2. Academic Validation
  3. Blue light induces corneal epithelial damage by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway

Blue light induces corneal epithelial damage by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway

  • Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025 Aug 23:303:118921. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118921.
Jiayun Ge 1,  Qianjie Yang 2,  Xin Yu 1,  Yutong Xia 1,  Xuhong Zhang 1,  Liyue Zhang 1,  Yanqing Li 1,  Yinhao Wang 1,  Chang Shen 1,  Xiang Li 1,  Dongjie Song 3,  Zhitong Chen 1,  Kuangqi Chen 4,  Xiuyi Li 5,  Ye Shen 6,  Jianping Tong 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
  • 2 Ningbo Eye Institute, Ningbo Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo 315040, China.
  • 3 Department of Ophthalmology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.
  • 4 Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan Shandong, China; Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Jinan, Shandong, China, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • 5 Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: lixiuyi19731216@zju.edu.cn.
  • 6 Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: idrshen@zju.edu.cn.
  • 7 Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: idrtong@zju.edu.cn.
PMID: 40850112 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118921
Abstract

Blue light (BL) emitted from light-emitting diodes in digital devices poses significant risks to corneal health, by inducing oxidative stress and inflammation. This research elucidates the function of the NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in BL-induced corneal epithelial damage. In vivo, continuous BL exposure delayed corneal wound healing, shorten tear film break up time, and exacerbated epithelial defect areas in mice. In vitro, BL impaired the migration and viability of human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) in a time- and intensity-dependent manner. Bioinformatic analysis identified NLRP3 as a predominant mediator, with BL upregulating the expression of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), Caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 in both mouse corneas and HCECs. MCC950, the NLRP3 Inhibitor, attenuated BL-induced cell death and oxidative stress, restoring the proliferative and migratory capacity of HCECs. In mice, application of topical MCC950 accelerated corneal epithelial wound healing, relived oxidative stress, and reduced ASC, and NLRP3 expression. These findings establish NLRP3 as a critical driver of BL-induced corneal damage and highlight the potential of NLRP3 pharmacological inhibition for mitigating BL-associated ocular surface disorders.

Keywords

Blue light; Cornea; Corneal epithelial damage; LED; NLRP3 inflammasome; ROS.

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