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- Title
Phagocytosis of Astaxanthin-Loaded Microparticles Modulates TGF β Production and Intracellular ROS Levels in J774A.1 Macrophages.
- Authors
Binatti, Eleonora; Zoccatelli, Gianni; Zanoni, Francesca; Donà, Giulia; Mainente, Federica; Chignola, Roberto; Rodríguez-Argüelles, María Carmen; Simón-Vázquez, Rosana
- Abstract
Radiation-induced fibrosis is a serious long-lasting side effect of radiation therapy. Central to this condition is the role of macrophages that, activated by radiation-induced reactive oxygen species and tissue cell damage, produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF β). This, in turn, recruits fibroblasts at the site of the lesion that initiates fibrosis. We investigated whether astaxanthin, an antioxidant molecule extracted from marine and freshwater organisms, could help control macrophage activation. To this purpose, we encapsulated food-grade astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis into micrometer-sized whey protein particles to specifically target macrophages that can uptake material within this size range by phagocytosis. The data show that astaxanthin-loaded microparticles are resistant to radiation, are well-tolerated by J774A.1 macrophages, induce in these cells a significant reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species and inhibit the release of active TGF β as evaluated in a bioassay with transformed MFB-F11 fibroblasts. Micro-encapsulation of bioactive molecules is a promising strategy to specifically target phagocytic cells and modulate their own functions.
- Subjects
ASTAXANTHIN; TRANSFORMING growth factors-beta; MACROPHAGES; PHAGOCYTOSIS; REACTIVE oxygen species; WHEY proteins; MACROPHAGE activation
- Publication
Marine Drugs, 2021, Vol 19, Issue 3, p163
- ISSN
1660-3397
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/md19030163