Degeneration modulates retinal response to transient exogenous oxidative injury.

Purpose: Oxidative injury is involved in retinal and macular degeneration. We aim to assess if retinal degeneration associated with genetic defect modulates the retinal threshold for encountering additional oxidative challenges.

Methods: Retinal oxidative injury was induced in degenerating retinas (rd10) and in control mice (WT) by intravitreal injections of paraquat (PQ).

Retinal function and structure in the hypotransferrinemic mouse.

Purpose: The iron carrier transferrin is expressed at remarkably high levels in normal retinas and is upregulated during retinal degeneration. The authors characterized the consequences of genetically reduced retinal transferrin production on retinal structure and function.

Methods: Hypotransferrinemic (HPX⁻/⁻) mice treated with weekly intraperitoneal salvage transferrin injections were examined at 1 and 2 months of age.

Zinc-desferrioxamine attenuates retinal degeneration in the rd10 mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa.

Iron-associated oxidative injury plays a role in retinal degeneration such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. The metallo-complex zinc-desferrioxamine (Zn/DFO) may ameliorate such injury by chelation of labile iron in combination with release of zinc. We explored whether Zn/DFO can affect the course of retinal degeneration in the rd10 mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa.

Characterizing the involvement of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF kappa B) transcription factor in uveal melanoma.

Purpose. To examine the involvement of nuclear factor-kappa B (NFkappaB) pathways in uveal melanoma (UM) and to assess their potential as a therapeutic target for metastatic UM. Methods.

Lack of association between the C2 allele of transferrin and age-related macular degeneration in the Israeli population.

Background: Altered iron metabolism and transferrin expression were associated with neurodegenerations including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Carriers of transferrin C2 allele alone or in combination with the hemochromatosis C282Y variant may have increased risk for developing AD. We aim to assess if these alleles also predispose to AMD.

Association of neovascular age-related macular degeneration with specific gene expression patterns in peripheral white blood cells.

Purpose: Inflammation probably plays a major role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The authors evaluated whether AMD is associated with gene expression patterns in white blood cells (WBCs) and whether such a pattern may serve as a biomarker for the disease.

Methods: Microarray analysis of gene expression in peripheral WBCs was performed on patients with neovascular AMD (NVAMD; n = 16) and controls (n = 16).

Sequence variants in HTRA1 and LOC387715/ARMS2 and phenotype and response to photodynamic therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration in populations from Israel.

Purpose: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the tightly linked LOC387715/ARMS2 and HTRA1 genes have been associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We tested whether these SNPs are associated with AMD in Israeli populations, if they underlie variable phenotype and response to therapy in neovascular AMD (NVAMD), and if HTRA1 expression in vivo is associated with its promoter variant.

Methods: Genotyping for the rs10490924 SNP in LOC387715/ARMS2 and the rs11200638 SNP in HTRA1 was performed on 255 NVAMD patients and 119 unaffected controls from Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish, and from Arab origins which are the main ethnic groups composing the Israeli population.

Alteration in iron metabolism during retinal degeneration in rd10 mouse.

Purpose: Altered iron metabolism was implicated in retinal and macular degeneration. This study was designed to further elucidate iron homeostasis during the course of retinal degeneration in mice.

Methods: Retinal mRNA and protein expression of transferrin, transferrin receptor, and ceruloplasmin were evaluated during retinal degeneration in rd10 mice and chemokine receptor 2 (ccr2)-deficient mice.

Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins gene expression and its correlation with prognostic factors in primary and metastatic uveal melanoma.

Purpose: Members of the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) family are thought to promote tumor growth and interfere with response to therapy by suppressing apoptosis in several malignancies. We aimed to evaluate the expression of IAPs in uveal melanoma (UM) and its correlation with prognostic factors associated with death from metastatic UM.

Methods: Expression of eight IAP genes [Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing (BIRC) 1-8] was evaluated through reverse transcription (RT)-PCR.

Association of complement factor H Y402H polymorphism with phenotype of neovascular age related macular degeneration in Israel.

Purpose: The Tyr402His variant of complement factor H (CFH) is associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in several populations. Our aim was to evaluate if this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with AMD in the Israeli population and see if it underlies heterogeneity in clinical manifestation and responses to photodynamic therapy (PDT), which characterize neovascular AMD (NVAMD).

Methods: Genotyping for the Tyr402His variant was performed in 240 NVAMD patients (78.