Hyperautofluorescent Dots are Characteristic in Ceramide Kinase Like-associated Retinal Degeneration.

There is a lack of studies which seek to discern disease expression in patients with mutations that alter retinal ceramide metabolism, specifically in the ceramide kinase like (CERKL) gene. This cross-sectional case series reports a novel phenotypic manifestation of CERKL-associated retinopathy. Four unrelated patients with homozygous CERKL mutations underwent a complete ocular exam, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence (SW-AF), quantitative autofluorescence (qAF), and full-field electroretinogram (ffERG). Decreased visual acuity and early-onset maculopathy were present in all patients. All four patients had extensive hyperautofluorescent foci surrounding an area of central atrophy on SW-AF imaging, which has not been previously characterized. An abnormal spatial distribution of qAF signal was seen in one patient, and abnormally elevated qA

Novel Mutation in Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator Gene Causes Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia and Retinitis Pigmentosa.

The majority of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is due to mutations in the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene. Determining the pathogenicity of novel variants is important for enrollment of patients into gene therapy trials. Sequencing and analysis of RPGR variants in ORF15 is challenging, as it is highly repetitive and rich in purines. Overlapping reading frames and polymorphic insertions / deletions add further complexity to the detection of mutations. Identifying systemic manifestations in affected males and carrier phenotype in related females expedites confirmation of pathogenic variants. The authors present a 16-year-old boy with a history of primary ciliary dyskinesia presenting with complaints of nyctalopia and visual field constriction. Multimodal imaging found peripheral thinning of the retina and a characteristic foveal hyperautofluorescent ring in the proband, and a carrier phenotype in the asymptomatic mother. A novel c.1059_1059+2delGGT, p.(?) variant in RPGR was identified as hemizygous in the affected boy and heterozygous in his mother. This case study expands the genotypic spectrum of RPGR variants associated with systemic manifestations. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018;49:548-552.]

Translation of CRISPR Genome Surgery to the Bedside for Retinal Diseases

In recent years, there has been accelerated growth of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genome surgery techniques. Genome surgery holds promise for diseases for which a cure currently does not exist. In the field of ophthalmology, CRISPR offers possibilities for treating inherited retinal dystrophies. The retina has little regenerative potential, which makes treatment particularly difficult. For such conditions, CRISPR genome surgery methods have shown great potential for therapeutic applications in animal models of retinal dystrophies. Much anticipation surrounds the potential for CRISPR as a therapeutic, as clinical trials of ophthalmic genome surgery are expected to begin as early as 2018. This mini-review summarizes preclinical CRISPR applications in the retina and current CRISPR clinical trials

Attenuation of Inherited and Acquired Retinal Degeneration Progression with Gene-based Techniques.

Inherited retinal dystrophies cause progressive vision loss and are major contributors to blindness worldwide. Advances in gene therapy have brought molecular approaches into the realm of clinical trials for these incurable illnesses. Select phase I, II and III trials are complete and provide some promise in terms of functional outcomes and safety, although questions do remain over the durability of their effects and the prevalence of inflammatory reactions. This article reviews gene therapy as it can be applied to inherited retinal dystrophies, provides an update of results from recent clinical trials, and discusses the future prospects of gene therapy and genome surgery