Figure 1 of Zhong, Mol Vis 2011; 17:492-507.


Figure 1. This figure shows the transgene expression of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors in the retinas of 4-week-old C57BL/6J mice, 4 weeks after subretinal injection of approximately 1×109 vgc recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors. A: This shows the schematic representation of the three rAAV vectors used in this study for transducing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-B167, VEGF-B186, and the marker GFP gene. Terminal repeats (TR), AAV terminal repeats; cytomegalovirus (CMV), human cytomegalovirus immediate–early promoter; pA, polyadenylation site. BD: Expression of GFP protein is demonstrated in flatmounts of the choroid (B), retina (C), and a section of eye (D); note the greatest expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE; B and D, red arrow) and the outer retina (C and D, black arrow). EG: Immunofluorescence staining indicated that the VEGF-B167 (E) and VEGF-B186 proteins (F) are more strongly expressed in retinas from experimental groups—mainly in the RPE—than in retinas from the GFP control group (G). Cell nuclei were stained with 4´, 6-diamidino-2´-phenylindole dihydrochloride. Images EG were taken under the same conditions for optimal comparison. HI: Real-time PCR analysis of VEGF-B167 (H) and 186 (I) expression shows that mRNA expression levels of VEGF-B167 and 186 in the AAV-VEGF-B167 and 186 groups are significantly higher than those in the AAV-GFP control group (in arbitrary units normalized against mouse β-actin; *p<0.05, **p<0.001). Data are espressed ±SEM and sample sizes were 3. BG: Scale bar represents 50 µm.