Expression of the homeobox genes PAX6, OTX2, and OTX1 in the early human fetal retina.
We studied the spatial and temporal expression of the homeobox genes PAX6, OTX2, and OTX1 using a developmental series of human fetal eyes aged from 6 to 10 weeks post-conception. Previous animal studies have shown that PAX6 may regulate progenitor cell proliferation, timing of differentiation and neural retina cell fate determination. OTX2 may play a role in development of the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor differentiation, whereas OTX1 may be important in ciliary body development. In this study, we demonstrate the presence of the mRNAs and proteins for these genes within human fetal retinas of different stages. By in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we show that PAX6 was primarily localized to nuclei of the neural retina, OTX2 was localized to the nuclei of retinal pigment epithelium and OTX1 expression was confined to anterior retina. Expression peaks for PAX6 occur at days 51-60 and for OTX2 occur around fetal days 48-54. We conclude that the human expression patterns correspond spatially with the patterns observed in the rat retina. Further, the expressions occur during similar fetal stages as described in the developing rat retina.
Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. kbondelarsen@gmail.com
Karen B
KB
Larsen
Melissa
M
Lutterodt
Martin F
MF
Rath
Morten
M
Møller
D037881:Aborted Fetus; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000502:physiology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013997:Time Factors
D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C497655:OTX1 protein, human; C497659:OTX2 protein, human; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; C000605730:PAX6 protein, human; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605733:Pax6 protein, rat; D012097:Repressor Proteins