Millions of people throughout the world suffer from visual impairment due to retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. These afflictions can lead to severe retinal damage which does not heal spontaneously. The embryonic chick has been used as a model organism to study retina regeneration in the hopes to find a treatment that could then be translated into mammalian models, including humans.
Our lab aims to study retinal regeneration through the reprogramming of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The RPE is a monolayer structure behind the retina that nourishes, and maintains the health and functions of retinal cells. When the retina is injured, RPE cells lose their characteristics to become progenitor-like cells, which give rise to a complete retina in the presence of inducers, such as Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2). In an earlier study, we showed that a proinflammatory molecule, Interleukin-6, was able to induce regeneration through RPE reprogramming, however, the mechanism remains obscure.
This project aims to study the mechanism by which IL-6 induces RPE reprogramming . We found that the intact RPE exposed to IL-6 shows a transcriptional profile that mimics the injured RPE. We then determined IL-6 induced RPE reprogramming through a different mechanism than that of FGF2. In the future, we will dissect the mechanism by inhibiting specific signaling pathways in the presence of IL-6.
This experience has been relevant because as a doctor, I will require skills in critical thinking and analysis. Viewing how basic science can play a role in preventive medicine has helped me to see the importance behind a solid understanding of chemical and biological processes and how this can help improve our medical field in the future.
Author: Taylor Lentz
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Katia Del Rio-Tsonis, Department of Biology
Graduate Student Advisor: Zeyu Han, Department of Biology