β-Carotene-9',10'-oxygenase status modulates the impact of dietary tomato and lycopene on hepatic nuclear receptor-, stress-, and metabolism-related gene expression in mice.

Tomato and lycopene (ψ,ψ-carotene) consumption is hypothesized to protect against nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and hepatocarcinogenesis, processes that may depend upon diet and gene interactions. To investigate the interaction of tomato or lycopene feeding with β-carotene-9',10'-monooxygenase (Bco2) on hepatic metabolic and signaling pathways, male wild-type (WT) and Bco2(-/-) mice (3-wk-old; n = 36) were fed semi-purified control, 10% tomato powder-containing, or 0.25% lycopene beadlet-containing diets for 3 wk. Serum lycopene concentrations were higher in lycopene- and tomato-fed Bco2(-/-) mice compared with WT (P = 0.03). Tomato- and lycopene-fed mice had detectable hepatic apolipoprotein (apo)-6'-, apo-8'-, and apo-12'-lycopenal concentrations. Hepatic expression of β-carotene-15,15'-monooxygenase was increased in Bco2(-/-) mice compared with WT (P = 0.02), but not affected by diet. Evaluation of hepatic gene expression by focused quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction arrays for nuclear receptors and coregulators (84 genes) and stress and metabolism (82 genes) genes indicates that tomato feeding affected 31 genes (≥1.5-fold, P < 0.05) and lycopene feeding affected 19 genes, 16 of which were affected by both diets. Lycopene down-regulation of 7 nuclear receptors and coregulators, estrogen-related receptor-α, histone deacetylase 3, nuclear receptor coactivator 4, RevErbA-β, glucocorticoid receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α, and PPAR-γ, coactivator 1 β was dependent upon interaction with Bco2 status. Lycopene and tomato feeding induced gene expression patterns consistent with decreased lipid uptake, decreased cell proliferation and mitosis, down-regulated aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling, and decreased expression of genes involved in retinoid X receptor heterodimer activation. Tomato feeding also caused expression changes consistent with down-regulation of DNA synthesis and terpenoid metabolism. These data suggest tomato components, particularly lycopene, affect hepatic gene expression, potentially affecting hepatic responses to metabolic, infectious, or chemical stress.