The association between air pollution and retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been demonstrated, but the pathogenic correlation is unknown. Damage to the outer blood–retinal barrier (oBRB), which consists of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choriocapillaris, is crucial in the development of fundus diseases. To describe the effects of airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on the oBRB and disease susceptibilities. A PM2.5-exposed mice model was established through the administration of eye drops containing PM2.5. Optical coherence tomography angiography, transmission electron microscope, RPE immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting were applied to study the oBRB changes. A co-culture model of ARPE-19 cells with stretching vascular endothelial cells was established to identify the role of choroidal vasodilatation in PM2.5-associated RPE damage. Acute exposure to PM2.5 resulted in choroidal vasodilatation, RPE tight junctions impairment, and ultimately an increased risk of retinal edema in mice. These manifestations are very similar to the pachychoroid disease represented by central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). After continuous PM2.5 exposure, the damage to the RPE was gradually repaired, but AMD-related early retinal degenerative changes appeared under continuous choroidal inflammation. This study reveals oBRB pathological changes under different exposure durations, providing a valuable reference for the prevention of PM2.5-related fundus diseases and public health policy formulation.

中文翻译：

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空气中细颗粒物 (PM2.5) 的急性和持续暴露：不同的外血-视网膜屏障损伤和疾病易感性

空气污染与年龄相关性黄斑变性（AMD）等视网膜疾病之间的关联已被证明，但致病相关性尚不清楚。由视网膜色素上皮（RPE）和脉络膜毛细血管组成的外血视网膜屏障（oBRB）的损伤对于眼底疾病的发生至关重要。描述空气中的细颗粒物 (PM2.5) 对 oBRB 和疾病易感性的影响。通过给予含有PM2.5的滴眼液建立PM2.5暴露小鼠模型。应用光学相干断层扫描血管造影、透射电镜、RPE免疫荧光染色和Western blotting研究oBRB的变化。建立 ARPE-19 细胞与拉伸血管内皮细胞的共培养模型，以鉴定脉络膜血管舒张在 PM2.5 相关 RPE 损伤中的作用。急性暴露于 PM2.5 会导致脉络膜血管舒张、RPE 紧密连接受损，并最终增加小鼠视网膜水肿的风险。这些表现与以中心性浆液性脉络膜视网膜病变（CSC）为代表的脉络膜肥厚性疾病非常相似。持续PM2.5暴露后，RPE的损伤逐渐修复，但在持续的脉络膜炎症下出现AMD相关的早期视网膜退行性改变。该研究揭示了不同暴露时间下oBRB的病理变化，为PM2.5相关眼底疾病的预防和公共卫生政策的制定提供了有价值的参考。