title: Protective Effect of D-Limonene against Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Damage in Human Lens Epithelial Cells via the p38 Pathway.
abstract: Oxidative stress, as mediated by ROS, is a significant factor in initiating the development of age-associated cataracts; D-limonene is a common natural terpene with powerful antioxidative properties which occurs naturally in a wide variety of living organisms. It has been shown to have antioxidant effect; we found that D-limonene can effectively prevent the oxidative damage caused by H2O2 and propose that the main mechanism underlying the inhibitory effects of D-limonene is the inhibition of HLECs apoptosis. In the present study, we used confocal-fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry analysis, Hoechst staining, H2DCFDA staining, transmission electron microscopy, and immunoblot analysis; the results revealed that slightly higher concentrations of D-limonene (125-1800 μM) reduced the H2O2-induced ROS generation and inhibited the H2O2-induced caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation and decreased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Furthermore, it inhibited H2O2-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Thus, we conclude that D-limonene could effectively protect HLECs from H2O2-induced oxidative stress and that its antioxidative effect is significant, thereby increasing the cell survival rate.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Harbin Medical University Eye Center, Eye Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Harbin Medical University Eye Center, Eye Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Harbin Medical University Eye Center, Eye Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077222:Limonene; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053138:Cyclohexenes; D013729:Terpenes; D000077222:Limonene; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases