title: Filtering blue light reduces light-induced oxidative stress, senescence and accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in human retinal pigment epithelium cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cumulative light exposure is significantly associated with ageing and the progression of age-related macular degeneration. To prevent the retina from blue-light damage in pseudophakia, blue light-absorbing intraocular lenses have been developed. This study compares the possible protective effects of a blue light-absorbing intraocular lens to an untinted ultraviolet-absorbing intraocular lens with regard to light-induced oxidative stress and senescence of human retinal pigment epithelium.
  
  
  METHODS
  As primary human retinal pigment epithelium cells were exposed to white light, either an ultraviolet- and blue light-absorbing intraocular lens or ultraviolet-absorbing intraocular lens was placed in the light beam. After 60 min of irradiation, cells were investigated by electron microscopy for viability, induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity. Expression and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3 and their mRNA were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Light exposure induced structural damage, decreased retinal pigment epithelium cell viability, and increased reactive oxygen species, senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity and matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3 expression and secretion. Although both types of intraocular lens significantly reduced these effects, the protective effects of the ultraviolet- and blue light-absorbing intraocular lens were significantly stronger than those of the ultraviolet-absorbing intraocular lens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ultraviolet- and blue light-absorbing intraocular lens demonstrated significantly better protection against light-induced oxidative stress, senescence and structural damage than the ultraviolet-absorbing intraocular lens. These in vitro findings support the hypothesis that the ultraviolet- and blue light-absorbing intraocular lens may prevent retinal damage in clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. marcus.kernt@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kernt
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walch
authors.forename: Aljoscha S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Neubauer
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hirneiss
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haritoglou
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ulbig
authors.forename: Anselm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kampik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008027:Light; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1