CD74 as a microglial activation marker in the pathogenesis of retinal vasoregression in a transgenic rat model

Aims: Vasoregression is a hallmark of the early phase of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Our previous study has demonstrated in a transgenic rat model – the polycystic kidney disease (PKD) model – retinal vasoregression which is similar to DR. Microarray analysis in this model indicated a major upregulation of CD74. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining exhibited that CD74 is expressed by microglia – resident macrophage in retina and central nervous system. In the present study, we aimed to establish CD74 as microglial activation marker in the pathogenesis of vasoregression in PKD model. Materials and methods: Sprague-Daw…