Thalidomide Synergistically Regulates Cell Cycle and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress to Alleviate RPE Oxidative Damage Through the E2F2-FBXO5 Pathway
FASEB J. 2026 Jan 15;40(1):e71387. doi: 10.1096/fj.202502444R. ABSTRACT Thalidomide, a glutamate derivative with teratogenicity, possesses anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-angiogenic properties that enable its use in treating refractory diseases unresponsive to conventional therapies. Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), characterized by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration and lacking effective therapies, represents a significant unmet medical need. Our […]
Cetalkonium Chloride Induced a Dose-Dependent Toxicity on Corneal Endothelial Cells
J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2025 Dec 12. doi: 10.1177/10807683251405795. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Purpose: Cetalkonium chloride (CKC) is a cationic agent used in ophthalmical emulsions. Despite its growing application in ocular drug delivery, its safety profile on corneal endothelial cells remains unclear. This study evaluated the in vitro cytotoxic effects of CKC on human […]
When Mitochondria Falter, the Barrier Fails: Mechanisms of Inner Blood-Retinal Barrier (iBRB) Injury and Opportunities for Mitochondria-Targeted Repair
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Dec 12;26(24):11984. doi: 10.3390/ijms262411984. ABSTRACT As the central hub of retinal metabolism, mitochondria are vital for sustaining the integrity of the inner blood-retinal barrier (iBRB), which is fundamental to retinal homeostasis. Mitochondrial dysfunction accelerates severe iBRB disruption, a process which is increasingly implicated in a cascade of mitochondrial pathologies including […]
HDGF Protects Retinal Pigment Epithelium from Glyoxal-Induced Ferroptosis via SIRT1/PGC-1α/Nrf2 Pathway
Antioxidants (Basel). 2025 Nov 28;14(12):1434. doi: 10.3390/antiox14121434. ABSTRACT Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is driven in part by the accumulation of reactive metabolites like glyoxal (GO), which induces retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration. Here, we demonstrate that GO triggers ferroptosis in human ARPE-19 cells, as characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, glutathione depletion, and reactive oxygen species […]
Mitochondria in Corneal Physiology and Pathology: A Mechanistic Perspective
Prog Retin Eye Res. 2025 Dec 23:101432. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2025.101432. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT The cornea is the eye’s outermost protective and refractive barrier whose physiological homeostasis depends on mitochondrial competence and dynamic stability. Mitochondrial dysfunctions are characterized by impaired electron transport chain efficiency, excessive reactive oxygen species generation, calcium dysregulation, and disrupted dynamics. Clinically, […]
Exercise-Induced Biomarker Modulation in Sarcopenia: From Inflamm-Aging to Muscle Regeneration
Sports (Basel). 2025 Dec 9;13(12):444. doi: 10.3390/sports13120444. ABSTRACT Sarcopenia is a progressive, age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, strongly associated with frailty, disability, and chronic disease. Its pathogenesis involves chronic low-grade inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and impaired anabolic signaling, making biomarkers essential for diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention monitoring. This review systematically analyzes randomized […]
Enhancement of DJ-1/ERK1/2 signaling as a therapeutic strategy for diabetic keratopathy
Exp Eye Res. 2025 Dec 22;264:110820. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2025.110820. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Diabetic keratopathy (DK) is a prevalent yet often overlooked complication of diabetes, marked by delayed corneal epithelial repair and impaired nerve regeneration. Despite its clinical significance, effective pharmacological interventions are still lacking, largely due to the limited understanding of its underlying […]
Corneal Sensory Nerves and Corneal Epithelial Cells Are in a Codependent Relationship
Eye Contact Lens. 2025 Dec 23. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000001253. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT The intraepithelial corneal nerves are a dense collection of sensory axons that consist of the intraepithelial basal nerves and intraepithelial nerve terminals. The plasma membranes of corneal epithelial cells ensheathe the nerves providing them mechanical support. The nerves, in turn, release trophic […]
A novel single-cell level evaluation method for corneal endothelial cell function
NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Dec 22. doi: 10.1038/s41746-025-02239-0. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Approximately 10 million people worldwide suffer from corneal diseases, with endothelial dysfunction being a leading cause of blindness. Current morphological assessments lack sensitivity for detecting early corneal endothelial abnormalities. Here, we present a novel diagnostic framework that evaluates endothelial cell function at […]
Endocrine-disrupting effects of environmental BPS and PFOS on human brain organoid development
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2025 Dec 4;16:1692333. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1692333. eCollection 2025. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Prenatal exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been increasingly linked to neurodevelopmental impairment. Bisphenol S (BPS) and perfluoro-octane sulfonate (PFOS), two widely distributed EDCs detected in maternal and fetal tissues, raise concern due to their potential to interfere with brain development even […]