Interleukin-10 As a Neuroprotective Factor in Glaucoma

The goal is to investigate the role of immune cells (microglia) in glaucoma and test factors secreted by microglia for neuroprotective activity in glaucoma.

Visual impairment in glaucoma is caused by the degeneration and eventual death of retinal ganglion cells through mechanisms that are not fully understood. Retinal microglia can play neuroprotective and neurotoxic roles in glaucoma. We identified IL10 as a candidate for a microglia-derived factor that may selectively boost the neuroprotective effects.

We identified IL10 as a microglia-derived factor with potential neuroprotective effects on retinal ganglion cells. We will test this with assays of visual function and microscopic analysis of ganglion cell morphology.

Ultimately, we hope to develop a combination of several factors that can be administered to prevent ganglion cell loss in glaucoma. We also hope to gain insight into the function of immune cells in neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma or Alzheimer’s disease.