Retinal microglia initiate neuroinflammation in ocular autoimmunity
Abstract
Autoimmune uveitis is a serious sight-threatening condition defined by an autoreactive immune response against uveal tissues and the retina. As a result, patients with uveitis often suffer serious visual loss after persistent inflammation due to immune-mediated damage in the targeted tissues. Microglia are resident immune cells in the retina, and are thought to be the key population that initiates retinal inflammation; however, the exact role for microglia in autoimmune uveitis is still unknown. Here, we demonstrate that microglia are essential for the induction of a retinal autoimmune response, as microglial ablation completely blocks disease. Our data suggest that microglia mediate autoreactive immune cell entry into the retina, and that by depleting microglia, circulating immune cells cannot gain entry into the retina.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- May 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1820387116
- Bibcode:
- 2019PNAS..116.9989O