Generation of Activated Sialoadhesin-Positive Microglia during Retinal Degeneration

Abstract

During retinal degeneration, microglia are activated and express sialoadhesin. The temporal relationship between photoreceptor apoptosis and microglial response suggests that microglia are not responsible for the initial wave of photoreceptor death, and this is corroborated by the absence of iNOS and nitrotyrosine. Expression of sialoadhesin may indicate blood-retinal barrier breakdown, which has immune implications for subretinal gene therapeutic strategies.