Transcriptome sequencing of rabbit cornea after different illumination
This study aimed to investigate the effects of long-term pollution from different wavelengths of light on the corneal epithelium (CE) and identify potential biomarkers. Rabbits were exposed to red, green, blue, white, and environmental light for 6 weeks. The CE was assessed using various techniques such as fluorescein sodium staining, transcriptome sequencing, electron microscopy, and molecular assays. In human corneal epithelial cells (hCECs), the downregulation of vascular cell adhesion molecular 1 (VCAM1) in response to blue light (BL) pollution was observed.  This downregulation of VCAM1 inhibited hCEC migration and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, apoptosis, and inhibited the AKT/p70S6K cascade. Animal experiments confirmed that BL pollution caused similar effects on the rabbit cornea, including increased ROS production, apoptosis, delayed wound healing, and decreased VCAM1 expression. In conclusion, BL-induced VCAM1 downregulation may impair CE and wound healing, and promotes ROS and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Overall design: 12 samples from rabbit cornea