A human pluripotent stem cell tri-culture platform to elucidate microglial regulation of retinal ganglion cells in neuroinflammation.

ABSTRACT: Optic neuropathies, including glaucoma, are characterized by the progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), ultimately leading to irreversible vision loss. Increasing evidence implicates microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, as key modulators of RGC health and disease progression. However, the precise mechanisms by which microglia influence RGCs remain poorly understood, particularly in the human context. In this study, we established human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived co-culture systems incorporating microglia, astrocytes, and RGCs to explore how microglia shape RGC growth and maturation under physiological conditions. We first examined the impact of homeostatic microglia on RGCs in both co-culture and tri-culture systems, revealing di

SUBMITTER: Harkin J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12236642 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature