ObjectiveTo analyze the early changes of gene expression levels and signaling pathways in 661W cell line under hypoxic conditions and to find potential functional target genes.MethodsThe cultured mouse 661W cells were divided into hypoxia treatment group and normoxia control group. Cells in the hypoxia treatment group were cultured in a three-gas incubator with volume fraction of 1% and 5% CO2 at 37 ℃. Cells in the normoxia control group were cultured in an incubator at 37 ℃ with volume fraction of 5% CO2. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to sequence the transcriptome of 661W cell treated with hypoxia and normoxia for 4 hours to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEG). Clustering heat map analysis, gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction network (PPI) analysis were performed. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to verify the accuracy of the sequencing results.ResultsA total of 506 differentially expressed genes were screened, including 459 up-regulated genes and 47 down-regulated genes. GO functional enrichment analysis showed that the main biological processes of DEG were the cell's response to hypoxia, glycolysis, negative regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α pathway, glycolysis, Forkhead box O (FoxO) pathway, Insulin signaling pathway and Adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway were involved in the above process. PPI analysis results showed that hub genes related to hypoxia were Aldoa, Aldoc, Gpi1, Hk2, Hk1, Pfkl, Pfkp, Vhl, Fbxo10 and Fbxo27. The RT-PCR results showed that the relative expression levels of 15 DEG mRNA in the hypoxic treatment group were higher than that of the normoxic control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). The mRNA expression levels of N-myc downstream-regulated gene-1 (Ndrg1), Mt1, and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) were time-dependent on hypoxia.ConclusionsUnder hypoxia, DEG is mainly related to glucose metabolism, cell response to hypoxia, regulation of proliferation and apoptosis. HIF-1α pathway, glycolysis, FoxO pathway and AMPK pathway are involved in the early changes of 661W cells under hypoxia. Aldoa, Aldoc, Gpi1, Hk2, Hk1, Pfkl, Pfkp, Vhl, Fbxo10, Fbxo27 may play key roles in the response of 661W cells to hypoxia. Ndrg1, Mt1 and VEGFA could be potential functional target genes for the study of ischemia and hypoxia-related fundus diseases.
ObjectiveTo identify two pathogenic gene mutations in two families with Alström syndrome (ALMS). MethodsA retrospective clinical study. Two patients and five family members from two Han families of ALMS diagnosed at Henan Eye Hospital from August 2020 to December 2021 were enrolled in this study. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examinations including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), color test, slit-lamp, fundus biomicroscopy with slit lamp, fundus color photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and full-field electroretinography (ff-ERG) after the detailed history of the patient was taken. Five millilitres peripheral venous blood of each subject was collected, and the whole genome DNA was extracted. The pathogenic genes and mutation sites were identified using whole exome sequencing and the identified mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing. Mutation sites were analyzed via bioinformatics softwares. ResultsFamily one included one victim and two members and family two included one victim and three members. Proband in the first family was a four-year old boy whose chief complaint was poor vision along with photophobia since born, while proband in the second family was a 12-year old girl whose chief complaint was the same. The boy proband could not distinguish color, and both the anterior segment and fundus were normal. Ellipsoid zone of the boy was unclear in both eyes in OCT, and though rod system function decreased mildly-moderately in both eyes, the cone system function decreased severely in ff-ERG. The girl could not distinguish color as well, and the anterior segment was normal, though obvious pigmentary change could be seen in both retinas. The integrity of outer retinal bands was unclear in both eyes in OCT, and both cone and rod systems function decreased severely in both eyes in ff-ERG. Gene tests and bioinformatics analyze showed c.468dupT and c.10819C>T of ALMS1 gene in family one were novel mutations and c.10819C>T in family one and c.10831_10832del in family two were pathogenic mutations. ConclusionsM1, M2 and M3, M4 may be pathogenic gene variants in family 1 and family 2, respectively. The compound heterozygous mutation, c.468dupT and c.10819C>T of ALMS1 gene was a novel mutation.
ObjectiveTo identify the pathogenic gene mutations in a family with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA).MethodsIn October 2018, 1 patient and 3 normal family members from a LCA family was enrolled in this retrospective study. Detailed medical history of proband was obtained and fixation test, cycloplegic refraction, slit-lamp, fundus color photography and full-field ERG were performed. And other family members underwent BCVA, refraction slit-lamp, fundus biomicroscopy with the slit lamp, fundus color photography and full-field ERG. The family was investigated with a specific hereditary eye disease enrichment panel which contained 441 known pathogenic genes and based on targeted exome capture technology first to indentify the potential pathogenic genes and mutations. Then the potential pathogenic mutations were conformed by Sanger sequencing. Finally, the results were analyzed via bioinformatics analysis.ResultsThe proband showed no trace object from childhood, but had obvious photophobia and nystagmus. No positive changes were found in the anterior segment, vitreous and retina in both eyes. Both cone and rod system function decreased significantly in full-field ERG in both eyes. Gene tests showed the proband carried both RPGRIP1 c.1635dupA and c.3565C＞T, which composited a heterozygous mutation. Bioinformatics analysis showed RPGRIP1 c.1635dupA was a pathogenic mutation, and RPGRIP1 c.3565C＞T which was a novel potential pathogenic mutation in LCA.ConclusionThe compound heterozygous mutation, c.1635dupA and c.3565C＞T in RPGRIP1 may be responsible for the pathogenesis in this Chinese Han LCA pedigree.
ObjectiveTo identify the pathogenic gene mutations in a family with early onset severe retinal dystrophy (EOSRD).MethodsA retrospective clinical study. One patient and three family members from a Han of EOSRD who were diagnosed at Henan Eye Hospital in August 2018 were included in the study. After the detailed history of the patients was collected, all participants underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp, fundus biomicroscopy with the slit lamp, untra-widefield fundus color photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and full-field electroretinography (ff-ERG). The subject’s peripheral venous blood of 5 ml was collected and the whole genome DNA was extracted. A genetic eye disease capture chip containing 441 disease-causing genes was used for targeted capture and enrichment of high-throughput sequencing, and Sanger sequencing was performed for the clear pathogenic mutation sites; the analysis software was used for bioinformatics analysis of the mutation sites.ResultsA 6-year-old female proband developed poor night vision in both eyes after 1 year old. The BCVA of both eyes were 0.1. The color of the optic disc was slightly lighter; the diameter of the retinal vessels was slightly reduced, and extensive pigment changes can be seen in the retina outside the vascular arch. SD-OCT examination showed that the outer membrane, ellipsoid zone and chimera zone in the central fovea of both eyes were unclear and intermittent. The visual area outside the fovea was neuroepithelial outer plexiform layer, outer nuclear layer, outer membrane, ellipsoid zone. The chimera zone gradually disappeared, and the thickness of the pigment epithelial layer was not uniform. In ff-ERG examination, the functions of the binocular cone and rod system were severely decreased. The results of genetic testing showed that there were c.921C>A homozygous mutations in the Tubby-like protein (TULP1) gene of the proband, and c.3121C>T and c.3488G>A compound heterozygous mutations in the cyclic nucleotide gated channel beta 1 (CNGB1) gene. Amino acid conservation analysis results showed that the above three mutation sites were highly conserved in multiple species; bioinformatics analysis results showed that TULP1 gene c.921C>A (p.Cys307*) had translation termination in the protein conserved region, CNGB1 gene c.3121C>T (p.Arg1041Trp) and c.3488G>A (p.Gly1163Glu) had amino acid polarity changes in the protein conserved region, which led to major changes in the protein spatial structure.ConclusionTULP1 gene c.921C>A homozygous mutation, CNGB1 gene c.3121C>T and c.3488G>A compound heterozygous mutation are the mutation sites of this EOSRD family.
ObjectiveTo determine the pathogenic gene mutation in a family with incomplete congenital quiescent night blindness (CSNB) of Schubert-Bornschein type. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. In February 2021, one patient and his parents and elder brother from a Han Chinese incomplete CSNB of Schubert-Bornschein type family diagnosed by clinical and genetic examination at Henan Provincial People's Hospital were included in the study. The patient’s medical history, family history were inquired; best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), color vision, fundus color photography, full-field electroretinogram (ERG), and frequency domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) were examined in detail. Five ml of the subject’s peripheral venous blood was collected and the whole genome DNA was extracted. The genomic DNA of the subject was library constructed, and all-exon probes were polymerized for capture. The suspected pathogenic mutation site was verified by Sanger, and the pathogenicity of the gene mutation site was determined by parallel bioinformatics analysis. ResultsThe BCVA of both eyes of the proband (Ⅱ2) was 0.4; the color vision test could not recognize the red color. Fundus examination showed no obvious abnormalities. The retina thickness in the macular area of both eyes was slightly thinned. ERG examination of the whole field showed that the amplitude of ERG b wave was significantly reduced under the stimulation of binocular dark adaptation 3.0 and showed a negative waveform. The mother of the proband (Ⅰ2) had normal BCVA, color vision, fundus color photography, and frequency domain OCT examination. The full-field ERG examination showed that the amplitude of each eye reaction was slightly reduced, and the amplitude of the dark adaptation shock potential was significantly reduced. Genetic testing showed that the proband (Ⅱ2) had a c.1761dupC hemizygous mutation in exon 14 of the voltage-dependent calcium channel α1F subunit gene (CACNA1F gene). The results of protein sequence homology analysis showed that the site was highly conserved in multiple species; the results of bioinformatics analysis showed that the CACNA1F gene c.1761dupC (pY588fs) subsequently had a frameshift mutation and became a stop at position 10. Codons appear translational termination in the conserved regions of the protein. According to the standards and guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the mutation was judged to be a possible pathogenic variant. The mother of the proband (Ⅰ2) was a carrier of this site mutation. The clinical and genetic test results of the father and elder brother of the proband were not abnormal. ConclusionCACNA1F gene c.1761dupC is the pathogenic mutation site of the Schubert-Bornschein type incomplete CSNB family.
ObjectiveTo analyze the change of differential genes and signaling pathways in high glucose induced BV2 cells, and to explore the mechanism of transgelin-2 (TAGLN2) regulating cellular inflammatory response and metabolic process. MethodsAn experimental study. The cultured BV2 cells were divided into mannitol treatment (Man) group, glucose treatment (Glu) group, overexpression control Glu treatment (Con) group, overexpression TAGLN2 Glu treatment group, silence control Glu treatment (shCon Glu) group, and silence TAGLN2 Glu treatment (shTAGLN2 Glu) group. Cells in the Man group were cultured in modified Eagle high glucose medium (DMEM) containing 25 mmol/L mannitol and 25 mmol/L glucose, cells in other groups (Glu group, Con Glu group, TAGLN2 Glu group, shCon Glu group and shTAGLN2 Glu group) were cultured in DMEM medium containing 50 mmol/L glucose. After 24 hours of cells culture, transcriptome sequencing of cells in each group were performed using high-throughput sequencing technology, and significantly differentially expressed genes (DEG) were screened. |log2 (fold change)|≥1 and P≤0.05 were adopted as criteria to screen for DEG. Gene Ontology (GO) function enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis were performed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the relative expression level of DEG mRNA. The data between groups were compared by independent sample t-test. ResultsWhen compared with Man group, a total of 517 differentially expressed genes were screened in Glu group, which including 277 up-regulated genes and 240 down-regulated genes. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the up-regulated genes were significantly enriched in immune system processes such as nuclear factor (NF)-κB signal pathway, Jak-signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) signal pathway, while down-regulated genes were significantly enriched in glycosaminoglycan degradation and glyceride metabolic pathway. Compared with Con Glu group, a total of 480 DEG were screened in TAGLN2 Glu group, among which 147 up-regulated and 333 down-regulated genes were detected. Up-regulated genes were significantly enriched in the metabolic processes of fatty acid, glyceride and pyruvate, while down-regulated genes were significantly enriched in immune system processes such as NF-κB signal pathway, Jak-STAT signal pathway and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signal pathway. Compared with shCon Glu group, a total of 582 DEG were screened in shTAGLN2 Glu group, among which 423 up-regulated and 159 down-regulated genes were detected. Up-regulated DEG were significantly enriched in immune system processes such as TNF signal pathway and chemokine signal pathway, while down-regulated DEG were significantly enriched in pattern recognition receptor signal pathway. RT-PCR results showed that the relative expression levels of DEG mRNA Card11 (t=13.530), Icos (t=3.482), Chst3 (t=6.949), Kynu (t=5.399), interleukin (IL)-1β (t=2.960), TNF-α (t=5.800), IL-6(t=3.130), interferon-γ (t=7.690) and IL-17 (t=6.530) in the TAGLN2 Glu treatment group were decreased significantly compared with Con Glu group, and the difference was statistically significant. ConclusionTAGLN2 can inhibit glucose induced microglia inflammation by NF-κB and Jak-STAT signaling pathways, Card11, Icos, Chst3 and Kynu play an important role in the anti-inflammatory process of TAGLN2.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in the treatment of different types of chorioretinal coloboma with retinal detachment (RD). MethodsA single-center, retrospective clinical study. From April 2021 to March 2023, 24 eyes of 23 patients who were diagnosed as chorioretinal coloboma with RD in Henan Provincial Eye Hospital were included in this study. There were 11 males with 12 eyes and 12 females with 12 eyes. The mean age was (33.3±13.7) years old. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spectral domain optical coherence tomography were performed. The BCVA examination was performed using a international standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, which was converted into logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity during statistics. According to the types of chorioretinal coloboma, the affected eyes were divided into the coloboma involved the optic disc group and the coloboma not involved the optic disc group, with 15 eyes and 9 eyes. According to whether the RD containing the coloboma area, the affected eyes were divided into RD containing the coloboma area group and the RD not containing the coloboma area group, with 15 eyes and 9 eyes. All eyes underwent standard pars plana three-channel 25G PPV, retinal laser photocoagulation combined with silicone oil tamponade. The follow-up time after surgery was (19.5±16.3) months. The last follow-up was the time point for efficacy determination. The retinal reattachment, BCVA recovery and postoperative complications were observed. Paired t-test or t test was performed for comparison of quantitative data. Fisher's exact test was performed for comparison of qualitative data. ResultsAt the last follow-up, retinal reattachment was achieved in 20 eyes (83.3%, 20/24). The logMAR BCVA of the coloboma involved the optic disc group before and after surgery were 1.85±0.62 and 1.71±0.71, the difference was no significant (t=0.845, P=0.412). The logMAR BCVA of the coloboma not involved the optic disc group before and after surgery were 1.75±0.45 and 0.84±0.26, the difference was statistically significant (t=6.153, P＜0.001). The improvement of BCVA in the coloboma not involved the optic disc group was significantly higher than that in the coloboma involved the optic disc group after surgery, with statistically significant differences (t=3.024, P=0.006). There was no significant difference in the retinal reattachment rate between the two groups (P=0.615). There was no significant difference in the retinal reattachment rate between the RD containing the coloboma area group and the RD not containing the coloboma area group (P=0.259). Postoperative complications included elevated intraocular pressure in five eyes, cataract progression in ten eyes, recurrent RD in two eyes, bullous keratopathy in one eye and band-shaped keratopathy in one eye. ConclusionPPV combined with silicone oil tamponade is safe and effective in the treatment of chorioretinal coloboma with RD, the improvement of visual acuity in the coloboma not involved the optic disc group is better than that in the coloboma involved the optic disc group after surgery.