Explore studies of eye health.
A novel Na+/Cl--coupled opioid peptide transport system was identified in retinal pigment epithelial cells, enabling active regulation of local opioid peptide concentrations at the blood-retinal barrier.
Hu, Huankai; Miyauchi, Seiji; Bridges, Christy C; Smith, Sylvia B; Ganapathy, Vadivel · In Vitro
BPC-157 accelerated corneal epithelial defect healing in rats with faster re-epithelialization compared to controls, extending its documented tissue repair capabilities to the eye — a new organ system for BPC-157 therapeutic application.
Lazić, Ratimir; Gabrić, Nikica; Dekaris, Iva; Bosnar, Damir; Boban-Blagaić, Alenka; Sikirić, Predrag · Animal Study
Autoimmune targeting of vasoactive neuropeptides (VIP, PACAP) in retinal vessels may cause retinopathy through impaired local blood flow autoregulation — proposing neuropeptide autoimmunity as a mechanism for vascular retinal diseases including diabetic retinopathy.
Staines, Donald R · Review
Sensory neurons from dry eye mice promoted vascular endothelial cell proliferation and tube formation via substance P signaling; blocking SP with spantide I prevented corneal neovascularization.
Liu, Lingjia; Dana, Reza; Yin, Jia · Animal
BPC-157 eye drops (0.4 μg/eye) fully counteracted tetracaine and oxybuprocaine corneal effects — restoring sensitivity, healing lesions, and normalizing tear production — even when the NO system was blocked.
Mirković, Ivan; Kralj, Tamara; Lozić, Marin; Stambolija, Vasilije; Kovačević, Josip; Vrdoljak, Luka; Zlatar, Mirna; Milanović, Kristina; Drmić, Domagoj; Predović, Jurica; Masnec, Sanja; Jurjević, Matija; Bušić, Mladen; Seiwerth, Sven; Kokot, Antonio; Sikirić, Predrag · Animal
All synthesized penetratin analogues demonstrated measurable trans-corneal diffusion despite their hydrophilic nature and ~1.6 kDa size, though none achieved the penetration efficiency of full-length penetratin.
Pescina, Silvia; Sala, Marina; Scala, Maria Carmina; Santi, Patrizia; Padula, Cristina; Campiglia, Pietro; Ostacolo, Carmine; Nicoli, Sara · In Vitro
Semaglutide demonstrated cardiovascular superiority in SUSTAIN 6, with a safety profile typical of GLP-1RAs. The only concerning signal was increased diabetic retinopathy events, likely related to rapid glucose lowering rather than direct drug toxicity.
Peter, Rajesh; Bain, Steve C · Review
GHRH agonist MR-409 protected retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve injury and additively enhanced macrophage-mediated neuroprotection, with effects mediated through Akt phosphorylation and microglial activation.
Cen, Ling-Ping; Ng, Tsz Kin; Liang, Jia-Jian; Xu, Ciyan; Zhuang, Xi; Liu, Yu-Fen; Chen, Shao-Lang; Xu, Yanxuan; Yang, Qichen; Yuan, Xiang-Ling; Qin, Yong Jie; Chan, Sun On; Chen, Haoyu; Zhang, Mingzhi; Schally, Andrew V; Pang, Chi Pui · Animal
Antimicrobial peptides on the ocular surface serve multiple functions including microbial defense, wound healing, and immune modulation, and their homeostasis is disrupted in dry eye disease states.
Eshac, Youssof; Redfern, Rachel L; Aakalu, Vinay Kumar · Review
Eye pain in dry eye disease is modulated by endogenous opioid peptides. Peripheral and central sensitization causes pain persistence. Topical opiorphin-containing formulations represent a novel theoretical approach to treat ocular pain by enhancing endogenous enkephalin activity.
Giannaccare, Giuseppe; Ghelardini, Carla; Mancini, Alessandra; Scorcia, Vincenzo; Di Cesare Mannelli, Lorenzo · Review
Fosaprepitant (NK-1R antagonist) blocked UVR-B-induced NKR-1 expression and pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine production in both exposed and unexposed partner eyes in a mouse cataract model.
Gross, Janine; Wegener, Alfred R; Kronschläger, Martin; Schönfeld, Carl-Ludwig; Holz, Frank G; Meyer, Linda M · Preclinical Animal Study
Optimized di-valine stapled peptide blocked HSV-1 DNA synthesis and infection in human primary corneal epithelial cells with selectivity index of 11.6. Unstapled control peptide had no effect. Peptide did not block unrelated virus infection (specificity confirmed).
Guan, Hancheng; Nuth, Manunya; Lee, Vivian; Lin, Chenyan; Mitchell, Claire H; Lu, Wennan; Scott, Richard W; Parker, Michael H; Kulp, John L; Reitz, Allen B; Ricciardi, Robert P · In Vitro Study
12A12mAb targeting pathological tau N-terminal fragment improved retinal pathology (APP/Aβ processing, tau phosphorylation, inflammation, synaptic proteins, mitochondrial function, neuronal death) in parallel with hippocampal improvements in Tg2576 AD mice after IV administration.
Latina, Valentina; Giacovazzo, Giacomo; Cordella, Federica; Balzamino, Bijorn Omar; Micera, Alessandra; Varano, Monica; Marchetti, Cristina; Malerba, Francesca; Florio, Rita; Ercole, Bruno Bruni; La Regina, Federico; Atlante, Anna; Coccurello, Roberto; Di Angelantonio, Silvia; Calissano, Pietro; Amadoro, Giuseppina · Animal
SP/NK1R system promotes corneal lymphangiogenesis in DED by upregulating VEGFR3 expression on HDLECs. DED mouse model confirmed NK1R-dependent lymphatic vessel invasion. NK1R antagonism could inhibit pathologic lymphangiogenesis.
Lee, Seok Jae; Im, Sang-Taek; Wu, Jun; Cho, Chang Sik; Jo, Dong Hyun; Chen, Yihe; Dana, Reza; Kim, Jeong Hun; Lee, Sang-Mok · Animal
In the SUSTAIN-6 cardiovascular outcome trial, semaglutide was associated with approximately 75% increased risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) worsening. This was a secondary endpoint, not the trial's primary focus. Cases were rare in absolute terms. Insulin icodec (a novel once-weekly insulin) also showed increased DR worsening compared to daily insulin. No other recent antihyperglycemic agent (SGLT2 inhibitors, DPP-4 inhibitors, other GLP-1 drugs) was associated with DR worsening. Importantly, after the SUSTAIN-6 finding, nearly all subsequent trials excluded patients with pre-existing diabetic retinopathy. This means the true risk in the most vulnerable population remains unclear. Dedicated semaglutide eye safety studies were underway at the time of publication. The most at-risk patients are those with pre-existing high-risk DR, poor baseline blood sugar (where rapid improvement could trigger worsening), and those using insulin.
Rajagopal, Rithwick; McGill, Janet B · Review
GLP-1 receptor agonist use was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing nonexudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared to metformin, insulin, and SGLT-2 inhibitors. After 3 years of use, GLP-1 users had 75% lower AMD risk versus metformin (RR 0.25), 72% lower risk versus insulin (RR 0.28), and 58% lower risk versus SGLT-2 inhibitors (RR 0.42). In the more rigorous propensity score-matched analysis controlling for additional confounders (BMI, hypertension, CKD, diabetes duration), the reduced risk remained significant compared to insulin (HR 0.45; 95% CI 0.27–0.76). This suggests GLP-1 drugs may have a protective effect on the retina independent of blood sugar control, since all comparator groups were also on glucose-lowering medications.
Joo, Julia H; Zhao, Alison H; Chalasani, Meghana; Allan, Kevin C; Rachitskaya, Aleksandra V · Retrospective Cohort
GLP-1 RA users had median Schirmer values of 15 mm vs. 7.5 mm and median TBUT of 10 sec vs. 5.85 sec compared to non-users.
Ottonelli, Giovanni; Gaeta, Alessandro; Montericcio, Novella; Tredici, Costanza; Ortfeldt, Vittoria; Birtolo, Maria Francesca; Jaafar, Simona; Mirani, Marco; Di Maria, Alessandra · Case Control
Truncated NPY (3-36) selectively activated neuroprotective pathways (via Y2/Y5 receptors) while avoiding vasoconstriction (mediated by Y1 receptors), demonstrating that receptor-selective peptide analogs can dissociate beneficial from harmful effects in glaucoma treatment.
Palanivel, Viswanthram; Basavarajappa, Devaraj; Salkar, Akanksha; Komáromy, András M; Tietz, Ole; Eva, Taslima Akter; Chitranshi, Nitin; Mirzaei, Mehdi; Gupta, Veer; You, Yuyi; Graham, Stuart L; Gupta, Vivek · Animal Study