Retinal Pericytes and Their Role in Proliferative Retinopathies

Vascular dysfunction and abnormal vascularization are primary characteristics of many proliferative retinopathies (PRs). Research on PRs has primarily focused on understanding the role of cells and factors that regulate endothelial cell function in ischemic retinopathies. Pericyte coverage of the retina is deemed essential for the survival of endothelial cells, and recently, significant efforts have been made to comprehend the role of pericytes under stress conditions, such as diabetes and ischemia. Understanding the significance of retinal pericytes in PRs is essential, particularly because of the often-contradictory findings reported regarding their role in these conditions. This review will not only explore the role of retinal pericytes and their interactions with retinal endothelial cells in physiological vascularization but also highlight its importance in the pathogenesis of retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal vein occlusion. A deeper comprehension of pericyte-endothelial interactions in PRs would aid in diagnosis and the formulation of viable therapeutics to avert vision loss associated with these PRs.