Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, are abundant in human ocular tissues and play an important role in lens development. Targeted deletion of BMP-4 in mice results in failure of lens placode formation. Following lens maturation, the formation of senile cataracts is demonstrably associated with free radical-related oxidative stress. Previous studies reported that BMPs play an antiapoptotic role in cells under oxidative stress, and the BMP-4 signal is important in inflammation regulation and homeostasis. BMP-4 evidently suppressed the apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells (HLECS) under oxidative stress induced by H2O2. This protective antiapoptotic effect is partly due to a decrease in caspase-3 activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Furthermore, the expression of activating transcription factor- (ATF-) 6 and Krüppel-like factor- (KLF-) 6 increased under oxidative stress and decreased after BMP-4 treatment.
Highlights
Cataracts are a widely prevalent eye disease, which are the leading cause of blindness worldwide and involve a complicated pathogenesis
The cultured cells were stimulated with H2O2 for 1.5 h, 100 ng/mL Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)-4 in serum-free medium was added for 24 h
The results demonstrated that H2O2 markedly enhanced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS); when BMP-4 was added, there was a significant reduction in the level of ROS (Figures 6(a) and 6(b))
Summary
Cataracts are a widely prevalent eye disease, which are the leading cause of blindness worldwide and involve a complicated pathogenesis. The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) is a multifunctional growth factor belonging to the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily that has been shown to play important roles in both the development and regeneration of different tissues [3]. Previous research has shown that BMPs and their receptors play an important role in the development of lens during eyeball development [4]. BMPs are highly expressed in mouse embryos, and blocking of BMP signals in the lens ectoderm of cultured mouse embryos prevented lens formation. Previous studies have reported that BMPs play an antiapoptotic role in some cells under oxidative stress, and the BMP-4 signal is important in the regulation of inflammation and homeostasis [8, 9]. Limited information is available regarding the role and mechanism of BMP-4 in human lens
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
