Dr. Nagashima injects CRISPR-Cas9 components into single cell stage zebrafish embryos
Peter Hitchcock, Ph.D., Mikiko Nagashima, Ph.D.
How Inflammation Triggers Photoreceptor Regeneration The degeneration and death of photoreceptor cells is tory response, and that this inflammation is required to a primary cause of blinding diseases like age-related make new photoreceptors. The inflammatory molecules macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. signal specific cell types to begin to form new, regenerA fundamental focus in the study of these degenated photoreceptors. erative retinal diseases, as well as neurodegenerative “In zebrafish retinas, inflammation is a required diseases like Alzheimers, is the role inflammation plays step for photoreceptor regeneration,” explains Dr. in fueling retinal cell and neuron degeneration, and Hitchcock. “This is in distinct contrast to inflammation what can be done about it. in the human retina, where it is a part of healing, but Basic science researchers can lead to degeneration and THESE TINY FISH NATURALLY investigating inflammation and cell disease.” death in the brain and retina often Their game-changing ACCOMPLISH EXACTLY WHAT WE study zebrafish models. Unlike hufinding will be pursued with WOULD HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN mans, when these creatures’ brain a new NIH R21 grant, with PATIENTS WITH DEGENERATIVE and retinal cells die, they have the Dr. Hitchcock as Principal InvesEYE AND BRAIN DISEASES. ability to make new ones. tigator and Dr. Nagashima as “These tiny fish naturally Co-Investigator. The R21 — Peter Hitchcock, Ph.D. accomplish exactly what we would provides short-term funding hope to achieve in patients with degenerative eye and to pursue ideas that break new ground. brain diseases,” explains Peter Hitchcock, Ph.D., Profes“The subretinal space is where photoreceptors sor of Ophthalmology and Cell and Developmental live and die in humans, and where they live, die and Biology. “We can learn a lot from them.” regenerate in zebrafish,” explains Dr. Hitchcock. “Our New insights from their studies of zebrafish retiproject explores the unique inflammatory environment nas have led Dr. Hitchcock and his colleague, Assistant of that space in zebrafish, and the specific cells within Research Scientist Mikiko Nagashima, Ph.D., to view it that aid photoreceptor regeneration. inflammation in a whole new way. “The insights we gain may someday be used From their research, Drs. Hitchcock and Nagashima to combat degenerative eye diseases by inducing have established that when photoreceptors in the regrowth of photoreceptor or other cells in the human retinas of zebrafish are dying, they trigger an inflammaretina.”
“
“
R01 Grant 11