Pericyte dysfunction and loss of interpericyte tunneling nanotubes promote neurovascular deficits in glaucoma.

ABSTRACT: Reduced blood flow and impaired neurovascular coupling are recognized features of glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, but the mechanisms underlying these defects are unknown. Retinal pericytes regulate microcirculatory blood flow and coordinate neurovascular coupling through interpericyte tunneling nanotubes (IP-TNTs). Using two-photon microscope live imaging of the mouse retina, we found reduced capillary diameter and impaired blood flow at pericyte locations in eyes with high intraocular pressure, the most important risk factor to develop glaucoma. We show that IP-TNTs are structurally and functionally damaged by ocular hypertension, a response that disrupted light-evoked neurovascular coupling. Pericyte-specific inhibition of excessive Ca2+ influx rescued he

SUBMITTER: Alarcon-Martinez L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8851476 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature