Muller cell activation and photoreceptor depletion in a mice model of congenital ocular toxoplasmosis

作者：Lahmar Ibtissem^*; Pfaff Alexander W; Marcellin Luc; Sauer Arnaud; Moussa Adnane; Babba Hamouda; Candolfi Ermanno

来源：Experimental Parasitology, 2014, 144: 22-26.

DOI：10.1016/j.exppara.2014.06.006

• Toxoplasma gondii
• Muller cells
• Photoreceptors
• GFAP
• Vimentin

Muller glial cells are critically involved in retinal inflammatory processes. Here, we investigate the activation of Muller cells in a model of congenital ocular toxoplasmosis (OT). Four weeks after infection, retinal sections were studied immunohistochemically using the markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin. Muller cells showed strong up-regulation of both markers, as well as a deteriorated morphology in all infected retinas. Moreover, cell density and color intensity of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) of photoreceptors were decreased. Our results indicate that the severe retinal damage and loss of vision observed in human OT may be not only directly caused by infection but rather mediated by infection induced reactive gliosis.

• 出版日期2014-9