TSPO in systemic-ocular immunometabolic crosstalk: mechanisms and therapeutic implications
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
- 2Department of Liver Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
Abstract
The eye is increasingly recognized as a tissue shaped by systemic immune and metabolic states rather than an isolated immune-privileged organ. Translocator protein (TSPO), an 18-kDa outer mitochondrial membrane protein enriched in myeloid and glial cells, links mitochondrial homeostasis, redox signaling, lipid metabolism, and immune polarization. This review synthesizes evidence for TSPO involvement in systemic-ocular immunometabolic crosstalk and organizes it into a three-stage working model: peripheral immunometabolic priming, blood-retinal barrier vulnerability, and intraocular glial amplification. We review evidence from systemic autoimmune diseases with ocular manifestations, metabolic diseases with ocular complications, and primary ocular diseases with systemic contributions. We then assess the potential of TSPO as an imaging or fluid biomarker and as a therapeutic target. Current evidence suggests that TSPO is a promising immunometabolic node and underscores the need for cross-organ disease models, cell-specific TSPO manipulation, spatial multi-omics, and local ocular delivery strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026tspo,
title = {{TSPO in systemic-ocular immunometabolic crosstalk: mechanisms and therapeutic implications}},
author = {Zuyi Yang and Xinyi Zhang and Dianzhe Tian and Xinshi Li and Xinyu Zhao and Erqian Wang and Youxin Chen},
journal = {Frontiers in Immunology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2026.1929816},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1929816/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - TSPO in systemic-ocular immunometabolic crosstalk: mechanisms and therapeutic implications
AU - Zuyi Yang
AU - Xinyi Zhang
AU - Dianzhe Tian
AU - Xinshi Li
AU - Xinyu Zhao
AU - Erqian Wang
AU - Youxin Chen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Frontiers in Immunology
DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1929816
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1929816/full
AB - The eye is increasingly recognized as a tissue shaped by systemic immune and metabolic states rather than an isolated immune-privileged organ. Translocator protein (TSPO), an 18-kDa outer mitochondrial membrane protein enriched in myeloid and glial cells, links mitochondrial homeostasis, redox signaling, lipid metabolism, and immune polarization. This review synthesizes evidence for TSPO involvement in systemic-ocular immunometabolic crosstalk and organizes it into a three-stage working model: peripheral immunometabolic priming, blood-retinal barrier vulnerability, and intraocular glial amplification. We review evidence from systemic autoimmune diseases with ocular manifestations, metabolic diseases with ocular complications, and primary ocular diseases with systemic contributions. We then assess the potential of TSPO as an imaging or fluid biomarker and as a therapeutic target. Current evidence suggests that TSPO is a promising immunometabolic node and underscores the need for cross-organ disease models, cell-specific TSPO manipulation, spatial multi-omics, and local ocular delivery strategies.
SN - 1664-3224
ER -