Protection of Human Lens Epithelial Cells from Oxidative Stress Damage and Cell Apoptosis by KGF-2 through the Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway.

ABSTRACT: Oxidative stress exerts a significant influence on the pathogenesis of various cataracts by inducing degradation and aggregation of lens proteins and apoptosis of lens epithelial cells. Keratinocyte growth factor-2 (KGF-2) exerts a favorable cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro. In this work, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of KGF-2 against hydrogen peroxide- (H₂O₂-) induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) and rat lenses. KGF-2 pretreatment could reduce H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. KGF-2 also increases B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), quinine oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD2), and catalase (

SUBMITTER: Liu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8872674 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature