The importance of EMT in RPE cells

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26861457
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Takahashi Eri 熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部(医), 助教 (60622602)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 網膜色素上皮 / 上皮間葉転換 / TNF-α / ERMタンパク質ファミリー / ｐ３８MAPK / TAK1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with ocular fibrosis, especially proliferative vitreoretinopathy and subretinal fibrosis in age-related macular disease. We found that Merlin, one of ERM protein family, is essential for maintenance of epithelial phenotype in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is an inducer of EMT in RPE cells and TNF-α decreased the expression of Merlin, leading to phosphorlation of ERM proteins, p38MAPK via TAK1. TAK1-p38MAPK signaling pathway plays an important role in TNF-α-induced EMT in RPE cells.

Free Research Field

眼科学