Spatial and temporal regulation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is essential for development of the retinal pigment epithelium

0334091 - ÚMG 2010 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Fujimura, Naoko - Taketo, M.M. - Mori, M. - Kořínek, Vladimír - Kozmik, Zbyněk
Spatial and temporal regulation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is essential for development of the retinal pigment epithelium.
Developmental Biology. Roč. 334, č. 1 (2009), s. 31-45. ISSN 0012-1606. E-ISSN 1095-564X
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA204/08/1618; GA MŠMT(CZ) 1M0520; GA MŠMT 2B06077
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50520514
Keywords : eye * Wnt * retina * pigment
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 4.379, year: 2009

Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is highly active in the dorsal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) during eye development. To study the role of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in the RPE development we used a conditional Cre/loxP system in mice to inactivate or ectopically activate Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in the RPE. Inactivation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling results in transdifferentiation of RPE to neural retina (NR) as documented by downregulation of RPE-specific markers Mitf and Otx2 and ectopic expression of NR-specific markers Chx10 and Rx, respectively. In contrast, ectopic activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling results in the disruption of the RPE patterning, indicating that precise spatial and temporal regulation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is required for normal RPE development. Combined, our data suggest that Wnt/beta-catenin signaling plays an essential role in development of RPE by maintaining or inducing expression of Mitf and Otx2.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0178917