Targeting Microglia to Treat Degenerative Eye Diseases
Microglia have been implicated in many degenerative eye disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, and retinal detachment. While the exact roles of microglia in these conditions are still being discovered, evidence from anima...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.843558/full |
| _version_ | 1818973352126054400 |
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| author | Sean K. Wang Constance L. Cepko Constance L. Cepko Constance L. Cepko |
| author_facet | Sean K. Wang Constance L. Cepko Constance L. Cepko Constance L. Cepko |
| author_sort | Sean K. Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microglia have been implicated in many degenerative eye disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, and retinal detachment. While the exact roles of microglia in these conditions are still being discovered, evidence from animal models suggests that they can modulate the course of disease. In this review, we highlight current strategies to target microglia in the eye and their potential as treatments for both rare and common ocular disorders. These approaches include depleting microglia with chemicals or radiation, reprogramming microglia using homeostatic signals or other small molecules, and inhibiting the downstream effects of microglia such as by blocking cytokine activity or phagocytosis. Finally, we describe areas of future research needed to fully exploit the therapeutic value of microglia in eye diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:22:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6a1b0674c93d4d3a8e65753a4a4a65d8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:22:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a1b0674c93d4d3a8e65753a4a4a65d82022-12-21T19:35:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242022-02-011310.3389/fimmu.2022.843558843558Targeting Microglia to Treat Degenerative Eye DiseasesSean K. Wang0Constance L. Cepko1Constance L. Cepko2Constance L. Cepko3Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United StatesDepartment of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United StatesHoward Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, United StatesMicroglia have been implicated in many degenerative eye disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, and retinal detachment. While the exact roles of microglia in these conditions are still being discovered, evidence from animal models suggests that they can modulate the course of disease. In this review, we highlight current strategies to target microglia in the eye and their potential as treatments for both rare and common ocular disorders. These approaches include depleting microglia with chemicals or radiation, reprogramming microglia using homeostatic signals or other small molecules, and inhibiting the downstream effects of microglia such as by blocking cytokine activity or phagocytosis. Finally, we describe areas of future research needed to fully exploit the therapeutic value of microglia in eye diseases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.843558/fullmicrogliaretinaneurodegenerationneuroinflammationneuroprotectionimmunomodulation |
| spellingShingle | Sean K. Wang Constance L. Cepko Constance L. Cepko Constance L. Cepko Targeting Microglia to Treat Degenerative Eye Diseases Frontiers in Immunology microglia retina neurodegeneration neuroinflammation neuroprotection immunomodulation |
| title | Targeting Microglia to Treat Degenerative Eye Diseases |
| title_full | Targeting Microglia to Treat Degenerative Eye Diseases |
| title_fullStr | Targeting Microglia to Treat Degenerative Eye Diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting Microglia to Treat Degenerative Eye Diseases |
| title_short | Targeting Microglia to Treat Degenerative Eye Diseases |
| title_sort | targeting microglia to treat degenerative eye diseases |
| topic | microglia retina neurodegeneration neuroinflammation neuroprotection immunomodulation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.843558/full |
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