Lutein enhances survival and reduces neuronal damage in a mouse model of ischemic stroke.
BACKGROUND
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Protective agents that could diminish the injuries induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) are crucial to alleviate the detrimental outcome of stroke. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective roles of lutein in cerebral I/R injury.


METHODS
Two-hour cerebral ischemia was induced by unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in mice. Either lutein (0.2 mg/kg) or vehicle was given to mice intraperitoneally 1h after MCAo and 1h after reperfusion. Neurological deficits were evaluated at 22 h after reperfusion while survival rate was assessed daily until 7 days after reperfusion. Brains were cut into 2mm-thick coronal slices and stained with 2% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride to determine the infarct size after MCAo. Paraffin-embedded brain sections were prepared for TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry. Protein lysate was collected for Western blotting experiments.


RESULTS
Higher survival rate, better neurological scores, smaller infarct area and smaller infarct volume were noted in the lutein-treated group. Immunohistochemistry data showed a decrease of immunoreactivity of nitrotyrosine, poly(ADP-ribose) and NFκB in the lutein-treated brains. Western blotting data showed decreased levels of Cox-2, pERK, and pIκB, but increased levels of Bcl-2, heat shock protein 70 and pAkt in the lutein-treated brains.


CONCLUSIONS
Post-treatment of lutein protected the brain from I/R injury, probably by its anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. These suggest that lutein could diminish the deleterious outcomes of cerebral I/R and may be used as a potential treatment for stroke patients.
Eye Institute, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Suk-Yee
SY
Li
Di
D
Yang
Zhong Jie
ZJ
Fu
Tiffany
T
Woo
David
D
Wong
Amy Cheuk Yin
AC
Lo
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D014975:Lutein / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014975:Lutein