Changes in gene expression following retinal detachment.

摘要

The retina undergoes many changes after being detached from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium. Gene arrays were used to survey changes following retinal detachment in an attempt to identify genes that change as a result. Nearly 300 genes identified by the arrays were categorized into functional groups such as "cytoskeleton", "ribosomal", and "cell-signaling" to name a few.; As a follow-up to the gene array analysis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) was performed on a selected few of the genes identified on the arrays and genes that were suspect to change in response to detachment based on other data. These included genes for three different photopigments (opsins), phosducin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and vimentin. Data on the responses of these genes is compared to known effects on the expression of proteins encoded by them.; The expression of growth associated protein 43 (GAP 43) after retinal detachment was characterized by immunoblot, immunocytochemistry and QPCR. The gene for this protein is important in synapse formation and showed significant up-regulation on the arrays. GAP 43 was upregulated in a subset of retinal ganglion cells at 7 days of detachment. Labeling with an antibody to neurofilament protein also showed an upregulation in horizontal cells and ganglion cells. This is the first time retinal detachment has been shown to exert an affect on ganglion cells.; It has previously been shown that second order neurons respond to detachment; here it is shown that third order neurons (ganglion cells) are responding as well. Cellular remodeling of this type in response to detachment may help explain the slow or anomalous recovery of vision that often occurs after successful reattachment surgery. The gene array data provides numerous clues for follow-up studies into the responses of the retina to injury. The advantages and limitations of using gene arrays are discussed.