Loss of Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 Impairs Microglial Function and Exacerbates Retinal Neurodegeneration in Glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, characterized by retinal ganglion cell degeneration and neuroinflammation. Retinal microglia are key modulators of this pathology. Using single-cell transcriptomic analysis of human glaucomatous retinas, a distinct population of disease-associated microglia (DAM) was identified, defined by elevated triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) and other neurodegeneration-related genes. DAM exhibited enriched transcriptional programs associated with phagocytosis, antigen presentation, and immune regulation, with TREM2