Objective To observe the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and its receptors sFlt-1, kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) in lightinjured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Methods Cultured human RPE cells (8th - 12th generations) were divided into normal control group and light damage group. The cells of two groups were exposed to the 18 W cold white light (2200±300) Lux for 12 hours to induce light damage responses, but the cells of normal control group were packed by tinfoil with doubledeck high pressure disinfection. The VEGF-A, sFlt-1 and KDR mRNA and protein expressions were detected by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot at 0, 6, 12, 24 hours after light damage. Results The VEGF-A mRNA and protein expressions in light damage group were significantly increased at 6 hours, and reached its peak at 12 hours after light damage which obviously higher than that in normal group (t=2.74, 2.93; P＜0.05), and then went down gradually. The sFlt-1 mRNA and protein expressions in light damage group reached its peak at 12 hours after light damage which obviously higher than that in normal group (t=4.32, P＜0.01), but obviously lower than that in normal group at 24 hours after light damage (t=2.41, P＜0.05). The KDR mRNA and protein expressions in light damage group were obviously higher than that in normal group at 24 hours after light damage （t=2.89, P＜0.05）,but there was no changes at 6, 12 hours after light damage (t=1.84, P＞0.05). Conclusions At 6, 12 hours after light damage, the expressions of VEGF-A and sFlt-1 increases significantly and KDR expression is stable in lightinjured RPE cells. At 24 hours after light damage, the expression of VEGF-A and sFlt-1 decreases, but KDR expression increases in light-injured RPE cells.
Objective To observe the effect of persistent flickering stimulus on the structure and function of retina in guinea pigs during a developmentally sensitive period.Methods Twenty-four two- week-old guinea pigs were randomly divided into flicker light (FL) group and control group, with 12 guinea pigs in each group. Animals in FL group were raised under 500 Lux illumination with a duty diurnal cycle of 50% at a flash rate of 0.5 Hz. Animals in control group were reared under steady 500 Lux illumination. Light emitting diode (LED) lamps were used for lighting under a 12-hour light/12-hour dark cycle. After the collection of fundus photographs and electroretinograms recorded at week 12, eyeballs were taken out, three dimensions were measured, and histopathological changes were examined.Results Compared to control group, tessellated fundus in FL group appeared more prevalent; implicit time of ldquo;ardquo; waves were prolonged in electroretinogram; the eyeballs were increased in horizontal, vertical, axial dimensions by (0.89plusmn;0.30), (0.69plusmn;0.20) and (0.96plusmn;0.30) mm respectively, the differences between two groups were statistically significant (t=12.7,11.9,15.8;P＜0.05). The gap of sclera collagen fiber was slightly widened.The photoreceptor layer was more likely to develop a disordered outer segment, which contained deciduous disc membranes.Conclusion Persistent flickering stimulus is attended by development of excessive ocular enlargement,which could affect the retinal structure and function of photoreceptors.
Objective To observe the expression of alpha;A-and alpha;B-in retina after blue-light exposure.Methods Forty female Wistar rats were divided randomly into 4 groups:control group,and blue-light exposure for 6,12,and 24 hours groups, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the control group were not intervened.The other three groups of rats were exposed to blue fluorescent lights for 6,12,and 24 hours respcetively. Then the rats were kept in darkness for 12 hours. The globes were enucleated after anaesthesia.The immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of alpha;A and alpha;B-crystallin in retina.Results The absorbance value (A value) of retina alpha;A-crystallin was 1.40573plusmn;0.70748 in the control group, and were 4.317 51plusmn;0.412 97, 7.397 08plusmn;1.947 90, 9.634 32plusmn;2.377 61, respectively in the other 3 groups; the difference among the groups was significant (F=24.569，P＜0.001). The A value of retina alpha;B-crystallin is 0.129 36plusmn;0.033 93 in the control group, and were 0.507 17plusmn;0.117 55, 7.345 43plusmn;2.292 97, 4.042 26plusmn;3.890 23, respectively in the other 3 groups; the difference among the groups was significant（F=40.102，P＜0.001）. The results of Western blot showed that the expression of alpha;A and alpha;B crystallin in groups with bluelight exposure was obviously higher than that in the control group.Conclusions Blue light may up-regulate the expression of alpha;A-and alpha;B-crystallin in ratsprime; retina.
Objective To assess the effects of 670nm LED (lightemitting diode) to protect the photoreceptor from the lightinduced damage in a rat model. Methods 32 SD rats were randomly assigned to one of eight groups: untreated control group, the LEDtreated control group, three groups of lightinduced damage，and three groups of lightinduced damage treated with LED. Lightinduced damage result from exposing to constant light for 3 hours of different illuminations of 900，1800 and 2700 lx, respectively. The LED treatment (50 mW) was delivered for 30 minutes at 3 hours before the light damage and 0，24 and 48 hours after the light damage. Retinal function and morphology were measured by electroretinogram (ERG) and histopathology assay. Results The illumination of 900 lx for 3 hours did not damage the rat retina. The illumination of 1800 lx for 3 hours resulted in thinner ONL and no OS and IS. The ratio of damaged area/total retinal area was 048plusmn;012， the damaged thickness of ONL/normal ONL (L5 ) was 039plusmn;007，and the amplitude of ERG b wave was (431plusmn;120) mu;V. With the LED treatment the ratio of damaged area decreased (M6=017plusmn;0.12, P5/6=0.002), and the ratio of the damaged thickness of ONL also decreased (L6=0.22plusmn;0.09, P5/6lt;0.01), and the amplitude of ERG b wave increased to (1011plusmn;83) mu;V（P5/6lt;0.001）. The illumination of 2700 lx for 3 hours caused severed damage to the rat retina and the LED could not protect them significantly. Conclusions 670 nm LED treatment has an evident protective effect on retinal cells against light-induced damage, which may be a simple and effective therapy to prevent or to delay agerelated macular degeneration.
Objective To explore the connection between the melanin content of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and the function of photoreceptors, and the function of melanin on retinal light damage. Methods Agematched old dopachrome tautomerase knockout (DCT-/-) mice and wildtype mice were collected as the DCT-/- group and wildtype group, with 20 mice in each group. Baseline electroretinograms (ERG) in accordance with the international standards for the clinical electrophysiology were performed on all the mice, and the max ERG was recorded. Two mice were randomly selected in each group and were executed，and the removal eyeballs were as the control. The remaining 18 mice in each group were exposed to cold fluorescent light with the quantity of electricity of 20 W for 36 hours with a circle of 12 hours light12 hours dark12 hours light, which was repeated continuously for three times. The light intensity was (5000plusmn;356) lx. Six days after the light illumination, ERG were performed again and the results were recorded. Cervical dislocation methods were used to executed 2 mice which were chosen randomly in each group, and the eyeballs were removed. The tissue sections were observed under the optical and electron microscope.Results The results of ERG showed that the amplitude of a and b wave was lower in DCT-/- group than that in wildtype group before and after light injury （a wave before light injury: t=-7.13，Plt;0.01；b wave before light injury: t=-4.414，Plt;0.01；a wave after light injury: t=-10.162，Plt;0.01；b waveafter light injury: t=-6.772，Plt;0.01）. The decrease of amplitude of a and b wave was much obvious in DCT-/- group than that in wildtype group （a wave:t=4.975,Plt;0.01；b wave:t=2.908,Plt;0.01）. After the light injury, retinal edema and thinning were found in DCT-/- group which wasobvious than that in wildtype group; the photoreceptor layers and melanin were more seriously affected in DCT-/- group than that in wild-type group.Conclusions After the light illumination, the melanin of RPE cells reduces and the function of photoreceptors decreases, which suggests that melanin may play an protective role in the light injury.
Objective To investigate the relationship between exposure intensity and illumination time of blue light and replicative senescence of rat retinal pigment epithelial （RPE） cells.Methods Thirtysix 12-14 weeks Wistar rats were kept in the cage with a bluelight bulb ［(450plusmn;10) nm］, and were randomly divided into four groups (no light，nature light，500 lx light and 1000 lx light illumination), each has nine rats. The rats in each group were further divided into three subgroups according to illumination time (one month，two months or three months). Eyeballs were collected after intraperitoneal injection of 10% chloral hydrate. The right eye of each rat was embedded in paraffin and sectioned for hematoxylineosin (HE) staining, while frozen sections of the left eye were stained for the senescence-associated beta;-galactosidase (SA-beta;-Gal). The data were analyzed by SPSS11.5 statistical software.Results The amounts of SA-beta;-Gal positive RPE cells were significantly different between all groups under the same illumination time 17 (P＝0.000）, and between all subgroups of different illumination time with same exposure intensity （P＜0.01）except for the control group (no light). Conclusion Bluelight can induce replicative senescence in rat RPE cells in an intensity and timedependent manner.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of FTY720 on retinal photoreceptor cells and microglial following light-induced degeneration in rat retina. Methods120 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups including FTY720 group, solvent control group, model group and normal group. The rats of normal group were not intervened. The FTY720 group, solvent control group and model group establish retinal light injury mode. FTY720 was injected into abdominal cavity of the rats in FTY720 group 0.5 hours before light exposure. 50% dimethylsulfoxide was injected into abdominal cavity of the rats in solvent control group. The expressions of microglial cells in rat retinal were quantified using flow cytometry, the expressions of interleukin (IL)-1βwere examined by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay at 6 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days after light exposure. The apoptosis of retinal photoreceptor cells were measured by terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling at 1 day after light exposure. The morphological change of retinal were viewed by haematoxylin and eosin staining at 7 days after light exposure. ResultsThe expressions of microgilal and IL-1βbegan to rise at 1 day after light exposure, reached at peak at 3 days and decreased at 7 days. The expressions of IL-1βand microglial in FTY720 group were significantly lower than solvent control group and model group, but higher than normal group (P < 0.05).One day after exposure to light, the apoptosis cell ratio in normal group, model group, solvent control group and FTY720 group were 0, (87.66±2.50)%, (86.00±2.44)%, (49.66±2.80)%. The apoptosis cell in FTY720 group were higher than normal group, lower than solvent control group and model group (P < 0.05). Seven days after exposure to light, the retinal in normal group was structured and the cell was arranged well, the cell in solvent control group and model group was irregular arrangement and the outer nuclear layer (ONL) was thin after light exposure. The thickness of the ONL in FTY720 group was significantly higher than solvent control group and model group, below normal group. ConclusionFTY720 can prevents retinal photoreceptor cells from apoptosis and inhibits activation of microglial.
ObjectiveTo observe the influence of down-regulation of HtrA1 expression by small interfering RNA on light-injured human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. MethodsCultured human RPE cells(8th-12th generations)were exposed to the blue light at the intensity of (2000±500) Lux for 6 hours to establish the light injured model. Light injured cells were divided into HtrA1 siRNA group, negative control group and blank control group. HtrA1 siRNA group and negative control group were transfected with HtrA1 siRNA and control siRNA respectively. The proliferation of cells was assayed by CCK-8 method. Transwell test was used to detect the invasion ability of these three groups. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle and apoptosis. The expression of HtrA1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A was detected by real time-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot respectively. ResultsThe mRNA and protein level of HtrA1 in the light injured cells increased significantly compared to that in normal RPE cells (t=17.62, 15.09; P<0.05). Compared with negative control group and blank control group, the knockdown of HtrA1 in HtrA1 siRNA group was associated with reduced cellular proliferation (t=6.37, 4.52), migration (t=9.56, 12.13), apoptosis (t=23.37, 29.08) and decreased mRNA (t=17.36, 11.32, 7.29, 4.05) and protein levels (t=12.02, 15.28, 4.98, 6.24) of HtrA1 and VEGF-A. Cells of HtrA1 siRNA group mainly remained in G0/G1 phase, the difference was statistically significant (t=6.24, 4.93; P<0.05). ConclusionKnockdown of HtrA1 gene may reduce the proliferation, migration capability and apoptosis of light-injured RPE cells, and decrease the expression of VEGF-A.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of exosomes secreted by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells which damaged by blue light to Nod-like receptor protein (NLRP3).MethodsCultured ARPE-19 cells were divided into 2 groups; one group of RPE cells were exposed to blue light irradiation for 6 hours, the other group was cultured in routine environment. Total exosomes were extracted from the two groups by differential ultracentrifugation in low-temperature, and examined by transmission electron microscope to identify their forms. The exosomes were then incubated with normal ARPE-19 cells. The expression level of CD63, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18 and caspase-1 on the exosome surface were measured by Western blotting. The expressions of NLRP3 mRNA in RPE cells were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).ResultsBlue light damaged the cellular morphology. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the exosomes were 50-200nm in diameter and like double-concave disks. Blue light damaged cell-derived exosomes had significantly higher expression of IL-1β (t=18.04), IL-18 (t=12.55) and caspase-1 (t=14.70) than the control group (P＜0.001). ARPE-19 cells cultured with blue light damaged cell-derived exosomes also had significantly higher expression of IL-1β (t=18.59), IL-18 (t=23.95) and caspase-1 (t=35.27) than control exosomes (P＜0.001). RT-PCR showed that the relative expression of NLRP3 mRNA of PRE cells in experimental group and control group were 1.000±0.069 and 0.2±0.01, respectively, the difference was significant (t=12.20, P＜0.001).ConclusionThe expression IL-1β, IL-18 and caspase-1 and NLRP3 mRNA were upregulated by exosomes secreted by blue light damaged-RPE cells.