Figure 7

Loss of adaptive immune reactions has no influence on Gpnmb mediated iris disease. The Rag1^{tm 1Mom}mutation acts recessively to result in a loss of adaptive immune responses due to lack of mature B and T lymphocytes. Stocks carrying this mutation were bred to B6.Tyrp1^bGpnmb^{R 150X}mice. Triple mutant mice were isolated and aged, with typical eyes of indicated genotypes shown. The analysis strikingly demonstrates that the immune deficiency associated with Rag1 mutation has no effect on Gpnmb mediated iris disease. (A) Eyes of young B6 mice with wild-type Tyrp1, Gpnmb, and Rag1 alleles have healthy irides. (B) At 15 mo, mice mutant for Tyrp1 and Gpnmb exhibit iris disease characterized by significant pigment dispersion and iris atrophy. n = 10 eyes, age range 14–16 mo.(C) At 15 mo, immune deficient mice mutant for Tyrp1, Gpnmb, and Rag1 exhibit an iris disease indistinguishable from immune competent mice on the same genetic background. N = 26 eyes.