The Role of Polyphenols on Blue Light‐Induced Retinal Pigment Cell Damage

Abstract

The increased exposure of eyes to blue light is a growing concern in our everyday lives. Blue light is responsible for cell damage, cell death, and oxidative stress all of which can lead to vision loss. Resveratrol and pterostilbene are polyphenols found in the skin of various fruits including grapes and blueberries and have been known for antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective role of resveratrol and pterostilbene on cell death, cell proliferation, and oxidative stress in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial (ARPE‐19) cells exposed to blue light. ARPE‐19 cells were pre‐incubated with either; 50 or 100uM of resveratrol or 10 or 50uM of pterostilbene for 4 hours followed by exposure to blue light (475nm) for 12 hours. Subsequent to the blue light exposure, cellular viability, oxidative stress, and death were measured in each treatment condition. Blue light exposure resulted in a decrease in cell viability, an increase in caspase 3/7 activation, and cell death. This was accompanied by an increase in protein expression of catalase, and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and an increase in 4‐Hydroxynoneal (4HNE) protein adduct formation. In conclusion, resveratrol mitigated the damaging effects of blue light on ARPE‐19 cells by attenuating cell death and oxidative stress. This in‐vitro study is the first step into understanding how polyphenols can possibly be used to reduce the oxidative damage caused by blue light in the eyes and prevent unnecessary vision loss.