Prevention of Experimental Ultraviolet Induced Apoptosis in Explanted Human Lens Epithelial Cells Enriched With Caffeine: a Pilot Study

Caffeine is a worldwide consumed dietary constituent. It occurs in a variety of beverages such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and cocoa beverages, and in chocolate-based food products. In the United States there is a reported average intake of caffeine of 200 mg/d in 80 % of adults corresponding to the amount in two 5-ounce cups of coffee or four sodas. A new interest for caffeine in ophthalmology emerged with the observation that caffeine inhibits cataractogenesis.

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and until now there is no approved drug to prevent cataract. UVR-B radiation has been identified as one of the major risk factors for age related cataract. In vitro, Varma showed that caffeine preserves ATP levels and GSH levels in the lens when exposed to UVR-B and further maintains the state of transparency in the lens. Varma moreover hypothesized that its protective effect in the lens is due to its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and to suppress elevation of toxic microRNAs and consequent gene silencing. In the galactosemic rat model, Varma demonstrated that topical caffeine in vivo inhibited the formation of galactose cataract and prevented apoptosis of lens epithelial cells.

A further study presented evidence that topical caffeine also prevents in vivo UVR-B induced cataract and inhibits apoptosis of lens epithelial cells. The investigators estimated the protection factor (PF) of caffeine to 1.23. The PF is identical to PF for sunscreens; the ratio between the threshold dose of the toxic agent and the threshold dose without the toxic agent. The PF observed for topically applied caffeine was higher than the PF observed for perorally administered vitamin E (PF: 1.14) and vitamin C (PF: 1) , respectively. Only the Grx gene provides a higher PF (PF 1.3). This strongly supports that caffeine has an important antioxidant capacity in vivo.

Up to 99 % of caffeine is gastrointestinally absorbed and pharmacokinetics are comparable after oral and i.v. administration. In the liver, caffeine is metabolized by hepatic enzymes belonging to the cytochrome P-450 family, mainly CYP1A2. Major metabolites like 1-methylxanthine and 1-methyl uric acid were reported to still have significant antioxidant activity. Recently, a study confirmed the protective effect of coffee combined with additional antioxidant dietary against age-related cataract. Its hydrophobic properties allow caffeine passage over all biological membranes. A further study found that caffeine after oral intake accumulates in the lens epithelium.

The lens epithelium plays a major role in balancing water, ions and the metabolic homeostasis. Additionally, the germinative cells in the lens epithelium generate a reservoir for lens fiber cell generation. UVR-B radiation is absorbed by proteins and DNA in the lens epithelium and underlying lens fibres, causing damage to the cells. When epithelial cells are damaged, lens growth and transparency is disturbed. Michael et al. demonstrated the appearance of apoptotic lens cells after in vivo exposure to UVR-B with transmission electron microscopy. No necrotic cells were found at threshold dose. We found a peak of Apoptosis hours after UVR-B exposure.