Endothelial UNC5B regulates blood-retinal barrier homeostasis

The blood-retinal barrier (BRB), a critical component of the retinal neurovascular unit (NVU), is essential for maintaining retinal homeostasis. Dysfunction of the BRB contributes to vascular leakage, neuronal degeneration, and gliosis, which are the core pathological hallmarks of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Despite the importance of the BRB, the molecular mechanisms underlying the preservation of BRB integrity under pathological conditions remain unclear. In this study, we identified the endothelial receptor UNC5B as a critical regulator of BRB and NVU homeostasis and a potential therapeutic target for neurovascular protection.