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Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults, which has high frequency of metastasis to the liver, typically causing a fatal outcome. Chemo-resistance remains a major obstacle in the therapeutic approach to UM, leaving limited choice for treating UM. Other possible treatments have been explored but the results are yet to be evident. To improve therapy for UM, transcriptional suicide genes were transfected into the OCM-1 cell line. In the current study, OCM-1 cells transfected with lentiviral-meditated EGFP, cytosine deaminase (CD)/EGFP, and VP22-CD/EGFP were established. Of the three groups, we examined the cell growth in vitro and in vivo by using the MTT method with cell culture media and MRI in murine UM models. According to our results, the cell proliferation in the transfected CD/EGFP group was slower than the non-suicide gene group. The VP22-CD/EGFP group manifested superior cell cytotoxicity than the CD/EGFP group. Further analysis of MRI and fluorescent imaging of the murine UM model identified significant differences in tumor volume among the three groups. Collectively, our study demonstrated that CD/5-FC is a potent therapeutic approach for UM. With the efficacy of VP22, suicide gene-induced cytotoxicity was superior to applying CD alone. Taken together, we concluded that novel therapy with the VP22-CD suicide gene may further contribute to treatment of UM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better perform space missions and develop human spaceflights, the eye health of astronauts is receiving increasing attention from researchers. In this study, we used prolonged tail suspension to simulate microgravity cephalad fluid shift in space to observe intraocular pressure (IOP) changes, retinal structure, and optic nerve damage in rats. We observed significant choroidal thickening and optic nerve demyelination lesions in the rats in each experimental group. At the cellular level, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) survival was significantly reduced, optic nerve oligodendrocytes were reduced, and apoptotic factors and microglia-mediated inflammation-related factors were detected in both the retina and optic nerve. The severity of these changes increased with increasing tails suspension time. In conclusion, simulated long-term microgravity can lead to slight intraocular pressure fluctuations, choroidal thickening, reduced RGCs survival, and optic nerve demyelination in rats. • During the simulated long-term weightlessness, the IOP of rats fluctuated to some extent, but the fluctuation interval was within the range of normal IOP, the choroidal thickness of both eyes of rats was significantly thickened. • The expression of Iba1 and Cas3 in the retina and optic nerve was up-regulated during simulated long-term weightlessness. • The survival rate of retinal ganglion cells was significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]