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Hsueh YJ, Meir YJJ, Lai JY, Huang CC, Lu TT, Ma DHK, Cheng CM, Wu WC, Chen HC. Ascorbic acid ameliorates corneal endothelial dysfunction and enhances cell proliferation via the noncanonical GLUT1-ERK axis. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 144:112306. [PMID: 34656060 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pumping function of corneal endothelial cells (CECs) plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of corneal water homeostasis. Corneal endothelial dysfunction (CED) leads to corneal edema and opacity, but with the exception of keratoplasty, no optimal therapeutic strategies have been established for CED. In this study, we aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of ascorbic acid (AA) on CED and the underlying mechanism of action in the corneal endothelium. METHODS Rabbit corneal endothelial damage was induced by anterior chamber injection of benzalkonium chloride (BAK). AA was topically administered to the corneal surface, and the transparency and thickness of the cornea were assessed by external eye photography, slit-lamp photography, and ultrasonic pachymetry. To further analyze the mechanism, rabbit CECs and immortalized human CECs (B4G12 cells) were cultured. A ferric reducing/antioxidant and AA (FRASC) assay was performed to measure the AA concentration. Cell proliferation was evaluated by cell counting and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling assays, and protein expression was examined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and immunoblotting. The involvement of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and phospho-ERK was evaluated via GLUT1-siRNA and phospho-ERK inhibitor (PD98059) treatment. INTERPRETATION We observed that topical AA ameliorates BAK-induced rabbit corneal endothelial damage. Furthermore, we demonstrated that AA is transported into B4G12 cells via GLUT1, and afterward, AA increases ERK phosphorylation and promotes cell proliferation. Our findings indicate that CEC proliferation stimulated via the noncanonical AA-GLUT1-ERK axis contributes to AA-enhanced healing of CED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Jen Hsueh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Center for Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
| | - Yaa-Jyuhn James Meir
- Center for Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Jui-Yang Lai
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Materials Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Chieh-Cheng Huang
- Center for Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
| | - Tsai-Te Lu
- Center for Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
| | - David Hui-Kang Ma
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Center for Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Department of Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Chao-Min Cheng
- Center for Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
| | - Wei-Chi Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Hung-Chi Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Center for Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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