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. 2022 Apr 1;85(4):414-420.
doi: 10.1097/JCMA.0000000000000699.

Lycopene treatment improves intrahepatic fibrosis and attenuates pathological angiogenesis in biliary cirrhotic rats

Hui-Chun Huang  1   2   3   4 , Shao-Jung Hsu  1   2   3 , Ching-Chih Chang  1   2   3   4 , Yun-Chieh Kao  5 , Chiao-Lin Chuang  1   2   4 , Ming-Chih Hou  1   2   3 , Fa-Yauh Lee  1   2   3
Affiliations

Lycopene treatment improves intrahepatic fibrosis and attenuates pathological angiogenesis in biliary cirrhotic rats

Hui-Chun Huang et al. J Chin Med Assoc. .

Abstract

Background: Liver cirrhosis is characterized by liver fibrosis and pathological angiogenesis, which results in hyperdynamic circulation, portal-systemic collateral vascular formation, and abnormal angiogenesis. Lycopene is a nutrient mostly found in tomatoes. The beneficial effects of lycopene include anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-fibrosis, and anti-angiogenesis; however, the association between liver cirrhosis and pathological angiogenesis has yet to be studied. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lycopene on biliary cirrhotic rats.

Methods: The efficacy of lycopene treatment in common bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced biliary cirrhotic rats was evaluated. Sham-operated rats served as surgical controls. Lycopene (20 mg/kg/day, oral gavage) or vehicle was administered to BDL or sham-operated rats for 4 weeks, after which the hemodynamics, liver biochemistry, portal-systemic shunting, liver and mesenteric angiogenesis, and hepatic angiogenesis-related protein expressions were examined.

Results: Lycopene alleviated hyperdynamic circulation as evidenced by decreased cardiac index and increased peripheral vascular resistance (p < 0.05), but it did not affect portal pressure or liver biochemistry in the BDL rats (p > 0.05). Lycopene significantly diminished the shunting degree of portal-systemic collaterals (p = 0.04) and mesenteric vascular density (p = 0.01), and also ameliorated intrahepatic angiogenesis and liver fibrosis. In addition, lycopene upregulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase, protein kinase B (Akt) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K), and downregulated vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) protein expressions (p < 0.05) in the livers of the BDL rats.

Conclusion: Lycopene ameliorated liver fibrosis, hyperdynamic circulation, and pathological angiogenesis in biliary cirrhotic rats, possibly through the modulation of intrahepatic Akt/PI3K/eNOS and VEGFR-2 pathways.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: Dr. Ching-Chih Chang, Dr. Ming-Chih Hou, and Dr. Fa-Yauh Lee, editorial board members at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, have no roles in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article.

Comment in

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