The protective effect of zeaxanthin on human limbal and conjunctival epithelial cells against UV-induced cell death and oxidative stress.

AIM

To explore the protective effect of zeaxanthin on human limbal and conjunctival epithelial cells against UV-radiation and excessive oxidative stress.

METHODS

Human limbal and conjunctival epithelial cells were isolated from cadaver and cultured They were challenged with UVB radiation and HO with and without zeaxanthin pretreatment. Cell viability, p38 and c-JUN NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 secretion and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured.

RESULTS

Zeaxanthin had no measurable cytotoxicity on limbal or conjunctival epithelial cells when used at concentrations of 5 µg/mL and below. At 30 mJ/cm UVB, the pretreatment of zeaxanthin increased the percentage of live cells from 50% to 69% (=0.01) and from 66% to 75% (=0.05) for limbal and conjunctival epithelial cells, respectively. The concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 in the culture medium reduced to 66% (for IL-6 and MCP-1) and 56% (for IL-8) of the levels without zeaxanthin. This was accompanied by reduced p38 and JNK protein phosphorylation. Pretreatment of zeaxanthin also reduced intracellular MDA content caused by HO stimulation from 0.86 µmol/L to 0.52 µmol/L (=0.02) in limbal epithelial cells and from 0.96 µmol/L to 0.56 µmol/L in conjunctival epithelial cells (=0.03). However, zeaxanthin did not have significant effect on HO-induced cell death in limbal or conjunctival epithelial cells.

CONCLUSION

Zeaxanthin is an effective reagent in reducing the detrimental effect of UV-radiation and oxidative stress on ocular surface epithelial cells.