Aguirre, Gustavo
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Disciplines
Medical Genetics
Ophthalmology
Veterinary Medicine
Ophthalmology
Veterinary Medicine
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Position
Professor of Medical Genetics and Ophthalmology
Introduction
Description of research: research is directed to identifying the genetic causes of inherited blindness, identifying the mechanisms linking mutation to disease, and developing treatment approaches. Studies are done in the dog model which is affected a large variety of inherited photoreceptor diseases that are now being characterized at the molecular level. For "disease hunting" work, we have used two general approaches. The first, phenotype directed candidate gene analysis, directs selection of a small subset of candidate genes that, when mutated, would be expected to result in the observed phenotype. The second approach utilizes informative pedigree resources we have developed to carry out genome wide scans to identify the disease bearing chromosomal region. Subsequently, positional cloning of the gene and identification of the causative mutation is carried out. Once the genes and mutations are identified, we use molecular and proteomic approaches to examine the disease mechanism. In parallel, gene based therapies are developed with the goal of restoring function and preventing the degeneration of the mutant photoreceptor cells.
Research Interests
Molecular bases of inherited blindness
Collection
82 results
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Publication Radiation Hybrid Mapping of Cataract Genes in the Dog(2006-05-24) Hunter, Linda S; Aguirre, Gustavo D; Sidjanin, Duska J; Johnson, Jennifer L; Zangerl, Barbara; Galibert, Francis; Andre, Catherine; Kirkness, Ewen; Talamas, Elijah; Acland, Gregory MPurpose: To facilitate the molecular characterization of naturally occurring cataracts in dogs by providing the radiation hybrid location of 21 cataract-associated genes along with their closely associated polymorphic markers. These can be used for segregation testing of the candidate genes in canine cataract pedigrees. Methods: Twenty-one genes with known mutations causing hereditary cataracts in man and/or mouse were selected and mapped to canine chromosomes using a canine:hamster radiation hybrid RH5000 panel. Each cataract gene ortholog was mapped in relation to over 3,000 markers including microsatellites, ESTs, genes, and BAC clones. The resulting independently determined RH-map locations were compared with the corresponding gene locations from the draft sequence of the canine genome. Results: Twenty-one cataract orthologs were mapped to canine chromosomes. The genetic locations and nearest polymorphic markers were determined for 20 of these orthologs. In addition, the resulting cataract gene locations, as determined experimentally by this study, were compared with those determined by the canine genome project. All genes mapped within or near chromosomal locations with previously established homology to the corresponding human gene locations based on canine:human chromosomal synteny. Conclusions: The location of selected cataract gene orthologs in the dog, along with their nearest polymorphic markers, serves as a resource for association and linkage testing in canine pedigrees segregating inherited cataracts. The recent development of canine genomic resources make canine models a practical and valuable resource for the study of human hereditary cataracts. Canine models can serve as large animal models intermediate between mouse and man for both gene discovery and the development of novel cataract therapies.Publication Exonic SINE Insertion in STK38L Causes Canine Early Retinal Degeneration (erd)(2010-12-01) Goldstein, Orly; Aguirre, Gustavo D; Kukekova, Anna V; Acland, Gregory MFine mapping followed by candidate gene analysis of erd — a canine hereditary retinal degeneration characterized by aberrant photoreceptor development — established that the disease cosegregates with a SINE insertion in exon 4 of the canine STK38L/NDR2 gene. The mutation removes exon 4 from STK38L transcripts and is predicted to remove much of the N terminus from the translated protein, including binding sites for S100B and Mob proteins, part of the protein kinase domain, and a Thr-75 residue critical for autophosphorylation. Although known to have roles in neuronal cell function, the STK38L pathway has not previously been implicated in normal or abnormal photoreceptor development. Loss of STK38L function in erd provides novel potential insights into the role of the STK38L pathway in neuronal and photoreceptor cell function, and suggests that genes in this pathway need to be considered as candidate genes for hereditary retinal degenerations.Publication Canine Multifocal Retinopathy in the Australian Shepherd: A Case Report(2012-09-01) Guziewicz, Karina E; Aguirre, Gustavo D; Hoffmann, Ingo; Zangerl, Barbara; Mardin, Christian YA 1-year-old Australian Shepherd (AS) was presented for a routine hereditary eye examination. During the examination multiple raised, brown to orange lesions were noted in the fundus, which could not be attributed to a known retinal disease in this breed. As they clinically most closely resembled canine multifocal retinopathy (cmr) and no indication of an acquired condition was found, genetic tests for BEST1 gene mutations were performed. These showed the dog to be homozygous for the cmr1 (C73T/R25X) gene defect. Furthermore, ultrasound (US), electroretinography (ERG), and optical coherence tomography were performed, confirming changes typical for cmr. Subsequently, the AS pedigree members were genetically and clinically tested, demonstrating autosomal recessive inheritance with no clinical symptoms in carrier animals, as was previously described for cmr. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of canine multifocal retinopathy in the AS breed. Further investigations are under way.Publication Linkage Disequilibrium Mapping in Domestic Dog Breeds Narrows the Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration Interval and Identifies Ancestral Disease-Transmitting Chromosome(2006-11-01) Zangerl, Barbara; Aguirre, Gustavo D; Goldstein, Orly; Pearce-Kelling, Sue; Sidjanin, Duska J; Kijas, James W; Felix, Jeanette; Acland, Gregory MCanine progressive rod–cone degeneration (prcd) is a retinal disease previously mapped to a broad, gene-rich centromeric region of canine chromosome 9. As allelic disorders are present in multiple breeds, we used linkage disequilibrium (LD) to narrow the ∼6.4-Mb interval candidate region. Multiple dog breeds, each representing genetically isolated populations, were typed for SNPs and other polymorphisms identified from BACs. The candidate region was initially localized to a 1.5-Mb zero recombination interval between growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2) and SEC14-like 1 (SEC14L). A fine-scale haplotype of the region was developed, which reduced the LD interval to 106 kb and identified a conserved haplotype of 98 polymorphisms present in all prcd-affected chromosomes from 14 different dog breeds. The findings strongly suggest that a common ancestor transmitted the prcd disease allele to many of the modern dog breeds and demonstrate the power of the LD approach in the canine model.Publication Bestrophin Gene Mutations Cause Canine Multifocal Retinopathy: A Novel Animal Model for Best Disease(2007-05-01) Guziewicz, Karina E; Zangerl, Barbara; Lindauer, Sarah J; Mullins, Robert F; Sandmeyer, Lynne S; Grahn, Bruce H; Stone, Edwin M; Acland, Gregory MPURPOSE. Canine multifocal retinopathy (cmr) is an autosomal recessive disorder of multiple dog breeds. The disease shares a number of clinical and pathologic similarities with Best macular dystrophy (BMD), and cmr is proposed as a new large animal model for Best disease. METHODS. cmr was characterized by ophthalmoscopy and histopathology and compared with BMD-affected patients. BEST1 (alias VMD2), the bestrophin gene causally associated with BMD, was evaluated in the dog. Canine ortholog cDNA sequence was cloned and verified using RPE/choroid 5′- and 3′-RACE. Expression of the canine gene transcripts and protein was analyzed by Northern and Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. All exons and the flanking splice junctions were screened by direct sequencing. RESULTS. The clinical phenotype and pathology of cmr closely resemble lesions of BMD. Canine VMD2 spans 13.7 kb of genomic DNA on CFA18 and shows a high level of conservation among eukaryotes. The transcript is predominantly expressed in RPE/choroid and encodes bestrophin, a 580-amino acid protein of 66 kDa. Immunocytochemistry of normal canine retina demonstrated specific localization of protein to the RPE basolateral plasma membranes. Two disease-specific sequence alterations were identified in the canine VMD2 gene: a C73T stop mutation in cmr1 and a G482A missense mutation in cmr2. CONCLUSIONS. The authors propose these two spontaneous mutations in the canine VMD2 gene, which cause cmr, as the first naturally occurring animal model of BMD. Further development of the cmr models will permit elucidation of the complex molecular mechanism of these retinopathies and the development of potential therapies.Publication Calcium Channel Blocker D-cis-Diltiazem Does Not Slow Retinal Degeneration in the PDE6B Mutant rcd1 Canine Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa(2001-02-25) Aleman, Tomas S; Aguirre, Gustavo D; Pearce-Kelling, Susan E; Laties, Alan M; Jacobson, Samuel G; Nickle, Amanda; Acland, Gregory MPurpose: D-cis-diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, has been reported to enhance photoreceptor survival in the rd mouse, a model of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) resulting from mutation of the PDE6B gene. We tested the hypothesis that diltiazem treatment would similarly rescue the canine rcd1 model of RP, which is also caused by a null mutation in the PDE6B gene. Methods: D-cis-diltiazem was delivered orally twice daily to rcd1 affected dogs beginning at 4 weeks of age; untreated age-matched rcd1 dogs served as controls. At 14 weeks, electroretinograms (ERG) were performed on all animals; 14 dogs were euthanized at this age, and 2 dogs at 25 weeks of age. Eyes were enucleated, fixed, and processed for routine histological examination. Results: No significant differences were found in ERG or histopathologic parameters between diltiazem-treated and untreated rcd1 dogs. Neither rcd1 group showed a rod b-wave; ERGs evoked by single white flashes (dark- or light-adapted) and flicker were also identical between groups. Similarly, treated and untreated animals did not differ in the degree of preservation of the photoreceptor layer, confirmed in cell counts within the outer nuclear layer. Conclusions: Treatment of rcd1 affected dogs with D-cis-diltiazem did not modify the photoreceptor disease when results were assessed using either ERG or histopathologic criteria. The positive photoreceptor-rescue effect of calcium channel blockers reported in the rd mouse was thus not generalizable to another species with retinal degeneration due to mutation in the PDE6B gene. Caution needs to be exerted in extrapolation to the comparable human forms of RP.Publication Identical Mutation in a Novel Retinal Gene Causes Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration in Dogs and Retinitis Pigmentosa in Humans(2006-11-01) Zangerl, Barbara; Aguirre, Gustavo D; Goldstein, Orly; Philip, Alisdair R; Lindauer, Sarah J. P; Pearce-Kelling, Susan E; Mullins, Roberts F; Graphodatsky, Alexander S; Ripoll, Daniel; Felix, Jeanette S; Stone, Edwin M; Acland, Gregory MProgressive rod–cone degeneration (prcd) is a late-onset, autosomal recessive photoreceptor degeneration of dogs and a homolog for some forms of human retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Previously, the disease-relevant interval was reduced to a 106-kb region on CFA9, and a common phenotype-specific haplotype was identified in all affected dogs from several different breeds and breed varieties. Screening of a canine retinal EST library identified partial cDNAs for novel candidate genes in the disease-relevant interval. The complete cDNA of one of these, PRCD, was cloned in dog, human, and mouse. The gene codes for a 54-amino-acid (aa) protein in dog and human and a 53-aa protein in the mouse; the first 24 aa, coded for by exon 1, are highly conserved in 14 vertebrate species. A homozygous mutation (TGC → TAC) in the second codon shows complete concordance with the disorder in 18 different dog breeds/breed varieties tested. The same homozygous mutation was identified in a human patient from Bangladesh with autosomal recessive RP. Expression studies support the predominant expression of this gene in the retina, with equal expression in the retinal pigment epithelium, photoreceptor, and ganglion cell layers. This study provides strong evidence that a mutation in the novel gene PRCD is the cause of autosomal recessive retinal degeneration in both dogs and humans.Publication Characterization of Gene Expression Profiles of Normal Canine Retina and Brain Using a Retinal cDNA Microarray(2006-09-07) Paez, Gerardo L; Aguirre, Gustavo D; Sellers, Kimberly F; Band, Mark; Acland, Gregory M; Zangerl, BarbaraPurpose: Construction of a canine retinal custom cDNA microarray for comprehensive retinal gene expression profiling and application for the identification of genes that are preferentially expressed in the retina and brain lobes using a brain pool reference tissue. Methods: A cDNA microarray was constructed utilizing clones obtained from a normalized canine retinal expressed sequence tag library. Gene expression profiles were analyzed for normal retina, as well as the cortex of the frontal, occipital, and temporal brain regions. Each sample was studied against a reference sample of pooled brain RNA. Data from a quantified scanned image were normalized using the loess subgrid procedure. Retina-enriched genes were identified using the Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) algorithm, and confirmed by northern blot analyses for selected genes. Differences between biological samples were displayed using principal component analysis (PCA). Results: Expression profiles for each tissue set were analyzed against the common reference of pooled brain. Changes in expression between the sample and the reference were higher in the retina (27.9%) than the individual brain tissues (2-6.6%). Furthermore, all individual retinal samples were clearly separated from any of the hybridizations using brain tissue in the PCA. The accuracy of observed changes in expression has been confirmed by northern blot analysis using five randomly chosen genes that represented a wide range of different expression levels between retina and brain. Conclusions: We have established an accurate and robust microarray system suitable for the investigation of expression patterns in the retina and brain. Characterization of the gene expression profiles in normal retina will facilitate the understanding of the processes that underline differences between normal and diseased retinas.Publication A Digital Atlas of the Dog Brain(2012-12-20) Datta, Ritobrato; Lee, Jongho; Avants, Brian B; Vite, Charles H; Gee, Jim C; Aguirre, Geoffrey K; Duda, Jeffrey; Tseng, BenThere is a long history and a growing interest in the canine as a subject of study in neuroscience research and in translational neurology. In the last few years, anatomical and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of awake and anesthetized dogs have been reported. Such efforts can be enhanced by a population atlas of canine brain anatomy to implement group analyses. Here we present a canine brain atlas derived as the diffeomorphic average of a population of fifteen mesaticephalic dogs. The atlas includes: 1) A brain template derived from in-vivo, T1-weighted imaging at 1 mm isotropic resolution at 3 Tesla (with and without the soft tissues of the head); 2) A co-registered, high-resolution (0.33 mm isotropic) template created from imaging of ex-vivo brains at 7 Tesla; 3) A surface representation of the gray matter/white matter boundary of the high-resolution atlas (including labeling of gyral and sulcal features). The properties of the atlas are considered in relation to historical nomenclature and the evolutionary taxonomy of the Canini tribe. The atlas is available for download (https://cfn.upenn.edu/aguirre/wiki/public:data_plosone_2012_datta).Publication Development and Validation of a Canine-Specific Profiling Array to Examine Expression of Pro-Apoptotic and Pro-Survival Genes in Retinal Degenerative Diseases(2012-01-01) Genini, Sem; Beltran, WilliamWe developed an expression profiling array to examine pro-apoptotic and pro-survival genes in dog retinal degeneration models. Gene-specific canine TaqMan assays were developed and included in a custom real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) array. Of the 96 selected genes, 93 belonged to known relevant pro-apoptotic and pro-survival pathways, and/or were positive controls expressed in retina, while three were housekeeping genes. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) showed that the selected genes belonged to expected biological functions (cell death, cell-mediated immune response, cellular development, function, and maintenance) and pathways (death receptor signaling, apoptosis, TNFR1 signaling, and induction of apoptosis by HIV1). Validation of the profiling array was performed with RNA extracted from cultured MDCK cells in the presence or absence of treatment with 10 μM staurosporin for 5 or 10 h. The vast majority of the genes showed positive amplifications, and a number of them also had fold change (FC) differences > ±3 between control and staurosporin-treated cells. To conclude, we established a profiling array that will be used to identify differentially expressed genes associated with photoreceptor death or survival in canine models of retinal degenerative diseases with mutations in genes that cause human inherited blindness with comparable phenotypes.