Intermittent fasting ameliorates diabetes-induced meibomian gland dysfunction in mice

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Metabolic Research
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disease with ocular complications.
• Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common ocular surface disease.
• Diabetic patients are at higher risk for MGD, but underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic potential of intermittent fasting (IF) in a mouse model of diabetes-induced meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
• To elucidate the effects of IF on meibomian gland cellular processes and lipid metabolism.

Main Methods:

• Diabetic mice were subjected to an 8-week intermittent fasting (IF) or ad libitum (AL) diet.
• Meibomian gland (MG) proliferation, apoptosis, and ductal hyperkeratinization were assessed.
• Gene expression, lipid profiles, and ultrastructure were analyzed using Western blot, lipidomics, transcriptomics, and TEM.

Main Results:

• Intermittent fasting (IF) significantly ameliorated diabetes-induced MGD.
• IF improved MG proliferation, apoptosis, and lipid metabolism, and modulated gene expression related to lipid metabolism.
• Lipidomic analysis revealed IF altered ceramide and cholesterol ester profiles; transcriptomic analysis indicated IF modulated ion channel signaling and cell death pathways, potentially via calcium signaling.

Conclusions:

• Dietary intervention, specifically IF, is feasible for improving diabetes-induced MGD.
• IF effectively modifies MG lipid composition and inhibits apoptosis in diabetic mice.
• Calcium ion signaling pathway may be a key mechanism underlying IF's beneficial effects on MGD.