"Infectious uveitis: a comprehensive systematic review of emerging trends and molecular pathogenesis using network analysis".

Background: Infectious uveitis is a significant cause of visual impairment worldwide, caused by diverse pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Understanding its prevalence, etiology, pathogenesis, molecular mechanism, and clinical manifestations is essential for effective diagnosis and management.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase, focusing on studies published in the last fifteen years from 2009 to 2023.

Atorvastatin Alleviates Age-Related Macular Degeneration via AIM2-Regulated Pyroptosis.

The underlying causes of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remain elusive and treatment options of it are limited, while atorvastatin (AT) is expected to improve AMD. Our study sought to uncover the specific mechanisms that initiate pyroptosis in AMD and elucidate whether AT ameliorates Aβ1-40-induced retinal damage by inhibiting pyroptosis. An animal model of AMD was triggered by Aβ1-40, and the therapeutic efficacy of AT was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Electroretinogram (ERG) and other methods.

The Association of HIF-1α/rs2057482 Polymorphism with Idiopathic Scleritis in a Chinese Han Population.

Background: To investigate the association of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), Janus tyrosine kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) gene polymorphisms with idiopathic scleritis in a Chinese Han population.

Methods: Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of HIF-1α, tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4), and retinoid-related orphan nuclear receptors-γ (ROR-γ) were selected for this study. A total of 496 idiopathic scleritis patients and 1009 controls were genotyped by the MassARRAY platform and iPLEX Gold Genotyping Assay.

Dynamic Changes of Fundus and Predictors of Visual Prognosis in New-Onset Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease.

Purpose: To characterize the dynamic changes of fundus in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease through enhanced spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and explore the predictors of visual prognosis.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 2152 VKH patients referred to our uveitis center from January 2013 to April 2022 were screened; 151 new-onset VKH patients (299 eyes) and 82 healthy controls (164 eyes) were included. The manifestations of fundus at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 12 months after treatment were analysed and their relevance to visual prognosis were evaluated.

Identification of immune-related biomarkers for glaucoma using gene expression profiling.

Glaucoma, a principal cause of irreversible vision loss, is characterized by intricate optic neuropathy involving significant immune mechanisms. This study seeks to elucidate the molecular and immune complexities of glaucoma, aiming to improve our understanding of its pathogenesis. Gene expression profiles from glaucoma patients were analyzed to identify immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

YY1 Lactylation Aggravates Autoimmune Uveitis by Enhancing Microglial Functions via Inflammatory Genes.

Activated microglia in the retina are essential for the development of autoimmune uveitis. Yin-Yang 1 (YY1) is an important transcription factor that participates in multiple inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. Here, an increased YY1 lactylation in retinal microglia within in the experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) group is observed.

Slit2 suppresses endotoxin-induced uveitis by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/IKK/NF-κB pathway.

Uveitis is a devastating intraocular inflammatory disease. The secreted leucine-rich repeat protein slit homologue 2 (Slit2) has been found to be an essential regulator of inflammation. This study aimed to analyse the anti-inflammatory effects and the underlying mechanisms of Slit2 in an endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) rat model.

Plasma-derived exosomal protein SHP2 deficiency induces neutrophil hyperactivation in Behcet's uveitis.

To investigate the effect of plasma-derived exosomal proteins on neutrophil hyperactivation in Behcet's uveitis (BU), we treated neutrophils from healthy controls with plasma-derived exosomes from active BU patients, and determined the level of neutrophil activation by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and cytokine detection assay. The results revealed that exosomes from active BU patients could activate neutrophils as shown by increasing the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-17 and IL-6), chemokines (IL-8 and MCP-1), and NETs (MPO and ELANE). Label-free quantitative proteomic analysis of plasma-derived exosomes from patients and healthy controls found a remarkably distinct protein profile and identified differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between the two groups.

OR11H1 Missense Variant Confers the Susceptibility to Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease by Mediating Gadd45g Expression.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is a severe autoimmune disease. Herein, whole-exome sequencing (WES) study are performed on 2,573 controls and 229 VKH patients with follow-up next-generation sequencing (NGS) in a collection of 2,380 controls and 2,278 VKH patients. A rare c.

Global lactylome reveals lactylation-dependent mechanisms underlying T17 differentiation in experimental autoimmune uveitis.

Dysregulation of CD4 T cell differentiation is linked to autoimmune diseases. Metabolic reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis and accumulation of lactate are involved in this process. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Association between inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress levels in aqueous humor with axial length in human myopia.

This study investigated the content of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress levels in the aqueous humor (AH) of patients with high myopia (HM) and explored the relationship between these factors and the axial length (AL) of the eye, to explore the roles of mild intraocular inflammation and oxidative stress imbalance in the occurrence and development of myopia. AH samples from 40 patients (70 eyes) were collected during implantable collamer lens (ICL-V4c) surgery. The subjects were divided into three groups according to AL: group A (AL ≤ 26 mm), group B (26 < AL ≤ 28 mm), and group C (AL ≥ 28 mm).

Comprehensive evaluation of functional vision, quality of life, and cognitive ability in pediatric uveitis.

Background: Pediatric uveitis may cause severe impairment of vision in children and affect their quality of life as well as cognitive ability. This study aims to evaluate the functional vision, visual-related and health-related quality of life, and cognitive ability in pediatric uveitis.

Methods: Children with uveitis aged 5-16 years old completed six validated instruments to assess functional visual ability with Cardiff Visual Ability Questionnaire for Children (CVAQC), vision-related quality of life with Impact of Vision Impairment for Children (IVI-C), health-related quality of life with Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), cognitive ability with Chinese Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC), and depression and anxiety evaluation with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD).

Association between uveitis onset and economic development in mainland China.

Background: Economic prosperity has fostered numerous changes that may translate into better or worse outcomes across all domains of health. This study aims to explore the associations of economic development with uveitis onset in mainland China.

Methods: We used Poisson regression with generalized estimated equations to quantify the associations of per capita gross domestic product (GDP) with uveitis onset in 31 provinces of mainland China from 2006 to 2017.

FTO-mediated m6A modification alleviates autoimmune uveitis by regulating microglia phenotypes via the GPC4/TLR4/NF-κB signaling axis.

Uveitis, a vision-threatening inflammatory disease worldwide, is closely related to resident microglia. Retinal microglia are the main immune effector cells with strong plasticity, but their role in uveitis remains unclear. N6-methyladenosine (mA) modification has been proven to be involved in the immune response.

Circular RNA RSU1 promotes retinal vascular dysfunction by regulating miR-345-3p/TAZ.

Diabetic mellitus-induced diabetic retinopathy is a significant cause of visual impairment and blindness in adults. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to play initial roles in vascular progression. However, the mechanism underlying diabetes mellitus-induced vascular complications remains largely unknown.

Activation of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Regulates Human Trabecular Meshwork Cell Function.

To investigate the effects of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling on primary human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells. Primary HTM cells were isolated from healthy donors and cultured. Recombinant Shh (rShh) protein and cyclopamine were used to activate and inhibit the Shh signaling pathway, respectively.

Increased METTL3 expression and mA RNA methylation may contribute to the development of dry eye in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Background: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder defined by xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and its etiology remains unknown. N6-methyladenosine (mA) is the predominant posttranscriptional modification in eukaryotic mRNAs and is dynamically regulated by mA regulators. Dysregulation of mA modification is closely associated with several autoimmune disorders, but the role of mA modification in pSS remains unknown.

Apigenin Alleviates Autoimmune Uveitis by Inhibiting Microglia M1 Pro-Inflammatory Polarization.

Purpose: Apigenin is a natural small molecule compound widely present in various vegetables and fruits. Recently, Apigenin was reported to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-simulated microglial proinflammatory activation. Considering the important role of microglia in retinal disorders, we wonder whether Apigenin could exert a therapeutic effect on experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) through reprogramming retinal microglia to a beneficial subtype.

Anxiety Disorders and Gut Dysbiosis in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome-Mediated Dry Eye Patients.

Purpose: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), a disease that is associated with a high prevalence of psychological disorders, has become increasingly important. Interactions between the gut microbiota and ocular conditions have been identified in pSS. As mental intervention is frequently needed, this study aims to investigate the relationship between anxiety disorders and the gut microbiome in patients with pSS-mediated dry eye.

YY1 lactylation in microglia promotes angiogenesis through transcription activation-mediated upregulation of FGF2.

Background: Ocular neovascularization is a leading cause of blindness. Retinal microglia have been implicated in hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and vasculopathy, but the underlying mechanisms are not entirely clear. Lactylation is a novel lactate-derived posttranslational modification that plays key roles in multiple cellular processes.

FOXM1 promotes TGF-β2-induced injury of human lens epithelial cells by up regulating VEGFA expression.

Objective: To explore whether Fork head box protein M1 (FOXM1) is involved in TGF-β2-induced injury of human lens epithelial cells and its related mechanism.

Methods: Human lens epithelium samples from cataract patients and healthy controls were collected. A cellular epithelial injury model was established by treating HLE-B3 cells with TGF-β2.

Early vs Deferred Non-Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccination Among Chinese Patients With a History of Inactive Uveitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Improper host response to COVID-19 vaccines could trigger immune-mediated adverse events. The question remains whether COVID-19 vaccination should be postponed until complete remission in patients with uveitis, a preexisting immune-related condition.

Objective: To compare recommendations for early and deferred COVID-19 vaccination with respect to uveitis outcomes.

Role of gene signature regulation in tumor immune microenvironment on the mechanism of uveal melanoma metastasis.

Background: Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare but deadly cancer. The main cause of death from UM is liver metastasis. Though the metastasis mechanism remains unclear, it is closely related to the immune microenvironment and gene expression.