PhD Scientific Days 2026

Poster Session 2.M - Neurosciences

Neurogenic Potential of Adult Human Müller Glia

Előadó neve

Magda, Dániel, MSc

Neptune code

D9L5YD

Előadó munkahelye

Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology

Előadó telefonszáma

06304208761

Előadó e-mail címe

magda.daniel.peter@semmelweis.hu

Az előadás címe

Neurogenic Potential of Adult Human Müller Glia

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Dániel Magda¹, Teadora Tyler¹, Lili Gerendás¹, Ferenc Kilin¹, Zoltán Z. Nagy², Arnold Szabó¹

1: Semmelweis University, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology
2: Semmelweis University, Eye Clinic

Bemutatás módja

Poszter

Szekció

Poster Session 2.M - Neurosciences

Language of the presentation

Hungarian

Preferred session

Neurosciences

Összefoglaló szövege

Introduction
Unlike mammals, certain vertebrates can regenerate retinal neurons through Müller glia, which re-enter the cell cycle and act as multipotent progenitor cells generating glial and neuronal lineages. In contrast, the regenerative capacity of the adult human retina remains poorly understood.
Aim
This study aimed to investigate the proliferative and neurogenic potential of Müller glia in the adult human retina and to assess whether stimulation with humoral factors can promote cell cycle re-entry and neural lineage commitment in prolonged organotypic cultures.
Methods
Retinal explants from central and peripheral regions were obtained from 39 multi-organ donors aged 18–68 years, including both sexes. Explants were maintained under defined culture conditions for up to 70 days in the presence of EdU or BrdU. Cultures were treated with different concentrations of MSG, Wnt-3a, BIO, and FGF-2. Tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and single-cell RNA sequencing.
Results
Single-cell RNA sequencing showed that cultured cells retained transcriptomic profiles closely resembling retinal tissue. All inducing agents promoted cell proliferation in both peripheral and central retina, with FGF-2 producing the strongest effect. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that 79.09 ± 6.32% of EdU-positive post-mitotic cells were Müller glia. The density of dividing cells was similar from the ora serrata to the mid-periphery, and robust proliferation was observed across all donors regardless of age or sex. A subset of newly generated postmitotic cells co-expressed proteins associated with neurogenesis and retinal differentiation, including Ascl1, HuC/HuD, LHX4, secretagogin, Chx10, tubulin beta-3, and Crx. A small proportion expressed markers of rods, cones, horizontal cells, bipolar cells, and ganglion cells. Consistently, single-cell RNA sequencing revealed increased neuronal transcript expression in Müller cell clusters following FGF-2 treatment.
Conclusion
These findings demonstrate that Müller glia in the adult human retina retain the capacity to re-enter the cell cycle and that their progeny show a tendency toward neural differentiation. This work advances our understanding of human retinal regenerative biology and may support future therapies aimed at restoring vision through induced retinal regeneration.
Funding
2025-2.1.1-EKÖP-2025-00014

University

Semmelweis University

Supervisor

Ágoston Szél

Publication of my abstract

I do not give consent to the publication of my abstract on the website of the congress.

phd.section.field

after finishing doctoral studies with absolutorium (PhD)

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

poszter

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem rendelkezett róla

Előadó

9387

Start

18:00

End

18:03