AIM: To explore the relationship between the protective effect of 17β-estradiol(E₂)on human lens epithelial cells and pyroptosis.

METHODS: Human lens epithelial cells were cultured in vitro and divided into blank control group, H₂O₂ treatment group, and 17β-estradiol+H₂O₂ treatment group. Scanning electron microscope to observe the cytological morphology; immunofluorescence technique to detect Gasdermin D(GSDMD)distribution and fluorescence intensity; CCK-8 to detect cell viability; TUNEL to detect cell pyroptosis; Western-blot to detect Cysteinylaspartate specific proteinase-1(Caspase-1), GSDMD, NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)protein expression level; ELISA to detect interleukin-1β(IL-1β)expression.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the cell viability of the H₂O₂ treatment group was significantly decreased, the expression of Caspase-1, GSDMD, and NLRP3 protein were significantly up-regulated, and the secretion of IL-1β was significantly increased. Compared with the H₂O₂ treatment group, the expression of Caspase-1, GSDMD, and NLRP3 protein in the 17β-estradiol+H₂O₂ treatment group were down-regulated, and the secretion of IL-1β decreased, and it showed a decreasing trend with the increase of estrogen concentration.

CONCLUSION: 17β-estradiol has a protective effect on human lens epithelial cells, and its protective mechanism is related to the inhibition of the pyroptosis process of human lens epithelial cells, and the classical pyroptosis pathway is involved.