Critical Role of Trophic Factors in Protecting Müller Glia: Implications to Neuroprotection in Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Anti-VEGF Therapies.

The concept that Muller glia (MG) are major retinal supporting cells for neuroprotection under various stresses is well established. However, the detailed molecular and cellular mechanisms of MG-mediated neuroprotection remain elusive. Particularly, the role and mechanism of MG in neuroprotection under diabetic and hypoxic stresses are largely unknown. In this article, we will discuss the role and mechanisms of a major growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in mediating MG viability and its potential impact on neuronal integrity in diabetes and hypoxia, demonstrate results on alternative mechanisms to VEGF signaling for MG and neural protection, and highlight the relevance of our work to the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, wet age-related macular degeneration, and other hypoxic retinal vascular diseases.