title: Curcumin inhibits ultraviolet light induced human immunodeficiency virus gene expression.
abstract: Recently, we reported that the herbal drug St. John's Wort is a potent inhibitor of UV-induced HIV-LTR activation in stably transfected HIVcat/HeLa cells. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the activation of p38 MAP kinase (stress-activated protein kinase-2) and NF-kappaB are both required for a full UV-induced HIV gene expression response. In this study we have investigated the mechanism by which curcumin inhibits UV-activated HIV-LTR gene expression. We found that treatment of HIVcat/HeLa cells with micromolar concentrations of curcumin completely abolished UV activation of HIV gene expression. Curcumin treatment at similar doses as those used to inhibit HIV gene expression also effectively blocked UV activation of NF-kappaB, as demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. In contrast, curcumin did not inhibit UV-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. This observation was also supported by findings that curcumin did not inhibit UV-induced phosphorylation of CREB/ATF-1 and ATF-2. Although curcumin was ineffective in preventing UV-induced p44/42 MAP kinase phosphorylation, the JNK (1 and 2) and AP-1 activation were efficiently blocked by curcumin in HeLa cells. We conclude that the mechanism by which curcumin modulates UV activation of HIV-LTR gene expression mainly involves the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. Taher23223@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mohiuddin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Taher
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lammering
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hershey
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Valerie
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics*; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat / Q000235:genetics*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D003474:Curcumin