title: Cell models to study regulation of cell transformation in pathologies of retinal pigment epithelium.
abstract: The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays a key role in the development of many eye diseases leading to visual impairment and even blindness. Cell culture models of pathological changes in the RPE make it possible to study factors responsible for these changes and signaling pathways coordinating cellular and molecular mechanisms of cell interactions under pathological conditions. Moreover, they give an opportunity to reveal target cells and develop effective specific treatment for degenerative and dystrophic diseases of the retina. In this review, data are presented on RPE cell sources for culture models, approaches to RPE cell culturing, phenotypic changes of RPE cells in vitro, the role of signal pathways, and possibilities for their regulation in pathological processes.
authors.affiliation: N.K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vavilova 26, Moscow 119334, Russia.
authors.forename: Alla V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kuznetsova
authors.affiliation: N.K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vavilova 26, Moscow 119334, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8190-5973
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kurinov
authors.affiliation: N.K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vavilova 26, Moscow 119334, Russia.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aleksandrova