The long-term goal of this project is to better understand the biological properties of corneal and conjunctival epithelial stem cells. Information about the location and properties of these stem cells is central to understanding the mechanisms involved in the maintenance and differentiation of these epithelia. The focus of this grant is to further define the stem and transient amplifying cell populations in corneal epithelium. In addition, in view of the intimate relationship between corneal and conjunctival epithelia, we will extend some of these investigations to include conjunctival epithelium. During this grant period we will use a combination of light and transmission electron microscopy, cell and organ culture, and tissue section autoradiography to study these problems using SENCAR mice and rabbits as experimental animals. We will: 1. further define the differences in the proliferative potential of limbal, peripheral and central corneal epithelia; 2. determine the rate and driving force for centripetal migration in normal corneal epithelium; 3. define the cell cycle phase durations in limbal, peripheral and central corneal epithelia; 4. determine whether during vitamin A deficiency the keratinized conjunctival epithelium is limbal-derived; and 5. study the location of """"""""label-retaining cells"""""""" in conjunctival epithelium. Information from these studies should lead to a better understanding of the roles of the limbal and corneal epithelia in growth control and differentiation. It should also lead to a better understanding of the interrelationship between conjunctival and corneal epithelia. This will ultimately increase our knowledge on diseases of the ocular surface epithelia such as persistent corneal epithelial defect and the various dry- eye conditions.
| Kaplan, Nihal; Ventrella, Rosa; Peng, Han et al. (2018) EphA2/Ephrin-A1 Mediate Corneal Epithelial Cell Compartmentalization via ADAM10 Regulation of EGFR Signaling. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 59:393-406 |
| Dong, Ying; Peng, Han; Lavker, Robert M (2018) Emerging Therapeutic Strategies for Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency. J Ophthalmol 2018:7894647 |
| Peng, Han; Park, Jong Kook; Lavker, Robert M (2017) Autophagy and Macropinocytosis: Keeping an Eye on the Corneal/Limbal Epithelia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 58:416-423 |
| Park, Jong Kook; Peng, Han; Katsnelson, Julia et al. (2016) MicroRNAs-103/107 coordinately regulate macropinocytosis and autophagy. J Cell Biol 215:667-685 |
| Peng, Han; Park, Jong Kook; Katsnelson, Julia et al. (2015) microRNA-103/107 Family Regulates Multiple Epithelial Stem Cell Characteristics. Stem Cells 33:1642-56 |
| Peng, Han; Hamanaka, Robert B; Katsnelson, Julia et al. (2012) MicroRNA-31 targets FIH-1 to positively regulate corneal epithelial glycogen metabolism. FASEB J 26:3140-7 |
| Sun, Lijie; Ryan, David G; Zhou, Mingyuan et al. (2006) EEDA: a protein associated with an early stage of stratified epithelial differentiation. J Cell Physiol 206:103-11 |
| Zhou, Mingyuan; Leiberman, Joshua; Xu, Jing et al. (2006) A hierarchy of proliferative cells exists in mouse lens epithelium: implications for lens maintenance. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 47:2997-3003 |
| Williams, D L; Risse, B; Kim, S et al. (1999) Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 in human corneal epithelium. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 40:1669-75 |
| Jensen, P J; Lavker, R M (1999) Urokinase is a positive regulator of epidermal proliferation in vivo. J Invest Dermatol 112:240-4 |
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