Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Inherited Retinal Diseases
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Pathology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2026 | Viewed by 22
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Inherited retinal diseases (IRD) are a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, characterized by progressive dysfunction and degeneration of retinal neurons, including photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells. While remarkable advances in gene discovery and early gene therapy trials have transformed our understanding of IRD, no broadly effective, FDA-approved therapies targeting retinal neurons are currently available. This limitation is exacerbated by the extreme genetic heterogeneity of IRD, with over 300 disease-associated genes identified and nearly half of cases remaining genetically unresolved. Emerging evidence increasingly points to Müller glia, the principal glial cell type of the retina, as active contributors to IRD pathogenesis rather than passive bystanders. Alterations in Müller glial development, function, and extracellular matrix remodeling have been observed at early stages of disease, often preceding overt neuronal degeneration in both in vivo and in vitro models. Disruption of these supportive and homeostatic functions may critically impair retinal neuron survival through non-cell-autonomous mechanisms. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which Müller glia influence IRD onset and progression. We welcome original research articles and reviews that investigate glial-neuronal interactions, shared pathogenic pathways across genetically diverse IRD, and gene-agnostic therapeutic strategies targeting Müller glia to preserve retinal structure and function.
Dr. Holly Yu Chen
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- inherited retinal diseases
- retinal degeneration
- retinal organoids
- müller glia
- retinal pigment epithelium
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