Prominin-1 and Retinal Degenerative Disorders: Expanding the Biology from Photoreceptors to the Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Biomolecules. 2026 Apr 24;16(5):635. doi: 10.3390/biom16050635. ABSTRACT Prominin-1 (Prom1/CD133) has long been recognized as a structural determinant of photoreceptor outer segment (OS) morphogenesis, yet rapidly accumulating evidence extends its role to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) homeostasis, encompassing autophagy-lysosomal flux, outer segment phagocytosis, mitochondrial function, and regulation of inflammatory stress. This review synthesizes mechanistic and transcriptomic […]
Progressive Visual Recovery in a Patient with Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy Harboring a Rare Heteroplasmic (MT-ND5):m.13042G>A, p(Ala236Thr) Variant with Low Mutant Load: A Case Report
Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2026 Mar 23;17(1):423-432. doi: 10.1159/000551571. eCollection 2026 Jan-Dec. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: The majority of Caucasian patients with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) harbor one of three primary pathogenic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants, which are usually present in homoplasmy in leukocytes. Most of the remaining cases have been linked to rare heteroplasmic pathogenic variants, […]
Melphalan and Curcumin Induce Apoptosis in Retinoblastoma Cells Associated with STAT3 Signaling Modulation
Pharmaceutics. 2026 Apr 28;18(5):540. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics18050540. ABSTRACT Background/Objectives: Retinoblastoma treatment remains limited by therapeutic resistance and toxicity. While melphalan is a key chemotherapeutic agent, its efficacy is constrained by adverse effects. Curcumin has emerged as a potential adjunct owing to its capacity to regulate oxidative stress and oncogenic signaling pathways, including STAT3. This study aimed […]
Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration in Glaucoma: Systematic Review
Bioengineering (Basel). 2026 Apr 28;13(5):509. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering13050509. ABSTRACT Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration underlies glaucomatous optic neuropathy and remains a leading cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide. Although elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the primary modifiable risk factor, RGC death reflects converging mechanisms including mechanical stress, vascular insufficiency, metabolic dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. We conducted a […]
Lishui Xiaozhong Granules Protect Against Diabetic Retinopathy by Activating PINK1/Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy and Suppressing Ferroptosis
J Ethnopharmacol. 2026 May 25:121898. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2026.121898. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a severe microvascular complication of diabetes that is closely associated with hyperglycemia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Lishui Xiaozhong granules (LSXZ) are an empirical traditional Chinese medicine used to treat DR. However, its precise molecular targets and underlying mechanisms remain […]
Persistent loss of membrane-associated MUC4 reprograms physiological functions in corneal epithelial cells via MAPK-dependent cascade
Sci Rep. 2026 May 27. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-54944-9. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Mucin-4 (MUC4), a key membrane-associated mucin of the corneal apical glycocalyx, plays an important role in maintaining corneal epithelial homeostasis and wettability. Dysregulation of MUC4 has been associated with barrier dysfunction and ocular surface inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the physiological regulatory […]
Genomic Medicine Among Ophthalmologists: Knowledge, Current Practice, and Barriers
J Pers Med. 2026 May 16;16(5):267. doi: 10.3390/jpm16050267. ABSTRACT Background/Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of ophthalmologists in Saudi Arabia towards genomic medicine and genetic testing, in light of the growing significance of genomics in ophthalmology and the national transition towards precision medicine. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was conducted among ophthalmologists, including […]
Quercetin attenuates neutrophil extracellular trap formation in uveitis through orchestrating the cGAS-STING signaling pathway
Food Funct. 2026 May 26. doi: 10.1039/d6fo00799f. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Uveitis is an autoimmune disease with a high rate of blindness. Clinically, treatments of uveitis mainly rely on corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, which are prone to recurrence and carry significant side effects. Quercetin, a natural flavonoid compound, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. However, […]
Mitochondrial genetic variation across tissues of the human body
Nucleic Acids Res. 2026 May 20;54(10):gkag513. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkag513. ABSTRACT Each mitochondrion contains 2-10 copies of the mitochondrial genome. Multiple mitochondria in a cell allow for mitochondrial genomes carrying different variants to co-exist within a cell or tissue, termed heteroplasmy. The extent to which mitochondrial genetic variation differs across tissues of the human body and the […]
A sequentially targeted and pathology-responsive nanoplatform for synergistic treatment of dry eye disease via concurrent anti-inflammation and mitochondrial ROS scavenging
J Nanobiotechnology. 2026 May 22. doi: 10.1186/s12951-026-04365-7. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT The treatment of complex inflammatory diseases like dry eye disease (DED) is hampered by the intertwined pathologies of inflammation and oxidative stress, which form a self-amplifying vicious cycle. Here, we report an intelligent nanoplatform (CFMPDA) designed to actively navigate and disrupt this cycle […]