title: Contribution of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation to retinal degenerative diseases.
abstract: Retinal degenerative diseases are major causes of vision loss and blindness worldwide and are characterized by chronic and progressive neuronal loss. One common feature of retinal degenerative diseases and brain neurodegenerative diseases is chronic neuroinflammation. There is growing evidence that retinal microglia, as in the brain, become activated in the course of retinal degenerative diseases, having a pivotal role in the initiation and propagation of the neurodegenerative process. A better understanding of the events elicited and mediated by retinal microglia will contribute to the clarification of disease etiology and might open new avenues for potential therapeutic interventions. This review aims at giving an overview of the roles of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in major retinal degenerative diseases like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
authors: Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Maria H
authors: MH
authors: Madeira
authors: Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Boia
authors: Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-548 Coimbra, Portugal ; Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ; Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Paulo F
authors: PF
authors: Santos
authors: Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-548 Coimbra, Portugal ; Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ; AIBILI, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: António F
authors: AF
authors: Ambrósio
authors: Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3004-548 Coimbra, Portugal ; Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ; AIBILI, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Ana R
authors: AR
authors: Santiago
mesh_terms: D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000209:etiology; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000209:etiology; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000209:etiology*