Oncogene
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Retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cell integrity is critical to the maintenance of retina functions and RPE cells do not proliferate in adults. The activation of RPE results in cell proliferation which may be associated with proliferative retinopathy and choroidal melanoma. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is believed to be a key participant in the response to mitogenic stimuli. ⋯ Moreover, inhibition of the cAMP-activated small G protein Rap1, partially reversed the inhibitory effects of cAMP on cell proliferation and MEK/ERK activation. The requirement for Ras and ERK1/2, the lack of ERK1/2 regulation by PKA and the cAMP/Rap1 counter-regulatory pathway for ERK-mediated cell proliferation suggest complex regulation of signalling in RPE cells. These data may have important implications for the development of more selective models for retinal anti-proliferative therapies.