Lycopene attenuates chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation via the interaction of NF‐κB, MAPKs, and Nrf2 signaling pathways in rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is identified as a urinary andrological diseases that afflict men due to various discomforts. It is urgent and meaningful to develop the novel and effective treatments as a result of the unclear etiology and dismal therapeutic effect of CP/CPPS. Lycopene exerts a crucial role in numerous chronic inflammatory diseases owing to its potent antioxidant capacity. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to observe the effect of lycopene on CP/CPPS and to explore the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A CP/CPPS model with complete Freund's adjuvant was established in this study. Afterward, intragastric lycopene or corn oil was administered daily for 4 consecutive weeks. Finally, the cardiac blood and prostate tissue samples were collected from rats to carry out related evaluation and testing. RESULTS: It was found in this study that lycopene alleviated changes in prostate histopathology compared with those in the complete Freund's adjuvant-induced CP/CPPS model rats without lycopene treatment. Furthermore, lycopene was suggested to reduce the levels of chemokines MCP1 and MIP-1α, down-regulate the expression levels of cytokines (such as TNFα, IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-6), and up-regulate those of CAT, GSH-PX, and T-SOD, decrease that of malondialdehyde. Moreover, it also inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs, NF-κB, and enhanced phosphorylation of the Nrf2 in the CP/CPPS rat model. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this study suggest that lycopene exerts potent anti- CP/CPPS Seffects through alleviating inflammatory response and oxidative stress, which is probably attributed to the interaction of NF-κB, MAPKs, and Nrf2 signaling pathways in rats. As a natural antioxidant, lycopene may serve as a promising pharmaceutical preparation for treating CP/CPPS.