Notch and Wnt signaling mediated rod photoreceptor regeneration by Muller cells in adult mammalian retina.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evidence emerging from a variety of approaches used in different species suggests that Müller cell function may extend beyond its role of maintaining retinal homeostasis to that of progenitors in the adult retina. Enriched Müller cells in vitro or those that re-enter cell cycle in response to neurotoxin-damage to retina in vivo display multipotential and self-renewing capacities, the cardinal features of stem cells.

Methodology/principal findings

We demonstrate that Notch and Wnt signaling activate Müller cells through their canonical pathways and that a rare subset of activated Müller cells differentiates along rod photoreceptor lineage in the outer nuclear layer. The differentiation of activated Müller cells along photoreceptor lineage is confirmed by multiple a

SUBMITTER: Del Debbio CB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2928741 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature