Pathophysiological mechanisms of autosomal dominant congenital stromal corneal dystrophy: C-terminal-truncated decorin results in abnormal matrix assembly and altered expression of small leucine-rich proteoglycans.

ABSTRACT: Autosomal-dominant congenital stromal corneal dystrophy (CSCD) is a human genetic disease characterized by corneal opacities beginning shortly after birth. It is linked to a frameshift mutation in decorin, resulting in a C-terminal truncation lacking 33 amino acids that includes the "ear" repeat, a feature specific for small leucine-rich proteoglycans. Our goals are to elucidate the roles of the mutant decorin in CSCD pathophysiology and to decipher the mechanism whereby mutant decorin affects matrix assembly. A novel animal model that recapitulates human CSCD was generated. This transgenic mouse model targets expression of truncated decorin to keratocytes, thereby mimicking the human frameshift mutation. Mutant mice expressed both wild-type and mutant decorin. Corneal opacities were found

SUBMITTER: Chen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3204084 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature