Deciphering perivascular macrophages and microglia in the retinal ganglion cell layers

Jehwi Jeon, Yong Soo Park, Sang Hoon Kim, Eunji Kong, Jay Kim, Jee Myung Yang, Joo Yong Lee, You Me Kim, In Beom Kim, Pilhan Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: The classically defined two retinal microglia layers are distributed in inner and outer plexiform layers. Although there are some reports that retinal microglia are also superficially located around the ganglion cell layer (GCL) in contact with the vitreous, there has been a lack of detailed descriptions and not fully understood yet. Methods: We visualized the microglial layers by using CX3CR1-GFP (C57BL6) transgenic mice with both healthy and disease conditions including NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration models and IRBP-induced auto-immune uveitis models. Result: We found the GCL microglia has two subsets; peripheral (pph) microglia located on the retinal parenchyma and BAM (CNS Border Associated Macrophage) which have a special stretched phenotype only located on the surface of large retinal veins. First, in the pph microglia subset, but not in BAM, Galectin-3 and LYVE1 are focally expressed. However, LYVE1 is specifically expressed in the amoeboid or transition forms, except the typical dendritic morphology in the pph microglia. Second, BAM is tightly attached to the surface of the retinal veins and has similar morphology patterns in both the healthy and disease conditions. CD86+ BAM has a longer process which vertically passes the proximal retinal veins. Our data helps decipher the basic anatomy and pathophysiology of the retinal microglia in the GCL. Discussion: Our data helps decipher the basic anatomy and pathophysiology of the retinal microglia in the GCL.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1368021
JournalFrontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Volume12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 Jeon, Park, Kim, Kong, Kim, Yang, Lee, Kim, Kim and Kim.

Keywords

  • CD86 macrophage
  • central nervous system border-associated macrophage
  • perivascular macrophage
  • retinal microglia
  • superficial microglia

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Deciphering perivascular macrophages and microglia in the retinal ganglion cell layers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this