Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a cell monolayer essential for photoreceptor function and forming the blood–retinal barrier. RPE and retinal neurons share the same origin and a polarized cytoarchitecture. Several factors determine the phagocytosis and permeability of RPE, influencing photoreceptor renewal and drug delivery, efficacy and toxicity. Adult human RPE expresses neuronal markers in vitro, indicating a potential transdifferentiation. Degeneration of the RPE leads to death of photoreceptors and retinal neurons, resulting in the vision loss of retinopathy. Here, we suggest tools for cell engineering to discover new ways for activating the endogenous regeneration of barrier functions and/or of the retinal precursors in RPE cells.

视网膜色素上皮（RPE）是细胞单层，对感光器功能和形成血视网膜屏障至关重要。RPE和视网膜神经元具有相同的起源和极化的细胞结构。几个因素决定RPE的吞噬作用和通透性，影响感光细胞的更新和药物传递，功效和毒性。成年人类RPE在体外表达神经元标志物，表明潜在的转分化作用。RPE的变性导致光感受器和视网膜神经元的死亡，导致视网膜病变的视力丧失。在这里，我们建议用于细胞工程的工具，以发现激活RPE细胞中屏障功能和/或视网膜前体的内源性再生的新方法。