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Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 2022Lycopene is a hydrocarbon-carotenoid commonly found in red fruits intake with major function correlated to antioxidative capacity in several pathological conditions,...
Lycopene is a hydrocarbon-carotenoid commonly found in red fruits intake with major function correlated to antioxidative capacity in several pathological conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, lycopene has been associated with hematopoiesis, although the effects on B lymphocyte differentiation and antibody production are poorly understood. In this work, the principal aim was to investigate whether lycopene affects B lymphopoiesis and terminal differentiation into plasma cells. Distinct in vivo and in vitro strategies based on lycopene supplementation were used direct in Balb/c mice or in culture systems with cells derived of these mice. In the bone marrow, lycopene expanded B220+IgM- progenitor B cells and B220+IgM+ immature B lymphocytes. In the spleen, lycopene induced terminal CD138+ plasma cell generation. In the blood, we found prominent IgA and low IgM levels after lycopene administration. Interestingly, the pattern of peritoneal IgM+ and IgA+ B cells indicated a significant IgM-to-IgA class switching after lycopene injection. These data indicated that lycopene induces B cell differentiation into IgA-producing plasma cells. Thus, a new cellular function has been attributed to lycopene for B lymphocyte biology and possibly associated with humoral responses and mucosal immunity.
Topics: Animals; Bone Marrow; Bone Marrow Cells; Cell Differentiation; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin M; Lycopene; Lymphopoiesis; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C
PubMed: 36197357
DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202220210002 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2020Lycopene, a potent antioxidant, has been widely used in the fields of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. However, the production of lycopene extracted from... (Review)
Review
Lycopene, a potent antioxidant, has been widely used in the fields of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. However, the production of lycopene extracted from natural sources is far from meeting the demand. Consequently, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering have been employed to develop microbial cell factories for lycopene production. Due to the advantages of rapid growth, complete genetic background, and a reliable genetic operation technique, has become the preferred host cell for microbial biochemicals production. In this review, the recent advances in biological lycopene production using engineered strains are summarized: First, modification of the endogenous MEP pathway and introduction of the heterogeneous MVA pathway for lycopene production are outlined. Second, the common challenges and strategies for lycopene biosynthesis are also presented, such as the optimization of other metabolic pathways, modulation of regulatory networks, and optimization of auxiliary carbon sources and the fermentation process. Finally, the future prospects for the improvement of lycopene biosynthesis are also discussed.
Topics: Escherichia coli; Lycopene; Metabolic Engineering; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Mevalonic Acid
PubMed: 32659911
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25143136 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2022Foods rich in antioxidants such as lycopene have a major role in maintaining cardiac health. Lycopene, 80% of which can be obtained by consuming a common vegetable such... (Review)
Review
Foods rich in antioxidants such as lycopene have a major role in maintaining cardiac health. Lycopene, 80% of which can be obtained by consuming a common vegetable such as tomato, can prevent the disturbances that contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The present work begins with a brief introduction to CVD and lycopene and its various properties such as bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, etc. In this review, the potential cardio-protective effects of lycopene that reduce the progression of CVD and thrombotic complications are detailed. Further, the protective effects of lycopene including in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials conducted on lycopene for CVD protective effects are explained. Finally, the controversial aspect of lycopene as a protective agent against CVD and toxicity are also mentioned.
Topics: Antioxidants; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotenoids; Heart Disease Risk Factors; Humans; Lycopene; Risk Factors
PubMed: 35630709
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27103235 -
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD 2023Oxidative stress contributes to pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Higher levels of the dietary antioxidants- carotenoids and tocopherols- are... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress contributes to pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Higher levels of the dietary antioxidants- carotenoids and tocopherols- are associated with better cognitive functions and lower risk for AD, and lower levels of multiple carotenoids are found in serum and plasma of patients with AD. Although brains donated by individuals with mild cognitive impairment had significantly lower levels of lutein and beta-carotene, previous investigators found no significant difference in carotenoid levels of brains with AD and cognitively normal brains.
OBJECTIVE
This study tested the hypothesis that micronutrients are significantly lower in donor brains with AD than in healthy elderly brains.
METHODS
Samples of donor brains with confirmed AD or verified health were dissected into grey and white matter, extracted with organic solvents and analyzed by HPLC.
RESULTS
AD brains had significantly lower levels of lutein, zeaxanthin, anhydrolutein, retinol, lycopene, and alpha-tocopherol, and significantly increased levels of XMiAD, an unidentified xanthophyll metabolite. No meso-zeaxanthin was detected. The overlapping protective roles of xanthophylls, carotenes, α- and γ-tocopherol are discussed.
CONCLUSION
Brains with AD had substantially lower concentrations of some, but not all, xanthophylls, carotenes, and tocopherols, and several-fold higher concentrations of an unidentified xanthophyll metabolite increased in AD (XMiAD).
Topics: Humans; Aged; Vitamin A; Tocopherols; Xanthophylls; Lycopene; Lutein; Alzheimer Disease; Zeaxanthins; White Matter; Carotenoids; Antioxidants; Brain
PubMed: 35988225
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220460 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Mar 2019Lycopene is an aliphatic hydrocarbon carotenoid extracted from plants like tomatoes, papayas, and watermelons. Previous studies have shown that lycopene can exert... (Review)
Review
Lycopene is an aliphatic hydrocarbon carotenoid extracted from plants like tomatoes, papayas, and watermelons. Previous studies have shown that lycopene can exert prophylactic and/or therapeutic effects in different disorders, such as heart failure and neoplasm via anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative activities. In the central nervous system (CNS), lycopene also has prophylactic and/or therapeutic effects in different type of disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), cerebral ischemia, epilepsy, and depression. Lycopene also improves cognition and memory ability of rodents in different pathological conditions, such as diabetes, colchicine exposure, high-fat diet (HFD), and aging. Further, lycopene can prevent neuro-toxicities induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG), trimethyltin (TMT), methylmercury (MeHg), tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP), and cadmium (Cd). In some special conditions such as ethanol addiction and haloperidol-induced orofacial dyskinesia, lycopene administration displays special therapeutic effects. Mechanisms including inhibition of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, inhibition of neuronal apoptosis, and restoration of mitochondrial function have been shown to mediate the neuroprotective effects of lycopene. Other mechanisms, such as inhibition of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, and restoration of intracellular Ca homeostasis, may be also involved in the neuroprotective effect of lycopene. In hope of get a clear impression about the role of lycopene in the CNS, we summarize and discuss the pharmacological effects of lycopene as well as its possible mechanisms in CNS disorder prevention and/or therapy.
Topics: Animals; Carotenoids; Central Nervous System Diseases; Humans; Lycopene; Neuroprotective Agents; Oxidative Stress; Plant Extracts; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 30616078
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.12.151 -
Medicine Aug 2015Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common illness for aging males. Lycopene has been identified as an antioxidant agent with potential anticancer properties. Studies... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common illness for aging males. Lycopene has been identified as an antioxidant agent with potential anticancer properties. Studies investigating the relation between lycopene and PCa risk have produced inconsistent results. This study aims to determine dietary lycopene consumption/circulating concentration and any potential dose-response associations with the risk of PCa. Eligible studies published in English up to April 10, 2014, were searched and identified from Pubmed, Sciencedirect Online, Wiley online library databases and hand searching. The STATA (version 12.0) was applied to process the dose-response meta-analysis. Random effects models were used to calculate pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and to incorporate variation between studies. The linear and nonlinear dose-response relations were evaluated with data from categories of lycopene consumption/circulating concentrations. Twenty-six studies were included with 17,517 cases of PCa reported from 563,299 participants. Although inverse association between lycopene consumption and PCa risk was not found in all studies, there was a trend that with higher lycopene intake, there was reduced incidence of PCa (P = 0.078). Removal of one Chinese study in sensitivity analysis, or recalculation using data from only high-quality studies for subgroup analysis, indicated that higher lycopene consumption significantly lowered PCa risk. Furthermore, our dose-response meta-analysis demonstrated that higher lycopene consumption was linearly associated with a reduced risk of PCa with a threshold between 9 and 21 mg/day. Consistently, higher circulating lycopene levels significantly reduced the risk of PCa. Interestingly, the concentration of circulating lycopene between 2.17 and 85 μg/dL was linearly inversed with PCa risk whereas there was no linear association >85 μg/dL. In addition, greater efficacy for the circulating lycopene concentration on preventing PCa was found for studies with high quality, follow-up >10 years and where results were adjusted by the age or the body mass index. In conclusion, our novel data demonstrates that higher lycopene consumption/circulating concentration is associated with a lower risk of PCa. However, further studies are required to determine the mechanism by which lycopene reduces the risk of PCa and if there are other factors in tomato products that might potentially decrease PCa risk and progression.
Topics: Anticarcinogenic Agents; Antioxidants; Carotenoids; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lycopene; Solanum lycopersicum; Male; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Phytotherapy; Prostatic Neoplasms; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 26287411
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000001260 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2020Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process that degrades damaged organelles and recycles macromolecules to support cell survival. However, in certain disease... (Review)
Review
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process that degrades damaged organelles and recycles macromolecules to support cell survival. However, in certain disease states, dysregulated autophagy can play an important role in cell death. In pancreatitis, the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles and damaged mitochondria and premature activation of trypsinogen are shown in pancreatic acinar cells (PACs), which are the hallmarks of impaired autophagy. Oxidative stress mediates inflammatory signaling and cytokine expression in PACs, and it also causes mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulated autophagy. Thus, oxidative stress may be a mediator for autophagic impairment in pancreatitis. Lycopene is a natural pigment that contributes to the red color of fruits and vegetables. Due to its antioxidant activity, it inhibited oxidative stress-induced expression of cytokines in experimental models of acute pancreatitis. Lycopene reduces cell death through the activation of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent autophagy in certain cells. Therefore, lycopene may ameliorate pancreatitis by preventing oxidative stress-induced impairment of autophagy and/or by directly activating autophagy in PACs.
Topics: Animals; Autophagy; Humans; Lycopene; Oxidative Stress; Pancreatitis; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 32806545
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165775 -
PloS One 2015Many epidemiologic studies have investigated the association between carotenoids intake and risk of Prostate cancer (PCa). However, results have been inconclusive. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Many epidemiologic studies have investigated the association between carotenoids intake and risk of Prostate cancer (PCa). However, results have been inconclusive.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of dietary intake or blood concentrations of carotenoids in relation to PCa risk. We summarized the data from 34 eligible studies (10 cohort, 11 nested case-control and 13 case-control studies) and estimated summary Risk Ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects models.
RESULTS
Neither dietary β-carotene intake nor its blood levels was associated with reduced PCa risk. Dietary α-carotene intake and lycopene consumption (both dietary intake and its blood levels) were all associated with reduced risk of PCa (RR for dietary α-carotene intake: 0.87, 95%CI: 0.76-0.99; RR for dietary lycopene intake: 0.86, 95%CI: 0.75-0.98; RR for blood lycopene levels: 0.81, 95%CI: 0.69-0.96). However, neither blood α-carotene levels nor blood lycopene levels could reduce the risk of advanced PCa. Dose-response analysis indicated that risk of PCa was reduced by 2% per 0.2mg/day (95%CI: 0.96-0.99) increment of dietary α-carotene intake or 3% per 1mg/day (95%CI: 0.94-0.99) increment of dietary lycopene intake.
CONCLUSIONS
α-carotene and lycopene, but not β-carotene, were inversely associated with the risk of PCa. However, both α-carotene and lycopene could not lower the risk of advanced PCa.
Topics: Carotenoids; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Lycopene; Male; Observational Studies as Topic; Prostatic Neoplasms; Risk
PubMed: 26372549
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137427 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Jun 2023Bacillus subtilis has been widely used and generally recognized as a safe host for the production of recombinant proteins, high-value chemicals, and pharmaceuticals....
Bacillus subtilis has been widely used and generally recognized as a safe host for the production of recombinant proteins, high-value chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Thus, its metabolic engineering attracts significant attention. Nevertheless, the limited availability of selective markers makes this process difficult and time-consuming, especially in the case of multistep biosynthetic pathways. Here, we employ CRISPR/Cas9 technology to build an easy cloning toolkit that addresses commonly encountered obstacles in the metabolic engineering of B. subtilis, including the chromosomal integration locus, promoter, terminator, and guide RNA (gRNA) target. Six promoters were characterized, and the promoter strengths ranged from 0.9- to 23-fold that of the commonly used strong promoter P. We characterized seven terminators in B. subtilis, and the termination efficiencies (TEs) of the seven terminators are all more than 90%. Six gRNA targets were designed upstream of the promoter and downstream of the terminator. Using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter, we confirmed integration efficiency with the single-locus integration site is up to 100%. We demonstrated the applicability of this toolkit by optimizing the expression of a challenging but industrially important product, lycopene. By heterologous expression of the essential genes for lycopene synthesis on the B. subtilis genome, a total of 13 key genes involved in the lycopene biosynthetic pathway were manipulated. Moreover, our findings showed that the gene cluster -- could positively affect the production of lycopene, while the cluster --- had a negative effect on lycopene production. Hence, our multilocus integration strategy can facilitate the pathway assembly for production of complex chemicals and pharmaceuticals in B. subtilis. We present a toolkit that allows for rapid cloning procedures and one-step subcloning to move from plasmid-based expression to stable chromosome integration and expression in a production strain in less than a week. The utility of the customized tool was demonstrated by integrating the MEP (2C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate) pathway, part of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and the hetero-lycopene biosynthesis genes by stable expression in the genome. The tool could be useful to engineer B. subtilis strains through diverse recombination events and ultimately improve its potential and scope of industrial application as biological chassis.
Topics: Lycopene; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Bacillus subtilis; Plasmids; Metabolic Engineering
PubMed: 37272803
DOI: 10.1128/aem.00230-23 -
Postepy Higieny I Medycyny... Feb 2015Antioxidant substances of plant origin, such as lycopene, may favorably affect the skeletal system. Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment, responsible for characteristic red... (Review)
Review
Antioxidant substances of plant origin, such as lycopene, may favorably affect the skeletal system. Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment, responsible for characteristic red color of tomatoes. It is believed that lycopene may play a role in the prevention of various diseases; despite theoretical premises and results of experimental studies, the effectiveness of lycopene has not yet been clearly demonstrated in studies carried out in humans. The aim of the study was to present the current state of knowledge on the effects of lycopene on the osseous tissue in in vitro and in vivo experimental models and on the skeletal system in humans. Results of the studies indicate that lycopene may inhibit bone resorption. Favorable effects of high doses of lycopene on the rat skeletal system in experimental conditions, including the model of osteoporosis induced by estrogen deficiency, have been demonstrated. The few epidemiological and clinical studies, although not fully conclusive, suggest a possible beneficial effect of lycopene present in the diet on the skeletal system.
Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Bone Resorption; Carotenoids; Humans; Lycopene; Solanum lycopersicum; Models, Animal; Osteoblasts; Osteoclasts; Osteoporosis; Plant Extracts; Rats
PubMed: 25720611
DOI: 10.5604/17322693.1141099