Exploring the Akt/PI3 Kinase Signaling Pathway in the Avian Retina
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Date
2013-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
The Akt pathway is an important cell-signaling pathway that can affect many cellular processes including growth and proliferation. This study aims to explore the role of the Akt pathway in the formation of Muller glia-derived progenitors in the avian retina. The results show that pS6 (a readout of the Akt pathway) is expressed in embryonic retina but there are minimal levels in a mature, normal retina. Upon excitotoxic damage or FGF2 stimulation, pS6 is highly upregulated with a peak at 4h after damage. Furthermore, VO-OHpic trihydrate (VOTH), a PTEN inhibitor was able to increase the number of proliferating Muller glia four fold. We conclude that the Akt pathway is not active in a normal retina, the Akt/mTOR pathway is rapidly activated in damaged retinas, and this pathway stimulates the formation of Muller glia-derived progenitors.
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Keywords
Müller Glia, Akt pathway, pS6, Avian Retina