PM(10) Disrupts Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Corneal Epithelial Cells: Protective Effects of SKQ1
Antioxidants (Basel). 2026 Feb 25;15(3):284. doi: 10.3390/antiox15030284. ABSTRACT Airborne particulate matter with a diameter of <10 μm (PM10) can damage the corneal epithelium by inducing oxidative stress, disrupting the NRF2 antioxidant pathway, and triggering epithelial barrier dysfunction and inflammation. However, the role of mitochondria in mediating PM10-induced damage remains unexplored. This study investigated the impact […]
Mitochondrial ROS in Retinal Neurodegeneration: Thresholds, Quality Control Failure, and Precision Therapeutic Windows
Biomolecules. 2026 Mar 16;16(3):445. doi: 10.3390/biom16030445. ABSTRACT Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) play a dual role in retinal physiology, acting as essential redox signalling mediators under homeostatic conditions but driving oxidative damage and neurodegeneration once regulatory thresholds are exceeded. Owing to the exceptionally high energetic demands of retinal neurons and supporting cells, even subtle perturbations […]
Energetic diversity in retinal ganglion cells is modulated by neuronal activity and correlates with resilience to degeneration
Nat Commun. 2026 Mar 27. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-71106-7. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Neuronal function requires high energy expenditure that is likely customized to meet specific signaling demands. However, little is known about diversity of metabolic homeostasis among divergently-functioning types of neurons. To this end, we examined retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), a population of closely related, […]
MFN2-PERK Axis Regulates ER Stress in Parotid Glands of Aged Mice via MAMs
J Dent Res. 2026 Mar 28:220345261427294. doi: 10.1177/00220345261427294. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT With aging, the morphology and function of the parotid glands are impaired, and the current mechanism is unknown. The integrity of mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), the structure connecting mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is compromised during aging. This study investigated the effects […]
Complement, Inflammasome, and Microglial Crosstalk in Glaucoma: From Neurodegeneration to Immune-Based Precision Therapy
Life (Basel). 2026 Feb 24;16(3):368. doi: 10.3390/life16030368. ABSTRACT Glaucoma is no longer viewed solely as a pressure-mediated optic neuropathy but as a chronic neurodegenerative disease with a strong immune component. Across experimental models and patient samples, convergent inflammatory circuitry complement activation, NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, and microglial reactivity emerge as a central driver of retinal ganglion […]
Mapping the Hypoxic Fitness Landscape of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Int J Mol Sci. 2026 Mar 21;27(6):2857. doi: 10.3390/ijms27062857. ABSTRACT Chronic hypoxia is a hallmark of aging and retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), yet the molecular mechanisms that enable retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells to survive under sustained low-oxygen conditions remain poorly understood. To address this, we conducted transcriptomic profiling and a […]
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Oxygen Consumption and Systemic Bioenergetics in Glaucoma Management
Int J Mol Sci. 2026 Mar 16;27(6):2704. doi: 10.3390/ijms27062704. ABSTRACT Glaucoma is a multifaceted optic neuropathy, characterized by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells. This damage frequently continues even after intraocular pressure (IOP) has been effectively lowered. This resistance to conventional IOP-lowering therapy underscores the critical role of interacting IOP-independent mechanisms; specifically metabolic failure […]
Synergistic Antitumor Effects of Rosmarinic Acid and Cisplatin in Retinoblastoma: Evidence from 2D and 3D Tumor Models
Biomedicines. 2026 Mar 8;14(3):602. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines14030602. ABSTRACT Background/Objectives: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in children, with treatment limited by chemoresistance and therapy-related toxicity. Enhancing the efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutics while reducing dose-related adverse effects is crucial. This study investigates the chemosensitizing potential of rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural polyphenolic compound, in […]
Bi-allelic ATG12 variants impair autophagy and cause a neurodevelopmental disorder
Am J Hum Genet. 2026 Mar 26:S0002-9297(26)00112-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2026.03.002. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Autophagy is an essential developmental and homeostatic process, defined by the endolysosomal degradation of intracellular components and pathogens. Dysfunctional autophagy is implicated in complex human disease, yet reports of congenital autophagy disorders were considered exceedingly rare until the recent report of […]
Dual-Targeting Cuproptosis and Mitophagy via a Flavopiridol-Copper Nanoplatform Potentiates Immunotherapy Against Uveal Melanoma
Adv Sci (Weinh). 2026 Mar 27:e21183. doi: 10.1002/advs.202521183. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Uveal melanoma (UM) is a highly therapy-resistant ocular malignancy with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and low tumor mutational burden. Here, we developed NP@Fla-Cu, a glutathione (GSH)-responsive nanoparticle designed to co-induce cuproptosis and mitophagy dysregulation. Cuproptosis, a copper-dependent mitochondrial cell death pathway, […]