Lutein, zeaxanthin, and their metabolites are dietary xanthophyll carotenoids that are specifically concentrated in the macula lutea of the human eye where they are thought to provide protection against degenerative diseases of the retina including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by multiple mechanisms including filtration of phototoxic blue light and antioxidant quenching of reactive oxygen species. The body of evidence supporting their protective role against AMD has been considered strong enough to justify the inclusion of 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin in the active treatment arms of the National Eye Institute's AREDS2 study. The overall goal of this ongoing research project has been to provide a solid basic science research foundation to explain how and why lutein and zeaxanthin out of over 600 carotenoids in nature and ~15 present in the bloodstream are uniquely concentrated in the macula of the human eye in order to provide rational, scientifically based guidance for nutritional interventions against AMD through these two Specific Aims: 1) Biochemical and Imaging studies of the mechanisms of action and modes of uptake of the macular carotenoids. The identification and characterization of the currently unidentified enzyme(s) responsible for the unique conversion of dietary to lutein to meso-zeaxanthin will be initiated and completed, and the potential roles played by the carotenoid cleavage enzymes BCO1 and BCO2 in regulating carotenoid levels in the mammalian eye will be explored. Capitalizing on extensive experience in constructing noninvasive instruments to measure carotenoids in tissues, a higher-resolution confocal resonance Raman imaging system will be constructed that should allow two fundamental questions of ocular carotenoid physiology to be answered. Are the macular pigment carotenoids primarily localized to photoreceptor axons or to foveal M?ller cells? Are lutein and zeaxanthin differentially distributed in the macula, and if so, can different physiological roles of the two major carotenoids (e.g. light filtration versus antioxidant) be inferred? 2) Animal models of carotenoid action in the vertebrate eye. No other mammals besides humans and fellow primates are known to take up carotenoids into ocular tissues at more than trace amounts. In the upcoming grant period, carotenoid uptake into rodent tissues will be optimized diets through dietary adjuvants, upregulation of intestinal uptake by moderate vitamin A deficiency, and cross breeding of various transgenic mice targeted to the carotenoid metabolic pathways. Results of these experiments will provide insights into the unique evolution of the macula lutea of the retina and will provide the research community with well characterized mouse pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data of how much lutein and zeaxanthin can be delivered to the rodent retina and other tissues under optimal conditions. This work will facilitate mouse model studies of the physiological role of lutein and zeaxanthin in protection against ocular pathology.

Public Health Relevance

Even though AREDS2 will not release its results until 2013, dietary supplementation with the macular pigment carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, is widely practiced by individuals at risk for visual loss from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The overall goal of this project is to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms responsible for the specific uptake of lutein and zeaxanthin into the macula of the human eye and to gain insights into their potential protective mechanisms of action. These basic science results when combined with the clinical outcomes of AREDS2 will provide clinicians and their patients with rational, scientifically supported recommendations for effective nutritional interventions against AMD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY011600-15
Application #
8617273
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (DPVS)
Program Officer
Neuhold, Lisa
Project Start
1997-08-01
Project End
2017-02-28
Budget Start
2014-03-01
Budget End
2015-02-28
Support Year
15
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$365,050
Indirect Cost
$120,050
Name
University of Utah
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009095365
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112
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Shyam, Rajalekshmy; Vachali, Preejith; Gorusupudi, Aruna et al. (2017) All three human scavenger receptor class B proteins can bind and transport all three macular xanthophyll carotenoids. Arch Biochem Biophys 634:21-28
Shyam, Rajalekshmy; Gorusupudi, Aruna; Nelson, Kelly et al. (2017) RPE65 has an additional function as the lutein to meso-zeaxanthin isomerase in the vertebrate eye. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:10882-10887

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