Simó Rafael, Villarroel Marta, Corraliza Lídia, Hernández Cristina, Garcia-Ramírez Marta
CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Unitat de Diabetis i Metabolisme, Institut de Recerca Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
J Biomed Biotechnol. 2010;2010:190724. doi: 10.1155/2010/190724. Epub 2010 Feb 17.
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is an specialized epithelium lying in the interface between the neural retina and the choriocapillaris where it forms the outer blood-retinal barrier (BRB). The main functions of the RPE are the following: (1) transport of nutrients, ions, and water, (2) absorption of light and protection against photooxidation, (3) reisomerization of all-trans-retinal into 11-cis-retinal, which is crucial for the visual cycle, (4) phagocytosis of shed photoreceptor membranes, and (5) secretion of essential factors for the structural integrity of the retina. An overview of these functions will be given. Most of the research on the physiopathology of diabetic retinopathy has been focused on the impairment of the neuroretina and the breakdown of the inner BRB. By contrast, the effects of diabetes on the RPE and in particular on its secretory activity have received less attention. In this regard, new therapeutic strategies addressed to modulating RPE impairment are warranted.
视网膜色素上皮（RPE）是一种特殊的上皮组织，位于神经视网膜和脉络膜毛细血管之间的界面，在该处形成外血视网膜屏障（BRB）。RPE的主要功能如下：（1）营养物质、离子和水的运输；（2）光的吸收和抗光氧化作用；（3）全反式视黄醛异构化为11-顺式视黄醛，这对视觉循环至关重要；（4）吞噬脱落的光感受器膜；（5）分泌维持视网膜结构完整性的必需因子。将对这些功能进行概述。大多数关于糖尿病视网膜病变病理生理学的研究都集中在神经视网膜的损伤和内BRB的破坏上。相比之下，糖尿病对RPE的影响，尤其是对其分泌活性的影响，受到的关注较少。在这方面，有必要采取新的治疗策略来调节RPE损伤。
