Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Lycopene inhibits lymphocyte proliferation through mechanisms dependent on early cell activation

2012; Wiley; Volume: 56; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/mnfr.201200047

1613-4133

Lynsey M. Mills, Heather M. Wilson, Frank Thiès,

Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism

Scope Epidemiological evidence suggests that lycopene is potentially cardio‐protective. Recruitment and activation of T cells in the arterial wall is a critical process during atherogenesis, but the effects of lycopene on T ‐cell response remain to be elucidated. We aimed to determine whether lycopene could modulate T ‐cell function and activity. Methods and results Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 16 healthy adults were cultured in the presence of lycopene‐enriched liposomes (0–2.9 μg lycopene/mL) with or without mitogens. Cell cycle as well as the expression of CD 69 (marker of early cell activation), CD 25 ( IL ‐2 receptor), and CD 11a (late activation marker) were measured in T cells, T ‐helper cells, and T ‐cytotoxic cells by flow cytometry. IL ‐2 secretion and cell proliferation were determined by ELISA and [ 3 H ]‐thymidine incorporation, respectively. Lycopene significantly inhibited lymphocyte proliferation (up to 40%) in activated cells. Lycopene also significantly inhibited CD 69 expression (by up to 12%) as well as IL ‐2 secretion (by up to 29%). However, CD 25 and CD 11a expression as well as the cell‐cycle profile were unaffected by lycopene. Conclusion Lycopene influences lymphocyte proliferation through its effects on processes involved in early cellular activation, providing one possible mechanism to explain the beneficial effects of tomato‐rich diets against cardiovascular disease.