New insights into the integrity of intercellular junctions between retinal pigment epithelial cells

Authors: Wei Jiayi,  Wang Fang
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115989-20201212-00839
Published 2022-07-10
Cite asChin J Exp Ophthalmol, 2022, 40(7): 670-674.

Abstract                                       [View PDF] [Read Full Text]

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is composed of a layer of highly specialized hexagonal pigment epithelial cells.The apical surface of RPE interacts with the photoreceptor, and RPE basal surface interacts with Bruch membrane and choroidal capillaries to maintain the function of retinal photoreceptor.A variety of junction proteins distributed between RPE cells are the basis for RPE to perform normal functions, ensuring the integrity and physiological function of RPE.Under pathological conditions, the abnormal function of RPE is first manifested by the abnormal junctional protein, which leads to the loss of adhesion between cells, cells and basement membrane, and then a series of abnormal biological behaviors, such as dissociation, migration, transdifferentiation and protein expression changes in RPE cells, which have become an important cause of many fundus diseases.The role of RPE junctional complexes during normal and pathological conditions, as well as their role in proliferative vitreoretinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic vitreoretinopathy was reviewed in this article from the composition and correlation of junctional proteins between RPE cells.

Key words:

Retinal pigment epithelium; Intercellular junctions; Vitreoretinopathy, proliferative; Age-related macular degeneration; Diabetic vitreoretinopathy

Contributor Information

Wei Jiayi

Department of Ophthalmology, Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 20072, China

Wang Fang

Department of Ophthalmology, Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 20072, China

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