A zebrafish knock-in model mimics human USH2A variant
Researchers from the department of Otorhinolaryngology generated and characterized an ush2ap.(Cys771Phe) zebrafish knock-in model, mimicking human p.(Cys759Phe). They used functional and immunohistochemical analyses. Besides the homozygous c.2276 G > T USH2A variant, no alternative genetic causes were identified. Evaluation of the ush2ap.(Cys771Phe) zebrafish model revealed strongly reduced levels of usherin expression at the photoreceptor periciliary membrane, increased levels of rhodopsin localization in the photoreceptor cell body and decreased electroretinogram (ERG) b-wave amplitudes compared to wildtype controls. In conclusion, we confirmed pathogenicity of USH2A c.2276 G > T (p.(Cys759Phe)). Consequently, cases homozygous for c.2276 G > T can now receive a definite genetic diagnosis and can be considered eligible for receiving future QR-421a-mediated exon 13 skipping therapy.
