Abstract
The Müller cells represent the predominant macroglial cell in the retina. In recent decades, Müller cells have been acknowledged to be far more influential on neuronal homeostasis in the retina than previously assumed. With its unique localization, spanning the entire retina being interposed between the vessels and neurons, Müller cells are responsible for the functional and metabolic support of the surrounding neurons. As a consequence of major energy demands in the retina, high levels of glucose are consumed and processed by Müller cells. The present review provides a perspective on the symbiotic relationship between Müller cells and inner retinal neurons on a cellular level by emphasizing the essential role of energy metabolism within Müller cells in relation to retinal neuron survival.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bringmann A, Pannicke T, Grosche J et al (2006) Müller cells in the healthy and diseased retina. Prog Retin Eye Res 25:397–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2006.05.003
Reichenbach A, Stolzenburg JU, Eberhardt W et al (1993) What do retinal müller (glial) cells do for their neuronal ‘small siblings’? J Chem Neuroanat 6:201–213
Reichenbach A, Bringmann A (2009) Müller cells in the healthy retina. In: Müller Cells in the Healthy and Diseased …. Springer New York, New York, pp 35–214
Chong RS, Martin KR (2015) Glial cell interactions and glaucoma. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 26:73–77. https://doi.org/10.1097/ICU.0000000000000125
Reichenbach A, Bringmann A (2013) New functions of Müller cells. Glia 61:651–678. https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.22477
Vecino E, Rodriguez FD, Ruzafa N et al (2016) Glia-neuron interactions in the mammalian retina. Prog Retin Eye Res 51:1–40
Pease ME, Zack DJ, Berlinicke C et al (2009) Effect of CNTF on retinal ganglion cell survival in experimental glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 50:2194–2200. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.08-3013
Bringmann A, Iandiev I, Pannicke T et al (2009) Cellular signaling and factors involved in Müller cell gliosis: neuroprotective and detrimental effects. Prog Retin Eye Res 28:423–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2009.07.001
Bringmann A, Pannicke T, Biedermann B et al (2009) Role of retinal glial cells in neurotransmitter uptake and metabolism. Neurochem Int 54:143–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2008.10.014
Lu Y-B, Franze K, Seifert G et al (2006) Viscoelastic properties of individual glial cells and neurons in the CNS. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:17759–17764. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0606150103
Tout S, Chan-Ling T, Holländer H, Stone J (1993) The role of Müller cells in the formation of the blood-retinal barrier. Neuroscience 55:291–301
Franze K, Grosche J, Skatchkov SN et al (2007) Muller cells are living optical fibers in the vertebrate retina. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104:8287–8292. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0611180104
Danesh-Meyer HV, Levin LA (2015) Glaucoma as a neurodegenerative disease. J Neuroophthalmol 35:S22–S28. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNO.0000000000000293
Almasieh M, Wilson AM, Morquette B et al (2012) The molecular basis of retinal ganglion cell death in glaucoma. Prog Retin Eye Res 31:152–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2011.11.002
Cheung N, Mitchell P, Wong TY (2010) Diabetic retinopathy. Lancet 376:124–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)62124-3
Simó R, Hernández C (2014) Neurodegeneration in the diabetic eye: new insights and therapeutic perspectives. Trends Endocrinol Metab 25:23–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2013.09.005
Hernández C, Dal Monte M, Simó R, Casini G (2016) Neuroprotection as a therapeutic target for diabetic retinopathy. J Diabetes Res 1–18. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9508541
Poitry-Yamate CL, Poitry S, Tsacopoulos M (1995) Lactate released by Müller glial cells is metabolized by photoreceptors from mammalian retina. J Neurosci 15:5179–5191
Winkler BS, Arnold MJ, Brassell MA, Puro DG (2000) Energy metabolism in human retinal Müller cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41:3183–3190
Toft-Kehler AK, Gurubaran IS, Desler C et al (2016) Oxidative stress-induced dysfunction of Müller cells during starvation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 57:2721–2728. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.16-19275
Toft-Kehler AK, Skytt DM, Poulsen KA et al (2014) Limited energy supply in müller cells alters glutamate uptake. Neurochem Res 39:941–949. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-014-1289-z
Kitano S, Morgan J, Caprioli J (1996) Hypoxic and excitotoxic damage to cultured rat retinal ganglion cells. Exp Eye Res 63:105–112. https://doi.org/10.1006/exer.1996.0096
Sussman I, Erecińska M, Wilson DF (1980) Regulation of cellular energy metabolism: the Crabtree effect. Biochim Biophys Acta 591:209–223
Flammer J, Orgül S, Costa VP et al (2002) The impact of ocular blood flow in glaucoma. Prog Retin Eye Res 21:359–393. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1350-9462(02)00008-3
Mozaffarieh M, Grieshaber MC, Flammer J (2008) Oxygen and blood flow: players in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Mol Vis 14:224–233
Kohner EM, Patel V, Rassam SMB (1995) Role of Blood Flow and Impaired Autoregulation in the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Retinopathy. Diabetes 44:603–607. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.44.6.603
Reichenbach A, Bringmann A (2015) Retinal Glia. Biota Publishing
Archer SN, Ahuja P, Caffé R et al (2004) Absence of phosphoglucose isomerase-1 in retinal photoreceptor, pigment epithelium and Muller cells. Eur J Neurosci 19:2923–2930. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0953-816X.2004.03417.x
Toft-Kehler AK, Skytt DM, Svare A et al (2017) Mitochondrial function in Müller cells—does it matter? Mitochondrion. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mito.2017.02.002
Lindsay KJ, Du J, Sloat SR et al (2014) Pyruvate kinase and aspartate-glutamate carrier distributions reveal key metabolic links between neurons and glia in retina. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:15579–15584. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1412441111
Rueda EM, Johnson JE, Giddabasappa A et al (2016) The cellular and compartmental profile of mouse retinal glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and ~P transferring kinases. Mol Vis 22:847–885
Poitry-Yamate C, Gianoncelli A, Kaulich B, Kourousias G, Magill AW, Lepore M, Gajdosik V & Gruetter R (2013) Feasibility of direct mapping of cerebral fluorodeoxy-D-glucose metabolism in situ at subcellular resolution using soft X-ray fluorescence. J Neurosci Res 91:1050–1058. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.23171
Kuwabara CD (1961) Retinal glycogen. Arch Ophthalmol 66:680–688
Poitry-Yamate C, Tsacopoulos M (1991) Glial (Müller) cells take up and phosphorylate [3H]2-deoxy-d-glucose in a mammalian retina. Neurosci Lett 122:241–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(91)90868-T
Pérezleón JA, Osorio-Paz I, Francois L, Salceda R (2013) Immunohistochemical localization of glycogen synthase and GSK3β: control of glycogen content in retina. Neurochem Res 38:1063–1069. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-013-1017-0
Pfeiffer B, Grosche J, Reichenbach A, Hamprecht B (1994) Immunocytochemical demonstration of glycogen phosphorylase in Müller (glial) cells of the mammalian retina. Glia 12:62–67. https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.440120108
Pfeiffer-Guglielmi B, Francke M, Reichenbach A et al (2005) Glycogen phosphorylase isozyme pattern in mammalian retinal Müller (glial) cells and in astrocytes of retina and optic nerve. Glia 49:84–95. https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.20102
Ripps H, Witkovsky P (1985) Chapter 7 neuron—glia interaction in the brain and retina. Prog Retin Res 4:181–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-4327(85)90009-4
Poitry-Yamate CL, Tsacopoulos M (1992) Glucose metabolism in freshly isolated Müller glial cells from a mammalian retina. J Comp Neurol 320:257–266. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.903200209
Swanson RA, Yu AC, Chan PH, Sharp FR (1990) Glutamate increases glycogen content and reduces glucose utilization in primary astrocyte culture. J Neurochem 54:490–496
Rahman B, Kussmaul L, Hamprecht B, Dringen R (2000) Glycogen is mobilized during the disposal of peroxides by cultured astroglial cells from rat brain. Neurosci Lett 290:169–172
Cohen L, Noell W (1960) Glucose catabolism of rabbit retina before and after development of visual function. J Neurochem 5:253–276
Ames A, Li YY, Heher EC, Kimble CR (1992) Energy metabolism of rabbit retina as related to function: high cost of Na+ transport. J Neurosci 12:840–853
Winkler BS (1981) Glycolytic and oxidative metabolism in relation to retinal function. J Gen Physiol 77:667–692. https://doi.org/10.1085/jgp.77.6.667
Tsacopoulos M, Magistretti PJ (1996) Metabolic coupling between glia and neurons. J Neurosci 16:877–885
Tsacopoulos M, Poitry-Yamate CL, MacLeish PR, Poitry S (1998) Trafficking of molecules and metabolic signals in the retina. Prog Retin Eye Res 17:429–442
Hurley JB, Lindsay KJ, Du J (2015) Glucose, lactate, and shuttling of metabolites in vertebrate retinas. J Neurosci Res 93:1079–1092. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.23583
Winkler BS, Starnes CA, Sauer MW et al (2004) Cultured retinal neuronal cells and Müller cells both show net production of lactate. Neurochem Int 45:311–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2003.08.017
Hurley JB, Chertov AO, Lindsay K, et al (2014) Energy metabolism in the vertebrate retina. In: Vertebrate. Springer Japan, Tokyo, pp 91–137
Lauritzen KH, Morland C, Puchades M et al (2014) Lactate receptor sites link neurotransmission, neurovascular coupling, and brain energy metabolism. Cereb Cortex 24:2784–2795. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bht136
Rice AC, Zsoldos R, Chen T et al (2002) Lactate administration attenuates cognitive deficits following traumatic brain injury. Brain Res 928:156–159
Cureton EL, Kwan RO, Dozier KC et al (2010) A different view of lactate in trauma patients: protecting the injured brain. J Surg Res 159:468–473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2009.04.020
Bouzat P, Sala N, Suys T et al (2014) Cerebral metabolic effects of exogenous lactate supplementation on the injured human brain. Intensive Care Med 40:412–421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-013-3203-6
Kolko M, Vosborg F, Henriksen UL et al (2015) Lactate transport and receptor actions in retina: potential roles in retinal function and disease. Neurochem Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-015-1792-x
Bergersen L, Jóhannsson E, Veruki ML et al (1999) Cellular and subcellular expression of monocarboxylate transporters in the pigment epithelium and retina of the rat. Neuroscience 90:319–331
Chidlow G, Wood JPM, Graham M, Osborne NN (2005) Expression of monocarboxylate transporters in rat ocular tissues. Am J Physiol, Cell Physiol 288:C416–C428. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00037.2004
Wood JPM, Chidlow G, Graham M, Osborne NN (2005) Energy substrate requirements for survival of rat retinal cells in culture: the importance of glucose and monocarboxylates. J Neurochem 93:686–697. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03059.x
Martin PM, Dun Y, Mysona B et al (2007) Expression of the sodium-coupled monocarboxylate transporters SMCT1 (SLC5A8) and SMCT2 (SLC5A12) in retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 48:3356. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.06-0888
Yu DY, Cringle SJ (2001) Oxygen distribution and consumption within the retina in vascularised and avascular retinas and in animal models of retinal disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 20:175–208
Bristow EA, Griffiths PG, Andrews RM et al (2002) The distribution of mitochondrial activity in relation to optic nerve structure. Arch Ophthalmol 120:791–796
Wong-Riley MTT (2010) Energy metabolism of the visual system. Eye Brain 2:99–116. https://doi.org/10.2147/EB.S9078
Xu Y, Ola MS, Berkich DA et al (2007) Energy sources for glutamate neurotransmission in the retina: absence of the aspartate/glutamate carrier produces reliance on glycolysis in glia. J Neurochem 101:120–131. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.04349.x
Poitry S, Poitry-Yamate C, Ueberfeld J et al (2000) Mechanisms of glutamate metabolic signaling in retinal glial (Müller) cells. J Neurosci 20:1809–1821
Germer A, Schuck J, Wolburg H et al (1998) Distribution of mitochondria within Muller cells – II. Post-natal development of the rabbit retinal periphery in vivo and in vitro: dependence on oxygen supply. Springer J Neurocytol 27:347–359. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006938825474
Carelli V, Ross-Cisneros FN, Sadun AA (2004) Mitochondrial dysfunction as a cause of optic neuropathies. Prog Retin Eye Res 23:53–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2003.10.003
Kanai Y, Hediger MA (2004) The glutamate/neutral amino acid transporter family SLC1: molecular, physiological and pharmacological aspects. Pflugers Arch 447:469–479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-003-1146-4
Rauen T, Rothstein JD, Wässle H (1996) Differential expression of three glutamate transporter subtypes in the rat retina. Cell Tissue Res 286:325–336
Rauen T, Taylor WR, Kuhlbrodt K, Wiessner M (1998) High-affinity glutamate transporters in the rat retina: a major role of the glial glutamate transporter GLAST-1 in transmitter clearance. Cell Tissue Res 291:19–31
Imasawa M, Kashiwagi K, Iizuka Y et al (2005) Different expression role among glutamate transporters in rat retinal glial cells under various culture conditions. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 142:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molbrainres.2005.08.010
Danbolt NC (2001) Glutamate uptake. Prog Neurobiol 65:1–105
Derouiche A, Rauen T (1995) Coincidence of L-glutamate/L-aspartate transporter (GLAST) and glutamine synthetase (GS) immunoreactions in retinal glia: evidence for coupling of GLAST and GS in transmitter clearance. J Neurosci Res 42:131–143. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.490420115
Riepe RE, Norenburg MD (1977) Müller cell localisation of glutamine synthetase in rat retina. Nature 268:654–655. https://doi.org/10.1038/268654a0
Umapathy NS, Li W, Mysona BA et al (2005) Expression and function of glutamine transporters SN1 (SNAT3) and SN2 (SNAT5) in retinal Müller cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 46:3980. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.05-0488
McKenna MC (2007) The glutamate-glutamine cycle is not stoichiometric: fates of glutamate in brain. J Neurosci Res 85:3347–3358. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.21444
Ola MS, Hosoya K-I, LaNoue KF (2011) Regulation of glutamate metabolism by hydrocortisone and branched chain keto acids in cultured rat retinal Müller cells (TR-MUL). Neurochem Int 59:656–663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2011.06.010
Jonsson KB, Frydkjaer-Olsen U, Grauslund J (2016) Vascular changes and neurodegeneration in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy: which comes first? Ophthalmic Res 56:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1159/000444498
Riva CE, Alm A, Pournaras CJ (2011) Ocular circulation in Adler's Physiology of the eye. : Nutrition of the eye. 243–273
Pournaras CJ, Rungger-Brändle E, Riva CE et al (2008) Regulation of retinal blood flow in health and disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 27:284–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2008.02.002
Riva CE, Sinclair SH, Grunwald JE (1981) Autoregulation of retinal circulation in response to decrease of perfusion pressure. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 21:34–38
Riva CE, Titze P, Hero M, Petrig BL (1997) Effect of acute decreases of perfusion pressure on choroidal blood flow in humans. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 38:1752–1760
Alm A (1977) The effect of sympathetic stimulation on blood flow through the uvea, retina and optic nerve in monkeys (Macaca irus). Exp Eye Res
Nilsson SF (1996) Nitric oxide as a mediator of parasympathetic vasodilation in ocular and extraocular tissues in the rabbit. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 37:2110–2119
Laties AM (1967) Central retinal artery innervation. Absence of adrenergic innervation to the intraocular branches. Arch Ophthalmol 77:405–409
Riva CE, Logean E, Falsini B (2005) Visually evoked hemodynamical response and assessment of neurovascular coupling in the optic nerve and retina. Prog Retin Eye Res 24:183–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2004.07.002
Newman EA (2013) Functional hyperemia and mechanisms of neurovascular coupling in the retinal vasculature. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 33:1685–1695. https://doi.org/10.1038/jcbfm.2013.145
Kur J, Newman EA (2014) Purinergic control of vascular tone in the retina. J Physiol Lond 592:491–504. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2013.267294
Araque A, Carmignoto G, Haydon PG, Oliet S (2014) Gliotransmitters travel in time and space. Neuron
Metea MR, Newman EA (2006) Glial cells dilate and constrict blood vessels: a mechanism of neurovascular coupling. J Neurosci 26:2862–2870. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4048-05.2006
Mishra A, Hamid A, Newman EA (2011) Oxygen modulation of neurovascular coupling in the retina. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:17827–17831. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1110533108
Newman EA (2005) Calcium increases in retinal glial cells evoked by light-induced neuronal activity
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Toft-Kehler, A.K., Skytt, D.M. & Kolko, M. A Perspective on the Müller Cell-Neuron Metabolic Partnership in the Inner Retina. Mol Neurobiol 55, 5353–5361 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-017-0760-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-017-0760-7