Filtering Blue Light Reduces Light-Induced Oxidative Stress, Senescence, and Accumulation of Extracellular Matrix Proteins in Human RPE Cells

Abstract

Purpose: : Cumulative light-exposure is significantly associated with ageing and progression of age related macular degeneration (ARMD). In order to prevent the retina from blue-light damage in pseudophacia, blue-light-absorbing intraocular lenses (IOL) have recently been developed. This study compares possible protective effects of a blue-light-absorbing IOL to an untinted, UV-absorbing IOL regarding light-induced oxidative stress and senescence on human RPE.

Methods: : Primary human RPE cells were exposed to white light and either a blue-light-absorbing IOL or a UV-absorbing IOL was placed in the light beam. After 60 minutes of irradiation cellular viability, induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity (SA β-Gal)was determined. Expression and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1 and 3 and their mRNA were determined by RT-PCR and ELISA.

Results: : Light exposure decreased RPE cell viability, and increased ROS, SA β-Gal, and MMP-1 and 3 expression. These effects were significantly reduced by both, the blue-light-absorbing IOL and the UV-absorbing IOL. In addition, these protective effects were significantly stronger in presence of the blue-light-absorbing IOL, compared to the UV-absorbing IOL.

Conclusions: : In this study the blue-light-absorbing IOL demonstrated a significant better protection against light-induced oxidative stress, senescence and extracellular-matrix-protein over-expression than the UV-absorbing IOL. These in vitro findings support the hypothesis of possibly also preventing retinal damage in clinical use.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • radiation damage: light/UV • cataract