In vitro investigation of ultrasound-induced oxidative stress on human lens epithelial cells

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 482; no. 4; pp. 954 - 960
• Main Authors: Rwei, Patrick, Alex Gong, Cihun-Siyong, Luo, Li-Jyuan, Lin, Meng-Bo, Lai, Jui-Yang, Liu, Hao-Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 22.01.2017
• Subjects: Calcium ion; Cell Line; Cell Survival - radiation effects; Epithelial Cells - cytology; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - radiation effects; HLE-B3; Humans; Lens, Crystalline - cytology; Lens, Crystalline - metabolism; Lens, Crystalline - radiation effects; Microbubble; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - radiation effects; Reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Thermography; Ultrasonic Waves; Ultrasound; Oxidative stress; Reactive oxygen species; Microbubble; Calcium ion; Ultrasound; HLE-B3
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.11.139

The effect of ultrasound exposure on human lens epithelial cells (HLE-B3) was investigated in vitro, specifically on the generation of oxidative stress upon ultrasound application using various clinically-relevant settings. In addition to ultrasound-induced heat effects, oxidative stress has been recently proposed as one of the main mechanisms for ultrasound-induced effects on human cells. In this work, the levels of biocompatibility and generation of oxidative stress by exposure of ultrasound to HLE-B3 were evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively by the MTT assay, Live/Dead assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular calcium level. Oxidative stress induction is traditionally achieved through administrations of H2O2 and thus the administration of H2O2 was used as the positive control group for comparison herein. Concerning the administrations of H2O2 are considered invasive and may potentially have side effects, ultrasound as physical stimulation could be a safer and non-invasive method to induce similar oxidative stress environments. The effect of ultrasound on cell viability and induction of oxidative stress increases with ultrasound intensity. The result reveals that the continuous ultrasound has a positive impact on the oxidative stress levels but does negatively on the cell viability, as compared to the pulsed ultrasound. Furthermore, our work demonstrates that the exposure of 58 kPa continuous ultrasound without microbubbles can maintain acceptable cell viability and produce oxidative stress effects similar to the traditional administrations of H2O2. In summary, exposure of ultrasound can generate oxidative stress comparable to traditional administrations of H2O2. The effect of generating oxidative stress is adjustable through ultrasound parameters, including the pulsed or continuous wave, the intensity of ultrasound and addition of microbubbles. •An oxidative stress model of human lens epithelial cells was induced by ultrasound.•Addition of microbubbles enhanced ultrasound cavitation and shear stress effect.•Ultrasound-mediated microbubble technique was found to induce ROS in HLE-B3 cells.•Generating oxidative stress could be controlled by ultrasound exposure conditions.