Elucidating the molecular mechanisms that control Muller glia activation in the retina

神经胶质细胞具有非凡的功能，既可以作为中枢神经系统的分化支持细胞，也可以作为常驻干细胞，在产生新的神经元之前经历去分化和增殖。动员胶质细胞成为干细胞样细胞是冷血脊椎动物（变温动物）（如鱼和青蛙）对眼睛生长、受伤或疾病的自然反应。相比之下，包括哺乳动物在内的温血脊椎动物（恒温动物）的神经胶质动员要有限得多。我们研究小鼠视网膜的神经胶质细胞活化

Glial cells have an extraordinary ability to function either as differentiated support cells in the central nervous system, or as resident stem cells, undergoing de-differentiation and proliferation before giving rise to new neurons. Mobilization of glial cells to become stem cell-like is a natural response to eye growth, injury or disease in cold-blooded vertebrates (ectotherms), such as fish and frogs. In contrast, glial mobilization is much more limited in warm-blooded vertebrates (endotherms), including mammals. We study glial cell activation in the murine retina, where