title: Curcumin blocks activation of pancreatic stellate cells.
abstract: Activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrosis and inflammation. Inhibition of activation and cell functions of PSCs is a potential target for the treatment of pancreatic fibrosis and inflammation. The polyphenol compound curcumin is the yellow pigment in curry, and has anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. We here evaluated the effects of curcumin on the activation and cell functions of PSCs. PSCs were isolated from rat pancreas tissue and used in their culture-activated, myofibroblast-like phenotype unless otherwise stated. The effects of curcumin on proliferation, alpha-smooth muscle actin gene expression, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 production, and collagen expression were examined. The effect of curcumin on the activation of freshly isolated cells in culture was also assessed. Curcumin inhibited platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced proliferation, alpha-smooth muscle actin gene expression, interleukin-1beta- and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced MCP-1 production, type I collagen production, and expression of type I and type III collagen genes. Curcumin inhibited PDGF-BB-induced cyclin D1 expression and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Curcumin inhibited interleukin-1beta- and TNF-alpha-induced activation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (ERK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAP kinase), but not of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). In addition, curcumin inhibited transformation of freshly isolated cells to myofibroblast-like phenotype. In conclusion, curcumin inhibited key cell functions and activation of PSCs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. amasamune@int3.med.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masamune
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kikuta
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Kennichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Tooru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimosegawa
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D003094:Collagen; D003474:Curcumin; D000431:Ethanol; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; C491766:Ccl2 protein, rat; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat