SMP30 May protect human lens epithelial cells against high glucose-induced oxidative damage by regulating the

Yingqin Yang1, Hongtao Chai2, Tian Lan3

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin, 541000, China.

Scientific Reports
|December 5, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals that SMP30 protects against high glucose-induced oxidative stress in diabetic cataract patients by regulating the Keap1/Nrf2/NQO1 pathway. Overexpressing SMP30 enhances cell viability and reduces damage in lens cells.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Diabetic cataract (DC) is a significant complication of diabetes mellitus.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying DC is crucial for developing effective treatments.
  • The role of SMP30 in high glucose-induced oxidative stress in lens epithelial cells remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and mechanism of SMP30 in diabetic cataract patients.
  • To explore SMP30's function in high glucose-stimulated human lens epithelial cells (HLE-B3).
  • To elucidate the involvement of the Keap1/Nrf2/NQO1 pathway in SMP30's protective effects.

Main Methods:

  • Collected aqueous humor and lens anterior capsules from DC patients.
  • Stimulated HLE-B3 cells with varying glucose concentrations.
  • Transfected HLE-B3 cells with SMP30-overexpressing plasmids.
  • Assessed oxidative stress markers (SOD, MDA, ROS), cell viability, and gene/protein expression of SMP30 and Keap1/Nrf2/NQO1 pathway factors.

Main Results:

  • Poor glycemic control in DC patients correlated with increased blood/aqueous humor glucose, elevated MDA, decreased SOD, and upregulated SMP30 expression.
  • High glucose (40 mM, 60 mM) induced oxidative stress in HLE-B3 cells, with SMP30 downregulation and Keap1/Nrf2/NQO1 pathway inhibition at higher concentrations.
  • Overexpression of SMP30 mitigated high glucose-induced oxidative stress, enhanced cell viability, and modulated the Keap1/Nrf2/NQO1 pathway.

Conclusions:

  • SMP30 plays a protective role against high glucose-induced oxidative stress in human lens epithelial cells.
  • SMP30's protective mechanism involves the regulation of the Keap1/Nrf2/NQO1 pathway.
  • Targeting SMP30 may offer a therapeutic strategy for preventing or treating diabetic cataracts.

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