Exploring single-cell RNA sequencing as a decision-making tool in the clinical management of Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enabled the identification of novel gene signatures and cell heterogeneity in numerous tissues and diseases. Here we review the use of this technology for Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD). FECD is the most common indication for corneal endothelial transplantation worldwide.

From bench to clinic: Emerging therapies for corneal scarring.

Corneal diseases are one of the leading causes of moderate-to-severe visual impairment and blindness worldwide, after glaucoma, cataract, and retinal disease in overall importance. Given its tendency to affect people at a younger age than other blinding conditions such as cataract and glaucoma, corneal scarring poses a huge burden both on the individuals and society. Furthermore, corneal scarring and fibrosis disproportionately affects people in poorer and remote areas, making it a significant ophthalmic public health problem.

TAK1 blockade as a therapy for retinal neovascularization.

Retinal neovascularization, or pathological angiogenesis in the retina, is a leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) activated by TGF-β1 and other proinflammatory cytokines. TAK1 is also a key mediator of proinflammatory signals and plays an important role in maintaining vascular integrity upon proinflammatory cytokine stimulation such as TNFα.

An Integrative Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals MicroRNA-143 as a Potential Therapeutic to Attenuate Retinal Angiogenesis.

Retinal neovascularization is a severe complication of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are master regulators of gene expression that play an important role in retinal neovascularization. In this study, we show that miR-143-3p is significantly downregulated in the retina of a rat model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) by miRNA-sequencing.

A Tissue Engineering Chamber for Continuous Pulsatile Electrical Stimulation of Vascularized Cardiac Tissues .

Cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells are immature. Maturation of cardiomyocytes is a multifactorial dynamic process that involves various factors that cannot be fully recapitulated . Here, we report a novel tissue engineering chamber with an integrated electrical stimulator and electrodes that will allow wireless electrical stimulation of cardiac tissue .