GENE REGULATION IN LENS REGENERATION

描述(摘自摘要)在一些尿囊虫中，晶状体切除后，通过虹膜背部色素上皮细胞(PECs)的转分化再生新的晶状体。在文化中，腹侧的胸肌以及来自其他动物的胸肌能够转化为晶状体。这位研究人员建议使用这些系统来继续他对晶状体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，包括含有同源盒的基因、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维甲酸受体的基因调控。他还建议研究如何从蝾螈的腹侧虹膜和无晶状体再生能力的动物的背侧虹膜诱导晶状体再生。这将通过在虹膜腹侧或背侧细胞中导入感兴趣的基因来完成。这些体内研究将得到体外研究的补充，以提供更准确的机制图景。在必须摘除晶状体的病理状态下，了解晶状体再生的诱导将是非常重要的。

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.