Hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells is inhibited by parthenolide.

AIM: To explore the effect of parthenolide on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells. METHODS: The morphology and number of apoptotic HLE cells were assessed using light microscopy and flow cytometry. Cell viability was tested by MTS assay. In addition, the expression of related proteins was measured by Western blot assay. RESULTS: Apoptosis of HLE cells was induced by 200 µmol/L H2O2, and the viability of these cells was similar to the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), as examined by MTS assay. In addition, cells were treated with either different concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 µmol/L) of parthenolide along with 200 µmol/L H2O2 or only 50 µmol/L parthenolide or 200 µmol/L H2O2 for 24h. Following treatment with higher concentrations of parthenolide (50 µmol/L), fewer HLE cells underwent H2O2-induced apoptosis, and cell viability was increased. Further, Western blot assay showed that the parthenolide treatment reduced the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9, which are considered core apoptotic proteins, and decreased the levels of phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), ERK1/2 [a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family], and Akt proteins in HLE cells. CONCLUSION: Parthenolide may suppress H2O2-induced apoptosis in HLE cells by interfering with NF-κB, MAPKs, and Akt signaling.

Metabolic syndrome risk factors and dry eye syndrome: a Meta-analysis.

AIM: To explore the relationship between metabolic risk factors and dry eye syndrome (DES). METHODS: Retrieved studies on the association of metabolic syndrome risk factors (hypertension, hyperglycemia, obesity, and hyperlipidemia) and DES were collected from PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library in December 2015. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled to evaluate the final relationship. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to diagnostic criteria of DES. RESULTS: Nine cross-sectional studies and three case-control studies were included in this Meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that people with hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia had a higher risk of suffering from DES (P<0.05), especially the typical DES symptoms. On the other hand, obesity did not increase the risk of DES. CONCLUSION: The present Meta-analysis suggests that all metabolic risk factors except obesity were risk factors for DES.