Table 2.

Gene expression profiles of the human macular and peripheral retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

Human Macular RPE
Marker Genes	Functions	References
ID3	Macular RPE marker. A transcription factor that prevents epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial cells [61].	[2]
CTGF	Connective tissue growth factor. Angiogenesis, cell adhesion, and cell migration Promotes EMT.	[2,62]
FST	Follistatin neutralizes the effect of activin and other members of the TGF-β superfamily and is involved in the processes of neurogenesis.	[2]
KCNMA1	This gene encodes the alpha subunit of the calcium-activated BK channel and is involved neuronal excitability.	[2]
ADIRF	A factor involved in the development of the nervous system.	[2]
IRX3	A transcription factor involved in cell growth and adhesion to the substrate.	[2]
KLF2	A transcription factor involved in the organization of the extracellular matrix.	[2]
FOXP1	A transcription factor involved in the development of the visual system.	[2,63]
EGFR	Receptor. Autophagy, phagocytosis, and proliferation of RPE cells.	[2]
NR1	Receptor. Angiogenesis and development of the nervous system.	[2]
CXCL14	A chemokine that regulates the migration of immune cells and increases angiogenesis.	[21]
WFDC1	Protease inhibitor.	[2]
c-KIT reduced	A cell cycle gene.	[25]
GSTM1 reduced	A risk factor for age-related macular degeneration.	[25]
ALD6 reduced	ALD6 is an important enzyme in the synthesis of retinoic acid.	[25]
Human Peripheral RPE
Marker Genes	Functions	References
CRYAB	Crystallin Alpha B. Participates in the cellular response to stimuli and the cellular response to heat stress. Peripheral RPE marker.	[2]
IGFBP5	Participates in the regulation of migration and the proliferation of smooth muscle cells, as well as in the binding of fibronectin and insulin-like growth factor I.	[2]
RARRES	Retinoic acid receptor. Participates in cell differentiation and the negative regulation of cell proliferation.	[2]
FBXO32	F-Box protein 32 that mediates ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of target proteins.	[2]
CHCHD10	A mitochondrial protein involved in peroxisomal lipid metabolism.	[2]
EGFR ligands	Autophagy, phagocytosis, and proliferation of RPE cells.	[2]
NFIB	Participates in the organization of the basement membrane and in the transmembrane transport of sodium ions.	[2]
TFPI2	Participates in RPE proliferation in vitro.	[22]
IGFBP5	Participates in reducing neovascularization.	[22]
TYRP1	Melanin synthesis [64]. RPE subpopulation Pr 2-1 marker.	[2]
RLBP1	Associated with the visual cycle [65]. RPE subpopulation Pr 2-1 marker.	[2]

Note: RPE—retinal pigment epithelium; Pr—peripheral RPE.