Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Health and Disease: Maturation, Aging and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a monolayer between photoreceptor and Bruch membrane/choriocapillaris. It has multiple functions in the homeostasis of the outer retina. As many other tissues, also RPE cells pass through different parts of a life cycle: from development to maturation to aging. Based on its prominent location, RPE cells are also often involved in diseases of the outer retina, e.g., age-related macular degeneration.