COL4A3 and retinal degeneration: In conclusion, our data identify a three-phasic inflammation during retinal degeneration and scar formation, detect significant changes in gene expression of ECM-related genes during retinal wound healing with Col4α3, ICAM1, fibulin1, itgal and selp as involved key genes, and shows that pirfenidone reduces the expression of ECM proteins and inflammatory markers but may not prevent long-term fibrotic responses.