Jinjian Li,1,* Kun Yang,2,* Xinghui Pan,1 Hui Peng,1 Chenting Hou,1 Jie Xiao,1 Qing Wang1 1Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266500, People’s Republic of China; 2Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266500, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Qing Wang, Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266500, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 17853290636, Fax +86 532 82911747, Email wangqing6836@sina.comPurpose: The biological role and mechanism of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) in dry eye remain to be illustrated. Pyroptosis is a noticeable form of inflammatory activation, which is characteristic of gasdermin D (GSDMD)-driven cell death. The present study was designed to explore the role of MIAT in pyroptosis and apoptosis induced by hyperosmolarity stress (HS) in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs).Methods: HCECs were cultured in 70– 120 mM hyperosmotic medium for 24 h to create a dry eye model in vitro. The level of the pyroptosis marker GSDMD was measured, and the cell inflammatory response was evaluated by detecting IL-1β and IL-18 levels. Exogenous caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CHO was used. The pyroptosis in HCECs was examined by caspase-1 activity, immunofluorescent staining, and Western blotting. Flow cytometry was performed to test the apoptosis rate of HCECs. Cell migration and proliferation were detected. The expression of the lncRNA MIAT in HCECs was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. MIAT was knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. The effects of caspase-1 inhibition on pyroptosis, apoptosis, migration, and proliferation were observed.Results: HS promoted pyroptosis in HCECs by elevating caspase-1, GSDMD, and the active cleavage of GSDMD (N-terminal domain, N-GSDMD), and increased the release of IL-1β, IL-18, LDH and the rate of apoptosis, with reduced cell migration. These changes were prevented by the inhibition of caspase-1. The expression of MIAT was significantly increased in HCECs exposed to a hyperosmotic medium. Silencing MIAT increased the expression of GSDMD, caspase-1, and inflammatory chemokines IL-1β and IL-18, and promoted apoptosis while inhibiting migration and proliferation in HCECs.Conclusion: The lncRNA MIAT is involved in HS-induced pyroptosis and apoptosis and the inflammatory response of HCECs and provides a new understanding of the pathogenesis of dry eye.Keywords: myocardial infarction-associated transcript, dry eye, pyroptosis, apoptosis
