Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

RPE cells are highly polarized pigmented cells that are tightly associated with photoreceptor cells. Phagocytotic clearance of the spent photoreceptor distal outer segment (OS) tips by the RPE is essential to maintain photoreceptor homeostasis. Failure of RPE phagocytosis of the OS leads to retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The MerTK receptor tyrosine kinase is essential for RPE phagocytosis based on the extensive studies on the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat model, which displays an RP phenotype. MerTK null mutation causes photoreceptor degeneration not only in the RCS rat, but also in MerTK gene knockout mice and human RP patients. Our group is interested in the functions of MerTK in phagocytosis. Our goal is to elucidate the molecular roles of MerTK in RPE phagocytosis of the shed rod OS using biochemistry, molecular biology, immunocytochemistry and genetic approaches.

Assistant Professor
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Louisville
301 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
Louisville, KY 40202
Tel: (502)-852-4768
Email: q.lu@louisville.edu

1. Lu, Q., Gore, M., Zhang, Q., Camenisch, T., Boast, S., Casagranda, F., Lai, C., Skinner, M.K., Klein, R., Matsushima, G.K., Earp, S., Goff, S.P., and Lemke, G. Tyro 3 family receptors are essential regulators of mammalian spermatogenesis. Nature (1999), 398:723-728.

2. Lu, Q., and Lemke, G. Receptor tyrosine kinases of the Tyro3 family are homeostatic regulators of the immune system. Science, (2001), 293:306-311. (Also see the perspective article: IMMUNOLOGY: Tampering with the Immune System. By Pamela L. Schwartzberg. Science, 293:228-229)

3. Lemke, G and Lu, Q. Macrophage regulation by Tyro 3 family receptors. Current Opinion in Immunology. (2003), 15(1):31-6.

4. Li, Q., Lu, Q., Bottero, V., Estepa, G., Morrison, L., Mercurio, F., and Verma, IM. Enahanced NF-kB activation and cellular function in macrophages lacking IkB kinase 1 (IKK1). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. (2005), 102(35):12425-12430.

5. Li, Q., Lu, Q., Estepa, G. and Verma, IM. Identification of 14-3-3sigma mutation causing cutaneous abnormality in repeated-epilation mutant mouse. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. (2005), 102(44):15977-15982.

6. Radic, MZ., Shah, K., Zhang, W., Lu, Q., Lemke, G., and Hilliard, GM. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein P2 is an autoantibody target in mice deficient for Mer, Axl, and Tyro3 receptor tyrosine kinases. J. Immunol. (2006), 176(1): 68-74.

7. Prasad, D., Rothlin, CV., Burrola, P., Burstyn-Cohen, T., Lu, Q., Garcia de Frutos, P., and Lemke, G. TAM receptor function in the retinal pigment epithelium. Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 2006, 33:96-108.

8. Caraux*, A., Lu*, Q., Di Santo, JP., Raulet, DH., Lemke, G., and Roth, C. Natural killer cell differentiation driven by Tyro3 receptor tyrosine kinases. (First two authors contributed equally). Nature Immunology, 2006, 7:747-754. (also see the perspective News and Views article: NK cell development: Gas matters by Thierry Walzer & Eric Vivier, Nature Immunology. 2006, 7:702-704.).

9. Wang, H., Chen, S., Chen, Y., Wang, H., Wu, H., Tang, H., Xiong, W., M., J., Ge, Y., Lu, Q., and Han, D. The role of Tyro 3 subfamily receptors in the regulation of homeostasis and megakaryocytopoiesis. Haematologica/the hematology journal. 2007, 92:643-650.

10. Xiong, W., Chen, Y., Wang, HZ., Wang, HK., Wu, H., Lu, Q., and Han, D. Gas6 and the Tyro3 receptor tyrosine kinase subfamily regulate the phagocytic function of Sertoli Cells. Reproduction 2008, 135:77-87.

Shandong Univ, Jinan, China, B.S. Biology 1983

Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China, MS, Cell Biology 1988

Univ of Texas Health Science Ctr., Houston TX, MS, Molecular Biology 1992