A Key Immune Receptor’s Role in Glaucoma Neurodegeneration
New research in the American Journal of Pathology reveals a critical link between the innate immune system and retinal neurodegeneration in glaucoma. Using single-cell transcriptomics on human glaucomatous retinas, scientists identified a distinct population of disease-associated microglia (DAM) characterized by high expression of the TREM2 receptor. These microglia exhibit transcriptional programs for phagocytosis, antigen presentation, and immune regulation. The study demonstrates that loss of TREM2 function impairs these microglial activities, leading to exacerbated degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, highlighting a direct role for this pattern-recognition receptor in neuroinflammatory pathology.
Why it might matter to you: This work directly connects a specific innate immune signaling pathway, centered on TREM2, to the progression of a major neurodegenerative disease. For immunologists, it provides a clear model of how dysregulated immune cell function—particularly in antigen presentation and phagocytosis—can drive tissue damage. Understanding these mechanisms could inform the development of targeted immunotherapies that modulate microglial activity to protect neurons, offering a new strategic avenue beyond traditional neurocentric approaches.
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