Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide Protects Corneal Epithelial Cells against UV-B-Induced Apoptosis via ROS/JNK Pathway Inhibition

PACAP is widely expressed throughout the body. It exerts a beneficial role in the eye, including the cornea. The corneal epithelium is regularly exposed to diverse types of insults, including ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation. Previously, we showed the protective role played by PACAP in counteracting U...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Grazia Maugeri, Agata Grazia D’Amico, Benedetta Magrì, Elisabetta Pricoco, Cesarina Giallongo, Giuseppe Musumeci, Claudio Bucolo, Salvatore Giunta, Velia D’Agata
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-03-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/7/3435
Description
Summary:PACAP is widely expressed throughout the body. It exerts a beneficial role in the eye, including the cornea. The corneal epithelium is regularly exposed to diverse types of insults, including ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation. Previously, we showed the protective role played by PACAP in counteracting UV-B ray insults in human corneal endothelial cells; however, its involvement in corneal epithelium protection against ROS induced by UV-B radiation, and the underlying mechanisms, remain to be determined. Here, we demonstrated that the peptide treatment reduced UV-B-induced ROS generation by playing an anti-apoptotic role via JNK-signaling pathway inhibition. Overall, our results can provide guidance in the therapeutic use of PACAP for the treatment of epithelial corneal damage.
ISSN:2076-3417