title: Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) mutations result in a thick human retina with abnormal lamination.
abstract: Mutations in CRB1, the human homolog of Drosophila Crumbs, cause autosomal recessive blinding disorders of the retina. Whereas Crumbs is implicated in apical-basal epithelial polarity and photoreceptor morphogenesis, the role of CRB1 in normal or diseased retina remains unclear. We characterized the retinal organization in vivo of patients with CRB1 mutations and found that, unlike other inherited retinal degenerations studied to date, the CRB1 mutant retinas are remarkably thick in cross-section and lack the distinct layers of normal adult retina. There are coarse outer and inner zones and a thick surface layer around the optic nerve. The abnormal retinal architecture in CRB1 mutations resembles that of immature normal retina. The results suggest that the CRB1 disease pathway disturbs the development of normal human retinal organization by interrupting naturally occurring apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. jacobsos@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Samuel G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Artur V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Cideciyan
authors.forename: Tomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Aleman
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pianta
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sumaroka
authors.forename: Sharon B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Elaine E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Smilko
authors.forename: Ann H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Milam
authors.forename: Val C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Sheffield
authors.forename: Edwin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D005136:Eye Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities; D012160:Retina / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: C448939:CRB1 protein, human; D005136:Eye Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins