The aim of the Chinese study was to uncover the role of ferroptosis in retinal damage caused by blue light. The researchers found that blue light increases the concentration of oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species, ROS) and elevates the intracellular level of Fe2+ in retinal cells. This leads to excessive lipid peroxidation, a key feature of ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of cell death. At the same time, the study reveals that antioxidant systems, which normally protect the retina from ferroptosis, are disrupted due to blue light exposure. These findings demonstrate that ferroptosis is a critical process in retinal damage caused by blue light, providing a new perspective on the mechanisms of visual damage caused by blue light pollution in lighting and displays.
Exposure to blue light causes ferroptosis, which leads to retinal damage and degeneration
In the experiment, the researchers exposed ARPE-19 retinal pigment epithelial cells and rats for 12 hours and 8 hours, respectively, to 435-455-nm blue light. The results showed that blue light caused intracellular Fe2+ outburst, increased ROS (oxidative stress) levels and caused lipid peroxide (LPO) accumulation in ARPE-19 retinal cells. This led to a significant reduction in cell viability and to retinal degeneration.
