Transcriptomic Analyses of Aging Meibomian Glands in C57BL/6 Mice

Age-related Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (ARMGD) is a primary cause of evaporative dry eye disease (DED), a condition that significantly impacts individuals and healthcare systems globally. The meibomian glands (MGs) produce meibum, a lipid-rich secretion essential for tear film stability. Aging leads to various detrimental changes in the MGs, such as reduced cell proliferation, structural alterations, and lipid alterations, contributing to decreased meibum quantity and quality. While previous studies have primarily focused on lipid alterations in aged MGs already exhibiting dysfunction, there is a paucity of research exploring the corresponding gene expression changes involved in lipid metabolism and the initiation of ARMGD.