| 1. |
- Clark, Andrew G., et al.
(author)
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Evolution of genes and genomes on the Drosophila phylogeny
- 2007
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 450:7167, s. 203-218
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Comparative analysis of multiple genomes in a phylogenetic framework dramatically improves the precision and sensitivity of evolutionary inference, producing more robust results than single-genome analyses can provide. The genomes of 12 Drosophila species, ten of which are presented here for the first time (sechellia, simulans, yakuba, erecta, ananassae, persimilis, willistoni, mojavensis, virilis and grimshawi), illustrate how rates and patterns of sequence divergence across taxa can illuminate evolutionary processes on a genomic scale. These genome sequences augment the formidable genetic tools that have made Drosophila melanogaster a pre-eminent model for animal genetics, and will further catalyse fundamental research on mechanisms of development, cell biology, genetics, disease, neurobiology, behaviour, physiology and evolution. Despite remarkable similarities among these Drosophila species, we identified many putatively non-neutral changes in protein-coding genes, non-coding RNA genes, and cis-regulatory regions. These may prove to underlie differences in the ecology and behaviour of these diverse species.
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| 2. |
- Luna, Gabriel, et al.
(author)
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The Effects of Transient Retinal Detachment on Cavity Size and Glial and Neural Remodeling in a Mouse Model of X-Linked Retinoschisis
- 2009
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In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. - : Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). - 1552-5783. ; 50:8, s. 3977-3984
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE. To determine the cellular consequences of retinal detachment in retinoschisin knockout (Rs1-KO) mice, a model for retinoschisin in humans. METHODS. Experimental retinal detachments (RDs) were induced in the right eyes of both Rs1-KO and wild-type (wt) control mice. Immunocytochemistry was performed on retinal tissue at 1, 7, or 28 days after RD with antibodies to anti-GFAP, -neurofilament, and -rod opsin to examine cellular changes after detachment. Images of the immunostained tissue were captured by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Quantitative analysis was performed to measure the number of Hoechststained photoreceptor nuclei and their density, number, and size of inner retinal cavities, as well as the number of subretinal glial scars. RESULTS. Since detachments were created with balanced salt solution, by examination, all retinas had spontaneously reattached by 1 day. Cellular responses common to many photoreceptor degenerations occurred in the nondetached retinas of Rs1-KO mice, and, of importance, RD did not appear to significantly accentuate these responses. The number of schisis cavities was not changed after detachment, but their size was reduced. CONCLUSIONS. These data indicate that large short-term RD in Rs1-KO mice, followed by a period of reattachment may cause a slight increase in photoreceptor cell death, but detachments do not accentuate the gliosis and neurite sprouting already present and may in fact reduce the size of existing retinal cavities. This finding suggests that performing subretinal injections to deliver therapeutic agents may be a viable option in the treatment of patients with retinoschisis without causing significant cellular damage to the retina. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009;50:3977-3984) DOI: 10.1167/iovs.08-2910
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| 3. |
- Nakazawa, Toru, et al.
(author)
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Attenuated glial reactions and photoreceptor degeneration after retinal detachment in mice deficient in glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin.
- 2007
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In: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. - : Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). - 0146-0404 .- 1552-5783. ; 48:6, s. 2760-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: To characterize the reactions of retinal glial cells (astrocytes and Müller cells) to retinal injury in mice that lack glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin (GFAP-/-Vim-/-) and to determine the role of glial cells in retinal detachment (RD)-induced photoreceptor degeneration. METHODS: RD was induced by subretinal injection of sodium hyaluronate in adult wild-type (WT) and GFAP-/-Vim-/- mice. Astroglial reaction and subsequent monocyte recruitment were quantified by measuring extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and c-fos activation and the level of expression of chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and by counting monocytes/microglia in the detached retinas. Immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used. RD-induced photoreceptor degeneration was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and measurement of outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness. RESULTS: RD-induced reactive gliosis, characterized by GFAP and vimentin upregulation, Erk and c-fos activation, MCP-1 induction, and increased monocyte recruitment in WT mice. Absence of GFAP and vimentin effectively attenuated reactive responses of retinal glial cells and monocyte infiltration. As a result, detached retinas of GFAP-/-Vim-/- mice exhibited significantly reduced numbers of TUNEL-positive photoreceptor cells and increased ONL thickness compared with those of WT mice. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of GFAP and vimentin attenuates RD-induced reactive gliosis and, subsequently, limits photoreceptor degeneration. Results of this study indicate that reactive retinal glial cells contribute critically to retinal damage induced by RD and provide a new avenue for limiting photoreceptor degeneration associated with RD and other retinal diseases or damage.
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| 4. |
- Verardo, Mark R, et al.
(author)
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Abnormal reactivity of muller cells after retinal detachment in mice deficient in GFAP and vimentin.
- 2008
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In: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. - : Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). - 1552-5783. ; 49:8, s. 3659-65
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: To determine the roles of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin in M?ller cell reactivity. METHODS: Retinal detachments were created in mice deficient for GFAP and vimentin (GFAP(-/-)vim(-/-)) and age-matched wild-type (wt) mice. The reactivity of the retina was studied by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. RESULTS: M?ller cell morphology was different and glutamine synthetase immunoreactivity was reduced in the undisturbed GFAP(-/-)vim(-/-) retinas. After retinal detachment, M?ller cells formed subretinal glial scars in the wt mice. In contrast, such scars were not observed in GFAP(-/-)vim(-/-) mice. M?ller cells, which normally elongate and thicken in response to detachment, appeared compressed, thin, and "spikey" in the GFAP(-/-)vim(-/-) mice. The end foot region of M?ller cells in the GFAP(-/-)vim(-/-) mice often sheared away from the rest of the retina during detachment, corroborating earlier results showing decreased resistance of this region in GFAP(-/-)vim(-/-) retinas to mechanical stress. In regions with end foot shearing, ganglion cells showed intense neurite sprouting, as revealed by anti-neurofilament labeling, a response rarely observed in wt mice. CONCLUSIONS: M?ller cells are subtly different in the GFAP(-/-)vim(-/-) mouse retina before detachment. The end foot region of these cells may be structurally reinforced by the presence of the intermediate filament cytoskeleton, and our data suggest a critical role for these proteins in M?ller cell reaction to retinal detachment and participation in subretinal gliosis.
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