Modulation of gene methylation by genistein or lycopene in breast cancer cells

Dietary agents with chemopreventive potential, including soy-derived genistein and tomato-derived lycopene, have been shown to alter gene expression in ways that can either promote or potentially inhibit the carcinogenic processes. To begin to explore the mechanisms by which these agents may be acting we have examined the DNA methylation modulating capacity of genistein or lycopene for several genes relevant to breast cancer in the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468, as well as in immortalized but noncancer fibrocystic MCF10A breast cells. We find using methylation specific PCR (MSP) that a low, nontoxic concentration of genistein (3.125 microM, resupplemented every 48 hr for 1 week) or a single dose of lycopene (2 microM) partially demethylates the promoter of the GSTP1 tumor suppressor gene in MDA-MB-468 cells. RT-PCR studies confirm a lack of GSTP1 expression in untreated MDA-MB-468, with restoration of GSTP1 expression after genistein or lycopene treatment. The RARbeta2 gene however, was not demethylated by genistein or lycopene in either of these breast cancer cell lines. But, lycopene (2 microM, once per week for 2 weeks) did induce demethylation of RARbeta2 and the HIN-1 genes in the noncancer MCF10A fibrocystic breast cells. These data show for the first time that the tomato carotenoid lycopene has direct DNA demethylating activity. In summary, both genistein and lycopene, at very low, dietarily relevant concentrations can potentially mitigate tumorigenic processes via promoter methylation modulation of gene expression.     

The Association between Carotenoids and Head and Neck Cancer Risk

Head and neck cancer (HNC) includes oral cavity cancer (OCC), pharyngeal cancer (PC), and laryngeal cancer (LC). It is one of the most frequent cancers in the world. Smoking and alcohol consumption are the typical well-known predictors of HNC. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an increasing etiological factor for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). Moreover, food and nutrition play an important role in HNC etiology. According to the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, an intake of non-starchy vegetables and fruits could decrease HNC risk. The carotenoids included in vegetables and fruits are well-known antioxidants which have anti-mutagenic and immune regulatory functions. Numerous studies have shown the relationship between carotenoid intake and a lower HNC risk, but the role of carotenoids in HNC risk is not well defined. The goal of this review is to present the current literature regarding the relationship between various carotenoids and HNC risk.     

超声波法提取番茄红素的研究

目的研究从番茄酱中提取番茄红素的方法。方法应用超声波法提取番茄红素,并通过正交实验确定最佳工艺条件。结果番茄红素提取率为95.92%。番茄红素含量为17.9%。结论本法经济、实用,为番茄红素的工业化提取提供了依据。     

A Common Variant in the SETD7 Gene Predicts Serum Lycopene Concentrations

Dietary intake and higher serum concentrations of lycopene have been associated with lower incidence of prostate cancer and other chronic diseases. Identifying determinants of serum lycopene concentrations may thus have important public health implications. Prior studies have suggested that serum lycopene concentrations are under partial genetic control. The goal of this research was to identify genetic predictors of serum lycopene concentrations using the genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach among a sample of 441 Old Order Amish adults that consumed a controlled diet. Linear regression models were utilized to evaluate associations between genetic variants and serum concentrations of lycopene. Variant rs7680948 on chromosome 4, located in the intron region of the SETD7 gene, was significantly associated with serum lycopene concentrations (p = 3.41 × 10⁻⁹). Our findings also provided nominal support for the association previously noted between SCARB1 and serum lycopene concentrations, although with a different SNP (rs11057841) in the region. This study identified a novel locus associated with serum lycopene concentrations and our results raise a number of intriguing possibilities regarding the nature of the relationship between SETD7 and lycopene, both of which have been independently associated with prostate cancer. Further investigation into this relationship might help provide greater mechanistic understanding of these associations.     

三孢布拉霉菌发酵番茄红素提取工艺的优化

番茄红素作为一种类胡萝卜素,具有提高免疫力、延缓衰老等多种功能。利用发酵法生产番茄红素是满足市场需求的重要途径。为了更好地提升番茄红素的提取收率,降低发酵过程中各种杂质的含量。研究了不同的溶媒及处理方法对湿菌体进行直接高效萃取的新方法。将番茄红素发酵液经过抽滤、洗涤处理得到湿菌丝体,采用有机溶剂和超声波破碎结合的处理方法,考察了菌丝体状态、皂化条件、脱水剂、提取溶剂、菌丝量与提取溶剂的料液比例、提取时间和提取温度对番茄红素提取率的影响。实验结果表明,利用湿菌体直接提取番茄红素的方法是可行的,并确定了湿菌体直接提取的最优条件:用0.6 mol/L NaOH溶液皂化,乙醇脱水处理10 min,乙酸乙酯作为提取剂,菌丝体质量(g)与提取溶剂体积(mL)之比为1:75,在45 ℃超声处理20 min,可获得最高的番茄红素提取率。     

番茄油树脂中番茄红素的HPLC测定

采用HPLC法研究了番茄油树脂中番茄红素的测定方法.结果表明最佳的色谱分离条件为流动相采用V(乙腈)V(甲醇)V(二氯甲烷)＝7∶7∶2的体系、检测波长472nm,在此条件下可以很好地分离番茄红素、β-胡萝卜素及其异构体,番茄红素和β-胡萝卜素的保留时间分别为9～10min和13～14min.保留时间和样品的重复性试验表明,变异系数均低于5%,回收率范围在98%～101%之间.     

Improvement of hepatic bioavailability as a new step for the future of statin

Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) are a group of highly efficient pharmacological agents used for reducing blood cholesterol level and prevention/treatment of cardiovascular disease. Adverse reactions during statin treatment affect quite significant numbers of patients (reportedly from 5% to 20%), with more side effects occurring at higher doses. Reduced statin dosing can be achieved by improved bioavailability of statins, which is fairly low due to poor aqueous solubility, low permeability and high molecular weight of some members of the statin family. Moreover, since hepatic cholesterologenesis is a main target of statin action and extrahepatic inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase has no effect on plasma lipids, hepatic bioavailability, in our opinion, becomes a new important modality of statins maximizing their potential effect on the plasma lipid profile and diminishing their extrahepatic toxicity. Therefore efficient delivery systems of statins into hepatocytes need to be developed and introduced. Uses of nano-emulsifying statin delivery systems which may include vectors of intrahepatic transport, in particular lycopene, are discussed. As a proof of concept, some preliminary results revealing the effect of a lycopene-containing nanoformulation of simvastatin (designated as Lyco-Simvastatin) on LDL in mildly hypercholesterolemic patients are shown.     

Nutrition intervention to decrease symptoms in patients with advanced heart failure

For a majority of patients with advanced heart failure, there is a need for complementary, non‐pharmacologic interventions that could be easily implemented by health care providers to provide palliative care. Three major pathologic pathways underlying heart failure symptoms have been identified: fluid overload, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Prior research has demonstrated that three nutrients‐sodium, omega‐3 fatty acids, and lycopene‐can alter these pathologic pathways. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to test the effects of a 6‐month nutrition intervention of dietary sodium reduction combined with supplementation of lycopene and omega‐3 fatty acids on heart failure symptoms, health‐related quality of life, and time to heart failure rehospitalization or all‐cause death. The aims of this double blind‐placebo controlled study are (1) to determine the effects of a 6‐month nutrition intervention on symptom burden (edema, shortness of air, and fatigue) and health‐related quality of life at 3 and 6 months, and time to heart failure rehospitalization or all‐cause death over 12 months from baseline; (2) compare dietary sodium intake, inflammation, and markers of oxidative stress between the nutrition intervention group and a placebo group at 3 and 6 months; and (3) compare body weight, serum lycopene, and erythrocyte omega‐3 index between the nutrition intervention group and a placebo group at 3 and 6 months. A total of 175 patients with advanced heart failure will be randomized to either the nutrition intervention or placebo group. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 36:120–145, 2013