Inhibitory Effect of Astaxanthin on Helicobacter pylori- Induced Matrixmetalloproteinase Expression in Gastric Epithelial AGS Cells
Abstract Objectives Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes capable of degrading extracellular matrix components (ECM), are believed to be associated with carcinogenesis. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection increased oxidative stress and promotes the invasion and metastasis of gastric cells by inducing expression of MMPs. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediates expression of MMPs. Astaxanthin, a xanthophyll carotenoid, has strong antioxidant and anticancer properties. The present study was aimed to investigate whether astaxanthin inhibits H. pylori-induced MMPs expression in human gastric epithelial cells by redicing oxidative stress. Methods AGS cells, human gastric epithelial cell line, were pre-treated with astaxanthin for 3 hours prior to H. pylori (cag A positive NCTC 11,637 strains) infection. The cells treated with or without astaxanthin were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of H. pylori. mRNA expression of MMP-7 and MMP-10 was measured by real time PCR analysis. ROS levels were determined using dichlorofluorescin fluorescence. Protein levels of MMPs were determined using western blot analysis. Invasion assay was performed for the cells in the upper and lower compartments in Matrigel-coated filters and the cells were examined under a laser scanning confocal microscope. Results H. pylori increased ROS levels and expression of MMP-7 and MMP-10 in AGS cells. H. pylori induced cell invasion. Astaxanthin suppressed the expression of H. pylori-induced MMP-7 and MMP-10 at the mRNA and protein level. Conclusions H. pylori infection induces expression of MMP-7 and MMP-10 and cell invasion, which may be mediated with increased ROS in gastric epithelial cells. Astaxanthin inhibits MMP expression by reducingROS levels in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells. Funding Sources This study was supported by a Brain Korea 21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.