Microglia Suppress Ascl1-Induced Retinal Regeneration in Mice

The innate immune system plays key roles in tissue regeneration. For example, microglia promote neurogenesis in Muller glia in birds and fish after injury. Although mammalian retina does not normally regenerate, neurogenesis can be induced in mouse Muller glia by Ascl1, a proneural transcription factor. We show that in mice, microglia inhibit the Ascl1-mediated retinal regeneration, suggesting that the innate immune system limits the regenerative response to injury.