Journal
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
Volume 136, Issue -, Pages 116-130Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2015.04.020
Keywords
Microglia; Retinal degeneration; Neuroprotection; Retinal ganglion cells; Photoreceptors
Categories
Funding
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF) of the University of Munster Medical Faculty [Et3/019/12]
- China Scholarship Council [201206270088]
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The microglia are the immune cells of the central nervous system and, also the retina. They fulfil several tasks of surveillance in the healthy retina. In case of an injury or disease, microglia become activated and tries to repair the damage. However, in a lot of cases it does not work, and microglia deteriorate the situation by releasing toxic and pro-inflammatory compounds. Moreover, they further promote degenerative processes by attacking and phagocytosing damaged neurones and photoreceptors that otherwise would possibly have the chance to survive. Such deleterious action of the microglia has been observed in degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and photoreceptors, and it takes place in hereditary diseases, infections as well as in case of traumatic or light injuries. Therefore, a number of attempts has been undertaken so far to inhibit the microglia, with varying success. The task remains to study behaviour of the microglia and their interaction with other retinal cell populations in more detail with respect to released factors and expressed receptors including the time points of the corresponding events. The goal has to be to find a better balance between helpful and detrimental actions of the microglia. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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