Research Article

Carotenoids Inhibit Fructose-Induced Inflammatory Response in Human Endothelial Cells and Monocytes

Figure 5

Effects of carotenoids on the expression of inflammatory markers in monocytes. U937 cells were pretreated with β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and lycopene (0.1, 0.5, and 1 μM) or vehicle (control) for 2 h and then incubated for 4 h with 2 mM fructose. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to assess the mRNA levels of MCP-1, M-CSF, and CXCL-10 (a) and TNF-α and IL-1β (b). The results are representatives of 3 fully independent experiments (), each conducted three times as a percentage of ECs stimulated with fructose. # vs. control; vs. fructose alone.
(a)
(b)