Silvia Finnemann
Bepler Chair in Biology
Department of Biological Sciences
Fordham University

Photoreceptor outer renewal: molecular mechanisms and link to retinal disease

Routine diurnal photoreceptor outer segment renewal is a fundamental homeostatic process in the vertebrate retina. The talk will focus on molecules and pathways that mediate cross-talk between photoreceptors and neighboring retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to ensure timely exposure of the “eat me” signal phosphatidylserine at outer segment tips followed by their prompt engulfment. Additionally, I will discuss our recent work suggesting that RPE intrinsic anti-inflammatory signaling relies on RPE phagocytic receptors to protect the neural retina from distress and degeneration.