Dysfunction of retinal dopaminergic system exacerbates experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis in Gnat1rd17 mice

This study investigated the effect of the Gnat1 (rod transducin alpha subunit) gene deficiency in Gnat1rd17 mice on the retinal transcriptome remodeling, and whether this remodeling is protective or maladaptive with regard to photoreceptor damage driven by autoimmune process. The results of this study showed that Gnat1rd17 mice exhibited transcriptomic changes indicative of remodeling in photoreceptor segments and connecting cilium, deregulated inflammatory pathways and dopaminergic signaling, followed by development of exacerbated experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis, which was ameliorated by dopamine replacement. These findings suggest rod transducin alpha subunit a critical modulator of retinal homeostasis and immune response through regulation of retinal dopaminergic system.