Hyalocytes

Vitreoretinal interface diseases remain common causes of vision loss or metamorphopsia in spite of recent advances in vitreoretinal surgery. Previous studies revealed that various types of cells, such as retinal pigment epithelial cells, glial cells, retinal vascular endothelial cells, macrophages, and myofibroblast-like cells, organize into preretinal proliferative membranes and contribute to the pathogenesis of various diseases. Under physiological conditions, only small numbers of cells named hyalocytes are present in the vitreous and these are located mainly in the vitreous cortex abutting inner surface of the retina. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that hyalocytes play pivotal roles in the vitreous cavity both under physiological and pathological conditions, in addition to the cells mentioned above. In this article, we describe the functional characteristics of hyalocytes, and ultimately indicate promising therapeutic strategies that target cell signaling especially in hyalocytes.