Name: Dr. Katia Del Rio-Tsonis

Position: Professor

Research Description:

Determination of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of retina regeneration using the chick embryonic eye and amphibian animal models.



Retina regeneration takes place in a variety of organisms during a restricted period that encompasses their early development. These include teleost fish, birds, mammals and amphibians. Regeneration of the retina occurs via transdifferentiation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In this process the RPE undergoes dedifferentiation, losing its characteristics of origin and becoming a mass of “pluripotent cells” that can later differentiate into any of the retina cells that comprise the neural retina layers including photoreceptor, amacrine, bipolar, horizontal and ganglion cells. Retina could also regenerate via activation of stem/progenitor cells located in the anterior region of the eye.



We use several animal models to study mechanisms of regeneration including the chick embryo where retinal cells regenerate after retinectomy via transdifferentiation of the RPE and by activation of stem/progenitor cells during limited stages of development, and the adult newt which can regenerate their retina via transdifferentiation of the RPE at any time of their life span. Other Amphibian models such as Xenopus are also been explored in the lab and their regenerative ability is being assessed.

The main focus of this part of our research is to determine which molecules are the key regulators in the process of transdifferentiation and stem/progenitor cell activation, so that one day we could try to induce this ability in higher vertebrates such as humans. This could be very beneficial in the cure/treatment of so many of the retinal degenerative diseases.

A current collaboration with Dr. Yvan Arsenijevic from the Unit of Oculogenetics, Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules Gonin, Lausanne, Switzerland is gearing into the possibility of clinical applications for retinal stem cells derived from the anterior region of the human eye. His lab has successfully isolated and cultured human retinal progenitor cells that we are implanting unto embryonic chick eyes to facilitate their integration and differentiation.

Lab Memberships

Del Rio-Tsonis Lab (Principal Investigator/Director)

Contact Information

Address:
Dept. Zoology
University of Miami
Oxford, OH
USA

Web Page: http://www.units.muohio.edu/regenerationlab/Site/Home.html