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Center for Human Systems Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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6
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Gueta K, David A, Cohen T, Menuchin-Lasowski Y, Nobel H, Narkis G, Li L, Love P, de Melo J, Blackshaw S, Westphal H, Ashery-Padan R. The stage-dependent roles of Ldb1 and functional redundancy with Ldb2 in mammalian retinogenesis. Development 2016; 143:4182-4192. [PMID: 27697904 DOI: 10.1242/dev.129734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The Lim domain-binding proteins are key co-factor proteins that assemble with LIM domains of the LMO/LIM-HD family to form functional complexes that regulate cell proliferation and differentiation. Using conditional mutagenesis and comparative phenotypic analysis, we analyze the function of Ldb1 and Ldb2 in mouse retinal development, and demonstrate overlapping and specific functions of both proteins. Ldb1 interacts with Lhx2 in the embryonic retina and both Ldb1 and Ldb2 play a key role in maintaining the pool of retinal progenitor cells. This is accomplished by controlling the expression of the Vsx2 and Rax, and components of the Notch and Hedgehog signaling pathways. Furthermore, the Ldb1/Ldb2-mediated complex is essential for generation of early-born photoreceptors through the regulation of Rax and Crx. Finally, we demonstrate functional redundancy between Ldb1 and Ldb2. Ldb1 can fully compensate the loss of Ldb2 during all phases of retinal development, whereas Ldb2 alone is sufficient to sustain activity of Lhx2 in both early- and late-stage RPCs and in Müller glia. By contrast, loss of Ldb1 disrupts activity of the LIM domain factors in neuronal precursors. An intricate regulatory network exists that is mediated by Ldb1 and Ldb2, and promotes RPC proliferation and multipotency; it also controls specification of mammalian retina cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keren Gueta
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ahuvit David
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Tsadok Cohen
- Mammalian Genes and Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yotam Menuchin-Lasowski
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Hila Nobel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ginat Narkis
- Mammalian Genes and Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - LiQi Li
- Program on Genomics of Differentiation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Paul Love
- Program on Genomics of Differentiation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jimmy de Melo
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Heiner Westphal
- Mammalian Genes and Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ruth Ashery-Padan
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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7
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de Melo J, Clark BS, Blackshaw S. Multiple intrinsic factors act in concert with Lhx2 to direct retinal gliogenesis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32757. [PMID: 27605455 PMCID: PMC5015061 DOI: 10.1038/srep32757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Müller glia (MG) are the principal glial cell type in the vertebrate retina. Recent work has identified the LIM homeodomain factor encoding gene Lhx2 as necessary for both Notch signaling and MG differentiation in late-stage retinal progenitor cells (RPCs). However, the extent to which Lhx2 interacts with other intrinsic regulators of MG differentiation is unclear. We investigated this question by investigating the effects of overexpression of multiple transcriptional regulators that are either known or hypothesized to control MG formation, in both wildtype and Lhx2-deficient RPCs. We observe that constitutively elevated Notch signaling, induced by N1ICD electroporation, inhibited gliogenesis in wildtype animals, but rescued MG development in Lhx2-deficient retinas. Electroporation of Nfia promoted the formation of cells with MG-like radial morphology, but did not drive expression of MG molecular markers. Plagl1 and Sox9 did not induce gliogenesis in wildtype animals, but nonetheless activated expression of the Müller marker P27Kip1 in Lhx2-deficient cells. Finally, Sox2, Sox8, and Sox9 promoted amacrine cell formation in Lhx2-deficient cells, but not in wildtype retinas. These findings demonstrate that overexpression of individual gliogenic factors typically regulates only a subset of characteristic MG markers, and that these effects are differentially modulated by Lhx2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy de Melo
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Baltimore, 21205, USA
| | - Brian S Clark
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Baltimore, 21205, USA
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Baltimore, 21205, USA.,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Baltimore, 21205, USA.,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Baltimore, 21205, USA.,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Center for Human Systems Biology, Baltimore, 21205, USA.,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Institute for Cell Engineering, Baltimore, 21205, USA
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de Melo J, Peng GH, Chen S, Blackshaw S. The Spalt family transcription factor Sall3 regulates the development of cone photoreceptors and retinal horizontal interneurons. Development 2011; 138:2325-36. [PMID: 21558380 PMCID: PMC3091496 DOI: 10.1242/dev.061846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian retina is a tractable model system for analyzing transcriptional networks that guide neural development. Spalt family zinc-finger transcription factors play a crucial role in photoreceptor specification in Drosophila, but their role in mammalian retinal development has not been investigated. In this study, we show that that the spalt homolog Sall3 is prominently expressed in developing cone photoreceptors and horizontal interneurons of the mouse retina and in a subset of cone bipolar cells. We find that Sall3 is both necessary and sufficient to activate the expression of multiple cone-specific genes, and that Sall3 protein is selectively bound to the promoter regions of these genes. Notably, Sall3 shows more prominent expression in short wavelength-sensitive cones than in medium wavelength-sensitive cones, and that Sall3 selectively activates expression of the short but not the medium wavelength-sensitive cone opsin gene. We further observe that Sall3 regulates the differentiation of horizontal interneurons, which form direct synaptic contacts with cone photoreceptors. Loss of function of Sall3 eliminates expression of the horizontal cell-specific transcription factor Lhx1, resulting in a radial displacement of horizontal cells that partially phenocopies the loss of function of Lhx1. These findings not only demonstrate that Spalt family transcription factors play a conserved role in regulating photoreceptor development in insects and mammals, but also identify Sall3 as a factor that regulates terminal differentiation of both cone photoreceptors and their postsynaptic partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy de Melo
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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Abstract
The functional characterization of genes expressed during mammalian retinal development remains a significant challenge. Gene targeting to generate constitutive or conditional loss of function knockouts remains cost and labor intensive, as well as time consuming. Adding to these challenges, retina expressed genes may have essential roles outside the retina leading to unintended confounds when using a knockout approach. Furthermore, the ability to ectopically express a gene in a gain of function experiment can be extremely valuable when attempting to identify a role in cell fate specification and/or terminal differentiation. We present a method for the rapid and efficient incorporation of DNA plasmids into the neonatal mouse retina by electroporation. The application of short electrical impulses above a certain field strength results in a transient increase in plasma membrane permeability, facilitating the transfer of material across the membrane (1,2,3,4). Groundbreaking work demonstrated that electroporation could be utilized as a method of gene transfer into mammalian cells by inducing the formation of hydrophilic plasma membrane pores allowing the passage of highly charged DNA through the lipid bilayer (5). Continuous technical development has resulted in the viability of electroporation as a method for in vivo gene transfer in multiple mouse tissues including the retina, the method for which is described herein (6, 7, 8, 9, 10). DNA solution is injected into the subretinal space so that DNA is placed between the retinal pigmented epithelium and retina of the neonatal (P0) mouse and electrical pulses are applied using a tweezer electrode. The lateral placement of the eyes in the mouse allows for the easy orientation of the tweezer electrode to the necessary negative pole-DNA-retina-positive pole alignment. Extensive incorporation and expression of transferred genes can be identified by postnatal day 2 (P2). Due to the lack of significant lateral migration of cells in the retina, electroporated and non-electroporated regions are generated. Non-electroporated regions may serve as internal histological controls where appropriate. Retinal electroporation can be used to express a gene under a ubiquitous promoter, such as CAG, or to disrupt gene function using shRNA constructs or Cre-recombinase. More targeted expression can be achieved by designing constructs with cell specific gene promoters. Visualization of electroporated cells is achieved using bicistronic constructs expressing GFP or by co-electroporating a GFP expression construct. Furthermore, multiple constructs may be electroporated for the study of combinatorial gene effects or simultaneous gain and loss of function of different genes. Retinal electroporation may also be utilized for the analysis of genomic cis-regulatory elements by generating appropriate expression constructs and deletion mutants. Such experiments can be used to identify cis-regulatory regions sufficient or required for cell specific gene expression (11). Potential experiments are limited only by construct availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy de Melo
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
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de Melo J, Zhou QP, Zhang Q, Zhang S, Fonseca M, Wigle JT, Eisenstat DD. Dlx2 homeobox gene transcriptional regulation of Trkb neurotrophin receptor expression during mouse retinal development. Nucleic Acids Res 2007; 36:872-84. [PMID: 18086710 PMCID: PMC2241891 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkm1099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Dlx homeobox genes are first expressed in embryonic retina at E11.5. The Dlx1/Dlx2 null retina has a reduced ganglion cell layer (GCL), with loss of late-born differentiated retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) due to increased apoptosis. TrkB signaling is proposed to regulate the dynamics of RGC apoptosis throughout development. DLX2 expression markedly precedes the onset of TrkB expression in the GCL; TrkB co-expression with Dlx2 and RGC markers is well-established by E13.5. In the Dlx1/Dlx2 null retina, TrkB expression is significantly reduced by E16.5. We demonstrated that DLX2 binds to a specific region of the TrkB promoter in retinal neuroepithelium during embryogenesis. In vitro confirmation and the functional consequences of DLX2 binding to this TrkB regulatory region support TrkB as a Dlx2 transcriptional target. Furthermore, ectopic Dlx2 expression in retinal explants activates TrkB expression and Dlx2 knockdown in primary retinal cultures results in reduced TrkB expression. RGC differentiation and survival require the coordinated expression of transcription factors. This study establishes a direct transcriptional relationship between a homeodomain protein involved in RGC differentiation and a neurotrophin receptor implicated in RGC survival. Signaling mediated by TrkB may contribute to survival of late-born RGCs whose terminal differentiation is regulated by Dlx gene function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy de Melo
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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de Melo J, Du G, Fonseca M, Gillespie LA, Turk WJ, Rubenstein JLR, Eisenstat DD. Dlx1 and Dlx2 function is necessary for terminal differentiation and survival of late-born retinal ganglion cells in the developing mouse retina. Development 2004; 132:311-22. [PMID: 15604100 DOI: 10.1242/dev.01560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Dlx homeobox genes, the vertebrate homologs of Distal-less, play important roles in the development of the vertebrate forebrain, craniofacial structures and limbs. Members of the Dlx gene family are also expressed in retinal ganglion cells (RGC), amacrine and horizontal cells of the developing and postnatal retina. Expression begins at embryonic day 12.5 and is maintained until late embryogenesis for Dlx1, while Dlx2 expression extends to adulthood. We have assessed the retinal phenotype of the Dlx1/Dlx2 double knockout mouse, which dies at birth. The Dlx1/2 null retina displays a reduced ganglion cell layer (GCL), with loss of differentiated RGCs due to increased apoptosis, and corresponding thinning of the optic nerve. Ectopic expression of Crx, the cone and rod photoreceptor homeobox gene, in the GCL and neuroblastic layers of the mutants may signify altered cell fate of uncommitted RGC progenitors. However, amacrine and horizontal cell differentiation is relatively unaffected in the Dlx1/2 null retina. Herein, we propose a model whereby early-born RGCs are Dlx1 and Dlx2 independent, but Dlx function is necessary for terminal differentiation of late-born RGC progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy de Melo
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3J7, Canada
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Zhou QP, Le TN, Qiu X, Spencer V, de Melo J, Du G, Plews M, Fonseca M, Sun JM, Davie JR, Eisenstat DD. Identification of a direct Dlx homeodomain target in the developing mouse forebrain and retina by optimization of chromatin immunoprecipitation. Nucleic Acids Res 2004; 32:884-92. [PMID: 14769946 PMCID: PMC373381 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkh233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding homeobox gene specificity and function has been hampered by the lack of proven direct transcriptional targets during development. Dlx genes are expressed in the developing forebrain, retina, craniofacial structures and limbs. Dlx1/Dlx2 double knockout mice die at birth with multiple defects including abnormal forebrain development and decreased Dlx5 and Dlx6 expression. We have successfully applied chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) to identify a direct transcriptional target of DLX homeoproteins from embryonic tissues in vivo. We optimized cross-linking conditions to enrich for protein-DNA complexes, then using specific high affinity DLX antibodies captured immunoenriched DLX genomic DNA transcriptional targets. DLX homeobox proteins bind differentially to the Dlx5/Dlx6 intergenic enhancer in newborn retina (DLX2) and embryonic striatum (DLX1, DLX2) in situ. Reporter gene assays demonstrated the functional significance of the binding of DLX proteins to this regulatory element, confirmed in vitro by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, using tissue extracts or recombinant DLX proteins. ChIP provides the best approach to identify direct Dlx homeoprotein targets from developing tissues in situ. The use of this technology will advance our understanding of Dlx gene function in the vertebrate in vivo and can be applied to examine targets of other homeobox genes and other classes of transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Ping Zhou
- Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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de Melo J, Qiu X, Du G, Cristante L, Eisenstat DD. Dlx1, Dlx2, Pax6, Brn3b, and Chx10 homeobox gene expression defines the retinal ganglion and inner nuclear layers of the developing and adult mouse retina. J Comp Neurol 2003; 461:187-204. [PMID: 12724837 DOI: 10.1002/cne.10674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Distal-less homeobox genes are expressed in the developing forebrain. We assessed Dlx gene expression in the developing and adult mouse retina. Dlx1 and Dlx2 are detected in retinal neuroprogenitors by embryonic day (E) 12.5 (Eisenstat et al. [1999] J. Comp. Neurol. 217-237). At E13.5, the expression of four homeodomain proteins, DLX2, BRN3b, PAX6, and CHX10, define distinct yet overlapping domains in the retinal neuroepithelium. By postnatal day (P) 0, DLX2 is expressed in the neuroblastic layer and the ganglion cell layer (GCL) consisting of ganglion and displaced amacrine cells. DLX1 expression resembles DLX2 to P0 but decreases postnatally. In the adult, DLX2 is localized to ganglion, amacrine, and horizontal cells as determined by coexpression with retinal cell-specific markers. There is coincident expression of DLX2 with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)65, and GAD67 in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and GCL. In the adult, DLX2 is coexpressed with BRN3b in ganglion cells; PAX6 in amacrine, horizontal, and ganglion cells; and Chx10 in some bipolar cells. We predict that a combinatorial code of these homeobox genes and others specify retinal cell fate. Our results support a possible role for Dlx1 and Dlx2 in inner retinal development and in the terminal differentiation and/or maintenance of INL interneurons and ganglion cells in the adult. The correlation of DLX2 with GABA expression in the mouse retina closely mirrors the relationship of DLX2 to GABAergic neuronal differentiation in the embryonic forebrain, including neocortex, olfactory bulb and hippocampus, signifying a conservation of function of Dlx genes in the developing central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy de Melo
- Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0V9, Canada
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