From Neurotransmission to Retinal Pathophysiology: Unraveling the Role of GABA Receptors in Retinal Disease Progression.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). The biological effects of GABA are mediated by activating its receptors, GABAA or GABAB, which are distributed across various tissues, predominantly in the brain and retina. The retina is a neural tissue responsible for receiving and transducing light stimuli. Within this tissue, GABA receptors (GABARs) primarily mediate lateral inhibition in the retina. In recent years, several studies have focused on elucidating the potential role of GABARs in retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This review aims to present the most significant findings from recent years regarding the involvement of GABA receptors in retinal pathologies. Additionally, it highlights the potential of GABA receptors as targets for developing precise therapies or adjunctive strategies for treating retinal diseases.