Immunomodulation: A Promising Therapy for Diabetic Retinopathy
The study “Immunomodulation of inflammatory responses preserves retinal integrity in murine models of pericyte-depletion retinopathy” (https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/184465) was recently published in the JCI Insight journal.
Professor Thomas Langmann’s laboratory focuses on the role of immune cells - particularly macrophages and microglia - in ocular diseases. Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a major global health challenge and a serious complication of diabetes, can lead to irreversible vision loss. While DR has traditionally been viewed as a vascular disorder of the retina, this study highlights the crucial contribution of inflammatory processes, and specifically of macrophages and microglia, to disease progression.
Under the leadership of postdoctoral researcher Dr. Urbanus Kinuthia, the research team established preclinical mouse models of DR by inducing pericyte depletion or PDGFB deficiency. These experimental conditions reproduce the breakdown of the blood–retinal barrier (BRB) and closely mirror the pathological features of human DR. The resulting disturbances provoked sustained inflammation, heightened microglial activation, and vascular damage. Importantly, these effects could be reversed through a pharmacological intervention that modulates microglial activity.
The findings demonstrate that early immunomodulation of retinal inflammation in the course of DR pathogenesis may offer a promising and complementary therapeutic approach to existing treatments.
This work represents a significant paradigm shift in the understanding and management of diabetic retinopathy - redirecting the focus from vascular pathology to immune mechanisms. By elucidating how targeted immunomodulation can preserve retinal integrity in preclinical models, the study lays the foundation for innovative treatment strategies that may bring new hope to millions of individuals at risk of vision loss worldwide.
Professor Dr. Thomas Langmann and Dr. Urbanus Kinuthia ar associated to the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC).
Original Publication
https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/184465
Urbanus Muthai Kinuthia, Christoph Moehle, Ralf H. Adams, and Thomas Langmann
Immunomodulation of inflammatory responses preserves retinal integrity in murine models of pericyte-depletion retinopathy.Volume 10, Issue 15 on August 8, 2025 JCI Insight. 2025;10(15):e184465. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.184465.
This message has been modified by the CMMC (K. Heber & D. Grosskopf-Kroiher) and is based on the text by the press and communications team of the University Hospital Cologne (original German version here).