title: Müller glial cells in retinal disease.
abstract: Virtually all pathogenic stimuli activate Müller cells. Reactive Müller cells exert protective and toxic effects on photoreceptors and neurons. They contribute to oxidative stress and glutamate toxicity due to malfunctions of glutamate uptake and glutathione synthesis. Downregulation of potassium conductance disrupts transcellular potassium and water transport, resulting in neuronal hyperexcitability and edema. Protective effects of reactive Müller cells include upregulation of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-degrading ectoenzymes, which enhances the extracellular availability of the neuroprotectant adenosine, abrogation of the osmotic release of ATP, which might protect retinal ganglion cells from apoptosis, and the release of antioxidants and neurotrophic factors. The dedifferentiation of reactive Müller cells to progenitor-like cells might have an impact on future therapeutic approaches. A better understanding of the gliotic mechanisms will be helpful in developing efficient therapeutic strategies aiming at increased protective and regenerative properties and decreased toxicity of reactive Müller cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bringmann
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wiedemann
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005911:Gliosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055351:Retinal Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018698:Glutamic Acid; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate