Effects of lycopene on number and function of human peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells cultivated with high glucose

Lycopene attenuates trimethylamine-N-oxide-induced senescence in endothelial progenitor cells via the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway

Aging-related diseases, which are associated with the senescence of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), are consistently accompanied by elevated levels of circulating trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a marker predictive of poor prognosis. Lycopene (Lyc) deficiency has been demonstrated to be linked to these age-related diseases. The AMPK/SIRT1 pathway plays a pivotal role in cellular senescence. In this study, we hypothesize that lycopene could mitigate TMAO-induced EPCs senescence, with involvement of the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. EPCs were subjected to treatment with TMAO, Lyc, small interfering RNA targeting AMP-activated protein kinase (siAMPK), or sirtin-1 (siSIRT1). The biological functions of EPCs were evaluated through, CCK-8, transwell and tube formation assays, while their senescence was assessed via SA-β-gal activity assay and Western blotting. ROS generation was measured using dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate staining. TMAO-induced suppression of EPCs' functionality was alleviated by Lyc, but this effect was reversed by siAMPK and siSIRT1. TMAO increased SA-β-gal-positive cell number and ROS production, while reducing the expression of AMPK and SIRT1. These effects were attenuated by Lyc. However, the protective effects were diminished by siAMPK and siSIRT1. In conclusion, Lyc ameliorates TMAO-induced EPCs senescence through the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway.

The mechanism of lycopene alleviating cadmium-inhibited glucose uptake ability of epithelioma papulosum cyprini cells: miR-375, oxidative stress, and actin cytoskeleton dysfunction

Cadmium (Cd) poses a threat to fish and human health. Carp is the most widely farmed fish, and it is necessary to study the mechanism of Cd toxicity and effective mitigation methods for Cd poisoning in carps. We previously found that Cd up-regulated miR-375 in common carp spleens, and that IRS1, a factor involved in glucose (GLU) uptake, was a potential target gene of miR-375. However, whether Cd can decrease GLU uptake ability in fish remains unknown. Oxidative stress (OS) and actin cytoskeleton dysfunction (ACD) can take part in the mechanisms of GLU uptake ability reduction. Lycopene (Lyc) is a natural plant antioxidant, and epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells are a model cell to study carps. Therefore, we conducted experiments with Cd or/and Lyc treatments to investigate the mechanisms of Lyc alleviating Cd-cytotoxicity on EPC cells from the perspectives of miR-375, OS, ACD, and GLU uptake ability. We found that Lyc mitigated Cd-caused miR-375 increase, OS, ACD, and GLU uptake ability reduction. Moreover, miR-375 overexpression/knockdown experiments demonstrated that miR-375 mediated OS, ACD, and GLU uptake ability reduction and targeted regulated IRS1-PI3K-AKT. Furthermore, NAC intervention experiment demonstrated that ROS mediated ACD and the reduction of GLU uptake via ROS/IRS1-PI3K-AKT. Taken together, Lyc alleviated Cd-decreased GLU uptake ability via miR-375-ROS/IRS1-PI3K-AKT and miR-375/IRS1-PI3K-AKT pathways in EPC cells. Our findings highlighted significant role of miR-375 in Cd-induced toxicity and elucidated the mechanism by which Lyc alleviated Cd-induced toxicity. Our study can provide new information and new targets for resisting environmental pollutant stress in animals.

Lycopene inhibits pyroptosis of endothelial progenitor cells induced by ox-LDL through the AMPK/mTOR/NLRP3 pathway

The malfunction of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) due to ox-LDL is a risk contributor for arteriosclerotic disease. Meanwhile, lycopene possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidative qualities. This investigation aimed to determine if lycopene can protect EPCs from ox-LDL-induced damage and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. The effects of lycopene on the survival, migration, and tube-forming capacity of EPCs were determined via in vitro assays. Expression of proteins related to pyroptosis and cellular proteins related to AMPK/mTOR/NLRP3 signaling was determined by western blot/flow cytometry. Our results demonstrated that lycopene treatment significantly enhanced proliferation, tube formation, and migration of EPCs stimulated by ox-LDL. Additionally, lycopene was found to suppress pyroptosis in ox-LDL-induced EPCs through the activation of AMPK, which led to the inhibition of mTOR phosphorylation and subsequent downregulation of the downstream NLRP3 inflammasome. In summary, our study suggests that lycopene mitigates ox-LDL-induced dysfunction in EPCs and inhibits pyroptosis via AMPK/mTOR/NLRP3 signaling. Our study suggests that lycopene may act as promising therapies for preventing atherosclerosis.

Lycopene prevents cell death in NRK-52E cells by inhibition of high glucose-activated DNA damage and apoptotic, autophagic, and necrotic pathways

This study aims to investigate the effects of lycopene on apoptotic, autophagic, and necrotic pathways, oxidative status, and DNA damage in diabetic nephropathy at the molecular level. The sample of the study includes seven groups: lycopene (L), high glucose (G), high glucose + lycopene (GL), and control (C) groups tested at 12 and 24 h. The expression levels of genes in oxidative, apoptotic, autophagic, and necrotic cell death pathways are determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The comet assay method is used for the analysis of DNA damage. It is observed that adding lycopene to high glucose for protective purposes reduces the expression of genes related to apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis, as well as the DNA damage index, compared to cells given high glucose alone. Lycopene can be a safe and effective alternative agent.

Pharmacological potentials of lycopene against aging and aging-related disorders: A review

Aging and aging-related chronic disorders are one of the principal causes of death worldwide. The prevalence of these disorders is increasing gradually and globally. Considering this unwavering acceleration of the global burden, seeking alternatives to traditional medication to prevent the risk of aging disorders is needed. Among them, lycopene, a carotenoid, is abundant in many fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, grapefruits, and watermelons, and it has a unique chemical structure to be a potent antioxidant compound. This nutraceutical also possesses several anti-aging actions, including combating aging biomarkers and ameliorating several chronic disorders. However, no systematic evaluation has yet been carried out that can comprehensively elucidate the effectiveness of lycopene in halting the course of aging and the emergence of chronic diseases linked to aging. This review, therefore, incorporates previous pre-clinical, clinical, and epidemiological studies on lycopene to understand its potency in treating aging disorders and its role as a mimic of caloric restriction. Lycopene-rich foods are found to prevent or attenuate aging disorders in various research. Based on the evidence, this review suggests the clinical application of lycopene to improve human health and alleviate the prevalence of aging and aging disorders.

Endothelial progenitor cells as an emerging cardiovascular risk factor in the field of food and nutrition research: advances and challenges

Dietary modifications can help prevent many cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) actively contribute to cardiovascular system maintenance and could function as surrogate markers for evaluating improvement in cardiovascular health resulting from nutritional interventions. This review summarizes the latest research progress on the impact of food and nutrients on EPCs, drawing on evidence from human, animal, and in vitro studies. Additionally, current trends and challenges faced in the field are highlighted. Findings from studies examining cells as EPCs are generally consistent, demonstrating that a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet or a supervised diet for overweight people, specific foods like olive oil, fruit, vegetables, red wine, tea, chia, and nutraceuticals, and certain nutrients such as polyphenols, unsaturated fats, inorganic nitrate, and vitamins, generally promote higher EPC numbers and enhanced EPC function. Conversely, an unhealthy diet, such as one high in sugar substitutes, salt, or fructose, impairs EPC function. Research on outgrowth EPCs has revealed that various pathways are involved in the modulation effects of food and nutrients. The potential of EPCs as a biomarker for assessing the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in preventing CVDs is immense, while further clarification on definition and characterization of EPCs is required.

Lycopene: A Potent Antioxidant for the Amelioration of Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Nutrition is of utmost importance in chronic disease management and has often been described as the cornerstone of a variety of non-communicable diseases. In particular, type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a prevalent and global public health crisis. Lycopene, a bright red carotenoid hydrocarbon found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, has been extensively studied for its biological activities and treatment efficiency in diabetes care. Epidemiological investigations indicate that lycopene has potential antioxidant properties, is capable of scavenging reactive species, and alleviates oxidative stress in T2DM patients. This review aims to summarize the characteristics and mechanisms of action of lycopene as a potent antioxidant for T2DM. In addition, the evidence demonstrating the effects of lycopene on glycemic control and oxidative stress biomarkers in T2DM are also highlighted using animal and human studies as literature approach.

Effect of cellular communication network factor 2/connective tissue growth factor on tube formation by endothelial cells derived from human periodontal ligaments

OBJECTIVES

To clarify the role of cellular communication network factor 2/connective tissue growth factor (CCN2/CTGF) in periodontal tissue regeneration by investigating, the proliferative and tubulogenic responses of human endothelial cells obtained from the periodontal ligament to CCN2/CTGF.

DESIGN

Endothelial cells were seeded on agar gel medium with or without 50 ng/mL recombinant CCN2/CTGF (rCCN2/CTGF) and cultured for 6 h. Cells were morphologically and phenotypically analyzed by immunofluorescent microscopy. A colorimetric assay was used to evaluate cell proliferation, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used for ultrastructural analysis.

RESULTS

The proliferation of endothelial cells was best promoted by rCCN2/CTGF at 50 ng/mL. In the control group, tube formation was not observed within 6 h. In contrast, endothelial cells seeded on the agar with 50 ng/mL rCCN2/CTGF clearly showed proliferation with network formation. Under a two-dimensional culture condition, a dense network of endothelial cells was not constructed on the plastic bottom. However, drastic morphological change was observed in the endothelial cells on the agar containing rCCN2/CTGF. The endothelial cells in the dense network were interconnected with each other and showed a tube-like structure. Tight junctions or adherens junctions were observed between the adjoining endothelial cells in the dense network.

CONCLUSIONS

CCN2/CTGF was found to promote the proliferation and tubulogenesis of endothelial cells from the periodontal ligament. These results suggest that CCN2/CTGF may contribute to the regeneration of damaged periodontal tissue by activating the remaining endothelial cells.

Lycopene in protection against obesity and diabetes: A mechanistic review

Lycopene, a natural pigment that mainly exists in the mature fruit of tomatoes, has gained increasing attention due to its protective effects against obesity and diabetes. The aim of this review is to summarize the potential mechanisms in which lycopene exerts protection against obesity and diabetes, along with highlighting its bioavailability, synthesis and safety. Literature sources used in this review were from the PubMed Database, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, National Science and Technology Library, Wanfang Data, and the Web of Science. For the inquiries, keywords such as lycopene, properties, synthesis, diabetes, obesity, and safety were used in various combinations. About 200 articles and reviews were evaluated. Lycopene exhibits anti-obesity and anti-diabetic activities in different organs and/or tissues, including adipose tissue, liver, kidney, pancreas, brain, ovaries, intestine, and eyes. The underlying mechanism may be attributed to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and through its ability to regulate of AGE/RAGE, JNK/MAPK, PI3K/Akt, SIRT1/FoxO1/PPARγ signaling pathways and AchE activity. The epidemiological investigations support that lycopene consumption may contribute to lowering the risk of obesity and diabetes. The cis-isomers of lycopene are more bioavailable and better absorbed than trans-lycopene, and mainly distribute in liver and adipose tissue. Lycopene exhibits a good margin of safety and can be obtained by plant extraction, chemical synthesis and microbial fermentation. In summary, lycopene consumption beneficially contributes to protecting against diabetes and obesity in animal studies and epidemiological investigations, which supports the potential of this compound as a preventive/therapeutic agent against these disorders. Well-designed, prospective clinical studies are warranted to evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of lycopene against common metabolic diseases.

Protective effect and mechanism of lycopene on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from type 2 diabetes mellitus rats

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), widely existing in bone marrow and peripheral blood, are involved in the repair of injured vascular endothelium and angiogenesis which are important to diabetic mellitus (DM) patients with vascular complications. The number and the function of EPCs are related to the advanced glycation end products (AGEs) generated in DM patients. Lycopene (Lyc) is an identified natural antioxidant that protects EPCs under the microenvironment of AGEs from damage. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. To investigate the effect of Lyc on EPCs, we isolated EPCs from DM rat bone marrow and determined cell proliferation, cell cycle,apoptosis and autophagy of EPCs. The present study showed that 10μg/mL Lyc improved cell proliferation and had low cytotoxicity in the presence of AGEs. In addition, Lyc rescued S phase of the cell cycle arrest, reduced apoptosis rate and decreased autophagic reaction including ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of EPCs. Moreover, Lyc combined use of autophagy inhibitors, 3-MA, had better protective effects. Taken together, our data suggests that Lyc promotes EPCs survival and protect EPCs from apoptosis and oxidative autophagy induced by AGEs, further remaining the number and function of EPCs. This study provides new insights into Lyc protective mechanism of AGEs-induced oxidative autophagy in EPCs from DM patients and offers a new therapy for DM vascular complications.