Segmental retinal arteritis in a case of presumed bilateral rifabutin-associated hypopyon uveitis.

Purpose: To describe the presentation and clinical course of bilateral hypopyon uveitis and subsequently diagnosed segmental retinal arteritis in an immunocompromised patient treated with intravitreal and systemic antibiotics while on rifabutin therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

Observations: A 63-year-old female from West Africa with a past medical history of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and pulmonary TB presented with pain and acute vision loss in the left eye for two days. She was compliant with her treatment regimen for HIV and maintenance therapy for TB including rifabutin.

The endoplasmic reticulum: Homeostasis and crosstalk in retinal health and disease.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the largest intracellular organelle carrying out a broad range of important cellular functions including protein biosynthesis, folding, and trafficking, lipid and sterol biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and calcium storage and gated release. In addition, the ER makes close contact with multiple intracellular organelles such as mitochondria and the plasma membrane to actively regulate the biogenesis, remodeling, and function of these organelles. Therefore, maintaining a homeostatic and functional ER is critical for the survival and function of cells.

Essential Role of XBP1 in Maintaining Photoreceptor Synaptic Integrity in Early Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness in working-age adults characterized by retinal dysfunction and neurovascular degeneration. We previously reported that deletion of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) leads to accelerated retinal neurodegeneration in diabetes; however, the mechanisms remain elusive. The goal of this study is to determine the role of XBP1 in the regulation of photoreceptor synaptic integrity in early DR.

Cellular stress signaling and the unfolded protein response in retinal degeneration: mechanisms and therapeutic implications.

Background: The retina, as part of the central nervous system (CNS) with limited capacity for self-reparation and regeneration in mammals, is under cumulative environmental stress due to high-energy demands and rapid protein turnover. These stressors disrupt the cellular protein and metabolic homeostasis, which, if not alleviated, can lead to dysfunction and cell death of retinal neurons. One primary cellular stress response is the highly conserved unfolded protein response (UPR).