Role of interleukin-1β in hypoxia-induced depression of glutamate uptake in retinal Müller cells.

Background It is suggested that hypoxic–ischemic retinal diseases induce loss of retinal ganglion cells. Excess glutamate release is involved in these conditions. A predominant function of Muller cells is to regulate glutamate levels, but in these diseases the function is compromised. The present study was performed to investigate the role of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)on the glutamate uptake in retinal Muller cells under hypoxia and to study the possible mechanism.