title: Otx2 homeobox gene induces photoreceptor-specific phenotypes in cells derived from adult iris and ciliary tissue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It remains unclear which gene induction effectively generates photoreceptor-specific phenotypes from nonretinal tissues. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Crx and Otx2--homeobox genes related to photoreceptor development--can induce the generation of these phenotypes in cells derived from adult ciliary and iris tissue and in mesencephalon-derived neural stem cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crx and Otx2 were transferred into adult rat ciliary- and embryonic mesencephalon-derived neurospheres and adult rat iris-derived cells with the aid of a recombinant retrovirus. The presence of photoreceptor-specific phenotypes was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 90% of the Crx- and Otx2-transfected ciliary- and iris-derived cells exhibited rod opsin immunoreactivity, whereas few of the similarly transfected mesencephalon-derived neural stem cells expressed rod opsin. At least two additional key components of the phototransduction cascade, recoverin and Gdeltat1, were expressed by Crx- and Otx2-transfected iris-derived cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Crx and Otx2 effectively induced the generation of photoreceptor-specific phenotypes from ciliary- and iris-derived cells. That both Crx and Otx2 induced phenotype generation in cells derived from iris or ciliary tissue may suggest an approach to photoreceptor cell preparation for retinal transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadamichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akagi
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mandai
authors.forename: Sotaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ooto
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirami
authors.forename: Fumitaka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Osakada
authors.forename: Ryoichiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kageyama
authors.forename: Nagahisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Masayo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007498:Iris / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D010641:Phenotype; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators; C109288:cone rod homeobox protein