Progress in research of Müller cell reprogramming in retinal regeneration / 中华实验眼科杂志

ABSTRACT

Müller glia, the major type of glial cells in retina, is crucial for maintaining retinal homeostasis.Although Müller cells have the features to re-enter into the cell cycle and differentiate into neural cells for promoting retinal regeneration after retinal damage in zebrafish, these features are rigorously restricted in higher animals.It has been reported that the reprogramming of Müller cells cannot be activated spontaneously in higher animals, but the reprogramming ability and transdifferentiation to neuron can be achieved by induction.The neurogenic potential of mammalian Müller glia makes it promising in restoring retinal regeneration.In this article, we review the progresses of Müller glia-to-neuron transdifferentiation with respect of the origin, and summarize the pathophysiology characters of Müller glia, mechanisms of reprogramming, methods of inducing mammalian Müller glia to neuron and factors limiting Müller glia-to-neuron in higher animals.Besides, we propose the advantages as well as the current challenges of Müller glia-to-neuron transdifferentiation.