CORNEA CELL SIGNALING
The roles of endogenous growth factors in the regeneration and turnover of the corneal epithelium are being determined in my laboratory. We are monitoring, in cell culture, the effect of these growth factors on cell migration and proliferation. These effects are correlated with the receptor mediated events responsible for stimulating each of these responses. To this end, the receptor linkage to specific cell signaling systems is being identified. We are also employing ion sensitive fluorescent dyes to determine if changes in ion transport are a component of the cell signaling pathways that couple growth factor receptor stimulation to a specific response. Membrane ion transport involvement is tracked by measuring cell volume regulatory responses that occur as a consequence of receptor stimulation, using a microscope based video imaging system. With this approach, we will dissect out the specific synergisms that occur between different growth factors in their regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. Such an approach will help elucidate how corneal epithelial barrier function is maintained against pathogenic invasion and trauma. These considerations are essential towards determining how normal vision is maintained.