An in vitro cell model to study microglia activation in diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Microglial activation has been studied extensively in diabetic retinopathy. We have previously detected activation and migration of microglia in 8‐week‐old diabetic rat retinas. It is widely acknowledged that microglia‐mediated inflammation contributes to the progression of diabetic retinopathy. However, existing cell models do not explore the role of activated microglia in vitro. In this study, microglia were subject to various conditions mimicking diabetic retinopathy, including high glucose, glyoxal, and hypoxia. Under high glucose or glyoxal treatment, microglia demonstrated only partially functional changes, while under hypoxia, microglia became fully activated showing enlarged cell bodies, enhanced migration and phagocytosis as well as increased production of pro‐inflammatory factors such as cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The data indicate that hypoxia‐treated microglia is an optimal in vitro model for exploration of microglia activation in diabetic retinopathy.

Transcranial photobiomodulation improves insulin therapy in diabetic microglial reactivity and the brain drainage system

“…DM is also associated with a gradual reduction of the microglial reactivity to brain injury induced by photoablation of the cerebral vessels. Our results are consistent with data suggesting that DM induces microglial activation and its dysfunction 11 , 13 .…”

“…There is growing evidence that DM-related chronic inflammation can activate microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) 10 – 12 . In vitro studies have shown that under chronic hyperglycemia, microglia become activated showing enlarged cell bodies, enhanced migration, and phagocytosis as well as increased production of pro-inflammatory factors 10 , 13 , 14 . However, the exact contribution of microglia to DM-related abnormalities of brain functions remains poorly understood.…”

Transcranial photobiomodulation improves insulin therapy in diabetic mice: modulation of microglia and the brain drainage system

“…DM is associated also with gradual reduction of the microglial reactivity to brain injury induced by photoablation of the cerebral vessels. Our results are consistent with data suggesting that DM induces microglial activation and its dysfunction [11,13].…”

“…There is growing evidence that DM-related chronic in ammation can activate microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) [10][11][12]. In vitro studies have shown that under chronic hyperglycemia, microglia became activated showing enlarged cell bodies, enhanced migration and phagocytosis as well as increased production of pro-in ammatory factors [10,13,14]. However, the exact contribution of microglia to DM-related abnormalities of the brain functions remain poor understood.…”

Integrated multi-omics reveals the activated retinal microglia with intracellular metabolic reprogramming contributes to inflammation in STZ-induced early diabetic retinopathy

“…To address the metabolic features of ARM with immune response, microglia cell line BV2 with hypoxia stimulation was established to mimic ARM in DR. Because the tissue hypoxia is associated with diabetes mellitus and responsible for DR development (11). Hypoxia-induced BV2 activation is manifested by increased cell proliferation, migration, phagocytosis, and increased proinflammatory factor production (1,42). Here, the microglia activation was confirmed by the evidence of significant differential expression of IL-1b at mRNA and protein levels (Figures 4A, B).…”