LABORATORY OF LIPIDS AND SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

 Research line

Molecular mechanisms in inflammatory and degenerative processes of the retina

Inflammation is a key factor in the pathophysiology of several retinal degenerative diseases that can lead to vision loss, such as uveitis, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy (DR). DR is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in young and working age adults due to the alarming increase in the prevalence of diabetes worldwide. Our overall aim is to study novel molecular mechanisms triggered in photoreceptor (PR) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells subjected to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and high glucose (HG)-induced inflammatory insult. In particular, we aim to investigate the role of lipid messenger-generating pathways, such as phospholipase D (PLD) and diacylglycerol kinases (DAGK), in events mediating PR and RPE cell survival or dysfunction. Given that RPE cells are essential for preserving retinal integrity and visual function, our results position the PLD pathway as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory retinal diseases.