Work

Blue light pollution induces dry eye by damaging conjunctival stem cells through cAMP-PKA-Pax6 signaling pathway

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Blue light exposure constitutes a risk factor for dry eye. The research explores the influence of conjunctival stem cells (CjSCs) by blue light, elucidating the pathogenesis of blue light-induced dry eye. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary SD rat CjSCs and rats were irradiated with blue light at 460 nm. The impact of blue light illumination on both CjSCs and rats was examined, and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) identified the specific mechanisms. Additionally, blue light-irradiated rats and primary CjSCs were treated with Forskolin to validate the effects of the cAMP-PKA pathway on CjSCs differentiation and blue light-induced dry eye. RESULTS: Blue light exposure not only affected the stemness and proliferation of CjSCs, but also disturbed the differentiation by down-regulating the expression of Pax6. Mechanically, the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway was significantly inhibited following blue light emission. Reduced P-PKA expression affected Pax6 transcription, which in turn promoted abnormal differentiation of CjSCs. Moreover, Forskolin, a specific agonist of cAMP-PKA, effectively rescued the drawback of blue light irradiation on CjSCs. CONCLUSIONS: Blue light exposure results in abnormal differentiation in CjSCs through the down-regulation of the expression of Pax6 via the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway. The abnormal differentiation in CjSCs should be pursued as a novel target for protection against blue light-induced dry eye.

Source: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118984