Glutamatergic neuronal activity regulates angiogenesis and blood-retinal barrier maturation via Norrin/β-catenin signaling

Abstract

Interactions among neuronal, glial, and vascular components are crucial for retinal angiogenesis and blood-retinal barrier (BRB) maturation. Although synaptic dysfunction precedes vascular abnormalities in many retinal pathologies, how neuronal activity, specifically glutamatergic activity, regulates retinal angiogenesis and BRB maturation remains unclear. Using in vivo genetic studies in mice, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and functional validation, we show that deep plexus angiogenesis and paracellular BRB maturation are delayed in Vglut1^-/- retinas where neurons fail to release glutamate. By contrast, deep plexus angiogenesis and paracellular BRB maturation are accelerated in Gnat1^-/- retinas, where constitutively depolarized rods release excessive glutamate. Norrin expression and endothelial Norrin/β-catenin signaling are downregulated in Vglut1^-/- retinas and upregulated in Gnat1^-/- retinas. Pharmacological activation of endothelial Norrin/β-catenin signaling in Vglut1^-/- retinas rescues defects in deep plexus angiogenesis and paracellular BRB maturation. Our findings demonstrate that glutamatergic neuronal activity regulates retinal angiogenesis and BRB maturation by modulating endothelial Norrin/β-catenin signaling.

Keywords: Müller glia; Norrin/β-catenin signaling; angiogenesis; blood-retinal barrier; glutamate; glutamate transporter 2; neuronal activity; neurovascular development; retina; tight junctions.