Limosilactobacillus fermentum IOB802 Protects Against Blue Light-Induced Retinopathy via Gut Microbiota Modulation

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Microbiology
• Gut-Retina Axis Research
• Cellular and Molecular Biology

Background:

• Blue light exposure causes significant retinal photodamage, a growing global health concern.
• Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their metabolites offer a potential therapeutic avenue for mitigating retinal damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the protective effects of Limosilactobacillus fermentum IOB802 and Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum IOB602 against blue light-induced retinal injury.
• To elucidate the underlying antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and microbiota-modulating mechanisms involved in retinal protection.

Main Methods:

• In vitro studies using ARPE-19 cells and in vivo studies using a murine blue light retinal damage model.
• Assessment of cell viability, antioxidant enzyme activities, inflammatory cytokine levels, retinal architecture, and tight junction protein expression.
• 16S rDNA sequencing and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiling to analyze gut microbiota composition and function.

Main Results:

• Postbiotics from IOB802 and IOB602 significantly improved cell viability, antioxidant capacity, and reduced inflammation markers in vitro.
• IOB802 treatment preserved retinal structure, enhanced antioxidant defenses, and promoted tight junction protein expression in vivo.
• IOB802 modulated the gut microbiota, increasing beneficial bacteria and SCFA levels, and suppressed inflammation via the IκBα/NF-κB pathway.

Conclusions:

• Limosilactobacillus fermentum IOB802 and its postbiotics demonstrate significant protective effects against blue light-induced retinopathy.
• The protective mechanisms involve antioxidative, anti-inflammatory actions, and modulation of the gut-retina axis.
• These findings support microbiome-based strategies for managing retinal diseases.