<i>p</i>‐Coumaric Acid Protects Human Lens Epithelial Cells against Oxidative Stress‐Induced Apoptosis by MAPK Signaling

Abstract

To protect against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in lens epithelial cells is a potential strategy in preventing cataract formation. The present study aimed at studying the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of <i>p</i>-coumaric acid (<i>p</i>-CA) on hydrogen peroxide- (H₂O₂-) induced apoptosis in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells (SRA 01-04). Cells were pretreated with <i>p</i>-CA at a concentration of 3, 10, and 30 <i>μ</i>M before the treatment of H₂O₂ (275 <i>μ</i>M). Results showed that pretreatment with <i>p</i>-CA significantly protected against H₂O₂-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, as well as downregulating the expressions of both cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 in HLE cells. Moreover, <i>p</i>-CA also greatly suppressed H₂O₂-induced intracellular ROS production and mitochondrial membrane potential loss and elevated the activities of T-SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px of H₂O₂-treated cells. As well, <i>in vitro</i> study showed that <i>p</i>-CA also suppressed H₂O₂-induced phosphorylation of p-38, ERK, and JNK in HLE cells. These findings demonstrate that <i>p</i>-CA suppresses H₂O₂-induced HLE cell apoptosis through modulating MAPK signaling pathways and suggest that <i>p</i>-CA has a potential therapeutic role in the prevention of cataract.