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)-1β, 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.

Palozza, P., Simone, R. E., Catalano, A., Monego, G., Barini, A., Mele, M. C., Parrone, N., Trombino, S., Picci, N., Ranelletti, F. O., Lycopene prevention of oxysterol-induced proinflammatory cytokine cascade in human macrophages: inhibition of NF-κB nuclear binding and increase in PPARγ expression., <<JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY>>, 2011; (22): 259-268. [doi:10.1016] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/5601]

Lycopene prevention of oxysterol-induced proinflammatory cytokine cascade in human macrophages: inhibition of NF-κB nuclear binding and increase in PPARγ expression.

Palozza, Paola;Catalano, Assunta;Monego, Giovanni;Barini, Angelina;Mele, Maria Cristina;Ranelletti, Franco Oreste
2011

Abstract

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)-1β, 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.
2011
Inglese
Palozza, P., Simone, R. E., Catalano, A., Monego, G., Barini, A., Mele, M. C., Parrone, N., Trombino, S., Picci, N., Ranelletti, F. O., Lycopene prevention of oxysterol-induced proinflammatory cytokine cascade in human macrophages: inhibition of NF-κB nuclear binding and increase in PPARγ expression., <<JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY>>, 2011; (22): 259-268. [doi:10.1016] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/5601]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10807/5601
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