Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the important cataract risk factors. The migration of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) plays a crucial role in the remodeling of lens capsule and cataract formation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of UV-induced lens cell migration. We found that UVB radiation induces cell migration in cultured human lens epithelial cells. Further, we observed that UVB radiation induces NADPH oxidase activity and ROS generation which are inhibited by NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium or DPI and antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In addition, DPI and EGCG also block UVB irradiation-induced MMP-2, and -9 activity and expression and nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Collectively, our data suggest that NADPH oxidase may be a major source for the UVB-induced ROS generation, and it plays an essential role in the activation of NF-κB, which is involved in the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and cell migration induced by UVB in HELCs. Understanding the cell signaling pathways may constitute potential therapeutic targets in for UVB-induced cataract.

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