American Scientists Discover What is Actually Preventing Damaged Eye Nerves from Regrowing
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 11, 2026 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
Medical News: A New Look at Why Eye Nerves Fail to Heal - Mitochondrial Lipid Enzyme Blocks Eye Nerve Regrowth
Scientists are uncovering why damaged eye nerves struggle to regrow, especially in conditions such as glaucoma. A new study reveals that a little-known mitochondrial enzyme, phosphatidylserine decarboxylase, or PSD, may quietly block nerve recovery by altering how nerve cells manage fats, energy, and cell membranes. This
Medical News report sheds light on how changing lipid balance inside nerve cells can dramatically influence their ability to regenerate.
Altering a single mitochondrial enzyme helps damaged eye nerves regain their ability to grow and repair
Researchers and Institutions Behind the Study
The research was conducted by scientists from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, and the Miami Integrative Metabolomics Research Center, both located in Miami, Florida, United States.
Why Lipids and Mitochondria Matter in Vision
Retinal ganglion cells are the nerve cells that carry visual signals from the eye to the brain. Their long fibers, called axons, form the optic nerve. When these axons are damaged, as in glaucoma or optic nerve injury, regrowth is extremely limited. Lipids, or fats, are essential for building new cell membranes and keeping nerve cells flexible. Mitochondria, the energy centers of cells, also rely heavily on lipid balance to function properly.
What the Scientists Found in Human and Animal Eyes
The researchers examined damaged optic nerves from people with glaucoma and found unusually high levels of PSD activity. This caused an abnormal buildup of a lipid called phosphatidylethanolamine. In contrast, nerve cells known to regenerate showed lower PSD activity. This striking difference suggested that PSD may act as a brake on nerve regrowth rather than a helper.
Lowering PSD Sparks Nerve Growth
Using gene therapy tools, the scientists reduced PSD levels in retinal ganglion cells grown in the laboratory. The results were dramatic. Nerve cells with reduced PSD grew longer and healthier extensions, known as neurites. Their cell membranes became more fluid, making it easier for the cells to expand and form new connections. Cholesterol and rigid saturated fats were reduced, creating a more growth-friendly environment.
Too Much PSD Damages Cell Powerhouses
When PSD levels were increased, the opposite happened. Mitochondria became fragmented and unhealthy, and nerve cells struggled to grow. This showed that excess PSD disrupts both energy production and membrane structure.
Interestingly, a cancer drug known to reduce PSD activity partially restored nerve growth, further confirming PSD’s role as a growth suppressor.
Animal Experiments Confirm Real World Impact
In mice with crushed optic nerves, lowering
PSD significantly improved nerve regrowth inside the eye. These findings suggest that targeting PSD could one day help protect or restore vision in people suffering from optic nerve diseases.
Conclusions and Future Outlook
This study provides strong evidence that phosphatidylserine decarboxylase acts as a key regulator that limits nerve regeneration by altering mitochondrial health and membrane flexibility. By reducing PSD activity, nerve cells shift into a more repair-ready state. These findings open the door to new treatments aimed at restoring vision by fine-tuning lipid metabolism rather than targeting nerve cells directly.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Biomolecules.
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16/2/276
For the latest research on nerve regeneration, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/glaucoma-news
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/ophthalmology-(eye-diseases)
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