视网膜色素上皮细胞的生理功能及其参与的病变

视网膜色素上皮细胞能够维持光感受器的更新、再生，对维持视网膜外层的内环境稳定有重要意义，而且还是增生性玻璃体视网膜病变中最重要的细胞成分。视网膜色素上皮细胞参与了糖尿病视网膜病变、年龄相关性黄斑变性、视网膜色素变性等疾病的发生发展，是视网膜中被研究最多的细胞，虽来源于神经外胚叶，但其在特定的条件下能够分化和分裂的特性，让研究者看到了利用RPE来治疗相应的视网膜变性类疾病、遗传性疾病的希望。

Function and pathology of the retinal pigment epithelium

Retinal pigment epithelium(RPE)is a vital tissue for the maintenance of photoreceptor function and environment of outer retina, also the predominant cell type of proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR). It is also affected by many diseases of the retina and choroid, including diabetic retinopathy(DR), age-related macular degeneration(AMD)and retinal pigmentosa(RP). Although of neural origin, the RPE is capable of local repair, and cells may migrate and take on altered characteristics. These findings indicate that RPE-based therapy is a promising option for congenital or degenerate disease of the retina.