Topical Application of Fingolimod Perturbs Cutaneous Inflammation.

The prevalence of allergies, including rhinitis, eczema, and anaphylaxis, is rising dramatically worldwide. This increase is especially problematic in children who bear the greatest burden of this rising trend. Increasing evidence identifies neutrophils as primary perpetrators of the more severe and difficult to manage forms of inflammation. A newly recognized mechanism by which neutrophils are recruited during the early phase of histamine-induced inflammation involves the sphingosine kinase (SK)/sphingosine-1-phosphate axis. This study examines whether topical application of fingolimod, an established SK/sphingosine-1-phosphate antagonist already in clinical use to treat multiple sclerosis, may be repurposed to treat cutaneous inflammation. Using two mouse models of ear skin inflammation (histamine- and IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis) we topically applied fingolimod prophylactically, as well as after establishment of the inflammatory response, and examined ear swelling, SK activity, vascular permeability, leukocyte recruitment, and production of proinflammatory mediators. The present study reveals that when applied topically, fingolimod attenuates both immediate and late-phase responses to histamine with reduced extravasation of fluid, SK-1 activity, proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production, and neutrophil influx and prevents ear swelling. Intravital microscopy demonstrates that histamine-induced neutrophil rolling and adhesion to the postcapillary venules in the mouse ears is significantly attenuated even after 24 h. More importantly, these effects are achievable even once inflammation is established. Translation into humans was also accomplished with epicutaneous application of fingolimod resolving histamine-induced and allergen-induced inflammatory reactions in forearm skin. Overall, this study demonstrates, to our knowledge for the first time, that fingolimod may be repurposed to treat cutaneous inflammation.

Fluid-induced lung injury-role of TRPV4 channels.

Administration of bolus intravenous fluid is associated with respiratory dysfunction and increased mortality, findings with no clear mechanistic explanation. The objective of this study was to examine whether bolus intravenous (i.v.) fluid administration results in acute lung injury in a rat model and further, to examine whether this injury is associated with transient receptor potential vallinoid (TRPV)4 channel function and endothelial inflammatory response. Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 60 ml/kg 0.9% saline i.v. over 30 min. Manifestation of acute lung injury was assessed by lung physiology, morphology, and markers of inflammation. The role of TRPV4 channels in fluid-induced lung injury was subsequently examined by the administration of ruthenium red (RR) in this established rat model and again in TRPV4 KO mice. In endothelial cell culture, permeability and P-selectin expression were measured following TRPV4 agonist with and without antagonist; 0.9% saline resulted in an increase in lung water, lavage protein and phospholipase A2, and plasma angiopoietin-2, with worsening in arterial blood oxygen (PaO2), lung elastance, surfactant activity, and lung histological injury score. These effects were ameliorated following i.v. fluid in rats receiving RR. TRPV4 KO mice did not develop lung edema. Expression of P-selectin increased in endothelial cells following administration of a TRPV4 agonist, which was ameliorated by simultaneous addition of RR. Bolus i.v. 0.9% saline resulted in permeability pulmonary edema. Data from ruthenium red, TRPV4 KO mice, and endothelial cell culture suggest activation of TRPV4 and release of angiopoietin 2 and P-selectin as the central mechanism.

Examining the Role of Sphingosine Kinase-2 in the Regulation of Endothelial Cell Barrier Integrity.

OBJECTIVE: A key mediator of vascular EC barrier integrity, S1P, is derived from phosphorylation of sphingosine by the SK-1 and SK-2. While previous work indicates that SK-1 can regulate EC barrier integrity, whether SK-2 has a similar role remains to be determined. METHODS: A cell impedance assay was used to assess human umbilical vein EC and bone marrow EC barrier integrity in vitro, with application of the SK inhibitors ABC294640, PF543, SKi, and MP-A08. In vivo studies were conducted using intravital microscopy to assess EC barrier integrity in SK-1 (Sphk1(-/-)) and SK-2 (Sphk2(-/-)) knock-out mice. RESULTS: Only ABC294640 and MP-A08, which can both inhibit SK-2, caused a decrease in EC barrier integrity in vitro in both cell types. Intravital microscopy revealed that Sphk1(-/-) mice had reduced EC barrier integrity compared to WT mice, whereas no change was evident in Sphk2(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that in vitro inhibition of SK-2, can compromise the integrity of the EC monolayer, while SK-1 exerts a more dominant control in vivo. These data may have clinical implications and could aid in the development of new treatments for disorders of vascular barrier function.

Common genetic variants near the Brittle Cornea Syndrome locus ZNF469 influence the blinding disease risk factor central corneal thickness.

Central corneal thickness (CCT), one of the most highly heritable human traits (h(2) typically>0.9), is important for the diagnosis of glaucoma and a potential risk factor for glaucoma susceptibility. We conducted genome-wide association studies in five cohorts from Australia and the United Kingdom (total N = 5058). Three cohorts were based on individually genotyped twin collections, with the remaining two cohorts genotyped on pooled samples from singletons with extreme trait values. The pooled sample findings were validated by individual genotyping the pooled samples together with additional samples also within extreme quantiles. We describe methods for efficient combined analysis of the results from these different study designs. We have identified and replicated quantitative trait loci on chromosomes 13 and 16 for association with CCT. The locus on chromosome 13 (nearest gene FOXO1) had an overall meta-analysis p-value for all the individually genotyped samples of 4.6x10(-10). The locus on chromosome 16 was associated with CCT with p = 8.95x10(-11). The nearest gene to the associated chromosome 16 SNPs was ZNF469, a locus recently implicated in Brittle Cornea Syndrome (BCS), a very rare disorder characterized by abnormal thin corneas. Our findings suggest that in addition to rare variants in ZNF469 underlying CCT variation in BCS patients, more common variants near this gene may contribute to CCT variation in the general population.

No Strong Association between the Apolipoprotein E E4 Allele and Glaucoma: A Multicohort Study.

Purpose: To elucidate a potential association between the apolipoprotein E (APOE) E4 allele and glaucoma prevalence in large cohorts. Design: A cross-sectional analysis of baseline and prospectively collected cohort data. Participants: UK Biobank (UKBB) participants of genetically determined European ancestry (n = 438 711). Replication analyses were performed using clinical and genotyping data collected from European participants recruited to the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA; n = 18 199), the Australian and New Zealand Registry of Advanced Glaucoma (ANZRAG; n = 1970), and the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES; n = 2440). Methods: Apolipoprotein E alleles and genotypes were determined, and their distributions were compared on the basis of glaucoma status. Similar analyses were performed using positive control outcomes associated with the APOE E4 allele (death, dementia, age-related macular degeneration) and negative control outcomes not associated with the APOE E4 allele (cataract, diabetic eye disease). Outcome phenotypes were also correlated with Alzheimer's dementia (AD), a clinical outcome highly associated with the APOE E4 allele. Main Outcome Measures: Results of APOE E4 genotype-phenotype comparisons were reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Replication analyses investigated APOE E4 associations in 2 replication cohorts (CLSA and ANZRAG/BMES). Results: The APOE E4 allele was inversely associated with glaucoma (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-0.99; P = 0.016) and both negative controls (cataract: OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99; P = 0.015; diabetic eye disease: OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.97; P = 0.003) in the UKBB cohort. A paradoxical positive association was observed between AD and both glaucoma (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.08-1.54; P < 0.01) and cataract (OR, 1.15; 1.04-1.28; P = 0.018). No association between the APOE E4 allele and glaucoma was observed in either replication cohort (CLSA: OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.89-1.19; P = 0.66; ANZRAG/BMES: OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.84-1.12; P = 0.65). Conclusions: A small negative association observed between APOE E4 and glaucoma within the UKBB was not evident in either replication cohort and may represent an artifact of glaucoma underdiagnosis in APOE E4 carriers. Financial Disclosures: The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

The APOE E4 Allele Is Associated with Faster Rates of Neuroretinal Thinning in a Prospective Cohort Study of Suspect and Early Glaucoma.

Purpose: To investigate the association between the apolipoprotein E (APOE) E4 dementia-risk allele and prospective longitudinal retinal thinning in a cohort study of suspect and early manifest glaucoma. Design: Retrospective analysis of prospective cohort data. Participants: This study included all available eyes from participants recruited to the Progression Risk of Glaucoma: Relevant SNPs [single nucleotide polymorphisms] with Significant Association (PROGRESSA) study with genotyping data from which APOE genotypes could be determined. Methods: Apolipoprotein E alleles and genotypes were determined in PROGRESSA, and their distributions were compared with an age-matched and ancestrally matched normative cohort, the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Structural parameters of neuroretinal atrophy measured using spectral-domain OCT were compared within the PROGRESSA cohort on the basis of APOE E4 allele status. Main Outcome Measures: Longitudinal rates of thinning in the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) complex and the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL). Results: Rates of mGCIPL complex thinning were faster in participants harboring ≥1 copies of the APOE E4 allele (ß = -0.13 µm/year; P ≤0.001). This finding was strongest in eyes affected by normal-tension glaucoma (NTG; ß = -0.20 µm/year; P = 0.003). Apolipoprotein E E4 allele carriers were also more likely to be lost to follow-up (P = 0.01) and to demonstrate a thinner average mGCIPL complex (70.9 µm vs. 71.9 µm; P = 0.011) and pRNFL (77.6 µm vs. 79.2 µm; P = 0.045) after a minimum of 3 years of monitoring. Conclusions: The APOE E4 allele was associated with faster rates of mCGIPL complex thinning, particularly in eyes with NTG. These results suggest that the APOE E4 allele may be a risk factor for retinal ganglion cell degeneration in glaucoma.

RNA Sequencing of Lens Capsular Epithelium Implicates Novel Pathways in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome.

Purpose: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is a common systemic disease that results in severe and often irreversible vision loss. Despite considerable research effort, PEX remains incompletely understood. This study sought to perform the first RNAseq study in elucidate the pathophysiology of PEX, and contribute a publicly available transcriptomic data resource for future research. Methods: Human ocular lens capsular epithelium samples were collected from 25 patients with PEX and 39 non-PEX controls undergoing cataract surgery. RNA extracted from these specimens was subjected to polyadenylated (mRNA) selection and deep bulk RNA sequencing. Differential expression analysis investigated protein-coding gene transcripts. Exploratory analyses used pathway analysis tools, and curated class- and disease-specific gene sets. Results: Differential expression analysis demonstrated that 2882 genes were differentially expressed according to PEX status. Genes associated with viral gene expression pathways were among the most upregulated, alongside genes encoding ribosomal and mitochondrial respiratory transport chain proteins. Cell adhesion protein transcripts including type 4 collagen subunits were downregulated. Conclusions: This comparative transcriptomic dataset highlights novel and previously recognized pathogenic pathways in PEX and provides the first comprehensive transcriptomic resource, adding an additional layer to build further understanding of PEX pathophysiology.

Ancestral LOXL1 variants are associated with pseudoexfoliation in Caucasian Australians but with markedly lower penetrance than in Nordic people.

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is a generalized disorder of the extracellular matrix, characterized by the pathological accumulation of abnormal fibrillar material in the anterior segment of the eye predisposing to glaucomatous optic neuropathy. We investigated the role of lysyl oxidase-like 1(LOXL1) sequence variation in a Caucasian Australian population-based cohort of 2508 individuals, 86 (3.4%) of whom were diagnosed with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. Two non-synonymous variants in exon 1 of LOXL1 (Arg141Leu;Gly153Asp) were found to be strongly associated with pseudoexfoliation. Two copies of the high risk haplotype at these single-nucleotide polymorphisms conferred a risk of 7.20 (95%CI: 3.04-20.75) compared with no copies of the high risk haplotype. Each of the disease-associated alleles is by far commoner in the normal population, and examination of cross-species homology reveals that the two disease-associated coding variants belong to the ancestral version of the gene. LOXL1 was found to be expressed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in all ocular tissues examined except retina. The presence of LOXL1 protein in ocular tissues of interest was demonstrated by western blotting. Specific bands of approximately 130 and 80 kDa, representing polymerized protein forms, were detected in the cornea, iris, ciliary body, lens capsule and optic nerve. The 42 kDa mature form of LOXL1 was detected in the iris and ciliary body. Our Caucasian population has a 9-fold lower lifetime incidence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome compared with Nordic populations despite having similar allelic architecture at the LOXL1 locus. This strongly suggests that as yet unidentified genetic or environmental factors independent of LOXL1 strongly influence the phenotypic expression of the syndrome.

Novel quantitative trait loci for central corneal thickness identified by candidate gene analysis of osteogenesis imperfecta genes.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in the type I collagen genes, COL1A1 and COL1A2, and is characterised by low bone mass and bone fragility. In this study, we explored the relationship between type 1 collagen genes and the quantitative trait central corneal thickness (CCT). CCT was measured in a cohort of 28 Australian type I OI patients and mean CCT was found to be significantly lower compared to a normal population (P < 0.001). We then investigated CCT and corneal collagen fibril diameter and density in a mouse model of OI with a col1a2 mutation. Mean CCT was significantly lower in mutant mice (P = 0.002), as was corneal collagen fibril diameter (P = 0.034), whilst collagen fibril density was significantly greater in mutants (P = 0.034). Finally, we conducted a genetic study to determine whether common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in COL1A1 and COL1A2 are associated with CCT variation in the normal human population. Polymorphism rs2696297 (P = 0.003) in COL1A1 and a three SNP haplotype in COL1A2 (P = 0.007) were all significantly associated with normal CCT variation. These data implicate type 1 collagen in the determination of CCT in both OI patients and normal individuals. This provides the first evidence of quantitative trait loci that influence CCT in a normal population and has potential implications for investigating genes involved in glaucoma pathogenesis, a common eye disease in which the severity and progression is influenced by CCT.

Candidate gene study to investigate the genetic determinants of normal variation in central corneal thickness.

PURPOSE: The genetic component underlying variation in central corneal thickness (CCT) in the normal population remains largely unknown. As CCT is an identified risk factor for open-angle glaucoma, understanding the genes involved in CCT determination could improve our understanding of the mechanisms involved in this association. METHODS: To identify novel CCT genes, we selected eight different candidates based on a range of criteria. These included; aquaporin 1 (AQ1), aquaporin 5 (AQ5), decorin (DCN), fibrillin-1 (FBN1), keratocan (KERA), lumican (LUM), osteoglycin (OGN), and paired box 6 (PAX6). Tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) selected from the HapMap database were genotyped to cover the majority of genetic variation within each gene. Each SNP was screened in a large, population-based cohort from Australia and both single SNP and haplotype analyses were undertaken. RESULTS: Two SNPs were found to be nominally associated with CCT, rs17352842 from FBN1 (p=0.02) and rs3026398 from PAX6 (p=0.02), although neither of these p values survived correction for multiple testing. Haplotype analysis revealed one haplotype within FBN1 (corrected p=0.048) and two haplotypes within PAX6 (strongest corrected p=0.006) associated with CCT. No other SNPs or haplotypes from the remaining genes showed any significant correlation with CCT. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study suggest that FBN1 and PAX6 are potentially involved in determining CCT. This is the first published study to investigate these genes for association with normal CCT variation.

Functional and structural implications of the complement factor H Y402H polymorphism associated with age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: A Tyr-to-His (Y402H) sequence variant in the factor H (FH) and factor H-like protein (FHL-1) gene is strongly associated with an increased susceptibility for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The purpose of this study was to understand how the Y402H variant in FH/FHL-1 contributes to the pathogenesis of AMD and, in particular, whether interactions mediated by FH/FHL-1, including binding to C-reactive protein (CRP), group A streptococcal M protein (GAS M6), heparin, and retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE), are affected. METHODS: FH was purified from sera of patients homozygous for FH(Y402) or (H402), and recombinant FH fragments representing FHL-1 were generated. Proteins were analyzed for binding to CRP, GAS M6, heparin, and RPE cells. RESULTS: Binding of the FH and FH1 to seven polymorphic variants to CRP and M protein was reduced. The variant did not influence the interaction of FH with heparin but did reduce binding of FHL-1. Binding of the FH and FHL-1 polymorphic variant to RPE cells was not affected. CONCLUSIONS: The FH Y402H polymorphism associated with AMD causes a reduction in binding of FH and FHL-1 to CRP and M protein. Both variants show comparable binding to RPE cells, indicating that AMD is unlikely to manifest as a result of impaired host cell-surface recognition. The decreased interaction between FH and CRP, which is essential for the anti-inflammatory function of CRP, provides a possible pathophysiological explanation for the association of the Y402H variant with AMD.

Colonic migrating motor complexes are inhibited in acute tri-nitro benzene sulphonic acid colitis.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is characterized by overt inflammation of the intestine and is typically accompanied by symptoms of bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping. The Colonic Migrating Motor Complex (CMMC) directs the movement of colonic luminal contents over long distances. The tri-nitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) model of colitis causes inflammatory damage to enteric nerves, however it remains to be determined whether these changes translate to functional outcomes in CMMC activity. We aimed to visualize innate immune cell infiltration into the colon using two-photon laser scanning intra-vital microscopy, and to determine whether CMMC activity is altered in the tri-nitro benzene sulphonic (TNBS) model of colitis. METHODS: Epithelial barrier permeability was compared between TNBS treated and healthy control mice in-vitro and in-vivo. Innate immune activation was determined by ELISA, flow cytometry and by 2-photon intravital microscopy. The effects of TNBS treatment and IL-1ß on CMMC function were determined using a specialized organ bath. RESULTS: TNBS colitis increased epithelial barrier permeability in-vitro and in-vivo. Colonic IL-1ß concentrations, colonic and systemic CD11b+ cell infiltration, and the number of migrating CD11b+ cells on colonic blood vessels were all increased in TNBS treated mice relative to controls. CMMC frequency and amplitude were inhibited in the distal and mid colon of TNBS treated mice. CMMC activity was not altered by superfusion with IL-1ß. CONCLUSIONS: TNBS colitis damages the epithelial barrier and increases innate immune cell activation in the colon and systemically. Innate cell migration into the colon is readily identifiable by two-photon intra-vital microscopy. CMMC are inhibited by inflammation, but this is not due to direct effects of IL-1ß.

A novel deletion in the FTL gene causes hereditary hyperferritinemia cataract syndrome (HHCS) by alteration of the transcription start site.

Hereditary hyperferritinemia cataract syndrome (HHCS) is characterized by distinctive cataracts and high serum ferritin in the absence of iron overload. It is caused by mutations in the iron response element (IRE) of the Ferritin Light Chain (FTL) gene. Here we investigate the genetics of HHCS in a three generation Australian kindred with typical HHCS ocular lens morphology and high ferritin levels. Initial sequencing of the IRE failed to detect any mutations. Sequencing of the entire gene including the promoter region revealed a novel 25 bp deletion upstream of the IRE abolishing the transcription start site. In lymphoblastoid cells, the deletion allele was transcribed from an alternate start site within the lower stem of the IRE and mutation carriers had high cellular L-ferritin levels. This novel deletion in the promoter encompassing the transcription start site of the FTL gene is responsible for HHCS in this kindred. The initial primers for amplifying the IRE similar to those used by other researchers failed to detect this mutation. Therefore the genomic region assessed in HHCS cases for diagnosis should be expanded to include mutations of this type.

Myocilin Gly252Arg mutation and glaucoma of intermediate severity in Caucasian individuals.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the phenotype of an Australian pedigree with the myocilin (MYOC) Gly252Arg mutation, comparing it with other pedigrees carrying the same mutation. METHODS: All recruited subjects underwent a comprehensive clinical examination, including optic disc assessment, applanation tonometry, and visual field measurement. Mutation analysis was performed through direct sequencing. Haplotype analysis was performed using microsatellite markers around the MYOC gene. RESULTS: Eight Gly252Arg mutation carriers with glaucoma were identified from the same pedigree. Carriers' mean +/- SD age at diagnosis was 46.3 +/- 11.4 years (range, 31-60 years). Highest recorded intraocular pressure ranged from 27 to 42 mm Hg (mean +/- SD, 32.4 +/- 5.6 mm Hg). Cup-disc ratios in the worst eye ranged from 0.6 to 0.9. Six of the 8 individuals had undergone filtration surgery. A common founding haplotype between MY5 and D1S218 was found for Caucasian individuals tested with this mutation. One subject was compound heterozygotic for the MYOC Gly252Arg mutation and a novel MYOC Gly244Val variant. CONCLUSIONS: Although a common founder for Gly252Arg across Caucasian subjects was found, the phenotype from this Australian MYOC mutation-carrying pedigree is less severe than previously described. The severity of glaucoma caused by the Gly252Arg mutation may be similar to the Thr377Met MYOC mutation, yet is more severe than the most common Gln368Stop mutation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Since its implication in glaucoma, much work has been performed investigating the clinical features of MYOC-related glaucoma. Given the strong genotype-phenotype correlations with MYOC disease-causing variants, health care professionals armed with such molecular information are able to accurately counsel patients on their likely disease course. Our work suggests that the disease associated with MYOC Gly252Arg is less severe than previously described in other pedigrees with this specific mutation.

Abnormal iris processes may be a marker of glaucoma gene carrier status in some cases of primary infantile glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To report the presence of dense and abnormal iris processes in the unaffected parents and sibling of a non consanguineous family where 3 children out of 4 suffer from primary infantile glaucoma (PIG). METHODS: A descriptive case report. All family members were clinically characterized. Candidate gene screening and chromosome analysis were also performed. RESULTS: The 3 children with PIG displayed a spectrum of anterior chamber angle anomalies with the absence of posterior embryotoxon and iridotrabeculodysgenesis abnormalities. Unaffected family members had dense and abnormal iris processes but no features of glaucoma. Candidate gene screening and chromosome analysis were normal. CONCLUSION: Iris processes indicate angle maldevelopment and may signify carrier status of an autosomal recessive glaucoma gene. Identification of iris processes in relatives of PIG children is a useful clinical sign that may be of benefit for genetic counseling and risk stratification purposes.

The PITX3 gene in posterior polar congenital cataract in Australia.

PURPOSE: Congenital cataract is a significant cause of blindness worldwide. Many genes are known to cause the disorder. A large multigenerational pedigree was investigated for the genetic cause of a posterior polar autosomal dominant congenital cataract. METHODS: A genome wide scan was conducted in a large multigenerational family with autosomal dominant cataract to identify the linked region of the genome. The PITX3 gene was investigated through direct sequencing and detection of fluorescently labeled PCR products. RESULTS: Linkage was detected to a region of chromosome 10q23-26 which contains the candidate gene PITX3. A segregating 17 bp insertion mutation was identified. This mutation was not identified in 100 additional unrelated sporadic and familial congenital cataract patients. No mutations of the PITX3 gene were identified in 9 families with posterior polar congenital cataract. CONCLUSIONS: The 657ins17bp duplication of the PITX3 gene is the cause of the cataract phenotype in the large pedigree, however, this gene appears responsible for only a small proportion of congenital cataract in Australia.

A Glaucoma Case-control Study of the WDR36 Gene D658G sequence variant.

PURPOSE: To investigate in Australian patients with glaucoma and normal controls the prevalence and associated phenotype of the WDR36 D658G mutation, which has previously been suggested to be a disease-causing mutation in pedigrees with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: Two hundred forty-nine individuals with POAG and 217 age-matched control subjects were recruited through the Glaucoma Inheritance Study in Tasmania, Australia. Genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction by intronic primers. The presence of the D658G variant was detected by BglI restriction enzyme digestion. RESULTS: The D658G variant was identified in four POAG cases (1.6%) and four control subjects (1.8%) (chi(2) = 0.04, P = .84). No control subject with the variant had a family history of glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: The WDR36 D658G is a neutral variant in the Australian population. Further populations should be carefully assessed for this variant before concluding that WDR36 is a glaucoma gene.

A myocilin Gln368STOP homozygote does not exhibit a more severe glaucoma phenotype than heterozygous cases.

PURPOSE: To describe the phenotype of an individual homozygous for the common Gln368STOP myocilin mutation and to discuss the other family members. DESIGN: Cascade screening was performed for Australian families that had been identified as having the myocilin Gln368STOP mutation. METHODS: Recruited subjects underwent comprehensive clinical examination and mutation analysis for the Gln368STOP myocilin mutation by direct sequencing. RESULTS: One 49-year-old woman was found to be homozygous for the mutation. Her maximal recorded intraocular pressure was 17 mm Hg. Bilateral optic disk examination revealed small, healthy optic discs. Automated perimetry testing was normal. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the individual homozygous for the Gln368STOP myocilin mutation nor her younger heterozygous siblings displayed any signs suggestive of glaucoma. One of the two heterozygous parents did manifest glaucoma. Although there is the possibility of the homozygous individual developing glaucoma in the future, she does not manifest a phenotype that is more severe than usual.

Dengue Virus Infection of Primary Endothelial Cells Induces Innate Immune Responses, Changes in Endothelial Cells Function and Is Restricted by Interferon-Stimulated Responses.

Although endothelial cell (EC) infection is not widespread during dengue virus (DENV) infection in vivo, the endothelium is the site of the pathogenic effects seen in severe DENV disease. In this study, we investigated DENV infection of primary EC and defined factors that influence infection in this cell type. Consistent with in vivo findings where EC infection is infrequent, only 3%-15% of EC became productively DENV-2-infected in vitro. This low level infection could not be attributed to inhibition by heparin, EC donor variation, heterogeneity, or biological source. DENV-infection of EC was associated with induction of innate immune responses, including increased STAT1 protein, STAT1- phosphorylation, interferon (IFN)-ß, OAS-1, IFIT-1/ISG56, and viperin mRNA. Antibody blocking of IFN-ß inhibited the induction of OAS1, IFIT1/ISG56, and viperin while shRNA knockdown of viperin enhanced DENV-infection in EC. DENV-infection of EC resulted in increased activity of sphingosine kinase 1, a factor important in maintaining vascular integrity, and altered basal and stimulated changes in barrier integrity of DENV-infected EC monolayers. Thus, DENV productively infects only a small percentage of primary EC but this has a major influence on induction of IFN-ß driven innate immune responses that can restrict infection while the EC themselves are functionally altered. These changes may have important consequences for the endothelium and are reflective of pathogenic changes associated with vascular leakage, as seen in DENV disease.

RZF, a zinc-finger protein in the photoreceptors of human retina.

Photoreceptors are organized at the outer aspect of retina and host the process of phototransduction, central to the visual system. We have isolated a novel human gene, RZF, which is predominantly expressed in the photoreceptors of human retina. RZF encodes a 40-kDa protein that has three widely spaced C(2)H(2)-type zinc finger motifs. There are three potential nuclear localisation signals and clusters of charged amino acids in the protein. Expression analysis revealed that orthologues of the RZF gene are also expressed in photoreceptors of mouse and bovine retina. The RZF-GFP fusion protein localises to nucleoli and cytoplasm when expressed in HEK-293 cells. Mobility shift assay suggests that RZF may not be a nucleic acid binding protein, unlike most other zinc-finger proteins. Taken together, these observations suggest that RZF is a shuttling regulatory protein expressed in photoreceptors of the human retina that may be involved in mRNA or protein regulation of photoreceptor-specific genes and therefore have role in retinal disease mechanisms.