Scleral gene expression during recovery from myopia compared with expression during myopia development in tree shrew

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Developmental Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• The sclera's biochemical properties are modulated by retinal signals during postnatal refractive development.
• Hyperopic refractive error triggers
• GO
• signals, promoting scleral remodeling and axial eye elongation.
• Myopic refractive error generates
• STOP
• signals, inducing scleral remodeling to slow axial elongation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the scleral gene expression patterns induced by
• STOP
• signals with the previously identified
• GO
• gene expression signature.

Main Methods:

• Monocular lens wear (-5 D) for 2 or 4 days induced
• GO
• signals.
• Recovery from lens wear for 2 or 4 days simulated
• STOP
• signals.
• Quantitative real-time PCR analyzed mRNA levels of 55 candidate genes in sclera.

Main Results:

• The
• GO
• condition (lens wear) showed some gene downregulation.
• The
• STOP
• condition (recovery) exhibited a distinct gene expression pattern, primarily involving upregulation.
• Eight genes demonstrated significant bidirectional regulation in both
• GO
• and
• STOP
• conditions.

Conclusions:

• Scleral remodeling and axial length control involve numerous genes.
• The
• STOP
• gene expression signature shares some bidirectionally regulated genes with the
• GO
• signature.
• Distinct sets of genes are regulated uniquely in either the
• GO
• or
• STOP
• conditions.