Table 1.
Major ECM components secreted by Müller glia.
| ECM component | Producer | Retinal layer | ECM-cell interaction | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collagens | ||||
| Collagen I | Müller glia Retinal astrocytes |
GCL ILM |
Direct contact with RGCs in the GCL In contact with Müller glia end-feet forming the ILM Glial scar formation |
(44, 46) |
| Collagen II | Müller glia Hyalocytes |
ONL OPL INL IPL GCL NFL ILM |
Form the collagen intraretinal network by binding to Müller glia ILM remodelling Retinal blood vessel encapsulation |
(47–51) |
| Collagen IV | Müller glia | ILM | ILM integrity Retinal blood vessel encapsulation RPE anchoring |
(31, 47, 53–55) |
| Collagen VI | Müller glia | ILM | Vitreoretinal attachment | (56) |
| Collagen VII | Müller glia | ONL OPL INL IPL GCL NFL ILM |
Vitreoretinal attachment | (56) |
| Collagen XVIII | Müller glia | ILM | Vitreoretinal attachment RPE integrity |
(56, 57) |
| Proteoglycans | ||||
| Aggrecan | Müller glia Retinal neurons |
PRS OPL IPL GCL | Support RGCs and photoreceptors | (61, 62, 64) |
| Brevican | Müller glia Developing/reactive astrocytes |
OPL IPL |
Stabilise synapsis Contact with RGC somata Retinal integrity |
(61, 66, 67) |
| Neurocan | Müller glia | IPL NFL |
Retinal lamination Inhibitory effect on RGCs neurite outgrowth |
(42, 62, 68) |
| Phosphacan | Müller glia | IPL NFL |
Retinal lamination Inhibitory effect on RGCs neurite outgrowth Glial scar formation |
(13, 33, 42, 68) |
| Versican | Müller glia Retinal neurons | PRS OPL IPL GCL |
Attachment of the neuroretina to the RPE | (61–63) |
| Glycoproteins | ||||
| Fibronectin | Müller glia Astrocytes |
OLM OPL IPL GCL NFL ILM |
Maintain cell–matrix adhesion sites Scaffolding of retinal layers Endothelial radial migration during retinal angiogenesis RPE anchoring Müller glia anchoring to the ILM Neurite outgrowth of RGCs |
(19, 69–73) |
| Laminin | Müller glia | ONL GCL ILM |
Differentiation and maintenance of the retinal vascular membrane Formation and stability of the ILM and retinal lamination in association with Müller glia Photoreceptor synapsis formation and ONL organization |
(53, 73, 76–78, 80) |
| Tenascin-C | Müller glia Horizontal cells Amacrine cells Astrocytes |
OPL IPL NFL |
Neurite outgrowth and glial cell differentiation Prevents oligodendrocyte precursors from migrating to the retina During gliosis, contributes to Müller glia ECM deposition, retinal stiffness, photoreceptor degeneration and neuroinflammation Promotes the generation of stable focal adhesions between Müller glia and the ECM Increase sensitivity to FGF2-dependent dedifferentiation of Müller glia in vitro |
(13, 40, 81–89) |