Metformin Prevents H₂O₂-Induced Senescence in Human Lens Epithelial B3 Cells

BACKGROUND The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of metformin against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced cellular senescence and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism of lens epithelial cell senescence. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used H(2)O(2) to establish senescence in human lens epithelial B3 cells. The cells were exposed to H(2)O(2) for different numbers of days to mimic aging. Senescence was assessed by senescence-associated ss-galactosidase staining, and the molecular mechanism was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis. The cultured cells were exposed to 150 muM H(2)O(2) for 7 days with or without metformin to detect the underlying molecular mechanism of lens epithelial cell senescence. RESULTS The lens epithelial cells exposed to 150 microM H(2)O(2) for 7 days exhibited senescence. The expression levels of senescence-related markers were increased in H(2)O(2)-treated cells. Metformin prevented H(2)O(2)-induced cellular senescence in human lens epithelial B3 cells. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that senescence marker expression is increased in the cells exposed to H(2)O(2). Metformin protects human lens epithelial B3 cells from H(2)O(2)-induced senescence.