Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Degenerative Retinal Diseases
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Pathology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 436
Special Issue Editors
Interests: ocular degenerative diseases; retinal pigment epithelium
Interests: vitreroretinal surgery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Retinal degeneration is a critical ocular complication characterized by the progressive loss of retinal neurons, coupled with pathological alterations in resident tissue cells including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), vascular endothelium, and immune cells such as microglia. These degenerative conditions are caused by a spectrum of retinal diseases that affect various age groups, with a notable increase in prevalence among the elderly. Prominent examples of these diseases include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and glaucoma, which collectively pose significant globe public health challenges, exacerbated by the aging population and the lack of effective treatments.
The RPE plays a multifaceted role beyond its function as a barrier cell in the posterior chamber of the eye. It is essential for maintaining visual cycle, retinal immune privilege, and overall retinal health. Dysfunction of the RPE has been implicated in both age-related and hereditary retinal degenerative diseases. Disruptions in RPE intracellular processes, such as autophagy and mitochondrial energy production, along with heightened oxidative stress and dysregulated immune responses, contribute to increased inflammasome activation, lipid metabolic dysregulation, and accelerated cellular ageing and dysfunction. Furthermore, the interaction between RPE cells and other retinal cells such as microglia/macrophages is pivotal in the progression of retinal degeneration.
A deeper understanding of the cellular and molecular interplay involved in pathophysiological changes in the RPE along with the retina could pave the way for the development of novel therapeutics aimed at improving the treatment of retinal degenerative conditions.
In this Special Issue, we invite original research and review articles that explore the functional diversity of RPE across all fields related to retinal degenerative diseases. We specifically seek contributions in the following areas, but not exclusively:
- Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying RPE dysfunction in various retinal degenerative diseases;
- Relationships between RPE and other retinal cells, such as retinal neurons, microglia, infiltrating immune cells, and choriocapillary endothelium in progressive retinal degeneration;
- Novel therapeutic approaches targeting RPE dysfunction for the treatment of retinal diseases;
- Discovery of biomarkers for RPE and retinal degenerative diseases.
Dr. Jian Liu
Dr. Shintaro Horie
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- RPE
- degenerative retinal diseases
- macular degeneration
- diabetic retinopathy
- glaucoma
- photoreceptor
- vascular endothelium
- microglia
- macrophage
- inflammation
- oxidative stress
- autophagy
- mitochondria
- lipid metabolism
- senescence
- neuropeptide
- therapeutics
- biomarkers
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