Biological Involvement of MicroRNAs in Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

Even with a high surgical success rate for retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) supported by the robust improvement in vitrectomy surgery and its related devices, certain questions still remain for the pathogenesis and treatment of PVR. One of the important biological events in PVR is epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. MicroRNAs are noncoding, small, single-strand RNAs that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression and have essential roles in homeostasis and pathogenesis in many diseases. Recently, microRNAs also had a critical role in EMT in many tissues and cells. One main purpose of this brief review is to describe the knowledge obtained from microRNA research, especially concerning vitreoretinal diseases. In addition, the potential role of microRNAs in prevention of PVR by regulating EMT in RPE cells is described. Understanding microRNA involvement in PVR could be helpful for developing new biological markers or therapeutic targets and reducing the rate of visual disability due to PVR.