Microglia in retinal vascular diseases: inflammatory mechanism and therapeutic target

Retinal vascular diseases (RVDs) are leading causes of vision impairment and blindness, often associated with systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Despite treatment advancements, managing RVDs, particularly retinal vein occlusion (RVO), remains challenging due to the lack of a definitive cure and reliance on controlling complications. Microglia, the retina’s resident immune cells, play a crucial role in maintaining retinal health, regulating inflammation, and modulating angiogenesis. In pathological conditions, microglia adopt heterogeneous and context-dependent activation states, contributing to both inflammatory injury and vascular repair. Studies suggest that modulating microglial activation and their secreted cytokines may provide novel therapeutic strategies for RVDs. This review examines the role of microglia in RVDs and their potential as therapeutic targets, exploring strategies such as inhibiting microglial activation, regulating pro-angiogenic factor secretion, and targeting specific signaling pathways. Future research should focus on understanding the specific roles of microglial subtypes, their contributions to disease progression, and developing targeted therapies for early diagnosis and treatment of RVDs.