Protective Effect of PBN Against Retinal Pigmented Epithelium Apoptosis and Ferroptosis Induced by Blue-Light Damage in BALB/c Mice

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex, multifactorial disease charac-terized by the degeneration of the retina. Blue-light damage (BLD) in BALB/c mouse has been currently used as a model of AMD. Nevertheless, the impact of blue light (BL) on RPE cell dysfunction and degeneration is not well documented. Here we report the effect of phenyl-N-tertbutylnitrone (PBN) on retinal function and structure in a model of BLD in BALB/c mice. We also describe the mechanisms involved in RPE cell degeneration and protection by PBN. One week after BL visual function was assessed by full-field scotopic and photopic electroretinogram in mice treated with PBN (50 mg/kg) or vehicle 30 min before BLD and 1h, 2.5h and 4h after. mRNA expression of RPE genes involved in in-flammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis and ferroptosis were measured by qRT-PCR. Our results demonstrate for the first time the protective effect of PBN in a mouse model of BLD. They show that BL induces oxidative stress and inflammation in the RPE of BALB/c mice and activates both apoptotic and ferroptotic pathways. Moreover, we demonstrate that PBN is able to counteract these intracellular pathways.