title: Light filtering in a retinal pigment epithelial cell culture model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We tested for protection of blue light-exposed A2E-containing retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) from damage through the implementation of polycarbonate filters containing varying levels of a pigment that absorbs short wavelength light.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human adult RPE cells (ARPE-19) that had accumulated synthesized A2E were exposed to either a light line delivered from a tungsten halogen source (430 ± 20 nm; 8 mW/cm) or to the entire area of a 35 mm dish (1 mW/cm). Blue-light absorbing polycarbonate filters (2.5 × 4 cm) containing varying levels of short-wavelength light absorbing pigment (1.0, 1.9, 3.8, 7.5, 15, and 35 ppm) or no dye (PC) were placed in the light path. Cytotoxicity was measured by the 4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric microtiter assay (Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Indianapolis, IN) or by fluorescent staining of non-viable cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When filters containing blue-light absorbing dye were placed in the light path, protection of 430 nm irradiated A2E-laden RPE was observed. The extent of protection was dependent on the concentration of the dye. By MTT assay and fluorescence labeling, statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between irradiation in the absence of a filter and irradiation in the presence of a filter were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The series of filters tested in this work provided protection against blue light damage in a culture model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Jilin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Janet R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sparrow
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D003124:Colorimetry; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005374:Filtration; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C005506:polycarbonate; C022616:thiazolyl blue