Overexpression of the Vimentin Gene in Transgenic Mice Inhibits Normal Lens Cell Differentiation

• Published in: The Journal of cell biology 1989-10, Vol.109 (4), p.1653-1664
• Main Authors: Capetanaki, Yassemi, Smith, Stephanie, Heath, Julian P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Cataract - genetics; Cataract - pathology; Cataracts; Cell Differentiation; Cell differentiation, maturation, development, hematopoiesis; Cell physiology; Cells; Cellular differentiation; Chickens; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; Epithelial cells; Fiber cells; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; Genes; Intermediate filaments; Lens, Crystalline - cytology; Lens, Crystalline - pathology; Lens, Crystalline - ultrastructure; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Microscopy, Electron; Molecular and cellular biology; Transgenic animals; Vimentin; Vimentin - genetics; Vimentin - isolation & purification; Vimentin - physiology
• ISSN: 0021-9525; 1540-8140
• DOI: 10.1083/jcb.109.4.1653

To investigate the role of the intermediate filament protein vimentin in the normal differentiation and morphogenesis of the eye lens fiber cells, we generated transgenic mice bearing multiple copies of the chicken vimentin gene. In most cases, the vimentin transgene was overexpressed in the lenses of these animals, reaching up to 10 times the endogenous levels. This high expression of vimentin interfered very strongly with the normal differentiation of the lens fibers. The normal fiber cell denucleation and elongation processes were impaired and the animals developed pronounced cataracts, followed by extensive lens degeneration. The age of appearance and extent of these abnormalities in the different transgenic lines were directly related to the vimentin level. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that the accumulated transgenic protein forms normal intermediate filaments.