Clinical and Genetic Features of NR2E3-Associated Retinopathy: A Report of Eight Families with a Longitudinal Study and Literature Review

Genes (Basel). 2023 Jul 26;14(8):1525. doi: 10.3390/genes14081525.

Abstract

(1) Background: NR2E3 encodes a nuclear receptor transcription factor that is considered to promote cell differentiation, affect retinal development, and regulate phototransduction in rods and cones. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and observe the prognosis of autosomal dominant retinopathy (ADRP) and autosomal recessive retinopathy (ARRP) associated with NR2E3; (2) Methods: NR2E3 variants were collected from our exome sequencing data and identified per the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria. Data from our cohort and a systemic literature review were conducted to explore the NR2E3 variants spectrum and potential genotype-phenotype correlations; (3) Results: Nine pathogenic variants/likely pathogenic variants in NR2E3, including five novel variants, were detected in eight families (four each with ADRP and ARRP). Follow-up data showed schisis/atrophy in the macula and retinal degeneration initiation around the vascular arcades with differences in ADRP and ARRP. A systemic literature review indicated patients with ADRP presented better visual acuity (p < 0.01) and later onset age (p < 0.0001) than did those with ARRP; (4) Conclusions: Macular schisis and retinal degeneration around vascular arcades may present as the prognosis of NR2E3-retinopathy, dominant, or recessive. Our data might further enrich our understanding of NR2E3 variants and associated inherited retinopathy.

Keywords: NR2E3-associated dominant retinopathy; NR2E3-associated recessive retinopathy; genotype–phenotype correlation; inherited retinal dystrophy; macular schisis-like change; retinitis pigmentosa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Atrophy
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Orphan Nuclear Receptors
  • Retinal Degeneration* / genetics

Substances

  • NR2E3 protein, human
  • Orphan Nuclear Receptors

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81970837), the Science and Technology Planning Projects of Guangzhou (202102010271), and the fundamental research funds of the state key laboratory of ophthalmology.