title: Curcumin reduces cold storage-induced damage in human cardiac myoblasts.
abstract: Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound possessing interesting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and has the ability to induce the defensive protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). The objective of this study was to investigate whether curcumin protects against cold storage-mediated damage of human adult atrial myoblast cells (Girardi cells) and to assess the potential involvement of HO-1 in this process. Girardi cells were exposed to either normothermic or hypothermic conditions in Celsior preservation solution in the presence or absence of curcumin. HO-1 protein expression and heme oxygenase activity as well as cellular damage were assessed after cold storage or cold storage followed by re-warming. In additional experiments, an inhibitor of heme oxygenase activity (tin protoporphyrin IX, 10 microM) or siRNA for HO-1 were used to investigate the participation of HO-1 as a mediator of curcumin-induced effects. Treatment with curcumin produced a marked induction of cardiac HO-1 in normothermic condition but cells were less responsive to the polyphenolic compound at low temperature. Cold storage-induced damage was markedly reduced in the presence of curcumin and HO-1 contributed to some extent to this effect. Thus, curcumin added to Celsior preservation solution effectively prevents the damage caused by cold-storage; this effect involves the protective enzyme HO-1 but also other not yet identified mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Unit, Department of Surgical Research, Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research, Harrow, Middlesex, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hadil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abuarqoub
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foresti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Motterlini
mesh_terms: D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006427:Hemin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D032386:Myoblasts, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006427:Hemin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D003474:Curcumin