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Ophthalmic Res 2005;37:83-88 (DOI: 10.1159/000084249)

  Key Words

• Corneal epithelial cells
• Nuclear factor-B
• Ultraviolet irradiation

  Abstract

Purpose: This study was performed to elucidate the role of nuclear factor-B (NF-B) in the death of corneal epithelial cells after ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Methods: Simian virus 40-transfected human corneal epithelial cells (T-HCECs) were used in this study. Cell cultures were irradiated with a UVB (312 nm) source located 10 cm from the bottom of the slides for 10, 20, 30, or 40 s. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method. Translocation of NF-B was examined by immunocytochemistry using anti-NF-B p65 antibody and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Sulfasalazine and SN-50, specific NF-B inhibitors, were used to confirm the role of NF-B by pretreating samples for 30 min before UV irradiation, after which cytotoxicity and NF-B translocation were evaluated. Results: When T-HCECs were irradiated with UVB, translocation of NF-B was observed with immunocytochemistry. These translocations peaked 2 h after UV irradiation during EMSA. When pretreated with sulfasalazine or SN-50, the translocation of NF-B was blocked. Cellular death after UV irradiation was also markedly blocked by sulfasalazine. Conclusion: These findings suggest that NF-B plays an important role in cellular death after UV irradiation.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Do-Hyung Lee, MD, PhD
Department of Ophthalmology, Ilsan Paik Hospital
Inje University Medical College, 2240 Dae Wha-dong
Ilsan-ku, Koyang, Kyunggyi-do 411-706 (Korea)
Tel. +82 31 9107240, Fax +82 31 9117241, E-Mail dhlee@ilsanpaik.ac.kr

  Article Information

Received: November 17, 2003
Accepted after revision: August 16, 2004
Published online: March 3, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 30