The photoreceptor protector zeaxanthin induces cell death in neuroblastoma cells.
BACKGROUND
The dietary carotenoid zeaxanthin protects against age-related eye disease by preventing apoptosis in photoreceptor cells. This study examined the effect of zeaxanthin on neuroblastoma cells in which apoptosis can be induced with lipid peroxidation products. Since zeaxanthin can inhibit lipid peroxidation and beta-carotene inhibits lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, it was of concern that zeaxanthin might inhibit apoptosis in these cancer cells.


METHODS
Apoptosis-resistant CHP100 neuroblastoma cells were treated with zeaxanthin. Apoptosis was assessed via an immunoassay for histone-associated DNA fragments and cytofluorimetric analysis of apoptotic body formation. The effect of zeaxanthin on the activity of two model LOXs and LOX-mediated lipid peroxidation in liposomes was assessed.


RESULTS
Zeaxanthin strongly induced apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells. Consistent with this finding, zeaxanthin did not inhibit LOX activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Zeaxanthin is a remarkable dietary factor that is able to induce apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells while being able to prevent apoptosis in healthy cells.
Maccarrone
Mauro
M
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, Piazza A. Moro 45, 64100 Teramo, Italy. mmaccarrone@unite.it
Bari
Monica
M
Gasperi
Valeria
V
Demmig-Adams
Barbara
B
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001093:Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D008084:Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D008084:Lipoxygenase; D001093:Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase