Neurovascular interactions in the retina: physiological and pathological roles

Increasing evidence suggests that the complex interactions among multiple cell types including neuronal, glial, and vascular cells, are critical for maintaining adequate cerebral blood flow that is necessary for normal brain function and survival. The disturbance of these interactions contributes to the pathogenesis of central nervous system disorders such as stroke and Alzheimer's disease. The retina is part of the central nervous system, and the properties of vasculature in the retina are similar to those in the brain. The interactions among multiple cell types in the retina also play an important role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, and the impairment of interactions can contribute to the onset and/or progression of retinal diseases. In this review, we describe the neurovascular interactions in the retina and alternations of interactions in pathological conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.