International Ophthalmology最新文献

{"title":"Wnt7a can upregulate cell adhesion and migration related genes expression and facilitate the repair of corneal epithelial cells after injury.","authors":"Tengyun Wu, Xianxie Zhang, Xiangwen Zeng, Yong Liu, Liqiang Wang, Yifei Huang","doi":"10.1007/s10792-025-03506-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-025-03506-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To investigate the role of Wnt7a in corneal epithelial repair and its underlying mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to assess Wnt7a expression in mouse corneas under normal and injury conditions. Human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) were treated with Wnt7a siRNA or recombinant human Wnt7a (rhWnt7a) to evaluate proliferation (CCK-8 assay) and migration (scratch assay). Transcriptome sequencing and western blotting were performed to identify Wnt7a-regulated pathways and proteins.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Under normal conditions, Wnt7a was predominantly localized to the corneal limbus basal cells. Following corneal injury, its expression significantly increased in central corneal epithelial cells and co-localized with nuclei during repair. Wnt7a siRNA suppressed HCEC proliferation and migration, while rhWnt7a enhanced proliferation. Transcriptome analysis revealed upregulation of cell adhesion-related genes (e.g., FN1, ITGBs, LAMs), particularly fibronectin (FN), validated by increased FN protein levels after rhWnt7a treatment. Pathway enrichment implicated PI3K/Akt, Wnt signaling, and ECM-receptor interactions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Wnt7a promotes corneal epithelial repair by enhancing migration and proliferation, primarily through upregulating fibronectin and ECM-related pathways. These findings highlight Wnt7a as a potential therapeutic target for accelerating corneal wound healing.</p>","PeriodicalId":14473,"journal":{"name":"International Ophthalmology","volume":"45 1","pages":"149"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of secondary orbital implantation combined with lip mucous membrane grafting in correcting conjunctival sac stenosis: a retrospective study based on 5-year data.","authors":"Bo Ma, Xin Zheng","doi":"10.1007/s10792-025-03469-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-025-03469-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This retrospective study critically evaluates the clinical efficacy of a combined surgical approach-secondary orbital implantation and lip mucous membrane grafting-in treating patients with conjunctival sac stenosis, a complex and frequently encountered ophthalmic condition.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Spanning a period of five years, this study meticulously selected patients aged 30-70 years, both male and female, with a documented history of conjunctival sac stenosis. The surgical procedure comprised a careful execution of secondary orbital implantation followed by lip mucous membrane grafting. Advanced statistical methods were employed for data analysis, using software such as SPSS and SAS. Analytical tools included Chi-square tests and Student's t-tests for a robust comparative analysis of the outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study revealed notable outcomes. The average duration of surgery was recorded at 90 min, indicative of the procedure's complexity yet efficiency. Intraoperative blood loss was minimized to an average of 30 ml, reflecting the minimally invasive nature of the technique. The postoperative complication rate was notably low, at approximately 5%, with complications predominantly involving minor instances of graft rejection and localized inflammation. A significant increase in conjunctival sac volume was observed, averaging 60%, along with a high graft survival rate of 95%. These metrics underscore the procedure's effectiveness in addressing the structural and functional limitations induced by stenosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings from this study underscore the substantial clinical efficacy of combining secondary orbital implantation with lip mucous membrane grafting in managing conjunctival sac stenosis. This approach not only demonstrates a high success rate in terms of graft survival and functional improvement but also maintains a low complication profile, thus offering a promising alternative to traditional treatment methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":14473,"journal":{"name":"International Ophthalmology","volume":"45 1","pages":"147"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predicting the causative agent in microbial keratitis: the role of anterior segment optical coherence tomography-a cross-sectional analysis.","authors":"Sara Ben Addou Idrissi, Ahmed Bennis, Hassan Moutei, Fouad Chraibi, Meriem Abdellaoui, Idriss Benatiya Andaloussi","doi":"10.1007/s10792-025-03517-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-025-03517-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate the anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) features of infectious keratitis (IK) and assess their correlation with clinical and microbiological findings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 58 patients with culture-positive corneal abscesses, complete medical records, and high-quality AS-OCT imaging. Independent clinical and AS-OCT assessments were conducted to identify pathogen-specific features and evaluate their diagnostic sensitivity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Distinct AS-OCT patterns were identified for each pathogen. Gram-positive bacterial keratitis was associated with stromal edema (p 0.006; OR = 20.6) and Descemet folds (p 0.01; OR = 4.83), whereas Gram-negative keratitis exhibited diffuse infiltrates (p < 0.001; OR = 14.286) and stromal thinning (p < 0.001; OR = 98.9). Fungal keratitis was characterized by stromal cystic spaces (p < 0.001; OR = 82.1), stromal thinning (p 0.042; OR = 4.71) and endothelial plaques with indistinct corneal boundaries (p < 0.001; OR = 207). Combining AS-OCT with clinical findings enhanced diagnostic sensitivity to 75% for Gram-positive bacterial keratitis, 66.7% for Gram-negative keratitis, and 100% for fungal keratitis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>AS-OCT provides key pathogen-specific features in IK, improving diagnostic accuracy, particularly in cases with inconclusive microbiological results. While AS-OCT should not replace microbiological testing, its integration into clinical protocols can refine diagnostic strategies. Future applications of artificial intelligence could further optimize early pathogen identification and treatment outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14473,"journal":{"name":"International Ophthalmology","volume":"45 1","pages":"148"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pain management in lacrimal lavage: insights from a comparative study.","authors":"Emine Savran Elibol, Serap Karaca, Ceren Cemre Bayca, Fatih Savran","doi":"10.1007/s10792-025-03476-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-025-03476-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The lacrimal lavage test commonly assesses lacrimal obstruction but can cause discomfort. This study compares pain scores during lacrimal lavage for the first and second eye, examines differences between eyes with and without nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and evaluates lidocaine versus saline for pain relief.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Ophthalmology Department of a University Hospital from October to November 2024 and included 252 eyes from 126 patients with epiphora who underwent nasolacrimal lavage. Lacrimal irrigation was performed using a 23-G blunt cannula with saline on one side and lidocaine on the other. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was no significant difference (p = 0.26) in VAS scores between the saline and lidocaine irrigation sides. However, the VAS score for the lavage performed on the first side was significantly higher (p = 0.047) than the second side. Additionally, female patients reported significantly higher VAS scores compared to male patients (p = 0.001). In patients with dacryostenosis, the VAS score on the side with nasolacrimal duct obstruction was significantly higher (p = 0.008) compared to the side without NLDO.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study shows that lacrimal lavage is a painful procedure for assessing the nasolacrimal duct. Lidocaine was ineffective in reducing pain, with most discomfort caused by fluid pressure. Higher pain scores were observed in obstructed ducts and during the first procedure, likely due to anxiety. Women reported greater pain than men, underscoring the need to address gender differences in pain management.</p>","PeriodicalId":14473,"journal":{"name":"International Ophthalmology","volume":"45 1","pages":"146"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143788293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of progranulin concentration in corneal epithelium and tears as a possible biomarker in the clinical diagnosis and progression of keratoconus.","authors":"Gülben Akcan, Eda Nur Gönültaş Özkan, Gamze Dereli Can","doi":"10.1007/s10792-025-03509-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-025-03509-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To investigate the expression of progranulin [PGRN] and various inflammatory markers in corneal epithelium and tears of keratoconus [KC] patients and compare them with those of a healthy population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>KC patients were allocated to mild, moderate and severe study groups according to Amsler-Krumeich classification. Tear samples for ELISA analysis were collected using plastic capillary tubes from KC patients and healthy individuals. Corneal epithelial tissues were collected from patients who underwent manual epithelial debridement during the epi-off accelerated corneal collagen crosslinking procedure for immunofluorescence. The expression of PGRN, TGF-ß1, MMPs, connexin 43 and TIMP-1 were compared between KC study groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean tear PRGN levels of the mild [n = 4], moderate [n = 15] and severe [n = 3] KC and healthy [n = 13] groups were 45.94 ± 32.2, 36.63 ± 36.5, 0.52 ± 40.7 and 47.41 ± 47.3 pg/mL, respectively [p = 0.957, p = 0.774 and p = 0.091]. No significant difference was observed between KC study groups regarding tear PGRN levels [p > 0.05]. In immunofluorescence, ImageJ analysis showed that PGRN expression decreased as the KC stage increased. The decrease between KC study groups was found to be statistically significant [p < 0.01]. In contrast to PGRN, a statistically significant increase in TGF-ß1, MMP-1 and TIMP-1 expressions and in similar to PGRN, a statistically significant decrease in MMP-2, MMP-9 and connexin 43 expressions were observed as the KC stage increased.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this study, our findings revealed that PGRN may have a role in the etiopathogenesis of KC. Further studies are needed to support our result.</p>","PeriodicalId":14473,"journal":{"name":"International Ophthalmology","volume":"45 1","pages":"144"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143788161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultrasound biomicroscopy assessment of the subclinical involvement of the aqueous drainage structures after silicone oil tamponade.","authors":"Paolo Mora, Carlo Bellucci, Maurizio Rossi, Fernando O Avellis, Benjamin D Shkurko, Alessandra Romano, Salvatore A Tedesco, Stefano Gandolfi","doi":"10.1007/s10792-025-03464-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10792-025-03464-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To examine the subclinical ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) changes in the anterior segment (AS) of eyes after silicone oil tamponade (SOT) permanence.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This observational study enrolled patients undergone pars plana vitrectomy for retinal detachment with SOT. UBM was performed shortly before removing the SOT from eyes without any clinically detectable emulsion/particle in the AS (i.e., the study cohort). For each subject, four radial scans of the AS were obtained circumferentially for both the study and the fellow non-operated eye (i.e., the control cohort). A region of interest (ROI) was identified in each UBM scan and the maximum, minimum, and mean echo-reflectivity were assessed using imageJ software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study enrolled 33 patients (66 eyes). Of the study eyes, 15 underwent high-density tamponade (SOX), 11 underwent 2000cSt tamponade (SO2), and seven underwent 5000cSt tamponade (SO5). Significantly higher echo-reflectivity was detected in the superior quadrants of groups SO2 and SO5 (P = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively) and in the inferior quadrant of group SOX (P < 0.01) compared to the corresponding control eyes. In group SO2, the duration of the intraocular tamponade positively correlated with the number of hyper-reflective quadrants (P < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The significant relationship between SOT density and the localization of areas of increased echo-reflectivity supports the actual relationship between SOT trabecular impregnation and UBM findings, even in eyes free from visible emulsions. In the SO2 group, the duration of the intraocular SOT correlated with the extent of the involvement of the filtering structures.</p>","PeriodicalId":14473,"journal":{"name":"International Ophthalmology","volume":"45 1","pages":"145"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11971159/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143788286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Computed tomography assessment of the narrowest bony nasolacrimal canal diameter with and without primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction: a comparative study of the Chinese population.","authors":"Jie Sun, Lu Gan, Jiang Qian, Hui Ren","doi":"10.1007/s10792-025-03516-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10792-025-03516-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To compare the narrowest diameter of the bony nasolacrimal canal (BNLC) in a Chinese population with and without primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eighty-one patients with PANDO and forty-two non-PANDO patients underwent computed tomography (CT) covering the full length of their nasolacrimal canals. The narrowest transverse diameters of the BNLC were measured in axial CT images.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The narrowest BNLC diameter was significantly shorter in PANDO patients than non-PANDO patients (4.20 ± 0.87 mm vs. 4.95 ± 0.82 mm, p < 0.001), especially in patients aged 40 years and older (4.20 ± 0.84 mm vs. 5.11 ± 0.83 mm, p < 0.001). When males and females were analyzed separately, the differences between PANDO patients and controls remained significant (4.32 ± 0.82 mm vs. 5.70 ± 0.64 mm, p < 0.001, male; 4.18 ± 0.88 mm vs. 4.74 ± 0.75 mm, p < 0.001, female). Generally, in the Chinese population, males have a larger minimum transverse diameter compared to females (5.70 ± 0.64 mm vs. 4.74 ± 0.75 mm, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the narrowest transverse diameter of the BNLC remarkably increased with age (r = 0.432, p < 0.0001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>BNLC stenosis may be an important etiological factor for PANDO in the Chinese population.</p>","PeriodicalId":14473,"journal":{"name":"International Ophthalmology","volume":"45 1","pages":"140"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantifying posterior corneal astigmatism's contribution to ocular residual astigmatism: implications for personalized refractive surgery.","authors":"Jian Lin, Dexiang An, Haiqian Wu, Yun Lu, Bin Wang, Dongmei Yan","doi":"10.1007/s10792-025-03494-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10792-025-03494-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To determine the main sources of ocular residual astigmatism (ORA) and to quantify the contribution of posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA) to ORA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted on 177 right eyes of 177 patients. Anterior corneal astigmatism (ACA) and PCA were obtained from Pentacam. ORA was calculated by the vector difference between refractive astigmatism (RA) and ACA. The Pearson correlation coefficient was employed to assess relationships between variables, and the contribution of PCA to ORA was assessed using a physical method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean magnitude of PCA was 0.40 ± 0.15 D (range 0.10-0.70 D), while the mean ORA was 0.69 ± 0.33 D (range 0.05-1.63 D). There was a statistically significant correlation between the magnitudes of PCA and ORA (r = 0.38, P < 0.001). PCA had a positive effect on ORA in 171 eyes (96.61%), with a mean contribution value (CV) of 0.37 ± 0.16 D (range 0.01-0.70 D). The against-the-rule PCA exhibited both positive and negative effects on with-the-rule and oblique ORA, whereas with-the-rule, against-the-rule, and oblique PCA all positively influenced against-the-rule ORA. In 85 eyes (49.71%), the CV exceeded half of the ORA magnitude. In a small subset of eyes, PCA had a negative effect on ORA, potentially exceeding its magnitude.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Approximately half of the magnitude of ORA comes from PCA. The CV/ORA ratio may be used to personalize the surgical method proposed by Alpins, resulting in better outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14473,"journal":{"name":"International Ophthalmology","volume":"45 1","pages":"143"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11965243/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring a 3D printed cataract capsulorhexis training system using machine vision and virtual reality technologies.","authors":"Qi Huang, Lanhui Yu, XueJun Gu","doi":"10.1007/s10792-025-03507-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10792-025-03507-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The study focuses on developing a cataract capsulorhexis training system incorporating 3D printing and machine vision technologies. This system aims to improve surgical skills and proficiency in cataract surgery among medical students and interns. The initiative utilizes an eye model that closely simulates the capsulorhexis phase of real cataract surgeries, thereby providing a realistic training environment.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A comparative study was conducted involving two cohorts of junior ophthalmologists, each comprising 18 participants. Group A, serving as the control group, did not receive any specific training. In contrast, Group B underwent a structured training regimen over a period of 2 months, with a total training duration of 21 days. Participants in Group B performed 20 capsulorhexis procedures daily, adhering to a prescribed training schedule to ensure the cumulative training time reached 21 days. Subsequently, both groups' capsulorhexis performance was assessed and scored using a virtual reality training system and an animal eye practice system. This dual-assessment approach provided a quantitative measure of the training model's efficacy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Training with 3D-printed models significantly improves cataract surgery accuracy and consistency. In evaluations using Eyesi and animal eyes, the group B (trained with 3D-printed models) showed lower IOL decentration (0.140 ± 0.020 mm vs 0.198 ± 0.032 mm; P < 0.001) and higher capsulorhexis circularity (0.974 ± 0.022 vs 0.937 ± 0.041; P = 0.001) compared to the group A. Similar trends were observed in animal eye evaluations. However, no significant differences were found in capsulorhexis diameter control between groups. Thus, 3D-printed models enhance surgical precision but have limited impact on capsulorhexis diameter.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Group B, trained with 3D-printed models, demonstrated superior surgical precision and capsulorhexis regularity compared to Group A. Specifically, Group B showed significantly lower IOL decentration and a higher circularity index, indicating improved IOL positioning accuracy and capsulorhexis consistency. There was no significant difference in capsulorhexis diameter between the groups in the Eyesi evaluation, but in the animal eye assessment, Group B had a significantly smaller diameter (p = 0.007). Overall, training with 3D-printed models effectively enhances surgical precision and consistency, though its impact on capsulorhexis diameter control is minimal.</p>","PeriodicalId":14473,"journal":{"name":"International Ophthalmology","volume":"45 1","pages":"142"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emodin alleviates the damage to lens epithelial cells in diabetic cataract by repressing the p53-mediated ferroptosis pathway.","authors":"Xiangrong Zuo, Xiuxian Wang, Jing Xie, Yuhong Jia","doi":"10.1007/s10792-025-03513-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10792-025-03513-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Diabetic cataract (DC) is an ocular complication caused by diabetes. Currently, the main treatments for DC include pharmacological therapy and surgical intervention. The core objective of this study is to elucidate the specific mechanism of action of emodin in the treatment of DC, thereby providing potential targets for the treatment of DC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>CCK-8 kit was used to detect the effect of emodin on the activity of lens epithelial cells (LECs). The impact of emodin on the expression of inflammatory factors and apoptosis in high glucose-induced LECs were evaluated by utilizing ELISA and flow cytometry. Then, commercial kits were performed to detect the regulatory effects of emodin on oxidative stress and ferroptosis in high glucose LECs. The potential mechanism of emodin in combating DC by inhibiting ferroptosis was analyzed by network pharmacology methods, and protein binding activity to emodin was measured by molecular docking. Besides, western blot (WB) assay was used to detect the effect of emodin on p53.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Firstly, the results of CCK-8 showed that emodin could effectively alleviate the decrease of LECs cell activity and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release induced by high glucose. Emodin suppressed high glucose-induced apoptosis of LECs, reduced the release of inflammatory factors, and alleviated oxidative stress and ferroptosis. GO and KEGG analyses confirmed the involvement of oxidative stress (OS), inflammatory response, and ferroptosis in the process of emodin treatment for DC. Molecular docking studies showed that emodin stably bound to proteins such as TP53, TNF, IL-6, and IL-1β. Additionally, WB results indicated that emodin alleviated high glucose-induced ferroptosis by binding to p53.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Collectively, these data suggest that emodin alleviates damage to LECs by interfering with the p53-mediated ferroptosis pathway, thereby attenuating DC disease, which offered new directions for the development of new drugs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14473,"journal":{"name":"International Ophthalmology","volume":"45 1","pages":"141"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}