Blue light-induced phototoxicity in retinal cells: implications in age-related macular degeneration

Sunlight exposure is recognized as a risk factor for the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common neurodegenerative retinal disease in the elderly. Specifically, the blue light wavelengths within sunlight can negatively impact the physiology of light-sensitive retinal cells, i...

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Main Authors: Harshini Chakravarthy, Vasil Georgyev, Cole Wagen, Amir Hosseini, Joanne Matsubara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1509434/full
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author Harshini Chakravarthy
Vasil Georgyev
Cole Wagen
Amir Hosseini
Joanne Matsubara
author_facet Harshini Chakravarthy
Vasil Georgyev
Cole Wagen
Amir Hosseini
Joanne Matsubara
author_sort Harshini Chakravarthy
collection DOAJ
description Sunlight exposure is recognized as a risk factor for the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common neurodegenerative retinal disease in the elderly. Specifically, the blue light wavelengths within sunlight can negatively impact the physiology of light-sensitive retinal cells, including retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors. This review explores blue light-induced retinal degeneration, emphasizing the structural and functional impairments in RPE. The initial section provides a brief overview of blue light’s effects on photoreceptors, followed by a comprehensive analysis of its detrimental impact on RPE. In vitro studies reveal that blue light exposure induces morphological alterations and functional impairments in RPE, including reduced phagocytic activity, disrupted secretion of neurotrophic factors, and compromised barrier function. Mechanisms of retinal damage, including oxidative stress, inflammation, lipofuscin accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress in RPE, are also explored. The strengths and limitations of in vitro, animal and ex vivo models for studying blue light exposure are discussed, with recommendations for improving reproducibility in future studies.
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spelling doaj-art-14f4e26507e84e52950fce2f482b86c02025-08-20T01:57:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience1663-43652024-12-011610.3389/fnagi.2024.15094341509434Blue light-induced phototoxicity in retinal cells: implications in age-related macular degenerationHarshini ChakravarthyVasil GeorgyevCole WagenAmir HosseiniJoanne MatsubaraSunlight exposure is recognized as a risk factor for the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common neurodegenerative retinal disease in the elderly. Specifically, the blue light wavelengths within sunlight can negatively impact the physiology of light-sensitive retinal cells, including retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors. This review explores blue light-induced retinal degeneration, emphasizing the structural and functional impairments in RPE. The initial section provides a brief overview of blue light’s effects on photoreceptors, followed by a comprehensive analysis of its detrimental impact on RPE. In vitro studies reveal that blue light exposure induces morphological alterations and functional impairments in RPE, including reduced phagocytic activity, disrupted secretion of neurotrophic factors, and compromised barrier function. Mechanisms of retinal damage, including oxidative stress, inflammation, lipofuscin accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress in RPE, are also explored. The strengths and limitations of in vitro, animal and ex vivo models for studying blue light exposure are discussed, with recommendations for improving reproducibility in future studies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1509434/fullphototoxicityretinal inflammationphotoreceptorsretinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cellsage-related macular degeneration (AMD)blue light exposure
spellingShingle Harshini Chakravarthy
Vasil Georgyev
Cole Wagen
Amir Hosseini
Joanne Matsubara
Blue light-induced phototoxicity in retinal cells: implications in age-related macular degeneration
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
phototoxicity
retinal inflammation
photoreceptors
retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
blue light exposure
title Blue light-induced phototoxicity in retinal cells: implications in age-related macular degeneration
title_full Blue light-induced phototoxicity in retinal cells: implications in age-related macular degeneration
title_fullStr Blue light-induced phototoxicity in retinal cells: implications in age-related macular degeneration
title_full_unstemmed Blue light-induced phototoxicity in retinal cells: implications in age-related macular degeneration
title_short Blue light-induced phototoxicity in retinal cells: implications in age-related macular degeneration
title_sort blue light induced phototoxicity in retinal cells implications in age related macular degeneration
topic phototoxicity
retinal inflammation
photoreceptors
retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
blue light exposure
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1509434/full
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AT colewagen bluelightinducedphototoxicityinretinalcellsimplicationsinagerelatedmaculardegeneration
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