Hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells is inhibited by parthenolide

To explore the effect of parthenolide on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced apoptosis in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells.

The morphology and number of apoptotic HLE cells were assessed using light microscopy and flow cytometry. Cell viability was tested by MTS assay. In addition, the expression of related proteins was measured by Western blot assay.

Apoptosis of HLE cells was induced by 200 µmol/L H₂O₂, and the viability of these cells was similar to the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), as examined by MTS assay. In addition, cells were treated with either different concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 µmol/L) of parthenolide along with 200 µmol/L H₂O₂ or only 50 µmol/L parthenolide or 200 µmol/L H₂O₂ for 24h. Following treatment with higher concentrations of parthenolide (50 µmol/L), fewer HLE cells underwent H₂O₂-induced apoptosis, and cell viability was increased. Further, Western blot assay showed that the parthenolide treatment reduced the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9, which are considered core apoptotic proteins, and decreased the levels of phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), ERK1/2 [a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family], and Akt proteins in HLE cells.

Parthenolide may suppress H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in HLE cells by interfering with NF-κB, MAPKs, and Akt signaling.