Abstract：
Astrocytes, a non-neuronal glial cell type in the nervous system, are essential for regulating physiological functions of the central nervous system. In various injuries and diseases of the central nervous system, astrocytes often change their phenotypes into neurotoxic ones that participate in pro-inflammatory responses (hereafter referred to as \"immune functions\"). Such astrocytic immune functions are not only limited to brain diseases but are also found in ocular neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma, a retinal neurodegenerative disease that is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The eye has two astrocyte-lineage cells: astrocytes and Müller cells. They maintain the physiological environment of the retina and optic nerve, thereby controlling visual function. Dysfunction of astrocyte-lineage cells may be involved in the onset and progression of glaucoma. These cells become reactive in glaucoma patients, and animal studies have suggested that their immune responses may be linked to glaucoma-related events: tissue remodeling, neuronal death, and infiltration of peripheral immune cells. In this review, we discuss the role of the immune functions of astrocyte-lineage cells in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.
摘要：
星形胶质细胞,神经系统中的非神经元神经胶质细胞类型，对调节中枢神经系统的生理功能至关重要。在中枢神经系统的各种损伤和疾病中，星形胶质细胞通常将其表型转变为参与促炎反应的神经毒性型(以下称为“免疫功能”)。这种星形细胞免疫功能不仅限于脑部疾病，而且在青光眼等眼部神经退行性疾病中也有发现。一种视网膜神经退行性疾病，是全球失明的主要原因。眼睛有两个星形胶质细胞谱系细胞：星形胶质细胞和Müller细胞。它们维持视网膜和视神经的生理环境，从而控制视觉功能。星形胶质细胞谱系细胞的功能障碍可能与青光眼的发病和进展有关。这些细胞在青光眼患者中变得反应，动物研究表明，它们的免疫反应可能与青光眼相关事件有关：组织重塑，神经元死亡，和周围免疫细胞的浸润。在这次审查中,探讨星形胶质细胞免疫功能在青光眼发病机制中的作用。
