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Abstract #48139 Published in IGR 13-4
Retinal gene expression changes related to IOP exposure and axonal loss in DBA/2J mice
Panagis L; Zhao X; Ge Y; Ren L; Mittag TW; Danias JInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 2011; 52: 7807-7816
PURPOSE: To determine the effects of cumulative IOP exposure and axonal damage on retinal gene expression in DBA/2 mice. METHODS: DBA/2J, DBA/2J(pe) (pearl), and C57BL/6 mice from 3 to 12 months of age were used. IOP was measured with a rebound tonometer, and optic nerve (ON) damage was determined by grading of ON sections. Retinal RNA was subjected to microarray analysis. Comparisons explored the effects of cumulative IOP exposure (cIOPx) as well as ON damage (ONd) in the DBA/2J animals compared with that in the C57BL/6 and pearl mice. RT-PCR was performed to confirm some of the genes and bioinformatic analysis to identify affected gene networks. RESULTS: Microarrays revealed that an increasing number of genes were up- or downregulated in 9- and 12-month DBA/2J mice with various degrees of ONd. A smaller number of genes were expressed differentially between eyes with different cIOPx at the same age, from 6 months on. Expression of 1385 and 1133 genes differed between DBA/2J animals and C57BL/6 or pearl mice, respectively, and some them were confirmed by RT-PCR. Bioinformatics analysis identified functional gene networks, including members of the complement system, that appeared to be related to cIOPx, ONd, or both. CONCLUSIONS: Gene expression changes occur in retinas of DBA/2 mice with various amounts of cIOPx as well as ONd. Genes involved, code for proteins with diverse cellular functions and include among others the complement system. cIOPx and ONd affect common as well as unique gene sets.
Departments of Cell Biology, SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, New York, NY, USA.
Classification:
3.4.2 Gene studies (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods > 3.4 Molecular genetics)
5.1 Rodent (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)