Oxidative Stress Suppresses Cellular Autophagy in Corneal Epithelium

Purpose: Oxidative stress is a major pathogenesis of certain ocular surface diseases. This study investigated the association of oxidative stress and cellular autophagy in corneal epithelium. Methods: We applied hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce oxidative damage to cultured human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells and rat corneas. Cell viability, Western blotting of caspase 8, and TUNEL staining were conducted to measure the cellular injury. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured and the levels of the following marker and key factors of ROS were also measured to detect oxidative stress: 3-nitrotyrosine, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4), superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase P. The following key factors of autophagy were measured: LC3, beclin 1, Atg 12, and P62. We also applied an agonist of autophagy, rapamycin, in the experiment. Results: Cellular injury and oxidant damage were induced after exposure to H2O2 in HCE cells and rat corneas, such as increases of cell death and production of ROS; upregulation of a ROS generation enzyme, NOX4; and downregulation of degradation factors of ROS, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase P. However, the process of cellular autophagy was suppressed by the measurements of LC3, beclin 1, Atg 12, and P62. Furthermore, application of rapamycin antagonized the cellular and oxidant injury induced by H2O2 but increased the level of autophagy in HCE cells. Conclusions: The oxidative stress of corneal epithelium is associated with the inhibition of cellular autophagy.