The retina can broadly be divided into a neural retina, consisting of neuronal cells like photoreceptors, interneurons, glial cells, astrocytes and ganglion cells, and a non-neural retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which forms an integral part of the blood-retinal barrier. It is a highly metabolically active tissue with the photoreceptor cells being one of the highest consumers of glucose. These photoreceptors are also among a very small group of cells exhibiting the Warburg effect under normal conditions. This high consumption of glucose by the retina is further facilitated by the RPE cells preferring lipids for their energy production, preserving glucose for the retina. This delicate metabolic ecosystem is essential not only for proper vision, but also for the survival of these post-mitotic cells.
Metabolic disorders like the Zellweger’s spectrum disorders, Niemann Pick disease, diabetes, etc. are known to cause retinal degeneration. Dysregulation of lipid metabolism in the RPE is a major causative factor in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the elderly.
Recent advances in the field have allowed better understanding of retinal metabolism. However, these studies have been mainly focused on important metabolic fuels like glucose and fatty acids. The roles of less orthodox mediators such as amino acids, nucleotides, NAD+, calcium, flavins, etc. are relatively less understood and are increasingly coming into focus. They are emerging as important metabolic mediators in regulation of both RPE and neural retinal homeostasis. Since such intermediates are relatively more difficult to detect, there is a need for development of new techniques and strategies to study retinal metabolism. Moreover, advances in our understanding not only allows for identification of metabolic targets to treat retinal degenerations, but also endorses the development of therapeutic strategies involving metabolic reprogramming and/or metabolite administrations.
This research topic welcomes original research manuscripts and review articles addressing clinical and/or fundamental aspects of retinal metabolism. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to
1. Understanding the metabolism of the various cell types of the retina and the metabolic interplay among them.
2. Retinal oxygen usage and metabolism.
3. Novel techniques and strategies to study retinal metabolism.
4. Consequences and clinical implications of metabolic dysregulation in the retina.
5. Study of inherited metabolic disorders affecting the retina.
6. Therapeutic strategies involving metabolic reprogramming in the retina.
7. Metabolite therapies to counter retinal degeneration.
We would like to acknowledge Sai Kocherlakota (KU Leuven, Belgium) as the Topic Coordinator who has contributed to the proposal for this Research Topic. Sai's research interests include elucidating the role of peroxisomal ß?-oxidation in the retinal pigment epithelial cells and in general, to understand cellular mechanisms of disease and degeneration.
The retina can broadly be divided into a neural retina, consisting of neuronal cells like photoreceptors, interneurons, glial cells, astrocytes and ganglion cells, and a non-neural retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which forms an integral part of the blood-retinal barrier. It is a highly metabolically active tissue with the photoreceptor cells being one of the highest consumers of glucose. These photoreceptors are also among a very small group of cells exhibiting the Warburg effect under normal conditions. This high consumption of glucose by the retina is further facilitated by the RPE cells preferring lipids for their energy production, preserving glucose for the retina. This delicate metabolic ecosystem is essential not only for proper vision, but also for the survival of these post-mitotic cells.
Metabolic disorders like the Zellweger’s spectrum disorders, Niemann Pick disease, diabetes, etc. are known to cause retinal degeneration. Dysregulation of lipid metabolism in the RPE is a major causative factor in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the elderly.
Recent advances in the field have allowed better understanding of retinal metabolism. However, these studies have been mainly focused on important metabolic fuels like glucose and fatty acids. The roles of less orthodox mediators such as amino acids, nucleotides, NAD+, calcium, flavins, etc. are relatively less understood and are increasingly coming into focus. They are emerging as important metabolic mediators in regulation of both RPE and neural retinal homeostasis. Since such intermediates are relatively more difficult to detect, there is a need for development of new techniques and strategies to study retinal metabolism. Moreover, advances in our understanding not only allows for identification of metabolic targets to treat retinal degenerations, but also endorses the development of therapeutic strategies involving metabolic reprogramming and/or metabolite administrations.
This research topic welcomes original research manuscripts and review articles addressing clinical and/or fundamental aspects of retinal metabolism. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to
1. Understanding the metabolism of the various cell types of the retina and the metabolic interplay among them.
2. Retinal oxygen usage and metabolism.
3. Novel techniques and strategies to study retinal metabolism.
4. Consequences and clinical implications of metabolic dysregulation in the retina.
5. Study of inherited metabolic disorders affecting the retina.
6. Therapeutic strategies involving metabolic reprogramming in the retina.
7. Metabolite therapies to counter retinal degeneration.
We would like to acknowledge Sai Kocherlakota (KU Leuven, Belgium) as the Topic Coordinator who has contributed to the proposal for this Research Topic. Sai's research interests include elucidating the role of peroxisomal ß?-oxidation in the retinal pigment epithelial cells and in general, to understand cellular mechanisms of disease and degeneration.
