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Effect of lycopene on cell viability and cell cycle progression in human cancer cell lines
Anderson Junger Teodoro1, Felipe Leite Oliveira, Nathalia Balthazar Martins
1Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, Program of Food and Nutrition, UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. atteodoro@gmail.com.
Background:
Lycopene, a major carotenoid component of tomato, has a potential anticancer activity in many types of cancer. Epidemiological and clinical trials rarely provide evidence for mechanisms of the compound's action, and studies on its effect on cancer of different cell origins are now being done. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of lycopene on cell cycle and cell viability in eight human cancer cell lines.
Methods:
Human cell lines were treated with lycopene (1-5 μM) for 48 and 96 h. Cell viability was monitored using the method of MTT. The cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry, and apoptotic cells were identified by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick labeling (TUNEL) and by DAPI.
Results:
Our data showed a significant decrease in the number of viable cells in three cancer cells lines (HT-29, T84 and MCF-7) after 48 h treatment with lycopene, and changes in the fraction of cells retained in different cell cycle phases. Lycopene promoted also cell cycle arrest followed by decreased cell viability in majority of cell lines after 96 h, as compared to controls. Furthermore, an increase in apoptosis was observed in four cell lines (T-84, HT-29, MCF-7 and DU145) when cells were treated with lycopene.
Conclusions:
Our findings show the capacity of lycopene to inhibit cell proliferation, arrest cell cycle in different phases and increase apoptosis, mainly in breast, colon and prostate lines after 96 h. These observations suggest that lycopene may alter cell cycle regulatory proteins depending on the type of cancer and the dose of lycopene administration. Taken together, these data indicated that the antiproliferative effect of lycopene was cellular type, time and dose-dependent.
Insights
Lycopene, a tomato compound, inhibits cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. Its antiproliferative effects are dependent on cancer type, treatment duration, and dosage.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional science
- Cancer biology
- Molecular pharmacology
Background:
- Lycopene, a carotenoid in tomatoes, shows potential anticancer properties.
- Mechanisms of lycopene's action require further investigation across diverse cancer types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of lycopene on cell viability and cell cycle progression.
- To evaluate lycopene's effects on eight human cancer cell lines.
Main Methods:
- Human cancer cell lines were exposed to lycopene (1-5 μM) for 48 and 96 hours.
- Cell viability assessed via MTT assay; cell cycle analyzed by flow cytometry.
- Apoptosis detected using TUNEL assay and DAPI staining.
Main Results:
- Lycopene significantly reduced viable cells in HT-29, T84, and MCF-7 lines after 48 hours.
- Cell cycle arrest and decreased viability observed in most cell lines after 96 hours.
- Increased apoptosis noted in T-84, HT-29, MCF-7, and DU145 cell lines.
Conclusions:
- Lycopene inhibits proliferation, arrests cell cycle, and induces apoptosis in breast, colon, and prostate cancer cells.
- Lycopene's effects are cancer type, time, and dose-dependent.
- Lycopene may modulate cell cycle regulatory proteins, suggesting therapeutic potential.
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