title: Absence of Vsx1 expression in the normal and damaged mouse cornea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the expression of visual system homeobox 1 (Vsx1) in the mouse cornea and its potential role in the corneal wound response pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of Vsx1 was examined by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) in corneal tissue from developing and adult mice and from mice that had undergone alkali-burn corneal wounding. Immunolabeling and Vsx1 knock-in reporter gene expression in wild type and Vsx1 null-mice were used to confirm the qRT-PCR data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using qRT-PCR, Vsx1 expression was not detected in either the postnatal or adult mouse cornea or in corneas following wounding. This qRT-PCR data was supported by the absence of specific Vsx1 immunolabeling and Vsx1 knock-in reporter expression in untreated and wounded corneas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In mice, Vsx1 mRNA, protein or reporter gene expression is not detected in the normal or damaged cornea. These results make it uncertain what role VSX1/Vsx1 plays in corneal biology. Future experiments examining the pathogenicity of VSX1 mutations associated with corneal dystrophy are required to rule out species differences and possible non-cell autonomous roles for VSX1 in the cornea.
authors: Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3N5, Canada.
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Watson
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Chow
mesh_terms: D000468:Alkalies; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055879:Gene Knock-In Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C491582:Vsx1 protein, mouse