Curcumin regulated shift from Th1 to Th2 in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced chronic colitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the therapeutic effects of curcumin (Cur) on trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis and the effects of Cur on the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines.


METHODS
Colitis was induced by TNBS and treated with Cur (30 mg/kg/d, ip), dexamethasone (Dex, 2 mg/kg/d), or Cur plus dexamethasone (Cur+Dex, 30 mg/kg/d Cur ip+2 mg/kg/d Dex,ip). mRNA in colon mucosa were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Intracellular cytokines were detected by flow cytometry and concentrations of cytokines in sera were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent analysis.


RESULTS
Both Cur and Dex improved body weight loss, ameliorated histological images and decreased macroscopic score and myeloperoxidase activity. Cur decreased the expression of Th1 cytokines (IL-12, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-1) and increased the expression of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) in colon mucosa. Cur also increased the proportion of IFN-gamma/IL-4 in splenocytes and circulation. Dex and Cur+Dex decreased the expression of Th1 cytokines but could not increase the expression of Th2 cytokines and the proportion of IFN-gamma/IL-4.


CONCLUSIONS
Cur exerted therapeutic effects on colitis by regulating the shift from Th1 to Th2.
Zhang
Ming
M
Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China. ming_zhang0923@hotmail.com
Deng
Chang-Sheng
CS
Zheng
Jia-Ju
JJ
Xia
Jian
J
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D009195:Peroxidase; D003474:Curcumin