Abstract:

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a common complication after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and vitreoretinal surgery, which is characterized by the formation of avascular fibrocellular membranes on the surface of the retina.  Studies on ultrastructural manifestation and immunopathology have demonstrated that epiretinal membranes associated with PVR comprised of multiple cells, such as retinal pigment epithelial cell, glia cell, macrophage, hyalocyte, fibroblast and myofibroblast. Among those cells, myofibroblast,  which is responsible for the contractility of epiretinal membranes and then leads to the failure of retinal reattachment, is mainly derived from epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the retinal pigment epithelial cells, playing a critical role in the development of the PVR. Thus, it is possible a effective treatment for PVR that prevents the transdifferentiation of retinal pigment epithelial cells to myofibroblast.