Candidate genes for chromosomes 6 and 10 quantitative trait loci for age-related retinal degeneration in mice.

Purpose: In a previous study, several quantitative trait loci (QTL) that influence age-related degeneration (ageRD) were identified in a cross between the albino strains B6(Cg)-Tyr(c-2J)/J (B6a) and BALB/cByJ (C). The Chromosome (Chr) 6 and Chr 10 QTL were the strongest and most highly significant loci and both involved B6a protective alleles. The QTL were responsible for 21% and 9% of the variance in phenotypes, respectively.

Human RPE cells express the FGFR2IIIc and FGFR3IIIc splice variants and FGF9 as a potential high affinity ligand.

The expression of splice variants of FGF receptors, which differ in the third Ig domain, was investigated in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in vitro and in vivo. This region of the protein determines ligand-binding specificity. Additionally, the expression of potential ligands for these receptors was investigated.