Construction of a plasmid for human brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its effect on retinal pigment epithelial cell viability

Several studies have investigated the protective functions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor（BDNF） in retinitis pigmentosa. However, a BDNF-based therapy for retinitis pigmentosa is not yet available. To develop an efficient treatment for fundus disease, an eukaryotic expression plasmid was generated and used to transfect human 293 T cells to assess the expression and bioactivity of BDNF on acute retinal pigment epithelial-19（ARPE-19） cells, a human retinal epithelial cell line. After 96 hours of co-culture in a Transwell chamber, ARPE-19 cells exposed to BDNF secreted by 293 T cells were more viable than ARPE-19 cells not exposed to secreted BDNF. Western blot assay showed that Bax levels were downregulated and that Bcl-2 levels were upregulated in human ARPE-19 cells exposed to BDNF. Furthermore, 293 T cells transfected with the BDNF gene steadily secreted the protein. The powerful anti-apoptotic function of this BDNF may be useful for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa and other retinal degenerative diseases.

Simultaneous expression of two pathogenic genes in four Chinese patients affected with inherited retinal dystrophy

●AIM:To describe the complex,overlapping phenotype of four Chinese patients with inherited retinal dystrophies(IRDs)who harbored two pathogenic genes simultaneously.●METHODS:This retrospective study included 4 patients affected with IRDs.Medical and ophthalmic histories were obtained,and clinical examinations were performed.A specific Hereditary Eye Disease Enrichment Panel(HEDEP)based on exome capture technology was used for genetic screening.●RESULTS:Four patients were identified to harbor disease-causing variants in two different genes.Patient retinitis pigmentosa(RP)01-II:1 exhibited both classical ABCA4-induced Stargardt disease(STGD)1 and USH2 Aassociated RP,patient RP02-III:2 exhibited both classical ABCA4-induced STGD1 and CDH23-associated RP,patient RP03-II:1 exhibited both USH2 A-induced autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa(arRP)syndrome and SNRNP200-induced autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa(adRP),and patient RP04-II:2 exhibited USH2 Ainduced arRP syndrome and EYS-induced arRP at the same time.●CONCLUSION:Our study demonstrates that genotype–phenotype correlations and comprehensive genetic screening is crucial for diagnosing IRDs and helping family planning for patients suffering from the disease.