Research progress on the role of Müller glial cells in retinal nerve injury / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

ABSTRACT

Müller glial cells(MGCs)are the major type of glial cells in the retina which radiating across the entire retina. MGCs make a close contact with retinal neurons, interact, and contribute to retinal homeostasis. After retinal nerve injury, MGCs respond to retinal injury in a variety of regulatory ways to protect the inner retinal environment changes and damage, producing retinal neuroprotective effects, such as regulating neurotransmitters release, releasing neuroprotective factors and antioxidant factors and reprogramming for endogenous repair. However, persistent pathological stimulation in retina can also exacerbate MGCs' proliferation which participate in neuronal dysfunction or loss. Therefore, a proper understanding of the response of MGCs to pathological stimuli and their protective and damaging effects will have a great impact on revealing mechanisms of retinal nerve damage disease and guiding the treatment of the disease. This article reviews the role of MGCs in retinal nerve injury and repair and provides new strategies for retinal neuroprotection.