title: Anti-inflammatory effect of lycopene in SW480 human colorectal cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the antioxidative effects of lycopene are generally known, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of lycopene are not fully elucidated. This study aimed to examine the role and mechanism of lycopene as an inhibitor of inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated SW 480 human colorectal cancer cells were treated with 0, 10, 20, and 30 µM lycopene. The MTT assay was performed to determine the effects of lycopene on cell proliferation. Western blotting was performed to observe the expression of inflammation-related proteins, including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), inhibitor kappa B (IκB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 (p38 MAP kinase). Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to investigate the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In cells treated with lycopene and LPS, the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 were decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner (P< 0.05). The concentrations of PGE2and NO decreased according to the lycopene concentration (P< 0.05). The protein expressions of NF-κB and JNK were decreased significantly according to lycopene concertation (P< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lycopene restrains NF-κB and JNK activation, which causes inflammation, and suppresses the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS in SW480 human colorectal cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Dankook University, Gyeonggi 16890, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Dankook University, Gyeonggi 16890, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Kyoung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Dankook University, Gyeonggi 16890, Korea.
authors.forename: Ae Wha
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, Dankook University, Chungnam 31116, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Hwan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Kookmin University, 77 Jeongneung-Ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02707, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chang
keywords: Lycopene; colorectal cancer; inflammation; nitric oxide; prostaglandin