title: Blue light effect on retinal pigment epithelial cells by display devices.
abstract: Blue light has high photochemical energy and induces cell apoptosis in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Due to its phototoxicity, retinal hazard by blue light stimulation has been well demonstrated using high intensity light sources. However, it has not been studied whether blue light in the displays, emitting low intensity light, such as those used in today's smartphones, monitors, and TVs, also causes apoptosis in retinal pigment epithelial cells. We attempted to examine the blue light effect on human adult retinal epithelial cells using display devices with different blue light wavelength ranges, the peaks of which specifically appear at 449 nm, 458 nm, and 470 nm. When blue light was illuminated on A2E-loaded ARPE-19 cells using these displays, the display with a blue light peak at a shorter wavelength resulted in an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, the reduction of cell viability and induction of caspase-3/7 activity were more evident in A2E-loaded ARPE-19 cells after illumination by the display with a blue light peak at a shorter wavelength, especially at 449 nm. Additionally, white light was tested to examine the effect of blue light in a mixed color illumination with red and green lights. Consistent with the results obtained using only blue light, white light illuminated by display devices with a blue light peak at a shorter wavelength also triggered increased cell death and apoptosis compared to that illuminated by display devices with a blue light peak at longer wavelength. These results show that even at the low intensity utilized in the display devices, blue light can induce ROS production and apoptosis in retinal cells. Our results also suggest that the blue light hazard of display devices might be highly reduced if the display devices contain less short wavelength blue light.
authors.affiliation: Display R&D Center, Samsung Display Co., Ltd, Yongin, Gyeonggi 446-711, Korea.
authors.forename: Jiyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jieun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Yeo Dae
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sang-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Won-Sang
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hye Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Keun Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Myung Yeol
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soo Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Young-Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Young Pyo
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jong Soon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D016288:Computer Terminals; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012176:Retinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D013690:Television; D000076251:Wearable Electronic Devices / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: C112040:A2-E (N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine); D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012176:Retinoids