Retinal Microglia: Revealing New Opportunities for Identifying Early Biomarkers of Diabetic Retinopathy

PurposeTo explore the role of microglia in the pathomechanism of diabetic retinopathy (DR) from an inflammatory perspective.Methods: The study was conducted by searching several databases. Relevant articles were collected, summarized, and concluded.PurposeTo explore the role of microglia in the pathomechanism of diabetic retinopathy (DR) from an inflammatory perspective.Methods: The study was conducted by searching several databases. Relevant articles were collected, summarized, and concluded.ResultsNumerous studies have been conducted to identify inflammatory biomarkers for effective detection of DR; however, the results have been inconsistent. Microglia, the resident immune cells of the retinal tissue, are believed to play a potential role in the neuroinflammatory process induced by prolonged hyperglycemia in the retina. The excessive release of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (eATP) due to hyperglycemia may overstimulate P2X7R receptors, thereby activating the NLRP3 inflammasome, and leading to chronic progressive inflammation.ConclusionMicroglial activation and polarization may induce meta-inflammation, contributing to increased permeability and neovascularization, which in turn lead to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Understanding this mechanism is essential for identifying potential biomarkers for early DR detection and developing adjunctive therapies to control disease progression.