Hyperglycemia Promotes Mitophagy and Thereby Mitigates Hyperglycemia-Induced Damage.

The observation that diabetic retinopathy (DR) typically takes decades to develop suggests the existence of an endogenous system that protects from diabetes-induced damage. To investigate the existance of such a system, primary human retinal endothelial cells were cultured in either normal glucose (5 mmol/L) or high glucose (30 mmol/L; HG). Prolonged exposure to HG was beneficial instead of detrimental.

VEGFR2 Trafficking by KIF13B Is a Novel Therapeutic Target for Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR2 are promising therapeutic targets for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As a topically applicable option, we developed the peptide KAI to selectively interfere with VEGFR2 trafficking to the cell surface where it receives VEGF. This study sought to determine the efficacy of KAI in the mouse model of choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Bone-marrow mesenchymal stem-cell administration significantly improves outcome after retinal ischemia in rats.

Purpose: Ischemia-associated retinal degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss, and to date, there are no effective treatment options. We hypothesized that delayed injection of bone-marrow stem cells (BMSCs) 24 h after the onset of ischemia could effectively rescue ischemic retina from its consequences, including apoptosis, inflammation, and increased vascular permeability, thereby preventing retinal cell loss.

Methods: Retinal ischemia was induced in adult Wistar rats by increasing intraocular pressure (IOP) to 130-135 mmHg for 55 min.

Induction of autophagy in rats upon overexpression of wild-type and mutant optineurin gene.

Background: Optineurin is a gene associated with normal tension glaucoma and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It has been reported previously that in cultured RGC5 cells, the turnover of endogenous optineurin involves mainly the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP). When optineurin is upregulated or mutated, the UPP function is compromised as evidenced by a decreased proteasome β5 subunit (PSMB5) level and autophagy is induced for clearance of the optineurin protein.

Feasibility of assessment of conjunctival microvascular hemodynamics in unilateral ischemic stroke.

Since the internal carotid artery supplies blood to both the eye and the brain, ocular microvascular hemodynamics can be altered due to ischemic stroke. The purpose of the current study was to establish the feasibility of conjunctival microcirculation imaging for detection of inter-ocular differences in microvascular hemodynamics in subjects with unilateral ischemic stroke. Conjunctival microcirculation imaging was performed in both eyes of 15 healthy control subjects and 12 subjects following unilateral ischemic stroke.