The presentation will examine the roles of microglia and Müller cells in diabetic retinopathy, with a focus on the known interactions between these two cell types. Retinal microglia are innate immune cells that form horizontal arbors of dendrites in retinal plexiform layers and monitor neuron health and synaptic activity. Müller cells are specialized glial cells that radially span the retina and provide structural integrity, ion buffering, neurotransmitter recycle, trophic support and metabolic homeostasis to the neural retina. Both microglia and Müller cells are equipped to respond to environmental cues indicating infection, neural injury or neurodegeneration, and both can perform phagocytosis to remove dying cells and debris. In diabetic retinopathy these cells undergo reactive transformations known as astrogliosis and microgliosis, respectively. The seminar will discuss: how these cellular responses contribute to inflammation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production, the factors triggering microgliosis and astrogliosis, and the roles of microglia and Müller cells in initiating and propagating these gliotic responses in the retina. Furthermore, the potential for therapeutic intervention by blocking or short-circuiting these responses will be discussed.