Ocular IL-1α/IFN-γ Delay the Corneal Wound Healing in Rheumatoid Arthritis Through Mitochondrial Dysfunction and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation.

Zhiwei Ren, Dingwen Cao, Jiayu Meng, Yanling Dong, Lei Xu, Liuli Wang, Chao Wei, Jiang Bian

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Article in Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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8 authors.

Zhiwei RenState Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Key Laboratory of Eye Diseases, Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.

Dingwen CaoState Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Key Laboratory of Eye Diseases, Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.

Jiayu MengState Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Key Laboratory of Eye Diseases, Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.

Yanling DongState Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Key Laboratory of Eye Diseases, Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.

Lei XuState Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Key Laboratory of Eye Diseases, Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.

Liuli WangState Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Key Laboratory of Eye Diseases, Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.

Chao WeiState Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Key Laboratory of Eye Diseases, Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.

Jiang BianState Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Key Laboratory of Eye Diseases, Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease often associated with corneal ulceration and impaired corneal epithelial wound healing (CEWH), although the underlying cause remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of RA-associated delayed CEWH. Methods: We integrated analyses of human clinical samples, a murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model, a human corneal epithelial cell (HCEC) culture platform, as well as Olink proteomic and transcriptomic analysis. We characterized RA-related ocular phenotypes, evaluated the effects of IL-1α/IFN-γ on HCECs, and validated interventions using the NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950. Results: RA patients exhibited delayed CEWH, reduced tear secretion, and heightened ocular surface inflammation characterized by elevated Oncostatin M (OSM), IL-1α and IFN-γ. OSM alone promoted the proliferation and migration of HCECs and enhanced mitochondrial respiratory capacity. However, these beneficial effects were markedly impaired when OSM-treated HCECs were co-exposed to IL-1α and IFN-γ, an effect accompanied by severe mitochondrial damage, compromised oxidative phosphorylation, and increased NLRP3 inflammasome activity. Notably, pharmacological blockade of NLRP3 inflammasome with MCC950 significantly restored HCEC functions compromised by IL-1α/IFN-γ exposure, with improved mitochondrial ultrastructure and function. Furthermore, topical MCC950 administration accelerated CEWH in the CIA model. Conclusions: Ocular IL-1α/IFN-γ impairs corneal epithelial function by disrupting mitochondrial integrity and amplifying NLRP3-mediated inflammatory cascades, thereby contributing to delayed CEWH in RA patients.

Indexed as

Arthritis, RheumatoidInflammasomesInterferon-gammaInterleukin-1alphaMitochondriaNLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 ProteinWound HealingAnimalsCells, CulturedDisease Models, AnimalEpithelium, CornealFemaleHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLInflammasomesInterferon-gammaInterleukin-1alphaNLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 ProteinNLRP3 protein, human

Identifiers

PMID42417589

DOI10.1167/iovs.67.8.27

PMCPMC13355393

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.