Accessory Inner Segment-Like Structures Develop in Human Retinal Organoids
Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2026 May 9. doi: 10.1007/s12015-026-11144-2. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: A novel photoreceptor structure, called the accessory inner segment (aIS), was recently identified in human rod photoreceptors. It is described as a microtubule-based, mitochondria-rich extension of the conventional inner segment attached externally to the outer segment. Human retinal organoids recapitulate […]
The Transcription Factor 12 of Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Plays an Essential Role in Retinal Health
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2026 May 1;67(5):13. doi: 10.1167/iovs.67.5.13. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To study a non-redundant role of Tcf12 in retinal health. METHODS: A loss-of-function mutation in Tcf12 was identified by applying optical coherence tomography (OCT) to a forward genetic pipeline. CRISPR/Cas9-generated Tcf12ra/ra mice, expressing a replacement allele (“ra”) were used to validate the findings from […]
NLRX1 Drives Prostate Cancer Progression Through Activation of AKT and ERK Signaling Pathways
Int J Biol Sci. 2026 Apr 16;22(8):4417-4440. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.126054. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT NLRX1, a mitochondrial NOD-like receptor (NLR) family protein, is a non-inflammasome-forming protein with diverse roles in cancer. While NLRX1 has been recognized as a tumor suppressor in colorectal and hepatocellular carcinomas, it appears to act as a tumor promoter in breast and head […]
Genetic Features and Clinical Heterogeneity of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy in Adolescent and Adult Patients: A Case Series on Arab Patients
Int Med Case Rep J. 2026 Apr 30;19:571657. doi: 10.2147/IMCRJ.S571657. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a rare disorder characterized by painless progressive visual loss. LHON is caused by maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutations, impairing the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Environmental and nuclear factors may further influence disease […]
PEDF Prevents Corneal Endothelial Dysfunction of Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2026 May 1;67(5):2. doi: 10.1167/iovs.67.5.2. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the protection of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) on the corneal endothelium in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). METHODS: PEDF levels in aqueous humor of FECD patients were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. PEDF receptor expression of […]
Suboptimal Responses to Anti-VEGF in Retinal Neurovascular Diseases: Linking Aging and Alternative Angioinflammatory Pathways
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2026 May 1;67(5):4. doi: 10.1167/iovs.67.5.4. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Vision-threatening ocular diseases are impacted by aging-associated molecular changes, including mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, and chronic inflammation. Anti-VEGF therapies targeting VEGF-A/VEGFR2 signaling remain the frontline standard of care, but many patients exhibit suboptimal or nondurable responses, often due to compensatory and/or compromised antiangiogenic and […]
Case Report: Disulfiram-induced optic neuropathy
Front Neurol. 2026 Apr 16;17:1793252. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2026.1793252. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Toxic optic neuropathy (TON) is characterized by bilateral, symmetric vision loss with damage to the papillomacular bundle, central or cecocentral scotomas, and impaired color vision. While TON has been well-documented with medications such as ethambutol and linezolid, disulfiram-induced optic neuropathy remains rare with limited […]
Two Novel Variants in MT-RNR1 Gene Associated with Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: A Case Report
Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2026 Feb 16;17(1):387-395. doi: 10.1159/000551049. eCollection 2026 Jan-Dec. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Hereditary optic neuropathies are primarily disorders of mitochondrial dysfunction leading to the metabolic failure of the highly energy-dependent retinal ganglion cells. Beyond the canonical variants found in OPA1 or the mitochondrial genome, a growing subset of patients exhibits progressive optic atrophy of […]
Mitochondrial Transplantation in the Eye: A Review and Evaluation of Surgical Approaches
bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2026 Apr 7:2026.04.06.716722. doi: 10.64898/2026.04.06.716722. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to major blinding diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Although mitochondrial transplantation has shown therapeutic potential in multiple organ systems, translation to the eye remains limited, partly due to uncertainty regarding optimal delivery. We summarize the biologic rationale and preclinical evidence supporting […]
Circadian rhythms regulate refractive development across species
bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2026 Apr 6:2026.04.02.713440. doi: 10.64898/2026.04.02.713440. ABSTRACT Myopia is a rapidly escalating global public health challenge, yet the biological mechanisms linking modern lifestyles to abnormal eye growth remain unclear. Circadian rhythms have been implicated in refractive development, but causal evidence is limited. Here, we integrate population-scale human data with an experimental animal model to […]