Lycopene in atherosclerosis prevention: An integrated scheme of the potential mechanisms of action from cell culture studies

New Developments in Lycopene Analysis by Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Techniques, Accompanied With Mathematical Modelling

“…The inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase by lycopene is also accompanied by a reduction in intracellular cholesterol levels [74], both in cultured macrophages [66] and in human subjects [75]. In agreement with these in vitro observations, dietary supplementation of lycopene in human subjects resulted in a significant reduction in plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations [76].…”

“…Other mechanisms that explain lycopene's effect in atherosclerosis prevention include prevention of endothelial injury; modulation of lipid metabolism through cholesterol synthesis control and oxysterol toxic activities; reduction of inflammatory response through changes in cytokine production; and inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation through regulation of molecular pathways involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis [74].…”

“…Thus, caveolin 1 (cav-1) plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis [77]. Palozza et al [74] observed that lycopene induced the expression of both ATP-binding cassette, subfamily A member 1 (ABCA 1) and cav-1 in THP-1 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner, favoring cholesterol efflux through a potential mechanism involving Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) inactivation and a subsequent increase in peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor-c (PPAR-c) and liver X receptor-a (LXRa) activity.…”

“…In cardiac myocytes, the stimulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6), activates the transcription factor, NF-kb, and protects cells from apoptosis [78]. Palozza et al [74] reported the effect of lycopene in reducing macrophage foam cell formation in response to modified LDL, by decreasing lipid synthesis in the cells and down-regulating the activity and expression of scavenger receptors. The mechanism by which lycopene was able to inhibit oxysterol-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production, at both protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels, was a redox mechanism involving an inhibition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, a decrease in ROS production and in MAPK, and NF-kb activation.…”

Cardiovascular benefits of lycopene: fantasy or reality?

“…Interestingly, it has been recently shown that lycopene, via bioactive metabolites, possesses partial pro-vitamin A activity transmitted via retinoic acid receptor-mediated signalling in mice (69) . Many studies using cellular models relevant to atherosclerosis have also been used in recent years, and a scheme integrating the potential cellular mechanisms by which lycopene could modulate atherosclerotic processes has been proposed (70) . Vascular endothelial dysfunction is commonly regarded as a key event in atherogenesis.…”