# Fatty acid binding-proteins and endocannabinoids in the retina; roles in glial reactivity and reprogramming of Muller glia into progenitor cells

> **NIH NIH R01** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $378,405

## Abstract

Project Summary: There is a rapidly growing body of evidence that Müller glia can are a source of retinal
progenitors to promote neural regeneration. Many studies have demonstrated that Müller glia can become
proliferating progenitor cells in the retinas of different vertebrate species. Most reports have studied Müller
glia-derived progenitors in acutely damaged retinas. However, little is known about the mechanisms that
stimulate neurogenesis from Müller glia-derived progenitors in undamaged retinas or retinas undergoing slow,
progressive degeneration. Furthermore, the regeneration of retinal neurons in warm-blooded vertebrates is
limited compared to that seen in cold-blooded vertebrates. Therefore, the identification of the secreted factors
and signaling pathways that block or stimulate neural regeneration from Müller glia-derived progenitors is
crucially important to developing new therapies to treat degenerative diseases of the human retina. We have
obtained compelling novel preliminary data indicating that Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) and
endocannabinoids impact the de-differentation and reprogramming of Müller glia into proliferating, neurogenic
retinal progenitors in chicks and mice. We will investigate how the phenotype and plasticity of the Müller glia
are regulated by FABPs and endocannabinoids in normal, damaged and growth factor-treated retinas. We will
use a combination of pharmacological and genetic approaches to selectively activate or inhibit FABPs and
endocannabinoid-signaling. We will compare and contrast how FABPs and endocannabinoid-signaling impacts
the formation of Müller glia-derived progenitors in chick and rodent model systems with different inherent
capacities for retinal regeneration. We expect that the completion of the experiments described in this
proposal will provide significant new information regarding how mature Müller glia can be reprogrammed into
Müller glia-derived progenitors that regenerate retinal neurons. Identification and understanding of the
mechanisms that enhance the neurogenic potential of Müller glia is required to develop new therapies for sight-
threatening diseases, such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration that involve the loss of
retinal neurons.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10747375
- **Project number:** 5R01EY032141-04
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ANDY J FISCHER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $378,405
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10747375

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10747375, Fatty acid binding-proteins and endocannabinoids in the retina; roles in glial reactivity and reprogramming of Muller glia into progenitor cells (5R01EY032141-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10747375. Licensed CC0.

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