Effect of Astaxanthin in Cytoprotection and Maturation in Vitro Differentiation Process to Insulin-Producing Cells

Asx is a fat-soluble xanthophyll carotenoid, one of its most relevant properties is its antioxidant activity. Depending on the dose and environment, it participates in an adequate regulation of ROS/RNS at optimal levels, either directly scavenger or indirectly through the stimulation of “antioxidant” pathways such as NRF2. This regulation and interactions within the signaling pathways are studied here in order to find information that provides data to elucidate the effects that may influence the processes of obtaining IPC and the study of the effect of molecules that increase the efficiency of the cellular response during the trans differentiation process. We found that adding Asx to a cocktail of differentiation molecules to obtain IPC from DPSC increases the efficiency of insulin production, as well as the expression of important markers for the maturity and identity of pancreatic β-type cells (NGN3, PDX1, MAFA). It was also revealed that Asx favors the proper regulation of oxidative stress caused during the process of cellular trans differentiation of DPSC towards IPC, through the direct inactivation of ROS and the increase in the expression of NRF2 as well as the decrease of their principal inhibitor KEAP1, favoring the maturity of the IPC. These results suggest the potential use of Asx to deepen the knowledge of its interaction with other signaling pathways that favor the generation of IPC and other cells sensitive to oxidative stress, and thereby lay the foundations for a possible cell replacement therapy as in DM1.