The photoreceptor’s support cell
Retinal pigment epithelium
Behind the light-sensing cells of the retina sits a single dark layer of cells that feeds them, absorbs stray light, and clears away their worn-out parts every morning.
What it is
The retinal pigment epithelium is one cell thick and sits directly behind the photoreceptors — the rods and cones that convert light into nerve signals. It is heavily pigmented, which is what makes it dark.
Its cells are locked together by tight junctions, forming a seal between the retina and the blood vessels behind it. This is the outer blood–retinal barrier.
What it does in the body
Photoreceptors are among the most metabolically demanding cells in the body and they have no blood supply of their own. Everything they need is ferried across from the vessels behind by the RPE, and their waste goes back the same way.
The pigment absorbs light that has already passed the photoreceptors, stopping it scattering back and blurring the image.
And the RPE cleans up. The light-sensing tips of photoreceptors are damaged by the very light they detect, so each cell continuously builds new tips and sheds the old ones. The RPE engulfs and digests the shed material — a daily cycle, for life. A single RPE cell services dozens of photoreceptors.
Where RediCell’s come from
Differentiated from umbilical cord tissue, expanded no further than passage two.
What RediCell supplies from this line
Listed for reference only. Cell counts, particle counts and fill volumes are the specification; pricing is not published here and ordering is restricted to verified practitioners and institutions.
| Code | Preparation | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| RC-RPEs-10 | Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells (RPE) | 10M cells / 2 ml vial |
| RC-EX-RPE1 | Retinal Pigment Epithelium Exosome Matrix w/ growth factors | 200B+ exosomes / 2 ml vial |