Showing papers on "MERTK published in 2004"

MERTK arginine-844-cysteine in a patient with severe rod-cone dystrophy: Loss of mutant protein function in transfected cells

Abstract: PURPOSE. Mutations in the MERTK gene are responsible for retinal degeneration in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat and are a cause of human autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP). This study reports the identification and functional analysis of novel MERTK mutations to provide information regarding whether they are causative of severe rod- cone degeneration in a young patient. METHODS. MERTK missense variants identified by single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and sequence analysis were introduced into expression constructs and used to transfect HEK293T cells. Recombinant protein expression was assayed with anti-MERTK and anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. Protein turnover was assayed in pulse-chase studies of 35 S-methionine incorporation. Transcript levels were determined by quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS. Three MERTK sequence variants were identified in a patient with rod-cone dystrophy: R722X in exon 16 and R865W in exon 19 on the paternal allele and R844C in exon 19 on the maternal allele. The R844C sequence change affects an evolutionarily conserved amino acid residue and was not detected in unaffected individuals. In transfected HEK293Tcells, wild-type (wt) and W865 MERTK were expressed at equivalent levels and present in the plasma membrane, stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, and induced significant rounding of the cell bodies. In contrast, C844 MERTK was expressed at low levels and did not stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation. In addition, the relative stability of C844 MERTK was significantly less than wt in assays of protein turnover. At age 13, the patient had 20/60 and 20/200 acuities, tunnel vision of 5° centrally, and a far temporal peripheral crescent bilaterally, and ERGs were nondetectable. The fundi showed bull's-eye macular atrophy and widespread RPE thinning. CONCLUSIONS. The present study reports the identification of R844C, the first putative pathogenic MERTK missense mutation that results in severe retinal degeneration with childhood onset when in compound heterozygous form with a R722X allele. The loss of function of C844 MERTK is probably due to decreased protein stability.

The receptor tyrosine kinase MerTK activates phospholipase C γ2 during recognition of apoptotic thymocytes by murine macrophages

Abstract: Apoptotic leukocytes must be cleared efficiently by macrophages (Mo). Apoptotic cell phagocytosis by Mo requires the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) MerTK (also known as c-Mer and Tyro12), the phosphatidylserine receptor (PS-R), and the classical protein kinase C (PKC) isoform betaII, which translocates to Mo membrane and cytoskeletal fractions in a PS-R-dependent manner. How these molecules cooperate to induce phagocytosis is unknown. As the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase (PI-PLC) gamma2 is downstream of RTKs in some cell types and can activate classical PKCs, we hypothesized that MerTK signals via PLC gamma2. To test this hypothesis, we examined the interaction of MerTK and PLC gamma2 in resident, murine peritoneal (P)Mo and in the murine Mo cell line J774A.1 (J774) following exposure to apoptotic thymocytes. We found that as with PMo, J774 phagocytosis of apoptotic thymocytes was inhibited by antibody against MerTK. Western blotting and immunoprecipitation showed that exposure to apoptotic cells produced three time-dependent changes in PMo and J774: tyrosine phosphorylation of MerTK; association of PLC gamma2 with MerTK; and tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma2. Cross-linking MerTK using antibody also induced phosphorylation of PLC gamma2 and its association with MerTK. A PI-PLC appears to be required for phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, as the PI-PLC inhibitor Et-18-OCH3 and the PLC inhibitor U73122, but not the inactive control U73343, blocked phagocytosis without impairing adhesion. On apoptotic cell adhesion to Mo, MerTK signals at least in part via PLC gamma2.

Prospects for gene therapy.

Abstract: Inherited retinal disease, which includes conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), affects about 1/3000 of the population in the Western world. It is characterized by gradual loss of vision and results from mutations in any one of 60 or so different genes. There are currently no effective treatments, but many of the genes have now been identified and their functions elucidated, providing a major impetus to develop gene-based treatments. Many of the disease genes are photoreceptor- or retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell specific. Since adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors can be used for efficient gene transfer to these two cell types, we are developing AAV-mediated gene therapy approaches for inherited retinal degeneration using animal models that have defects in these cells. The retinal degeneration slow (rds or Prph2Rd2/Rd) mouse, a model of recessive RP, lacks a functional gene encoding peripherin 2, which is a photoreceptor-specific protein required for the formation of outer segment discs. We have previously demonstrated restoration of photoreceptor ultrastructure and function by AAV-mediated gene transfer of peripherin 2. We have now extended our assessment to central visual neuronal responses in order to show an improvement of central visual function. The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat, provides another model of recessive RP. Here the defect is due to a defect in Mertk, a gene that is expressed in the RPE and encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase that is thought to be involved in the recognition and binding of outer segment debris. The gene defect results in the inability of the RPE to phagocytose the shed outer segments from photoreceptor cells. The resulting accumulation of debris between the RPE and the neuroretina leads to progressive loss of photoreceptor cells. AAV-mediated delivery of Mertk to the RPE results in reduction of debris indicating that the phagocytosing function of the RPE is restored and delays the degeneration of the photoreceptor cells 3-4 months. Our results, along with those of other groups support the use of AAV vectors for the treatment of inherited retinal degeneration.