Evaluation of ultraviolet light toxicity on cultured retinal pigment epithelial and retinal ganglion cells.
OBJECTIVE
Our study is aimed at evaluating the role of UVB light in inducing cytotoxicity in an in vitro model.


METHODS
RGC-5 and ARPE-19 cells were exposed to different time periods of UVB light: 0, 15, 30, and 45 min. They were subsequently examined for changes in cell morphology, cell viability (neutral red uptake assay), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), expression of bax, bcl-2 and cytochome C by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively.


RESULTS
Dose-dependent reduction in cell viability to UVB light was demonstrated with parallel increase in ROS. Increased duration of exposure (>15 minutes), was associated with increased expression of bax and cytochrome C, and absence of bcl-2 expression.


CONCLUSIONS
UVB light exposure results in cell cytotoxicity. The concomitant generation of ROS and expression of apoptotic markers suggests the role of oxidative stress in UVB-mediated apoptosis in an in vitro model of retinal ganglion and pigment epithelial cells.
Balaiya
Sankarathi
S
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
Murthy
Ravi K
RK
Brar
Vikram S
VS
Chalam
Kakarla V
KV