The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a monolayer of post-mitotic polarized epithelial cells,
strategically situated between the photoreceptors and the choroid, is the primary caretaker of …

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that affects the macula–the central
part of the retina. It is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the elderly. AMD onset is …

The retinal pigment epithelium-photoreceptor interphase is renewed each day in a stunning
display of cellular interdependence. While photoreceptors use photosensitive pigments to …

Autophagy is a catabolic pathway that promotes the degradation and recycling of cellular
components. Proteins, lipids, and even whole organelles are engulfed in autophagosomes …

Lysosomes are acidic organelles that contain hydrolytic enzymes that mediate the
intracellular degradation of macromolecules. Damage of these organelles often results in …

Stargardt maculopathy, caused predominantly by mutations in the ABCA4 gene, is
characterized by an accumulation of non-degradable visual pigment derivative, lipofuscin, in …

Lipids are fundamental building blocks of all cells and play important roles in the
pathogenesis of different diseases, including inflammation, autoimmune disease, cancer …

Balancing the competing demands of phagolysosomal degradation and autophagy is a
significant challenge for phagocytic tissues. Yet how this plasticity is accomplished in health …

Vision impairment has devastating consequences for the quality of human life. The cells and
tissues associated with the visual process must function throughout one's life span and …

Bestrophinopathies, one of the most common forms of inherited macular degenerations, are
caused by mutations in the BEST1 gene expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) …