Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Supplementation Induces Changes in Cardiac miRNA Expression, Reduces Oxidative Stress and Left Ventricular Mass, and Improves Diastolic Function

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tomato supplementation on the normal rat heart and the role of oxidative stress in this scenario. Male Wistar rats were assigned to two groups: a control group (C; n = 16), in which animals received a control diet + 0.5 mL of corn oil/kg body weight/day, and a tomato group (T; n = 16), in which animals received a control diet supplemented with tomato +0.5 mL of corn oil/kg body weight/day. After three months, morphological, functional, and biochemical analyses were performed. Animals supplemented with tomato had a smaller left atrium diameter and myocyte cross-sectional area (CSA) compared to the control group (C group: 474 (415–539); T group: 273 (258–297) µm2; p = 0.004). Diastolic function was improved in rats supplemented with tomato. In addition, lipid hydroperoxide was lower (C group: 267 ± 46.7; T group: 219 ± 23.0 nmol/g; p = 0.039) in the myocardium of rats supplemented with tomato. Tomato intake was also associated with up-regulation of miR-107 and miR-486 and down-regulation of miR-350 and miR-872. In conclusion, tomato supplementation induces changes in miRNA expression and reduces oxidative stress. In addition, these alterations may be responsible for CSA reduction and diastolic function improvement.

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) or lycopene supplementation attenuates ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction through different mechanistic pathways

“…The reduction of hypertrophy could explain the diastolic improvement, reduction in pulmonary hypertension and RV hypertrophy observed in the MIT group. This confirms our previous study, in which we showed that tomato supplementation reduced CSA and improved diastolic function in the normal rat heart [14]. On the other hand, the lycopene supplementation attenuated the reduction of −dp/dt max evaluated by the isolated heart study.…”

“…Despite the changes in oxidative stress, found mainly in the group supplemented with tomato, we observed a decrease in myocardial expression of Nrf-2 in the MIL group, suggesting that this transcriptional factor did not influence the effects of lycopene and tomato supplementation in oxidative stress in this model. We observed the same features in a previous study, with tomato supplementation in the normal rat heart [14]. However, we cannot exclude Nrf-2 participation during the follow-up period.…”

“…The Km factor, BW (kg) divided by BSA (m 2 ), is used to convert the mg/kg dose used in a study to an mg/m 2 dose (human Km of 60 kg: 37 and rat Km of 400 g: 7.7). Considering that our tomato had 95% of water, the result was 700 mg/kg/day [14].…”

“…Left ventricular miRNA expression was analyzed following a previously described method [14]. Six animals in each group were used for miRNA expression analyses.…”

“…In addition to its action on inflammation and oxidative stress, lycopene and tomato could influence epigenetic pathways. In a previous study, we showed the effects of tomato supplementation on the expression of miRNAs in the normal rat heart [14]. Considering that inflammation, oxidative stress and expression of miRNAs modulate the remodeling process, tomato or lycopene supplementation might be an attractive treatment after coronary occlusion.…”