Lutein protects retinal pigment epithelium from cytotoxic oxidative stress. (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Murthy, Ravi K.; Ravi, Kavitha; Balaiya, Sankarathi; Brar, Vikram S.; Chalam, Kakarla V.
• Is Part Of: Cutaneous and ocular toxicology. Volume 33:Number 2(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 132
• Page End: 137
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: Dermatotoxicology -- Periodicals; Ocular toxicology -- Periodicals; Ocular pharmacology -- Periodicals; Dermatopharmacology -- Periodicals; Toxicology -- Periodicals; 615.9
• DOI: 10.3109/15569527.2013.812108
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1556-9527

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Context</italic>: Lutein (LUT) and zeaxanthin (ZEA) are currently under investigation in clinical trials as prophylactic nutritional agents for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, dose used in these trials is empirical and not been investigated in <italic>in vitro</italic> studies.</p> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: In this study, we investigated the dose–response effect of LUT and ZEA in protecting retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from oxidative stress, a common underlying pathology in AMD.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic>: Three thousand cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) were plated in 72-well plate and after 24 h were exposed to increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>). ARPE-19 cells were exposed to four different concentrations of LUT (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 µg/mL) and ZEA (0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 µg/mL). After 24 h incubation, cells were subjected to oxidative stress induced with H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Cultures containing saline solution and dichloromethane served as controls. Cell viability was assessed using the WST-1 assay. Pathophysiological pathways were evaluated by measuring caspase-3 levels as an indicator of apoptosis induction. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured using dihydrorhodamine-123.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: Cell viability as a percentage of control was 81.3%, 81.1%, and 88.8% at 0.5, 1, and 2 µg/ml, respectively of LUT (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001). The maximum cytoprotective effect was seen with LUT at 2 μg/mL. ZEA did not show any cytoprotective effect at all concentrations used in the study. Caspase-3 showed a corresponding decrease in levels with LUT (1 and 2 µg/ml). Significant decrease in ROS levels were measured only with LUT at 4 µg/ml (<italic>p</italic> = 0.02).</p> <p> <italic>Discussion and conclusions</italic>: Results from our study provide <italic>in vitro</italic> data to support the epidemiologic studies, which are currently underway to provide evidence that lutein may act as cofactor that modulates processes implicated in AMD pathogenesis.</p> </abstract>