Accumulation of murine subretinal macrophages: effects of age, pigmentation and CX(3)CR1

作者：Chinnery Holly R; McLenachan Samuel; Humphries Timothy; Kezic Jelena M; Chen Xiangting; Ruitenberg Marc J; McMenamin Paul G^*

来源：Neurobiology of Aging, 2012, 33(8): 1769-1776.

DOI：10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.03.010

• Retina
• Microglia
• Aging
• CX(3)CR1
• Retinal degeneration
• Macrophages

Macrophages or activated microglia in the subretinal space are considered a hallmark of some retinal pathologies. We investigated the effects of age, pigmentation and CX(3)CR1 deficiency on the accumulation of macrophages/activated microglia in the outer retina of young and old Cx(3)cr1(gfp/gfp) (CX(3)CR1-deficient) or Cx(3)cr1(gfp/+) mice on either a pigmented (C57BL/6) or albino (BALB/c) background. Quantitative analysis of immunostained retinal-choroidal whole mounts revealed an increase in subretinal macrophage (SRM Phi) numbers in young Cx(3)cr1(gfp/gfp) mice compared with Cx(3)cr1(gfp/+) mice, however the increase was more marked in albino Cx(3)cr1(gfp/gfp) mice. In aged mice, large numbers of SRM Phi/activated microglia replete with autofluorescent debris were noted in both old pigmented Cx(3)cr1(gfp/gfp) and Cx(3)cr1(gfp/+) mice proving this accumulation was not CX(3)CR1-dependent. While CX(3)CR1 deficiency leads to an early onset of SRM Phi accumulation, our data reveal that this change occurs in both aged Cx(3)cr1(gfp/+) and Cx(3)cr1(gfp/gfp) pigmented mice in the absence of marked retinal degeneration and is likely a normal response to aging.

• 出版日期2012-8