Inflammation of the retinal pigment epithelium drives early-onset photoreceptor degeneration in Mertk-associated retinitis pigmentosa
Mercau M, Akalu Y, Mazzoni F, Gyimesi G, Alberto E, Kong Y, Hafler B, Finnemann S, Rothlin C, Ghosh S. Inflammation of the retinal pigment epithelium drives early-onset photoreceptor degeneration in Mertk-associated retinitis pigmentosa. Science Advances 2023, 9: eade9459. PMID: 36662852, PMCID: PMC9858494, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade9459.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRetinal pigment epitheliumEarly-onset photoreceptor degenerationPR degenerationPigment epitheliumPhotoreceptor degenerationMERTK-associated retinitis pigmentosaJAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinibMicroglia activationMonocyte infiltrationInhibitor ruxolitinibMouse modelInflammationLoss of functionDefective phagocytosisInflammation drivesRetinitis pigmentosaDegenerationHypomorphic expressionMiceEpitheliumPhagocytosisRuxolitinibPigmentosaSeverity