Effects of Tribuloside on Apoptosis and Oxidative Damage of H2O2 Treated Human Lens Epithelial Cells via Mediating microRNA-335-3p/KLF6 Axis

Y. Zhao; Xian Liu; Q. Liu

doi:10.36468/pharmaceutical-sciences.1221

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Research Paper

Effects of Tribuloside on Apoptosis and Oxidative Damage of H₂O₂ Treated Human Lens Epithelial Cells via Mediating microRNA-335-3p/KLF6 Axis

Y. Zhao^2*, Xian Liu^1,2 and Q. Liu¹^,2

Department of Ophthalmology, ¹Department of Corneal Transplantation, Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University, ²Jiangxi Research Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330000, China

*Corresponding Author:: Y. Zhao
Jiangxi Research Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330000, China
E-mail: zhaoyao2048@126.com

Date of Received	02 March 2022
Date of Revision	29 November 2022
Date of Acceptance	29 September 2023
Indian J Pharm Sci 2023;85(5):1504-1511

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms

DOI: 10.36468/pharmaceutical-sciences.1221

Abstract

To explore the protective function and molecular mechanism of tribuloside in hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis and oxidative damage of human lens epithelial cells. Cells were divided into control group, hydrogen peroxide group, hydrogen peroxide+tribuloside 1 μg/ml group, hydrogen peroxide+tribuloside 3 μg/ml group, hydrogen peroxide+tribuloside 10 μg/ml group, hydrogen peroxide+microRNA-NC group, hydrogen peroxide+microRNA-335-3p group, hydrogen peroxide+tribuloside+anti-microRNA-335-3p group. Cell counting kit-8 method and flow cytometry were applied for determining cell viability and apoptosis. Malondialdehyde level, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were determined using kits. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used for microRNA-335-3p quantification. Kriippellike factor 6 expression was examined via Western blot. Target regulation relationship of miR-335-3p and Kriippel-like factor 6 was analyzed via dual-luciferase report assay. Contrasted with the control group, cell viability, catalase and superoxide dismutase viabilities, and microRNA-335-3p expression were significantly reduced in hydrogen peroxide group (p<0.05), while apoptosis, malondialdehyde and Kriippel-like factor 6 levels were overtly promoted (p<0.05). Contrasted to hydrogen peroxide group, cell viability, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, and microRNA-335-3p expression in hydrogen peroxide+tribuloside 1 μg/ml group, hydrogen peroxide+tribuloside 3 μg/ml group, hydrogen peroxide+tribuloside 10 μg/ml group were obviously enhanced (p<0.05), but cell apoptosis, malondialdehyde level and Kriippel-like factor 6 protein level were suppressed (p<0.05). Relative to hydrogen peroxide+microRNA-NC group, cell viability, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in hydrogen peroxide+microRNA-335-3p group were markedly elevated (p<0.05), whereas apoptosis inhibition, malondialdehyde level reduction and Kriippel-like factor 6 protein down-regulation were induced (p<0.05). Compared with hydrogen peroxide+tribuloside group, cell viability, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in hydrogen peroxide+tribuloside+anti-microRNA-335-3p group were signally inhibited (p<0.05), but apoptosis, malondialdehyde and Kriippel-like factor 6 levels were accelerated (p<0.05). MicroRNA-335-3p directly interacted with Kriippel-like factor 6. Tribuloside could attenuate apoptosis and oxidative damage in hydrogen peroxide-induced cataract model, which was related to microRNA-335-3p/Kriippel-like factor 6 axis.

Keywords

Tribuloside, hydrogen peroxide, epithelial cells, apoptosis, oxidative injury, microRNA-335-3p, Kriippel-like factor 6

Cataract is a common disease with the highest incidence of impaired vision in the elderly, as the primary cause of blindness in the worldwide. Although patients can see again after cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation, there are still risks of wound leakage, corneal abrasions and high eye pressure[1]. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-caused oxidative stress is the main factor leading to the occurrence of cataract. Oxidative damage can activate a variety of signaling pathways such as caspases, and induce lens epithelial cell apoptosis to result in lens opacity and cataract occurrence[2,3]. Thus, protecting lens epithelial cells against apoptosis and oxidative damage is an important strategy to delay cataract formation.

Tribuloside is the main active ingredient of Tribulus terrestris L. with anti-cancer, anti-aging, hypotensive, and hypolipidemic biological activities[4]. It has been reported that tribuloside might reduce Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂ )-induced oxidative damage of PC12 cells by stabilizing mitochondrial membrane potential and inhibiting cell apoptosis[5]. Tribuloside was shown to enhance survival rate and cell growth of rat retinal ganglion cells in vitro[6]. However, the effects of tribuloside on lens epithelial cells in cataract are still unknown.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exhibit the regulatory roles in eye diseases by messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) degradation[7]. The previous study has demonstrated that miR-335-3p was associated with nuclear opacity grade of lens in nuclear cataract patients, and it could be a key factor involved in oxidative damage of lens epithelial cells[8]. Kriippel-Like Factor 6 (KLF6) was reported to aggravate UV-B-induced apoptosis of lens epithelial cells via inducing ROS accumulation[9]. Target relation between miR-335-3p and KLF6 remains to be investigated.

Herein, this study was performed for investigating the functional mechanism of tribuloside in H₂O₂-induced cataract cell model with miR-335-3p/ KLF6 axis as the entry point.

Materials and Methods

Materials and reagents:

HLE-B3 (Human Lens Epithelial cell line) was provided by American Type Culture Collection (United States of America (USA)). Tribuloside (purity 98 %, batch No. 20191210, a mass concentration of 20 mg/ml mother solution prepared with dimethyl sulfoxide was diluted to the required concentration with culture solution) was purchased from Herbpurify (Chengdu, China). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and miRNA reverse transcription kit were acquired from Vazyme (Nanjing, China). The miRNA fluorescence quantitative detection kit was obtained from Cellregen (Beijing, China). Apoptosis detection kit was bought from Yeasen (Shanghai, China). Malondialdehyde (MDA) content determination kit, Radioimmunoassay (RIPA) buffer, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity kit, Catalase (CAT) activity kit, Bicinchoninic Acid (BCA) protein concentration determination kit were bought from Solarbio (Beijing, China). Luciferase psi-CHECK-2 vector, miR-335-3p mimic (miR-335-3p), miR-NC, and miR-335-3p inhibitor (anti-miR-335-3p) were acquired from Ribobio (Guangzhou,China). Murine Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (GAPDH) monoclonal antibody (sc-47724), murine KLF6 monoclonal antibody (sc-134374) and goat anti-mouse IgG secondary antibody (sc-2005) were bought from Santa Cruz (USA).

Cell culture and H₂O₂ induction:

Cells were cultivated with high-glucose Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) medium in a constant temperature (37°) incubator containing 5 % Carbon dioxide (CO₂), followed by changing cell medium every day. When cell confluence reached 80 %, cell passage by 1:2 ratio was performed after digestion with trypsin. 5×103 cells at the third generation were inoculated into each well of 96-well plates. After incubation with H₂O₂ (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 μmol/l) for 24 h[10], cells were added with 10 μl/well CCK-8 for 2 h and Optical Density (OD) at 450 nm was measured in each well under a microplate reader. According to cell viability, 100 μmol/l H₂O₂ was selected as the working concentration.

Experimental groups:

Randomly, cells were classified into the different groups. Control group HLE-B3 cells in normal culture. H₂O₂ group cells with 100 μmol/l H₂O₂ treatment for 24 h. H₂O₂+tribuloside 1 μg/ ml group, H₂O₂+tribuloside 3 μg/ml group, or H₂O₂+tribuloside 10 μg/ml group cells with treatment of 100 μmol/l H₂O₂ and 1 μg/ml, 3 μg/ml or 10 μg/ml tribuloside for 24 h[5]. H₂O₂+miR-NC group and H₂O₂+miR-335-3p group cells with miRNC or miR-335-3p transfection were exposed to 100 μmol/L H₂O₂ for 24 h. H₂O₂+tribuloside+antimiR-335-3p group, anti-miR-335-3p-transfected cells were performed with 24 h of 100 μmol/L H₂O₂ incubation. Cell transfection was implemented following Lipofectamine 3000, then cells were harvested after 48 h for the further assays.

CCK-8 method for cell viability:

96-well plates were seeded with 5×10³ cells/well of transfected HLE-B3 cells, miR-NC transfected cells, miR-335-3p or anti-miR-335-3p transfected cells. Subsequently, cells were hatched with H₂O₂ and/or tribuloside for 24 h. After incubation of CCK-8 working solution (10 μl of each well) for 2 h, OD detection was administrated under the microplate reader.

Flow cytometry for cell apoptosis:

Cell concentration was adjusted to 2×10⁴ cells/ ml by resuspending HLE-B3 cells in 500 μl 1× binding buffer. Cell suspension was pipetted with 5 μl Annexin V-Fluorescein Isothiocyante (FITC) and 5 μl Propidium Iodide (PI) (25°, 15 min) away from light. Apoptotic cells of each group were examined through flow cytometry.

Kits for MDA, CAT and SOD detection:

1×10⁶ cells HLE-B3 was added with 1 mL extract solution, and the cells were ruptured by 200 W ultrasound ( for 3 s, an interval of 10 s, repetition for 30 times). After centrifugation at ultra-low temperature (10 000 rpm, 10 min), cell supernatant was collected for detecting MDA content, CAT and SOD activities according to manuals of corresponding kits.

RT-qPCR for miR-335-3p expression:

TRIzol reagent was employed for extracting total RNA of each group, followed by reverse transcription into complimentary Deoxyribonucleic Acid (cDNA) via miRNA reverse transcription kit and expression analysis through miRNA fluorescence quantitative detection kit. 2^-ΔΔCt method was utilized for miR-335-3p relative expression calculation. The primer sequences were as follows; miR-335-3p, sense 5?-UUUUUCAUUAUUGCUCCUGACC-3' and antisense 5?-CCAGTCTCAGGGTCCGAGGTATTC-3 ? ; U6, sense 5?-CTCGCTTCGGCAGCACA-3? and antisense 5?-AACGCTTCACGAATTTGCGT-3?.

Western blot for KLF6 protein analysis:

The protein samples were extracted employing RIPA buffer and quantified by BCA kit. 40 μg denatured proteins were isolated by Sodium Dodecyl-Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) (100 V, 90 min) and transferred to PVDF membrane by a wet transmembrane device (20 mA). After sealing with 5 % skim milk, anti-KLF6 (1:200) and endogenous reference anti-GAPDH (1:500) were incubated to membranes at 4° overnight. After 1 h of incubation with the secondary antibody (1:2000), then blots were presented by Chemiluminescence kit. Relative protein expression of KLF6 was represented as KLF6/GAPDH band gray value measured by ImageJ software.

Dual-luciferase reporter assay for miR-335-5p and KLF6 target r elation analysis:

TargetScan was utilized for target binding prediction of miR-335-3p and KLF6. Wild-Type (WT) sequence of KLF6 containing miR-335-3p binding region was constructed into psi-CHECK-2 plasmid to generate luciferase reporter vector WT-KLF6. Also, Mutated (MUT) KLF6 sequence containing miR-335-3p binding site was used for MUT-KLF6 construction. Luciferase constructs and miR-335-3p or miR-NC were co-transfected for 48 h, relative luciferase activity examination by dual-luciferase activity system was performed with Renilla luciferase as the internal control.

Statistical analysis:

Experiments were independently administrated for 3 times with 3 repetitions of each group. Data were represented as mean±standard deviation (x±s). For two groups, difference was assessed using independent sample t test. For multiple groups, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey test was used for difference analysis. p<0.05 was defined as a significant difference.

Results and Discussion

HLE-B3 cells were disposed with different concentrations of H₂O₂. Compared with 0 μmol/l group, cell viability was signally reduced in 50, 100, 200 and 400 μmol/l groups (p<0.05), as exhibited in Table 1.

H₂O₂ concentration (μmol/l)	OD value
0	1.27±0.06
50	0.78±0.05^a
100	0.63±0.04^ab
200	0.37±0.03^abc
400	0.24±0.01^abcd
F	837.776
p	0.000

Note: Contrasted to 0 μmol/l group, ^ap<0.05; contrasted to 50 μmol/l group, ^bp<0.05; contrasted to 100 μmol/l group, ^cp<0.05 and contrasted to 200 μmol/l group, ^dp<0.05

Table 1: Cell viability detection in different concentrations of H₂O₂-treated HLE-B3 (x±s, n=9).

Relative to control group, cell viability, CAT and SOD activities in H₂O₂ group were markedly lessened (p<0.05) but apoptosis rate and MDA level were elevated (p<0.05). HLE-B3 cell activity, CAT activity and SOD activity of H₂O₂+tribuloside 1 μg/ml group, H₂O₂+tribuloside 3 μg/ml group or H₂O₂+tribuloside 10 μg/ml group were gradually elevated (p<0.05), while apoptotic cells and MDA level were decreased (p<0.05) by comparison with H₂O₂ group, as depicted in fig. 1 and Table 2.

Fig. 1: Tribuloside inhibited apoptosis of H₂O₂-induced HLE-B3 cells.

Group	OD value	Apoptosis rate (%)	CAT (U/ml)	MDA (nmol/ml)	SOD (U/ml)
Control	1.26±0.06	6.56±0.23	116.12±6.39	55.03±1.92	170.63±7.56
H₂O₂	0.58±0.03^a	23.30±0.78^a	32.84±1.16^a	270.63±9.89^a	23.46±1.27^a
H₂O₂+tribuloside 1 μg/ml	0.73±0.04^b	20.29±0.63^b	44.18±2.12^b	222.51±10.02^b	45.59±1.77^b
H₂O₂+tribuloside 3 μg/ml	0.95±0.05^bc	16.45±0.56^bc	68.02±3.13^bc	153.07±7.74b^c	93.86±4.00^bc
H₂O₂+tribuloside 10 μg/ml	1.16±0.06^bcd	11.67±0.45^bcd	94.36±4.19^bcd	83.73±4.35^bcd	150.62±7.82^bcd
F	299.25	1280.29	724.289	1321.86	1323.39
p	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000

Note: Relative to control group, ^ap<0.05; relative to H₂O₂ group, ^bp<0.05; relative to H₂O₂+tribuloside 1 μg/ml group, ^cp<0.05 and relative to H₂O₂+tribuloside 3 μg/ml group, ^dp<0.05

Table 2: Detection of viability, apoptosis and oxidative injury after H2O2 and tribuloside treatment (x±s, n=9).

Relative to control group, miR-335-3p was down-regulated (p<0.05) and KLF6 protein upregulation was significant (p<0.05) in H₂O₂ group. Relative to H₂O₂ group, miR-335-3p expression was elevated (p<0.05) and KLF6 protein reduction was induced (p<0.05) in H₂O₂+tribuloside 1 μg/ ml group, H₂O₂+tribuloside 3 μg/ml group and H₂O₂+tribuloside 10 μg/ml group, as exhibited in fig. 2 and Table 3.

Fig. 2: Effect of tribuloside on KLF6 protein level after H₂O₂ treatment.

Group	miR-335-3p	KLF6
Control	1.00±0.00	0.14±0.01
H₂O₂	0.17±0.01^a	0.79±0.06^a
H₂O₂+tribuloside 1 μg/ml	0.35±0.02^b	0.59±0.04^b
H₂O₂+tribuloside 3 μg/ml	0.59±0.04^bc	0.38±0.03^bc
H₂O₂+tribuloside 10 μg/ml	0.82±0.05^bcd	0.19±0.01^bcd
F	1112.57	533.357
p	0.000	0.000

Note: Contrasted with control group, ^ap<0.05; contrasted with H₂O₂ group, ^bp<0.05; contrasted with H₂O₂+tribuloside 1 μg/ml group, ^cp<0.05 and contrasted with H₂O₂+tribuloside 3 μg/ml group, ^dp<0.05

Table 3: Detection of miR-335-3p and KLF6 after H2O2 and tribuloside treatment (x±s, n=9).

Target scan analysis showed that KLF6 3'-UTR contained miR-335-3p binding region, as indicated in fig. 3. Significantly, miR-335-3p and WT-KLF6 co-transfection resulted in relative luciferase activity inhibition compared with miR-NC and WT-KLF6 co-transfection (p<0.05). There was no statistical significance in luciferase detection of MUT-KLF6 group with transfection of miR-NC and miR-335-3p, as shown in Table 4.

Fig. 3: Complementary sequences between miR-335-3p and KLF6.

Group	WT-KLF6	MUT-KLF6
miR-NC	1.01±0.09	1.02±0.09
miR-335-3p	0.14±0.01^a	0.98±0.07
t	28.823	1.052
p	0.000	0.308

Note: Contrasted with miR-NC group, ^ap<0.05

Table 4: Examination of relative luciferase activity (x±s, n=9).

Contrasted to H₂O₂ group and H₂O₂+miR-NC group, miR-335-3p level was notably increased in H₂O₂+miR-335-3p group (p<0.05). Cell viability, CAT and SOD activities were enhanced (p<0.05), while cell apoptosis, MDA and KLF6 levels were overtly inhibited (p<0.05), as displayed in fig. 4 and Table 5.

Fig. 4: Effects of miR-335-3p overexpression on apoptosis and KLF6 protein level, (A): Overexpression of miR-335-3p suppressed H₂O₂-induced HLE-B3 cell apoptosis and (B): Overexpression of miR-335-3p reduced KLF6 protein level after H₂O₂ treatment.

Group	miR-335-3p	KLF6	OD value	Apoptosis rate (%)	CAT (U/ml)	MDA (nmol/ml)	SOD (U/ml)
H₂O₂	1.00±0.00	0.78±0.06	0.58±0.04	23.33±0.68	32.79±0.99	271.20±15.55	23.49±1.31
H₂O₂+miR-NC	1.01±0.01	0.79±0.06	0.61±0.05	23.51±0.64	32.86±1.06	273.86±14.73	23.55±1.07
H₂O₂+miR-335-3p	4.48±0.09^ab	0.25±0.02^ab	1.04±0.06^ab	13.31±0.42^ab	78.26±4.20^ab	106.56±10.39^ab	123.50±6.32^ab
F	13253.8	339.04	232.247	877.649	941.013	437.533	2101.8
P	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000

Note: Contrasted with H₂O₂ group, ^ap<0.05 and contrasted with H₂O₂+miR-NC group, ^bp<0.05

Table 5: Detection of apoptosis and oxidative indicators in H₂O₂-treated cells after miR-335-3p up-regulation (x±s, n=9).

Compared with H₂O₂ group, miR-335-3p level, cell viability, CAT and SOD activity in H₂O₂+tribuloside group were markedly elevated (p<0.05) while apoptotic cells, MDA level and KLF6 protein level were repressed (p<0.05). Contrasted to H₂O₂+tribuloside group, miR-335-3p downregulation was detected in H₂O₂+tribuloside+antimiR-335-3p group (p<0.05). Cell viability, CAT and SOD activities were reduced (p<0.05), whereas cell apoptosis, MDA and KLF6 levels were enhanced (p<0.05), as indicated in fig. 5 and Table 6.

Fig. 5: Inhibition of miR-335-3p counteracted the regulation of tribuloside in cell apoptosis and KLF6 protein level, (A): Reduction of miR-335-3p recovered the inhibitory influence of tribuloside on HLE-B3 cell apoptosis and (B): Inhibition of miR-335-3p attenuated KLF6 protein regulation by tribuloside in HLE-B3 cells.

Group	miR-335-3p	KLF6	OD value	Apoptosis rate (%)	CAT (U/ml)	MDA (nmol/ml)	SOD (U/ml)
H₂O₂	1.00±0.00	0.77±0.07	0.60±0.04	23.36±0.96	32.89±0.97	273.87±15.29	23.52±1.14
H₂O₂+tribuloside	4.85±0.29^a	0.19±0.02^a	1.18±0.05^a	11.72±0.51^a	95.24±5.21^a	83.56±4.76^a	150.89±9.57^a
H₂O₂+tribuloside+anti-miR-335-3p	1.53±0.11^b	0.61±0.04^b	0.70±0.05^b	20.40±0.86^b	42.03±3.27^b	233.18±10.53^b	35.47±3.21^b
F	1222.101	351.130	393.273	514.324	789.384	1549.234	1294.665
p	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000

Note: Relative to H₂O₂ group, ^ap<0.05 and relative to H₂O₂+tribuloside+anti-miR-335-3p group, ^bp<0.05

Table 6: Down-regulation of miR-335-3p restored the influences of tribuloside on cell activity, apoptosis and oxidative stress of H₂O₂-induced HLE-B3 cells (x±s, n=9).

Oxidative stress induced by ROS, such as H₂O₂ is considered as a pivotal mediator to result in lens epithelial cell apoptosis in cataract[11]. In this study, H₂O₂ was employed to mimic oxidative damage in cataract cell model. HLE-B3 cell viability was significantly reduced after exposure to H₂O₂, and 100 μmol/l H₂O₂ was selected as the working concentration when cell viability was close to 50 %. CAT and SOD are important antioxidant enzymes for clearing ROS. Balance breakdown between ROS production and clearance can trigger aberrant apoptosis and oxidative injury of lens epithelial cells, which is associated with the occurrence of cataract[12]. Li et al.[13] reported that tribuloside improved nerve cell injury after experimental cerebral hemorrhage in rats, maybe by the anti-free radical mechanism. Our results demonstrated that induction of H₂O₂ can enhance cell apoptosis and the level of MDA (the end product of lipid peroxidation), then tribuloside reversed cell damage in a concentration-dependent manner. Tribuloside could enhance cell viability, antioxidative capacity and inhibit apoptosis of HLEB-3 cells, thus protecting from H₂O₂-induced cell damage.

The short miRNAs can induce target gene downregulation by acting on the 3'-UTR of mRNAs, consequently participating in the various kinds of biological processes[14]. Research evidence showed that miRNA expression was changed after oxidative stress was induced in lens epithelial cells[15]. H₂O₂ treatment down-regulated miR-182-5p in HLE-B3 cells, and miR-182-5p level increase protected against cell damage induced by H₂O₂ through directly targeting NOX4[16]. Wang et al. stated that miR-34a-5p restrained oxidative stress by reducing GPX3 in lens epithelial cells[17]. miR-23a-3p regulated lens epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis through degrading Bcl-2 level[18]. Reduction of miR-335-3p level was associated with ischemic neuronal injury, and circTLK1 knockdown ameliorated neuronal injury induced by glucose and oxygen deprivation/reoxygenation via up-regulating miR-335-3p[19]. Through inhibiting the expression of ATG3 (an autophagyrelated gene), miR-335-3p could suppresses retinal ganglionic cell apoptosis to prevent the progression of glaucoma[20]. Consistent with the results of previous studies, this study affirmed the significantly down-regulation of miR-335-3p after H₂O₂ treatment in HLE-B3 cells. In addition, miR-335-3p overexpression enhanced cell viability and abated H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and oxidative injury. Therefore, miR-335-3p worked as protective factor in cell model of cataract.

KLF6 is an anti-tumor gene implicated in cell proliferation and apoptosis[21]. A pervious study manifested that KLF6 overexpression inhibited proliferation ability of rat lens epithelial cells[22]. KLF6 was affirmed to promote UV-induced apoptosis by triggering endoplasmic reticulum stress in lens epithelial cells[23]. Moreover, miR-181 enhanced retinal endothelial cell migration in diabetic retinopathy through binding to KLF6[24]. miR-124-3p significantly weakened H₂O₂-aroused apoptosis acceleration and viability inhibition via the targeted regulation of KLF6 in HLE-B3 cells[25]. Yin et al.[26] found that miR-22-3p mediated cell apoptosis through down-regulating KLF6 in diabetic cataract. Herein, it was found that KLF6 protein expression was up-regulated after H₂O₂ treatment. More importantly, miR-335-3p directly interacted with KLF6, and the promoting regulation of H₂O₂ in KLF6 was neutralized. Anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative influences of tribuloside and miR-335-3p were consistent, suggesting that miR-335-3p and downstream target might mediate the protective effect of tribuloside. Further studies manifested that miR-335-3p level suppression impaired the protective influence of tribuloside on H₂O₂-induced HLE-B3 cell damage and up-regulated KLF6 protein level. Therefore, the regulatory role of tribuloside in H₂O₂-induced cell damage was achieved partly by miR-335-3p/ KLF6 axis.

In summary, this study confirmed that tribuloside could attenuate apoptosis and oxidative damage in H₂O₂-induced cataract cell model through regulating miR-335-3p/KLF6 axis. These evidences provide important evidence for the development of tribuloside in treatment of cataract, and discover the potential effective target for the treatment of cataract.

Conflict of interests:

The authors declared no conflict of interests.