Objective: To investigate the effect of Sep15 gene silencing on lens protein expression in human lens epithelial cells. Method: Human lens epithelial cell (HLEC) SRA01/04 was used as the study object, Using MTT method, RT-PCRs, Small molecule RNA interference technology and protein immunoblotting method, The survival rate of hLE cells stimulated by different concentrations of bFGF and Tm (tunicamycin, an endoplasmic reticulum stress inducing reagent), the changes of the mRNA and protein expression levels of intracellular beta-crystallin and GRP78 proteins, and the changes of Sep15 protein expression levels in hLE cells were determined, respectively, to evaluate the effect of Sep15 gene silencing on the expression of lens protein in human lens epithelial cells. Result: First, The survival rate of hLE cells induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress inducing reagents tunicamycin (Tm) and bFGF was investigated by MTT method. The results showed that a certain concentration of Tm and bFGF could inhibit or lead to the death of hLE cells; Secondly, The effects of Tm on the levels of mRNA and protein expression of the endoplasmic reticulum stress marker protein GRP78 and the effects of bFGF on the levels of alpha-, were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and protein immunoblotting, respectively, Effects of beta-crystallin mRNA and protein expression levels, To determine the optimal concentration and time of Tm and bFGF on hLE cells, The results showed that 40 ng/mL of bFGF-treated cells for 48 h was the optimal reaction condition for bFGF to stimulate the differentiation of lens epithelial cells. Third, The co-action of Tm and bFGF on hLE cells was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and protein immunoblotting. For Intracellular GRP78, α-, β- crystallin, Effects of mRNA and protein expression levels, The results showed that the occurrence of ER stress could upregulate its expression. Fourth, The changes of Sep15 protein expression level in hLE cells after Sep15 gene silencing and the effects of Tm and bFGF on Sep15 gene silencing in cells were detected by Western blotting. The results showed that the addition of Tm and bFGF basically did not affect the silencing effect of Sep15 gene. Fifth, The expression of GRP78 and β- crystallin in hLE cells after silencing of Sep15 gene was detected by Western blot. The results showed that Sep15 may be involved in the process of protecting the differentiation of lens epithelial cells. Conclusion: Sep15 gene silencing has an inhibitory effect on lens protein expression in human lens epithelial cells, and strengthening its clinical research is of positive significance for improving the clinical treatment and prevention of cataract diseases.
Methylglyoxal induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and DNA demethylation in the Keap1 promoter of human lens epithelial cells and age-related cataracts