1
|
Liao C, Chen S, Chen X, Yi W, Fan Y, Chen Y, Ye T, Chen Y. Inhibition of JNK ameliorates rod photoreceptor degeneration in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. FEBS Lett 2024. [PMID: 39010325 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited eye disease that causes progressive vision loss. Microglial activation and inflammation play essential roles in photoreceptor degeneration in RP, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we examined the progressive degeneration of photoreceptors in rd1 mice, a mouse model of RP. We investigated the molecular changes in various retinal cells in rd1 mice using single-cell RNA sequencing and found that potentiation of JNK signaling is associated with photoreceptor degeneration in RP. Moreover, inflammation-related molecules, which function downstream of JNK, are elevated in RP. Furthermore, inhibiting JNK alleviates microglial activation and rescues photoreceptor degeneration in rd1 mice. Thus, our findings suggest that targeting JNK is a promising approach for slowing RP progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Liao
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuai Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuxu Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wanying Yi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, China
| | - Yingying Fan
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuewen Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, China
| | - Tao Ye
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen College of Advanced Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science, Disease and Drug Development, HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Shahror RA, Shosha E, Morris C, Wild M, Mu S, Csanyi G, Boerma M, Rusch NJ, Fouda AY. Deletion of myeloid HDAC3 promotes efferocytosis to ameliorate retinal ischemic injury. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:170. [PMID: 38997746 PMCID: PMC11241909 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03159-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Ischemia-induced retinopathy is a hallmark finding of common visual disorders including diabetic retinopathy (DR) and central retinal artery and vein occlusions. Treatments for ischemic retinopathies fail to improve clinical outcomes and the design of new therapies will depend on understanding the underlying disease mechanisms. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are an enzyme class that removes acetyl groups from histone and non-histone proteins, thereby regulating gene expression and protein function. HDACs have been implicated in retinal neurovascular injury in preclinical studies in which nonspecific HDAC inhibitors mitigated retinal injury. Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is a class I histone deacetylase isoform that plays a central role in the macrophage inflammatory response. We recently reported that myeloid cells upregulate HDAC3 in a mouse model of retinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. However, whether this cellular event is an essential contributor to retinal IR injury is unknown. In this study, we explored the role of myeloid HDAC3 in ischemia-induced retinal neurovascular injury by subjecting myeloid-specific HDAC3 knockout (M-HDAC3 KO) and floxed control mice to retinal IR. The M-HDAC3 KO mice were protected from retinal IR injury as shown by the preservation of inner retinal neurons, vascular integrity, and retinal thickness. Electroretinography confirmed that this neurovascular protection translated to improved retinal function. The retinas of M-HDAC3 KO mice also showed less proliferation and infiltration of myeloid cells after injury. Interestingly, myeloid cells lacking HDAC3 more avidly engulfed apoptotic cells in vitro and after retinal IR injury in vivo compared to wild-type myeloid cells, suggesting that HDAC3 hinders the reparative phagocytosis of dead cells, a process known as efferocytosis. Further mechanistic studies indicated that although HDAC3 KO macrophages upregulate the reparative enzyme arginase 1 (A1) that enhances efferocytosis, the inhibitory effect of HDAC3 on efferocytosis is not solely dependent on A1. Finally, treatment of wild-type mice with the HDAC3 inhibitor RGFP966 ameliorated the retinal neurodegeneration and thinning caused by IR injury. Collectively, our data show that HDAC3 deletion enhances macrophage-mediated efferocytosis and protects against retinal IR injury, suggesting that inhibiting myeloid HDAC3 holds promise as a novel therapeutic strategy for preserving retinal integrity after ischemic insult.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rami A Shahror
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, Office, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Esraa Shosha
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, Office, AR, 72205, USA
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Carol Morris
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, Office, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Melissa Wild
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, Office, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Shengyu Mu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, Office, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Gabor Csanyi
- Department of Pharmacology and Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Marjan Boerma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Nancy J Rusch
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, Office, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Abdelrahman Y Fouda
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, Office, AR, 72205, USA.
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shahror RA, Morris CA, Mohammed AA, Wild M, Zaman B, Mitchell CD, Phillips PH, Rusch NJ, Shosha E, Fouda AY. Role of myeloid cells in ischemic retinopathies: recent advances and unanswered questions. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:65. [PMID: 38454477 PMCID: PMC10918977 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03058-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Myeloid cells including microglia and macrophages play crucial roles in retinal homeostasis by clearing cellular debris and regulating inflammation. These cells are activated in several blinding ischemic retinal diseases including diabetic retinopathy, where they may exert both beneficial and detrimental effects on neurovascular function and angiogenesis. Myeloid cells impact the progression of retinal pathologies and recent studies suggest that targeting myeloid cells is a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate diabetic retinopathy and other ischemic retinal diseases. This review summarizes the recent advances in our understanding of the role of microglia and macrophages in retinal diseases and focuses on the effects of myeloid cells on neurovascular injury and angiogenesis in ischemic retinopathies. We highlight gaps in knowledge and advocate for a more detailed understanding of the role of myeloid cells in retinal ischemic injury to fully unlock the potential of targeting myeloid cells as a therapeutic strategy for retinal ischemia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rami A Shahror
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Carol A Morris
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Aya A Mohammed
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Melissa Wild
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Bushra Zaman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Christian D Mitchell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Paul H Phillips
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Nancy J Rusch
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Esraa Shosha
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Abdelrahman Y Fouda
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 611, BIOMED-1, B306, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chew LA, Iannaccone A. Gene-agnostic approaches to treating inherited retinal degenerations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1177838. [PMID: 37123404 PMCID: PMC10133473 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1177838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Most patients with inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) have been waiting for treatments that are "just around the corner" for decades, with only a handful of seminal breakthroughs happening in recent years. Highlighting the difficulties in the quest for curative therapeutics, Luxturna required 16 years of development before finally obtaining United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and its international equivalents. IRDs are both genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous. While this diversity offers many opportunities for gene-by-gene precision medicine-based approaches, it also poses a significant challenge. For this reason, alternative (or parallel) strategies to identify more comprehensive, across-the-board therapeutics for the genetically and phenotypically diverse IRD patient population are very appealing. Even when gene-specific approaches may be available and become approved for use, many patients may have reached a disease stage whereby these approaches may no longer be viable. Thus, alternate visual preservation or restoration therapeutic approaches are needed at these stages. In this review, we underscore several gene-agnostic approaches that are being developed as therapeutics for IRDs. From retinal supplementation to stem cell transplantation, optogenetic therapy and retinal prosthetics, these strategies would bypass at least in part the need for treating every individual gene or mutation or provide an invaluable complement to them. By considering the diverse patient population and treatment strategies suited for different stages and patterns of retinal degeneration, gene agnostic approaches are very well poised to impact favorably outcomes and prognosis for IRD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A. Chew
- Duke Center for Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetic Diseases, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Alessandro Iannaccone
- Duke Center for Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetic Diseases, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhou W, Zhou Y, He J, Rao Y, Fei P, Li J. TREM2 deficiency in microglia accelerates photoreceptor cell death and immune cell infiltration following retinal detachment. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:219. [PMID: 36977680 PMCID: PMC10050330 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05735-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Retinal detachment (RD) occurs in several major retinal conditions and often causes irreversible vision loss due to photoreceptor cell death. Retinal residential microglial cells are activated following RD and participate in photoreceptor cell death via direct phagocytosis and the regulation of inflammatory responses. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is an innate immune receptor exclusively expressed on microglial cells in the retina, and has been reported to affect microglial cell homeostasis, phagocytosis and inflammatory responses in the brain. In this study, increased expression of multiple cytokines and chemokines in the neural retina was observed starting at 3 h following RD. Trem2 knockout (Trem2-/-) mice exhibited significantly more photoreceptor cell death than wild-type controls at 3 days after RD, and the number of TUNEL positive photoreceptor cells progressively decreased from day 3 to day 7 post-RD. A significant thinning of the outer nuclear layer (ONL), with multiple folds was observed in the Trem2-/- mice at 3 days post-RD. Trem2 deficiency reduced microglial cell infiltration and phagocytosis of stressed photoreceptors. There were more neutrophils in Trem2-/- retina following RD than in controls. Using purified microglial cells, we found Trem2 knockout is associated with increased CXCL12 expression. The aggravated photoreceptor cell death was largely reversed by blocking the CXCL12-CXCR4 mediated chemotaxis in Trem2-/- mice after RD. Our findings suggested that retinal microglia are protective in preventing further photoreceptor cell death following RD by phagocytosing presumably stressed photoreceptor cells and by regulating inflammatory responses. TREM2 is largely responsible for such protective effect and CXCL12 plays an important role in regulating neutrophil infiltration after RD. Collectively, our study pinpointed TREM2 as a potential target of microglial cells to ameliorate RD-induced photoreceptor cell death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenchuan Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yutong Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jincan He
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yuqing Rao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Ping Fei
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jiang D, Burger CA, Akhanov V, Liang JH, Mackin RD, Albrecht NE, Andrade P, Schafer DP, Samuel MA. Neuronal signal-regulatory protein alpha drives microglial phagocytosis by limiting microglial interaction with CD47 in the retina. Immunity 2022; 55:2318-2335.e7. [PMID: 36379210 PMCID: PMC9772037 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2022.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Microglia utilize their phagocytic activity to prune redundant synapses and refine neural circuits during precise developmental periods. However, the neuronal signals that control this phagocytic clockwork remain largely undefined. Here, we show that neuronal signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) is a permissive cue for microglial phagocytosis in the developing murine retina. Removal of neuronal, but not microglial, SIRPα reduced microglial phagocytosis, increased synpase numbers, and impaired circuit function. Conversely, prolonging neuronal SIRPα expression extended developmental microglial phagocytosis. These outcomes depended on the interaction of presynaptic SIRPα with postsynaptic CD47. Global CD47 deficiency modestly increased microglial phagocytosis, while CD47 overexpression reduced it. This effect was rescued by coexpression of neuronal SIRPα or codeletion of neuronal SIRPα and CD47. These data indicate that neuronal SIRPα regulates microglial phagocytosis by limiting microglial SIRPα access to neuronal CD47. This discovery may aid our understanding of synapse loss in neurological diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danye Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Courtney A Burger
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Viktor Akhanov
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Justine H Liang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert D Mackin
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nicholas E Albrecht
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pilar Andrade
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dorothy P Schafer
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Melanie A Samuel
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang SK, Cepko CL. Targeting Microglia to Treat Degenerative Eye Diseases. Front Immunol 2022; 13:843558. [PMID: 35251042 PMCID: PMC8891158 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.843558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia have been implicated in many degenerative eye disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, and retinal detachment. While the exact roles of microglia in these conditions are still being discovered, evidence from animal models suggests that they can modulate the course of disease. In this review, we highlight current strategies to target microglia in the eye and their potential as treatments for both rare and common ocular disorders. These approaches include depleting microglia with chemicals or radiation, reprogramming microglia using homeostatic signals or other small molecules, and inhibiting the downstream effects of microglia such as by blocking cytokine activity or phagocytosis. Finally, we describe areas of future research needed to fully exploit the therapeutic value of microglia in eye diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean K. Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Constance L. Cepko
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Constance L. Cepko,
| |
Collapse
|