One of the major public health issues is the rising prevalence of cataracts, a primary reason for preventable blindness. The causes for the development of age-related cataracts and accelerated cataractogenesis in diabetes are multifactorial. Hence, this study was designed to examine the status and relationship between the three majorly associated molecular events, namely, oxidative stress, non-enzymatic

Bio-engineering technologies are currently used to produce biomimetic artificial corneas that should present structural, chemical, optical, and biomechanical properties close to the native tissue. These properties are mainly supported by the corneal stroma which accounts for 90% of corneal thickness and is mainly made of collagen type I. The stromal collagen fibrils are arranged in lamellae that have

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) normally play an important physiological role in health regulating cellular processes and signal transduction. The amount of ROS is usually kept in fine balance with the generation of ROS largely being offset by the body's antioxidants. A tipping of this balance has increasingly been recognised as a contributor to human disease. The retina, as a result of its cellular

High intraocular pressure (IOP) is the most common risk factor associated with glaucoma in humans. While lowering IOP is effective at reducing the rate of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss, to date, no treatment exists to directly preserve these cells affected by damage to the optic nerve. Recently, histone deacetylase-3 (HDAC3) has become a potential therapeutic target because it plays an important

Our study describes the glaucoma phenotype in a family with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome (ARS) and a FOXC1 variant. Included were 20 subjects from a large three generation family of Jewish Indian ancestry. Subjects underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination including automated perimetry and optical coherence tomography. Eight subjects were available for molecular analysis which included whole genome

Aerobic exercise has been shown to play a crucial role in preventing neurological diseases and improving cognitive function. In the present study, we investigated the effect of treadmill training on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) following optic nerve transection in adult rats. We exercised the rats on a treadmill for 5 d/week (30 min/d at a rate of 9 m/min) or placed control rats on static treadmills

Choroidal all- trans -retinoic acid (atRA) may play a key role in the control of postnatal eye growth in a variety of vertebrates through modulation of scleral extracellular matrix synthesis and may therefore play a crucial role in the development of myopia. In the chick eye, choroidal atRA synthesis is exclusively regulated by its synthesizing enzyme, retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (RALDH2). In chicks

Ongoing research using cell transplantation and viral-mediated gene therapy has been making progress to restore vision by retinal repair, but targeted delivery and complete cellular integration remain challenging. An alternative approach is to induce endogenous Müller glia (MG) to regenerate lost neurons and photoreceptors, as occurs spontaneously in teleost fish and amphibians. Extracellular vesicles

The meninges not only surround the brain and the spinal cord but also the optic nerve. Meningeal-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) is a crucial component of the pial basement membrane, glia limitans and important for maintenance of optic nerve axon integrity, homeostasis and retinal ganglion cell health. To get closer insight into optic nerve meningeal-derived ECM composition, we performed proteomic

It is reported that Ischemia and reperfusion damage (I/R damage) can lead to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death and neurodegeneration, which in turn can lead to irreversible vision loss. In this study, we sought to understand the neuroprotective effect of resveratrol, the important activator of sirtuin1 (SIRT1), on RGC survival in I/R damage model and the molecular mechanism that mediate this effect

Claudin-3, an integral component of tight junction, has recently been shown to be expressed in retinal ganglion cells, retinal pigment cells, and retinal vascular endothelial cells. However, the role of claudin-3 in the development of the neural retina and its vessels remains undefined. This study aimed to investigate the role of zebrafish claudin-h (cldnh), the closest ortholog of mouse and human

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), with progenitor cell and immunological properties, have been cultivated from numerous vascularized tissues including bone marrow, adipose tissue and the corneal-limbus of the eye. After observing mesenchymal cells as contaminants in primary cultures of vascular endothelial cells derived from the choroidal tunic of the human eye, we investigated whether the choroid might

The causes of vitreous humor (VH) liquefaction remain unclear. Diabetes accelerates this process and other ocular diseases. The weakening of the blood-retina barrier observed with diabetes could enhance the rate of transfer of relatively small molecules such as glucose (Glu) and phospholipids (PLs) from the retina to the VH. Glucose and PLs have been detected previously in VH but their regional distributions

The cannabinoid signaling system regulates intraocular pressure (IOP) in the mouse via a complex system that includes three receptors: CB1, GPR18 and GPR119. In each case, activating the receptor lowers IOP, but CB1 receptors are found both at sites of aqueous humor inflow and outflow. As such, knockout mice for any of these receptors would be expected to have higher-than average, or at least unchanged

Corneal stromal keratocytes contribute to the maintenance of corneal transparency and shape by synthesizing and degrading extracellular matrix. They are quiescent in the healthy cornea, but they become activated in response to insults from the external environment that breach the corneal epithelium, with such activation being associated with phenotypic transformation into fibroblasts. Corneal fibroblasts

Background Long noncoding RNA potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) takes part in diabetic cataract progression. This research aims to analyze the function and mechanism of KCNQ1OT1 on viability, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lens epithelial cells. Methods 20 diabetic cataract posterior lens capsule tissues

Retinal signaling under dark-adapted conditions is perturbed during early diabetes. Additionally, dopamine, the main neuromodulator of retinal light adaptation, is diminished in diabetic retinas. However, it is not known if this dopamine deficiency changes how the retina responds to increased light or dopamine. Here we determine whether light adaptation is impaired in the diabetic retina, and investigate

The aim of this study is to analyze the concentrations of cytokines in tear of hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls. Tear samples were obtained from 41 healthy controls and 62 COVID-19 patients. Twenty-seven cytokines were assessed: interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, eotaxin, fibroblast growth factor basic

In chicks, the diurnal patterns of retinal dopamine synthesis and release are associated with refractive development. To assess the within-day patterns of dopamine release, we assayed vitreal levels of DOPAC (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, at 4-h intervals over 24 h in eyes with experimental manipulations that change ocular

This study investigated the potential efficacy of pirarubicin (THP) in modulating rabbit conjunctival fibrosis both in vitro and in vivo and characterized the underlying mechanisms. Primary rabbit conjunctival fibroblasts (RCF) were cultured and treated with THP or mitomycin C (MMC) for 5 min, followed by assaying for cell viability, cell cycle distribution, apoptotic and autophagic pathways. The production

In the adult retina, ramifying microglia interact with the outer plexiform layer (OPL) monitoring the synaptic integrity between photoreceptors and post-synaptic target cells. Microglia are reactive during photoreceptor diseases, but their disease-related function(s) are not fully understood. Retinal explant cultures are model systems used to study degenerative events including photoreceptor degeneration

Single-cell RNA sequencing has revolutionized ocular gene expression studies. This technology has enabled researchers to identify expression signatures for rare cell types and characterize how gene expression changes across biological conditions, such as topographic region or disease status. However, sharing single-cell RNA sequencing results remains a major obstacle, particular for individuals without

Oxidative damage in retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) is considered to be a crucial pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although dysregulation of the DNA repair system has been found in RPE cells of AMD patients, the detailed molecular mechanisms of this dysregulation and their relationship with the intraocular microenvironment of AMD patients remain unclear. Here, we established

The aim of this study was to elucidate the intracellular sources of oxidant species, the antioxidant response as well as the main signaling pathways involved in the regulation of the redox balance in the primary visual cortex of rats subjected to an experimental glaucoma model. 3-month female Wistar strain rats were operated under a microscope by cauterizing two of the episcleral veins in order to

Purpose Cellular therapy with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) is emerging as an effective option to treat optic neuropathies. In models of retinal degeneration, MSC injected in the vitreous body protects injured retinal ganglion cells and stimulate their regeneration, however the mechanism is still unknown. Considering the immunomodulating proprieties of MSC and the controversial role of microglial contribution

Background Previously, calcitriol has been demonstrated as a potential therapeutic agent for dry eye, whilst its role on corneal epithelium death remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship between apoptosis and autophagy on dry eye related scenario, as well as the effect of calcitriol and its potential mechanism. Methods: In vitro, immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (iHCEC)

Purpose Degenerative ocular disorders like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are associated with long-term pro-inflammatory signals on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of long term treatment of RPE cells with agonists of toll-like receptor (TLR) −3 (Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, Poly I:C), TLR-4 (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) and the pro-inflammatory

This review details the current understanding of the mechanism of action and corneal effects of mitomycin C (MMC) for prophylactic prevention of stromal fibrosis after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), and includes discussion of available information on dosage and exposure time recommended for MMC during PRK. MMC is an alkylating agent, with DNA-crosslinking activity, that inhibits DNA replication

The cornea is a highly innervated tissue, exhibiting a complex nerve architecture, distribution, and structural organization. Significant contributions over the years have allowed us to come to the current understanding about the corneal nerves. Mechanical or chemical trauma, infections, surgical wounds, ocular or systemic comorbidities, can induce corneal neuroplastic changes. Consequently, a cascade

The involvement of leukocytes in the pathophysiology of DR has mostly examined the role of monocytes and neutrophils with little emphasis on other immune cell types. In this study, we determined the systemic alterations in T cell subsets, myeloid cell types, NK cells, and NKT cells in the streptozotocin (STZ) mouse model of diabetic retinopathy (DR), and the role of NKT cells on retinal leukostasis

The photopic negative response of the electroretinogram reflects retinal ganglion cell function and consequently aids diagnosis of optic nerve diseases including glaucoma. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of stimulation parameters for electroretinographic recordings of the multifocal photopic negative response (mfPhNR) for the detection of glaucoma and compared the diagnostic accuracy of electrophysiological

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common post-transcriptional modification of RNA in eukaryotes that regulates the post-transcriptional expression level of genes without changing the base sequence. The role of m6A in fungal keratitis has not yet been elucidated. Here, we aimed to identify m6A modification changes and their potential roles in fungal keratitis. The murine model of fungal keratitis

Purpose Animal models have demonstrated a link between dysregulation of the retinal dopamine system and the development of experimental myopia (short-sightedness). However, pharmacological investigations of dopamine in animal models rely heavily on intravitreal or systemic administration, which have several limitations for longer-term experiments. We therefore investigated whether administration of

In vivo, corneal keratocytes reside within a complex 3D extracellular matrix (ECM) consisting of highly aligned collagen lamellae, growth factors, and other extracellular matrix components, and are subjected to various mechanical stimuli during developmental morphogenesis, fluctuations in intraocular pressure, and wound healing. The process by which keratocytes convert changes in mechanical stimuli

We had previously found that M to L cone abundancy ratios in the chicken retina are correlated with vitreous chamber depth and refractive state in chickens eyes, when they have normal visual exposure but not when they develop deprivation myopia. The finding suggests an interaction between cone abundancies and emmetropization. In the current study, we analyzed how stable this correlation was against

Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models are excellent tools for studying complex biological systems because of their physiological similarity to in vivo studies, cost-effectiveness and decreased reliance on animals. The influence of tissue microenvironment on the cells, cell-cell interaction and the cell-matrix interactions can be elucidated in 3D models, which are difficult to mimic in 2D cultures

Mechanical insult induced by intraocular pressure (IOP) is likely a driving force in the disease process of glaucoma. This study aimed to evaluate regional displacements in human optic nerve head (ONH) and peripapillary tissue (PPT) in response to acute IOP elevations, and their correlations with morphological characteristics of the posterior eye. Cross-sectional (2D) images of the ONH and PPT in 14

Elevated intraocular levels of angiogenic cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been implicated the development of diabetic retinopathy. Over a decade of clinical evidence shows intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents is associated with decreased disease progression and preservation of vision. However, the treatment burden associated with monthly injections limits the

Connectomics has demonstrated that synaptic networks and their topologies are precise and directly correlate with physiology and behavior. The next extension of connectomics is pathoconnectomics: to map neural network synaptology and circuit topologies corrupted by neurological disease in order to identify robust targets for therapeutics. In this report, we characterize a pathoconnectome of early retinal

Collagen fibers organized circumferentially around the canal in the peripapillary sclera are thought to provide biomechanical support to the sensitive tissues within the optic nerve head (ONH). Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of a family of fibers in the innermost sclera organized radially from the scleral canal. Our goal was to determine the role of these radial fibers in the sensitivity

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common complication of diabetes. Proliferative DR (PDR) is a more advanced stage of DR, which can cause severe impaired vision and even blindness. However, the precise pathological mechanisms of PDR remain unknown. DNA methylation serves an important role in the initiation and progression of numerous types of disease including PDR. The purpose of this study was

Keratins are the forming units of intermediate filaments (IF) that provide mechanical support, and formation of desmosomes between cells and hemi desmosomes with basement membranes for epithelium integrity. Keratin IF are polymers of obligate heterodimer consisting one type I keratin and one type II keratin molecules. There are 54 functional keratin genes in human genome, which are classified into

Germinal peptide is being developed to treat corneal injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate its effect on corneal epithelial cells in vitro and its ability to promote healing in an alkali injury model in vivo. Cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells were treated with germinal peptide at three concentrations. Cell proliferation and migration were assessed and compared with the effect

Purpose Previously we developed TAT-N24 as a synthetic cell-permeable peptide inhibitor of p55PIK signaling and demonstrated its anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of TAT-N24 as a new agent for the treatment of ocular inflammatory diseases. Methods The endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) model was established by intravitreal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in BALB/c

Lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is the most effective treatment of glaucoma, however most of the current available glaucoma drugs target a single molecule. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that target a network of molecules. This study aims to investigate the role of miR-21–5p in regulating IOP and the mechanism of function. miR-21–5p mimics was topically applied to C57/BL6 mouse eyes, which

Due to their very poor proliferative capacity, the dysfunction of corneal endothelial cells can sometimes lead to incurable eye diseases that require corneal transplantation. Although many studies have been performed to reconstruct corneal endothelial cells, corneal transplantation is still considered to be the established approach. In this study, we developed bio-engineered Descemet stripping endothelial

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a potentially blinding condition caused by disruption of retinal vascularization and metabolism. This study aims to identify altered metabolites from plasma in patients with treatment-requiring ROP (TR-ROP) compared with controls. An untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed to reveal the metabolomic profiles of the plasma between TR-ROP patients (n = 38) and

Ultraviolet A (UVA) light-based photoactivation of riboflavin (Rf) to induce corneal crosslinking (CXL) and mechanical stiffening is now a well-known treatment for corneal ectasia and Keratoconus that is being used in a topographically guided photorefractive intrastromal CXL (PiXL) procedure to treat low degrees of refractive errors. Alternative approaches for non-invasive treatment of refractive errors

Age-related cataract (ARC) is the leading cause of visual impairment or even blindness among the aged population globally. Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) has been proven to be the potential regulator of ARC. The latest study reveals that maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) promotes the apoptosis and inhibits the proliferation of multiple cancer cells. However, the expression and role of MEG3 in ARC are

Prion diseases are invariably fatal neurodegenerative disorders that have gained much publicity due to their transmissible nature. Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is the most common human prion disorder, with an incidence of 1 in a million. Inherited prion disorders are relatively rare, and associated with mutations in the prion protein gene. More than 50 different point mutations, deletions

Purpose To determine whether the CD27/CD70 pathway plays a significant role in corneal allograft rejection by investigating the effect of blocking the CD27/CD70 pathway by anti-CD70 antibody on corneal allograft survival. Methods Orthotopic penetrating keratoplasty was performed using C57BL/6 donor grafts and BALB/c recipients. Expression of CD27 and CD70 on rejected cornea was examined by immunohistochemistry

Meibomian glands that are embedded in tarsal plates of human eyelids, and sebaceous glands found in the skin, including that of eyelids, are two related types of holocrine glands that produce lipid-rich secretions called meibum and sebum. Pervasive ocular disorders, such as Meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye, have been linked to changes in the lipid composition of meibum. However, in most described

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood eye tumor, caused by RB1 mutation. Though diagnosing RB is easier, prognosticating RB is limited to examining the patient under anesthesia and imaging technique. The aim of the study is to find exosomal miRNA biomarkers to prognosticate RB. Exosomes were isolated from one control – MIO-M1 and two RB cell lines – WERI-Rb-1 and NCC-RbC-51. Small RNA sequencing was performed

In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) allows the evaluation of the living human cornea at the cellular level. The non-invasive nature of this technique longitudinal, repeated examinations of the same tissue over time. Image analysis of two-dimensional time-lapse sequences of presumed immune cells with and without visible dendrites at the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus in the eyes of healthy individuals

The study aimed to evaluate the intraocular pharmacokinetics and efficacy of aflibercept after subconjunctival injection in animal models for treating choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). New Zealand albino rabbits received aflibercept (2000 μg/50 μl) in one eye, and the other eye was used as control. At 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, the animals were sacrificed

A sight threatening, pterygium is a common ocular surface disorders identified by fibrovascular growth of the cornea and induced by variety of stress factors, like ultraviolet (UV) exposure. However, the genes involved in the etiopathogenesis of this disease is not well studied. Herein, we identified the gene expression pattern of pterygium and examined the expression of pterygium-related genes in