Müller glial cell as a potential therapeutic target in retinal degeneration

• Grant number: 10/52187-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• 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

Müller glial cells are activated by all forms of retinal injury and disease, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. This activation includes morphological, functional and biochemical changes that vary with type and severity of injury and may lead to neuroprotection, neurodegeneration and neurogenesis. Since they also ensheath all retinal neurons, Müller glial cells have been considered potential therapeutic targets to inhibit retinal degeneration and contribute to adult neurogenesis, due to their progenitor/ stem cells properties. This proposal aims to investigate the role of Müller cells in the regeneration of the adult retina, with emphasis on Rho GTPases, proteins that regulate cell cycle, differentiation and apoptosis. We have previously shown the expression of Rho proteins in Müller cells and its role in the maintainance of the morphology, photoreceptor degeneration and proliferation of progenitor/ stem cells in ciliary body. Specifically, we intend to investigate in vitro and in vivo the involvement of Rho GTPases in dedifferentiation, proliferation and differentiation of Müller cells, as well as in neuronal death after excitotoxic stimulation in birds and mammals. These results may contribute to understand the role of Müller cells and the signaling mechanisms involved in regeneration processes, potentially useful for novel therapeutic strategies to treat retinal and other CNS degenerative diseases. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

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)

AKAMINE, PRISCILLA SAYAMI; LIMA, CILENE REBOUCAS; LUSTOZA-COSTA, GABRIELA JESUS; FUZIWARA, CESAR SEIGI; DEL DEBBIO, CAROLINA BELTRAME; KIMURA, EDNA TERUKO; SANTOS, MARINILCE FAGUNDES; HAMASSAKI, DANIA EMI. Age-related increase of let-7 family microRNA in rat retina and vitreous. EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH, v. 204, MAR 2021. (10/52187-9)