Microglia Suppress Ascl1-Induced Retinal Regeneration in Mice

The innate immune system plays key roles in tissue regeneration. For example, microglia promote neurogenesis in Müller glia in birds and fish after injury. Although mammalian retina does not normally regenerate, neurogenesis can be induced in mouse Müller glia by Ascl1, a proneural transcription factor. We show that in mice, microglia inhibit the Ascl1-mediated retinal regeneration, suggesting that the innate immune system limits the regenerative response to injury. [Display omitted] •scRNA-seq reveals microglia subsets during Müller glia-mediated retinal regeneration•Ablation of microglia improves the neurogenic capacity of Müller glia•Microglia may limit neurogenesis by inducing inflammatory states in Müller glia The innate immune system plays critical roles in retinal regeneration of fish and birds. Todd et al. show that in adult mouse retina, microglia limit the neurogenic capacity of Müller glia during Ascl1-mediated regeneration. scRNA-seq suggests Müller glia take on unique inflammatory states during regeneration that depend on microglia.