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Fan K, Dong N, Fang M, Xiang Z, Zheng L, Wang M, Shi Y, Tan G, Li C, Xue Y. Ozone exposure affects corneal epithelial fate by promoting mtDNA leakage and cGAS/STING activation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133219. [PMID: 38101018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Ozone is a common air pollutant associated with various human diseases. The human ocular surface is frequently exposed to ozone in the troposphere, but the mechanisms by which ozone affects the ocular surface health remain unclear. This study aimed to establish a mouse model to investigate the effects of ozone exposure on the ocular surface and the corneal epithelium. The findings revealed that ozone exposure disrupted corneal epithelial homeostasis and differentiation, resulting in corneal squamous metaplasia. Further, ozone exposure induced oxidative damage and cytoplasmic leakage of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), thereby activating the cGAS/STING signaling pathway. The activation of the cGAS/STING signaling pathway triggered the activation of downstream NF-κB and TRAF6 signaling pathways, causing corneal inflammation, thereby promoting corneal inflammation and squamous metaplasia. Finally, C-176, a selective STING inhibitor, effectively prevented and treated corneal inflammation and squamous metaplasia caused by ozone exposure. This study revealed the role of mtDNA leakage-mediated cGAS/STING activation in corneal squamous epithelial metaplasia caused by ozone exposure. It also depicted the abnormal expression pattern of corneal epithelial keratin using three-dimensional images, providing new targets and strategies for preventing and treating corneal squamous metaplasia and other ocular surface diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Fan
- Eye Institute & Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Nuo Dong
- Eye Institute & Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; Huaxia Eye Hospital of Quanzhou, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, China
| | - Meichai Fang
- Ningde People's Hospital, Ningde, Fujian 352100, China
| | - Zixun Xiang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Lan Zheng
- Eye Institute & Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Mengyuan Wang
- Eye Institute & Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Yukuan Shi
- The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, 100080, China
| | - Gang Tan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
| | - Cheng Li
- Eye Institute & Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; Huaxia Eye Hospital of Quanzhou, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science & Ocular Surface and Corneal Diseases, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
| | - Yuhua Xue
- Eye Institute & Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
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