Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Hydrophilic Saffron Extract in a Model of Glaucoma

Abstract

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). An increase in the intraocular pressure is the principal risk factor for such loss, but controlling this pressure does not always prevent glaucomatous damage. Activation of immune cells resident in the retina (microglia) may contribute to RGC death. Thus, a substance with anti-inflammatory activity may protect against RGC degeneration. This study investigated the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of a hydrophilic saffron extract standardized to 3% crocin content in a mouse model of unilateral, laser-induced ocular hypertension (OHT). Treatment with saffron extract decreased microglion numbers and morphological signs of their activation, including soma size and process retraction, both in OHT and in contralateral eyes. Saffron extract treatment also partially reversed OHT-induced down-regulation of P2RY12. In addition, the extract prevented retinal ganglion cell death in OHT eyes. Oral administration of saffron extract was able to decrease the neuroinflammation associated with increased intraocular pressure, preventing retinal ganglion cell death. Our findings indicate that saffron extract may exert a protective effect in glaucomatous pathology.

Bioaccessibility and Pharmacokinetics of a Commercial Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Extract

“…e fast presence of crocetin in blood plasma after the administration of the saffron extract contributes to better explain saffron beneficial effects in animal models [48]. e commercial standardised saffron extract affron ® used in this study is related to beneficial effects in depression and mood disorders by several clinical trials at the dosage used in the present work [13,14,16] and in the reduction of inflammatory damage in the retina in an animal model of glaucoma [20]. e obtained results in this study increase the interest of saffron extract use as a new preventive therapy that requires a fast-active countereffect, for instance, as "fast-track" carotenoid in the Aged-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS-2) formula.…”

“…e anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties may explain its positive effect on the eye [8,20].…”

Microglial Activation in the Retina of a Triple-Transgenic Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model (3xTg-AD)

“…PLAN-APOCHROMAT (Carl Zeiss, Munich, Germany) at 20×, which represents an area of 0.1502 mm 2 per field. As previously described by our group [57], each retinal wholemount was analyzed using the motorized stage of the microscope to scan the entire preparation along the x, y, and z axes. Cellular components in the same xz plane were considered to lie in the same focal plane.…”

“…Figure preparationwas made with Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended 10.0 (Adobe Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA, USA)[57].…”

Neuroprotective Strategies for Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration: Current Status and Challenges Ahead

“…In accordance with the role of purine receptors in microglia reactivity, the inhibition of P2X7 receptor in microglial cells confers protection to RGCs in vitro upon exposure to conditioned media from microglia exposed to BzATP by decreasing NLRP3 inflammasome activation [239]. Furthermore, in a model of OHT the oral administration of a saffron extract reduced retinal microglia inflammation and the loss of RGCs, while decreasing the expression of the adenosine diphosphate P2Y12 receptor [240].…”