P-Coumaric acid protects human lens epithelial cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis by MAPK signaling

To protect against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in lens epithelial cells is a potential strategy in preventing cataract formation. The present study aimed at studying the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of p-coumaric acid (p-CA) on hydrogen peroxide- (H₂O₂-) induced apoptosis in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells (SRA 01-04). Cells were pretreated with p-CA at a concentration of 3, 10, and 30 μM before the treatment of H₂O₂ (275 μM). Results showed that pretreatment with p-CA significantly protected against H₂O₂-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, as well as downregulating the expressions of both cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 in HLE cells. Moreover, p-CA also greatly suppressed H₂O₂-induced intracellular ROS production and mitochondrial membrane potential loss and elevated the activities of T-SOD, CAT, and GSHPx of H₂O₂-treated cells. As well, in vitro study showed that p-CA also suppressed H₂O₂-induced phosphorylation of p-38, ERK, and JNK in HLE cells. These findings demonstrate that p-CA suppresses H₂O₂-induced HLE cell apoptosis through modulating MAPK signaling pathways and suggest that p-CA has a potential therapeutic role in the prevention of cataract.