Ceravolo Ida, Mannino Federica, Irrera Natasha, Squadrito Francesco, Altavilla Domenica, Ceravolo Giorgia, Pallio Giovanni, Minutoli Letteria
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy.
Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy.
Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Feb 20;10(2):318. doi: 10.3390/antiox10020318.
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is characterized by the gradual deterioration of corneal endothelial cells (CECs) and is the most common cause of corneal transplantation worldwide. CECs apoptosis caused by oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of FECD. Antioxidant compounds have been of considerable significance as a candidate treatment in the management of corneal diseases. Based on these findings, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an aloe extract with antioxidant properties, in an "in vitro" model of FECD. Human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells were preincubated with aloe extract 100 μg/mL, two hours before hydrogen peroxide (HO) stimulus. HO challenge significantly reduced the cell viability, increased the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and malondialdehyde levels. Moreover, m-RNA expression and activity of Nrf-2, Catalase and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) were reduced together with an enhanced expression of IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). Furthermore, Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 expression were down-regulated while Bax was up-regulated by HO stimulus. Aloe extract blunted the oxidative stress-induced inflammatory cascade triggered by HO and modulated apoptosis. Aloe extract defends HCE cells from HO-induced injury possibly due its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, indicating that eye drops containing aloe extract may be used as an adjunctive treatment for FECD.
富克斯角膜内皮营养不良（FECD）的特征是角膜内皮细胞（CEC）逐渐退化，是全球角膜移植最常见的原因。氧化应激引起的CEC凋亡在FECD的发病机制中起关键作用。抗氧化化合物作为角膜疾病治疗的候选药物具有重要意义。基于这些发现，本研究的目的是在FECD的“体外”模型中评估具有抗氧化特性的芦荟提取物的作用。在过氧化氢（HO）刺激前两小时，将人角膜上皮（HCE）细胞与100μg/mL芦荟提取物预孵育。HO刺激显著降低了细胞活力，增加了活性氧（ROS）的产生和丙二醛水平。此外，Nrf-2、过氧化氢酶和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的mRNA表达和活性降低，同时IL-1β、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、IL-6和环氧化酶2（COX-2）的表达增强。此外，HO刺激使Bcl-2、Caspase-3和Caspase-8表达下调，而Bax表达上调。芦荟提取物减弱了HO引发的氧化应激诱导的炎症级联反应并调节细胞凋亡。芦荟提取物可能因其抗氧化和抗炎活性保护HCE细胞免受HO诱导的损伤，表明含有芦荟提取物的眼药水可作为FECD的辅助治疗药物。
