James Zieske

The goal of our laboratory is to understand the mechanisms behind corneal epithelial wound healing. The corneal epithelium is the outermost layer of the eye and is seven cell layers thick. It is considered the first line of defense against foreign materials and therefore, must heal quickly in order to prevent entry of foreign materials. Upon wounding of the epithelium, the epithelial cells must somehow cover and repopulate the wound site and restore its barrier function.

We have found that upon wounding the epithelium that the cells outside the wound area divide (proliferate) while the cells entering the wound site migrate. We have also found that certain growth factors and their receptors (epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-b (TGF-b)) are activated and may be involved in the healing response of the epithelium. We will continue these studies and expand our research by testing whether levels of a cell cycle inhibitor, p15INK4b, are increased by the activation of EGF receptor and TGF-bRII, and if this increase of p15INK4b helps epithelial wound closure and restoration of the epithelial barrier. These experiments will result in basic information required for developing therapeutics to be used to enhance healing responses.