RESUMO
The aim of the study was to explore whether lycopene protects against the activation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by a proinflammatory stimulus. HUVECs were pretreated with different concentrations of lycopene (1 microm or 10 microm), then incubated with 1 microg/ml LPS for 24 h. After an incubation, the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines (MCP-1, IL-6, VCAM-1), the expression KLF2, TLR4, ERK1/2 and NF-kappaB were assayed. The result showed that lycopene treatment significantly suppressed the response of HUVECs to LPS and reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Also, lycopene increased KLF2 expression, while it inhibited the activation TLR4 and its downstream ERK and the NF-kappaB signaling pathway in HUVECs.
