Astaxanthin inhibits apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells type II in vivo and in vitro through the ROS‐dependent mitochondrial signalling pathway. Issue 11 (12th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Song, Xiaodong; Wang, Bingsi; Lin, Shengcui; Jing, Lili; Mao, Cuiping; Xu, Pan; Lv, Changjun; Liu, Wen; Zuo, Ji
• Is Part Of: Journal of cellular and molecular medicine. Volume 18:Issue 11(2014)
• Page Start: 2198
• Page End: 2212
• Publication Date: 2014-09-12
• Subjects: Cytology; Medicine; Molecular Biology; Cytologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Biologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Cytology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; 611.01805
• DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12347
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1582-1838

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jcmm12347-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Oxidative stress is an important molecular mechanism underlying lung fibrosis. The mitochondrion is a major organelle for oxidative stress in cells. Therefore, blocking the mitochondrial signalling pathway may be the best therapeutic manoeuver to ameliorate lung fibrosis. Astaxanthin (AST) is an excellent antioxidant, but no study has addressed the pathway of AST against pulmonary oxidative stress and free radicals by the mitochondrion‐mediated signalling pathway. In this study, we investigated the antioxidative effects of AST against H₂O₂‐ or bleomycin (BLM)‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in alveolar epithelial cells type II (AECs‐II) <italic>in vivo and in vitro</italic>. Our data show that AST blocks H₂O₂‐ or BLM‐induced ROS generation and dose‐dependent apoptosis in AECs‐II, as characterized by changes in cell and mitochondria morphology, translocation of apoptotic proteins, inhibition of cytochrome c (Cyt c) release, and the activation of caspase‐9, caspase‐3, Nrf‐2 and other cytoprotective genes. These data suggest that AST inhibits apoptosis in AECs‐II cells through the ROS‐dependent mitochondrial signalling pathway and may be of potential therapeutic value in lung fibrosis treatment.</p> </abstract>