Experimental Models to Study Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Cell Biology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Proliferative vitreoretinal diseases (PVDs), including proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), epiretinal membranes, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, are major causes of vision loss.
• These conditions involve the formation of abnormal membranes due to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and endothelial cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of current in vitro and in vivo models used to study EMT in PVD.
• To assess the utility, advantages, and limitations of these models for understanding PVD pathogenesis and identifying therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on in vitro models, including cell lines, stem cell-derived RPE, and primary cells subjected to EMT-inducing treatments.
• Analysis of in vivo animal models (rabbit, mouse, rat, swine) created via surgical induction or intravitreal injections to mimic PVD conditions.

Main Results:

• In vitro models vary from simple cell lines to complex stem cell-derived systems, each with specific applications for studying EMT.
• In vivo models primarily rely on surgical trauma or cell/enzyme injections to induce PVD-like pathology and investigate disease progression.

Conclusions:

• Current in vitro and in vivo models offer valuable tools for investigating EMT in PVD, but each has distinct advantages and limitations.
• Further refinement of these models is crucial for advancing our understanding of PVD and developing novel therapeutic strategies.