Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) comes from a single layer of polygonal cells arranged at the outermost layer of the retina.

The retina is a multi-layered structure lining the posterior segment of the eye. It consists of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEpiC).

Retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEpiC) are situated between the neurosensory retina and the choroid, forming the outer blood-retina barrier that controls the chemical composition of the subretinal space. RPEpiC have specific polarized protein distributions within the cell.

Retinal pigment epithelial cells play a critical role in regulating the adjacent photoreceptor membrane turnover, retinoid metabolism, and protecting the retina from light-induced damages.