β‐Carotene and lycopene affect endothelial response to TNF‐α reducing nitro‐oxidative stress and interaction with monocytes

Scope Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with vascular oxidative imbalance and inflammation. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is associated with a functional inactivation of nitric oxide (NO) due to the reaction with O − 2 , leading to peroxynitrite (ONOO − ) formation and subsequent reduction in the beneficial effect of vascular NO bioavailability. Carotenoids'‐rich diets have been associated with decreased risk of CVD, but the underlying mechanism is still unknown. Methods and results In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), both β‐carotene (BC) or lycopene (Lyc) significantly affected tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α)‐induced inflammation, being associated with a significant decrease in the generation of ROS (spectrofluorometry) and nitrotyrosine (an index of ONOO − formation, cytofluorimetry), an increased NO/cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate) levels (EIA), and a down‐regulation of NF‐κB‐dependent adhesion molecule expression (Western blot and EMSA) and monocyte–HUVEC interaction (adhesion assay). Our results indicate that BC or Lyc treatment reduce the inflammatory response in TNF‐α‐treated HUVECs. This is due to the redox balance protection and to the maintenance of NO bioavailability. Conclusion Our observations provide background for a novel mechanism for carotenoids' anti‐inflammatory activity in the vasculature and may contribute to a better understanding of the protective effects of carotenoid‐rich diets against CVD risk.