Directed transdifferentiation of Muller glial cells to photoreceptors using the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway agonist purmorphamine.

ABSTRACT: Specification of distinct cell types from Müller glial cells is key to the potential application of endogenous repair in retinal regeneration. Sonic hedgehog (SHH) has been established as a potent mitogen for rat Müller glial cells, which also induces Müller glial cells to dedifferentiate and adopt the phenotype of rod photoreceptors. The present study investigated the effects of purmorphamine, a small molecule that activates the SHH‑pathway, in the proliferation, dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation of Müller glial cells, as determined by several methods including immunofluorescence, polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. It was demonstrated that it may be able to replace SHH for the regeneration of retinal neurons. Purmorphamine was revealed to stimulate the proliferation

SUBMITTER: Gu D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5779882 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature