GENE REGULATION IN LENS REGENERATION

在一些有尾目动物中，晶状体切除后，通过虹膜背侧色素上皮细胞（佩奇）的转分化再生出新的透镜。在培养中，腹侧佩奇以及来自其他动物的佩奇能够转分化成透镜。研究者建议使用这些系统继续他对透镜再生过程中基因表达的研究。到目前为止，他已经确定了几个基因，包括含有同源框的基因，成纤维细胞生长因子受体-1和Sonic hedgehog。他建议继续研究视网膜母细胞瘤和视黄酸受体的基因调控。他还建议研究蝾螈腹侧虹膜和不能再生透镜的动物背侧虹膜诱导透镜再生。这将通过在腹侧或背侧虹膜细胞中检测感兴趣的基因来完成。这些体内研究将由体外研究补充，以提供更准确的机制。理解透镜再生的诱导在必须移除透镜的病理状态中将是极其重要的。

DESCRIPTION (adapted from the abstract)In some urodeles, following lentectomy a new lens regenerats by the transdifferentiation of dorsal iris pigment epithelial cells (PECs). In culture, ventral PECs as well as PECs from other animals are able to transdifferentiate into a lens. The investigator proposes to use these systems to continue his studies of gene expression during lens regeneration. He has thus far identified several genes including homeobox-containing genes, fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 and Sonic hedgehog. He proposes to continue with studies on gene regulation of retinoblastoma and retinoic acid receptors. He also proposes to study induction of lens regeneration from the ventral iris in newts and from the dorsal iris of animals incapable of lens regeneration. This will be done by transfecting the gene of interest in the ventral or dorsal iris cells. These in vivo studies will be supplemented by in vitro ones to provide a more accurate picture of the mechanisms. Understanding induction of lens regeneration would be of enormous importance in pathological states where the lens must be removed.