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Global gene expression analysis in a mouse model for Norrie disease: late involvement of photoreceptor cells

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Author

  • Steffen Lenzner
  • Sandra Prietz
  • Silke Feil
  • Ulrike Nuber
  • H-Hilger Ropers
  • Wolfgang Berger

Summary, in English

PURPOSE: Mutations in the NDP gene give rise to a variety of eye diseases, including classic Norrie disease (ND), X-linked exudative vitreoretinopathy (EVRX), retinal telangiectasis (Coats disease), and advanced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The gene product is a cystine-knot-containing extracellular signaling molecule of unknown function. In the current study, gene expression was determined in a mouse model of ND, to unravel disease-associated mechanisms at the molecular level. METHODS: Gene transcription in the eyes of 2-year-old Ndp knockout mice was compared with that in the eyes of age-matched wild-type control animals, by means of cDNA subtraction and microarrays. Clones (n = 3072) from the cDNA subtraction libraries were spotted onto glass slides and hybridized with fluorescently labeled RNA-derived targets. More than 230 differentially expressed clones were sequenced, and their expression patterns were verified by virtual Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Numerous gene transcripts that are absent or downregulated in the eye of Ndp knockout mice are photoreceptor cell specific. In younger Ndp knockout mice (up to 1 year old), however, all these transcripts were found to be expressed at normal levels. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of numerous photoreceptor cell-specific transcripts with a reduced expression in 2-year-old, but not in young, Ndp knockout mice indicates that normal gene expression in these light-sensitive cells of mutant mice is established and maintained over a long period and that rods and cones are affected relatively late in the mouse model of ND. Obviously, the absence of the Ndp gene product is not compatible with long-term survival of photoreceptor cells in the mouse.

Publishing year

2002

Language

English

Pages

2825-2833

Publication/Series

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science

Volume

43

Issue

9

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Inc.

Topic

  • Ophthalmology

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1552-5783