Pericytes as Key Players in Retinal Diseases: A Comprehensive Narrative Review
Pericytes, specialized mural cells surrounding microvessels, play a crucial role in maintaining vascular homeostasis and function across various organs, including the eye. These versatile cells regulate blood flow, support the integrity of the blood–retinal barrier, and contribute to angiogenesis. R...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Fabiana D’Esposito Francesco Cappellani Federico Visalli Matteo Capobianco Lorenzo Rapisarda Alessandro Avitabile Ludovica Cannizzaro Roberta Malaguarnera Giuseppe Gagliano Antonino Maniaci Mario Lentini Giuseppe Montalbano Mohamed Amine Zaouali Dorra H’mida Giovanni Giurdanella Caterina Gagliano |
| author_facet | Fabiana D’Esposito Francesco Cappellani Federico Visalli Matteo Capobianco Lorenzo Rapisarda Alessandro Avitabile Ludovica Cannizzaro Roberta Malaguarnera Giuseppe Gagliano Antonino Maniaci Mario Lentini Giuseppe Montalbano Mohamed Amine Zaouali Dorra H’mida Giovanni Giurdanella Caterina Gagliano |
| author_sort | Fabiana D’Esposito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pericytes, specialized mural cells surrounding microvessels, play a crucial role in maintaining vascular homeostasis and function across various organs, including the eye. These versatile cells regulate blood flow, support the integrity of the blood–retinal barrier, and contribute to angiogenesis. Recent advancements in molecular and cellular biology have revealed the heterogeneity of pericytes and their critical involvement in ocular physiology and pathology. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of pericyte functions in ocular health and their implications in diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal vein occlusion. Pericyte dysfunction is implicated in vascular instability, neurovascular coupling failure, inflammation, and pathological neovascularization, contributing to vision-threatening disorders. The review further explores recent findings on pericyte-targeted therapies, including pharmacological agents, gene therapy, and cell-based approaches, aiming to restore pericyte function and preserve ocular health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aecdc15ef8b347b0bd9cfc7d1f39e26e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-aecdc15ef8b347b0bd9cfc7d1f39e26e2025-08-20T02:45:37ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-06-0114773610.3390/biology14070736Pericytes as Key Players in Retinal Diseases: A Comprehensive Narrative ReviewFabiana D’Esposito0Francesco Cappellani1Federico Visalli2Matteo Capobianco3Lorenzo Rapisarda4Alessandro Avitabile5Ludovica Cannizzaro6Roberta Malaguarnera7Giuseppe Gagliano8Antonino Maniaci9Mario Lentini10Giuseppe Montalbano11Mohamed Amine Zaouali12Dorra H’mida13Giovanni Giurdanella14Caterina Gagliano15Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, ItalyDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyASP 8 Siracusa, PO Umberto I, 96100 Siracusa, ItalyFaculty of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyFaculty of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, ItalyDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, ItalyZebrafish Neuromorphology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, ItalyLaboratory of Human Genome and Multifactorial Diseases (LR12ES07), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Avicenne Street, Monastir 5019, TunisiaDepartment of Cytogenetics and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse 4021, TunisiaDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, Piazza dell’Università, 94100 Enna, ItalyPericytes, specialized mural cells surrounding microvessels, play a crucial role in maintaining vascular homeostasis and function across various organs, including the eye. These versatile cells regulate blood flow, support the integrity of the blood–retinal barrier, and contribute to angiogenesis. Recent advancements in molecular and cellular biology have revealed the heterogeneity of pericytes and their critical involvement in ocular physiology and pathology. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of pericyte functions in ocular health and their implications in diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal vein occlusion. Pericyte dysfunction is implicated in vascular instability, neurovascular coupling failure, inflammation, and pathological neovascularization, contributing to vision-threatening disorders. The review further explores recent findings on pericyte-targeted therapies, including pharmacological agents, gene therapy, and cell-based approaches, aiming to restore pericyte function and preserve ocular health.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/7/736pericytesretinablood–retinal barrierdiabetic retinopathyage-related macular degenerationglaucoma |
| spellingShingle | Fabiana D’Esposito Francesco Cappellani Federico Visalli Matteo Capobianco Lorenzo Rapisarda Alessandro Avitabile Ludovica Cannizzaro Roberta Malaguarnera Giuseppe Gagliano Antonino Maniaci Mario Lentini Giuseppe Montalbano Mohamed Amine Zaouali Dorra H’mida Giovanni Giurdanella Caterina Gagliano Pericytes as Key Players in Retinal Diseases: A Comprehensive Narrative Review Biology pericytes retina blood–retinal barrier diabetic retinopathy age-related macular degeneration glaucoma |
| title | Pericytes as Key Players in Retinal Diseases: A Comprehensive Narrative Review |
| title_full | Pericytes as Key Players in Retinal Diseases: A Comprehensive Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | Pericytes as Key Players in Retinal Diseases: A Comprehensive Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pericytes as Key Players in Retinal Diseases: A Comprehensive Narrative Review |
| title_short | Pericytes as Key Players in Retinal Diseases: A Comprehensive Narrative Review |
| title_sort | pericytes as key players in retinal diseases a comprehensive narrative review |
| topic | pericytes retina blood–retinal barrier diabetic retinopathy age-related macular degeneration glaucoma |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/7/736 |
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