Microglia Mediate Synaptic Material Clearance at the Early Stage of Rats With Retinitis Pigmentosa

In conclusion, microglial cells did not only contribute to the survival of photoreceptors and to the maintenance of retinal architecture (16, 18, 19), but also mediated synaptic remodeling of neuronal circuits by phagocytosing synapses in the RP retina. In our study, a CSF1R inhibitor exerted detrimental effects on the visual function of a RP rat model, suggesting that this type of drug-induced non-selective microglial elimination was not suitable to restore the vision of patients with RP. A treatment that selectively stimulates synaptic phagocytosis by microglia in the retina would be an important topic in future studies of retinal degenerative diseases. Based on our findings, novel treatment strategies targeting microglia should add mechanisms governing microglia–synapse interactions, and not simply aim to support photoreceptor survival. Ethics Statement This study was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of Third Military Medical University Animal Care and Use Committee. The protocol was approved by the Animal Center of the Third Military Medical University. Author Contributions JH: conception and design, collection and assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript writing. JD, LG, YF, CW, BB, HL, and YG: collection and assembly of data. CZ: conception and design. HX: conception and design, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript writing, final approval of manuscript. ZY: conception and design, financial support, data analysi...
Source: Frontiers in Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research