Microglia May Be a Potential Therapeutic Target for Blinding Eye Disease

Spider-like cells inside the brain, spinal cord and eye hunt for invaders, capturing and then devouring them. These cells, called microglia, often play a beneficial role by helping to clear trash and protect the central nervous system against infection. But a new study by researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI) shows that they also accelerate damage wrought by blinding eye disorders, such as retinitis pigmentosa. NEI is part of the National Institutes of Health.

“These findings are important because they suggest that microglia may provide a target for entirely new therapeutic strategies aimed at halting blinding eye diseases of the retina,” said NEI Director, Paul A. Sieving, M.D. “New targets create untapped opportunities for preventing disease-related damage to the eye, and preserving vision for as long as possible.” The findings were published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine.

Retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited disorder that affects roughly 1 in 4,000 people, damages the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Research has shown links between retinitis pigmentosa and several mutations in genes for photoreceptors, the cells in the retina that convert light into electrical signals that are sent to the brain via the optic nerve. In the early stages of the disease, rod photoreceptors, which enable us to see in low light, are lost, causing night blindness. As the disease progresses, cone photoreceptors, which are needed for sharp vision and seeing colors, can also die off, eventually leading to complete blindness.

Lead investigator, Wai T. Wong M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Unit on Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease at NEI, and his team studied mice with a mutation in a gene that can also cause retinitis pigmentosa in people. The researchers observed in these mice that very early in the disease process, the microglia infiltrate a layer of the retina near the photoreceptors, called the outer nuclear layer, where they don’t usually venture. The microglia then create a cup-like structure over a single photoreceptor, surrounding it to ingest it in a process called phagocytosis. Wong and his team caught this dynamic process on video. The whole feast, including digestion, takes about an hour.

Phagocytosis is a normal process in healthy tissues and is a key way of clearing away dead cells and cellular debris. However, in retinitis pigmentosa the researchers found that the microglia target damaged but living photoreceptors, in addition to dead ones. To confirm that microglia contribute to the degeneration process, the researchers genetically eliminated the microglia, which slowed the rate of rod photoreceptor death and the loss of visual function in the mice. Inhibiting phagocytosis with a compound had a similar effect. The microglia seem to ignore cone photoreceptors, which fits with the known early course of retinitis pigmentosa.

This image shows microglia consuming rod photoreceptor cells.
A microglial cell (green) extends spider-like arms to capture and consume rod photoreceptor cells (blue). Image credit: Dr. Wai T. Wong, National Eye Institute.

“These findings suggest that therapeutic strategies that inhibit microglial activation may help decelerate the rate of rod photoreceptor degeneration and preserve vision,” Wong said.

What triggers microglia to go on this destructive feeding frenzy? Wong and colleagues found evidence that photoreceptors carrying mutations undergo physiological stress. The stress then triggers them to secrete chemicals dubbed “find me” signals, which is like ringing a dinner bell that attracts microglia into the retinal layer. Once there, the microglia probe the photoreceptors repeatedly, exposing themselves to “eat me” signals, which then trigger phagocytosis. In response to all the feasting, the microglia become activated. That is, they send out their own signals to call other microglia to the scene and they release substances that promote inflammation.


As part of the federal government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Eye Institute’s mission is to “conduct and support research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, preservation of sight, and the special health problems and requirements of the blind.”

Other potential treatments for retinitis pigmentosa, such as gene therapy, are progressing, but are not without challenges. Gene therapy requires replacing defective genes with functional genes, yet more than 50 distinct genes have been linked to the disease in different families, so there’s no one-size-fits-all gene therapy. A therapy targeting microglia might complement gene therapy because it’s an approach that’s independent of the specific genetic cause of retinitis pigmentosa, said Wong.

About this visual neuroscience research

Wong’s lab colleagues Lian Zhao, Ph.D., Matthew Zabel, Ph.D., and Xu Wang, M.D., Ph.D., played key roles in conceiving and conducting this research.

A clinical trial (NCT02140164) is already underway at NEI to see if the anti-inflammatory drug minocycline can block the activation of microglia and help slow the progression of retinitis pigmentosa. The trial is currently recruiting participants.

Funding: This research was supported by the National Eye Institute Intramural Research Program and grant NS087198 from NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Source: Joe Balintfy – NIH/NEI
Image Credit: Image is credited to Dr. Wai T. Wong, National Eye Institute
Video Source: The videos are available at the National Eye Institute, NIH YouTube page
Original Research: Full open access research for for “Microglial phagocytosis of living photoreceptors contributes to inherited retinal degeneration” by Lian Zhao, Matthew K Zabel, Xu Wang, Wenxin Ma, Parth Shah, Robert N Fariss, Haohua Qian, Christopher N Parkhurst, Wen‐Biao Gan, and Wai T Wong in EMBO Molecular Medicine. Published online July 2 2015 doi:10.15252/emmm.201505298


Abstract

Microglial phagocytosis of living photoreceptors contributes to inherited retinal degeneration

Retinitis pigmentosa, caused predominantly by mutations in photoreceptor genes, currently lacks comprehensive treatment. We discover that retinal microglia contribute non‐cell autonomously to rod photoreceptor degeneration by primary phagocytosis of living rods. Using rd10 mice, we found that the initiation of rod degeneration is accompanied by early infiltration of microglia, upregulation of phagocytic molecules in microglia, and presentation of “eat‐me” signals on mutated rods. On live‐cell imaging, infiltrating microglia interact dynamically with photoreceptors via motile processes and engage in rapid phagocytic engulfment of non‐apoptotic rods. Microglial contribution to rod demise is evidenced by morphological and functional amelioration of photoreceptor degeneration following genetic ablation of retinal microglia. Molecular inhibition of microglial phagocytosis using the vitronectin receptor antagonist cRGD also improved morphological and functional parameters of degeneration. Our findings highlight primary microglial phagocytosis as a contributing mechanism underlying cell death in retinitis pigmentosa and implicate microglia as a potential cellular target for therapy.

“Microglial phagocytosis of living photoreceptors contributes to inherited retinal degeneration” by Lian Zhao, Matthew K Zabel, Xu Wang, Wenxin Ma, Parth Shah, Robert N Fariss, Haohua Qian, Christopher N Parkhurst, Wen‐Biao Gan, and Wai T Wong in EMBO Molecular Medicine. Published online July 2 2015 doi:10.15252/emmm.201505298

Feel free to share this neuroscience news.
Join our Newsletter
I agree to have my personal information transferred to AWeber for Neuroscience Newsletter ( more information )
Sign up to receive our recent neuroscience headlines and summaries sent to your email once a day, totally free.
We hate spam and only use your email to contact you about newsletters. You can cancel your subscription any time.