Mutations in the gene BEST1 (formerly VMD2) encoding Bestrophin-1 (Best1) cause 5 clinically distinct inherited retinal degenerative diseases. Among these are Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD), autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy (ADVIRC), and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The """"""""bestrophinopathies"""""""" are characterized by accumulation of lipofuscin in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and fluid and debris filled retinal detachments. BVMD, the most common bestrophinopathy, is characterized by diminished central vision resulting from an """"""""egg-yolk"""""""" like vitelliform lesion in the fovea. These lesions eventually become disrupted leading to an atrophic form of macular degeneration. All individuals with BVMD exhibit a depressed electrooculogram (EOG) light peak (LP) with a normal clinical electroretinogram (ERG). The LP is generated by a Ca2+ dependent Cl- conductance across the basolateral plasma membrane of RPE cells, where Best1 is localized. This led to the hypothesis that Best1 is a Ca2+ activated Cl- channel (CaCC) that generates the LP, and that BVMD results from loss of Best1 CaCC activity. We found that Best1 is not required to generate the LP, and that RPE Cl- conductances are normal in Best1 knock-out and knock-in mice carrying a BVMD causing mutation. In our quest to understand how Best1 mutants cause these symptoms we found that Best1 and Best1 mutants antagonize Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+ sensitive Cl- conductances, explaining the diminished LP in BVMD. Best1 mutants also affect cellular pH homeostasis. We have found that bestrophin-2 (Best2) carries a HCO3- conductance in colon cells. Thus, we hypothesize that Best1, like Best2, physiologically carries a HCO3- conductance and regulates Ca2+ signaling in RPE cells. Dysfunction of Best1, as occurs in BVMD, alters pHi and Ca2+ homeostasis, perturbing RPE fluid transport and altering the ionic composition of the sub-retinal space, causing the symptoms of BVMD. The pathogenesis of ADVIRC and RP, on the other hand, has been suggested to involve defective Best1 mRNA splicing or defective protein folding or trafficking. We will investigate the function of Best1 in the RPE and the differential pathogenesis of the bestrophinopathies via 3 specific aims.
In aim 1 we will determine whether RPE cells use an anion channel for HCO3- transport and whether Best1 is that channel or a regulator of it.
In aim 2 we will examine the effects of Best1 on RPE Ca2+ signaling and fluid transport.
In aim 3 we will explore the novel pathogenic mechanisms potentially underlying ADVIRC and RP in cultured cells and in new knock-in mouse models. Success in these aims will result in identification of Best1 function and the pathogenic mechanisms of bestrophinopathies beyond our current, limited understanding. It will also provide information and animal models essential for the development and testing of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of these currently incurable eye diseases.

Public Health Relevance

Mutations in the gene BEST1, encoding the protein bestrophin-1 (Best1), cause 5 clinically distinct retinal degenerative eye diseases in man. Understanding the function of Best1 and determining how mutations in Best1 cause disease, is a critical public health objective. Success in this application will set the stage for identification of therapies to prevent or cure vision loss in carriers of BEST1 mutations, and potentially other blinding eye diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY013160-11
Application #
8197184
Study Section
Biology and Diseases of the Posterior Eye Study Section (BDPE)
Program Officer
Shen, Grace L
Project Start
2000-09-01
Project End
2013-11-30
Budget Start
2011-12-01
Budget End
2012-11-30
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$575,844
Indirect Cost
$195,749
Name
University of Arizona
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
806345617
City
Tucson
State
AZ
Country
United States
Zip Code
85721
Stanton, James B; Marmorstein, Alan D; Zhang, Youwen et al. (2017) Deletion of Efemp1 Is Protective Against the Development of Sub-RPE Deposits in Mouse Eyes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 58:1455-1461
Zhang, Youwen; Cross, Samuel D; Stanton, James B et al. (2017) Early AMD-like defects in the RPE and retinal degeneration in aged mice with RPE-specific deletion of Atg5 or Atg7. Mol Vis 23:228-241
Dalvin, Lauren A; Pulido, Jose S; Marmorstein, Alan D (2017) Vitelliform dystrophies: Prevalence in Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States. Ophthalmic Genet 38:143-147
Johnson, Adiv A; Guziewicz, Karina E; Lee, C Justin et al. (2017) Bestrophin 1 and retinal disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 58:45-69
Marmorstein, Alan D; Kinnick, Tyson R; Stanton, J Brett et al. (2015) Bestrophin-1 influences transepithelial electrical properties and Ca2+ signaling in human retinal pigment epithelium. Mol Vis 21:347-59
Johnson, Adiv A; Bachman, Lori A; Gilles, Benjamin J et al. (2015) Autosomal Recessive Bestrophinopathy Is Not Associated With the Loss of Bestrophin-1 Anion Channel Function in a Patient With a Novel BEST1 Mutation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56:4619-30
Lee, Yong S; Marmorstein, Lihua Y; Marmorstein, Alan D (2014) Soluble adenylyl cyclase in the eye. Biochim Biophys Acta 1842:2579-83
Johnson, Adiv A; Lee, Yong-Suk; Chadburn, Andrew J et al. (2014) Disease-causing mutations associated with four bestrophinopathies exhibit disparate effects on the localization, but not the oligomerization, of Bestrophin-1. Exp Eye Res 121:74-85
Johnson, Adiv A; Lee, Yong-Suk; Stanton, J Brett et al. (2013) Differential effects of Best disease causing missense mutations on bestrophin-1 trafficking. Hum Mol Genet 22:4688-97
Woo, Dong Ho; Han, Kyung-Seok; Shim, Jae Wan et al. (2012) TREK-1 and Best1 channels mediate fast and slow glutamate release in astrocytes upon GPCR activation. Cell 151:25-40

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