Effective inhibition of adipogenesis-mediated inflammation by a macular carotenoid, lutein in vitro.

An absolute interlinks between inflammation and obesity with scarce investigations
on the role of lutein in inflammation-induced obesity motivated us to explore the
protective mechanism of lutein on adipogenesis-mediated inflammation in vitro by
culturing RAW264.7 macrophages in adipocyte conditioned medium. The RAW264
macrophage cells were cultured with adipocyte-conditioned media, and the potency
of lutein on the expression of adipocyte inflammation-associated protein markers
(IL-1β, MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-6, NF-κB, and IKKα/β) were analyzed by western blotting.
The data revealed that lutein effectively reduces the protein levels of major inflam�matory markers such as NF-κB, IL-1β, MCP-1, and TNF-α in differentiated adipocytes.
Interestingly, lutein hampered inflammation in the RAW264 cells that were cultured
in adipocyte-conditioned media by lowering the protein expression of IL-1β, MCP�1, and TNF-α. The blockage of inflammation by lutein in both differentiated adipo�cytes, and adipogenesis-induced macrophages is associated with suppression of
IKK α/β phosphorylation. These data suggest that lutein potentially alters adipocyte
differentiation-mediated inflammation by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Thus, lutein could be utilized as a potent nutraceutical agent in the management of
obesity and associated inflammation.
Practical applications
Lutein isolated from a dietary source exhibited an inhibitory effect in adipogenesis�induced inflammations. The findings of this study authenticate the diversified pro�spective of lutein in regulating obesity and other inflammation-related diseases. Thus,
it is understood that continuous intake of lutein-rich food or dietary intervention of
lutein may reduce the risk of developing obesity