title: Alpha lipoic acid protects lens from H(2)O(2)-induced cataract by inhibiting apoptosis of lens epithelial cells and inducing activation of anti-oxidative enzymes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether alpha lipoic acid (LA) can effectively protect lenses from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cataract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lens from adult Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in 24-well plates and treated without or with 0.2 mM of H2O2, 0.2 mM of H2O2 plus 0.5 mM, 1.0 mM, or 2.0 mM of LA for 24 h. Cataract was assessed using cross line grey scale measurement. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH-Px), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity or level in lens homogenates was measured. Apoptosis of lens epithelial cells in each group were detected by Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) Assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 0.2 mM of H2O2 induced obvious cataract formation and apoptosis in lens' epithelial cells, but 0.5-2.0 mM of LA could block the effect of 0.2 mM H2O2 in inducing cataract and apoptosis. Furthermore, 0.2 mM of H2O2 significantly decreased SOD, GSH-Px, and LDH activity and significant increased MDA level in the lens, but 0.5-2.0 mM of LA blocked the effect of 0.2 mM H2O2. One mM of LA was found to be the most effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LA can protect lens from H2O2-induced cataract. LA exerts protective effects through inhibition of lens' epithelial cell apoptosis and activation of anti-oxidative enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the 2nd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 410011, Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ya-Zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jing-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Song-Bai
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002386:Cataract / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione