Astaxanthin: A promising therapeutic agent for organ fibrosis. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Ke; Wang, Wenhong; Xiao, Weihua
• Is Part Of: Pharmacological research. Volume 188(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Astaxanthin (PubChem CID: 5281224); aHSCs Activated HSCs -- AEC-II alveolar epithelial type II cells -- ALT Alanine transaminase -- ARE Antioxidant response element -- ASMA Anti-smooth muscle antibody -- AST Aspartate aminotransferase -- ASTX Astaxanthin -- BDL bile duct ligation -- CCl4 Carbon tetrachloride4 -- CTGF Connective tissue growth factor -- CVD Cardiovascular diseases -- Drp1 Dynamin-related protein 1 -- ECM Extracellular matrixin -- EMT Epithelial-mesenchymal transition -- HAn Hyaluronic acid nanoparticles -- HDAC Histone deacetylase -- HFD High-fat diet -- HIF-1 Hypoxia inducible factor-1 -- hnRNP L Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L -- emtNQO1 NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 -- HSCs Hepatic stellate cells -- LAD Left anterior descending -- lncRNAs Long non-coding RNAs -- LUM Lumican -- MEF2 Myocyte enhancer factor-2 -- NASH Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis -- NF-κB Nuclear factor kappa-B -- Nrf2 Nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 -- PDGF Platelet-derived growth factor -- qHSCs Quiescent HSCs -- ROS Reactive oxygen species -- SIRT1 Sirtuin1 -- SM Sphingomyelin -- Smads Small mother against decapentaplegic proteins -- SMPD1 Sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 -- SOD1 Superoxide dismutase 1 -- TEC tubular epithelial cells -- TGF-β Transforming growth factor-β -- TNC Tenascin-C -- TSP-1 Thrombospondin-1 -- UUO Unilateral ureteral obstruction -- VEGF-A Vascular endothelial cell growth factor A; Fibrosis -- Astaxanthin -- Therapeutics -- Mechanisms; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Médicaments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Pharmacologie -- Périodiques; 615.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106657
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-6618

Abstract

Abstract: Fibrosis is the end-stage pathological manifestation of many chronic diseases. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and activation of myofibroblasts are the most prominent features of fibrosis, with excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in tissues leading to organ tissue damage, which eventually progresses to organ failure and leads to high mortality rates. At present, a large number of studies have been conducted on tissue fibrosis, and the pathological mechanism of fibrosis development has generally been recognized. However, the prevention and treatment of fibrosis is still an unsolved problem, and a shortage of drugs that can be used in the clinic persists. Astaxanthin (ASTX), a carotenoid, is widely known for its strong antioxidant capacity. ASTX also has other biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antiaging and anticancer properties. Recently, many papers have reported that ASTX inhibits the occurrence and development of fibrosis by regulating signaling molecular pathways, such as transforming growth factor-β/small mother against decapentaplegic protein (TGF-β1/Smad), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), microRNA, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element (Nrf 2/ARE) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathways. By targeting these molecular signaling pathways, ASTX may become a potential drug for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. In this review, we summarize the therapeutic effects of ASTX on organ fibrosis and its underlying mechanisms of action. By reviewing the results from in vitro and in vivo studies, we analyzed the therapeutic prospects of ASTX for various fibrotic diseases and provided insights into and strategies for exploring new drugs for the treatment of fibrosis. Graphical Abstract: ga1