Taurine Protects Lens Epithelial Cells Against Ultraviolet B-Induced Apoptosis

ABSTRACT

Background: The massive uptake of compatible osmolytes is a self-protective response shared by lens exposed to hypertonic stress and ultraviolet stress.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of taurine against ultraviolet B-induced cytotoxicity in the lens epithelial cells.

Methods: Real-time PCR was used to measure osmolytes transport. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure osmolytes uptake. Cell counting kit-8 assays were used to measure cellular viability. Flow cytometry analysis was used to measure apoptosis level.

Results: Compared with normotonic stress, hypertonic stress-induced osmolytes uptake into the lens epithelial cells such as betaine, myoinositol and taurine. UVB exposure increased osmolytes transporter mRNA expression together with osmolytes uptake. Moreover, taurine suppressed UVB-induced cell apoptosis in the lens epithelial cells significantly.

Conclusions: The effect of compatible osmolyte taurine on cell survival rate may play an important role in cell resistance and adaption to UVB exposure.

Keywords:

• Apoptosis
• lens
• osmolyte
• taurine
• ultraviolet

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Funding

This study was supported by grants from the President Foundation of Jinzhou Medical University (Grant No. XZJJ20140208) and the Fund for Science and Technology department of Liaoning Province (Grant No. 2015010361-301).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by grants from the President Foundation of Jinzhou Medical University (Grant No. XZJJ20140208) and the Fund for Science and Technology department of Liaoning Province (Grant No. 2015010361-301).