Curcumin inhibits collagen synthesis and hepatic stellate cell activation in-vivo and in-vitro.
We previously demonstrated that curcumin, a well-known antioxidant, inhibits collagen deposition in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats. The major effector cells responsibleforcollagensynthesis in the liver are activated hepatic stellate cells. In this study,we investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin on the collagen synthesis and activation of rat hepatic stellate cells in-vitro, and on hepatic stellate cell activation in-vivo. The effects of curcumin on the production of collagen and smooth muscle alpha-actin proteins and of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA were studied in-vivo and in-vitro. The effect of curcumin on DNA synthesis was also determined in-vitro. In-vivo, treatment with curcumin reduced collagen deposition and smooth muscle alpha-actin-positive areas and lowered mRNA levels of type I collagen in the liver. In-vitro, curcumin at a concentration of 5 microg mL(-1) reduced DNA synthesis, and downregulated smooth muscle alpha-actin and type I collagen expression, and alpha1(I) collagen mRNA expression. We concluded that curcumin inhibits collagen synthesis and hepatic stellate cell activation in-vivo and in-vitro, and thus may prove a valuable anti-fibrogenic agent.
Kang
Hee-Chul
HC
Department of Pharmacy, Medicinal Resources Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, South Korea.
Nan
Ji-Xing
JX
Park
Pil-Hoon
PH
Kim
Ji-Young
JY
Lee
Sung Hee
SH
Woo
Sun Wook
SW
Zhao
Yu-Zhe
YZ
Park
Eun-Jeon
EJ
Sohn
Dong Hwan
DH
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000199:Actins; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA; D003474:Curcumin