Thrombin Activation of S-Phase Reentry by Cultured Pigmented Epithelial Cells of Adult Newt Iris

Authors: Simon A.; Brockes J.P.

Source: Experimental Cell Research, Volume 281, Number 1, November 2002 , pp. 101-106(6)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $52.63 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Following local injury or tissue removal, regeneration in urodele amphibians appears to be dependent on cell cycle reentry and dedifferentiation of postmitotic, terminally differentiated cells in the remaining tissues. Regeneration of the lens of the eye occurs by the dedifferentiation of pigmented epithelial cells (PEC) of the iris and their subsequent transdifferentiation into lens cells. A key question is how cell cycle reentry is regulated. Here we demonstrate that thrombin activates S-phase reentry of newt PEC in vitro. Based on these findings, and on previous experiments showing that newt skeletal myotubes reenter the cell cycle following thrombin stimulation, we suggest that thrombin is a critical signal for initiation of vertebrate regeneration. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/excr.2002.5650

Affiliations: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University College London, WC1E 6BT, London, United Kingdom

Publication date: 2002-11-01