Low-level red light inhibits human retinal pigment epithelial cell fibrosis via UBE2C in a myopia-simulating hypoxic microenvironment
Abstract Background Low-level red light (LLRL) irradiation may inhibit myopia occurrence and progression. Understanding how LLRL inhibits fibrosis in human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells is critical to inhibiting myopia progression and developing novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we explo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Medical Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02774-2 |
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| _version_ | 1849238730408198144 |
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| author | Yaping Gao Xiaowei Zhu Yulan Luo Xuefen wu Ling Tan Haijiang Qiu |
| author_facet | Yaping Gao Xiaowei Zhu Yulan Luo Xuefen wu Ling Tan Haijiang Qiu |
| author_sort | Yaping Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Low-level red light (LLRL) irradiation may inhibit myopia occurrence and progression. Understanding how LLRL inhibits fibrosis in human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells is critical to inhibiting myopia progression and developing novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we explored the effects of LLRL on hRPE cells in a myopia-simulating hypoxic microenvironment and elucidated the mechanisms through which it inhibits scleral remodeling. Methods We first used the MTT assay to analyze hRPE cell proliferation under hypoxic conditions after LLRL irradiation at varying frequencies over different durations. RNA sequencing was used to screen for key signaling molecules leading to hRPE cell fibrosis. Western blotting, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence assay were used to detect the role of ubiquitin binding enzyme E2 C (UBE2C) in hRPE cell fibrosis under LLRL irradiation. Results LLRL was noted to regulate the extracellular matrix, inhibiting fibrosis in hypoxic hRPE cells. Moreover, supernatant of LLRL-treated hypoxic hRPE cells inhibited scleral remodeling in human scleral fibroblasts. Mechanistically, LLRL inhibited cell fibrosis by regulating UBE2C activation of the AKT/mTOR pathway. Conclusion In a hypoxic environment, LLRL irradiation can prevent fibroblast transformation in hRPE cells, indicating its potential in scleral remodeling inhibition. Our results revealed the molecular mechanism through which red light controls myopia and provide evidence for further basic and clinical research. Graphical abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-defd7e7bdebd4fbe9eff828593d0abf2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2047-783X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Medical Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-defd7e7bdebd4fbe9eff828593d0abf22025-08-20T04:01:25ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2025-07-0130111310.1186/s40001-025-02774-2Low-level red light inhibits human retinal pigment epithelial cell fibrosis via UBE2C in a myopia-simulating hypoxic microenvironmentYaping Gao0Xiaowei Zhu1Yulan Luo2Xuefen wu3Ling Tan4Haijiang Qiu5Department of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou First People’s HospitalZhongshan City People’s HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou First People’s HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou First People’s HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou First People’s HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou First People’s HospitalAbstract Background Low-level red light (LLRL) irradiation may inhibit myopia occurrence and progression. Understanding how LLRL inhibits fibrosis in human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells is critical to inhibiting myopia progression and developing novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we explored the effects of LLRL on hRPE cells in a myopia-simulating hypoxic microenvironment and elucidated the mechanisms through which it inhibits scleral remodeling. Methods We first used the MTT assay to analyze hRPE cell proliferation under hypoxic conditions after LLRL irradiation at varying frequencies over different durations. RNA sequencing was used to screen for key signaling molecules leading to hRPE cell fibrosis. Western blotting, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence assay were used to detect the role of ubiquitin binding enzyme E2 C (UBE2C) in hRPE cell fibrosis under LLRL irradiation. Results LLRL was noted to regulate the extracellular matrix, inhibiting fibrosis in hypoxic hRPE cells. Moreover, supernatant of LLRL-treated hypoxic hRPE cells inhibited scleral remodeling in human scleral fibroblasts. Mechanistically, LLRL inhibited cell fibrosis by regulating UBE2C activation of the AKT/mTOR pathway. Conclusion In a hypoxic environment, LLRL irradiation can prevent fibroblast transformation in hRPE cells, indicating its potential in scleral remodeling inhibition. Our results revealed the molecular mechanism through which red light controls myopia and provide evidence for further basic and clinical research. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02774-2Red lightFibrosisHuman retinal pigment epithelial cellsMyopia |
| spellingShingle | Yaping Gao Xiaowei Zhu Yulan Luo Xuefen wu Ling Tan Haijiang Qiu Low-level red light inhibits human retinal pigment epithelial cell fibrosis via UBE2C in a myopia-simulating hypoxic microenvironment European Journal of Medical Research Red light Fibrosis Human retinal pigment epithelial cells Myopia |
| title | Low-level red light inhibits human retinal pigment epithelial cell fibrosis via UBE2C in a myopia-simulating hypoxic microenvironment |
| title_full | Low-level red light inhibits human retinal pigment epithelial cell fibrosis via UBE2C in a myopia-simulating hypoxic microenvironment |
| title_fullStr | Low-level red light inhibits human retinal pigment epithelial cell fibrosis via UBE2C in a myopia-simulating hypoxic microenvironment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low-level red light inhibits human retinal pigment epithelial cell fibrosis via UBE2C in a myopia-simulating hypoxic microenvironment |
| title_short | Low-level red light inhibits human retinal pigment epithelial cell fibrosis via UBE2C in a myopia-simulating hypoxic microenvironment |
| title_sort | low level red light inhibits human retinal pigment epithelial cell fibrosis via ube2c in a myopia simulating hypoxic microenvironment |
| topic | Red light Fibrosis Human retinal pigment epithelial cells Myopia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02774-2 |
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