Lycopene inhibits airway remodeling in allergic asthma models by suppressing the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in airway epithelial cells.

PURPOSE: Asthma is a common and complex heterogeneous disease, and its recurrent episodes are caused mainly by airway remodelling. Dysregulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important mechanism of airway remodelling. Lycopene has been reported to inhibit the Th2 immune response in individuals with allergic asthma. This study investigated the Lycopene effects of Lycopene on airway remodelling through the regulation of the EMT.

METHODS: We investigated the effects of lycopene on the proliferation, migration and EMT of airway epithelial 16HBE cells induced by LPS to study the effects of lycopene on the EMT of the airway epithelium and airway remodelling in OVA-induced asthmatic mice.

RESULTS: We found that lycopene inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and MMP9 and vimentin expression in LPS-exposed 16HBE cells. Treatment with lycopene effectively relieved airway remodelling, reduced the degree of collagen deposition in the lungs of asthmatic mice, and suppressed MMP9 and vimentin expression in the lung tissue of asthmatic mice. Lycopene also decreased OVA-specific IgE and IL-4 levels in the serum. Furthermore, lycopene also decreased Smad3 and p-AKT levels in 16HBE cells and in the lung tissue of asthmatic mice.

CONCLUSION: Taken together, these data indicate that lycopene suppresses airway remodelling by downregulating the Smad3/AKT/MMP9 pathway in the airway epithelium.