UV-B 반복노출에 따른 항산화효소의 변성 및 활성저하와RGP렌즈의 차단효과

Purpose: The present study was conducted to reveal the correlation of structural denaturation and decrease of enzyme activity when the antioxidative enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were repeatedly exposed to UV-B, and further investigate whether the denaturation and inactivation of those enzymes can be effectively blocked by using UV-inhibitory RGP lens. Methods: Each enzyme solution was prepared from the standardized SOD and CAT, and repeatedly exposed to UV-B of 312 nm for 30 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours a day over 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days. Structural denaturation of SOD and CAT induced by repeat UV-B irradiation was confirmed by the electrophoretic analysis, and their enzyme activity was determined by the colorimetric assay using the proper assay kit. At that time, the change in structure and activity of the antioxidant enzymes directly exposed to UV-B was compared to the case that UV-B was blocked by UV-inhibitory RGP lens. Results: SOD exposed repeatedly to UV-B showed the polymerization pattern in the electrophoretic analysis when it repeatedly exposed for 30 min a day, however, the change of its activity was less than 10%. On the other hand, CAT repeatedly exposed to UV-B reduced size and density of the electrophoretic band which indicated a structure denaturation, and its activity was significantly decreased. In the case that the repeat exposure time was longer, CAT activity was completely lost even though some enzyme band occurred in the electrphoretic analysis. In addition, the degeneration of CAT due to UV-B irradiation was inhibited to some extent by using RGP lens with a UV-B blocking of 63.7%, however, it was not completely inhibited. Conclusions: From these results, it was revealed that the structural denaturation of antioxidative enzymes was not perfectly correlated with the reduction in enzyme activity according to the type of enzyme. It is recommended to minimize the exposure time to UV when wearing contact lens, or wear the contact lenses having UV blocking rate of the FDA Class I blocker or the sunglasses having equivalent UV-blocking rate for reducing the damage of antioxidative enzymes induced by UV.