Distinct patterns of expression of the RB gene family in mouse and human retina

Gene Expr Patterns. 2005 Jun;5(5):687-94. doi: 10.1016/j.modgep.2005.02.003. Epub 2005 Apr 9.

Abstract

Although RB1 function is disrupted in the majority of human cancers, an undefined cell of developing human retina is uniquely sensitive to cancer induction when the RB1 tumor suppressor gene is lost. Murine retinoblastoma is initiated only when two of the RB family of genes, RB1 and p107 or p130, are inactivated. Although whole embryonic retina shows RB family gene expression by several techniques, when E14 developing retina was depleted of the earliest differentiating cells, ganglion cells, the remaining proliferating murine embryonic retinal progenitor cells clearly did not express RB1 or p130, while the longer splice form of p107 was expressed. Each retinal cell type expressed some member of the RB family at some stage of differentiation. Rod photoreceptors stained for the RB1 protein product, pRB, and p107 in only a brief window of postnatal murine development, with no detectable staining for any of the RB family proteins in adult human and mouse rod photoreceptors. Adult mouse and human Muller glia, ganglion and rare horizontal cells, and adult human, but not adult mouse, cone photoreceptors stained for pRB. The RB gene family is dynamically and variably expressed through retinal development in specific retinal cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nuclear Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Retina / embryology*
  • Retina / metabolism*
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / embryology*
  • Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / metabolism
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / biosynthesis*
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / genetics*
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / metabolism
  • Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p107
  • Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proteins
  • RBL1 protein, human
  • RBL2 protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rbl2 protein, mouse
  • Retinoblastoma Protein
  • Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p107
  • Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130