Retinal Macroglial Responses in Health and Disease.
Due to their permanent and close proximity to neurons, glial cells perform essential tasks for the normal physiology of the retina. Astrocytes and Müller cells (retinal macroglia) provide physical support to neurons and supplement them with several metabolites and growth factors. Macroglia are involved in maintaining the homeostasis of extracellular ions and neurotransmitters, are essential for information processing in neural circuits, participate in retinal glucose metabolism and in removing metabolic waste products, regulate local blood flow, induce the blood-retinal barrier (BRB), play fundamental roles in local immune response, and protect neurons from oxidative damage. In response to polyetiological insults, glia cells react with a process called reactive gliosis, seeking to maintain retinal homeostasis. When malfunctioning, macroglial cells can become primary pathogenic elements. A reactive gliosis has been described in different retinal pathologies, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetes, glaucoma, retinal detachment, or retinitis pigmentosa. A better understanding of the dual, neuroprotective, or cytotoxic effect of macroglial involvement in retinal pathologies would help in treating the physiopathology of these diseases. The extensive participation of the macroglia in retinal diseases points to these cells as innovative targets for new drug therapies.
Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain.
Rosa
R
de Hoz
Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Blanca
B
Rojas
Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain.
Ana I
AI
Ramírez
Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain.
Juan J
JJ
Salazar
Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Beatriz I
BI
Gallego
Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Alberto
A
Triviño
Instituto de Investigaciones Oftalmológicas Ramón Castroviejo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Oftalmología y ORL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
José M
JM
Ramírez
D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D063928:Ependymoglial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005911:Gliosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
D005947:Glucose