title: The photoreceptor protector zeaxanthin induces cell death in neuroblastoma cells.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, Piazza A. Moro 45, 64100 Teramo, Italy. mmaccarrone@unite.it
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccarrone
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bari
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gasperi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demmig-Adams
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D008084:Lipoxygenase; D001093:Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase