A human pluripotent stem cell triculture platform to elucidate microglial regulation of retinal ganglion cells in neuroinflammation

Optic neuropathies, including glaucoma, are characterized by the progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), ultimately leading to irreversible vision loss. Increasing evidence implicates microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, as key modulators of RGC health and disease progression. However, the precise mechanisms by which microglia influence RGCs remain poorly understood, particularly in the human context. In this study, we established human pluripotent stem cell-derived coculture systems incorporating microglia, astrocytes, and RGCs to explore how microglia shape RGC growth and maturation under physiological conditions. We first examined the impact of homeostatic microglia on RGCs in both coculture and triculture systems, revealing distinct influences of cell types in coculture compared to when they were grown individually. We then modeled inflammatory states by activating microglia with lipopolysaccharide and evaluated their effects on RGCs both directly and in the context of astrocyte coculture. This stepwise, reductionist approach enabled us to dissect the cellular interactions driving RGC vulnerability in inflammatory conditions relevant to optic neuropathies. Our findings provide insight into the complex neuroimmune landscape that underlies RGC degeneration and identify key pathways that may serve as therapeutic targets across a range of optic nerve diseases.