Hesperetin treatment attenuates glycation of lens proteins and advanced‑glycation end products generation
Yuri Doki, Yosuke Nakazawa, Naoki Morishita, Shin Endo, Noriaki Nagai, Naoki Yamamoto, Hiroomi Tamura, Megumi Funakoshi‐Tago
Abstract
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in lens proteins increase with aging, thus inducing cataracts and/or presbyopia. Hesperetin (Hst), which is an abundant plant flavanone largely derived from citrus species, and its derivatives attenuate cataracts and presbyopia <em>in vivo</em> and <em>in vitro</em>; however, no reports have described its effects on AGE formation in lens proteins. The present study demonstrated that AGEs in lens proteins increase with age in mice. Additionally, it showed that Hst can prevent AGEs and N(ε)‑carboxymethyl‑lysine generation and modification of lens proteins using <em>in vitro</em> in human lens epithelial cell lines and <em>ex vivo</em> in mouse lens organ cultures. Furthermore, treatment with Hst prevented lens hardening and decreased chaperone activity in lens proteins. These results suggested that Hst and its derivatives are good candidates for the prevention of presbyopia and cataracts.