Müller Cell Expression of Genes Implicated in Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy Is Influenced by Substrate Elastic Modulus

Abstract

There are significant changes in morphology, cytoskeletal integrity, and gene regulation in Müller cells as a function of the stiffness of the substrate. Changes in local tissue elastic modulus may have a role in vitreoretinal disorders. These findings also may have implications for strategies for improved integration of retinal prosthetics, and for stem cell therapies, particularly targeting the transcriptional regulators YAP and TAZ.