Nanophthalmos is a rare developmental disorder in which the eye is much smaller than normal, and the retina is placed unusually close to the lens. The result of this is profound hyperopia (farsightedness) in the range of +8 to +24 diopters, a condition apparent at birth and maintained throughout life. The eye is formed intact and functional, typically without disorders elsewhere in the body. This is in contrast to microphthalmia, in which small eyes are associated with more serious structural malformations. The nanophthalmic eye exhibits a thick iris and a lens displaced towards the anterior chamber, features thought to contribute to the high incidence of angle closure glaucoma among these patients. Another characteristic of the disease is massive thickening of the choroid and sclera, which may be associated with a tendency of the eye to develop exudative retinal detachment, especially as a complication of glaucoma or cataract surgery. The disease is usually inherited as an autosomal recessive. There is also an autosomal dominant form of the disease, which has recently been mapped by genetic linkage to an interval on chromosome 11p. The identity of this gene remains unknown, and no locus has yet been reported for the recessive form of the disease. This application focuses on detailed linkage mapping and isolation of the gene for recessive nanophthalmos. Once this is accomplished, we will investigate its pattern of expression and the subcellular localization of the gene product. Identification of a gene for nanophthalmos would provide a starting point for the genetic diagnosis and rational development of treatments for this rare ocular disease. It also promises insights into the developmental mechanisms by which the eye normally regulates its size and shape in order to adjust its optical properties.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01EY013610-01
Application #
6369212
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Program Officer
Oberdorfer, Michael
Project Start
2001-08-15
Project End
2004-06-30
Budget Start
2001-08-15
Budget End
2002-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$281,045
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
045911138
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
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Wasmann, Rosemarie A; Wassink-Ruiter, Jolien S Klein; Sundin, Olof H et al. (2014) Novel membrane frizzled-related protein gene mutation as cause of posterior microphthalmia resulting in high hyperopia with macular folds. Acta Ophthalmol 92:276-81
Sundin, Olof H; Dharmaraj, Sharola; Bhutto, Imran A et al. (2008) Developmental basis of nanophthalmos: MFRP Is required for both prenatal ocular growth and postnatal emmetropization. Ophthalmic Genet 29:1-9
Sundin, Olof H; Jun, Albert S; Broman, Karl W et al. (2006) Linkage of late-onset Fuchs corneal dystrophy to a novel locus at 13pTel-13q12.13. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 47:140-5
Abouzeid, H; Li, Y; Maumenee, I H et al. (2006) A G1103R mutation in CRB1 is co-inherited with high hyperopia and Leber congenital amaurosis. Ophthalmic Genet 27:15-20
Sundin, Olof H; Leppert, Gregory S; Silva, Eduardo D et al. (2005) Extreme hyperopia is the result of null mutations in MFRP, which encodes a Frizzled-related protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102:9553-8