Activity-Dependent Neuroprotective Protein (ADNP)-Derived Peptide (NAP) Counteracts UV-B Radiation-Induced ROS Formation in Corneal Epithelium.

Grazia Maugeri,Velia D’Agata,Teresio Avitabile,Concetta Federico,Cesarina Giallongo,Salvatore Saccone,Agata Grazia D’Amico,Salvatore Giunta,Giuseppe Musumeci,Claudio Bucolo,Davide Scollo,Antonio Longo,Daniele Tibullo

doi:10.3390/antiox11010128

Grazia Maugeri, Velia D’Agata + Show 11 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11010128

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Journal: Antioxidants	Publication Date: Jan 7, 2022
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Catania

Abstract

The corneal epithelium, the outermost layer of the cornea, acts as a dynamic barrier preventing access to harmful agents into the intraocular space. It is subjected daily to different insults, and ultraviolet B (UV-B) irradiation represents one of the main causes of injury. In our previous study, we demonstrated the beneficial effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) against UV-B radiation damage in the human corneal endothelium. Some of its effects are mediated through the activation of the intracellular factor, known as the activity-dependent protein (ADNP). In the present paper, we have investigated the role of ADNP and the small peptide derived from ADNP, known as NAP, in the corneal epithelium. Here, we have demonstrated, for the first time, ADNP expression in human and rabbit corneal epithelium as well as its protective effect by treating the corneal epithelial cells exposed to UV-B radiations with NAP. Our results showed that NAP treatment prevents ROS formation by reducing UV-B-irradiation-induced apoptotic cell death and JNK signalling pathway activation. Further investigations are needed to deeply investigate the possible therapeutic use of NAP to counteract corneal UV-B damage.

Highlights

We demonstrated the beneficial effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) against ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation damage in human corneal endothelial cells [8]
In humans as well as in rabbits, activity-dependent protein (ADNP) was expressed in all examined epithelial layers, higher staining intensity was observed in cells laying on the contact area of the basement membrane (Figure 1A,B)
UV‐B in radiation is mediated by cell death, we evaluated the time-course of p-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs)/JNK expression in cells exposed to 30 s

Summary

Introduction

The cornea is a transparent and highly specialized tissue forming, along with the conjunctiva, the ocular surface. It protects the eye against different insults and provides two-thirds of the total refractive power of the eye [1]. The cornea comprises five different layers: The epithelium, Bowman’s membrane, the stroma, Descemet’s membrane, and the endothelium. The corneal epithelium acts as a dynamic barrier preventing the access of harmful agents to the intraocular space.

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