Rebuilding the Lacrimal Blueprint

Autophagy: an unexpected gatekeeper of lacrimal gland development

January 15, 2026
2 min

The Ophthalmologist

Objective:

To investigate the role of autophagy in the development and function of human lacrimal gland-like organoids.

Key Findings:

Autophagy is essential for proper lacrimal gland differentiation and function.
ATG5 knockout led to reduced expression of key markers and diminished secretory function.
Autophagy-deficient organoids exhibited signs of cellular stress and degeneration.
NMN effectively reversed deeper cellular abnormalities and improved secretion, while melatonin also showed beneficial effects.

Interpretation:

The study highlights the critical role of autophagy in lacrimal gland health and suggests potential therapeutic avenues for dry eye disease through NMN and melatonin.

Limitations:

Translation from organoid models to clinical applications requires further validation.
The long-term effects and safety of NMN and melatonin in humans are not yet established.