RESUMEN
Hypercholesterolemia is one of the most important risk factors for atherosclerosis, and tomato lycopene has been suggested to have beneficial effects against such a disease, although the exact molecular mechanism is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that lycopene may exert its antiatherogenic role through changes in cholesterol metabolism. Incubation of THP-1 cells with lycopene (0.5-2 µM) dose-dependently reduced intracellular total cholesterol. Such an effect was associated with a decrease in reduction of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase expression and with an increase in ABCA1 and caveolin-1 (cav-1) expressions. In addition, lycopene enhanced RhoA levels in the cytosolic fraction, activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and liver X receptor alpha expressions. Concomitant addition of lycopene and the PPARγ inhibitor GW9662 or lycopene and mevalonate blocked the carotenoid-induced increase in ABCA1 and cav-1 expressions. These results imply a potential role of lycopene in attenuating foam cell formation and, therefore, in preventing atherosclerosis by a cascade mechanism involving inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, RhoA inactivation and subsequent increase in PPARγ and liver X receptor alpha activities and enhancement of ABCA1 and cav-1 expressions.
Asunto(s)
Antioxidantes/farmacología , Carotenoides/farmacología , Colesterol/biosíntesis , Macrófagos/efectos de los fármacos , Transportador 1 de Casete de Unión a ATP , Transportadoras de Casetes de Unión a ATP/genética , Transportadoras de Casetes de Unión a ATP/metabolismo , Caveolina 1/genética , Caveolina 1/metabolismo , Humanos , Hidroximetilglutaril-CoA Reductasas/genética , Hidroximetilglutaril-CoA Reductasas/metabolismo , Licopeno , Macrófagos/metabolismo , PPAR gamma/genética , PPAR gamma/metabolismoRESUMEN
It is now well accepted that oxysterols play important roles in the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, involving cytotoxic, pro-oxidant and proinflammatory processes. It has been recently suggested that tomato lycopene may act as a preventive agent in atherosclerosis, although the exact mechanism of such a protection is not clarified. The main aim of this study was to investigate whether lycopene is able to counteract oxysterol-induced proinflammatory cytokines cascade in human macrophages, limiting the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Therefore, THP-1 macrophages were exposed to two different oxysterols, such as 7-keto-cholesterol (4-16 µM) and 25-hydroxycholesterol (2-4 µM), alone and in combination with lycopene (0.5-2 µM). Both oxysterols enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine [interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor α) secretion and mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner, although at different extent. These effects were associated with an increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through an enhanced expression of NAD(P)H oxidase. Moreover, a net increment of phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase 1/2, p-38 and Jun N-terminal kinase and of nuclear factor kB (NF-κB) nuclear binding was observed. Lycopene prevented oxysterol-induced increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and expression. Such an effect was accompanied by an inhibition of oxysterol-induced ROS production, mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation and NF-κB activation. The inhibition of oxysterol-induced cytokine stimulation was also mimicked by the specific NF-κB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate. Moreover, the carotenoid increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ levels in THP-1 macrophages. Taken all together, these data bring new information on the anti-atherogenic properties of lycopene, and on its mechanisms of action in atherosclerosis prevention.
Asunto(s)
Carotenoides/farmacología , Citocinas/biosíntesis , Hidroxicolesteroles/efectos adversos , Cetocolesteroles/efectos adversos , Macrófagos/metabolismo , FN-kappa B/metabolismo , PPAR gamma/metabolismo , Línea Celular , Humanos , Interleucina-1beta/metabolismo , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Interleucina-8/metabolismo , Licopeno , Proteínas Quinasas Activadas por Mitógenos/metabolismo , NADPH Oxidasas/metabolismo , FN-kappa B/genética , PPAR gamma/genética , Fosforilación , Placa Aterosclerótica/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , ARN Mensajero/análisis , Especies Reactivas de Oxígeno/análisis , Transducción de Señal , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/metabolismoRESUMEN
Increasing evidence suggests that lycopene may protect against atherosclerosis, although, the exact mechanism(s) is still unknown. Because lycopene is an efficient antioxidant, it has been proposed for a long time that this property may be responsible for its beneficial effects. Consistent with this, the carotenoid has been demonstrated to inhibit ROS production in vitro and to protect LDL from oxidation. However, recently, other mechanisms have been evoked and include: prevention of endothelial injury; modulation of lipid metabolism through a control of cholesterol synthesis and oxysterol toxic activities; reduction of inflammatory response through changes in cytokine production; inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation through regulation of molecular pathways involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Focusing on cell culture studies, this review summarizes the experimental evidence for a role of lycopene in the different phases of atherosclerotic process.