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Current Genomics

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-2029
ISSN (Online): 1875-5488

Retinitis Pigmentosa: Genes and Disease Mechanisms

Author(s): Francesco Parmeggiani, Francesco S. Sorrentino, Diego Ponzin, Vanessa Barbaro, Stefano Ferrari and Enzo Di Iorio

Volume 12, Issue 4, 2011

Page: [238 - 249] Pages: 12

DOI: 10.2174/138920211795860107

Price: $65

Abstract

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited disorders affecting 1 in 3000-7000 people and characterized by abnormalities of the photoreceptors (rods and cones) or the retinal pigment epithelium of the retina which lead to progressive visual loss. RP can be inherited in an autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive or X-linked manner. While usually limited to the eye, RP may also occur as part of a syndrome as in the Usher syndrome and Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Over 40 genes have been associated with RP so far, with the majority of them expressed in either the photoreceptors or the retinal pigment epithelium. The tremendous heterogeneity of the disease makes the genetics of RP complicated, thus rendering genotype-phenotype correlations not fully applicable yet. In addition to the multiplicity of mutations, in fact, different mutations in the same gene may cause different diseases. We will here review which genes are involved in the genesis of RP and how mutations can lead to retinal degeneration. In the future, a more thorough analysis of genetic and clinical data together with a better understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation might allow to reveal important information with respect to the likelihood of disease development and choices of therapy.

Keywords: heterogeneity, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Usher syndrome, mutations, X-linked, recessive, dominant, retina, non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa, Syndromic retinitis pigmentosa


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