Interphotoreceptor Retinoid-Binding Protein (IRBP) in Retinal Health and Disease

Shaoxue Zeng; Ting Zhang; Michele C Madigan; Nilisha Fernando; Riemke Aggio-Bruce; Fanfan Zhou; Matthew Pierce; Yingying Chen; Lianlin Huang; Riccardo Natoli; Mark C Gillies; Ling Zhu

doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.577935

Interphotoreceptor Retinoid-Binding Protein (IRBP) in Retinal Health and Disease

Front Cell Neurosci. 2020 Nov 19:14:577935. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2020.577935. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Shaoxue Zeng^{1

2}, Ting Zhang¹, Michele C Madigan^{1

3}, Nilisha Fernando⁴, Riemke Aggio-Bruce^{4

5}, Fanfan Zhou⁶, Matthew Pierce¹, Yingying Chen^{1

2}, Lianlin Huang^{1

3}, Riccardo Natoli^{4

5}, Mark C Gillies¹, Ling Zhu¹

Affiliations

¹ Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
³ School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁴ The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia.
⁵ The Australian National University Medical School, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia.
⁶ Sydney Pharmacy School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP), also known as retinol binding protein 3 (RBP3), is a lipophilic glycoprotein specifically secreted by photoreceptors. Enriched in the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM) and recycled by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), IRBP is essential for the vision of all vertebrates as it facilitates the transfer of retinoids in the visual cycle. It also helps to transport lipids between the RPE and photoreceptors. The thiol-dependent antioxidant activity of IRBP maintains the delicate redox balance in the normal retina. Thus, its dysfunction is suspected to play a role in many retinal diseases. We have reviewed here the latest research on IRBP in both retinal health and disease, including the function and regulation of IRBP under retinal stress in both animal models and the human retina. We have also explored the therapeutic potential of targeting IRBP in retinal diseases. Although some technical barriers remain, it is possible that manipulating the expression of IRBP in the retina will rescue or prevent photoreceptor degeneration in many retinal diseases.

Keywords: IRBP gene; gene therapy; photoreceptor degeneration; retinoid; visual cycle.

Publication types

Review