Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40287452›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Astaxanthin supplementation in Arabian racing horses mitigates oxidative stress and inflammation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells through enhanced mitophagy.

Beata Giercuszkiewicz-Hecold, David Pajuelo, Zofia Steczkiewicz, Anna Cywinska, Krzysztof Marycz

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Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Beata Giercuszkiewicz-HecoldDoctoral School, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
David PajueloFaculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
Zofia SteczkiewiczDepartment of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology and Animal Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 27B, 50-375, Wrocław, Poland.
Anna CywinskaDepartment of Basic and Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Toruń, Poland.
Krzysztof MaryczInternational Institute of Translational Medicine (MIMT), ul. Jesionowa 11, 55-114, Malin Wisznia Mała, Poland. kmmarycz@ucdavis.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Astaxanthin, a strong antioxidant carotenoid, has shown promising features in mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress and so that has been considered as a supplement for high-performance animals. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of astaxanthin on oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial health in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from Arabian racehorses. Horse-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) presented increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α. The addition of astaxanthin to cell culture reduced H₂O₂-induced inflammatory response by decreasing the expression levels of all the tested pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, astaxanthin displayed a potential antioxidant response by increasing the expression of genes related to antioxidative defense, such as NRF1, SOD2, and GPX. Interestingly, PBMCs isolated from the horses orally supplemented with astaxanthin increased the expression of the mitophagy-related genes PINK1 and PARKIN. Moreover, genes related to mitochondrial dynamics and energy production, such as PPARGC1B, NDUFA9, and MRPL24, as well as genes associated with mitochondrial function, structure and dynamics, such as PIGBOS, MRLP24, PUSL1 and TFAM were upregulated in PBMCs isolated from astaxanthin supplemented horses. Altogether, these findings indicate that astaxanthin may be a beneficial dietary supplement for equine health, supporting resilience against oxidative stress and inflammatory challenges, and improving the recovery and performance of racing horses.

Indexed as

Dietary SupplementsInflammationLeukocytes, MononuclearMitophagyOxidative StressAnimalsAntioxidantsCytokinesHorsesHydrogen PeroxideMitochondriaReactive Oxygen SpeciesXanthophyllsAntioxidantsastaxanthineCytokinesHydrogen PeroxideReactive Oxygen SpeciesXanthophyllsAstaxanthinDietary supplementationHorsesInflammationMitochondriaOxidative stressPBMC

Identifiers

PMID40287452
PMCPMC12033344

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.