The University of Tsukuba, in collaboration with Utsunomiya University, has revealed that a protein involved in genetics is essential for the regeneration of the retina of adult newts, and without this protein, the same retinal disease as humans can occur.Since this protein is also present in humans, it may lead to the development of retinal regeneration therapies.
When the retina (nervous retina) of the eye is damaged, the cells (retinal pigment epithelium [RPE] cells) that line the outside of the retina lose their epithelial characteristics and are released.In addition, inside the eye (inside the vitreous cavity), it transforms into pluripotent cells (RPE stem cells) that can transform into cells of various tissues, regenerating new retinas and RPE cells.However, in the case of humans, even if the RPE cells are transformed into pluripotent cells when the retina is damaged, they eventually convert into cells called myofibroblasts, which cover the wound and promote retinal detachment. Causes a disease called illness.The research team focused on a protein (transcription factor) called Pax6 that is newly expressed in RPE stem cells, and investigated its involvement in retinal regeneration.
This time, the research team succeeded in producing a newt that can control gene function for the first time.This newt is used to suppress the expression of Pax6 in RPE stem cells and interfere with the normal progression of retinal regeneration.As a result, it was discovered that the retina did not regenerate and RPE stem cells eventually differentiated into myofibroblasts, showing symptoms of proliferative vitreoretosis similar to humans.In humans, RPE hepatocytes express Pax6 but the retina does not regenerate.It is presumed that this is because the newt acquired the functions of Pax6 different from humans in the process of evolution.
In the future, the research team hopes to elucidate the working style and role of Pax6 in RPE stem cells at the molecular level and clarify the mechanism of retinal regeneration, which will lead to the development of human retinal regeneration therapy.
