Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41960965›Full record

ArticleInvestigative ophthalmology & visual science2026

Müller Cell Changes and Subretinal Membrane Formation in an Eye With Multifocal Geographic Atrophy.

Malia M Edwards, D Scott McLeod, Imran A Bhutto, Rhonda Grebe, Jeffrey D Messinger, Andreas Berlin, Shreya Jolly, Autumn M Knight, Jacques Bijon, K Bailey Freund and 1 more

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Malia M EdwardsWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
D Scott McLeodWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
Imran A BhuttoWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
Rhonda GrebeWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
Jeffrey D MessingerDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States.
Andreas BerlinDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States.
Shreya JollyWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
Autumn M KnightWilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
Jacques BijonUniversity Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
K Bailey FreundVitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York, United States.
Christine A CurcioDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States.

Funding

Wilmer Core Grant for Vision ResearchP30EY001765 · NEI · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI JEFFREY MUMM · 1985 to 2026
$22.1M
Muller cell activation and remodeling in AMD.R01EY031044 · NEI · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI EDWARDS, MALIA MICHELLE · 2021 to 2025
$2.0M
NEI NIH HHS P30 EY001765NEI NIH HHS R01 EY031044
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Müller cell morphology and markers were investigated using histology and immunohistochemistry in an eye with clinically documented multifocal geographic atrophy (GA) and correlated with clinical images. Methods: The donor was followed clinically for 5 years, 6 years before death. The superior posterior pole retina of the right eye was dissected and immunolabeled with antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP; activated Müller cells and astrocytes) and glutamine synthetase (GS; Müller cells) and Ulex europaeus Agglutinin-1 lectin (blood vessels) before embedding for JB-4 cross section analysis. The inferior macula was cryopreserved. Cryosections were immunolabeled with Müller cell homeostatic and activation markers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the left eye was used to study ultrastructure changes. Results: Gross examination demonstrated mottled retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) over presumably calcified drusen. In the macular area, Müller cell processes surrounding both drusen and outer retinal pigmented lesions created a large subretinal membrane. Cryosection analysis demonstrated persistence of aquaporin 4 and GS in Müller cells with both proteins prominently expressed in the subretinal membrane. Increased MC S100B and GFAP expression were also observed in the atrophic area as well as the outer junctional zone. Cryosection labeling and TEM confirmed Müller cell encasing calcified drusen and RPE debris as well as invading basal laminar deposits. Conclusions: This multifocal GA case demonstrates how MC activation and structural changes surrounding individual drusen could coalesce, contributing to photoreceptor loss. Müller cells penetrating basal laminar deposits and encasing calcified drusen suggests attempting clearing and/or protecting the retina from harmful contents.

Indexed as

Ependymoglial CellsEpiretinal MembraneGeographic AtrophyRetinal Pigment EpitheliumAquaporin 4BiomarkersGlial Fibrillary Acidic ProteinGlutamate-Ammonia LigaseHumansImmunohistochemistryMicroscopy, Electron, TransmissionAquaporin 4BiomarkersGlial Fibrillary Acidic ProteinGlutamate-Ammonia Ligase

Identifiers

PMID41960965
PMCPMC13086172

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.