Category: Ophthalmology AND mitochondrial

Exercise-Induced Irisin: A Novel Strategy for Neuroinflammation Alleviation and Neurorepair in Diabetic Retinopathy

Int J Mol Sci. 2026 Feb 14;27(4):1849. doi: 10.3390/ijms27041849. ABSTRACT Diabetic retinopathy (DR) stands as a classic microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. DR is characterized by multidimensional pathological changes in retinal neurons, microvasculature and supportive cells, leading to an intricate damage network. It is predominantly marked by neuropathy, encompassing retinal neuronal dysfunction, aberrant activation of […]

Metabolomic Analysis of Aqueous Humor to Predict Glaucoma Progression and Overall Survival After Glaucoma Surgery-The MISO II Study

Metabolites. 2026 Jan 29;16(2):100. doi: 10.3390/metabo16020100. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although advances in understanding glaucoma have been made, early detection remains challenging due to the asymptomatic nature of the disease. The Metabolomics In Surgical Ophthalmological Patients (MISO) study previously demonstrated that aqueous humor (AH) metabolomics can distinguish glaucoma patients from controls. We aimed to determine if the […]

Mitochondrial Resilience in Glaucoma: Targeting NAD(+) Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration with Nicotinamide Riboside and Berberine: Preliminary Clinical Evidence

Diseases. 2026 Feb 2;14(2):56. doi: 10.3390/diseases14020056. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective vulnerability of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), in which mitochondrial dysfunction, redox imbalance, and impaired bioenergetic signaling play central pathogenetic roles. Mitochondrial homeostasis in RGCs critically depends on maintaining intracellular NAD+ pools, which support oxidative phosphorylation, sirtuin-mediated deacetylation, […]

Regulation of Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Diabetic Retinopathy

Cells. 2026 Feb 17;15(4):357. doi: 10.3390/cells15040357. ABSTRACT Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a major role in diabetic retinopathy development and in its resistance to halt after the reversal of hyperglycemia (metabolic memory). Diabetes also upregulates many long noncoding RNAs, RNAs with >200 nucleotides with no reading frame, and several of them resist reversal after hyperglycemia cessation. Our […]

mRNA Sequencing of Limbal Epithelial Cells and mRNA/miRNA Profiling of Limbal Stromal Cells in PAX6-Related Congenital Aniridia

Cells. 2026 Feb 13;15(4):340. doi: 10.3390/cells15040340. ABSTRACT The dysfunction of limbal epithelial cells (LECs) and limbal stromal cells (LSCs) in congenital aniridia remains incompletely understood. We aimed to analyze mRNA expression profiles of primary human LECs and LSCs, as well as microRNA (miRNA) expression in LSCs, from patients with congenital aniridia (AN-LECs and AN-LSCs). mRNA […]

Actin depolymerization promotes axon regeneration by restoring axonal mitochondrial transport in mouse models of optic neuropathy

Sci Transl Med. 2026 Feb 25;18(838):eadw0908. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adw0908. Epub 2026 Feb 25. ABSTRACT Adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) axons do not spontaneously regenerate after injury. We recently identified multiple genes that promote optic nerve regeneration, protect retinal ganglion cell (RGC) somata and axons, and preserve visual function in mouse glaucoma models. Here, we investigated […]

Natural killer cell-inspired dendritic mesoporous rare-earth nanoparticles potentiate X-ray-triggered reactive oxygen generation for low-dose radiotherapy-radiodynamic therapy

Bioact Mater. 2026 Feb 17;61:464-481. doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.011. eCollection 2026 Jul. ABSTRACT The efficacy of traditional radiotherapy has been significantly limited by its severe side effects, tumor hypoxia, and insufficient tumor accumulation. To address these challenges, we developed a multifarious radio enhancer composed of NK cell-derived extracellular vesicle (NKEV)-cloaked dendritic mesoporous thulium oxide (Tm2O3) encapsulated with […]

AMPK Deficiency Induces Corneal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction by Modulating Energy Homeostasis

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2026 Feb 2;67(2):47. doi: 10.1167/iovs.67.2.47. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the impact of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) on corneal epithelial barrier function and energy metabolism. METHODS: Corneal epithelial specific AMPK knockout mice were constructed to evaluate ocular surface phenotypes. In vitro experiments were performed using human corneal epithelial […]

Repair of Corneal Epithelial Defects

Prog Mol Subcell Biol. 2026;63:155-174. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-17771-1_5. ABSTRACT The corneal epithelium, a stratified squamous non-keratinized layer of 50-60 μm thickness, forms the outermost barrier of the cornea and provides both optical clarity and protection against trauma, infection, and fluid imbalance. It plays a vital role in protecting the eye and maintaining visual clarity. A range […]