Survivin inhibition attenuates EGF-induced epithelial mesenchymal transformation of human RPE cells via the EGFR/MAPK pathway.

Purpose: The abnormal growth factors-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells was known as a vital pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). This study aims to explore how survivin inhibition affects EMT induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) in RPE cells.

Methods: Human primary RPE cells were identified in vitro.

Inhibition of EGFR attenuates EGF-induced activation of retinal pigment epithelium cell EGFR/AKT signaling pathway.

Aim: To explore the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition by erlotinib and EGFR siRNA on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced activation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells.

Methods: Human RPE cell line (ARPE-19 cells) was activated by 100 ng/mL EGF. Erlotinib and EGFR siRNA were used to intervene EGF treatment.

Hepatocyte growth factor promotes retinal pigment epithelium cell activity through MET/AKT signaling pathway.

Aim: To explore the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell behaviors.

Methods: The human adult retinal pigment epithelial cell line-19 (ARPE-19) were treated by HGF or mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) inhibitor SU11274 . Cell viability was detected by a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay.

Antioxidant Carbon Dots Nanozyme Loaded in Thermosensitive in situ Hydrogel System for Efficient Dry Eye Disease Treatment.

Purpose: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular surface disease with a rising incidence. Therefore, it is urgent to construct a reliable and efficient drug delivery system for DED treatment.

Methods: In this work, we loaded C-dots nanozyme into a thermosensitive in situ gel to create C-dots@Gel, presenting a promising composite ocular drug delivery system to manage DED.

Bone morphogenetic protein-6 suppresses TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in retinal pigment epithelium.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6) on transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

Methods: Adult retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19) were randomly divided into control, TGF-β (5 µg/L), and BMP-6 small interfering RNA (siRNA) group. The cell morphology was observed by microscopy, and the cell migration ability were detected by Transwell chamber.

Compounding engineered mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes: A potential rescue strategy for retinal degeneration.

The prevalence of retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, has been increasing globally and is linked to the aging population and improved life expectancy. These diseases are characterized by chronic, progressive neuronal damage or depletion of the photoreceptor cells in the retina, and limited effective treatment options are currently available. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-EXOs) containing cytokines, growth factors, lipids, mRNA, and miRNA, which act as mediators of intercellular communication transferring bioactive molecules to recipient cells, offer an appealing, non-cellular nanotherapeutic approach for retinal degenerative diseases.

Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) antagonises experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy established by TGF-β2 stimulation in retinal pigment epithelial cells through modulation of the p38 and JNK MAPK pathways.

The formation of the epiretinal fibrotic membrane by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is a primary pathological change for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) is an antifibrogenic factor in various cells. To date, it is still unknown whether BMP6 can interfere with the fibrogenesis of RPE cells during the progression of PVR.

Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Regulate Muc5ac Expression in Rat Conjunctival Goblet Cells via Regulating Macrophages Toward an Anti-Inflammatory Phenotype.

Background: Several studies have reported the protective effects of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) in reducing inflammation and decreasing conjunctival goblet cell (CGC) loss in dry eye disease. However, whether MSC-Exos provide anti-inflammatory profiles in macrophages, thus contributing to CGC protection, has remained elusive.

Methods: Macrophages were incubated with PKH26-labeled periodontal ligament mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (PDLSC-Exos) for 12 h, and uptake of PDLSC-Exos by macrophages was observed by a confocal fluorescence microscope.

Rutin promotes M2 phenotype microglia polarization by suppressing the JAK/STAT3 signaling to protect against retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

We aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of rutin on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) under ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) conditions and the underlying mechanisms involving microglia polarization and JAK/STAT3 signaling. RGCs isolated from C57/Bl6 mice were co-cultured with BV2 microglial cells under normal or in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) conditions. Rutin's effects were evaluated by assessing cell viability, apoptosis rates, cytokine levels, microglial polarization markers and JAK/STAT3 phosphorylation levels.

Clinical outcomes of stromal lenticule rotation to correct mixed astigmatism.

Purpose: To describe a stromal lenticule rotation surgical technique to correct mixed astigmatism and evaluate the initial clinical outcomes of this innovative approach.

Methods: This retrospective case series included five eyes from five patients with mixed astigmatism that underwent intrastromal lenticule rotation surgery. The eyes were evaluated for uncorrected visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, manifest refraction, central corneal thickness, corneal volume, anterior and posterior K readings, and corneal higher order aberrations (HOAs) (including total HOAs, spherical aberrations, coma, and trefoil) using the Scheimpflug-Placido topographer before and 3 months after surgery.

Mitochondria-targeted SkQ1 nanoparticles for dry eye disease: Inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation by preventing mitochondrial DNA oxidation.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular surface disorder mutually promoted by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ocular surface inflammation. NLRP3 is the key regulator for inducing ocular surface inflammation in DED. However, the mechanism by which ROS influences the bio-effects of NLRP3, and the consequent development of DED, largely remains elusive.

The Use of Digital PCR for the Diagnosis of Blepharitis.

Purpose: This was a pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of digital polymerase chain reaction detection of in eyelid margin swabs for the diagnosis of blepharitis. This study aims to explore the possibility of digital polymerase chain reaction detection to improve the diagnostic accuracy of blepharitis detection.

Methods: Volunteers were prospectively recruited and classified by experienced doctors into suspected blepharitis or healthy controls using slit-lamp evaluation of the eyelid margin and an inquiry about symptoms.

Ocular microbial dysbiosis and its linkage with infectious keratitis patients in Northwest China: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To evaluate the alteration of ocular surface microbiome of patients with infectious keratitis in northwest of China.

Methods: The corneal scrapings, eyelid margin and conjunctiva samples were collected from 57 participants, who were divided into bacterial keratitis, fungal keratitis, viral keratitis and control group. The V3-V4 region of bacterial 16S rDNA in each sample was amplified and sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing platform, and the differences among different groups were compared bioinformatically.

Clinical efficacy and changes of serum VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and PLGF after conbercept treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and systemic safety profile of conbercept in clinical practice on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGF-B, and placental growth factor (PLGF) levels after intravitreal injections for the neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Thirty-five patients (35 eyes) with neovascular AMD received intravitreal injections of conbercept treatment with protocol. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were detected before the intravitreal injection and at 1, 3, and 12mo after conbercept treatment.

Hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage and protective role of peroxiredoxin 6 protein via EGFR/ERK signaling pathway in RPE cells.

Introduction: Damage to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells caused by oxidative stress is closely related to the pathogenesis of several blinding retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa, and other inherited retinal degenerative conditions. However, the mechanisms of this process are poorly understood. Hence, the goal of this study was to investigate hydrogen peroxide (HO)-induced oxidative damage and protective role of peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) protein via EGFR/ERK signaling pathway in RPE cells.

The roles of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in retinal diseases.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a multifunctional cytokine, is secreted by various cells and participates in inflammatory reactions, including innate and adaptive immunity. There are some evidences that MIF is involved in many vitreoretinal diseases. For example, MIF can exacerbate many types of uveitis; measurements of MIF levels can be used to monitor the effectiveness of uveitis treatment.

Neuroprotective effect of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles on optic nerve injury in chronic ocular hypertension.

Mesenchymal stem cells have neuroprotective effects that limit damage to the retina and photoreceptors, and which may be mediated by extracellular vesicles (or exosomes) released by mesenchymal stem cells. To investigate the neuroprotective effect of extracellular vesicles derived from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on glaucoma, we established rat models of chronic ocular hypertension by injecting conjunctival fibroblasts into the anterior chamber to mimic optic nerve injury caused by glaucoma. One week after injury, extracellular vesicles derived from umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells were injected into the vitreous cavity.

Clinical observation of recombinant human nerve growth factor in the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis.

Aim: To characterize changes of corneal nerve morphology and tear indices in patients with neurotrophic keratitis (NK) treated with recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF).

Methods: In a prospective observational study, six patients (nine eyes) were locally treated with rhNGF. Visual acuity, corneal fluorescein staining score, the heights of the tear river, lipid layer thickness (LLT), tear ferning (TF) test, conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) examination, the densities of cornea subbasal nerve fibers were determined before and after treatment.

Protective effect of leukemia inhibitory factor on the retinal injury induced by acute ocular hypertension in rats.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. As such, neuroprotective therapy is essential for the treatment of this disease. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a member of the IL-6 cytokine family and the LIF signaling pathway is considered to be one of the major endogenous factors mediating neuroprotection in the retina.

Viability of mitochondria-labeled retinal ganglion cells in organotypic retinal explant cultures by two methods.

Retinal explant cultures provide a valuable system to study retinal function in vitro. This study established a new retinal explant culture method to prolong the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Explants were prepared in two different ways: with or without optic nerve.

Short-term effect of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel on myopia progression in children.

Aim: To investigate the effect of 0.01% atropine sulphate eye gel on myopia progression and axial elongation in a 6-month treatment in children.

Methods: Totally 185 children aged 6-12y with binocular myopia of 3.

Tear film instability is associated with weakened colocalization between occludin and MUC5AC in scopolamine-induced dry eye disease (DED) rats.

Purpose: Dry eye disease (DED) is a disease with tear film instability because of multiple factors. This study was conducted to explore roles of occludin and MUC5AC in tear film instability in DED rat model.

Methods: A total of 20 SD rats were divided into DED group (n = 10) and normal control (NC) group (n = 10).

Factors Related to Visual Outcomes after Lens Surgery in Isolated Microspherophakia.

Purpose: To evaluate the main factors influencing visual performance after lens subluxation surgery in subjects with isolated MSP.

Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: In this study, 38 eyes of subjects with isolated MSP (microspherophakia) were included and divided into two groups based on preoperative IOP (intraocular pressure), IOP <21 mmHg, or IOP ≧21 mmHg.

Comparison of 16S rDNA Amplicon Sequencing With the Culture Method for Diagnosing Causative Pathogens in Bacterial Corneal Infections.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore if 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing can improve the conventional diagnosis of causative pathogens for bacterial corneal infection.

Methods: Corneal scraping and conjunctiva and eyelid margin swab samples from infected eyes of patients diagnosed with "bacterial corneal infection" and conjunctiva and eyelid margin swab samples from a random eye of healthy participants were collected. Each swab was used for both aerobic and anaerobic cultures and 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing.