The long term objective of this project is to investigate the regulation of FGF signaling in lacrimal gland development, which has important implications for understanding the etiology of the diseased lacrimal gland in human. The lacrimal gland develops through a branching morphogenesis process primarily driven by FGF signaling, which itself is regulated by glycosaminoglycan in the extracellular space. This application will focus on the role of glycosaminoglycan in lacrimal gland development and determine how the glycosaminoglycan fine structure regulates FGF signaling. Specifically, mouse genetic models will be developed to test the functions of glycosaminoglycan biosynthetic genes in lacrimal gland development, biochemical assays will be performed to examine the interaction between glycosaminoglycan and FGF molecules, and finally, explant culture systems will be utilized to determine the requirement of glycosaminoglycan in FGF signaling. By investigating the regulation of FGF signaling in murine lacrimal gland, this project will both contribute to medical research in treating human congenital eye diseases and advance our understanding of the mesenchymal-epithelial interaction paradigm.

Public Health Relevance

This project investigates the mechanism of FGF signaling in lacrimal gland development. It is expected to contribute to our understanding of this important pathway in human development and disease, and inform future development of clinical interventions to treat dry eye syndrome.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01EY018868-06
Application #
8746443
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (BVS)
Program Officer
Mckie, George Ann
Project Start
2008-04-01
Project End
2017-12-31
Budget Start
2014-01-01
Budget End
2014-12-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$384,108
Indirect Cost
$139,108
Name
Columbia University
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
621889815
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032
Garg, Ankur; Zhang, Xin (2017) Lacrimal gland development: From signaling interactions to regenerative medicine. Dev Dyn 246:970-980
Cvekl, Ales; Zhang, Xin (2017) Signaling and Gene Regulatory Networks in Mammalian Lens Development. Trends Genet 33:677-702
Mathew, Grinu; Hannan, Abdul; Hertzler-Schaefer, Kristina et al. (2016) Targeting of Ras-mediated FGF signaling suppresses Pten-deficient skin tumor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:13156-13161
Tao, Chenqi; Zhang, Xin (2016) Retinal Proteoglycans Act as Cellular Receptors for Basement Membrane Assembly to Control Astrocyte Migration and Angiogenesis. Cell Rep 17:1832-1844
Balasubramanian, Revathi; Zhang, Xin (2016) Mechanisms of FGF gradient formation during embryogenesis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 53:94-100
Cai, Zhigang; Grobe, Kay; Zhang, Xin (2014) Role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in optic disc and stalk morphogenesis. Dev Dyn 243:1310-6
Hertzler-Schaefer, Kristina; Mathew, Grinu; Somani, Ally-Khan et al. (2014) Pten loss induces autocrine FGF signaling to promote skin tumorigenesis. Cell Rep 6:818-26
Tao, Chenqi; Zhang, Xin (2014) Development of astrocytes in the vertebrate eye. Dev Dyn 243:1501-10
Pan, Yi; Carbe, Christian; Kupich, Sabine et al. (2014) Heparan sulfate expression in the neural crest is essential for mouse cardiogenesis. Matrix Biol 35:253-65
Cai, Zhigang; Tao, Chenqi; Li, Hongge et al. (2013) Deficient FGF signaling causes optic nerve dysgenesis and ocular coloboma. Development 140:2711-23

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