Retinal microglia are activated by systemic fungal infection.

Abstract

PURPOSE: We determined whether systemic fungal infection could cause activation of retinal microglia and, therefore, could be potentially harmful for patients with retinal degenerative diseases. METHODS: Activation of retinal microglia was measured in a model of sublethal invasive candidiasis in C57BL/6J mice by confocal immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis, using anti-CD11b, anti-Iba1, anti-MHCII, and anti-CD45 antibodies. RESULTS: Systemic fungal infection causes activation of retinal microglia, with phenotypic changes in morphology, surface markers expression, and microglial relocation in retinal layers. CONCLUSIONS: As an excessive or prolonged microglial activation may lead to chronic inflammation with severe pathological side effects, causing or worsening the course of retinal dystrophies, a systemic infection may represent a risk factor to be considered in patients with ocular neurodegenerative diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, or retinitis pigmentosa.