Mean +/2SEM. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.get Finafloxacin 0057769.gAge-Related Changes in RPE of Choroideremia ModelAge-Related Changes in RPE of Choroideremia ModelFigure 6. Thickening and abnormalities of Bruch’s Membrane in ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mice. Electron micrographs of 5-month old ChmFlox (A), littermate ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ (B ) and 1-year old ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mice (D). An enlargement of the box in B is shown in C. In ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mice BrM becomes thicker with time. Double arrows show BrM thickness, small arrowheads indicate endothelial cell protrusions into BrM. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A and C), 2 mm (B), 1 mm (D). (E) BrM thickness was measured in four 7-month old ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mice (black square) and their littermate controls (grey dots). In each mouse 10 areas of retina were analysed. The two means are significantly different. ***P = 0.009. (F) Example of the variation of the measurements of BrM thickness along the retina for one ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mouse (black square) and its littermate control (grey dots). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057769.gFigure 7. Basal deposits are present in old wild type mice but basal and intracellular deposits are much more extensive in old ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mice. Electron micrographs of a 27-month old WT mouse (A, C and D) and 25-month old ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mouse (B, E and F). Panel A shows the normal organisation of RPE cells found in some of the wild type eyecup. Panel B illustrates the extent of late BLamDs 
in old CHM animals, where the deposits are a third or up to half of the height of the RPE cells. Panel C shows that basal deposits can form in localised areas of the wild type eyecup. Panel D is an enlargement of the box in C, showing a banded pattern resembling long spaced collagen type VI in BLamDs. Panel E shows melanin, lipofuscin and membranes (arrowhead in inset) within the large cytoplasmic deposit (inset). The cell in panel F has accumulated a large number of lipid droplets (asterisks) and shows thick late BLamDs. Scale bars: 5 mm (A and B), 2 mm (C, E and F), 0.1 mm (D). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057769.gAge-Related Changes in RPE of Choroideremia Modela complete block, is consistent with the phenotype of the ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mouse, as a complete block in degradation would lead to a more severe retinal phenotype, such as the one observed in the mcd/mcd mouse expressing an enzymatically inactive form of cathepsin D [23]. As mice have a much shorter life span than humans, the delay observed in the phagocytic pathway might not lead to degeneration of POS in the mouse but may contribute to the progressive degeneration of POS in CHM patients. Delayed phagosome processing and decreased lysosomal degradative capacity are unlikely to be due to reduced prenylation of Rab27a as lipofuscin and cytoplasmic deposits have not been reported in 7month old ashen (Rab27a mutant) mice. The accumulation of Homotaurine extracellular basal deposits in the CHM mouse indicates abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover resulting from either increased synthesis/secretion of ECM or reduced degradation. The RPE secretes multiple ECM components, including some components of BrM, and RPE cells from AMD donors have been found to secrete more ECM components than age-matched controls [24], suggesting that dysregulated ECM secretion could contribute to deposit formation. RPE cells express multiple matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and MMP inhibitors, and dysregulated traffic of these proteins could result in reduced extracellular matrix degrada.Mean +/2SEM. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057769.gAge-Related Changes in RPE of Choroideremia ModelAge-Related Changes in RPE of Choroideremia ModelFigure 6. Thickening and abnormalities of Bruch’s Membrane in ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mice. Electron micrographs of 5-month old ChmFlox (A), littermate ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ (B ) and 1-year old ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mice (D). An enlargement of the box in B is shown in C. In ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mice BrM becomes thicker with time. Double arrows show BrM thickness, small arrowheads indicate endothelial cell protrusions into BrM. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A and C), 2 mm (B), 1 mm (D). (E) BrM thickness was measured in four 7-month old ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mice (black square) and their littermate controls (grey dots). In each mouse 10 areas of retina were analysed. The two means are significantly different. ***P = 0.009. (F) Example of the variation of the measurements of BrM thickness along the retina for one ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mouse (black square) and its littermate control (grey dots). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057769.gFigure 7. Basal deposits are present in old wild type mice but basal and intracellular deposits are much more extensive in old ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mice. Electron micrographs of a 27-month old WT mouse (A, C and D) and 25-month old ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mouse (B, E and F). Panel A shows the normal organisation of RPE cells found in some of the wild type eyecup. Panel B illustrates the extent of late BLamDs in old CHM animals, where the deposits are a third or up to half of the height of the RPE cells. Panel C shows that basal deposits can form in localised areas of the wild type eyecup. Panel D is an enlargement of the box in C, showing a banded pattern resembling long spaced collagen type VI in BLamDs. Panel E shows melanin, lipofuscin and membranes (arrowhead in inset) within the large cytoplasmic deposit (inset). The cell in panel F 
has accumulated a large number of lipid droplets (asterisks) and shows thick late BLamDs. Scale bars: 5 mm (A and B), 2 mm (C, E and F), 0.1 mm (D). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057769.gAge-Related Changes in RPE of Choroideremia Modela complete block, is consistent with the phenotype of the ChmFlox, Tyr-Cre+ mouse, as a complete block in degradation would lead to a more severe retinal phenotype, such as the one observed in the mcd/mcd mouse expressing an enzymatically inactive form of cathepsin D [23]. As mice have a much shorter life span than humans, the delay observed in the phagocytic pathway might not lead to degeneration of POS in the mouse but may contribute to the progressive degeneration of POS in CHM patients. Delayed phagosome processing and decreased lysosomal degradative capacity are unlikely to be due to reduced prenylation of Rab27a as lipofuscin and cytoplasmic deposits have not been reported in 7month old ashen (Rab27a mutant) mice. The accumulation of extracellular basal deposits in the CHM mouse indicates abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover resulting from either increased synthesis/secretion of ECM or reduced degradation. The RPE secretes multiple ECM components, including some components of BrM, and RPE cells from AMD donors have been found to secrete more ECM components than age-matched controls [24], suggesting that dysregulated ECM secretion could contribute to deposit formation. RPE cells express multiple matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and MMP inhibitors, and dysregulated traffic of these proteins could result in reduced extracellular matrix degrada.
