Peter Lwigale, Ph.D.

Molecular regulation of cell migration during eye development and cornea regeneration

I am interested in events that regulate the differentiation of the multipotent neural crest cells during corneal development and neural crest-derived stromal keratocytes during cornea regeneration. The cornea is a highly specialized transparent tissue located at the anterior-most surface of the eye. An embryonic cell population known as neural crest cells gives rise to majority of the cells in the cornea, including: stromal keratocytes, corneal endothelium, and sensory nerves. Development and regeneration of the cornea are both multi-step processes that involve coordinated migration and differentiation of neural crest cells and keratocytes, respectively, as well as the intricate patterning of sensory nerves. Using the chick as a model organism and a combination of molecular, microsurgical, and tissue culture approaches, we have shown that: 1) only a subpopulation of neural crest cells can properly contribute to the cornea, 2) corneal keratocytes retain the stem cell-like properties of their neural crest progenitors when challenged in an embryonic environment, and 3) the lens-derived axon guidance molecule, Semaphorin3A, regulates sensory innervation of the cornea. Currently, our research is aimed at further elucidating the role of guidance molecules during cornea development. Since cornea regeneration recapitulates development, we will extrapolate our studies to cornea wound healing. In addition to the chick, these studies will involve the mouse as a genetic model organism to further our understanding of the genes that are involved in these processes. We are also studying the stem cell potential of keratocytes and their characteristics in the embryonic environment. Ultimately, the goal of our research is to provide an insight into how guidance molecules are disrupted in congenital eye disorders and cornea wound healing, which may lead to discoveries of remedies or cures to these ocular problems.

Selected Publications

Lwigale PY (1999) Nuclear morphologies of bovine corneal cells as visualized by confocal microscopy. Cells Tissues Organs 165:104-112.

Riley NC, Lwigale PY, Conrad GW (2001) Specificity of corneal nerve positions during embryogenesis. Molecular Vision 7:297-304.

Lwigale PY (2001) Embryonic origin of avian corneal sensory nerves. Developmental Biology 239:323-337.

Lwigale PY, Conrad GW, Bronner-Fraser M (2004) Graded potential of neural crest to form cornea, sensory neurons and cartilage along the rostrocaudal axis. Development 131:1979-1991.

Lwigale PY, Cressy PA, Bronner-Fraser M (2005) Corneal keratocytes retain neural crest progenitor cell properties. Developmental Biology 288:284-93.

Lwigale PY, Bronner-Fraser M (2007) Lens-derived Semaphorin3A regulates sensory innervation of the cornea. Developmental Biology 306:750-759.

Shiau CE, Lwigale PY, Das RM, Wilson SA, Bronner-Fraser M (2008) Robo2-Slit1 dependent cell-cell interactions mediate assembly of the trigeminal ganglion. Nature Neuroscience 11:269-276.

Lwigale PY, Schneider RA (2008) Other chimeras: quail-duck and mouse-chick. Methods in Cell Biology 87:59-74.

Lee VM, Lwigale PY (2008) Neural crest, sensory neuron, and muscle cultures. Methods in Cell Biology 87:115-133.

Contact Information

Peter Lwigale, Ph.D.

Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Rice University

339 Anderson Biological Labs

6100 Main Street

Houston, Texas 77251-1892, U.S.A.

Tel: (713) 348-6785

Fax: (713) 348-5154

E-mail: lwigale@rice.edu