Figures
Abstract
Mutations in low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (Lrp5) impair retinal angiogenesis in patients with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), a rare type of blinding vascular eye disease. The defective retinal vasculature phenotype in human FEVR patients is recapitulated in Lrp5 knockout (Lrp5−/−) mouse with delayed and incomplete development of retinal vessels. In this study we examined gene expression changes in the developing Lrp5−/− mouse retina to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms that underlie the pathology of FEVR in humans. Gene expression levels were assessed with an Illumina microarray on total RNA from Lrp5−/− and WT retinas isolated on postnatal day (P) 8. Regulated genes were confirmed using RT-qPCR analysis. Consistent with a role in vascular development, we identified expression changes in genes involved in cell-cell adhesion, blood vessel morphogenesis and membrane transport in Lrp5−/− retina compared to WT retina. In particular, tight junction protein claudin5 and amino acid transporter slc38a5 are both highly down-regulated in Lrp5−/− retina. Similarly, several Wnt ligands including Wnt7b show decreased expression levels. Plasmalemma vesicle associated protein (plvap), an endothelial permeability marker, in contrast, is up-regulated consistent with increased permeability in Lrp5−/− retinas. Together these data suggest that Lrp5 regulates multiple groups of genes that influence retinal angiogenesis and may contribute to the pathogenesis of FEVR.
Citation: Chen J, Stahl A, Krah NM, Seaward MR, Joyal J-S, Juan AM, et al. (2012) Retinal Expression of Wnt-Pathway Mediated Genes in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein 5 (Lrp5) Knockout Mice. PLoS ONE 7(1): e30203. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0030203
Editor: Amy C. Y. Lo, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Received: August 23, 2011; Accepted: December 12, 2011; Published: January 17, 2012
Copyright: © 2012 Chen et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Funding: This work was supported by funding from Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Children's Hospital Boston Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research Innovation Fund, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Charles H. Hood Foundation Child Health Research Award (to JC), National Institutes of Health (EY017017, EY017017-04S1), V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation, Children's Hospital Boston Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Research to Prevent Blindness Senior Investigator Award, Alcon Research Institute Award, MacTel Foundation and Roche Foundation for Anemia Research (LEHS). AS is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. PS holds a Canada Research Chair in Retinal Cell Biology and is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Microarray studies were performed by the Molecular Genetics Core Facility at Children's Hospital Boston supported by NIH-P50-NS40828, and NIH-P30-HD18655. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Introduction
Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a rare hereditary eye disease with abnormalities in retinal vascular development [1]. Retinal blood vessel development in humans normally starts during the fourth month of gestation and is completed just before birth [2], [3]. Infants with FEVR, in contrast, are born with an incomplete retinal vasculature, leaving the peripheral retina avascular. At the same time, hyaloid vessels, an embryonic ocular vascular bed that normally regresses after birth, persists in FEVR patients [4]. In the most severe cases of FEVR, blindness results from tractional retinal detachments as a consequence of hypoxia-induced neovascularization secondary to incomplete retinal vascularization. Similar abnormalities in retinal vasculature are also observed in patients with X-linked Norrie disease [5], [6].
Genetic studies have linked FEVR, Norrie disease and Coats' disease with mutations in genes encoding components of the Wnt signaling pathway, known to be involved in development and disease [7], [8], [9]. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (Lrp5), a Wnt co-receptor, is implicated in both autosomal dominant and recessive forms of FEVR [10], [11]. In addition, the Wnt receptor frizzled4 is linked to autosomal dominant FEVR [12], [13], and the Wnt ligand Norrin is associated with Norrie disease, Coats' disease and X-linked recessive FEVR [14], [15], [16]. Canonical Wnt signaling starts with binding of Wnt ligands, a group of small proteins to an activated Wnt receptor complex composed of Frizzled and Lrp5/6. Wnt ligand binding stabilizes β-catenin in the cytoplasm of the activated cell from where it translocates to the nucleus and binds nuclear T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) to control activation of Wnt-responsive genes [8].
The ocular phenotype of human FEVR disease is replicated in Lrp5 deficient mice [17], [18]. In addition, Lrp5−/− mice also have low bone density and persistent embryonic hyaloid vessels in the eye [17], [18], recapitulating human autosomal-recessive osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome (OPPG), a form of FEVR. In contrast to humans, retinal vasculature in mice develops postnatally which makes the Lrp5−/− mouse a useful experimental model for studying Wnt signaling and the pathogenesis of FEVR [19], [20]. Similar to human FEVR patients, the retina of Lrp5−/− mice displays delayed vessel growth in the peripheral retina [21] and lack of deep layers of retinal capillary networks [19], [20]. Inadequate vascularization in the retina contributes to the subsequent formation of hypoxia-driven microaneurysm-like vascular lesions [22], also mimicking those observed in human FEVR patients. As additional proof that the Wnt pathway is important in the pathologic events leading to FEVR, delayed and incomplete retinal vascular development is also observed in Norrin−/− and Frizzled4−/− mice [16], [23] which lack other elements of the Wnt pathway.
The purpose of this study is to analyze gene expression changes triggered by the absence of Wnt signaling in Lrp5−/− mouse retinas. Analysis of gene expression in a mouse model of FEVR is important considering that there is no human retinal expression data available in FEVR patients. Since Lrp5−/− retinas lack the Lrp5-mediated activation of Wnt-responsive genes, any differentially regulated genes identified between WT and Lrp5−/− mouse can be potential mediators of Wnt-driven regulation of retinal blood vessel growth. Detailed analysis of these differentially regulated genes therefore has the potential to help elucidate the molecular events leading to the defective retinal vascular phenotype observed in human FEVR patients.
Results
Delayed retinal vascular development and persistent hyaloid vessels in Lrp5−/− mice
Characterization of Lrp5−/− retinas revealed delayed outgrowth of the superficial capillary network at P8 with retinal vessels covering 69.3±2.7% of the total retinal area, compared with 92.2±1.5% in WT retinas (n = 5–10 per group; p≤0.0001, Fig. 1A), suggesting that loss of Lrp5 causes delayed retinal vascular growth, similar to that seen in Norrin−/− and Frizzled4−/− retinas [21], [23]. As the retinal vasculature develops, hyaloid vessels, an embryonic vascular bed that provides nutrients to the developing lens, normally regress after birth. In Lrp5−/− eyes, however, persistent hyaloid vessels are seen at P8 compared with WT retina (Fig. 1B), suggesting a defect in hyaloid regression in the absence of Lrp5.
(A) Left: retinal whole mounts stained with isolectin B4-594 from WT and Lrp5 null mice at post-natal day (P) 8. Right: quantification of vascularized retinal area in WT and Lrp5 null mice at P8. n = 5–10 per group, ***p<0.001. (B) Retinal cross sections of WT mice and Lrp5 null mice at P8 stained for endothelial cells with isolectin B4-594 (red) and cell nuclei (DAPI, blue). Arrows indicate persistent hyaloid vessels in Lrp5 null retina. Scale bars: 500 µm.
Defective retinal vasculature and lack of deep layer vascular networks in Lrp5−/− retina
At P12, Lrp5−/− retinas start to develop dilated vessels with enlarged microaneurysm-like lesions in the superficial layer (Fig. 2A). Progression of these lesions is seen at P17 (Fig. 2A), and the lesions persist into adulthood [22]. Development of intermediate and deep retinal capillary networks in inner and outer plexiform layers normally begins around P8 and is completed by P21 in WT mice. However, Lrp5−/− retinas fail to form these deeper layers of capillary vessels, as shown in retinal cross sections of adult mice (Fig. 2B). A similar absence of the retinal vascular network has also been reported in homozygous Lrp5r18 mice with frame shift mutation [19], [20], suggesting that Lrp5 is required for sprouting angiogenesis in the deep layers of the retinal capillary bed.
(A) Retinal whole mounts of WT and Lrp5 null mice stained for endothelial cells with isolectin B4-594 at P12 and 17. Enlarged images highlight the abnormal vessel growth in the Lrp5 null retina. (B) Retinal cross sections from P30 WT and Lrp5 null mice stained for endothelial cells with isolectin B4-594 (red) and cell nuclei with DAPI (blue). Arrows indicate deep layers of retinal vasculature which is present in WT retina but absent in Lrp5 null retina. (C) Cross sections of the forebrain from P8 WT and Lrp5 null mice with endothelial cells stained with isolectin B4-594. Scale bar: 100 µm.
Decreased vascular density in Lrp5−/− brain
The decreased vascular growth in the retina likely reflects reduced overall vascular density in the central nervous system. We stained brain sections from Lrp5−/− and WT mice with isolectin to assess brain vessel density. At P8, vascular density in the forebrain is less in Lrp5−/− mice compared with wild type mice (Fig. 2C). Defective CNS angiogenesis is also observed in Frizzled4−/− mice [16], as well as in Wnt7a−/− and Wnt7b−/− mice with disruption of Wnt signaling [24], [25], suggesting that the Wnt signaling pathway is critical for blood vessel growth in the central nervous system. This agrees with the clinical observations in Norrie disease patients with vascular defects in the cerebellum, impaired motor skills and mental retardation [6].
Expression of Lrp5, Norrin, Frizzled4 and Disheveled during development of wild type retina
To understand the temporal expression of Wnt ligands and receptors in the retina, we assessed expression levels of the Wnt ligand Norrin as well as expression of the receptors Frizzled4 and Lrp5 during normal development in wild type mouse retina. From P1 to P17, Lrp5 mRNA expression decreases (Fig. 3A), consistent with a role for Lrp5 during neovessel development as opposed to expression in mature vessels [22]. In contrast, the expression level of Wnt receptor Frizzled4 tends to increase as the retina develops (Fig. 3B). Norrin expression levels, on the other hand, remains relatively unchanged from P1 to P17 (Fig. 3C). These changes may reflect complex interactions between multiple Wnt ligands and receptors that occur during retinal development. Other Wnt ligands such as Wnt7b, and Frizzled receptors other than Frizzled4, eg. Frizzled5, are also important for vascular and neuronal development in the eye, and may interact with Lrp5 [26], [27]. In addition, Norrin and Frizzled4 may also bind Lrp6, another Wnt co-receptor with essential functions for eye development [28]. Moreover, we also assessed expression of disheveled (Dvl), a cytoplasmatic phospho-protein that is required for Wnt signaling. Dvl2 shows remarkably similar decreasing expression pattern as Lrp5, while as Dvl1 and Dvl3 does not show substantial changes during development (Figure 3D, E, F).
Quantification of mRNA (A) Lrp5, (B) Norrin, (C) Frizzled4, (D) Dvl1, (E) Dvl2, and (F) Dlv3 was performed with RT-qPCR during normal retinal development from P1-P17. Expression levels were normalized against house keeping gene Cyclophilin A. Trend lines were fitted with polynomial, linear or power regression.
Differential expression of retinal genes in Lrp5−/− eye
To assess candidate genes differentially expressed in Lrp5−/− retinas, we examined a gene expression microarray (Illumina mouse-6 expression BeadChip) of P8 Lrp5−/− retinas and WT control retinas (n = 3 per group). P8 is chosen because the development of deeper retinal vessel networks, defective in Lrp5−/− retina, begins at P8. Among ∼45,000 probe sequences on the array, 11,790 expressed probes were detected. After initial quality control, background analysis and normalization with Bead Studio software, the array data was further analyzed using the SAM program (Significant Analysis of Microarray) [29]. Using p<0.05 and a 1.3 fold change cutoff between gene expression in Lrp5−/− compared to WT retinas with an estimated false discovery rate of ∼19%, we identified 80 genes down-regulated and 13 genes up-regulated. These genes were grouped using Gene Ontology and the most significantly regulated gene groups are summarized in Table 1. Among the most altered are cell adhesion molecules, membrane transporters, and molecules involved in blood vessel growth and morphogenesis. Tight junction protein claudin5 (Cln5), an endothelial specific protein that plays a critical role in maintaining blood retinal barrier (BRB) [30], is significantly down-regulated about 9 fold in Lrp5−/− retina. Slc38a5 (solute carrier family 38, member 5), a system N sodium-coupled amino acid transporter, is similarly down-regulated 7 fold. Other mRNAs down-regulated in Lrp5−/− retinas include major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2 (Mfsd2) (∼3 fold), gap junction membrane channel protein alpha 1 (Gja1) (∼2 fold) and transcription factor Sox18 (∼1.4 fold). Two mRNAs significantly up-regulated in Lrp5−/− retinas are plasmalemma vesicle associated protein (Plvap), a marker for fenestrated blood vessel associated with increased vascular permeability [31], [32], and epithelial membrane protein 1 (EMP1). To illustrate expression levels of identified genes, heat maps were generated for claudin family proteins, membrane transporters, cell adhesion proteins and blood vessel growth factors (Fig. 4). Among 10 members of the claudin family of genes, only Cln5 is significantly regulated in the absence of Lrp5. The down-regulation of tight junction protein Cln5 and increased expression of Plvap are consistent with the observed increased vascular permeability in Lrp5−/− retinas [20], [22]. It is important to note that several of the most significantly regulated genes (Cln5, Scl38a5, Mfsd2, Plvap) are also similarly regulated in Norrin−/− retinas [33] (Table 2), suggesting the possibility that the related retinal vascular phenotype observed in Lrp5−/− and Norrin−/− mice is mediated by common molecular mechanisms in the absence of different Wnt signaling pathway components.
Heat maps illustrate the results of a gene array run from whole retinal total mRNA. The most regulated families of genes were (A) claudin family genes, (B) membrane transport genes, (C) angiogenic regulatory genes, and (D) cell adhesion/cell-cell junction genes. Each sample is represented by a block: either wild-type (WT) samples 1 through 3, and Lrp5 null samples 1–3. Relative down-regulation of expression in Lrp5 null retina compared to WT retina is represented by green, while relative up-regulation is in red. No relative regulation is black (See scale on Figure).
Validation of selected genes with RT-qPCR
To validate the genes identified with microarray analysis, we performed RT-qPCR to assess mRNA expression level of selected genes. This analysis confirmed Cln5 and Slc38a5 mRNA levels to be significantly down-regulated in Lrp5−/− retinas, by 5 fold and 6 fold respectively (Fig. 5A). Significant down-regulation was also verified for Gja1 (∼3 fold), Mfsd2 (∼5 fold) using RT-qPCR (Fig. 5B). Transcription factor Sox18 is significantly down-regulated on qPCR (∼1.5 fold), with vWF showing a trend of down –regulation (1.4 fold) (Fig. 5B). Similarly, qPCR analysis validated increased expression of Plvap (∼4 fold) in Lrp5−/− retinas (Fig. 5C). The increased regulation of EMP1 can not be confirmed with RT-qPCR, suggesting that EMP1 is likely one of the false positive discovery from gene array. Together these data confirm differential expression of the top candidate genes identified with microarray in Lrp5−/− retinas. Expression levels of these genes are likely regulated either directly as transcription targets of Wnt signaling in cells that normally express LRP5, or through secondary effects responding to primary changes in retinal vascular and neuronal defects in the absence of Lrp5.
Quantification of mRNA (A) Cln5 and Slc38a5, (B) Gja1, Msfd2, Sox18, and vWF, and (C) Plvap and EMP1 in WT and Lrp5 null retina with RT-qPCR at P8. Expression levels were normalized against housekeeping gene Cyclophilin A. *p<0.05, **p<0.01.
Regulation of Wnt ligands in Lrp5−/− retina
To assess whether components of the Wnt pathway are regulated in Lrp5−/− retinas, we assessed Wnt ligands, receptors and other downstream effectors in gene array and found no substantial changes (Fig. S1). In order to corroborate these findings, we screened with RT-qPCR expression levels of several Wnt ligands in Lrp5−/− and WT retinas at P8. Interestingly we found Norrin levels to be slightly increased in Lrp5−/− retinas compared to WT (Fig. 6). In contrast, the ligands Wnt5a and Wnt10b are both significantly down-regulated by 2–4 fold in Lrp5−/− retinas compared to WT (Fig. 6). In particular, Wnt7b level is significantly down-regulated by >10 fold (Fig. 6). Wnt7b secreted by macrophages is implicated in regulation of hyaloid regression [26]; hence decreased Wnt7b levels are likely associated with or contribute to the observed persistence of hyaloid vessels in Lrp5−/− eyes.
Wnt ligand Norrin, Wnt5a, Wnt7b, and Wnt10b mRNA expression in WT and Lrp5−/− whole retinas were quantified with RT-qPCR and normalized to Cyclophilin A expression. *p<0.05, **p<0.01.
Discussion
In this study we assessed gene expression changes in Lrp5−/− retinas, which may contribute to the delayed and incomplete retinal vascular development in the absence of Lrp5. We found Lrp5−/− retinas have delayed growth of the superficial layer of retinal vessel and persistant hyaloid vessels. Lrp5−/− retinas also fail to develop deep layers of retinal capillary networks. As the retina grows and becomes metabolically active, tissue ischemia and hypoxia occur, resulting in abnormal aggregative endothelial lesions in the superficial layer staring from P12 and persisting into adulthood. These cellular changes correspond to visual function deficiency in Lrp5 loss of function mutant mice [19]. Previous studies have reported presence of Lrp5 in retinal vascular endothelial cells and Muller cells [19], [22], suggesting these cells are likely most impacted by lack of Lrp5 to cause the defective retinal vascular and functional phenotype in Lrp5−/− mice.
The most significantly regulated genes found in Lrp5−/− retina include cell adhesion proteins, membrane transporters and genes involved in blood vessel growth and morphogenesis. Of particular interest is the tight junction protein Cln5 which is down-regulated in Lrp5−/− retinas approximately 9 fold. Previous studies have found that Cln5 is regulated in a Wnt dependent manner via ß-catenin [22], [34]. Regulation of Cln5 by Wnt signaling is likely mediated by transcription factor Sox18 [22] which is also significantly down-regulated in the Lrp5−/− retina. A previous study from our group found that blocking Cln5 significantly suppresses blood vessel endothelial cell growth [22], suggesting that the defective vascular phenotype of Lrp5−/− retinas is likely attributable in part to Cln5 deficiency. As an integral part of tight junctions, Cln5 may be essential for endothelial cell adhesion, tube formation and organized migration of endothelial cells. Importantly in this context, Cln5 is also significantly down-regulated in Norrin−/− retinas to a similar extent [33], raising the possibility that Cln5 may mediate common molecular events underlying similar retinal vascular defects in the absence of Wnt signaling.
We found that Slc38a5, an amino acid transporter expressed mainly in Muller cells, ganglion cells and endothelial cells [19], [35], [36], is also significantly down-regulated in Lrp5−/− retinas confirming previous reports. Interestingly, Slc38a5 is down-regulated to a similar extent in Norrin−/− retinas [33]. Slc38a5 is a neutral amino acid transporter responsible mostly for glutamine uptake in the retina. It is not yet clear whether the Lrp5−/− retina has a deficiency in glutamine transport or glutamate synthesis. However, Lrp5r18 mutant mice have reduced b-wave ERG responses, which is likely attributed to vascular deficiency in the inner retina and may be associated with loss of the glutamate transporter [19], [37]. Whether down-regulation of slc38a5 is linked to the impaired retinal vascular development and neuronal function in Lrp5−/− retina needs further investigation.
Plvap, a vascular permeability marker, is highly up-regulated in Lrp5−/− retina, likely reflecting increased breakdown of the blood retinal barrier [20], [22]. Loss of Wnt signaling is associated with decreased blood barrier integrity not only in the retina but also in the central nervous system in the absence of Wnt ligands Wnt7a and Wnt7b [24], [25]. Similarly, loss of Frizzled4 also causes impairment in blood brain barrier function and increased vascular leakage [16], [21]. In Lrp5−/− retinas, the observed BRB breakdown may be precipitated by decreased levels of Cln5, an essential component of tight junctions [30]. This is consistent with the observation of impaired blood brain barrier function in Cln5−/− mice [38].
The genes identified in this study may not only help to understand the abnormal retinal vascular development in Lrp5−/− eyes, but also elucidate the molecular basis of persistent hyaloid vessels observed in Lrp5−/− eyes. Expression levels of Wnt7b, which has been implicated in macrophage-mediated hyaloid vessel regression [26], is found to be significantly down-regulated in Lrp5−/− eyes. Hence, persistent hyaloid vessels in Lrp5−/− eyes may be partially attributable to Wnt7b deficiency. Persistent hyaloid vessels often occur in association with delayed retinal vascular development in both humans and mice. It remains, however, debatable which process, hyaloid regression or delayed retinal vessel growth, is the primary event. It is conceivable that inadequate retinal vascular growth can cause retinal hypoxia which impedes regression of hyaloid vessels [39]. On the other hand, persistent hyaloid vessels can also suppress the hypothesized “physiologic hypoxia” required for normal retinal vascular development [40], [41]. Interestingly, mice with conditional depletion of VHL (von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein), which is essential for HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) signaling, develop persistent hyaloid vasculature [42]. This phenotype is similar to mice with loss of Wnt signaling. Recently a study showed HIF1α can negatively regulate Wnt/ß-catenin activity [43]. Together these data suggested oxygen-sensing mechanisms likely play a significant role in the process of hyaloid regression and retinal vessel development, and Wnt signaling may act synergistically with oxygen-sensing pathways to mediate both hyaloid vessel regression and retinal vascular development.
As Wnt signaling is implicated in many biological processes during development and disease, it is sensible to question whether Wnt signaling acts beyond the hereditary retinopathies to play a role in other more prevalent, postnatally occurring retinopathies such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and diabetic retinopathy. Our previous work indicates that Wnt signaling affects not only vascular growth during retinal development but also pathologic neovascularization in proliferative ischemic retinopathy [22]. Studies from other groups also show that Wnt signaling affects inflammation and oxidative stress in animal models of diabetic retinopathy [44], [45], [46] and age-related macular degeneration [47]. Targeting Wnt signaling pathway, therefore, appears to be an appealing approach to prevent and treat not only genetic eye disorders such as FEVR, but also other vascular eye diseases.
Materials and Methods
Animals
These studies adhered to the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research and were approved by the Children's Hospital Boston Animal Care and Use Committee (animal protocol approval ID 10-08-1770R). Lrp5−/− mice (stock no. 005823; Jackson Laboratory, developed by Deltagen Inc.) and its wild type control C57Bl/6J mice (stock no. 000664; Jackson Laboratory) were used for this study.
Retina dissection, vessel staining and flat mount
Mice at postnatal day 8, 12 and 17 were anesthetized with Avertin (Sigma-Aldrich) and sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Eyes were enucleated and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 1 h at room temperature, followed by isolation and dissection of the retina. To visualize the retinal vasculature, retinas were stained overnight at room temperature with fluoresceinated Griffonia Bandeiraea Simplicifolia Isolectin B4 (Alexa Fluor 594 conjugated; I21413; Invitrogen; 1∶100 dilution) in 1 mM CaCl2 in PBS. After 2 h of washes in PBS, retinas were whole-mounted onto Superfrost/Plus microscope slides (12-550-15; Fisher Scientific) with the photoreceptor side down. Retinas were then imbedded in SlowFade Antifade reagent (S2828; Invitrogen) to preserve the stain. Retinal vasculatures were imaged with a Zeiss microscope. Vascularized retinal areas were quantified with photoshop as described previously [48], [49], [50].
Eye and brain sectioning and staining
For histochemistry, eyes and brains were enucleated and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 1 h at room temperature, followed by removal of cornea and lens. The eye cups were subsequently rinsed with PBS and placed in 30% sucrose overnight at 4°C, embedded in OCT and frozen on dry ice. Retinal samples were cryosectioned into 12-µm sections, and collected on slides. Sections were stained with isolectin (1∶100 in PBS with 1 mM CaCl2) to visualize vessels and mounted with Vectashield mounting medium for fluorescence with DAPI (Vector Laboratories, Inc. Burlingame, CA).
RNA isolation and cDNA preparation
For each time point, total RNA was extracted from the retinas of 6 mice, each from a different litter. Retinas were lysed with a mortar and pestle and filtered through QiaShredder columns (Qiagen, Chatsworth, MD, USA). RNA was then extracted as per manufacturer's instructions using the RNeasy Kit (Qiagen). The RNA was then pooled to reduce biologic variability (n = 6). To generate cDNA, 1 µg total RNA was treated with DNase I (Ambion Inc.) to remove any contaminating genomic DNA, and was then reverse transcribed using random hexamers, and SuperScript III reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen Corp., Carlsbad, CA, USA).
Gene expression microarray
Total retinal RNA was isolated from 3 Lrp5−/− and 3 WT mice. Gene expression microarray analysis was performed using an Illumina mouse gene microarray, with each sample being a biological replicate (n = 3 per group; Mouse-WG6 expression BeadChip; Illumina, San Diego, CA). All data is MIAME compliant and the raw data was deposited in a MIAME compliant database (GEO, accession number GSE32145). The chip contains ∼45,000 probe sets representing ∼34,000 genes. Microarray studies, from cDNA synthesis to raw data normalization were performed by the Molecular Genetics Core Facility at Children's Hospital Boston. Briefly, total RNA (1 µg each) were reverse transcribed, followed by a single in vitro transcription amplification to incorporate biotin-labeled nucleotide, and subsequent hybridization and staining with strepatavidin-Cy3 according to the manufacturer's instructions. The chip was scanned with Illumina BeadArray Reader to measure the signal intensity by the labeled target. Raw data were analyzed with the microarray software (Bead Studio Gene Expression version 3.4.0) for quality control, background analysis and normalization with rank invariant algorithm. Normalized data were further analyzed with the SAM program (Significant Analysis of Microarray) [29] using p<0.05 and a delta of 0.19. Resulting gene lists for both Lrp5−/− and WT retinas were grouped using online tool Gene Ontology Enrichment Analysis Software (GOEAST Tools), which is hosted by Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences [51]. Heat maps demonstrating differential gene expression were generated by adjusting the average signal of each sample to their respective log10 values. The average of the three WT signals was then used as the baseline for normal gene expression. Each value from Lrp5−/− retina was normalized to the average WT value and assigned a number between −1, which represented downregulation, 0, which represented no gene regulation, and +1, which represented upregulation. These values were then plotted in Microsoft Excel and colors were assigned to values using the Conditional Formatting function. Maps were then imported into Adobe Illustrator (CS4) to enhance contrast and resolution.
Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of gene expression
PCR primers targeting Lrp5 (F: 5′-AAG GGT GCT GTG TAC TGG AC-3′, R: 5-AGA AGA GAA CCT TAC GGG ACG-3′), Frizzled4 (F: 5′-TTC CTT TGT TCG GTT TAT GTG CC-3′, R: 5′-CTC TCA GGA CTG GTT CAC AGC-3′), Norrin (F: 5′-GTG AGG GGC ACT GCA GCC AG-3′; R: 5′-CAG CGC AGA CGC AGA GCC TT-3′), Claudin5 (F: 5′-GCA AGG TGT ATG AAT CTG TGC T-3′, R: 5′-GTC AAG GTA ACA AAG AGT GCC A-3′), Plvap (F: 5′-GCT GGT ACT ACC TGC GCT ATT-3′, R: 5′-CCT GTG AGG CAG ATA GTC CA-3′), Wnt5a (F: 5′-CAA CTG GCA GGA CTT TCT CAA-3′, R: 5′-CAT CTC CGA TGC CGG AAC T-3′), Wnt7b (F: 5′-GGT GTG GCA GTG TAC CTG CAA-3′, R: 5′-GTG AAG ACC TCG GTG CGC T-3′), Wnt10b (F: 5′-GAAGGGTAGTGGTGAGCAAGA-3′, R: 5′-GGT TAC AGC CAC CCC ATT CC-3′), Gja1 (F: 5′- ACA GCG GTT GAG TCA GCT TG-3′, R: 5′- GAG AGA TGG GGA AGG ACT TGT -3′), EMP1 (F: 5′- TTG GTG CTA CTG GCT GGT CT -3′, R: 5′- CAT TGC CGT AGG ACA GGG AG-3′), Mfsd2 (F: 5′- AGA AGC AGC AAC TGT CCA TTT -3′, R: 5′- CTC GGC CCA CAA AAA GGA TAA T-3′), Sox18 (F: 5′- ATG CCA CTA CAC TCC CCT ACC A-3′, R: 5′- CTG CTC TCT TCT GGA CAG GAC AT-3′), slc38a5 (F: 5′- CAA CCT CAG CAA CGC TAT CAT-3′, R: 5′- CAG GTC CAA ATG CCC TCT G-3′), Dvl1 (F: 5′- ATG AGG AGG ACA ATA CGA GCC-3′, R: 5′- GCT TCC GAA CTA GCC GAG AG-3′), Dvl2 (F: 5′- TGT CGT CAG ATA CCC CAC AG-3′, R: 5′- CTG GAT ACA TTA GGG TGG AAG GA-3′), Dvl3 (F: 5′- ACA CGG AGA CCG ACT CCT T-3′, R: 5′- AGG GTA GAT GAA CTG TCA TAG CC-3′), vWF (F: 5′- CAA TGG CAC CGT AAC GCA G-3′, R: 5′- TGG AGA GCT TAT AGT ACC CAG C-3′) and an house keeping control gene, Cyclophilin A (F: 5′-AGG TGG AGA GCA CCA AGA CAG A-3′, R: 5′-TGC CGG AGT CGA CAA TGA T-3′), were designed using Primer Bank and NCBI Primer Blast Software.Express software (Applied BioSystems). We used three methods to analyze primer sequences for specificity of gene detection. First, NCBI Blast module was used to identify primer and probe sequences that specifically detected the sequence of choice. Second, amplicons generated during a PCR reaction were analyzed using the first derivative primer melting curve software supplied by Applied BioSystems. This analysis determines the presence of amplicons on the basis of a specific melting point temperature. Third, amplicons generated were gel purified and sequenced by the Children's Hospital Boston Core Sequencing Facility. This further confirmed the selection of the desired sequence. Quantitative analysis of gene expression was determined using an ABI Prism 7700 Sequence Detection System (TaqMan) and the SYBR Green Master mix kit. Standard curves for each gene were plotted with quantified cDNA template during each real-time PCR reaction. Each target gene cDNA copy number was normalized to 106 copies of the house keeping gene, cyclophilin A using delta-delta CT method.
Supporting Information
Figure S1.
Heat maps illustrating expression profiles of other members of the Wnt pathway regulated in Lrp5 null retina in a gene array run from whole retinal mRNA. The genes analyzed include (A) Wnt ligands, (B) Wnt receptors, and (C) other components downstream of Wnt signaling.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0030203.s001
(TIF)
Author Contributions
Conceived and designed the experiments: JC AS PS LEHS. Performed the experiments: JC AS NMK MRS J-SJ AMJ CJH CMA RJD KLW PS. Analyzed the data: JC AS NMK MRS CMA PS LEHS. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: JC AS PS LEHS. Wrote the paper: JC AS NMK PS LEHS.
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