Microarray analysis of retinal gene expression in the DBA/2J model of glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
The DBA/2J mouse is a model for secondary angle-closure glaucoma, due to iris atrophy and pigment dispersion, which ultimately lead to increased intraocular pressure (IOP). The study was undertaken to correlate changes in retinal gene expression with IOP elevation by performing microarray analysis of retinal RNA from DBA/2J mice at 3 months before disease onset and at 8 months after IOP elevation.


METHODS
IOP was monitored monthly in DBA/2J animals, and animals with normal (3 months) or elevated IOP (8 months) were identified. RNA was prepared from three individual retinas at each age, and the RNA was amplified and used to generate biotin-labeled probe for high-density mouse gene microarrays (U430.2; Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA). A subset of genes was selected for confirmation by quantitative RT-PCR, by using independent retina samples from DBA/2J animals at 3, 5, and 8 months of age and compared to retinas from C57BL/6J control animals at 3 and 8 months.


RESULTS
There were changes in expression of 68 genes, with 32 genes increasing and 36 genes decreasing at 8 months versus 3 months. Upregulated genes were associated with immune response, glial activation, signaling, and gene expression, whereas downregulated genes included multiple crystallin genes. Significant changes in nine upregulated genes and two downregulated genes were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR, with some showing changes in expression by 5 months.


CONCLUSIONS
DBA/2J retina shows evidence of glial activation and an immune-related response after IOP elevation, similar to what has been reported after acute elevation of IOP in other models.
Steele
Michael R
MR
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA.
Inman
Denise M
DM
Calkins
David J
DJ
Horner
Philip J
PJ
Vetter
Monica L
ML
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000235:genetics*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D015854:Up-Regulation
D012333:RNA, Messenger