Retinal cell-surface entry receptors

Retinal cell-surface entry receptors represent a functional class of proteins and carbohydrates that facilitate the internalization of viruses and therapeutic vectors into the cells of the retina (PubMed: 27374337). This group includes diverse molecules such as the AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, which is utilized by the Zika virus to infect the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and the Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which serves as a potential entry point for SARS-CoV-2 (PubMed: 32407917). In the field of ophthalmology and gene therapy, the Adeno-associated virus receptor (AAVR) and Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans (HSPGs) are the most significant members, as they dictate the transduction efficiency of viral vectors like AAV2 (PubMed: 26808895). These receptors are not only gateways for disease but are also vital for normal ocular physiology; for instance, AXL is essential for the circadian phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments by the RPE. Consequently, while these receptors are primary targets for antiviral drugs and gene delivery optimization, their therapeutic modulation carries risks of disrupting retinal homeostasis and causing secondary degeneration. Understanding the specific expression patterns of these receptors across different retinal cell types is crucial for developing targeted therapies for both infectious and genetic blinding diseases.

Other names

Ocular entry receptorsRetinal viral entry factorsRetinal uptake receptorsRetinal viral receptors

Inhibition of pathogen internalization by blocking receptor binding sites or utilizing receptors as docking points for therapeutic gene delivery vectors.