CD4+ T cells play a dual role in both the protection and injury of retinal ganglion cells (RGC), participating in the critical immunopathological processes associated with retinal ischemia reperfusion injury (RIRI). T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 cells drive retinal inflammation by secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to RGC damage. In contrast, Th2 and regulatory T (Treg) cells secrete anti-inflammatory factors that modulate immune responses and reduce inflammation, thereby playing a crucial role in protecting RGC. However, under certain disease conditions, their roles may be reversed. Additionally, an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cells, specifically the imbalance in the cytokines they secrete can influence disease progression. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the complex functions of CD4+ T cells and their subsets in both protecting and damaging retinal health is essential for immune-targeted therapies for RIRI.
Retinal ischemia is the common pathologic process in many ophthalmic diseases, including ischemic optic neuropathy, retinal artery and vein occlusion, carotid artery obstructive disease, retinopathy of prematurity, chronic diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. It is very important to establish animal models to investigate pathology mechanism and explore the treatment of retinal ischemia disease. At present, the commonly used methods for establishing retinal ischemia animal models include increasing intraocular pressure, ligating of blood vessels, suture method, photochemical method, and drug injection etc. This article summarizes the methods to establish the animal models and analyzes the indication for each animal model. It is expected that the method of establishing a retinal ischemic animal model will be helpful to the experimental design of follow-up retinal ischemia studies.