UV light-blocking contact lenses protect against short-term UVB-induced limbal stem cell niche damage and inflammation

M Notara,C Cursiefen,C Cursiefen,C Maßlo,C Maßlo,B Schumacher,B Schumacher,S Behboudifard,M H Frank,M H Frank,M H Frank,C Ganss,C Ganss,M A Kluth,M A Kluth

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-30021-8

Abstract

UVB irradiation has been linked to pathogenesis of pterygium, a conjunctival tumor growing onto transparent cornea, the windscreen of the eye. Due to corneal anatomy, ambient UVB irradiation is amplified at the stem cell-containing nasal limbus. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of a UV-blocking contact lens (UVBCL, senofilcon A, Class 1 UV blocker) on limbal epithelial cells and fibroblasts under UVB irradiation compared to a non-UVB-blocking contact lens. UVBCL prevented UVB-induced DNA damage (as assessed by cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer immunostaining) as well as a decrease in proliferation and scratch wound closure rate of both limbal epithelial and fibroblast cells. Similarly, UVBCL protected limbal epithelial cells from UVB-induced loss of their phenotype in terms of colony forming efficiency and stem cell marker expression (ABCB5, P63α, integrin β1) compared to controls. Moreover, with UVBCL pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα and MCP1 remained unchanged. These data demonstrate the significance of UV-protection in preserving the limbal niche in response to at least short-term UVB. Our data support the use of UVBCL in protecting limbal niche cells, especially after limbal stem cell transplantation and in patients after pterygium surgery, to help prevent recurrences.

Highlights

The use of protective eyewear such as sunglasses and, if needed, UV blocking contact lenses against UV radiation has previously been recommended as a prophylactic measure against UV-induced eye damage[1]
In order to investigate the protective effect of the UV-blocking contact lenses (UVBCL) protective contact lenses against direct DNA damage, the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) was assessed immediately following UVB exposure of Human limbal epithelial (HLE) and HLF cells
Cells protected with a UV blocking adhesive film (BT) and cells not exposed to UVB irradiation were used as negative controls, while cells directly exposed to UVB were used as positive controls

Summary

Introduction

The use of protective eyewear such as sunglasses and, if needed, UV blocking contact lenses against UV radiation has previously been recommended as a prophylactic measure against UV-induced eye damage[1]. There, the UV irradiation is amplified by a factor of 204,5 This is the typical site for the onset of pterygium, a benign but sight-threatening vascularised tumour whose pathogenesis is strongly linked to UV exposure and which is expanding on the corneal equator leading to discomfort and decrease or loss of vision[6]. As such dramatic phenotypic changes occur in the limbus and its adjacent tissues, changes in the limbal stem cell niche which contain a population of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESC) are expected. The effectiveness of UVBCL against these changes has not been reported

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