Astaxanthin Protects Human Granulosa Cells against Oxidative Stress through Activation of NRF2/ARE Pathway and Its Downstream Phase II Enzymes

Eslami, Mojtaba; Esfandyari, Sahar; Aghahosseini, Marzieh; Rashidi, Zahra; Hosseinishental, Shirzad; Brenjian, Samane; Sobhani, Aligholi; Amidi, Fardin

doi:10.22074/cellj.2021.7222

Astaxanthin Protects Human Granulosa Cells against Oxidative Stress through Activation of NRF2/ARE Pathway and Its Downstream Phase II Enzymes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ .Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

² .Department of Infertility, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

³ .Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Health Technology institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

10.22074/cellj.2021.7222

Abstract

Objective
Astaxanthin (AST) has been introduced as a radical scavenger and an anti-apoptotic factor that acts via regulating the nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and related factors. Here, we intended to examine the effect of AST on granulosa cells (GCs) against oxidative stress by examining NRF2 and downstream phase II antioxidant enzymes.
Materials and Methods
In this experimental study, we used cultured human primary GCs for the study. First, we performed the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test to evaluate cells viability after treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and AST. The apoptosis rate and ROS levels were measured by flow cytometry. To determine NRF2 and phase II enzymes expression, we performed real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Finally, we used western blot to measure the protein levels of NRF2 and Kelch-like ECsH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1). Enzyme activity analysis was also performed to detect NRF2 activity.
Results
This study showed that AST suppressed ROS generation (P < 0.01) and cell death (P < 0.05) in GCs induced by oxidative stress. AST also elevated gene and protein expression and nuclear localization of NRF2 and had an inhibitory effect on the protein levels of KEAP1 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, when we used trigonelline (Trig) as a known inhibitor of NRF2, it attenuated the protective effects of AST by decreasing NRF2 activity and gene expression of phase II enzymes (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Our results presented the protective role of AST against oxidative stress in GCs which was mediated through up-regulating the phase II enzymes as a result of NRF2 activation. Our study may help in improving in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes and treatment of infertility.

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