Plin2 Coordinates Immune and Metabolic Reprogramming in Lacrimal Gland Aging.

Summary: As we get older, our tear glands stop working as well, leading to dry and itchy eyes. Scientists wanted to know exactly why this happens. They looked at the genes in the tear glands of young and old mice. They found one special gene called Plin2 that acts like a master switch. In older mice, Plin2 stops working properly. This causes bad inflammation and messes up how the cells use energy. Because of this, the tear glands shrink and make fewer tears. Fixing this Plin2 switch could be a great new way to treat dry eyes in older adults!