Korean Circ J.  2006 Jul;36(7):482-489. 10.4070/kcj.2006.36.7.482.

Curcumin Attenuates Nuclear Factor-kappaB, c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase and p38 in Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha-Stimulated Endothelial Cells

• Kim YS
• Ahn Y
• Hong MH
• Joo SY
• Kim KH
• Sohn IS
• Park HW
• Hong YJ
• Kim JH
• Kim W
• Jeong MH
• Cho JG
• Park JC
• Kang JC

• KMID: 2227095
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2006.36.7.482

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Curcumin, a yellow pigment of turmeric in curry, has been reported to interfere with nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. This study was designed to investigate the underlying pathway of the anti-inflammation effect of curcumin on endothelial cells.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (10 ng/mL). The levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined using a fluorescent dye DCFH-DA, and the adhesion of U-937 monocytes to the HUVECs was then examined. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation was determined by the NF-kappaB p65 translocation to the nucleus via immunocytochemistry. The expression of the NF-kappaB dependent pro-inflammatory molecules were measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. The phosphorylations of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK), p38 and STAT-3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription-3) were measured by Western blotting.
RESULTS
Curcumin blocked the activation of NF-kappaB by TNF-alpha, and it also reduced the ROS, monocyte adhesion and the phosphorylation of JNK, p38 and STAT-3 in the TNF-alpha-stimulated HUVECs. The expression of intracellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and interleukin (IL)-8 were attenuated by curcumin at both the transcription and translation levels.
CONCLUSION
We suggest that curcumin could contribute to protection against the adverse vascular effects of the pro-inflammatory response through the modulation of NF-kappaB, JNK, p38 and STAT-3, and this is in addition to its antioxidant effect in endothelial cells.

Keyword

Curcumin; Nuclear factor-kappaB; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Inflammation; Endothelial cell

MeSH Terms

Antioxidants
Blotting, Western
Cell Adhesion
Curcuma
Curcumin*
Endothelial Cells*
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Immunohistochemistry
Inflammation
Interleukins
JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases*
Monocytes
Necrosis*
NF-kappa B
Phosphorylation
Protein Kinases
Reactive Oxygen Species
Transducers
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Antioxidants
Curcumin
Interleukins
JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
NF-kappa B
Protein Kinases
Reactive Oxygen Species
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha