Protective Effect of Thiore doxin on Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells Damaged by Oxidative Stresses

ABSTRACT

Reactive oxygen species including hydrogen peroxide are known to induce morphological and functional derangement of corneal endothelium, thus causing loss of corneal deturgescence. Among the antioxidants, thioredoxin has been recently suggested to play an important role under oxidative stresses. The present study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of thioredoxin, obtained from Escherichia coli, on cultured bovine endothelial cells against hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet ray. Thioredoxin at concentrations of 1, 10 and 100 microgram/ml appeared to protect corneal endothelial cells from the reactive oxygen radical hydrogen peroxide as assessed by measuring the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the reduction of 3-[4, 5-dimethyl-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT). In conclusion, thioredoxin may play an important physiological role (s) in protection of corneal endothelial cells which is continuously challenged by reactive oxygen species. Thus, It is natural that thioredoxin may have clinical implications in certain corneal disease such as corneal edema, which is known to be caused by reactive oxygen species.