title: Cytoprotective effects of the antioxidant phytochemical indicaxanthin in beta-thalassemia red blood cells.
abstract: Antioxidant phytochemicals are investigated as novel treatments for supportive therapy in beta-thalassemia. The dietary indicaxanthin was assessed for its protective effects on human beta-thalassemic RBCs submitted in vitro to oxidative haemolysis by cumene hydroperoxide. Indicaxanthin at 1.0-10 microM enhanced the resistance to haemolysis dose-dependently. In addition, it prevented lipid and haemoglobin (Hb) oxidation, and retarded vitamin E and GSH depletion. After ex vivo spiking of blood from thalassemia patients with indicaxanthin, the phytochemical was recovered in the soluble cell compartment of the RBCs. A spectrophotometric study showed that indicaxanthin can reduce perferryl-Hb generated in solution from met-Hb and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), more effectively than either Trolox or vitamin C. Collectively our results demonstrate that indicaxanthin can be incorporated into the redox machinery of beta-thalassemic RBC and defend the cell from oxidation, possibly interfering with perferryl-Hb, a reactive intermediate in the hydroperoxide-dependent Hb degradation. Opportunities of therapeutic interest for beta-thalassemia may be considered.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Farmacochimico Tossicologico e Biologico, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo 90128, Italy. mal96@unipa.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tesoriere
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Butera
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Livrea
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000633:toxicity; D050860:Betaxanthins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006427:Hemin / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011725:Pyridines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D050860:Betaxanthins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011725:Pyridines; C469628:indicaxanthin; D014810:Vitamin E; D006427:Hemin; D005978:Glutathione; C007164:cumene hydroperoxide