The involvement of YAP-TGFβ-SMAD-mediated fibrosis in primary inferior oblique overaction.

This study investigates the involvement of fibrosis in primary inferior oblique overaction (PIOOA), a strabismus characterized by excessive upward eye rotation. First, we identified extensive fibrotic changes in inferior oblique (IO) muscles in PIOOA patients compared to normal controls. A strong positive correlation was clinically established between the severity of PIOOA and the expression of collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1).

Gastrodin ameliorates oxidative stress-induced RPE damage by facilitating autophagy and phagocytosis through PPARα-TFEB/CD36 signal pathway.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly, is primarily characterized by the degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). However, effective therapeutic options for dry AMD are currently lacking, necessitating further exploration into preventive and pharmaceutical interventions. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of gastrodin on RPE cells exposed to oxidative stress.

Establishing chronic models of age-related macular degeneration via long-term iron ion overload.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by the degenerative senescence in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors, which is accompanied by the accumulation of iron ions in the aging retina. However, current models of acute oxidative stress are still insufficient to simulate the gradual progression of AMD. To address this, we established chronic injury models by exposing the aRPE-19 cells, 661W cells, and mouse retina to iron ion overload over time.

MAP4K4 is involved in the neuronal development of retinal photoreceptors.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase-4 (MAP4K4) is a potential regulator of photoreceptor development. To investigate the mechanisms underlying MAP4K4 during the neuronal development of retinal photoreceptors, we generated knockout models of C57BL/6j mice in vivo and 661 W cells in vitro. Our findings revealed homozygous lethality and neural tube malformation in mice subjected to Map4k4 DNA ablation, providing evidence for the involvement of MAP4K4 in early stage embryonic neural formation.