The glaucomas are a group of vision impairing diseases characterized by progressive optic nerve damage, retinal ganglion cell death, and visual field loss. Risk factors include age, family history, anterior segment dysgenesis, elevated intraocular pressure, and high myopia. The complex nature and constraints of traditional genetic approaches in humans and mammalian model systems has limited the identification of most genes that impact glaucoma. We have developed methodologies and tools in zebrafish to detect and study glaucoma- associated phenotypes in both embryonic and adult zebrafish. We have also isolated mutants that display glaucoma-associated phenotypes. The bugeye mutation is an example in that mutant fish show elevated intraocular pressure, high myopia/buphthalmia, and progressive ganglion cell loss. In the current study we propose experiments to explore the signaling pathways that underlie the ocular phenotypes of bugeye mutants. In addition, we will explore the cell biological basis of the anterior segment and neuronal pathology. Finally, we will study one potential suppressor mutant that we identified through linkage analysis, while also pursuing the identification of other modifier genes of the bugeye phenotypes.

Public Health Relevance

Glaucoma is a significant health problem within the United States and world in general. Due to the complex nature of the disease, a full understanding of the genetic basis and underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease pathology is lacking. In this proposal we describe studies in zebrafish, a relevant model system with many experimental advantages, to understand the genetic susceptibilities and cellular mechanisms of key phenotypes that are associated with glaucoma and that act as risk factors for the disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01EY016060-07
Application #
8184260
Study Section
Anterior Eye Disease Study Section (AED)
Program Officer
Agarwal, Neeraj
Project Start
2004-12-01
Project End
2016-06-30
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$382,500
Indirect Cost
Name
Medical College of Wisconsin
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
937639060
City
Milwaukee
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53226
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Lapierre-Landry, Maryse; Huckenpahler, Alison L; Link, Brian A et al. (2018) Imaging Melanin Distribution in the Zebrafish Retina Using Photothermal Optical Coherence Tomography. Transl Vis Sci Technol 7:4
Wilk, Melissa A; Huckenpahler, Alison L; Collery, Ross F et al. (2017) The Effect of Retinal Melanin on Optical Coherence Tomography Images. Transl Vis Sci Technol 6:8
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Huckenpahler, Alison L; Wilk, Melissa A; Cooper, Robert F et al. (2016) Imaging the adult zebrafish cone mosaic using optical coherence tomography. Vis Neurosci 33:E011
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Yeo, Nan Cher; O'Meara, Caitlin C; Bonomo, Jason A et al. (2015) Shroom3 contributes to the maintenance of the glomerular filtration barrier integrity. Genome Res 25:57-65
Paulus, Jeremiah D; Link, Brian A (2014) Loss of optineurin in vivo results in elevated cell death and alters axonal trafficking dynamics. PLoS One 9:e109922
Tang, Yujie; Gholamin, Sharareh; Schubert, Simone et al. (2014) Epigenetic targeting of Hedgehog pathway transcriptional output through BET bromodomain inhibition. Nat Med 20:732-40
Collery, Ross F; Veth, Kerry N; Dubis, Adam M et al. (2014) Rapid, accurate, and non-invasive measurement of zebrafish axial length and other eye dimensions using SD-OCT allows longitudinal analysis of myopia and emmetropization. PLoS One 9:e110699

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