Dietary Lutein Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a chronic lung disease characterized by lung inflammation and progression to fibrosis. Anti-fibrotic efficacy of lutein was studied in mouse model of bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis. The mice were orally administrated with 100 or 200 mg/kg of lutein three days prior to intra-tracheal instillation of bleomycin on day 0 and continued up to day 21. Total cell counts and protein levels in branchoalveolar lavage fluid and superoxide dismutase, and hydroxyproline levels were evaluated. Treatment with lutein at 100 and 200 mg/kg prevented bleomycin induced mortality and body weight loss. Lutein administration attenuated bleomycin induced increase of total and differential cell count and myeloperoxidase, inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue. Similarly lutein administration restored superoxide dismutase activity lowered by bleomycin instillation. The combined results revealed the protective effect of lutein by suppressing the inflammation, oxidative stress and enhancing the antioxidant potential which may helps in pulmonary fibrosis.