The research conducted in Professor Elie Beit-Yannai's laboratory is dedicated to uncovering the intricate mechanisms of intercellular communication within the ocular drainage system, with a primary focus on its dysfunction in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG). The lab's core hypothesis is that Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), specifically small EVs (sEVs), serve as critical messengers that mediate the pathological crosstalk between the aqueous humor-producing cells (Non-Pigmented Ciliary Epithelium, NPCE) and the aqueous humor-draining cells (Trabecular Meshwork, TM).

The lab employs a multi-faceted methodological approach, utilizing a suite of advanced techniques, including Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) and Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing (TRPS) for high-resolution sEV sizing, as well as morphological validation via Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and immunophenotyping by Flow Cytometry (FACS). Notably, the lab utilizes an automated software plugin for quantitative single-vesicle analysis, positioning this as a general, state-of-the-art tool for comprehensive EV research.

Our core findings involve the Integrated Profiling of Extracellular Vesicle microRNA Impact on Trabecular Meshwork mRNA Expression. Utilizing microarray analysis, we demonstrate that sEVs released from OS-stressed NPCE cells carry a distinct profile of microRNAs that modulate gene expression in the TM. This EV-mediated transfer leads to the upregulation of TM genes linked to Extracellular Matrix (ECM) organization and the downregulation of genes related to oxidative phosphorylation, defining novel regulatory networks implicated in POAG pathogenesis. Furthermore, the work explores the potential for exosome engineering, focusing on loading sEVs with specific therapeutic payloads (e.g., siRNA) to advance their use as precise biomarkers and potent drug delivery vehicles for preserving vision.