Loss of microglia reduces NGF signaling and retinal ganglion cell survival

Nerve growth factor (NGF) exerts neuroprotective effects in the retina, and accumulating evidence indicates that microglia represent a key cellular target of NGF/TrkA signaling. However, evidence showing that the NGF/TrkA signaling in microglia is required for downstream neuroprotective actions remains unresolved. Here, we directly addressed this question by pharmacologically depleting microglia and assessing the impact on NGF pathway activity and retinal integrity.

Adult C57BL/6J mice were treated with the CSF1R inhibitor PLX5622 for three weeks, resulting in a robust (∼77%) depletion of retinal microglia. Microglial ablation induced marked structural and cellular alterations, including significant loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and thinning of retinal layers, in the absence of any other lesion or insult. Residual microglia exhibited layer-specific phenotypic changes, with a phagocytic profile in the ganglion cell layer and a more ramified morphology in the outer plexiform layer.

Strikingly, microglial depletion led to a profound decrease of NGF signaling, with a strong reduction in total and phosphorylated TrkA, and decreased p75NTR levels, in retinal extracts. The amount of TrkA expression is strongly correlated with microglial levels, supporting a primary role of microglia in sustaining NGF signaling in the retina. Together, these findings demonstrate that microglia are required for NGF/TrkA signaling and identify these cells as essential mediators of NGF-dependent neuroprotection in the retina.