The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing, China.
Immunology. 2022 Jul;166(3):268-286. doi: 10.1111/imm.13479. Epub 2022 Apr 22.
Microglia, the resident immune cells in the retina and nervous system, make irreplaceable contributions to the maintenance of normal homeostasis and immune surveillance of these systems. Recently, great progress has been made in determining the origin, distribution, features and functions of retinal microglia and in identifying their roles in retinal diseases. In the retinal microenvironment, microglia constantly monitor changes in their surroundings and maintain balanced functions by communicating with other retinal cells. When disturbed, activated microglia may kill degenerated neurons and photoreceptors through phagocytosis and exacerbate retinal injury by producing multiple proinflammatory mediators. Numerous animal studies and in situ analyses of human tissue have shown that retinal microglia are involved in multiple retinal diseases. The functions and mechanisms of activated microglia in retinal disorders are gradually being elucidated. Increasing evidence points towards the dual roles of microglia in the retina and they are regulated by many factors. How to inhibit the detrimental effects of microglia and promote beneficial effects are worth studying. This review focuses primarily on the features and functions of microglia and how they participate in retinal diseases based on existing research findings. We also discuss current opinions about microglial transdifferentiation.
小胶质细胞是视网膜和神经系统中的固有免疫细胞，对维持这些系统的正常内稳态和免疫监视做出了不可替代的贡献。最近，在确定视网膜小胶质细胞的起源、分布、特征和功能以及确定它们在视网膜疾病中的作用方面取得了重大进展。在视网膜微环境中，小胶质细胞不断监测周围环境的变化，并通过与其他视网膜细胞的通讯来维持平衡的功能。当受到干扰时，激活的小胶质细胞可能通过吞噬作用杀死变性的神经元和光感受器，并通过产生多种促炎介质加剧视网膜损伤。大量的动物研究和人类组织的原位分析表明，视网膜小胶质细胞参与多种视网膜疾病。激活的小胶质细胞在视网膜疾病中的功能和机制逐渐被阐明。越来越多的证据表明小胶质细胞在视网膜中具有双重作用，并且受到许多因素的调节。如何抑制小胶质细胞的有害作用并促进其有益作用值得研究。本综述主要基于现有研究结果，讨论小胶质细胞的特征和功能以及它们如何参与视网膜疾病。我们还讨论了目前关于小胶质细胞转分化的观点。
