Affiliations: Dipartimento di Endocrinologia, Metabolismo
Traumatologia e Medicina del Lavoro, Ospedale di Cisanello, Pisa, Italy | Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Uomo e dell'Ambiente,
Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Renato Colognato, Dipartimento
di Scienze dell'Uomo e dell'Ambiente, Università di Pisa, Via S. Giuseppe
22, 56126 Pisa, Italy. Tel.: +39 050995109; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Inflammation and reactive oxygen species have been implicated in
pathogenesis of vascular diabetic complications. However, treatment with
classic free-radical scavengers and antioxidants has not been yet proved to
reduce the risk of developing such complications. In search of more effective
treatment we have tested the protective role of Ergothioneine (EGT), in
vitro, on C2C12 cells model on FFA-induced lipotoxicity. Cells were incubated
for 24 h in the presence of palmitic acid (PA) (250, 500, 750, 1000
μM), added as pro-oxidant compound, with or without 24-h
pre-treatment with EGT. Cells were assessed for cell viability and MAPKs
expression by Western Blot. Pre-treatment with EGT resulted in greater cell
viability at each PA concentration (EGT 500 μM: 5, 16,
17, 23% and EGT 1000 μM: 9, 18, 21 and 25%). In response to PA
exposure, p38 and JNK activity increased significantly while EGT prevented such
activation. Moreover the analysis of the IL-6 production reveal that EGT is
also able to exert anti-inflammatory action inhibiting the PA IL-6 modulation
(P < 0.001). In conclusion, these results indicate that 1. EGT has a
protective role on PA-induced cell death, possibly via 2. reduced activity of
MAPKs cascade having also 3. an anti-inflammatory action exerted on the IL-6
modulation.
Journal: BioFactors, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 237-247, 2008
