{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T01:43:34Z","timestamp":1791337414217,"version":"4.3.1"},"reference-count":114,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,20]],"date-time":"2025-06-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750377600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Biology"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Pericytes, specialized mural cells surrounding microvessels, play a crucial role in maintaining vascular homeostasis and function across various organs, including the eye. These versatile cells regulate blood flow, support the integrity of the blood\u2013retinal barrier, and contribute to angiogenesis. Recent advancements in molecular and cellular biology have revealed the heterogeneity of pericytes and their critical involvement in ocular physiology and pathology. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of pericyte functions in ocular health and their implications in diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal vein occlusion. Pericyte dysfunction is implicated in vascular instability, neurovascular coupling failure, inflammation, and pathological neovascularization, contributing to vision-threatening disorders. The review further explores recent findings on pericyte-targeted therapies, including pharmacological agents, gene therapy, and cell-based approaches, aiming to restore pericyte function and preserve ocular health.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/biology14070736","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,20]],"date-time":"2025-06-20T09:04:49Z","timestamp":1750410289000},"page":"736","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["Pericytes as Key Players in Retinal Diseases: A Comprehensive Narrative Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7938-876X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fabiana","family":"D\u2019Esposito","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy"},{"name":"Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG) Unit, Imperial College, 153-173 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5QH, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-6807-9455","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesco","family":"Cappellani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna \u201cKore\u201d, Piazza dell\u2019Universit\u00e0, 94100 Enna, Italy"},{"name":"Mediterranean Foundation \u201cG.B. Morgagni\u201d, 95125 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-6710-2460","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Federico","family":"Visalli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-2969-8610","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Matteo","family":"Capobianco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lorenzo","family":"Rapisarda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ASP 8 Siracusa, PO Umberto I, 96100 Siracusa, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-1051-876X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alessandro","family":"Avitabile","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-7556-6952","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ludovica","family":"Cannizzaro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4149-9488","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roberta","family":"Malaguarnera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna \u201cKore\u201d, Piazza dell\u2019Universit\u00e0, 94100 Enna, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-0059-5253","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giuseppe","family":"Gagliano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1251-0185","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonino","family":"Maniaci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna \u201cKore\u201d, Piazza dell\u2019Universit\u00e0, 94100 Enna, Italy"},{"name":"ENT Unit, Department of Surgery, Asp 7 Ragusa, 97100 Ragusa, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-8127-5045","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mario","family":"Lentini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna \u201cKore\u201d, Piazza dell\u2019Universit\u00e0, 94100 Enna, Italy"},{"name":"ENT Unit, Department of Surgery, Asp 7 Ragusa, 97100 Ragusa, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8195-4986","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giuseppe","family":"Montalbano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zebrafish Neuromorphology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mohamed Amine","family":"Zaouali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Human Genome and Multifactorial Diseases (LR12ES07), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Avicenne Street, Monastir 5019, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dorra","family":"H\u2019mida","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cytogenetics and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse 4021, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4855-8615","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giovanni","family":"Giurdanella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna \u201cKore\u201d, Piazza dell\u2019Universit\u00e0, 94100 Enna, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8424-0068","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Caterina","family":"Gagliano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna \u201cKore\u201d, Piazza dell\u2019Universit\u00e0, 94100 Enna, Italy"},{"name":"Mediterranean Foundation \u201cG.B. 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