Abstract Background By investigating that (i) all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) affects human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in expressing and secreting transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 and (ii) U73122 (phospholipase C inhibitor) and SQ22536 (adenylyl cyclase inhibitor) regulate the ATRA-induced secretion of TGF-β2 in human RPE, we sought to interpret the signaling pathway of ATRA in promoting the development of myopia. Methods The RPE cell line (D407) was treated with (i) ATRA (10 μM), (ii) U73122 (5–40 μM) and ATRA (10 μM), or (iii) SQ22536 (5–40 μM) and ATRA (10 μM). The control group was no-treated. After stimulated at 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h, The expression and secretion of TGF-β2 was detected. Results TGF-β2 in the cytoplasm was time-dependent increased by ATRA (p 0.05). Conclusions In RPE cells, ATRA stimulates the secretion of TGF-β2 via the phospholipase C signaling pathway but not the adenylyl cyclase signaling pathway. U73122 may inhibit the promotion of ATRA in the development of myopia.