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The goal of this study was to elucidate the role of Fas, TNF-R1, FADD and cytochrome c in UVB-induced K+ channel activation, an early step in UVB-induced apoptosis, in human corneal limbal epithelial (HCLE) cells. HCLE cells were treated with Fas, TNF-R1 or FADD siRNA and exposed to 80 or 150 mJ/cm2 UVB. K+ channel activation and loss of intracellular K+ were measured using whole-cell patch-clamp recording and ion chromatography, respectively. Cytochrome c was measured with an ELISA kit. Cells in which Fas was knocked down exhibited identical UVB-induced K+ channel activation and loss of intracellular K+ to control cells. Cells in which TNF-R1 or FADD were knocked down demonstrated reduced K+ channel activation and decreased loss of intracellular K+ following UVB, relative to control cells. Application of TNF-α, the natural ligand of TNF-R1, to HCLE cells induced K+ channel activation and loss of intracellular K+. Cytochrome c was translocated to the cytosol by 2 h after exposure to 150 mJ/cm2 UVB. However, there was no release by 10 min post-UVB. The data suggest that UVB activates TNF-R1, which in turn may activate K+ channels via FADD. This conclusion is supported by the observation that TNF-α also causes loss of intracellular K+. This signaling pathway appears to be integral to UVB-induced K+ efflux, since knockdown of TNF-R1 or FADD inhibits the UVB-induced K+ efflux. The lack of rapid cytochrome c translocation indicates cytochrome c does not play a role in UVB-induced K+ channel activation.

UVB exposure at ambient outdoor levels triggers rapid K(+) loss and apoptosis in human corneal limbal epithelial (HCLE) cells cultured in medium containing 5.5 mM K(+), but considerably less apoptosis occurs when the medium contains the high K(+) concentration that is present in tears (25 mM). Since Ba(2+) blocks several K(+) channels, we tested whether Ba(2+)-sensitive K(+) channels are responsible for some or all of the UVB-activated K(+) loss and subsequent activation of the caspase cascade and apoptosis. Corneal epithelial cells in culture were exposed to UVB at 80 or 150 mJ/cm(2). Patch-clamp recording was used to measure UVB-induced K(+) currents. Caspase-activity and TUNEL assays were performed on HCLE cells exposed to UVB followed by incubation in the presence or absence of Ba(2+). K(+) currents were activated in HCLE cells following UVB-exposure. These currents were reversibly blocked by 5 mM Ba(2+). When HCLE cells were incubated with 5 mM Ba(2+) after exposure to UVB, activation of caspases-9, -8, and -3 and DNA fragmentation were significantly decreased. The data confirm that UVB-induced K(+) current activation and loss of intracellular K(+) leads to activation of the caspase cascade and apoptosis. Extracellular Ba(2+) inhibits UVB-induced apoptosis by preventing loss of intracellular K(+) when K(+) channels are activated. Ba(2+) therefore has effects similar to elevated extracellular K(+) in protecting HCLE cells from UVB-induced apoptosis. This supports our overall hypothesis that elevated K(+) in tears contributes to protection of the corneal epithelium from adverse effects of ambient outdoor UVB.