Abstract
Presentation Description :
Extensive evidence reveals decreased energy turnover in neurodegenerative brain diseases. A similar critical role of hypometabolism as a contributor to the pathogenesis of blinding neuroretinal conditions has been suggested. Although, neurons are the major consumers of glucose due to the high cost of signaling, the surrounding glial cells have multiple functions that are essential for neuronal metabolism. As such, the most abundant retinal glial cells, the Müller cells, have been shown to possess unique features for maintenance of neuronal energetics and metabolism. In particular, recent studies have shown essential impact of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction on Müller cell functions and their ability to sustain retinal neurons. The presentation will provide a brief overview on the current knowledge of metabolic cooperation between retinal neurons and Müller cells. Furthermore, perspectives of future strategies to improve retinal energy metabolism, and thereby prevent retinal neurodegeneration will be touched.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.