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Models of microglia depletion and replenishment elicit protective effects to alleviate vascular and neuronal damage in the diabetic murine retina
Church KA, Rodriguez D, Vanegas D, Gutierrez IL, Cardona SM, Madrigal JLM, Kaur T, Cardona AE.. Journal of neuroinflammation, 2022-12-14
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Microglia, the resident phagocytes of the retina, are believed to influence the development of retinopathy, but their exact contributions to vascular integrity and neuronal loss are unknown. Therefore, utilizing two models of microglia depletion, we aimed to deplete and repopulate microglia to clarify the contribution of microglia to neuronal loss and vascular damage in the diabetic retina in an STZ-induced model of hyperglycemia. Here, we report that 2 weeks exposure to diphtheria toxin (DTx) in diabetic CX3CR1 CreER :R26 iDTR transgenic mice induced a 62% increase in Iba1 + microglia associated with an increase in TUJ1 + axonal density and prevention of NeuN + RBPMS + neuronal loss.
Key findings
- Therefore, utilizing two models of microglia depletion, we aimed to deplete and repopulate microglia to clarify the contribution of microglia to neuronal loss and vascular damage in the diabetic retina in an STZ-induced model of hyperglycemia.
- Here, we report that 2 weeks exposure to diphtheria toxin (DTx) in diabetic CX3CR1 CreER :R26 iDTR transgenic mice induced a 62% increase in Iba1 + microglia associated with an increase in TUJ1 + axonal density and prevention of NeuN + RBPMS + neuronal loss.
- Conversely, diabetic PBS controls exhibited robust TUJ1 + axonal and NeuN + RBPMS + neuronal loss compared to non-diabetic controls.
- A 2-week recovery period from DTx was associated with a 40% reduction in angiogenesis and an 85% reduction in fibrinogen deposition into the diabetic retina in comparison to diabetic PBS-treated controls.
Why it matters
In diabetic mice, depleting and repopulating microglia reduced vascular and neuronal damage in the retina. This is an animal study of diabetic eye disease, not Alzheimer's disease, so it does not show a treatment or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neuroinflammation) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Neuroinflammation: journal h-index 216 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “murine”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 65 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.8 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 61 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Astrid E. Cardona: h-index 35 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Universidad Complutense de Madrid: institution h-index 656 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 36517889) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02659-9
- PubMed: 36517889
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Neuroinflammation →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Church, K. A., Rodriguez, D., Vanegas, D., Gutierrez, I. L., Cardona, S. M., Madrigal, J. L. M., et al. (2022). Models of microglia depletion and replenishment elicit protective effects to alleviate vascular and neuronal damage in the diabetic murine retina. Journal of neuroinflammation. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-022-02659-9
Vancouver
Church KA, Rodriguez D, Vanegas D, Gutierrez IL, Cardona SM, Madrigal JLM, et al. Models of microglia depletion and replenishment elicit protective effects to alleviate vascular and neuronal damage in the diabetic murine retina. Journal of neuroinflammation. 2022. doi:10.1186/s12974-022-02659-9. PMID: 36517889.
BibTeX
@article{church2022-36517889,
author = {Church, K. A. and Rodriguez, D. and Vanegas, D. and Gutierrez, I. L. and Cardona, S. M. and Madrigal, J. L. M. and Kaur, T. and Cardona, A. E.},
title = {{Models of microglia depletion and replenishment elicit protective effects to alleviate vascular and neuronal damage in the diabetic murine retina}},
journal = {Journal of neuroinflammation},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1186/s12974-022-02659-9},
pmid = {36517889},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-022-02659-9}
}
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