RETRACTED ARTICLE: Role of short-wavelength blue light in the formation of cataracts and the expression of caspase-1, caspase-11, Gasdermin D in rat lens epithelial cells: insights into a novel pathogenic mechanism of cataracts

Abstract

Background: With the popularity of blue-rich light-emitting diode (LED)-backlit display devices, our eyes are now exposed to more short-wavelength blue light than they were in the past. The goal of this study was to investigate the pathogenesis of cataracts after short-wavelength light exposure. Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were selected and randomly divided into a control group (10 rats each for the 4-, 8-, and 12-week groups) and an experimental group (10 rats each for the 4-, 8-, and 12-week groups). The rats in the experimental group were exposed to a short-wavelength blue LED lamp for 12 h per day. After exposure to the blue LED lamp, the rats were maintained in total darkness for 12 h, after which a 12-h light/dark cycle was resumed. The intensity of the lamp was 3000 lx. At the end of the short-wavelength blue LED lamp exposure (for 4, 8, and 12 weeks), the expression levels of caspase-1, caspase-11 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) were examined in rat lens epithelial cells (LECs) using qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses. An illuminance of 2500 lx was used to study the potential effect of blue LED light on HLE-B3 hLECs in vitro. AC-YVAD-CMK, a caspase-1 inhibitor, was used to confirm the pyroptosis of LECs by flow cytometry. Results: After 6 weeks, cataracts developed in the experimental rats (4/20 eyes). The clarity of the lens gradually worsened with the duration of exposure. Twelve weeks later, all of the rat eyes had developed cataracts. The expression levels of caspase-1, caspase-11 and GSDMD at 4, 8, and 12 weeks were significantly higher in the samples from rats exposed to a short-wavelength blue LED lamp than in the samples from control rats (p<0.05). The proportions of double-positive hLECs were significantly increased in the 5-h and 10-h short-wavelength blue light exposure subgroups compared with the 5-h and 10-h caspase-1 inhibitor subgroups (p < 0.05).

Downregulation of IRF2 Alleviates Sepsis-Related Acute Kidney Injury in vitro and in vivo

“…13,14 This inflammatory pathway is found in a variety of cells, such as macrophages, monocytes, and epithelial cells. [15][16][17] The pathological characteristics of S-AKI are renal tubular sublethal and lethal damage, leading to apoptosis, necrosis, and pyrolysis. 18 Interferon regulatory factor 2 (IRF2) is a transcription factor located on chromosome 4, which was originally identified as a regulator of the type I interferon system.…”

Influence of Visible Violet, Blue and Red Light on the Development of Cataract in Porcine Lenses

“…It is a reasonable question whether these results can be transferred to in-vivo human eyes and whether human eyes are exposed to such doses under realistic circumstances. Unfortunately, we cannot answer these questions for human eyes, but Wang et al investigated the effect of blue light (460 nm) on in-vivo rat eyes [23]. For 4 to 12 weeks they kept rats under a blue illumination of 3000 lux for 12 h a day and observed cataract formation.…”

Spotlight on pyroptosis: role in pathogenesis and therapeutic potential of ocular diseases

“…Cataracts, characterized by lens opacity, are the most common ocular disease and the leading cause of blindness worldwide [ 20 ]. Drugs, malnutrition, aging, ultraviolet (UV) light, and diabetes mellitus are widely accepted risk factors for cataract [ 220 ]. LECs can stabilize the intracellular environment and maintain a clear crystalline lens [ 221 ].…”

“…Sun et al showed that CRTAC1-mediated UVB-induced pyroptosis in human LECs occurs via ROS/NLRP3/CASP1 signaling [ 20 ]. Other studies have shown that short-wavelength blue light induces pyroptosis by activating the canonical or noncanonical CASP1/GSDMD signaling axis in LECs [ 220 , 222 ]. In addition, the expression levels of CASP1 and GSDMD in LECs changed with blue light exposure times [ 222 ].…”