title: Expression of TIMP3 mRNA is elevated in retinas affected by simplex retinitis pigmentosa.
abstract: To explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with photoreceptor death in retinitis pigmentosa (RP), we have investigated altered transcriptional activity in RP retinas by a differential cDNA screening approach. We identified a clone (K222) showing over-expression in simplex RP retinas compared with controls. K222 encodes a partial cDNA of the human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP3) gene, a member of a family of genes implicated in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling. Increased expression of TIMP3 in degenerating RP retinas may reflect restructuring of the ECM architecture, and disruption of photoreceptor-matrix interactions could contribute to activation of apoptotic cell death processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Rayne Institute, UMDS, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jomary
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Neal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002892:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases