Elena Vecino, Noelia Ruzafa, Xandra Pereiro and Pablo Moreno
University of the Basque Country, Spain
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Neurochem Neuropharm
The retinal M�¼ller glia, provide structural and trophic support to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the healthy retina and may also have a function in promoting cell survival after injury. Defining and understanding glial heterogeneity is an important goal since it would enable to better understand the fundamental role of these cells during retinal pathologies. Their knowledge can open novel therapeutic avenues, such as targeted manipulations of sub-populations in order to quench pro-inflammatory destructive processes and/or stimulate regeneration of neurons in retinal degenerative eye diseases like glaucoma. Muller glia primary cell cultures in combination with RGCs have been studied. The heterogeneity of the glial cultures was characterized and their effect on RGC survival and neurite elongation. We found that cultured adult RGCs in close contact with adult M�¼ller cells exhibit improved cell viability and significant neurite elongation. Not all M�¼ller cells express their molecular markers with the same intensity. Moreover the condition media secreted by M�¼ller glia neuro-protects the RGCs. These results suggest that M�¼ller glia support RGC regeneration not only by direct interaction, but also releasing soluble trophic factors. Further understanding of the relationship between retinal glia and RGCs is important in order to identify potential therapeutic targets to encourage retinal neuroregeneration.
Email: elena.vecino@ehu.es
