Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted glycosylated phosphoprotein that influences cell survival, inflammation, migration, and homeostasis after injury. As the role of OPN in the retina remains unclear, this study issue was addressed by aiming to study how the absence of OPN in knock-out mice affects the retina and the influence of age on these effects. The study focused on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and glial cells (astrocytes, Müller cells, and resident microglia) in 3- and 20-month-old mice. The number of RGCs in the retina was quantified and the area occupied by astrocytes was measured. In addition, the morphology of Müller cells and microglia was examined in retinal sections. The deficiency in OPN reduces RGC density by 25.09% at 3 months of age and by 60.37% at 20 months of age. The astrocyte area was also reduced by 51.01% in 3-month-old mice and by 57.84% at 20 months of age, although Müller glia and microglia did not seem to be affected by the lack of OPN. This study demonstrates the influence of OPN on astrocytes and RGCs, whereby the absence of OPN in the retina diminishes the area occupied by astrocytes and produces a secondary reduction in the number of RGCs. Accordingly, OPN could be a target to develop therapies to combat neurodegenerative diseases and astrocytes may represent a key mediator of such effects.
Keywords: Astrocytes; Glia; Microglia; Müller cells; Osteopontin; Retina; Retinal ganglion cells.