ROLE OF THE RPE IN DISK MEMBRANE RENEWAL

该项目的长期目标是了解 视网膜色素上皮(RPE)细胞与 光感受器细胞在光感受器盘正常更新中的作用 膜，以及如何通过将视网膜与视网膜分离而影响更新 RPE。视网膜的几个重要功能和代谢过程 光感受器细胞依赖于健康人视网膜的排列 RPE细胞。在形态和功能上的显著变化 光感受器细胞可以通过将视网膜与RPE分离而产生 或由影响RPE细胞的营养不良所致。这样做的后果是 体内的变化可能是不可逆转的，由此导致的视力丧失可能 成为永久的。 光感受器和视网膜色素上皮细胞发生改变的病因 视网膜脱离与RPE的关系尚不清楚。在器官培养中 模型中，我们发现，将非洲爪哇视网膜从RPE中分离出来会导致 盘膜的异常形态发生。相比之下，磁盘组件位于 共培养的附着性视网膜是正常的(根据几个 形态测量技术)。这个项目的具体目标是 回答关于这一命题的关键作用的几个问题 视网膜RPE可能参与了视盘膜的调节 组装和形态发生：1)是细胞代谢、基因 光感受器的表达和蛋白质合成受到影响？2)什么 通过从视网膜中分离视网膜来改变基本细胞生物学机制 RPE导致的关节盘装配和形态发生异常？3)是 从可逆的RPE中分离培养的视网膜，或者通过 重新建立与RPE的联系或通过恢复潜在的 营养因子通常存在于视网膜下腔？

The long term objective of this project is to understand the role that communication between retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and photoreceptor cells plays in the normal renewal of photoreceptor disk membranes, and how renewal is affected by isolating the retina from the RPE. Several Important functions and metabolic processes of retinal photoreceptor cells depend upon the apposition of the retina with healthy RPE cells. Pronounced changes In the morphology and function of photoreceptor cells can be produced by Isolating the retina from the RPE or by dystrophies that affect RPE cells. The consequences of such changes in vivo may be irreversible, and the resulting loss of vision may be permanent. The etiology of changes produced in photoreceptors and RPE cells by retinal detachment from the RPE are not known. In an organ culture model, we find that isolating Xenopus retinas from the RPE results in aberrant morphogenesis of disk membranes. In contrast, disk assembly in co-cultured attached retinas is normal (as measured by several morphometric techniques). The specific aims of this project are Intended to answer several questions about the critical role that apposition of the retina with the RPE may play in the regulation of disk membrane assembly and morphogenesis: 1) Are processes of cell metabolism, gene expression and protein synthesis in photoreceptors affected? 2) What basic cell biological mechanisms are modified by isolating retinas from the RPE to cause abnormal disk assembly and morphogenesis? 3) Are effects of Isolating cultured retinas from the RPE reversible, either by re-establishing contact with the RPE or by restoring levels of potential trophic factors normally found in the subretinal space?