title: Lycopene reduced gene expression of steroid targets and inflammatory markers in normal rat prostate.
abstract: Epidemiological evidence links consumption of lycopene, the red carotenoid of tomato, to reduced prostate cancer risk. We investigated the effect of lycopene in normal prostate tissue to gain insight into the mechanisms, by which lycopene can contribute to primary prostate cancer prevention. We supplemented young rats with 200 ppm lycopene for up to 8 wk, measured the uptake into individual prostate lobes, and analyzed lycopene-induced gene regulations in dorsal and lateral lobes after 8 wk of supplementation. Lycopene accumulated in all four prostate lobes over time, with all-trans lycopene being the predominant isoform. The lateral lobe showed a significantly higher total lycopene content than the other prostate lobes. Transcriptomics analysis revealed that lycopene treatment mildly but significantly reduced gene expression of androgen-metabolizing enzymes and androgen targets. Moreover, local expression of IGF-I was decreased in the lateral lobe. Lycopene also consistently reduced transcript levels of proinflammatory cytokines, immunoglobulins, and immunoglobulin receptors in the lateral lobe. This indicates that lycopene reduced inflammatory signals in the lateral prostate lobe. In summary, we show for the first time that lycopene reduced local prostatic androgen signaling, IGF-I expression, and basal inflammatory signals in normal prostate tissue. All of these mechanisms can contribute to the epidemiologically observed prostate cancer risk reduction by lycopene.
authors.affiliation: DSM Nutritional Products, Human Nutrition and Health, Carotenoid Section, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Siler
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spitzer
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Denelavas
authors.forename: Petra Buchwald
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hunziker
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hunziker
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goralczyk
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wertz
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006304:Health Status; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D002338:Carotenoids; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D000077276:Lycopene