Is Saffron Able to Prevent the Dysregulation of Retinal Cytokines Induced by Ocular Hypertension in Mice?

Abstract

Cytokine- and chemokine-mediated signalling is involved in the neuroinflammatory process that leads to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage in glaucoma. Substances with anti-inflammatory properties could decrease these cytokines and chemokines and thus prevent RGC death. The authors of this study analysed the anti-inflammatory effect of a hydrophilic saffron extract standardized to 3% crocin content, focusing on the regulation of cytokine and chemokine production, in a mouse model of unilateral laser-induced ocular hypertension (OHT). We demonstrated that following saffron treatment, most of the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17), anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10), Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and fractalkine were unaffected in response to laser-induced OHT in both the OHT eye and its contralateral eye. Only IL-6 levels were significantly increased in the OHT eye one day after laser induction compared with the control group. These results differed from those observed in animals subjected to unilateral OHT and not treated with saffron, where changes in cytokine levels occurred in both eyes. Therefore, saffron extract regulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines, VEGF, and fractalkine induced by increasing intraocular pressure (IOP), protecting the retina from inflammation. These results indicate that saffron could be beneficial in glaucoma by helping to reduce the inflammatory process.

Cilastatin as a Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Treatment in the Management of Glaucoma

“…In the present study, we have successfully applied an experimental animal model of glaucoma via unilateral laser-induced OHT in mice, as in previous studies from our research group [8,10,11,14]. We have effectively induced a transient increase in IOP levels…”

“…In this study, CIL was administered as a protective therapy before and after induction of OHT, and its efficacy was evaluated (1) for its ability to control IOP levels; (2) for its possible neuroprotective action by quantifying the number of RGCs labeled with the Brn3a antibody; and (3) for its anti-inflammatory capacity, analyzed by studying glial cells, both macroglial and microglial, via immunohistochemical techniques using GFAP and Iba-1 antibodies, respectively. As we have previously characterized the temporal profile of retinal damage in this experimental animal model of glaucoma [10,11,14], days 3 and 7 post-surgery were chosen in this study as the time points of maximum inflammation and neurodegeneration, respectively. Herein, we have also included the normotensive CONTRA eye to better understand the molecular pathways underlying the progression of retinal damage from one eye to the other.…”

The Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)-Preventing Mechanism of Natural Products

“…Resveratrol [3,4 ,5 trihydroxy-stilbene], which is one of the components in grapes, can suppress the levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β, via the NF-κB pathway in RPE cells [90]. Saffron is one of the components of Crocus sativus L.'s stigma and has anti-inflammatory effects [91] through modulating both inflammation-related cytokines such as proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) [92]. Wogonin [5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone], which is isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi root, down-regulates LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, through the TLR4-NF-κB/COX-2 signal [93].…”

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“…It is well known that food-derived nutrients possess a multitude of health-promoting chemicals that positively impact bodily muscles, bones and cells of many organs, including the eye [240][241][242][243][244][245][246][247][248][249][250][251][252][253][254][255][256][257][258]. In this respect, a whole host of nutraceuticals possessing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiexcitotoxic, and anti-apoptotic properties protect RGCs and brain neurons, including curcumin, ginkgo bilboba, lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, saffron, vitamin B3, and urolithin from pomegranates.…”