Molecular, Cellular and Functional Changes in the Retinas of Young Adult Mice Lacking the Voltage-Gated K<sup>+</sup> Channel Subunits Kv8.2 and K2.1
Cone Dystrophy with Supernormal Rod Response (CDSRR) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder leading to severe visual impairment in humans, but little is known about its unique pathophysiology. We have previously shown that CDSRR is caused by mutations in the <i>KCNV2</i> (Potassium Volta...
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/9/4877 |
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| author | Xiaotian Jiang Rabab Rashwan Valentina Voigt Jeanne Nerbonne David M. Hunt Livia S. Carvalho |
| author_facet | Xiaotian Jiang Rabab Rashwan Valentina Voigt Jeanne Nerbonne David M. Hunt Livia S. Carvalho |
| author_sort | Xiaotian Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cone Dystrophy with Supernormal Rod Response (CDSRR) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder leading to severe visual impairment in humans, but little is known about its unique pathophysiology. We have previously shown that CDSRR is caused by mutations in the <i>KCNV2</i> (Potassium Voltage-Gated Channel Modifier Subfamily V Member 2) gene encoding the Kv8.2 subunit, a modulatory subunit of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels. In a recent study, we validated a novel mouse model of Kv8.2 deficiency at a late stage of the disease and showed that it replicates the human electroretinogram (ERG) phenotype. In this current study, we focused our investigation on young adult retinas to look for early markers of disease and evaluate their effect on retinal morphology, electrophysiology and immune response in both the Kv8.2 knockout (KO) mouse and in the Kv2.1 KO mouse, the obligate partner of Kv8.2 in functional retinal Kv channels. By evaluating the severity of retinal dystrophy in these KO models, we demonstrated that retinas of Kv KO mice have significantly higher apoptotic cells, a thinner outer nuclear cell layer and increased activated microglia cells in the subretinal space. Our results indicate that in the murine retina, the loss of Kv8.2 subunits contributes to early cellular and physiological changes leading to retinal dysfunction. These results could have potential implications in the early management of CDSRR despite its relatively nonprogressive nature in humans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:41:28Z |
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| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:41:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
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| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-7abb8e0695e74020a6e557f221cd228a2023-11-21T18:25:02ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-05-01229487710.3390/ijms22094877Molecular, Cellular and Functional Changes in the Retinas of Young Adult Mice Lacking the Voltage-Gated K<sup>+</sup> Channel Subunits Kv8.2 and K2.1Xiaotian Jiang0Rabab Rashwan1Valentina Voigt2Jeanne Nerbonne3David M. Hunt4Livia S. Carvalho5Centre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaLions Eye Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, AustraliaLions Eye Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, AustraliaDepartment of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USACentre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaCentre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaCone Dystrophy with Supernormal Rod Response (CDSRR) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder leading to severe visual impairment in humans, but little is known about its unique pathophysiology. We have previously shown that CDSRR is caused by mutations in the <i>KCNV2</i> (Potassium Voltage-Gated Channel Modifier Subfamily V Member 2) gene encoding the Kv8.2 subunit, a modulatory subunit of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels. In a recent study, we validated a novel mouse model of Kv8.2 deficiency at a late stage of the disease and showed that it replicates the human electroretinogram (ERG) phenotype. In this current study, we focused our investigation on young adult retinas to look for early markers of disease and evaluate their effect on retinal morphology, electrophysiology and immune response in both the Kv8.2 knockout (KO) mouse and in the Kv2.1 KO mouse, the obligate partner of Kv8.2 in functional retinal Kv channels. By evaluating the severity of retinal dystrophy in these KO models, we demonstrated that retinas of Kv KO mice have significantly higher apoptotic cells, a thinner outer nuclear cell layer and increased activated microglia cells in the subretinal space. Our results indicate that in the murine retina, the loss of Kv8.2 subunits contributes to early cellular and physiological changes leading to retinal dysfunction. These results could have potential implications in the early management of CDSRR despite its relatively nonprogressive nature in humans.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/9/4877CDSRRcone-rod dystrophy<i>KCNV2</i><i>KCNB1</i>voltage-gated potassium channelsphotoreceptors |
| spellingShingle | Xiaotian Jiang Rabab Rashwan Valentina Voigt Jeanne Nerbonne David M. Hunt Livia S. Carvalho Molecular, Cellular and Functional Changes in the Retinas of Young Adult Mice Lacking the Voltage-Gated K<sup>+</sup> Channel Subunits Kv8.2 and K2.1 International Journal of Molecular Sciences CDSRR cone-rod dystrophy <i>KCNV2</i> <i>KCNB1</i> voltage-gated potassium channels photoreceptors |
| title | Molecular, Cellular and Functional Changes in the Retinas of Young Adult Mice Lacking the Voltage-Gated K<sup>+</sup> Channel Subunits Kv8.2 and K2.1 |
| title_full | Molecular, Cellular and Functional Changes in the Retinas of Young Adult Mice Lacking the Voltage-Gated K<sup>+</sup> Channel Subunits Kv8.2 and K2.1 |
| title_fullStr | Molecular, Cellular and Functional Changes in the Retinas of Young Adult Mice Lacking the Voltage-Gated K<sup>+</sup> Channel Subunits Kv8.2 and K2.1 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular, Cellular and Functional Changes in the Retinas of Young Adult Mice Lacking the Voltage-Gated K<sup>+</sup> Channel Subunits Kv8.2 and K2.1 |
| title_short | Molecular, Cellular and Functional Changes in the Retinas of Young Adult Mice Lacking the Voltage-Gated K<sup>+</sup> Channel Subunits Kv8.2 and K2.1 |
| title_sort | molecular cellular and functional changes in the retinas of young adult mice lacking the voltage gated k sup sup channel subunits kv8 2 and k2 1 |
| topic | CDSRR cone-rod dystrophy <i>KCNV2</i> <i>KCNB1</i> voltage-gated potassium channels photoreceptors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/9/4877 |
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