Cellular and molecular aspects of vertebrate retina development and degeneration

• Grant number: 01/09047-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2002
• End date: April 30, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Dania Emi Hamassaki
• Grantee: Dania Emi Hamassaki
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The retina plays a fundamental role in vertebrate sensory perception. Its stratified structure, intricate network and diversity of components reflect its functional complexity. However, exactly because of this highly differentiated structure and its anatomical position, the retina is susceptible to a variety of genetic and environmental insults that result in pathologies affecting visual acuity. To elucidate the causes of such pathologies it is necessary to first understand normal retinal development and function. Thus, studies of retina embryology, structure, function and metabolism, ali contribute to our understanding of the processes involved in retinal degeneration. These studies, in conjunction with the analysis of animal model systems provide an integrated perspective of the retina and provide insight into the specific defects underlying retinal pathologies. In this proposal, three laboratories will be collaborating, using different experimental models to focus on different aspects of retinal function. We shall be using systems varying from cell culture to animal models as an integrated approach for elucidating the mechanisms involved in the establishment and maintenance of function in the adult retina. We will focus our research on: signal transduction pathways in embryonic determination, differentiation and apoptosis of the neuroretina; modulation of retinal function under normal conditions and after degenerative stimulus; gene expression and cell-cell interaction in light-induced or hereditary retinal degeneration. (AU)

Scientific publications

(13)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CREMA, VIRGINIA O.; HAMASSAKI, DANIA E.; SANTOS, MARINILCE F.. Small Rho GTPases are important for acinus formation in a human salivary gland cell line. Cell and Tissue Research, v. 325, n. 3, p. 493-500, SEP 2006. (01/09047-2)

KIHARA, ALEXANDRE HIROAKI; DE CASTRO, LEANDRO MANTOVANI; MORISCOT, ANSELTNO SIGARI; HAMASSAKI, DANIA EMI. Prolonged dark adaptation changes connexin expression in the mouse retina. Journal of Neuroscience Research, v. 83, n. 7, p. 1331-1341, MAY 15 2006. (01/09047-2)

BELMONTE‚ M.A.; SANTOS‚ M.F.; KIHARA‚ A.H.; YAN‚ C.Y.I.; HAMASSAKI‚ D.E.. Light-induced photoreceptor degeneration in the mouse involves activation of the small GTPase Rac1. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, v. 47, n. 3, p. 1193-1200, 2006. (01/09047-2)

CAMPOS BIANCHI‚ A.G.; DOS SANTOS‚ M.F.; HAMASSAKI BRITTO‚ D.E.; COSTA‚ L.F.. Inferring shape evolution. PATTERN RECOGNITION LETTERS, v. 24, n. 7, p. 1005-1014, 2003. (01/09047-2, 99/12765-2)

CREMA, VIRGINIA O.; FOSSATI, ANNA CHRISTINA M.; HAMASSAKI, DANIA E.; SANTOS, MARINILCE F.. Distribution of small Rho GTPases in the developing rat submandibular gland. Journal of Molecular Histology, v. 39, n. 5, p. 519-525, OCT 2008. (01/09047-2)

MARQUES‚ M.R.; HAJJAR‚ D.; OLIVEIRA CREMA‚ V.; KIMURA‚ E.T.; SANTOS‚ M.F.. A mandibular propulsive appliance modulates collagen-binding integrins distribution in the young rat condylar cartilage. BIORHEOLOGY, v. 43, n. 3, p. 293-302, 2006. (01/09047-2)

I.P. LIMA; K. SAITO; D.E. HAMASSAKI; C.Y.I. YAN. Immunohistochemical characterization of the chick marginal retina. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, v. 40, n. 11, p. 1455-1464, 2007-11-00. (01/09047-2)

DEL DEBBIO, CAROLINA BELTRAME; SANTOS, MARINILCE FAGUNDES; IRENE YAN, CHAO YUN; AHMAD, IQBAL; HAMASSAKI, DANIA EMI. Rho GTPases Control Ciliary Epithelium Cells Proliferation and Progenitor Profile Induction In Vivo. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, v. 55, n. 4, p. 2631-2641, APR 2014. (10/52187-9, 01/09047-2)

KIHARA, ALEXANDRE HIROAKI; DE CASTRO, LEANDRO MANTOVANI; BELMONTE, MONICA APARECIDA; YAN, CHAO YUN IRENE; MORISCOT, ANSELMO SIGARI; HAMASSAKI, DANIA EMI. Expression of connexins 36, 43, and 45 during postnatal development of the mouse retina. JOURNAL OF NEUROBIOLOGY, v. 66, n. 13, p. 1397-1410, NOV 2006. (01/09047-2)

SANTOS-BREDARIOL, AS; BELMONTE, MA; KIHARA, AH; SANTOS, MF; HAMASSAKI, DE. Small GTP-binding protein RhoB is expressed in glial Muller cells in the vertebrate retina. JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY, v. 494, n. 6, p. 976-985, FEB 20 2006. (01/09047-2)

COSTA, ÉRICA PEREIRA; SANTOS, MARINILCE FAGUNDES. Jararhagin, a snake venom metalloproteinase-disintegrin, stimulates epithelial cell migration in an in vitro restitution model. Toxicon, v. 44, n. 8, p. 861-870, Oct. 2004. (01/09047-2)

E. ROSSI; F. SIWIEC; C.Y.I. YAN. Pattern of Wnt ligand expression during chick eye development. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, v. 40, n. 10, p. 1333-1338, 2007-07-31. (01/09047-2)

COSTA, ERICA PEREIRA; DEL DEBBIO, CAROLINA BELTRAME; CINTRA, LEANDRO CARRIJO; COSTA, LUCIANO DA FONTOURA; HAMASSAKI, DANIA EMI; SANTOS, MARINILCE FAGUNDES. Jararhagin, a snake venom metalloprotease-disintegrin, activates the Rac1 GTPase and stimulates neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cells. Toxicon, v. 52, n. 2, p. 380-384, AUG 1 2008. (05/00587-5, 01/09047-2)