Fig. 6

Microglia depletion and repopulation resets the diabetic retinal transcriptome to closely resemble non-diabetic controls. A Experimental design to pharmacologically deplete and repopulate microglia using PLX-5622 for retinal mRNAseq analysis. Six weeks following STZ-induced diabetes, CX3CR1-WT mice were fed PLX-5622 for 2 weeks, followed by a 2-week recovery period. Diabetic control mice were fed normal chow. B–D, Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis in diabetic mice before the treatment versus non-diabetic mice for total number of DEGs (B), analysis of DEGs associated with DR pathogenesis and microglial activation (C), and complement-mediated synaptic pruning and intermediate filament organization, visual cycle and wellness (D). E–G DEGs analysis in diabetic mice after PLX-5622 treatment versus diabetic normal chow mice for total number of DEGs (E), analysis of DEGs associated with DR pathogenesis and microglial activation (F), and complement-mediated synaptic pruning and intermediate filament organization, visual cycle and wellness (G). H–J DEGs analysis in diabetic mice after PLX-5622 recovery versus diabetic normal chow mice for total number of DEGs (H), analysis of DEGs associated with DR pathogenesis and microglial activation (I), and complement-mediated synaptic pruning and intermediate filament organization, visual cycle and wellness (J)