A new mouse-fixation device for IOP measurement in awake mice.

Glaucoma is an irreversible blinding eye disease. The mechanisms underlying glaucoma are complex. Up to now, no successful remedy has been found to completely cure the condition.

Association of variants in GJA8 with familial acorea-microphthalmia-cataract syndrome.

Congenital acorea is a rare disease with the absence of a pupil in the eye. To date, only one family and two isolated cases with congenital acorea have been reported. The gene associated with acorea has not been identified.

Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Protects against Degeneration of Cone Photoreceptors Caused by RPE65 Deficiency.

Background: Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) 65 is a key enzyme in the visual cycle involved in the regeneration of 11-cis-retinal. Mutations in the human RPE65 gene cause Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA), a severe form of an inherited retinal disorder. Animal models carrying Rpe65 mutations develop early-onset retinal degeneration.

Rhodopsin-associated retinal dystrophy: Disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

Rhodopsin is a light-sensitive G protein-coupled receptor that initiates the phototransduction cascade in rod photoreceptors. Mutations in the rhodopsin-encoding gene are the leading cause of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP). To date, more than 200 mutations have been identified in .

LncRNA MBNL1-AS1 knockdown increases the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma to tripterine by regulating miR-708-5p-mediated glycolysis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is identified as a common cancer type across the world and needs novel and efficient treatment. Tripterine, a well-known compound, exerts suppressive role in HCC development. However, the related molecular mechanism of tripterine in HCC remains unclear.

LncRNA SLC9A3-AS1 knockdown increases the sensitivity of liver cancer cell to triptolide by regulating miR-449b-5p-mediated glycolysis.

Triptolide (TP) is involved in the progression of liver cancer. However, the detailed molecular network regulated through TP is still unclear. Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) SLC9A3 exerts roles in various pathological progresses.

Deep Sc-RNA sequencing decoding the molecular dynamic architecture of the human retina.

The human retina serves as a light detector and signals transmission tissue. Advanced insights into retinal disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies require a deep understanding of healthy retina molecular events. Here, we sequenced the mRNA of over 0.

Automatic counting of retinal ganglion cells in the entire mouse retina based on improved YOLOv5.

Glaucoma is characterized by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), although the pathogenic mechanism remains largely unknown. To study the mechanism and assess RGC degradation, mouse models are often used to simulate human glaucoma and specific markers are used to label and quantify RGCs. However, manually counting RGCs is time-consuming and prone to distortion due to subjective bias.

Cholesterol homeostasis regulated by ABCA1 is critical for retinal ganglion cell survival.

Genome-wide association studies have suggested a link between primary open-angle glaucoma and the function of ABCA1. ABCA1 is a key regulator of cholesterol efflux and the biogenesis of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Here, we showed that the POAG risk allele near ABCA1 attenuated ABCA1 expression in cultured cells.

Identification of a novel compound heterozygous variant in a patient with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) belongs to a family of retinal disorders that is characterized by the progressive degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors. The aim of the present study was to screen for possible disease-causing genetic variants in a non-consanguineous Chinese family with non-syndromic autosomal recessive RP. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed in samples from the affected individual (the proband) and those from the two children of the proband.

Exogenous PDE5 Expression Rescues Photoreceptors in Mice.

Background: Catalytic hydrolysis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) by phosphodiesterase 6 (PDE6) is critical in phototransduction signalling in photoreceptors. Mutations in the genes encoding any of the three PDE6 subunits are associated with retinitis pigmentosa, the most common form of inherited retinal diseases. The RD1 mouse carries a naturally occurring nonsense mutation in the Pde6b gene.

A quick protocol for the preparation of mouse retinal cryosections for immunohistochemistry.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) using mouse retinal cryosections is widely used to study the expression and intracellular localization of proteins in mouse retinas. Conventionally, the preparation of retinal cryosections from mice involves tissue fixation, cryoprotection, the removal of the cornea and lens, embedding and sectioning. The procedure takes 1-2 days to complete.

Inhibition of mTOR signaling by rapamycin protects photoreceptors from degeneration in mice.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal degenerative disease that begins with defective rod photoreceptor function, followed by impaired cone function, and complete blindness in its late stage. To date, however, there is no effective treatment for RP. By carrying a nonsense mutation in the gene, mice display elevated cGMP in conjunction with higher intracellular Ca in their rod photoreceptors, resulting in fast retinal degeneration.

A novel missense variant in cathepsin C gene leads to PLS in a Chinese patient: A case report and literature review.

Background: Papilon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS; OMIM 245000) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by aggressive periodontitis and palmoplantar keratoderma. The prevalence of PLS in the general population is one to four cases per million. Although the etiology and pathogenic mechanisms underlying PLS remain largely unclear, existing evidence shows loss-of-function mutations of the cathepsin C gene (CTSC; OMIM 602365) could cause PLS.

An improved method for preparation of mouse retinal cryosections.

Immunohistochemistry using mouse retinal cryosections is a routine assay used in vision research. However, retinal tissues are fragile, and it is difficult to obtain an ideal retinal cryosection. Here, we developed a modified method for preparing retinal cryosection.

Identification of a novel homozygous variant in the CNGA1 gene in a Chinese family with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a complex group of hereditary retinal dystrophies. Although >60 genes have been identified to be associated with non‑syndromic RP, the exact genetic variant remains elusive in numerous cases of RP. In the present study, a Chinese pedigree affected by RP with autosomal recessive inheritance, including a total of seven members with one affected patient and six unaffected individuals, was recruited.

Identification of CRB1 mutations in two Chinese consanguineous families exhibiting autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a leading cause of inherited blindness characterized by progressive loss of retinal photoreceptor cells. The present study aimed to identify the causative gene mutations in two Chinese families with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP). Two Chinese consanguineous arRP families (RP‑2284 and RP‑2360) were recruited in this study, involving totally three affected and 25 unaffected members.

Mutant RAMP2 causes primary open-angle glaucoma via the CRLR-cAMP axis.

Purpose: Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and mutations in known genes can only explain 5-6% of POAG. This study was conducted to identify novel POAG-causing genes and explore the pathogenesis of this disease.

Methods: Exome sequencing was performed in a Han Chinese cohort comprising 398 sporadic cases with POAG and 2010 controls, followed by replication studies by Sanger sequencing.

miR‑140‑5p regulates cell migration and invasion of non‑small cell lung cancer cells through targeting VEGFA.

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, the most prevalent form of which is non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MicroRNAs (miRs) are involved in the progression of NSCLC; however, the specific function of miR‑140‑5p in NSCLC remains unclear. The present study demonstrated that miR‑140‑5p was downregulated in the tumor tissues of patients with NSCLC, and it was associated with a poor prognosis.

A novel deletion downstream of the PAX6 gene identified in a Chinese family with congenital aniridia.

Purpose: Congenital aniridia, a severe bilateral panocular visual disorder, is an autosomal dominantly inherited eye anomaly. Mutations in the paired box 6 gene (PAX6) have been shown to be responsible for congenital aniridia in most patients. The purpose of the present study was to report clinical features of a Chinese family with congenital aniridia and to screen novel genetic mutations for congenital aniridia.

Binary Function of ARL3-GTP Revealed by Gene Knockouts.

UNC119 and PDEδ are lipid-binding proteins and are thought to form diffusible complexes with transducin-α and prenylated OS proteins, respectively, to mediate their trafficking to photoreceptor outer segments. Here, we investigate mechanisms of trafficking which are controlled by Arf-like protein 3 (Arl3), a small GTPase. The activity of ARL3 is regulated by a GEF (ARL13b) and a GAP (RP2).