Astaxanthin inhibits Helicobacter pylori -induced hyper-proliferation in gastric epithelial cells

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) causes peptic ulcer disease, gastritis and gastric adenocarcinoma in gastric epithelial cells. Hyper-proliferation is observed in the mucosa of H. pylori-infected patients. H. pylori stimulates production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which mediates hyper-proliferation of the infected gastric epithelial cells. Astaxanthin (AST) is a natural carotenoid showing a powerful anti-oxidative effect. The present study was purposed to investigate whether AST inhibits H. pylori-induced hyper-proliferation in gastric epithelial cells. As a result, H. pylori induced hyper-proliferation and increased levels of intracellular ROS in gastric epithelial AGS cells. In addition, H. pylori increased mitochondrial ROS levels by disturbing mitochondrial function, determined by mitochondrial membrane potential. AST inhibited H. pylori-induced hyper-proliferation and increases in intracellular and mitochondrial ROS levels in AGS cells. In conclusion, supplementation of AST may be beneficial for preventing H. pylori-associated gastric disorders by reducing ROS levels and hyper-proliferation in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells.