Research progress on the pathogenesis of USH2A variations causing retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a kind of ophthalmic hereditary disease characterized by degenerative dystrophy of photoreceptors in the retina.It is one of the main causes of hereditary visual impairment and blindness. USH2A gene is the primary pathogenic gene of both syndromic RP (e.g., Usher syndrome type Ⅱ, USH2) and non-syndromic RP, so elucidating its function and pathogenesis is of important theoretical significance and clinical application value.However, due to the wide range of USH2A gene variations, as well as USH2A protein has huge molecular weight and complex protein structure, the molecular pathogenesis of RP caused by USH2A variations remains unknown, which has hindered the progress of gene therapy and also poses many challenges to researchers and clinicians.Recently, with the development of gene editing technology and the establishment of animal models, the function of USH2A gene has been further studied.For example, USH2A is involved in cell adhesion at retinal basal membrane.USH2A interacts with other USH proteins to maintain photoreceptor structure and plasticity.USH2A can participate in vesicle transport from the inner segment to the outer segment of photoreceptors.USH2A maintains the normal function of photoreceptor cells by regulating autophagy.This article reviews the pathogenesis of RP induced by variations of USH2A gene.

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