FIGURE 6.

1,25(OH)₂D₃, meso-zeaxanthin (MZ), and the combination inhibit LPS-induced inflammation. 1,25(OH)₂D₃, meso-zeaxanthin (MZ), and their combo reduced TNF-α (A), IL-6 (B), and IL-1β (C) mRNA expression. ARPE-19 cells were pretreated for 24 h with 1,25(OH)₂D₃ (50 nM), MZ (0.1 µM), and their combo (1,25(OH)₂D₃ 50 nM + MZ 0.1 µM), and then challenged with TNF-α (10 ng/ml) for 2h, both for mRNA and protein analyses. The mRNA levels were evaluated by qPCR. (D) Densitometric analysis of each band (ratio of nuclear p-NFκB p65/lamin B and cytoplasmic p-NFκB p65/actin) was carried out with the ImageJ program. (E) Representative images of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. Each bar represents the mean value ±SD (n = 5; each run in triplicate). Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test for multiple comparisons. *p < 0.05 vs. control; †p < 0.05 vs. TNF-α; ‡p < 0.05 vs. 1,25(OH)₂D₃ and MZ.