Photoreceptors are specialized cells in the eye that convert light energy into nerve signals.
Several diseases that cause irreversible vision loss, such as age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and retinal detachment, are associated with the death of photoreceptors.
Although there are many molecular pathways that lead to cell death, there are also many molecular pathways that try to keep cells alive.
In a new study published in cell death and diseasea research team at the University of Michigan has discovered that functional mitochondria are key to the recovery of dying photoreceptor cells.
Apoptosis is the main pathway by which cells die and was traditionally thought to be irreversible.
Researchers recently discovered that cells can recover from activation of the apoptotic process if the signals that triggered it are removed.
In the study, the research team used mouse cell lines to see if the same results were seen in photoreceptor cells.
By using chemicals that mimic stress factors and hypoxic conditions, they were able to stimulate cells to undergo apoptosis.
It’s like a battery corroding and leaking toxins. Mitophagy gets rid of those bad batteries. ”
David Zacks, MD
When the researchers removed the stress, the cells recovered, regardless of how far along they were in the death process.
“These results were interesting because even if we can’t cure the underlying disease, we can try to activate survival pathways and keep cells alive,” said David Zacks, MD, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences and member of the Caswell Diabetes Institute.
Mitochondria, the batteries of the cell, play an important role in apoptosis.
During this process, the formation of dysfunctional mitochondria triggers more pathways leading to cell death.
The researchers found that mitochondria in mouse cell lines recovered when apoptotic stress was removed.
This recovery was aided by mitophagy, a process by which cells remove dysfunctional mitochondria.
“It’s like a battery corroding and leaking toxins,” Zack said.
“Mitophagy gets rid of those bad batteries.”
The researchers confirmed similar results in a mouse model in which photoreceptor cell apoptosis is activated during retinal detachment and reversed upon reattachment.
The research team is working to understand which pathways help photoreceptor cells recover and which retinal diseases could benefit from the recovery process.
sauce:
Michigan Medicine – University of Michigan
Reference magazines:
Kaul, B. Others. (2026). Recovery from apoptosis in photoreceptor cells: the role of mitophagy. cell death and disease. DOI: 10.1038/s41419-026-08436-3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41419-026-08436-3
