Kinetic changes in microglia-related retinal transcripts in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) of B10.RIII mice

• DOI: 10.1186/s12974-025-03358-x
• Publication Date: 2025-02-10T16:31:17Z
• Authors: Maren Kasper; Marcus Karlstetter; Lena Wildschütz; Rebecca Scholz; Martin Busch; Dirk Bauer; Gerd Meyer zu Hörste; Solon Thanos; Thomas Langmann; Arnd Heiligenhaus
• Keywords: Retinal transcriptome; Autoimmune uveitis; EAU; Medizin; Microglia; Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system; RC346-429

In this study the retinal transcriptome was investigated during development of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in mice. EAU induced by immunizing B10.RIII mice with human interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (hIRBP) 161–180 peptide. Genome-wide transcriptional profiles (day 7, 14 or 21 after immunization) and control retinas were generated using DNA-microarrays bioinformatic data mining. Microglia-associated transcripts identified. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction performed to validate expression differentially expressed genes. Retinal transcript validation revealed that complement interferon-related pathways, as well gene clusters specific for antigen-processing -presentation, immunosuppression are involved course disease. Immunofluorescence analysis confirm upregulated also microglia. Furthermore, heterogenous patterns observed microglia, suggests presence different subpopulations microglia EAU. This expands our knowledge local immune processes pathology.