[HTML][HTML] Myeloid progenitors differentiate into microglia and promote vascular repair in a model of ischemic retinopathy

MR Ritter, E Banin, SK Moreno… - The Journal of …, 2006 - Am Soc Clin Investig
MR Ritter, E Banin, SK Moreno, E Aguilar, MI Dorrell, M Friedlander
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2006Am Soc Clin Investig
Vision loss associated with ischemic diseases such as retinopathy of prematurity and
diabetic retinopathy are often due to retinal neovascularization. While significant progress
has been made in the development of compounds useful for the treatment of abnormal
vascular permeability and proliferation, such therapies do not address the underlying
hypoxia that stimulates the observed vascular growth. Using a model of oxygen-induced
retinopathy, we demonstrate that a population of adult BM–derived myeloid progenitor cells …
Vision loss associated with ischemic diseases such as retinopathy of prematurity and diabetic retinopathy are often due to retinal neovascularization. While significant progress has been made in the development of compounds useful for the treatment of abnormal vascular permeability and proliferation, such therapies do not address the underlying hypoxia that stimulates the observed vascular growth. Using a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy, we demonstrate that a population of adult BM–derived myeloid progenitor cells migrated to avascular regions of the retina, differentiated into microglia, and facilitated normalization of the vasculature. Myeloid-specific hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) expression was required for this function, and we also demonstrate that endogenous microglia participated in retinal vascularization. These findings suggest what we believe to be a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of ischemic retinopathies that promotes vascular repair rather than destruction.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation