This study was to investigate the effects of Rosa laevigata Michx. (RLM) extract on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in lens epithelial cells (LECs) cultured under high glucose. SRA01/04 cell models of diabetic cataract were established by high glucose culture, and these cells were administrated with RLM extract. Levels of ROS and MMP in SRA01/04 cells were detected with fluorescent probes. HO-1 expression level, Akt phosphorylation, and Nrf2 translocation were detected by Western blot. RLM treatment could exert protective effects on SRA01/04 cells under high glucose condition, decreasing the ROS production and elevating the MMP in these cells. Western blot analysis indicated that the expression level of HO-1 was significantly elevated in SRA01/04 cells after the RLM treatment. Moreover, when HO-1 was interfered with siRNA, the effects of RLM on the levels of ROS and MMP were diminished, indicating that HO-1 induction was necessary for the function of RLM. Furthermore, HO-1 inducing effects of RLM were mediated by the PI3K/Akt and Nrf2/ARE pathways. The effects would be abolished when either pathway was inhibited by pharmacological manipulation or siRNA silencing. RLM inhibits ROS production and elevates MMP, through the induction of HO-1 expression, in LECs under high glucose condition. The protective effects of RLM are mediated by the PI3K/Akt and Nrf2/ARE pathways. Our findings provide theoretic basis and experimental evidence for the application of RLM in the treatment of diabetic cataract.
Keywords: Rosa laevigata Michx.; heme oxygenase-1; mitochondrial membrane potential; reactive oxygen species.