Lycopene in association with alpha-tocopherol or tomato lipophilic extracts enhances acyl-platelet-activating factor biosynthesis in endothelial cells during oxidative stress.

Abstract

Lipophilic compounds contained in tomato can prevent cardiovascular diseases by modulating the atherogenic processes in vascular endothelium mediated by oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). We investigated the effects of lycopene on the metabolism of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and its much less biologically active acyl analog, acyl-PAF, known to prevent LDL oxidation. Lycopene, or lycopene in association with alpha-tocopherol, or whole tomato lipophilic extracts (containing more than 80% lycopene) were used in experiments in which endothelial cells (ECs) are known to synthesize PAF following H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress. The results indicated that in each case H(2)O(2)-stimulated PAF biosynthesis in ECs, which is catalyzed by acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (AT), appeared strongly inhibited. However, acyl-PAF biosynthesis, which also occurs through the PAF-dependent transacetylase (TA), was significantly increased by lycopene only when it was in association with alpha-tocopherol or with the minor compounds present in the whole lipophilic tomato extract. These findings suggest that alpha-tocopherol or lipophilic compounds present in tomato juice potentiate the effects of lycopene on the modulation of PAF and acyl-PAF biosynthesis in ECs during oxidative stress.

• Authors: M L Balestrieri, R De Prisco, B Nicolaus, P Pari, V Schiano Moriello, G Strazzullo, E L Iorio, L Servillo, C Balestrieri
• Journal: Free radical biology & medicine (Free Radic Biol Med) Vol. 36 Issue 8 Pg. 1058-67 (Apr 15 2004) ISSN: 0891-5849 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15059646 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Lipoproteins, LDL
• Plant Extracts
• Platelet Activating Factor
• Carotenoids
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Acetyltransferases
• 1-alkylglycerophosphocholine acetyltransferase
• Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase
• alpha-Tocopherol
• Oxygen
• Lycopene

Topics

• Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase (metabolism)
• Acetyltransferases (metabolism)
• Animals
• Antioxidants (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Carotenoids (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Cattle
• Cells, Cultured
• Chromatography, Thin Layer
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Endothelium, Vascular (pathology)
• Hydrogen Peroxide (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Inflammation
• Lipoproteins, LDL (metabolism)
• Lycopene
• Solanum lycopersicum (metabolism)
• Oxidative Stress
• Oxygen (metabolism)
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Platelet Activating Factor (metabolism)
• Pulmonary Artery (pathology)
• Time Factors
• alpha-Tocopherol (metabolism, pharmacology)