The Effect of Lycopene Preexposure on UV-B-Irradiated Human Keratinocytes

Abstract

Lycopene has been reported as the antioxidant most quickly depleted in skin upon UV irradiation, and thus it might play a protective role. Our goal was to investigate the effects of preexposure to lycopene on UV-B-irradiated skin cells. Cells were exposed for 24 h to 10 M lycopene, and subsequently irradiated and left to recover for another 24 h period. Thereafter, several parameters were analyzed by FCM and RT-PCR: genotoxicity/clastogenicity by assessing the cell cycle distribution; apoptosis by performing the Annexin-V assay and analyzing gene expression of apoptosis biomarkers; and oxidative stress by ROS quantification. Lycopene did not significantly affect the profile of apoptotic, necrotic and viable cells in nonirradiated cells neither showed cytostatic effects. However, irradiated cells previously treated with lycopene showed an increase in both dead and viable subpopulations compared to nonexposed irradiated cells. In irradiated cells, lycopene preexposure resulted in overexpression of BAX gene compared to nonexposed irradiated cells. This was accompanied by a cell cycle delay at S-phase transition and consequent decrease of cells in G0/G1 phase. Thus, lycopene seems to play a corrective role in irradiated cells depending on the level of photodamage. Thus, our findings may have implications for the management of skin cancer.

Lycopene Protects Keratinocytes Against UVB Radiation‐Induced Carcinogenesis via Negative Regulation of FOXO3a Through the mTORC2/AKT Signaling Pathway

“…Similar to the findings presented here, extensive studies have also reported the anti-proliferative and/or pro-apoptotic effects of lycopene in the development of skin cancer after UVB exposure [Fazekas et al, 2003;Stahl and Sies, 2007;Reuter et al, 2010;Ascenso et al, 2016]. However, there are also some other studies report a negative effect of lycopene on skin photocarcinogenesis context [Yeh et al, 2005;Burgess et al, 2008].…”

“…Normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) cells were purchased from Invitrogen and cultured in EpiLife medium (Invitrogen Co., Shanghai). Cells were pretreated with lycopene (10 mmol) at 37°C for 24 h, and after UV-B irradiation, irradiated cells were incubated under standard culture conditions for a final 24 h period [Stahl and Sies, 1996;Hwang and Lee, 2006;Ascenso et al, 2016]. The UVB and drug treatment experiments were started when cells had reached 70-80% confluence.…”

“…Moreover, some investigators demonstrated that lycopene is also capable of mitigating photo‐oxidative damage in tissues and photo‐aged skin [Heinrich et al, ; Darvin et al, ]. Recently, studies have been developed to assess whether lycopene has potential for prevention of skin cancer [Ascenso et al, ]. Although the remarkable antioxidant property of lycopene is most likely the basis for its preventive role toward carcinogenesis [Shen et al, ], the direct anticancer effects of lycopene through a variety of mechanisms are not clearly elucidated.…”

Biofunctional Activities ofEquisetum ramosissimumExtract: Protective Effects against Oxidation, Melanoma, and Melanogenesis

“…Skin cancer can result from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted by the sun and by halogen lamps. Experimental studies of metastatic melanoma are very challenging because systemic treatments are often ineffective and the rapid spread of melanoma cells to retain an intensive property of the cellular spreading which happens later is pathologically confusing [ 5 ]. Although melanoma is not a major cause of tumorous symptoms, melanoma is a major cause of death in patients with skin cancer.…”

36H: A Novel Potent Inhibitor for Antimelanogenesis

“…Melanin scavenges free radicals to inhibit lipid peroxidation and protects the skin from UV damage, but melanin can also be deoxidized by an antioxidant. Therefore, melanin is called the radical sink [ 2 , 16 , 17 ]. A lack of melanin reduces the protection for the skin, so ROS stimulates melanocyte to produce more melanin [ 18 ].…”