Fig. 2

Autophagy activation in blue light-mediated damage of A2E-laden RPEs. a: Representative TEM images of RPEs at indicated time points after treated with 25 μM A2E and blue light exposure (Scale bar, 2 μm). The formation of autophagic vacuoles (yellow arrows) and autolysosomes (bold arrow) was observed. Some ER exhibited a disorganized structure with a swollen appearance (asterisk). The number of autophagic vacuoles and autolysosomes at 12 h after treatment was counted in per RPE cell from three independent experiments (n = 3, *p < 0.05). b: Western blot analysis of LC3 was performed at indicated time points after treatment. The results are reported as the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II. Bars represent the mean ± SD from three independent experiments (n = 3, *p < 0.05 versus control). c: Autophagosome formation in RPEs was visualized by LC3 immunofluorescence. LC3 appeared a diffuse and cytosolic pattern in control RPEs. An increased LC3 puncta was observed at 12 h after A2E and blue light treatment. (scale bar, 10 μm). The number of autophagosomes was obtained by counting LC3 fluorescent puncta in RPEs from three independent experiments (n = 3, *p < 0.05).