Lycopene Enhances UVA–Induced DNA Damage and Expression of Heme Oxygenase–1 in Cultured Mouse Embryo Fibroblasts
Abstract
Background It has been suggested that carotenoids including lycopene may reduce the risk of photodamage. However, carotenoids are unstable under light exposure and may produce prooxidative effects under certain circumstances.Aim of the study We examined whether lycopene inhibits ultraviolet A (UVA)-induced DNA damage and the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). We hypothesized that the breakdown of lycopene by UVA irradiation, rather than intact lycopene itself, causes oxidative damage.Methods Mouse fibroblasts, C3H10T1/2 (C3H), were first enriched with 10 microM of lycopene in the dark for 2 h before exposure to UVA (22.5 KJ/m2). Then, DNA damage measured by the single-cell gel electrophoretic assay (comet assay) and the expression of HO-1 measured by western blotting were determined. In addition, we exposed lycopene powder to UVA (22.5 KJ/m2) to prepare pre-irradiated lycopene (ILP). Then, C3H cells were incubated with ILP for 2 h, and DNA damage and the expression of HO-1 also were determined.Results We found that lycopene enrichment did not cause damage to DNA in C3H cells not irradiated with UVA. However, lycopene enrichment strongly induced DNA damage when cells were irradiated with UVA (by ca. 2-fold as compared to control). In addition, lycopene enhanced UVA-induced HO-1 expression by ca. 2.5-fold. UVA irradiation led to a significant loss of lycopene that had been pre-incorporated into C3H cells. When cells were incubated with lycopene that had been pre-irradiated with UVA without subjecting the cells to further UVA irradiation, cellular DNA damage and expression of HO-1 were markedly increased, and these effects of irradiated lycopene were concentration-dependent.Conclusions These results demonstrate that lycopene enhances UVA-induced oxidative stress in C3H cells, and they suggest that under UVA irradiation, lycopene may produce oxidative products that are responsible for the prooxidant effects.
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When used alone, lycopene fosters the increase in HO-1, which is detected in dermal fibroblasts after exposure to UVA, representing a cytoprotective mechanism.
“When used alone, lycopene is known to foster the increase in HO-1, which is detected in dermal fibroblasts after exposure to UVA, thus representing a cytoprotective mechanism [173,174].”
From The Role of Antioxidants in the Interplay between Oxidative Stress and Senescence (2022) · cites this paper as [173]
Apo-6′-lycopene and 2-methyl-hepte-6-one as well as further reaction products are formed during irradiation of lycopene.
“For example, apo-6′-lycopene and 2-methyl-hepte-6-one as well as further reaction products are formed during irradiation of lycopene [28, 80].”
From The Effect of Lycopene Preexposure on UV‐B‐Irradiated Human Keratinocytes (2016) · cites this paper as [28]
Photodegradation of lycopene may contribute to cytotoxicity, including oxidative damage.
“In fact, the photodegradation of lycopene may contribute to cytotoxicity, including oxidative damage.”
From The Effect of Lycopene Preexposure on UV‐B‐Irradiated Human Keratinocytes (2016) · cites this paper as [28]
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References 31 · Cited by 33
- Authors
- Yeh, S.-L., Hu, M.-L., & Huang, C.-S.
- Affiliations
- Chung Shan Medical University (TW)
- National Chung Hsing University (TW)
- Corresponding author
- Hu, M.-L.
- Venue
- European Journal of Nutrition
- Published
- 2004-11-18
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 365-370
- ISSN
- 1436-6207 (ISSN-L)
- 1436-6215
- OpenAlex
- W2025822929
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 4.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- European Journal of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Heme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon Monoxide
- Keywords
- lycopene, UVA, DNA damage, heme oxygenase-1, pro-oxidant activity, oxidative stress, photodamage, mouse embryonic fibroblasts, C3H10T1/2 cells
- MeSH terms
- Lycopene, Animals, Carotenoids, Cell Survival, Cells, Cultured, DNA Damage, Fibroblasts, Oxidation-Reduction, Radiation-Protective Agents, Ultraviolet Rays, Blotting, Western, Oxidative Stress, Comet Assay, Mice, Heme Oxygenase-1
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