Study reveals potential therapeutic target for treating glaucoma (Nicotinamide)

Medical Xpress / eLife ^ | Jan. 26, 2026 | Emily Packer / Nicholas Tolman et al

[ConservativeMind]

Researchers have identified a metabolically sensitive cell subtype in the eye's drainage system which shows early signs of dysfunction in a genetic mouse model of glaucoma.

The study provides a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or slowing the development of glaucoma.

Glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. The main risk factors is high intraocular pressure, which results from dysfunction in the trabecular meshwork—a porous tissue that helps maintain normal eye pressure.

Tolman used single-cell RNA sequencing to profile nearly 18,000 cells. They identified six major cell types, with further analysis revealing three subtypes of trabecular meshwork cells, which they named TM1, TM2 and TM3.

Each TM subtype showed distinct molecular signatures and spatial organization. TM1 cells were crucial for maintaining tissue structure. TM2 cells linked to cell signaling, immune response and debris clearance. TM3 cells stood out for their high levels of mitochondrial and contractility-related genes, as well as elevated expression of Lmx1b, a gene previously linked to glaucoma in both mice and humans.

To investigate how these subtypes respond to glaucoma-associated stress, the team used a mouse model. While all three TM subtypes were present in these mice, TM3 cells were most affected. They showed signs of mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced oxidative phosphorylation (a key energy-producing pathway), and often lowered expression of genes involved in protein quality control. These disruptions likely impair the function and health of TM3 cells, affecting their ability to properly regulate outflow and pointing to TM3 as a critical cell type in glaucoma progression.

The team tested whether supporting mitochondrial function could help. They treated some of the mice with nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3 known to enhance cellular metabolism and improve resilience. This led to lower eye pressure and fewer signs of the anatomical changes linked to glaucoma progression.

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TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: eye; eyes; glaucoma; treatment

[ConservativeMind]

Nicotinamide, and its derivatives, are all forms of niacin (Vitamin B3).

It appears it can help the eye with lowering intraocular pressure.

[ConservativeMind]

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[aposiopetic]

A lot of good stuff this evening. Thanks for your efforts.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Thank you will read this further tomorrow I have glaucoma actually the doc called it borderline but I’ve been on lumigan for years would love a treatment for this to get off the annoying eye drops

[BipolarBob]

I think there’s nicotimide in my cigars. So smoking is good again?

[aquila48]

Bookmark

[cpdiii]

I think there’s nicotimide in my cigars.

Unfortunately not. I did love my cigars. A nice day on the back porch with a cigar and single malt or Irish and it does not get much better than that except in bed. At my advanced age of 77 I am leaning toward the cigar and malt. LOL

[jonrick46]

Is nicotinamide the same thing as nicotine?

[telescope115]

I’ve been using two different eye drops plus receiving an injection in my right eye for almost a year. Glaucoma, plus two blood clots in veins feeding the retina in that eye. “Occlusions” is the proper word. I don’t know if those new breakthroughs will help me or not, but it sounds promising down the road.

[UnwashedPeasant]

“Nicotinamide or niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 found in food and used as a dietary supplement and medication. As a supplement, it is used orally (swallowed by mouth) to prevent and treat pellagra (niacin deficiency). While nicotinic acid (niacin) may be used for this purpose, nicotinamide has the benefit of not causing skin flushing.” More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotinamide

I think it is the common “flush-free” niacin found in dietary supplements.

[Rockingham]

No. They are different compounds even though they have similar names and some components in common.

[rarestia]

So smoking is good again?

Stay tuned! Nicotine is making a big comeback among the youth. Nicotine pouches (Zyn, On!, Velo, etc.) are booming right now, and health authorities have lamented that they are concerned about a rise in youth experimentation with tobacco despite being at the lowest levels ever recorded. The key differentiator here: nicotine use vs. tobacco use. Nicotine use is up. Tobacco use is down.

However, there were studies as recent as 2015-2018 that showed that mortality risks among primary premium cigar smokers were lower than cigarettes, and these studies have been supported by others that looked at the compositional differences between cigars and cigarettes. If you don't inhale cigars, your risks aren't zero, but they aren't as high as a regular cigarette user.

I personally switched to nicotine pouches and am happy for it. I spend less overall compared to cigars, and I still maintain the benefits of the nicotine during the workday without the stigma attached to smoking. The medical establishment has been playing fast and loose with the distinction between tobacco and nicotine. The reality is that nicotine isn't just safe, it's beneficial. The NIH has had to step back from their decades-long stance that nicotine is harmful and admit that there are benefits such as "enhanced cognitive function, mood regulation, and even anti-inflammatory effects in some psychoneuroimmunological studies." They've begrudgingly admitted that most of the negative health impacts were due to the secondary factor of combustibles in tobacco products, not the nicotine itself.

[Kid Shelleen]

Thanks for the info;
My dermologist recomends niacinamide (1000 mg daily) for skin therapy.
According to GROK niacinamide AND nicotinamide are "exactly the same thing" but the glaucoma studies use much higher doses (3,000 mg per day). You can get niacinamide in your local pharmacy or health food stores. Check with your doctor. Maybe you can take niacinamide and get the skin-care benefits and also possible get the glaucoma benefits.

WARNING: Long-term safety at high doses (>3 g/day) is not fully established.(GROK)

[HombreSecreto]

Premium cigars? Like Swisher Sweets? Cool!

[rarestia]

Pretty sure Swishers aren’t part of the premium group.