Research progress of microglia in hereditary retinal degeneration
10.3760/cma.j.cn511434-20210331-00165
- VernacularTitle:小胶质细胞在遗传性视网膜变性疾病中的作用研究进展
- Author:
Shengjin XIANG
1
;
Junguo DUAN
Author Information
1. 成都中医药大学眼科学院, 成都 610075
- Keywords:
Microglia;
Eye diseases, hereditary;
Review
- From:
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases
2022;38(8):702-706
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The human hereditary retinal degeneration is one of the main cause of irreversible blindness in the world. the mechanisms leading to retinal photoreceptor degeneration are not entirely clear. However, microglia acting as innate immune monitors are found to be activated early in retinal degeneration in many retinitis pigmentosa animal models. These activated microglia are involved in phagocyte rod cell fragments of degenerated retina, and also produce high levels of cytotoxic substances such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which aggravate the death of adjacent healthy photoreceptor cells. It suggests that microglia activation plays an important role in photoreceptor degeneration. At the same time, a series of studies have confirmed that some drugs can prevent or reduce neuronal death and slow the occurrence and progression of retinal degeneration by interfering with abnormal activation of microglia. It is expected to be a new choice for the treatment of hereditary retinal degeneration.
