Carotenoids enhance phosphorylation of Akt and suppress tissue factor activity in human endothelial cells

Platelets and atherogenesis: Platelet anti-aggregation activity and endothelial protection from tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

“…They have a similar function to carotenoids, which prevent the phosphorylation of Akt, p38 MAPK and JNK and are sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) (104,105).…”

Tomato extract and the carotenoids lycopene and lutein improve endothelial function and attenuate inflammatory NF-κB signaling in endothelial cells

“…As a result of the above cascade activated endothelial cells display on their surface an increased number of adhesion molecules facilitating the adhesion and transmigration of leukocytes inwards the tissue and for further inflammatory expansion. Carotenoids were found to have protective anti-inflammatory effect on TNF-a-stimulated endothelial cells [14,18,[26][27][28][29], as well as macrophages [21] and vascular smooth muscle cells [30].…”

Lutein Inhibits the Migration of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells via Cytosolic and Mitochondrial Akt Pathways (Lutein Inhibits RPE Cells Migration)

“…It also has cytoprotective effects for RPE cells exposed to oxidative stress or UVB-mediated oxidative damage [35,36]. Studies have shown its capability in inhibiting PI3K activity and Akt phosphorylation in macrophages, vascular smooth muscle or colon cancer cells [17,37,38], while another study has revealed that carotenoids, including lutein, can enhance phosphorylation of Akt in human endothelial cells [39]. In our experiment, we found that lutein can suppress the migration of RPE cells by decreasing both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial Akt activity, with or without the activation of mitochondrial Akt.…”