Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the functional role of melatonin type 2 (MT2) receptor expression and therapeutic efficacy of MT2 agonist for corneal epithelial damage induced by blue light (BL) exposure in mice model
Methods :
In part I, Eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were exposed to BL of 25 and 100 J/cm2 twice a day for 14 days. Expressions of MT2, LC3-II, p62, and BAX in corneas were analyzed after 3, 7, and 14 days of blue light exposure. In part II, mice were divided into untreated, BL-exposed, MT2 antagonist-treated mice exposed to BL, and MT2 agonist-treated mice exposed to BL. 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA), TUNEL assay, and corneal staining score were evaluated.
Results :
After exposing of BL, expression of MT2 was increased in the mice's cornea. MT2 antagonist-treated mice exposed to BL showed an increased p62 and increased LC3-II, and decreased BAX compared with mice exposed to BL only. In MT2 agonist-treated mice, ROS production, corneal apoptosis, and corneal staining score were improved compared with other groups.
Conclusions :
Expression of MT2 could be involved in BL-related corneal epithelial damage through regulating apoptosis and impaired autophagy responses. Topical MT2 agonist could effectively improve corneal staining score and oxidative damage of cornea in BL-exposed mice.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.