ABSTRACT
Although there is epidemiological evidence to support the beneficial effects of lycopene, tomato and tomato products in the prevention of chronic diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, the mechanism(s) responsible for such beneficial effects has not yet been completely clarified. The up-regulation of cyclin D1 and the deregulation of PI3k/Akt pathway have been largely associated with the pathogenesis and development of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This review focused on the main evidence showing interference of lycopene with cyclin D1 and PI3K/Akt pathway. The available data indicate that lycopene may arrest cell cycle progression at the G0/G1 phase by acting as a potent down-regulator of cyclin D1 in both normal and tumor cultured cells. Moreover, the carotenoid may modulate cyclin D1 levels in cells exposed in vitro and in vivo to cigarette smoke. On the other hand, lycopene interference with PI3K/Akt pathway has been reported to suppress PI3K-dependent proliferative and survival signaling and to activate apoptosis pathways in tumor cells or in normal cells exposed to cigarette smoke. In particular, lycopene has been reported to promote apoptosis by decreasing the phosphorylation of Bad. In addition, recent data suggest a role for lycopene in modulating tissue factor activity and expression through PI3K/Akt pathway in endothelial cells. Although further work is needed, the available data seem to indicate in the modulation of cyclin D1 and PI3K/Akt pathway a key mechanism in the anticancer and cardio-protective effects of lycopene.
