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PURPOSE: Oxidative stress induced trabecular meshwork cells death is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). However, the intrinsic mechanism is yet to be clarified. This study is to investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced apoptosis of human trabecular meshwork (iHTM) cells. METHODS: The human trabecular meshwork cells were treated with tBHP for 1 or 2 h with or without pretreatment of SB203580, an inhibitor of MAP kinase homologs. Cell viability was analyzed using 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2h-tetrazolium bromide assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined using dihydrodichlorofluorescein staining, and the chymotrypsin-like protease activities were measured using the Suc-LLVY-aminoluciferin substrate. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by Hoechst 33258 staining and annexin V-PI labeling. The protein level of phospho-p38 was measured using western blot analysis. RESULTS: The intracellular ROS increased more than 50 fold and more than 100 fold after tBHP exposure for 1 h and 2 h, respectively (p<0.05). However, there was no difference in ROS levels between SB203580(-) and SB203580(+) cells (p>0.05). In 1 h tBHP treatment group, the cell viability was significantly improved in SB203580(+) cells (81.08%±1.93%) compared to the SB203580(-) cells (69.35%±1.52%), the chymotrypsin-like proteasome inactivation decreased in SB203580(+) cells (60.94%±0.55%) compared to the SB203580(-) cells (70.59%±0.88%), and apoptosis was impoved in SB203580(+) cells (12.75%±1.91%) compared to the SB203580(-) (28.23%±3.23%) (p<0.05). In 2 h tBHP treatment group, cell viability improved in SB203580(+) cells (76.72%±2.11%) compared to SB203580(-) cells (57.88%±2.20%), chymotrypsin-like proteasome inactivation was improved in SB203580(+) cells (62.99%±0.41%) compared to SB203580(-) cells (74.93%±0.54%), and apoptosis was improved in SB203580(+) cells (20.40%±3.44%) compared to SB203580(-) cells (39.20%±5.91%) (p<0.05). Phosphorylation of p38MAPK was significantly increased after tBHP exposure in SB203580 (-) cells and decreased sharply in SB203580(+) cells than that of control group (p<0.05). While there was no difference on the original form of p38MAPK among SB203580(-) and SB203580(+) cells after tBHP exposure and control group (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Activation of p38MAPK plays an important role in tBHP-induced apoptosis of iHTM cells. Further study on the mechanisms of p38MAPK in human TM cell apoptosis may help to illuminate the pathogenesis of POAG.
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Glaucoma, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
2.5.1 Trabecular meshwork (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma > 2.5 Meshwork)
3.6 Cellular biology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)