Absorption and subcellular localization of lycopene in human prostate cancer cells

Abstract

Lycopene, the red pigment of the tomato, is under investigation for the chemoprevention of prostate cancer. Because dietary lycopene has been reported to concentrate in the human prostate, its uptake and subcellular localization were investigated in the controlled environment of cell culture using the human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, PC-3, and DU145. After 24 hours of incubation with 1.48 Mmol/L lycopene, LNCaP cells accumulated 126.6 pmol lycopene/million cells, which was 2.5 times higher than PC-3 cells and 4.5 times higher than DU145 cells. Among these cell lines, only LNCaP cells express prostate-specific antigen and fully functional androgen receptor. Levels of prostate-specific antigen secreted into the incubation medium by LNCaP cells were reduced 55% as a result of lycopene treatment at 1.48 Mmol/L. The binding of lycopene to the ligand-binding domain of the human androgen receptor was carried out, but lycopene was not found to be a ligand for this receptor. Next, subcellular fractionation of LNCaP cells exposed to lycopene was carried out using centrifugation and followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry quantitative analysis to determine the specific cellular locations of lycopene. The majority of lycopene (55%) was localized to the nuclear membranes, followed by 26% in nuclear matrix, and then 19% in microsomes. No lycopene was detected in the cytosol. These data suggest that the rapid uptake of lycopene by LNCaP cells might be facilitated by a receptor or binding protein and that lycopene is stored selectively in the nucleus of LNCaP cells.

Mercury modulates interplay between IL-1β, TNF-α, and gap junctional intercellular communication in keratinocytes: mitigation by lycopene

“…More importantly, the level of lycopene here is still well below that seen in adults taking a lycopenebearing antioxidant supplement as described in Bunker et al, (2007). Taking into account that significant differences in lycopene uptake among organs, tissues and cell types (Khachik et al, 2002;Liu et al, 2006) can occur, the concentration used in this study is compatible with the physiological levels, and is consistent with the lycopene intake that could be obtained from a standard (albeit Mediterranean) diet.…”

Mitochondrial β-Carotene 9′,10′ Oxygenase Modulates Prostate Cancer Growth via NF-κB Inhibition: A Lycopene-Independent Function

“…HPLC analysis of cellular extracts and medium from lycopene-treated PrEC, LNCaP, C4-2, DU145, and PC3 cells showed there was differential lycopene accumulation among PrEC, androgen-sensitive, and androgen-resistant prostate cancer cells (27). Cellular lycopene uptake was time dependent, with a maximum accumulation by 24 hours in cell lines tested (data not shown).…”

Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Proliferative Effect of Hydroxy-, Keto-, and Epoxy-Carotenoids in RAW 264.7 and HL-60 Cells

“…Apart from these, uptake of carotenoid and its level in cells may also be accountable in the biochemical events of cell toxicity [7,41,42]. The different sensitivities of the cells to carotenoids are presumably due to the difference in absorption of carotenoids [43]. It is possible that cell growth modality, as well as cell metabolic status and membrane composition, may influence carotenoid accumulation.…”