Guattegaumerine Protects Primary Cultured Cortical Neurons Against Oxidative Stress Injury Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide Concomitant with Serum Deprivation

Guattegaumerine is a natural product with characteristics of being lipophilic and reaching high concentration in the brain, but its function in the central nervous system has not yet been observed. This study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of guattegaumerine on rat primary cultured cortical neurons. Following a 24-h exposure of the cells to combined serum-starvation and hydrogen peroxide, a significant augment in neuron damage as determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release were observed. Preincubation of guattegaumerine dramatically improved the cell viability and inhibited LDH release. Preincubation of guattegaumerine also dramatically inhibited malondialhehyde (MDA) production and elevated the decreased total antioxidative capacity in cells caused by the combined injury. Results of flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry showed that pre-addition of guattegaumerine interrupted the apoptosis of the neurons, reversed the up regulation of the pro-apoptotic gene (Bax) and the down regulation of the anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2). Furthermore, guattegaumerine suppressed the increase of intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]_i) stimulated by either H₂O₂ or KCl in Ca²⁺-containing extracellular solutions, and high concentration of 2.5 μM guattegaumerine also suppressed the increase of [Ca²⁺]_i induced by H₂O₂ in Ca²⁺-free solution. These observations suggested that guattegaumerine may possess potential protection against oxidative stress injury, which might be beneficial for neurons.     

Hydrogen Sulfide Protects HUVECs against Hydrogen Peroxide Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress

Background

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has been shown to have cytoprotective effects in models of hypertension, ischemia/reperfusion and Alzheimer''s disease. However, little is known about its effects or mechanisms of action in atherosclerosis. Therefore, in the current study we evaluated the pharmacological effects of H₂S on antioxidant defenses and mitochondria protection against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) induced endothelial cells damage.

Methodology and Principal Findings

H₂S, at non-cytotoxic levels, exerts a concentration dependent protective effect in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to H₂O₂. Analysis of ATP synthesis, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and cytochrome c release from mitochondria indicated that mitochondrial function was preserved by pretreatment with H₂S. In contrast, in H₂O₂ exposed endothelial cells mitochondria appeared swollen or ruptured. In additional experiments, H₂S was also found to preserve the activities and protein expressions levels of the antioxidants enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase in H₂O₂ exposed cells. ROS and lipid peroxidation, as assessed by measuring H₂DCFDA, dihydroethidium (DHE), diphenyl-l-pyrenylphosphine (DPPP) and malonaldehyde (MDA) levels, were also inhibited by H₂S treatment. Interestingly, in the current model, D, L-propargylglycine (PAG), a selective inhibitor of cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), abolished the protective effects of H₂S donors.

Innovation

This study is the first to show that H₂S can inhibit H₂O₂ mediated mitochondrial dysfunction in human endothelial cells by preserving antioxidant defences.

Significance

H₂S may protect against atherosclerosis by preventing H₂O₂ induced injury to endothelial cells. These effects appear to be mediated via the preservation of mitochondrial function and by reducing the deleterious effects of oxidative stress.     

Protection of Rat Myocardium by Coenzyme Q during Oxidative Stress Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide

Ubiquinone Q(10) (coenzyme Q) is an important component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and an antioxidant. The purpose of this work was to find out whether an increase in the level of coenzyme Q in the heart changes its maximal working capacity and resistance to oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats were treated with coenzyme Q (10 mg/kg body weight per day) for six weeks, and this increased its content in the myocardium by 63%. The myocardial content of malonic dialdehyde and activities of key antioxidant enzymes were unchanged, except nearly 2.5-fold decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase. The maximal working capacity of the isolated isovolumic heart did not change, but under conditions of oxidative stress induced by 45-min infusion of hydrogen peroxide (70 micro M) into coronary vessels the contractile function of these hearts decreased significantly more slowly. This was associated with less pronounced lesions in the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes and lesser disorders in the oxidative metabolism of mitochondria that suggested increased antioxidant protection of the myocardium.     

胶原蛋白肽经由Nrf2信号通路对H_2O_2诱导的肝细胞氧化损伤的保护作用(英文)

目的:氧化应激在肝脏疾病中扮演着重要的角色。胶原蛋白肽是天然的抗氧化剂,其在动物实验中已经被证实有抑制氧化应激的作用。最新研究证实胶原蛋白肽将有可能被应用在肝脏疾病的预防中,但是很少有研究报道其分子作用机制。因此本研究在胶原蛋白肽是对H2O2诱导的正常人的肝细胞系HL7702氧化损伤有保护作用的基础上,并探索其分子作用机制。方法:实验设空白对照组,H2O2模型组,胶原蛋白肽低、中、高剂量组(10,100,200μg/ml)。胶原蛋白肽各组加入相应浓度的药物预处理12 h后,与模型组一起加入300μM H2O2的H2O2共同培养12 h,空白对照组正常培养。细胞毒性是由CCK8和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)的释放检测。抗氧化试剂盒检测细胞内活性氧的水平,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量的变化。Western blot检测细胞内Nrf2蛋白的表达水平。结果:胶原蛋白肽对H2O2诱导的正常人的肝细胞系HL7702氧化损伤有保护作用。胶原蛋白肽能够及时清除细胞内的活性氧,增加Nrf2的蛋白表达水平,提高超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性,减轻脂质过氧化反应,从而保护正常人的肝细胞系HL7702。结论:总之,胶原蛋白肽通过增加Nrf2的蛋白表达水平,提高抗氧化活性,对H2O2诱导损伤的肝细胞发挥保护作用。本研究为胶原蛋白肽的分子作用机制提供了新的证据,将有助于预防氧化应激所致的肝损伤。     

Estradiol Protects Against Oxidative Stress Induced by Chronic Variate Stress

Neurochemical gender-specific effects have been observed following chronic stress. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of chronic variable stress on free radical production (evaluated by DCF test), lipoperoxidation (evaluated by TBARS levels), and total antioxidant reactivity (TAR) in three distinct structures of brain: hippocampus, cerebral cortex and hypothalamus of female rats, and to evaluate whether the replacement with estradiol in female rats exerts neuroprotection against oxidative stress. Results demonstrate that chronic stress had a structure-specific effect upon lipid peroxidation, since TBARS increased in hypothalamus homogenates of stressed animals, without alterations in the other structures analyzed. Estradiol replacement was able to counteract this effect. In hippocampus, estradiol induced a significant increase in TAR. No differences in DCF levels were observed. In conclusion, the hypothalamus is more susceptible to oxidative stress in female rats submitted to chronic variable stress, and this effect is prevented by estradiol treatment.     

烹调油烟挥发性有机物对人胚肺成纤维细胞的氧化应激效应研究

目的：探讨烹调油烟挥发性有机物对人胚肺成纤维细胞（HELF）的氧化应激效应。方法：用活性炭采集烹调油烟挥发性有机物（COF VOCs）,通过MTT实验确定COF VOCs暴露对HELF细胞的半数抑制浓度（IC50）;取对数生长期HELF细胞,使其暴露于剂量分别为20、4、0．8μg／mL的COF VOCs,分别于12、24、48h后进行活性氧（ROS）分析、丙二醛（MDA）检测和Comet试验。结果：COF VOCs刺激HELF细胞12、24、48h的IC50分别为104．9、111．9和127．2μg／mL;流式细胞术检测发现细胞胞质和线粒体内ROS平均荧光强度随COF VOCs剂量增加而增高;剂量组MDA水平与阴性对照组相比无统计学差异;剂量组DNA断裂水平与阴性对照组相比,差异有统计学意义;各剂量组引起的细胞ROS、MDA升高和DNA断裂在不同暴露时间之间差别均无统计学意义。结论：在实验剂量水平和暴露时间内,COF VOCs暴露可引起HELF细胞胞质和线粒体内ROS升高、DNA断裂,但并不能引起脂质过氧化损伤。     

Cytoglobin Up-regulated by Hydrogen Peroxide Plays a Protective Role in Oxidative Stress

Cytoglobin (Cygb) is a recently discovered intracellular respiratory globin, which exists in all types of cells. It has been suggested that Cygb has a role in protecting cells against oxidative stress. In the present study we have tested this hypothesis. The N2a neuroblastoma cells were exposed to various kinds of insults, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hypoxia, kainic acid, high extracellular CaCl₂, high osmolarity, UV irradiation and heat shock. Among them, only H₂O₂-treatment induced a significant up-regulation of cytoglobin mRNA level. We stably transfected N2a cells with Cygb-siRNA vectors and successfully knocked down Cygb. The Cygb-siRNA could exacerbate cell death upon H₂O₂-treatment, as demonstrated by MTT cell viability assay. Thus, Cygb in neuronal cells might be specifically induced under oxidative stress to protect them from death.     

Protective Effects of Anthocyanins from Coreopsis tinctoria against Oxidative Stress Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide in MIN6 Cells

Anthocyanins (AC) from Coreopsis tinctoria possesses strong antioxidant properties, while the effects of AC on cells damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in diabetes mellitus diseases progression have not been reported. The present study was carried out to evaluate the protective property of AC against cellular oxidative stress with an experimental model, H₂O₂‐exposed MIN6 cells. AC could reverse the decrease of cell viability induced by H₂O₂ and efficiently suppressed cellular ROS production and cell apoptosis. In addition, Real‐time PCR and Western blot analyses indicated that AC could protect MIN6 cells against oxidative injury through increasing the translocation of Nrf2 into nuclear, decreasing the phosphorylation level of p38 and up‐regulating the protein expression of antioxidant enzyme (SOD1, SOD2 and CAT). Thus, this study provides evidence to support the beneficial effect of AC in inhibiting MIN6 cells from H₂O₂‐induced oxidative injury.     

丙泊酚对过氧化氢诱导人红细胞氧化应激状态下一氧化氮通路的影响

目的:一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)作为体内的一种细胞信使分子,在心血管活动中起重要作用.NO水平及其在体内的合成代谢通路与临床麻醉、危重症、术后恢复等密切相关、本实验通过使用H2O2在体外诱导人红细胞氧化应激反应,观察红细胞NO,eNOS,NO3-和NO2-水平的变化,及丙泊酚对这一变化的影响.方法:健康成年人红细胞制成2％红细胞悬液,分为10组:对照组(C组)、H2O2组(H组)、丙泊酚12.5 μmol/L组,丙泊酚25 μmol/L组,丙泊酚50 μmol/L组,丙泊酚100 μmol/L组,丙泊酚12.5μmol/L+ H2O2组(P12.5+H组)、丙泊酚25 μmol/L+ H2O2组(P25+H组)、丙泊酚50 μmol/L+H2O2组(P50+H组),丙泊酚100μmol/L+ H2O2组(P100+H组).各组H2O2的反应浓度均为200 μmol/L,孵育30 min,测定红细胞NO,eNOS,NO3-和NO2-水平的变化.结果:P50组(4.97± 0.58)NO水平高于其余各组(P＜0.05);H组(4.96± 0.52)NO水平高于其它组(P＜0.05);与C组(1.34±0.29)相比,P50组(2.23±0.33)和H组(2.33± 0.39)eNOS水平升高(P＜0.05);NO3-水平H组(43.78± 2.13)比C组(52.06±2.14)低(P=0.017);NO2-水平H组(13.32± 2.04)比C组(34.14± 1.48)低(P=0.025).结论:丙泊酚和H2O2能够使红细胞NO和eNOS水平的升高;H2O2引起红细胞NO升高和NO3-,NO2-的降低.我们推断,H2O2使体内产生的过量NO,会对机体产生害影响,而丙泊酚通过清除自由基、抑制H2O2诱导的红细胞硝酸盐-亚硝酸盐-一氧化氮通路向氧化相移动来维持NO水平,实现维持NO生物利用率及保护人红细胞抵抗氧化损伤.     

Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Protect Endothelial Cells from Apoptosis Induced by Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is well documented to cause injury to endothelial cells (ECs), which in turn trigger cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies revealed that cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) had antioxidant property, but the protective effect of nanoceria on ROS injury to ECs and cardiovascular diseases has not been reported. In the current study, we investigated the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of nanoceria on oxidative injury to ECs. The cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase release, cellular uptake, intracellular localization and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, endocytosis mechanism, cell apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential were performed. The results indicated that nanoceria had no cytotoxicity on ECs but had the ability to prevent injury by H₂O₂. Nanoceria could be uptaken into ECs through caveolae- and clathrin-mediated endocytosis and distributed throughout the cytoplasma. The internalized nanoceria effectively attenuated ROS overproduction induced by H₂O₂. Apoptosis was also alleviated greatly by nanoceria pretreatment. These results may be helpful for more rational application of nanoceria in biomedical fields in the future.     

Antioxidant Lactobacilli Could Protect Gingival Fibroblasts Against Hydrogen Peroxide: A Preliminary In Vitro Study

Oxidative stress and tissue destruction are at the heart of periodontal diseases. The dental research area is geared toward the prevention of free radicals by nutrient antioxidants. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have recently attracted attention in alternative dental therapies. We aimed at highlighting the antioxidative property of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium strains and at determining their protective effect on gingival fibroblasts (GFs). Two Lactobacilli and 2 Bifidobacterium strains were screened for their exopolysaccharide (EPSs) production. Antioxidative assays were conducted by spectrophotometer analysis. Resistance to different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was determined by the serial dilution technique. The protective effect of strains on GFs on hydrogen peroxide exposure was also examined by a new trypan blue exclusion assay method. Bifidobacterium breve A28 showed the highest EPS production (122 mg/l) and remarkable antioxidant activity, which were demonstrated by its ability to scavenge 72 % α,α-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical and chelate 88 % of iron ion, respectively. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation was determined as 71 % for the A28 strain. We suggest that LAB with antioxidative activity could be a good natural therapy agent for periodontal disorders.     

Redundant Hydrogen Peroxide Scavengers Contribute to Salmonella Virulence and Oxidative Stress Resistance

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is an intracellular pathogen that can survive and replicate within macrophages. One of the host defense mechanisms that Salmonella encounters during infection is the production of reactive oxygen species by the phagocyte NADPH oxidase. Among them, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) can diffuse across bacterial membranes and damage biomolecules. Genome analysis allowed us to identify five genes encoding H₂O₂ degrading enzymes: three catalases (KatE, KatG, and KatN) and two alkyl hydroperoxide reductases (AhpC and TsaA). Inactivation of the five cognate structural genes yielded the HpxF⁻ mutant, which exhibited a high sensitivity to exogenous H₂O₂ and a severe survival defect within macrophages. When the phagocyte NADPH oxidase was inhibited, its proliferation index increased 3.7-fold. Moreover, the overexpression of katG or tsaA in the HpxF⁻ background was sufficient to confer a proliferation index similar to that of the wild type in macrophages and a resistance to millimolar H₂O₂ in rich medium. The HpxF⁻ mutant also showed an attenuated virulence in a mouse model. These data indicate that Salmonella catalases and alkyl hydroperoxide reductases are required to degrade H₂O₂ and contribute to the virulence. This enzymatic redundancy highlights the evolutionary strategies developed by bacterial pathogens to survive within hostile environments.Salmonella is a facultative intracellular pathogen that is associated with gastroenteritis, septicemia, and typhoid fever. This gram-negative bacterium survives and replicates in macrophages during the course of infection and can be exposed to a number of stressful environments during its life cycle (16). One of the host defense mechanisms that Salmonella encounters upon infection is the production of superoxide anion O₂⁻ by the phagocyte NADPH oxidase (1, 25). This radical can pass the outer membrane of the bacteria and represents one of the major weapons used by the macrophage to kill engulfed pathogens (18). Evidence that phagocyte-produced superoxide is a key mechanism for avoiding Salmonella infection is clear: mice and humans who are genetically defective in superoxide production are significantly more susceptible to infection (36, 38). Superoxide dismutases, located in the bacterial periplasm and in the cytoplasm, dismutate superoxide O₂⁻ to hydrogen peroxide H₂O₂ and molecular oxygen. Unlike superoxide, hydrogen peroxide can diffuse readily across bacterial membranes and form HO hydroxyl radicals in the presence of Fe(II) (18). These reactive oxygen species (ROS) can oxidize and damage proteins, nucleic acids, and cell membranes.To scavenge and degrade H₂O₂ molecules generated either as a by-product of aerobic metabolism or by the phagocyte NADPH oxidase, Salmonella has evolved numerous defense mechanisms. The KatE and KatG catalases are involved in H₂O₂ degradation, with katE being described as a member of the RpoS regulon (17, 22) and katG being OxyR dependent (26, 39). Both enzymes share the ability to reduce hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, and their role was shown to be predominant at millimolar concentrations of H₂O₂ since they do not require any reductant (32). This observation is of particular importance, since these enzymes are not limited by the availability of a reductant, such as NADH, which cannot be generated fast enough to face a burst of H₂O₂. However, the katG and katE simple mutants, as well as the katE katG double mutant, did not show any increased susceptibility in macrophage or virulence attenuation in mice (5, 27). A possible reason could be the presence of a third nonheme and manganese-dependent catalase called KatN (30). This enzyme may contribute to hydrogen peroxide resistance under certain environmental conditions, but its involvement in virulence remains unknown. Moreover, katE, katG, and katN single mutants did not show any susceptibility to exogenous millimolar H₂O₂, essentially due to the compensatory function of the remaining catalases (5, 30).Another family of enzymes was shown to play an alternative role in H₂O₂ scavenging: the alkyl hydroperoxide reductases. These proteins directly convert organic hydroperoxides to alcohols, e.g., hydrogen peroxide to water. The alkyl hydroperoxide reductase AhpC belongs to the two-cysteine peroxiredoxin family, and the gene encoding this enzyme was identified as a member of the OxyR regulon (26, 39). The redox system consists of two proteins, AhpC and AhpF, with the latter being a thioredoxin reductase-like protein that contains two disulfide centers and transfers electrons from NADH to AhpC (13). AhpC was shown to be a predominant scavenger at low concentrations of H₂O₂, mainly because its catalytic efficiency was better than those of catalases (32). Recently the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase from Helicobacter hepaticus, TsaA (Thiol-Specific Antioxidant), was characterized (24). The tsaA mutant was found to be more sensitive to oxidizing agents like superoxide anion or t-butyl hydroperoxide. Surprisingly, this mutant was more resistant than the wild-type to H₂O₂, essentially because the level of catalase was increased in this background (24). In gastric pathogens, TsaA plays a critical role in the defense against oxygen toxicity that is essential for survival and growth (2). Interestingly, Salmonella contains two genes encoding alkyl hydroperoxide reductases, ahpC and tsaA, whereas a single copy was found in Escherichia coli (ahpC) or in Helicobacter pylori (tsaA).The redundancy of these antioxidant proteins could explain the extremely high resistance of Salmonella to hydrogen peroxide. It has been shown by Imlay and coworkers that in E. coli, three genes were involved in H₂O₂ scavenging: two catalase genes (katE and katG) and an alkyl hydroperoxide reductase gene (ahpC) (32). Simultaneous inactivation of the katE, katG, and ahpCF genes negated H₂O₂ degradation. As a consequence, this triple mutant, called the Hpx⁻ mutant, accumulates intracellular H₂O₂ (32). Moreover, H₂O₂ generated by aerobic metabolism was found to be sufficient to create toxic levels of DNA damage in such a background (28). In the present study, we deleted the Salmonella katE, katG, and ahpCF genes and two more genes absent in E. coli, katN and tsaA, to obtain the HpxF⁻ mutant, which lacks three catalases and two alkyl hydroperoxide reductases. HpxF⁻ cells exhibited the incapacity to degrade micromolar concentrations of H₂O₂, whereas this phenotype was not observed for the Kat⁻ (katE katG katN) and Ahp⁻ (ahpCF tsaA) mutants. Therefore, the HpxF⁻ mutant exhibited a high sensitivity to this compound. Moreover, this mutant did not show any proliferation within macrophages and presented reduced virulence in mice, suggesting that Salmonella catalases and alkyl hydroperoxide reductases form a redundant antioxidant arsenal essential for survival and replication within host cells.     

活性氧自由基对心肌细胞损伤效应研究

为探讨活性氧自由基对心肌细胞的影响 ,采用胰蛋白酶酶消化法分离SD乳鼠心肌细胞 ,培养于适当的条件并观察其形态学和生理学方面的特征 ;加入H_{2O2 活性氧刺激心肌细胞 ,模拟氧自由基损伤心肌细胞方式 ,构建心肌细胞缺血再灌注损伤的模型并了解H2O2 对心肌细胞的损伤作用。结果表明胰蛋白酶消化分离的心肌细胞能够在体外完好生长 ,并能够在一段时间内维持其原有的生理特性 ;MTT检测结果和形态学观察结果表明H2O2 对心肌细胞的损伤与其浓度和作用时间呈正比关系 ,TUNEL和DNA凝胶电泳分析结果显示 ,H2O2 在心肌细胞中的积累是造成细胞凋亡的主要因素之一。}     

Antioxidant Defense of Betaine Against Oxidative Stress Induced by Ethanol in the Rat Testes

Oxidative stress is one of the factors associated with decline in fertility and betaine has been shown to bear antioxidant and methyl donor properties in our recent studies. Thus, we designed the present study to examine antioxidant and methyl donor abilities of betaine in oxidative stress induced by ethanol in the rat testes. The adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups and treated daily for 2?months as follows: control, ethanol (4?g/kg, orally), betaine (1.5?% of total diet, orally), and betaine plus ethanol (betaine, 1.5?% of total diet and after 120?min, ethanol 4?g/kg). Sperm motility and concentration significantly increased in betaine group when compared to the ethanol?Ctreated rats. The main antioxidant enzyme (GPx) activity significantly increased (in order compensatory) in ethanol-treated rats when compared to betaine group while, antiperoxidative enzyme (CAT) activity significantly increased in betaine plus ethanol group as compared to ethanol-treated rats. Total homocysteine (tHcy) and TBARS concentration (as a lipid peroxidation marker) also significantly decreased in betaine and betaine plus ethanol groups as compared to ethanol-treated rats. Overall, methyl donor and antioxidant properties of betaine are promising and reduce the elevated tHcy and TBARS concentrations in betaine plus ethanol group. Therefore, betaine might be used as a potential therapy in hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress induced by ethanol in alcoholism.     

Oxidative Stress Markers Induced by Hyperosmolarity in Primary Human Corneal Epithelial Cells

Oxidative stress has been known to be involved in pathogenesis of dry eye disease. However, few studies have comprehensively investigated the relationship between hyperosmolarity and oxidative damage in human ocular surface. This study was to explore whether and how hyperosmolarity induces oxidative stress markers in primary human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). Primary HCECs were established from donor limbal explants. The hyperosmolarity model was made in HCECs cultured in isosmolar (312 mOsM) or hyperosmotic (350, 400, 450 mOsM) media. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative damage markers, oxygenases and anti-oxidative enzymes were analyzed by DCFDA kit, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescent and immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. Compared to isosmolar medium, ROS production significantly increased at time- and osmolarity-dependent manner in HCECs exposed to media with increasing osmolarities (350–450 mOsM). Hyperosmolarity significantly induced oxidative damage markers in cell membrane with increased toxic products of lipid peroxidation, 4–hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and in nuclear and mitochondria DNA with increased aconitase-2 and 8-OHdG. Hyperosmotic stress also increased the mRNA expression and protein production of heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), but reduced the levels of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1), and glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX1). In conclusion, our comprehensive findings demonstrate that hyperosmolarity induces oxidative stress in HCECs by stimulating ROS production and disrupting the balance of oxygenases and antioxidant enzymes, which in turn cause cell damage with increased oxidative markers in membrane lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial DNA damage.