Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Down-regulation of NRIP1 alleviates pyroptosis in human lens epithelial cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide by inhibiting NF-κB activation

Hongyan Yao , Shanjun Wu, Bifei Lan, Li Cai, Zefeng Li

Department of Ophthalmology, Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province 315000, China;

For correspondence:- Hongyan Yao Email: hyanyao1635@163.com Tel:+8657487862226

Accepted: 21 January 2022 Published: 28 February 2022

Citation: Yao H, Wu S, Lan B, Cai L, Li Z. Down-regulation of NRIP1 alleviates pyroptosis in human lens epithelial cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide by inhibiting NF-κB activation. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(2):253-258 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i2.6

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the role of nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1 (NRIP1) in oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and pyroptosis in cataract disease.

Methods: Human lens epithelial cells (HLE-B3 cells) were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). NRIP1 expression in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-treated HLE-B3 cells was determined by western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). CCK8 and EdU staining were used to assess cell viability. Flow cytometry and western blotting were used to assess pyroptosis.

Results: NRIP1 was significantly up-regulated in HLE-B3 cells post-H₂O₂ incubation (p < 0.01). Hydrogen peroxide incubation reduced cell viability and proliferation of HLE-B3 cells, while NRIP1 knockdown enhanced cell viability and proliferation. NRIP1 silencing attenuated the H₂O₂-induced increase in NLRP3, N-terminal domain of gasdermin D, caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 in HLE-B3 cells, but suppressed the pyroptosis of H₂O₂-treated HLE-B3 cells. Hydrogen peroxide incubation down-regulated protein expression of cytoplasmic NF-κB and up-regulated nuclear NF-κB, while the expression of cytoplasmic NF-κB was increased and nuclear NF-κB was decreased in HLE-B3 cells by HLE-B3 interference.

Conclusion: NRIP1 down-regulation represses apoptosis and pyroptosis of H₂O₂-treated human lens epithelial cells by inhibiting NF-κB activation, thus, providing a potential strategy to treat cataract disease.

Keywords: NRIP1, Oxidative stress, Apoptosis, Pyroptosis, Human lens epithelial cells, NF-κB, Cataract