Effect of soluble CD44 molecule on the expression of apoptosis regulatory protein bcl-2 associated death factor bad in human trabecular meshwork cell

Abstract

Background Researches demonstrated that the levels of soluble CD44 (sCD44)molecule in aqueous is significantly higher in primary open-angle glaucomous(POAG) eye than normal eye,but how the sCD44 would affect the expression of apoptosis protein in trabecular meshwork cells is below understanding. Objective The present study was to investigate the effect of sCD44 on the expression of regulatory proteins bcl-2 associated death factor bad in trabecular meshwork cells in the patients with POAG. Methods Human scleral tissue with trabecular meshwork were obtained from POAG patients during the surgery.The trabecular meshwork cells were primarily cultured by explant culture method and identified by immunochemistry.The third generation of cells were incubated with free-serum DMEM/F12 medium added differnt dosages of sCD44 (0,1,5,10,25,50 mg/L) for 48 hours.The expression of bad protein in cultured cells was detected using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) as the absorbance values at 490 nm(A,90 value),and the bad protein level in cultured cells was assayed by ELISA. Results The cultured cells showed the positive response for laminin ( LM ),neuron specific enolase ( NSE ),fibronectin ( FN ) monoclonal antibodies.The CCK-8 assay showed that the A490 values of the trabecular meshwork cells in 0,1,5,10,25,50 μg/L of sCD44 groups were 0.2460±0.0019,0.1874±0.0015,0.1570±0.0016,0.1302±0.0019,0.1084±0.0018,0.0940±0.0020 respectively with a statistically significant difference among the 6 groups( F =14.922,P =0.000 ),and the A490 values in various dosages of sCD44 groups were significantly lower than the 0 μg/L sCD44 group (P=0.013,0.008,0.011,0.005,0.004).The ELISA assay showed that bad protein levels in 0,1,5,10,25,50 μg/L of sCD44 groups were ( 114.8461 ± 2.9560 ),( 137.8270 ± 2.4259 ),( 161.4194 ± 3.7381 ),( 170.9453 ± 3.2006 ),( 221.2252 ±4.3738 ),( 324.6167±4.4220) ng/L,showing a total difference among them ( F =16.610,P =0.000 ),and the bad protein levels in various dosages of sCD44 groups were significantly lower than the 0 μg/L sCD44 group( P =0.017,0.013,0.008,0.007,0.006). Conclusions sCD44 can contribute to the apoptosis of the trabecular meshwork cells in patients with POAG in certain dose range by regulating the apoptosis regulatory proteins bcl-2 associated death factor bad. Key words: Soluble CD44 molecule; Trabecular meshwork cell; Primary open angle glaucoma; Bad protein; Apoptosis